Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 73

Amusing Ourselves to Death Arc

Agent 10

At the beginning, Xin Lan didn’t even realize what was happening. While pondering over it, suddenly Zero Nine’s voice echoed in her mind.

And then, she had an epiphany.

This kind of implication was truly too subtle, yet upon closer consideration, it seemed to make sense.

So, here comes the question…

Xin Lan: How did you know?

Her cub is actually so dirty?

Zero Nine: cough cough, we otakus understand a lot!

Following the first host, Zero Nine had mastered a lot of seductive knowledge. For that kind of implication, she was already so familiar that she reflexively responds when she sees it.

On the other side, Shen Yun was afraid she wouldn’t explain it clearly, so she quickly sent over a few messages.

【Shen Yun】: You can control however you want, as you wish.

【Shen Yun】: I’m willing to do it.

What a terrible conversation.

Xin Lan found it somewhat amusing. What did Shen Yun think of her or rather, what did she think of the original host?

Using her own body to retain a benefactor, is this any different from an unwritten rule?

Perhaps in Shen Yun’s eyes, the love between her and the original host was just this kind of transaction.

The poor original host was led astray and even thought that there was a great love between them.

To some extent, Shen Yun actually understood the original host. Otherwise, in the original plot, even if there was cheating and straying, she wouldn’t have been able to win the person back, making them turn around like a fool.

In reality, the people who engage in these actions might not necessarily be very clever, and those who are manipulated might not necessarily be very foolish; it can only be said that love blinds people.

In truth, what Shen Yun said was quite elegant and clever.

If one didn’t know the relationship between them, if one didn’t know the context, then these words could easily be seen as Shen Yun groveling to her.

【Xin Lan】: [Smile.jpg]

The WeChat smiley carries a strong sense of mockery, silently indicating Xin Lan’s attitude.

【Shen Yun】: Don’t change the subject for now. Are you really going to sign Qin Yuyan?

【Xin Lan】: Yes.

【Shen Yun】: But between her and me…?

【Shen Yun】: Why? Can’t I satisfy you?

【Shen Yun】: You’re not allowed to sign her!

Shen Yun was gnawing at her fingertip with unease. She had learned this news from others’ discussions.

Now, in her mind, there still seemed to echo that grating laughter, the person’s face. She couldn’t quite remember them, but their words seemed imprinted in her mind.

“Shen Yun, heard your manager is going to sign Qin Yuyan, huh? Why do you look so surprised? Seems like you didn’t know yet? Oh well, look at me, being foolish. You must be in the dark.”

“Do you even know who she is? She’s the daughter of Qin Tianwang and Liu Yinghou, a child star who debuted early. She’s quite beautiful too. I wonder whose acting skills between you two are better. By the way, if your manager actually signs her, you better feel some crisis, you might get squeezed out anytime.”

Whether it was open mockery or whispers in secret, they were conveying a fact to her: Shen Yun, you’re falling out of favor.

For a celebrity to lack resources, that is a truly dreadful thing. The concept of “heat,” if not consistently maintained, will sooner or later fade away.

Shen Yun managed to maintain her facial expressions while dealing with others. After leaving the recording scene of that variety show, she immediately went online to search for all the information about Qin Yuyan.

Staring at Qin Yuyan’s face on the screen, she wished she could bore a hole through her with her gaze.

In the entertainment industry, having excellent acting skills doesn’t necessarily guarantee prominence, nor does it ensure becoming popular. However, having an attractive face can definitely make you popular.

And Qin Yuyan was very good-looking.

Shen Yun was nearly consumed by jealousy. If Qin Yuyan were under Xin Lan’s wing, resources would undoubtedly pour in her direction.

She was still in the rising phase of her career; she absolutely couldn’t remain in obscurity like this.

Shen Yun believed this was Xin Lan’s retaliation against her. Because she had strayed, Xin Lan harbored dissatisfaction, wanting to ignore her and make her fade into oblivion.

Even the implications in that aspect couldn’t change that person’s mind. Xin Lan’s smiling face in response clearly conveyed her mocking attitude.

No, this was absolutely not acceptable. She had to fight for something for herself; continuing like this would be disastrous.

【Xin Lan】: Shen Yun, you should know that I am your manager. You don’t have the right to interfere with my work, let alone dictate what I should do.

【Shen Yun】: Can’t I not sign?

【Shen Yun】: You clearly have limited resources to offer me…

【Xin Lan】: I know what you’re worried about, but rest assured, I’m not the kind of person who mixes personal and professional matters.

After saying this, Xin Lan found it amusing herself. She was exactly the kind of person who mixed personal and professional matters.

To be precise, tormenting Shen Yun was her “public” duty.

Afterward, no matter what Shen Yun said, Xin Lan didn’t reply.

She leaned back in her chair, waiting to see what Shen Yun’s reaction would be.

Given Shen Yun’s personality, she definitely wouldn’t just sit idly by. She wouldn’t truly be soothed into silence.

People like her were best at looking out for themselves. No matter the circumstances, they would always find new paths.

A popup appeared on the phone screen. Xin Lan ignored Shen Yun and opened Qin Yuyan’s message.

Qin Yuyan sent a heart emoji, followed by a cat GIF. Xin Lan responded with a heart emoji.

【Qin Yuyan】: Are you home?

【Xin Lan】: Still on the way, getting there soon.

【Qin Yuyan】: That’s good.

At this point, the conversation fell silent.

Xin Lan held the phone in her hand, looking at the scenes flashing by outside.

The light from the neon signs elongated, as if merging together.

A new message arrived on her phone, from Yuan Xiaoyuan. It was inquiring if she had left the party.

