Chapter 33 A Wise Friend Helps Me Achieve My Lofty Ambitions
As the music faded to its last beat, Gu Mingyan steadily stopped her movements, ending today's dance practice.
Cheng Fang nodded, a rare occurrence: "Let's keep this up tomorrow and start practicing basic vocal techniques."
"Okay! Thank you, Teacher Cheng!" Gu Mingyan nodded with a smile, and at the same time, she did not forget to thank Nan Xu for the introduction.
On the way back, Gu Mingyan shook off her previous lack of confidence and chattered excitedly with Yun Qingqing about the training they had just had, her face beaming with a long-lost radiance.
Yun Qingqing listened with a smile until the two sat down in a restaurant, at which point she casually brought up the topic: "By the way, Mingyan, have you seen that casual photo of Meng Xian that was so famous back then, the one that made her look like a national school beauty?"
Gu Mingyan pouted upon hearing this: "I haven't seen it, I'm not going to search for her photos."
This reaction was exactly what Yun Qingqing had expected. She then asked, "Did she study ballet before?"
Gu Mingyan wrinkled her nose and thought for a moment, then shook her head firmly: "Probably not. The Meng family is just a nouveau riche family that has only become wealthy in recent years. I heard that their family background was very ordinary before. How could they afford to learn ballet?"
After she finished speaking, she looked at Yun Qingqing suspiciously, "Qingqing, what's wrong with you today? Why do you keep mentioning her?"
Yun gently raised her eyes to look at her, and seeing the concern and curiosity in her eyes, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Gu Mingyan would find out about the fake photo sooner or later, so it was better to tell her herself now than to catch her off guard later, so that she could face it together with her.
"Mingyan," Yun said softly and cautiously, "I have something to tell you. After you hear it, don't be too sad or too angry."
Gu Mingyan was taken aback by her serious attitude, and her curiosity was completely piqued: "What is it? Why are you being so mysterious? Tell me, I promise I won't be angry."
Yun Qingqing didn't laugh. She silently pulled up the photos on her phone and pushed them in front of Gu Mingyan.
Gu Mingyan glanced down casually, then exclaimed "Huh!" and leaned closer to examine the screen more closely.
"Isn't this me? How did you get my picture?" Gu Mingyan asked疑惑地. "When was it taken?"
Looking at Mingyan's completely unaware expression, Yun felt an even greater pang of sorrow in her heart. She softly asked, "Mingyan, are you sure the person in this photo is really you?"
"Of course!" Gu Mingyan found it a little funny. "I'm not so bad that I wouldn't recognize myself, am I? Look at this background, it's our school's dance studio."
When she looked up at Yun Qingqing, she found that her friend's face was devoid of any smile, filled with a complex expression that mixed with heartache, reluctance, and anger.
Gu Mingyan's smile slowly froze.
A sudden, extremely uneasy premonition flashed through her mind, and her voice unconsciously lowered: "Qingqing, what's wrong? Is there a problem with this photo?"
Yun took a deep breath: "This photo is the one of Meng Xian that went viral as the national school beauty."
Gu Mingyan stared at the photo on the screen, her mind not quite processing it.
"What do you mean by Meng Xian's viral photo?" She blinked, puzzled. "This photo is of me, what does it have to do with Meng Xian?"
Yun Qingqing didn't speak, but just quietly looked at her.
A few seconds of eerie silence.
The confusion on Gu Mingyan's face gradually faded, and her beautiful eyes slowly widened.
"You mean Meng Xian impersonated me?" Gu Mingyan asked.
Yun nodded gently but heavily.
Gu Mingyan abruptly pulled her hand back and threw her phone on the table as if she had been burned.
She leaned back in her chair, tilted her head back, looked at the ceiling light in the restaurant, took a long, slow breath, and then slowly exhaled.
No wonder.
No wonder Ye Jinyan doesn't allow her to dance in public.
He didn't dislike her dancing; he was afraid that Meng Xian, this inferior imposter, would be exposed.
