Chapter 92 – After Secretly Marrying a Top Star, I Was Cheated On by Her (Arc End)

Yu Bing gave Xiao Nian a faint smile and nodded slightly before turning and slipping into the car. She sat beside Yu Liuxue. Just as Yu Liuxue poked her head out to see who Yu Bing had been speaking to, Yu Bing subtly shifted her body to block her view. At the same time, she lifted an eyebrow at Xiao Nian in a teasing arc and then shut the car door with force, saying blandly to the driver, “Let’s go.”

Yu Liuxue blinked, her eyes curious as she looked at Yu Bing. “Jie, who were you just talking to?”

Yu Bing replied with cold indifference, “No one.”

Yu Liuxue glanced back, catching a fleeting glimpse of a vaguely familiar face, but before she could see clearly, a white wall blocked her line of sight. She had no choice but to give up and withdraw her gaze, then leaned softly and bonelessly against Yu Bing’s shoulder. Her arms instinctively wrapped around Yu Bing’s arm. Yu Bing’s thoughts stirred slightly. She flipped her palm and gently laid it over Yu Liuxue’s bare skin.

Yu Liuxue still had an ad shoot to attend, so she didn’t return to the company with Zhou Zhou and the others.

Xiao Nian slowly rolled up the window, her red lips pressed tightly together. In her mind, she couldn’t stop replaying the mocking smile Yu Bing had thrown her way before leaving. Yu Yu had smiled at her the same way once—like a victor. Wasn’t it just Gu Qingzhi? What was so great about her? Why did these women always fight over her?

With her lashes lowered, Xiao Nian thought to herself, It must be because Gu Qingzhi is cunning, managing to wrap those two cold-hearted women around her little finger.

She was deeply convinced that the easier something was to obtain, the easier it was to lose—especially someone like Yu Yu. If Yu Yu could heartlessly leave her once, then if she ever met someone more promising or more exciting, she’d definitely throw Gu Qingzhi aside without a second thought and run to the next person.

When that day came, Gu Qingzhi would be the one crying.

Xiao Nian even wanted to see it—whether Gu Qingzhi, once famous and then abandoned by Yu Yu, would end up worse off than her. Would she sink deeper than Xiao Nian did? Would she be forced to swallow her pride and beg a sleazy little manager for scraps of kindness like she had?

As the car slowly drove off, Xiao Nian turned to look out the window, her mind steeped in malice: When the time comes, Gu Qingzhi will definitely suffer more than I ever did. Her manager will have even fewer scruples than mine, constantly testing and pushing her moral limits.

Then, just like Xiao Nian, she would fall—hard—from a lofty place, and life would feel worse than death.

Suddenly, Yu Liuxue sneezed. Yu Bing immediately wrapped her in a blanket and told the driver, “Turn up the heat a bit.”

But Yu Liuxue didn’t think she was cold. She touched her nose, vaguely feeling like someone was cursing her. But whether it was a fellow member of their group or a crazed fan, she couldn’t say. She sniffled and blinked her beautiful eyes. “Jie, I’m fine.”

Yu Bing responded by wrapping her up even tighter.

The final comeback of Mercury Girls sent fans into a frenzy as they fought tooth and nail to boost their idols’ sales. Diehard fans and casual ones alike worked tirelessly, practically doubling the numbers overnight. The group’s return album smashed past the one million mark in sales, prompting widespread shock: “This is insane! These fans must be out of their minds!”

A million copies—unthinkable in the past. Hardcore solo stans even edited posters daily to flaunt their wealth and unity. Meanwhile, Yu Liuxue’s fans stayed silent but smug. No matter how much others bought, their idol’s album always outsold the others—by exactly 100 copies.

No more, no less. Exactly 100.

Over the span of half a month, fans of other members were fuming, convinced Gu Qingzhi’s fans were trolling them on purpose. They were certain it was all a calculated insult. Online fan wars erupted again, but soon attention shifted to the coveted slots for the final fansign event.

Though the more albums one bought, the higher the chance of getting picked, even a rich fan who’d purchased thousands of copies failed to make the list. Heartbroken, she immediately took to Weibo in tears. Coincidentally, she happened to be one of Yu Liuxue’s fans.

