After Transmigrating, I Fell in Love with a Top-Tier Movie Queen - Chapter 4

Lin Xin, being a celebrity, knew that her divorce from Zheng Ranwen was already a huge scandal online. She also knew that the divorce news might have been leaked by Zheng Ranwen. After all, their decision to divorce was sudden. Aside from the people involved, no one else should have known.

When Zheng Ranwen left, Lin Xin’s manager had called. At the time, Lin Xin was heartbroken and her tone wasn’t great. She only asked for some time.

Lin Xin’s manager, Ke Lin Meng, was one of the top agents in the industry. She had a lot of connections and resources. Lin Xin wasn’t the first actress she’d managed, but she was the most successful. They weren’t just colleagues, either; Meng Ke Lin had watched Lin Xin grow up in the industry. She was genuinely concerned for Lin Xin and didn’t pressure her on the day of the divorce.

But a day had passed, and it was time to face reality. With the storm raging online, if Lin Xin wanted to stay in the industry, she couldn’t afford to run away. So, shortly after breakfast, Lin Xin got another call from her manager.

Unlike her state of mind last night, Lin Xin seemed to have accepted the facts and was able to speak calmly with Meng Ke Lin.

“Sister Meng.”

Meng Ke Lin paused. “How are you doing now?”

Lin Xin glanced at the woman washing dishes in the kitchen. “I just finished breakfast.”

Meng Ke Lin was stumped. She wasn’t asking about that, and Lin Xin knew it. But seeing her avoid the topic, Meng Ke Lin didn’t push. Instead, she said, “The situation online isn’t good. You need to get on there and clarify things.”

Lin Xin didn’t object. Meng Ke Lin continued, “I’m not joking. The public opinion is turning against you. You should go look. For a celebrity, reputation is everything! I hope you… aren’t being emotional about this.”

Ye Linghua hadn’t cooked breakfast, so she was especially diligent, wiping everything down with a rag after she was done with the dishes. Lin Xin ignored her and, after her manager’s words, opened her phone.

As her manager said, a trending topic appeared: Forced Love.

At first glance, it seemed like a strange topic, especially for a celebrity to be involved in. When Lin Xin clicked on it, she saw her name at the top.

A popular blogger named “Raging Bear,” who had millions of followers, posted a long story with an air of certainty: “Over the past two days, the drama between Lin Wan, Zheng Ranwen, and Lin Xin has been crazy. I’ve been following it from the start. To be honest, their story began six years ago.”

“At that time, Lin Wan and Zheng Ranwen were both contestants on the reality show Youth’s Shine, and Lin Xin was a mentor. It’s said that Lin Xin fell in love with Zheng Ranwen at first sight. Unfortunately, the ‘Wanwen’ couple was already super popular, and Lin Xin couldn’t get a foothold.”

“Later, Lin Wan suddenly retired and went abroad, while Zheng Ranwen and Lin Xin had a flash marriage. The ‘Wanwen’ couple’s fandom collapsed, and the ‘Star Sisters’ (Lin Xin’s fans) and the ‘Huskies’ (Zheng Ranwen’s fans) went to war. The ‘Star Sisters’ thought Zheng Ranwen was using Lin Xin for fame, and the ‘Huskies’ thought Zheng Ranwen was forced into the marriage. That year, it was a bloodbath online. But nothing could stop them from getting married in the end…”

“Who would have thought that in just five years, it would end in divorce.”

“Over the past two days, there have been more than 20 trending topics about them. People saw Zheng Ranwen immediately meet with Lin Wan after the divorce. According to insiders, there’s a shady reason for why Lin Wan went abroad, and Zheng Ranwen was forced into the marriage.”

“So, what role did Lin Xin play in all of this? We’ll have to wait and see how things unfold.”

The post summarized their relationship from beginning to end, but without providing any specific details. However, it successfully implied the idea of “forced love.” It labeled Lin Xin as a ruthless capitalist.

Wasn’t Lin Wan’s departure Lin Xin’s doing?

Wasn’t Zheng Ranwen forced to marry her?

The internet erupted.

【So, what you’re saying is Zheng Ranwen was in a forced marriage?】

【Are you kidding me? My “Cub” is so miserable?】(Note: “Cub” is a nickname for Zheng Ranwen.)

【Damn, I can’t forgive this. Is being an established celebrity so great?】

【I said it was weird when “Dumpling” suddenly went abroad. She was doing so well in the country. Why would she suddenly leave? Heh.】(“Dumpling” is a nickname for Lin Wan.)

【Right! Being a top star is so great!】

【Capitalists are different. They see human lives as less than ants. The future of others is nothing to them.】

【I can’t believe it! Lin Xin is so ruthless.】

【Well, she’s been in the industry since childhood! She plays the game.】

【Now do you believe me? I said there was something fishy when ‘Wanwen’ fell apart. Lin Xin’s eyes were all over ‘Cub,’ how could she not do something?】

With one person starting the speculation, netizens began to cook up all sorts of conspiracy theories.

