Chapter Seventeen: A Rich Inner World

After thinking it over, Lan Tian decided he should send Chu Muyun a WeChat message to explain the situation himself.

He understood Chu Muyun well enough—though he usually appeared aloof and rarely spoke more than necessary, such people often harbored a wealth of emotion beneath the surface.

He was certain that, at this very moment, Chu Muyun was probably seething with jealousy as he read the news. Even knowing it was false, he wouldn’t be able to look at him the same way.

Besides, they'd just had a quarrel. From the look on Bai Chenxi’s face earlier, there was no way she would take the initiative to clarify things, and as for their senior brother, he was too reserved to ask about it.

Alas, it always fell to him. He was making far too many sacrifices for other people’s love lives.

On Chu Muyun’s end, he stared at the lengthy message Lan Tian had sent, wondering if he’d accidentally forwarded him an entire article.

Seeing Bai Chenxi’s name in the text and recalling today’s news, he assumed this was Lan Tian coming to complain to him about how he’d been trapped by someone and swept up in a scandal.

Well, the kid was still young—maybe suffering a little would teach him a lesson. He’d just comfort him a bit and that would be that. So, with some patience, he began to read the epic message.

What? Could someone please tell him what on earth he was looking at?

“Brother Chu, first you have to believe in my innocence. I solemnly declare that Bai Chenxi and I are nothing like what the news says. We’re innocent, innocent, innocent. She only has you in her heart, you, and only you. (Okay! Important things must be said three times.)

How about that, Brother Chu? Aren’t I considerate? I know you and Bai Chenxi quarreled, and I bet you’d never lower yourself to ask about it, so I came straight to explain. Am I not thoughtful?

But brother, let me give you some advice. We’re men, aren’t we? It’s normal to argue with your girlfriend; just coax her and it’ll be fine. I know you’re too proud, but when it comes to your own girl, you still have to make up with her, or you’ll lose her for good if the cold war drags on.

Trust me, I already tested the waters with Bai Chenxi. She may be angry, but she still cares about you. When I asked if you’d broken up, she immediately bristled and insisted, ‘Impossible.’

Doesn’t that mean she still loves you? She even said so many nice things about you: how handsome you are, how gentle and attentive, how well you treat her. She said she loves you… and so much more. I won’t go into detail—you get the idea. It was enough to make me feel sick with envy.

Brother, see how much Bai Chenxi loves you? You have to learn to coax her! Girls all need to be coaxed. Listen to me—if you really don’t know how, just send her a message: ‘I miss you.’ I guarantee she’ll forgive you for everything. No need to thank me! Go, Pikachu!”

After reading this long-winded message, Chu Muyun was almost laughing out of exasperation. He finally understood—Lan Tian must have misunderstood what happened the other day when they met. As for the compliments attributed to Bai Chenxi, he didn’t believe a word of them. If anything, Lan Tian had probably made them up, trying to be clever.

And as for loving him—was he blind? If Lan Tian knew he thought that, he’d probably say they were really in sync.

Even the most outrageous rumors, if spread often enough, would start to gain believers. To avoid any further misunderstandings, Chu Muyun sent Lan Tian a message: “There’s nothing between us. Don’t talk nonsense.”

The reply came instantly: “Got it, bro, I won’t breathe a word. Just do what I told you—trust me, you can do it!”

Looking at Xiaowen in the distance, then down at his phone, Chu Muyun found himself reflecting for the first time in years: Was he really that hard to understand? Why did everyone seem to think there was something between him and Bai Chenxi? Was everyone’s brain made of mush?

At this point, even looking at Zhang Kai improved his mood, since at least Zhang Kai didn’t think he was involved with Bai Chenxi.

“Hey, this is getting interesting! Look, the netizens are at each other’s throats,” Zhang Kai chuckled, scrolling through his phone and pausing to check on Xiaowen. “Xiaowen, your goddess’s fans are fighting online—aren’t you going to help?”

“It’s all just rumors. Once the truth comes out, they’ll realize how ridiculous they were,” Xiaowen replied, unusually calm this time.

Zhang Kai laughed, taking on the tone of a doting father. “Our Xiaowen has grown up!”

Xiaowen paid no mind to Zhang Kai’s teasing. “What do you know? I’ve made up my mind to protect the boss’s and the goddess’s relationship. Scandalous boyfriends and tabloid news mean nothing to me now. I know the truth, after all.”

Hmph! When the boss and the goddess announce their relationship, he’d love to see the looks on these people’s faces. Not that he’d admit he’d already set up a CP super-topic, even if it was empty for now.

But that was all right. The couple was real—fans would come sooner or later.

“Chu Muyun, I have to say, you and Bai Chenxi really seem to be fated,” Zhang Kai suddenly teased, having seen something on his phone.

Chu Muyun felt his cheeks burn. He looked at Zhang Kai in disbelief: Good grief! Had the world been overtaken by the “Bai Chenxi virus”?

Seeing the dark look on Chu Muyun’s face, Zhang Kai grew even more interested, moving closer to show him the news. “Look at this—it’s outrageous. Just because Bai Chenxi’s outfit that day was similar to that of the mysterious woman you were dining with, they’re saying she was the one eating with you.”

Hearing this, Xiaowen couldn’t help but get excited: Really? Was it really happening, would they finally go public? No, what if the boss and the goddess’s relationship was still fragile and needed protection? What if exposure ruined it? No, no, that wouldn’t do.

Lost in his own thoughts, Xiaowen didn’t notice Zhang Kai continuing, “Remember last time when Bai Chenxi’s like got you both trending? It was clearly about Lin Yue, but you stayed at the top for half a day. And now, because of an outfit, you’re linked again. If that’s not fate, what is?”

Seeing Chu Muyun’s face grow even darker, he thought maybe he was going to be asked to clarify things again, so he tried to persuade him. “Muyun, don’t be so averse to a little publicity. These days, unless you’re exceptionally talented like you, everyone’s fighting for attention—no buzz, no work. It’s not easy for anyone.

Besides, the girl just happened to be wearing similar clothes! We can’t always make a big fuss denying every little rumor. You know how fans are. If the wrong ones start attacking her online, who’s going to stand up for her?”

“I haven’t even said anything yet! And here you are saying all this—do you know her personally?” Zhang Kai was not the type to meddle, and he was always warning others not to judge by appearances. Had Xiaowen’s constant talk finally brainwashed him?

“Actually, I know her agent. She’s my junior from school—she’d never let her artists get involved in fake scandals, especially not with the ones I manage.”

There was something in Zhang Kai’s last sentence that struck Chu Muyun as odd, but he didn’t ask. He knew that even if he did, Zhang Kai wouldn’t give him a straight answer.

Sure enough, Zhang Kai quickly changed the subject, glancing at his phone. “You have to admit, they do look alike. If you hadn’t told me it was your friend, I’d have thought it was Bai Chenxi.”

It was a shame Zhang Kai was so keen to change the subject; otherwise, he might have noticed that both Chu Muyun and Xiaowen looked a little uneasy just then.