CH 71

Zheng Baozhu's assistant was driving in front, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror to check the back seat. Qu Zhi and Zheng Baozhu sat in the back, both of their expressions not looking good.

"What did that person want just now?" Qu Zhi looked at Zheng Baozhu and spoke first.

Zheng Baozhu said, "He wanted me to go to KTV to sing, but I told him I didn't want to go, and he kept pulling me. Thankfully, you came, or else I might have ended up fighting with him."

"..."

Qu Zhi fell silent for a moment and then said slowly, "What about the others? Why was it just the two of you there?"

"They haven't finished eating yet. Lin Ziqin said he wanted to catch his flight, so I said I'd leave with him. I didn't expect that this Yu Wei guy would follow me out," Zheng Baozhu explained.

The assistant hadn't joined them for the meal and didn't know what happened before, but hearing Zheng Baozhu's account, the assistant frowned and said, "Miss Baozhu, Yu Wei has a bad reputation. He's always ambiguous with internet celebrities and involved in countless rumors with young stars. He has also insulted reporters on Weibo. He's not a good person to deal with. Will he seek revenge for what happened today?"

It seems that Yu Wei has taken a liking to Miss Baozhu and thought he could handle the situation the same way he had dealt with others before. But now that Miss Baozhu didn't give him any face, he must be very angry.

As soon as the assistant finished speaking, Zheng Baozhu's phone rang. It was Zhou Xiaonan calling.

"Hello, Sister Xiaonan, what's up?" Zheng Baozhu answered the call. Zhou Xiaonan asked from the other end, "Was Yu Wei present at the dinner tonight?"

"Yes," Zheng Baozhu replied and subconsciously sat up straight, "No way, did he go to complain to you?"

Zhou Xiaonan said, "What happened between you two? He just angrily scolded you on Weibo; our colleagues from the PR department saw it and told me immediately."

"What?" Zheng Baozhu couldn't help but laugh out of anger, "He has the audacity to scold me? Does he think I'm an easy target?"

"Don't worry. He didn't mention names directly, but anyone with a discerning eye can tell he's referring to you," Zhou Xiaonan said, concerned that Zheng Baozhu might get upset, and added, "Tell me what happened between you two tonight, and we'll figure out a plan here."

"He just wanted me to go to KTV with him after dinner to drink, but I refused. Now we're on the way back to the hotel," Zheng Baozhu explained.

Zhou Xiaonan knew what kind of person Yu Wei was, and after hearing Zheng Baozhu's account, she understood the situation, "Okay, I got it. Don't worry about him for now. We'll come up with a response after discussing it here."

"Okay," Zheng Baozhu responded and hung up the phone. She then opened Weibo and asked, "Xiao Yuan, do you know Yu Wei's Weibo account?"

"Just use his name and add a 'V' to it."

Zheng Baozhu nodded and typed Yu Wei's name in the search bar. Indeed, his Weibo account popped up.

He had just posted a Weibo five minutes ago and there were already hundreds of comments.

Yu Wei V: A certain star is too full of herself. She hasn't even become famous yet and already giving the investors a hard time?? Haha, you were just an extra in the entertainment industry. If it weren't for your unclear relationship with the director, could you have become the lead? Acting all high and mighty in front of me?

After reading it, Zheng Baozhu's brows furrowed. Although the statement didn't directly name her, it was close to exposing her identity. [The Pursuit of the Heart] was invested by Huanyu, and Yu Wei flaunted the surname "Yu" everywhere. Who wouldn't know he was associated with Huanyu?

Yu Wei usually generated gossip news related to the entertainment industry; his Weibo following was considerable. As soon as he posted, many of Zheng Baozhu's critics detected the situation.

