***
Chapter 60 – Scandal
Jiang Liusui’s flight was scheduled for eight o’clock. After dinner, He Yujing drove him to the airport.
Having officially confirmed their relationship, the two of them hadn’t even spent a full day together before they had to part. Before leaving, Jiang Liusui clung to He Yujing, unwilling to let go. Although he didn’t say a word, his expression and demeanor were filled with reluctance.
“I never realized you were this clingy before,” He Yujing said, feeling immensely pleased but maintaining a calm facade as he patted Jiang Liusui’s head. “Alright, I have time off next week. I’ll return to the capital then.”
“Will you come visit me on set?”
He Yujing nodded. “I want to see Teacher Jiang in action as a weapon.”
Recalling Qin Yi’s description of Jiang Liusui’s role as an otherworldly, almost inhuman character, He Yujing was intrigued. “Let’s see just how impressive you really are.”
“I’ll be unstoppable,” Jiang Liusui declared. “Come watch me dominate the scene.”
“Sure,” He Yujing played along. “Just try not to get any blood on me when you do.”
Jiang Liusui burst out laughing. He Yujing gently touched his face and said, “Send me a message after you land.”
“Okay.” Jiang Liusui said, then made a move to leave.
When it was really time to part, He Yujing felt a twinge of reluctance. And now, Jiang Liusui was leaving just like that—after being so unwilling to let go earlier, he was now walking away more decisively than anyone, without even a simple goodbye.
He Yujing couldn’t possibly call him back over something so trivial, but he made a mental note of it. Just then, Jiang Liusui suddenly turned back. As He Yujing wondered if he’d forgotten something, Jiang Liusui leaned in and whispered, “Bye, gege.”
Hearing that address after so long, He Yujing was momentarily stunned, feeling as if his ear had been lightly pecked.
Jiang Liusui gave him a playful little tease, clearly in a good mood, and then left.
With filming scheduled early the next morning, Jiang Liusui sent He Yujing a message after landing, then returned to the hotel, washed up briefly, and went to bed.
Meanwhile, a set of photos from their airport farewell began circulating quietly online.
Someone claimed to have been waiting for a flight at the airport and noticed two familiar-looking figures entering a nearby lounge. Their striking figures and distinctive aura, along with their caps and masks, led the photographer to suspect they were celebrities. After snapping the photos, they posted them online.
In the images, the two were seen entering the lounge one after the other. The taller one, walking behind, held the door open for the person in front.
The photos first appeared on a social media platform but quickly sparked intense discussions before being reposted across major platforms.
【Is that He Yujing?? He actually holds the door for someone? Who’s the person in front? Damn, it looks like Jiang Liusui??】
【I think so too. Their builds are way too recognizable—anyone who’s seen their photos or videos could tell.】
【The original poster mentioned the city name, and wasn’t He Yujing there yesterday for his concert? Oh my god, the more I think about it, the more it seems real. He’s had plenty of rumors, but have any of them ever had candid photos like this? Could he and Jiang Liusui actually be together?!】
【And don’t forget the finale of ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ airing tonight. I watched it and was honestly shocked—it’s like they’re practically announcing it. I wonder what their fans think.】
After the news spread, fans immediately rushed to deny it.
