After Transmigrating, I Joined a Dating Show with the Fake Heiress Actress - Chapter 37

Bai Man narrowed her eyes, silently watching the café. Anger and jealousy churned within her.

 

She wanted to rush in and drag Su Qingwan away.

 

But she had no right to do so.

 

Should she follow them and eavesdrop? The thought flickered through her mind, but she immediately dismissed it as undignified.

 

System 388: Host, you’re really something! You’re driving her crazy! At this point, can’t you just swallow your pride? Do you think clinging to your pride will win you your wife?

 

Bai Man’s heart wavered, and her hand instinctively reached for the door handle.

 

No. I can’t break my principles, especially principles I have no right to break.

 

She withdrew her hand, ignoring System 388’s urging in her ear. Closing her eyes, she waited for the people inside to emerge.

 

Inside the café, Su Qingwan cut straight to the point when Yu Meng arrived: “What do you want to say?”

 

Late last night, Yu Meng had called, asking to talk. Su Qingwan felt they had nothing left to discuss, and Bai Man disliked her being alone with Yu Meng, so she had refused.

 

To her surprise, Yu Meng brought up past favors she had done for Su Qingwan, making it impossible for her to refuse.

 

For some reason, Yu Meng felt that Su Qingwan seemed different from the Su Qingwan she remembered.

 

Could it be that Su Qingwan is just like those other people, fawning over those who are powerful and trampling on the weak?

 

Suppressing her discomfort, Yu Meng patiently explained, “The entertainment industry is like this—constantly shifting. Because of those baseless rumors, the entire internet is attacking me.” Seeing Su Qingwan’s slight frown, she immediately clarified, “I don’t mean anything by saying that. I just heard a little rumor that Bai Man is behind all of this.”

 

At the mention of Bai Man, Su Qingwan’s guard shot up, though her expression remained calm. “And then?”

 

“Logically, I shouldn’t pay attention to such rumors, but after thinking it over, Bai Man is the only person who has shown me such deep hostility recently.” Yu Meng let out a bitter laugh. “All that happened was a minor disagreement during filming, and she’s already going to such lengths to ruin me. It’s just too much.”

 

Su Qingwan nodded. “There were indeed some disagreements.”

 

Hearing this, Yu Meng saw a glimmer of hope and leaned forward, closing the distance between them.

 

Su Qingwan immediately leaned back in her chair and continued, “But you and Shangguan Yu escalated those disagreements into personal grudges, even attacking Hengjie Garment Factory. So when you say Bai Man went too far, I don’t think she did at all. She simply returned the treatment you gave her.”

 

After a moment’s thought, she added, “Strictly speaking, you were simply outmatched.”

 

Those final four words made Yu Meng clench her fists, her eyes burning with anger and resentment. “Do you think I deserved this?”

 

Yu Meng’s gaze was unsettling, making Su Qingwan feel uneasy. She stood up. “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.” With that, she turned and walked away.

 

She suspected Yu Meng had invited her out to try and learn more about the person helping Bai Man.

 

Outside the car, Bai Man had checked her watch for the fifth time.

 

Turning her gaze back to the café, she spotted a girl wearing sunglasses and a mask hurrying inside. After the girl entered, a tailing figure lingered outside, camera in hand.

 

This time, Bai Man didn’t wait. She got out of the car and strode toward the man.

 

Having finally found a good spot, the man was so engrossed in admiring his handiwork that he didn’t notice her approach.

 

When he looked up, he saw a vaguely familiar girl staring at him, her body tense and ready to bolt.

 

Bai Man wasn’t about to let him escape. With lightning reflexes, she grabbed the strap of his backpack.

 

Undaunted, the man shrugged off the strap, trying to slip away.

 

“Run again, and I’ll smash your camera,” Bai Man said, her voice icy.

 

The man froze, turning around with a sheepish grin. “You… you’re Ms. Bai, right?” His eyes darted around nervously. “I know about your feud with Best Actress Su. Don’t worry, you don’t have to lift a finger. I’ll write the perfect exposé to bring her crashing down from her pedestal.”

