After Failing to Reverse the Plot, I Made My Escape - Chapter 26

“I love my wife very much.”

“Wow!”

The glare of the flashbulbs snapped Yu Fuqiu back to reality. He subconsciously moved to shield himself from the lenses.

Cameras?

Yu Fuqiu suddenly looked up and realized the car door had been opened at some point. Long camera lenses, like rows of black cannons, were pointed directly at him.

Currently, he was held in Chang Tingzhi’s arms. Chang Tingzhi leaned down appropriately and placed a tender kiss on his temple.

Yu Fuqiu was suddenly bewildered.

Why had Chang Tingzhi’s personality shifted so abruptly? The protagonist of the original book should be incapable of feeling any emotion right now. He should treat everything with an attitude of coldness and calculated utility.

“Fuqiu!”

“Qiuqiu!”

“Come, Mr. Yu, look at the camera. Please leave your signature on the backdrop.”

Although this event was called a charity gala, it was fundamentally built on celebrity status and fan bases.

Yu Fuqiu had never liked these kinds of events. However, he gripped the hem of Chang Tingzhi’s coat tightly. From Chang Tingzhi’s perspective, he saw Fuqiu with downcast eyes, biting his lip, and his eyelashes trembling as if he were afraid to leave his side.

Tingzhi raised an eyebrow, suddenly finding Yu Fuqiu quite interesting. He lowered his eyes to conceal the mockery within them.

“You two are so affectionate. Is Fuqiu just as clingy in private as he was just now?”

Even though the topic was about Yu Fuqiu, the cameras and microphones were aimed at Chang Tingzhi.

This happened for a reason: Chang Tingzhi’s behavior had sent a signal to the public. Aside from his previous Weibo post, he had never shown any outward signs of affection to the world.

Yu Fuqiu was nervous. He realized he had forgotten to coordinate their stories while they were in the car. Chang Tingzhi had no memory of their love. If something went wrong, the consequences would be dire.

Although Chang Tingzhi did not participate in variety shows, act, or sing, he was exceptionally handsome and younger than his partner. Combined with the fact that he was a self-made man who founded the Changqiu Group, he had a group of extreme fans.

Yu Fuqiu had once received death threats from these extreme fans, demanding he divorce Chang Tingzhi under the guise of “returning Chang Tingzhi’s freedom.”

Chang Tingzhi tilted his head slightly. He knew how to find his angles. In the camera’s view, he was full of love, gazing tenderly at Yu Fuqiu. His hand rested lightly on Yu Fuqiu’s waist. He gave a doting, helpless smile. “Actually, I am usually the one who acts spoiled.”

“Earlier, Qiuqiu was helping me with my buttons. With my wife right in front of me, of course I have to act a bit more spoiled.”

The event was being live-streamed, and the comment section was exploding.

Chen Yao Yao Yao: Buttons? What were they doing in the car? Why were the buttons undone? Of course it was hehehe.

Xiangyang Twenty: Look at Chang Tingzhi’s eyes. If such a beautiful wife was obediently buttoning my shirt, I would not be able to resist. I would have kissed him long ago. Who would care about a gala? I would go home and kiss my wife all night.

Nana: I am over it. Have some sense of occasion for public displays of affection. This is not even Yu Fuqiu’s main stage. Why is he trying to show off here? It is disgusting. Get lost.

“Do you have any explanation regarding the rumors of a divorce?”

“Also, why are there rumors that Yu Fuqiu is having an affair with Hu Daoyuan? What do you think of this photo?”

“There have been no activities or interactions for such a long time. Is this related to the affair and divorce?”

These questions were like hot oil splashing into cold water, instantly causing an explosion at the press conference. The organized atmosphere froze. Every lens and gaze focused on the two people on stage, and the air filled with uncontrollable whispering.

Yu Fuqiu looked at the photo. It was taken when he went to his alma mater to help with casting. He had seen Ke Qi’an and suffered an emotional breakdown. Hu Daoyuan had draped his jacket over him. The photographer was skilled with angles. In the photo, he appeared to be leaning intimately into Hu Daoyuan’s embrace. They were pressed close as if they were lovers whispering sweet nothings to one another.

His face turned deathly pale. His blood seemed to freeze instantly.

Panic washed over him like ice water. He looked up in alarm, subconsciously glancing at Chang Tingzhi beside him. His lips trembled as he tried to explain immediately, “It is not like that, Tingzhi. That day was”

He had finally managed to ease the tension with this amnesiac Chang Tingzhi. He knew all too well how cold and decisive the protagonist was in the original book. He could not tolerate a single grain of sand in his eyes, especially when it came to deception and betrayal.

No, he could not let this happen!

He did not want to go back to those nights of cold treatment and being alone!

He subconsciously gripped the hem of Chang Tingzhi’s suit. His fingertips turned white from the force. Just as he was about to speak again, Chang Tingzhi raised a hand to gently interrupt him.

Under everyone’s gaze, Chang Tingzhi’s face was calm, showing no ripple of emotion.

His slender fingers unhurriedly picked up the photo that was being repeatedly displayed. He scanned it with a cold gaze.

“First of all,” he began, his voice carrying clearly through the microphone with an unquestionable power, “I think you have misunderstood something.”

