Marrying the Rich Man's Ex-Brother - Chapter 9

Wu Yan had once investigated his younger brother’s lover…

The next morning, Xu Qing and Bai Chi headed to a teahouse.

When they arrived, Sister Qian was already in the private room, sipping tea.

Sister Qian was in her early thirties, petite with a deceptively youthful face that made her seem like an innocent and kind young woman.

In reality, Sister Qian was shrewd, clear-headed, and always prioritized profit in everything she did. She was known in the industry as a workaholic “Iron Lady,” the kind of madwoman who would sacrifice even her life for her career.

Her most famous exploit was when she intercepted a paparazzi trying to leak photos of a celebrity’s secret romance. She kicked off her high heels and sprinted barefoot for three kilometers down a highway, chasing the paparazzi until he dropped and smashed his camera, thus saving the career of her most promising young star at the time.

Though Bai Chi disliked Sister Qian’s manipulative marketing tactics, he couldn’t help but admire her tenacity.

In his previous life, they hadn’t interacted much, but both had long been aware of each other’s reputations.

Sister Qian sat at the table, waving and smiling at them with practiced familiarity.

“You’re here! Have you had breakfast yet? I just ordered some dim sum; we can chat while we eat.”

Xu Qing smiled and shook his head. “Not yet. We heard you love dim sum, so we waited for you to bring us to your favorite spot.”

After settling into their seats, Xu Qing briefly introduced Bai Chi to Sister Qian, naturally using his original identity. He then picked up the menu and ordered a few more dishes before getting down to business.

Sister Qian didn’t ask how Xu Qing had found Bai Xi. Instead, she cut straight to the point: “I’m the kind of person who likes to lay out the worst-case scenarios upfront. Since you want to be on my show, I need to tell you about the potential risks.”

Bai Chi nodded, while Xu Qing pressed his lips together in silence.

Sister Qian turned to Bai Chi, her tone flat. “I don’t care about the truth of this matter. Whether you slept with Wu Zhengming or not is irrelevant to me. But on my show, you’ll be interviewed according to my methods. If you can’t handle the show’s intensity, the subsequent fallout, potential public backlash, or even official media bans, then I advise you to abandon this idea now.”

Bai Chi remained unfazed, shrugging casually. “I’m fine with it. I’ve watched your show before and I’m familiar with your hosting and interviewing style.”

Xu Qing added, “Since we contacted you, we’ve already considered all potential risks. But I believe high returns always come with high risks.”

Hearing their assurances, Sister Qian relaxed and offered, “If you need help, I can also assist with the PR. While we might not completely erase the scandal, we can shift the focus.”

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow. “I’m all ears.”

Sister Qian outlined her strategy:

“First, regardless of the truth, the video is perceived as reality by the public. We can create a plausible excuse for it, such as intoxication or drugging, and provide supporting evidence like hospital reports. Then, we’ll redirect the narrative by shifting the public’s attention to other topics.”

Xu Qing nodded. This was the worst-case scenario he had considered. If they couldn’t clear up the truth behind the “bed-climbing scandal,” this was indeed the only option left.

Bai Chi, however, hesitated at Sister Qian’s proposal. He knew that while the artists under her management could soar to great heights during their peak, most were fleeting stars, their fame fading once the hype died down. Moreover, they often burned bridges with the public.

In essence, Sister Qian’s operational model was a one-shot deal.

She would do everything to get you to the top of the pyramid, but whether you stood there crowned as king or fell to your death in a humiliating mess was no concern of hers—it was simply the artist’s fate.

Though Sister Qian’s methods were often criticized within the industry, she had always been upfront, laying out the harsh realities before signing any new talent.

She even frequently advised her artists not to be too greedy, urging them to retire once they’d made enough money and live comfortably. “Isn’t there something better to do than being a celebrity?” she’d ask.

The three of them chatted smoothly, quickly finalizing the details for Xu Qing’s appearance on the show.

Before parting ways, Sister Qian couldn’t resist asking Xu Qing, “Even though your partner has passed away, you’ll inevitably need to find a new path. Are you planning to sign with Bai Xi?”

Xu Qing smiled without answering, effectively confirming Sister Qian’s assumption.

Sister Qian was surprised. She hadn’t expected Xu Qing to actually consider signing with Bai Xi. Curious, she asked, “So, are you planning to transition and learn from me, or stick to your previous approach?”

Xu Qing shrugged. “I want to develop Bai Xi into the next Bai Chi.”

Sister Qian nodded, refraining from dismissing Xu Qing’s ambition as a pipe dream. She knew he possessed the resources and capabilities to make it happen.

Even if they simply threw money at the problem, they could at least generate some initial buzz for Bai Xi. The only question was whether Bai Xi himself could handle such a massive influx of resources.

After years in the industry, Sister Qian knew a simple truth: a small spark comes from luck, but true stardom comes from destiny.

All agents like her could do was try their best and leave the rest to fate.

Some artists, no matter how much money and resources you pour into them, might never take off. Others are born with stardom in their bl00d, capable of trending even for throwing out trash on the street.

