Chapter 39: Someone Is Not Far from Death

After successfully signing the contract, a brighter smile appeared on Qiao An's face. After sending Yun Fu home, she went off to prepare for the filming work.

Yun Fu returned home, kicked off her shoes, and sat down on the carpet, opening that black, unusually heavy-looking computer. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, and soon a pure black screen reappeared before her eyes. Her expression grew solemn as she read through the words on the screen, one by one.

It took her about half an hour to finish reading all the content. Rubbing her sore eyes, she picked up the cup on the table and took a slow sip of water.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Yun Fu glanced at the time—6:30 in the evening, not a minute more or less.

She opened the door. It was the doll-faced man again, standing respectfully as he handed her the items he carried. “Miss Yun, I wish you a pleasant meal,” he said.

Yun Fu took the food, nudged the door shut with her foot, and stared at the meal in her hands. Her glass-like eyes were swirling with unreadable emotions.

Outside, the doll-faced man took out his phone and sent a message to Lian Hanqi: “Boss, Miss Yun took it... but she seems to be in a bad mood.”

On the other end, Lian Hanqi frowned at the message, then his expression softened into a helpless smile—one that held a tenderness and doting he himself did not notice.

This girl, she’s sulking at him.

Indeed, in Yun Fu’s heart, Lian Hanqi was like a gust of wind—elusive and unpredictable. Just as she was about to grasp something about him, he would vanish again.

Yet, somehow, he always managed to leave his shadow beside her, even when she couldn’t see him.

Looking at the meal in her hands, Yun Fu tore open the food containers with a bit of violence. The enticing aroma filled the air, making the anger in her heart dissipate.

She picked up her phone, opened WeChat, and for the first time, added someone as a friend.

She had just found out that, during her university internship, Yu Xi had worked as a reporter.

Originally, she wasn’t an entertainment reporter; she only took that position because she was forced to. Yu Xi had always been someone who gave her all in everything she did. So, she managed to capture something that others might not get in decades—a major scandal about a top male celebrity in the entertainment industry, one who had a stellar reputation and legions of adoring female fans.

When the news broke, it caused a huge uproar.

Cheating, casual hookups, insulting fans—any one of those would be enough to ruin the so-called “deeply devoted” and “single” persona he had built, leaving him no chance of redemption.

Initially, Yu Xi hadn’t planned to expose it. But then a jealous colleague betrayed her, leaking the video. The celebrity’s company found out she was the source.

When coercion and bribery failed, they threatened her instead—slandering her, accusing her of being a stalker, and claiming she’d acted like a paparazzo, even taking her to court.

Entertainment fans had zero tolerance for stalkers, and many simply refused to believe their seemingly flawless idol could be like that.

Thus, Yu Xi became the scapegoat for their denial.

She was fired, verbally abused by countless fans, attacked online, and, under the so-called “justice” of those fans, even faced the threat of imprisonment.

Upon reading this, Yun Fu’s fingers tapped absently on the table. Her gaze darkened, a trace of anger flickering within. Anyone who truly understood Yun Fu would be terrified to see her like this. Whenever she wore this expression, it meant someone was in serious danger.

Yun Fu picked up her phone. The friend request she had just sent had already been accepted. Yu Xi had even messaged her first: “Yun Fu, is something wrong?”

But Yun Fu had been focused on her meal and hadn’t seen it.

Now, picking up her phone, she simply sent an address: “My place. Come over.”

What Yun Fu remembered about Yu Xi was her kindness to the original owner. When the original owner first entered the entertainment world, penniless and down on her luck, it was Yu Xi who helped her—giving her a place to stay, even though she was just a student herself and had no money. Yu Xi had taken on part-time jobs to support Yun Fu, giving her everything she earned.

Yun Fu was not the original owner, but she was someone who always repaid kindness and disliked owing debts. Even if Yu Xi had helped the person before her, now that she inhabited this body, she would not let Yu Xi end up in prison.

Yu Xi truly was a girl of great loyalty. Without fear or hesitation, she came straight over.

When Yun Fu opened the door, Yu Xi’s first words were, “Yun Fu, are you alright?”

It was as if all the past conflicts between them had evaporated into thin air.

Yun Fu glanced at her and nodded lightly. “Come in.”

Yu Xi stepped inside cautiously, glancing around at the new and luxurious apartment, her heart full of questions, though she kept them to herself.

“You quit your job?” Yun Fu asked.

Yu Xi was momentarily stunned before realizing Yun Fu was referring to seeing her with a box at noon. Her eyes flashed with bitterness, but she forced a smile. “Yeah. But it’s fine. If I lose this job, I can find another. I’m still an intern anyway.”

Yun Fu sat on the sofa, idly twirling a cigarette in her hand. Hearing Yu Xi’s words, she frowned slightly, her voice cool, “Is going to prison also fine?”

Yu Xi froze, staring blankly at Yun Fu. The next moment, her eyes reddened.

Yun Fu’s frown deepened. “I can help you,” she said.

“Huh?” Yu Xi waved her hands quickly. “No, it’s not possible. I know you just... just broke your contract. How could you help me? Don’t worry, I’ll be alright.”

Yun Fu ignored her stubbornness, her expression indifferent. “Don’t worry about me. If you want help, I can give it.”

Yu Xi wavered.

These days, not only she, but even her friends and parents had been hurt by those crazed fans. She had told the truth, but because they wouldn’t believe it, they turned all their anger on her.

Seeing the conflict on Yu Xi’s face, Yun Fu stopped twirling the cigarette. She held it delicately between her fingers and raised it to her lips—a gesture so graceful it was like a work of art.

Even Yu Xi was stunned; she had never seen anyone look so beautiful while smoking.

But Yun Fu didn’t actually smoke. She just held it between her lips.

Then Yun Fu stood, her demeanor calm as ever. “Stay here for now. I’ll handle the rest.”

Perhaps Yun Fu’s presence was just too commanding, for Yu Xi could only nod blankly and agree.