Mo Ming had just stepped into his apartment when he received a call from Zhao Cheng. Little Han dashed to his feet, excitedly tugging at his pants leg.
Zhao Cheng’s voice on the other end of the line was urgent, “Mo Ming, did you and Lao Han have a fight?”
“We didn’t fight.” Mo Ming replied calmly. “We just ended our relationship.”
“You really broke up? Everything was fine before, so how could it suddenly just end?” Zhao Cheng tried to stay patient, “Mo Ming, why don’t you come to my place? Whatever misunderstanding there is, we can sort it out face-to-face. As Lao Han’s friend, I know how much you mean to him. There’s no way he really wants to break up with you.”
“It was an amicable split. There are no misunderstandings or conflicts between us.” Mo Ming said gently. “If that’s all, Zhao Ge, I’ll hang up now.”
Zhao Cheng was silent for a few seconds, muttering to himself, “This doesn’t make sense. Han Shao Zhou told me himself… How could he have broken up with you?”
He still remembered how Han Shao Zhou had been basking in the joy of his relationship just days ago.
“Mo Ming, let me ask you one last question.” Zhao Cheng said. “Who initiated the breakup?”
“He did.”
“…”
After ending the call with Zhao Cheng, Mo Ming took a shower and then curled up on the couch.
The television he had taken from the apartment he shared with Han Shao Zhou was now installed in his new living room. The 100-inch screen provided an excellent viewing experience, and Mo Ming enjoyed using it to watch movies.
His phone buzzed twice with messages from Cheng Jing.
[Cheng Jing]: The trailer for “Mystery Room” is out! Have you seen it yet? (^▽^)
[Cheng Jing]: The online response is pretty hot. Some people are even shipping us as a CP [laughing emoji].
[Cheng Jing – Voice Message]: Oh, by the way, the footage of Wen Ci falling into the water has also been released. It’s just a few seconds, and they’re saying it was a sudden accident. But I’ve already seen people online trying to pin the blame on you, claiming you intentionally pushed Wen Ci into the water during the game. No evidence, but they’re spinning it like it’s the truth. It feels like some paid trolls are stirring things up.
Mo Ming was listening to Cheng Jing’s voice message while the trailer for “Mystery Room” played on the TV in the background.
The clip of Wen Ci falling into the water was indeed only a few seconds long, with bold text labeling it as a “sudden accident.” Given Wen Ci’s popularity, those few seconds were bound to bring significant attention to the show and generate sympathy for Wen Ci’s “dedication” to his work.
However, the clip was too brief to allow anyone to deduce the exact cause of the accident. Mo Ming recalled that Han Shao Zhou had assured him that the show wouldn’t exploit Wen Ci’s fall to create negative buzz around him. He trusted that the producers wouldn’t risk offending someone with Han Shao Zhou’s level of influence. But…
But public opinion outside the show was a different matter altogether.
As he casually browsed through the online discussions related to “Mystery Room” Mo Ming quickly realized that someone present at the scene was likely fueling the rumors. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for so many people to be aware of the details of the incident without any footage to back it up.
Clearly, this was only the beginning…
The accumulation, explosion, and spread of public opinion—Mo Ming understood each stage better than anyone.
[Cheng Jing]: Aren’t you and Wen Ci under the same company? The internet is saying you two are at odds. You could post a picture together, and that would dispel the rumors [smiley face].
[Cheng Jing]: Can’t you at least respond? Let’s grab a meal sometime, my savior.
[Mo Ming]: Tired. Going to sleep.
[Cheng Jing]: …
The next evening.
Mo Ming and Qi Yue booked a private room at a restaurant, continuing their annual tradition of celebrating Zhou Yixiang’s birthday with their theater friends.
Zhou Yixiang’s wife had passed away early, and he never remarried, leaving him childless. However, he was surrounded by friends and students from both inside and outside the industry. He was a warm-hearted and righteous person who had been a superstar in his youth, making many friends over the years.
When Zhou Yixiang arrived at the restaurant, he brought a few close friends, including Liu Hekun, whom he had recently reconnected with.
