Chapter 31: Avoiding Suspicion Part 2

He usually communicated a lot with the band and backing vocalists. Today, he spoke unusually little.

“I finally understand why some viewers use magnifying glasses to watch dramas and variety shows, because now I’m getting curious too. Why the hell did Mengmeng take off his jacket? The editing of the joint rehearsal is clearly choppy. One second it’s filming a few pretty sisters playing violin. The current sung verse is clearly Mengmeng’s voice, but the camera just won’t cut to him. Why?”

Meanwhile, a self-proclaimed “insider” made a bombshell post on the Green Petal Entertainment Group:

【Rebuilt Public Opinion Observation Room | Avoiding Suspicion to This Extent is Truly Rare】

————

Right on topic.

Have no proof of identity, don’t know how to prove it either.

Don’t ask if I’m an insider for the guy or the girl. I came to know about this purely by coincidence. Not taking anyone’s side. Currently confirmed three points:

1. Already broken up, for many years now.

2. The guy only wrote some related songs; it’s not lingering love.

3. The girl is about to appear on a new Whale variety show, but Night Heart Seven wasn’t a stepping stone for it, purely a coincidence.

1L: ????

5L: Front-row group photo!

9L: Damn, really? No wonder I felt a complex mix of emotions the moment I saw her…

15L: The first moment I saw her in that light green long dress, standing out like a crane among chickens, I knew this woman was anything but simple. That overflowing confidence, the seemingly relaxed yet ready-for-battle-at-any-moment contradictory state, it’s rare even among Inner Entertainment female artists. To say she’s not aggressive, yet you’re subconsciously on guard against her. Anyway, it’s complex.

39L: You guys scroll too fast, can’t even grab a spot on the first page.

59L: From the very first second she appeared on screen, I got this premonition of impending big trouble. That aura she has is subtly similar to Sister-in-Law Meng’s, completely within Mengmeng’s aesthetic range. I immediately started searching keywords across platforms. Sure enough, many people had their sixth sense alarm bells ringing like mine.

70L: Which generation of Sister-in-Law Meng is this?

79L: From what I know, Li Li is married, right?

84L: Known that Li Li has been married for 6 years. Six years ago, Mengmeng was 19 and still studying abroad. So when exactly did they date?

88L: I only know Whale has a marriage observation reality show for Q3. Li Li isn’t going on that, is she? Aren’t she and Zong Xincheng marketed as the Golden Boy and Jade Girl? They seem so well-matched, haven’t heard any marital strife rumors…

93L: Wait, no, Li Li is 7 years older than Mengmeng!

104L: My brain is gonna explode. Someone come sort this out for me.

109L: No wonder a few shots during the dress rehearsal were edited so choppily. You can tell Mengmeng was trying to avoid suspicion. Any sisters want to analyze his mindset? Clearly wrote “Purple Jasmine,” but acts evasive when seeing his ex in reality. And rumored his current girlfriend was accompanying him during those recording days. Isn’t this a ready-made love triangle!

……

872L: Little Red Book truly lives up to its reputation, can dig up anything.

878L:

Li Li and Mengmeng did cross paths. She went abroad on an exchange program years ago for half a year.

More coincidentally, the distance from her exchange unit to the city where Mengmeng was studying was no more than a two-hour drive. In the subsequent half-year, her social media never posted anything related to Zong Xincheng again. But after returning home, she officially announced marriage within half a year, followed by a promotion to First Chair in one swift succession…

881L: According to the timeline compiled on Little Red Book, Mengmeng was clearly not the third party, but a tragic bystander even worse off than being the other man. They broke up and made up for so many years but couldn’t reach a happy ending. Sigh, Mengmeng just happened to be there during a gap period. Then Li Li turned around and married Zong Xincheng.

895L: Is Zong Xincheng even a good guy himself?

897L: There’s more experts?

901L: Zong wasn’t idle during that gap period either, photographed several times with the Jindai Industrial heiress. Tabloids back then said they were about to get engaged, looking at rings and such. Thought he was going to marry into wealth, never expected him to end up marrying Li Li again…

904L: These two failed at riding horses to find donkeys, then settled for each other.

906L: Meaning only Mengmeng got hurt, and he was just 19 at that?

918L: [Fansite photo of Mengmeng’s 3rd Public Performance stage] Are you talking about this Mengmeng here?

925L: Truly heartbroken for him. His first love ended in such misery.

Friday evening, the Heartbreak members gathered at the studio as usual.

Considering this episode’s content was indeed not simple, Liu Lusi kept a voice call open with Qu Yanni the whole time. The two of them coordinated communications and monitored public opinion to adjust strategies promptly.

“The matter between Mengmeng and Li Li can’t be hidden.”

“It was never something that could be hidden.”

Just as men understand men, women also understand their own gender very well.

Of course, they weren’t Li Li herself. Naturally, they weren’t qualified to stand on the sidelines and criticize, or even condemn, her actions back then.

