Chapter 75 "Accompanying My Wife"
The news of Wen Jia's relationship being exposed has had some impact on her.
Although she is a true film actress and should have established herself based on her acting skills, she ultimately entered the public eye through television dramas. For the first few years after her debut, she focused on television dramas. In addition, An Xiyue is well-versed in marketing, which made her an undisputed traffic star in addition to being an actress.
The love lives of popular female celebrities are naturally turbulent. Leaving aside the news of a new relationship immediately following a breakup, the previous rumors of her relationship with Xu Shaoting alone were enough to cause a huge uproar online.
Although most true fans approve of this brother-in-law and offer their blessings, a small minority will unfollow him.
However, they were Wen Jia's fans, so they took off their clothes quietly.
Zhang Linzhi was well aware of this situation, so she would never allow the rumors between Wen Jia and Zhong Rui to continue to ferment. On the day the rumors were exposed, she urged her public relations team to get up in the middle of the night to work.
Lingguang's public relations team is top-notch, with clear division of labor and swift action. In addition, since the two artists involved belong to the same company, the operation is even more seamless.
However, the comments section of that statement took a somewhat unconventional turn:
[Is the relationship with Zhong Rui fake? Is the breakup with her brother-in-law real?]
[It seems true, even the pinned ribbon-cutting video from my sister's studio has disappeared. They wouldn't delete this kind of content for no reason, would they?]
It's still a bit of a pity. (Whispering) I used to ship her and her boyfriend.
Will my career plummet after this breakup? Sorry, I've seen too many examples of people whose careers flopped immediately after a breakup.
[Relax, relax, they're adults dating, not playing house!]
The online discussion was heated, but unfortunately, the buzz only lasted for an afternoon. By evening, when Wen Jia checked again, one of the entries had disappeared, and another that was quite popular had dropped in the rankings.
Xu Shaoting snatched her phone and said casually, "When you took him to see Yu Jianshan, did you ever think that all of this would happen?"
Wen Jia became honest and said, "I have thought about it."
Have you ever thought about what I would think if I saw this?
"I've thought about it."
"So what are your thoughts?"
She steeled herself and blurted out, "What I was thinking was... you probably wouldn't care."
Xu Shaoting braced his arms on the sofa armrests, leaned closer, and locked his deep, misty eyes on her: "If you think I don't care, then why did you send me a message to explain last time?"
The oppressive feeling was overwhelming, and she was speechless for a moment.
He lifted her chin. "Why do you think I wouldn't care?"
Wen Jia smiled and said with composure, "Chairman Xu, you are an upright person."
“I can be open and honest about other things,” Xu Shaoting slowly shook his head, “but I can’t do that with you.”
"So what was your first reaction when you saw your relationship exposed? Did you believe it?" Wen Jia asked deliberately.
"I don't believe it. But I can't just ignore it either."
Wen Jia smiled slyly and hooked her arm around him, "I never thought that you, Chairman Xu, would be someone who still gets entangled with your ex-girlfriend."
"My ex-girlfriend was too charming; I just couldn't let her go." Xu Shaoting raised an eyebrow, looking completely righteous. "So I'm curious, how did she let go? Hmm?"
This topic is now a major taboo, the kind that will get him severely punished!
Wen Jia's alarm bells went off, and she cleverly replied, "Of course I haven't let go either."
"Really? I think you've gone all out."
"Nonsense..." she began to soften, taking the initiative to kiss his lips, hoping to make him forget about it.
He responded to the kiss, but it was a deep, thorough one, seeing right through her intentions: "Don't try to fool me." His voice was low and husky, his fingertips stroking her chin. "Answer me."
"If I had really let go, I wouldn't have called you while drunk," she said, looking up with an innocent expression.
She was indeed quite capable, always able to pinpoint his weaknesses and know how to feign weakness to soften his heart. With just a few words, she could dissipate most of the tension in his heart.
