Chapter 97: Swayed Public Opinion

No matter how formally Bai Chenxi spoke, Lin Yue still didn't believe her. Seeing Bai Chenxi, ready to argue with him simply because he doubted her, Lin Yue nodded perfunctorily. “Mm! I believe you, I believe you.”

Bai Chenxi let out a quiet sigh of relief; she was about to collapse if this went on any longer. She couldn't possibly go to Chu Muyun to confirm this—she simply didn't have the courage.

The topic passed, and Bai Chenxi didn't even realize she hadn't explained her relationship with Chu Muyun.

“So, tell me, you didn't just come here for gossip, did you?” If that was the case, his manager would go crazy. Bai Chenxi would have enjoyed the show.

“How could I? Do you think everyone is as immature as you?”

Bai Chenxi looked at Lin Yue, unconvinced. “How am I immature?”

“The company is still running around cleaning up after your little stunt, throwing water on someone in the middle of the night!” Hearing Lin Yue's words, Bai Chenxi's bravado faded a bit—she knew she was to blame.

“What happened? Tell me the whole story. Don't tell me you two actually fought over that crooked tree.”

He knew that old tree was no good. He'd once thought it had at least a tiny bit of merit!

Bai Chenxi recounted in detail her grievances with Meng Ling. If she didn't clarify, who knew what Lin Yue's imagination would come up with! Although, strictly speaking, Meng Ling's grudge against her was indeed because of Chu Muyun, she couldn't say that! The two of them absolutely did not fall out over a man.

This counted as self-defense. Yes! Self-defense.

After hearing the whole story, Lin Yue asked, “Couldn't you have chosen a place where no one was around? Now you've just handed her the chance to blacken your name.”

“I just lost my temper!” Bai Chenxi said, but she knew perfectly well that even if she hadn't lost her temper, she would have done the same thing. If she hadn’t done it in front of everyone, how would she have made her lose face?

“You!” Lin Yue’s tone was helpless but indulgent. How could he not understand Bai Chenxi?

She was usually easy-going, but the moment someone crossed her bottom line, she would throw caution to the wind.

For once, Lin Yue showed some concern. “So how are you? Were you scared? It's good that you didn't hold back—you shouldn't let others walk all over you.”

Bai Chenxi suddenly grabbed Lin Yue’s arm. “Tell me, who are you and why are you pretending to be Lin Yue?”

Lin Yue slapped her hand away in exasperation. “What, I'm not allowed to care about you?”

Bai Chenxi grinned with sincere delight. “Right, right, it's really heartwarming, thank you, Brother Yue.”

“But…” Bai Chenxi suddenly changed the subject. “Why are you really here?”

Lin Yue put on a mysterious air. “Ah, that, you'll find out soon enough.”

And indeed, Bai Chenxi found out very soon. Lin Yue’s visit to the set was a little too high-profile; word quickly spread online.

[What’s going on? Why is Lin Yue involved now?]

[I thought my Lingxi CP was over for good!]

[Do you think that shadowy figure was Lin Yue? Why else would he show up at the set so early in the morning?]

As soon as this news broke, it gained a lot of traction. The more people discussed it, the more plausible it seemed. Lin Yue and Meng Ling had no connection whatsoever.

If Lin Yue came to visit the set, it made sense for him to stay at a hotel ahead of time, and it was normal for him to meet Bai Chenxi.

Then someone deliberately fanned the flames, saying Bai Chenxi and Meng Ling had been at odds for a long time. This time, it was just a coincidence that they clashed. In an instant, what was once a three-way romantic scandal became a personal feud between two people, with Lin Yue simply caught in the crossfire.

What started as speculation quickly solidified into “fact.” The more people discussed it, the more it seemed true. No one came forward to clarify, so in the public's eyes, it was tacitly acknowledged.

As a result, the internet naturally separated Bai Chenxi and Lin Yue’s matter from that of Bai Chenxi and Meng Ling. Gossip lovers dug into every detail between the two, while drama chasers looked for reasons for their conflict.

Rumors between the two had been around for ages, and their fans got along decently, so Lin Yue just let them gossip as they pleased.

But the matter between Bai Chenxi and Meng Ling was another story—each side had its own version. Even if someone was a fan of Meng Ling, there was no evidence she had orchestrated anything.

Meng Ling said little, keeping up a pitiful act online. After all, people always sympathize with the weak, even if it's just an act.

The whole thing blew up online, giving the impression that the two women were already at war, ready to take it to court. But in reality, neither had publicly commented on the incident.

Those caught in the eye of public opinion are always at its mercy. No one cared about the truth; all they wanted was the spectacle. There would always be some who refused to believe the truth, and if a rumor was repeated often enough, some would start to believe it.

No matter the truth, there would always be those who accused Bai Chenxi of making a fuss and seeking revenge, and others who believed Meng Ling had incited her fans to attack first.

At home, Meng Ling fumed over the injustice done to her, only to find public opinion so easily swayed. Though she had some support, it was a pyrrhic victory—hurting herself while attacking the other.

Meng Ling was so angry she felt she might cough up blood. That afternoon, she put on a sickly makeup look and went to the set, bringing snacks for the staff, apologizing left and right for the inconvenience. With her frail appearance, she truly looked like a damsel in distress.

If Lin Yue had still been around, he would have had to concede defeat—there weren’t many who could outdo him at playing the victim. To this, Lin Yue would say: don’t compare us, it would only lower my status.

Perhaps today’s almanac had said it was a good day for set visits, because one after another, people came by to check in.

That afternoon, another visitor arrived, heading straight for the director. Bai Chenxi knew this person as well.

How could she forget the person who had once berated her so harshly during her audition? The visitor was none other than the director of “Song of the Peony.”

Seeing the director, Bai Chenxi thought again of Director Che. In hindsight, the director’s harshness back then had actually helped her dodge a bullet. Yet, she still ended up in the trap after all.

Thinking of Director Che’s downfall now, Bai Chenxi felt a surge of satisfaction—evil truly does meet its just rewards.

Director Li glanced at the unexpected arrival, Tian Jie, and asked, “How do you have time to come by? Is everything settled with your crew?”

The scandal between Director Che and that Li Keke had blown up—a major investor and a female lead, both down the drain. Watching Tian Jie, who didn’t seem at all troubled, Director Li figured things must be sorted.

Tian Jie laughed. “You could say it’s half resolved. The investor is set, but we still don’t have a female lead.”

Director Li joked, “You look way too relaxed for someone missing their lead actress!”

“I never liked that Li Keke anyway; it was the investors who forced her on me. I’m not like you—I don’t have the authority to refuse. Now that she’s gone, it’s perfect. I can finally choose properly.”

Hearing this, Director Li forced a smile and glanced over at Bai Chenxi. Wasn’t she also pushed onto the production by the investors? It was only because she turned out passable that things didn’t blow up and force her out.

Watching Tian Jie look around, Director Li spoke up warily. “You haven’t found your lead actress yet—don’t tell me you’re here to poach from my cast?”

He said nervously, “I’m warning you, stay away from my actresses—they’re all busy. If you’re short on people, talk to the agents for Mo Li or Xia Yan.”

In other words: forget about my leading lady.

Tian Jie thought: I’m here for the lead actress, not the male lead.