Yu Liuxue was deeply moved. “To go that far… that’s really something.”

She pulled out the group album, then asked her assistant to fetch her solo albums from the past. With a flurry of strokes, she signed them all, wrote a thank-you letter, and told the assistant to send everything to the fan. The woman lived nearby and received the package that very evening. She opened the express box and instantly posted on Weibo: “A handwritten autograph and love letter from Qingzhi herself! Go on, be jealous!”

Other fans were both envious and bitter: “Sure, you got a handwritten autograph and love letter, but you lost the chance to see her in person, to shake her hand, to confess your love!”

The rich fan: “……” She’s… right. I have no comeback for that.

There were more fansign slots this time than before, and with Yang Nianjiao raking in cash and in a good mood, she was especially invested. Pushing off from the edge of her desk, she glided her chair back, stood, and told her secretary, “Go tell Yu Yu to notify Gu Qingzhi and the others. Have them decide on a cosplay look in advance. We’re giving fans a surprise this time.”

Even though the group was disbanding, Gu Qingzhi would continue solo activities. They needed to pave the road ahead for her.

Yu Liuxue immediately raised her hand. “I want to be the queen.”

Zhou Zhou chimed in, “Then I’ll be Snow White.”

Yu Liuxue: “???” You little thing—what are you implying? I said queen, not evil queen. Are you saying I’m a venomous, cruel woman in your eyes?

Clutching her chest with an aggrieved expression, Yu Liuxue gasped, “Oh, Sweetie, don’t you know that the queen and Snow White are a trending couple online right now?”

“I had no idea that after all these years, you still haven’t forgotten me, that you’ve silently loved me all this time, guarding me,” Yu Liuxue said, walking toward her with emotion. “Sweetie, what am I supposed to do with you?”

Zhou Zhou quickly backed away to maintain a safe distance. “…?”

What the hell is going on in this woman’s head? She clenched her teeth, her little face frosty. “Gu Qingzhi, I’ve already explained everything clearly to you. Stop fabricating nonsense, twisting facts, and turning black into white!”

Yu Liuxue raised a brow in mild surprise. Not bad—the heroine’s idiom game is on point.

“Then swear it, right now, in front of everyone. Swear you never had any thoughts about me, that you never liked me. If you lie, you’ll gain ten pounds.”

Zhou Zhou instinctively hesitated. “I…” Heads can roll, blood can flow, but gaining ten pounds—never.

Yu Liuxue grinned triumphantly. She looked up with a beaming smile and tattled to Yu Yu, who was standing behind Zhou Zhou: “Jie, you saw it, didn’t you? She didn’t dare swear.”

Zhou Zhou turned around and immediately met Yu Yu’s warning glare—two piercing looks that nearly froze her in place.

She was both angry and wronged. I didn’t do anything! Can’t I even hesitate for a second? And even if she had feelings, so what? Who said she couldn’t like Gu Qingzhi?

Suddenly: stunned.jpg

Zhou Zhou froze. Wait a second. True, no one said I can’t like Gu Qingzhi—but there’s no reason I have to either. Isn’t President Yang better than Gu Qingzhi? Isn’t Yu Yu more attractive than Gu Qingzhi? Heck, she could grab any random person off the street and they’d still be a hundred times better than Gu Qingzhi.

Yu Liuxue ultimately decided to play the role of the wicked queen. Fueled by resentment, Zhou Zhou deliberately went against her and chose to play Snow White instead. On the day of the fan signing event, Zhou Zhou donned a Snow White costume, styled her hair in an elegant, ladylike updo, and topped it with a sparkling crystal tiara. She was adorable with a touch of grace, and graceful with a hint of sweetness.

Yu Liuxue’s eyes lit up and she praised without reservation, “Sweetie, you look stunning today.”

Zhou Zhou snorted coldly. “None of your business.”

She had always been the most beautiful member of the group. Back when Mercury Girls was lukewarm in popularity and shelved, she had the largest and most loyal fanbase. If it weren’t for Gu Qingzhi stealing the spotlight, she’d still be far ahead of everyone else, untouchable.