Initially, Yuan Xiaoyuan had intended to introduce Xin Lan to someone, but when she turned around, she saw that Xin Lan was already engaged in conversation, so she didn’t join in to liven up the atmosphere.

Yuan Xiaoyuan’s purpose for coming to the event was to bring Xin Lan in. Seeing that Xin Lan was already engrossed in a conversation with Qin Yuyan, she stopped worrying and at the midpoint of the event, she greeted Xin Lan, sent a message, and left.

Xin Lan expressed her gratitude to her. Without her, she might have needed to go through some trouble to have someone else bring her in.

【Yuan Xiaoyuan】: Sis, no need to be polite. You’re Orange Juice’s sis, which makes you mine too. If there’s another opportunity to help in the future, just let me know.

When Xin Lan read this message, the image of that girl appeared before her again.

She thought for a moment and then sent a reply.

【Xin Lan】: The no-dating policy is a rule of the company, but it’s not only aimed at someone like him who’s in the rising phase. Even those big celebrities who are already established can’t openly reveal their relationships.

【Yuan Xiaoyuan】: Mhm, I understand.

【Xin Lan】: Rules are fixed, but people are dynamic. We don’t know if paparazzi are still tailing us. So, you two shouldn’t meet in the near future. I’ll arrange for him to join the team later. If possible, you can contact each other through phones. Whenever it’s convenient, I’ll arrange a face-to-face meeting for you both.

【Yuan Xiaoyuan】: Thanks, sis! Dating a celebrity is really exhausting, huh? 233333

【Yuan Xiaoyuan】: After this… He won’t be involved in any dating rumors, will he?

【Xin Lan】: I can’t guarantee that, but I’ll do my best to prevent it, okay?

【Yuan Xiaoyuan】: Okay!

The car smoothly stopped in front of a building. An An softly announced they had arrived. Xin Lan picked up her bag and opened the car door.

As Xin Lan used her fingerprint to unlock the door, she heard Zero Nine cursing in her mind.

Xin Lan: Your mischievousness level is off the charts today.

Zero Nine: I’m finding it hard to suppress my inner indignation right now, so I can only use a three-part quality combo to express my anger.

Zero Nine: Shen Yun has posted on Weibo. Host, you might want to take a look.

Xin Lan closed the door, picked up her phone, and opened Weibo.

Shen Yun’s Weibo post was very simple, without even an accompanying image, just a crying emoji.

@ShenYunYunYun: Things have changed, people have changed. [Crying]

Xin Lan let out a derisive snort. This person even knew the phrase “things have changed, people have changed”?

She wondered how thick-skinned someone could be, thicker than the foundation on her face.

Never realizing their own mistakes, they held onto the logic of “I cheated, I apologized, so you must forgive me,” and still had the audacity to sigh about how things have changed, people have changed.

Shen Yun’s fans, critics, and bystanders sparked controversy in the comments due to those four words.

Fans believed that Shen Yun must have experienced something profound or distressing. Critics thought she was being melodramatic, while bystanders speculated it might be related to something trivial like a plastic surgery mishap. Xin Lan glanced at the comments and then exited the page.

Zero Nine: At the same time, I also noticed that she posted something on her third account.

Xin Lan: Third account?

Zero Nine: Yes, it’s a string of numbers as the ID, and the default profile picture is unchanged. That’s where she vents her feelings and curses, especially targeting you. The language she used was particularly harsh. It got me so angry that I immediately left a reply on her main account.

Zero Nine: After posting that Weibo on her third account, she switched back to her first account and started arguing with the critics under the post. I launched an attack on them in retaliation.

Zero Nine: Hmph, shameless.

Zero Nine’s anger stemmed from Shen Yun, this scumbag, using an alternate account to post on Weibo and insult Xin Lan. She was just flirting earlier, and when her implication failed, she turned hostile. Hmph, with her character, her host wouldn’t even be interested in sleeping with her!

Xin Lan clicked on the account login section, trying to switch to Shen Yun’s Weibo account, only to find that she couldn’t log in.

As expected.

Xin Lan: Give me Shen Yun’s Weibo password.

With Zero Nine here, what was there to fear about not being able to log in?

Zero Nine immediately entered a string of passwords, and Xin Lan successfully logged in. Once she was in, she changed the password.

At this moment, Shen Yun was furious to the point of feeling physical discomfort. Her mood had taken a turn for the worse, and there was still a group of people criticizing her in the comments under her Weibo post.

Those losers were so annoying, always finding reasons to criticize her.

In normal circumstances, maintaining one’s image was crucial. Creating an alternate account allowed one to do as they pleased in the online world, venting all the frustration pent up inside.

However, for some reason, whenever she left comments recently, there was always one user ID targeting her, consistently mocking her.

@09OtakuIsUnstoppable: Replying to @ShenYunIsAGoddess, you say all you simps, what good will come from groveling to the end? It’s fine to grovel for Shen Yun, given she’s a beautiful manager. But why grovel for Shen Yun herself?

Upon seeing the latest reply, Shen Yun pressed her temple. This person was clearly deranged!

Shen Yun tried to log into her main account, only to find that she couldn’t access it.

She quickly messaged Xin Lan, asking if she had changed the password.

【Xin Lan】: The company has the right to manage it on your behalf.

Shen Yun felt even more annoyed. She returned to her alternate account to continue confronting the person who was praising Xin Lan while insulting her. She clicked on that person’s profile, and the first thing that caught her eye was a nauseating Weibo post.

@09OtakuIsUnstoppable: Xing Lan the Great Demon King is so good-looking! Ahhh, her looks far surpass the pretty Shen Yun she’s managing. If she were to debut, what would be left for Shen Yun to do?

Disgusting, simping.

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