Chapter 69
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Chapter 69: Sweet Extras (Part Two): Title
Paparazzi footage emerged of Song Yutian—this year’s Golden Dew Award Best Actress winner—and Ren Ling, the acclaimed star of Director Cheng Yi’s films, entering a villa together late at night.
The scandal immediately trended, fueled not only by the visual evidence but by persistent rumors. Whispers suggested Song Yutian preferred women, while thirty-seven-year-old Ren Ling’s unmarried status supposedly confirmed similar inclinations.
Though initially dismissed as absurd, a meticulous "insider" post soon lent credibility to the claims, weaving together a suspiciously compelling narrative. The anonymous source dissected Song Yutian’s public interactions over the past two years, painting a picture that, to the eager eyes of gossipmongers, seemed to confirm the rumors. During a variety show, she had openly defended actress Wei Yao, going so far as to chastise a male co-star who had slighted her. In another instance, she was seen clinging to pop idol Su Moying’s hand during rollercoaster rides and embracing her in haunted house challenges—gestures that suddenly took on a new, scandalous implication. Meanwhile, her conspicuous indifference toward the wealthy heartthrob contestant, Gu Feng, was framed as further "evidence" of her supposed preferences. The post also highlighted Ren Ling’s unexpected and public defense of Song Yutian amid backlash over her casting in Cheng Yi’s film, despite the two never having worked together before. And, perhaps most damningly, at the Golden Dew Awards ceremony, the first person Song Yutian had embraced upon winning was none other than Ren Ling, followed by an explicit and heartfelt expression of gratitude in her acceptance speech. Individually, these moments were insignificant—but strung together with the right amount of speculation, they became a tantalizing web of "proof."In the end, the gossip blogger concluded that Song Yutian and Ren Ling had known each other before collaborating on the film and were actually in a romantic relationship.
The reason Song Yutian secured the female lead role in Director Cheng’s movie was precisely because of this connection.
Once the rumor emerged, it swiftly claimed the top spot on the trending charts.
Initially, most netizens remained skeptical, but as the speculation intensified, believers multiplied.
After all, Song Yutian’s dramatic transformation within a single year—from the "queen of bad dramas" to a Best Actress winner—seemed inherently improbable.
The more outrageous the rumor and the more scandalous the alleged secret, the more readily it gained traction among gossipmongers.
When her manager called, Song Yutian found herself in complete disbelief.
Having weathered numerous rumors during her sudden rise to fame over the past year, she’d developed considerable immunity—yet this marked the first time her sexual orientation had faced public scrutiny.
"Song Yutian, this rumor isn’t true… right?" Even her manager posed the question.
"Sister Chen, you know…" Song Yutian sighed wearily. "I’m dating Yueli."
Shortly after beginning her relationship with Zhong Yueli, Song Yutian had informed her manager following a mutual discussion.
First, she saw no reason to conceal her relationship with Zhong Yueli from the world.
Second, valuing her career and trusting her team, she wanted them prepared for potential crises.
However, neither Song Yutian nor Zhong Yueli had broached the subject of public disclosure.
Song Yutian’s hesitation stemmed partly from the newness of their relationship and partly because Zhong Yueli hadn’t raised the matter.
Subconsciously, she assumed a top-tier celebrity like Zhong Yueli would avoid public romantic entanglements.
Ironically, while their actual relationship remained private, this fabricated "affair" with Ren Ling surfaced first.
"What exactly did the paparazzi capture?" the manager pressed.
Song Yutian explained truthfully: "It was Sister Ling’s birthday. She became intoxicated, and as her closest colleague present, I escorted her home."
Who could anticipate such innocent assistance between actresses spawning salacious rumors?
Moreover, these speculations directly challenged the legitimacy of her lead role and Best Actress award, insinuating they’d been "stolen" through inappropriate connections.
"Given the circumstances, I’ll coordinate damage control with the team," the manager sighed before shifting tone. "Though there is one definitive solution."
Song Yutian froze, understanding the implication.
"That’s not ideal…" she demurred.
"Is he unwilling?" the manager probed.
Song Yutian hesitated. "I simply don’t think we should dignify baseless gossip…"
"This transcends ordinary rumors," the manager countered gravely. "These are serious allegations of transactional relationships. Normally manageable, but with your upcoming gala appearance looming, this could devastate your public image."
Softening slightly, she added, "I appreciate your reservations. Take half a day to discuss with Zhong Yueli."
"…Alright," Song Yutian acquiesced.
Hanging up, she noticed Zhong Yueli’s concerned gaze.
Their rare shared day off for a romantic lunch had been abruptly overshadowed.
"Yutian, what’s happened?" Zhong Yueli asked, unaware of the trending storm.
"Well…" The absurdity left her momentarily speechless.
Zhong Yueli had already retrieved her phone, having caught the mention of trending topics.
Song Yutian gestured for her to read directly.
After a prolonged scrolling session, Zhong Yueli met her eyes.
"Finished?" Song Yutian asked.
Nodding, Zhong Yueli inquired, "What did Sister Chen suggest?"
Song Yutian faltered. Though open about their relationship, she loathed forced disclosures.
Zhong Yueli’s perceptive gaze hinted at understanding.
"She… proposed we go public. But…"
"Yutian," came the tender interruption, "I’m willing."
The simple declaration resonated like a vow.
Shortly after Song Yutian’s alleged "affair" with the award-winning actress surfaced, rising superstar Zhong Yueli abruptly tweeted:
@ZhongYueli: Clarification: Song Yutian remains interested in men. Hence my successful courtship.
The picture showed the two of them together.
On that day, a certain social media platform’s servers crashed for half an hour.
Later, Song Yutian asked Zhong Yueli why he had decided to publicly announce their relationship almost without hesitation that day.
Under her persistent questioning, Zhong Yueli finally confessed:
"Truthfully, I was always afraid you’d refuse to go public. So I seized that opportunity…"
Only then did Song Yutian realize both the eagerness and opportunism had come from him.
