Hi, Wifey! [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 22

Summer Fu’s Marketing Tactics Trash-Talking Fellow Celebrities

Summer Fu Acts Like a Diva, Slaps Fan’s Phone

Summer Fu Rolls Eyes at Staff

These past few days, Summer Fu seemed to explode out of nowhere, dominating the trending searches for three full days. At first, netizens eagerly devoured the gossip, but now, seeing the same topics rise and fall repeatedly—either with her studio issuing statements or gossip accounts dropping “evidence”—people have grown weary.

The online spectators have shifted from amusement to irritation.

“We all know Summer Fu’s marketing tactics—why is this trash still trending for three days? Can’t we scroll through Weibo in peace? It’s nothing but her drama everywhere, so annoying!”

“Disgusting celebrities like her shouldn’t even be in the public eye. Whether there’s truth to it or not, I’m sick of hearing about it—I’ve had enough of this gossip.”

“I seriously don’t want to see this trending anymore. When will it end?”

Cheng Wanyu scrolled through the trending list while the film crew worked efficiently around her. Everyone who was supposed to be present had arrived—except for Summer Fu.

She had already taken three days off.

The controversy continued to escalate. The celebrities Summer Fu allegedly belittled began speaking up—some snidely criticizing her, others brushing it off as old news. Some were familiar to Cheng Wanyu, others not, but in total, over a dozen had chimed in.

Something felt off to Cheng Wanyu. Truthfully, marketing tactics and staged photos shouldn’t have kept her trending for so long. Take the phone-slapping incident—Summer’s studio clarified that the “fan” was actually a stalker who had been following her for weeks, and security footage proved the altercation was justified.

As for trashing fellow celebrities? Cheng Wanyu could confirm—99% of the industry had done it. Summer wasn’t the first, nor would she be the last.

This was just standard marketing. Female celebrities naturally attracted more scrutiny, and in the era of clickbait, comparisons were inevitable—who had the longest legs, the slimmest waist, the biggest bust. Nonsensical topics like these were everywhere.

Cheng Wanyu had long grown numb to it. She doubted fans hadn’t either.

Guan Yunwen, noticing her glued to her phone during break, chided, “Put that away. Your scene’s up soon.”

Cheng Wanyu tucked her phone away and met Guan Yunwen’s gaze. As a top-tier agent, Guan understood marketing inside out. So, Cheng Wanyu cut straight to the point: “Do you think Summer’s trending topics are normal?”

Without looking up, Guan replied coolly, “You mean those trivial matters staying on the charts for three days?”

Cheng Wanyu nodded. “It feels off.”

Guan smirked. “If even you think it’s abnormal, then it obviously isn’t.”

Frowning, Cheng Wanyu pressed, “Stop circling around, Guan-jie. I think someone’s buying these trends for Summer.”

Guan Yunwen looked up at Cheng Wanyu’s persistent expression and could only sigh, saying, “It does look like it was bought, and it cost quite a bit. Three days as the top trending topic would have cost at least over a hundred thousand, maybe even more.”

“Why? Does someone have a grudge against Fu Xia?”

“Pretty much everyone has a grudge against her,” Guan Yunwen replied. “But maybe it’s just her company’s marketing strategy. She’s always been a controversial celebrity—hated yet popular. In the entertainment industry where traffic equals money, this kind of thing is all too common. You’re worrying about Fu Xia now, but who knows? She might be laughing under her covers.”

Cheng Wanyu pressed her lips together and stood up. “I’m taking the day off today.”

Guan Yunwen watched her rise, puzzled. “Where are you going?”

Cheng Wanyu: “Back to the hotel.”

Guan Yunwen: “?”

Leaving the set, Cheng Wanyu got straight into the car. No matter what Guan Yunwen said, it was useless. In the end, she sighed helplessly and got into the car with her.

During the ride, Guan Yunwen frowned and said, “You’re skipping filming just because of Fu Xia’s trending topics? Isn’t that a bit too reckless?”

Cheng Wanyu brushed her long hair aside. “I just feel something’s off.”

“Even if it is, it’s none of your business,” Guan Yunwen retorted. “You’d better stay away from controversial celebrities like Fu Xia, or you’ll end up tainted by association.”

Cheng Wanyu silently gazed out the window at the passing scenery. After a long pause, she asked, “Guan-jie, you’ve been in the industry for so long. Do you also think Fu Xia isn’t someone worth getting close to?”

Guan Yunwen was taken aback by the question. After a few seconds of silence, she said, “I don’t know. I’ve never let my artists associate with controversial celebrities.”

Her goal was to nurture a triple-threat actress, not a tabloid queen. Guan Yunwen never allowed her artists to interact with such figures, big or small. Before achieving their goals, they had to remain spotless. That was why she had been so angry when Cheng Wanyu stood up for Fu Xia last time.

“An artist’s reputation is everything,” Guan Yunwen said. “You and Fu Xia are not the same. I advise you to keep your distance after this drama wraps up.”

Cheng Wanyu didn’t respond, only silently watching as the hotel drew closer.

