Oops! I Became a Fan of My Rival Idol! - Chapter 51

Qiao Huihui was awakened by her phone ringing in the morning.

 

She slowly opened her eyes, yawned, then fumbled for her phone on the pillow and answered the call.

 

“Hello—”

 

Her voice sounded lazy from just waking up, even letting out a small yawn.

 

“Brother… huh?”

 

But what Qiao Guangzong said on the other end quickly snapped her awake. Still holding the phone, she threw off the blankets and got out of bed immediately: “Brother, wait a second!”

 

Barefoot, she ran to Shen Nanqing’s room door and knocked.

 

Shen Nanqing opened the door quickly.

 

“Teacher Shen, is there something of yours in your agent’s possession?”

 

Shen Nanqing froze for a moment, not understanding at first.

 

Frowning in confusion, she asked, “You mean… the necklace my mother left me?”

 

“Last year he stole it from my room, then used it to threaten me into filming a few days ago.”

 

Qiao Huihui’s expression turned indignant: “That scoundrel! How dare he steal a keepsake? He’s asking for karma to bite him!”

 

Qiao Guangzong coughed on the other end of the line.

 

Qiao Huihui immediately grabbed the phone, her voice turning pitiful: “Brother, see how awful this person is? Shen Nanqing’s been bullied like this—you absolutely can’t let him off.”

 

Whatever was said on the other end made her beam instantly.

 

“Brother, you’re the best! Remember to express mail the necklace over!”

 

After hanging up, she declared fiercely: “Teacher Shen, don’t worry! My brother will take care of that scoundrel for you, and your necklace will be delivered soon.”

 

Seeing her like this, Shen Nanqing just wanted to laugh. Anyone else would think she’d personally resolved the matter herself.

 

This habit of running to her brother for everything was just too adorable.

 

She couldn’t resist ruffling Qiao Huihui’s hair.

 

But her gaze froze when she noticed the other girl was barefoot, and she immediately pulled her into the room and pushed her onto the bed to sit.

 

Qiao Huihui looked bewildered.

 

But her feet had already touched something soft—Shen Nanqing had slipped a pair of cotton slippers onto them.

 

“No running around barefoot from now on.”

 

Qiao Huihui pouted, aggrieved. “Aww.”

 

Shen Nanqing pinched her calf lightly, amusement flashing in her eyes.

 

A few seconds later, Qiao Huihui suddenly realized—

 

Wait, was she being a bit too henpecked here???

 

…

 

Meanwhile, Qiao Guangzong, having gotten confirmation, immediately ordered his team to handle the matter.

 

Bridge Splendor Entertainment had been on a strong upward trajectory these past few years. Though a relatively new company, it was already among the few at the industry’s peak.

 

Its artists were all quite famous, and as the saying goes—”Fame invites envy, as fattened pigs invite butchers.” This couldn’t be more apt. Every Bridge Splendor artist who rose to fame inevitably weathered storms of controversy, which had forged the company’s exceptionally strong PR department.

 

Shen Nanqing’s situation wasn’t even that major, especially since the opposing company was smaller than Bridge Splendor and clearly in the wrong in the court of public opinion.

 

Bridge Splendor had been gathering information these past couple days and now began releasing it piece by piece according to plan.

 

First came footage captured by an extra showing an ambulance entering and exiting the film studio.

 

Suspected on-set injury of an actor during filming.

 

This first bombshell immediately drew out swarms of concerned fans.

 

“??? Chunming Film Studio—isn’t my idol filming there lately?”

 

“The costumes look like a historical drama set. Which productions are shooting period pieces right now?”

 

“Oh my god, I hope it’s not our Yao Yao. The company needs to release a safety statement immediately.”

 

After causing a wave of panic online, Qiaohua continued to release information, gradually narrowing down the possibilities for netizens.

 

#Recently, rumors suggest an actor was injured while filming “The Legend of Yan Nu”#

 

This immediately narrowed the scope to the drama crew. Fans whose idols weren’t part of this production breathed a sigh of relief, while those whose favorite stars were currently filming in this crew… suddenly grew tense.

 

“Could it be veteran actor ×××? She’s older, so the risk of injury is higher.”

 

“Replying to the above comment: It’s said to be a young actor.”

 

“Oh no, I’m about to cry! My goddess Yao Yao is in this production. If anything happens to her, I swear I’ll tear the crew apart.”

 

“Praying hard. My brother is in this too. Does anyone have insider information? Who exactly got hurt?”

 

“This is my idol’s first TV drama this year—please don’t let it start with bad luck!”

 

Su Yun, the director of “The Legend of Yan Nu,” had been making TV dramas for years without major success. This time, determined to make his mark, he invested heavily in casting and promotion.

