After everything that happened, the media and fans were closely watching us. Although I had been very careful, barely leaving Fu Junyan’s side in the hospital room, and my cousin had sent people to smooth things over with major newspapers and media outlets. But reporters still leaked photos of me and Daddy supporting each other at the police station, as well as photos of my cousin and me returning to the hospital from home with belongings.
Daddy had once been a hugely popular singer in the entertainment industry, so he was quickly recognized. And my cousin was already often in the gossip news, plus he had been involved in rumors with me when I was filming “Black Cinderella”, so all kinds of rumors were now swirling wildly. Later, Apple Daily also published reports of me and my cousin going to the gynecology department. Even more tragically, when reporters went to interview the doctor who had examined me, the doctor praised my cousin for being a good father, and mentioned that my cousin said he wanted to attend a “daddy training class”…
With all this back and forth, everything seemed like ironclad evidence. All kinds of reports like “Young master’s life and death uncertain, Gu Baobei quickly seeks backing”, “Gu Baobei quickly dumps Fu Junyan, stops at nothing to marry into wealth”, “Gu Baobei escapes death and wakes from her dream, kicks away young master only hoping for wealthy family”, “Gu Baobei’s act becomes reality, after playing Xiao family daughter-in-law, now to be Xiao family’s second wife?” – reports like these spread everywhere like wildfire, sounding as vivid and realistic as if they were true.
I read those reports and my small body trembled again and again. In the end I ignored them all and didn’t respond. And to avoid upsetting Fu Junyan, I directly cut the TV cable in the hospital room. I just made sure to eat and sleep well every day, take care of Fu Junyan, and take care of An’an. I listened to An’an play violin in the hospital room, then read storybooks to An’an and Fu Junyan. And I watched them, one big and one small, lying on the bed propped up in almost the same pose – not father and son, but looking so much alike.
The day before Fu Junyan’s surgery, my cousin rushed to the hospital to find me. He used his iPad to show me two video clips. One was an excerpt from Ji Jie’er directly naming and exposing me on a well-known entertainment show, saying she had seen me and Mo Group’s President Mo Nuoyun embracing intimately after the Golden Dragon Awards ceremony, getting into a red Lamborghini together, and then seeing us come out of a hotel the next day looking disheveled. She also said that during the filming of “Black Cinderella” I had seduced Fu Junyan from the neighboring film crew, and even appeared in Fu Junyan’s room late at night. In short, all kinds of criticism and smears. Afterwards, she still put on an act of shaking her head and sighing: “Xiao’ai is so young, so pure and beautiful, I never imagined she would be like that, alas…” Watching her pitiful act, I really wanted to give this woman a left hook and a right hook, but I still held back because of the baby in my belly…
Even more tragic was that the deputy director’s wife, after receiving news of the deputy director’s death, started making a big fuss. She was first dissatisfied with the amount of compensation offered by the crew. After several fruitless disputes with the crew, she turned her attack on me and Fu Junyan. She questioned how we could possibly walk out of the deadly desert without food or water, and suspected whether we had killed her husband in the desert to survive. In the video, her middle-aged plump face, with garish makeup smeared all over from tears, was sitting on the ground crying hysterically, every word an accusation against me and Fu Junyan.
Before this, the reports about us being trapped in the Taklamakan Desert had been mostly positive and sympathetic. But after the deputy director’s wife’s outburst, many negative voices gradually appeared. People kept raising doubts about why Fu Junyan and I were still alive when we were trapped in the desert, while the crew’s deputy director died. Later, because of the reports about me cheating, plus Fu Junyan being hospitalized and rumored to be in critical condition, I gradually changed from a goddess to an evil woman – the kind of vicious bad woman who used despicable means to survive by stepping on two men. And in my fan club, internal conflicts also started appearing. Opening Weibo, it was full of scolding.
I casually scrolled through my own Weibo, and those messy contents were simply unbearable to look at. Regarding some people’s extreme comments, especially fans who said they liked me just a second ago but now started questioning and even cursing me, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t hurt and saddened, but what could I do? I tried to calm myself down, then I saw Dingyue brother and the others cheering for me on Weibo.
