Huayu: This celebrity doesn't follow the rules.

Chapter 83 Jiang Ye's Counterattack (4000-word long chapter)
Chen Yao chuckled softly, gently pushed his shoulder with her fingertips, and pulled herself out of his embrace.

She straightened her slightly disheveled skirt with elegant and composed movements, as if the ambiguous moment had never occurred.

"Director Jiang is joking. I'm doing very well at Tangren now, and President Cai has treated me well."

Jiang Ye leaned back lazily on the sofa, looking at her with interest: "Does senior think I'm just making empty promises?"

"How could that be?" Chen Yao tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "It's just that I'm the kind of person..."

She tilted her head and smiled, "I have more faith in contracts in black and white."

She picked up her handbag from the side and made a move to get up: "It's getting late, I have a gig tomorrow..."

Jiang Ye suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist: "Senior."

His voice deepened, “My promise will always stand.”

Chen Yao stopped and turned to look at him.

“If you ever have a bad time at Tangren…” Jiang Ye released his hand, “come find me anytime.”

Chen Yao stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Junior, are you trying to poach Tangren's talent?"

"However... if I ever find myself in dire straits, I hope you'll still remember these words, junior!"

As she reached the door, she glanced back at Jiang Ye, who was still sitting in the same spot, the light casting varying shadows on his sharply defined face.

“Oh, right,” she winked, “remember to bring the script next time we meet.”

After she finished speaking, the crisp sound of her high heels gradually faded away at the end of the corridor.

Jiang Ye gazed in the direction she had left, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

……

Jiangying Media Egret Office

Bai Lu sat in his leather office chair, legs crossed, twirling a pen in his hand, listening intently to his assistant's work report.

"The filming schedule for 'Sito' has been confirmed. Your scenes will mainly be in the third and seventh weeks," Assistant Xiaomei said, flipping through the schedule.

Bai Lu nodded, trying hard to keep a straight face, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

She's become quite successful!

She has a private office, a dedicated assistant, and 16 followers on Weibo. Although most of these followers are fans she accumulated from her previous singles, they are still a real number of people who have a large following!

"Also, the operations department suggested that we post more daily life content on Weibo recently to strengthen fan loyalty," Xiaomei continued. "We could film some dance practice videos or share life on set."

Just as Bailu was about to speak, she suddenly received a text message from the receptionist: "Sister Bailu, President Jiang is here!"

She sprang up from her office chair, frantically fixing her hair: "Quick, quick! Make coffee!"

Jiang Ye had just sat down when the office door was pushed open.

Bai Lu, carrying a cup of coffee and beaming with smiles, walked in with light steps.

"Boss! Your coffee!" Her voice was sickeningly sweet. "I added an extra packet of sugar, knowing you like it sweet!"

Jiang Ye was taken aback. How did this girl know he was back? Was she being so thoughtful?

"Sit down." He gestured to the chair opposite him. "How are things going with Meng Ziyi?"

Compared to other people in the company, Jiang Ye currently trusts Bai Lu more.

Bai Lu immediately sat up straight: "It's all done! The copywriting from all the major influencers has been reviewed, and we're just waiting for your order."

"Where are those paparazzi?"

"We've contacted them too!" Bai Lu nodded vigorously, but couldn't help asking curiously, "Boss, is the information you gave them... accurate?"

Jiang Ye glanced at her indifferently: "Whether it's accurate or not, they'll know when they get there."

The egret's eyes lit up, and it suddenly grinned foolishly: "Boss, you're so naughty~"

Jiang Ye's face darkened: "???"

He stared at the egret's silly expression and suddenly felt a throbbing pain in his temples.

Today, for the sake of this girl, he even turned down Yao Mei, who came to him for free!

She's actually still grinning like an idiot here?!

"Bai Xiaopao," Jiang Ye rubbed his shoulders, "My shoulders are a little sore."

Bai Lu was taken aback and subconsciously retorted, "Huh? Boss, I'm not your assistant anymore. I'm about to debut as a big star!"

Jiang Ye slowly raised his eyes, his gaze dangerous: "...Oh?"

When the egret met his gaze, it instantly cowered.

She rushed over and began to fawn over Jiang Ye, massaging his shoulders: "But! No matter how famous I become, I'll still be the boss's most trusted assistant!"

Being a celebrity is so hard, you also have to work part-time as a massage girl...

……

Pudong Airport, February 19

In the VIP waiting room, Zheng Shuang, wearing a baseball cap and a mask, was huddled in a large hoodie, impatiently tapping the handrail with his fingers.

Hu Yanbin sat next to her, glancing at her every now and then, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Zheng Shuang finally couldn't help but ask in an unfriendly tone.