Liu Hekun had just finished filming “Broken Sword” and was taking a short break, so Zhou Yixiang invited him to join the gathering.
During the dinner, Liu Hekun noticed Mo Ming again and asked jokingly why Mo Ming had declined the role of the substitute in “Broken Sword”.
Mo Ming politely cited work reasons. Throughout the dinner, he spoke little, only offering the occasional toast or quietly eating his food. Liu Hekun observed him for a while—Mo Ming seemed well-behaved, but there was a coldness and even a certain detachment in his eyes, as if he wasn’t truly part of the lively atmosphere.
Halfway through the dinner, Mo Ming discreetly left the private room to pay the bill, and when he returned, he found Liu Hekun standing by the door, smoking.
When Liu Hekun saw Mo Ming, he stubbed out his cigarette in the trash and smiled, raising a hand in greeting. “Mo Ming, come here for a moment.”
Mo Ming approached and asked politely, “Is there something you need, Director Liu?”
“Nothing major, just wanted to ask you a few questions.” Liu Hekun said with a warm smile. “It might get a bit personal, so feel free to decline if you’re uncomfortable.”
“Go ahead, Director Liu.”
“Well… Mo Ming, what do your parents do?”
“My mother passed away many years ago.” Mo Ming replied honestly. “I’m not sure what my father does now. I haven’t seen him in years, and he could be dead for all I know.”
Liu Hekun was taken aback, studying the young man before him. Mo Ming’s gaze was clear and calm, not at all like someone speaking out of anger.
“It seems you really dislike your father.”
“Not really.” Mo Ming said. “We have no connection anymore, so I don’t waste energy thinking about him or disliking him.”
Liu Hekun’s expression grew complex. “Do you feel like your life has been unlucky?”
“No, I’ve encountered people and experiences that make me feel especially fortunate.” Mo Ming looked at Liu Hekun, his gaze cooling slightly. “If you’re thinking of using me as inspiration for a story, I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in discussing it further.”
Liu Hekun smiled warmly and pulled a business card from his pocket, handing it to Mo Ming.
“I’m working on a film that’s currently in the early stages of development. It’s set to start shooting after the New Year, and we’re looking for suitable actors nationwide. If you’re interested, you can call the number on the card and come to me directly for an audition.”
Mo Ming glanced at the card in his hand. It had the phone number for Liu Hekun’s studio.
“I heard from Lao Zhou that you plan to stay in the theater company, so I guess that’s why you turned down the second male lead role in ‘Broken Sword.’ It wasn’t really due to work reasons, was it? But the fact that you’re still willing to act in plays shows that you have a passion for performing.” Liu Hekun said slowly. “So don’t rush to reject the offer. You have until the end of next month to give me your answer.”
The dinner ended, and the wind had picked up outside.
At the entrance of the restaurant, they saw Zhou Yixiang, Liu Hekun, and their group of older friends off before the rest of them also began hailing cabs to leave.
Mo Ming and Qi Yue were among the last to leave, and Xia Xiaotang also stayed behind until most people had gone. Finally, she hurried over to Mo Ming with something she had just seen on her phone.
“They’re accusing you of causing Wen Ci to fall into the water, and it’s trending on four or five different searches.” Xia Xiaotang said anxiously. “These people are crazy! They’re talking as if they were right there at the scene.”
Mo Ming took the phone from Xia Xiaotang and scanned through it briefly.
[Reason for Wen Ci Falling into the Water], [Mo Ming Helping Wen Ci with His Safety Harness], [Mo Ming’s Malicious Intentions]—several trending topics were occupying the top spots. It all started with an anonymous post claiming that the author had a friend who worked on the show and had witnessed the entire incident. The post was a lengthy narrative that ultimately blamed Mo Ming, claiming that Wen Ci nearly drowned because Mo Ming had deliberately fastened Wen Ci’s harness incorrectly.