He Yujing’s massive fanbase, having faced little criticism in recent years, quickly engaged in heated arguments with those making sarcastic remarks:
【He is indeed in the city mentioned by the original poster, but he hasn’t left yet. Why would he go to the airport for no reason?】
【At least put some effort into your rumors. Just because someone is tall, you assume it’s Yu-ge? And you’re imagining him holding the door for his ’partner’? Even if he did, does that automatically make it his boyfriend? Your family tree wouldn’t dare make up stories like this.】
Some fans, after arguing for a while, suddenly realized they had been led into a logical fallacy and simply stated:
【I can’t deal with this all night… let’s just be honest. Fans who’ve followed him for years are used to his style. No one can morally police him. As long as he’s happy, that’s enough.】
【Besides, does my ge even care? With all the rumors over the years, the biggest wish fans have in this regard is for him to find a reliable partner.】
【I really don’t understand what there is to argue about. Everyone knows He Yujing’s situation—he’s been popular for as many years as he’s been in the industry, and his success is built on talent and work, not other nonsense. As long as that doesn’t change, his career won’t be affected. Even if he goes public with a relationship, most people would just send blessings. Those trying to stir up trouble should stop.】
【While He Yujing was being wildly discussed, Jiang Liusui was also frequently mentioned:
【Does anyone know Jiang Liusui’s schedule? Can someone dig it up? Any specific flight information?】
【Dig your mother, get lost. That’s an invasion of privacy!】
【It’s not Suisui, it’s not Suisui! Suisui is at the film studio in the capital! He’s already started filming, don’t drag us into this! With such a packed schedule, how could he fly back and forth? Do you think this is a TV drama?】
【I wanted to say the same thing. You can talk about that person all you want, but why drag Jiang Liusui into it when he’s not even in the same city? With just one blurry photo, you’re making up stories? There are so many tall, slim, fair-skinned guys—why not just call all of them Jiang Liusui?】
【And those saying Jiang Liusui is busy dating right as his career is taking off—whether he dates or not is his freedom, right? He’s not selling a boyfriend persona. Instead of worrying about his career, worry about your own.】
【Does anyone remember that Xiao Jiang is an actor? Leaving aside whether this is true or not, even if it is, what exactly did he do wrong?】
This comment stirred up a storm, with bystanders who had been watching all night expressing similar confusion:
【I’m also curious—what’s the big deal if a singer and an actor are really dating?】
【They’re both highly popular, and this is such a sensitive topic. Of course, people will jump on any related news to stir the pot. Look at all the trending searches tonight—the marketing accounts are making a fortune.】
Outside, it’s all chaos and noise—but the CP fans are just overjoyed, everything harmonious, like a peaceful celebration.
【Sisters, keep it low-key. Let’s just enjoy this within our own circle! Wuwuwu, even though I really want to say it’s absolutely true. The two of them traveling thousands of miles to meet—what else could it be if not love!】
【Oh my god, I thought nothing could sweeten my night after watching the final episode of ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫, but then a massive sugar rush fell from the sky! Why did he go to the airport if he wasn’t flying himself? Of course, because he was seeing off his little boyfriend!】
【Boldly speculating here—I feel like ⟪Love Reservation⟫ is a song written for Suisui. This one’s style is so different from his previous love songs. Just think about all those player anthems A’Jing has written—when has it ever been his turn to pine helplessly?】
【I get it. Meeting Jiang Liusui made the playboy reform.】
【Here’s a little extra detail—Didn’t Yu-ge buy chocolate while shopping? Given that Yu-ge dislikes sweets, he definitely wasn’t buying it for himself. Although the show didn’t air footage of who exactly he gave it to, only Suisui was seen eating it in the end! Who bought it for whom is crystal clear! I’m shipping it hard!】
***
The next morning, on the set of ⟪Eternal Bell⟫.
“Cut—!” Director Pei’s voice came from nearby. “This scene is done!”
The actors on set gradually relaxed. Jiang Liusui, who had been holding it in throughout the entire scene, finally couldn’t contain himself and burst into laughter.
It was already October, but the weather was unusually hot today. His lightweight costume hadn’t bothered him much, but some actors in heavier outfits were dressed formally from the waist up while wearing shorts below—like Qin Yi.
“HAHAHAHAHA…! I was dying holding it in. Your dead-serious expression just now made it twice as funny.” Jiang Liusi laughed uncontrollably, while Qin Yi looked at him, exasperated.
“Stop laughing, I need to ask you something.”
“Hmm…?” Jiang Liusui barely managed to quiet down and looked up at him.
Qin Yi slung an arm around him and led him aside, making sure no one was around before lowering his voice. “That night you rushed off in such a hurry… were you going to see He Yujing?”
