Chapter 122

Huo Yiyi dared to visit the Huo residence today only because she still clung to the belief that she was the true descendant of the Huo family. Hmph, what did the woman before her even count for?

"You are nothing but an actress; why are you putting on airs in front of me?" Huo Yiyi’s tongue was sharp. Perhaps because this young lady had lived a smooth, pampered life, she had truly never encountered a woman who refused to give her face.

"I am an actress, but I can also have you thrown out at any time," Rong Qing said indifferently. She truly wondered what kind of bad luck she had that she kept running into such brainless, foolish women wherever she went.

"You dare?!" Huo Yiyi shrieked, as if Rong Qing had said something ridiculous. She was an executive director of the entire company and a member of the main Huo household; what right did an outsider have to do this?

Rong Qing didn't bother wasting any more breath on her. She picked up the phone and connected to the front desk. "Yes, it’s me. An intruder has broken into my office. Bring a few strong men and throw her out." Rong Qing listened to the staff member's incessant apologies and hung up, her mood soured.

Rong Qing ignored her further and buried her head in the files she had organized. Beside her, Huo Yiyi’s face had already turned a liver-colored purple. This woman actually... actually sent people to throw her out?! Having received a lady’s education since childhood, how could Huo Yiyi accept such a thing happening to her? Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the Huo family’s hyper-efficient security team arrived, swarming in with batons and tranquilizer guns.

"Yes, that’s her. Throw her out," Rong Qing ordered without lifting her head. The professional bodyguards of the Huo corporation did not hesitate; they grabbed Huo Yiyi and dragged her away. A group of grown men forcibly ‘escorted’ the noble young lady out of the CEO’s office. Rong Qing dug at her ears, which had been assaulted by the shrill noise. *Ah—finally, some peace and quiet.*

"Let me go! Do you know who I am? I am a young lady of the Huo family! You... you... and you, let me go!" Huo Yiyi struggled fiercely, but the Huo bodyguards were highly professional and would never go easy on someone just because she was a woman. Her arms were restrained with iron-like force, her elegant, tidy clothes were left in disarray, and her face turned pale with rage as she was led out in full view of everyone.

"Rong Qing, who do you think you are? You’re just a ‘stage performer’ who crawled into the master’s bed. By what right do you expel me?" The woman’s frantic roar echoed throughout the company, and the incident soon reached the ears of the CEO.

It is said that the usually composed CEO Huo, upon hearing the news, immediately smashed a prized blue-and-white porcelain cup. The crashing sound echoed across the entire floor, and Lu Mengyi, a favorite of Young Master Huo, was implicated as a result. Immediately, three orders were issued from the top floor of the Huo corporation, initiating a strict purge of every department.

That very night, a favored branch of the Huo family was summoned by the head of the house. These distant relatives, separated by generations, were shocked that the head of the family had taken notice of them. That night, the family packed their belongings in the capital and rushed back overnight from the neighboring province. To put it bluntly, this group of distant relatives only held power in their local regions by clinging to the reputation of the Huo family. They never imagined that their declining branch would ever be able to return to this ancient and sacred main residence.

Two luxury BMWs slowly drove into the Huo estate. They had brought their whole family to X City; if things went well and they gained the master’s favor, their declining lineage might head toward glory again, perhaps even remaining at the core of the Huo family mansion. The eighty-year-old patriarch endured the exhaustion of the overnight drive, yet his eyes held a look of joy as he clutched his son’s hands, praising his son’s wisdom and talent.

The cars parked in the outdoor lot of the outer district, as they lacked the family certification to enter the inner district. The frail old man, supported by his family, walked along the path. Although they were still some distance from the inner district, at the thought of this rare moment, the whole family felt energized.

After taking a long detour into the inner residence, they were searched upon entry, leaving the whole family exhausted. By the time they finally saw the head of the family, the excited and triumphant smiles on their faces had not yet faded before they were shaken by his majestic and intense aura, causing them to cower on the sofa, not daring to breathe loudly.

Huo Lingtian was inherently domineering. With a cold, stern face, he unleashed the ruthlessness he had honed in the business world and on the battlefield, leaving no room for negotiation. The members of the branch family could only sit timidly, losing any thought of resistance.

