Fake Love with the Movie Queen - Chapter 24

Gu Nanxian noticed the commotion outside the shop and stood up to check the situation.

As soon as she stepped out, another accusatory voice rose from the crowd:

“Hasn’t the award-winning actress seen Gu Nanxian’s scandals? The things she’s done would disgust any decent person. Doesn’t the actress care at all?”

Qiu Qing’an replied, “Seeing isn’t always believing, especially when it’s just a short, edited clip. Its authenticity is still questionable.”

“Are you defending Gu Nanxian?”

“How do you know the video was edited?”

“Are you and Gu Nanxian—”

More and more questions poured from the crowd, blending with voices of doubt, disappointment, and anger, creating a chaotic din.

“Yes, I am defending Gu Nanxian.”

Qiu Qing’an remained calm, completely unaffected by the emotions around her.

“Don’t you find it suspicious that none of the so-called victims in that video have come forward?”

“As for why I think the video was edited—”

She addressed each question one by one.

“Of course, it’s because the clip is too short. It only shows Nanxian’s actions, with no context or resolution, which makes it highly unreliable.”

“There are plenty of edited videos like this online, most of which have been proven to be deliberate smear campaigns. Isn’t it reasonable for me to think the same here?”

Gradually, some in the crowd were swayed by her words, but others remained unconvinced:

“Does having a reason justify violence? She’s a public figure!”

“While I don’t condone violence, there are extreme situations where it can resolve certain problems,” Qiu Qing’an said.

“What kind of situation would the actress consider extreme?”

“No matter what, hitting someone is wrong!”

The crowd grew noisy again, though this time, not all voices were accusatory.

Some began speaking up for Gu Nanxian:

“Maybe Gu Nanxian had a good reason for acting that way.”

“Could we have misjudged her?”

Then someone shouted, “Then why doesn’t Gu Nanxian come out and clarify things herself?”

“Why should I clarify?”

Gu Nanxian’s composed voice cut through the noise, reaching everyone clearly.

All eyes turned toward her.

She stood at the entrance of the photography shop, her expression indifferent, as if she had been listening for a while.

Meeting the crowd’s gaze, she stepped forward and stopped beside Qiu Qing’an.

Since someone had dared to shout, others dared to press further: “If you don’t clarify, how will we know the truth? People will keep misunderstanding and hating you.”

“Oh, I don’t really care about your opinions.”

Gu Nanxian’s tone was cool.

“But if you’ve chosen the path of an actress, you should set an example for the public. What if uninformed people are misled?”

Gu Nanxian lifted her eyes to the speaker.

The person faltered under her gaze and didn’t dare continue.

Suddenly, Gu Nanxian said, “I think you’re right.”

The speaker seemed stunned that Gu Nanxian agreed and stood frozen, staring at her.

“So, how do you want me to clarify?”

Gu Nanxian scanned the surrounding tourists, her tone softening slightly.

“Would simply explaining the cause, process, and outcome of the incident be enough?”

At that moment, someone responded—

“But just saying it, how can we believe whether what you’re saying is true or false?”

“Right? At the very least, you should find a way to release the full video, shouldn’t you?”

“Hmm.” Gu Nanxuan frowned in thought. “As for the video, I’m afraid it might be difficult to obtain.”

At the airport, the person who filmed her taking action clearly had malicious intent, which is why they only released an edited clip.

They definitely wouldn’t be willing to give her the original footage.

To clear her name, she’d have to find others who recorded the incident—and it would have to be a complete, unedited version.

That would be quite challenging, as under those circumstances, no one would have thought to film it.

But there was another way—retrieving the airport’s surveillance footage.

Thinking of this, she said to the crowd, “In a couple of days, I’ll release a clarification video.”

Someone asked, “Really?”

Others were skeptical: “Is Gu Nanxuan really going to clarify things?”

The crowd began murmuring again.

Qiu Qing’an spoke up at the right moment: “Let’s wrap things up here for now. If anyone still has doubts, we can discuss them after the photo session.”

The visitors realized they had already delayed for too long. They had gone through great effort to get in—how could they leave without doing anything?

Once again, everyone crowded enthusiastically in front of the camera.