 

Bai Man frowned. “Don’t be so naive. Best Actress Su’s reputation isn’t what it used to be. The internet is full of accusations of her being ungrateful and disloyal. If I can capitalize on this and nail her to the cross, her career will be over.”

 

Bai Man scoffed. “As a journalist, your sources are woefully outdated.” She reached out and snatched the camera from the man’s chest. Ignoring his pained expression, she yanked out the memory card.

 

Inside the café, Shangguan Yu scanned the room until she spotted Yu Meng in a corner. Tightening her grip on her purse, she forced a smile and sat down across from Yu Meng. She handed her phone to Yu Meng, pointing to a message: “Mengmeng, can you explain this?”

 

Yu Meng took the phone and read the text: Yu Meng is meeting Su Qingwan at the café. The message included the café’s address.

 

The message had been sent half an hour earlier, when Yu Meng was still on her way. How could anyone have known she was meeting Su Qingwan, let alone which café she’d chosen?

 

Suppressing her confusion, Yu Meng replied, “It’s not what you think. I asked Su Qingwan here for other reasons.”

 

“Whether it’s your family’s troubles or mine, Bai Man is behind it all. She couldn’t possibly have done this alone. Su Qingwan is always with Bai Man; she must know who’s helping her,” Yu Meng said, glancing down at the bathroom door. “She’s in the restroom. You should leave now. I’ll come find you as soon as I get the answer.”

 

Shangguan Yu pursed her lips, wanting to tell Mengmeng that she already knew who was helping Bai Man. But what good would knowing do? It would only add to her worries.

 

Her father already knew about Bai Man and Sheng Hao’s scheme against Shunyang and had personally taken charge at the company. With his decisive methods, the situation would be resolved within a day.

 

Once things calmed down, the anonymous trolls attacking Mengmeng and her mother would quiet down, and the resources rightfully belonging to Mengmeng would return.

 

As for Bai Man and Sheng Hao, let them enjoy their fleeting moment of triumph.

 

Spotting Su Qingwan approaching, Shangguan Yu suddenly remembered something and asked, “Then answer one question for me first: why do you keep helping Su Qingwan?”

 

Yu Meng rubbed her temples, which were throbbing faintly. “It’s good for my image. Besides, she really did look pitiful that day, so I gave her a dress.”

 

Shangguan Yu raised her gaze to Su Qingwan, who remained standing in place, a faint smile curving her lips. “Is that all?”

 

Yu Meng nodded. “Yes, that’s all. Wait for me outside, okay? I promise I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done asking.”

 

“If you’re wondering who helped Bai Man, I can tell you right now—I don’t know.”

 

Perhaps because she had already suspected Yu Meng’s involvement, hearing Yu Meng admit it herself didn’t upset Su Qingwan. Instead, she felt a sense of relief.

 

Su Qingwan’s sudden declaration startled Yu Meng, her expression shifting momentarily before returning to its composed facade. Yu Meng rose to her feet, her lips parting slightly as she looked at Su Qingwan. But before she could speak, Shangguan Yu interjected, “It seems your standing in Bai Man’s eyes isn’t as high as you thought.”

 

Shangguan Yu stepped closer to Yu Meng, casually looping her arm through Yu Meng’s. “Tell Bai Man not to get too cocky. Her smiles won’t last long.”

 

What did it matter if Bai Man was collaborating with Sheng Hao? How many times had Sheng Hao targeted Shunyang in the past, only to fail? If it weren’t for the need to maintain appearances, her father wouldn’t even need to intervene; her brother could quickly quell the situation.

 

Su Qingwan brushed past Shangguan Yu, picked up her bag from the seat, and said slowly, “I’ll pass on Miss Shangguan’s message.” She nodded slightly. “I won’t disturb you any further.”

 

After speaking, she hurried out of the café, her heart still pounding.

 

Shangguan Yu had spoken with such confidence, making her worry that the Shangguan Family might have some hidden strategy. If that were the case, Bai Man and Hengjie Garment Factory…

 

As she thought this, she pulled out her phone, about to call Bai Man, when she heard a car horn.

 

She glanced around, but it didn’t seem to be for anyone else. Puzzled, she cautiously approached the car.