「Zheng Baozhu? 」

「I know who it is now. I said she rose to fame for no reason, and sure enough, she's a dud. 」

「Hahaha, I'm not surprised at all. Those who suddenly become popular for no reason always have issues. 」

「Showing off in front of the investors, well done. The key is, you're not even famous. 」

「Knowledge bomb! ZBZ is currently headlining two TV dramas directed by the same person. 」

「Didn't she announce having a boyfriend before? Ah, this...is awkward, hahaha.」

Looking at the netizens' comments, Yu Wei's anger subsided a little. Heh, a small star still wanted to compete with him; she really didn't know what was good for her.

He instructed the driver to take him to a KTV nearby. He got off the car and walked directly to a private room. After feeling upset because of Zheng Baozhu, he asked his buddies' locations and rushed over to join them for singing and drinking. As he pushed open the private room door, he found everyone huddled together, looking at their phones.

"What's so interesting? Are you all hiding something from me?" Yu Wei curiously walked over. When they looked up and saw him, their expressions turned somewhat strange, "Ah Wei, was the Weibo post you made just now about Zheng Baozhu?"

"Yes, I asked her to come and sing and drink, but she disrespected me. Heh, no one has dared to show me such disrespect before," Yu Wei knew that not everyone around him liked him, but they were wary of offending him due to his family background. He didn't care, anyway, he wasn't genuinely fond of them. They were together to have fun and benefit from each other. What's wrong with that?

Zheng Baozhu was just too arrogant.

One of the guys handed his phone to Yu Wei with a meaningful look, "You better see it yourself."

"What's this all about?" Yu Wei took the phone and immediately saw Zheng Baozhu had just reposted his Weibo post.

Zheng Baozhu V: You can go to hell, you despicable dog thief! So I'm disrespectful because I don't want to go to KTV with you? Do you think your face is so important? Even my dad wouldn't dare ask me to accompany someone for drinks. Who do you think you are? And about my relationship with the director, do you have any evidence? Show it in court if you dare, don't just whine on Weibo. Have some guts, shall we meet in court???

Yu Wei's face turned pale in anger; the others in the private room instinctively stepped back.

Zheng Baozhu felt satisfied after sending that message. Meanwhile, Zhou Xiaonan was still discussing countermeasures with her PR colleagues. When she saw the Weibo Zheng Baozhu posted, her face turned green.

"Zheng Baozhu, what are you doing! Didn't I tell you not to respond yet?" Zhou Xiaonan immediately called her, "By doing this, aren't you admitting that the post is about you?"

Zheng Baozhu held her phone and said, "Does it make any difference whether I admit it or not? The comments clearly mention my name, and he implied that I have an unclear relationship with Gao Boyun, suggesting that I'm making Qu Zhi wear a green hat! I can tolerate a lot, but I can't tolerate this about Qu Zhi!"

Zhou Xiaonan: "..."

Taking a deep breath, she asked Zheng Baozhu, "Is Qu Zhi with you?"

"Yes."

"Then didn't he see you posting on Weibo? Couldn't he have stopped you?"

"Why should he stop me? He supported me in posting!" Zheng Baozhu confirmed with Qu Zhi beside her, "Isn't that right?"

Qu Zhi: "..."

Perhaps she should have asked him before she posted it.

But he did indeed indulge her behavior and there was nothing more to argue about: "Yes, I agree with any decision Baozhu makes."

"..."

Zhou Xiaonan felt like she was going crazy and shouted on the phone, "Then do you also agree to break up with her?"

"I can agree to anything except that," Qu Zhi replied without changing his expression.

"... Fine, I don't want to argue with both of you anymore... Help! Yu Wei posted another Weibo!" Zhou Xiaonan felt like she needed to keep antacids on standby to handle her job as Zheng Baozhu's agent.

After ending the call, Zheng Baozhu noticed that Yu Wei had reposted her previous Weibo.

Yu Wei V: Huh, I gave you face, yet you jumped out yourself. Do you really think nobody knows about your little scheme? Fine, let's meet in court as you wish. Also, I officially announce that I'm withdrawing my investment from [The Pursuit of the Heart]!