 

As a result, the production boasted quite a few notable actors. Now that an incident had occurred, all their fans were panicking.

 

They flooded the official Weibo account of “The Legend of Yan Nu” with comments demanding answers from the crew.

 

However, the fans of the actual person involved, Shen Nanqing, remained conspicuously absent from the uproar.

 

After all, neither Shen Nanqing’s company nor her manager had ever officially announced her participation in the project. Plus, since Shen Nanqing rose to fame through a talent show, her fans naturally assumed a singing-and-dancing idol girl group member would have nothing to do with the acting world.

 

They were completely unrelated spheres.

 

This very assumption made the shock and outrage all the more intense when they later learned the truth.

 

Zhao Wenlu’s hands trembled as he struggled to light a cigarette. Taking a deep drag, he seemed to steady himself slightly, peering through the hazy smoke at the woman across from him: “You’re saying… it was Qiao Huihui who jumped in to save her?”

 

Yu Yao’s expression darkened as she nodded.

 

“How could they… how could they…?”

 

Weren’t they supposed to despise each other?

 

Weren’t they always fighting for the top spot?

 

How did they suddenly become so close?

 

Zhao Wenlu scratched his head furiously, utterly baffled.

 

And if Qiao Huihui had really been the poor, unsophisticated country girl the internet made her out to be, that would be one thing. But judging by recent events, she clearly had powerful connections!

 

Now she was coming after them for Shen Nanqing’s sake.

 

Just thinking about it made Zhao Wenlu’s forehead crease so deeply he could crush a fly between his brows.

 

Yu Yao looked equally troubled. “Still can’t get the news out online?”

 

Zhao Wenlu gave a bitter laugh. “Forget getting it out—it gets deleted the moment we post it. None of the media outlets we contacted dare touch it. The company seems ready to abandon us too—they’ve already taken back the necklace we sent. I’m afraid… we’re done for this time.”

 

From his perspective, the company’s actions seemed utterly ungrateful. Yet had this situation not involved him personally, he might have applauded their ruthless strategy of cutting losses to survive.

 

At this thought, he couldn’t help but cast a resentful glance at Yu Yao. This whole mess had started because of her jealousy, and now things had escalated to this point, dragging him down with her—forcing them to become grasshoppers tied to the same string.

 

If only—if only back then, he hadn’t listened to Yu Yao and had instead treated Shen Nanqing with sincerity.

 

Zhao Wenlu regretted it bitterly in his heart.

 

Having interacted for so many years, Yu Yao knew exactly what kind of person he was. That glance from him hadn’t escaped her notice. Inwardly, she cursed this old fox and hypocrite ten thousand times, but on the surface, she couldn’t show her displeasure.

 

And precisely because of this, she hated Shen Nanqing even more venomously.

 

Yu Yao bit her lip so hard it nearly bled, her eyes brimming with resentment and unwillingness.

 

Why? Why was it that, despite being human just like her, Shen Nanqing had outshone her in acting back then and now surpassed her in connections too?

 

She had worked so hard. She had sacrificed her dignity, climbed into so many beds, endured the disgusting old men day after day, putting up with their insults and abuse—she just… just wanted to survive in the entertainment industry.

 

Why did Shen Nanqing have to stand in her way?

 

Why couldn’t she just obediently be a stepping stone?

 

Her expression turned almost deranged, as if she were on the verge of committing murder. Zhao Wenlu noticed her instability and took two cautious steps back, speaking carefully, “Yao Yao, why don’t you give Boss Wang a call? Or Boss Li, Boss Liu, Chairman Zhao—any of them could help you, right?”

 

Yu Yao’s bloodshot eyes fixed on him as she let out a cold laugh. “You think I haven’t tried? They… every single one of them is too clever for that!”

 

When the scandal first broke, she had reached out for help—only to find that not a single one of them could be contacted. Those old men who had once called her their darling had now vanished into thin air, all having blocked her.

 

They… they were determined to send her to her death!

 

Yu Yao hated these people who had abandoned her to her fate with a burning passion. Suddenly, she gave a strange smile, remembering the contingency she had prepared. If she was truly going down, none of them would escape unscathed.

 

Then, her expression twisted violently. Goosebumps erupted across her arms, cold sweat beading on her forehead as her face contorted in agony.

 

Overwhelmed by the unbearable itching crawling under her skin, she collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath before reaching out to Zhao Wenlu with tears and snot streaming down her face. “The stuff… give it to me… hurry, give it to me—”

 

Zhao Wenlu flinched in fright.

 

His first instinct was to retreat another two steps before asking in shock, “You’re using again?”

 

Then he scrambled to rummage through drawers for what she needed. “Didn’t you say it was just that one time?”

