I laughed and said that if he really liked me, I swore I’d never touch another man for the rest of my life. “Huh? What?” Giang Chỉ’s voice suddenly rang out as he asked Quý Sơ Nguyệt, “What did you just say? What do you mean, you’re not going to touch another man?” Huống Vi held up her phone and said, “Giang Chỉ said you weren’t answering, so he called me. Want to hear what he has to say?” Giang Chỉ shouted through the phone, “Quý Sơ Nguyệt, don’t believe all that nonsense online! I’ll be home in two hours and thirty-six minutes. I’ll explain everything to you in person.”
Giang Chỉ wouldn’t be home for another two hours, but social media had already exploded. One name after another hit the hot-search lists. Take one post down, and another would pop up. No matter how quickly Assistant Wang handled things, he still couldn’t keep up with the speed at which public opinion spread. A CEO and an actress—their story seemed to have walked straight out of a romance novel. One was an innocent Cinderella who had emerged from the mountains, while the other was a powerful CEO. He had discovered a Cinderella among the extras, wholeheartedly supported her, and guided her step by step until she grew into a famous actress. A story like that came with its own built-in hype.
Lục Vãn Lăng posted three times in a row on Winbow. The first post was about how, when she was eighteen and working as an extra on a film set, Giang Chỉ had discovered her. From then on, she had gained a powerful backer in the entertainment industry, a place filled with rumors and scandals. The second post showed moments she had spent with Giang Chỉ: visiting him on set, receiving acting advice from him, and even private photos of the two of them. The third post featured the movies she had appeared in recently, along with her nomination for the Golden Statue Award. The caption read: “Maybe this time, I can finally stand beside you openly and honestly.”
The posts received thousands of shares. Everyone applauded their fairytale romance, though there were also a few scattered comments expressing doubt. Assistant Wang was run off his feet, having to organize the media team while reporting every development to me. It was as if he were writing a work diary.
My phone kept ringing nonstop. I hadn’t wanted to look, but I was forced to watch the entire spectacle unfold. Mom Giang called exactly once and said, “Mom believes Giang Chỉ. He didn’t know about this. But if he can’t even handle something this minor, then he doesn’t deserve to be with you anymore.”
Giang Chỉ still had an hour and fifty minutes before he got home. Just then, someone posted a picture of the wedding invitation bearing my name and Giang Chỉ’s, saying, “Has everyone not received the announcement yet? The bride’s name isn’t Lục Vãn Lăng.” It was like dropping a red-hot coal into ice water—it immediately created a massive wave. The keyword “Quý Sơ Nguyệt” appeared on the hot-search list. Everyone was desperately guessing who I was. Some people even questioned whether the wedding invitation was authentic.
Huống Vi shot me a sidelong glance. “Were you possessed by the spirit of a capybara or something? How are you this calm?”
“Ah, the other woman is speeding things up now. Look at her.” She nudged me. “Are you just recklessly charging ahead, or have you already planned to ruin Giang Chỉ’s reputation and leave him utterly disgraced?”
“Neither. I’ve already thought it through.” Mom Giang had given me the right answer long ago.
“I’d like some liquor and a plate of peanuts to go with it,” I said sincerely.
Before I even had a chance to open the bottle, I received several calls from Lục Vãn Lăng. Just thinking about her filled me with rage. I knew she wouldn’t have anything nice to say, so I didn’t answer. She called four or five times before finally giving up.
A flood of posts began appearing online, featuring photos of Lục Vãn Lăng and Giang Chỉ together, from their time at the hospital to lunch at the company, as well as more recent pictures of the two of them together. It turned out Giang Chỉ had been by her side for the past half month. Even when he had his cast removed at the hospital, she was the one standing beside him, anxiously waiting.
The photos were dug up and circulated endlessly online. Every single detail seemed designed to prove how sweet their romance was. The wedding invitation was almost confirmed to be fake—a publicity stunt to generate buzz. At the same time, another version of the story emerged: Giang Chỉ’s marriage to Quý Sơ Nguyệt was merely a commercial marriage forced by circumstances, while Lục Vãn Lăng was the true rising star. Their love was pure. She was his true unreachable white moonlight. Most importantly, Lục Vãn Lăng immediately liked that post, sending the frenzy to an unprecedented peak.