After A Secret Marriage With The Trending Queen - Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Later, the family ate a meal together at a long-distance restaurant across the road from the village entrance before heading home.

The sky was dark when they were in the car, and Shen Lu received another message from Ye Qin.

Ye Qin: Still not home? Shen Lu: On the way. The elders were eating and drinking, which delayed us a bit. Ye Qin: Mhm, glad you’re coming back. Shen Lu: Sister, have you eaten? Ye Qin: Not yet. Shen Lu: What time is it now? You’re not skipping dinner again, are you? Ye Qin: …Isn’t it normal for me to skip dinner in the evening?

They continued to chat aimlessly until Shen Lu arrived home, which is when the conversation ended.

They found a major incident at the house: the front door lock had been pried open, and the door was ajar.

Everyone’s immediate reaction was that they had been robbed. Shen Jing’s first thought was that those people had come looking for him. Without a word, he rushed in without even changing his shoes.

“My money! My gold necklace!” Mother Shen frantically ran inside.

The strange outcome was that nothing was missing. This made it even weirder. The family of four checked everywhere inside and out. They confirmed nothing had been stolen; even a ten-yuan bill lying on the living room coffee table hadn’t been taken.

Could it be that the intruder wasn’t a burglar?

Shen Lu quickly checked her room. The marriage certificate and contract she had hidden were thankfully still there. Just to be safe, they reported the incident to the police, and the community security guard said they would check the surveillance footage.

In any case, this incident left everyone uneasy, with a chilling feeling when they thought about it. Shen Jing couldn’t sit still anymore. He abruptly stood up and ran out.

“Shen Jing, where are you going!” Shen Lu shouted, but the kid disappeared in a flash.

…

Shen Jing ran out of the community and paced along the road. He pulled out his phone and called the debt collectors. He stated immediately, “I told you not to come to my house. I will pay you back tonight at midnight. All this ends now.”

Then, Shen Jing scrolled through his contacts, found Little Zhizhi’s number, and called him. “I’ve decided. Name a place. I’m coming over now.”

Shen Jing admitted he hadn’t been a good person in the past and had made foolish mistakes, but he had genuinely tried to turn over a new leaf. If these people hadn’t pushed him so relentlessly, he would have tried to find another solution. Now, for the safety of his family, he felt he had no other choice.

A moment later, he received a text message: XX Hotel, Room XX.

Shen Jing’s eyes were firm and resolute. He was all in.

This was Shen Jing’s second time meeting Little Zhizhi. When he arrived, Little Zhizhi had already showered and was waiting on the bed. “You came after all.”

Shen Jing’s face was grim. “You promised me. Can you do it?”

“Of course. There’s a lot I can do. You just don’t know me well enough.”

“I don’t need to know you.” With that, Shen Jing turned and went into the bathroom.

This was Shen Jing’s first time being the dominant one (a “top”), and he vowed it would be his last.

Little Zhizhi took out a card. “The password is six zeros. Also, my name is Ye Xun. You can find me if you need anything in the future.”

Shen Jing took the card, his jaw clenched. “Why are you helping me?”

“Because I like you.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Then there’s nothing I can do. I can’t prove it. It’s something you have to feel with your heart,” Ye Xun said. He then glanced at the time. “It’s almost midnight. Hurry up and pay those guys back. Don’t ever borrow money again.”

Shen Jing got up and put on his clothes. He wanted to say something but held back, finally turning and leaving.

…

Since the “burglary” incident, everyone in the family had been on edge. After Shen Jing paid his debt, he returned to his usual lively self, which was a relief to Shen Lu.

Life quickly settled back into a peaceful routine, no different from before. Over time, they let their guard down.

Tonight, the GL drama “Peerless in the World” ($JuShiWuShuang$), starring Ye Qin and Tan Xueying, was premiering. Shen Lu gathered her parents and Shen Jing around the TV to watch.

She was still chatting with Ye Qin and sent a picture of the whole family watching the TV.

Shen Lu: See? I have sincerity. Ye Qin: Yes. Shen Lu: So, is there a reward? (She was just speaking casually.)

But Ye Qin took it seriously.

Ye Qin: What kind of reward do you want? A raise, or something else…

“Sister, still playing on your phone? The show’s starting,” Shen Jing suddenly reached over and nudged her.

“I know, I know.” In a panic, Shen Lu immediately put her phone away.

Ye Qin waited a long time for a reply but got none, so she focused on watching the drama, with the bullet comments (danmu) on. Generally, most actors like watching their shows with comments on because it allows them to see the audience’s immediate reactions and preferences. Although sometimes the comments can be brutally direct and painful, it takes a strong heart to do this.

Ye Qin was quite sensitive. She maintained an image of a cold, powerful woman in public, but when she was alone at home, she would secretly cry over online attacks.

Then, every so often, she would drown her sorrows in alcohol, leaving Shen Lu to clean up the mess.

The show began, and the first bullet comments appeared.

“Beautiful Qin, Beautiful Qin!” “Tuning in immediately, Ye Qin is the best.” “…”

These were clearly Ye Qin’s die-hard fans. Seeing these comments made Ye Qin feel delighted, as sweet as if she’d tasted honey.

“Only clicked in because of Tan Xueying. Without her supporting this drama, the ratings are doomed.” “Ye Qin’s acting is truly awful. Please stop acting.” “Actually, Ye Qin is quite beautiful when she doesn’t move.” “Eye sore.” “…”

Soon, a mix of contrasting opinions filled the comments. To prevent affecting her mood and ensure she could finish the first episode, Ye Qin decided to turn off the comments for self-preservation.

The night of the broadcast, the topic [Ye Qin Peerless in the World] quietly climbed to the top of the hot search rankings, without fail. It was as high-profile as ever, with her inherent ability to generate trending topics and discussion bringing massive exposure and popularity to the production company.

Naturally, her loyal fans immediately united to combat the detractors. In these situations, trolls multiply, and the fans’ job was to control the narrative and fight back.

Aside from the battle between fans and haters, general viewers also participated in watching and commenting.

“First off, I’m not a fan of either party, but honestly, Ye Qin’s acting has visibly improved this time.” “Yeah, she’s not as bad as the critics make her out to be. At least in this drama, she shows some acting ability.” “Everyone is too harsh. Maybe they think someone who is beautiful can’t act well.” “Go, Ye Qin! You’re doing great.” “I watched one episode today and was hooked. I’ll probably keep watching.” “…”

Just after checking the online comments, Ye Qin received a call from Sister Wang.

“Qin, congratulations! Number one in ratings tonight!”

“Really?”

“Really. It’s an excellent result.”

Due to the broadcast success and continuous high ratings of Peerless in the World, Ye Qin’s worth soared. She received significantly more offers for film, television, and fashion variety shows than before.

Her career seemed to be reaching a new peak. It was at this moment that fate dealt her a fatal blow.