 

When she saw Bai Man’s refined profile, she swallowed hard. What was Bai Man doing here? It looked like she had been waiting for quite a while.

 

Did Bai Man know about her meeting with Yu Meng?

 

Her heart still pounding, she opened the car door. The oppressive atmosphere enveloped her as she stammered, “I… I can explain.”

 

Bai Man remained silent, waiting for her explanation.

 

Su Qingwan sat in the passenger seat, speaking carefully, “When I was about to freeze, Yu Meng gave me a coat and had her assistant bring me warm water. I’ve always been grateful to her.” She glanced nervously at Bai Man before forcing herself to continue, “She used that incident as leverage, and I… I couldn’t refuse.”

 

Hearing those last three words, the anger Bai Man had been suppressing deep within her finally erupted. She turned sharply, gripped Su Qingwan’s chin, and forced her to meet her gaze. “After all this time, you still haven’t figured out what kind of person Yu Meng is? And you still can’t say no? Hmm?”

 

System 388: Su Qingwan’s favorability toward Yu Meng has decreased by 5, bringing her total favorability to 0. Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission.

 

The system’s announcement only deepened Bai Man’s already simmering frustration.

 

Su Qingwan’s scalp tingled under Bai Man’s intense stare. Her hands clenched tightly in her lap, and she barely dared to breathe.

 

When Bai Man finally looked away, a sudden panic surged through Su Qingwan’s chest, as if Bai Man were about to leave her. The thought terrified her. She clung tightly to Bai Man’s hand. “I was wrong. I… I know what kind of person Yu Meng is. I… I just wanted to put an end to things with her, and with my past self.”

 

Seeing Bai Man remain silent, Su Qingwan was on the verge of tears. “I’ll refuse. I’ll refuse,” she choked out, her voice trembling. “I won’t be foolish like before. Please forgive me just this once, okay?”

 

She dared not loosen her grip on Bai Man’s hand, fearing Bai Man would vanish from her world as silently as she had arrived.

 

The hopeful tone in Su Qingwan’s voice, coupled with her tear-reddened eyes, made Bai Man’s heart tremble slightly, a wave of helplessness washing over her.

 

Bai Man had already guessed the reason behind Su Qingwan’s actions the moment she spoke, but she still couldn’t condone her methods.

 

Now that Su Qingwan had realized she and Yu Meng were fundamentally different, and that she had been deceived by Yu Meng’s facade, the proper course of action was to maintain a respectful distance, not allow Yu Meng to manipulate her with past affections.

 

 

How could Bai Man trust that Su Qingwan wouldn’t repeat this foolishness in the future?

 

As if sensing her thoughts, Su Qingwan’s slightly hoarse voice rang out again, “I know my assurances carry no weight, but I still want to ask you to believe in me just once.” She clenched her fist. “I promise I can do it.”

 

Last night, she had resolved to live for herself.

 

“You still don’t understand,” Bai Man said, releasing Su Qingwan’s chin and turning to face forward. “Whether I believe you or not doesn’t matter. I never asked you to change for me.”

 

She had once heard her secretary say that to love someone meant accepting them completely, flaws and all. You couldn’t just love their virtues, because no one in this world is perfect.

 

She didn’t entirely agree with this. While love certainly required accepting flaws, it was precisely because of love that one hoped the other person would become better.

 

If someone changed merely to gain approval or affection, they would subconsciously position themselves as victims when conflicts or unexpected events arose later.

 

She didn’t want Su Qingwan to become like that. Such a change would only become a burden for Su Qingwan.

 

Su Qingwan stood frozen, pondering Bai Man’s words for a moment before understanding their meaning. “I misspoke.” She no longer swore her resolve to Bai Man; instead, she would show her through her actions that she had truly awakened.

 

Releasing Bai Man’s hand, Su Qingwan’s heart tightened again as she recalled Shangguan Yu’s words. “Shangguan Yu is certain Shunyang can weather this crisis.”

 

Bai Man started the car before slowly replying, “The crisis may be resolved, but they will lose something far more important. Without that, Shunyang’s position in Suzhou will decline. Then they will truly understand what it means to be praised when powerful and trampled when weak, and to change allegiances with the wind.”