Thinking of this soured her mood again. How exactly did Gu Qingzhi win the fans over? Why did people like her so much?

Zhou Zhou spiraled into endless self-doubt just as Yu Liuxue finished getting dressed. Her hair and makeup were done to perfection. She held a long scepter in one hand and lifted the hem of her black velvet gown as she stepped out slowly. Zhou Zhou was momentarily dazed—Gu Qingzhi rarely wore heavy makeup, but this smoky eye look made her gaze deep and mesmerizing. Her emerald eyes gleamed like an elf’s, sparkling with starlight.

Her fiery red lips made her exude dominance. Especially in those first few steps she took—imposing and coolly beautiful. Her expression was lofty, as if she had been born at the summit. She seemed so close you could reach out and touch her, yet Zhou Zhou couldn’t help feeling like she could never quite reach her.

Yu Liuxue suddenly smiled at her and lifted her scepter, chin held high with pride as she looked Zhou Zhou over imperiously. “So it’s you who dared to scheme against this queen? You’re quite bold!”

Zhou Zhou’s illusion shattered instantly. She rolled her eyes. “Crazy.”

Two sets of photos from that fan signing event circulated wildly online. One showed Yu Liuxue’s noble and icy wicked queen cosplay, the other showed Zhou Zhou as a pure and flawless princess, like a beam of moonlight. The remaining three members were overshadowed, rendered invisible by the contrast.

Under the flash of cameras, Yu Liuxue seemed to glow, her whole form like jade. Yu Bing stood quietly watching her flirt tirelessly with fans, lips twitching faintly.

Though they met countless fans that day, Yu Liuxue didn’t feel tired at all. When the signing ended, she sighed a little wistfully. “Time flies. I’m going to miss you all, my gardenias.”

The fans shouted back, “Us too! Qingzhi, you have to start working again soon!”

Yu Liuxue once again lifted her queenly scepter, raised her gown to show her dainty ankles and high heels, and waved her hand. “Got it, my darlings.”

But the moment she returned backstage, before she could even change clothes, Yu Bing locked her in a dark room. The lights were off. All she could sense was the faint scent of laundry detergent on Yu Bing’s clothes—her favorite, the cool fragrance of snowy mountains—contrasting with Yu Bing’s fiery breath.

Yu Bing wrapped an arm around her waist. “Today you flirted with exactly 367 girls.”

Yu Liuxue: “…?!” God, I’m such a beast! Wait, no—

“Sis, how did you even count that exactly?!” She looked up at her in disbelief. How bored are you?!

Her answer was a kiss. When it ended, Yu Liuxue had to steady the black gem crown that nearly fell off her head. She called out aggrievedly, “Sister…” But that one word was all it took—Yu Bing scooped her up, took her straight to the car, brought her home, and unleashed a storm of passionate “discipline.”

Before the fan signing, everyone had assumed that all four members except Gu Qingzhi were doomed. But afterward, Zhou Zhou skyrocketed in popularity thanks to her stunning photos. “Overnight sensation” wasn’t even an exaggeration. Lying sprawled on the bed, Yu Liuxue sighed, “Some people are just born protagonists. She’s so fresh and ethereal. Me? I’m just cannon fodder.”

The system considered this. “Host, you’re more like a seductive fox spirit.”

Yu Liuxue: “…?” I’m calling the cops.

Mercury Girls disbanded on schedule. Afterward, the other three members all left Diyu Entertainment as their contracts ended. They didn’t retire from the industry—they switched to new agencies and intended to keep hustling. But ultimately, none of them stirred up much excitement.

Zhou Zhou didn’t leave. Partly because she didn’t know where to go, and partly because she had just gotten popular. Yang Nianjiao, seeing her potential, played the “caring big sister” role and talked to her for a long time. In the end, she brainwashed her successfully, coaxing her into unwavering loyalty and complete obedience.

When Yu Liuxue saw the resolute expression on Zhou Zhou’s face, she honestly couldn’t tell if this protagonist was just dumb or had traded all her intelligence for beauty.