Jiang Liusi was momentarily stunned. “How did you know?”
Now it was Qin Yi’s turn to stare. He reminded him, “It’s all over the internet. Remember to check later.”
Jiang Liusui’s mind was full of question marks, but the next scene was about to start filming. He had no time to dwell on it and threw himself fully into work.
After wrapping, Jiang Liusui took advantage of his makeup removal break to check his phone. To his surprise, the top search result was a photo of him and He Yujing at the airport that night. Fortunately, their faces weren’t clearly visible, but people were already arguing fiercely about it.
This was the first time Jiang Liusui had encountered something like this since entering the industry, and he felt momentarily at a loss.
He wondered how much this would affect He Yujing…
Just then, a WeChat message from Wang Cen came through.
Wang Cen: You’ve seen the airport photos, right?
Wang Cen: Let me know once you’re back at the hotel. I’ve scheduled a video call with Teacher He’s agent so we can discuss this together.
Wang Cen, worried he might overthink, added: Don’t stress too much. It’s not a big deal.
After sending a brief reply, Jiang Liusui finished removing his makeup as quickly as possible and hurried back to his hotel room.
At the scheduled time, Shen Jie and Wang Cen’s faces appeared one by one on his phone screen. In the bottom-right corner, He Yujing’s figure also popped up.
He seemed to have just finished his own work, still wearing stage makeup on his face.
“This meeting is just to get everyone on the same page, eliminate any information gaps, and help adjust the PR plan,” Shen Jie began. “We’ve already prepared a corresponding plan on our side. After all, since you two are together, situations like this were bound to happen sooner or later.”
Hearing her mention they had prepared PR plans long ago, Jiang Liusui was momentarily stunned. Realizing she had directly acknowledged his relationship with He Yujing, his first instinct was to glance at Wang Cen.
His agent wore a faint smile, his expression calm and composed, as if in agreement with Shen Jie’s words.
Had Wang Cen known so quickly that he and He Yujing were dating? Jiang Liusui hadn’t even told his agent yet…
But upon further reflection, he and He Yujing often came and went together at the company, and Wang Cen never questioned it. It was likely He Yujing had already given him a heads-up, and Wang Cen had probably assumed they were dating since then.
“Mainly, we want to hear both of your opinions,” Shen Jie gestured to He Yujing and Jiang Liusui. “The PR plans will be adjusted based on your input.”
Jiang Liusui collected his thoughts. “Let things take their natural course.”
He Yujing said lazily, “Let it be.”
They spoke almost simultaneously. Shen Jie nodded. “It’s impossible to keep your relationship a secret forever. Since you’ll have to go public eventually, we can start gradually releasing information to help fans adjust step by step.”
“From that perspective, being photographed at the airport is actually a good thing,” Wang Cen added. “Two blurry photos where your faces aren’t clear—it’s a suitable starting point.”
“But we still recommend you keep a low profile.” Shen Jie wasn’t worried about Jiang Liusui, but rather the one who had never known the meaning of the word “discreet.” “First, this is part of your private lives, and I assume you don’t want it overly exposed to the public. Second, if your relationship keeps making headlines every other day, it could give people the impression that you’re using your personal lives for publicity, which isn’t a good look.”
Jiang Liusui didn’t catch the underlying meaning in Shen Jie’s words and agreed straightforwardly, “Okay.”
“Understood.” He Yujing, who had picked up on her subtle warning, smiled and said, “I do have some sense of propriety.”
Since Jiang Liusui and Wang Cen were also present, Shen Jie spared him some face and didn’t voice her inner thought: “You’d better.”
Shen Jie continued, “From the company’s PR perspective, the focus right now is on managing rumors and any attempts to smear you. Our monitoring of public sentiment won’t slack off, so you can rest assured on that front.”
Wang Cen took over, “In that case, related topics won’t blow up excessively. A couple of days of discussion should be enough.”
