After Redeeming the Female Lead, I Faked My Death and Escaped - Chapter 37.1

Almost instantly, Ying Xu began recalling the original story, searching for an answer, yet none of the plot points matched what could be called a “turning point.”

The story Ying Xu had read only summarized a segment of Gu Qingzhu’s life, where everyone else was merely a backdrop.

Without Xu Ying, there was still Ying Xu. And even without Ying Xu, Gu Qingzhu or those around her would have found someone else to fill the role.

In other words, Ying Xu couldn’t imagine any scenario that would warrant the system treating it with such gravity.

Aside from the unexpected death of Xu Ying, everything Gu Qingzhu experienced was inevitable. She was inherently cold-hearted by nature, appearing agreeable only because she couldn’t be bothered to argue. She would never heed anyone’s advice.

Her kindness toward Ying Xu was nothing more than guilt.

If there truly was a so-called “turning point” in the story, it should have been the night Gu Qingzhu chose to attack her in the car.

The plot hadn’t accounted for this. Instead, Ying Xu found herself recalling a long list of Gu Qingzhu’s misdeeds.

Her thoughts gradually darkened. Just then, Assistant Lu sent over an address. After relaying it to the driver, Ying Xu closed her eyes to rest.

Hadn’t this world already seen enough twists?

If so, what harm was there in a few more?

After all, Gu Qingzhu would have to answer for it.

The lights flickered dimly.

Stellar Cloud Hotel, third floor.

On the terrace, a man stared at his phone screen, still on the call, his voice laced with urgency: “Has the trending topic been taken down yet? No it’s still rising? What good does telling me do now? Go talk to Gu Qingzhu!”

The response on the other end clearly didn’t satisfy him. After a few more angry demands, he hung up, his back drenched in cold sweat.

When he turned around and saw the similarly distressed expressions on everyone else’s faces, his palms grew clammy.

Over a dozen people were gathered here, all key figures from major media outlets or entertainment news platforms. Most of their journalists had interviewed Ying Xu at some point, publishing articles about her online.

The engagement had been phenomenal. But before they could celebrate, trouble arrived.

First, their advertising partners called, hesitantly backing out of collaborations without explanation. Then, brand representatives lashed out, demanding they clean up the mess before it dragged them down.

Finally, a call came from Gu Corporation’s legal department succinct and to the point. Gu Qingzhu was suing them for defamation.

When they asked for specifics, the other side sent over a meticulously organized file, nearly 1GB in size, detailing thousands of violations.

Gu Qingzhu had been famous for years, and the media had used her for headlines just as long. Platforms had leveraged her photos, often skirting legal gray areas. But celebrities and the press had always had a mutually beneficial relationship,who would complain about more exposure?

Gu Qingzhu was the first to break that unspoken rule. Caught off guard, they scrambled for answers, eventually extracting the truth from industry peers, Gu Corporation had pressured their partners into cutting ties. There was nothing they could do.

Panic spread instantly. Stunned, they could only beg for Gu Qingzhu’s mercy, willing to do anything,

Yet in response to their desperate pleas, Gu Corporation gave just one directive:

By the end of the day, remove all trending topics related to Ying Xu and ensure the buzz died completely.

The first part was easy, money could solve that. But the latter? Ying Xu’s name was tied to Lin Jian’s scandal. As long as Lin Jian was being criticized, people would keep bringing up Ying Xu.

A female orphan being verbally abused by a male Alpha celebrity, such a scandal involving identity and gender was bound to be explosive and impossible to resolve in a single day.

Everyone thought Gu Qingzhu had lost her mind, yet the Gu family had only one response: comply, or face endless lawsuits.

Over the years, their misdeeds hadn’t been limited to just copyright infringement. Taking hush money from artists, if thoroughly investigated would also spell major trouble.

With lawsuits piling up, the first to rejoice would undoubtedly be the public who had long despised them. Eggs and stones would fly, reputations would be ruined, and everything would be lost.

As for Gu Qingzhu, even if it meant mutual destruction, the worst outcome for her would be retiring as an omega and inheriting the family business. But for them? Complete ruin, scapegoated into prison.

The more they thought about it, the more convinced they became that she was utterly insane.

How else could they explain such schizophrenic behavior?

After all, just a few months ago, before Ying Xu’s public apology, Qinghong had even sent them a sum of money, urging them to “keep up the pressure.”

Hadn’t it all been for Gu Qingzhu’s reputation?

Yet now, in such a short time, Gu Qingzhu was threatening them over Ying Xu?

The more they stewed, the angrier they grew, but there was nothing they could do about Gu Qingzhu. That was, until they received the address of this hotel. Qinghong’s investment team was hosting a wrap party on the fourth floor, while Gu Qingzhu had ten minutes to “chat” with them on the fifth.

