No sooner had Mei Mengran clarified the "suspected plastic surgery" incident than her old photos were exposed; the timing was far too coincidental. It caught a lot of people completely off guard.
Her agent was running around frantically, using every connection he had to contain the fallout. The PR team was pulling all-nighters, working round the clock. But it was painfully obvious that their efforts to clean up the mess couldn't keep up with the photos' spread.
"Oh my god! She's ugly beyond words!"
"Upon examination, her ugliness is all-natural, with zero photoshopping."
"Pfft, she still insists she hasn't had work done? Now the ironclad evidence is here, and oh boy, does her face look swollen now! What's your explanation for this, Mei Mengran? Or should I say, MR?"
There's an old saying: The tallest tree in the forest gets blown down by the wind. Besides, Mei Mengran had rocketed to fame overnight and become rather high on herself, and she had offended quite a few people in the circle, intentionally or not. When a wall starts to topple, everyone pushes it down for good measure. Plenty of people were lining up to get a kick in, though there were also many who chose to stand aside, not wanting to get their hands dirty while enjoying the spectacle.
Once the hashtag #MeiMengranPrePlasticSurgeryOldPhotosExposed appeared, her fans nearly collapsed. But they didn't dare stand up and speak for Mei Mengran; they had no ground to stand on.
They had absolutely no confidence to claim the girl in the photos had nothing to do with their goddess.
Though her bearing was worlds apart from what it was now, but if you took her current, enhanced facial features and merged them, there was at least a seventy percent resemblance to that dark, unsightly girl.
Of course, Mei Mengran still had her die-hard supporters.
EbbandFlow: I give this photoshopping a perfect ten. Just grab some random ugly picture, Photoshop it, and call it my goddess? Do you think us vast legions of Ran Fans are blind or dead?
MountainBlossoms: So what if she had surgery!? These days, getting plastic surgery is more common than dirt! They just blasted it out there without even blurring her face, isn't that a violation of her ** rights! Did your mother never teach you any manners?
DreamTraveler replied to EbbandFlow: Anyone with eyes can tell this is undoubtedly Mei Mengran. Did everyone notice the dark mole on her earlobe? I was bored and did a superimposed comparison of her before-and-after surgery photos, and found the mole is in the exact same spot. Finally, this attempt at whitewashing is truly touching. I attached a comparison image, you're welcome. [Picture]
TinkerBell replied to MountainBlossoms: Your focus seems a bit off. We don't care whether she had surgery or not; what's disgusting is that she had it done and still insists she didn't, understand?
With that, even her scant loyal fans got chewed up and collapsed, and even her previously steadfast "MR fans" lost some fighting spirit. They could only weep rivers under her Weibo posts, trying to flush away the cynical, filthy mess of comments.
Soon after, everyone suddenly noticed something else:
"Several hundred thousand reposts, and it still can't make it to the trending list? Are you kidding me?"
"All I can say is, Mei Mengran/MR plays her cards very well."
"Sigh, the water runs too deep. I really was too naive, finally opening my eyes to how this world works. [Laughing Crying]
Mei Mengran's studio was practically besieged by journalists coming for interviews, but she herself hid away at home.
Cen Chen, having just finished a phone call, returned, the deep furrow between her brows easing slightly compared to before. "The Weibo side is temporarily suppressed for now. The bigger entertainment magazines and portals have been dealt with too. But we can't guarantee those we haven't reached..."
As she spoke, she noticed something off about the person before her and quickly asked, "Mengran, what's wrong?"
Negative rumors about her were everywhere outside, yet Mei Mengran herself seemed eerily calm, a strange sort of serenity. "I know who leaked the photos."
"Who?!"
Mei Mengran gave a light laugh and uttered two words, "Mei Ran."
Her agent was shocked. "Are you sure it's her?"
If Mei Hongyuan's daughter was behind this, the situation just got much trickier.
She added, "Could you be mistaken? Didn't they say your mother also had photos of you? Is it possible..."
Mei Mengran's tone was distant as she pulled up the photo to show her. "This dress I'm wearing in the picture was bought for me by my grandmother after I arrived at the Mei household. That woman ran off with some man when I was ten; she wouldn't have photos like this."
