Chapter 17 A Sudden Turmoil & High Walls Built on Our Hearts Teacher Chai, we part ways here…
10 p.m. is the prime time for most people to unwind after a busy day by collapsing onto their beds or sofas and scrolling through their phones.
Suddenly, a well-known paparazzi account with considerable influence in the entertainment industry dropped a bombshell without warning. The headline was astonishing!
Breaking news! Chai Yundu secretly meets with a mysterious woman in Hengdian, sparking rumors of a new romance! He's been seen attentively caring for her outside of work and even building a love nest with her?
The accompanying images are nine photos taken secretly while being followed:
There are images of Zhu Qingting getting in and out of the Chaiyundu RV;
She was accompanied by her assistant, Xiaoya, as she toured Hengdian and visited various scenic spots.
There they were in the open courtyard of Xu Yi's house in Lishui, the moment she wiped the charcoal ash from Chai Yundu's cheek.
Although no photos clearly show the woman's face, there is no concrete evidence of intimate actions, such as holding hands, hugging, or kissing.
However, phrases like "mysterious woman," "secret meeting," and "love nest," which are full of room for imagination, combined with Chai Yundu's photos, are enough to ignite huge attention and discussion among his massive fan base and the general public.
The hashtag #ChaiYundu'sRelationshipExposed# was quickly pushed to the top of the trending topics list by marketing accounts that rushed to the scene, followed by a bright red "hot" sign.
The paparazzi chose an extremely opportune moment to release the information, precisely when Chai Yundu was on an international flight and might not be able to communicate with his company and public relations team on the ground in time to discuss countermeasures.
Therefore, within just half an hour, the comment sections of related Weibo posts and the discussion forums of major short video platforms were flooded with comments, presenting a stark contrast between the two.
Chai Yundu's die-hard fans and those "bone fans" who are still deeply immersed in the plot of "The Bone Scheme" and have extremely strong fighting power reacted the most fiercely and made the most sharp remarks:
"Where did this nobody come from trying to ride on my brother's coattails? Look at that tacky outfit! He's no match for my brother at all!"
"Stay away from Brother Du's private life! Reject any form of exploitation and exploitation!"
"Brother, please enjoy your career alone! Why are you talking about love when your career is on the rise? Can't you just focus on your career?"
"Who is this woman? She's completely unrecognizable, and her back view gives off a cheap, petty vibe!"
"Hehe, I only believe in the brotherhood in 'The Schemer's Bone,' everything else is fake!"
"Together we journey through life, together we'll spend the rest of our days!"
"Without hesitation, I will cross the river to reach my heart!"
"I'll travel alone, to ferry you across to the end!"
Many fans, channeling their inner Sherlock Holmes, began to zoom in and analyze the photos, trying to uncover the identity of this mysterious woman based on her height, build, and clothing style. Suspicion was directed at two female celebrities who had previously worked with Chai Yundu.
"Can someone please investigate who this woman who's clinging to my brother is?!"
"Look at her height and hair length, she looks so much like Yu Su! She's the one who worked with Brother Du on 'Drug Enforcement,' playing the busty and sexy female undercover agent! She's based in Hengdian!"
"Don't scare me, upstairs! Yu Su's face looks so silicone-like it's practically overflowing the screen, even her breasts are implants! I heard she had an ambiguous relationship with that veteran Hong Kong actress when she first debuted..."
"Help! No! [Erkang gesture]"
"Why do I feel like she looks a bit like He Tiantian? She's the vicious dancer who got pierced by a thousand arrows at the end of my brother's second drama?"
"Ugly! He Tiantian, how could my brother like someone like her!"
In no time, the social media comment sections of Yu Su and He Tiantian, who were innocently dragged into the situation, were quickly flooded with all sorts of vile insults and malicious speculations. The scene was once out of control, and the viciousness of the words was shocking.
Many more rational fans of the show and casual observers followed suit and expressed relatively calm opinions:
"Why are these fans so irrational in attacking the woman? If it's true, they should offer their blessings. Actors are people too, what's wrong with them dating?"
"Not at all, they look quite good together. Their height and temperament match perfectly, and they're very pleasing to the eye."
