Thank You for the Invitation, I Successfully Held Hands with the Best Actress - Chapter 26

The next day, the incident of media reporters breaking into private hotel rooms trended on social media.

 

 

Relevant authorities issued an official statement detailing the events, and several entertainment media outlets received rectification warnings. The troublemakers might even have to spend a few days in detention for further questioning.

 

 

While paparazzi chasing and invading celebrities’ privacy isn’t uncommon in the entertainment industry, such a brazen act of “breaking and entering” left everyone in shock.

 

 

Breaking into rooms so openly and taking photos everywhere—this is downright lawless!

 

 

What kind of explosive news could have driven them to such madness?

 

 

If it’s a hotel, maybe catching someone cheating? Or a group scandal?

 

 

Shh, I heard an insider tipped them off that Mu Qiuyan and Ning Yu were having a secret rendezvous in the hotel. No wonder they were so desperate.

 

 

What? Mu Qiuyan and Ning Yu in a hotel room? Am I blind, or is Mu Qiuyan blind?

 

 

It’s just a rumor! They were both at Blue Moon last night, but it was for Director Ming’s birthday party. All the guests from First Heartbeat were there.

 

 

Yeah, the official account even posted a group photo. Gotta say, the party was ridiculously lavish—pure upper-class luxury, dripping with money.

 

 

Hahaha, so they got played? All that effort just to film nothing? Hilarious! Who even believes such ridiculous rumors?

 

 

Just as discussions were heating up, a leaked video suddenly went viral, fueling netizens’ insatiable thirst for the full scoop.

 

 

In the video, the reporters could be seen shoving and shouting, loudly confronting security. Though their faces were blurred, some seasoned “veterans” frequently seen in entertainment news were quickly identified by eagle-eyed netizens.

 

 

The one yelling the loudest is Chen Fangli, right? Shoving the mic right in the security’s face and threatening to expose them.

 

 

The guy in the blue checkered shirt—isn’t that Yang Wei? He was detained for a few days as a paparazzi before. Already out and back to invading privacy so brazenly?

 

 

Wait… who’s that woman hiding in the corner? Is she a reporter too?

 

 

She looks familiar. That gorgeous purple dress… didn’t Gao Mi wear something like that?

 

 

Comparing it to the group photo on the official account, it looks identical.

 

 

What? Why was Gao Mi there? So she was the one spreading the rumor?

 

 

She led the way and even opened the door. Who else could it be?

 

 

The revelation sent the internet into a frenzy, with netizens flooding Gao Mi’s social media to demand answers.

 

 

Mu Qiuyan’s fans, already exhausted from debunking the hotel rumor, finally had a culprit to direct their fury at—and they weren’t about to let Gao Mi off easily.

 

 

But the deeper they dug, the more shocking the discoveries became.

 

 

Gao Mi’s life before college was practically a blank slate. Scattered online information couldn’t piece together a coherent past—not even whether her family was based in the capital.

 

 

However, a tip from her former school’s alumni group revealed that Gao Mi’s background wasn’t as affluent as claimed. Her “elite socialite” persona was entirely fabricated.

 

 

 

“Have you ever seen a real socialite wearing fake designer brands to school every day? Flaunting wealth to create a rich second-generation persona—she only fools those wealthy boyfriends who don’t know the truth. Back in freshman and sophomore years, she got exposed on the school forum for this. How did she manage to turn this act into reality?”

 

 

“If we’re talking about the same Gao Mi, her transformation is staggering. She didn’t look like this before—more delicate and innocent, still pretty, but who would’ve thought she’d go this far?”

 

 

“Did she go crazy for wealth? I heard every boyfriend she’s had is either filthy rich or powerful. No wonder she’s wearing real designer brands now.”

 

 

…

 

 

Meanwhile, at Heartbeat House, Gao Mi had vanished since last night’s birthday party. The production team was blindsided by the online backlash—going live now would be a disaster, forcing them to announce a temporary halt.

 

 

Ning Yu sat cross-legged on the sofa in her room, sipping oatmeal. The faint aroma of wheat drifted as she blew on the steam, glancing at Mu Qiuyan, who had just hung up the phone. “Well?”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan pressed her lips together, displeased. “The tabloids admitted Gao Mi was their source, and she confessed to that. But she completely denies luring me into that room filled with pheromone-inducing incense. She claims she received an anonymous text and was just used as a pawn.”

 

 

Ning Yu frowned. “At most, that’s just defamation. Given the public reaction, it hasn’t caused much reputational damage—a fine would be the worst punishment. What about the staff member who led you to the room? Did she really not know Gao Mi?”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan shook her head. “As a VIP here, Gao Mi would be hard to miss. But she seems determined not to implicate her.”

 

 

“Is she in jail now?”

 

 

Mu Qiuyan nodded slowly, noticing Ning Yu’s thoughtful expression. “Do you have an idea?”

 

 

Ning Yu tugged her earlobe. “Might be worth a shot.”

 

 

“There’s still some leftover points—let’s cash them in first. Once this is resolved, I’ll make sure to earn them back for you!”