Ha!!!! You thought you could threaten me with money?? Zheng Baozhu angrily reposted his Weibo post.

Zheng Baozhu V: If you want to withdraw your investment, go ahead, I'll invest by myself!! I'll immediately contact my lawyer. Anyone who dares not to show up in court is a coward!

Tonight's performance was truly amazing, and the pace was so fast that before the spectators could even react, the plot had already taken a new turn. Netizens were jumping between both their Weibo accounts, just like monkeys hopping around in a melon field.

Now, Zheng Baozhu had posted a Weibo, so netizens flocked to her side.

「Zheng Baozhu is the most straightforward celebrity I've ever seen, hahaha!」

「Everyone knows about Yu Wei's reputation. I'm on Baozhu's side for this one.」

「I'm laughing so hard, I thought it was just a childish fight, but then I realized they're quarreling with millions of yuan at stake. Now I'm shedding sour tears. 」

「Ah, ah, ah, Baozhu, well done! I've wanted to curse that despicable dog thief Yu Wei for so long!!!」

「The meme is here [dogthief.jpg].」

In just a few minutes, Yu Wei's "dog thief" meme spread all over the internet.

Zhou Xiaonan watched the entire spectacle with a smile and thought: I'm exhausted. Let it be. Whatever. :)

Meanwhile, Gao Boyun was still having dinner with the producers and creative team. No one in the private room had any idea of the chaos happening outside. By the end of the meal, Gao Boyun was already slightly drunk. He took out his phone to check the time, only to find dozens of missed calls. He was taken aback.

Muttering curses, he couldn't believe it, "What's going on? Did aliens invade Earth??"

While he was still wondering, his father, Gao Tianming, called him again. This time, Gao Boyun finally answered the call, "Dad..."

"What dad! You're my dad!"

"..."

Gao Boyun hesitated for a moment before speaking, "What happened?"

"Yu Wei and Zheng Baozhu are tearing each other apart on Weibo. If you don't answer the phone earlier, you might as well go listen to their court case as an audience!"

"Ah??" When he heard it might go to court, Gao Boyun panicked, "Did Yu Wei do something to Baozhu? I knew that scoundrel had bad intentions!"

"Heh!" Gao Tianming chuckled, "Go check Weibo yourself. After all, you've also landed a hot search."

"..."

How was this related to him? Gao Boyun rubbed his forehead, ended the call with his dad, and hurriedly checked Weibo. After reading through the night's drama, Gao Boyun sobered up from the alcohol. He clenched his phone for three seconds but couldn't hold back from cursing, "Yu Wei, you despicable dog thief!"

At this time, Zheng Baozhu had already returned to her hotel. On her way back, she immediately contacted her lawyer, saying she wanted to sue Yu Wei for spreading rumors and defamation. Then, she remembered there might be surveillance cameras at the venue, which could prove that Yu Wei was the one pestering her. The lawyer told her that only the police could access the surveillance footage, so she decided to report the incident to the police.

The assistant who drove her back was left completely speechless.

Previously, the assistant already knew that Zheng Baozhu was strong-willed after witnessing two incidents where she clarified plastic surgery rumors and defended Sun Jing against reporters. But today, the assistant was truly speechless. In the country's film and television industry, Huanyu Entertainment was an absolute leader, so despite knowing what kind of person Yu Wei was, she still angered him to the point of spurting blood.

Although Huanyu Entertainment's position was changing through these years, the Yu family's foundation remained strong. As the saying goes, a dead camel is still bigger than a horse, right?

So, the assistant really didn't expect Zheng Baozhu to be this domineering!!

While driving back, the assistant was still in a state of awe.

After taking a shower, Zheng Baozhu calmed down a lot. The alcohol from the night and the encounter with Yu Wei had caused her to be somewhat impulsive. Upon careful reflection, her approach might not have been appropriate, but... it still felt satisfying!