Yun felt a pang in her heart and was about to offer some words of comfort.
But then Gu Mingyan raised her hand and wiped her eyes lightly towards the ceiling, without any tears falling.
"Ha." She gave a short laugh. "Those two, even after all this, they still lied to me and said they were just ordinary friends."
She picked up her phone and swiped her fingers across the screen rapidly: "Of all the instruments you could learn, you chose to learn swordsmanship. You two are truly a match made in heaven."
"Mingyan?" Yun called her softly.
Gu Mingyan didn't look up: "I'm fine. I just feel like I was such an idiot before."
Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she sent a message to her financial assistant:
[Immediately withdraw all financial support provided to Ye Jinyan personally and to all projects under his name. There will be no further financial transactions, and all related contracts should be terminated as soon as possible.]
When the message notification popped up, Gu Mingyan's anger subsided slightly.
"I, Gu Mingyan, have never seen such a shameless person in my entire life. Ye Jinyan is ungrateful, and Meng Xian is impersonating me, Bo Ming. Neither of them will get away with this!" she said coldly. "I'm going to post on Weibo right now to tell everyone the truth."
"Wait." Yun gently reached out and pressed her wrist.
Gu Mingyan asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"Don't rush," Yun Qingqing patiently explained. "Meng Xian's image as the nation's school beauty has been deeply ingrained in people's hearts for several years, and she still has many supporters. If you suddenly go up now and say that the photo is of you, without much groundwork or a chain of evidence, it's easy for her fans to turn around and accuse you of trying to ride her coattails, being desperate for fame, or even blurring the focus and turning it into a mudslinging war."
Although Gu Mingyan was unwilling, she knew that Yun Qingqing had a point: "Then... are we just going to let it go like this?"
“Of course we can’t let it go like that.” Yun Qing smiled. “Have you forgotten? You’re currently transitioning into an idol, and what you need most is buzz and exposure. We need to wait for the right moment to release the news about Meng Xian impersonating someone else, so that it can have the greatest effect, clear your name, attract fans, and generate momentum.”
Gu Mingyan took a deep breath, her rationality gradually returning: "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Before long, the opportunity that Yun Qingqing had been waiting for came to her.
The production team of "Best Partners" gave all the guests a long vacation of more than three months, partly to adjust the pace and partly to accommodate their respective schedules.
Gu Mingyan devoted almost all her energy to the preparation of her first single after the transformation, following up on every detail from song selection and choreography to recording and visual concept.
Under the training of the Cheng Fang system, the demo of the single gradually took shape after repeated revisions.
While Gu Mingyan was in seclusion, meticulously refining her work, news that Director Sun Mo's new film had already cast its second female lead was leaked out through some unknown channel.
Immediately afterwards, an even more inflammatory claim quickly spread among Meng Xian's fan base:
Meng Xian didn't get the role of the second female lead because on the day she tried to get the role from director Sun Mo, Gu Mingyan directly picked a fight and kicked her off the cruise ship. Fans took things out of context and pieced together a so-called truth that "Gu Mingyan maliciously stole Meng Xian's role because of her powerful connections."
As a result, Gu Mingyan became the target of a lot of fans' attacks.
[Our Xianxian has worked so hard for so long, why should she be so easily replaced by this talentless, resource-rich actress?]
[Sun Mo always pretends to be aloof, dedicated to polishing scripts and not being swayed by resources, but isn't he just groveling to those with connections?]
Boycott "Dark Surge"! Boycott Sun Mo! Absolutely refuse to watch any of the films starring "The Corner-Stealing Dog"!
On social media platforms, Meng Xian's fans launched an organized boycott and verbal abuse campaign against Gu Mingyan, with the hashtags #GuMingyanStealsAromaticActor# and #BoycottTheUglyGuMingyanWhoIsCapital# quickly climbing to the top of the trending topics list.
Some radical fans even started digging up dirt on Gu Mingyan.
Soon, several photos of Gu Mingyan from her junior high school days, showing her wearing braces, having short hair, and still having some baby fat on her cheeks, were unearthed.
