Chapter 132

The trending topics were indeed as Chi Wanzhao had predicted—they rose quickly, and Xinhui's news was pulled just as fast. Each rise and fall inevitably drew fans circling to watch, but it never stirred up too much of a wave. Everyone knew what kind of person Wei Haoran was, so they clicked in, left a mocking comment or two, and moved on. Kong Xiyan scrolled through a few of the top comments as she ate.

—Ugh, that Wei Haoran is toxic. Can't mess with a crossdresser, hahahaha!

—I weirdly think he looks kind of good.

—What kind of bizarre situation is this? Isn't Wei Haoran a director? Why is he into roleplay??

—Let me explain for those above: Director Wei asked an actor to wear a skirt like this, and when the actor refused, he decided to demonstrate it himself!

—This is classic Wei Haoran. Remember three years ago when he was dating six women at once and the internet crowned him the most hardcore gigolo?

—Hahahaha what the hell? Fill me in, fill me in!

Kong Xiyan glanced at a few more comments, then exited Weibo. There were certainly some trolls Tong Yue had hired stirring things up, but Xinhui's bots were also muddying the waters, using even more bizarre scandals to bury this one. And whenever someone brought up HG, the mention was quickly deleted.

The trending topic lasted only two hours before being replaced by another piece of news—Chai Yin signing with Xinhui.

That headline instantly overshadowed the leak about Wei Haoran and shot straight to number one, with countless fans flooding in to congratulate. Naturally, some questioning voices also appeared.

—Hey, didn't Yin Yin sign with Jingyan three years ago? Why is she with Xinhui now?

—Are you stupid? She was also rumored to be with President Chi three years ago. Why not bring that up too?

—Honestly, I'd say it's 80% that Yin Yin was heartbroken and decided to give up on President Chi, throwing herself into Xinhui's arms instead.

—Don't say that. Yin Yin already said they were just friends. Besides, I saw the posts from Kong Xiyan and Jingyan's President Chi—they're clearly into each other.

—Into each other? Are you a paid shill for Kong Xiyan? Haha, hilarious.

—Whether she is or not, what does it matter to us? Whoever Yin Yin wants to be with, we'll just wish her well. All I know is she's single now and not dating!

—Exactly! Don't drag those two into this. This is all about congratulating Yin Yin!

—Wishing the goddess great success at Xinhui!!!

After seeing that trending topic, Kong Xiyan received a call from Tong Yue.

After a moment's thought, she said, "Sister Tong, pull all the earlier stories."

Tong Yue frowned. "All of them?"

Kong Xiyan nodded. "Mm. This time we didn't borrow the east wind properly, so the news couldn't blow away on its own."

Tong Yue mused over this. "Okay, I understand."

And just like that, the news about Wei Haoran was suppressed and faded away.

Kong Xiyan didn't pay it much mind.

After dinner, she lay on the bed cradling Yanyan, listening to the sound of water running in the bathroom. She glanced over, but couldn't see anything.

Yanyan shifted positions several times before finally settling down on her chest and dozing off, letting out a soft purr. The tips of its upright ears twitched occasionally, utterly adorable. Kong Xiyan leaned down to play with the cat and couldn't resist burying her face in its fur for a sniff.

Chi Wanzhao emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel, her long hair hanging wet down her back. Her fair skin was flushed from the steam, and the necklace Kong Xiyan had given her still hung around her neck, sparkling under the crystal light.

"Xiyan, come here."

Chi Wanzhao called from where she sat at the vanity. Kong Xiyan glanced over and saw her holding a hairdryer, extending it toward her.

"Dry my hair."

Kong Xiyan set Yanyan down and padded over in her slippers.

She was only wearing a thin pink nightgown that fell just past her knees. It was short-sleeved with a round neck, and the neckline happened to reveal her delicate collarbones. When Chi Wanzhao saw her approach, she handed over the hairdryer.

But the moment Kong Xiyan touched it, Chi Wanzhao grabbed her wrist and yanked her forward. Kong Xiyan stumbled two steps and landed directly on Chi Wanzhao's lap.

Chi Wanzhao was only wrapped in a bath towel, and it was secured above her chest, leaving a large expanse of skin exposed. Kong Xiyan was so flustered at being pulled into her embrace that she didn't know where to put her hands. Finally, she looped both arms around Chi Wanzhao's shoulders—one still clutching the hairdryer, the other pressing against her rounded shoulder—and said, "Let me get down and dry your hair."

But Chi Wanzhao only held her tighter, resting her head on Kong Xiyan's shoulder. "Dry it like this."

Kong Xiyan tried to push her away, but she wouldn't budge. With no other choice, she awkwardly maneuvered the hairdryer through that position, drying Chi Wanzhao's long, wet hair.

The two of them were pressed close together.

The damp strands of Chi Wanzhao's hair had already soaked through Kong Xiyan's thin nightgown, revealing the outline of her light-colored bra. Kong Xiyan used one hand to sweep all of Chi Wanzhao's hair to the back of her head. The room was filled with nothing but the drone of the hairdryer.

The long hair gradually dried in her hands.

Chi Wanzhao's hair was on the softer side and often tied up. Without any styling products, it naturally dried in soft waves, cascading down her back like it had been permed into loose curls.

Kong Xiyan's fingertips ran through the strands—it felt wonderful.

From over Chi Wanzhao's shoulder, she couldn't see that Chi Wanzhao's hand had already slipped beneath the hem of her nightgown. One arm remained wrapped around Kong Xiyan's waist to keep her from falling, while the other hand wandered beneath the fabric, up to no good.