All his questions were stuck in his throat, and finally turned into a light kiss on the corner of her lips.
Seeing that his expression softened and his aura became gentler, she quickly changed the subject: "Anyway, the hype surrounding my rumored relationship with Zhong Rui has died down now."
She thought that saying that would solve everything, and she was ready to leave, but unexpectedly, not only was she pulled back by Xu Shaoting, but she was also turned around and asked, "Well, what are you going to do about our relationship?"
She paused for a moment: "Everyone around us knows we're together."
He held her in his arms, his lips close to her ear, "You deleted it, they don't know."
The sentence, which came without any context, startled her. Before she could react, he asked again:
Why delete it?
He approached step by step, "Why did you delete that post on WeChat Moments?"
Wen Jia: "..."
Good heavens, so this is where she was waiting for her.
"I didn't delete it..." she said hesitantly, "I just hid it."
Xu Shaoting then asked in a beastly manner, "Then why not delete it?"
"...I can't bear to delete it."
"Why can't you bear to part with me?" he coaxed gently. "Is it because you can't forget me?"
“Chairman Xu, when did you start asking such obvious questions?” After a pause, she smiled charmingly, “If I couldn’t forget you, who would want to be entangled with you here…?”
The man was finally satisfied and let her go, half-coaxing and half-commanding, "Go public?"
Wen Jia didn't act immediately, but instead asked, "Then why don't you delete it? You do things so well, wouldn't it be easy for you to completely erase me from your life?"
“I’ve tried,” Xu Shaoting’s playful smile faded, “but I found that deleting it myself hurt me more than seeing you delete it. I can’t do it.”
A wave of guilt washed over her, forcing her to lower her head.
“Make it public.” He kissed her collarbone and repeated.
Knowing she couldn't escape it, she wisely made sure to set the post to public view in front of him.
So she has thousands of friends in her contact list. If someone in the "inside" is observant, they can see that her post that disappeared out of nowhere has reappeared out of nowhere.
-
The script reading went smoothly, and the opening ceremony was just around the corner.
Yu Jianshan was extremely particular about the auspicious time for starting the project. He not only consulted the Chinese almanac to choose an auspicious day for starting the project, but also specially asked someone to perform divination. In the end, he set the ceremony at 8:18 a.m.
So on that day, the crew members got up very early and rushed to the scene of the opening ceremony.
Although Hsu Shao-ting visited the set and stayed by Wen Chia's side in a private capacity, aside from being her boyfriend, he was also a major investor in the film.
The proper title is producer.
Since the other person was present, Yu Jianshan naturally extended a formal invitation to him to attend the ceremony.
Wen Jia was supposed to ride in a van with the film crew, but he pulled her into his Maybach. "What? You don't want to ride in my car?"
She obediently sat down. "No, I'm afraid it'll be too conspicuous."
"How so?"
"There will be quite a few fans here today... not just mine, but also the other main actors' fans."
Xu Shaoting saw through her doubts and chuckled lightly, "Afraid of being photographed with me?"
“I’m afraid, but not afraid of our relationship being exposed,” she explained softly. “I’m afraid people will say I’m being treated differently, that I even have to stick to my boyfriend at work.”
“You can just think of me as an investor,” Xu Shaoting said, lowering his eyes and slowly adjusting his already meticulously folded cuffs, appearing dignified. “The smooth start of this film production is also inseparable from the support from various parties.”
These words were spoken calmly and meaningfully, befitting the manner of a demanding capitalist.
After saying that, he glanced at her and saw that she was still tense. He chuckled and gently ruffled her long hair reassuringly. "Still worried?"
Wen Jia nodded.
"Then I'll stay in the car and not get out."
"It's simply a blatant attempt to cover it up..."
His black car was eye-catching, and the license plate was even more so!
"What should we do then?" Xu Shaoting pulled her onto his lap, buried his face in her neck, and feigned regret, "If I had known we would have to make a public appearance, I shouldn't have invested in the first place."