“Actually, the situation is even better than we initially expected. Only a very small portion of reactions have been extreme. Most people are either supportive or just watching for entertainment—the overall response is largely positive.”
Wang Cen, being older, couldn’t resist adding a piece of advice, “Since you’re together, make sure to treat each other well.”
Both agents were efficient and thorough, clearly outlining potential risks and countermeasures. Combined with He Yujing’s completely nonchalant attitude, everyone quickly reached a consensus and ended the video call.
With the weight off his mind, Jiang Liusui felt light as a feather and headed to the bathroom to take a shower.
Thinking about gradually going public with He Yujing in the future, Jiang Liusui decided to find a time to mention it to Shen Sijia first. Given the special circumstances before, it was understandable, but now he couldn’t keep hiding it from the young lady.
Maybe once both he and He Yujing have some free time, they could arrange to meet with Shen Sijia and the others? As for Zhou Xun, he could just tell him directly…
After taking a shower, Jiang Liusui happened to receive a message from Shen Sijia.
Shen Sijia: Wuwuwu, quick, look, baby! This is so intense! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen something this exciting! Wuwuwu, the author is practically my savior!!
She sent him a link. Jiang Liusui tapped on it and found it was a fanfiction from a super topic.
『#SuisuiHaojing#[mfn]岁岁好景 (SuisuiHaojing) – He Yuing and Jiang Liusui’s CP name, which literally means “May there be beautiful scenery year after year” or “May the good times last every year”[/mfn] No need for a title since it’s just smut, let’s go!
R18 Warning! Everything here is just my personal fantasy and has nothing to do with reality! After the concert, Suisui waits in the hotel room, with a bit of self-preparation. Yu-ge is wearing his stage outfit! The recent concert’s styling was so captivating—I really wanted to see Yu-ge holding Suisui while dressed like this!…』
Jiang Liusui read a paragraph and was instantly stunned.
Sui: ?
Shen Sijia: …Oh my god, I sent it to the wrong person! Ahhhh! Suisui, don’t read it!!!!
While frantically recalling the message, Shen Sijia bombarded him with questions: You didn’t see it, right??!!
Even through the screen, he could feel her overflowing embarrassment. Jiang Liusui, who had been a bit dazed by the explicit and intense text, saw Shen Sijia completely losing it and replied teasingly: I already opened it. Recalling it won’t help.
Shen Sijia: QAQ[mfn]crying emoji[/mfn]!!!!
Shen Sijia: Just kill me, forget it, I’m sorry!
Sui: The shock was a bit too much. I don’t think I can forget it for now.
Shen Sijia sent him a series of crying cat emojis.
After laughing at Shen Sijia, Jiang Liusui forwarded the link to Zhou Xun.
Sui: Quick, look! This is written so amazingly.
Jiang Liusui sent it casually, but his real intention was to show off. He pretended to mention it offhandedly: By the way, I forgot to tell you—He Yujing and I are together now.
Thinking that Zhou Xun often read books at night and might reply after a while, he exited the chat after sending the message. A few minutes later, Jiang Liusui suddenly felt something was off.
Wait, did that profile picture just now not belong to Zhou Xun?!
He hurriedly returned to the WeChat interface and realized he had actually sent the message to He Yujing.
“Ah?”
“Oh?”
He sent it to the wrong person!! He had just finished laughing at Shen Sijia for sending to the wrong person, and now he had done the same!!!
And of all people, he sent it to He Yujing!!! He read their explicit fanfiction and sent it to the other person involved!!!
Both He Yujing and Zhou Xun had profile pictures with a white background and red accents, making it easy to mix them up if he wasn’t careful. To make matters worse, it had already been two minutes since he sent the message—far too late to recall it.
As he was frantically thinking about how to salvage the situation, a message suddenly came through from the other side. In that instant, Jiang Liusui felt so embarrassed his scalp went numb, and he wished he could throw his phone away.
E: ?
The next second, He Yujing’s video call came through.
— — — —