She eyed Zhou Zhou carefully. Zhou Zhou noticed and snorted coldly, “Gu Qingzhi, just you wait. I’m going to surpass you soon. When I do, I’ll make you regret everything.”

“No need to wait. If you just date me right now and then dump me, I’ll be devastated.”

Zhou Zhou took two wary steps back. “How can you eat what’s in the bowl while still eyeing the pot?”

Yu Liuxue blinked. “Why not?”

Zhou Zhou was momentarily speechless. She discreetly glanced behind Yu Liuxue, curled her lips slightly, and ran.

Yu Liuxue cheerily turned around—and instantly froze. “…Sister?!”

She tried hard to act calm. “What brings you here?”

Yu Bing’s gaze landed coldly on her waist. “I’m here to pick you up from work.”

Yu Liuxue nearly dropped to her knees on the spot. No! My waist, my legs—I’m still recovering!

After Mercury Girls disbanded, Yu Liuxue focused entirely on the third album. Yang Nianjiao was extremely strict—if anything wasn’t perfect, she’d have her rework it for ages. On one hand, Yu Liuxue appreciated having such a boss; on the other, she was deeply terrified. By day, Yang Nianjiao worked her like a mule; by night, Yu Bing toyed with her like a doll. Life was just too hard.

For a long time after Mercury Girls disbanded, fans who were bitter about the other three members’ fates often lashed out at Yu Liuxue. Her fans were endlessly annoyed and completely fed up. Some claimed Gu Qingzhi’s success was only possible because fans of the other members had helped boost her album and stats. Others insisted she was nothing without Mercury Girls.

Her fans had been holding back their frustration for months. So when the official site started pre-sales of the new album, they exploded, driving sales past 500,000 almost instantly—and the numbers kept climbing.

“Whew, a top-tier idol for sure. These stats are record-breaking.”

Everyone was stunned, even Yu Liuxue’s own fans. They panicked, asking around, “Did the site glitch? What’s going on? This is scary!”

Half an hour later, the official account reassured them: No glitches. Feel free to place your orders.

Fans collectively sighed in relief, then burst into trembling excitement.

“Damn, girls, you’re amazing! You’re the best! Qingzhi will be so happy when she finds out!”

That night, pre-orders hit one million.

“Sigh! Our girl is just a humble little singer. Stay low-key, stay low-key.”

“Sigh! One girl carrying an entire group, that’s all!”

“Sigh! She’s top-tier now!”

It might still be a bit early to officially call Gu Qingzhi “top-tier,” but no one had expected her popularity to soar after the group disbanded. People began looking around suspiciously. “Let’s see… which fan from another group snuck in to win our girl’s attention?”

The term “top-tier celebrity” used to be associated with Xiao Nian, but now it had become Yu Liuxue’s label. Xiao Nian felt particularly bitter about this. Because as soon as Yu Liuxue was dubbed the new top-tier, people began to question whether Xiao Nian still deserved the title—and the overwhelming majority said no.

The main reason for this shift was Gu Qingzhi.

Xiao Nian was both angry and disappointed. Fortunately, she had just finished filming several movies, and they would be hitting theaters soon. She refused to believe that, with so many films launching in succession, the public would still deny her efforts and acting skills.

After wrapping the last shoot, Xiao Nian let out a long sigh of relief and drove home alone with her suitcase. She hadn’t even warmed the couch when her manager called. “Xiao Nian, remember those commercials I mentioned earlier? Take a good rest today. Once you’re recovered, come shoot them tomorrow.”

The movies she had just finished were full of action scenes and stunts, and Xiao Nian was completely exhausted. Hearing this, she said weakly, “Sis, can I postpone for a few more days?”

Her manager chuckled. “Xiao Nian, that’s not up to me! If you delay, they’ll just go find Gu Qingzhi instead…”

The moment she heard the name Gu Qingzhi, Xiao Nian sat up straight. “Alright, I’ll be there tomorrow.”

Gu Qingzhi again. It was always Gu Qingzhi. She would never let Yu Yu steal her opportunities. Anyone else could take her resources—except for Yu Yu and Gu Qingzhi. Xiao Nian immediately removed her makeup, packed her things, and went to bed early.

