Self-Perception - Chapter 69

“But Teacher Lin has always kept herself out of worldly affairs. Would she be willing?”

“I helped her before. Teacher Lin is a person who values affection and righteousness, she will help.”

Three days later, the sky was overcast with dense clouds.

Various media outlets had taken their designated positions early. Reporters jostled and crowded, hoping to be the first to capture firsthand information the moment “Luo Zhou” appeared, aiming for a major scoop.

Gu Wansheng had secretly dispatched several bodyguards to surround the venue and occupy the closest positions to prevent anyone from causing a disturbance.

Suddenly, someone shouted, “Luo Zhou!”

Everyone turned toward the source of the voice. Seeing a woman wearing a mask, they immediately swarmed toward her. The bodyguards maintained a perimeter of about ten centimeters around Wen Jinyan, creating a safe haven for her.

“Luo Zhou, is what you said a few days ago true?”

“If the events back then were a frame-up, why didn’t you take legal action to defend your rights instead of waiting until now?”

The massive crowd chattered incessantly. Wen Jinyan felt a surge of irritation. As the scenes and figures before her eyes slowly overlapped with those from years ago, her body couldn’t stop trembling.

“Yanyan, don’t be afraid.” Comforting words came through the earpiece hidden by Wen Jinyan’s hair, providing solace.

“And me, we’re all here,” another voice added, it was Su Muqing.

Wen Jinyan instinctively looked up at a certain room with a one way window on the second floor of the conference hall and nodded slightly. She walked to the center of the venue and picked up the microphone.

“Hello everyone. I know you have many questions, and I will explain them one by one.”

She spoke slowly: “Eight years ago, after attending an evaluation meeting, I returned to my hotel room. As soon as I entered, I was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, I found myself lying with a woman, that person was Bo Shan. Shortly after, a large group of reporters burst through the door. Among the crowd was another person: Xiao She.”

“I was young then, seeing such a scene, I naturally felt panic and tried to explain. But people only believe what they see. I was defenseless, and with Bo Shan’s testimony against me, I had no credibility. Xiao She and Bo Shan testified together. Being alone and without evidence, I was helpless. You probably know the rest of the story better than I do.”

“Now, I have found the evidence.” As she finished speaking, the large screen behind her lit up. Sharp-eyed viewers noticed the scene on the screen was indeed a hotel, showing two people pulling at each other, it was Xiao She and Bo Shan.

Gu Wansheng turned up the volume of the recording so everyone in the hall could hear.

“Do you really want to do this?” Xiao She asked.

“Don’t you want to bring her down? Or do you want to be stepped on by her for the rest of your life?”

In the second floor meeting room, Su Muqing felt disgusted listening to their voices. She turned to Zhang Wen. “It’s a good thing you found someone to restore the video back then.”

Years ago, Zhang Wen had accidentally discovered the two talking. After being caught, her phone was seized and the footage deleted. Later, she found a mobile phone expert to recover it.

“I also feel very sorry for her regarding what happened back then. If I had been braver, she might not have had to suffer so many years of torment.”

As the video ended, Wen Jinyan continued, “The two of them conspired to frame me.”

“Xiao She did more than just that. He also used my left-behind manuscripts to feed an AI for scriptwriting, disregarding the hard work of original authors and the expectations of the public.”

Several images flashed onto the screen. In the live stream, netizens could no longer stay silent.

[Netizen A]: Damn, not only did he do something so disgusting, he even used AI to replace his own professional work.

[Netizen B]: I knew his writing felt mechanical, but the fanboys kept saying I was just jealous.

“He gained countless profits and fame. But while he reaped all that wealth and reputation, he did not pay his taxes.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd hissed in surprise. The screen began displaying Xiao She’s methods of tax evasion and the amounts involved over recent years.

“In conclusion, I have been framed from start to finish.”

A reporter couldn’t help but ask, “Since Xiao She can use AI, you could also use AI to synthesize the video and conversation in the hotel.”

“Yeah, that’s right!” others chimed in.

“I can prove it.” A warm voice sounded. Everyone looked toward the source as bodyguards escorted a woman onto the stage.

It was Lin Qingnian.

“I can testify,” Lin Qingnian said once more.

The live stream chat was instantly filled with question marks.

[Netizen D]: Even Teacher Lin is here.

[Netizen F]: Teacher Lin is a recognized ‘clear stream’ in the industry, she never colludes with others and has a legendary ear, she can hear the slightest flaw in a voice. I believe her.

“All the voices in her video are original.”

“Thank you, Teacher Lin.” Wen Jinyan nodded quietly to her. Lin Qingnian glanced at her, and having finished her part, she left under the protection of the bodyguards.

The photos on the screen changed into a video. It was the conversation between the two in Xiao She’s office three days ago.

“What, are you so exasperated because I hit a sore spot? I’m telling you, at worst, we’ll perish together!”

Wen Jinyan bowed deeply, there was no need to say anything more. She left under the protection of bodyguards while reporters were blocked from following. The video on the screen played on a loop.

“Not bad, Zhang Wen. When did you record this part?” Su Muqing felt incredibly relieved seeing this video.

“Three days ago.” She had overheard it by chance at the door.