"The old man is in good health this year, and your descendants are all quite accomplished. To dare to run wild in the main house—there aren't many people in the Huo family who would dare that." Listening to the master’s words, the old man initially nodded with self-satisfaction, but as he caught the tone, he realized that this trip wasn't for promotion or honor, but to stand trial in the capital! Damn it, which blind member of their branch had dared to offend their ancestors?

The elderly patriarch could no longer sit still; trembling, he leaned on his cane and said in a panic, "Master, our family has been loyal to the Huo family for three generations. It is absolutely impossible for us to have committed such an act of treason."

"Oh? According to you, Huo Yiyi is not one of yours?" Huo Lingtian’s brows darkened, his gaze growing sharper as he looked straight into their souls.

Hearing the name Huo Yiyi, the entire family felt a jolt of horror. Huo Yiyi... Huo Yiyi... for years, those three words had been the pride of their family, but now they felt like a death warrant. Huo Yiyi was, after all, their most legitimate direct granddaughter.

"Yiyi is young and ignorant. She offended the master, and I apologize to you on her behalf." Huo Yiyi’s father, Huo Zhengde, stood up and bowed to Huo Lingtian with a humble attitude, while the old man beside him sighed incessantly.

Huo Lingtian stared at him with dark eyes. "Offending me is one thing, but it is a pity that her words cut too deep into my wife’s heart. My lawfully wedded young mistress of the Huo family is an 'unrefined stage performer'? Does she take me for a dead man, to allow her to spout such nonsense and bully my beloved wife?!" Huo Lingtian shouted in anger, his majesty radiating without effort. The entire parlor fell into a dead silence; the pressure from the man in power left them unable to resist.

The family could no longer hold up and stood there trembling. "It is... it is our lack of discipline. Yiyi, she..." They wanted to find excuses, but in the end, they could only hang their heads in frustration, slapping their thighs and cursing, "That immoral daughter!"

"Master... rest assured, I will personally drag her here to apologize to you and the young mistress. It is our poor discipline that raised such a rebellious wretch."

"Yes, yes, we will bring her here immediately and leave her to the master’s disposal." To preserve the prosperity of their family, they chose to sacrifice the pawn to save the knight. Huo Yiyi might have represented the glory of their family once, but now that she had caused such a catastrophe, they had to discard her to avoid being dragged down with her.

Huo Lingtian’s expression cleared slightly. He continued indifferently, "Since you lack discipline and she is morally bankrupt, the Huo family cannot accept her. Expel her from the clan." With a single sentence, Huo Lingtian sealed Huo Yiyi’s fate.

The whole family turned pale. 'Expulsion from the clan' was a rare occurrence in the family’s history; it was the harshest punishment for those who had caused great damage to the family name—to be struck from the lineage. Those exiled would not only face social scrutiny but would struggle to survive in society. Thinking of Yiyi, a talented girl just starting out, being cast out by the family—how would she face anyone in the future? What future husband would respect someone who had been expelled from their own clan?

Although they were anxious and worried, they were helpless. They could only hang their heads and agree with bitter faces.

A highly talented girl from the Huo main branch had been expelled from the clan for being disrespectful to the mistress. The news spread like wildfire throughout the Huo residence. It also served as a warning to those self-righteous members of the Huo family, reminding them to weigh their words and actions carefully. In this power-obsessed mansion, every step was difficult, and a single mistake could bring disaster upon their families.

Those who had held contempt for the new mistress were now terrified. With such a bloody example, they tucked away their petty schemes. Through this event, the Huo residence underwent a silent, thorough rectification. When they saw the mistress of the house, they now displayed the proper etiquette and hierarchy.

As for the woman who caused the scene at the Huo headquarters, she vanished from X City within a week. Relevant sources revealed that Huo Yiyi had fled the country after suffering a massive blow; others rumored that the girl’s lifelong design career was over, and no company dared to hire her. Such was the price of offending the Huo family.

