Chapter 82: After Secretly Marrying a Top Star, I Was Cheated On by Her (11)

Zhou Zhou stayed clinging to her like she had no intention of letting go. Yu Liuxue blinked, her gaze brushing past Zhou Zhou’s slightly dazed little face. Then she sensed the air pressure around Yu Bing behind her drop noticeably, and in a flash, she flung Zhou Zhou away and turned back with a flattering expression: “Sister Yu, are you okay? Were you frightened?”

Suddenly thrown off, Zhou Zhou nearly lost her balance. She turned back angrily to glare at Yu Liuxue. What could happen to a bodyguard anyway? Clearly, she was the one suffering here!

She raised her left foot pitifully and looked at Yu Bing with tearful eyes, mimicking Yu Liuxue’s tone: “Sister, I twisted my ankle. It hurts so bad. Can you take a look? Is it broken? Am I going to be okay?”

Yu Liuxue’s face was instantly full of question marks. Was the female lead seriously trying to fight her for this woman, and even cheat on her with her?

She turned her head back with a sugary smile and said gently, “Limping already? Let me take you to the hospital for an amputation.”

Zhou Zhou: “…?”

A faint smile flickered across Yu Bing’s eyes but disappeared just as quickly. Her gaze skipped over Yu Liuxue’s head and dropped to Zhou Zhou’s slender ankle. She said flatly, “Just rest for a few minutes. You’ll be fine.”

Zhou Zhou’s attempt at playing the sympathy card had failed. Her face flushed slightly, and she was full of confusion. Why was it that Gu Qingzhi could pull tricks like this on the bodyguard and succeed, but she couldn’t? Was it because Gu Qingzhi was prettier?

She stared carefully at Yu Liuxue’s face, the longer she looked, the more convinced she was of her own superiority. Yet, that only made her feel even more frustrated. She was clearly much better-looking than Gu Qingzhi, yet she still lost?

Yu Bing lifted her foot and started walking away. Yu Liuxue quickly thickened her skin and followed, the two walking farther and farther, quickly leaving Zhou Zhou behind. Yu Liuxue lifted her pale face and said softly, “Sister Yu, I have a favor to ask you.”

Yu Bing turned to look at her. Yu Liuxue scratched her head awkwardly, looking nervous, “If you’re really busy lately, then never mind…”

She feigned disappointment, but quickly forced a bright smile, “I just feel really safe with you around. When you’re there, I don’t worry about being bullied or hurt. Because I know, if anything happens, you’ll definitely be the first to protect me.”

Her smile was sweet, her eyes curved like bright crescent moons, seeming sweet and innocent on the surface. Yu Liuxue pressed her lips into a gentle smile and continued, “I know you’re a good person, the very best kind.”

She had laid the groundwork for so long, one little trick after another, yet Yu Bing, watching her timid expression, felt unexpectedly amused. Her face remained expressionless. “Speak.”

Yu Liuxue’s eyes lit up slightly—there was hope!

But when it came time to say what she actually wanted, she got bashful again. She lowered her head, her expression shy, and said in a small voice, “I know your salary must be really high. I can’t afford to pay you properly right now, but I really, really want you to come with me to events…”

Her face glowed with a soft blush, and she peeked up at Yu Bing shyly—only to be caught directly by her cool, indifferent gaze. Yu Liuxue quickly looked away, her eyes darting about in panic, and her voice lowered further, “I just feel like… when you’re with me, I feel at ease.”

“If there really are guardian deities in the world, then you must be mine.”

Yu Bing blinked lightly, then suddenly asked with a totally unrelated question, “Is this how you used to coax my sister too?”

Yu Yu? No, I’m not—I didn’t! Yu Liuxue panicked and hurriedly explained, “No, Sister Yu, I—”

She was cut off mid-sentence. Yu Bing stopped walking and leaned in slightly. The scent on her wasn’t strong perfume, but a faint trace of laundry detergent. Her features were cold but finely sculpted, her eyes narrow at the outer corners. When she smiled just a little, she became especially alluring.

Yu Bing raised her gaze and said casually, “When you met my sister, didn’t you say the same thing to her?”