Fortunately, Lin Xin’s fans, the “Star Sisters,” also got to work, rushing to her defense.

【So now you can just talk without evidence, huh?】

【Look at who Zheng Ranwen even is? Is she worthy?】

【What level was our ‘Sweetheart’ at? What level was Zheng Ranwen at? Who gave her all her resources after she got with our ‘Sweetheart?’】

【Forced love? It seems like she was the one leeching off our ‘Sweetheart,’ doesn’t it?】

【’Sweetheart,’ I told you not to be with Zheng Ranwen. She’s not worthy.】

【This is the result of not being well-matched! (╥﹏╥) We helped her get famous, and she bites us back.】

The “Star Sisters” began to take control of the comments and the trending topics.

However, Zheng Ranwen was no longer the nobody she once was. She couldn’t be bullied anymore. She had her own fanbase and her own reputation. And while Lin Xin hadn’t completely retired, she was close to it, and her fan base wasn’t as active as it used to be. The two fan armies were evenly matched.

Lin Wan’s fans, while not numerous, had some fighting power, and their initial guidance of public opinion was effective.

Meng Ke Lin was right; the public opinion was turning, and Lin Xin’s situation wasn’t looking good.

Seeing the online comments, Lin Xin was furious. It was clear that Zheng Ranwen was also involved. Although they worked for rival companies, Lin Xin had given everything to Zheng Ranwen. The other company hadn’t cared about Zheng Ranwen at all. It was Lin Xin who had helped her climb up the ladder.

Divorce was one thing, and they could have just gone their separate ways. But what was Zheng Ranwen’s company doing? If Zheng Ranwen hadn’t agreed, her company wouldn’t have dared to be so bold. After all, Zheng Ranwen was a top star now.

Lin Xin took a deep breath, telling herself not to get angry. But with such a payoff for her genuine love, who could just accept it?

Meng Ke Lin seemed prepared. Guessing that Lin Xin had read everything, she called her again.

Meng Ke Lin: “Do you understand now? If we don’t do something soon, we’ll lose our chance.”

Everything had a golden period. Once it passed, it would be hard to recover.

Lin Xin was silent. Meng Ke Lin, frustrated with her lack of action, said, “Are you still going to be considerate of Zheng Ranwen? If Zheng Ranwen wasn’t involved, I’ll cut off my head and let you use it as a seat!”

Lin Xin: “…”

Meng Ke Lin, seeing no reaction, got even angrier. “Besides, even if she didn’t know, it doesn’t stop you from clearing things up, does it? Do you deserve to be bullied like this? Pah! Is this even about being bullied? Don’t you know the chain reaction this will cause? This isn’t your first year in the industry. You should know the consequences.”

Lin Xin took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay, I get it.”

The online war raged on, with both sides suffering casualties but quickly reviving to rejoin the fray. A love triangle had formed, and who was right or wrong no longer seemed to matter. All that mattered was which fan base could win the war for their idol.

At 11 AM, the battle intensified. It was at this moment that Lin Xin posted a new message on her Weibo. Instantly, fans, anti-fans, and even bystanders rushed to the post.

Lin Xin V: “I, Lin Xin, have always walked a righteous path, and I’m not afraid of the shadows. From my time on Youth’s Shine to my marriage with Miss Zheng, I have never wronged anyone. I’ve been in the industry for 22 years since the age of three. What kind of person would be worth me betraying my own principles and becoming someone I despise?”

“Miss Zheng was the one who proposed marriage to me. I’m a nostalgic person, so I still have our chat logs. I can release them at any time. Furthermore, regarding Lin Wan’s departure, everyone in the industry knows the reason. I believe people with common sense can figure it out too. To pin this on me is with malicious intent.”

“In our five-year marriage, I gave everything I had. We decided to part amicably. I don’t regret getting married, and I can handle the results of a divorce. But if you’re going to tarnish this marriage, I’ll see you in court at any time, @RagingBear. @RagingBear, if you really have friends in the industry, instead of speculating about why I got married, why don’t you speculate about why I got divorced? (smile)”

This angry post naturally caused a huge commotion online. Although Meng Ke Lin wasn’t entirely pleased with the post, she had to admit it was a satisfying response. Her team quickly got to work, guiding the public opinion.

Many people saw the subtle hint that Lin Wan was a homewrecker. But upon a closer look, no such phrase was explicitly used. Still, netizens followed Lin Xin’s line of thought. Right! The reason for the marriage was simple: Lin Xin liked Zheng Ranwen. So then, what about the divorce?

She went to see her ex right after the divorce. Was it really a coincidence? It seemed a bit forced. So, it wasn’t impossible that Lin Wan was the one who had meddled in their marriage. Once the seed of doubt was planted, it quickly grew into a towering tree.

Besides, Lin Wan was different from Lin Xin. Lin Xin had a powerful fanbase and the positive impression she had built up over the years. It was hard to attack Lin Xin without cause.

