EX

Yu Shuman's public coming out, announcing her relationship with Qin Ran, didn't need until the next day to cause a stir—it exploded in the entertainment industry that very night. Hashtags dominated the trending topics, with fifty out of the top fifty-one tags relating to Yu Shuman.

When Assistant Wu and the driver found and picked up the two of them, she asked if they wanted to bribe the platforms to remove the trending topics. But Qin Ran shook her head. There was no point in trying to suppress the news. In fact, it was the perfect moment for Assistant Wu and her team of assistants to work their magic and steer the public opinion in their favor.

Qin Ran checked her phone. The top trending hashtag was #YuShumanBestActressSpeechComesOut#. The second was #YuShumanAnnouncesRelationshipWith99EntertainmentBoss#. The third was #YuShumanIsActuallyGay#. It wasn't until the sixth spot that #YuShumanWinsBestActress# appeared. In light of the coming-out news, her winning Best Actress seemed far less shocking.

The internet exploded with reactions, especially in Yu Shuman's fan forum. Posts were being refreshed at lightning speed:

"No way?! The couple I least expected became real?!"

[I thought about Manman and Rong Hua, but I never imagined she'd end up with Xiao Qin!]

[I'll never trust 'best friend' relationships again. They're all lies.]

[I can't @ my stupid bestie anymore, I'll have to @ my stupid wife instead.]

[Wait, if Xiao Qin has a chance, can't Manman consider me too?!]

The forum's pace left Qin Ran dizzy. She never imagined things would turn out like this. What did they mean by "Manman should consider them"? Qin Ran felt an overwhelming urge to act like a forum moderator and kick those commenters out.

Some comments, however, were filled with well-wishes:

[I always feared that shipping them together might disturb their friendship, but now that it's real, I'll send them my blessings!]

[Honestly, Manman is really lucky. Just don't stop acting in movies and TV shows now that you're with Xiao Qin. I can't bear the thought of not seeing Manman on screen.]

[No further comments, just wishing you two eternal happiness]

Qin Ran wanted to send those sweet commenters red envelopes, but that would be too obvious and would definitely get her scolded by Yu Shuman.

Of course, there were also dissenting voices, with some even resorting to outright slander. Random internet users began to pile on:

[This is disgusting. A lesbian? And with her boss? Isn't this just her boss keeping her as a mistress?]

[All that time marketing their pure friendship, but those gifts and clothes weren't for a 'best friend'—clearly, they were for a lover]

[Am I the only one who finds lesbians gross? What's there to like about Yu Shuman?]

Some of the comments made Qin Ran furious, but before she could jump in, one of Yu Shuman's loyal fans had already written a lengthy post, taking down the haters:

[The people who are freaking out about this are probably men, right? I checked their profiles, and they sure don't look like women. But let me remind you—Manman's fan base is mostly women. And even if her partner weren't Xiao Qin, it wouldn't be you. Let's be real, Manman would eventually have someone in her life, and I'd rather it be someone like Xiao Qin. We all know how unfortunate female celebrities' love lives can be, with cheaters and gold-diggers all around. So, honestly, a female partner is much safer.

And what's wrong with Xiao Qin? She's been loyal to Manman from the start of her career, always by her side, taking care of her. I trust Manman with Xiao Qin. It's the 21st century, people! Are we really still debating whether someone can love a man or a woman? Manman's not a 'celebrity for hire,' and she's never been involved in scandals. Her fans, like me, love her even more now that we know she's a lesbian—because that means I still have a chance! Manman, my one and only—give me a shot!]

This comment gained a ton of likes, and the hashtag #ManmanGiveMeAShot# climbed to fifth place on the trending list. The top spots remained occupied by the more heated discussions, but this light-hearted post put some of the haters in their place. Desperate for validation, some even started commenting on the profiles of other 99 Entertainment artists.

[Better be careful with your boss—she's a lesbian. You might get 'special treatment]

[Oh, is that why you've been getting all those roles? Must feel good, right?]