Dingyue brother said: “Justice is in people’s hearts. If you question what kind of people they are, then you were not worthy of loving them before, and will not be worthy of loving them in the future.”
Ruofan jie said: “Back then Xu Fake was arrogant and conceited. When she was popular, she slapped me and bullied newcomers. Now that she’s not popular anymore, she’s trying to sell old news as fresh, getting involved in Xiao’ai and the young master’s business to fool you, and you believe her? Even if you believe her, I don’t! Besides, when people are in trouble, if you don’t encourage and comfort them but instead bully and curse them, what kind of thing are you? PS: My mom said that although her old eyes aren’t good, her heart is still clear. Fu Junyan and Gu Baobei are definitely clean and beautiful inside and out. I don’t know how many people are not as good as her old self – blind eyes! And blind hearts!”
Shuang’s words were even sharper. She said: “When some people take numbness as depth, take fakes as real, take cowardice as steadiness, waver at hearing rumors, see someone hanging a chastity sign on the surface but at night cling to thighs shouting ‘Oh baby, more!’ and think they’ve seen a celestial being. When they see a certain woman whose husband’s bones are not yet cold but is making a scene everywhere asking for money, they shed tears of pity and overflow with sympathy. Those who once praised Fu Junyan and Gu Baobei as unparalleled in heaven and earth, but now turn around to kick them – when I see you, I just want to unhesitatingly give you two words – idiots!”
I smiled when I read this, and couldn’t help giving Shuang a thumbs up in my heart. It turns out! When people are angry, no matter how much they say, it’s not as good as cursing directly. Just cursing can simply sweep away frustration, and it feels so refreshing to watch. Unconsciously, I also repeated in my mouth: “Idiots!”
As soon as I spoke, I scared my cousin. He hurriedly covered my mouth with worry and exclaimed: “Girl! Prenatal education! I don’t want the baby to pop out and the first thing it says is ‘idiot’! Oh my god…”
I heard this and burst out laughing, feeling much more cheerful. My cousin put away the iPad, making a big fuss about radiation radiation, then frowned and put away his mischievous expression, saying to me very seriously: “The Xiao and Mo family newspapers have been releasing positive news about you two these past few days, but it’s still not enough to stop all the gossip. Mainly because you and Fu Junyan are too famous, with such high attention. Many newspapers are unwilling to trade a year’s worth of advertising sponsorship for an article about you…” I was speechless, rubbed my nose in a dilemma and said: “It’s not that I’m too famous, it’s Fu Junyan…”
Actually, at that time I also thought, after all a real person had died, things definitely wouldn’t end so simply. But I really didn’t expect the deputy director’s wife to come out and make a scene, and even accuse us. I stared blankly at the empty and quiet corridor of this VIP ward floor for a while, then lowered my head and grabbed the ends of my loose hair, looking at it for a moment before saying: “Cousin, actually, if they’re just making trouble about my relationships, it’s really not a big deal. As long as Fu Junyan believes me, and then when Fu Junyan’s body is better, we can come out together, all rumors will be dispelled. But now, they’re actually saying we killed someone…”
I paused, unconsciously frowning, leaning back in a chair beside before mumbling: “Fu Junyan needs to rest well for a while after surgery, the wounds on his feet are not light either, he needs to keep applying medicine, Dr. Xiao also said to let him walk as little as possible. The baby isn’t very stable in the first three months either. Now in the hospital, I can try my best to prevent Fu Junyan from seeing these reports and worrying, but after going home, he has a bunch of work to deal with himself, the computer will be open anytime, I can’t block it no matter what…”
Saying this, I turned back, meeting my cousin’s flirtatious peach blossom eyes, wrinkled my nose and said: “These messy reports are really annoying, especially the murder one… Cousin, I said I should protect him now, I don’t want Fu Junyan to face a pile of messy things as soon as he leaves the hospital, I don’t want these things to bother his heart. Moreover, such a reputation is really too vicious, so cousin, hold a press conference for me at Shakira tomorrow… I want to stand up and clarify my relationship with you all. He’s such a tall and upright man, don’t always let him seem wronged by these inexplicable rumors. I also need to clarify the deputy director’s matter first, we can’t bear such a malicious charge…”
“But isn’t Fu Junyan having surgery tomorrow?”
