h4Chapter 138: Chapter 124: Bao Ye, I Want a Hug/h4

    When taking back her gaze, Jiang Ruan still couldn’t suppress the tremor in her heart.

    Under the gaze of the man above, a feeling surged in Jiang Ruan’s heart, whether it was courage or pressure.

    At this moment, a staff member standing closest to her approached a bit, speaking to her in a voice only the two could hear.

    "Mr. Bao said, don’t be afraid, he will always be behind you."

    With just a few words, Jiang Ruan abruptly looked up.

    She first looked at the staff member, disbelief in her eyes, the other party nodded firmly at her.

    It was true.

    Bao Ye indeed asked someone to tell her this.

    Jiang Ruan closed her eyes, still unable to meet that gaze again.

    But...

    After a moment, as if reborn from the ashes, her cheeks showed a bright and sweet smile.

    She looked up at Bao Ye, silently forming two words with her lips.

    Thank you.

    Then she raised the microphone, her voice spread throughout the venue: "I want to say, whether I am the past Chen Miao or the present Jiang Ruan, it doesn’t matter."

    "Since everyone is curious about my story and why I changed my name, let me tell you a story."

    Jiang Ruan held a bitter smile at the corner of her lips, but her face was lifted in a smile, as if she was a sunflower always in bloom no matter the time.

    "Once upon a time, there was a little girl, she was born into a very happy and warm family, her parents loved her very much, they treated her like a treasure, and she once thought she was the happiest person in the world, the beloved princess."

    "Until the day a nightmare descended, her parents both died, and she was left all alone, crying and wailing, but no one paid attention to her."

    "Later, she was adopted by someone, that person was her aunt, known to you all as Fang Cui."

    "At first, she thought her aunt would love and care for her like her parents, but she didn’t expect that entering Fang Cui’s house was the beginning of a nightmare..."

    Everyone at the venue listened earnestly to Jiang Ruan’s speech.

    From the initial anticipation to theter heartbreak upon hearing about her being insulted and abused by Fang Cui.

    Jiang Ruan narrated her background, but there was nock of emotion.

    But she forcefully held back the tears from falling.

    She wouldn’t cry anymore.

    In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, Bao Ye watched Jiang Ruan’s thin figure on stage, speaking softly about those words.

    Her shoulders could even be seen trembling lightly.

    His thin lips were tightly pressed.

    A fierce glint even shed in his dark eyes.

    He always knew her background wasn’t good.

    But he didn’t expect it to be this bad.

    Chen Nan, listening beside him, also sighed sympathetically: "Having such an aunt, Miss Jiang really must have the worst luck."

    Hearing Bao Ye speak: "Chen Nan."

    His voice was cold, merciless.

    Mixed with an impending storm’s chill.

    Chen Nan nodded: "Mr. Bao."

    "Figure out a way to get rid of Fang Cui."

    "I want her to spend the rest of her life in agony, worse than death."

    Upon hearing this, Chen Nan felt a shiver in his heart.

    He also knew that Bao Ye was genuinely angry this time.

    Previously, Bao Ye wanted to deal with Fang Cui directly, but Miss Jiang had stopped him.

    This time, no one could stop him.

    Chen Nan: "Understood."

    Then he turned around to make a phone call to handle it.

    Below, after Jiang Ruan finished her speech, the die-hard fans were all heartbroken.

    They shouted loudly: "Jiang Ruan, we will always love you, no matter who you are, you are the person we love most!"

    "Jiang Ruan, we love you!"

    The supporting voices echoed in Jiang Ruan’s ears, deafening.

    The scene was instantly filled with excitement.

    All were voices supporting and encouraging Jiang Ruan.

    Jiang Ruan could no longer hold back, moved to tears: "Thank you, thank you all."

    "Because of you, there is Jiang Ruan today."

    Jiang Ruan bowed her head in gratitude.

    The fans were utterly thrilled.

    The voices that were just challenging were buried in the shouts of the die-hard fans.

    Seeing this scene, Sister Qin couldn’t help but take a light sigh.

    This oue was even better than imagined.

    Major news reporters also scrambled to record videos.

    Uploading them to major websites.

    In this instance, Jiang Ruan achieved aplete victory.

    From a tragic past, indomitable spirit, transforming from the ugly duckling to a swan.

    Enough to touch everyone.

    Although Jiang Ruan changed her name, from the day she stepped into the entertainment industry, she carried the tag of a pure and simple girl.

    Not some wealthy heiress unting her background.

    In the entertainment circle for years, everyone witnessed how she moved from a supporting role to a leading role.

    Just one thing to say.

    Jiang Ruan deserves it.

    Jiang Ruan was in particrly good spirits today, interacting with the fans for a long time before ending the press conference.

    Afterwards, returning backstage, Jiang Ruan immediately removed her makeup.

    Before removing makeup, she said to the mirror with a smile: "Luckily it was light makeup today, otherwise, with all this crying, I would have turned into a roon."

    "If this got out, it would totally ruin my image."

    Sister Qin sat on the sofa, teasing as she listened to these words: "Even if you were a roon, you’d be the most pitiful and heart-wrenching roon in your fans’ eyes."

    Sister Qin said: "Darling, I guess you’ll be trending for the next few days."