In the photo, she smiled somewhat shyly and foolishly at the camera. The person who took it back then was none other than...
Seventeen-year-old Mei Mengran would have considered even looking at her too great an imposition—the wealthy young lady, daughter of Mei Hongyuan—Mei Ran.
In this world, who else besides her could possess this photo and choose such a coincidental time to expose it?
Hearing her words, Cen Chen started worrying again. "I've already pushed back all your upcoming appearances and events. Don't show your face for the next few days; let's see how this plays out."
The person on the couch responded vaguely.
Just then, Cen Chen's phone rang again. Seeing the caller ID, she stepped outside to take it.
The room suddenly grew quiet. Mei Mengran curled up, pulling out the medical report she'd been sitting on. Tears had made the words "infertile" swell and blur. She thought back to Mei Hongyuan's birthday celebration, after the banquet, when she went to Mei Liangzhi's room looking for him and found her foster father there as well, the atmosphere between the two men oddly tense.
She stood at the doorway listening.
"Dad, are you serious? Ranran really did..."
She was a bit too far away, couldn't tell if it was "Ranran" or "Ranran," so she moved closer.
"Beyond any doubt!" Mei Qingyuan sighed heavily. "Do you remember that kidnapping? She took that stab wound for Ranran... and then the doctor said..."
Mei Mengran felt like she'd been struck on the head. Infertile? Her?!
"Ranran still doesn't know?"
"Of course not! We're keeping it from the Old Madame too. If she found out, wouldn't this house be turned upside down?"
Mei Mengran slowly tore the report into tiny pieces.
So, she could never have children of her own in this lifetime?
Mei Ran, don't you owe me far more than just a life?
"Mengran! Mengran!" Her agent rushed back in, expression complicated. "That thing about your uncle... it wasn't you... was it?"
Mei Mengran was completely baffled.
"Just a few minutes ago, Mei Hongyuan was exposed in a scandal for keeping a female university student."
Mei Mengran immediately jumped up from the couch.
She read through the entire report, her emotions shifting in layers: first shock, then some inexplicable excitement, finally settling into a state as if she'd been thrown into an icehouse, a chilling cold radiating from her whole body.
Retribution came so fast!
Mei Mengran closed her eyes, her voice so low it was almost inaudible. "I want her to be just like me."
Even if it means ruin and disgrace, I want her to fall with me, side by side!
"Mei Mengran," Cen Chen finally realized how disturbed she was, "don't you dare do anything reckless!"
At a critical moment like this, with your own house on fire, you still want to do something that invites trouble? She couldn't let her act on impulse!
"Since things are already so lively, I really don't mind making them even livelier."
"What on earth do you want to do?"
"Given Mei Hongyuan's methods, that issue will definitely be resolved quickly... But since she's treated me like this, if I can just pretend nothing happened, then I wouldn't be Mei Mengran."
In principle, compared to the personal gossip of a popular star, matters in the business circle usually don't attract such high attention. But this time, the scandal involved none other than the president of Mei Corporation, Mei Hongyuan, who had recently been elected president of the chamber of commerce.
How could it not cause a huge uproar?
Most importantly, this man was known throughout the business world for his "lofty virtue and prestige," hailed as a scholarly gentleman-merchant. His personal experience was practically legendary; he navigated complex webs of interest, yet was never tainted by any romantic scandal. Who knew he'd drop a bombshell right off the bat?
In the leaked photos, a young girl held Mei Hongyuan's arm, and he patted her hair with an indulgent smile. The intimacy between the two was obvious...
Since that kidnapping incident, Mei Hongyuan had protected his daughter meticulously, so the outside world only knew he had a daughter but had never seen her in person.
Add to that the trope of wealthy magnate and young girl, which itself provides plenty of sensationalism; it's natural people would jump to conclusions about them being in some unspeakable relationship.
Soon, the exposed girl was identified, and the public's jaws almost hit the floor!
It turned out to be the Traditional Chinese Medicine physician from A City People's Hospital! Who would have thought a medical professional could possess such corrupt morals? How could this quell the public's outrage?