Yu Yu had indeed been considering getting more endorsement deals and ads for Yu Liuxue lately, but the ones Xiao Nian was filming didn’t even make her shortlist. If she was going to give something, it had to be the best in the world—only then would her artist appear truly distinguished.

While Xiao Nian was filming those commercials, Yu Liuxue’s new album officially launched on the NetCloud platform. At the very moment it went live, the number of online listeners surged to hundreds of thousands. Yang Nianjiao stared at the screen in silence before murmuring, “I think this album might perform far better than I expected.”

Yu Yu was flipping through her phone. Hearing that, she curled her lips slightly. “Time to revise the plan.”

Even Yu Liuxue herself hadn’t expected the album to take off like this. She had always known she’d go viral eventually, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. The thought made her a little giddy. But before she could enjoy it for long, Yu Bing dragged her off and gave her a brutal round of training. Yu Liuxue was both thrilled and miserable. Thrilled because Yu Bing’s skills were amazing. Miserable because—well, Yu Bing’s skills were too amazing.

Gripping the bedsheet, Yu Liuxue whimpered tearfully, “Sis, that’s enough…”

I’m seriously dehydrated now. QAQ.

With Yu Liuxue’s sudden explosion in popularity, Yang Nianjiao, Yu Yu, and the rest scrambled to revise their strategy overnight. Her appearance fees would be raised going forward, but for shows and events they’d already accepted, prices would remain the same—they needed to maintain their reputation and build a strong commercial image. They also immediately started planning albums in other languages and international concerts. Gu Qingzhi didn’t just have a massive fanbase at home; her international following was also growing steadily, largely because she had performed soundtracks for several films and dramas.

When Snow Slash went viral, it was subtitled and shared by many foreign sub teams, gaining countless fans. As the singer of the theme song, Gu Qingzhi reaped enormous benefits. Upon digging deeper, people discovered that not only was she a talented singer, but also a stunning beauty—and just like that, they all fell for her.

Yang Nianjiao and Yu Yu were nothing if not efficient. They immediately arranged Japanese, Korean, Thai, and even Malaysian language lessons for Yu Liuxue. Hearing the list gave her a headache. “Do I really have to learn all that?”

What if I lose my mind or my tongue ties itself in knots?

She tried resisting—but it was completely futile. Yu Yu simply shoved her straight into the classroom. Yu Liuxue wept through her lessons, all while juggling her other engagements in the evenings.

Though she fussed and whined, she still obediently brought her Japanese and Korean textbooks into Yu Bing’s car. The moment she got in, she started venting. “Sis, Yang Nianjiao and Sister Yu are awful. Heartless and cruel, the both of them! Just now at the company, they held me down together and started madly…”

Yu Liuxue paused, deliberately checking Yu Bing’s expression. But the latter remained stone-faced. Deflated, she finished, “…stuffing me into a classroom to take lessons.”

Yu Bing gripped the steering wheel with both hands. “Tonight, I’m going to…”

Yu Liuxue’s eyes lit up. Was this finally her favorite domineering-CEO-forces-you drama?

“…make you study.”

The subway grandpa put down his phone.

“Sis, what don’t you know?”

Yu Bing glanced coolly at the books in Yu Liuxue’s hands. “Everything you’re learning now—I already know. And everything you haven’t learned—I know that too.”

Yu Liuxue: “……?!”

“System, this dog-blood world is insane! Even the most irrelevant background characters are overachieving geniuses!” Yu Liuxue suddenly remembered—Yu Yu was a Harvard prodigy. Then as her biological sister, Yu Bing couldn’t be far behind.

Yu Liuxue’s concert was scheduled for summer in July. In the lead-up to it, she was constantly under fire from the triple combo of Yu Bing, Yu Yu, and Yang Nianjiao, living every day in torment. And she wasn’t the only one suffering—Zhou Zhou was too.

Zhou Zhou had decided to stay, so Yang Nianjiao began grooming her toward an acting career. After all, Diyu Entertainment had made its name through actors. The company was full of A-list stars. Whenever a script came in, Yang Nianjiao would always try to slot Zhou Zhou in. Zhou Zhou was grateful, but…

This was her twenty-seventh time playing a bitchy supporting role or a pretty face!