A peaceful month passed, and director Evans’ masterpiece, *God of the Wilderness*, was finally set to premiere in the land of China. *God of the Wilderness* had sparked heated discussions even before filming began. Rong Qing’s incredibly domineering war god attire and the magnificent, rendered quality of the visuals meant that even a short, few-minute trailer attracted countless fans. With Hollywood’s high-end production, the historical war film was crafted with 3D effects; the grand, epic scale in theaters was absolutely breathtaking.

Evans took the cast and crew around the globe, promoting the new film. With the global media, internet, and even advertisements saturated with *God of the Wilderness*, this commercial blockbuster had already won the day before it even officially opened.

Rong Qing, wearing a white Chanel skirt, accepted media interviews with director Evans at CCTV. The film’s domestic release was guaranteed to coincide with the global premiere. This made many Chinese Hollywood fans cheer; it was a miracle brought by Rong Qing and the pride of the nation.

On the night of the *God of the Wilderness* media event, tickets were impossible to come by. The audience had waited too long for this moment, and CCTV’s ratings soared to an all-time high. At the Huo residence, Grandfather Huo did not hide in his small dark room to watch alone as he usually did. He gathered all the old and young together in a group to watch his granddaughter-in-law accept the interview.

"Ah, back in my day, I never received such a grand reception," Grandfather Huo said, his face beaming with joy as he watched. This was CCTV—when he used to be interviewed by the media, he only appeared for a few seconds, with no room to even show his capabilities.

Everyone else was speechless. The most favored and powerful person in the family was the big star on the television. When the old man used to accept interviews, they were the highest-level military briefings; how could they be compared to an entertainment program? Sighing, the group around him could only chime in with agreement.

The host spoke politely, while Rong Qing nodded or smiled from time to time, sitting gracefully with a serious and courteous attitude. If the questions weren't too harsh, she answered them sincerely. Although Rong Qing was already an international A-lister, she remained approachable and kind, joking with Evans now and then, keeping the atmosphere very harmonious.

"Rong Qing, this is your first collaboration with Hollywood. Do you have any intentions of advancing further into Hollywood in the future?" the host asked.

Rong Qing blinked, looking adorable and innocent. "An excellent director and a moving script are enough to invite me to continue acting. Whether it’s in Hollywood or domestically, I only want to perform stories that belong to Rong Qing."

Evans looked at the Chinese girl beside him. Whenever life seemed to trend toward the mundane, she always brought unexpected brilliance. Hollywood was the birthplace of every actor’s dream, gathering the world’s most talented stars, a place where everyone fought tooth and nail to succeed. Yet, the girl before him only looked at that peak with indifference: ‘Hi, that’s not the dream destination I want.’ She bypassed the vanity behind the prosperity and reached the world’s summit in her own way, and every path she walked would become a meaningful milestone.

This girl was too magical, to the point that everyone couldn't help but look up to her existence.

"Director Evans, how was your first collaboration with Rong Qing?" The host aimed the cannon at the world-renowned director.

"Great! The most wonderful, most legendary collaboration. She is the most spiritual actor I have ever met. Her professional standards and acting skills are impeccable. Ooo, I really love her! I hope we have the chance to work together again." Evans’ expression was blunt and direct, and Rong Qing, beside him, felt increasingly embarrassed. *You old foreign man, don't you know what ‘subtlety’ means?!*

The CCTV host was also slightly overwhelmed by that string of "good," "excellent," and "well." Meanwhile, thunderous applause erupted from the audience. A world-famous director—what hadn't he seen? This was the highest praise an actor could receive.

The host wore an excited smile. Heaven knows how many connections she had used to secure this interview. Now that the atmosphere in the venue was so harmonious, perfectly highlighting the superstar’s strength, the host cleverly refocused the audience’s attention back on Rong Qing. After all, wasn't he just a famous foreigner? How many fans could he have? Nine out of ten people present were here for Rong Qing.

"From the cold and aloof Ling Fei, to the plain-looking but resilient Yang Qingqing, to the War God Ailusi in *God of the Wilderness*—different images, distinct characteristics. It can be said that Rong Qing acts with her heart. Her varied images and broad acting range make her truly a superstar, a new star in the world of cinema." The host changed the subject, asking like an older sister next door: "What is our superstar like in her daily life?"