"Isn't it better to focus on the work? Let's mind our own business and not interfere in the actors' private lives."
"To be honest, this year's paparazzi are no good. They've been following us for so many days, and they haven't even managed to get a clear picture of our faces... This scoop is a bit weak."
Amidst the revelry and chaos of this online world, Zhu Qingting, who had just finished washing up and was lying in bed preparing to sleep, habitually picked up her phone one last time to take a look.
The screen lit up, and a push notification for entertainment news headlines immediately caught the eye.
Breaking news! Chai Yundu's relationship exposed; his mysterious girlfriend is suspected to be sexy goddess Yu Su?
Her heart sank. Did he have another girlfriend?
The thought stung her like an ice pick.
Her fingers trembled uncontrollably as she tapped the notification.
However, when she saw the photos posted by the paparazzi, when she saw those familiar scenes and her own familiar figure appear on the online platform, she felt a chill instantly run through her body, and her mind went blank.
Her worst fears have come true!
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and her trembling fingers swiped across the screen, browsing the comments section below.
Seeing that many netizens were trying to uncover her identity and inadvertently hurt two actresses who had worked with Chai Yundu, she had mixed feelings.
No one has guessed it was her yet.
Perhaps because her interaction with Chai Yundu was limited to a single collaboration on a stage in "Street Dance of China," and it was something fans asked for themselves rather than her actively seeking it out, it didn't arouse any speculation.
She was also thankful that because she had a concussion and was afraid of the wind, and because Xiaoya always wore a mask and handed it to her, she wore various hats and masks for the next few days. In addition, due to the limitations of the angle and image quality of the candid shots, her face was never clearly visible.
However, even though her identity hasn't been exposed by irrational fans yet, Zhu Qingting's sense of panic hasn't lessened in the slightest.
Since paparazzi were able to take photos of her in Hengdian and Lishui, does that mean they might have been following her all along, even... all the way to Shanghai? Right outside her apartment building? At the dance troupe?
Is the lack of release just because there's not enough space in this nine-grid layout? Or is this merely a teaser? Will a major announcement be made tomorrow, or at some unknown time?
She dared not think any further.
What will her life be like once her identity is fully exposed?
Is it the endless stream of malicious personal attacks on the internet?
Is it endless private message harassment, phone bombardment, or even real-life stalking and harassment?
Or will it drag her beloved dance troupe and colleagues into this baseless vortex of public opinion, defiling the peaceful temple of art with the clamor of entertainment to the death?
Just then, her phone rang; it was a video call from Qin Youyou.
Clearly, Youyou also saw the trending topic and immediately recognized the blurry figure in the photo as Zhu Qingting.
As soon as the video call connected, Qin Youyou's anxious voice came through.
"Zhu Zhu! Did you see the trending topic? My God! How could you guys be photographed by paparazzi? You need to ask Chai Yundu right away what his team plans to do! This is terrifying!"
Zhu Qingting replied, her face pale and her voice dry, "He...he's on a plane right now...we can't get in touch with him."
Qin Youyou gasped on the other end, her voice filled with lingering fear. "My God! Now I finally understand your worries! How can these fans be so terrifying! They start attacking indiscriminately without even knowing who you are, and they've even hurt other innocent actresses! If they knew it was you, wouldn't all the fighting be focused on you?"
She paused, her tone becoming complicated, "Zhu Zhu, Chai Yundu is great, but dating a top star is something not everyone can do... How strong must one's mental fortitude be!"
Holding her phone, Zhu Qingting listened to her friend's words, feeling only helplessness and fear. She opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't make a sound, not knowing what to say.
In my mind, only one thought was swirling and amplifying wildly, so clear it was heartbreaking.
Perhaps... I really can't be with him.
At the age of thirteen, that innocent and budding romance was cruelly severed due to communication difficulties, becoming a deep-seated regret.
At the age of twenty-six, the rekindled excitement of regaining what she had lost far exceeded her expectations and her capacity to bear the storm of public opinion and enormous risks she faced.
She loves dance and just wants to stay in this pure and focused world of art.
She couldn't imagine that her life would be disturbed, the tranquility of the dance troupe would be shattered, and everything she had worked so hard for would be completely changed because of a relationship.