Was it just because she was beautiful that she couldn’t land a serious, proper role? She tried to complain to Yang Nianjiao, but the woman dismissed her in a few words. “Zhou Zhou, if you can become a breakout star with just a supporting role, I’ll immediately get you a lead role script. That would mean your acting has surpassed 99.99% of the world’s population.”

Zhou Zhou frowned. That sounded really hard.

But there was nothing she could do. She went back to playing another villainess. On set, she slapped the female lead hard across the face. “You slut! Who do you think you are? You think you’re even fit to carry my bag?!”

Honestly… this kind of role was starting to feel easy. But still, when would she be able to win over audiences with these silly characters?

Next month, Xiao Nian had two films coming out. The month after that, one more. And the month after that, two more. That alone showed just how hardworking and dedicated she’d been. Her fans were full of hope. “This time, she’ll definitely do better than before! She’s the best!”

“She’s gonna surpass that Gu whatever-her-name-is and stomp her into the ground!”

Spectators flocked in droves. Thanks to her fans’ enthusiasm, everyone’s attention was now on Xiao Nian’s upcoming films. Whether she’d sink or soar—whether she could reclaim her throne—depended entirely on this make-or-break moment.

But before that, Yu Liuxue’s first domestic concert officially began.

She had released four albums, totaling over thirty songs. She’d rehearsed the concert countless times and had memorized every move and cue. After dressing and finishing her makeup, she stepped onto the lift platform and rose to the stage under a single spotlight.

After a few brief opening remarks and fan interactions, the concert officially began.

The venue was huge, packed with people, and it was summer—Yu Liuxue quickly began to sweat. It soaked her black hair and her clothes, but it didn’t affect her in the slightest. She sang live the entire time, and her raw vocal power stunned every person hearing her for the first time. They were left speechless with awe.

They couldn’t understand how such a petite girl could produce such clear and ethereal high notes. Her voice soared effortlessly, soothing and enjoyable, so much so that when the concert ended, the entire audience sighed in regret. “Time flew by too fast!”

Yu Liuxue suddenly chuckled softly. “Everyone, give me a few minutes. I have a surprise for you.”

After speaking, she quickly ran off stage and changed into Xiao Nian’s most iconic outfit from Snow Slash. After a quick touch-up of her makeup, she stepped back on stage. “This song is dedicated to my favorite idol—Teacher Xiao. I hope everyone will support her new movie.”

“At the same time, it’s also for all the fans here and out there. Because of this song, we got to know each other, and I’ve received your support for so long.” Yu Liuxue gave a deep bow. “Thank you all.”

As the accompaniment began, Yu Liuxue smiled and slowly walked forward. “She said, the cruelest thing in this world is nothing but love…”

With her sorrowful and tender voice, the entire audience began singing along, bringing the first concert to a perfect close.

When Xiao Nian saw the wildly circulating concert footage online, her phone suddenly slipped from her hands and fell to the floor. From the phone came a voice: “My favorite idol—Teacher Xiao…”

Xiao Nian buried her face in her knees. Yu Liuxue’s voice stirred countless memories within her. She recalled the days when she was still at the height of her fame, recalled what she had done to Gu Qingzhi, recalled how she had always ignored and been hostile toward Gu Qingzhi. She had treated her so terribly—why would Gu Qingzhi still regard her as an idol?

Hadn’t she stopped liking her? Hadn’t she wanted to destroy her?

Why, then, was she still promoting her new film?

For the first time, Xiao Nian broke down in sobs. She couldn’t make sense of any of it. All she knew was that she had played a perfect hand into utter ruin. She hadn’t needed to end up like this—she had done it to herself.

The theme song from Snow Slash still echoed in the room. The more Xiao Nian listened, the more despair she felt. She was like the female lead she had played, watching everything fall apart before her eyes, powerless to stop it. The helplessness crushed her, leaving her trapped in deep regret and self-blame.

Some people didn’t even know what to say about Yu Liuxue promoting Xiao Nian’s new movie. They had seen clearly how Xiao Nian once treated Gu Qingzhi. And now…

“Sigh, the girl’s just too foolish.”