“You said she was the most amazing person in the world, that meeting her was the happiest thing that ever happened in your life.” The corners of Yu Bing’s lips lifted slightly. “Didn’t you?”

Yu Liuxue: “……”

Uh…

Her mind raced, then she suddenly had a flash of inspiration. She answered cleverly, “Whether it’s Sister Yu or you, both of you are unique and irreplaceable in my heart. You’re both equally important to me. Meeting either of you has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.”

System: “???”

Yu Bing was briefly stunned and raised her eyebrows slightly. Yu Liuxue’s answer was flawless—there wasn’t a single crack to be found. She straightened up. “What about Nianjiao—what did she say?”

At the mention of Yang Nianjiao, Yu Liuxue instantly deflated. “President Yang said, I have to earn her a hundred million before I’m worthy.”

A hundred million! The more she thought about it, the more depressed she got. Suddenly, her eyes lit up with an idea. “Wait, didn’t I get some money from my divorce? What if I just give President Yang a hundred million from that? Then she’ll agree!”

Yu Bing’s expression shifted into one of deep, indescribable resignation.

Naturally, Yu Liuxue’s dream didn’t come true. In fact, Yang Nianjiao simply gave her a dramatic eye-roll for her trouble—good enough to use as a side dish with rice. Yu Liuxue was filled with frustration. Snow Slash was about to premiere. That meant her album would drop too, and her singing career would officially begin.

Zhou Zhou was also deeply troubled. Recently, Xiao Nian had been seeking her out more and more, often inviting her to meals—and sometimes even without a mask, as if desperate to get caught by the paparazzi. Zhou Zhou felt a jolt of unease. Her long-developed intuition was warning her that something was off.

Was Xiao Nian planning to pull the same stunt she did with Gu Qingzhi? Leading the paparazzi to secretly photograph her, then claiming online that she was a desperate C-list actress trying to ride the fame wave?

Snow Slash was about to air. Aside from the theme song sung by Gu Qingzhi—another fame-chaser—the buzz around the drama was lower than expected. Xiao Nian urgently needed heat and headlines. Otherwise, how would she boost ratings at launch?

The last time Gu Qingzhi got exposed was exactly one week before Xiao Nian’s previous drama aired.

The more Zhou Zhou thought about it, the more alarmed she became. The timing was far too convenient. No—this wasn’t a coincidence at all. It must’ve been a trap carefully laid by Xiao Nian. Hugging her pillow, Zhou Zhou bit into the corner of it with her neat little teeth, tears welling in her eyes. She had once believed Xiao Nian would end up under her spell—but now it looked like she’d been played by that cunning old fox instead.

If she got caught on a date with that fox too, she’d end up in worse shape than Gu Qingzhi.

At least Gu Qingzhi had President Yang. Zhou Zhou didn’t even have a decent manager.

She scratched her head and glanced at her phone screen, which had lit up again. Without hesitation, she powered it off. She made up her mind—she wouldn’t respond to that old fox for a while. And if Xiao Nian asked, she’d lie and say she was too busy rehearsing and that her manager had taken her phone.

Zhou Zhou couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m just too clever. Yes, that’s the plan.”

Just then, Yu Liuxue, in her pajamas and dragging her slippers, walked past Zhou Zhou’s door. Zhou Zhou opened the door and saw her looking like a total slob. She frowned in disgust, “Gu Qingzhi, could you please show some self-respect? Don’t come out looking like that and embarrass yourself.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Liuxue lazily turned her head. She had been about to fire back at Zhou Zhou, but paused when she noticed that Zhou Zhou had dressed herself meticulously, looking exceptionally polished. Beautiful jewelry, beautiful clothes, and a beautiful face—all of it made her resemble a refined heiress from a traditional, aristocratic family.

Yu Liuxue blinked. “You even care about what I wear, and you’re still claiming you don’t like me?”

“Only people in a relationship obsess over what the other person wears.”

Zhou Zhou: “…?” Really?

Zhou Zhou stood frozen, her mind in turmoil. No way—how could it be? Gu Qingzhi isn’t even my type. How could I possibly like her?

