Chapter Ninety-Three: Fan Uproar

After dinner, Rong Qing was already as good as a young madam of the house. Her bedroom had been arranged in Huo Ling Tian’s former residence, and by the elder master’s wishes, their bridal chamber would soon be built in the Huo family estate. The wedding of the head of the Huo family could not be handled carelessly.

The Huo family mansion was laid out in a traditional enclosed-courtyard style. Its interior decor was restrained in its luxury, with purely handcrafted embellishments and rosewood furniture that lent it an even richer classical air. Unlike the individuality of Western-style mansions, the entire estate exuded a profound sense of antiquity and the marks of history.

The day had already been full of surprises, and then, upon turning on the television, heaven help her, their news was everywhere. Every conceivable version of a melodramatic love story was circulating; the most outrageous of all was the image of Young Master Huo kneeling to propose, baring his heart. It had practically become the emblematic shot of every variety show. Their luxurious diamond ring was uncovered by netizens at once, and it was said to be the work of a world-renowned jewelry designer. The type of gem and its carat weight were also exposed. The entire fashion and entertainment world was stunned.

Rong Qing opened her Weibo page and found it unbearable to look at. Her fans were bombarding her with comments and messages from every direction, making her head ache all the more. The real key was how to calm her fans. Most of the so-called love fans said they could not bear to see their goddess claimed by another man, even if he was a perfect man of diamond quality. A portion sincerely wished their goddess happiness and well-being. And whenever an ordinary user left a comment under her posts, they would be attacked by others in an instant. Heaven, the whole world had gone mad.

Lying back on a chaise longue, Rong Qing angrily hurled a cushion at Huo Ling Tian, her little face full of grievance. "Look at this. The whole world knows I have a man now!"

Perfect. He would have loved for everyone to know that she belonged to him. Huo Ling Tian thought this to himself, but out loud he coaxed the pouting star. "Baby, isn’t this just right? From now on you won’t have to dodge paparazzi. It’s much better to be open and aboveboard."

He imagined the future: at every banquet he attended, the woman standing beside him would be his wife; the one whose name would be written into the family genealogy and who would stand with him shoulder to shoulder would be his darling; the image appearing in the media would be their intimate wedding photo; on the marriage certificate would be their faces together. No one would ever separate them again. Merely thinking of it filled him with satisfaction beyond measure.

"Hmph. Just wait until my fans show up at your Huo Group building with rotten eggs!" Rong Qing glared at the man and said fiercely.

"Or maybe they’ll throw flowers to celebrate that you and I have joined in marriage," Huo Ling Tian countered. He wrapped one arm around his darling and snatched away her phone. Taking advantage of her unguarded moment, he planted a teasing kiss on her cheek.

At that very instant, the camera captured the two of them in a sweet, almost unfairly tender scene. Rong Qing looked shocked, her eyes wide and round, unbearably adorable. Huo Ling Tian had his eyes closed as he kissed her, solemn and reverent. The photograph of the two of them was especially warm and intimate.

"Give it back to me—let me see it... mmph—" Huo Ling Tian pressed Rong Qing beneath him and sealed her lips with his. On the night of their proposal, after crossing countless thorny obstacles, they were finally together. Their embrace deepened with passion, and beneath him the little figure was flushed pink, her eyes bright and misted with tears, enough to stir the heart.

"Baby, tonight we’ll do something meaningful." Huo Ling Tian lifted her into his arms with reverence. Rong Qing was blushing, her heartbeat uneven, her face buried in the man’s chest, shy to the core.

He had waited for this moment for far too long. In the Huo family’s main residence, they seemed like a newly married couple, lying on that extravagantly enormous canopy bed of pear wood. The vivid red bedding set off his darling’s fair skin, making her seem as precious as crystal, impossible not to covet.

The bright and festive colors, the antique architecture, all of it resembled the rites of a bridal chamber from some ancient wedding night. Huo Ling Tian’s gaze grew darker and darker, his excitement surging, carrying with it not only the delight of the feast but, more than that, the deep satisfaction of possession in his soul.

As the unnecessary layers were shed, bronzed, powerful skin entwined with fair crystal-like flesh. The lights and candles gradually dimmed, and from the deep courtyard of the Huo mansion came sounds that were ambiguous yet strangely heartwarming.

"Ling Tian... safety... protection..." The man gave the woman no chance to finish. His movements were fierce yet gentle. Rong Qing arched her fair neck back, sensual and captivating.

"Baby... darling... little imp... give me little Ling Tian." Huo Ling Tian kissed her collarbone with feeling, his movements wild yet tender. Again and again he whispered into Rong Qing’s ear, until it became the most moving of love songs.

"Baby, I want little Ling Tian..." Huo Ling Tian’s fervent voice intertwined with Rong Qing’s moans, becoming the most beautiful music.

The next day, Rong Qing slowly opened her eyes in a daze. Bright sunlight poured through the window, and she sat up abruptly.

"Aah—just how many times did that bastard Huo Ling Tian do it last night?" Rong Qing’s body ached all over. She supported her waist with one hand. It was already late in the day. This was not home but the Huo estate; if she were late getting up on her very first morning, heavens, what terrible impression would she leave behind?