The heat of the event showed no signs of waning, even starting to overshadow the exposure of "Mei Mengran's plastic surgery old photos."
Within the industry, any entertainment gossip portal with a shred of reputation and foresight, even if they received this kind of "leak," would consider it carefully beforehand. After all, someone with Mei Hongyuan's financial clout and savvy wasn't to be trifled with; the likely outcome would be sitting on the story and "shelving it," earning a favor along the way.
But the scandal was actually blown up by a third-rate magazine that had just been established. Eager for publicity, they didn't think about the long term.
To tell the truth, obtaining these extremely valuable photos was quite accidental. A paparazzo had followed Yu Sheng all the way to Binnan Town, hearing it was for Old Master Yu's eightieth birthday celebration and that she had returned especially to offer her congratulations. Recently, her relationship with Tianxing Entertainment's Ye Qihan had seemed ambiguous, so the reporter hoped to dig up some explosive news.
He never expected such an unexpected windfall. He didn't even have time to handle the details properly, staying up all night to write a piece packed with sensational points and releasing the photos directly.
What he didn't expect was that while magazine sales kept climbing, and he was happily counting money, a sudden thunderclap exploded right over his head.
"President Mei, our lawyers have already contacted them. They will publish apology notices on three major mainstream platforms tomorrow morning. Additionally, we are working hard to minimize the impact, but..." Secretary Wang hesitated.
Though they had immediately begun recalling the magazines, the rumors that had spread... how could they be easily reined in?
Mei Hongyuan rubbed his temples, and after a long while said, "This matter won't end so simply."
"Miss Ranran, over on her side..."
Mei Hongyuan waved a hand, cutting him off. "You've worked hard. You may leave for now."
After the door closed, he pulled out a cigarette case from his drawer, untouched for a long time, extracted one, lit it. Pale smoke drifted as he slowly let out a sigh of frustration.
Rongrong, I still haven't protected our daughter.
Meanwhile, Mei Ran was on a phone call. "Senior Brother Zhou, I'm fine, really. Thank you. There's another call coming in; I'll hang up first."
The caller was the Vice President of the hospital. He first expressed his concern and trust in Mei Ran, then tactfully explained that due to certain reasons, the hospital administration's decision was a "leave without pay," hoping she would understand.
Mei Ran hung up, forcing a relaxed smile. "What are you staring at me for?"
Fu Shijin's brow was still furrowed as he took her hand. "Let's go for a walk downstairs."
It wasn't long after dusk, the twilight only a faint layer. The two walked quietly, saying nothing.
Unconsciously, they arrived at a lake. Feeling a bit tired, Mei Ran sat on a bench at the lake's pavilion to rest.
Fu Shijin sat down beside her. "Ranran."
A thousand words and emotions were hidden in those two syllables.
She leaned naturally against his shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent; her somewhat troubled heart suddenly calmed. "I really am okay. Don't worry."
"Besides, we both know how laughable these rumors are. Being rumors, they will be clarified one day."
What truly upset her was that these fabrications were affecting her work.
She transformed her warm breath into words against his shoulder. "Shijin."
It was the first time she had called him that.
"Mm."
"Shijin."
"Mm."
"I love you."
"...Mm. Me too."
It wasn't a sudden whim, but the feeling that having you by my side at this moment is the most beautiful thing I can imagine.
Blue moonlight scattered over the lake's surface. A cool breeze drifted in gently. Fu Shijin pulled her closer and wrapped her in his coat; his steady heartbeat traveled from her back, resonating in her chest.
Time felt soft.
Before, he thought the only things worth possessing in this world were the pure breeze and elegant moonlight. But now he knew in his heart, this woman was his.
If someday he had a daughter, he would pour out all the paternal love within him, give her the best of everything the world had to offer. He would also teach her how to walk safely in this world because, as a father, he couldn't accompany her for a lifetime.
But the person in his arms would walk alongside him through the rest of his days. She didn't need to be exceptionally strong; she only needed to stay within the range his wings could protect. No matter how great the storm, he would be there by her side.
What harm in shielding her for a lifetime?