To this, Yu Liuxue simply said on Weibo: “She’s my idol.”

“She’s my idol”—just plain words, yet they stirred boundless emotions. Just because someone is your idol, even if she once called you a clout-chasing nobody, even if she cheated on you during your marriage, it was all forgivable.

Some accused Yu Liuxue of having skewed values, but she didn’t care in the least.

Xiao Nian’s film soon premiered, but not only did it perform poorly, she was also thoroughly trashed online.

“Has Xiao Nian lost her mind? What was she thinking taking on such a tacky, commercial piece of garbage? She’s destroyed whatever goodwill the public had left for her. She’s let down her fans, her past efforts, and the deep trust of fans like Gu Qingzhi!”

“I sat in the theater the whole time thinking: who am I, where am I, and what the hell am I even watching? I haven’t seen a movie this awful in years. Xiao Nian spent so long building her reputation, and now she’s completely trashed it.”

“Honestly, her acting hasn’t declined that much. The problem is the director and the screenwriter—total liabilities. She’s innocent in that sense, since it was her agent who picked the script.”

“So what if her agent picked it? If she didn’t like it, she could’ve said no. The agent couldn’t have forced her at gunpoint. Let’s be real—she just wanted to cash in. What’s the matter? Heartbroken that Gu Qingzhi took too much of the money in the divorce?”

Debates raged online. After reading just a few comments, Xiao Nian felt utterly hopeless. She had pinned all her hopes on these films, but—

She failed. She was useless. She couldn’t do anything right.

Even if things weren’t as humiliating as people claimed, she knew her edge was gone. It would be nearly impossible to get quality scripts again.

And she had let down the fan who had been with her through thick and thin from the very beginning. That girl had adored her, seen no one else but her. And now she had disappointed her. She had disappointed everyone.

Xiao Nian opened a bottle of liquor and drank glass after glass until she was completely drunk.

Her phone rang—it was her agent. As soon as she picked up, the agent snapped, “Xiao Nian, get yourself together and come have dinner with the investors. Do you even know how much they lost because of you? They’ve made it clear—if you don’t show up tonight, you’ll never land another role again…”

Without thinking, Xiao Nian smashed the glass. “If it weren’t for you and your money-grubbing, picking scripts like that for me, how the hell would I have ended up like this?!”

“What kind of agent are you? You might as well be a pimp! Don’t think I don’t know how you’ve been using your artists to curry favor with others.” Dizzy and disoriented, Xiao Nian sat up. “Starting today, I quit acting. I’m officially leaving the industry. And don’t think you’ll get away clean either.”

She immediately went on Weibo and exposed everything her agent had done over the years. The agent managed a number of high-profile artists, and fans were shocked when the truth came out.

Spectators watching the drama unfold online were thrilled, watching the mess like a field full of melons waiting to be devoured. In the middle of it all, Xiao Nian and her agent were tearing into each other, revealing secrets left and right. Although there was no hard evidence for Xiao Nian’s misdeeds, with the agent spelling them out, her awful character was confirmed—and she instantly lost countless fans.

To make matters worse, Xiao Nian was swiftly blacklisted by a new company. For the rest of her life, she would never get another role.

But she no longer cared. She poured herself another drink and stared blankly, wondering what she had been chasing all her life—fame? Love? In the end, she had destroyed every path she had. She would never act again.

Xiao Nian gave a bitter smile and downed a whole bottle of liquor. If she had the chance, she wanted to start over.

She wanted to make it up to Gu Qingzhi.

Though her idol never became wildly famous, she would find a decent job, take her out for a good meal on payday, buy her favorite cosmetics, and give her everything she had.

But it was all too late.

Xiao Nian drank as she watched the video of Yu Liuxue’s concert. When she saw the entire audience singing in unison at the end, she finally realized just how badly she had messed up.

Xiao Nian’s downfall had been expected by Yu Liuxue, but what she didn’t expect was how far it would go—an all-out war that ended with Xiao Nian disappearing from public view, never to return. Yu Liuxue still had several concerts left—in South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia—her schedule was packed. As both her bodyguard and girlfriend, Yu Bing stayed by her side throughout.

