In the flickering, amber light of a hotel room, a man lay sprawled across the bed. His head was tilted back at an agonizingly sharp angle, his face obscured by shadow, leaving only his prominent Adam’s apple and his handsome, angular jawline visible. He appeared to be a man completely undone by desire, a captive of his own lust.
Chen Xueran sat beside him in a silk nightgown that left little to the imagination. The image was grainy—a deliberate Mosaike (Mosaic—Chinese internet slang for blurring or censoring sensitive parts of a photo to suggest something more explicit than what is actually shown). On the bedside cabinet lay a discarded, expensive shirt and a string of Chenxiang (Agarwood) prayer beads. The beads were just out of focus, a tantalizing hint of the man’s identity that stopped just short of total confirmation.
The scandal broke like a thunderclap on the very day of the premiere of Bo Wang’s new drama.
“They came prepared,” Lu Zhiling murmured, her voice steady.
Gu Na, the director, looked at the push notification on her phone, her face turning a sickly, cold shade of white. She stood up to leave, her movements jerky with fury.
Lu Zhiling grabbed her wrist. “Director Gu, what are you doing?”
“What am I doing?” Gu Na snapped, her voice rising in agitation. “Xiao Qi, have you lost your mind? Are you going to swallow this insult? For what? Just to keep your title as the Shao Nainai (Young Mistress—the formal title for the wife of the eldest son in a wealthy family)? Don’t forget who you are—the pampered youngest daughter of the Lu family. This isn’t just a grievance against you; it’s an insult to your brothers and your ancestors!”
A pang of sharp, jagged bitterness welled up in Lu Zhiling’s chest. She forced it down, her expression remaining as calm as a frozen lake.
“Director Gu, I am not swallowing anything. Think. Tonight is the premiere of The Rich and Powerful. This news isn’t just a scandal; it’s a strategic strike. This is just the first ‘bomb.’ There are more waiting in the shadows. If I turn on Bo Wang now, I’m stepping right onto their landmine.”
Gu Na’s breathing slowed as the logic took hold. “You mean… the photos are fake? Fabricated?”
Lu Zhiling didn’t know. Bo Wang had once told her he intended to “keep” Chen Xueran. The photos could be real, taken in a moment of weakness or betrayal. But today, the truth was a luxury she couldn’t afford.
“They are fake,” Lu Zhiling said, her smile practiced and flawless. Even if they were real, she would make them fake. She would not let anyone destroy the ladder Bo Wang was climbing.
Gu Na looked at the screen again. “You’re right… there isn’t a single clear, front-facing shot of Mr. Bo. It’s all suggestion.”
“Go back to the crew,” Lu Zhiling commanded softly. “Stick to the plan. I’ll handle the cleanup.”
As Lu Zhiling walked through the SG Entertainment office, the air was thick with whispers. The employees looked at her with a mixture of pity and smugness—a Qi Fu (Abandoned Wife).
She dialed Bo Wang. No answer.
Six hours before the premiere, the crisis escalated. A rival company, Chengyu, suddenly aired a drama titled Scandal. Its plot? A powerful CEO’s sordid affair with his secretary and a beautiful actress. It was a mirror of the day’s headlines. The internet exploded.
【Holy crap! Is Chengyu satirizing the Young Master of the Bo family in real-time?】
【Look at the stamina on this CEO! Playing with the secretary in the office by day and Chen Xueran by night!】
【My cousin works at SG—she says the secretary actually forced Chen Xueran to have a Liuchan (Miscarriage)!】
【I heard the secretary has a Shengzi (Illegitimate son)! Her husband is a Lvmaozi (Green Hat—a cuckold) raising Bo Wang’s brat!】
Lu Zhiling stood in the PR department, watching the screens. The managers were in a state of collapse. “Secretary Lu, lawyer’s letters aren’t working! The ‘Scandal’ drama’s ratings are already higher than our premiere projections!”
“If President Bo has to handle everything himself, why does this company pay your salaries?” Lu Zhiling’s voice was like a whip.
Suddenly, Butler Wen Da appeared. The rotund man looked uncharacteristically grave. He pulled Lu Zhiling aside to a quiet garden.
“Young Madam, I have two pieces of news. The Master—Bo Wang’s father—has seen everything. He is livid. He says if the Young Master can’t turn this around and achieve both fame and fortune tonight, there will be no more chances for him in the conglomerate.”
Lu Zhiling took a slow breath. “And the good news?”
“The Old Lady—the matriarch—asked me to tell you: do not believe the photos. She’s watched the Young Master for five years; he lives like a Jin-Yu-Xi (A monk-like, celibate existence). She jokingly suspected he lost his ‘ability’ during the brawls in his youth.”
Lu Zhiling smiled helplessly. “Tell Grandma I haven’t given up. I will secure Bo Wang’s foothold.”
In a high-level conference room, several SG executives—remnants of the old guard loyal to the rival Madam Yu—were celebrating with expensive red wine.
“Bo Wang is a fool,” Manager Fang sneered, his greasy hand resting on Chen Xueran’s shoulder. “He thought he could rule the entertainment world coming from a casino. Once he falls tonight, Madam Yu returns.” He leaned down, forcing a mouthful of wine into Chen Xueran’s mouth. “Act wronged during the interview tonight, Xueran. Hint that Bo Wang has… violent tendencies.”
BAM!
The door was kicked open. Lu Zhiling stood there, her light gauze dress fluttering, her ethereal beauty a sharp contrast to the smoke and grease of the room.
“What are you executives celebrating?” she asked, her voice dangerously sweet.
The men scrambled to compose themselves. “Secretary Lu! We were just… discussing the damage to the company!”
Lu Zhiling ignored them. “Ms. Chen, a word.”
Manager Fang stepped in front of the actress. “She’s in a meeting with us. You’re just a mistress—don’t be arrogant.”
Lu Zhiling didn’t flinch. She stepped back, and Li Minghuai charged in with his security team. The executives were unceremoniously kicked aside. The door slammed shut, and Chen Xueran was dragged into the adjacent lounge.
Chen Xueran sat on the sofa, pale and trembling, yet she still tried to mimic Lu Zhiling’s poise. She failed. Lu Zhiling’s elegance was Guzi li de (In the bones); it couldn’t be faked.
“I have a favor to ask,” Lu Zhiling said, sitting opposite her. “The premiere starts in three hours. You will go on stage and clarify. You will tell the public you have no relationship with Bo Wang and that you were spreading rumors for a third party.”
Chen Xueran gave a hollow laugh. “I’m a victim, Secretary Lu. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Was it family?” Lu Zhiling pressed. “Mr. Bo can protect them. Was it money?”
Chen Xueran’s eyes flickered. It was money.
Lu Zhiling’s expression turned cold and indifferent. She leaned forward, her voice a sharp,whisper of authority. “I will not offer you a higher price. I will offer you your life. Because if this drama fails, Bo Wang won’t just fire you—he will erase you. And you know he has the ‘strength’ for it.”