Chapter Ninety-Seven: When the Tiger Is Absent from the Mountain

“I have to thank my old friend for this. If it weren’t for her encouragement, telling me that so many people were still waiting for me, I wouldn’t have had the courage to stand here today.” Fang Wei invited Shan Shan Yin onto the stage, and the screen behind them began to play synchronized video clips.

The clips showed Fang Wei’s longtime fans leaving messages on her social media every day, never missing a day in seven years, rain or shine. There were also interviews with many of her supporters, tearfully reminiscing about her in front of the camera…

For a moment, the entire venue was awash with tears.

Fang Wei’s face was streaked with tears as she held tightly to Shan Shan Yin’s hand.

“Thank you for preparing this video so thoughtfully for me. If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have had the courage to come here today. Thank you for letting me know there are so many waiting for me…”

[Fang Wei, Fang Wei, no regrets in this life!]
[Fang Wei, I love you.]
[My child is old enough to buy soy sauce, but my youth is still on the stage—how wonderful.]

The number of viewers in the livestream kept climbing, and the topic “Fang Wei Returns” shot straight to the top of the trending list.

Because there had been no prior promotion, this sudden surprise had created an unprecedented effect.

Wang San stood on stage with the microphone, glanced at the livestream data below, and couldn’t stop grinning.

Fang Wei and Shan Shan Yin hugged each other tightly, sobbing, and many viewers in the barrage thanked Shan Shan Yin, since she was not only the creator of the video but also the mastermind behind the event.

While Shan Shan Yin was basking in the limelight, things were not going well for Su Wan Ning in the film crew.

She returned to the lounge to confront Qiu Rui’s agent, but no matter how she explained that she had nothing to do with the matter, the agent refused to believe her.

“As I said, our company wants you to handle this entirely. If you can’t, we’ll have to issue a statement ourselves.”

“What statement?” Vincent interrupted, frowning.

“Of course, a statement clarifying everything for the fans. After all, Qiu Rui has no interest in being involved ambiguously with a married woman.”

The agent crossed her arms, her attitude aggressive, which only infuriated Su Wan Ning further.

“I have no interest in being involved ambiguously with some pretty boy, either. I’ll say it one last time: this has nothing to do with me. If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to call the police and investigate.”

With that, Su Wan Ning got up and left with swagger, leaving the agent stomping in frustration in the lounge.

In the hotel corridor, Su Wan Ning took deep breaths, fuming.

“What does she mean? Is Qiu Rui supposed to be that handsome? Ha! I’m not interested!”

Vincent hurried after her, amused. “Is that so? I distinctly remember someone telling me a couple of days ago how good-looking Qiu Rui was—said if time could turn back five years, maybe you’d have chosen him…”

Halfway through his sentence, Su Wan Ning suddenly turned around, shooting him a sharp look. Vincent instantly shut up.

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop. But you’d better watch your emotions. The livestream camera in your room is already on—you wouldn’t want the viewers to see anything.”

As they spoke, they arrived at the hotel where Su Wan Ning was staying. She swiped her key card and entered, only to see Qin Jing Chen sitting at the end of the bed.

“What are you doing here?” Su Wan Ning stood in the doorway, unmoving, her expression odd.

Her mind raced—though she’d agreed to the divorce, he didn’t need to be so eager, chasing her to her room to make her sign the papers.

Now there were rumors about her and Qiu Rui; if her divorce got exposed, there’d be no way to explain herself. She wondered if there was any way to salvage the situation…

Standing at the door, her thoughts were a mess when Qin Jing Chen suddenly stood up, his expression grave as he asked in a low voice, “Why do you want a divorce?”

For a moment, Su Wan Ning’s instinct was to argue, but then she realized something was wrong.

Wait—the livestream had already started, Vincent had just said so…

Qin Jing Chen watched as Su Wan Ning’s face stiffened, her neck slowly swiveling toward a spot in the room.

There, a staff member was holding up a camera, capturing their conversation in full, looking awkward and unsure whether to lower the device.

It was over.

That was all Su Wan Ning could think.

With this broadcasted live, combined with today’s scandal with Qiu Rui, her acting career might truly be ruined.

Seeing the man in front of her about to say something disastrous, Su Wan Ning gathered her wits, stepped forward, and nestled into his chest, raising a hand to cover his lips, signaling him to stay silent.

She blinked rapidly, her long eyelashes brushing Qin Jing Chen’s heart, and those eyes, misted with tears, made him itch with longing.

“Why are you only asking me now?”

Su Wan Ning spoke in a coquettish, almost playful tone.

As she spoke, she even threw him a flirtatious glance, though her syrupy voice nearly made her gag.

Qin Jing Chen had no idea what was going on, but instinctively wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pulling her close.

“I’m just being sweet to you. Who told you not to visit me for so long? Tell me, how long has it been since we’ve seen each other?”

Su Wan Ning nestled in his arms, tracing circles on his chest with a finger.

Please, cooperate with her—if he exposed her now, it would be truly embarrassing.

She prayed silently, looking up and desperately signaling him with her eyes.

Qin Jing Chen misunderstood, nodded, and held her tighter.

“It’s my fault. In the future, you can just tell me what you need, and I’ll make adjustments.”

Qin Jing Chen replied in his cool, steady voice, his manner more like delivering a report at a meeting than speaking words of love.

Meanwhile, the viewers in Su Wan Ning’s livestream were all bewildered.

[What’s going on? Did we just catch the CEO’s pampered wife’s classic act?]
[Who knew Su Wan Ning could be such a little woman? It’s hard to get used to.]
[Wife, I’m ready for you.]
[President Qin is so doting, though he sounds a bit like an old-school bureaucrat.]
[A straight-laced executive and his enchanting actress wife—friends, I’m hooked!]

Su Wan Ning managed to bluff her way through, breathing a sigh of relief, and turned to the cameraman.

“Oh, when did the livestream start? I didn’t even realize.”

This must have been the pinnacle of her acting career.

“Alright, I need to start my stream. You should leave now, don’t you have work to do?”