Bai Xi’s start was undeniably hellish, yet he had already gained significant buzz and national recognition—albeit for the wrong reasons. Still, if he could truly clear his name, his future would be limitless.

As for the truth behind the s3x scandal and alleged “casting couch” incident, Sister Qian didn’t really care. She knew the industry was full of smoke and mirrors, where white could be turned black and vice versa. Only traffic and money remained the eternal, unchanging truths.

After leaving the teahouse, Bai Chi followed Xu Qing to the parking lot.

As they walked along the shaded path, Bai Chi suddenly caught a glimpse of a caterpillar on his shoulder out of the corner of his eye. He froze in terror.

“Qing… Qing! Help me! There’s a bug on my shoulder!” Bai Chi’s voice trembled.

He had never feared anything in his life—except bugs.

Xu Qing, well aware of this weakness, quickly reached out and removed the caterpillar.

Just as Xu Qing was brushing off the spot where the caterpillar had been, two familiar figures emerged from the parking lot.

Wu Yan and Monica were on their way to a business meeting and hadn’t expected to run into Xu Qing and Bai Chi here.

Xu Qing’s hand still rested on Bai Chi’s shoulder. The four stared at each other, the atmosphere thick with awkwardness.

Finally, Xu Qing withdrew his hand and greeted Wu Yan first. Bai Chi nodded at Wu Yan, but his entire demeanor remained listless, clearly still shaken by the caterpillar incident.

“What a coincidence! You two know each other?” Wu Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping over Xu Qing and Bai Chi.

Xu Qing shrugged, replying succinctly, “Yeah, I’ve been preparing to sign some new talent recently.”

Wu Yan nodded in understanding, refraining from further questioning. He hadn’t expected Xu Qing to be interested in signing Bai Xi, especially given Bai Xi’s current entanglement in scandals and the fact that, beyond his decent looks, he seemed to lack any notable skills.

Wu Yan had previously investigated his younger brother’s young lover. Though Bai Xi came from a boy band, it was only a third-rate agency. His singing and dancing were mediocre at best, merely average within the group, and utterly unremarkable in the broader entertainment industry—just another nameless, washed-up pretty face, a useless beauty.

While Bai Xi was undeniably handsome, good looks were hardly a unique advantage in today’s entertainment world. Even those born with less fortunate genetics could easily resolve such “deficiencies” with money and cosmetic surgery.

The entertainment industry never lacks beautiful faces; what it lacks are interesting souls. This is precisely why Bai Chi had risen to such meteoric fame in the industry.

Unlike the other puppet-like celebrities, Bai Chi was a living, breathing person. He smoked, drank, danced at clubs, and expressed genuine anger, joy, and frustration—not some manufactured persona living under the spotlight and on the internet.

Since he had business to discuss elsewhere, Wu Yan didn’t linger with Xu Qing and Bai Chi. He nodded slightly and parted ways.

After walking a short distance, Wu Yan instructed Monica, “Find a professional to monitor Bai Xi’s recent activities and report to me daily, with as much detail as possible.”

If Bai Xi truly intended to sign with Xu Qing, Wu Yan would need to discuss the matter with Xu Qing. After all, Bai Xi had some connection to the Wu Family.

Monica nodded without further inquiry and immediately arranged for the task to be carried out.

That afternoon, “candid” photos of Bai Chi entering and leaving a teahouse for a meeting with Sister Qian were leaked online at the behest of Sister Qian and Xu Qing.

Sister Qian saw no harm in capitalizing on the buzz. To her, traffic meant money. Even if Bai Xi refused to collaborate, the publicity stunt would still generate views. Why turn down free money?

The rumor that Bai Xi would appear on Sister Qian Says quickly climbed to the top of trending searches.

Bai Chi ignored the online storm, basking in the sun as he strolled with Xiao Hei Zai.

Meanwhile, in the garden of a courtyard house Bai Chi passed, Gu Ye, a wildly popular idol, was sunbathing on a lounge chair.

Gu Ye’s manager, upon seeing the online news, immediately called Sister Qian to demand an explanation.

Gu Ye had been scheduled to appear on Sister Qian Says this week. As the hottest idol in the industry, his acting skills paled in comparison to Bai Chi’s, but his singing and dancing abilities, honed during his time in a K-Country boy band, were practically legendary in China. His massive fanbase had also secured him roles in several popular dramas.

Although Gu Ye’s acting in the series was generally mediocre, he did have a few scenes that went viral. His fervent fans had long regarded him as the heir to Bai Chi’s legacy, a powerhouse performer poised to become the Domestic Entertainment Industry’s second Best Actor to achieve a Grand Slam.

Bai Chi’s fans, of course, scoffed at this notion. Having witnessed Bai Chi’s exceptional performances in numerous acclaimed films and dramas over the years, they knew Gu Ye’s acting couldn’t even begin to compare.

However, Gu Ye still had a considerable fanbase, and Bai Chi’s fans, unwilling to waste their breath arguing, simply let them have their delusions.

Moreover, Gu Ye and Bai Chi had previously collaborated on a historical drama. While their personal relationship wasn’t particularly close, it wasn’t hostile either.

