Chapter One: "It's Not Like I Want to Flaunt My Relationship"

Reporter: "Miss Dawn, may I ask what your relationship with Lin Yue is?"
Bai Chenxi: "We’re very good friends."
Reporter: "Dawn, since you both won awards this time, will you be celebrating together?"
Bai Chenxi: "Of course. It depends on his schedule. If he has time, we will."

At this moment, Bai Chenxi was curled up on her own sofa, dressed in pajamas, munching on a bag of potato chips while watching yesterday’s interview.

If a fan were to see her now, they would hardly believe this was their elegant goddess.

But none of that concerned Bai Chenxi at the moment. What puzzled her was how such normal answers became, in the reporters’ hands:
Bai Chenxi unfazed by rumors, openly shows affection with Lin Yue.
Bai Chenxi accepts the award on Lin Yue’s behalf—this public display of affection is making us swoon.
Admitting their relationship? Bai Chenxi invites Lin Yue to dinner in public.

She had clearly stated she and Lin Yue were just friends. Did the reporters not hear her, or were they selectively forgetting?

The more she thought about it, the more exasperated she became and so she sent a message to the ‘culprit’: Lin Yue, once you finish filming, you owe me a meal as compensation.

After sending the voice message, Bai Chenxi tossed her phone aside. Lin Yue was filming right now, so she didn’t expect an immediate reply.

Let’s turn back time to the night before, at the Brilliant Night Awards Ceremony.

Bai Chenxi and Lin Yue, both newcomers, were nominated for Best New Actor and Actress, Best Actor and Actress, and the Most Promising Award at the Starlight Arts Festival, all for their roles in the period drama "Rivers and Beauties."

The Starlight Arts Festival holds this award ceremony annually, honoring outstanding works of the year and carrying considerable prestige.

Bai Chenxi came with a mindset of simply participating. As a newcomer, being nominated was already a significant recognition; at most, she thought she might have a shot at the Best Newcomer award.

Sitting beside her, the director seemed to notice her nerves and said softly, "Young people really are getting more and more impressive. The first time I was nominated, I was so nervous I couldn’t move at all."

The director’s joke eased Bai Chenxi’s tension, and she replied with a smile, "So even our Best Actor has nervous moments. I’ll have to dig up that footage and watch it a few more times when I get home."

"You cheeky girl!" The director laughed and shook his head. At that moment, the camera panned over, and he waved at it with a smile, drawing a chorus of fangirl screams.

The director’s name was Wang Yehong, renowned for his superb acting, and he had been happily married for ten years to a famous beauty director, earning wide acclaim both inside and outside the industry.

After winning Best Actor, he gradually transitioned behind the scenes. "Rivers and Beauties" was his directorial debut, sparking heated discussion and attention online, all with a cast of newcomers—a successful transformation. Wang Yehong promptly signed Lin Yue and Bai Chenxi to his studio.

"And now, the winners of Best New Actor and Actress are… let me catch my breath first."

The award presenter, trying to ease the tension in the room, deliberately drew things out. Even Bai Chenxi, anxiously awaiting the results, couldn’t help but laugh.

"Congratulations, Lin Yue. Congratulations, Bai Chenxi."

As applause erupted, Bai Chenxi still couldn’t quite believe it. She had been prepared, but nerves overtook her. It wasn’t until Wang Yehong stood up and hugged her that she realized what had happened.

On stage, she was so nervous she barely knew what to do. She remembered Lin Yue had asked her to accept his award as well, so she ended up carrying both.

"Thank you all for recognizing me. In the future, I will strive to learn from all my seniors. I want to thank Director Wang for believing in me, and thanks to everyone in front of and behind the cameras on 'Rivers and Beauties.' Without you, this show wouldn’t be so wonderful, and I wouldn’t have met all of my 'sunshines.' Thank you—you are my sunshine."

Her fans in the audience were already shouting with excitement. Bai Chenxi held up her trophy, "Thank you to the organizers for this award. I hope to come up here many more times."

She finished in one breath and bowed deeply. At that moment, her mind was a blank, simply reciting what she had prepared—she herself couldn’t recall what she’d said.

She wanted to slip away quickly, but the host called her back.

"Dawn, wait. First, congratulations on your award."

"Thank you!" Bai Chenxi replied politely.

"But," the host continued, "since you accepted Lin Yue’s award, you haven’t given his acceptance speech yet!"

