CHAPTER 106: ILLICIT AFFAIRS

Lin Ning let out a silent whoop of joy. "Oh, this is progress!" he thought. In the past, the mere mention of Han Bi’s name would consume all of Ye Feimo’s attention, but now he hadn’t even registered it.

He even turned back to ask what had been said.

How rare! Ye Er, Ye Er, you’re finally getting the hang of it.

"I said, Han Bi and Linda are also at the Princess Qinglian set," Lin Ning said, his mood instantly brightened, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

Ye Feimo’s brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing coldly. Han Bi, what was she doing on set?

As if sensing Ye Feimo’s confusion, Cai Xiaojing explained, "She came to the film city to visit a set today, and it happened to be Director Zhang’s. She had also acted in Director Zhang’s films before and has connections with Teacher Cheng and Teacher Peng, or so she said. You know, Wen Nuan is on set and is also called ’Little Han Bi.’ She was curious, perhaps she came to see her acting. How she truly feels, Mr. Ye understands better; it’s not for us to speculate."

Cai Xiaojing’s words were very skillful. She didn’t directly point out Han Bi’s flaws. Instead, her subtle implication made Ye Feimo more aware, letting him know that Han Bi already had reservations about Wen Nuan.

Cai Xiaojing couldn’t quite gauge whether Ye Feimo had truly moved on from Han Bi, so she couldn’t risk directly criticizing Han Bi, much less relaying the harsh words Han Bi had spoken about Wen Nuan.

If he still harbored feelings for Han Bi, such words might make him think she was biased towards Wen Nuan. After all, she was Wen Nuan’s manager, and Cai Xiaojing understood better than anyone what was best for Wen Nuan.

Lin Ning nodded approvingly. This move was brilliant.

Ye Feimo’s brow remained furrowed. "Is Wen Nuan’s injury related to her?"

Lin Ning and Wen Nuan exchanged bewildered glances. Lin Ning chuckled. "How did you get that idea? I’m impressed. Wen Nuan’s injury during wirework was an accident. She was chatting with Teacher Cheng and Teacher Peng on the side. How could she possibly have the magical power to cause Wen Nuan’s injury? Besides, I was also there. Han Bi knows what my relationship with you is; she wouldn’t dare say anything nasty in front of me. You’re overthinking it. Wen Nuan’s injury this time was purely accidental. Aren’t injuries during wirework common? Just be more careful next time. If you’re really worried, let her use a stunt double for dangerous scenes in the future. However, I must state that in my films, unless your performance is poor and doesn’t meet my requirements, I will use a stunt double. Otherwise, for general action scenes, actors should do it themselves."

Ye Feimo shot him a glance and coldly snorted.

News of Wen Nuan’s injury almost immediately hit the television stations.

Ever since the news of her filming the Anning Jewelry advertisement broke, Wen Nuan’s value had skyrocketed, and her reputation had grown considerably. While she might not be a household name yet, she certainly had established a certain level of fame.

Moreover, she was Anning International’s most highly promoted newcomer, and that alone was enough to attract attention.

Most importantly, the person who made the news with her was Lin Ning, the internationally acclaimed director.

Lin Ning’s explosive temper in the entertainment industry meant that if he didn’t have some genuine talent, he would definitely be ruined by entertainment reporters. In this industry, the media is a crucial tool for disseminating information. How would the public be familiar with celebrities’ lifestyles, or truly understand what kind of people celebrities and famous figures are, without news, magazines, and various entertainment newspapers to learn about their favorite, or hated, stars?

One could say that the news media had a guiding influence on the public.

Our Director Lin, with his fiery temper, cursed people as swiftly as cutting vegetables, and assaulting entertainment reporters was not a rare occurrence, nor was walking away in a huff.

If this fiery temper belonged to anyone else, they would surely be written about to death by entertainment reporters, criticized in every possible way. But this person was Lin Ning. While his temper might be bad, he had strong backing and talent, with every work he produced becoming a hit.

"Green Light Daily," the largest, most gossipy, and most unscrupulous entertainment newspaper in the country, specializing in digging up celebrity privacy, couldn’t even blacken Lin Ning too much.

His news value was also immense, so it was perfectly normal for him and Wen Nuan to appear on television together. Tomorrow, they would certainly be on the entertainment headlines together.

Wen Nuan injured, Director Lin’s fury erupts for a beauty.

The hosts ambiguously guided the public’s perception, and combined with Lin Ning’s powerful kick and forceful shout, his concern didn’t seem like an act.

Thus, the paparazzi sniffed out blatant illicit affair.

The television stations reported the two together, incidentally digging up news of Wen Nuan acting as a stunt double in Lin Ning’s New Year’s film, and unearthing a series of "illicit affairs" like Wen Nuan joining Anning International because of Director Lin’s recommendation.

Reporters from "Green Light Daily" even said that Director Lin deigned to visit the set just to see his little girlfriend.

Director Lin and Wen Nuan instantly became a well-matched pair in the public eye.

GK Media was the most comical. After the host ambiguously reported the news, they playfully asked Director Lin, "Director Lin, are you sure you’re not an old cow eating tender grass?"

This phrase became a running joke within Lin Ning’s circle.

