Yu Tianlin isn’t honest with his words.
After falling out with Yuan Fenghui, the Miracle Group finally gained the “freedom” they’d always dreamed of. They could decide which dramas to act in and which events to attend, with the company assigning a vice president as their manager, though it was merely a title, as they had no real control over Yu Tianlin.
At this point, Yu Tianlin used the manager as a shield, which annoyed Liang Dan. Looking at Yu Tianlin’s handsome face, Liang Dan suppressed her anger and reasoned with him, “You’re a male celebrity. This kind of scandal won’t hurt you, so what are you afraid of? Tianlin, think it over carefully. Hunan Satellite TV will do its best to promote you. Tianjiao has sold the rights to *Galaxy and You* to four TV stations, which will impact your drama significantly. Of course, our station isn’t afraid of any competition. My suggestion is for your personal benefit. I know you have a grudge against Yuan Fenghui. Do you want to see her dramas win the ratings championship every year and her signed artists stay popular forever? Tianlin, we’ve had some friction with Yuan Fenghui, but you know how the industry works. Those conflicts can exist when you want them to, and they can vanish anytime. But you… just think it through.”
Male celebrities certainly suffer from scandalous rumours.
For an idol like Yu Tianlin, who relies on young female fans, announcing a relationship or marriage could instantly cost him half his fanbase.
If it’s just a publicity stunt, it’s not impossible. It’s all for ratings. They wouldn’t even need to wait until the drama finishes airing. A clarification after the premiere would minimise the impact, as it’s not an official relationship announcement.
Yu Tianlin hesitated because he thought highly of himself and feared Liang Dan’s choice of “scandal partner” might be too absurd, lowering his status.
Liang Dan had pinpointed Yu Tianlin’s weakness.
In the room, only Yu Tianlin and Yuan Fenghui had a deep feud. For everyone else, it was just business competition.
If Yu Tianlin could accept *Galaxy and You* outperforming his new drama, the others cared even less.
Liang Dan’s gentle persuasion was for the bigger picture, but it irked Manager Guan, who was listening. Liang Dan usually spoke to him in a commanding tone but was so gentle with Yu Tianlin. In the June heat, Manager Guan suspected his wife had already picked out a warm winter hat for him, one with a green glow. Liang Dan kept giving her husband pointed looks, urging him to help persuade, but Manager Guan played dead, refusing to budge.
Cao Bo, who’d been invisible all this time, saw Yu Tianlin was nearly convinced by Liang Dan, just needing a final push. He quickly offered a way in, “Sister Liang, if you want Tianlin to cooperate with a publicity stunt, you’ve got to tell him who the scandal partner is. With Tianlin’s popularity, pairing him with just any actress won’t do. That’d be letting her take advantage of him.”
Even Cao Bo was more perceptive than her husband. Liang Dan glared at Manager Guan, then smiled, “Do you need to tell me that? With the new drama about to air, I wouldn’t agree to pairing Tianlin with a low-status scandal partner.”
Yu Tianlin’s curiosity was piqued.
He knew Liang Dan was a woman with no limits when it came to profit, yet he couldn’t help asking, “Sister Dan, just tell me who it is, so I can prepare myself.”
Yu Tianlin was relenting.
Liang Dan wasn’t surprised at all.
Mention Yuan Fenghui, and Yu Tianlin would definitely give in.
Liang Dan softly uttered a name, leaving Yu Tianlin stunned, Cao Bo’s eyes nearly popping out, and Manager Guan incredulously asking, “…Wait, I didn’t mishear, did I? You said Tianlin’s to have a scandal with who?”
Liang Dan, impatient, said, “You’re not old, but your ears are failing? Were you daydreaming during our meeting?”
“No, no, I heard it. It’s just a bit shocking.”
Manager Guan waved his hands repeatedly.
Moments ago, he thought his wife had fitted him with a green hat, but now he felt he’d overthought it.
If Liang Dan had something with Yu Tianlin, would she really demean him like this?
Pairing Yu Tianlin with that person for a scandal, what a brilliant idea from Liang Dan.
Manager Guan stifled a laugh, seriously advising Yu Tianlin, “For the July prime-time ratings war, you’ll have to make a small sacrifice, Tianlin.”
Yu Tianlin’s face darkened, but he didn’t speak, tacitly accepting Liang Dan’s arrangement.
Cao Bo, retrieving his nearly dropped eyes, still couldn’t believe it. “Sister Liang, are we sure this won’t be a one-sided effort? Will the other party agree?”
A scandal requires mutual agreement. If they unilaterally paired Yu Tianlin with a high-status star, they could easily get slapped down, embarrassing him.
Liang Dan was confident. “Why wouldn’t they agree? Even if it were real, Tianlin’s worthy.”
Yu Tianlin’s face grew even darker.
Manager Guan finally couldn’t hold back a laugh.
“Exactly, Tianlin’s worthy.”
Cao Bo used to envy idols like Yu Tianlin, with their god-given looks and celebrity aura, able to charm girls with a wave. Now he thought being a star wasn’t so great. Actresses face casting couches, and male stars make big sacrifices too.
Liang Dan’s scandal partner for Yu Tianlin shocked Cao Bo so much that, after leaving her office, he couldn’t help venting to Xu Mei, “Yu Tianlin’s making a huge sacrifice. The woman’s over a decade older than him, and Sister Liang wants them to stir up a scandal. He resisted at first but ended up agreeing.”
Over a decade older?
Xu Mei knew Yu Tianlin’s new drama and Tianjiao’s *Galaxy and You* would clash fiercely in the upcoming July prime-time slot, a battle far beyond mere ratings.
But for Yu Tianlin to agree to a scandal with a woman over a decade older for his drama’s ratings, Xu Mei had to admit he was willing to go all out.
No wonder this scumbag stayed popular after leaving Yuan Fenghui.
Seeing Xu Mei unsurprised, Cao Bo was dissatisfied. “Aren’t you curious who Sister Liang paired Yu Tianlin with?”
Xu Mei rolled her eyes. “She’s over a decade older, and a scandal with her would cause a sensation. The answer’s obvious. It’s Hu Man, right?”
Just being over a decade older wouldn’t cause a sensation.
Yu Tianlin wouldn’t agree to just any woman that much older.
Unless she was not only older but also far more famous and influential than Yu Tianlin. Their scandal would be a bombshell, driving entertainment reporters into a frenzy, hounding him daily.
It had to be Hu Man.
Only Hu Man would agree.
Hu Man has a grudge with Tianjiao and would definitely go along with Liang Dan’s publicity scheme.