Huo Ling Tian heard her voice and pushed open the door to come in. A cushion flew straight past his head with a slap, and the man rubbed the bridge of his nose. Could it be that a married woman’s temper really grew worse? It shouldn’t be. "Baby, you’re up."

"What time is it?" Rong Qing asked, her voice slightly hoarse.

"A little after ten. Baby, have some water. Your throat is already hoarse from calling out all night." Huo Ling Tian was overflowing with concern; the culprit behind all of it showed not the slightest embarrassment.

"Why didn’t you wake me? No, I need to get up... I can’t stay in bed." Rong Qing grew more aggrieved by the moment.

Huo Ling Tian immediately stopped her from moving. Given the body he had tormented all night, even getting out of bed would be difficult. "Don’t worry. The Huo family’s rules are very loose. Grandfather usually doesn’t care about these trivial matters."

Besides, the one in charge was him. As for how his wife behaved, who would dare criticize her?

Rong Qing relaxed a little, and Huo Ling Tian’s large hand took the opportunity to rest at her waist, massaging it gently. Rong Qing hugged a cushion and lay lazily against the bed, entirely at ease.

A phone call shattered the peaceful morning. Yan Lin sounded both helpless and urgent. "Rong Qing, come to the company at once. Your fans have rioted and are gathering outside the building demanding to see you."

Their romance going public was bound to stir up a frenzy among the media and fans, but no one had expected matters to become this severe. She had originally planned to wait until the uproar died down and then hold a press conference to explain everything. Yet the enthusiasm and frenzy of the love fans had reached an unprecedented level.

"Calm them down first and arrange a press conference. I’ll be there right away," Rong Qing said decisively. She hurriedly dressed, then tidied herself up as quickly as possible. Since Huo Ling Tian was the principal figure involved, he firmly insisted on accompanying her.

By the time Rong Qing arrived at Peak Entertainment, the car had been parked in a corner outside the company. The scene outside was even worse than she had imagined. The entire company building was surrounded by love fans, all holding banners and slogans. The scale and unity of the gathering were unprecedented.

"What are you doing? If you go out now, you’ll only provoke the fans further," Huo Ling Tian said sternly, stopping her from getting out of the car.

"Don’t worry. They’re my fans. They won’t hurt me. Ling Tian, they need me now." Rong Qing looked at him solemnly, her eyes conveying her resolve.

The two held each other’s gaze for a moment, and in the end the man gave a helpless nod. "I’m going with you. I won’t be at ease if you go alone."

When the object of the entire entertainment industry’s attention appeared once more before the public, the atmosphere reached a boiling point. The fans had never been able to stand so close to their idol, but Rong Qing’s romance made it even harder for them to accept. Their "perfect goddess" had suddenly become someone’s wife, and they could not bear it.

Even a man as perfect as Huo Ling Tian could not extinguish the fans’ fury. They seemed to have found an outlet for their resentment, eager to pour out every ounce of dissatisfaction. The crowd began roaring slogans of "Leave her, leave her, leave her" and "No marriage, no marriage," the cries nearly shaking the skies.

In all his decades moving through the entertainment world, no one had ever seen such a tremendous scene. Rong Qing’s influence and charisma were without precedent. They had originally thought that a star who exposed a romance would inevitably lose popularity, yet her fans instead chose such a resolute and domineering way to defend the idol they deemed flawless. It was, in the whole entertainment circle, nothing short of a miracle.

Huo Ling Tian guarded Rong Qing tightly. His immense and fierce presence could intimidate those who came near, but it could not quell the fury. The fans’ furious assault obviously angered this emperor of the city as well. Huo Ling Tian’s voice was low and stern, and the coldness in his eyes was enough to chill the heart.

Suddenly, a water bottle flew from somewhere, aimed straight at Huo Ling Tian. Rong Qing did not think twice before throwing herself in front of the attack, but the man shielded her head with one hand and smashed the bottle apart with a single fist. At once, the noisy crowd fell silent.

Though Rong Qing had not been hurt, the love fans had nearly injured the idol they adored most. Their behavior was not love for the idol, but destruction and harm.

Rong Qing stepped out of Huo Ling Tian’s arms, her face cold as ice. Looking at the fans who said they loved her, she spoke with pain and severity. "You use the cruelest means to hurt the person I love most. That is not loving me; it is hurting me. You disappoint me deeply."

"I have my own life, and I have people I love and care for, just as I love you. Do not use selfish and narrow-minded views to bind your idol. I hope my fans and supporters can support the man I love, and can wish me a lifetime of peace, happiness, and well-being."

Rong Qing’s words were full of feeling. Even if she lost a large number of fans because of this, she could not allow anyone to trample on her love or her dignity.

The crowd grew more and more silent. Behind that silence, many people seemed to awaken. They looked like pitiful children who had been abandoned, apologizing to the idol they loved most and yielding at last.

"Qing, don’t be disappointed. We’ll always support you and love you."

"Sister Qing, may you both live happily together. It was our mistake..."

All kinds of voices rose up, and the originally noisy, chaotic scene was instantly soothed. Rong Qing received the blessings and love of her fans.

A note from the author:
Today’s update is late. I just got back...