She knew Fu Xia had always been famous—though not for good reasons. The gossip surrounding her was always murky. When Cheng Wanyu first entered the industry, she had interacted with Fu Xia a few times. The other woman always wore an indifferent expression, only smiling when someone called her name. The rest of the time, she sat quietly by herself.

At parties where phones weren’t allowed, Fu Xia would often sit alone, lost in thought for the entire evening.

Cheng Wanyu had tried striking up conversations with her, but the result was Fu Xia distancing herself further. At first, they could exchange greetings, but later, Fu Xia would flee at the sight of her. Even during group photos on stage, she would stay as far away as possible.

Initially, Cheng Wanyu thought Fu Xia simply disliked people trying to get close. But later, she realized Fu Xia seemed to avoid only her.

And… that reaction felt less like dislike and more like fear.

Cheng Wanyu wondered—what exactly was Fu Xia afraid of?

Walking down the hotel corridor’s carpet, Cheng Wanyu wasn’t sure what emotions she was feeling. These past few days, Fu Xia hadn’t been going to the set or inviting her out for late-night snacks, which left her feeling irritable. Seeing those trending topics remain at the top for days without fading only made her more restless.

They had barely taken two steps when the suite door opened, and Zhou Wen came running out.

Cheng Wanyu approached her and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Zhou Wen looked nervous as she said to Cheng Wanyu, “Xiao Xia has a fever!”

When the three entered the suite, they found Fu Xia lying in bed under the covers. The air conditioning had been turned off, and her entire body was flushed red with fever as she lay unconscious, her forehead damp with sweat.

Zhou Wen anxiously explained, “This morning when I called her, she didn’t respond. I thought she was just in a bad mood, so I left her alone. But by noon when I tried to wake her for lunch, I realized she was burning up.”

Guan Yunwen borrowed a thermometer from the front desk and took Fu Xia’s temperature. “40°C,” she announced.

Zhou Wen froze for a moment before paling. “That high?! No wonder she wouldn’t wake up!”

“This temperature is dangerous,” Guan Yunwen said, touching Fu Xia’s scorching body. “Let’s get her to the hospital. The nearest one is about ten minutes by car. I’ll go downstairs to get some help.”

“No need.”

Cheng Wanyu tied up her hair and rolled up her suit sleeves before bending down to lift Fu Xia from the bed. She said to Zhou Wen, “Do you have a coat? Cover her with it.”

Zhou Wen quickly nodded, “Yes, yes, yes!”

After draping a khaki trench coat over Fu Xia, the three hurried downstairs and rushed her to the emergency center.

After several hours of treatment, Fu Xia’s temperature had slightly decreased, but she remained unconscious. Worried about attracting attention in the emergency room, Zhou Wen quickly arranged for hospitalization and moved her to a VIP ward before finally relaxing.

Cheng Wanyu was also drenched in sweat from carrying Fu Xia the entire way.

With a click, Zhou Wen closed the door and said to the other two, “Thank you for helping me. I really wouldn’t have known how to get Xiao Xia to the hospital otherwise.”

“It’s no trouble,” Guan Yunwen said, glancing at Cheng Wanyu. “We just happened to be around.”

Zhou Wen followed Guan Yunwen’s gaze to Cheng Wanyu. “Teacher Cheng, why weren’t you on set today? Are you tired?”

Cheng Wanyu looked at Fu Xia’s slightly improved complexion and replied calmly, “I just wanted to rest today.”

“Oh,” Zhou Wen said. “Then it was really lucky that Teacher Cheng could help us.”

After all, they didn’t even stay on the same floor anymore. Unless Cheng Wanyu had come up intentionally, there was no way she would have run into Zhou Wen and Fu Xia.

Cheng Wanyu reached out to touch Fu Xia’s face. Although the fever had subsided somewhat, Fu Xia’s skin was still burning hot. Cheng Wanyu felt as though she was holding a ball of fire in her palm, the heat making her heart ache.

The two agents watched Cheng Wanyu’s actions, their brows furrowing in unison.

Were Cheng Wanyu and Fu Xia really that close?

Cheng Wanyu gently rubbed Fu Xia’s cheek and checked the IV drip rate before turning to Zhou Wen. “Actually, I came because I wanted to ask you something.”

Zhou Wen looked puzzled. “Ask what?”

Cheng Wanyu said, “Fu Xia’s trending topic has been up for three days. As her assistant, haven’t you noticed anything unusual about it?”

Zhou Wen: “…Why are you suddenly asking about this?”

Her expression slightly awkward, she stood in the hospital room with arms crossed, feigning calm as she replied, “Xia didn’t want to trend either. The company is doing its best to control public opinion. What could possibly be unusual?”

Cheng Wanyu stared at her and countered, “Really?”

Zhou Wen fell silent, clutching her sleeve, feeling increasingly guilty under Cheng Wanyu’s questioning.

Under Cheng Wanyu’s deep, pond-like gaze, Zhou Wen couldn’t help but feel flustered. How did this woman detect there was something fishy about the trending topic?