After a long silence, just as Qin Youyou thought her signal was bad, she called out, "Hello, hello, can you hear me?"
Zhu Qingting finally spoke, her voice soft, yet carrying an almost desperate calmness and determination.
"Youyou, I've made up my mind. I'm not going to be with him anymore."
———————————
Meanwhile, Deng Jie, Chai Yundu's agent who remained in China, also saw this explosive news immediately.
His face turned ashen as he looked at the candid photos and glaring headlines on the screen.
He immediately used all his connections to contact the paparazzi who released the exposé, trying to find out the other party's background and true purpose.
Before Chai Yundu left for Europe, she mentioned Zhu Qingting to him, making it clear that she was a girl he was seriously pursuing and cherished very much. She hoped that he wouldn't arrange any more long-distance trips before joining the film crew in three months.
The company has never had a strict rule against Chai Yundu dating, after all, he is approaching 30 and his career is stable.
But before, he was focused on his career and didn't have this idea. Now, he's finally met a girl he genuinely likes.
To be fair, the principal dancer of the nation's top dance troupe possesses exceptional looks, temperament, and talent, making her a perfect match for Chai Yundu. From the company's perspective, they are actually happy to see this happen.
But the crux of the problem remains those difficult fans. Whether the phenomenal success of "The Bone Slayer" was a blessing or a curse is debatable. While it catapulted him to fame, it also attracted a group of fanatical, idealistic fans with distorted moral compass, immersed in their own fantasies. Although four years have passed and the situation has improved considerably, its potential influence should not be underestimated.
After some urgent communication and probing of interests, Deng Jie finally understood the whole story.
It turns out that the information was leaked from Bai Ruoxue.
Bai Ruoxue was the one who wanted to create a CP with Chai Yundu back then, but her fans dug up her past of plastic surgery and bullying classmates during her school days, causing her image to plummet. She went from being the leading lady to a nobody, and now she can only play supporting roles in various dramas.
She happened to be filming in Hengdian at the time and was staying at the same hotel as Chai Yundu. That night, after finishing her social engagements, she ran into Chai Yundu's team, who had just arrived in Hengdian, in the hotel parking lot.
When she saw Chai Yundu thoughtfully helping Zhu Qingting with her suitcase, she felt that the two had an ambiguous relationship.
Driven by a twisted desire for revenge and a "if I'm not doing well, no one else can either" mentality, she proactively contacted and hired paparazzi to follow and secretly photograph her. She even thoughtfully informed the paparazzi of Chai Yundu's flight time to Milan, suggesting that they release the photos during the window of opportunity when the other party couldn't respond immediately, in order to achieve the maximum damage effect.
For paparazzi, the ultimate purpose of taking these photos is nothing more than profit.
If Chai Yundu's team is willing to pay a higher price to buy out these photos, then he will naturally know whose advice to take.
The other party offered three million yuan, promising that after receiving the money, they would not release any photos showing Zhu Qingting's clear face or confirming her identity, and would keep quiet.
Deng Jie knew that the company was unlikely to pay this hush money.
After all, it seems that regardless of whether the relationship is real or not, it will not affect Chai Yundu's career. The only one who will be greatly impacted and hurt is the woman.
He immediately called Chai Yundu via WeChat. International flights usually provide paid Wi-Fi, and the cost is negligible for them, so they usually buy it.
But no one answered the phone.
Deng Jie didn't dare delay and quickly contacted Fang Xiaoya again. Luckily, the call was answered immediately this time.
The situation was urgent, so he told Xiaoya to wake up Chai Yundu immediately.
The call was quickly transferred to the sleepy-eyed Chai Yundu.
"Adu! Something's happened to Teacher Zhu!" Deng Jie said succinctly and urgently, quickly and clearly recounting the exposure of their relationship, the paparazzi's paparazzi photos, and Bai Ruoxue's actions behind the scenes.
Chai Yundu's eyes widened instantly, and his relaxed state tensed up immediately.
While listening to Deng Jie's report on Xiao Ya's phone, he quickly took out his own phone and opened Weibo to check the trending topic that had already "exploded".