Even more damning than the text were the so-called “evidence” photos. There were pictures of Mo Ming helping Wen Ci with the harness on the boat, Wen Ci struggling in the water, and Wen Ci’s disheveled appearance after being rescued. The images that sparked the most discussion showed Mo Ming’s impassive expression as he watched Wen Ci struggle in the water and Han Shao Zhou’s tense face as he carried the soaking-wet Wen Ci, seemingly about to leave the scene.
[OMG! What a terrifyingly evil man! How could someone be so malicious?]
[The show claimed it was an accident, but this is clearly attempted murder. I suggest Wen Ci sues him, or he could be poisoned by this guy in their own company one day without knowing it.]
[I saw people posting about this yesterday and thought it was just fandom drama. I can’t believe it’s actually true.]
[Side note, why was Han Shao Zhou there? Was he saving the damsel in distress? Awww, so sweet.]
[It’s probably out of jealousy. If it weren’t for Wen Ci’s return, Han Shao Zhou wouldn’t have dumped Mo Ming. That’s a clear motive for murder.]
[I’m suddenly looking forward to this episode of Mystery Room. I wonder who’s smarter between these two.]
[Do you even have to ask? Of course, Wen Ci’s better. Otherwise, why would Mo Ming resort to such underhanded tactics?]
[Aww, Han Shao Zhou is so manly. So when are he and Wen Ci getting married? He’s been chasing him for so long, and this is the first time he’s held him in his arms, right?]
[Am I the only one who thinks something’s off? How dumb would you have to be to pull a stunt like that with cameras around? Anyone with a brain would know to avoid the cameras, right?]
[You think a few pictures are enough to convict Mo Ming? How about releasing the full video, then?]
[My Mo Ming is a solo star. Don’t lump him in with Han Shao Zhou. We’re not interested.]
Mo Ming returned the phone to Xia Xiaotang and smiled slightly. “It’s fine. The company will handle this.”
Qi Yue, who had also started checking the news on his phone after Xia Xiaotang’s outburst, was suddenly not so calm either. “These people are awful! They’ll believe anything they hear, no matter how ridiculous it is.”
Xia Xiaotang added, “I saw a lot of the harshest comments coming from newly registered accounts. This is definitely the work of paid trolls. It’s clearly a deliberate smear campaign by a competitor.”
Mo Ming sighed inwardly. As someone without any film or business connections, how could he possibly have any competitors?
“This is only the beginning.” Mo Ming said quietly. “Typically, the next step would be releasing a video to escalate the situation.”
Qi Yue and Xia Xiaotang were stunned.
“A video? How do you know? Mo Ming, don’t scare us. There’s no way you… no, it’s impossible for you. If there’s a video, it must be edited.” Xia Xiaotang said righteously.
“Are you going to let the company handle everything and not respond personally?” Qi Yue asked worriedly. “You’re practically out of the entertainment industry now. Your company isn’t making any money off you. What can they do to help? They might even use this opportunity to boost Wen Ci’s popularity at your expense. The entertainment industry is harsh. All the capital cares about is traffic.”
Their cab arrived, and Mo Ming urged them to get in and head home.
“Public opinion can shift unexpectedly. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?” Mo Ming smiled. “It’s late. You two should go home and rest.”
Seeing Mo Ming’s composed demeanor, as if everything was under control, Qi Yue and Xia Xiaotang exchanged bewildered glances.
After sending off Qi Yue and Xia Xiaotang, Mo Ming hailed a cab and returned to his apartment.
After taking a shower, he sat on the couch with a cup of hot tea and picked up his phone to browse the internet.
As expected, Xing Ci had issued a statement on his behalf, but it was merely a brief clarification. The statement asserted that Mo Ming had not engaged in any harmful behavior toward his colleagues and that Wen Ci’s fall during the show was purely accidental. The post also claimed that the images and text circulating online were taken out of context.
However, the statement made no mention of pursuing legal action against the rumor mongers, instead concluding with the note that Mo Ming and Wen Ci were “good friends.”
As Mo Ming had anticipated, shortly after this statement was released, the anonymous poster shared a video clip.
