novelraw Chapter 264: Today’s Headline 2, A Sudden Impulse
Chapter 264: Today’s Headline 2, A Sudden Impulse
Zhuxi Residential Complex.
The living room lights flickered on.
Gao Mengting yawned as she slumped onto the sofa, leaning back in a half-reclined position. A moment later, Cheng Qiuqiu walked over with a plate of fruit. Her voice was slightly hoarse as she said, “Senior, have something to eat.”
After leaving the Yan Provincial Olympic Center, taking the bus to Qiaoxi, and then hailing a cab to the complex, it was already close to 1 a.m. Both of them were utterly exhausted and famished.
“Thanks, Qiuqiu.” Gao Mengting sat up and grabbed a slice of watermelon, taking a big bite.
The cool, juicy sweetness slid down her throat, instantly refreshing her.
“It’s me who should be thanking you, Senior. Tonight was probably the happiest day of my life. The concert ticket you gave me is so meaningful to me.”
“Alright, no need to be so formal. You’ve thanked me plenty already.”
After satisfying her hunger, she felt much better.
Looking at Cheng Qiuqiu sitting beside her, excitedly typing on her phone with a glowing expression, Gao Mengting shook her head with a smile. “Young people sure have energy.”During the over three-hour concert, Cheng Qiuqiu had been nonstop—crying, shouting, and cheering. Yet here she was, still full of energy.
“Hehe, I’m just too excited. I feel like I’m brimming with energy.” Cheng Qiuqiu giggled playfully. “Senior, you should go shower first. I don’t have work tomorrow, but you need to rest early.”
The concert had been so intense, and with the summer heat, both of them were drenched in sweat. Sleeping without showering wasn’t an option.
“We could shower together, you know. I don’t mind,” Gao Mengting teased with a sidelong glance and a mischievous smile.
From their time spent together, she found her junior to be full of contradictions.
Cheng Qiuqiu was quite well-known at Yan City University. When she first enrolled, people had hyped her up as a department beauty or even a campus belle, and she had plenty of admirers. However, her cold demeanor and distant attitude soon drove away most of them.
She was like Naoko from Norwegian Wood—lonely, reserved, and emotionally closed off.
Even with Gao Mengting, Cheng Qiuqiu wasn’t one to open up. Yet when it came to Su Yu, her enthusiasm knew no bounds. She could even chat freely with strangers about her.
It was as if she transformed into Midori from Norwegian Wood—lively, outgoing, and unrestrained.
Gao Mengting suspected her junior had been through something that caused this paradoxical behavior. As her senior and roommate, she often joked with her in hopes of drawing her out.
She hoped Qiuqiu would one day find her own “Watanabe” who could awaken her feelings, just like Naoko. Otherwise, it would truly be a pity.
Cheng Qiuqiu glanced at her and quickly shook her head. “N-no thanks. I’m… not used to that.”
Although she had no physical response to men, she also wasn’t attracted to women. Her decision to room with Gao Mengting stemmed from the latter’s famously kind and gentle nature, along with her literary temperament, which made them a good match. There was no deeper intent behind it.
Gao Mengting blinked and asked slyly, “What if Su Yu wanted to shower with you?”
Cheng Qiuqiu froze, her face flushing slightly. “If it’s Su Yu, I… wouldn’t say no.”
Beautiful things were hard to resist. In her eyes, Su Yu’s appearance and figure were works of art, impossible to reject.
Laughing, Gao Mengting teased her a bit more before shifting the topic to Su Yu.
Cheng Qiuqiu’s eyes immediately lit up.
“The whole internet is exploding right now. The top 10 trending topics on Weibo and Douyin are all about Su Yu. It’s crazy.”
“Especially the three-and-a-half-hour concert, her god-tier performance of the new song, and her stunning makeup and styling… A lot of media and fans are speculating why Su Yu is acting so differently this time…”
“As a ten-year veteran fan of hers, I feel like today’s Su Yu is her most complete self—like a radiant full moon, eclipsing all the stars. I don’t know why, but I’m genuinely happy for her.”
…
Cheng Qiuqiu kept gushing about her thoughts on Su Yu. When she noticed Gao Mengting yawning repeatedly, she stopped and said, “Senior, you should go wash up. I’ll head to my room to organize my thoughts and post some updates.”
“Alright then, goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Senior. Sweet dreams!”
Gao Mengting stood, undressed in her room, wrapped herself in a towel, and headed to the bathroom.
After a quick shower and brushing her teeth, she skipped her skincare routine.
Switching on the fan, she collapsed onto her bed.
A habitual nude sleeper, she didn’t bother with pajamas and lay sprawled on top of her summer quilt, falling asleep almost instantly.
Half-asleep, she was suddenly jolted awake by a piercing scream.
It was Qiuqiu!