 

Hearing this, Su Qingwan felt a flicker of relief. If Bai Man had already considered this, she must have a plan in place.

 

“There’s a press conference at noon,” she asked cautiously. “Could you… could you take me to the studio?” She could sense Bai Man’s lingering anger.

 

Holding a press conference had been Su Qingwan’s decision after a sleepless night. Her sister was right—she couldn’t let the online rumors fester any longer. To truly quell the storm, she needed to confront it head-on.

 

Bai Man glanced at her, guessing the purpose behind the press conference. If Su Qingwan was truly determined to change, this was more than just empty words.

 

Knowing Su Qingwan, she wouldn’t seek change without a reason. Something must have happened yesterday that Bai Man wasn’t aware of.

 

She didn’t press for details. After dropping Su Qingwan off at Jiayue Studio, she drove to Tiansheng Group.

 

After handling the urgent matters, she received a text from Sheng Hao asking her to meet him at Tiansheng.

 

Since she also wanted to gather information from Sheng Hao, she agreed.

 

Identifying herself at the reception desk, she was immediately escorted to the CEO’s office.

 

Sheng Hao put down his documents and gestured for her to sit down.

 

Bai Man didn’t mince words with Sheng Hao. “I want to know the relationships between all members of the Shangguan Family,” she stated bluntly, adding, “Everything.”

 

As expected, Sheng Hao had likely planted his own people within the Shangguan Family. This was evident from Shangguan Yu’s sudden appearance at the café.

 

She refused to believe Yu Meng would be foolish enough to tell Shangguan Yu about her meeting with Su Qingwan.

 

Moreover, some leaked secrets online further supported her suspicions.

 

Sheng Hao, ever the fox, studied Bai Man for a moment before nodding. “I can give you that.”

 

Only after the secretary who brought Bai Man’s coffee had left did he speak again. “The Yu Meng matter was a little welcome gift for you. Are you satisfied with it?”

 

Bai Man scoffed softly. “President Sheng, you can be more confident. I’m quite pleased with your arrangement.” Her tone shifted. “But this wasn’t a welcome gift you prepared specifically for me.”

 

Despite their limited interactions, Bai Man had a clear understanding of Sheng Hao’s character.

 

He was no meddler, especially at this critical juncture. The fact that he had intervened against Yu Meng suggested the mother and daughter had crossed someone they shouldn’t have.

 

But this wasn’t over yet. She hadn’t vented her anger from earlier.

 

Sheng Hao hadn’t anticipated that his carefully prepared favor would be rejected, but this only reinforced his belief that Bai Man was a worthwhile partner.

 

“I’ve already arranged for someone at the bank to investigate. You’ll receive the results as soon as they’re available,” he said, sliding a bank card across the table. “This is just a small token of my appreciation.”

 

Bai Man glanced at the card without touching it. “I don’t need it for now.”

 

Accepting the card would disrupt the balance of power between them, making the deal unfavorable for her.

 

Sheng Hao, as if anticipating her response, didn’t press the issue. Instead, he cut to the chase: “That old fox Shangguan Hong has resurfaced. He’s pulling strings to get you here. I wanted to ask if you have any strategies in mind.”

 

“If even President Sheng is troubled by this, why would you think I have a solution?” Bai Man took a sip of her coffee and commented, “The flavor is decent, but the equipment is outdated. If you upgrade it, the taste could be much better.”

 

Sheng Hao understood her underlying message: introduce other forces to muddy the waters.

 

Shangguan Hong’s initial success was inseparable from his extensive network of connections. After years of cultivation, these relationships had only grown stronger.

 

Even after just a small fraction of Shunyang Group’s scandals surfaced, Sheng Hao received a barrage of phone calls, each subtly urging him to back down. But once the arrow is loosed, there’s no turning back. The moment he made his decision, he had already staked the future of Tiansheng Group.

 

Having already offended the Suzhou factions, he no longer needed to worry about them.

 

However, allowing external forces to intervene would mean a complete reshuffling of the Suzhou landscape, which would ultimately be detrimental to Tiansheng Group’s interests. This was precisely why he had hesitated to raise the matter at the board meeting; those conservative old men would undoubtedly oppose it.