“What are you guys chatting about?” Wen Jinyan got into the car.

“Talking about how relieving this is.”

“It’s a pity. I originally wanted to expose him during the Golden Rooster Awards, to make him fall harder from a higher height,” Su Muqing said with some regret.

“Alright, let’s stop talking about him. Let’s go eat. My treat,” Wen Jinyan smiled.

“Our treat,” Gu Wansheng said, looking at her and taking her hand.

Suddenly, Wen Jinyan’s phone rang. It was Wen Qiuyi calling.

“Yanyan, what’s going on with the live stream?”

“Auntie, it’s a long story. I’ll come see you in person later, okay?”

“Okay.” Wen Qiuyi hung up.

After the broadcast ended, major headlines reported the news. Relevant departments began to hold Xiao She accountable, only to find that he had already fled.

Of course, the people eating at the dinner table didn’t know this yet, nor did they care about the online news, letting it ferment.

After finishing the meal, Wen Jinyan and Gu Wansheng went to Wen Qiuyi’s place, only to meet an old acquaintance there.

“Aunt?!” Gu Wansheng was puzzled. “What are you doing here?”

“I came here to hitch a meal,” Gu Huai said calmly, sitting straight down on the sofa.

“Shouldn’t you give us an explanation about that matter?”

Wen Qiuyi glared at Gu Huai. Gu Huai immediately moved aside, trying to lower her presence.

No wonder her aunt hadn’t come to check on her, she was at her little aunt’s house. Were the two of them that close? And her intuition told her that something was “off” between them.

Wen Jinyan recounted everything. Wen Qiuyi was shocked, angry, and heartbroken after hearing it.

“Yanyan, why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

“Auntie, it’s fine as long as it’s resolved. Let the past be the past.”

“Something this important, you should have told me sooner. If your mother knew, she would…” Wen Qiuyi trailed off.

“Auntie, Mother wouldn’t blame you,” Wen Jinyan finished for her.

“From now on, if anything happens, you must discuss it with me. Even if you want to act on your own, you have to let me know.”

“Yanyan, you are my only relative left.”

“Auntie…” Wen Jinyan’s eyes reddened.

Gu Wansheng didn’t disturb them. She went to the balcony to catch the breeze early, and Gu Huai followed.

The two stood in the wind. Gu Huai spoke first. “Nothing to say?”

“Aunt, I only found out about this news a few days ago myself,” Gu Wansheng said.

From this event onward, Wen Jinyan and Wen Qiuyi opened up to each other, and their relationship grew much closer. Not long after Gu Wansheng and Wen Jinyan left, Gu Huai was also kicked out by Wen Qiuyi.

“Qiuyi, Qiuyi!” Gu Huai called out, but she was greeted only by the sound of a closing door.

She sighed deeply, not wanting to disturb her further. It seemed her road to “wooing her wife” was still very long.

When the couple returned home, they took a shower and fell asleep holding each other. Tonight was dreamless, yet sweet.

Three weeks later, another director came to invite Wen Jinyan, but she declined.

“Is this the tenth one? Or the twelfth?” Gu Wansheng walked over as she closed the door.

“I haven’t counted,” Wen Jinyan thought for a moment and replied.

Since the day after the truth was revealed, directors had been seeking her out, wanting to secure her future scripts. Wen Jinyan declined them all with excuses like “no inspiration,” “wanting to rest,” or “no current plans.” Even some very famous directors and producers came every day just to become a familiar face.

“Our Teacher Wen’s reputation is truly great now.”

“It is quite big. After all, I’ve been on the trending searches every day and haven’t come down yet,” Wen Jinyan played along with the joke.

“So, what are your plans?”

“I’ll still hand out scripts based on ability and suitability.” Wen Jinyan sat back down beside Gu Wansheng, who instinctively pulled her into an embrace.

“Has Xiao She been found?”

“Not yet.” Gu Wansheng squeezed her hand. “He will be found.”

A month later, Wen Jinyan and Gu Wansheng’s lives returned to normal. Wen Jinyan returned to her work as an editor, visiting Gu Wansheng on set every day. Sometimes she would stay for the entire day.

Seeing the two of them so in love, the staff on set didn’t know who to envy more. Meng Qiu was especially enjoying “shipping” the couple. She secretly took photos and posted them to the “Jinyan Shengxing” CP super topic.

“Family, I’m fan girling so hard again. Say no more, Sheng Jin forever!”

Until work ended that evening. Wen Jinyan received a phone call from an unsaved number. Her intuition felt something was wrong.

“Hello.”

“Is this Xiaoyan?”

Wen Jinyan’s gaze turned cold. “Is there something you need?”

“I heard you ran into some trouble before, but you solved it yourself. I’ve been busy lately and only just remembered. Congratulations on returning to your career.”

“Is there anything else?” Wen Jinyan was becoming impatient.

“Oh, one more thing. Your Mommy is dead. Before she died, she told me not to tell you, but I thought you had the right to know. However, she has already been buried. If you want to see her, I can send someone to pick you up.”

“What? What did you say? She… she’s dead?” Wen Jinyan staggered, almost dropping her phone.

Gu Wansheng returned to see Wen Jinyan’s expression was wrong and immediately stepped forward to support her.