Chapter 72: A Sudden Wave of Grievance

"I want to hear you speak."

Chu Muyun’s words brought a sudden heat to Bai Chenxi’s eyes. The entire day, everyone had looked at her through their own lenses—no one cared to ask what she thought. Perhaps they didn’t care at all; all they wanted was gossip to pass around after meals. Truth or falsehood meant little to them. Even if someday the rumors were proven wrong, they would just shrug and say, "Oh!"

Bai Chenxi took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "I met a lot of people on set today. Maybe because of the previous scandal, they were all quite considerate towards me."

"And our director—at first, he probably thought I got the role through connections. He was so cold to me, barely concealing his disdain."

Bai Chenxi tried to make her voice sound light and easy. "You should have seen the director when he first saw me—his face was so dark he could have played Judge Bao on the spot."

She even managed a laugh, as if it truly was an amusing event.

"But it didn’t take long before Director Li was won over by my stellar acting. He even spoke up for me on Weibo today. Wasn’t I impressive?"

"Very impressive," Chu Muyun replied, though his face was devoid of any smile. This little fool—her colleagues isolated her, the director doubted her—how could she possibly be so nonchalant?

Chu Muyun didn’t press further, and Bai Chenxi changed the subject.

"By the way, is Meng Ling from your company?"

"Yes," Chu Muyun answered, uncertain why she asked. Had she learned something from Meng Ling? Would she blame him? After all, it was because of him that trouble seemed to follow her.

Bai Chenxi’s tone turned gossipy. "So, does Meng Ling like Jiang Jize?"

Chu Muyun felt a small relief and asked calmly, "Why do you say that?"

Bai Chenxi seemed to forget the day’s unpleasantness, her voice animated. "She targeted me as soon as she arrived today, going on about 'stealing men' and such. Haven’t I been in the news with Jiang Jize recently?"

"She’s so hostile to me—it must mean she likes Jiang Jize, right?" Bai Chenxi sounded quite pleased with her own deduction.

After a moment, she couldn’t help complaining, "Honestly, being the object of her affection is really unlucky. Such a terrible temper—tsk, tsk!"

In front of Chu Muyun, Bai Chenxi hid nothing. "I just looked her up—her voice is so gentle in front of her fans, but in front of me, she looks like she’s ready to devour me."

Her tone made Chu Muyun laugh. He teased deliberately, "So you’re only fierce at home—throwing tantrums with me but meek with others."

Bai Chenxi immediately retorted, "Who says I’m meek? I wasn’t polite to her at all today!"

Chu Muyun nodded. "Mm, and then you made the trending topics: #BaiChenxiBeingADiva#."

Embarrassed, Bai Chenxi muttered, "I just wasn’t prepared, that’s all."

Chu Muyun sighed, "Be more careful. If Meng Ling gives you trouble again, don’t be polite to her."

"Of course. I wasn’t polite to her to begin with. Someone like her, I can handle myself," Bai Chenxi’s voice grew softer and softer.

How could Chu Muyun not know her? She talked big but shrank away when things got tough.

"Bai Chenxi, you still have me."

His expression was solemn, as if making an oath.

"No matter what happens, remember you have me."

At his words, Bai Chenxi’s long-held tears broke free. Hearing her sobs through the phone, Chu Muyun felt both relieved and anxious—he wasn’t there, unable to even offer comfort.

Her crying came in hiccupping bursts, and she choked out, "Why are you like this? You just have to push me until I cry before you’re satisfied."

Chu Muyun’s voice was gentle. "Now that you’ve cried, do you feel a little better?"

Bai Chenxi grabbed a tissue and wiped her tears. "You did this on purpose, didn’t you?"

"Crying is a woman’s privilege. Isn’t it said that after a good cry, a woman always feels better?"

At this, Bai Chenxi paused mid-wipe: Come on, no one wants to cry alone—how miserable.

She managed a faint smile. "Much better. Where did you hear that?"

"Xiao Wen," Chu Muyun said without hesitation, throwing his assistant under the bus.

Bai Chenxi remembered the pickles left in the charity box last time. Are there fans out there who sabotage their idols like this?

"Heh. He really knows what he’s talking about!"

Hearing this, Chu Muyun thought, Well, Xiao Wen is finally being useful—he deserves a raise.

Now that everything was out in the open, Bai Chenxi didn’t hold back. She began to vent to Chu Muyun about the film crew, letting out all the frustration she’d bottled up that day.

Hearing her breathing on the other end of the line, Chu Muyun smiled slightly and set his phone down beside his pillow.

[Short Scene]

Chu Muyun glanced at Xiao Wen, who was getting ready to leave work.

"What do you think is the best way to comfort someone?"

Xiao Wen looked around—no one else was there. Seeing Chu Muyun staring out the window, he instantly understood. It must be about the goddess again; the boss wanted advice but was too embarrassed to ask directly.

Xiao Wen snickered. "That depends on whether it’s a man or a woman."

Chu Muyun said nothing, just waited for him to continue.

"If it’s a man, just take him out for a drink—nothing complicated…"

But as Xiao Wen was about to launch into a long speech, Chu Muyun cut him off impatiently, "A woman."

Xiao Wen was secretly delighted—so it is about the goddess. Time to give really good advice and maybe help the boss get closer to her.

"With women, it’s trickier. You have to handle them with great care. A goddess—" Sensing Chu Muyun’s gaze, Xiao Wen quickly corrected himself. "A woman. When a woman is upset, what she needs most is…"

He clapped his hands. "A warm embrace, of course. You see, when a woman is sad, let her cry it out. Then you hold her in your arms and comfort her gently. Once she’s cried, she won’t bottle it up and won’t dwell on it anymore."

Chu Muyun listened thoughtfully. Perhaps letting it out really would make her feel better.

Deep in thought, he had already ignored the part about the comforting embrace.