Chapter 638: Official Announcement
"Boyfriend? Do you understand what admitting that means for you, Liu Yimei?" Liu Lili stared wide-eyed at her daughter.
"What does it mean?"
"It means everything I've built for your image over the years..." Liu Lili's heart ached at the thought. If Liu Yimei admitted to having a boyfriend, her endorsements, movie roles, and carefully crafted image could all be jeopardized.
"Should I stay single my entire life for the sake of an image?" Liu Yimei retorted.
"No, I'm just saying you could wait a few more years..."
"Mom, I'm almost 31! If I wait a few more years, will anyone still want me?"
"Why weren't you in such a rush before?"
"Because I hadn't met the right person yet!"
"There are plenty of handsome, sophisticated young men here in China—"
"Those shallow, pretentious guys make me sick!" Liu Yimei interrupted with a look of disdain. "They're the type who say they'll love you forever but sleep with multiple women behind your back. I'm not about to share a man with a bunch of floozies!"
"Hey! Liu Yimei, watch your language!" Liu Lili was appalled at her daughter's bluntness. "And how do you know that man doesn't have other women around him?"
"I've followed Bruno's reports closely, and there's never been any mention of other women," Liu Yimei said with certainty.
"But you're seven years older than him. Do you really think he'll still love you as you start to age?"
...
Ignoring her mother's warnings, Liu Yimei pressed on. "Isn't the saying 'age is just a number'? I love him, and he loves me. That's enough! Personal image? It can be rebuilt. Consider it a transformation. I'm tired of being labeled a 'pretty face,' like all I need to do is show up and smile to earn a paycheck without any effort. My hard work is always overlooked! All they say is, 'Liu Yimei became famous because of her looks.' But I'm an actress, not some glorified escort!"
Her frustration boiled over. "If I had a choice, I'd rather be ugly!"
The real reason she despised the talk shows her mother booked for her was that their hosts had all perpetuated this superficial view of her.
Her passionate outburst left Liu Lili speechless. She had indeed built her daughter's public image around the idea that a pretty face was the quickest path to fame. After all, why struggle to be a serious actor when you could achieve success with much less effort?
But now she realized she had underestimated her daughter's talent and ambition. Liu Yimei had always been a gifted actress, showcasing her skills since her school days. She had worked tirelessly to hone her craft, yearning for recognition of her abilities rather than her looks.
...
Liu Lili, at a loss for words, sat silently. Meanwhile, Liu Yimei, done with her tirade, sat on the couch quietly packing her bag.
The sound of sirens echoed from the street outside—likely the neighbors had called the police to deal with the reporters who refused to leave.
Liu Lili didn't even have the energy to think about that now. Sitting on a chair, she stared at her daughter, who was busying herself with her belongings.
She's really grown up, Liu Lili thought.
She remembered when her daughter would listen to her every word. Ever since that man had abandoned them, Liu Lili and Liu Yimei had been each other's only support.
Liu Lili had always seen her daughter as her sweet, obedient girl. Even if Liu Yimei didn't like something, she would still agree to it for her mother's sake.
Liu Lili had become so accustomed to that dynamic that she had never imagined her daughter would one day defy her wishes and do something so hurtful.
Princesses grow up, and queens grow old. Liu Lili sighed. She realized she wouldn't always be there to protect and guide her daughter.
Finally, Liu Lili broke the silence. "Alright... I know many media outlets are clamoring for your response to this. As you said, we should be selective. This could be a great opportunity to elevate your reputation. If we handle this well, what seems like a crisis could turn into an advantage."
Her voice lacked the sharpness from earlier; exhaustion and sleepless nights had taken their toll.
...
Liu Yimei didn't respond to her mother's suggestion, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. As a celebrity, she knew that leveraging her private life for publicity was sometimes unavoidable.
"Are you sure about this, Liu Yimei? Are you really ready to shed your 'Goddess of Innocence' image and take a new path?"
Liu Yimei nodded firmly. "It's not like I'm giving up anything I'll miss."
Liu Lili approached her and kissed her forehead. "Good luck, sweetheart."
Then she headed upstairs, likely to make arrangements with the media to address the situation and offer an explanation to Liu Yimei's fans.
Liu Yimei understood that her decision would disappoint some fans, even make them feel betrayed. But to her, Bruno's importance far outweighed the opinions of a few fans.
For Bruno, she thought, I'd betray the entire world, let alone some fans.
Still, she felt a sense of responsibility to apologize to them. The idealized "Goddess of Innocence" they adored was about to vanish forever.
Sitting down at her computer, she decided to check online for updates on her "scandal."
As expected, her romantic rumors dominated entertainment news on platforms like Douyin.
Unlike earlier photo-based reports, Douyin featured a video clip showing her and Bruno at the Forbidden City. They embraced passionately, kissed, and held hands as if they were in their own world. Their actions made it clear they weren't just sightseeing.
Watching the footage, Liu Yimei ignored the host's commentary and smiled to herself. From an outsider's perspective, she and Bruno did make an intriguing couple.
"Not bad," she thought, amused by the quality of the footage. "Whoever filmed this did a decent job."
...
News of her announcement spread rapidly online. After Liu Yimei used platforms like Weibo and Douyin to confirm her relationship with renowned football star Bruno, the story quickly went global—even reaching the United States.
In the U.S., Vanessa was overseeing the delivery of the Gulfstream jet she and Bruno had ordered when her father informed her of the news. While she was furious at first, she didn't let her emotions erupt. After hanging up, she calmly opened her laptop.
Leaning back in her chair, Vanessa stared at the photos plastered across the screen. The first showed Liu Yimei and Bruno holding each other affectionately. The second was even more intimate, capturing a passionate kiss.
The love and sweetness between them were palpable, even in still images.
Vanessa then searched for Liu Yimei's profile online and fell silent as she read.
"It seems I've finally met a worthy rival..." she thought.
...
Although Vanessa was aware of Bruno's activities in the East, she chose not to confront him. Instead, she quietly completed the transaction for their luxury jet and returned to Manchester to handle the tasks Bruno had delegated to her.
She maintained their regular communication via email and phone, discussing work progress as usual.
From Vanessa, Bruno also learned about Manchester United's situation during his absence.
Unlike previous summers, the club wasn't as aggressive in the transfer market. After two years of rebuilding, the squad had stabilized, and only minor adjustments were needed.
With his vacation in the quiet countryside nearing its end, Bruno knew it was time to return to Manchester.
After confirming his return date, Vanessa promptly booked his flight.
(END CHAPTER)
Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
Hurry up! The promotion ends on February 2, 2026.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10