“So he doesn’t know I left!” I raised my eyebrows, grinning mischievously.
“Just how tall and upright is he huh?”
“Cousin, don’t humiliate yourself, in my heart he’s much more upright than you…” I said, patting my cousin’s shoulder, and went back to the ward.
Before Fu Junyan was going to have surgery, I don’t know why I was particularly nervous, my palms were sweating.
Xiao Yichen had said that stomach injuries would make the body uncomfortable. But since Fu Junyan woke up, he never cried out in pain once. He always had that light and gentle expression looking at me and An’an, as if the person who had been in a coma for several days wasn’t him at all. He was still childishly not letting the nurses change the ointment on his feet, then sat on the hospital bed swinging his legs, and shaking my arm, not saying anything but tilting his head and looking at me.
I could only pat his leg and say: “Lift up your hooves.” As I said this, both his feet propped up on my thighs at the same time. At this moment, little Gu An who had just woken up was still rubbing his sleepy eyes dazedly, shaking his chubby little feet saying: “Sister, I want too!”…
Later after I applied medicine for Fu Junyan, he suddenly pushed my hand and said: “Baobei, wrap more bandages.”
So I nodded and listened to his instructions more carefully, wrapping his feet until I couldn’t stand it anymore. Looking up, I saw them, one big and one small, raising their eyebrows and grinning mischievously. Then, Fu Junyan said softly to An’an: “See, I told you, doesn’t it look like steamed buns, An’an?”
But Gu Xiao’an shook his head, pointing at Fu Junyan’s feet that were wrapped up almost to the sky and said: “Hehe! Brother-in-law, it’s bao zi! Bao zi!”
At that moment I thought, not including the one in my belly, does my family have two little rascals?…
Before Fu Junyan went into the operating room, he just obediently lay on the hospital bed waiting quietly. I just stood stiffly by the side staring at him without saying anything. At that time, his eyes were looking at me deeply, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something but stopped, finally letting out a light sigh, beckoning me to come closer to him. I walked over and sat down beside him, and he reached out from under the blanket, held my hand and squeezed my palm, frowning slightly before saying: “Silly Baobei, why are you sweating in such cold weather? Don’t worry, such a small surgery is like…” He blinked at me, smiling lightly and pointing at Gu Xiao’an who was sleeping lazily on the accompanying bed, his little belly rising and falling, and said: “It’s as simple as An’an rolling over and taking a nap.”
He said it so casually and cheerfully, but it was clearly just comforting me. But at a time like this I couldn’t throw a childish tantrum at him either, so I could only hold his hand and place it on my lower abdomen, imitating a child’s voice and saying coquettishly: “Then daddy needs to be brave, you can cry out if it hurts, and be healthy.”
Fu Junyan heard this and laughed out loud, reaching out to tap my nose gently, his voice full of pampering as he said: “Naughty.” So I stuck out my tongue, and said in a muffled voice again: “Daddy also needs to kiss mommy.” As I said this, I looked at him twisting my fingers shyly. Fu Junyan lowered his eyes slightly, the corners of his mouth curving into a beautiful arc, his eyes gazing at me affectionately, and hearing this he beckoned to me with his finger, full of charm and allure.
Over the past few days, Fu Junyan’s spirits had improved a lot, and the corners of his lips had regained moisture, with a faint pink color. But his face was still so pale and lifeless, like a finely carved jade figure, exquisite and beautiful yet seemingly at too far a distance. I actually knew when he was in pain, when he was uncomfortable. Although he still had an elegant expression when he was in pain, others couldn’t see it no matter how they looked, but I knew…
Fu Junyan loves cleanliness, and his body seems to cooperate well with his mind. When all men are stinky and sweaty in the height of summer, he is still fresh and clean. Even in the hottest weather, the t-shirt on Fu Junyan’s back will never be soaked with sweat, because his sweat all comes out in his hair where others can’t see.