    "Originally, a few brands were calling over the past two days to terminate contracts with you, but the live broadcast just garnered over three million views, not to mention other trends, and the brand side just contacted us saying they want to continue working with you."

    Sister Qin scoffed: "These people really are fence-sitters, going wherever the wind blows."

    Jiang Ruan, washing her face with cleanser, said indifferently: "That’s just how the entertainment industry is, I’m used to it."

    After washing her face, Jiang Ruan’s cheeks looked just like peeled eggs, fair and tender.

    Sister Qin couldn’t resist pinching her face, "You know, it’s just too unfair; some people look better without makeup than with it."

    Jiang Ruan chuckled, "Alright, stop teasing me."

    Jiang Ruan stretchedzily, "Busy all day, I’m exhausted and starving."

    Sister Qin raised her eyebrows, "Let’s go, we’re having a party tonight, my treat."

    "Consider it a celebration of your rebirth. From now on, Jiang Ruan is Jiang Ruan; Chen Miao is history."

    "No one can use that name to threaten you anymore."

    Jiang Ruan was indeed moved.

    Nearby assistants got excited hearing about the party.

    They kept urging Jiang Ruan.

    "Sister Jiang Ruan, let’s go!"

    "We want to go to the party too."

    "We’ve been so busytely, consider it a bit of rxation!"

    Everyone was encouraging her.

    Sister Qinughed, "Look, everyone wants to go. You wouldn’t deny them this, would you?"

    Her words were clearly intended to persuade.

    Jiang Ruan, amused and helpless, could only agree, "Alright."

    "Then let’s have a party tonight."

    "But let’s not make you pay this time. Tonight at SM bar, the usual ce, the entire tab is on me."

    With that, thepany folks cheered excitedly.

    Someone whistled and shouted, "Sister Jiang Ruan is generous!"

    After agreeing, Jiang Ruan made an excuse to sneak off to the restroom.

    She had already texted Bao Ye earlier.

    Asking him to wait for her.

    She wanted to find him.

    But Bao Ye hadn’t replied.

    Jiang Ruan felt unsure, inside she hadn’t dared to check her phone, afraid of being discovered.

    Now outside, she opened her phone and saw the message he sent.

    [Okay.]

    [Third room on the left of the second floor, 203.]

    He even sent the room number.

    It’s a hotel.

    The conference was on the first floor.

    The second floor and above were hotel-style amodations.

    Plus some studios and such.

    Jiang Ruan wore a mask, let her hair down, even changed clothes earlier, afraid of being recognized.

    She entered the elevator, which filled with people, silently pressed the button for the second floor, turning her back to everyone.

    Voices of discussion came from behind.

    "I didn’t expect Jiang Ruan to actually be Chen Miao. It doesn’t matter, really, everyone has a past. It’s just unexpected how tragic her background is."

    "Yeah, yeah, it makes me feel sad for her."

    "Her aunt is a terrible person, abusing children, why hasn’t she been caught?"

    "I’m furious too; such people should be jailed, never toe out again."

    "Exactly, having a rtive like that is bad luck. Eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, she abused young Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan was only seventy pounds in high school; imagine how terrible it was."

    "My goddess, it really breaks my heart."

    A discordant voice arose.

    "But have you considered, maybe Jiang Ruan is intentionally ying pitiful? After all, the entertainment circle is full of half-truths, maybe it’s all an act."

    At this point, Jiang Ruan stopped listening, as she reached the second floor.

    Stepping out of the elevator, she deliberately kept her head down, covering her face, afraid someone might recognize her.

    Thinking of the discussions she had overheard, Jiang Ruan felt somewhat affected.

    But she didn’t let it bother her.

    After all, words can be intimidating.

    Everyone has their own opinion.

    She could only express what she wanted to, convey all she had experienced.

    As for whether they believed her, that was their business.

    She’s not RMB, can’t make everyone like her.

    At this moment, what Jiang Ruan anticipated most was.

    Bao Ye.

    She really hadn’t expected him to attend her press conference.

    His arrival was so sudden, she wasn’t prepared at all.

    Standing on stage earlier and spotting him made her heart skip a beat.

    That sensation, Jiang Ruan still remembers.

    Standing outside room 203, Jiang Ruan took a breath, raised her hand, and knocked on the door, "Knock, knock, knock."

    Within a minute, the door opened from within.

    Bao Ye appeared in her view.

    He saw her with loose hair, wearing a dress, slippers, a mask, showing only her bright eyes.

    If he weren’t familiar with her, wouldn’t recognize her as Jiang Ruan.

    "Bao Ye," Jiang Ruan blinked and said, "You didn’t leave."

    "Aren’t you busy today, how do you have time toe to my press conference?"

    Bao Ye’s lips slightly pursed, saying, "Hmm."

    "Come in, Superstar Jiang."

    Thest four words were more teasing.

    He inserted one hand in his pocket, looking cool.

    Shifted aside, leaving room for her to enter.

    Jiang Ruan replied, "Okay."

    And once inside, the door shutting sound came from behind, Bao Ye turned only to see Jiang Ruan remove her mask, revealing a pure, fair face. She opened her arms towards him, yfully and with grievance, "Bao Ye, I want a hug."