"They deliberately planned for you to be on the plane and unable to respond immediately!" Deng Jie gritted his teeth on the other end of the phone. "This was all premeditated!"
Chai Yundu quickly swiped the screen, browsing the secretly taken photos and the obscene comments below, his brows furrowed tightly.
Fortunately, in all the published photos, Zhu Qingting's face was cleverly obscured by hats, masks, or tricky angles.
“The paparazzi have even clearer photos,” Deng Jie’s voice grew heavier, “including photos of her entering and leaving her own residential compound and the dance troupe in Shanghai alone, as well as photos of the two of you embracing. They’re asking for three million to buy out all the photos and original negatives, guaranteeing that they won’t be released again and that they will remain silent.”
"Buy it." Chai Yundu said without any hesitation, decisively, "The money will come directly from my personal account."
"Understood," Deng Jie replied, then raised the next thorny issue, "What about the public opinion that's already trending on social media? How do we handle it? How do we define her identity?"
Chai Yundu also felt a headache coming on. It had only been a few days since he solemnly informed Deng Jie that he was going to pursue Zhu Qingting, and Deng Jie hadn't even had time to prepare any contingency plans for their relationship being exposed. The sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard.
Although they paid to buy out the unreleased photos, they don't have to worry about Zhu Qingting's identity being completely exposed or her suffering cyberbullying from obsessive fans for the time being.
However, this trending topic cannot be left unresolved; an official response is needed, and unrelated female celebrities such as Yu Su and He Tiantian cannot be allowed to continue to be wrongly accused and cyberbullied.
Fang Xiaoya, who had been nervously listening in, cautiously interjected, "Brother Du, Brother Deng... how about we say that Sister Qingting is a newly recruited intern assistant at the company, and she's learning from me? That way, her appearance in the RV, traveling with me, and attending the team barbecue party would all make sense."
Deng Jie and Chai Yundu were silent for a while on the phone, quickly weighing the pros and cons. This was indeed the most reasonable and pacifying approach under the current circumstances.
"Let's do it this way." Chai Yundu rubbed his temples, which were throbbing from exhaustion and anxiety. "Release the statement as soon as possible, control public opinion, and minimize the impact."
After hanging up the phone with Deng Jie, Chai Yundu immediately opened his WeChat chat with Zhu Qingting.
He wasn't sure if she was asleep at that time, so to avoid disturbing her with a sudden ringtone, he chose to send a text message.
Chai Yundu: "Zhu Zhu, did you see the trending topics? Don't worry, I already know what happened. I've bought out the other photos the paparazzi had, so they won't expose any of your information. You can rest assured about that."
"My team will release an official statement later to clarify that you are a newly assigned intern assistant who is learning from Xiaoya. This statement can explain all your activities in Hengdian and is currently the safest way to handle the situation."
"I'm here for you, don't be afraid."
He stared intently at his phone screen, hoping the "typing..." message would appear immediately.
However, as time passed, the chat interface remained silent, without any reply.
Perhaps she's already asleep; she always lives a very regular life.
Chai Yundu comforted himself with this thought, deciding to call her properly once the plane landed in Milan.
He forced himself to suppress his unease for the time being and contacted Deng Jie again to confirm every word of the official statement with him.
Soon after, Chai Yundu Studio's official Weibo account released a concise and powerful statement.
The statement explicitly denied the dating rumors, solemnly clarifying that the woman in the photos is a newly hired intern assistant at the company, who accompanied the team to Hengdian for routine business training and work assistance; it strongly condemned the act of secretly taking photos that violated the artist's privacy and spreading false information that misled the public; and stated that the studio reserves the right to pursue relevant legal responsibilities.
With the official statement released and the fan club and influential fans quickly guiding and controlling the comments, the online public opinion began to show a significant shift.
Most fans chose to believe the official statement and flooded the relevant topics with comments such as "Focus on the work, stay away from private life" and "Support the studio in protecting its rights." The malicious speculation and the insults directed at the innocent actress gradually subsided.
A raging public opinion crisis has seemingly been temporarily suppressed and quelled thanks to the team's professional, efficient, and emergency handling efforts, which spared no expense of three million.
