novelraw Chapter 219 Interview
Chapter 219 Interview
"She's a victim too, isn't she? She loved someone who didn't love her back, and then she got vilified as a homewrecker by the whole internet. It's so tragic."
The comments from online trolls, like a thin mist, slowly shrouded the once clear public discourse. The voices condemning the "mistress" were still there, but they had been diluted by voices praising her "devotion," "pity," and "love for the wrong person."
Gu Yanbo looked at the backend data and nodded in satisfaction. He picked up his coffee cup, took a sip—it was cold. He didn't ask anyone to replace it; he simply put the cup down and continued staring at the screen. Not enough. He needed another spark. He dialed another number.
"Tomorrow, I've arranged an interview. The topic is 'Song Zhihe's Creative Philosophy in Her New Drama'."
At four in the morning, Song Zhihe's van finally drove away from the film set. The crowd dispersed, the lights went out, and the entire street was deserted, with only the streetlights still on. Song Zhihe sat in the back seat, wearing sunglasses, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Everything's been arranged with Gu Yanbo," the agent said cautiously, turning around. "There's an interview tomorrow; you'll need to go."
Song Zhihe didn't answer. She just looked out the window at the streetlights rushing past, one by one, like the light she had been trying to grasp all these years.
"I don't want to go," she said softly.
"Zhihe, this is your only chance—"
"I told you, I don't want to go." Her voice suddenly rose, filled with anger and exhaustion that had been building up all day. "He wanted me to play the victim, and I did. He wanted me to act all lovey-dovey, and I did. What else does he want from me? To stand in front of the cameras and cry? To kneel down and beg for their forgiveness? I can't do that."
The carriage fell silent.
After a long silence, the agent said softly, "Zhihe, you have no way out."
Song Zhihe closed her eyes. Sunglasses concealed her vision, but couldn't hide her trembling lips. She knew. She knew everything. But she didn't know how far this road would lead. She knew that Gu Yanbo had always treated her as a pawn, using her and then discarding her. Unlike Gu Yanshen, who, even without loving her, and even after her revelations, hadn't used those unsavory videos to deliver the fatal blow.
Her phone vibrated. She picked it up; it was a message from Gu Yanbo.
【Tomorrow's interview: Do as I say. After it's done, half of Gu's resources are yours. I keep my word.】
She stared at the line of text for a long time. Then she typed two words: "OK." and sent.
She tossed her phone onto the seat, pulled the blanket over herself, and wrapped it around her from head to toe. Under the blanket, she curled up her legs and buried her face in her knees. There was no sound, only the slight trembling of her shoulders.
The interview with Song Zhihe began promptly at 10 a.m. the next day. This wasn't a hastily arranged press conference, but a live broadcast promoting her new drama. Tens of millions of viewers flooded the live broadcast platform, and the barrage of comments almost completely covered the screen.
Song Zhihe wore a pale yellow knitted sweater, her hair was slightly curled, and her makeup was light and elegant, making her look gentle and intellectual. She sat on the sofa, holding a microphone, talking about her role in her new drama, her voice soft and captivating.
The host asked a few routine questions, which she answered briefly and in a very soft voice, as if afraid of disturbing something.
"This time, I'm playing a character who has been hurt in love but still chooses to be kind." She lowered her head slightly and smiled. "Actually, this character really touched me because she made me realize that loving someone doesn't necessarily mean possessing them; letting go is also a form of fulfillment."
The live chat erupted with comments like "Sister is so gentle" and "There's a story behind those words." The host then smoothly followed up: "Speaking of love, there have been some rumors circulating about you online lately. Would you be willing to respond to them?"
Song Zhihe's smile faltered. She lowered her head, her fingers gently stroking the microphone. She remained silent for a long time, so long that the live chat began flooded with comments like "Feeling guilty, huh?"
When she looked up again, her eyes were already slightly red.
"Actually... I didn't want to talk about this. I'm here today to promote my new movie." Her voice was a little hoarse. "But since you asked, I'll say a few words."
She took a deep breath.
"I didn't interfere in anyone's marriage." Her voice trembled, but every word was clear. "I've known Yan Shen for a long time, long before Lu Xiran."
The live stream went silent for a moment. Then the chat exploded.
"What? Much earlier? What do you mean?"
"Yan Shen and I... have known each other for a long time. A very, very long time ago." Her gaze fell on a point in the void, as if recalling something from a very, very distant past. "It must have been fifteen years. Back then, he wasn't the CEO Gu he is now. He didn't talk much, and he always had a frown on his face, as if he had a lot on his mind."
The live chat erupted with excitement: "Fifteen years ago? They knew each other that early on?" "So it wasn't a third party at all, they were childhood sweethearts!" "Even though childhood sweethearts can't compete with a sudden influx of someone special, in terms of who came first, Ling Xue knew Gu Yanshen first!"
Song Zhihe didn't answer directly, but simply smiled, a smile tinged with bitterness. "He was very good to me, and very polite."
She paused, as if considering her words.
"Nine years ago, when he was in the United States, I was filming abroad, and we got together. Some things happened... After that, he probably felt more of a sense of responsibility towards me. He always felt indebted to me, so later on, no matter what I asked for, he would try his best to fulfill it."
She lowered her head, as if she were dissecting her deepest vulnerability, leaving it raw and bleeding.
"But I know he has someone else in his heart. I've always known." Her voice trailed off, almost as if she were talking to herself. "But I don't blame him. You can't force feelings."
The live chat exploded with comments: "So heartbreaking!" "She knew everything, yet she still silently protected him for so many years!" "This is true love!"
The host wanted to press further, but Song Zhihe waved her hand and said with a smile, "I won't say anymore, or my fans will accuse me of playing the victim. Let's talk about my new drama."
She steered the conversation back on track, continuing to talk about the character, the script, and fun anecdotes from filming. Her emotions shifted incredibly quickly; that brief moment of vulnerability seemed like an accidental slip in front of the camera, and she quickly reverted to her professional and dedicated actress persona. Someone in the live chat exclaimed, "Her acting is absolutely amazing; I almost cried just now!"
Halfway through the interview, Song Zhihe's agent suddenly walked over from the side of the stage and whispered something in her ear. Song Zhihe's expression changed slightly. She took the phone from her agent, glanced at it, and frowned slightly.
"Excuse me, I have something to do..." She stood up, wanting to end the interview.
The live chat started flooded with comments like "What happened?" and "What's going on?" The manager looked embarrassed and explained to the camera, "I'm sorry, someone posted some false information online, and Zhihe needs to deal with it."
"What false information?" the host pressed.
The agent glanced at Song Zhihe, who shook her head, signaling her not to speak. But the agent seemed unable to resist and whispered, "Someone is spreading rumors about Zhihe's miscarriage back then."