"..."
The ceremony was held at the first filming location of the movie, a lakeside. When the car arrived, it was already surrounded by fans from various groups.
The Maybach's wheels turned with exquisite grace as it slowly drove into the crowd.
Fortunately, the car windows had dark tint, separating the inside from the outside into two completely different worlds.
How could the man and woman inside know that people outside the car were constantly taking pictures of the license plate with their phones, exclaiming, "Holy crap... a house?"
"Be confident, you should have two or three sets."
Little did these people taking photos know that inside the car, Xu Shaoting was passionately kissing Wen Jia.
His hand firmly cradled the back of her neck, his knuckles sinking into her soft hair. Wen Jia was held in his arms, her fingertips unconsciously clenching the neatly ironed front of his suit jacket, the expensive fabric without a single wrinkle.
Excited shouts came from afar, sounding like they came from another world through the car window.
Wen Jia trembled slightly, unsure whether it was from the secret kiss or from the tension before the ceremony.
Xu Shaoting noticed her distraction and gently bit her lower lip as punishment, but then tenderly took it into his mouth the next second.
The moment the car came to a complete stop, he ended the kiss, gently patted her bottom, and said, "Go."
With sleepy eyes, she tidied herself up in the car before opening the door.
It wasn't until she got off the car that she realized there was no real difference between him showing up and not showing up.
Because in front of the huge backdrop, the producer's name is clearly and unambiguously written in three large characters.
Xu Shaoting.
And it was listed before all other titles except for director, making it hard to miss.
Wen Jia was led by the staff to the sign-in wall. Amid cheers, she signed her name on the wall and finished the last stroke. Before she could turn around, she smelled the woody scent that she relied on so much, and then bumped into a solid and familiar embrace.
Xu Shaoting got out of the car at some point and quietly walked to her side and behind her, where he also signed the signature board.
"..."
She addressed him seriously, "Chairman Xu, didn't we agree not to get out of the car?"
Xu Shaoting slowly put down his pen and subtly put his arm around her waist. "Yu Jianshan invited me to speak."
From the crowd's perspective, his actions conveyed a strong sense of protection and possessiveness. It was as if this intimate gesture was perfectly natural, strangely blending with the aloofness emanating from his impeccably tailored suit, creating a sense of assertive dominance.
After signing his name, Yu Jianshan wrote a calligraphy scroll on the spot, wishing everyone good fortune. He then went on stage to give a speech, expressing his expectations. His words were brief but full of emotion.
Finally, Xu Shaoting was invited to the stage. "Next, please welcome the producer, Chairman Xu, to speak."
Xu Shaoting walked steadily onto the stage amidst applause, wearing a well-tailored charcoal gray suit with a long trench coat, his sharp shoulders making him appear even taller. As he took the microphone, he slightly raised his hand, revealing a section of his white cuff.
"It is an honor to witness this moment with you all." His voice came through the microphone. "Film is the art of creating dreams. And I have always believed that what deserves to be brought to the screen is always a sincere story."
His speech was much more formal, neither overshadowing the main point nor lacking in formality, and he concluded his remarks briefly. His handsome face and pleasant voice were enough to attract everyone's attention.
Many people on the sidelines recorded the entire opening ceremony and posted it on the movie's super topic. Xu Shaoting's figure was captured, which led to countless speculations.
[Weren't there rumors circulating recently that she broke up?]
[They definitely haven't broken up! He signed the document right after Sister Wen, and after he finished, he looked down and talked to her, and even put his arm around her. This doesn't seem like a breakup at all. What kind of good guy would be so ambiguous after a breakup? But if they really broke up and were still interacting like this, I can only say that not everyone can be a celebrity.]
[If someone of his status really broke up, he would definitely avoid suspicion to the end. How could he possibly stand side by side with someone at the opening ceremony?]
