Just as Yang Yi was about to write a song for Mo Fei, the usually clean-cut, scandal-free Mo Fei suddenly found herself at the center of a rumor! "Age-Gap Romance? Mo Fei Exposed in a Heated Relationship with Ju Jie!" The news broke through an entertainment media outlet with its own web portal. Such stories aren't unusual—there are always whispers and rumors floating around, and only those gossip rags specializing in spreading scandals would eagerly report on unsubstantiated claims. But this time was different. The website had photos to back it up, not just one or two. Though they were candid shots, they clearly showed Ju Jie and Mo Fei chatting intimately. Even more damning, the last photo seemed to show Ju Jie "hugging" Mo Fei! If that wasn't solid proof, what was? Soon, major media outlets and gossip tabloids picked up the story. The mainstream media handled it with some restraint, but the tabloids had no scruples at all! "Shocking! The Jade Maiden Songstress Does This with a Younger Man!" screamed the headline of a Guangdong entertainment tabloid, channeling the vibe of Yang Yi's past life's "UC Shock Department." Word had it that after printing, sales skyrocketed. "Losing in Music, Winning in Love: Has Mo Fei Fallen into a Love Trap?" "Deeply Disappointed: Mo Fei, the Golden Flower, Has Been Plucked!" Mo Fei, who had been lying low for a while due to her lukewarm album sales, suddenly found herself back on the front pages of major media. The news was explosive, and whether they were fans of Mo Fei or just people who remembered her glory days, everyone was buzzing about it. This sudden surge in attention even gave a boost to her new album's sales! But Mo Fei wasn't happy about it. After learning the news from Mo Xiaojuan, she stormed back to Jiangcheng and barged straight into Sister Ling's office. "Why did you do this?" Mo Fei gritted her teeth, furious. "Do what?" Sister Ling feigned innocence. But Mo Fei wasn't buying it. Gripping the back of a chair tightly, she said, "Sister Ling, we've worked together for seven or eight years. Do you think I don't know your favorite publicity tactics? But we always agreed—I stay away from this kind of thing. Why are you using me?" "Using you?" Niu Meiling dropped the act. Ignoring Mo Fei's furrowed brow, she lit a slender cigarette, took a slow drag, and said calmly, "Mo Fei, you're a grown woman. Can't you tell what's good for you? Am I using you, or am I helping you?" Before Mo Fei could respond, she tossed a document onto the table and gestured toward it. "Take a look at your album sales. If it weren't for the buzz I stirred up these past couple of days, where would you get that extra 200,000 in sales?" In the final week, except for a few outliers, normal album sales usually hit a slump. Mo Fei's was no different—before the increase, she was selling only about 5,000 to 6,000 copies a day. Jumping to over 100,000 a day was clearly surprising. "But I don't need this!" Mo Fei said coldly. "I don't want results like this. Even if I lose, I want to lose fair and square." Mo Fei had always been straightforward—a breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry. She wanted genuine achievements and couldn't tolerate any shortcuts. "Mo Fei! You need to understand!" Niu Meiling snapped. "You're no longer the top-tier star you once were. You can't even break into the A-list! The company has poured so many resources into you, but your results can't compare to others—Song Yun, Han Fei'er—their last albums did better than yours, right? What gives you the right to be so arrogant and defy the company's arrangements?" Mo Fei froze, staring at her. Suddenly, the Sister Ling she once admired and trusted felt like a stranger. Niu Meiling realized she had let her temper get the better of her, accidentally blurting out the frustration she'd been holding back. As one of the most prominent agents in the industry, she quickly regained her composure. "The company arranged this for your own good, didn't it?" Niu Meiling's tone softened, as if the old Sister Ling had returned. "Mo Fei, you have to understand—Sister Ling just wants to help you achieve better results, so no one can mock you." "But why didn't you discuss it with me beforehand?" Mo Fei was still upset. "If I had discussed it with you, would you have agreed?" Niu Meiling waved her hand with a smile. "So, Sister Ling had to act first and ask later. Looks like it worked out pretty well, didn't it?" But Mo Fei hated this feeling. Biting her lower lip, she said, "I'm going to clarify things with the reporters!" She added, "Xixi will see this. I don't want her to think her mother is the kind of person who would stoop to anything for results." "You can clarify, but not now!" Niu Meiling's tone shifted between firm and gentle. "Mo Fei, you need to understand Sister Ling's difficulties. Wait a few more days—clarify after this week, okay? Sister Ling is begging you!" With that, what else could Mo Fei do but go along? After all, Sister Ling had done so much for her. As she left Sister Ling's office, Mo Fei ran into the other party in the scandal—Ju Jie! Ju Jie had been riding high these days, basking in the attention the scandal brought him. It felt like he was leaping from a third-tier star to second-tier, so smug that his cologne was even stronger than usual. But Mo Fei didn't give him the time of day. With a cold face, she completely ignored his greeting and walked away, radiating hostility. "Tch!" After Mo Fei left, Ju Jie sneered and turned to push open the door. "Aunt Ling, I think I'm on fire right now. How about we strike while the iron's hot and arrange an album for me?" ... Leaving the company, despite the sweltering summer heat, Mo Fei carried a chill as she slipped into the car Mo Xiaojuan was driving. "Sis, where to?" Mo Xiaojuan asked nervously. "To Yang..." Mo Fei paused, hesitating before changing her mind. "Let's go home. I'm tired." Back home, Mo Fei curled up wearily on the sofa. Seeing this, Aunt Zhu, the housekeeper, quickly retreated to her room. After a moment of hesitation, Mo Fei pulled out her phone and dialed Yang Yi's number. The phone rang for a long time before Yang Yi answered. "Hello?" Yang Yi's voice was calm. Mo Fei was silent for a moment before saying, "Don't believe the scandal in the papers." "Mm." Mo Fei suddenly felt a pang of grievance. "It was a publicity stunt arranged by the company. I didn't know anything about it." "I know," Yang Yi replied, still composed. But his calmness only made Mo Fei more anxious. Huffing, she said, "You're jealous!" "I'm not," Yang Yi answered after a pause. Well, that was a lie. Yang Yi was indeed a bit jealous, even if he didn't fully understand the feeling. Seeing that news had left him with a heavy heart. But what Yang Yi said earlier was true—he knew it was a stunt. His sharp eyes had immediately spotted from the photos whether it was a real hug or just an optical illusion! Still, seeing those headlines made him feel awful. And it made him want to slice that guy in two! In his past life, anyone who angered him didn't leave in one piece. But Mo Fei's call and explanation lifted his spirits. Of course, with his personality, it was hard to show it. "You are!" Mo Fei, overly sensitive, thought Yang Yi had grown cold, and her voice trembled with tears. It wasn't even her fault! "Alright, I'm really not jealous. Don't worry," Yang Yi said, a bit exasperated, coaxing her like he would Xixi. "I've been honest with you, so you're not allowed to be jealous," Mo Fei pouted, stubbornly insisting. "Mm, I'm not jealous." "You are!" Oh, this silly Scorpio... "..."