So, he may be patiently teaching An’an to look at the staff and keep time, he may still be holding my hand and listening to me read storybooks with An’an, he may be smiling warmly as he listens to the music. But maybe, at that time he is in pain, he is very uncomfortable. But he won’t say anything, won’t show any expression…
But I know, when I pretend to act coquettishly and nuzzle his hair, I know that he has broken out in so much cold sweat, he must be very uncomfortable. But I can’t say anything, won’t say anything. Because saying more is futile, because I can’t take his pain away…
I finally understood why Daddy said: “Love is a gentle catastrophe.” Because the greatest suffering in the world is watching your loved one in pain, yet you can never share it, never truly empathize…
When Fu Junyan was pushed into the operating room, I left the hospital with my cousin. Daddy also took An’an to accompany Xiao Qi. As soon as the little guy heard he was going to see Xiao Qi, he stuffed the cookies and apples he had been saving into his little backpack, and waved it at Daddy saying: “Is Qiqi good? An’an is very good, An’an didn’t eat it all up, An’an saved yummy food for Qiqi!”
Saying this, the little guy lowered his little head again, his little hand digging in his coat pocket, finally digging out two chocolates. He happily raised his little dimples and smiled, holding them up and looking at Daddy saying: “Daddy, Daddy, this is what An’an saved for Daddy!” As he said this, An’an’s milky little face smiled sweetly and said: “So yummy! An’an’s favorite nai nai chocolate! Daddy eat!” Daddy paused, his eyes full of love as he took them, patted the little guy’s head, put one in his own mouth, and then opened the other to feed it to Gu Xiao’an who was blinking his big eyes looking at him. He bent down and picked up the little guy, kissed his little cheek and said: “Really delicious, An’an is so good.”
I nodded, feeling touched to the point of tears. Then I thought that wasn’t right, and pushed my cousin saying: “You know An’an is lovable, so why do you, such a big person, always bully An’an? Is teasing kids that fun for you?”
But my cousin raised his eyebrows, his eyes flashing mischievously as he answered: “What kind of person is your cousin? Don’t I have far-reaching plans? I’m teaching him from a young age the principle of ‘the joy of fighting with others is endless’! Silly!”
I turned my head away, too lazy to bother with him, thinking, you just keep making things up, you’re such a coward you’d bite back even if a dog bit you…
Speaking of my cousin, he’s been a troublemaker since he was little. In elementary school, he liked to pull pretty girls’ long braids and put caterpillars in girls’ bags. He liked to poke boys in the back when they were peeing, almost making his classmates wet themselves. In sixth grade, he even climbed on the teacher’s face and drew a turtle. In high school, he was even more out of control, writing only three words for his college entrance exam essay: “F*ck your sister!”
Later his dad beat him while hanging him up, but my cousin cried bitterly and said: “What kind of stupid essay topic is that? My sister, my sister! Don’t you know only children don’t have brothers and sisters? Ah! It even said in parentheses you could write about cousins! Write about brotherly love, sisterly affection! How dare I write about my cousin? Dad! You’d beat me even if I just pulled her hair! I’ve been ridden like a donkey by Gu Baobei since I was little! What glorious achievements do I have to write about? Dad, look! You’re hitting me again! Can you stop? I’m her brother, I can’t even call her by her full name? Ah! Dad! Ouch! Can’t I call our family’s little princess by her name and surname?”
I shook my head secretly, glancing at my now proper-looking cousin. All sorts of childhood memories about him were full of misdeeds, incorrigible naughtiness, too numerous to record… Thinking about this, I couldn’t help rubbing my belly, reminding myself to tell Fu Junyan later that keeping the baby and An’an away from cousin’s “poisonous influence” was the right thing to do…
The press conference was held at our family’s Shakira Hotel. By the time we arrived at the venue, reporters had already filled the area around the hotel. Before we even got out of the car, the hotel’s security guards had already formed two rows in front of the main entrance, looking imposingly majestic. When I finally entered the conference hall where the reporters had already gathered, under layers of protection with my cousin, the scene was in an uproar, with camera flashes making me instinctively turn my face away and put my hand in front of my face.