However, a small number of people, influenced by the earlier conversation, developed a negative impression of Qiu Qing’an and chose to leave.

Qiu Qing’an herself didn’t have much of a reaction to this.

She couldn’t control how others felt about her.

As long as she had a clear conscience, that was enough.

Gu An couldn’t help but feel warmth in her heart.

Her desire to clarify things earlier wasn’t entirely because she thought the other person was right.

It was because Qiu Qing’an had been willing to stand up for her without hesitation, despite facing doubts, and patiently explained everything.

This made her realize that Qiu Qing’an might care deeply about how others perceived her.

Before, she hadn’t thought it necessary.

But now, things were different.

She could disregard others’ opinions, but she couldn’t ignore Qiu Qing’an’s feelings.

So she needed to explain.

——She wanted to stand openly by Qiu Qing’an’s side and declare her claim.

To make those who coveted her wife dare not approach.

Better yet, they shouldn’t even entertain the thought.

If she didn’t want Qiu Qing’an to suffer insults alongside her, these clarifications were necessary.

As Gu Nanxuan lost herself in thought, a tentative voice spoke up beside her.

“Excuse me, could you take a photo for me?”

Turning, she saw a gentle-looking young woman.

“Take a photo for you?”

From morning until now, this was the first time someone had actively sought her out for a photo.

So Gu Nanxuan confirmed again.

The woman smiled when she responded. “Yes! I saw the photo you took of my friend with the award-winning actress. It was really beautiful!”

“So I was hoping you could take a solo shot of me, and one with the actress. Would that be okay?”

“Sure.”

Gu Nanxuan didn’t refuse.

The woman was quite talkative and struck up a conversation. “My friend is really good at games, so she was the first to get a ticket this morning!”

Her face was full of pride, as if she herself had been the first to get the ticket.

When it came to herself, her expression turned regretful and guilty. “But I wasn’t as lucky—my ticket was in the 300s.”

“The first hundred people who secured tickets had to enter in the morning, so we had no choice but to split up.”

Gu Nanxian thought of the girl who had come first thing in the morning to take photos.

She still had some impression of her—a very cute girl, likely the friend this person was referring to.

“Where would you like to take the photo?” Gu Nanxian asked her.

“I want to take it here! Please make sure to include the street sign next to me in the frame.”

The girl ran over to a flower-covered wall, clearly having already picked the spot.

Gu Nanxian admired her idea.

If it were just the scenery alone, there were plenty of similar spots in the same scenic area.

But including the street sign made all the difference.

Not only did the sign bear the park’s logo, but it also featured text related to the exclusive sponsor zone.

It would stand out significantly from other backgrounds.

And… adjusting the angle slightly with her camera, Gu Nanxian noted that the lighting and composition here were also perfect for a photo.

“Look slightly to the side, and try smiling a bit wider.”

Gu Nanxian guided her on adjusting her expression.

The girl naturally struck a pose, following her instructions and gradually settling into the right expression.

Watching the transformation through the camera lens, Gu Nanxian seized the moment and pressed the shutter.

“That’s perfect.”

With just one shot, she captured the ideal instant.

She walked over with the camera and showed the photo to the girl.

The girl looked at the image and gasped in surprise. “You’re really amazing at taking photos!”

She had been worried the street sign would look out of place, but Gu Nanxian’s framing had perfectly resolved that.

In the photo, the girl blended harmoniously with the scenery, her expression lively and natural, as if she were eagerly anticipating meeting her friend.

She loved the emotion conveyed—it felt as though her inner thoughts had been perfectly captured.

“I wish I could have you take a few more photos for me,” the girl said regretfully. “But the park has rules—each person can only make two purchases at the same shop.”

Gu Nanxian took the camera back, preparing to return to the shop to develop the photo.

Hearing this, she glanced at the photo on the camera and then around the area.

Most visitors were gathered around Chou Qing’an, with no one paying attention to them. She spoke up, “I can give you one more for free—it won’t count toward your purchase.”

“Really?” The girl’s face lit up with delight. “Are you sure that’s okay?”

Gu Nanxian nodded. “Mm. But it’s best if you don’t tell anyone else.”