 

 

“Who spends without saving? What a spendthrift!” The system clung to Ning Yu’s dwindling points like a miser. “These are for important matters. What’s the point of blowing them all now?”

 

 

Ning Yu scowled. “They’re not gone forever. After this scandal with Mu Qiuyan, my scumbag Alpha points shot up. Spending a little now is an investment in sustainable development.”

 

 

The system scoffed. “Sustainable development my foot. You’re just throwing points away. How much have you spent on Mu Qiuyan already? And here you are, playing the noble hero, refusing to take advantage, even helping her send a pretty omega to jail. You’re really okay with that?”

 

 

Ning Yu rolled her eyes. “Why wouldn’t I be? A viper like that is the last thing I need. Think about it—I’m doing Mu Qiuyan a huge favor here. A classic hero-saves-the-damsel moment. Even if she doesn’t say it outright, she’s definitely grateful deep down.”

 

 

 

“They say saving a life warrants giving oneself in return. While my help may not be to that extent, it has certainly left a good impression on Mu Qiuyan. This is the first successful step, and her falling for me won’t be far behind.” Ning Yu continued her usual spiel, softening her tone with endless reverie. “After that, the torment, abandonment, and complete exploitation won’t be hard to achieve.”

 

 

System: “Hiss— hearing you say that, it does sound quite right.”

 

 

Ning Yu exhaled lightly in her heart—success.

 

 

In the visitation room, Gao Mi sat upright on the chair, her expression calm. Her hands were tightly clasped, her eyes brimming with confidence.

 

 

As long as she didn’t admit to the accusations of drugging and deception, no one could convict her. As for the charge of spreading rumors, it was exaggerated—she would be released after a few days here.

 

 

Just then, the door outside opened. Gao Mi looked up eagerly, only for her face to darken upon seeing the visitor.

 

 

“Ning Yu? Why are you here?”

 

 

Ning Yu raised an eyebrow at the question and leisurely walked over to sit across from Gao Mi by the window.

 

 

“Apologies for disappointing you, Miss Gao. It’s me, not your defense lawyer.” Ning Yu’s crisp voice came through the small hole in the window, clear and distinct.

 

 

Gao Mi tilted her head slightly, as if unwilling to engage.

 

 

Ning Yu: “I’m only here to advise you to confess sooner rather than later. Neither your defense lawyer nor any of your wealthy boyfriends can absolve you of this.”

 

 

Gao Mi smirked and laughed, as if mocking Ning Yu’s naivety. “What on earth are you talking about, Miss Ning? I truly did nothing and know nothing. What game are you playing? I really don’t understand.”

 

 

Ning Yu shrugged, seemingly expecting this reaction. She pulled out her phone from her pocket, and a clear recording began to play.

 

 

“Ah Mi contacted me the day before yesterday, asking me to help trap Miss Mu in the room—just temporarily, without harming her. But I never expected there to be an inducing incense in the room. If anyone investigates later, it’s all my responsibility, nothing to do with her…”

 

 

That voice—Gao Mi couldn’t mistake it. Her eyes turned red with disbelief. “This recording is fake! She would never—”

 

 

Ning Yu turned it off. “Yes, I was shocked too when I heard it. Who would’ve thought you’d let your mother take the fall for you?”

 

 

Gao Mi’s face darkened terrifyingly. Ning Yu blinked, casually brushing her hair as a faint, elegant scent of incense wafted from a small vial in her palm.

 

 

This was an item she had exchanged from the points store—a tool to bewitch others into confessing the truth. She had used the same trick on Gao Mi’s mother. The effect lasted only twice, just enough for one dose each.

 

 

To ensure the recording was clear, she had even held her phone closer to capture every word.

 

 

Gao Mi slumped in her chair. “You did all this… for Mu Qiuyan?”

 

 

She sneered, pressing her hands against the table as she stood up, then leaned closer to the window, glaring into Ning Yu’s eyes. “Do you like her that much? I bet you two haven’t even… yet. Giving up the golden opportunity I gave you to side with her—what did she promise you in return?”

 

 

 

Ning Yu’s face was cold, her eyes burning with anger. “Do you have any idea how much harm you’ve caused Mu Qiu Yan? Yet you show no remorse at all. Do you hate her so much simply because Ming Jue’s heart belongs to her?”

 

 

She recalled Mu Qiu Yan’s pale, sweat-drenched face that day—how the woman had fought against the drug’s effects until bloody scratches covered her arms from the struggle.

 

 

It was during Ming Jue’s birthday celebration when Ning Yu had rushed to change clothes and caught sight of her in the bathroom.

 

 

The steamy bathroom held only a thin shower curtain between them, through which a graceful silhouette swayed slightly.

 

 

Sniffling, Ning Yu passed the fresh clothes delivered by room service through the gap.

 

 

God help her—if she actually got a nosebleed now, she’d truly be living up to the title of “pervert.”

 

 

A slender, porcelain-white arm reached out to take the clothes. In those brief seconds, Ning Yu’s sharp eyes caught a flash of red on Mu Qiu Yan’s wrist.

 

 

“You’re hurt?” Ning Yu took several anxious steps forward, her hand instinctively reaching for the shower curtain.