But Lin Wan’s time in the industry was short, and her fanbase was weak. Once she was under suspicion, her fans had little chance to change public opinion. With this suspicion, even if Zheng Ranwen tried to explain, it would just seem suspicious.

Suddenly, the public opinion turned.

Zheng Ranwen’s company tried all afternoon but couldn’t defeat Meng Ke Lin. Seeing Lin Wan’s image worsen and their attempts to turn things around fail, Zheng Ranwen finally gave up as dusk fell. She pulled out her phone and called Lin Xin. But this didn’t mean she was admitting defeat.

At noon, Lin Xin still didn’t get to eat Ye Linghua’s food because Ye Linghua burned her hand while stewing pork ribs. Lin Xin had to cook herself, making a hearty lunch for Ye Linghua, who now had bandages on her forehead and right hand.

After posting her message, Lin Xin no longer paid attention to the online chaos. After lunch, she took a satisfying nap.

Ye Linghua also grabbed a pillow and lay on the porch in front of the glass doors. The warm sunlight dappled her body through the leaves. The gentle spring breeze cooled the heat of the noon sun.

Lin Xin, who usually went back to her room to rest, stayed in the living room today. She lay on the sofa, and the cool breeze quickly lulled her to sleep.

When Lin Xin woke up, Ye Linghua was still sleeping. She couldn’t help but twitch her mouth and walked over to Ye Linghua. The afternoon sun in spring was bright but not harsh. The light that broke through the leaves cast a dappled pattern on Ye Linghua’s body, feeling warm and cozy.

Ye Linghua’s sleeping face in the sunlight seemed to have a halo around it. This unexpected beauty made Lin Xin close her mouth and stare in a daze. Although she knew Ye Linghua was beautiful from the start, she was constantly surprised by her different sides. As Ye Linghua lay on the porch, Lin Xin could see the fine, soft hair on her face in the sunlight.

Because she was asleep, the smile that was usually on her face was gone. Without it, she looked a little cold, as if she didn’t belong in this world.

Lin Xin couldn’t help but squat down for a closer look. She’s really so beautiful! Unlike her own refined features, Ye Linghua’s beauty had a refreshing and pleasant quality. She was more dignified than Lin Xin. With her eyes closed, she had an ethereal quality.

A good temperament isn’t something you can fake; it comes naturally. Ye Linghua had that. What was even more enviable was her height. Lin Xin couldn’t help but look her over, feeling a little jealous. She was not only tall but also had a great figure, better than her own!

Lin Xin mumbled to herself, “This is too much! She’s beautiful, has a great body, and a great temperament! How does she do it?!”

Absorbed in her thoughts, Lin Xin didn’t notice that the person lying next to her blinked twice. As the warm sun shone down, she grew even more suspicious. Is this person really a housekeeper?

Ye Linghua, feigning sleep, almost choked. “…Is she still suspicious of me because I can’t cook?”

Just then, Lin Xin’s phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. The ringtone was still the special one she’d set for Zheng Ranwen, and she hadn’t had a chance to change it. Lin Xin answered the phone expressionlessly, knowing that Zheng Ranwen was probably calling about Lin Wan.

Sure enough, Zheng Ranwen’s voice came through, sounding arrogant. “Can you help me explain to Wanwan?”

Lin Xin asked, “Explain?”

Zheng Ranwen continued, “After your post, there’s been some negative talk about Wanwan… The internet is calling her a homewrecker. I hope you can clearly state that Wanwan isn’t a homewrecker.”

Lin Xin scoffed, “Are you asking me to post another message to defend Lin Wan?”

Zheng Ranwen was silent but didn’t deny it, which clearly meant that was exactly what she wanted. Lin Xin’s heart was already cold from Zheng Ranwen’s actions, but now it was frozen solid. Why should I?

She knew she shouldn’t agree, but… Lin Wan really hadn’t been involved during her marriage. It was Zheng Ranwen who wanted to divorce after seeing that Lin Wan was back. It wasn’t fair to call Lin Wan a homewrecker, but why should Lin Xin be the one to clarify things for her?

This morning, when Lin Xin was being attacked, did Lin Wan explain for her? She was being accused of oppressing her, which Lin Wan could have easily fixed with a single sentence. But did she speak up for her?

No, she didn’t. So why should Lin Xin speak up for her?

Lin Xin was about to refuse, but she didn’t know how. She had grown so used to Zheng Ranwen’s demands that she couldn’t say no, even when it went against her heart. As she hesitated and panicked, her phone was suddenly snatched away. Lin Xin was startled and turned to look at Ye Linghua beside her.

Ye Linghua’s face was cold, and her eyes were filled with displeasure. She took the phone and immediately said into it, “She won’t explain. You’re an adult; figure it out yourself.” With that, she hung up.

Lin Xin: “…”

“Huh?” As if she had just come to her senses, Ye Linghua suddenly turned to look at Lin Xin, a smile back on her face. “Sorry, I hung up for you.”

Lin Xin: “…”