The video showed Mo Ming bending down to fasten Wen Ci’s harness, the violent rocking of the boat and the splashing waves, Wen Ci falling into the water, Mo Ming’s expressionless face as he looked on, and finally, Han Shao Zhou carrying Wen Ci away…
The video was quick to jump between scenes, but it conveyed everything it needed to. At the end, it even pointed out the reliability of the harness and how the issue could only have been caused by an improper fastening at the start.
[Where are the fans who demanded the video? Well, here’s your proof.]
[Don’t try to play this off as a mistake. If it were, why didn’t he fall into the water himself?]
[And by the way, why didn’t Han Shao Zhou teach that malicious guy a lesson right then and there?]
[At that moment, Han Shao Zhou was only worried about Wen Ci’s safety. He didn’t have time to deal with Mo Ming, but I bet he didn’t let him off the hook afterward. Termination of his contract would be getting off lightly—Mo Ming’s probably looking at a complete ban.]
Public opinion erupted. The video was seen as irrefutable evidence by many, and with the help of paid trolls, Mo Ming was quickly vilified.
Xing Ci’s statement had little impact, and the comments section was flooded with demands for Mo Ming’s removal from the company to protect Wen Ci.
The official social media account for “Mystery Room” was similarly inundated, with criticism of Mo Ming dominating the discussion. Many people even flooded Han Shao Zhou’s personal social media accounts, demanding that he seek justice for Wen Ci.
Han Shao Zhou’s social media had been dormant since Wen Ci’s wedding three years ago. Before that, he had only shared and reposted promotions for Wen Ci’s films and shows. As someone from an influential family, Han Shao Zhou’s social media presence was even more scrutinized than that of the biggest stars, with millions of followers eagerly awaiting his every post. Back then, any original content he posted would instantly trend for an entire day.
The last post on his account was from three years ago, a single word: “Waiting.” After that, the account had been abandoned.
As Mo Ming gently scratched Little Han, who was lying on his lap, he found Xi Nan’s number on his phone and called her.
Xi Nan had been expecting his call and told Mo Ming not to worry—the company would handle everything.
This kind of situation could easily be dismissed as an “accident” or “misunderstanding” without causing any lasting damage to an artist’s career. The public’s attention span was short, and the uproar would die down after a few days.
“I know that with Xing Ci’s resources, you could completely suppress this controversy. But Nan Jie, you’re not doing that because you’re considering Wen Ci’s interests and aiming for maximum benefit, right?”
Mo Ming’s voice was calm and even, not accusatory. He had received much support from Xi Nan and wouldn’t hold a grudge over something like this.
Wen Ci’s return after a three-year hiatus had generated buzz, but it wasn’t as overwhelming as before. Without a major hit to back him up, the company needed a hot topic to catapult him back to the top of the charts.
This controversy involved both Mo Ming and Wen Ci, both Xing Ci artists, so no matter how it played out, Xing Ci would benefit.
After a brief silence, Xi Nan said, “Mo Ming, you’ve already decided to leave the industry. If you just turn off your phone, this won’t affect you at all. The company knows how to handle the situation.”
“So the company is behind this?”
“No, we’re just going along with it. We haven’t identified the real instigator yet.” Xi Nan explained. “But everything is under control. I’ve spoken with the show’s producers, and this will be officially classified as an ‘accident.’”
“I see. Thank you, Nan Jie.”
Xi Nan could sense the coolness in Mo Ming’s tone. “Don’t worry, Mo Ming. This is the most routine kind of PR battle. The internet might be in an uproar now, but once the paid trolls leave, the hype will die down.”
“I’ll come to the company tomorrow morning to go through the contract termination process.” Mo Ming said. “Please make sure it’s all handled within half a day.”
“Termination?”
“The company wants a hot topic, right? I’ll give them one.”
When he had first signed with Xing Ci, Mo Ming had anticipated the day he would want to terminate the contract. He had ensured that the contract included clauses that would allow him to do so unilaterally—special provisions he had only been able to secure thanks to Han Shao Zhou.
“Given your current situation, Xing Ci won’t make things difficult for you if you want to terminate the contract. But doing it now could make the online backlash against you even worse.” Xi Nan warned.