Realizing Gu Nanxian was doing this secretly for her, the girl lowered her voice. “Not even my friend?”

“If it’s just her, that’s fine. But you should probably remind her not to spread it around,” Gu Nanxian said. “Otherwise, I’d be in a tough spot.”

“Of course, no problem!” The girl patted her chest. “I promise no one else will find out—well, except for me and… okay, three people at most!”

Gu Nanxian switched the camera back to shooting mode and pointed at a tree. “Go stand over there.”

This time, she didn’t ask for the girl’s input but chose a spot she thought would work well.

The girl happily jogged over, turning to face her. “What pose should I do?”

“Just do whatever feels natural.”

Gu Nanxian felt she was very photogenic and had unique ideas—she didn’t need any guidance.

After a moment’s thought, the girl turned toward the tree and clasped her hands together.

As she settled into the pose, Gu Nanxian pressed the shutter.

This time, she took a few extra shots, planning to let the girl choose for herself.

The girl, upon seeing the photos, naturally showered her with praise once more. Then, she waited with Gu Nanxuan for Qiu Qing’an to finish up.

After the group photo was taken, Gu Nanxuan returned to the shop to develop three copies of the photo.

Qiu Qing’an noticed the extra print and softly asked, “Why did you print one more?”

“Consider it a freebie for my first customer.”

Gu Nanxuan subtly hooked her finger with Qiu Qing’an’s in a hidden corner.

“Are you upset?”

“Of course not.”

Qiu Qing’an glanced at the gentle-looking girl outside the shop and smiled. “Your customer has good taste.”

Gu Nanxuan’s lips curled almost imperceptibly. “I think so too.”

She handed the developed photo to the girl, who happily left with it.

Watching her retreating figure, Gu Nanxuan suddenly sighed. “I lost eight yuan for nothing today.”

“Only two yuan,” Qiu Qing’an corrected. “You still made six.”

Gu Nanxuan did the math and realized she was right. But then she thought of Jiang Mengxi and gritted her teeth. “If it weren’t for a certain someone, those six yuan would’ve been pure profit.”

“It’s fine. In a couple of days, more people might come to you for photos. Then you’ll earn even more.”

Qiu Qing’an had noticed the shift in the tourists’ attitudes after Gu Nanxuan mentioned clearing things up earlier. Some had clearly been interested in having their photos taken but hesitated due to lingering reservations.

Once Gu Nanxuan posted the clarification video, this situation would likely change completely.

“That’s hard to say.”

Gu Nanxuan didn’t hold much hope for it.

Completely washing away the scandal and changing public opinion was no easy task. Online, she’d seen plenty of furious people practically screaming at her through their screens. The few who tried to defend her had been dragged into the mess.

These people often wouldn’t believe a delayed explanation—they’d just assume she was covering up out of guilt. Even after seeing the video, they might claim it was photoshopped and double down on their attacks.

Qiu Qing’an understood her worries. “I’ll be with you.”

Gu Nanxuan sighed. “I just hope it doesn’t affect you.”

She didn’t care how others insulted her—she’d already uninstalled the apps and wouldn’t see any of it. But today, Qiu Qing’an had stepped forward to defend her, making herself an easy target.

Given the current frenzy, it wouldn’t take until tomorrow for the internet to erupt into chaos again.

Her premonition wasn’t wrong.

By the time they finished shooting in the afternoon and returned to their lodgings, Zhu Ningyue was already there waiting for them, looking frantic.

“Did you know you’re both trending?!” she exclaimed, shoving her phone at them. “And not just one or two—five or six hashtags!” She groaned in despair. “That scandal about you, Gu Nanxuan, had finally died down, but now it’s been dug up again!”

“Yeah, I know.”

Gu Nanxuan took the phone and skimmed the trending topics.

#QiuQing’anDefendsGuNanxuan#
#GuNanxuanPromisesToClarify#
#GuNanxuanAssaultsFan#
…

She didn’t click on any.

She already knew exactly what they’d contain.

“You know—of course you know!” Zhu Ningyue was nearly hysterical.

She couldn’t understand—Gu Nanxian acting foolish was one thing, but why would Qiu Qing’an also do something so irrational?