They might have really broken up, or they might have really gotten back together.
So the rumors about her and Zhong Rui a while ago were false.
That's obviously fake, it couldn't be more so. Someone dug it up: Zhong Rui is now signed to Wen Jia's new company, but it hasn't been officially announced yet. Rather than a relationship, I'd rather believe it's a senior supporting a junior. These gossip accounts, just to grab attention, photograph a man and a woman together and call it a relationship. Anyone who believes that is a fool.
They're such a perfect match... really, such a perfect match. I'll ship them wholeheartedly as soon as I confirm they haven't broken up. Please don't attack me, fans!
[@Wenjia Did You Join the Cast Today: Let's ship them, the fans are accepting it]
Wen Jia knew that Xu Shaoting was always low-key and avoided public events as much as possible. It wasn't until she saw the netizens' speculations, some true and some false, that she suddenly understood the purpose of Xu Shaoting's appearance today—
Personally dispelling the rumors about her and Zhong Rui was secondary; his primary goal was to completely eliminate the rumors of their breakup.
-
Despite Xu Bozheng's urgent urging, Xu Shaoting ignored his orders and did not plan to return to the company so soon.
During this period, Yunxi was overseen by Vice Chairman Yuan Qihua. This ensured that the entire company could operate normally.
Yuan Qihua is quite capable, but he is ultimately above everyone else, second only to the emperor. He can handle daily operations with ease, but when it comes to major decisions, he inevitably has to ask Xu Shaoting for his opinion before approving documents.
Therefore, although Xu Shaoting was not physically present at the company, he could still remotely control its operations and even make detailed decisions. The daily stream of online meetings and emails kept all matters handled as usual.
That evening, as usual, Yuan Qihua led the decision-making team and employees from various departments in an online meeting with Xu Shaoting.
At that moment, Xu Shaoting was sitting motionless in the reception area of the suite, with a tablet on the coffee table in front of him.
As a report drew to a close, Yuan Qihua coughed lightly on the other end of the line, clenching his fist. "Chairman Xu, when are you planning to return to the company?"
"No rush," Xu Shaoting said calmly. "I'm at ease with you at the company."
Yuan Qihua's eyes widened in suspicion; this was so unlike him.
In previous years, the man would fly back to China immediately after finishing his business in Switzerland and would always be on time for work the next day. This year, however, he was willing to not go back to the company.
"Didn't I return to China from Switzerland a long time ago?" Yuan Qihua asked casually.
"Yes." Xu Shaoting said only one word, nothing else.
"He's not in Linzhou?"
"In Linzhou."
"Are there any projects in the company that I'm unaware of?"
Xu Shaoting then looked up, a faint smile on his face, "I invested in a movie and am inspecting the set."
Yuan Qihua, still trying to figure out the situation, heard a meaningful sigh—
Xie Yun, unfazed, retorted, "Chairman Xu, if you're going to spend time with your girlfriend, then spend time with your girlfriend..."
The Yunxi conference room fell silent instantly.
The subordinates stared at each other, wanting to make a fuss but not daring to, and could only exchange silent glances.
They were unaware that their boss had broken up with his girlfriend, so they were secretly puzzled. This relationship hadn't even just started, so how could the man who was so dedicated to his work last month not even want to go back to the office next month?
"It's just an inspection of the project," Xu Shaoting ordered calmly. "Within the company, focus on work and don't spread rumors, especially Xie Yun."
Xie Yun, whose name was called out, chuckled sullenly on the other end of the line.
As the sound subsided, Yuan Qihua was about to continue his report in the Yunxi conference room when everyone heard a sudden "beep" from the other end.
What followed was what sounded like the door being opened, and then a woman's voice:
"I'm back."
The voice was very soft, with a slight hint of weariness. If you listened carefully, you might even be able to detect a hint of coquetry or infatuation.
The presence of a woman near one's boss naturally attracts everyone's attention.