After teasing the female lead, Yu Liuxue walked off cheerfully. Zhou Zhou couldn’t help but glance up, her gaze lingering on Yu Liuxue’s back. Even though her pajamas were loose-fitting, the shape of her arms revealed under the short sleeves was slender and toned, with no excess fat, graceful and elegant. With the slightest lift of her arm, she resembled a swan spreading its wings—noble and poised.

And her legs—there was no need to even mention them. Gu Qingzhi’s legs were her most stunning feature: long and perfectly proportioned. Ever since she appeared on That’s You 2, fans had been singing her praises to the heavens. Every time Zhou Zhou saw them, she felt unsettled.

Zhou Zhou shut the door in a daze and leaned against the wall, her eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

Did she just think Gu Qingzhi looked a little beautiful?

The trailer for Snow Slash was completed soon after. As soon as the official account released it, Xiao Nian’s fans swarmed in like wolves catching the scent of blood. They first watched the blurry version on Weibo, then rushed to other platforms to view the ultra-HD version.

“Her acting is as brilliant as ever—made me cry!”

“Oh my god! As a fan of the original novel, I’m beyond satisfied with this trailer! Our Ah Xue is exactly this kind of beauty—cool and aloof at times, radiant and charming at others. Xiao Nian captures her essence perfectly. Can’t wait!”

“Thanks, everyone, for the praise! Our Nian-jie’s acting has always been top-tier among the younger generation of actors!”

Yu Liuxue was also watching the trailer. She had to admit, Xiao Nian might be trash in other areas, but her talent was undeniable. In the entire entertainment industry, you could count on one hand the number of actresses more skilled than her. As one of the female leads, Xiao Nian practically radiated a protagonist’s aura. With her top-tier looks and elite acting chops, she certainly had the power to make people fall head over heels.

But why, then, didn’t she like Gu Qingzhi—the one whose horoscope was the perfect match for hers?

Propping up her chin, Yu Liuxue asked gloomily, “If Xiao Nian doesn’t fall, doesn’t that mean I’ve totally failed the mission in this world?”

The system: “…?” Host, please don’t get any wild ideas.

Beyond the ever-popular Xiao Nian, other fleeting actors in the trailer also attracted attention—such as Zhou Zhou, who played Xiao Nian’s younger cousin. One scene showed Zhou Zhou being forcefully kissed. Some viewers immediately responded with sneering sarcasm:

“These days, everyone from singers to idols is breaking their necks trying to become actors. Is the acting world really that tempting?”

“If you can’t even do your primary job well, what makes you think you can succeed in another field? And to think she dared take on a kiss scene before making a proper debut? Zhou Zhou, I salute your guts.”

“Isn’t Zhou Zhou part of Gu Qingzhi’s group? First we had one Gu Qingzhi, now another one’s trying to rise? Can’t she just stay in her own lane as an idol? Why always chase clout through shortcuts?”

Zhou Zhou’s fans felt deeply aggrieved, and Zhou Zhou herself was equally disheartened. But unlike Yu Liuxue, she didn’t have explosive popularity. When Xiao Nian’s fans attacked, she could only swallow the insult.

Yu Liuxue’s fans, however, were totally unrestrained. They didn’t care if it was Xiao Nian or Nian Xiao—if they wanted to go to war, they would, without hesitation:

“Wasn’t your precious Xiao Nian also from a girl group? Now you look down on girl group idols? Don’t forget your roots when you become famous, or karma will bite back.”

“What’s wrong with a kiss scene? As an actress, if she can’t dedicate herself to her craft, is she even qualified to be called a good actress? I clearly remember your beloved Xiao Nian’s first role involved both bed scenes and kiss scenes. Weren’t you all quite thrilled watching back then?”

Xiao Nian’s fans were fuming, practically seeing red. Where the hell did Gu Qingzhi find such a militant fanbase? They were getting stress cysts from the sheer frustration.

Zhou Zhou held her phone and stared at the screen in a daze, watching as Yu Liuxue’s fans fought for her honor with unmatched ferocity. Her feelings were complicated, but she refused to admit she was touched. She pressed her lips together and stared fixedly at her phone. Eventually, when Xiao Nian’s fans couldn’t keep up with the onslaught, they quietly withdrew—perhaps realizing it wasn’t worth it to argue with fans of someone they deemed irrelevant.