“Qing’an, why did you have to clarify things for Gu Nanxian, and during a live stream no less!”

Qiu Qing’an motioned for her to calm down first: “It’s fine, I’ll have someone handle it.”

Before she could finish speaking, her phone rang.

As soon as she answered, Zhou Mei’s lifeless voice came through from the other end: “Qing’an, guess where I am right now?”

Without waiting for Qiu Qing’an to respond.

She answered herself: “The rooftop.”

“You know what? The wind up here is really strong today. I feel like my corpse would be cold before I even hit the ground.”

Her words seemed scattered by the wind, weak and devoid of energy.

The next second, Zhou Mei’s tone suddenly turned frantic: “Did Gu Nanxian kiss your brain cells away!? How could you stand up and speak for her without any preparation!?”

“Do you have any idea how much impact this has!?”

Qiu Qing’an spoke up: “I—”

Zhou Mei cut her off: “Of course you do, my dear Best Actress!”

“Six trending topics in a row! A million followers lost on Weibo in an instant! The private messages in the backend are exploding!”

“Do you know what went through my mind when I finished my work, picked up my phone, and saw all this?”

She took a deep breath and continued: “I thought, jumping off this building might be easier than cleaning up this mess for you.”

“I’m sorry.”

Qiu Qing’an hadn’t expected her to react this way and was filled with guilt and self-reproach.

“Your head is so full of your darling wife that you don’t care about your manager’s life at all!”

Zhou Mei roared.

“If you ever dare to pull something like this again, I swear I’ll jump off this rooftop!”

Qiu Qing’an held the phone slightly away from her ear, waiting for her to finish shouting before bringing it back and saying apologetically, “There absolutely won’t be a next time.”

Zhou Mei gritted her teeth: “You’d better mean it!”

She took a moment to steady herself, then said, “I’m done talking to you. Hand the phone to Gu Nanxian—I need to speak with her.”

Zhou Mei’s voice was loud enough that even without speakerphone, Gu Nanxian could hear her from beside Qiu Qing’an.

She reached out toward Qiu Qing’an: “Give it to me.”

As soon as she took the phone, Zhou Mei on the other end spoke first to confirm: “Gu Nanxian?”

Gu Nanxian replied, “It’s me.”

Zhou Mei snorted coldly: “Of course it’s you! I knew it the second you answered!”

“Why didn’t you stop Qing’an today!? You were the one who said not to clarify in the first place! And now? Did you suddenly change your mind!?”

She unleashed a barrage of accusations.

“If you changed your mind, fine, but could you at least have given me a heads-up!? So I could prepare!?”

Gu Nanxian: “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? Hah! If sorry worked, I’d be on Weibo apologizing to everyone right now! Would I even be this angry!?”

Zhou Mei’s voice was hoarse with fury.

“Do you have any idea how much effort I’ve put in for your sake!?”

Gu Nanxian lowered her head: “I know.”

“You know, of course you know! Both of you know! And yet you still pull stunts like this! If you didn’t know, would you have torn the company apart!?”

Zhou Mei grew more agitated as she spoke, then broke into a fit of coughing: “Cough, cough, cough—”

Gu Nanxian sounded concerned: “Are you okay?”

After catching her breath, Zhou Mei said hoarsely, “I’m fine! I won’t die! If you could just give me less trouble, I might live a couple more years!”

Having vented her emotions, she didn’t forget the main issue: “Don’t post your clarification video yet. Wait for me to arrange it, understand?”

Although Gu Nanxuan didn’t know why she insisted on this, she still agreed, “Got it.”

“That’s it for now. I’m hanging up.”

Zhou Mei didn’t want to say more.

Just as Gu Nanxuan was about to move the phone away, Zhou Mei added, “One more thing—neither you nor Qing’an should get involved in this matter any further. Don’t answer any questions related to it.”

Gu Nanxuan nodded. “Mm.”

“Before doing anything, think about me, your agent. If you have any questions, message or call me. Don’t let me be the last to know, okay?”

Zhou Mei’s tone was almost pleading.

“Alright, I’ll ask you first if anything comes up in the future.”

Gu Nanxuan agreed to everything.

“I hope so.” Finally, Zhou Mei ended the call.