CIATB Chapter 226 The trees are beautiful in the forest, but the wind will destroy them
Chapter 226 The trees are beautiful in the forest, but the wind will destroy them
Chapter 226 The trees are beautiful in the forest, but the wind will destroy them
After a slight lag, Yu Huan's handsome face appeared on the screen from a death angle.
He removed both earphones one by one, and his gentle voice clearly reached Lin Yourong's ears through the phone's speaker.
"Honey, how was your day?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yourong smiled, her exquisitely made-up eyes sparkling, and answered without hesitation, "Everything went very smoothly!"
After shaking slightly for a few moments, the image on his end finally stabilized, showing him sitting upright, with a small portion of the desktop visible at the bottom of the screen.
From this, Lin Yourong could clearly see that Yu Huan was sitting on the balcony at home, with his phone placed steadily on the desk.
"Honey, wait a moment, I'll go to the kitchen and get the food." Yu Huan had a smile on her lips, clearly in a very good mood.
"Okay." Lin Yourong nodded slightly.
I watched him get up and leave, disappearing from the frame after turning the corner.
After a moment's thought, she stood up and grabbed a bottle of mineral water, placed it on the small round table, and carefully propped up her phone.
Not long after, Yu Huan reappeared on the phone screen, holding a plate full of food in one hand and a rice bowl in the other, with chopsticks between his fingers.
Due to various factors, the image is somewhat blurry.
After Yu Huan set the bowls and chopsticks on the table, Lin Yourong stared at the phone screen, and after a moment's hesitation, asked uncertainly, "This is... green beans stir-fried with minced meat?"
Yu Huan plopped back into her chair and corrected her firmly, "Wrong! It's sweet peas stir-fried with minced meat."
"The phone's resolution is too low, I can't see clearly!" She didn't realize that her tone sounded like she was being coquettish.
There was a pause.
She continued, "That's good! You've improved today; you know how to cook."
"I asked the boss to do some processing for me. When I got home, I cooked rice first, chopped some ginger and scallions, and then just started stir-frying. It was done in less than ten minutes."
Lin Yourong chuckled and joked, "If you were in the north, and the shopkeeper had to peel these few beans and process two ounces of meat into minced meat, the shopkeeper might think you were looking for trouble and might give you a beating."
"Hehe, since our local market offers this kind of service, we definitely have to take advantage of it!"
Yu Huan felt incredibly relaxed and happy at that moment.
He picked up the dish with one hand, grabbed his chopsticks with the other, scooped some peas and minced meat into his rice bowl, smiled, and asked:
"So, what delicious food are you having for dinner tonight?"
"The hotel provides a buffet meal. Sister Ru packed two boxes and brought them to my room first, then she went downstairs to eat by herself," Lin Yourong replied.
"Oh, that's how it is."
Yu Huan nodded slightly and joked:
"So, does that mean we're finally alone in a room as a single man and woman?"
Seeing him start flirting again, Lin Yourong spat and said coquettishly, "You smooth talker! We'd be better off having a video call when we're alone!"
Yu Huan, however, paid no attention to Lin Yourong's criticisms.
He continued eating, then shamelessly asked, "When you first met me, did you think I was glib and smooth-talking?"
"Hmph! The old you weren't so glib, you were much more gentlemanly, both humorous and polite! Since—at least you wouldn't be like this now, you wouldn't be so quick to—um—"
Lin Yourong felt her face burning.
He was making a lot of noises in his mouth.
The more he spoke, the more he stammered and hesitant he became; the conversation was truly over.
However, uploading videos is not an option.
All I could do was pick up the foie gras, take a big bite, and crunch the crispy bread between my teeth as a way of venting my frustration.
"What did I do to you?" Yu Huan blinked and asked innocently.
"Nothing much," Lin Yourong mumbled, chewing as she spoke.
"Honey, you've hit the nail on the head! Before we're officially in a relationship, of course we have to be polite, not too handsy, and show our gentlemanly manners!"
"Well……"
"Now, we're a real married couple. I can be affectionate with my wife without breaking the law."
Yu Huan said with a smile:
"Besides, as a man, I naturally have to take the initiative. For example, I can't always wait for you to ask before I satisfy you, right? Wouldn't that make you seem sexually unsatisfied?"