Zhou Zhou’s lips curved into a faint smile, unnoticed even by herself. She bit her lip, put away her phone, and thought: Since Gu Qingzhi’s fans are so nice to me, I’ll give up on competing with Yu Liuxue for Xiao Nian. That one’s too cunning. I’ll go for someone easier next time.

A while after the trailer was released, someone finally noticed the background vocals.

People listened to it over and over but couldn’t identify the voice. They guessed every famous singer they could think of, but none of them matched that mournful, haunting timbre. Then someone spoke up, “Didn’t they say Gu Qingzhi sang the theme song for Snow Slash? Could this be the one?”

Xiao Nian’s fans were the first to rush in and deny it:

“No way! How could Gu Qingzhi possibly convey such emotional depth in her voice? She’s still so young and hasn’t experienced any real ups and downs in life. I’d bet anything—this is definitely not her voice.”

“That must’ve come from one of Gu Qingzhi’s delusional fans. Have some shame! Does your idol even sound like this on her shows?”

Yu Liuxue had never performed a song like this on the show before, so naturally her fans hadn’t had a chance to showcase that style either. Even her fans hesitated, deciding to hold off and regroup before pushing back. Unfortunately, that silence was taken as guilt and a sign that they’d been caught bluffing, which earned them a round of public mockery.

Yu Liuxue had been all fired up, eagerly waiting for her fans to start a fight, but after waiting so long, she realized they were far too rational—they were actually waiting for confirmation before acting.

She was bitterly disappointed. This batch of fans was just too zen.

Snow Slash was about to premiere. Because of Gu Qingzhi’s involvement, Xiao Nian had grown extremely anxious. Over the years, she had quietly interacted with several big agency managers but hesitated among them, wanting to choose the one with the best resources and the most potential for her future.

But in her heart, no one ever compared to Yu Yu.

Yu Yu was well-connected and resourceful. No matter how hard a contract was to land, she always managed to get it, handing it over like it was no big deal, as easy as drinking water or having a meal.

If it weren’t absolutely necessary, Xiao Nian never would’ve wanted to part ways with her.

But Yu Yu’s relationship with Gu Qingzhi was like a thorn lodged deep in Xiao Nian’s heart, keeping her restless and unsettled. Because of this, her mental state had deteriorated significantly. And while she was considering other managers, Yu Yu didn’t reach out even once—as if she didn’t care at all.

Wasn’t that a sign she was ready to let go?

Normally, if an agent found out their artist was considering jumping ship, they’d call them in immediately for a serious talk. But Yu Yu didn’t react at all—if anything, she seemed relieved.

Xiao Nian couldn’t take it anymore. She arranged a meeting with Yu Yu to discuss the matter openly. Yu Yu arrived shortly after, still dressed in her professional suit—neat, crisp, and emotionally distant. For a brief moment, Xiao Nian felt like she had traveled back in time to when she was a nobody, just about to sign with Yu Yu.

All these years later, Yu Yu hadn’t changed one bit.

Yu Yu gave her a slight nod, sat down, and said coolly, “What is it?”

For a moment, Xiao Nian was at a loss for words. She didn’t know how to begin, so Yu Yu spoke on her behalf. “I heard you’ve been considering changing agents lately.”

Xiao Nian’s heart instinctively skipped a beat, but once she realized that Yu Yu already knew, she calmed herself. “Sister Yu, it’s been a great honor working with you over these past few years. If not for your recognition back then, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m truly grateful that you took a chance on me.”

“But…” Her tone shifted, “Sister Yu, I’ve always wondered—why did you choose me back then?”

Yu Yu gave a slight smirk. “Anyone would have done. There’s no one I can’t make famous.”

Xiao Nian was momentarily speechless. She had wanted to ask about Yu Yu’s relationship with Gu Qingzhi, but with an answer like that, she couldn’t find a way in. So she returned to the original topic, speaking with tact. “Actually, I haven’t made a final decision yet. You’ve always treated me very well, and it’s really hard for me to part with you…”

Yu Yu’s brows furrowed ever so slightly. She felt a strange sense of déjà vu in Xiao Nian’s tone—like she’d heard these same words before. After thinking it over carefully, she finally pinpointed the source: wasn’t it that green tea girl Gu Qingzhi?