The fans spreading the negative rumors were adamant that Gu Mingyan had undergone plastic surgery to resemble Meng Xian, the national school beauty.
[Hilarious! Does Gu Mingyan's ugly appearance from before have anything to do with how she looks now?]
[I knew it! They're not related by blood, but they look so alike. It's confirmed they've had plastic surgery!]
[Stealing roles is one thing, but even imitating faces? Gu Mingyan, how insecure and envious are you of Xianxian?]
[This is nothing more than a poor imitation; no matter how similar the result, it lacks the refined elegance of a true beauty. All it does is rely on its connections to grab resources.]
In a short time, topics such as #GuMingyanPlasticSurgery# and #GuMingyanStealingResources# trended on social media, even affecting Sun Mo's side.
This farce caused quite a stir, and inevitably reached Meng Xian's ears.
When her assistant cautiously reported the matter to her and asked if she needed to step in to guide or clarify things, Meng Xian's first reaction was not guilt, but an overwhelming sense of joy.
Who would have thought Gu Mingyan would have this day!
She deserved it for repeatedly embarrassing her on the cruise ship.
Meng Xian felt incredibly relieved, even believing that God was helping her vent her anger.
She welcomes the speculation from fans about Gu Mingyan having plastic surgery, and even hopes the rumors will spread further.
As Gu Mingyan's nominal manager, Cai Chengyun was naturally aware of this public relations crisis. However, since he was Ye Jinyan's man, he couldn't possibly do his best to handle the situation for Gu Mingyan.
After seeing the trending topic on Weibo, he simply closed the page without even bothering to notify Gu Mingyan.
Yun Qingqing and Gu Mingyan were busy preparing for their exams and polishing their music videos, respectively, and were completely unaware of the speculations circulating online.
Three days later, the recording of the second episode of "Best Partners" officially began.
The production team adopted a surprise live broadcast approach, arriving at the guests' homes at 6 a.m. with cameras to capture their most authentic and down-to-earth moments.
In the live streams of other guests, fans who successfully staked out the stream were enthusiastically commenting, but in the live stream of Gu Mingyan and Yun Qingqing, a lot of discordant voices flooded in as soon as the stream started.
[Haha, great job, production team! This last-minute surprise allowed us to see the guests without makeup.]
It's obvious that Gu Mingyan's face would be covered in silicone without makeup, making her look completely unrecognizable.
Even if you get plastic surgery to look like Meng Xian, you can't replicate her natural charm.
However, these sounds were quickly drowned out by a chorus of "Holy crap!"
【What?! This is where Gu Mingyan lives?! No wonder she throws tantrums all the time, she really is a princess!】
[This location, this size—how much would it cost in Yuncheng, where land is incredibly valuable?]
[I can't imagine how happy I would be if I could live here, little girl.]
The destination the production crew arrived at was far beyond the realm of ordinary villas; it could practically be described as a sprawling manor.
Through the gaps in the iron gate, one can see the meticulously manicured gardens, the white main building in the distance, and even a shimmering artificial lake.
"Is this the place?" The assistant director asked, looking at the address with some uncertainty.
The driver confirmed the address: "Yes, this is it."
The door slowly opened, and a middle-aged butler in a dark suit with a refined demeanor came out and bowed slightly: "Excuse me, are you from the 'Best Partners' program team?"
"Yes, we've come to pick up Miss Gu and Miss Yun as agreed." The assistant director quickly got out of the car.
"Miss Yun and Miss Yun haven't gotten up yet," the butler said politely. "Please come in and rest for a while. Would you like tea, coffee, or other drinks?"
The group was led into the main building lobby.
The camera pans across the nearly ten-meter-high hall, where a huge crystal chandelier hangs down, and several seemingly casual yet substantial oil paintings adorn the walls. The furniture is in an elegant European style, each piece exuding a sense of exquisite craftsmanship.
The butler instructed the servants to bring tea and refreshments.