The subordinates all turned their heads and looked at the screen in the center.
Xu Shaoting sat upright on the large, off-white sofa, gazing straight ahead. His jawline was sharp and clean, and his eyes held an obvious smile and doting affection, making him a completely different person from when he was in a meeting.
His subordinates had never seen him like this before. The air, breathing, and conversation in the huge conference room seemed to freeze instantly.
"I just finished."
Xu Shaoting reached for the tablet, intending to close it, but the woman stopped him, saying, "You're not allowed to work anymore, stay with me."
He then glanced at Yuan Qihua, signaling him to hang up.
Before the latter could end the meeting, the next second, a woman's slender yet voluptuous figure appeared on the screen.
She was wearing only a close-fitting peach-colored knit sweater, the hem of which was slightly short, vaguely revealing a section of her fair waist. She wore dark blue jeans that hugged her firm, rounded hips and her straight, long legs.
She seemed to miss the man terribly; before she could even put down her bag, she walked to the sofa, naturally nestled into his arms, and took the initiative to seek a kiss from his lips.
"I'm so tired... Ugh..."
Xu Shaoting caught her steadily, his slender hand naturally caressing her waist and hips, their bodies seemingly perfectly in sync.
The tablet was placed on the coffee table. From the camera's perspective, his shirt was crisp, his tie was neat, and his broad shoulders almost completely enveloped her.
She seemed completely possessed by him, her slender white fingers gently resting on his shoulder, slightly clutching his black shirt, exuding a fragile yet dependent beauty.
The two kissed passionately, their eyes lowered, yet he could find her waist with such precision, caressing and kneading it as if he couldn't bear to part with it.
Wen Jia was facing away from the tablet, and the employees on the other end could catch a glimpse of her slightly profile and her cascading black hair.
In this unintentional situation, it appears even more superior than on the big screen.
Yunxi's members are all elites; what kind of situation haven't they seen?
I've never seen anything like this before.
Although I had heard rumors about my boss dating a female celebrity before, witnessing such an intimate and ambiguous scene was truly a first.
Inside the meeting room, dozens of people stared in disbelief, while another dozens dared not make a sound, whispering quietly to each other.
The rustling sound came through the network, and Xu Shaoting seemed to sense something, lifting his eyelids to glance at the tablet.
He calmly exchanged glances with his subordinates on the other side of the screen while continuing to kiss her with composure.
His eyes narrowed slightly, as if silently questioning Yuan Qihua.
Even at this moment, he still exuded a refined, ascetic aura. His kiss didn't falter because of this little interruption; instead, it deepened. Only in the brief pause did the hand that had been resting on her waist lift slightly.
Wen Jia felt the heat around her waist suddenly disappear, and opened her blurry eyes to look at him, puzzled.
But he grabbed the back of her head and pressed it down without saying a word, continuing to kiss her.
He raised his hand and casually waved it towards the tablet.
His slender fingers, coupled with casual movements, exuded an unspoken air of superiority.
Yuan Qihua was stunned. Only after being waved like that did he realize what he meant—
That concludes today's meeting.
He snapped back to reality and frantically reached for the mouse. A sharp gasp, unusually clear in the silent conference room, escaped his lips.
"Dismissed, meeting adjourned!" He dared not utter a sound, but could only frantically mouth the words.
This action was like the sound of a starting gun.
In an instant, the subordinates holding the documents snapped out of their daze, and the sounds of chairs being dragged, footsteps, and papers rustling filled the air...
Startled by the faint noise, Wen Jia stepped back slightly, her hazy eyes gradually clearing as if she had realized something.
"What's wrong?" he asked in a hoarse voice, feigning ignorance.
"What were you doing just now?" She turned to look at the tablet.
"Work."
Of course she knew it was work!
"...In a meeting?"
He readily admitted, "Yes."
"You didn't close the meeting...!"
