Qiao Yan Shi was supporting Bai Yin as they entered the Juli Tai apartment complex, which was a large flat in the Beicheng area. The third floor had floor-to-ceiling glass windows that were spacious and had an excellent view that overlooked all of Beicheng.
Bai Yin stumbled fuzzily into the room, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings. She mumbled, "Where is this?"
"This is my home," Qiao Yan Shi helped her over to the dark blue flannel king bed in the center and cared for her as she lay down, "Sister Bai, you should rest here first."
"No." Although Bai Yin was already disoriented, she instinctively felt it was inappropriate, "I need to go home, I shouldn't stay out all night."
"Sister Bai, don't worry. You're absolutely safe here with me." Qiao Yan Shi brought over makeup remover wipes from the bathroom and carefully removed her makeup, "There are paparazzi downstairs right now. If you go out in this drunken state, they'll take photos and sensationalize it."
Bai Yin no longer had any strength left. She lay on the bed, closed her eyes, but mumbled indistinctly, "I want to go home..."
After Qiao Yan Shi had considerately removed her makeup, he also took out his own skincare cream and applied it to her face. Having done all this, he let her sleep fully clothed in his own bed.
He then sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bed where the alluring drunk woman lay, suppressing the intense desire churning within him.
To distract himself, Qiao Yan Shi took out his phone. The hot search rankings were already dominated by the hashtag #QiaoYanShiAndBaiYinScandalExposed#. But Qiao Yan Shi did not open it.
Without looking, he knew what the fans would be saying.
Bai Yin's phone was on the bedside table and kept ringing nonstop. Half-asleep, she reached out to grab her phone and knocked it onto the floor.
Qiao Yan Shi went over, picked up the phone for her, and saw the caller ID displayed:
[Skirt Chaser]
He frowned slightly.
Although he did not know the details of Bai Yin's private affairs, the suggestive contact name made him feel vaguely uncomfortable.
She was already asleep. Explaining over the phone in this state would be pointless, so Qiao Yan Shi directly declined the call. Then he enabled do not disturb mode and put the phone back on the bedside table.
Soon, his own phone was also bombarded with calls from his agent Sun Lili.
Qiao Yan Shi was usually an obedient artist. No matter how late, he would always answer calls from his agent or director.
But tonight, he wanted to be willful for once, so he muted incoming calls.
Sitting back on the sofa, Qiao Yan Shi reopened Weibo and looked at the hashtag #QiaoYanShiAndBaiYinScandal#.
If only it was real...
*
The next day, Bai Yin woke up and instinctively rubbed her still groggy head.
"Sister Bai, you're awake?"
Qiao Yan Shi came out from the kitchen. He was wearing a floral apron and frying eggs in a pan, emitting an oily fragrance.
"There's sobering tea on the table. Have some first, breakfast will be ready soon."
Seeing Qiao Yan Shi, Bai Yin was stunned for quite a while. She instinctively looked down at her clothes.
Fortunately, she was still wearing yesterday's outfit. Having slept in it, the hem of her skirt was all wrinkled.
She breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"Qiao Yan Shi, how did I end up here?"
"Last night you were drunk, and there were also paparazzi. I couldn't just leave you alone to deal with them, so I could only bring you back here temporarily."
Bai Yin vaguely recalled that she had some conflict with Chen Jingye last night. Later she ran into Qiao Yan Shi who helped resolve it, but everything after that she did not remember.
Bai Yin went to the bathroom to tidy up a bit, then said to him, "Thank you."
Qiao Yan Shi placed the skincare cream by the sink, looked at her apprehensively, and said, "There's one more thing."
"Hm?"
"Last night we trended on the hot search, all night, and we're still at #1 now."
Bai Yin picked up her phone, but before she could check Weibo's hot search, the screen showed over twenty missed calls, all from the same person—
Chen Huaixiao.
Bai Yin noticed the most recent missed call was from 5:30 that morning.
Chen Huaixiao normally would not get up that early, unless he had been up all night.