As she blew dry her hair, she saw Qu Zhi standing in her bedroom wearing pajamas. While she was taking a shower, Qu Zhi had also gone back to his room to freshen up. He came back because he was worried about Zheng Baozhu.

He visited Zheng Baozhu's bedroom twice, including this time. The last time he hadn't noticed, but this time, he saw a piece of writing from the third grade on her wall.

Zheng Baozhu saw him standing by the wall, looking up at the essay framed there, and suddenly felt embarrassed, "What are you looking at?"

Hearing her voice, Qu Zhi turned back and glanced at her with a gentle smile, "I'm admiring your masterpiece."

"Stop looking, stop looking. Your "A" essay looks way better!" Zheng Baozhu walked up to him, intending to cover his eyes. Qu Zhi evaded her hand, teasingly saying, "Wow, it's Zheng Baozhu! So pretty!"

"............" Zheng Baozhu was so embarrassed; Qu Zhi actually recited the content of her essay! "Ah, don't you dare say it!"

Now she not only had to cover Qu Zhi's eyes but also had to cover her ears. Qu Zhi held her hands and pulled her into his arms, asking, "What's the matter? Still feeling shy?"

Zheng Baozhu turned her head away, avoiding his gaze, "I'm not!"

"Oh, then why are your ears turning red?" Qu Zhi said softly, planting a kiss on Zheng Baozhu's ear, then chuckled lightly, "They've become even redder now."

"You're doing it on purpose!" Zheng Baozhu glared at him with displeasure. Qu Zhi smiled and hugged her tighter, looking into her eyes warmly, "Teacher Zhang encouraged you not to give up when facing setbacks. Indeed, from tonight's incident, our Zheng Baozhu will only bring setbacks to others."

"..." Zheng Baozhu gave a slight shrug, not replying.

Qu Zhi kissed her again and whispered softly, "But you're really courageous. Aren't you afraid of offending the Yu family?"

"What am I afraid of?" Zheng Baozhu looked up at him, "Now we live in a society under the rule of law. Does he still want to control everything? You're right, he's only become so arrogant because he hasn't faced a setback like me. He's just been allowed to inflate himself like this day by day!"

"Alright, don't be angry anymore. He must be more furious than you right now," Qu Zhi comforted Zheng Baozhu as he continued to kiss her gently.

Zheng Baozhu's anger dissipated instantly and she just gazed at him. Qu Zhi smiled and touched the tip of his nose against hers, asking, "What are you looking at?"

Zheng Baozhu leaned in and pecked him on the lips, saying, "I'm looking at your handsome face."

Then she pulled him to sit on the bed and declared dominantly, "Tonight, you're going to sleep here with me."

Qu Zhi chuckled and raised an eyebrow, "I can see that you're still under the influence of alcohol."

Zheng Baozhu puffed her cheeks but didn't say anything. It was rare for her to have such a cute expression, which made Qu Zhi couldn't help but touch her cheek, "I understand. I'll stay here with you. Rest early; we don't know how things will develop tomorrow."

"Mhm..." Zheng Baozhu nodded and, when Qu Zhi was about to leave, she pulled him back, "Where are you going?"

Qu Zhi replied, "I'll sleep on the other side."

Zheng Baozhu pursed her lips and watched him for a while, then suddenly, she sat on his lap, cupped his face, and kissed him deeply. Qu Zhi was briefly stunned, but then he quickly took the lead and deepened the kiss, holding the back of her head to keep her close.

Zheng Baozhu's hands were restless; Qu Zhi grabbed her hands, bringing them close and continuing the passionate exchange of tongues.

Zheng Baozhu knew that as long as she took the lead a bit, Qu Zhi couldn't resist. She could clearly sense that Qu Zhi was more passionate than ever before and the places he touched seemed to carry a fiery intensity.

Closing her eyes, she savored every moment with Qu Zhi, allowing herself to be immersed in this whirlpool of emotions with him.