Kong Xiyan's face flushed red. She gritted her teeth, determined not to make a sound, but the tips of her ears were burning crimson. In the end, she couldn't hold back and sank her teeth into Chi Wanzhao's shoulder, her body trembling.

Chi Wanzhao, even as she was bitten, only had a slight change in expression as she pulled Kong Xiyan even closer, as if wanting to press her into her very being.

Her other hand had already traced along the inside of Kong Xiyan's thigh and slipped into her core, her fingertip immediately meeting moisture.

Kong Xiyan couldn't help but bite down harder, her eyes hazy and seductive, all strength drained from her body as she collapsed against Chi Wanzhao.

With a clatter, the hairdryer hit the floor.

Yanyan was startled awake. Lifting its head, it looked around the room and then spotted the two figures by the vanity. It meowed twice, jumped off the bed, and stared at Kong Xiyan and Chi Wanzhao with its big, round eyes. Kong Xiyan let out a faint sound.

"Xiaowan... Yanyan... Yanyan is still watching..."

Chi Wanzhao merely slowed her movements at the sound, then leaned in to whisper by Kong Xiyan's ear, "Isn't that good?"

Kong Xiyan: ...

Good, my foot.

Being stared at like that made her whole body tense up. Every tiny move Chi Wanzhao made felt magnified a hundredfold, and her heart itched like a cat was scratching it—both unbearable and torturous. Her eyes brimmed with tears, looking pitiful like a rain-soaked pear blossom.

Seeing this, Chi Wanzhao called out softly, "Yanyan."

Yanyan, which had been circling the two of them, let out a meow at the sound of Chi Wanzhao's voice and scampered off. Kong Xiyan watched as it jumped back onto the bed, curled up, and started purring with its eyes closed.

She breathed a sigh of relief, and a suppressed moan finally slipped past her lips.

It was covered by the drone of the hairdryer, heard only by Chi Wanzhao.

They stayed in that position for quite a while.

When Kong Xiyan caught sight of her own reflection in the vanity mirror, she still felt flushed with embarrassment. After Chi Wanzhao withdrew her hand, Kong Xiyan swatted at her a few times, bit her lip, and huffed before storming off to the bathroom.

Behind her, Chi Wanzhao also stood up.

"Xiyan."

Her only answer was the click of the bathroom door being shut!

Chi Wanzhao: ...

She stared at the closed bathroom door, a playful smile tugging at her brow. Turning, she walked over to the window.

Outside, the night was ink-black, with a few nameless stars scattered across the sky. She opened the window a crack, and the wind lifted her hair, bringing in a crisp chill.

She stood by the window for a long while. Only when she heard sounds coming from the bathroom did she close the window and draw the curtains.

When Kong Xiyan emerged, she still ignored Chi Wanzhao. She simply picked up Yanyan and got into bed to sleep.

Chi Wanzhao walked over to the bedside and looked down. Kong Xiyan was facing away from her. She pressed her lips together in a faint smile.

The dim glow of the bedside lamp bathed the entire room in soft light.

Chi Wanzhao watched for a moment, then reached out and turned off the lamp, plunging the room into darkness. She slipped into bed next to Kong Xiyan and wrapped her arms around her.

Kong Xiyan was exhausted from the ordeal and soon fell into a deep sleep. Chi Wanzhao opened her eyes, her hand lingering on Kong Xiyan's belly. After a moment, she curled her fingers into a fist, her gaze dimming, and slowly closed her eyes.

In the stillness of the room, their soft breathing intertwined.

In another apartment not far away, Guan Xiaoying kept glancing at her phone, which showed several missed calls. Frustrated, she tossed it aside. Chai Yin noticed her agitation and walked over with two cups of tea.

She handed one to Guan Xiaoying. "What's wrong?"

Guan Xiaoying frowned. "You've heard about Wei Haoran's business."

Chai Yin nodded.

It was all over Weibo—how could she not know? Especially since Guan Xiaoying had used the news of signing with her to suppress the leak.

Guan Xiaoying continued, "Wei Haoran signing with HG was my arrangement. The original deal was for HG to protect him, but I didn't expect Chi Wanzhao to get there first."

Chai Yin curled her lips in a subtle smile, and said, "What's done is done. Don't overthink it. Just keep Wei Haoran out of the public eye for now. That's how we protect him."

Guan Xiaoying pressed her fingers to her temples. "Because of what happened on set, Wei Haoran had a falling out with Tiancheng and even caused a huge scene at the old mansion. The Wei family has always doted on him, so now they're reaming Tiancheng out."

Chai Yin turned her head. "And now? Should we go talk to them?"

Guan Xiaoying waved her hand. "No need. I'll go see Wei Haoran myself."

With that, she stood up. Chai Yin rose as well, just as Guan Xiaoying's phone rang. Chai Yin caught a glimpse of the caller ID: He Wei.

Guan Xiaoying said, "I understand. See you later."

When she hung up, Chai Yin smiled. "Leaving?"

Guan Xiaoying nodded. "I'll head out. As for Chi Wanzhao..."

Chai Yin smiled. "Don't worry. Chi Wanzhao responds better to softness than force, so there's no rushing it. Relax, I know what I'm doing."

Guan Xiaoying looked at her, nodded. "Alright."

Chai Yin watched her leave the apartment, and the moment the door closed, her demeanor shifted completely. She immediately called her assistant.

"Bring the car around."

Her eyes fixed on the black sedan that had just driven past. "Follow it."