Who wouldn’t want to leapfrog social classes and ascend in one step?

Who wouldn’t want a life of wealth and smooth sailing?

Pursuing a better material life was not inherently wrong. But from an emotional standpoint, Mengmeng was indeed the sole victim.

“After she and Zong Xincheng go on that variety show, will they divorce?”

“Hard to say. Both are unwilling to let go after being entangled for so many years.”

Unwilling to accept they didn’t find a better option back then, and unwilling to spend the rest of their lives with the person beside them now.

Moving up further was probably impossible.

To put it harshly, titles like “Cellist” and “Violinist” just sound nice.

Having a government-affiliated position seemed stable, but how could it be as fast money as being a celebrity or an entertainer?

But retreating? They probably didn’t want that either.

For them, not divorcing at least maintained a binding utility. They could market the Golden Boy and Jade Girl concept occasionally to get some face-time. Even if life was truly miserable, it was still better than settling for less. After all, judging by Li Li and Zong Xincheng’s current situation, if they divorced and looked for new partners, they’d probably have to carry someone along…

Liu Lusi, thinking about Mengmeng’s family situation, couldn’t help but let out two low chuckles. “What’s this, different paths but the same destination? In any case, both of them failed to recognize a true gem.”

She deliberately avoided Mengmeng while on the phone, but it was actually unnecessary.

Because this episode featured two people he temporarily didn’t want to face. He only watched a bit before returning to the studio, closing the soundproof door, and focusing on work. What he was working on was the ad track for a previous luxury brand and B Magazine’s fashion spread.

“Teacher Mengmeng, the actor’s side still has some issues with the lyrics.”

Li Tingzhou was beyond exasperated. “What exactly is the issue? Sexual shame?”

He just didn’t get it. To match the fashion spread’s style, he had already simplified the entire song’s lyrics to the absolute extreme, striving to showcase the luxury brand’s “simplicity is beauty” philosophy. Considering the need to highlight the featured artist’s charm, he retained a few seemingly blunt, vulgar words that could contrast with the minimalism…

Of course, these words were a bit hard to speak directly in translation.

Couldn’t the profound depth of Chinese characters be perfectly applied here?!

Or was it that some people truly, upon seeing words like sex or fuxk, would cover their ears and avert their eyes? And upon seeing words like want, hate, love, and the like, they’d be utterly mortified, wanting to dig a hole and bury themselves?

The Director’s assistant was also startled speechless by Mengmeng’s reply.

Teacher, is it really okay to be so blunt?

“Where are the issues? Can you mark them all at once for me to see? One lyric change marks one comment, another change marks another? Am I dealing with a person or a bot? His time is valuable, but mine can just be wasted freely?”

“Alright, Teacher Mengmeng, I’ll relay that to them.”

The poor Director’s assistant had to be not only a messenger but also part-time punching bag. After conveying Mengmeng’s feedback to the artist’s side, the artist’s Agent also sounded hesitant: “Director Xiao Fang, don’t rush yet. Please help me soothe the Producer Teacher a bit, let me ask again—”

Chi Yue hung up the phone and turned to look at Cui Lin, whose face was dark with gloom.

“Speak up. Are you so angry you’re taking it out on the ad track’s Producer?”

Cui Lin couldn’t be bothered to move, slumping sideways onto the sofa. “Speak about what? Didn’t I say? I hate words like fuxk, sex, fame.”

“But his lyrics are written like that, and they fit the musical style perfectly.”

Chi Yue wasn’t a professional, so he couldn’t offer any long-winded critique. But he could hear that the producer had very carefully tailored this ad track according to the director’s concept. The director’s side was quite satisfied. As long as Cui Lin nodded, they could immediately set up and start shooting.

“What else do you want to change? Keep dragging this out and people will start having opinions.”

Cui Lin clutched his chest and looked at his Agent with a suddenly pitiable expression. “I want a song like ‘Purple Jasmine.’ Can I?”

Chi Yue was silent for a few seconds. “You’re sick.”

Saying this, he turned around to reply to the Director’s assistant: “No matter what objections you have, you are not to have any objections right now. I’m directly replying to them. Before you join the production, we need to finish all these shooting schedules…”

After waiting a brief half-minute, he heard no protest from Cui Lin.

Turning his head, he saw Cui Lin, one hand still clutching his chest, the other hand hanging from the sofa down to the carpet, his eyes fixed on the person on the screen. This rendition of “Curved Moon” was truly so sweet. Though not as stunning as the first episode, the string accompaniment—lingering and entwined—added a layer of sorrowful melancholy. Sweetness mixed with bitterness, bearing a distinct flavor all its own.

Chi Yue finished replying to the email, his mood lightening again.

He also looked at the screen, casually commenting, “I think this First Chair could also join Tide’s all-adult women’s talent show. This style fits too well.”

Cui Lin snorted coldly. “Then you’re mistaken. She’s not in that league.”