For the next week, Lin Qinghe and You Rong stayed in the same drama crew, pretending to be close, but it didn't yield the desired results.
During filming, You Rong was professional, acting as he should. He didn't reject physical contact with Lin Qinghe and even took care of her during shooting. However, in private, You Rong remained as distant as ever, not even replying to her WeChat messages.
Lin Qinghe was both annoyed and anxious, yet utterly helpless against him.
Lin Qinghe sprawled on the hotel bed, grumbling, "This is so annoying. They say he's a block of wood, clueless about romance. I think he's just a hard, stinky rock, impossible to move..."
Furthermore, she couldn't find a good opportunity to confess her feelings for You Rong.
Just then, Yuan Xiaoai walked in with her phone, looking worried. "Sister Qinghe, this is bad! The episode of 'Simple Life' you recorded has been released. There's a part where you were drunk that the production team didn't cut and aired. Your apology for that incident two years ago involving You Rong has caused quite a stir online. People are calling you a green tea..."
Instead of being angry as Yuan Xiaoai expected, Lin Qinghe flipped over from the bed and sat up, her eyes bright. "Really? 'Simple Life' has aired? Hurry, hurry... show me!"
Yuan Xiaoai, confused but handing over her phone, watched as Lin Qinghe, not seeming angry at all and even showing a hint of excitement, browsed Weibo. She couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"Sister Qinghe, please don't be too upset. Be careful not to make yourself sick. Although there's a lot of public opinion right now, most fans are still on your side. I believe Brother Yang can get others to do some PR, and this won't escalate too much..." Yuan Xiaoai said cautiously.
Lin Qinghe's eyes lit up. "That's right! You reminded me. I can't let Brother Yang find people for PR. I'll call Brother Yang right now!"
Watching Lin Qinghe repeatedly emphasize to Yang Tianlin not to seek PR, Yuan Xiaoai was completely bewildered.
What's wrong with Sister Qinghe? Isn't this akin to... ruining her own future?
Regardless of how unbelievable it seemed to Yuan Xiaoai, Lin Qinghe, after much effort, managed to persuade Yang Tianlin, who listened to her convoluted logic that only made things worse, and allowed the situation to ferment without any PR measures.
Meanwhile, in You Rong's room.
Hu Xiaobei immediately informed him about the trending topic involving You Rong.
Watching the variety show clip, You Rong couldn't deny being shocked. He never expected Lin Qinghe's words to actually be broadcasted in full.
"Although this incident has caused quite a stir online, and only a small portion of people are starting to side with you, Brother, for you... this is actually a very good direction," Hu Xiaobei analyzed with his limited experience in the entertainment industry.
Seeing You Rong remain silent, Hu Xiaobei added, "Brother, why not give Brother Gu a call? If we leverage this for some PR, it would definitely be beneficial for your future development. As for Sister Qinghe... she might not be too pleased."
You Rong was silent for a long moment before saying, "Don't worry about it." He returned the phone to Hu Xiaobei. "Let's go, it's almost time to start filming. We can't be late."
A hint of confusion crossed Hu Xiaobei's plump face, but he dared not ask further. He nodded and went to help You Rong prepare the necessary items for the filming set.
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You Rong and Lin Qinghe arrived at the filming set almost one after another. Upon arrival, it was evident that something was amiss, as many people stole curious glances at the two of them.
Lin Qinghe paid no mind, greeted You Rong, and went to the makeup room. During her makeup, she leisurely scrolled through Weibo, reading the hateful comments directed at her.
"Disgusting green tea bitch, pretends to be innocent while being manipulative. She harmed him back then with online bullying and didn't say a word. Now she hypocritically apologizes, clearly trying to gain attention!"
Of course, there was also a large group defending Lin Qinghe, arguing that even if she was referring to You Rong, she was still innocent. It was the fault of her company and team. As an eighteen-line artist back then, she could only follow company arrangements. Now that she had more influence, she was coming forward to clarify. Furthermore, even if You Rong hadn't physically assaulted the actress, his arrogance, messy personal life, and other bad habits were well-documented. What was there to pity about such a person!
As Lin Qinghe was engrossed in reading, Yuan Xiaoai's phone rang. After answering, her expression changed, and she handed the phone to Lin Qinghe. "Sister Qinghe, it's Brother Yang. He wants you to listen."
Lin Qinghe knew why Yang Tianlin was calling and took a deep breath. She took the phone. "Hello? Brother Yang? What can I do for you?"
"The two brands you're currently endorsing have called me, saying you need to clarify the current heated situation online. Otherwise, for their own safety, they will have to withdraw your endorsements."
Lin Qinghe asked, "Which two endorsements?"
"One is for perfume, and the other is for daily necessities. Although they're not major brands, I still think it would be better for you to post a clarification, right?"
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered. "Brother Yang, there's no need to clarify. It'll blow over in a couple of days. Clarifying now will only make things more confusing. And it's fine if these two endorsements are dropped. My dad said he wants to introduce me to bigger endorsements of the same type... like the Lan Fei endorsement."
"Are you serious? Director Zhang told you?"
"Yes, my dad told me himself." Lin Qinghe lied with a straight face.
"Alright then. Compared to Lan Fei, these two endorsements are indeed nothing. Let it be. You focus on filming in the crew, don't worry too much about this... But you really don't listen. You insist on getting involved with You Rong. I always feel like nothing good happens when you get close to him..." Su Dan Novel Network
Lin Qinghe listened to Yang Tianlin's nagging for a few more sentences and hung up.
On the other side, Hu Xiaobei, living up to his title as a professional assistant, was always at the forefront of gossip. He excitedly lowered his voice and said to You Rong, "Brother, a friend of mine at a certain company told me that Sister Qinghe's apology has escalated. Two brands are already announcing the termination of their cooperation with Sister Qinghe..."
You Rong frowned. This was quite unexpected.
The online public opinion showed no signs of subsiding. Had Lin Qinghe's team not taken any PR measures?
Filming set.
Today's scene involved Lin Qinghe, playing Gu Yuening, descending the mountain with You Rong, playing Gu Fan, to eliminate demons. They had wirework.
While on the wires, Lin Qinghe was somewhat distracted, preoccupied with how to confess her feelings to You Rong. As a result, she didn't notice the crew members' shouts. When the wire suddenly lowered, she was unprepared and startled. Losing her balance, she was about to fall to the ground. Fortunately, You Rong, who was descending with her, quickly grabbed her. They collided, staggering back a few steps, and luckily, didn't fall.
Lin Qinghe was still shaken by the fright. She heard You Rong's deep voice asking, "Are you alright?"
Lin Qinghe shook her head somewhat blankly. "Huh? I... I'm fine... Thank you just now."
You Rong looked at Lin Qinghe and frowned. "Wirework is dangerous. If you're not in good condition, tell the director you need a day off before filming. Otherwise, if something happens, the consequences could be dire."
"Ah?" Lin Qinghe was initially confused. Seeing the flicker of concern in You Rong's eyes, she suddenly understood.
Did You Rong think she was upset because of the online public opinion? Was his earlier statement out of concern for her?
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered, and an idea immediately formed in her mind.
Could she use this opportunity to play a tragic strategy on You Rong? And while she was at it, confess her feelings?!