With the bodyguards clearing the way, I finally let out a breath as I sat down in my seat, politely smiling at everyone. Several TV stations were broadcasting this press conference live, and it was packed everywhere. But the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive, because they were no longer smiling at me kindly like before. Some reporters even glared at me and my cousin angrily. I inwardly drew circles and crosses, thinking this must be because they thought I had dumped the young master Fu Junyan…
Some unfriendly gazes still made me unconsciously want to run away, and my palms were also unknowingly clenched tightly under the table. But looking at my cousin who had come to protect me, and thinking of Fu Junyan’s warmth and safety, I had courage again. I told myself that now, Fu Junyan was struggling for his health in the operating room. And I also had to strive to give him a better recovery environment. In my heart I couldn’t help but murmur softly: “Baby, let’s protect daddy together! Come on!”
The first to ask a question was a female reporter. She first flattered me by saying: “Xiao’ai, hello, I’m glad to see you safe and sound here. You should also know that in the past two years, whenever there’s a ranking of ‘Most Beautiful Crying Actresses’, you’re always at the top. And everyone knows that Xiao’ai is very kind and sensitive, and cries easily. So why is it that now, with such a big incident – the deputy director of your film ‘Lost Return’ dying mysteriously in the desert, your fiancé Fu Junyan now in critical condition – why haven’t you shed a single tear, Xiao’ai?”
I knew it, reporters are not little lambs… I smiled lightly, suddenly remembering my previous life. Back then I often pretended, putting on airs of an aloof goddess, putting up a facade. Later when I was entangled in scandalous rumors, I still had to maintain the so-called ‘goddess’ identity, it was so tiring… But in this life, from the moment I met Fu Junyan, from the moment I had An’an, I’ve been very at ease. I never deliberately thought about how I should act as an actress. I also never felt that because people called me a ‘goddess’, I had to put on airs like a ‘goddess’ as I did in my previous life. In my last life I was really too tired, too tired of pretending. So in this life, from the moment I was reborn, I just wanted to live carefree and silly, just live happily without needing to pretend, without pretending. And Fu Junyan also said that being genuine is what truly touches people’s hearts…
I didn’t pay too much attention to the stern expression in this female reporter’s eyes that carried a questioning tone. I just calmly looked back at her, choosing my words carefully as I answered: “Yes, I cry easily, I’ve admitted this on talk shows before. But I’m standing here today, holding this press conference, to tell the truth I want to say. Not to shed tears, not to use pretending to be pitiful to cloud people’s vision.” Saying this, I smiled, then continued: “Tears don’t solve problems. And no one should see my tears, because they don’t need to. I just want to use positivity, smiles and my truthfulness to answer everyone’s questions. And for the people who love me, especially those younger children, if they see me only being sad and crying when facing problems, that’s not good guidance.”
The female reporter seemed not to have expected me to say this. She was speechless for a long time. She moved her lips with difficulty before looking at me with an almost complex expression, then turned to look at my cousin sitting beside me, and sat down with an extremely tangled expression.
“Then Xiao’ai, you’re holding a press conference today and appearing with the Mo Group President. Are you announcing your relationship? Are you really pregnant? Do you know how many red beauties the Mo President has? Have you thought about what to do with Fu Junyan? I see you’re still wearing the engagement diamond ring the young master gave you on your left ring finger, right? So Xiao’ai, can you give a reasonable explanation?” A tall and thin male reporter stood up and asked, firing a series of questions like a string of firecrackers.
I nodded, listening with mixed feelings as I turned to look at my cousin. Numerous red beauties? Hmm… My cousin did indeed appear very romantic and unrestrained in front of others, the dashing president of Mo Group, both wealthy and handsome. It’s not unreasonable for female celebrities in the circle to be fascinated by him. However, my cousin is really a picky one. It’s too difficult to become his red beauty. Just being prettier than him is already a difficult task…
I smiled, somewhat helplessly, turning to face the microphone and said: “I’ll answer the question about the ring first.” As I said this, I raised my left hand and waved the pigeon egg-sized diamond, saying: “This reporter has good eyesight. I am indeed wearing the engagement ring Fu Junyan gave me.” I smiled lightly, blinking playfully before continuing earnestly: “Standing here today, I also want to talk about Fu Junyan.” As soon as I finished speaking, the reporters below were already stirring, seemingly thinking I was really going to say I was dumping Fu Junyan. The cameramen went crazy taking photos of me and my cousin. I turned my face away from the flashing lights, but still endured without losing my temper. My cousin’s expression wasn’t good either, raising his eyebrows wickedly as he looked at the reporters below, his hand constantly tapping lightly on the table.