When she was tired, Yu Bing gave her massages. When she was thirsty, Yu Bing fetched her warm water. When she was sleepy, Yu Bing served as her pillow. Yu Bing treated her with endless patience and care—no complaints, no demands… Well, not entirely. At night, she still wanted a little something in return.

Not a single concert of Yu Liuxue’s turned into a disaster. Her skills were top-notch, her foreign language pronunciation flawless and melodious—instantly winning the hearts of fans overseas.

After a dozen concerts, Yu Liuxue’s popularity reached an unprecedented height. Some media outlet dubbed her the “Heavenly Queen,” and the name stuck. Fans often called her “Queen Gu,” though some still preferred to affectionately call her “Qingzhi-jie” to show their love.

After the concert, Yu Liuxue was completely exhausted. Yang Nianjiao looked at her with a fake smile, all sweetness on the surface but sharp beneath. “Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been secretly dating Yu Bing behind my back.”

Yu Liuxue: “…!”

But now she had confidence. She gave a shy smile. “President Yang must have made a good deal of money recently, right?”

Yang Nianjiao snorted coldly. But considering how much money Yu Liuxue was raking in, she decided to let it slide. Her tone softened for once. “Go home and get some good rest.”

As soon as Yu Liuxue left, Yang Nianjiao excitedly called her father. “Dad, you lost! Hurry up and transfer five hundred million to me.”

Old Mr. Yang sounded utterly resigned. “Nianjiao, you’re already thirty. Can’t you act a little more mature?”

Yang Nianjiao retorted, “Nope! Old geezer, transfer the money already!”

Old Mr. Yang: “…” What an unfilial daughter.

Just then, Zhou Zhou happened to run into Yu Liuxue stepping out of the elevator. Her first reaction was to turn around and pretend she hadn’t seen her. Now that Gu Qingzhi was so popular while she remained a minor actress, Zhou Zhou felt deeply embarrassed and had no desire to face Gu Qingzhi.

But Yu Liuxue’s eyes were sharp—she spotted her instantly. She recalled how she had met Zhou Zhou in this very place a few years ago, under similar circumstances. She called out loudly, “Sweetie, want to grab a cup of tea together?”

Zhou Zhou turned around stiffly, eyes glued to the floor. She mumbled, “With how amazing you are now, who would dare have tea with you.”

Yu Liuxue deliberately leaned closer. “So you think I’m pretty amazing too?”

Zhou Zhou bristled with irritation and snorted, “Don’t get cocky, Gu Qingzhi. One day I’ll surpass you!” With that, she stomped off. “We’ll have that tea when I win Best Actress!”

Yu Liuxue considered it. With Zhou Zhou’s current acting skills, that might take another ten or twenty years.

In a cheerful mood, she swung her bag over her shoulder. When she bumped into Yu Yu walking past the front entrance, she smiled and said, “Goodbye, sister.”

Yu Yu cast her a glance and gave a slight nod.

Yu Bing was waiting just ahead. Yu Liuxue walked over and boldly took her hand. “Sister, let’s go home.”

Tilting her head with a bright smile, Yu Liuxue looked up at Yu Bing. “Sister, actually, the moment I first saw you in President Yang’s office, I fell for you.”

Yu Bing paused in thought, then asked with slow realization, “So what position do you want to try tonight?”

Yu Liuxue: “???” Is that all I am to you? Just a greedy woman who’s always asking for things?!

She pouted. “But Sister, actually, Sister Yu is the most precious, irreplaceable person in my heart…” She didn’t finish before Yu Bing shoved her into the car, and a flurry of kisses rained down on her.

Yu Liuxue stubbornly kept up her act—after all, no matter what, it always ended in a “punishment” session.

“Honestly, I used to keep wondering whether I should be with Sister Yu or President Yang…”

Ah!

“Sister, I was wrong! Be gentle!”

“We still have the rest of our lives ahead of us—there’s no need to rush…”

In the end, her attempt to fan the flames only added fuel to the fire. She was thoroughly and repeatedly ravished by Yu Bing.

…Satisfied.

(Arc End)