The following days passed uneventfully, with Su Ding mostly engrossed in filming.
Through her interactions over these past few days, Su Ding had developed quite good relationships with the people on set, especially with the male actor she was acting opposite, Lü Xi.
This young man had a genuinely good personality, completely devoid of any celebrity airs.
He was handsome, upright, and very down-to-earth, often bringing snacks and local specialties from home to share with Su Ding, and sometimes they would play games together during lunch.
Besides filming, Xue Zhi Qiao was also busy attending promotional events.
One day, Lü Xi came to find Su Ding to eat together. "Sister Ding, did you see Weibo? Your photo with Brother Zhi Qiao is trending!"
Su Ding, in the middle of a delicious meal, looked up in bewilderment. "What?"
What photos did she have with Xue Zhi Qiao that were trending? What was going on?
Lü Xi handed her his phone. The screen showed a photo of Xue Zhi Qiao and her entering a private room in the same hotel. The background was blurry, but it was still recognizable as them.
Lü Xi scrolled back.
There they were again, coming out together, laughing and talking animatedly. Xue Zhi Qiao's gaze towards her was very focused and earnest, a love hidden in his eyes.
Su Ding frowned. It had been pouring rain that day, and there were still paparazzi?!
Lü Xi continued scrolling. "And this one..."
Su Ding looked closely and saw a photo from when they had eaten at the restaurant outside the hospital, with Xue Zhi Qiao's fans present.
That Weibo post was by a major fan of Xue Zhi Qiao, claiming that Xue Zhi Qiao had a girlfriend with whom he was in a hot romance, also in the entertainment industry, named Su Ding, and had even tagged Su Ding's Weibo.
Su Ding took out her own phone and, indeed, she had been tagged, with many people below her verbally attacking her.
Many of them were die-hard fans of Xue Zhi Qiao, calling her shameless, a schemer trying to climb her way up, seeking resources, and labeling her as an eighteenth-tier celebrity with a "网红脸" (internet celebrity face).
What was all this?
When had she and Xue Zhi Qiao ever had such a relationship? There were third parties present on both occasions!
The most terrifying part was a statement from someone claiming to be an insider:
The actress also appeared as the third female lead in the TV series Xue Zhi Qiao was currently filming. The two were very intimate on set and often engaged in subtle physical contact.
It even posted photos of Xue Zhi Qiao and Su Ding chatting on set.
In the photos, their positions were very close, and Xue Zhi Qiao's hand was seemingly around Su Ding's waist!
This caused all the fans to erupt, believing the exposé to be true.
Many people on set also believed it, and some even privately messaged her on WeChat, asking if she and Xue Zhi Qiao were really a couple.
Su Ding's head was spinning, and her phone buzzed incessantly, numbing her hand.
Even her few, scarce fans believed it and launched into a fierce battle with Xue Zhi Qiao's fans.
Xue's fans claimed Su Ding was unworthy of their brother and was trying to use him to get ahead;
Ding's fans asserted that Su Ding was a talented actress recognized by the film and television industry and had nothing to do with their narcissistic brother.
Both sides were fiercely engaged in a heated dispute, while Xue Zhi Qiao and Su Ding, the parties involved, remained silent.
Seeing Lü Xi's confused gaze, Su Ding stated firmly, "We really have no relationship, just ordinary friends!"
Lü Xi nodded understandingly, but his eyes conveyed: Sister, you don't need to explain, I get it.
Su Ding gritted her teeth and said loudly, "We really have no relationship!"
Just then, Xiao Yuan's urgent call came through. "Dingding, don't reply yet! We're handling the public relations crisis. This situation was deliberately orchestrated."
Su Ding knew that even if she clarified, not many people would believe her.
"Okay, you handle it. I won't say anything."
"Mm, wait for my news."
After hanging up, Lü Xi eyed Su Ding with a puzzled look. "You really have no relationship?"
Su Ding gave him a side-eye. "Of course not?"
Lü Xi was confused.
Then, who was the mysterious big shot behind Sister Su Ding that the rumors mentioned?
