Li Beinian was thrilled.

  Mu Xichen held her steady and raised his eyebrow slightly, asking, “Selected for?”


  “Selected!” With her arms circling his neck, she laughed and said, “I’ve told you. I’m now the supporting actress for ‘Stinging Vine!’”


  So it was this?

  Mu Xichen’s lips turned upwards subtl as he studied her excited expression. He asked, “Who’s the female lead?”


  “Oh, that’s a big thing, it’s Liu Wei!” Li Beinian hugged him and said, “Liu Wei is a veteran and has won many awards including Best Actress. She won the best supporting role in Hollywood this year.”


  “Is it that great?”


  “Of course it’s great!” Li Beinian looked at the ignorant man, patted his hand and slid off him. “There aren’t many good actors with real skills in this industry. Liu Wei is one of them.”


  As she spoke, the image of the short-haired Liu Wei smiling at her from among the judging panel appeared in her mind.

  “I had caused such a huge commotion at the audition venue and created so much hoo-ha on Weibo that I thought I had lost any chance of being selected.”


  As she spoke, a thought suddenly crossed her mind. She asked, “That’s not right. Logically speaking, she shouldn’t have taken a fancy to me. Could it be that you’re involved?”


  As she pondered this possibility, Li Beinian felt a chill down her spine as her joy and excitement vanished.

  She looked at him suspiciously and asked again, “Was it you?”


  Mu Xichen studied her expression. It was as if she would pounce on him and chew him up the moment he responded.

  The man shook his head and answered, “No.”


  “Really?” Li Beinian stared at him steadily.

  Mu Xichen looked calm and extremely serious.

  After staring at him for a long time, she suddenly had another thought. Even if he had done it, and given that he was now denying it, she’d be damn if she could tell from his expression!

  Finally, she looked away and mumbled, “Pity you’re not an actor.”


  Mu Xichen took it as a compliment.

  She continued, “If you had been involved in my securing of this supporting role, this would be considered an unwritten rule. People can use this against me. Who knows what they will say.”


  Mu Xichen reached out and embraced her. “I really didn’t.”


  Only half-convinced, Li Beinian turned away and sighed in relief. “That’s good.”


  Mu Xichen said rather helplessly, “Even if I were to give my wife a hand, it’s not illegal. What has it got to do with outsiders?”


  “No one else knows about our relationship.” Li Beinian hugged him. “They think I have a sugar daddy behind me and that I have someone to rely on. They will only diss me and say that I’m dirty, and that I’m selling my body to get ahead. It’s ugly.”


  Mu Xichen’s eyebrows twitched.

  Weren’t these words too unpleasant?

  Noticing his expression, Li Beinian continued, “Words are a fearful thing. When too many people talk about rubbish like that, everyone will start believing and my image will be ruined. That won’t do.”


  Mu Xichen nodded with understanding.

  The principle was the same everywhere.

  To destroy a person, starting with rumors will never go too wrong.

  Most of the time, people don’t know the truth from lies, but word eventually spreads from one person to another.

  Ultimately, it’s just jealousy at play.

  Mu Xichen suddenly felt his heart ache. Stroking the tips of her hair gently, he whispered, “Must you really be an actress?”