Apologize to her
The video wasn’t particularly clear, but it showed everything that mattered.
“Don’t spread lies with malice, or don’t blame me for suing you for defamation!”
“Even a defamation suit needs evidence. I don’t know if Miss Lin has proof of my friend defaming her, but as for her trying to seduce my husband… I have plenty of evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“Pfft, Miss Lin Zhi, do you really think I’m bluffing? The recording of you calling my husband a few days ago is still on my phone.”
“Impossible…”
Just a few sentences like that were enough to stir up a huge storm online.
Lin Zhi was a well-known actress abroad and had amassed a large fanbase before returning home.
In contrast, Qin Mingzhu was just an internet celebrity who relied on traffic and hype to draw attention.
Most importantly, the man involved was Gu Jingchen.
If it were an ordinary man, people would just laugh, thinking Qin Mingzhu was overreacting, imagining that anyone could be interested in her husband.
But Gu Jingchen was different.
Lin Zhi might really have been trying to seduce him.
Netizens eagerly picked up their keyboards, devouring the drama: quick, explosive, chaotic!
Lin Zhi’s fans were outraged, flooding the web with insults and insisting it was Qin Mingzhu spreading lies.
“Are you sure her husband is even that big shot in the business circle?!”
“The snake-faced girl is back for attention truly the best at self-promotion online.”
“Could a big shot in the business world really marry her? Hah, if it’s true, then she’s actually got some skills.”
“What skills? What else could it be? Of course, her skills in.”
“I have copies of her films DM me if you want resources.”
Qin Mingzhu scrolled to the last comment and held it down to report it.
There really were all kinds of people online.
Two years ago, she would have been furious at false rumors, but now she calmly reported and blocked them with one sweep.
Her private inbox was already overflowing, mostly Lin Zhi’s fans coming to “greet” her family.
Qin Mingzhu scrolled through a couple and got annoyed. She decided to make a bigger move to knock Lin Zhi’s fans off balance.
She knew a paparazzo in the circle who specialized in digging dirt. He had been her high school deskmate, notorious for uncovering nearly everyone’s secrets, and had somehow risen to the top of the paparazzi world after graduation.
Qin Mingzhu tapped out a message: “Liu Zhi, tell me Lin Zhi’s dirt.”
True to his networked nature, Liu Zhi replied instantly:
Lin Zhi? You want to expose her? Don’t rush. I’ve seen the trending topics. Don’t worry, the hype will die down soon.
Qin Mingzhu sighed. “But I’m being criticized.”
An influencer getting criticized is normal. You got plenty of that in high school too.
Fine, since you’re upset, I’ll tell you a couple things, but don’t post them or I’ll get sued.
She recently signed with Qisheng, apparently trying to snatch someone else’s lead role script.
Resources in the circle were limited; everything had to be fought for.
Lin Zhi, just back in the country, daringly claimed the lead script clearly Qisheng was putting all the resources on her.
Qin Mingzhu was about to respond when her phone flashed with a call from Qin Hai.
At this moment, a call could only mean trouble. She hesitated, but answered anyway.
“Qin Mingzhu, do you think marrying into the Gu family means you can just ascend to heaven? Look at the mess you stirred online!”
Qin Mingzhu had to cover one ear. “Dad, I didn’t want this either. Who knew netizens were so powerful?”
“Don’t play dumb. You know I’m not talking about that!” Qin Hai said sternly, then softened his tone. “Qisheng called me. You need to post a public Weibo later and apologize to Lin Zhi properly.”
“What?”
Qin Mingzhu dug at her ear, thinking she must have misheard.
“Dad, you want me to apologize to Lin Zhi? First, I didn’t upload the video; second, I didn’t arrange that meeting. Why should I take the fall?”
“Or what, do you have the recording of Lin Zhi seducing Gu Jingchen in your hands?” Qin Hai snorted dismissively.
Qin Mingzhu might intimidate Lin Zhi, but not Qin Hai.
She bit her lip, pouting: “Anyway, I’m not apologizing!”
She abruptly hung up, and Qin Hai didn’t call again. He was sure she would eventually relent.
A fire burned in Qin Mingzhu’s chest, scorching her heart.
Being forced to apologize to Lin Zhi felt worse than dying.
Footsteps sounded at the front door downstairs. Startled, Qin Mingzhu jumped, then realized Gu Jingchen had returned from the office.
Right the recording…
Her heart raced, her breathing quickened.
When Gu Jingchen came home, he usually stayed in the study for a while.
Qin Mingzhu lay in bed, eyes tightly shut, waiting about an hour before the bedroom door quietly opened.
The corner of the bedding lifted slightly she felt a brief cool breeze as the mattress compressed, and the room fell silent.
She froze for a long time before slowly opening her eyes, meeting Gu Jingchen’s seemingly sleeping face.
“Husband?”
She whispered, and when he didn’t respond, she tried calling him by other names.
Once she confirmed he was asleep, she exhaled silently and carefully slid off the bed.
She had already opened the curtains halfway; under the moonlight, she easily reached the other side of the bed and found Gu Jingchen’s phone.
Perfect. Now all she needed was to borrow Gu Jingchen’s finger…
Qin Mingzhu froze.
Who could tell her why, even in the 21st century, someone still didn’t have fingerprint unlock set!?
Fine, maybe he didn’t use facial recognition either!
She pressed her chest, trying to stay calm, and went for the numeric password.
She first tried looking up Lin Zhi’s birthday and input it it was wrong.
Qin Mingzhu felt relieved.
Next, she tried her own birthday…
Wrong again!
She glared at the back of the man lying there.
The phone password wasn’t even his wife’s birthday deduction points lost!!
She tried their marriage certificate date, their wedding date still wrong.
Four failed attempts one more mistake and the phone would lock.
She couldn’t rush it. Gu Jingchen wasn’t the type to change his password frequently.
This password must have been used for a long time.
Her heart leapt she entered Gu Jingchen’s own birthday.
Unlocked!
Qin Mingzhu’s palms broke into a sweat.
It wasn’t surprising that Gu Jingchen used his own birthday after all, his mother had committed suicide on that day.
The date was significant for him.
Qin Mingzhu pursed her lips, quickly found the call logs, and sure enough, there was the recording from that day.
She long-pressed to share the recording… and then noticed the cold glow of a face reflected on the screen.