Xiao Nian was mimicking her word for word. The tone, the methods, even the underlying intent—they were all uncannily similar. The only difference was that she wasn’t as blatant as Gu Qingzhi. After all, Gu Qingzhi had no qualms saying things like, “Sister, you’re the person I trust most in the world. Being able to work with you is such a blessing,” and sometimes would even make ambiguous remarks that stirred the imagination.

Yu Yu had heard so much of this kind of talk from Gu Qingzhi that her ears had grown calloused. So now, when Xiao Nian was recycling Yu Liuxue’s tactics, Yu Yu felt nothing at all. Not even a flicker of anger.

After Xiao Nian finished, Yu Yu replied calmly, “I respect your decision.”

She stood up. “Until the contract ends, I’ll continue managing all your affairs. You don’t need to worry.”

Xiao Nian froze for a moment, then asked instinctively, “Then… when the time comes, where do you plan to go?” To Gu Qingzhi, perhaps? That would be the outcome she was most expecting.

“Haven’t thought about it.”

“Probably anyone will do.”

Yu Liuxue was currently overwhelmed, juggling multiple responsibilities. On one hand, she was aggressively competing with Yang Nianjiao for Yu Bing’s favor; on the other, she was preparing both a solo and a group album. Now with Xiao Nian planning to part ways with Yu Yu, she had to spare additional effort to win Yu Yu over—otherwise, all the groundwork she had laid would go to waste.

Slumping in her chair, she muttered, “This is just too hard.”

Yang Nianjiao had been monitoring her closely lately, leaving her no time to build rapport with Yu Bing and no opportunity to invite Yu Yu out for meals or casual chats in order to win her over. Rubbing her chin, Yu Liuxue worried that all her efforts would end up being in vain—what if she ended up empty-handed?

After the press conference for Snow Slash, the show’s official launch was just around the corner.

As the premiere drew nearer, Snow Slash began drawing more and more public attention. Every move made by those involved with the show was scrutinized. Yu Yu was still steadily arranging Xiao Nian’s schedule with her usual meticulousness—flawless and organized. But the more composed Yu Yu appeared, the more unsettled Xiao Nian felt.

Before a show’s debut, lead actors usually make the rounds on variety shows to promote the drama. Yu Yu scheduled Xiao Nian’s appearances just as she always had. But when Xiao Nian arrived at the recording studio, she found that aside from herself and the other main cast members, Zhou Zhou was also present—and so was Yu Liuxue.

Why was she here? Clout-chasing?

Yu Yu explained calmly, “They said since Gu Qingzhi sings the theme song, they invited her too.”

A convenient excuse—clearly a move to boost ratings by grabbing attention.

With so many people around, Xiao Nian couldn’t make a scene. She gave a curt nod, then walked into her dressing room with visible displeasure. It was a spacious room. She hadn’t seen Zhou Zhou in a long time, and during this period of radio silence, Xiao Nian had been yearning for her constantly—every day felt like a year. Now that she finally saw her again, she didn’t want to wait even another second. She just wanted to rush forward and embrace her tightly.

But Yu Yu stopped her. Her tone was firm, though it came from a place of concern. Xiao Nian had no choice but to hold back her impulse and decided she would reunite with Zhou Zhou after the recording.

The taping was about to begin. As Xiao Nian stepped out of the dressing room, she saw Yu Liuxue and Zhou Zhou standing side by side, cheerfully helping the production team test out some game props. The two stood a little too close for comfort. Xiao Nian, clearly irritated, strode toward them. Just as she walked beneath one of the props, the foot pedal Yu Liuxue was standing on suddenly gave way. She lost her balance and fell onto a foam mat below.

The mat was thick, and the drop was only about a meter, so Xiao Nian judged she’d be fine and remained standing still. But in the corners of her eyes, she caught two figures rushing toward Yu Liuxue from opposite sides. Together, they caught her mid-fall.

When Xiao Nian looked closely, one was her agent Yu Yu. The other was the person who haunted her thoughts day and night—Zhou Zhou.

Xiao Nian: “…?”