How Can a Construction Foreman Be the Public Girlfriend of a Top Celebrity? - Chapter 7
Chapter 7
When Da Tou heard that Shu Xuan wanted to hold a press conference, he was quite surprised. It had been a long time since a celebrity in the Chinese entertainment industry had done that.
“I’ll talk to President Qin about it,” Da Tou hung up and immediately reported to Qin Qing.
Xinghe Entertainment had just finished handling the negative news about Shu Xuan online, and now she wanted to bring it all up again in a press conference. Wasn’t that asking for trouble?
Qin Qing immediately rejected the idea.
So Shu Xuan personally called Qin Qing. “President Qin, my contract ends this year, right?”
It was quiet on the other end, as if Qin Qing was waiting for her to speak.
“We’ve worked together for years. You know what kind of person I am,” Shu Xuan said calmly. “You’ve already suspended my activities. Wouldn’t it be best for you if I left Xinghe sooner?”
“Xiao Xuan, there’s no need for us to be confrontational,” Qin Qing replied with a strained chuckle.
“That depends on you, President Qin,” Shu Xuan responded.
Over the years, Shu Xuan had made major contributions to Xinghe Entertainment. In the beginning, she practically carried the whole company. Fans even joked that the floor tiles in Xinghe’s building were paid for with Shu Xuan’s salary.
“President Qin, if we don’t clarify these rumors, we’ll be dealing with PR crises for a long time. I’m already on my way out. Why should you care?” Shu Xuan continued logically. “I’ll fulfill the commitments tied to my existing contract. As for the termination process, Da Tou will handle the paperwork.”
Letting a soon-to-be former artist speak on her own behalf in a press conference would actually be ideal for Xinghe. But it was obvious Qin Qing didn’t want to lose this cash cow.
He was helpless. He had invested heavily in PR to salvage the situation, still hoping Shu Xuan might stay. He hadn’t expected her to reopen the topic just after he’d managed to suppress the online chatter.
“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as your consent,” Shu Xuan said and hung up, giving him no room to refuse.
She knew Xinghe had spent a lot of money to control the narrative. If this were the past, she wouldn’t have needed to step forward herself.
But Shu Ming’s words had awakened her. If she didn’t face it now, the rumors would haunt her long after she left the entertainment industry.
More importantly, she was married now. While she might not care, the Zheng family might. Netizens were bound to drag Zheng Ling into the mess too. Shu Xuan didn’t want to cause trouble for her.
Qin Qing, reluctantly, gave his approval, and Da Tou began preparing for the press conference.
…
Meanwhile, Zheng Ling’s construction project was in its inspection phase. Wearing a red hard hat on site, she looked over the work. Huang Tian had been laboring steadily, and Zheng Ling had paid him generously.
“Ling-jie, this kid’s solid—works hard,” said a foreman, wiping sweat off his face.
“He’s good,” Zheng Ling nodded and took a sip of water. “The inspection team will be here next week. Make sure the guys clean up and finish all the last-minute fixes.”
“Sigh, we’re almost done. Don’t know if I’ll get to attend your wedding,” the foreman joked.
That reminded Zheng Ling that Shu Xuan still hadn’t chosen a wedding plan.
Later that evening, Zheng Ling got a message from Shu Xuan.
X:
We’ll go with the Chinese-style one.
Zheng Ling immediately called her. She had assumed Shu Xuan would go for something European and vintage. Don’t celebrities usually prefer that?
“Shu-laoshi, are you sure?” Zheng Ling asked on the phone.
“It’s what Shu Ming picked,” Shu Xuan replied simply.
“What?! This is your wedding, not hers!” Zheng Ling growled like a grumpy dog—clearly frustrated.
“Your file was too big. I didn’t feel like going through it,” Shu Xuan replied with perfect calm.
“…Fine.” Zheng Ling felt like she was punching cotton. But what could she do? This was her wife. She’d just have to give in.
She sent the chosen option to the wedding planner and started making arrangements.
Zheng Ling’s friend A-Liao was shocked by the news. She felt like a farmer watching her prized cabbage get stolen by a pig.
A-Liao had just finished work and asked Zheng Ling to pick her up in a flashy car to impress her snobbish colleagues.
In the end, it was a Porsche Panamera parked outside a street food stall, where two women were tearing into crayfish and chugging beer.
“NOW~ let me interview you! What’s it like to have a celebrity wife?” A-Liao asked with dramatic flair—she worked in a foreign company and always acted a bit over-the-top.