In that drama, Gu Ye and Bai Chi played royal brothers. As children, the two princes shared a deep bond, but as they grew older, their fraternal love ultimately fractured amidst a ruthless power struggle, leading to tragic fratricide.

The historical drama received decent reviews, and fans even edited the brothers’ scenes into CP (couple) highlight reels, which gained modest popularity on Bilibili.

The most fervent CP fans, driven to near madness, had moved from shipping the characters in the drama to shipping the actors themselves, even starting to ship Gu Ye and Bai Chi as a couple, abbreviated as “Gi.”

Naturally, fans of both Gu Ye and Bai Chi vehemently rejected this pairing, instead rallying under the banner of “Gu Debai” to urge these delusional CP fans to stop dreaming.

After hanging up with Sister Qian, Gu Ye’s manager wore a grim expression. “Sister Qian said they’re willing to pay the contract breach penalty, but they’re definitely going to have Bai Xi appear on the show this Thursday.”

Gu Ye, sprawled lazily on a lounge chair, waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t make them pay the penalty. If they want to reschedule, fine. My new drama hasn’t premiered yet anyway, so early promotion won’t make much difference. Besides, Sister Qian helped me a lot when I terminated my contract with Yue Entertainment. Let’s just consider this repaying a favor.”

Hearing Gu Ye’s words, the manager felt too embarrassed to argue further.

After all, Gu Ye had now established his own independent studio, making him his own boss. He held the ultimate decision-making power and veto rights over all matters.

After receiving Gu Ye’s instructions, his manager called Sister Qian again, informing her that they could accept the schedule adjustment without requiring compensation. All contractual terms would remain unchanged.

Gu Ye calmly withdrew his gaze and resumed scrolling through Weibo, reading fanfiction written by CP fans about him and Bai Chi.

Although he and Bai Chi hadn’t been particularly close before, they had collaborated on several projects, each collaboration proving quite enjoyable.

However, Bai Chi maintained a private social circle outside the industry, rarely befriending fellow celebrities. Gu Ye, respecting this, never approached him to confess his admiration as a fan who deeply loved his films. Instead, he silently concealed his affection for Bai Chi in his heart.

Now, with Bai Chi gone, Gu Ye regretted his past restraint and shyness. The man he admired would never know the unspoken feelings he had harbored. All Gu Ye could do was cherish his memories of Bai Chi and seek solace in reading idealized fanfiction online, hoping to fill the void of his deeply buried regret.

By his calculations, Bai Chi’s funeral was less than a month away, yet Bai Chi Studio had still not finalized the guest list. Gu Ye wasn’t even sure if he would receive an invitation.

After closing the fanfiction page on his phone, Gu Ye turned to his manager. “You said Xu Qing is taking Bai Xi to Sister Qian’s show?”

The manager nodded. “Yes, it seems Xu Qing might be trying to sign Bai Xi. After all, Bai Chi Studio only had two artists, and Su Mo rarely puts in any effort. Plus, you’ve probably seen online that Bai Xi debuted under Bai Chi’s name. If they can clean up his image, he might actually become the next Bai Chi.”

Hearing this, Gu Ye’s expression darkened instantly. There’s no one in this world who can compare to Bai Chi, he thought. Not even me.

If Xu Qing truly intended to exploit Bai Chi’s popularity without restraint, Gu Ye would never stand idly by.

Gu Ye checked his recent schedule on his phone, pondered for a moment, and finally instructed his manager, “Arrange a meeting with Xu Qing this week. I have some matters I want to discuss with him in person.”

Though hesitant, the manager followed Gu Ye’s instructions and contacted Xu Qing’s assistant.

“Xu Qing said he’s taking Bai Xi to record Sister Qian Says this Thursday afternoon. He’ll be free during the recording, so if you’re available, you can meet him at the Sphinx Building.”

Gu Ye glanced at his Thursday schedule. Finding it clear, he agreed, “Alright, tell him my schedule is open. I’ll meet him there on Thursday.”

After making the arrangements, Gu Ye resumed reading fanfiction on his phone.

The lock screen flashed briefly, revealing a serene landscape of polar icebergs—identical to the screensaver on Wu Yan’s phone. Both images were Bai Chi’s long-standing Weibo background photo.

These culprits, if they harbor any guilt, will inevitably slip up and reveal their true colors.

After discussing this plan, Xu Qing immediately called Sister Qian to finalize the arrangements.

“Sister Qian says we need to capitalize on the show’s momentum quickly. Let’s meet her in person tomorrow morning to discuss the details. If everything aligns, she’ll coordinate your schedule so we can record the episode this Thursday and air it during Saturday’s prime-time slot.”

Bai Chi nodded, glancing at his phone. It was Monday.

This meant he had only two days of rest before he had to reappear in the public eye as Bai Xi.

The success of his future rehabilitation and comeback hinged entirely on the episode’s impact and reception.

While Bai Chi understood the high risks and potential rewards of appearing on the show, he thrived on such challenges.

For Bai Chi, nothing was impossible.

If he set his mind to something, he would achieve it to the best of his ability