Gao Mengting shot up, her bare feet hitting the floor as she rushed out of the room.
She collided directly with Cheng Qiuqiu, who was coming out of the bathroom.
“What’s wrong, Qiuqiu? What happened?” Gao Mengting asked, alarmed, her heart racing.
Cheng Qiuqiu’s eyes were wide, her face bright red, tears pooling in her eyes as she pointed at her phone, unable to form words.
“Don’t be scared; I’m here!” Gao Mengting tried to comfort her, even awkwardly hugging her, but quickly let go when she realized how little either of them was wearing.
“Su Yu! Su Yu!” Cheng Qiuqiu finally managed to blurt out, thrusting her still-damp phone at Gao Mengting.
Realizing it wasn’t a family emergency, Gao Mengting let out a relieved sigh.
When she looked at the screen, her expression turned to shock.
Weibo’s trending topics list was plastered with similar titles:
[Su Yu Dating!]
[Su Yu’s Relationship Revealed!]
[Su Yu’s Boyfriend!]
At the top of the app was a pinned post from Su Yu herself.
Su Yu:“Echoes of dreams—I’ve finally met the person I’ve longed for day and night. Our love is mutual, and I love you just as deeply, unwaveringly.”
Attached was a selfie.
She wore a simple white shirt, her arm raised, showcasing a vibrant bracelet wrapped around her wrist. Against her pale skin, the bracelet gleamed like the most dazzling starry sky, exuding elegance and grandeur.
Her face was lit with a radiant, blissful smile, tinged with rare mischief and pride. It was a stark departure from her usual persona, yet undeniably authentic and captivating.
“Su Yu is in a relationship?” Gao Mengting asked in disbelief. “This… is going to shake things up.”
Cheng Qiuqiu nodded, her voice trembling. “It seems to be real. Not just on Weibo—Douyin, fan forums, and even international platforms like Instagram and Twitter are all sharing this post.”
Su Yu was known for her carefree and confident personality, proud and untamed. She had never stooped to hype herself up, let alone use her private life for public entertainment.
As a director and shareholder of Tang Zong Entertainment, she was part of the capital herself and had no need for publicity stunts.
She was widely recognized as the top superstar in the Asia-Pacific region, with considerable influence in other countries as well.
To date, there had been no scandals surrounding her—not even intimate scenes in her films. Her social circle was small, and she rarely interacted with male friends one-on-one. Even at parties or events, she maintained a polite distance.
Many people, including her fans, speculated that she might be gay.
This was why Cheng Qiuqiu had blushed earlier at Gao Mengting’s teasing—deep down, she could accept Su Yu being into women.
It was hard to imagine what kind of man could possibly deserve her.
…
The Weibo post had been up for only a short while but had already garnered over 300,000 comments, 200,000 shares, and 1.5 million likes.
The comments section was a frenzy of fan reactions.
Coupled with the 3.5-hour concert and Su Yu’s unusual behavior that night, most people believed it was true.
There were blessings, heartbreak, and calm analysis. Fans tagged each other and debated fiercely.
The massive surge in traffic caused Weibo’s servers to crash. Refreshing, loading, and searching all became impossible.
And this was at 1 a.m. on a weekday.
The buzz continued to escalate, with app notifications popping up non-stop.
Throughout the day, discussions about Su Yu had dominated the internet. Her announcement reached its peak intensity at this very moment.
Every group chat was abuzz with this topic.
After calming down a bit, Cheng Qiuqiu glanced at her bare-skinned senior opposite her and then at herself. Her ears instantly burned red-hot.
She lowered her head and stammered, “Sorry for disturbing your sleep, Senior. I’ll… go finish my shower.”
With that, she turned and hurried back to the bathroom, her figure wobbling in a fluster.
Watching her retreat, Gao Mengting couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
…
Yanjing Huating.
“What’s wrong, brother?” Zhao Yaqian, sprawled lazily across Tang Song’s lap, gazed at him with dreamy eyes.
“Nothing. You go about your business.” Tang Song forced a smile, patting the beautician on the head.
He stared at Su Yu’s post with a complex expression.
He could understand her message.
Back when Tang Zong Entertainment was starting out, besides recruiting Su Yu and Mo Xiangwan, everything else was handled by Secretary Jin and Wu Kezhi.
Most of the work was channeled through Smile Holdings and Jingwu Capital, with additional funding from a few overseas foundations.
Secretary Jin and Su Yu must have known each other.
Moreover, during the game, he had been utterly engrossed in the “Star Development” instance.
He had curated future hit songs and scripts for Su Yu, chosen her outfits and makeup, and even acquired several foreign special effects and production companies for her.
This, of course, led to neglect in managing his other assets.
Secretary Jin had expressed strong disapproval of this in-game, her favorability plummeting. She even quit in protest at one point.