After a brief silence, 99 Entertainment artists began responding. Some hadn't even noticed the drama while working, but once they caught wind of it, they quickly voiced their support. Rong Hua, in particular, was the fastest to respond:

[Thanks, everyone, for rushing to inform me of this great news. I just found out that Manman and the boss are a couple. They always acted like regular best friends around us, so it was surprising to learn the truth. The boss treats all the artists in the company equally, providing plenty of resources, so we didn't notice anything different. Not too long ago, I was joking with another artist, saying maybe the boss had a crush on him—guess he's going to be embarrassed now! I'll continue working with 99 Entertainment, where I'm very happy. And lastly, I sincerely wish the best for Manman and the boss. I'm rooting for your love!]

Rong Hua, a seasoned veteran in the entertainment industry, handled the situation with grace. After her statement, she tagged Qin Ran's personal account, congratulating them on their relationship being public and wishing them happiness. This was what it meant to be diplomatic. Qin Ran thanked her, feeling so pleased that she decided to send Rong Hua more resources later.

With Rong Hua leading the way, other 99 Entertainment artists followed suit, expressing their congratulations and showcasing the ample resources they'd received, highlighting the company's generous environment. Although Qin Ran didn't treat everyone exactly the same—Yu Shuman was obviously the most important to her—99 Entertainment had the best benefits and culture in the industry. It was why so many artists were eager to join the company.

Once they joined, they weren't disappointed. There were abundant opportunities, and they didn't need to network excessively. As long as they focused on being competent artists, they would thrive.

Not only did they not have to worry about being taken advantage of within the company, but even outsiders wouldn't dare try anything with them. The artists were genuinely happy. Now, with their boss and the boss's wife facing criticism, they couldn't sit back and do nothing. Under Rong Hua's leadership, they charged forward, and those trolling netizens were swiftly defeated.

With the combined efforts of Assistant Wu and her team, the public discourse online shifted in their favor after two days. After all, it was 2024—no one cared whether a celebrity loved men or women anymore. Plus, Yu Shuman wasn't a traffic artist relying on popularity, nor had she ever been involved in scandals. While some fans left, many more supported her even more fiercely.

What proved more challenging for Qin Ran, though, was... Yu Shuman's mother also saw the news. Only then did she realize that Qin Ran was Yu Shuman's big boss. When they returned home for New Year's, she brought out the gifts Qin Ran had previously given her and asked about their real cost. When Qin Ran revealed the amount, Yu Shuman's mother nearly fainted.

"It... it didn't need to be so expensive."

Yu Shuman and her mother were truly alike, even in how they spoke. Qin Ran, feeling a little guilty, nodded politely as if she were listening but continued giving similarly valuable gifts when the New Year came around again, except this time they only appeared cheaper.

No matter how many times Yu Shuman's mother tried to dissuade her, Qin Ran remained unmoved. In the end, her mother locked all the gifts in a safe and pulled her daughter aside for a heart-to-heart: "With Xiao Ran spending money like this, even the largest fortune could be squandered one day. If she gives you anything and you really can't talk her out of it, take it, keep it safe, and when the time comes that she's short on cash, you can give it back to her."

Yu Shuman nodded. "Got it."

Life went on as usual for the couple. However, when Yu Shuman was interviewed, the questions became more pointed. For example, "Do you two plan to go abroad to get married?"

Yu Shuman would smile as she held the microphone. "We're waiting for the day domestic policies change. I believe it's better to stay in our country. I have no intention of changing my nationality. Everyone knows how hard it is to get Chinese citizenship back once you give it up. I'm not that capable, so I'll just stick with my nationality."

The next question would inevitably be, "Do you plan on having children?"

This was something she and Qin Ran had discussed before, so she answered confidently, "We don't have any plans in that regard. Ever since we chose each other, we gave up on that option. A person's life doesn't need to include children to be fulfilling. Even without kids, I believe Qin Ran and I will live happily together. Even when we're old ladies, we'll be there for each other."

The interviewer, still puzzled, asked, "But won't it be a waste if Qin Ran's fortune goes unclaimed?"

"We'll donate it," Yu Shuman said lightly.

Later, Qin Ran raged about that interviewer. "What does my money have to do with her? Why does she care so much? It's infuriating!"

Yu Shuman chuckled, pulling Qin Ran close and gently kissing her. "Don't mind people who poke their noses into our business. Let's just live our life."

Qin Ran grumbled but clung to Yu Shuman, as always, nestling into her waist and indulging in some affectionate whining.

Yu Shuman wasn't wrong. This was their life, and it was only theirs to share. What others said didn't matter.

They would be happy—so, so happy. For the rest of their lives.

[The End]