She was a little nervous, hesitant to call him back. Instead she decided to check the hot search first.
Bai Yin tapped into the topic page. Ranking #1 in topic popularity was a six photo collage. The photos showed Qiao Yan Shi supporting drunk Bai Yin as they walked out of the private room towards the elevator.
The entire process of Bai Yin, clearly tipsy, being intimately helped along by Qiao Yan Shi to the elevator and the closing of the doors, had been secretly photographed.
In the comments, Qiao Yan Shi's fans were of course screaming their outrage, although there were also many rational fans saying their idol also had the right to date, but the vast majority of obsessive girlfriend fans could not accept Qiao Yan Shi having such solid evidence of a scandal.
As Bai Yin was browsing Weibo, Sun Lili called her and she picked up—
"Lili."
"Thank goodness you finally woke up!"
Bai Yin rubbed the corners of her eyes and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "Is it very serious?"
"What do you think? Right now you and Qiao Yan Shi are the two biggest stars at Xingsheng Media, with great prospects ahead, but now you two stir up this scandal..."
Sun Lili was on the verge of crying, "You two are my artists, I really... don't deserve this!"
"It's not that exaggerated." Bai Yin remained calm and said, "It's just a hot search item. I'll release a statement to clarify. Qiao Yan Shi and I are innocent, there's nothing to worry about."
"The hot search is still a small matter," Sun Lili lowered her voice, "The main thing is President Chen didn't sleep at all last night. He called Chen Jingye in and beat him up in front of the whole company... kicked him several times."
Bai Yin gasped.
At least from when she first knew him until now, Chen Huaixiao, who was always cold and indifferent, had never been violent towards anyone.
He must have been truly furious.
Seeing those dozen missed calls, Bai Yin got a little scared, "Lili, should I buy a plane ticket to the Maldives and hide out for a while?"
"As your friend, I support you getting away for a few days. Your husband is really angry with you this time. But as your agent, I advise you to obediently follow the company's arrangements and prioritize your career."
Bai Yin sighed, "I understand."
"Where are you now?"
"Qiao Yan Shi's Juli Tai apartment."
"Just stay there for now, don't go out. There are reporters and paparazzi downstairs. Wait for the company meeting to discuss how to handle this."
Bai Yin heavily hung up the phone.
She didn't expect drinking a little more last night would cause so much trouble.
Qiao Yan Shi came over, guiltily saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't anticipate this would cause so much trouble. I handled it poorly."
"It's also my fault for drinking too much." Bai Yin suddenly asked, "Did Chen Huaixiao contact you?"
"President Chen hasn't, but Sister Lili called me and said not to make any statements for now, to wait for the PR department to draft a clarification post."
"Okay, listen to Sun Lili's arrangements."
"Sister Bai, come eat breakfast. You must be hungry." Qiao Yan Shi invited Bai Yin to the dining table. It was set with a hearty breakfast of fried eggs, pancakes, milk and toasted bread.
Bai Yin had no appetite. She silently drank a few sips of the hot milk.
A few minutes later, the door was knocked on.
Bai Yin jumped, looking at Qiao Yan Shi, "Is it reporters?"
"Building security wouldn't let reporters come up." Qiao Yan Shi was also very confused. He went to look through the peephole and turned back in shock, "Sister Bai, it's... it's President Chen!"
Bai Yin hurried to the door, tidied up her hair and clothes a bit, then opened it.
Chen Huaixiao's expression was tranquil, carrying a hint of fatigue. Stubble accentuated his sharp jawline, making his profile seem even more chiseled.
His icy gaze swept over Bai Yin, then behind her at Qiao Yan Shi.
Qiao Yan Shi did not expect the president to show up at his residence personally. He quickly explained, "President Chen, Bai Yin and I didn't, the paparazzi just took photos and made things up."
Afraid he would vent his anger on Qiao Yan Shi, Bai Yin took a deep breath and called out softly, "Chen Huaixiao, I'll go back with you now."
Chen Huaixiao's rough palm firmly grasped Bai Yin's smooth wrist, dragging her out the door. He didn't want her staying a second longer in another man's home.