Zheng Ling munched on some spicy crayfish, wiping her mouth with a tissue. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Wasn’t Shu Xuan our high school classmate? She had amazing grades. Why’d she become an actress?” A-Liao asked, taking a big gulp of beer.
“Didn’t you say you were on your period? Why are you drinking?” Zheng Ling clinked her glass.
“I want my uterus to know who really owns this body!” A-Liao said, smirking defiantly.
Zheng Ling: …
“Come to think of it, I don’t remember Shu Xuan in high school.”
Zheng Ling hadn’t paid much attention back then—too busy living her edgy youth with side-swept bangs and saggy pants.
“Well duh,” A-Liao said. “You were bottom of the class and she was top. Of course you wouldn’t know her. Honestly, it hurts more to see you with a star than to get stabbed.”
Zheng Ling knew she was joking, so she pulled a smug face. “Nyeh nyeh nyeh~”
“Do your parents know about her family?” A-Liao asked, suddenly feeling a sharp pain in her stomach. “Crap, I think I’m dying.”
“They know.” Zheng Ling saw her friend turn pale and asked, “You okay?”
“Gimme that beer, quick!” A-Liao grabbed it and chugged.
But soon after she whispered through clenched teeth, “Take me to the hospital.”
Zheng Ling looked at the untouched crayfish. She told the vendor to save them for later.
“…”
At the hospital, it turned out A-Liao had food poisoning—not cramps from drinking during her period. She ended up on IV fluids.
While paying the bill, Zheng Ling spotted a familiar figure near the ER.
She returned to the hallway. The woman was still standing there.
“Shu-laoshi?” she asked cautiously.
Shu Xuan, wearing a mask, looked slightly surprised. “Boss Zheng.”
“What’s wrong? Are you sick?” Zheng Ling asked, concern in her voice.
“Not me. It’s Xiao Ying. She might have relapsed—high fever, so I brought her for IV.”
Zheng Ling was surprised. Most celebrities didn’t bring their assistants to the hospital themselves. She had assumed stars all lived above the clouds.
“You sure you’re okay?” she asked.
“Mm.”
“I brought a friend, she’s on IV too,” Zheng Ling added.
“Mm,” Shu Xuan replied again.
She had already returned to South City. The press conference was planned there, and Da Tou had already secured the venue.
A-Liao came out, dragging an IV pole, heading to the restroom. She spotted Zheng Ling chatting with a masked woman who still looked stunning despite the disguise.
“Hey hey hey! What are you doing flirting with a stranger? You’re married!” A-Liao limped over like a zombie from a horror movie.
Zheng Ling rolled her eyes. “This is my friend A-Liao,” she introduced.
Shu Xuan nodded politely. “Hello.”
“And this is…?” A-Liao had a bold guess.
“This is Shu-laoshi. My wife,” Zheng Ling said, folding her arms.
A-Liao immediately wanted to bury herself. “Oops… Sorry! I’m a bit out of it. I’ll leave you two alone now.”
Zheng Ling suggested they let Xiao Ying and A-Liao sit together while they got their IVs. The two women sat in a quiet corridor.
Zheng Ling went to pick up the untouched crayfish and treated them all to a live mukbang session.
“You’re a monster,” A-Liao groaned. She couldn’t eat anything—just sip electrolyte water.
Xiao Ying rolled her eyes. “Crayfish has high levels of heavy metals. Our Shu-laoshi would never eat that garbage.”
Zheng Ling peeled a fat, juicy crayfish covered in garlic sauce. “Really?”
She held it up to Shu Xuan, eyes filled with anticipation.
Looking into those sincere, fiery eyes, Shu Xuan found it impossible to say no.
All she could think was—“She’s like a sweet, loyal puppy.”
She didn’t know why the thought popped into her head, but she removed her mask and opened her mouth slightly.
Zheng Ling fed her the crayfish.
Xiao Ying: ??
A-Liao: !!!
“Ugh! Disgusting PDA lesbians! Get lost!!” A-Liao howled. She was still single and didn’t know if she’d get a decent match next year. Meanwhile, even forever-single Zheng Ling had scored a star wife. It was too much.
Zheng Ling winked and snuggled closer to Shu Xuan. “So crude~ That’s not good for your recovery~”
“…”
After returning home, Zheng Ling learned about the press conference. She didn’t understand entertainment industry games but trusted that Shu Xuan knew what she was doing.
