Chapter 131: Retiring from the Entertainment Industry

Rong Qing looked out at the audience, momentarily choked with emotion. There was so much she wanted to thank them for, so much she wanted to say. Yet, at this moment, she only wanted to say "I am sorry" to every single fan who loved her. This decision had been circling in her heart for a long time; it was incredibly difficult, but a burden she had to bear.

"To win the Oscar for Best Actress, an award of such immense weight, I am truly moved. It is the audience here, all my 'Love' fans, and my fans across the world who have supported me and given me the motivation to keep moving forward. Thank you to everyone who has cared for and supported me!" Rong Qing bowed sincerely before the media. The entire venue, once vibrant with the excitement of the awards, suddenly fell into a heavy, solemn silence. It seemed the superstar they all adored had a momentous announcement to make.

"But my acting career must end here. From this day forward, I announce my retirement from the entertainment industry." Rong Qing’s brief words caused a massive uproar. Not only were the stars and media in attendance questioning her, but the audience watching the live broadcast could not accept it; some fans burst into tears on the spot. Director Evans’s expression shifted instantly, and Wendy was left in shock. To step down at the golden peak of her career—what a profound regret! What could possibly be important enough to warrant such a sacrifice? The scene erupted into chaos, spiraling out of control.

"Please, everyone, be quiet." As the crowd regained their composure, the resilient star on stage—once so elegant and illustrious—now had her small face streaked with tears. She clutched the microphone, her words intertwined with her sorrow, making her appear all the more heartbreaking.

Just then, a handsome, resolute man walked onto the stage. He stepped forward to wrap his arms around Rong Qing’s waist, wiping away her precious tears and pulling her into his embrace. In the face of the world’s skepticism and noise, Rong Qing was no longer facing it alone. The man beside her had built a wall of strength for her, standing by her side to confront the world’s doubts.

Rong Qing regained her composure, though her swollen eyes still shimmered with tears. "To the audience here and all my fans in front of your television screens, please do not be agitated or quarrel. The honor I have achieved today is the result of years of my life’s work. There was a time I thought my career was the only destination in my life, a time I believed I would never have a family or support, living entirely on my own. That Rong Qing was cold. Marrying into a wealthy family might be seen as an honor for many actresses, but it can also be a constraint. Yet, my husband has given me the love of the entire world, and my family has silently supported a daughter-in-law navigating the entertainment industry. It is their love and tolerance that have made all of Rong Qing’s brilliance possible!" The sorrow in her eyes had vanished; her bright, sunny gaze shone like brilliant stars, and everyone could feel the genuine love and emotion in her eyes.

"Now, it is time for Rong Qing to take on her responsibilities. I love my career, but I love my family, my husband, and my unborn baby even more." A soft light flickered in her eyes as she gently stroked her slightly rounded belly. A profound maternal love enveloped her like a serene veil, making her look both beautiful and peaceful. Unconsciously, the noisy media and the fans watching at home felt their inner turmoil strangely subside.

"Rong Qing is very sorry to let all my fans down. But if you truly like and support me, please do not take any extreme actions. Rong Qing will not disappear; I will always be with you." Her sincere gaze reached out through the Oscar stage to the entire world. She possessed that unique charm—the ability to make the world rejoice or grieve with her.

"Thank you." Rong Qing gripped Huo Lingtian’s hands tightly, and they bowed together before the stage. Shortly after, she was escorted out of the venue by professional staff.

The unexpected turn of events during the Best Actress segment brought a strange order to the atmosphere. Many people remained fixated on what had just happened, staring blankly at their screens, oblivious to the subsequent awards. In their minds, there was only one thought: Rong Qing was pregnant, and Rong Qing was retiring from the entertainment industry!

For millions of fans, this night was devastating news. The goddess in their hearts had faded from their view, and the pinnacle of her film performances had come to a halt. Countless fans wept in grief; they understood the hardships of motherhood, but the lingering sadness in their hearts would not fade. In the past, when Rong Qing vanished from the camera’s eye for months, they were filled with longing, knowing she was busy filming in some corner of the world. But now, her total retirement shattered all their beautiful hopes, abruptly severing their dreams. Yet, faced with the superstar they truly loved, they felt no resentment or anger—only sorrow.

Rong Qing’s face was red from crying. Fearing that frantic fans might take extreme actions, Huo Lingtian took her on a remote route. Since leaving the awards, Rong Qing had been depressed, her usual gentle smile replaced by a quiet, withdrawn demeanor. Huo Lingtian watched her with a heart full of pain; from the moment his beloved made her decision, he could only stand guard, offering her the greatest protection he could.

