After Breaking Up with the Scumbag Girl, I Became an Alpha [Entertainment Circle] (GL) - Chapter 12

It must be said that Lin Yu’s roundabout method was effective to an extent. She kept the line between ambiguity and clarity perfectly balanced; she didn’t directly confirm the netizens’ guesses, nor did she issue a formal announcement. The netizens were happily trapped in this “gossip cycle”—the less clear things were, the more enthusiastically they speculated on the truth.

In this way, Zero didn’t lose anything; instead, they gained massive exposure, and Xu Wuhuan became a “hot topic” in her own right. In addition to the organic trending topics, Lin Yu sought out a major marketing account influencer to fan the flames—specifically, the wind regarding Xu Wuhuan’s dancing prowess. Currently, Xu Wuhuan’s public reputation wasn’t great, mainly because Meng Yao’s solo fans and Zero’s group fans were fueling the fire, leading uninformed passersby to be swayed by rumors like “Xu Wuhuan used the back door to get in; she has no talent.”

The major marketing account began posting videos of Xu Wuhuan dancing, naturally selecting the most outstanding ones. Under the influencer’s lead, more and more netizens were dazzled by her skills. Xu Wuhuan was beautiful and a powerful dancer, and she already had a core group of fans. With the true fans coordinating with the marketing accounts, Xu Wuhuan’s reputation began to trend upward, and a few rational netizens started to discuss it:

[Actually, Xu Wuhuan is a really amazing dancer. She’s not worse than MY (Meng Yao). I don’t know why people are hating.]

[Zero is all about talent. Since Xu Wuhuan has the skills, why can’t she be a member?]

[Am I the only one who thinks Xu Wuhuan is incredibly “A” (Alpha)? A cold and elegant Alpha! I’m in!!]

[Zero didn’t have an Alpha before. A rare, beautiful Alpha like Xu Wuhuan is the icing on the cake for Zero.]

[I don’t care, I can accept Xu Wuhuan as a member. She’s too “A”! Ahhh!]

In short, online opinion on whether Xu Wuhuan should be a new member of Zero was polarized.

Zhong Yan looked at these confused comments with total disdain. So what if she’s an Alpha? She’s still a scummy person.

Today was the day of Zero’s full-group press conference, which served as the official event to introduce the new member.

Lin Yu reminded them again: “Interact closely later. Don’t act so distant. I don’t want to see any news about Zero members not getting along, do you hear me?”

All four nodded.

When the car stopped at the designated location, reporters immediately swarmed them. Under the protection of bodyguards, the four stepped out. The moment the reporters saw Xu Wuhuan, the flashes, cameras, and microphones seemed to have eyes of their own, jabbing toward the four women’s faces. Questions fired off like crackers:

“Xu Wuhuan, can you tell us why you were able to join Zero?” “There are rumors online that you got in through the back door. Is that true?”

Throughout it all, Xu Wuhuan kept her head down under her hat, her hidden eyes dark and somber.

Somehow, Zhong Yan was squeezed next to Xu Wuhuan by the reporters and fans. She felt irritable; the inadvertent physical contact with Xu Wuhuan made her feel a sense of revulsion.

Zhong Yan was wearing a white striped off-the-shoulder crop top and wide-leg jeans today, with her hair half-tied. She looked young, casual, and effortless. She had a massive fan base, and as they screamed frantically nearby, Zhong Yan looked up and smiled at them.

However, because of the crowd, she wasn’t paying attention and nearly tripped. Xu Wuhuan quickly caught her by the waist. Their eyes met, and the fans’ screams grew even more frenzied.

Zhong Yan froze for a second, then quickly shrugged her off and walked forward on her own, completely unconcerned about what kind of “scoop” this move would give the paparazzi.

At the press conference, Lin Yu announced that Xu Wuhuan was the new member of Zero, confirming the netizens’ suspicions.

The reporters and fans had already been mentally prepared, so the shock had passed. They turned their focus to Xu Wuhuan. She was wearing a white T-shirt today, covered by a light pale-green jacket, paired with a plaid miniskirt and chunky sneakers, which emphasized her long, slender legs. Despite the simple outfit, her clear and cold beauty gave her a unique charm.

Then came the “teammate interaction” segment, where reporters asked questions, such as the original members’ thoughts on the new member.

Jiang Cha and Chu Yun gave very standard, by-the-book answers. When it was Zhong Yan’s turn, the reporters were even more curious. After all, Zhong Yan had been the last to repost the news, and that “…Mhm” was very ambiguous. The reporters were looking to dig up more gossip from it.

Zhong Yan took the microphone and fell silent for a moment. The atmosphere was a bit stiff. Unlike Xu Wuhuan’s casual look, Zhong Yan was dressed in a way that was both sexy and “abstinent.” Her face still had some baby fat—she naturally looked like a “sweet girl”—but she particularly liked this hip-hop style of dress. When the corners of her eyes tilted up, her face took on a sharp, fierce edge.

Netizens unanimously agreed that Zhong Yan was the person with the greatest “contradictory beauty” in the entertainment industry.

Xu Wuhuan turned her head to look at her inconspicuously. In front of so many people, she couldn’t make any overly intimate gestures, but she was curious about Zhong Yan’s answer.

Zhong Yan raised the mic, and a light sentence drifted from her lips: “She is a very ‘extreme’ (jué) person.”

This was an ambiguous statement. “Extreme” (jué) is a thin word; without a prefix, it can be an intriguing derogatory term. Reporters, experts at extracting every thread of scandal from a single word, immediately became excited, each one eager to probe for the answer they wanted.