“I’ll take your advice and turn off my phone.”
Xi Nan sighed. “I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic. But since we’ve worked together for a while, I’d advise you to keep your contract with Xing Ci for now. That way, if you ever want to return to acting, you’ll have the option. Although the internet keeps saying you and Han Shao Zhou broke up, he contacted the higher-ups just recently to ask about your work situation. So we all know he’s still looking out for you. As long as you have that special status, you can take it easy here. But once you terminate the contract, we won’t be able to offer you any protection.”
“I’ve thought it through. The controversy is still brewing, and I know exactly what role Xing Ci has assigned me…”
But Mo Ming didn’t harbor any resentment.
No company wants an artist who lacks ambition, works on a whim, and has special privileges. Mo Ming suspected that the only reason Xing Ci had tolerated him for so long was out of deference to Han Shao Zhou.
Now that he wanted to terminate his contract, Xing Ci would probably be more than happy to oblige.
After ending the call with Xi Nan, Mo Ming found another number in his contacts and dialed it.
As soon as the call connected, the person on the other end asked, “Mo Ming, can we release it now?”
“No, it’s still too early.” Mo Ming said. “For now, just turn up the heat.”
The next morning, Mo Ming arrived at Xing Ci Entertainment’s headquarters.
With no outstanding contracts for shows or other business engagements, and both parties being in agreement, the termination process went much more smoothly than Mo Ming had anticipated. The Xing Ci CEO who had the final say on the matter even made a point of saying, “This is entirely your decision…”
“Yes.” Mo Ming replied, a subtle smile playing on his lips. “I initiated it.”
Clearly, now that he and Han Shao Zhou had broken up, Han Shao Zhou didn’t care enough to leave any instructions with Xing Ci. The higher-ups were left in the dark, worried that Mo Ming might go to Han Shao Zhou with complaints. But when it came to choosing between him and Wen Ci, they knew exactly whose side they were on.
As Mo Ming rode the elevator down, it stopped on the next floor.
The doors opened, and Wen Ci stepped in. Mo Ming instinctively moved to one side.
Wen Ci didn’t seem surprised at all. He smiled warmly, “What a coincidence. I didn’t expect to run into you at the office.”
Mo Ming glanced at the book in Wen Ci’s hand. The title was bold and clear: Temperature.
Noticing where Mo Ming’s eyes had landed, Wen Ci offered him the book. “If you like it, you can have it. I’ll ask my assistant to get me another copy.”
To Wen Ci’s surprise, Mo Ming actually took the book.
“I do like it a bit.” Mo Ming said softly. He flipped the book over and found the suggested retail price on the lower right corner of the back cover—eighty yuan.
Mo Ming pulled out his phone and transferred a hundred yuan to Wen Ci. They had added each other on social media when they filmed the Mystery Room show.
“The extra twenty is for your assistant’s trouble in getting another copy.” Mo Ming said. “Thank you.”
Wen Ci smiled faintly. “I’m preparing for the audition for Director Liu’s new movie, which is why I had my assistant get this book. What about you? Just a personal interest?”
“I just want to be ready for any path I might take.”
“Then why terminate your contract with Xing Ci? Is that another part of your preparation?” Wen Ci had heard from his assistant that Mo Ming had come to the office that morning to terminate his contract. He wasn’t sure if it had been Mo Ming’s decision or if Xing Ci had initiated it.
But either way, the outcome was what he had wanted.
Mo Ming didn’t answer Wen Ci’s question.
“I didn’t expect that public opinion would push you to leave Xing Ci.” Wen Ci said with a soft smile. “I thought you would fight back. From what I’ve seen of you, you’re just someone who looks gentle on the surface…”
The elevator doors opened, and Mo Ming stared at Wen Ci without expression. “The backlash of public opinion can instantly destroy a carefully cultivated image.”
Wen Ci smiled slightly. “Really? But someone who’s already been branded as malicious has no right to suggest that my image might collapse.”
“Then let Nan Jie know…” Mo Ming said as he stepped out of the elevator, “that she should have her PR team ready.”