Bai Chenxi tapped her head with the trophy, "Ah! I almost forgot." She hurried to the front, taking the phone handed to her by an assistant.

The stars sitting below were amused by her adorable, clueless demeanor, which livened up the atmosphere.

Bai Chenxi picked up the phone: "Lin Yue sent his acceptance speech to me yesterday and reminded me to read it for him. Thank you, host, otherwise I would have forgotten from nerves and had to apologize later."

Everyone knew she was joking, and laughter erupted from the audience.

"Today, I am honored to receive the Best Newcomer Award. This is mainly thanks to our director and the crew of 'Rivers and Beauties.' Of course, I’ve put in my own effort as well. But this is only the beginning, not the end. I will continue to work hard and bring you even better works. Thank you!"

Lin Yue’s somewhat formulaic speech came off as cheeky in Bai Chenxi’s lively delivery, charming the audience further.

When the Most Promising Award was announced, she was surprised to hear her name together with Lin Yue’s. She had thought it enough not to leave empty-handed—never expecting another pleasant surprise.

This time, Bai Chenxi was much more composed on stage. She knew Best Actress was out of reach for her, but it only motivated her to work harder in the future.

All night, "Rivers and Beauties" was the biggest winner, sweeping multiple awards. And all night, Wang Yehong, their director, couldn’t stop grinning.

Everything had been so natural and beautiful—until she saw the news this morning.

Bai Chenxi scrolled through Weibo—#LinYueBaiChenxi# and #BaiChenxiAcceptsAwardForLinYue# had been trending all day.

Today was a rare day off she’d wrangled from her agent, and she didn’t want these annoyances to ruin her good mood at home. So, she put down her phone and turned to the drama she was following.

"Ah—ah—ah—why does my goddess have a boyfriend? This can’t be real." In the lounge, her assistant Xiao Wen wailed in dismay.

Zhang Kai glanced at the bereft Xiao Wen. "Whose goddess has been taken from you this time?"

Xiao Wen perked up, correcting him, "Brother Kai, it’s not just any goddess. There is only one."

"All right, all right. So, your goddess has been claimed?" Zhang Kai grinned.

Xiao Wen’s face fell, as if he’d touched a sore spot. "My goddess Dawn has been snatched away by that rascal Lin Yue."

"Your goddess is a cabbage?" Suddenly, Chu Muyun, who had been silent, chimed in.

After a brief silence, Zhang Kai burst out in exaggerated laughter.

Xiao Wen cast a plaintive look at Chu Muyun. "Brother Chu, maybe you shouldn’t talk." But Chu Muyun only shot him a glare.

Xiao Wen thought, What should I do? My goddess is with someone else, and I’m stuck with a sharp-tongued boss. Is there hope for my life? Urgent—waiting for replies online.

Zhang Kai patted Chu Muyun on the shoulder. "Muyun! If someone else said that, I’d think it was a joke. But from you, I believe you genuinely don’t know. Your emotional intelligence is truly… touching. Ha ha—"

Zhang Kai laughed mercilessly. Chu Muyun was nonchalant; he was used to his manager’s unpredictable jibes. Care for the socially awkward, after all.

"So, who is it?" For once, Chu Muyun actually asked.

"Bai Chenxi, my goddess. Brother Chu, you can’t imagine how good 'Rivers and Beauties' is—she’s my goddess…" Xiao Wen tried his best to sell her.

After listening for a while, Chu Muyun replied with just six words: "Never heard of her, not interested."

Xiao Wen thought: Well, he’s certainly living up to his reputation as a lifelong bachelor. Whenever other female stars are mentioned, Chu Muyun’s response is usually: ah, hmm, or at most, don’t know.

So, should I be happy he said three more words about my goddess? "Never heard of her, not interested" isn’t much better.

Finally, Zhang Kai had laughed enough and looked at Chu Muyun. "Muyun! As your manager, I’m glad you’re so unattached. But as your friend, I do hope you’ll come down to earth and socialize once in a while."

"The mortal world holds no appeal for me."

Hearing this, Zhang Kai pulled his jacket tighter. "Not interested? Don’t tell me you’re…" Before he could finish, Chu Muyun shot him a look.

Xiao Wen was still brooding when Chu Muyun stood up. "Let’s go. Or are you waiting for me to invite you?"

Xiao Wen jumped up, grumbling inwardly: This heartless boss couldn’t possibly understand the pain of heartbreak. Serves him right to be single forever.