The Oscar trophy stood beside her, stinging her skin. She thought of her reluctance to let go, of the poise she had hoped to maintain, only to end up in such a disheveled, tear-streaked state. She felt ashamed of her own weakness.

The Oscars came to a grand close, but the next day’s front-page headlines did not feature interviews with the winning directors or stars. News of the superstar Rong Qing dominated the top of the search rankings once again. Relentless fans refreshed their feeds repeatedly, wishing with all their hearts that the live broadcast had been a hoax, or even just a publicity stunt—anything would have been better than the truth.

The day after her retirement announcement, 'Love' fans around the world organized spontaneously, signing ten-meter-long banners and begging Rong Qing to return to the industry. Media reporters swarmed Dingsheng Entertainment, and fans were even spotted lurking around the heavily guarded Huo estate.

That day, Rong Qing stared at the television and sighed, the sadness in her eyes refusing to fade.

On the third day of her retirement, Rong Qing’s social media was flooded by fans, with endless messages pouring in, and the "public petition" grew increasingly intense. Dingsheng Entertainment had already called for police assistance three times to maintain order. That night, Rong Qing sat in front of her computer, remaining motionless for the entire night.

On the fourth day, most of the fans’ actions were brought under control, but their passion remained unabated. They even declared that they were "willing to wait for Rong Qing’s return to the entertainment industry." Rong Qing was mentally exhausted; her abdomen felt restless, and she was in a daze. Huo Lingtian was worn thin by the struggle; watching her suffer this way made his heart ache, and the feeling of helplessness made him loathe his own inability to fix it.

On the fifth day, the top leader of the Huo Group held a press conference. Facing the world’s journalists and media, Huo Lingtian stood with a domineering and stern profile, his expression grave, his pressure palpable. He declared war on the whole world: Rong Qing was not only his wife, but the person he would protect for a lifetime. Neither the 'Love' fans nor the film audience would be able to tear her away from him, let alone shake her resolve.

As soon as this news broke, the media’s focus shifted from the superstar to the CEO of the Huo Group, and the insults began. Some fans believed it was all Huo Lingtian’s fault—that he had married their goddess and was now snatching away their idol! They branded him a stifler of human cinematic progress and a barbaric, unreasonable butcher. Others accused him of using his secret influence to force Rong Qing into retirement. Huo Lingtian, once the golden boy in the eyes of many, instantly became a pariah—a target for everyone’s rage. They projected all their anger and frustration onto him, and the value of Huo Group’s shares plummeted by several percentage points.

Huo Lingtian’s self-destructive move successfully relieved the pressure of public opinion on Rong Qing, but his own reputation hit rock bottom. Yet, he remained indifferent, spending his days tenderly massaging her waist and checking on her health with a gentle, calm expression. It was as if nothing could crush this titan of the business world.

If Rong Qing hadn't searched the web and discovered Huo Lingtian’s "foolish" actions, she would never have known what he had done for her. Touched beyond words, she finally climbed out of her self-blame. She had already made her decision. She had a family who loved her, and her man had sacrificed his reputation and dignity for her. She was never a saint, and she would certainly not let her loved ones pay the price.

On the fifth day, she stopped watching all news and media commentary, curling up in her small courtyard to bask in the sun and tend to her flowers and plants. She became much more serene and peaceful. The restless agitation of the previous days faded, and her complexion grew rosy.

In this way, the media and the Huo Group remained in a stalemate. The Huo family was a century-old dynasty, and public fervor could not shake its foundations. The company continued to move forward steadily, while Rong Qing rested safely in the Huo estate. Huo Lingtian and Rong Qing lived as if nothing were wrong, peaceful and free.

Half a month passed. The volatile emotions of the fans began to subside; they finally accepted that Rong Qing would not return, and their actions had become meaningless. Just as the fans were sinking into melancholy, a letter of apology from Rong Qing greatly eased the deadlock.

In the letter, Rong Qing sincerely wrote about the moments between her and Huo Lingtian, her history of struggle, her journey of growth, and her deep apologies to her fans. The letter lacked flowery rhetoric; a few short sentences conveyed all the heartache and touched everyone who read it. Rong Qing explained that it was impossible for her to return to the industry, and she hoped that everyone who loved her could give her their final support!

The superstar’s sincere words soothed the crowd’s emotions and provided a release for their grief. Rong Qing also promised that even if she were no longer in the entertainment industry, she would still check her social media, take photos, and perhaps even participate in charity fashion shows. The fans had no choice but to accept her fate; after all, as long as they could receive news of their superstar, it was the best they could hope for. Having gained everyone’s understanding, Rong Qing received numerous messages of congratulations from her fans, who now eagerly anticipated the first photo of her unborn baby.