 

Bai Man sensed his hesitation and set down her coffee cup. “President Sheng must have heard the saying, ‘Without destruction, there can be no creation.'” She glanced at the space between them, rose to her feet, and said, “Thank you for the coffee, President Sheng.”

 

Knowing she was about to leave, Sheng Hao retrieved a document from his drawer. “Everything’s in there.”

 

Bai Man picked up the documents. “Thank you,” she said, then left Tiansheng Group without another word.

 

After getting into her car, she tossed the documents onto the passenger seat and drove back to Jiayue Studio.

 

Outside the studio, reporters swarmed the entrance, blocking it completely. Su Qingwan stood trapped in the center of the crowd.

 

“A netizen claims to have seen you visiting Bai Man at Hengjie Garment Factory yesterday. Did you realize Yu Meng was unreliable and try to beg Bai Man for forgiveness?”

 

“Rumor has it you no longer want to strike or take responsibility for the studio. Is this true?”

 

“Yu Meng and Shangguan Yu took turns bullying Bai Man, yet you remained silent. Were you afraid of angering Yu Meng?”

 

“Since the Hengjie Garment Factory incident, you haven’t offered any assistance. Have you forgotten the kindness of your adoptive parents?”

 

The questions rained down on Su Qingwan like hailstones. Despite her preparations, she struggled to maintain her composure, especially when the reporters mentioned the studio. Her pupils constricted slightly.

 

So, my sister isn’t regretting her actions. She’s using these reporters to corner me.

 

She stood her ground, responding calmly, “I admit I hesitated at that moment because I was considering the Studio’s future. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten the kindness of my adoptive parents. In my heart, they’re just like my biological parents—they love and cherish me.”

 

She took a breath. “I’ve always felt guilty for not being able to help Hengjie Garment Factory. At the same time, I’ve realized my own limitations. That’s why, moving forward, I’ll dedicate myself to improving and becoming stronger—”

 

Before she could finish, a nearby reporter interrupted, “So you believe your failure to help Hengjie Garment Factory was due to your own weakness? In that case, shouldn’t you have made your position clear even without the means to act? How is your silence that day any different from leaving Hengjie Garment Factory vulnerable to attack from all sides?”

 

Su Qingwan shook her head, about to explain, when Bai Man’s voice cut in: “You’re not her. How can you know she didn’t help? And who are you to criticize her? Shouldn’t her adoptive parents be the ones to judge her actions?”

 

Her sudden outburst drew the attention of all the reporters present. Those who reacted quickly even began rushing toward Bai Man.

 

“Bai Man, do you really not blame Su Qingwan at all? Weren’t you always annoyed by her? Aren’t you happy to see netizens criticizing her?”

 

Bai Man frowned slightly. “Why would I blame her? Even if I couldn’t express my own feelings,” she paused, lowering her voice slightly, “my parents’ attitude was made clear yesterday.”

 

She turned her gaze to Su Qingwan. “We’re having fish for dinner tonight. Are you coming home?”

 

Su Qingwan pressed her lips together, her heart swelling with warmth. She nodded repeatedly. “I’ll be there.”

 

“The interview is over. You can all leave now,” Bai Man declared, issuing her dismissal. But the reporters were unwilling to give up so easily, continuing to bombard her and Su Qingwan with questions.

 

Meanwhile, netizens watching the live broadcast commented:

 

Bai Man’s words are a bit harsh, but she has a point. The only ones who truly have the right to criticize Su Qingwan are Father Bai and Mother Bai.

 

Yesterday, Mother Bai said Su Qingwan might have been distracted, but today Su Qingwan admitted she was considering the studio’s development at the time. This… don’t they even need to coordinate their stories?

 

Upstairs, are you brain-dead? Mother Bai’s statement was clearly meant to protect Su Qingwan. But Su Qingwan confessed her true thoughts at the time, proving she felt momentary hesitation and guilt. Saintly ones, show some mercy! Ask yourselves honestly: if you were in that situation, wouldn’t you hesitate for even a moment?

