Jin Xi took her seriously. He grabbed Lu Wen’s mischievous hand. "Okay, we can leave together in a bit. I’ll go home and pack a bag."

Lu Wen looked up. "I was just kidding."

She hadn’t lived with anyone since graduation, so suddenly sharing a roof with a man felt a bit strange to Lu Wen. Besides, Jin Xi had his own job; she couldn’t just take up all his time.

Jin Xi was very serious. "I’m worried. And besides..."

Seeing the two of them talking, Sister Li tactfully left the office. That said, if Jin Xi were to protect Lu Wen personally, she would have less to worry about.

Lu Wen’s objections were useless; with everyone’s approval, Jin Xi moved in. Although she wasn’t used to having another person around, as time went on, Lu Wen discovered it was actually... not bad?

While Lu Wen was living her life in peace, Qi Yu was plummeting into an abyss. Hu Yize and Zhang Nan’s clarifications had thoroughly nailed her to the pillar of shame, confirming that she had knowingly been a homewrecker.

Adding to that, Zhang Nan revealed the various artists he had helped her pick fights with over the years, making the amount of dirt on Qi Yu second to none. Everyone kicks a person when they’re down. In the industry, who didn’t know Lu Wen was the one taking Qi Yu down?

Even Hu Yize had backstabbed Qi Yu, so why would anyone else hold back?

To make a good impression on Lu Wen, and to vent their own frustrations, more celebrities and artists came forward with exposés. This was especially true for artists who had been on the same shows as Qi Yu; nearly all of them had been targeted by online hate campaigns, as her fans were truly brainless.

At the center of the storm, Qi Yu was torn to shreds online, and her career collapsed. Now, all she had to face were exorbitant contract termination fees. As for the rich heir she had been so involved with, he had been forced by his family to part ways with her.

Tan You also saw Qi Yu’s current state. "Feel better?"

"I do. Seeing her like this only makes me genuinely happy, not guilty in the slightest." Lu Wen was very calm. "For years after that dating show, I couldn’t get any roles."

"The agency basically shelved me, and I had to scramble to find any work I could on my own. It wasn’t until she got divorced that my situation improved slightly."

"Seeing her like this now, I only feel happy."

Tan You said, "It’s only human to want to get even after being hurt. I don’t think you went too far, either. After all, it’s all true. There’s no reason the victim should have to just suck it up and stay quiet. People can’t get away with bullying like that."

"Oh, right. Your parents texted you again." Tan You changed the subject away from Qi Yu.

Lu Wen asked, "Didn’t I already give them this year’s support payment? Why are they messaging me now? It’s not a holiday."

"Maybe they had an attack of conscience," Tan You said lightly. "They probably just now realized how hard you had it in the industry."

"That has nothing to do with me," Lu Wen said, hugging her knees. "I made it through all those difficult times. If they couldn’t see how much I was hurting back then, then they don’t get to bring it up now. I don’t want to revisit the past."

"It wasn’t a pleasant experience."

Tan You replied, "Then just ignore them. You’ve already grown apart, so why try to force it?"

"I knew you’d understand," Lu Wen said, leaning against the bay window. "You’re the only one who always has my back completely."

"And where does that leave Jin Xi?" Tan You suddenly smiled. "He’s always been on your side, you know."

"I forgot," Lu Wen said, a little embarrassed. "But Jin Xi really is wonderful. He’s everything I could ever want in a man. And seeing how he is with his parents, it’s shown me what family is supposed to be like."

"You can judge a person by their upbringing. Coming from a family like that, and with his history of military service, I believe Jin Xi will be an excellent partner."

Tan You caught her meaning. "Are you... planning on starting a new Chapter? What about your career? And Jin Xi’s? Have you thought all this through?"

Lu Wen said, "It’s just a sudden impulse. As for our jobs, those are things we’ll need to work through. We’re both rational adults; we’ll figure out how to coordinate everything."

Tan You didn’t press the issue. Just as Lu Wen had said, they were adults. When they made a choice, they would consider all the different aspects.

Jin Xi hadn’t expected Lu Wen to propose, but after a moment of shock, he immediately said yes. Lu Wen was still a bit dazed when she saw the ring Jin Xi held out to her. "When did you get this?"

"I got it the first day I moved in," Jin Xi said, rubbing his nose. "I just couldn’t find the right chance to give it to you. I didn’t expect you to beat me to the punch."

Lu Wen teased, "I had no idea you were so good at hiding things."

Jin Xi’s self-preservation instincts flared. "This is the only thing I’ve hidden!"

Lu Wen and Jin Xi registered their marriage quietly, but no matter how low-key they were, they were still photographed. Lu Wen was open about it; once she knew they’d been spotted, she generously posted a picture of their marriage certificate. The internet immediately exploded with discussion. The gist of it was: why did Lu Wen get married so soon? How long had they even been dating?

Who on earth was her husband? What was their relationship like day-to-day?

Lu Wen lay with her head in Jin Xi’s lap, reading the comments online. Her eyes crinkled with amusement. "Everyone is very curious about you."

Jin Xi looked down at her. "I’m just an ordinary person. My past is just a little out of the ordinary, that’s all."

Lu Wen swiped on her tablet. "Director Li sent me a message yesterday, inviting us to be on his show. Are you interested?"

Jin Xi’s focus was on something else. "Is that the director of the dating show you were on with Ji Mingxi? Then we absolutely have to go!"

Lu Wen burst out laughing. "Are you still jealous? I told you, there were never any sparks between Ji Mingxi and me. He called me ’sis’ the entire time."

Jin Xi said, "I’d be jealous if you went on a dating show with any guy, it just happened to be Ji Mingxi. I need to let everyone know that you chose me after careful consideration, not on a whim."

Lu Wen was silent for a moment. "It wasn’t me choosing you. We both chose each other."

Jin Xi stroked Lu Wen’s long hair. "Yes. We chose each other."

Director Li had only sent the invitation to Lu Wen tentatively; he never thought she would actually agree. Just think about it: Lu Wen, who hadn’t been in the public eye for five or six years, was going to bring her new husband on a variety show?

If news of this got out, the ratings would be guaranteed. After all, everyone had been curious about Lu Wen for a long time—not just about her private life, but also about her partner and what their daily life was like.

Nobody’s a fool these days. The moment the contract with Lu Wen was signed, the production team made an official announcement. The news that Lu Wen would be participating made the show a hit before it even aired. Countless people pre-registered to watch it.