Hollywood, I became a legend with special effects.

Chapter 48: Liu Yifei's Mysterious Boyfriend

Saturday mornings are a time for most office workers who have worked hard all week to lie in bed and sleep until they naturally wake up.

For entertainment media with a sense of smell even more acute than hunting dogs, and for the ubiquitous online gossip-loving public, this Saturday morning was destined to be anything but peaceful, from the very first rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains.

Just after 9 a.m., the gossip section of Sina Entertainment's website prominently featured a set of somewhat blurry but still explosive candid photos that went viral online.

The headline was highly eye-catching and sensational: "Exclusive! Long-silent 'Fairy Sister' Liu Yifei secretly meets a mysterious man late at night for dinner at a private restaurant, sparking rumors of a new romance!"

The accompanying photos consist of six images, clearly taken secretly from a distance using a telephoto lens. The resolution isn't top-of-the-line, but it's enough to identify the subject.

The first three photos were taken outside the hotel window. Through the glass, you can clearly see the profile of Liu Yifei wearing a hat. Opposite her sits a young man wearing a dark wool coat. The two seem to be talking across the table. Liu Yifei is leaning slightly forward, looking focused.

The last three photos were taken on the streets near the Workers' Stadium. One is Liu Yifei's back as she walks into a restaurant. Another is about two hours later, when the two come out of the restaurant, and the man naturally turns to open the taxi door for Liu Yifei. The last photo is the man standing alone on the roadside as the taxi drives away, seemingly waiting for another car.

In the photo, Liu Yifei's disguise is quite convincing; those familiar with her can recognize her at a glance.

The editor's copywriting fully utilized imagination and went to great lengths to create vivid imagery:

"...According to our reporter's stakeout over several days, around 7:30 PM on Monday, Liu Yifei, who has not been seen in public for a long time, was unexpectedly spotted near the west gate of the Workers' Stadium. She was fully disguised, without makeup, and kept a low profile. She and a young man, approximately 18 years old, entered a stylish private Hunan restaurant. The two spent over two hours together in a private room. Through the window, our reporter captured footage showing Liu Yifei and the man chatting happily, frequently smiling, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere, suggesting it was not just a casual gathering of friends. The man..." The man was incredibly attentive, not only paying the bill but also personally opening the door and shielding Liu Yifei from the roof upon leaving, displaying gentlemanly manners and a close relationship in every detail… It is understood that the man is not a well-known figure in the entertainment industry, his identity remains a mystery, his car is quite valuable, and his demeanor is extraordinary. Does this mean that the "Fairy Sister," who has always presented a pure and innocent image and has kept a low profile in recent years, has finally fallen in love, and their secret romance has surfaced? Is her period of career inactivity also related to her love life? This newspaper will continue to follow this story…”

The news was like pouring a bucket of cold water into a pot of boiling oil, causing an instant uproar and splattering of oil everywhere!

The topic spread like wildfire across major portal websites' entertainment sections, gossip forums, and online communities.

Liu Yifei's fan base was initially thrown into chaos:

"What's going on? Sisi's in a relationship?? My world has collapsed??"

"Wait, who's this guy? Anyone know him? He looks pretty handsome, but I don't recognize him at all!"

"It was just a meal with ordinary friends, right? Can the media please stop making things up? Our Xixi is currently recuperating!"

"So what if she's dating? Sisi's 21, dating is perfectly normal! As long as the other person treats her well, that's all that matters!"

"Waaaaah, my goddess sister... But her husband seems pretty good, right? (Focus mistake)"

"Sissi looks great; she smiles so relaxed in the photos. If it's true, best wishes to her!"

Bystanders, netizens, and casual observers were excited, with various points of discussion:

"Tsk, this guy really looks good, has style, not like ordinary people. Is he some low-key rich kid or a returned overseas elite?"

"Liu Yifei is at the age where she should be dating, she can't stay a fairy forever. This guy is a good match for her in terms of appearance."

"The paparazzi are really amazing; they managed to take pictures even with everyone so well covered up. But I know this Hunan restaurant; the food is good, just a bit pricey."

"Am I the only one who's been concerned about her for so long without any news? Does she only reappear with scandals? Is she really going to throw away her career?"

"Maybe it's because he started dating that he faded out of the spotlight? (Just guessing)"

There are undercurrents within the entertainment industry.

Some people who had met Jiang Yu were stunned when they saw the photo. They felt that he looked familiar, and after carefully examining his profile and figure, their expressions became extremely interesting.

Inside Huayi Brothers, a senior executive who had participated in receiving Jiang Yu in Hengdian last year suddenly widened his eyes when he casually came across this news, and almost spat the milk in his mouth onto the computer.

"This...isn't this...General Manager Jiang from Light Chaser Pictures?!"