The door swung open at that moment.

“Is everyone here?”

The first to enter was Shan Qiaoyun, dressed in a white formal suit. She never imagined that the next time Gu Qingzhu contacted her, it would be to mediate with the media.

After hearing what had transpired, she was secretly stunned.

How had Ying Xu managed to make Gu Qingzhu change so drastically in such a short time?

Shan Qiaoyun didn’t understand, but she didn’t dare pry further.

Gu Qingzhu followed a few steps behind, her expression as composed and unbothered as ever.

The moment she stepped inside, voices erupted: “Movie Queen Gu, this matter has already blown up ”

But when they noticed the team of bodyguards trailing behind her, most of the accusations shifted to Shan Qiaoyun: “We’ve collaborated with Qinghong so many times, this is just kicking the ladder away! Do you even see us as human?”

“Breaking the rules like this aren’t you afraid of”

Shan Qiaoyun still tried to placate them, but Gu Qingzhu let out a disdainful scoff.

“When you slandered Qinghong’s artists, you didn’t seem to care about their opinions either, did you?”

Qinghong’s artists?

The word caught in their throats. Even now, Gu Qingzhu refused to admit she was standing up for Ying Xu, instead cloaking her actions under Qinghong’s banner.

In the rampant rumors lately, wasn’t Gu Qingzhu supposedly cutting ties with Qinghong? Refusing to renew her contract, what was the point of this act?

But Gu Qingzhu had no obligation to explain.

As if suddenly remembering something, the corners of her eyes curved into a smile so gentle it sent chills down their spines: “Ah, I forgot. Strictly speaking, not just a Qinghong artist.”

“But a Qinghong shareholder.”

The weight of an artist versus a shareholder was incomparable. The former was just a replaceable employee, while the latter had a direct stake in profits, even decision-making power in project meetings.

Gu Qingzhu glanced at Shan Qiaoyun, who still seemed dazed by her earlier statement.

With a faint smirk, she added, “You looked down on Ying Xu because she had nothing. But now she does. How you should treat her do I really need to teach you?”

Everyone thought those words were directed at themselves.

To say they looked down on her might be a bit harsh, but it wasn’t entirely wrong. After all, who would respect an artist mired in scandals, someone who only gained attention by “clinging” to Gu Qingzhu?

Yet, Shan Qiaoyun’s face turned ashen the moment she clearly heard those words.

Gu Qingzhu owned 3% of Qinghong’s shares, a clause in her initial contract. Over the years, as Qinghong went public, those shares had skyrocketed in value, with annual dividends now exceeding hundreds of millions.

Shan Qiaoyun’s first instinct was to deny it all, if Gu Qingzhu were a rational person, she would never sacrifice her own interests just to stand up for Ying Xu.

But she was a madwoman.

A lunatic who cared nothing for anyone’s feelings.

For a moment, the beta found it hard to even swallow. “Qingzhu, I believe transferring shares requires a shareholder vote, doesn’t it?”

Her demeanor now was a far cry from the smug, superior air she had exuded just moments ago.

The shift had happened in the span of a few sentences from Gu Qingzhu.

Gu Qingzhu laughed. “Do you think anyone would dare vote against me?”

Even if Gu Qingzhu left Qinghong, she would still be the head of the Gu family. She had more than enough resources and time to deal with anyone who refused her.

What Gu Qingzhu wanted, she always got.

A thought struck Shan Qiaoyun. “Does President Sheng know about this?”

Gu Qingzhu rested her chin on her hand, studying Shan Qiaoyun as if seeing her for the first time, a hint of amusement in her gaze. “Who knows? But does it matter?”

Who cared about Sheng Changming’s opinion? Sheng Qiuyu?

“Let’s leave it at that.” Gu Qingzhu couldn’t be bothered to waste time on these people. In her eyes, they were no different from hyenas circling a corpse.

The only difference was that she was still alive, so she wasn’t the one being devoured.

One by one, the crowd dispersed. Even if some wanted to plead further, Gu Qingzhu’s bodyguards blocked them before they could approach.

The omega had no intention of giving them a second chance. The so-called “chat” was merely a way to use them as messengers, spreading the news that Ying Xu would become Qinghong’s newest shareholder.

Setting aside everything else, this was undeniably explosive news.

A scandal-ridden artist suddenly becoming a billionaire overnight, all because of Gu Qingzhu’s favor? Who would believe it?

Even the pampered heiress of the Sheng family didn’t hold shares in Qinghong.

Gu Qingzhu didn’t force anyone to leave. Some lingered at the banquet on the third floor, and as whispers of the news spread, Cheng Jun’s group chat buzzed incessantly with notifications.