The online world seems to have returned to its superficial calm, leaving only some reluctant discussions continuing quietly in the corners.
Zhu Qingting curled up on the bed, repeatedly looking at the statement released by Chai Yundu's studio, her heart filled with mixed feelings.
On one hand, she felt that he was indeed protecting her, using the fastest and most professional methods to contain a storm that could have destroyed her life.
On the one hand, she felt an indescribable bitterness because he denied the relationship and gave himself the title of intern assistant.
If she's with him, can't she even have a boyfriend or a girlfriend? Is she destined to hide behind the role of an assistant, like someone who can't see the light of day?
Is this kind of relationship really worth it?
She didn't know how to reply to Chai Yundu's WeChat message.
She had no experience in dating and didn't know how to gracefully end a budding relationship.
Would it be too hurtful to just say "we're not a good match"?
How would someone as proud as him react?
She ultimately chose the most clumsy approach: to ignore it.
Perhaps if he doesn't receive any reply from her during his days in Milan, he'll understand what she means.
In this way, he wouldn't have to face the embarrassment of being directly rejected, and she wouldn't have to face the potential entanglement.
That's what we'll do. She turned off her phone and buried herself in the darkness.
The next day, Zhu Qingting arrived at the dance troupe with heavy dark circles under her eyes. She looked haggard from almost not sleeping all night, and even the most basic stretching movements seemed weak and feeble.
"Zhu Zhu!" Qin Youyou rushed into her private practice room, her face beaming with relief. "It's alright! Did you check Weibo? Chai Yundu's studio released a statement last night, and they've controlled the comments!"
Seeing her friend's excited expression, Zhu Qingting forced a smile. "Yes, I saw it."
Yes, on the surface, everything seems fine. The trending topics have been removed, the criticism has subsided, and everything seems to be back on track.
But only she knew that the panic and helplessness of that short hour had left an indelible mark on her heart. She never wanted to experience that feeling of living under a magnifying glass and on the edge of public opinion again.
She declined to communicate with Qin Youyou too much during work hours and suggested they have dinner together that evening to talk in detail.
Not long after, Chai Yundu's flight landed in Milan. As soon as he got into the nanny car that picked him up, he immediately called Zhu Qingting.
"The number you dialed is temporarily unavailable..."
The mechanical female voice rang out repeatedly, and the unease in Chai Yundu's heart grew wildly like vines.
He frantically ran his fingers through his hair and typed rapidly, "I've landed in Milan. Are you practicing dance? Can we talk on the phone during your lunch break?"
send.
As the car drove toward the hotel, he had no time to appreciate the exotic scenery outside the window.
He stared intently at his phone screen, hoping once again that the message "The other party is typing..." would appear at the top of the page.
More than four hours have passed, and it is noon in Shanghai, which is Zhu Qingting's lunch break.
But the dialog box remained silent, without any reply.
Chai Yundu didn't want to sit idly by and wait for his death, so he planned to find out about Zhu Qingting's situation through Qin Youyou.
"Teacher Chai, Zhu Zhu came to work as usual today, but she looked like she hadn't slept well and looked a little haggard, but otherwise there was nothing unusual." Qin Youyou's reply was very restrained.
Even when facing her idol, she still stood by her friend's heavy decision from the previous night, only gently reminding her, "Teacher Chai, if Zhu Zhu wants to break up with you, I hope you can respect her choice. We are just ordinary people, and we really don't want to expose our private lives to the internet for others to judge."
These words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing Chai Yundu's last shred of hope. He leaned back on the hotel sofa and wearily closed his eyes.
He understood that while the storm of last night had seemingly ended, it had also destroyed the relationship he had just carefully built.
He was powerless at that moment.
The employment contract was in black and white; he couldn't abandon the expectations of the entire team and the brand.
He also understood Zhu Qingting; if he neglected his work for personal matters, it would only make her more dissatisfied with him.
Moreover, at this critical juncture, any unusual action he takes could trigger a new round of speculation. If he were to return to China now and be seen doing so, it would only push her back into the spotlight.
He once again loathed the constraints imposed by his identity.
He could only wait passively, awaiting her judgment.