 

Yu Yao laughed and cried at the same time. “How could it be just once? Once was enough to get hooked… I can’t quit now…”

 

When she first entered the entertainment industry, she had attached herself to a big boss. He had treated her well, showering her with resources—except for one habit. He liked getting high before sex. Back then, she had reluctantly taken a hit under pressure. After that, she had started seeking it out herself.

 

“Here—” Zhao Wenlu had barely extended his hand when Yu Yao lunged forward in a frenzy, snatching it from him. Trembling, she tore open the packaging, her expression already drifting into euphoria.

 

The sight sent chills down Zhao Wenlu’s spine. Seizing the moment while she was lost in her high, he turned and slipped out the door.

 

…

 

“Yu Yao is taking drugs?” Qiao Guangzong tapped his fingers on the desk and asked his secretary, “Is the information accurate?”

 

“Absolutely.”

 

Qiao Guangzong sneered, “Wasn’t living well enough for her? She just had to court death.”

 

Drugs—something every person should detest to the core. Yet there are always those born without brains, hell-bent on self-destruction.

 

His voice carried rare anger: “Since she’s so eager to die, let’s oblige her.”

 

Originally, this matter would have required some effort, but now that the other party had played this card, it became effortless.

 

Thus, another seed was planted online—a certain celebrity was suspected of drug use.

 

While the online rumors slowly fermented, the hotel manager knocked on Qiao Huihui’s door and personally delivered something.

 

“Young Miss, this is from the eldest young master for you.”

 

Qiao Huihui had an inkling. She quickly returned to the room and tore open the package with her hands.

 

Inside was a box containing a necklace and a contract termination agreement.

 

“Teacher Shen, Teacher Shen, come here quickly!”

 

Shen Nanqing was packing her luggage when she heard the call, thinking something had happened, and hurried over.

 

But as soon as she entered, something was thrust in front of her face. Qiao Huihui beamed brightly, waving the items in her hand: “Ta-da~”

 

“Look what this is!”

 

Shen Nanqing took the two items and slowly opened them.

 

Seeing these two things she had longed for, she suddenly felt a sense of liberation.

 

After all these years, finally…

 

She hugged the items to her chest, her expression solemn: “Huihui, thank you.”

 

Like a ray of light, you came to me during my darkest, most difficult days, giving me strength and pulling me out of the abyss.

 

She rarely wore such a serious expression with Qiao Huihui, which made the latter somewhat embarrassed. Qiao Huihui scratched her head, her gaze drifting: “No need to thank me. You’re my… you’re my girlfriend, after all.”

 

Since confirming their relationship last night, both had acted as if they’d collectively amnesia, neither mentioning it. Now that Qiao Huihui uttered those three words, though it felt a bit strange, both couldn’t help but blush.

 

Shen Nanqing took the initiative to reach out and hold Qiao Huihui’s hand, murmuring softly, “Mm, girlfriend.”

 

Just as they were quietly savoring this unfamiliar emotion, a phone ringtone interrupted them.

 

Their clasped hands sprang apart as if electrified.

 

Qiao Huihui answered the call: “Hello, brother.”

 

“Yes, I got it. Thank you for your help, brother. You’re the best!”

 

Shen Nanqing listened quietly beside her, never expecting the phone to suddenly be handed to her.

 

“Brother wants to talk to you.”

 

Shen Nanqing’s pupils trembled, and she fumbled nervously.

 

This… this was Qiao Huihui’s brother. Rounding up, wasn’t this like meeting the parents?

 

She tried to stay composed, forcing her voice not to shake: “Hello, Mr. Qiao?”

 

Qiao Guangzong paced slowly by the floor-to-ceiling window, his voice gentle and deep: “Hello, Shen Nanqing.”

 

“Huihui rarely gets along with people so well. She likes you very much.”

 

Shen Nanqing nervously pinched the hem of her clothes: “Mm.”

 

“Huihui is young and doesn’t understand many things yet. As her friend, I hope you’ll take good care of her in the future.”

 

Young…

 

Shen Nanqing suddenly felt a pang of guilt upon hearing those words. Although she didn’t consider herself a pig, she had indeed managed to “dig up someone else’s prized cabbage” yesterday. If… this were to be discovered, Qiao Guangzong’s attitude would definitely not remain this gentle and harmless.

 

Her thoughts were in turmoil, but she maintained a calm expression and replied in a steady voice, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Huihui.”

 

Handing the phone back to Qiao Huihui, the other girl grinned foolishly at her. “Seems like my brother really likes you!”

 

Shen Nanqing: “…”

 

Right now, she wasn’t sure about that. But in the future? He absolutely wouldn’t.