Seeing Chen Huaixiao act so brusquely, Qiao Yan Shi immediately chased over and pulled Bai Yin back, "President Chen, this is not good. It was my mistake, don't blame Bai Yin..."
It seemed Chen Huaixiao had already exercised extreme restraint. His icy gaze lowered, "Take your hand off my wife."
Qiao Yan Shi froze, taking half a beat to react. He looked at Bai Yin in shock.
Bai Yin said in a low voice, "I'm sorry Qiao Yan Shi, I should have told you earlier—Chen Huaixiao is my husband."
Qiao Yan Shi's mind went blank for a moment. His hand was forcefully shaken off by Chen Huaixiao, awkwardly suspended in midair.
By the time he reacted, Chen Huaixiao had already taken Bai Yin into the elevator.
He hurried to catch up and said, "It's not good to go downstairs now. It's full of paparazzi there..."
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Huaixiao resolutely pressed the elevator close door button. His icy gaze was enough to make one shudder.
Bai Yin wanted to say something several times—explain, or apologize.
But every time she opened her mouth, she was forced silent again by Chen Huaixiao's icy expression.
Nevermind then.
She stood silently by his side. The instant the elevator doors opened, she instinctively shrank back.
Sure enough, the paparazzi lying in wait outside swarmed over, wildly snapping away at Bai Yin with flashing cameras.
Without hesitation, Chen Huaixiao took off his suit jacket and draped it over Bai Yin, forcefully shielding her as he walked out from the paparazzi crowd.
Although these paparazzi hated not being able to strip Bai Yin naked and photograph her aggressively, not one dared to easily offend Chen Huaixiao, much less block his path. They could only shoot from the periphery.
Chen Huaixiao's black Maybach was parked at the entrance. He protected Bai Yin into the car, then turned back to the swarm of reporters who had followed them out. In a low voice he said, "Bai Yin is my artist. Chen Huaixiao came to pick her up personally to uphold my reputation and guarantee they have no relationship. Believe it or not, I don't want to see any more fabricated, sensationalist reports. If you don't see reason, feel free to bump into my gun muzzle."
Having said this, he got into the car and told Shen Bin to drive off.
...
The atmosphere in the car was strangely quiet, with only the whooshing wind outside.
Shen Bin glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror.
Chen Huaixiao and Bai Yin sat on opposite sides, neither with good expressions.
He hesitated for a moment, then took the initiative to break the silence, "Master Chen, this whole incident was just an accident. I also believe Bai Yin and Qiao Yan Shi would not act rashly."
The car remained quiet after he spoke, a faint awkwardness in the silence.
Shen Bin shut his mouth, not wanting to further disturb the two's internal struggles.
Finally, Chen Huaixiao's emotions seemed to have calmed down somewhat. He spoke, "Climbing to the peak of fame, becoming a shining star, gaining much happiness."
His voice held some disdain, "So this is what you wanted?"
Bai Yin picked at the buttonholes of his suit jacket with her glossy fingertips, head lowered, not uttering a word.
"Do you know Qiao Yan Shi is already a top A-list celebrity? Do you know how crazy his fans are?"
Bai Yin still did not speak.
"In order to get revenge, you used marriage as a bargaining chip. I thought you were quite decisive." His tone was icy and mocking. "A few drinks and you throw everything away. With such poor capacity, go back to your small Jiangnan town and sell goods on the street."
As an outsider, Shen Bin felt the barbs of his words.
Chen Huaixiao had been simmering in anger all night without sleep. His wife likely would not have an easy time today.
"President Chen... um..."
"If you utter one more sound, get the hell out of Xingsheng Media. You'll never work again."
Shen Bin hurriedly shut up, even holding in his coughs. He only rolled down Chen Huaixiao's window a little, for some ventilation and to help him cool off slightly.
Chen Huaixiao pulled at his tight collar and glanced at the silent woman.
She had tightly clenched her fair fists until her knuckles turned white, head lowered with tears streaming freely down her cheeks.
