Chapter 111: The Traitor Within the Crew
The online debate over whether Su Bai had been in a car with Yang Xiaomi was still raging fiercely. Most people leaned toward believing the two were innocent, dismissing the accusations against them. Only a small handful were merely spectators, watching the drama unfold.
Then, a set of photos suddenly surfaced, igniting the entire internet. In the pictures, Su Bai and Yang Xiaomi were walking together, chatting and laughing as if they were very close. The final photo showed three people getting into a car together. Although the photographer mainly aimed at Su Bai and Yang Xiaomi, Tang Yuyan also appeared in the frame. Although the image was blurry, those paying close attention recognized her.
“What the hell is going on? Could there really be something going on between them?”
“How did they end up together? And that’s the same car from the video!”
“No way, Su Bai, if you’re going to find someone, at least find someone pure, why go for a twice-divorced woman!”
“Our Su Bai just couldn’t resist the temptation of a 39D!”
Yang Xiaomi read the comments online, smiling but offering no reply. Her manager, Amy, looked somewhat anxious and asked, “Sister Mi, do you want the PR team to handle this?”
Yang Xiaomi shook her head slightly, causing Amy to frown in confusion.
Yang Xiaomi explained, “Do you know why I brought Su Bai in to shoot the promotional video for ‘Sci-Fi World’? It was precisely to spark some buzz about us.”
“The video isn’t even out yet, but the scandal’s already here—perfect timing.”
“You know my public image is built on this!”
“The more rumors, the better.”
“Don’t worry about it. As long as the online chatter isn’t too outrageous, just let it be. If it gets out of hand, then we’ll take action.”
“But even though we won’t pay it much mind, this matter can’t just be left alone.”
The reason was simple: the photos had leaked from within the production crew. When Su Bai came to pick up Yang Xiaomi and Tang Yuyan, the car was parked inside the studio’s closed-off area. Only crew members could have taken those photos.
But every film crew had strict rules forbidding extras and staff from bringing phones onto the set. So only a very small number of people could have had the opportunity to take these pictures.
“Sister Mi, do you think someone on the set is trying to sabotage you?”
“Should I ask the director to investigate?”
Amy had worked alongside Yang Xiaomi for years and was experienced in handling crises like this. Finding out who took the photos wouldn’t be easy, but it wasn’t impossible either.
Yang Xiaomi nodded. “Just investigate quietly. Let me know what you find, but don’t make it public yet.”
Meanwhile, at a hotel in the city, Lin Zifeng was grinning smugly at his phone. He seemed to relish seeing Yang Xiaomi struggle with the scandal—this gave him an opportunity to exploit.
Suddenly, the door opened. A woman wrapped in a towel, drying her damp hair, entered. Lin Zifeng dropped his phone and pounced on her. After their passionate encounter, he sat on the bed smoking, looking pleased.
To be honest, this woman was no less attractive or well-built than Yang Xiaomi, and even younger. Yet Lin Zifeng couldn’t stop thinking about Yang Xiaomi.
The woman nestled against him, teasing, “Zifeng, is Yang Xiaomi really that great? When you’re with her, you keep calling her name, but you never call mine!”
Lin Zifeng chuckled. “You know why many rich men like to mess around with celebrities?”
“The more famous, the more they like to play.”
“Is it because they’re beautiful or have great figures?”
“It’s about the sense of accomplishment...”
The woman pouted, “You’re so mean!” then quickly changed the subject. “Hey, Zifeng, I heard that when Su Bai came to your crew, he walked out holding Yang Xiaomi’s hand. Are they really...?”
“To be honest, I don’t think it’s true.”
“Some say Yang Xiaomi staged this whole thing herself.”
“That gossip about that narrow path was posted by someone else, but these photos of them getting into a car together? Those were posted by Yang Xiaomi herself!”
“Otherwise, how would photos from inside the crew leak out?”
“If every crew’s photos could be exposed like this, the entertainment industry would be in chaos!”
“Besides, Yang Xiaomi has always relied on these scandals to boost her exposure.”
“Now that Su Bai is so popular, the suspicion falls heavily on her.”
Hearing the woman’s sharp analysis, Lin Zifeng grinned lasciviously. If everyone thought that way, it only made him safer.
He laughed wildly. “Wow, you really know the industry well!”
“By the way, Vivi, remember what I told you about drinking with the assistant director? Think it over carefully. If you play your cards right, your resources will come!”
“That cameo role in our crew? It’s practically settled.”
The girl called Vivi’s expression changed slightly. Thinking about the greasy man made her queasy, but she forced herself to respond, “Got it, Zifeng. I’m still thinking about it.”
“I’m just afraid that after drinking with that old man, you might lose interest in me!”
“I want to stay with you longer!”
Lin Zifeng laughed crazily, feeling desire swell inside him again, pulling Vivi back onto the bed. He yelled wildly, “Yang Xiaomi, just wait. Soon, very soon, you’ll be begging me...”
An hour later, Amy listened expressionlessly to a recording Vivi had sent her, then said simply, “Understood. You may leave.”
“I’ll consider your role.”
Afterward, Amy brought the recording to Yang Xiaomi’s office but didn’t play it for her boss, fearing it would upset her. Instead, she explained that Lin Zifeng was the most likely person to have taken the photos.
“Sister Mi, you’ve been good to Lin Zifeng, but he’s ungrateful. I think this time there’s no need to go easy on him.”
Yang Xiaomi shook her head. “Not yet. You know he’s Lin’s man. We have to save face for Director Lin. Some things can’t be done too harshly.”
“For now, this situation actually benefits us to some extent. Let’s leave it at that.”
Seeing Yang Xiaomi unwilling to push the matter further, Amy wanted to argue but swallowed her words. After all, Yang Xiaomi was the boss.