Throughout the afternoon, wherever Su Ding went on set, she was stared at like a monkey. After all, she was rumored to be dating the current top star in the entertainment industry.
Moreover, they were indeed the closest on set.
Even Qiao Zi An, the part-time university student she had helped before, looked at her cautiously, wanting to ask but hesitating.
"It's all what the media wrote," Su Ding explained helplessly.
"Oh, okay." Qiao Zi An nodded.
At this moment, Jiang Xiao Yu, in high heels, with her assistant holding a parasol, sauntered over to her and scanned Su Ding up and down.
"So Sister Su Ding and Brother Zhi Qiao are a couple? How well-matched," Jiang Xiao Yu said sourly, then turned to the staff around her. "Don't you think so?"
Su Ding ignored her and tried to walk around her, but her arm was grabbed.
"Sister Su Ding, are you angry?"
Jiang Xiao Yu held her arm, smiled sweetly, and said, "I'm just envious of you, I didn't mean anything else. I never thought you were the kind of woman who got ahead by sleeping around, how could that be? Right."
Su Ding pried her hand off, ignoring her completely. Explaining to people like this was useless; she had clearly come to mock her deliberately.
"Don't go, Sister Su Ding," Jiang Xiao Yu tried to grab Su Ding again.
Su Ding turned, glared at her coldly, and said, "As public figures, don't be so nosy."
The smile on Jiang Xiao Yu's face could no longer be maintained. "I'm warning you, speak to me politely. Just because I give you face doesn't mean you can talk to me like that."
"Face is earned," Su Ding snorted and walked away.
Jiang Xiao Yu stomped her feet in anger. "What's she so arrogant about? She still got ahead by sleeping around. Now that it's on Weibo, Xue Zhi Qiao's fans could drown her with their spit."
"What if Xue Zhi Qiao admits it?" a timid younger assistant asked.
Jiang Xiao Yu glared at her fiercely in anger, and the agent immediately reprimanded her. "Think before you speak!"
The young assistant quickly lowered her head.
When Xue Zhi Qiao learned of the news, he was initially confused but gradually felt a bit happy. If Su Ding were truly willing to accept him, he would announce it that very day.
Alas...
Even Xue Zhi Qiao's agent was surprised. "Could it be that your rivals are targeting you? But that shouldn't be the case; everyone is currently bashing Su Ding."
Xue Zhi Qiao was also very puzzled. He didn't know who had bought this story.
If he could casually place an actress as the third female lead in a drama, he wouldn't be in his current position. Those people didn't understand the ways of the entertainment industry at all; they were just spectators.
"Su Ding's agent contacted me. I'll go resolve it," the agent said.
Xue Zhi Qiao waved his hand and immediately called Su Ding.
"Hello, how's it going on your end?"
"Everyone believes it. We're dealing with it," Su Ding sighed, feeling a bit dejected.
Just moments ago, she had called Jin Ye, but he hadn't answered.
She had expected Jin Ye to inquire about it immediately and feel jealous, but after waiting for a long time, there was no news. When she called Jin Ye's assistant, Luo Zhu, Luo Zhu said he was busy.
"Why don't we just announce our relationship?" Xue Zhi Qiao joked. "Do you want to see your Mr. Jin get jealous?"
"Absolutely not," Su Ding quickly refused.
Her mind couldn't help but recall Jin Ye's punishment a few days prior, which had directly caused her to catch a cold and take leave. The memory was too much to bear.
"Let's not talk about it. Someone is calling me. I need to take it."
After hanging up, Su Ding answered Xin Jia Er's call. "Dingding, should I post that selfie we took that day to clarify? Your rumor with Xue Zhi Qiao is all over the place."
"Send me the photo, and I'll have my agent handle it."
"Okay, okay. On WeChat."
Su Ding received the photos from Xin Jia Er and forwarded them to Xiao Yuan. Immediately after, she saw a WeChat message from Jin Ye: I have an urgent business trip tonight and won't be home.
Su Ding felt inexplicably upset.
Why the sudden business trip? Couldn't the business trip be communicated by phone?
She had made so many missed calls, why did she only receive such a notification?
This was the first time she felt a lack of respect.