Lin Yourong raised her head, frowning as she asked, "Me? Me, sexually frustrated? What do you mean?! Explain yourself!"
"Oh, it's just to satisfy your need for kisses!" Yu Huan said calmly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Well……"
Lin Yourong was speechless for a moment and had no words to reply.
I felt my ears getting hot.
What does it mean that she is sexually unsatisfied?
Although she did enjoy the feeling of kissing, it was clearly him who would take advantage of any opportunity to touch her inappropriately!
Disguised, I gently put the remaining half of the foie gras into my mouth.
The delicate flavor of the foie gras and the crispness of the bread intertwined in her mouth, giving her a unique taste experience.
"What are you eating? It smells so good!" Yu Huan's voice came from the speaker, breaking the brief silence.
Relying on her poor pixel quality, Lin Yourong said irritably, "Fry bread slices."
"Anything else?" Yu Huan pressed.
Lin Yourong glanced at the lunchbox: "There are also roasted ribs and snails."
On the screen, Yu Huan leisurely put down her rice bowl, picked up the plate again, and scooped the remaining pea and minced meat into the bowl.
With a slightly teasing tone, he said, "That's it? Do you think I've never seen anything like this before? Snails are even here! A hotel buffet should at least be a bit more upscale, right?"
"I'm afraid that if I tell you, you'll get hungry!" Before she finished speaking, Lin Yourong gave a light snort.
"You're tempting me? Even the most exquisite delicacies can't tempt me! I only crave my wife's sweet mouth, understand?"
"Well……"
Despite being called glib and smooth-talking, Lin Yourong, once again teased, couldn't help but smile.
She quickly lowered her head to hide the sweet smile that unconsciously appeared on her face.
I pulled the chopsticks out of the paper sleeve, picked up a piece of tender salmon, and took a small bite.
"I bet you're eating salmon right now?" Yu Huan leaned closer to the camera on the screen, observing carefully.
"Mm!" Lin Yourong nodded.
What hotel did you book?
“Five-star.” Lin Yourong chewed slowly without showing her teeth: “It was ordered for us by Sister Ru’s former boss in the artist management department. Now she has been transferred to Rongcheng to take charge of Canwen’s branch office.”
"Then I'm relieved," Yu Huan said easily. "Because if the buffet isn't high-class, there's a 90% chance you'll end up with rainbow trout."
"Rainbow trout?" Lin Yourong asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Rainbow trout is a freshwater fish with flesh very similar to salmon. It contains many parasites, which unscrupulous vendors use to pass it off as salmon. However, if you're in a five-star hotel, you can eat it without worry!"
"Oh, I see." Lin Yourong suddenly realized.
Lin Yourong picked up another piece of salmon, chewed it slowly, and suddenly said:
"I'm going back to Changsha this weekend, I'll take you out for seafood."
On the screen, Yu Huan had finished his dinner. He put down his chopsticks, and upon hearing this, his expression softened: "I just want you to come home for dinner."
Lin Yourong's heart skipped a beat.
But then he added, "Let's go back to our home. I'll buy some seafood, and you just need to eat it."
"Okay." She smiled and nodded, picking up a roasted lamb chop with her slender fingers and slowly munching on it.
At that moment, I felt enveloped in a warm, watery embrace.
Immediately afterwards, Yu Huan asked her, "Can you give me your email address later? The demo should be almost finished by tomorrow, and I'll send it to you then."
"it is good."
Lin Yourong slowly finished a roasted lamb chop, and after a moment's thought, she couldn't help but purse her lips:
"But I want to video chat with you again tomorrow!"
"Really? Honey, I'll grant your wish!" Yu Huan's face lit up with a bright smile as she teased, enunciating each word clearly: "You clingy little devil~"
"Well……"
Lin Yourong was speechless.
He reflected on it silently and realized that he was indeed a bit clingy.
Even though she felt a little guilty, she straightened up and, with her long neck stiff, retorted, "As your wife, it's not unreasonable for me to ask to video call you, is it?"