The host looked at Rong Qing, and Rong Qing looked at the audience, blinking helplessly, looking incredibly cute. "Alright, everyone, let’s look at a set of Rong Qing’s candid photos."

The station had checked with Yan Lin beforehand, and this set of photos, secretly taken by netizens and staff, had been screened before being put on today’s screen. Rong Qing didn't know the content of the photos herself, but she held onto her trust in Yan Lin, closed her eyes, and let them get to work.

The lazy woman was no longer calm now. She craned her neck, looking at the photos appearing on the screen. *Phew, thank goodness,* they were all "normal" candid shots: pictures of her taking a nap with her eyes closed, photos of her posing with fans on set, and scenes of her playing around. At least, in her view, there was nothing too excessive. Her suspended little heart finally returned to its proper place.

The photos slowly switched. The audience, who had been watching in silence, suddenly burst into earth-shattering cheers. Rong Qing stared blankly at the screen, then turned her head, stunned. *Neurotic and silly, this is really too much!* She wanted to cover her face; she had no face left to stay here!

In the photo, Rong Qing was sleeping on a lounge chair, a coat draped over her. Her long hair was swept back, and she was sleeping soundly, her mouth slightly agape, her rosy lips looking even more adorable. Rong Qing usually presented a perfect image; such a dazed, cute photo instantly captivated the crowd. Was it cute? Did they feel the goddess was more relatable? Instantly, the photo of Rong Qing’s adorable sleeping face went viral. So, the goddess could be this cute! Rong Qing’s image in the fans’ hearts shifted toward the adorable style.

Grandfather Huo stared blankly at the TV, a trace of white foam seemingly leaking from the corner of his mouth. If the housekeeper beside him hadn't nudged him, he probably would have embarrassed himself greatly today. "Hmph, you lot, go get that photo for me," the old man said, sitting up straight and looking serious. As a die-hard fan of Rong Qing, how could he not have such a cute photo? Hahahaha...

Rong Qing’s expression finally collapsed under the glowing eyes of the crowd. She really couldn't bear to see how foolish she looked. She had been too tired that day, which was why someone had been able to take advantage of it. It was simply a stain on her perfect acting career!

"So cute," Director Evans exclaimed with genuine admiration. Probably, apart from Rong Qing herself, the entire venue’s atmosphere had been ignited.

As those photos were exposed under the gaze of hundreds of spectators, Rong Qing’s face turned shamefully red. What happens when a superstar loses their cool? To fans, the station, and the entertainment industry, it was the juiciest piece of gossip. The subsequent live interview was a great success; thanks to Rong Qing’s cute photo, *God of the Wilderness* was thoroughly promoted.

As for that photo, which had appeared briefly on the station, it was later auctioned off online at a high price, eventually bought by a mysterious buyer for over a million. It must be said that in today’s entertainment circle, wherever Rong Qing was, it was guaranteed to be a hit.

*God of the Wilderness* was ultimately scheduled for release during the May Day Golden Week. The commercial blockbuster had delayed its release week to accommodate the Chinese audience. Sure enough, in the increasingly consumer-driven Celestial Empire, the midnight premiere tickets for *God of the Wilderness* sold out before the release date. With the increased promotional efforts, it also received great publicity in the U.S. and the U.K.

On the day of the premiere, Rong Qing appeared at a cinema in X City alongside her husband, Huo Lingtian. Since their high-profile wedding half a year ago, they had never appeared together in front of the media. Huo Lingtian had his arm around Rong Qing’s waist, protecting her closely the entire time, whispering intimately with her from time to time. Facing the passionate requests for autographs from the media or fans, this legendary tycoon waited patiently for his wife, never showing a hint of impatience. For a female star who had married into a wealthy family—a place said to be as deep as the sea—Rong Qing’s sweet marriage made everyone envious and jealous.

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*Author's Note:*
Woo-woo-woo-woo, finally wrote a big chapter, give me some encouragement... Thanks to all the darlings for your support with monthly votes.