"Yes, at the beginning of the year, when Ning Yao terminated her contract and left, it already caused the company’s stock to plummet. I heard that President He was called to the headquarters and got severely scolded by the chairman."
"Ruxue is also unwilling to renew the contract."
"There’s no competitive female artist left."
"I hope Zhou Yun can hang in there."
Zhou Yun was hiding in a partition, waiting for these two people to leave before she came out.
Unexpectedly, she didn’t hear others gossiping about her behind her back, but the content of the conversation still wasn’t something to be happy about.
It was all gloomy and melancholic.
In the evening, Zhou Yun and Zhou Lan had dinner at a restaurant.
Zhou Lan had informed Li Yuning in advance, so this dinner was not recorded.
Li Yuning was easygoing as well, nodded his head, packed up his things, and returned to the car.
With such a big incident involving Zhou Yun, Zhou Lan definitely had some things she needed to discuss with Zhou Yun that weren’t suitable for the show.
Similarly, Zhou Yun’s ordeal was something the production team had not anticipated at all.
These days, they had recorded much more material than expected, and there was no lack of explosive moments for the show.
After everyone left, Zheng Xiaojue said, "Sister Lan, Sister Xiao Yun, I’ll go wait for you in the car."
Zhou Lan stopped Zheng Xiaojue, saying, "You stay here. There are some things you should listen to as well."
Zheng Xiaojue uttered an "Oh" and then sat down.
"We have done what we needed in response, sent the legal notices we had to send, but to little avail. For the coming period, I suggest we keep a low profile. We are about to join a film shoot soon; let’s wait for this storm to pass, then gradually resume some public activities," Zhou Lan said.
Zhou Yun nodded in agreement.
Zhou Lan continued, "Xiao Yun, don’t take this matter too much to heart. Every celebrity who rises to fame inevitably faces smear campaigns; it’s an unavoidable path."
"Mhm," Zhou Yun nodded.
Even Zheng Xiaojue could see that Zhou Yun was in a very bad mood.
"Sister Lan, don’t worry about me. I’ll manage my emotions myself. But right now, to say that I won’t take it to heart, I really can’t manage that," Zhou Yun said bitterly with a smile, "I’m hungry, let’s eat first."
Hearing Zhou Yun say this, Zhou Lan didn’t know what else to say.
After finishing their meal and preparing to leave the restaurant, they encountered a couple at the entrance who were about to come in to dine.
The wife’s expression changed upon seeing Zhou Yun, and she tightened her grip on her husband’s arm.
The implication of her gesture was both complex and simple.
Zhou Yun overheard the wife say in a lowered voice, "Did you see that? That person just now seems to be the celebrity who slept with the director."
She laughed in self-mockery.
Powerless to explain, unable to defend.
Although Zhou Yun faced such situations, she did not confine herself away from the public.
She did care deep down and it hurt, but she forced herself to go out as normal, attend acting classes at the company, participate in the script reading of "Eighth Heartbeat," meet Xiaowen to discuss costumes for the drama, invite Yuk Chu over for dinner, and record "After the Scandal."
She didn’t pretend to be in great spirits or unaffected, but she made herself stay spirited and not easily admit defeat.
Yuk Chu spent a whole day with her at home, playing video games, watching movies, and they even went to the supermarket together to shop for groceries, then came back to cook and share some laughs.
As night fell, Zhou Yun walked Yuk Chu downstairs.
"Shall I accompany you for a walk?" asked Yuk Chu.
There was a photographer following them.
Zhou Yun took Yuk Chu’s hand, saying, "Sure."
"It’s actually quite good, you were so busy these past few months, incredibly tired, it’s good to have a few days to rest and gather energy for filming," said Yuk Chu.
"Mhm," Zhou Yun nodded.
Yuk Chu did not continue.
"How long will ’Eighth Heartbeat’ be filming?" Yuk Chu asked.
"Until the end of September."
"That’s quite a while. I’ll visit the set if I have time."
"Sure, but you’ll be joining a cast soon too, right? Where will you find the time?" Zhou Yun said, "You’re just teasing me with false hopes."
"My next role is minor, so I’ll have more flexible time," Yuk Chu said. "Just tell me what you want to eat or need, and I’ll bring it to you."
"I’m filming a contemporary drama, not going to a deserted wilderness," Zhou Yun joked.
"Offering you warmth and kindness, and you’re criticizing it," Yuk Chu glared playfully.
"Don’t even start; if it wasn’t for the Song Chi-themed phone case you brought me, my scandal with him wouldn’t have blown up ."