Finally, after the host’s placation, the venue quieted down after a while. At this time I continued speaking, saying: “These past few days, fans from the young master’s support group have been constantly inquiring about Fu Junyan’s condition on my Weibo and official website. Taking this opportunity, I also want to share his recent situation with everyone. First of all, this incident was indeed a disaster for us. Fu Junyan also suffered a lot in the desert, and his body is not very good now. He needs surgery and needs to recuperate. But please rest assured, I believe everything will get better.”
Before I finished speaking, a chorus of boos erupted from all around, with several reporters questioning me simultaneously: “Miss Gu, in what capacity are you saying such things?”
“How do you explain meeting intimately with President Mo after the Golden Dragon Awards, entering and leaving a hotel together? How do you explain publicly kissing on set last time, and recently going to the gynecology department with President Mo?”
“Xiao’ai, did you cheat even before you got engaged to Young Master Jun?”
“This morning, your fans attacked Ji Jie’er, smashing up Miss Ji’s car and breaking her forehead with a wine bottle. How do you explain this?”
“What smashing?” I was stumped by the mention of attacking Ji Jie’er… I turned to my cousin for help, but he also shook his head at me in confusion, spreading his hands.
Fortunately, as that reporter kept asking, he started to become indignant, publicly accusing my supposedly almighty Sea Treasures of lying in wait outside Ji Jie’er’s company, forcibly smashing up her car, then grabbing her and beating her up, even breaking the forehead of this pure jade girl with an empty wine bottle.
But, am I sad? No! Am I angry? No! I’m so happy, okay? What could be more satisfying than someone bullying you, and then a group of people coming out to fight back against her in righteous indignation? Of course, Fu Junyan definitely wouldn’t do it so obviously…
Maybe because I was too elated in my heart, I couldn’t suppress it for a moment, and very ingloriously blurted out my inner thoughts into the microphone, saying: “Well done!”
That cheerful tone shocked even myself. The whole venue suddenly fell silent. My cousin’s legs crossed under the table also trembled. He covered his forehead, his brows and eyes twitching as he lightly kicked me under the table.
I was in a dilemma, rubbing my nose, feeling I couldn’t just lose face for Young Master Jun like this. So I cleared my throat, and in one go said: “That’s right, I said well done, thank you to my Sea Treasures for such selfless dedication to me.” After hearing my words, my cousin’s face had already “turned ashen”, basically despairing as he frowned and muttered in a low voice: “What has Fu Junyan spoiled you into? You’re a public figure, this is live broadcast! You little brat! I should be the one saying things like that, why are you saying it…”
I glanced at my cousin, shrugging my shoulders indifferently, sticking out my tongue at him. Under his near frantic expression, I turned my head back with amusement in my heart and continued: “Because as a person, the most direct reaction to being maliciously bullied is to fight back. I, Gu Baobei, am no exception. Even as a public figure, I will be angry, I will be upset, I will want to beat her up. So, well done, that’s the truth. But, reason tells me that beating people up can’t solve problems, it can only create more trouble. So, I also want to say, because you love me, you are angry for me and want to vent for me, I’m very grateful. But to reduce unnecessary trouble and not make us worry about each other, please don’t do it again!”
I smiled, then stood up solemnly, bowed to the TV broadcast cameras, and said very seriously: “First of all, I want to express sincere apologies to Miss Ji Jie’er on behalf of my Sea Treasures. The incident arose because of me, so all the compensation for her damaged car and medical expenses will be borne by me. As for Miss Ji Jie’er’s repeated slander against me, I will resolve it through legal means. That’s all the explanation for this matter.”
Leave a Reply