She opened it, eyebrows lifting in surprise.

Cheng Yuedu caught the movement from the corner of her eye and reminded her offhandedly, “Mind your surroundings.”

Cheng Jun put her phone away and followed Cheng Yuedu, exchanging polite greetings with people she barely knew.

This was the Xu family’s reception. Most of the guests here would previously only show deference to Cheng Yuedu. But after Wei Siyan publicly acknowledged Cheng Jun as her “god-daughter,” the crowd suddenly became eager to curry favor with her.

Dressed in an exquisite gown, Cheng Jun stood out effortlessly. Yet she still felt out of place, suffocated by the atmosphere. The only moment of relief had been when she received Ying Xu’s message and stepped away to handle the alpha’s request.

Staring at Cheng Yuedu’s back, Cheng Jun suddenly spoke. “Gu Qingzhu is giving Ying Xu shares in Qinghong.”

“All of them?” Cheng Yuedu paused mid-step.

Cheng Jun shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe.”

She thought for a moment and said, “What a shame it wasn’t you she took a liking to. If you had shares in Qinghong, you wouldn’t be running around here looking for a virtuous wife to marry into your family.”

Cheng Yuedu replied, “It’s a shame you don’t have them either.”

Otherwise, why would you be following her around?

Cheng Yuedu didn’t actually voice the implied meaning, but Cheng Jun’s mind conjured up even more humiliating words.

She knew an alpha would never say such things. Yet, whenever she was near Cheng Yuedu, all the dark thoughts in Cheng Jun’s mind would materialize in ways that only hurt herself.

Disgusting.

She turned to leave but had barely taken a few steps when she saw Sheng Changming walk in, accompanied by Sheng Qiuyu, dressed formally, looking every bit the young heiress.

Noticing the gaze, Sheng Changming approached Cheng Jun. Her steps abruptly halted, and Sheng Qiuyu’s eyes seemed to freeze on her face.

Until Sheng Changming broke into a hearty smile and exclaimed, “Xu Yan, long time no see!”

Cheng Jun sharply turned her head and only then noticed Wei Xuyan standing not far away, having observed the scene for who knows how long. Her expression showed clear annoyance toward Sheng Changming, but she still nodded politely, bound by social etiquette.

Cheng Jun decided then and there to blacklist the phrase “long time no see” and never use it again.

The next second, Sheng Changming spotted Cheng Yuedu and sighed dramatically, lamenting how fate had kept their families from uniting.

Cheng Jun had no interest in disrupting Cheng Yuedu’s marriage-seeking plans and walked to the window, contemplating whether to bother Ying Xu when Sheng Qiuyu’s voice rang out.

“Can you contact Ying Xu?”

Cheng Jun looked up. The omega seemed embarrassed to ask, biting her lip and mumbling, “Ying Xu, blocked me. It must’ve been Gu Qingzhu’s doing! Just give me her contact. I’ll reach out. I’ll give you anything you want.”

Cheng Jun’s gaze remained fixed on her.

Sheng Qiuyu, thinking her lie had been exposed, flushed with irritation, after the filming wrapped, her family suddenly reached a consensus that her affection for Ying Xu was merely a sudden indulgence after prolonged ‘repression.’ Thus, continuing to ‘repress’ it would cure her.

So, during this time, she was either studying, socializing, playing sports, or working out, her schedule packed to the brim. But the more she did this, the more she missed Ying Xu. When she finally wanted to send a message, she realized her devices had been confiscated.

Even after secretly buying a new one, Sheng Qiuyu couldn’t reach Ying Xu. Due to being doxxed, the alpha had blocked all messages from strangers.

Cheng Jun didn’t see through the lie but realized Sheng Qiuyu seemed unaware of the online drama.

Ignorance was bliss less trouble to deal with. Since Gu Qingzhu was close to resolving it, it was better to wait until everything was settled.

With that in mind, she simply said earnestly, “I want you to marry into Cheng Yuedu’s family and stop competing with me for Ying Xu. Deal?”

Sheng Qiuyu: “In your dreams.”

Cheng Jun reluctantly decided to do a good deed for the day: “What do you want to say to her? I’ll pass it along.”

The omega, displeased by the word “pass,” snorted, but her face slowly turned red.

“Just,” Sheng Qiuyu said, “just send her a, love you?”

Cheng Jun’s lips twitched. Before typing, she made sure to send a row of ellipses to push the earlier “let’s eat” messages out of sight.

After arriving at the hotel, Ying Xu first changed into more comfortable clothes under Assistant Lu’s arrangements.

She thought they were going straight to see Gu Qingzhu, but Assistant Lu took her to the wrap party venue instead.