In the evening, Zhu Qingting and Qin Youyou went to a quiet Western restaurant for dinner and sat in a corner where they could whisper to each other.
Zhu Qingting was faced with her favorite Wellington steak, but she just poked at it unconsciously with her fork, unable to taste it.
"Zhu Zhu, Chai Yundu messaged me today, asking about you." Qin Youyou put down her knife and fork and spoke softly, "Didn't you reply to his message?"
Zhu Qingting looked up. "Yes, I haven't answered his WeChat messages or phone calls. Like I told you yesterday, I've decided not to continue. Now that I've made the decision, I don't want to give him any more unnecessary hope."
Qin Youyou sighed and reached out to hold her cold hand. "I completely understand you now. I was also shocked when I saw those comments yesterday. Their circle is too complicated, too murky. We ordinary people really... can't afford to play that game, and we can't afford to waste time." She paused, her tone becoming more serious, "But Zhuzhu, if you've really made up your mind, you should tell him clearly. Giving him the silent treatment is unfair to everyone, and it's also a kind of harm."
Seeing her friend's pained expression, she tightened her grip on her fingers with heartache. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with what you did. Don't feel guilty! I think you're just really starved for love and companionship. From childhood to adulthood, you've only ever had eyes for dance and have never been in a relationship. Now that someone like Chai Yundu has suddenly appeared—handsome, outstanding, kind to you, and willing to spend time with you—it's perfectly normal for you to be moved."
“But,” she changed the subject, trying to lighten the mood with a relaxed tone, “maybe we could try a different target? You’re so attractive, the line of suitors could stretch from the dance troupe’s door to the Huangpu River, why insist on hanging yourself on such a… dangerous tree?”
Zhu Qingting remained silent. Qin Youyou was absolutely right; her emotional world was indeed almost entirely blank.
The appearance of Chai Yundu, his thoughtfulness, his understanding, and the feeling of being cherished he brought, was like a beam of light that suddenly shone into her monotonous world of dance, attracting her involuntarily and making her fall in love with it.
But the attraction was real, and so was the fear. It wasn't just the fear of cyberbullying, but also the fear of losing control over one's own life.
What she needs may not be limited to Chai Yundu himself, but rather a stable, reassuring relationship that can be filled with sunshine and blessed by family and friends.
Being with Chai Yundu inevitably means facing countless unknown risks, hiding, and unnecessary attention.
“But people aren’t easy to find…” Zhu Qingting sighed softly.
"Let's take it one step at a time," she finally said to Qin Youyou, and to herself, as if making a difficult decision. "From now on, I'll let things take their course. I won't deliberately resist other possibilities. As for Chai Yundu... I'll make things clear with him."
After returning home from dinner, Zhu Qingting sat alone on the sofa for a long time before finally picking up her phone and opening that all-too-familiar chat window, as if she had made up her mind.
The page was filled with messages from Chai Yundu. From comforting him on the plane, to reporting his safe arrival, to making phone calls, to cautiously inquiring, and finally, pleadingly asking, "Zhu Zhu, please say something to me?"
Every word and sentence reveals his anxiety, unease, and the restraint he tries to maintain.
Her fingertips hovered over the screen for a long time, trembling slightly.
Images of the lights and fireworks of Hengdian World Studios flashed through her mind, as did the warm embrace that smelled of charcoal fire, and the breath that whispered in her ear as he taught her to play billiards and mahjong.
Ultimately, fear and the longing for a peaceful life overwhelmed everything.
She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and typed out each word carefully:
"Teacher Chai, let's end this here. Don't contact me again."
Instead of addressing her as "Yun Du," she reverted to the initially awkward "Teacher Chai." She chose the most resolute words, severing all possibilities.
My finger hovered over the send button, paused for three seconds, and then pressed it down sharply.
The message was sent successfully.
Almost instantly, it felt as if a tremendous burden had been lifted, or as if something precious had shattered completely.
Tears welled up unexpectedly, sliding down my cheeks and dripping onto the cold phone screen, blurring a small patch of water.
She didn't wipe it; instead, she placed her phone screen-down on the sofa, hugged her knees, and buried her face in them, looking lonely and pitiful.
