C16 Experiments

Yuh Wan picked up her phone again, scrolling through social media. As expected, the online trolls had nothing substantial, just fabricated rumors attacking Qu Zhenzhen.

Well, let them talk. If you're upright, you don't fear shadows. Zhenzhen had been in the industry for years and had faced worse slander. She wasn't going to let this minor issue bother her.

At Ruocan Media, the head of the PR department stood nervously in front of Xie Yaotian, who was silently browsing the web. This wave of trolls was aggressive, not the usual ones that could be easily suppressed. Despite the entire PR team working overtime to delete posts and contact bloggers, many defamatory posts about Zhenzhen remained, and their company's big boss was reviewing them.

Yaotian's face showed no emotion, making the PR head even more uneasy.

"Mr. Xie, we're working hard to clean up these comments and minimize the negative impact."

Yaotian finally looked up, expressionless, and asked coldly, "How soon is 'soon'?"

"By noon! We'll have it resolved by noon. Please rest assured."

Satisfied, Yaotian nodded and waved him off to get it done.

That afternoon, Zhenzhen went to her usual spot, a quiet little restaurant, and ordered a feast to indulge herself. Keeping in shape for acting had meant she rarely ate her fill over the years.

"Being an actress is tough, sigh..." she mused, idly scrolling through her phone while waiting for her meal. She came across some of the unaddressed posts insulting her.

Instead of getting angry, she clicked through them with interest, shaking her head as she read. These trolls weren't even trying anymore. Were they not paid enough? If it were her, she'd know exactly how to craft a proper insult...

She was engrossed in what she was watching when, out of nowhere, a large cup of ice water was dumped over her, soaking her from head to toe. It was the dead of winter, and she was dressed lightly, so this sudden act made her jump out of her seat in shock. Before she could see who did it, another cup of water was hurled at her face without hesitation. The glass was slammed down on the table with a sharp clatter, drawing the attention of other diners in the restaurant.

"After what you did to Yuh Wan, you still have the nerve to sit here and eat like nothing happened, Zhenzhen! You're truly despicable!" It was another one of Yuh Wan's crazed fans causing trouble again, like a ghost that wouldn't go away. Zhenzhen cursed under her breath, wiping the ice water off her face. "Your disgusting tactics really do resemble your useless idol."

She glared coldly at the irrational fan across from her, feeling her anger intensify. Time and again, first it was water bottles, now ice water—they were getting bolder. She initially didn't want to bother with them, but they were becoming more outrageous. Did they really think she was a pushover?

Zhenzhen had reached her limit and was about to give this rude fan a piece of her mind when someone grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind them. She stood there, mouth agape, recognizing the familiar figure in front of her. What was he doing here? Had he followed her?

Yaotian ignored Zhenzhen behind him and focused on the equally stunned woman across the table. "Assault or compensation, which will it be?" he asked coldly. Seeing her speechless, Yaotian pressed on, "I don't have time to waste. If you don't apologize and compensate for your actions, I'll have Ruocan's lawyer sue you for assault."

The superfan suddenly recognized the man across from her as the big boss of Ruocan Media, whom she had read about online. Instantly, her bravado faded. Rumor had it that Xie Yaotian was a man of his word, and if he said she’d face legal consequences, he meant it.

In a rush, she blurted out, "I'll pay for the damages. I acted on impulse just now. I hope Mr. Xie can let this go."

Watching this unfold, Qu Zhenzhen smirked inwardly, thinking this person would make a good actor with how quickly she changed her tune.

Ultimately, the overzealous fan apologized to Qu Zhenzhen and compensated her for the dress ruined by the water spill.

With that, the incident was resolved, and the restaurant returned to its usual calm. Qu Zhenzhen and Xie Yaotian sat across from each other as the dishes she ordered were served. However, her appetite had vanished.

Reflecting on her career, Qu Zhenzhen felt frustrated. Her high standards for scripts and disdain for the entertainment industry's unwritten rules had led to numerous setbacks, bullying, and ridicule. Despite years in the industry, she remained relatively unknown and was constantly criticized by online trolls.

The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Unable to hold back, she started venting to Xie Yaotian, tears streaming down her face as she complained, occasionally stuffing a piece of meat into her mouth.

Xie Yaotian listened quietly, seeing a vulnerable side of her that was previously hidden. A protective instinct stirred within him, and he felt a strong desire to shield her from harm.

After the meal, Qu Zhenzhen's frustration had mostly dissipated. She wiped her mouth and prepared to pay the bill, only to find out that Xie Yaotian had already taken care of it.

"Why is this person being so nice? Do they have an ulterior motive?"

"Forget it, I'll invite them over next time."

With these thoughts, she followed Xie Yaotian to the parking lot, only to realize she hadn't driven. To get some exercise, she had biked over from the set, wearing a mask and a hat.

Seeing her confusion, Xie Yaotian said with a hint of disdain, "Get in the car, I'll take you home."

For some reason, Xie Yaotian seemed to know her every thought today and was unusually attentive. Though puzzled, she obediently got into the car.

The car slowly pulled up to Qu Zhenzhen's apartment building. Just as they were about to park, they noticed Jing Yuanhao waiting outside. The ground was littered with cigarette butts, suggesting he'd been there for quite a while.

Qu Zhenzhen was surprised to see Jing Yuanhao and got out to ask why he was there. At the same time, Xie Yaotian stepped out and walked over to Jing Yuanhao.

Jing Yuanhao was taken aback to see Xie Yaotian dropping Qu Zhenzhen off. He felt uneasy but didn't show it in front of Xie Yaotian.

In a low, hoarse voice that tugged at the heartstrings, Jing Yuanhao asked, "Zhenzhen, why did he bring you home? What's going on between you two?"

Qu Zhenzhen replied, "He helped me out during lunch, so we ate together."