How Can a Construction Foreman Be the Public Girlfriend of a Top Celebrity? - Chapter 8
Chapter 8
There was an uproar at the scene. Ever since Shu Xuan debuted, she had never said anything so aggressive. Could getting married really change someone’s personality so drastically?
Netizens watching the livestream began to chatter nonstop.
“What’s wrong with Shu Xuan? Was she cursed or something?”
“I think she’s right! Why can’t women work on construction sites?”
“Heh, don’t be fooled by what she says. Who knows how disgusted she is deep down?”
Everyone waiting for the gossip spectacle of Shu Xuan’s wedding now eagerly watched. They were all curious to see what kind of wedding a construction foreman could possibly give Shu Xuan.
The reporters threw in a few more questions about Xinghe Entertainment, and the press conference finally came to an end.
Zheng Ling was also watching the livestream. Upon hearing what Shu Xuan had said, she couldn’t help but feel heartache. Shu Xuan had endured so much pressure and still maintained such a calm mindset—it was no easy feat. If it had been Zheng Ling, she’d probably have already taken a knife and gone on a rampage.
After the conference, Shu Xuan was blocked outside the grand auditorium. There were so many people—it was like a swarm of ants. Da Tou had prepared an emergency plan, but no one had expected this kind of turnout.
In the sea of people, many fans held up royal blue lightboards with Shu Xuan’s name on them.
The moment Shu Xuan stepped out, screams shot up into the sky.
Some fans shouted:
“Shu Xuan! Don’t be afraid! We’ve always got your back!”
“Wife! You just charge forward—we’ll handle the rest!”
“Aaaahhhhhh!”
The royal blue lightboards filled the entire venue. The surroundings were so packed it was nearly impassable. Da Tou had already called traffic police to maintain order.
This entertainment-industry spectacle ended gloriously in a sea of blue. Meanwhile, Shu Xuan’s haters were uploading unflattering candid photos of her on Weibo—only to be fiercely attacked by her extremely capable fans.
All this time, Shu Xuan’s team had encouraged fans not to stir up drama and just enjoy themselves quietly. But now, hearing that Shu Xuan would terminate her contract with Xinghe, the fans finally unleashed all the resentment they had built up after years of watching her get attacked. They dragged out all the old hate posts and began to flame them furiously.
Weibo was now flooded with blue heart profile pics. Many fans even started doing giveaway reposts while systematically debunking all the rumors that had been spread about Shu Xuan over the years.
Standing amid the crowd, Shu Xuan shone brilliantly like a gemstone. She was so cool, so noble—how could someone so radiant ever be tarnished by the filth of this world?
Shu Xuan received a call from Zheng Ling asking her to go ring shopping.
A few days after the press conference, Zheng Ling had taken Shu Xuan to meet her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Zheng really liked her. After all, in Jiangcheng, Shu Xuan was a household name. She had always excelled academically and was often used as a model for comparison.
Back in school, Zheng Ling had only heard the name “Shu Xuan.” It wasn’t just a name—it was practically an adjective, used to shame students like her, the “bad ones.”
And now, the good girl and the bad girl were sitting together, picking out wedding rings. Was this fate?
“What kind do you like?” Zheng Ling picked up a yellow diamond ring, but it looked a bit dark against her skin.
Shu Xuan looked at the luxury jewelry displayed in the VIP room and pointed to a simple diamond ring. “This one.”
“Isn’t that a bit too small?” Zheng Ling took a closer look. The diamond was barely the size of half a fingernail.
Zheng Ling had never bought a ring before, but in her mind, the bigger the diamond, the better.
Shu Xuan glanced at her and said softly, “That one’s a bit over budget.”
“How could that be? If it looks good, just get it.” Zheng Ling spoke with the boldness of her mother, sounding like a nouveau riche. “You only get married once—what’s the point in being frugal?”
“Hm?” Shu Xuan tilted her head, surprised that Zheng Ling would say something like that instinctively.
“I mean… marriage is a big deal. It’s important,” Zheng Ling quickly corrected herself. Maybe Shu Xuan might want a divorce someday, after all?
“Mm.” Shu Xuan nodded slightly and picked up a slightly larger diamond ring.
Zheng Ling waved the shop assistant over. “All the rings Ms. Shu tried on—make them all in her size.”
“Are you insane?!” Shu Xuan quickly tried to stop her.
The assistant happily went to print the receipt and even asked for a photo and autograph with Shu Xuan.
Zheng Ling walked out of the jewelry store with Shu Xuan and bags in both hands. She placed them in the back seat. “You can wear them in rotation—pick whichever one you feel like.”
“This is too wasteful.” Shu Xuan buckled her seatbelt.
“Even though our marriage was arranged, I don’t want your lifestyle to decline. I’ll do my best to fulfill my role.” Zheng Ling started the car.
Shu Xuan looked at her, focused on driving. Truth be told, she didn’t know much about Zheng Ling’s family. From what she’d seen over the past few days, it was clear they weren’t short on money.
She also didn’t know much about Zheng Ling’s past. But since the marriage, Zheng Ling had handled everything well. Shu Xuan could see that she was kind and thoughtful.
“You don’t have to go out of your way to accommodate me,” Shu Xuan said, eyes on the road ahead.
She added, “Aren’t you curious why I graduated from Qingbei and still became a celebrity?”
When she visited the Zheng family, Zheng’s mother had subtly hinted at this question. Shu Xuan understood but didn’t answer at the time.