Hu Yanbin coughed lightly: "There's been a lot of commotion online lately. Are your fans and Meng Ziyi... alright?"

Zheng Shuang sneered: "So what if something happens? Can you jump out and help me?"

Hu Yanbin was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Okay."

Zheng Shuang was taken aback: "What? You can?"

"How about we make it official?" Hu Yanbin looked at her, his tone serious.

Zheng Shuang refused without even thinking: "Forget it, I don't want my work to be affected by a relationship right now."

Her previous relationship with Zhang Han caused quite a stir, with a surge in CP fans, and their breakup was followed by a fierce and bloody feud.

If the company hadn't reacted quickly and labeled her as someone who was humble for love, love-struck, and genuine, her career would have been drowned out by criticism long ago.

How long has it been since they broke up?
What will fans and the general public think if they immediately announce their new relationship?
not to mention……

She secretly glanced at Hu Yanbin.

He's definitely not as good-looking as Zhang Han...

Hu Yanbin seemed to sense her thoughts, his expression darkened, but he didn't say anything more.

Just as the two got up to board the plane, a series of hurried footsteps came from behind. "Zheng Shuang! Is that Zheng Shuang?!"

"Hu Yanbin! Where are you going?"

"Has their relationship been exposed? Are they together?"

Before Zheng Shuang could react, more than a dozen paparazzi rushed over with cameras, their flashes going off in a cacophony that stung her eyes.

Hu Yanbin instinctively stood in front of her, but the paparazzi didn't give him a chance to breathe, shoving microphones almost into their faces.

"Zheng Shuang, what is your relationship with Hu Yanbin?"

"Was your trip abroad a date?"

Does Zhang Han know?

Zheng Shuang's expression changed instantly.

Something is wrong!
She had clearly made arrangements in advance with the paparazzi who often followed her, so how come so many people suddenly appeared?
Airport security finally arrived and, after a great deal of effort, managed to pull the two out of the paparazzi.

Inside the VIP passage, Hu Yanbin frowned: "How could we be photographed so suddenly? Didn't you say it was all arranged?"

Zheng Shuang irritably pulled off his mask: "They're just paparazzi, money can buy them off."

Before she could finish speaking, her assistant jogged up to her, her face grim: "Sister Shuang, we've asked around, and these paparazzi don't take money, and we can't find out which studio they're from."

Zheng Shuang's heart skipped a beat.

In the distance, a man wearing sunglasses put away his phone; the screen displayed a photo he had just taken of Zheng Shuang and Hu Yanbin together.

He dialed the number and whispered, "I got the photos, you can send them."

At 3:17 PM, a post titled "[Solid Evidence] Zheng Shuang Suspected of Having a New Relationship? Timeline Compilation, Multiple Images Warning!" suddenly went viral on Douban's Goose Group.

The posting ID was an old account registered three years ago, with past records mostly consisting of film and television reviews. But now, with a calm to almost cold tone, it laid out a clue that made the hearts of fans across the internet race.

The post gets straight to the point.

"After lurking for years, I couldn't hold back anymore when I saw the airport photos today. From last November to now, the timeline is connected, and the matter between Zheng Shuang and Hu Yanbin may not be just a rumor."

The first timeline is followed by two blurry but recognizable Reuters photos.

In November 2014, outside a film and television base in Hangzhou, Hu Yanbin, wearing a black baseball cap, got out of his van and hurriedly walked into a coffee shop next to the base after being recognized by fans.

"At the time, Zheng Shuang was filming 'Love Through a Millennium' in Hangzhou, and the crew was stationed nearby. Some fans said they often saw Hu Yanbin's car lingering around during that period, and at first they thought it was a coincidence."

The second timeline points directly to November 11, 2014, and the screenshot shows Hu Yanbin's Weibo post from that day: "This year on Singles' Day, I finally don't have to empty my shopping cart by myself."

The accompanying picture shows two hands clasped together, one wearing a silver bracelet and the other wrist with a familiar watch. Netizens quickly discovered that Zheng Shuang had worn the same watch when attending an event before.

The most damning piece of evidence is the third one: On November 26, 2014, a surveillance screenshot from a five-star hotel in Hangzhou showed that Hu Yanbin entered the hotel late at night wearing a mask, while an hour earlier, Zheng Shuang's assistant had appeared in the same hotel lobby with luggage.

The poster attached a blurry screenshot of the hotel check-in information, stating, "At the same time, on the same floor, two adjacent rooms. The next morning, Hu Yanbin's car left after Zheng Shuang's film crew's car. This can't be a coincidence, can it?"

The last timeline, and the freshest "hot news," is the airport photo taken at noon that day.

In the high-definition photo, at the international departure hall of Shanghai Pudong Airport, Zheng Shuang was wearing a black down jacket with her hat pulled low, but when she went through security, Hu Yanbin next to her gently touched her arm.