—————————————————
Meanwhile, across the ocean, in Milan.
Chai Yundu has been sitting on the sofa in the same position for nearly ten hours.
On the coffee table in front of him was a room service meal that had long since gone cold and remained untouched.
His eyes were bloodshot from prolonged lack of sleep and excessive focus on his phone screen.
He had barely slept since Deng Jie woke him up on the plane. The jet lag and the exhaustion from the grueling schedule paled in comparison to the growing panic and agonizing wait in his heart.
His entire focus was on the WeChat chat window that remained unanswered for a long time.
Just as he was about to be swallowed by exhaustion and despair, and his eyelids were so heavy that he could barely keep them open, his phone screen suddenly lit up.
On the screen, the name he had waited for so long, and the name he was afraid to see, was clearly displayed.
"Teacher Chai, let's end this here. Don't contact me again."
There were no familiar names, no preamble, and no explanation.
There was only one resolute and chilling declaration.
This completely crushed his last glimmer of hope.
A soft "click" sounded.
The phone slipped from his suddenly weakened hand and fell onto the soft carpet in the guest room, screen down, obscuring the glaring text.
finally……
The dust has settled...
He leaned back on the sofa, his bloodshot eyes slowly closing. A huge, indescribable bitterness and dull pain surged up from the deepest part of his heart, breaking through the calm shell he had forcibly maintained all day.
A single, scalding tear uncontrollably spilled from the corner of his tightly closed eye, sliding rapidly down his pale cheek.
In the end, he still lost her.
Before he even had a chance to properly begin, before he had a chance to show her his true feelings.
From then on, both of them tacitly forced themselves to let go of this brief but profound emotional entanglement, stopped replying to messages, and tried to force their lives back to the track they had before they met each other.
Zhu Qingting resumed her previous routine of going back and forth between home and the dance troupe.
She threw herself completely into the daily training of basic skills and rehearsals of the dance drama, trying to fill the sudden emptiness in her heart with physical exhaustion and artistic focus, and to numb the memories of a certain person that would occasionally surface.
However, during breaks between rehearsals, she would still habitually pick up her phone and swipe towards the WeChat icon, hoping to see unread messages with a cloud-shaped profile picture.
Then, she would silently lock the screen, turn around and continue practicing, as if nothing had happened.
Chai Yundu's side has also entered a high-intensity work mode.
Attending Milan Fashion Week shows, brand events, magazine cover shoots... the schedule was packed.
In the photos and videos of the event, which were simultaneously updated on domestic platforms, he remained the dazzling top superstar.
Dressed in a bespoke suit, with an upright posture, he moved with ease under the flashing lights, and flashed an impeccable smile when facing the camera.
The timely media coverage and meticulously edited photos thrilled fans waiting in China, and the comment section was filled with jubilation.
"Brother is in amazing shape! He looked incredibly handsome during his time in Milan!"
"That suit is amazing! It perfectly captures the aristocratic air!"
"Ahhh, brother, look at me!"
"No one is worthy to stand beside my brother except Xu Yi!"
"Dumei! Brother, may you always walk the flower path!"
Besides this, there was an unexpected incident in this seemingly normal routine.
An account with an IP address located in Milan posted a video that garnered over a million likes in just one day, and its popularity continues to grow, with the video being constantly shared and discussed.
The poster is a 16-year-old Chinese girl. The account mainly shares videos of her practicing martial arts at a martial arts school in Chinatown, as well as videos of her sparring with some fellow students. The number of followers and likes was not very large to begin with.
The latest viral video has a title that's dramatically exaggerated:
"Shocking! The martial arts school was attacked, and the senior students were beaten down one after another!"
The video was shot handheld with a mobile phone, so the image is a bit shaky, but it is very clear.
The background is a sizable martial arts training ground, with a row of martial artists of different ages and builds standing neatly around it, all dressed in training uniforms.
The absolute focus of the video is the man in the center of the field, wearing a simple black T-shirt and sweatpants, Chai Yundu!
The video captured a near-brutal, one-against-many battle.
He sparred with several male students or teachers in the martial arts school in turn. There were no set moves, no performances; each sparring session was filled with the real sounds of impact and rapid breathing.
