Li Mengjiao was only joking about eating the magazine, but Liang Dan, who’d rushed back from out of town on the fastest flight, was ready to devour someone.
“Why on earth did you think deleting the forum post first was a good idea?”
Married for years, the couple had weathered many storms, and Liang Dan thought she’d grown used to her husband’s incompetence.
Whenever she felt their marriage was untenable, she’d talk herself round:
At least she knew this man inside out. They had an emotional foundation, years of marriage, and a child together. Finding a new father for their kid might not be better than the one they had. A useless man had his perks—capable men wouldn’t tolerate her control. When both spouses were strong-willed, the marriage became unstable. This mental mantra was Liang Dan’s way of keeping the marriage afloat.
But sometimes, Old Guan was so infuriating that her mantra failed, like now!
Liang Dan’s glare was terrifying, and General Manager Guan shrank, his voice weak, “I just wanted to control the situation…”
He was the company’s general manager—why couldn’t he make decisions?
His plan was to suppress the online posts before Liang Dan returned to Hunan, but new posts kept popping up, spreading from forums to Tieba and beyond. If they kept deleting, Guan feared the scandal might even hit QQ Zone!
This was Yuan Fenghui’s style.
Guan couldn’t think of anyone else who’d pull this off.
That woman was ruthless, aiming to ruin Xu Mei’s career with one blow.
Liang Dan frowned, “You think Yuan Fenghui did this? Something feels off.”
Guan and Cao Bo’s reasoning didn’t convince her. Would Yuan Fenghui cause such a stir just to target Xu Mei?
Honestly, Xu Mei wasn’t the company’s most valuable asset.
They’d signed this year’s talent show winner, runner-up, and third place, all more popular than last year’s Li Mengjiao—not because Li was weaker, but because this year’s show had bigger promotion and a larger audience base. The champion’s fans were especially fervent, rivaling Li Mengjiao’s.
If Yuan Fenghui was behind this, she wouldn’t just target Xu Mei…
Guan cut off her thoughts, “If not Yuan Fenghui, who else could stir up this much chaos? This isn’t just about crushing Xu Mei—I think the real targets are you and me!”
He whispered Director Fan’s name.
Director Fan was at the event.
Fan hadn’t been close to Yuan Fenghui before, but after Hunan TV bought the exclusive rights to *The Princess’s New Clothes*, they’d grown tight.
The talent show’s success boosted Liang Dan’s clout at Hunan TV. Her strong personality pushed for more resources for the show, but Fan was reserved, and their opinions clashed in meetings.
When it came to the station’s strategic direction, Guan felt no theory was too far-fetched!
Before Liang Dan could respond, her phone rang.
Deputy Station Chief Duan, silent for a day and a night, was calling.
Liang Dan laughed in exasperation.
Hiding, eh? Not hiding anymore?
Duan had been a coward for a full day, phones off, cut off from the world.
Liang Dan doubted he was reflecting. While everyone cleaned up his mess, he was probably cozying up with his mistress, basking in her sweet comfort, maybe even badmouthing Professor Fang for being unreasonable.
When Duan finally reconnected, he found the internet abuzz with his scandal.
The posts didn’t just target Xu Mei—they’d dug into his background.
Now Duan was panicking!
The Xu Mei scandal was fake, but his affair with Pan Li was real. Whether it was Xu Mei or Pan Li, the betrayal was the same. If the poster had photos of Fang attacking, they might have shots of Duan with Pan Li.
If those surfaced, Xu Mei might be cleared, but Duan would be done for!
Liang Dan was furious at Duan’s inability to keep it in his trousers, causing trouble for everyone, and even angrier at his avoidance. If he’d cooperated from the start, things wouldn’t have spiralled!
So when Duan called, Liang Dan ignored it.
He tried Guan’s phone, but with Liang Dan glaring, Guan didn’t dare answer.
Their phones rang relentlessly, echoing in the office until the fifth round, when Liang Dan picked up.
Duan was livid, demanding why she hadn’t controlled the online posts, letting netizens run wild.
Liang Dan sneered, “Where did netizens get it wrong? Xu Mei’s the one dragged into your mess. This was your family drama, but it’s hurt Xu Mei’s future and our company’s interests. If not for our past friendship, I’d have issued a statement already!”
Only because Xu Mei wasn’t big enough.
If she were the company’s top star, a cash cow earning millions yearly, Liang Dan wouldn’t care about Duan’s career. She’d throw him and Pan Li to the wolves to save Xu Mei’s image. Duan wasn’t Hunan TV’s boss—what did she have to fear?
Duan’s bluster faded, reduced to stammers.
He asked what to do, and Liang Dan gave it to him straight, “As long as no bedroom photos surface, deny everything. You need to do three things: first, shut Pan Li’s mouth; second, appease Fang—she must stand with you; third, pull strings to stop media coverage and help us delete the posts!”
The posts, deleted or not, had to be tackled head-on.
This was about Duan’s survival, so he’d better step up. His connections would make deletion more effective!
As for how to handle Pan Li or Fang, Liang Dan said nothing.
Can’t manage your mistress or your wife, yet you want both flags flying? Keep dreaming.
Liang Dan had considered exposing Duan, but he wasn’t entirely brainless—his tryst with Pan Li was in a place without cameras.
That’s why she told him to deny the affair outright.
A few ambiguous photos could mean a wife confronting a mistress—or something else entirely.
In this industry, you didn’t survive without thick skin.
Xu Mei’s reputation would take a hit, but once things settled, Liang Dan would extract enough compensation from Duan.
“Cao Bo’s drama—Xu Mei can’t star in it. See if the company has a suitable newcomer to replace her.”
Liang Dan wasn’t negotiating with her husband; she was giving orders.
Guan didn’t argue for Xu Mei, only worrying about Cao Bo’s reaction.