The two did not speak, but their steps were in sync and their behavior was intimate.

Another photo shows Hu Yanbin buying coffee at the boarding gate, while Zheng Shuang sits in her seat looking down at her phone. The black backpack next to her is clearly a matching style with the one Hu Yanbin is carrying.

"From their secret rendezvous in Hangzhou last November, to their subtle displays of affection on Singles' Day, and now their trip to Singapore together..."

The post concluded, "Some might say that not having photos of them kissing isn't conclusive evidence, but the timeline and details speak for themselves. Valentine's Day was just a few days ago; the significance of this trip speaks for itself, doesn't it?"

The post had over a thousand comments in less than half an hour.

Someone posted more details: "Zheng Shuang posted on Weibo a few days ago that she was going to see the sea. Isn't Singapore an island?"

Some people also dug up Hu Yanbin's recent musical works, saying, "There's a line in his new song that says, 'It rained all night in Hangzhou,' and the timing matches up!"

Some fans of the couple even lamented in the comments section: "I just crawled out of the Han Shuang pit, and now there's a new development?"

Less than an hour later, another post on Douban's Goose Group exploded in popularity.

"They just finished crying for Zhang Han and then replaced him? I'm stunned by Zheng Shuang's speed."

The poster was a new account, but the tone was more aggressive than in the previous post.

"The previous posts seemed to have a lot of solid evidence, but doesn't anyone think this timeline is too outrageous? She only broke up with Zhang Han last September, right? How badly did she cry in the interview back then? She said she was insecure, felt unworthy of Zhang Han, and even got plastic surgery for him..."

"And then what happened? From September to November, a full three months? And suddenly you're living in the same alley as me, next to a hotel?"

The post included a screenshot of Zheng Shuang's interview from last October, in which she was seen with red eyes saying she felt she wasn't good enough.

"Is this how someone heartbroken looks? Or... is their so-called inferiority and deep affection just an act for the audience?"

The comments section exploded:

"It's really outrageous. So many people felt sorry for her back then, saying that Zhang Han had let her down, but they turned around and changed their minds so quickly?"

"He recovered from the heartbreak of feeling inferior and even getting plastic surgery in just three months? I don't believe it. He probably already had a serious relationship with her."

"On one hand, she sells a heartbroken persona to gain sympathy, and on the other hand, she travels to Singapore with someone else. With such a fast change of heart, it's a pity she's not performing Sichuan opera."

Doubts were flooded by online trolls like a tidal wave. The comment section, which was discussing the authenticity of the new relationship just a second ago, was instantly drowned out by voices saying "His image has collapsed so quickly!"

That's not all! Juku's counterattack has begun!

That evening, Juku Culture Communication Co., Ltd. quickly released an official announcement.

The announcement clearly shows the project approval notice for "Love O2O", which states that the drama is adapted from Gu Man's novel of the same name and has attracted much attention since the beginning of its preparation.

At the same time, the official announcement regarding the cast was also released, with Meng Ziyi playing the female lead Bei Weiwei and Yang Yang playing the male lead Xiao Nai.

In addition, actors Mao Xiaotong, Bai Yu, Zheng Yecheng, Niu Junfeng and others will also co-star.

The announcement emphasized that Meng Ziyi, the actress chosen for the lead role, was selected after multiple discussions by the company's professional team and several rounds of rigorous auditions, making her the most suitable candidate for the role of Bei Weiwei.

Her image and temperament are a perfect match for the character, and her acting style is also very lively. She is able to interpret Bei Weiwei's bright and generous, confident and intelligent nature in a good way. There is no so-called "behind-the-scenes story of the casting change".

Regarding the false rumors circulating online claiming that a certain actress was replaced in a role, the production company stated that these are pure nonsense, malicious slander against the company's casting professionalism, and disrespectful to the actors.

The company will take legal action against these self-media outlets that spread false information, and will pursue their legal responsibilities in order to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the company and the actors.

At the same time, the original author, Gu Man, also spoke out publicly.

"Bei Weiwei is a stunningly beautiful woman. When I was creating this character, I had her image in mind."

"After getting to know her and observing her, I believe that Meng Ziyi is the most suitable actress for the role of Bei Weiwei, both in terms of her physical appearance and the demeanor and temperament she displays during her performance."

Gu Man's statement undoubtedly provides strong support for Meng Ziyi's portrayal of Bei Weiwei.

This is a huge project worth hundreds of millions of yuan. No investor would change their mind because of a few inflammatory words from a celebrity online, unless the actor is proven to have been exposed and banned!
When faced with profit, even so-called personal relationships and preferences must give way to tangible gains.

(End of this chapter)