The system issued multiple warnings, making it feel like he was a scumbag keeping a mistress and getting caught by his wife.
Thankfully, with the help of game missions and items, he slowly won her back.
This incident only settled completely when the “Tang Jin Family Office” was established.
After satisfying his desires and seeing Tang Zong Entertainment stabilize, he shifted his focus to other fields.
In real life, given Secretary Jin’s power and influence, it was clear there must have been significant friction between her and Su Yu.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have shattered the dream fragment upon seeing Su Yu’s announcement.
After all, even when he signed Zhao Yaqian as a companion in-game, the hidden mission [Enraged Secretary Jin] hadn’t triggered.
Now, seeing the prompt [Character “Secretary Jin” experiencing intense emotional fluctuations], Tang Song couldn’t help but feel a chill down his spine.
He knew himself all too well.
Aside from the beautician and the starlets, there were bound to be many more “companions” in the future.
Would this push Secretary Jin to blacken completely and have him taken out by a truck driver she hired?
Tang Song shivered.
The beautician, thinking it was praise, doubled her efforts, adding even more suggestive gestures.
Tang Song ran a hand through Zhao Yaqian’s silky hair and closed his eyes.
Even though Secretary Jin’s loyalty, attachment, and favorability were maxed out in-game, she was now a living, breathing person. Even if the system prevented her metrics from dropping, her feelings still needed consideration.
He had to speed things up. The [Phase Two Growth Plan Task] needed his attention, and he had to boost his charm rating quickly to unlock higher system privileges.
Moreover, he needed to find the final piece of Secretary Jin’s [Dream Fragment]. Entering her dream and soothing the “paper wife” who had been with him since the start of his journey was imperative.
“Brother Song, I’m tired,” Zhao Yaqian said pitifully, looking up at him.
Glancing at the beautician’s youthful, curvaceous figure, Tang Song cursed himself inwardly: “Scumbag!”
June 21, 2023. Summer Solstice. Wednesday. Clear skies, 22–37°C.
Cheng Qiuqiu woke from her dreams, dazed. She shivered as a realization struck and quickly grabbed her phone.
She checked the time first.
It was already past 9 a.m.
Having gone to sleep only after 4 a.m. due to all the excitement, she still felt groggy.
Her WeChat was flooded with unread messages.
Every fan group was buzzing about Su Yu’s relationship.
After skimming through the group chats, Cheng Qiuqiu opened Weibo to browse the latest entertainment news.
Online, speculation ran rampant about Su Yu’s mysterious partner.
Some said it was a high-ranking executive at Tang Zong Entertainment, others believed it was a male celebrity she had worked with, and many even suspected it might be a woman.
After scrolling through Weibo and Douyin, the public narrative abruptly shifted.
Numerous media outlets and influencers released overnight analysis videos, suggesting that Su Yu’s confession was actually meant for her fans.
They argued she was reciprocating the support of her followers—that she loved them unconditionally.
These explanations broke down her past behavior, interactions, and even her unusual concert performance, piecing it together convincingly.
Even Cheng Qiuqiu almost believed it.
She began posting and blogging, sharing her thoughts and helping reinforce her idol’s positive image.
As a ten-year fan of Su Yu, Cheng Qiuqiu knew that among the few men associated with her, the only noteworthy ones were from the Echo girl group days.
Regardless of who Su Yu’s lover was, she vowed to support and understand her idol, standing firmly by her side.
After finishing her updates, Cheng Qiuqiu exhaled deeply.
Then, another flood of notifications appeared:
[Wang Liyu & Chen Si Announce Their Relationship!]
[Breaking News! Wang Liyu’s Surprise Love Announcement Shocks Fans!]
…
Cheng Qiuqiu’s heart, which had just settled, began racing again.
Wang Liyu was currently the nation’s hottest young idol. Despite only debuting two and a half years ago, he had already climbed to a second-tier celebrity status and was endorsed by numerous luxury brands. Discussions about him online were always highly active.
Chen Si, on the other hand, was a well-known actress who had starred in several major domestic film productions and was currently a regular guest on a wildly popular reality show. Her popularity was equally high.
Opening Weibo and refreshing the feed, Cheng Qiuqiu noticed that Su Yu’s pinned post had vanished. In its place was another one:
[Wang Liyu: “@Chen Si, everyone, meet my girlfriend.”]
Chen Si posted a matching response on her account.
Not long after, Weibo crashed again.
Switching to other platforms, Cheng Qiuqiu continued absorbing gossip.
Then came another barrage of app notifications:
[Zhao Zhenyun & Ma Zizi Announce Divorce!]
[Ma Zizi Accuses Zhao Zhenyun of Repeated Infidelity During Their Marriage!]
What on earth was going on today?!
Cheng Qiuqiu’s eyes widened in disbelief as one bombshell after another hit her.
…
Rapid footsteps echoed in the hallway.