The crew members carefully took the tea set, afraid that a slight tremor in their hands would lead to financial ruin.
Fortunately, a little noise came from the second floor not long after.
Gu Mingyan, wearing a fluffy cat-themed pajama set, appeared at the stairwell. She rubbed her eyes, looking impatient: "Who is it so early? It's so noisy!"
Following behind her, Yun Qingqing, dressed in a fluffy bunny pajama, yawned sleepily, a tuft of hair sticking up in her hair.
The camera immediately zoomed in.
Two clean-cut faces were exposed to the high-definition camera without any defenses.
Gu Mingyan's skin was fair and radiant, with a faint blush from just waking up, and her long eyelashes cast soft shadows under her eyes.
Yun Qingqing's style looks more innocent and naive. Her skin is so good that you can't see her pores. Because she is not awake, her eyes are still a little dazed.
Many netizens were charmed by the two of them:
[Holy crap! This bare-faced look is amazing! Are you sure the production team didn't use any beauty filters?]
[The clouds beside me are so soft and gentle! Like a sleepy bunny!]
[To be honest, even without makeup, Gu Mingyan's looks would easily surpass many celebrities, right?]
The stubborn black mole stubbornly emerged:
[Hehe, she got plastic surgery to look like Meng Xian, how could she not be beautiful?]
[With all that high-tech treatment, if Gu Mingyan is still ugly without makeup, she shouldn't even bother trying to make it in the entertainment industry.]
[The trolls upstairs are just trolling for the sake of trolling, it's pointless. You've already said everything.]
Gu Mingyan squinted at the group of people and the reflective camera that suddenly appeared downstairs, paused for two seconds, and then suddenly realized what was happening.
"Oh, I'm recording a show today," she muttered, turning to walk back. "Wait here."
Yun gently explained, "I'm sorry everyone, we'll change our clothes and be done in a minute."
Then he jogged to catch up with Gu Mingyan.
About twenty minutes later, the two reappeared in front of the camera.
Each of them carried a small bag and, with the butler and maid watching them go, got into the program crew's spacious van.
The filming location for this episode was a plaza in a large outdoor theme park.
Meng Xian stood in the center of the crowd, seemingly chatting and laughing with the other guests, but her eyes kept glancing towards the entrance.
She couldn't wait to meet Gu Mingyan.
When the car carrying Yun Qingqing and Gu Mingyan finally arrived, Meng Xian immediately smiled and quickly went to greet them.
"Mingyan, Qingqing, good morning!"
Gu Mingyan didn't even look at her. She was holding a delicate powder compact in her hand and pressing her makeup against the small mirror.
Meng Xian's expression flashed, and she immediately found an opening: "You two have finally arrived! We've been waiting for so long. Did you spend a lot of time getting ready?"
This may sound like a joke at first glance, but combined with the recent rumors about plastic surgery, it makes it very clear that Gu Mingyan is relying on makeup to make a good impression and is wasting everyone's time.
Gu Mingyan closed the powder compact, glanced at Meng Xian with her eyelids, and before she could speak, Yun Qingqing beside her laughed first.
Yun smiled gently, her eyes crinkling, and her tone light: "Teacher Meng, you've misunderstood. We're late not because of makeup. It's just that Mingyan's garden is so big that it takes quite a while to drive from the main building to the gate."
She blinked and looked at Meng Xian curiously: "Teacher Meng, you arrived so early, your home must be very close, right? Is it outside the Third Ring Road?"
"..."
Meng Xian's smile suddenly vanished.
Her home was indeed located in a villa area outside the Third Ring Road. Although it was a high-end community, it was completely different from Gu Mingyan's manor-style residence, which was located in the core area and covered an astonishing area. In terms of both geographical location and the level of wealth it symbolized, it was a completely different concept.
She chuckled twice, forcibly circling back to the main point: "Mainly because I'm used to going makeup-free, I can just wash my face quickly in the morning and go out, so it saves a lot of time."
Yun tilted her head slightly, revealing just the right amount of confusion: "So, even if you've drawn eyebrows and eyeliner, it still counts as a bare face?"