In front of the cameras, he slowly tore the photo into pieces. He tossed them into the air and then naturally reached out to take Yu Fuqiu’s trembling hand. He interlaced their fingers and raised them toward the cameras.

The light from their wedding rings flashed brilliantly.

“Our relationship is very good. There are no plans for divorce.”

His tone was flat, as if he were merely commenting on the weather.

He turned his head, his cold gaze sweeping over Yu Fuqiu’s pale face, before looking back at the camera. “As for this photo.”

“It is hard to say if it was taken by a ‘human.’ After all, AI technology is very advanced these days.”

“Perhaps you, or even you,” his fingertip pointed at the reporters one by one like a judge’s pen, making them shrink back instinctively, “might find ‘private videos’ of yourselves in some corner of the dark web that you did not even know were filmed. Do you need me to ‘educate’ you on how to find them?”

A faint, mocking curve touched his lips. “I am quite curious. How do the ‘renowned media’ outlets you represent dare to publicly question and slander my wife at such a grand gala, right in front of my face, based on an anonymous photo from some gutter?”

He leaned forward slightly, a gentle but shallow smile on his face. “Everyone, do you look down on me, Chang Tingzhi? Or do you think the legal department of my Changqiu Group is so idle that they have no cases to take?”

“If you insist on discussing the authenticity of the photo, then perhaps we should move to a more appropriate setting. For example, meeting at the defendant’s bench in a courtroom.”

The moment his voice fell, the room went silent.

“Secondly, Director Hu is a mutual friend of mine and Qiuqiu. I am very grateful to him for helping Qiuqiu when he was feeling unwell. To speculate about an affair based on a single photo, your imaginations are a bit too vivid.”

“Are there any other questions?”

Chang Tingzhi raised an eyebrow, scanning the reporters who had been questioning them earlier with a smile in his eyes.

The reporters shriveled. One swallowed hard and stuttered, “No, nothing.”

“Thank you for your questions. If there is any confusion, you are welcome to find me at Changqiu Group. Tonight’s main focus is charity.”

He gave a slight nod and took Yu Fuqiu’s hand to leave.

Suddenly remembering something, he paused. He looked up slightly and smiled at the camera. “I love my wife very much.”

Ten Zero: OMG! Domineering husband protecting his wife!

Spring Warmth Sunny Day: My god, is this the Chang Tingzhi I know? He is actually this sharp-tongued?

A-la-la-la: To the person above, you need to know the power of Changqiu Group. They are a listed company now. The short-video app you use all the time was made by them. How could a man like Chang Tingzhi be a naive sweetheart?

Tulu Skin: Heavens, he was hiding his true self. Is this the first time he has acted like this in front of a camera? And I have never heard him call Qiuqiu ‘Wife’ before. He always calls him ‘Honey’.

jfirjfierfje: Don’t get me wrong. I feel like Chang Tingzhi is a bit different. Their vibe used to feel like a real couple. Now it feels a bit fake, like they are forcing a performance.

Chang Tingzhi held Yu Fuqiu’s hand in his palm. Together, they held a pen and signed their names on the backdrop.

All the aggressive questions and whispers vanished in that moment. Chang Tingzhi had used the most direct method to tell everyone that he was by his side.

Yu Fuqiu stood dazed as his hand was held. He felt the firm, warm strength emanating from Tingzhi’s palm. Watching the back of the man who blocked all the rumors for him, his eyes could not help but grow hot.

Upon reaching the backstage, the clamor of the crowd was left behind. Yu Fuqiu was called away for a photo shoot.

The empty room was left to Chang Tingzhi alone. He loosened his tie and sat in a chair, resting his sharp jaw on one hand while his other hand tapped rhythmically on the armrest.

He looked up lazily, his gaze falling on the empty floor.

“President.” At that moment, the secretary knocked and entered.

“Why go through all this trouble? Was your goal not”

The man lowered his eyes. Thin rays of light filtered through the gaps, highlighting his high nose bridge and his soulless black eyes. He spoke to the secretary. “The goal he wanted can now be achieved.”

“What?” The secretary did not understand his meaning.

“Utilizing my reaction to solidify the ‘affectionate couple’ rumor, completely crushing the rumors of divorce and affairs, and stabilizing his position as ‘Mrs. Chang’ and his crumbling public image.” He listed the points methodically. “Right now, is the effect not very good?”

“According to the contract we signed, I cooperate to maintain his persona, and he must ensure that Changqiu Group’s autumn and winter collection hits a specific milestone in the next quarterly fashion show.”

He smiled. “Just putting on this act in front of everyone, I think this is a very profitable deal.”

“Then why did you say those things to Mr. Yu in the car?”

“Sweet words?” Chang Tingzhi smiled indifferently. “Do they not just roll off the tongue? Humans are creatures that love to be sentimental. If I can get what I want by putting on an act without even exerting any effort, is that not a bargain?”

“However, his reaction did surprise me.” He stood up and walked to the window, looking down at Yu Fuqiu taking photos. His eyes crinkled. “The feeling of lifting such a naive person to the clouds and then letting him fall into the abyss”

“It is the best feeling, is it not?”