“Ding-dong—ding-dong—”
The apartment door opened slightly, and Mo Xiangwan, red-eyed from a sleepless night, stepped inside.
Looking at Su Yu, who appeared unfazed, she spoke gravely, “Xiao Yu, you acted too impulsively! You should know how serious the consequences of this could be!”
“I’m sorry for troubling you,” Su Yu said, hugging her manager briefly.
Mo Xiangwan took a deep breath and patted Su Yu’s shoulder. “Delete that post. The company will handle the rest through public relations.”
As a representative of Tang Zong Entertainment, Su Yu’s every move could affect the company’s stock price.
This time, she had outright provoked Director Jin of Smile Holdings, and the repercussions would be significant. Follow current novels on novęlfire.net
The upcoming board meetings and shareholder sessions would undoubtedly turn into intense power struggles.
Furthermore, several major ongoing projects, such as the film city construction and movie investments, involved Smile Holdings.
If this matter impacted company strategy, it would be a heavy blow to Tang Zong Entertainment, possibly even leading to internal investigations and legal disputes.
Su Yu shook her head gently and sat down on the sofa. Crossing her long, slender legs, she leaned back, her thick, voluminous hair swaying slightly. Her casual pose exuded an effortless mix of sensuality and elegance, creating a stunning image.
“I’m not afraid of anything right now,” she said, her exquisite face lifting into a smile. “Besides, he said it himself—we’re running toward each other.”
Mo Xiangwan sighed, sitting beside her. In a soft voice, she urged, “Xiao Yu, under no circumstances should you reveal anything about Tang Song on public platforms. If you do, there will truly be no turning back.”
She understood Director Jin’s mindset.
With Su Yu’s influence and national appeal, if she openly declared who her partner was, the massive wave of public pressure would undoubtedly force Tang Song to acknowledge it. Su Yu would then naturally assume the role of his official girlfriend.
For Director Jin, this was absolutely unacceptable.
In fact, after the Tang Jin Family Office rejected Su Yu’s investment proposal, she had used this as leverage to threaten Director Jin.
This was the root of the conflict between them.
Su Yu pressed her lips together and said softly, “Don’t worry. I already understand his feelings, and I’m content. I would never do anything to harm him.”
“Ah!” Mo Xiangwan rubbed her temples. “Be prepared. The board meeting will likely be convened soon.”
“Heh, I’m not afraid of her.”
“This isn’t about fear. Gaining control of Tang Zong Entertainment is extremely important for you. In a way, it also increases your significance in Tang Song’s eyes. I’ll contact Ms. Ouyang later and have her speak with Wu Kezhi.”
“Ring—ring—”
The sudden ringtone interrupted them.
Su Yu glanced at the caller ID and answered briefly before hanging up.
Mo Xiangwan frowned. “Yannorth Printing? Why are you arranging contact with such a small printing company?”
“Nothing special, just a spur of the moment. It might turn out to be useful someday,” Su Yu replied with a faint smile.
…
Oasis View Garden Residential Complex.
“Mom! I’m going on a business trip, not fleeing from a famine. Why are you stuffing so much food in my suitcase?” Wen Ruan complained as she pulled out zongzi, ham, pickles, and braised meat from her luggage.
“Tomorrow is Dragon Boat Festival. Of course, you have to bring zongzi! I made them myself with bean paste and red dates—your favorite fillings. You can also share them with your colleagues,” Qian Guixiang said, shoving a red plastic bag back into the suitcase.
“Fine.” Wen Ruan pursed her lips before changing the subject. “How are things going on Dad’s end?”
Qian Guixiang shook her head. “I don’t know. It doesn’t look good. The factory leadership is trying to find a way, but without money, it’s likely he’ll still be laid off. Sigh, with this wave of mass layoffs, most of our family members are on the list. The relocation housing hasn’t been secured yet, and now they’ve lost their jobs. It’s too much to bear.”
Wen Ruan sighed. “Everyone’s struggling.”
“Ruan Ruan, have you really decided to switch jobs?”
“Yes. I’ll submit my resignation after I get back from Beijing.”
“Alright then. Just make sure to explain things properly to Xiao Tang,” Qian Guixiang said with a nod, refraining from further objections.
Both she and her husband were unemployed, their daughter had a mortgage to shoulder, and this opportunity was too good to pass up. She couldn’t bring herself to oppose it.
Wen Ruan hummed softly. “Mom, I need to leave now.”
“Let us know when you get off the train! And be safe out there—don’t—”
“Alright, Mom! I’ve lived in Beijing for nine years. Stop worrying so much! Bye-bye!”
Waving, Wen Ruan grabbed her suitcase and headed downstairs.
Looking up at the clear blue sky, she couldn’t help taking a deep breath.
Indeed, she had spent nine years there.
Returning to Xingyun International… she wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not.