Chapter 636: Exposed
"I'm in Beijing," Liu Yimei's casual reply shattered Liu Lili's last sliver of hope.
"Oh, heavens..." Liu Lili muttered, clutching her forehead as she sank back into bed. It seemed easier to lie down voluntarily rather than collapse from the shock.
"Mom? Are you okay?" Liu Yimei asked when she heard nothing but silence on the other end after her mother's exclamation.
"Do you think I should be okay, Liu Yimei?" Liu Lili's voice was weak. "Do you even realize what you've done?"
"I just took a vacation," Liu Yimei answered nonchalantly.
As for the interviews her mother had lined up for her without her consent, Liu Yimei didn't care. She had never wanted to participate in those programs anyway.
"Oh, so I should kiss your forehead and ask, 'Did you have fun, sweetheart?'"
"If you want to, go ahead."
"Liu Yimei, Liu Yimei..." Liu Lili groaned, exasperated by her daughter's defiant attitude. "Do you understand the consequences of your actions?"
"I know I can't attend those programs, but I never intended to. You took those on without asking me, Mom. Even though you're my manager, I'm an adult. I should have a say in my own decisions..."
...
Liu Lili realized her daughter didn't grasp the gravity of the situation. Cutting her off, she said, "Let's leave the past in the past for now, Liu Yimei. I have a question: who is your boyfriend?"
The bluntness of the question caught Liu Yimei off guard. She froze, unsure whether her mother actually knew something or was trying to trick her into confessing.
"Sorry, Mom, it's noisy here. What did you say?" she lied.
"Yesterday, I got a call from a man named Li Ming. Do you know him?"
Liu Yimei frowned. The topic had taken a strange turn. "No, I don't. I can't recall anyone by that name."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely not," she replied decisively.
"Well, this Li Ming told me he had photos and videos of you holding hands, hugging, and kissing a stranger while walking around Houhai. He demanded a large sum of money, promising that if I paid enough, he would delete everything. I thought he was lying, but it seems I was wrong. Do you want to explain, Liu Yimei? Who is that stranger?"
...
Her mother's sudden rise in volume startled Liu Yimei. Standing there in silence, her mind raced to process what she'd just heard.
A paparazzo? Caught pictures of her and Bruno together? She recalled their stroll at Houhai. She should have realized it was a haven for photographers and that someone might capture them.
Now that her mother had rejected the deal, the question was: where would those photos and videos end up?
Familiar with the entertainment industry and media practices, Liu Yimei didn't need much imagination to figure out the answer.
It seemed she would make headlines again.
Her impromptu escapade was bound to become public knowledge. Instead of panicking, she began to contemplate: could this turn of events work in her favor?
"Liu Yimei!" Liu Lili's sharp tone jolted her back to reality.
Her silence was taken as confirmation that her mother's suspicions were correct—that she had been secretly involved with a man.
"Ah? Uh… Mom, I think we should discuss this when I get home."
If the media did publish those photos, it would be impossible to hide Bruno's identity.
"Fine. Where are you?"
"The West Station."
"Stay right there. I'm coming to get you!"
With that, Liu Lili hung up, sprang out of bed, and started dressing.
There was no way she would allow her daughter to parade around in a taxi, exposing herself further while the whole nation believed she was "resting at home due to illness."
...
Hearing the busy tone, Liu Yimei chuckled helplessly.
It seemed things had indeed escalated.
Since her mother told her to wait, she would wait. But in the meantime, she needed something to pass the time.
Finding a seat, Liu Yimei pulled out her phone and began browsing the news. It didn't take long to find reports about herself.
She clicked on an article and was greeted with a highly detailed piece accompanied by crystal-clear photos. Unlike the typical blurry, low-quality images from celebrity tabloids, these were clearly taken with a professional camera.
One shot showed her from the back while Bruno's face was fully visible. Another smaller photo showed her facing the camera inside the Forbidden City.
The headline was sensational: "The Man Behind the Goddess!"
Looking at the photos, Liu Yimei could already envision the questions she would face: "Who is the man in the photo?" "Are you two dating?"
How should she respond? Deny everything or admit the truth?
And what about her fans, who admired her for her "pure and innocent" image? Would they accept that she had been on a romantic date with a man they knew nothing about?
The situation was messy.
Surprisingly, Liu Yimei wasn't afraid. To her, the worst-case scenario would be leaving the entertainment industry altogether. That outcome seemed highly unlikely—her "scandal" was mild compared to tax evasion or infidelity scandals other celebrities faced.
If, against all odds, she had to step away from showbiz, she wouldn't consider it a loss. She could return to being an ordinary woman and be with Bruno without any concerns.
For now, she wasn't overly concerned. It seemed her mother was the only one truly panicking.
(END CHAPTER)
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