He quickly zoomed in on the image, becoming more and more certain as he looked at it, his mind instantly filled with a storm of emotions.

Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei? Having dinner privately? And they were photographed? What's going on?

He immediately took a screenshot and sent it to a small internal group chat with several of the company's core executives: "Quick, look at the news! Shocking news! Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei!"

The group chat was instantly flooded with question marks and exclamation marks.

Inside Light Chaser Pictures' BJ branch, several senior executives and core employees who were in the know also received a series of notification sounds on their phones.

Everyone clicked the link, saw the photo, and was stunned. They then looked at each other, exchanging encrypted messages or whispering in small groups:

"Holy crap! Our boss is on the front page! And it's the entertainment gossip headline!"

"This photo... it captures quite the atmosphere. And surprisingly, President Jiang and Liu Yifei sitting together actually look quite harmonious."

"Monday night? Didn't President Jiang just get back from Sichuan not long ago? And he's already inviting me to dinner? And at a Hunan restaurant? Doesn't the boss prefer lighter food?"

"Should we report this to General Manager Yang immediately? This matter seems to have a big or small impact."

"President Yang must already know, and he's probably racking his brains over how to handle it."

Yang Siwei was indeed one of the first people to know about it.

Her phone was bombarded with message notifications from various sources at 9:10.

She clicked on the news, and when she saw that familiar profile and the restaurant sign, her vision blurred. Her first thought was, "How did I get photographed? And from this angle?!"

She first contacted the company's public relations manager, requesting close monitoring of public opinion trends, assessment of the impact, and to remain inactive for the time being, awaiting instructions from General Manager Jiang.

At the same time, she also received a call from the head of Liu Yifei's agency, Red Star House. The other party sounded anxious and tentative, asking about the situation and discussing how to coordinate a unified response.

What about the two people at the center of the storm?

Last night, Liu Yifei had a small gathering with her three best friends, Shu Chang and Zhang Liangying. Shu Chang and Zhang Liangying teased her a lot, calling her "Black Swan Princess" and "Future International Film Queen." After returning home, she felt inexplicably lighthearted, feeling both pressured and excited about the future, and slept soundly.

I was woken up around 10 a.m. by an urgent phone call from my assistant, Sister Chen.

"Sisi! Something terrible has happened! You're trending on social media! And it's a scandal!" Sister Chen's voice was practically hoarse.

Liu Yifei sat up groggily, rubbing her eyes. "Sister Chen, speak slowly. What scandal? Who am I with?"

"It was Monday night! You, President Jiang, and Shu Chang were having dinner near the Workers' Stadium! The paparazzi took photos! Now the internet is full of news about you secretly meeting with a mysterious man, and your relationship being exposed! The photos are all out!"

Liu Yifei's sleepiness vanished instantly, her mind replaying Monday night's events: the private room, Hunan cuisine, discussing the script, Shu Chang's presence... how did it turn into a "secret meeting"? And a "relationship exposed"?

She remained silent for several seconds. Her first reaction was not panic, nor anger or grievance, but a strong sense of absurdity and bewilderment.

These media outlets are incredibly good at making up stories from pictures!

Shu Chang, such a big person, was sitting next to them. Were they photoshopped out?

"Sister Chen, don't worry." She composed herself and said to her anxious assistant on the other end of the phone, "It was just a very ordinary meal, and Changchang was there the whole time. We were discussing a work project, there's really nothing special about it. Let them write whatever they want about the photos, the innocent will clear themselves."

"The key is that we don't know what President Jiang's attitude is right now. Will he think that we deliberately leaked or hyped this up..." Sister Chen said with concern.

"No, he won't." For some reason, Liu Yifei felt that Jiang Yu wasn't the type to think that way. He seemed completely unconcerned about gossip. "We'll decide on the specific response after I discuss it with President Jiang."

Even so, after hanging up the phone, she immediately opened her laptop and clicked on the headline news that was prominently displayed.

Seeing those candid photos, especially the editor's embellished and suggestive descriptions, such as "having a pleasant conversation," "smiling," "being considerate and attentive," and "having an unusual relationship"...

When I saw the detailed descriptions of Jiang Yu "voluntarily paying the bill" and "opening the door to protect the roof," my cheeks involuntarily flushed. More than anything, I felt speechless and helpless at the media's sensationalism, exaggeration, and even distortion of the facts.

It's just normal social etiquette, so why does it get distorted in their writing?

She thought for a moment, opened her phone's contacts, found the number she had saved but rarely called, hovered her fingertip over the screen for a while, and finally sent a text message.

"Mr. Jiang, have you seen the news? I'm so sorry for the trouble this has caused you. Is there anything I can do to clarify this?"

Message sent, awaiting reply.