Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 43

After Cheng Yixin left, Fang Yuhan breathed a small sigh of relief. A moment later, she called Chi Yi to explain the situation.

The phone rang twice before Chi Yi answered.

“President Chi? This is Fang Yuhan from Xinyu Media.”

“President Fang,” Chi Yi spoke before she could. “Are you calling to talk to me about Yixin?”

“Yes.” Fang Yuhan’s computer screen displayed the Weibo trending topics; the tag #Cheng Yixin Lesbian# was rapidly climbing to the top spot. “You’ve seen the trending list, I assume?”

“I have,” Chi Yi replied. “I will cooperate with however you plan to handle this.”

“The trend is rising too fast; it’s obvious someone is pushing it behind the scenes. If we don’t respond, there’s no telling how far it will ferment. Therefore, the company has invited the media. In an hour, Yixin will clarify your relationship. The response to the rumors will be that you are just very good friends, and the photos only look intimate due to the angle and lighting.”

“On your end, there’s no need to respond. You haven’t dealt with these people before; at a time like this, a single wrong word would be infinitely magnified by them. If the media goes to harass you, ignore them. In a few days, when new news hits the entertainment world, this will pass.”

“Alright.”

Chi Yi’s tone was so calm that Fang Yuhan felt a bit flustered. She wouldn’t have felt this way if Chi Yi had at least questioned the PR plan.

The call fell silent for a few seconds. Having finished the business talk, Fang Yuhan hesitated before adding: “I just asked Yixin. she admitted you are in a relationship. I only just found out.”

“How is her mood?” Chi Yi asked.

“The clarification was the company’s decision, not her own wish. She’s been a bit despondent since we discussed the plan.” Fearing Chi Yi would blame Cheng Yixin, Fang Yuhan added quickly: “You know Yixin is our company’s most popular artist, and the company has signed a betting agreement. Before the results are out, I don’t have the courage to bear the potential risks.”

“So this time, consider it me morally kidnapping her. she has no choice in this matter.”

Fang Yuhan felt apprehensive after saying this; admitting one’s selfishness truly required courage.

“President Fang,” after a long while, Chi Yi spoke, “as a fellow businessperson, I can understand your position, and I accept the solution proposed by your company.”

“However—I hope you understand that my acceptance isn’t because I want to help Xinyu Media.”

“Disclosing our relationship now would be all harm and no benefit. It would make Yixin’s hard work over the past few years go to waste. She is a determined person; she fought her way from a shared dressing room to the position she holds now. I don’t want her to fade into obscurity. Perhaps she will feel regret over the decision to clarify now, but I don’t want her to look back later and regret not continuing her path as an actress.”

“Therefore, I accept your plan without grievances.”

Hearing Chi Yi’s words, Fang Yuhan was stunned. She had prepared many words to soothe Chi Yi’s emotions, but she hadn’t expected her to be so mature and steady, able to rationally analyze the pros and cons even in this situation.

“…Thank you,” Fang Yuhan said sheepishly. “I’ll go check on Yixin’s mood. Until the press conference is over… please refrain from contacting her for now. I’m afraid she’ll…”

“I understand.”

One hour later, at the press conference.

The invited media included major video platforms and daily newspapers, all scrambling for first-hand information. After all, there aren’t many stars these days who hold a formal press conference to clarify rumors.

Before going on stage, Cheng Yixin repeatedly reviewed the pre-drafted media questions and standard answers prepared by the PR team. It was ironic that after years of being in the industry, her first major press event was to clarify a truth that actually happened.

“Yixin, don’t be nervous,” Li Wenjing comforted her from the side. “The media we’re familiar with are arranged in the front. Just pick the first few for questions. If there’s something you really can’t answer, just deny it.”

“It’s fine. After the clarification, the media will post on Weibo. Their influence is much stronger than those bottom-tier marketing accounts. This will blow over in a few days.”

“…Mhm.”

Seeing the host maintaining order backstage, she suddenly remarked, “Sometimes I really don’t want to be a public figure.”

“!!” Li Wenjing gasped. “My dear, don’t you dare cause trouble! Think of your endorsements! If you have to pay them all back, it won’t be a small sum!”

Cheng Yixin turned to look at her and gave a hollow smile. “…Don’t worry.”

Cheng Yixin entered to the applause of the media. As she sat at the front, countless lights hit her face. On the large screen behind her were the beach photos that had started the storm. The media below held microphones with various logos, vying to ask questions.

“Yixin, do you have anything to say regarding these photos?”

“Yixin, is the person in the photos really you? Is the other person the young entrepreneur Chi Yi as rumored?”

“Yixin…”

Cheng Yixin looked back at the photos. On the giant screen, they were magnified many times, making the already poor night-shot quality even blurrier.

Maintaining a smile, she said, “The person in the photos is indeed me. That day, Chi Yi came to visit me at work, and since there was a beach right downstairs, we went for a walk together. As for the photo being circulated as a ‘passionate kiss,’ in reality… I had sand in my eyes.”

“The beach is windy, so it’s normal for sand to blow into one’s eyes. I don’t know why this cleverly-angled photo is being circulated as us kissing.” Cheng Yixin tried to keep her expression as natural as possible to make her words more believable.

One reporter, determined to dig up a scoop, asked: “Then why were you helping her tie her shoelaces? That gesture is very intimate.”

Cheng Yixin looked at the reporter, tilted her head, and made a puzzled expression. “Is tying a shoelace ‘intimate’? Perhaps you’ve seen too many TV dramas using that to express feelings between leads. In real life, one person helping another is very normal. Just like her helping me blow sand out of my eye was misconstrued as a kiss to spark discussion.”