“Where are you going? I’ll drive you,” Zheng Ling said, helping the still-woozy A-Liao.
“I’ll manage…” A-Liao clung to a tree.
“Alright, thanks, Boss Zheng,” Shu Xuan replied. She saw that A-Liao was being tactful, and it made her reflect—your friends often say the most about your character.
When they reached the car, Xiao Ying looked around for a pickup truck.
A-Liao pointed at the Panamera. “Over here.”
Seeing the car, Xiao Ying felt instantly cured. “Boss Zheng, are all construction workers this rich?”
Even Shu Xuan was surprised. She had a sense Zheng Ling was wealthy, but a Panamera?
“Piece of cake! Your Boss Zheng is richer than you think!” A-Liao laughed. “Shu-laoshi, if you want a designer bag, just make her buy it for you!”
Zheng Ling playfully kicked her. “I’ll spend money on my wife whether you say it or not!”
“…”
On the day of the press conference, reporters who caught wind of the news were already staking out the grand hall.
Da Tou had booked the most luxurious venue in South City and handed out gift bags to every media guest.
Xiao Ying handed them out too and muttered, “Da Tou, this feels more like a wedding.”
“It is, kinda. Didn’t you know? There’s wedding candy inside.” Da Tou grinned. “Shu-laoshi’s wife requested it.”
Xiao Ying, still dazed from her fever, hadn’t heard anything about this.
She peeked inside the bag—imported chocolate wedding candies. Expensive ones.
At the press conference, Shu Xuan wore a sleek black gown. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, her fair neck proud and exposed like a noble, icy black swan.
Flashes lit up the entire hall. Xiao Ying and Da Tou had to squint, but Shu Xuan’s eyes remained steady, never blinking.
“Hello everyone, I’m actress Shu Xuan.”
“I’m here to respond to some hot topics online.”
Reporters were ready, capturing every second.
Shu Xuan sat at the podium, behind her a blue and white news board. She was radiant like a goddess descending.
“First, regarding the so-called ‘Shu Xuan’s mother murder case’: In 2014, the court ruled my mother not guilty—her actions were self-defense. See Jiangcheng Daily, July 2014. I have taken legal action against those who spread defamatory rumors about my late mother.”
“My mother was a kind and strong woman. When the abuser attacked me and my sister, she did what any mother would do.”
“Second, about ‘how many powerful men Shu Xuan slept with’: Since debuting, I’ve adhered strictly to professional standards. Every role I’ve taken was through auditions, not backdoor deals. I respect the acting profession and everyone who contributes to it.”
“Finally, my contract with Xinghe Entertainment is ending. Both parties have agreed to move forward separately.”
Gasps filled the room.
Livestream traffic exploded. Her name trended instantly.
Netizens were heartbroken. Shu Xuan had endured endless slander over the years. For a female star, surviving in today’s industry was brutal.
User1: “Poor Shu Xuan! Those rumor-mongers should die!”
User2: “God, even though her mom’s passed, they’re still slandering her? Meanwhile, male celebs get away with anything!”
User3: (sarcastic): “Putting on a show to raise her market value 🙄”
Fans: “Stay strong, Shu Xuan! We’ll always support you!”
Fans: “Hugging our wife!! 🥹”
During the Q&A, a reporter asked, “Shu-laoshi, you’ve never addressed these topics before. Why now?”
Shu Xuan smiled, “Different mindsets at different stages in life.”
“Is it because of your marriage?” they pressed.
Shu Xuan didn’t answer directly. “Marriage? Yes, that’s a recent bit of good news. The date is set.”
“Congrats! We heard your spouse is a construction foreman?” the reporter asked.
“Mm.” Shu Xuan nodded.
“Aren’t you worried she can’t afford the bride price? Hahaha,” the reporter sneered, setting off online mockery.
Hater1: “She’s only worthy of a construction worker, lol.”
Hater2: “Bet she cries if she doesn’t get a Hermès bag. Boo-hoo.”
Bystander: “Tbh, that foreman looks hot. Isn’t all this usually said about men anyway?”
Shu Xuan calmly replied, “I have my own money. She has her own career. I’ve never worried about that.”
“Isn’t construction work usually for men? Are you sure you don’t look down on her?” the reporter, clearly agitated, asked again.
Shu Xuan’s face remained composed. “Sometimes I think our society still has a long way to go in terms of gender equality. And certain individuals should probably be banned from public spaces, like livestock.”
Mic drop.