 

Is Bai Man stupid? We’re all talking to you!

 

You’re the stupid one! Does Bai Man need you saintly ones to speak for her? And you keep saying Su Qingwan is being fake—did you see it with your own eyes or hear it with your own ears? After the first episode of the dating show wrapped up, wasn’t Su Qingwan running to Hengjie Garment Factory every day?

 

Always second-guessing herself, trying to please everyone, and ending up pleasing no one. I’m done. I’ve had enough. Unfollowing.

 

 

At the scene, Su Qingwan and Bai Man had exerted tremendous effort to shake off the reporters.

 

Su Qingwan poured a glass of water and handed it to Bai Man. “Thank you.”

 

Bai Man remained silent. Her presence here didn’t necessarily mean she had forgiven Su Qingwan.

 

Su Qingwan was about to speak when Su Qingyue’s voice cut through the air. “Su Qingwan, what exactly are you trying to accomplish? Did you really think those words would make the netizens forgive you?” She slammed her phone onto the table. “See for yourself.”

 

While the online backlash had subsided somewhat, it still fell far short of her desired level of approval.

 

Bai Man disliked Su Qingyue’s attitude toward Su Qingwan. She clasped her hands together. “Who’s the boss of this studio?”

 

Su Qingyue’s face paled. “This is between my sister and me. If you have so much free time, you’d be better off figuring out the next steps for Hengjie Garment Factory.”

 

“I don’t need your advice on what to do,” Bai Man retorted, her gaze locking onto Su Qingwan, waiting for her reaction.

 

Su Qingwan set down her phone, avoiding Bai Man’s eyes as she turned to Su Qingyue. “Why should I care about their forgiveness? True fans will believe in me regardless of explanations.” After a pause, she continued, “I’ll communicate with the brand representatives. If they still insist on replacing me as their spokesperson, I’ll respect their decision, but we won’t compromise on the compensation we’re owed. As for the trainees, I’ll draft a new plan to ensure they start generating revenue for the studio.”

 

Su Qingyue frowned deeply. “What do you mean? By changing the plan like this, all our previous investments and efforts will be wasted.” She paced back and forth in frustration. “You’ve completely lost your mind.”

 

“Qingyue, I had no special talents when I started, yet I still made it to where I am today. Talents are just bonus points for them, not essential,” Su Qingwan said, turning to hand Su Qingyue a poster from the table. “I’ve already registered them for the competition. If they don’t want to participate, they can withdraw. I won’t force them.”

 

Their original plan had focused on nurturing the artists’ hidden talents and developing them strategically. Su Qingyue had suggested letting promising artists test the waters in smaller competitions to gradually build their popularity, but Su Qingyue insisted that wasn’t necessary. She believed they should focus on accumulating strength and directly enter the highly competitive “Star of Tomorrow” competition.

 

Without public exposure, the artists’ talents remained hidden. This not only meant they lacked fans but also that brands were unwilling to collaborate, even if they agreed to try out of respect for Su Qingwan, they offered below-market rates.

 

With these low rates, after the Studio’s commission was deducted, the artists received even less.

 

Yin Xiao couldn’t stand this, which is why she mustered the courage to suggest more public appearances.

 

“Yes, you’ve gotten where you are today through your own efforts. But have you considered how long it took you to get here? If we follow our agreed-upon plan, we could cut that time in half, or even shorter.”

 

Su Qingwan countered, “And if that doesn’t work? Will you cover the training expenses?”

 

Su Qingyue choked, then retorted defensively, “Everything involves risk.”

 

“You’ve given me an idea,” Su Qingwan mused. “Let’s put it to a vote. Let them decide for themselves.”

 

Su Qingyue paused, relieved, then quickly turned and left, fearing Su Qingwan might change her mind.

 

“She seems to have misunderstood something,” Bai Man remarked meaningfully. If her hunch was correct, Su Qingyue assumed the artists would refuse. But if they all refused, Su Qingwan’s entire argument would be pointless.

 

Bai Man shifted her gaze back to Su Qingwan. “Have you considered replacing her? Professional competence aside, her blatant disrespect for authority alone is enough to get her kicked out.”