“It’s over,” he said calmly. “Nobody saw it.”
She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled: "But I clearly heard other sounds just now."
No, you misheard.
“I didn’t mishear…” She slowly raised her head, as if unwilling to accept it, “How many people are in a meeting?”
“Dozens,” he countered naturally. “What if they see them?”
"It's so embarrassing..."
"Is it shameful to date me?"
"No..." she said, her voice lacking confidence.
So you mean it's embarrassing to kiss me?
"No, not exactly," she argued softly, "it's just that I've never acted like this in front of other people..."
"What do you mean?"
She lowered her eyes and glanced meaningfully at their bodies pressed tightly together, hinting at something to him.
"I'm still a celebrity... my image is my livelihood."
"I'll talk to them later."
This didn't dispel her doubts. "Besides, I was the one who took the initiative to sit on your lap and kiss you. If your subordinates saw this, with so many mouths, word would spread like wildfire, and they'd say the chairman's wife is a woman who can't control herself. If someone took a picture, it would be even worse. You're usually so serious at work; your subordinates will say that the image of the busy Chairman Xu has been ruined by his wife—"
She finished speaking in one breath, and the moment the suite fell silent, she saw the smile gradually appear on his face, and suddenly realized that something was wrong.
No, it's not just a few things that are wrong, it's a lot, a great deal of wrong.
"Chairman's wife." He nodded, repeating slowly, the smile at the corners of his eyes and mouth deepening with each word.
She covered her mouth, her voice leaking through her fingers: "I misspoke..."
"Mrs."
She tried to cover her ears as well, but he restrained her with one hand.
"I misspoke...!"
“Why do you think I said something wrong? I didn’t say anything wrong.” Xu Shaoting’s other hand was still steadily supporting her, his fingertips gently stroking her waist. “You’re absolutely right, baby. I’m just surprised that you’ve already started to consider this nickname.”
Wen Jia's ears burned, but she refused to back down, tilting her head up to look at him, "Can't we consider it? Is Chairman Xu planning to renege on his promise?"
From initially avoiding talking about the future with him, to now so naturally embracing the role of his wife, this subtle transformation has truly satisfied Xu Shaoting.
She no longer resisted having a future with him.
He lowered his head, his nose almost brushing against hers, their breaths mingling. "Admit it, why wouldn't you admit it? But I couldn't control myself," he paused deliberately, watching her eyelashes tremble slightly, "I think that's a very fair assessment."
"Xu Shaoting!"
She lightly punched his shoulder with her fist, but he caught her fist and kissed it: "Does your hand hurt?"
"..."
"So, are you afraid they'll think I can't control myself, or are you afraid they'll think you can't control me?"
The angle of this question was too tricky. All her worries and shyness were twisted into a more ambiguous and private proposition in his almost flirtatious words.
This made her even more speechless.
He smiled and grasped her wrist. "Don't worry, they won't dare spread rumors." His tone was confident, carrying the composure of someone long accustomed to a position of power.
"As for image. Why would I need to maintain such a serious image in front of my woman?"
"But……"
"No buts." He interrupted her, his other hand gripping the back of her neck, pulling her back into his arms. "It's better if we're seen."
"not good."
"Isn't that also a kind of sense of security?"
"I don't need it! I feel very safe."
"Who was it that worried I had other women before? Who said they were going to run away with a penalty for breach of contract?"
Wen Jia chuckled softly in his arms, her insignificant worry vanishing. She nestled comfortably in his arms, feeling the rise and fall of his chest and the steady beating of his heart.
"Tired?" He noticed her quietness and gently patted her back.
"Yes, we filmed all day."
"Then rest," he said, easily picking her up and carrying her towards the bedroom. "I'll rest with you."
Xu Shaoting deliberately emphasized the word "accompany".
"You're not working anymore?"
“My subordinates will handle it.” He looked down at her, his gaze focused.
"My job now is to spend time with my wife."
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