When the next press conference was called for, Melinda put all her chips on the line like a seasoned gambler sure of her victory. Husband and wife appeared together as they took their seats.

"Let me make the introductions," Jonas started. "Everyone, this is my wife, Melinda."

"Hello, everyone." Melinda smiled warmly at the crowd. They laid their linked hands on the table, and the diamond ring on her left finger caught the raging flashes of the camera.

The conference commenced.

"I know there have been various speculations on the internet about my relationship with Miss Emily Bai," Jonas said.

The room quieted. He had decided to take the bull by the horns, and didn’t wait for the press to ask their questions before diving right into the issue.

"I will clarify this for you for the last time. Miss Bai and I were playmates in childhood. The love of my life is right here beside me." He turned to look at Melinda, and the cameras went wild again.

"I will not stand for my wife getting slandered and maligned by strangers who know nothing about our lives and only have too much time on their hands.

If the ugly rumors do not stop after this, I will not hesitate to use legal means to give pursuit to the defamers."

The authority in Jonas's voice sent a chill to everyone who listened. There was no mistaking the man’s serious attitude regarding attacks against his wife.

The members of the press twittered among themselves, and then suddenly a murmur of praises for the couple circled around.

After such a revelation, only fools would still think that the rumors were true, let alone think of spreading it even further. They knew all too well their careers would be over if they crossed the Gu family.

However, nobody knew of the "fake" members of the press that Emily’s team had planted in the conference. Their only purpose for being in attendance was to sow conflict and doubt, and reaffirm the rumors between Emily and Jonas.

And one of them was now raising his hand to pose his question. "Mr. Gu, this is your second press conference. All this time, we’ve only ever heard from you. Miss Bai has yet to tell her side of the story.

Why do you seem so eager to put a stop to the inquiries before she could do so? Are there perhaps secrets that you are anxious might leak into the public?"

Before anyone could even react to that, another of Emily’s cahoots shot a question. "There have also been talks that you and your wife didn’t actually get along well for many years. And this is the first time that you appeared together and acknowledged her in public.

One can’t help but think it’s a little bit staged. Aren’t you just forcing yourselves to display your so-called affections to the media?"

"Forced?" It was Melinda, and her sudden interjection obviously took the press aback. "Do you really think Jonas is the kind of person who would settle down when he is being pressured to do something he doesn’t want?"

Beside her, Jonas was quiet, and his face bore no emotion. But his grip tightened around his wife’s hand.

Melinda gave him a little nudge, and he turned to look at her. When he did, the cold wall melted, and his face took on a gentle and warm expression.

more, his tone was much

Emily was cooped up in their agency with her assistant. Her team had come up with a plan to use the rumor

to the press, and instead would milk the hype

being the case, it didn’t take long for her to find out that something happened in Jonas's press conference. Something that was going to cause the agency problems. "Some of the fans and netizens are now in favor of Melinda," she told Emily. "Although the online trolls we hired still have a sway on the

a press release and devise a script that

nodded in assent. She had no qualms in taking such a drastic step. Before she could

gripped her phone tightly and bit

for an excuse. Jonas had yet to threaten her, but she

told me anything yet because I’ve been so busy

seems like you have too many projects in your hands. Perhaps I should take some of it off, so you can take

There was no mistake now; the threat was that he was going to pull

no longer believed anything she said, and Emily doubted that she could still persuade him if she talked about

bit out her words. "I’ll explain to

of advice, Emily: you’d better make your explanations clear and precise, and soon, too. Otherwise, there’s no telling what other things the media could dig up. They might even find out you’re not

breath hitched at his last sentence. She

power to not only take away her current projects, but keep her out of the entertainment industry

eyes in defeat, and took a deep breath. She had to bite the bullet. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Jonas. I never meant for this to happen. I’ll clear this

were exchanged after that; he had hung up the phone. Emily paced

crashing around her, and all her favorable options flew out the window. Whatever might

to mention that she had been busy with her projects, and implied that she was unaware just how big

she made a somewhat public apology to Melinda, and at the same time apologized for her fans

not afford to lose any amount of support; she had to make sure she didn’t offend anyone any

apology video garnered many views, and was shared around the internet countless times. Pretty soon, netizens on various online forums

And thus, the crisis passed smoothly. More or less. Emily’s agency was angered by her Weibo video.

screamed at them when the management called for her. "If I didn’t make that damn video, the show wouldn’t

tension that had long existed between Emily and the

need to get back to my shoot. I advise you not to pursue this matter with me, or you’ll find yourselves

projects she landed, added to the publicity of the rumors. She had fame at her

have a big impact on her popularity afterwards, but she would never take

the way back to the set, calculating the possibilities. It was dark by the time she got there, and all the shit she had

same project, only he was represented by another company. He had a gentle and caring

If she was linked romantically with this guy, she knew she would have better chances at maintaining her popularity, perhaps gaining even

caught a cold, but I’m fine. Thank you

went on in the Internet. Don’t worry too

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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