“Yeah, I was a bit curious.” Zheng Ling turned the steering wheel. Insects chirped in the summer trees. A butterfly hit the windshield, leaving a fuzzy smudge.
“My mom committed suicide—partly because of online rumors, and partly because my dad racked up huge debts,” Shu Xuan said as if she were telling someone else’s story.
Zheng Ling listened quietly, taking in Shu Xuan’s breath and words.
“When I got into Qingbei, all the scholarships and government awards—I used them to repay debts. But it was like trying to put out a fire with a teacup.”
“My dad borrowed money not only under his own name but under my mom’s name too.” Shu Xuan chuckled bitterly. “Sounds stupid, right? I could’ve gone through legal channels and not repaid any of it.”
Zheng Ling didn’t offer any comforting words. She just listened in silence.
“But when I saw the relatives my dad had borrowed from—people who had lost their bl00d and sweat money—I couldn’t bear it.” It was the first time Shu Xuan had talked this much to Zheng Ling.
“The first 20 years of my life were a complete mess. It’s only recently that things got better after paying off all the debt. So you don’t need to treat me like some kind of star.”
“I got into the entertainment industry for the money. It’s fast—just doing a magazine shoot can earn you hundreds of thousands. Even B-list actors can make millions from a movie. Compared to people who work regular jobs to earn a living—doesn’t that feel ironic?”
It was true. The entertainment industry was absurdly lucrative. Wasn’t there a rumor recently that some celebs were making millions per day?
Zheng Ling hadn’t expected Shu Xuan to have gone through all that. “Have you paid off everything now?”
“Yeah.” After talking so much, Shu Xuan was starting to feel thirsty.
“No matter what, you’ll always be a dazzling star to me,” Zheng Ling said. She wanted to reach out and touch this side of Shu Xuan—the side that wasn’t glamorous, but fragile and real.
On the wedding day, Shu Xuan wore a traditional phoenix crown and wedding robes. A red carpet stretched down the ten-mile-long street as her younger sister led her into the Zheng household.
The place was packed with Zheng family’s relatives and friends. Hardly anyone from Shu Xuan’s side had come. She didn’t have many friends in the entertainment circle either—only Da Tou and Xiao Ying were there. Shu Xuan had always been averse to socializing.
Outside, reporters stood with cameras, capturing every moment.
Shu Ming placed Shu Xuan’s hand in Zheng Ling’s, and together they held the red silk ball to bow to the elders.
Someone posted the wedding favor online—a beautifully crafted gift box made with ethnic brocade. Inside were two jars labeled “Everything As You Wish,” filled with actual gold beans. Yes, real gold!
Each guest got two jars, worth tens of thousands in RMB.
Netizen 1: “WTF! What did I just miss?!”
Netizen 2: “Where’d you guys throw the trash? I’ll go pick it up!”
Commenter 1: “Pfft, spending Shu Xuan’s money.”
Commenter 2: “Excuse me, isn’t Zheng Ling just a construction foreman? Where’d all that money come from? Authorities should investigate!”
Soon, people began digging into Zheng Ling’s real background. Those who claimed she came from a poor family were utterly slapped in the face.
Someone dug up her old “black history”:
Jiangcheng Middle School: A student surnamed Zheng detonated a toilet with fireworks, causing a sewage leak
Jiangcheng Middle School’s top boss: Zheng Ling
If it’s not Zheng Ling, who else is Queen Bee of Jiangcheng Middle?
Netizens were dying of laughter at the old posts, especially the attached photos—Zheng Ling with emo side bangs and giant blue contacts straight out of 2008.
Commenter 1: “Help! Is it really okay to dig this stuff up during someone’s wedding? Hahahahahaha!”
Commenter 2: “LMAO, what’s this about blowing up a toilet?!”
Commenter 3: “I still can’t believe Shu Xuan got married. With that icy face of hers, I can’t even get hard looking at her.”
Shu Xuan’s fans quickly jumped in to moderate the chaos. They loved her too much to let this slide.
@ShuXuanUnderwear: “Congrats on the wedding, Xuan Xuan!! 💙💙”
@JustWannaBeShuXuan’sDog: “Our Xuan baby is SO GORGEOUS! The wedding was stunning!”
@BlissedOutWithShu: “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together!”
Back at the wedding venue, none of the guests knew about the online frenzy. The couple was now in the bowing to the heavens and earth, bowing to the parents part—and now, it was time for the wedding chamber.
Zheng Ling, worried Shu Xuan was tired, told her to rest in the bridal room.
The villa they were staying in was one Zheng Ling had bought herself with years of New Year money savings. Originally, her mother intended it to be a dowry—but it had now become a wedding gift.
Shu Xuan lay on the bed for a long time. When Zheng Ling came in, reeking of alcohol, Shu Xuan had already fallen asleep.
“Ms. Shu?” Zheng Ling whispered.
Shu Xuan was a light sleeper. Her eyes opened immediately. “You finished your toasts?”
“Yeah. Were you bored?” Zheng Ling asked. Shu Xuan didn’t seem particularly happy.
“Just inexperienced.” Shu Xuan replied.
“Hahaha, if you had experience, you wouldn’t be matched with me,” Zheng Ling teased, leaning closer.
Shu Xuan gently pushed her away. Her gold and silver jewelry jingled softly.
At that moment, both their phones buzzed with a new message.
They each checked their screens.
It was a text from the Marriage Center:
Ms. Zheng Ling, congratulations on your wedding!
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