These words were originally meant to be provocative, but Yun Qingqing's tone was so natural and her expression was full of innocent eagerness for knowledge that the viewers in the live stream didn't notice.
Meng Xian did not expect her to be so ruthless.
However, she reacted quickly, immediately making amends with a smile: "Maybe I was too busy last night and didn't remove it completely, so there's some residue. I was in a rush this morning and didn't check carefully."
"Oh, I see!" Yun Qingqing immediately looked enlightened, her tone full of admiration. "What foundation did Teacher Meng use? It didn't smudge even after being left on all night, the makeup lasts so well!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Sihan couldn't help but come over and chime in with surprise, "Hey, you really do know, Teacher Meng, the color of your neck and face are different, it's obviously layered."
Nan Xu felt a headache coming on and sighed silently, wishing he could just cover his brainless partner's mouth.
[I can't believe it! Ji Sihan, why are you saying such blunt truths? You're making that girl lose face!]
[Yun Qingqing and Ji Sihan practically have the words "clear-headed and stupid" written all over their faces, hahaha.]
[Instead of believing that Meng Xian's foundation still adhered perfectly after one night without removing her makeup, I'd rather believe I'm Qin Shi Huang.]
At this moment, Jiang Mingqian, who had been standing quietly to the side, walked over.
He couldn't stand seeing his muse being teased like this, so he spoke up to smooth things over: "What's wrong with wearing makeup? Girls wear makeup to make themselves happy. Meng Xian looks beautiful whether she wears makeup or not."
His words immediately excited Meng Xian's fans in the live stream:
[Brother Jiang is truly righteous! Only he dared to stand up for Xianxian!]
Everyone else is fawning over Gu Mingyan and ganging up on our Xianxian. It's disgusting.
[Exactly, the comments section is full of people fawning over the rich; I think they've been kneeling for so long that they can't straighten their backs anymore.]
Innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire:
[No, what does your own celebrity's attempt to portray a "no-makeup" image have to do with pandering to the rich or not?]
It's not that people don't allow female celebrities to wear makeup, it's just that pretending to be bare-faced when they're wearing makeup is really a bit hypocritical.
Meng Xian was grateful to Jiang Mingqian. She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears, and said, "Mingqian, thank you for comforting me."
“This isn’t meant to comfort you,” Jiang Mingqian tried to cheer her up. “At least your face is natural, which looks much more natural and comfortable than those plastic surgery faces created with technology.”
The implication of that statement was so obvious that almost everyone's gaze instinctively turned to Gu Mingyan.
Gu Mingyan was a little confused by the sudden attention from everyone and whispered to Yun Qingqing, "Are they crazy? Why are they all staring at me all of a sudden?"
Yun Qingqing's mind raced. She recalled Meng Xian's subtle hints about Gu Mingyan's makeup earlier that day and suddenly had a vague premonition.
As the production crew called everyone to get on the bus, Yun Qingqing took the opportunity to take out her phone and glance at it.
There was an unread message from Nanxu on the screen: "Haven't you two seen how this has been trending on Weibo for days?"
Yun replied softly: [What's trending?]
Nan Xu seemed a little speechless and directly sent over a link.
As soon as Yun Qingqing clicked on the link, she saw ugly pictures of Gu Mingyan wearing braces in junior high school, as well as trolls' assertive analysis of her plastic surgery face.
Instead of getting angry, Yun Qingqing laughed and tugged at Gu Mingyan's sleeve: "Mingyan, did you finish recording the music video for your single a couple of days ago?"
"Yes, it was finalized the day before yesterday." Gu Mingyan said with a hint of pride, "Teacher Cheng said it has the potential to be a hit."
"That would be perfect." Yun slapped her thigh and urged, "Quickly, let's hire some online trolls to make that negative story about you trending even more popular."
Gu Mingyan: "???"
Yun Qingqing's lips curled into a sly smile: "Exposure delivered to our doorstep, might as well take it."
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