"Not at all! Of course not!" Hearing her refer to herself as his wife, Yu Huan's face lit up with joy on the screen: "Is your album signing event in Chang'an tomorrow?"
"Yes."
Lin Yourong put down the bone and suddenly gave a gentle instruction:
"Now that you've finished eating, you can get back to work. Don't stay up late, get some rest, and take your time."
“Okay, I’ll go wash the dishes and tidy up the kitchen first.” Yu Huan said as she cleared the table. “You can hang up the video call.” Lin Yourong’s heart skipped a beat, and she managed to squeeze out the form of address that still made her feel a little embarrassed:
"Bye-bye, darling~"
"Okay! Honey, you should go to sleep early!"
"Mmm!" Lin Yourong responded with a soft sigh.
She hung up the video call with her little finger, the only finger that wasn't greasy.
I glanced at the time in the upper left corner of my phone screen; it was already 6:10.
Before she knew it, she had been chatting with Yu Huan for nearly half an hour.
She quickly sped up her dinner.
Sister Ru knew her appetite well, so although the two takeout boxes were packed full, apart from the foie gras and salmon, they were mostly foods with little meat and many bones.
While scrolling through Weibo on her phone with her little finger, Lin Yourong finished off the last sweet shrimp, feeling just about 70% full.
After cleaning up the mess left after the meal, she went into the bathroom to remove her makeup and wash up.
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.
After the food had been mostly digested, Lin Yourong walked to the bedside, stretched, and quickly crawled into bed.
During her days of travel, her daily routine became very regular. She would start yawning before eight o'clock and go to bed earlier than rural residents.
Sister Ru hasn't come back yet.
She forced her eyes open in her sleepiness and played Temple Run for a while until she heard the door open. Soon after, Sister Ru, who was touching her belly, came into view.
Sister Ru let out a burp: "Susu, you're all washed up so quickly?"
"Ah."
Lin Yourong nodded slightly, her lips moving slightly.
She originally wanted to tell Sister Ru that some marketing accounts were posting high-definition candid photos of her and Yu Huan, but then she decided against it.
The casual commenters didn't believe it; they were too tired to do anything but get some sleep.
She mustered her last bit of strength, plugged her phone into the charger, and as soon as her neck touched the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.
The next day.
Dusk enveloped Chang'an, which was about 800 kilometers away.
Led by five staff members, Lin Yourong and Sister Ru quietly walked out of the Grand Theater through the fire safety exit.
The three security personnel stopped at this point.
The rest of the people boarded the three-row van parked next to them in an orderly fashion.
Lin Yourong sat in the last row. She glanced at Sister Ru, who had been looking serious all afternoon, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor.
Now that I had some free time, I couldn't help but feel curious and asked softly, "Sister Ru, what happened?"
"Let's talk about it back at the hotel." Sister Ru took out a bottle of mineral water from the tote bag slung across her body, unscrewed it, and handed it to Lin Yourong.
Lin Yourong drank a few sips of water, then leaned back in the soft leather chair and closed her eyes to rest.
She could hear Sister Ru chatting and laughing with several employees from the event organizers. She slightly pulled up her mask, too lazy to listen, and handed over all the negotiation matters to Sister Ru.
For Lin Yourong, offline album signing events are undoubtedly an exhausting experience.
She used to avoid noisy places on the street, let alone being in a noisy place. Now she feels like her head is buzzing.
However, after stepping out of my comfort zone, I truly felt my own growth.
Even though I still feel a little uncomfortable, at least I no longer get so nervous that my palms sweat when everyone is watching.
Upon arriving at their destination, Lin Yourong pulled her suitcase and followed closely behind Sister Ru.
It wasn't until she entered the hotel room, took off her baseball cap and mask, and collapsed onto the bed that she finally relaxed completely.
She turned to look at Sister Ru, who was drawing the curtains, and asked softly, "Sister Ru, what's going on?"
Sister Ru closed the curtains, turned around, and let out a long sigh.
Lin Yourong smiled and said, "I saw you pacing around all afternoon, looking like an ant on a hot plate."
Sister Ru sat wearily on the recliner on the balcony, her expression grave: "The smear articles from a few days ago were blocked by your good public image, but today the other side has started to deploy smear PR."