“What are your thoughts on being falsely accused in a ‘lesbian scandal’?”

Cheng Yixin looked toward the voice. Her gaze settled on the logo on the microphone, and her smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. “To the staff from Douqu TV, I will answer your question.”

“I do not believe that same-sex love is a ‘scandal.’ A man loving a woman, or a man loving a man—these are all emotions based on the heart. Love is unrelated to gender; as long as it is sincere, it deserves respect and should not be called a ‘scandal’.”

“Then, are you and Chi Yi in a relationship?” another reporter asked.

“…” Cheng Yixin’s fingers resting on the table twitched unconsciously.

Are she and Chi Yi in a relationship? Yes. But in this setting, her only answer could be a denial. How would Chi Yi feel? They were just dating and not hurting anyone, yet now they were being judged by netizens.

The hall fell into an eerie silence.

“Yixin?”

Cheng Yixin snapped back. Facing the camera, she said earnestly: “…She is a very important person to me.”

The room erupted.

“So, you are dating, right?!”

Sensing the atmosphere was wrong, Li Wenjing immediately grabbed a microphone from the side. “Yixin means a very important friend. They have a very good relationship.”

“Yixin, is that true?”

Facing the media’s skepticism, the reporters looked as if their faces were screaming: Big scoop! Send the press release now!

In that moment, she recoiled. She was afraid that if the relationship were exposed, her fans would attack Chi Yi, and she was afraid the company would lose the betting agreement because of her.

Cheng Yixin regained her usual smile, stood up from her chair, and leaned one hand on the table while holding the microphone with the other.

“Yes, we are very good friends.” As she spoke, her fingers dug into the tabletop so hard her fingernails ached, as if the physical pain could alleviate the emotions in her heart.

The video of the clarification at the press conference hit the trending list half an hour after it ended.

Cheng Yixin’s fans breathed sighs of relief. Some comments celebrated that their goddess was straight, meaning they “still had a chance.” More comments focused on her reply to Douqu TV, feeling that as a “straight person,” her respectful attitude toward the LGBTQ+ community was commendable. She gained favor from the general public, and many became new fans.

Public opinion was brought under control. In just half a day, the situation had completely turned around.

Chi Yi learned from Li Wenjing that Cheng Yixin had returned home to rest. She felt calm, and the weight on her heart finally eased slightly.

“President Chi, are you going to see Teacher Cheng?”

Chi Yi nodded, putting aside the documents on her desk. In front of her were the items donated by the artists. “Check the inventory list once more.” It was already dark outside, and she was eager to see Cheng Yixin.

Her Volvo drove into the Junshan neighborhood. From a distance, Chi Yi saw a car parked in front of her house.

“Aunt?” Chi Yi leaned toward the car window. She wanted to ask Feng Xianlan why she had come without a word, but she realized it was likely because of the trending news.

She welcomed her into the house. As Feng Xianlan walked through the front yard, she paused briefly by the koi pond. she said, “You’ve raised these fish well.”

Chi Yi smiled. “As long as they have food, they’re content.”

While changing shoes, Feng Xianlan noticed another pair of house slippers in the shoe cabinet and looked down at her own disposable ones. Entering the living room, the bird in the cage on the coffee table saw someone return and flapped its wings.

“When did you start keeping a bird?”

“I found it a few days ago. Its leg was injured, so I’m keeping it for now,” Chi Yi told her. “The wound is mostly healed. I’ll release it back to nature when the weather is good.”

“Does Yixin like birds too?” Feng Xianlan suddenly mentioned her name.

Chi Yi’s expression paused before she replied, “She’s afraid of feathered things. But she was the one who found the bird.”

“Mhm.” Feng Xianlan nodded and asked directly: “Are you two in a relationship?”

“Yes.”

“But she clarified at the press conference today that you aren’t.”

“Given the situation, saying that was the best result.”

“Aren’t you sad?” Feng Xianlan frowned, unable to understand.

“I’m not.”

“But if your grandfather knew the person you liked distanced herself from you for the sake of her career, he’d be angry.”

Chi Yi looked at her aunt and asked, “Are you going to tell him?”

“You’re an adult; I don’t interfere in your love life.” Feng Xianlan paused. “But as your aunt, I must advise you on some things. The entertainment industry is more complicated than you imagine, and there are many things beyond one’s control. You will suffer many grievances; dating an artist doesn’t suit you.”

“Are you referring to watching my girlfriend hype CPs with others?” Chi Yi smiled. “I don’t mind. I trust her.”

Feng Xianlan glanced at her. “The other party in Xinyu Media’s betting agreement is me, and the other side is Fang Yuhan. In truth, even if the company fails the agreement, it just means I get all the shares. It wouldn’t have a major impact on Cheng Yixin herself.”

“Then, Aunt, are you saying you’d prefer our relationship be exposed? So you can get the shares.”

“I’m not that wicked!” Feng Xianlan laughed. “I just feel that even though there’s a roundabout way, choosing to do this is very unfair to you.”

“There was no other way. Fang Yuhan is a determined person just like Yixin; she was the one who persuaded Yixin to clarify.”

“I know. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve put too much pressure on her.”

“Who are you referring to?”

“Never mind.” Feng Xianlan stood up and looked at her, still a bit worried. she asked, “If you truly feel aggrieved, tell me.”

“I don’t. Yixin is likely feeling worse than I am. I’m just about to go see her.”

“…You might as well just tell me I’m a third wheel.”

Fine. She had thought her niece with no dating experience would be hiding under the covers crying. Turns out she had worried for nothing.