Everyone’s reactions while watching the news on television varied. Han Bi and Linda were naturally overjoyed. This outcome was something they hadn’t anticipated. Those reporters were originally there to get their news.

Unexpectedly, she didn’t make the headlines. The news of Han Bi visiting the "Princess Qinglian" set was overshadowed by Lin Ning and Wen Nuan. She wasn’t angry either. Lin Ning and Wen Nuan having a rumored romance was perfect, as Wen Nuan would soon star in "Beauty Unparalleled," replacing Bai Xiowen as the lead.

In the industry, discerning individuals would clearly sense a romantic involvement between Lin Ning and Wen Nuan. They had been in the business for a long time and were astute. If Wen Nuan hadn’t been exploited by Director Lin, how else could she have landed a role in "Beauty Unparalleled"?

With such intense competition in the industry, Wen Nuan’s opportunities were already enviable. Now, she would be undermined wherever she went.

This perfectly aligned with Han Bi’s intentions.

"No one knows you were behind her injury, right?" Han Bi asked Linda. This information couldn’t be leaked, otherwise Feimo would look down on her.

Linda smiled. "Don’t worry, it’s fine. The martial arts instructor misadjusting the angle will just be seen as an accident. Who would suspect the martial arts instructor deliberately harmed her? There’s no animosity between them."

Han Bi pursed her lips and smiled. That was true. Injuries during filming would only be considered accidents; no one would suspect deliberate harm.

This matter would also remain a secret.

"Keep it quiet."

"I understand!"

Ye Feimo saw the news and was furious. Lin Ning had openly carried Wen Nuan to the hospital, and he had guessed that there would be a scandal headlining tomorrow. He didn’t expect that after just a short while at the hospital, the media department would already be calling to ask for instructions on Wen Nuan’s news. He gnashed his teeth, glaring at Lin Ning as if he wanted to tear him to pieces. Lin Ning, however, smiled innocently and impishly, without an ounce of guilt.

Cai Xiaojing thought to herself, ’I definitely smell the scent of old vinegar.’ Today, the rumors about Ye Feimo and Han Bi were flying everywhere. From her perspective as a professional authority, that scandal was likely to be on the headlines for four consecutive days.

Who knew that today Wen Nuan and Lin Ning would also appear on television, not to be outdone? It was conceivable that tomorrow’s news headline would surely be the scandal between Lin Ning and Wen Nuan. Moreover, Director Lin’s news value was no less than that of Han Bi and Ye Feimo. Add to that Wen Nuan, a newcomer who appeared out of nowhere with luck as good as stumbling upon a diamond, and it was a juicy, valuable scandal that would surely make the newspapers.

She silently thought, ’Wen Nuan, are you actually competing against Ye Feimo, aren’t you?’

She had a premonition that tomorrow’s gossip newspapers would be very lively.

Today, Ye Feimo’s glare at Lin Ning was murderous, yet Lin Ning still earnestly praised, "This girl Wen Nuan is really good. She’s beautiful and has excellent acting skills. You know I like women with acting talent the most. She’s just too perfect. I want to pursue her! Ye Er, don’t say your brother isn’t loyal. If you don’t want her anymore, give me a clear signal. It’s been a long time since I’ve had fresh young talent."

After saying that, he even sighed with a sense of nostalgia.

Cai Xiaojing wondered if Ye Feimo really wanted to grab Lin Ning and throw him from the high rise of the hospital. His expression could no longer be described as unpleasant; it was simply chillingly grim.

Cheng Anya, watching the news, was extremely displeased. Her chosen daughter-in-law was rumored to be involved with that rogue Lin Ning; it was truly a shock.

GK TV’s phrase "old cow eating tender grass" resonated deeply with her. Lin Ning and Wen Nuan had an age gap of over a decade, so of course it was an old cow eating tender grass.

"The news that should be spread isn’t, and the news that shouldn’t be spread is. It’s truly annoying," Cheng Anya decisively changed the channel. She flipped through several channels, all broadcasting this news. When she switched to MBS TV, Cheng Anya stopped.

Why wasn’t her own TV station broadcasting it?

Anning International was formerly MBS International, later renamed Anning International.

The TV station, however, did not change its name and remained MBS TV. However, over the years, people had grown accustomed to calling it Anning TV. Anyway, everyone knew it was MBS TV; it had two names.

With such a big scandal, it was too weak for their own station not to broadcast it, especially for ratings. Yet, at this time, they were only broadcasting the news of Wen Nuan’s injury.

Someone must have given instructions.

Xu Nuo said, "Feimo was too late to be the hero saving the beauty."

Last time in Casablanca, he was also a step late, and this time again. Why was his timing always so off?

"Hero saving the beauty, that storyline is so cliché," Ye Kelan said. "It’s too unoriginal. Future second aunt is so badly injured, will she become a dummy?"

"Can’t you say something more auspicious?"

"I’m just making a reasonable deduction," Ye Kelan said with a cute smile. Suddenly, her large, rolling eyes shifted, full of cunning. "Grandma, how about this? What if we arrange a hero-saving-the-beauty opportunity for Second Uncle? Wouldn’t that be really great?"