This time, she really knew she was wrong.
She had promised her mother and grandmother that she would behave herself, but because of her own momentary indulgence, she had almost...undone all her previous efforts.
Bai Yin hated that she could have slapped herself twice.
"Brother Huai, don't make me go back south."
She breathed rapidly, sobbing slightly, shaking her head with a trembling cry: "I won't do it again."
Chen Huaixiao had thought this woman would be stubborn and defend herself, and he was already prepared for a big fight with her. But unexpectedly...she cried.
It made Chen Huaixiao's heart shatter.
This was even more unbearable than being cut with a blunt knife.
"Bai Yin, I...I didn't scold you."
"I know, I don't blame brother, I'm angry with myself."
Chen Huaixiao didn't dare look at her, gazing out the window at the scenery, desperately suppressing the emotions churning inside him like waves.
Finally, he could endure it no longer.
Chen Huaixiao went over and stretched out his arm, drawing her into his embrace and gently patting her.
"There, don't cry anymore."
Bai Yin gently hugged his waist, wiping her tears and snot all over his clothes: "Don't send me away."
"Never."
At this moment, Chen Huaixiao was acutely aware that he had already fallen into her hands.
Even if the sky fell down, he would hold it up for her.
...
That day under the Yuli Tower apartment building, Chen Huaixiao, as the head of Xing Media, had actually come in person to pick up Bai Yin and even used his own reputation to guarantee for her.
This matter once again became a new round of hot topic.
Compared to Bai Yin and Qiao Yan Shi's secret affair, Chen Huaixiao's actions were even more puzzling.
"I have to say, the president of Xing Media...really went all out for his artist!"
"Now Bai Yin and Qiao Yan Shi are two artists with potential under Chen Huaixiao. With both rooms collapsing at once, he must be anxious."
"No...don't you guys feel like Chen Huaixiao is more than this? Anyway I don't believe it :)"
"Doesn't anyone else find it ridiculous that Chen Huaixiao personally came to pick up Bai Yin?"
"Could Chen Huaixiao and Bai Yin have something going on?"
"This is just as far-fetched as Bai Yin's sisterly love affair with Qiao Yan Shi."
"Anyway, I believe in Chen Huaixiao. Since he has staked his reputation on this, perhaps it really was just a misunderstanding."
"Xing Media has always had very strict management of its artists. And they're from the same company after all."
...
Later, Bai Yin and Qiao Yan Shi both issued statements truthfully explaining the situation. The two had merely met at a party and drank a little too much. Bai Yin got drunk, and Qiao Yan Shi took care of her out of friendship.
Qiao Yan Shi's bandmates also came out to testify, and even released photos of the gathering in the private room at the time, indeed showing many people, not just the two of them alone.
"It's very normal for artists from the same company to have a social gathering together."
"But if they were normal friends, should he have taken her directly to his own apartment?"
"They had no choice because they were blocked by the paparazzi."
"Our Brother Yan Shi is still very young and lacks experience in dealing with this kind of thing. I ask the media to please stop exaggerating it, let these two off the hook, and focus on their work instead of their private lives, okay?"
...
As things progressed, Bai Yin and Qiao Yan Shi were frank and open, still occasionally attending company events or variety shows together, and never intentionally avoiding each other. Gradually, fans also believed this was just an accident.
Only the couple fans of the two were quite hurt, having bitten into a sugar pill.
That afternoon, Bai Yin was in Chen Huaixiao's living room looking over her schedule for the next half year when Chen Jingye happened to come to apologize to Chen Huaixiao and ran into Bai Yin.
Seeing Bai Yin lounging on the sofa lazily sucking a lollipop, he became furious —
"Bro, you're too much. Keeping a mistress is one thing, but putting her on display in your office for others to see! If Grandpa finds out you have such a sordid private life, do you still want your inheritance rights?!"
Chen Huaixiao drew his gaze back from the computer and glanced indifferently at Chen Jingye —
"Kneel down."
"Wha...what for?"
"To kowtow and apologize to sister-in-law."