What's even more chilling is his almost self-destructive state. He seems completely oblivious to pain and doesn't care whether he gets hurt.
His opponent's fists pounded his chest and arms, and sharp kicks swept across his calves and ankles, but he only grunted, his eyes showing no sign of retreat or fluctuation. Instead, it was as if his ferocity had been ignited, and he retaliated with even faster and sharper moves.
Sweat soaked through his black hair, clinging to his forehead, and his T-shirt was already drenched, clinging tightly to his bulging muscles. He was like a beast trapped in a desperate situation, wounded but refusing to fall, using the most primal and brutal methods to exhaust his physical strength and also to deplete his emotions.
The girl who posted the video stated in the caption and comments section that she did not know the man in the video, but just thought he was very good at fighting, like in a kung fu movie, so she filmed it and shared it.
However, as the video spread rapidly among local martial arts enthusiasts and the Chinese community, people soon recognized him as Chai Yundu, a top celebrity.
This video went viral with likes and shares, instantly sparking heated discussions among fans and casual viewers.
Fans were quickly impressed by their idol's tough side, and the comments section was filled with praise and pride:
"My goodness! My brother's martial arts skills are truly amazing! It's not just for show!"
"I thought celebrities practicing martial arts was just for show, but I didn't expect them to be really good fighters! It was a tag-team battle! And they won!"
"So dedicated! Even when working overseas, he doesn't forget to go to the martial arts gym to practice and exchange skills!"
"That core strength! That explosive power! That reaction speed! Absolutely incredible!"
"How can my brother be so outstanding! He's good at both academics and martial arts!"
Among the tens of thousands of comments, there were also some more sober analyses.
These voices mostly came from passersby who had heard about the relationship gossip a few days ago.
"This... doesn't look like a normal sparring match. Isn't this a bit too heavy-handed?"
"Why do I feel like he's not practicing martial arts, but just venting? There's something wrong with his eyes..."
"Isn't that just too reckless? Taking so many hits without any protection? It looks painful."
"Considering the recent scandal of a relationship being exposed and then quickly denied... it's hard not to think that this state of mind is a way of venting heartbreak..."
"+1, it feels like he vented all his emotions through his fists and feet, like he was just throwing caution to the wind."
Fans, however, insisted on replying to these comments by saying that "ordinary practice was being over-interpreted."
Regarding the speculation that it was "venting from heartbreak," they chose to ignore it or simply labeled it as "rumors spread by haters."
Zhu Qingting also saw the video that was being wildly shared and liked on Qin Youyou's phone.
She watched the man's almost self-destructive resistance in the video, the pain and madness hidden deep in his bloodshot eyes... like an invisible needle, piercing her heart unexpectedly.
She abruptly looked away, picked up her water glass, and quickly walked to the water dispenser, using the act of getting water to hide her instantly reddened eyes and slightly trembling fingers.
It turns out that the so-called "letting go" is far from as easy as imagined.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thank you everyone for adding my other pre-order to your favorites!
"Godly Tycoon Simulator" is starting up.
Her only chance to get a permanent position was snatched away by a rich and beautiful woman, and on the night she passed out drunk in a dilapidated shared apartment, Xu Xiaomeng's life was reversed by a cold, mechanical voice...
[Strong desire detected, Godly Tycoon Simulator starting up... Startup successful!]
[Daily check-in is now open, with rewards ranging from 10,000 to 1,000,000. Would you like to check in for the first time?]
[Check-in successful! Congratulations on receiving 1 million! Please go to the safe to claim your reward.]
This is just the beginning.
What followed was a series of fate-altering tasks:
[Image Transformation: Lose weight to 100 pounds and receive a river-view penthouse as a reward]
[Skill Upgrade: Master drawing skills and instantly receive 200,000]
[Spend like water: Clear out all the latest seasonal items from luxury stores and get 1.5 times your purchase back]
[Expand your network: Become friends with someone with an A9 net worth and receive an additional 1 million RMB reward.]
From having nothing to using luxury as a weapon
Xu Xiaomeng reshaped not only her appearance and wealth, but also her fate of being at the mercy of others.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com