Jiang Cha and Chu Yun’s expressions were a bit awkward. Xu Wuhuan’s face remained calm; she merely glanced at Zhong Yan out of the corner of her eye and then lowered her lids, her thoughts unknown.

Below the stage, Lin Yu was nearly having a meltdown. She signaled frantically with her eyes, her facial expressions screaming: Speak properly!

Zhong Yan caught Lin Yu’s gaze and pouted dismissively before steering the conversation back: “I mean, Xu Wuhuan is a person whose skills and quality are ‘extreme.’ She has exceptionally high standards for herself.”

This was a safe answer, pulling back the direction of the scandal that had almost taken flight. The reporters unwillingly asked a few more questions, but Zhong Yan stayed strictly within the lines, leaving no room for criticism. The reporters were somewhat disappointed.

Lin Yu breathed a sigh of relief, but before she could even relax, the next event sent her heart back into her throat.

To liven up the atmosphere, someone suggested that Xu Wuhuan demonstrate her dancing. Xu Wuhuan agreed. Since she couldn’t dance while holding a microphone, she instinctively handed it to Zhong Yan next to her. Xu Wuhuan was standing on the far right, and Zhong Yan was closest to her.

Zhong Yan truly seemed to despise Xu Wuhuan. She was a person who acted on her emotions, doing as she pleased without much regard for others’ thoughts. Therefore, when Xu Wuhuan handed her the mic, she looked straight ahead, making no move to take it.

The atmosphere turned awkward once again. Fortunately, Jiang Cha decisively stepped in to take it, covering the moment with a quick joke. Xu Wuhuan cooperated, and the weird tension only lasted a few seconds.

But they all knew that those few short seconds would allow reporters to fabricate all sorts of unbelievable conflicts. Slander would definitely follow.

Lin Yu was so angry she was about to spit blood. In the car on the way back, she launched into a comprehensive, nagging critique of Zhong Yan, her tone full of frustration at “iron not turning into steel.”

Jiang Cha and Chu Yun were already used to it; after all, this wasn’t the first time Zhong Yan had been scolded.

Zhong Yan was not a “proper” idol. She looked soft and harmless, but she was actually covered in thorns. She was a very “self-centered” person—what does that mean? In Zhong Yan’s case, it meant living authentically. She wasn’t good at maintaining a “persona,” she disliked pretending, and she loathed fake politeness. In the entertainment industry, this trait is undoubtedly a knife; the sheath faces others, but the blade faces herself, bit by bit destroying her own image.

Zhong Yan had suffered for this before. Before her debut, when she was just an ordinary person, the company required her to attend a banquet. A CEO tried to get handsy with her, clearly implying a “casting couch” situation. In the entertainment industry, while such things are unsavory, they are accepted by the circle in a weirdly absurd way.

But Zhong Yan didn’t want to enter that filthy circle. At that time, she was already an S-class Alpha. Although she disguised it well, it couldn’t be hidden in certain moments. She pretended to follow the CEO to a secluded spot. That CEO was a short, small Beta. Having studied karate for several years, combined with her innate Alpha strength, Zhong Yan crippled the CEO’s hand on the spot.

Later, she was on the verge of being blacklisted, but the CEO’s company mysteriously collapsed. Furthermore, she was suddenly told by her company to start appearing on shows. Her fame grew steadily—it was too smooth, looking exactly like someone was pushing it all from behind.

Lin Yu only found out about these things later and knew Zhong Yan’s temper was very temperamental. While her fan base was huge, her anti-fans were not to be underestimated. She was the peak representative of “Infamous-Popularity.” Lin Yu didn’t know how many times she had lectured Zhong Yan, but it was useless.

Through it all, Zhong Yan felt no guilt. Finally, she used a high-pitched, cutesy voice to act spoiled: “Aiya, Sister Yu, take a break. I heard that if you talk too much, your tongue rots faster.”

Lin Yu: “…” She was instantly rendered speechless.

“Sister Yu, what is my next scheduled task?” Xu Wuhuan asked, bailing Zhong Yan out.

Lin Yu didn’t want to scold Zhong Yan anymore; she felt stifled. “Go and record Meng Yao’s parts for ‘Lying’.”

“Okay,” Xu Wuhuan nodded.

Her phone suddenly rang. It was a message from Chu Yun. She had added both Jiang Cha and Chu Yun on WeChat. Zhong Yan had refused to give hers at the time, so Xu Wuhuan found it through the four-person group chat, but Zhong Yan still hadn’t approved the request.

Xu Wuhuan had intentionally provoked her then, asking if she was still bothered by the past and that’s why she wouldn’t add her. Zhong Yan only snorted, her brow full of disdain—as if to show her “cool girl” image of having moved on, she reluctantly agreed. However, it was always Xu Wuhuan talking; Zhong Yan never replied.

Chu Yun: [Hey, is there some misunderstanding between you and Zhong Yan? Do you two know each other?]

Xu Wuhuan typed back:

Xu Wuhuan: [Why do you ask?]

The car was large enough; she and Jiang Cha sat together, while Chu Yun and Zhong Yan sat behind them. Since everyone was on their phones, the two didn’t draw any attention.

Chu Yun: [I see that Zhong Yan really dislikes you. It’s the first time I’ve seen her be so hostile toward someone. What on earth did you do to offend her?]

Xu Wuhuan gripped her phone, not replying immediately. She lifted her lids and stole a glance at Zhong Yan in the rearview mirror. After just one look, she withdrew her gaze.

Xu Wuhuan: [Probably… a heinous crime.]