"what?"
"It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark."
Sister Ru, hands on her hips, grew increasingly angry as she spoke, frowning and glaring as she spat out:
"My Susu is so easygoing, if I knew who was behind this, I'd definitely go to their door and yell at them! It's infuriating!"
Seeing Sister Ru's indignation, Lin Yourong was somewhat puzzled: "Black PR?"
"Black PR is hiring online trolls to defame, smear, and attack others, incite conflict, and attempt to mislead public opinion," Sister Ru explained in detail.
Lin Yourong nodded knowingly after hearing this: "I understand."
"The entertainment industry is more complex than you can imagine."
Sister Ru sighed:
"Take many large public relations companies for example. As long as they are involved in artist public relations business, they will treat artists who do not have strong backing as extra care if they pay protection money, and those who do not pay will be constantly exposed to scandals."
"Isn't this extortion?" Lin Yourong asked in surprise.
"That's right, this is extortion!"
So what exactly is my situation right now?
"The paparazzi's photos couldn't be used to spread rumors, so they found two similar body doubles to pose intimately by the hotel window and had people take photos in the building across the street to spread rumors."
Sister Ru paused for a moment, then continued indignantly:
"Then they bought trending searches, and it jumped straight to number ten. The online trolls also started spreading rumors like crazy. It was as if they had already confirmed that you were married and had children before you participated in 'The Voice of China'."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yourong seemed oblivious to the uproar online, and calmly replied, "Married, but no children."
Sister Ru rolled her eyes and said speechlessly, "Susu, I think you're really not in a hurry!"
"Because I really am married!"
Lin Yourong sat up straight and stretched out her small hand:
"Where's my phone?"
“Speaking of cell phones, I almost forgot.” Sister Ru suddenly stood up and paced back and forth, saying, “I need to call Wang Xiang and ask if he’s the one causing trouble!”
Upon hearing this, Lin Yourong said with certainty, "Things have come to this point, and there's been such a big commotion. I don't think it's him."
"I know it wasn't him."
As she spoke, Sister Ru took Lin Yourong's phone out of her crossbody bag and gently tossed it beside her.
He then continued:
"Susu, are you stupid! I deliberately insisted that he did it, wouldn't he be restless? Even if he doesn't help us suppress this matter, he should at least be eager to find the mastermind and clear himself, right?"
Hearing Sister Ru's words, Lin Yourong couldn't help but smile at her cunning.
She picked up her phone, turned on the screen, unlocked it, and saw that it was 5:31.
Open WeChat and find Yu Huan's chat interface.
The two's chat history is still from last night's video call.
I haven't received any new messages from Yu Huan.
She didn't even receive a message from him about how many days he would think of Rongrong every day.
This made her purse her lips involuntarily.
Somewhat disappointed, I tossed my phone onto my pillow and decided not to contact him first tonight; I would wait for him to message me first!
Sister Ru stood with one hand on her hip and the other holding her phone close to her ear, her back to Lin Yourong and facing the curtains.
She acted immediately, calling Wang Xiang without hesitation to question him:
"Hey, Manager Wang, that's really unfair of you..."
"Are you aware of the smear campaign against Susu these past few days, including the hiring of online trolls?"
"These are all high-resolution original photos of Su Su taken by paparazzi before..."
"Okay, I understand..."
"Thank you, Manager Wang."
After hanging up the phone, Sister Ru turned around and looked at Lin Yourong with a slight frown: "Wang Xiang is also very angry. He said that the paparazzi studio promised him that they would destroy the photos as soon as the money was in their account. He said he would contact them now to find out what happened. He also said that he could get the public relations department to cooperate with us and release a clarification statement together with Canwen's official account."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yourong turned and asked, "How do other celebrities usually handle similar situations?"
"They're just buying articles to smear each other."
Sister Ru spread her hands and explained:
"Take actors, for example, who face the fiercest competition for resources. Not to mention those who take the path of becoming famous through controversy and actively buy articles to smear themselves. Rivals will smear you, your own production crew will smear you, and even fellow actors will see you as a rival and smear you. What I mean is, the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. The more famous you are, the easier it is for you to be smeared!"
(End of this chapter)