Chapter 44: Since I

In fact, the story of Qi Hao and the male big shots wasn’t mentioned for the first time.

It’s just never been this concentrated before.

This is an accumulation explosion following last year’s Golden Rooster Best Actor win.

Back then, because Qi Hao kept pulling strange moves, his competitors didn’t churn out many negative articles around the Golden Rooster Award.

And Qi Hao’s acting was truly astonishing—he sacrificed a lot for the film.

His Best Actor award was widely expected.

Now that the timing has passed, it’s harder to attack his acting.

But this kind of male gossip is harder to wash clean.

You’ve already become Best Actor—why have you been so high-profile these past few months, constantly the focus of every media outlet, popping up with major news every few days?

What can we do about it!

If we don’t suppress you now, we won’t have any way to survive.

If every resource has to go through you first, we’ll just be picking up scraps.

It’s better to gang up and smear you first!

The backbone of these smears is the flood of photos of Qi Hao and the male big shots.

Most show him arm-in-arm with them, some show them entering and leaving hotels together, departing hours apart.

Some even include shots of them dining together, heads leaning dangerously close.

The negative articles are multiplying.

Some who originally had no intention of joining, seeing how lively it all was,

Well, since we’re here anyway…

It won’t cost much.

If we manage to bury Qi Hao, won’t we go from bicycle to motorcycle?

Female star scandals usually only involve male big shots; rarely do they touch female big shots, since the entertainment industry is still overwhelmingly male-dominated.

But male star scandals have broader applicability.

They can be kept by female big shots, or be the playthings of male big shots, or even join the couple for threesomes.

“Even if I go before the magistrate, I’ll grease the palms inside and out—I guarantee your sister won’t leave me…”

At Qi Hao’s studio, if someone walks in humming Peking Opera on time, it’s definitely the veteran legal officer Yao Weihong.

Yao Weihong isn’t actually that old—he’s just been in the field a long time, and his hobbies—drinking tea, walking birds, listening to Peking Opera—are all old Beijing pastimes, so he naturally gives off a weary, worn-out vibe.

“Uncle Yao, stop singing—the sky’s falling.”

“The sky won’t fall—it’s the tall ones who have to hold it up. What’s there to fear?”

Yao Weihong remained calm as ever; for a legal officer, calmness is the prerequisite to solving problems.

“Boss is being smeared into shit.”

“It’s not me being smeared into shit, and he’s a superstar—being smeared is normal, isn’t it?”

“This time is different.”

“What’s different? An Yu didn’t even call me last night—that means it’s not serious. Did An Yu come to work yet?”

“He’s sleeping in the boss’s office.”

“Want some fried dumplings? I’ll share half.”

“No thanks—eat yours and you’ll be hungry again by noon.”

Most people at Qi Hao’s studio were calm, treating the flood of smears as nothing.

Indeed, if Zhan Qi Laideng wasn’t worried, why should anyone else panic?

Yao Weihong carried his fried dumplings into the boss’s office.

He saw Zhan Qi Laideng fast asleep on the office sofa.

“Stop sleeping—what’s the plan this time?”

He might sound indifferent, but he still had to act—if he needed to step in, he’d pick a few media outlets or black-fan leaders to make examples of.

Killing one to warn a hundred was the key.

At this point, showing magnanimity was out of the question—those trolls wouldn’t thank you.

“Boring. These people are like bots—pathetically weak.”

Zhan Qi Laideng mumbled, rolled over, and went back to sleep, soon snoring again.

Yao Weihong chuckled and went to eat his dumplings.

Zhan Qi Laideng’s attitude meant the situation wasn’t serious.

Besides, this guy was still sleeping in the office this early—he was probably monitoring developments all night, maybe hadn’t slept at all.

The studio didn’t take it seriously, so Qi Hao paid even less attention to this mindless smear campaign.

“Useless. Can’t even do Photoshop? Why not fake a photo of me sitting naked on a big shot’s lap?” Qi Hao mocked the media.

“Boss, that’s a crime…” Zhang Nan reminded him.

“Right, true.” Qi Hao sighed.

“We’re not going to the Hong Kong Film Awards, right?” Zhang Nan had mentioned this itinerary before—Qi Hao didn’t want to go.

“Nope. They’re not giving me an award.” Qi Hao shook his head.

He’d once spent time in Hong Kong and had an average impression of the people there.

To be precise, over eighty percent looked down on mainlanders, yet their market had shrunk so drastically they could only survive by relying on the mainland market.

Acting both ways.

“The Promise” was nominated for twelve major awards; Li Lianjie and Liu De were both nominated for Best Actor—but not a single Best Supporting Actor nod for him.

Wasn’t it just because he was a mainland star?

Why kiss their cold asses with your warm face?

Besides, he had no movie to promote—he’d rather wait quietly to shoot his warm drama.

While Qi Hao ignored the smears, the internet was buzzing.

Fierce Scaly Monster: Qi Hao’s gay—hahaha, killed me.

Gen Heaven Morning: He’s been linked to so many people—could this just be to hide his real orientation?

I Love Sugarcane: You’re going too far—our Seventh Brother’s already been broken, and you’re still smearing him.

Sleepless Winter Month: Such a good kid—so pitiful, being smeared with such absurd lies.

Lonely Old Age: If you touch my ass, you’ll learn what a real beauty is.

Galaxy Paints Sun and Moon: You don’t even spare men?

Expired Medicinal Wine: How do they manage to speak so seriously while lying?

Upright Gourd Boy: If you like little bros, find me—QQ **9230*

Are You Kidding: Dude above, are you male or female?

Yi Chenzi: He’s male!

Are You Kidding: Holy shit—that’s even hotter!

Curious Kid: These are definitely paid smears by Qi Hao himself—he doesn’t want to sleep with half the industry, he wants to sleep with all of it!

Century Nightmare: So now female fans call him “husband,” male fans call him “old man.”

Lei Ruoxuan: Maybe we should quit the industry—leave some face for the younger guys. They’re jealous of you.

Inspiration King en: True men endure heaven’s trials; those who escape envy are mediocrities!

Home Soul Golden Fur: Since Qi Hao starred in “The Dog” and “The Promise,” he’s cemented his place beyond idol status.

Aside from some paid trolls bought by various factions, netizens hadn’t been swayed.

Come on—you’ve spent years calling Qi Hao a playboy, and now you suddenly tell us he’s not into women? Do you think we’re idiots?

The internet’s waters run deep; hearts are hidden behind walls—don’t just parrot what others say.

On the Hong Kong Film Awards red carpet, which Qi Hao didn’t attend, Li Lianjie, Fang Long, An Feng, Li Xuexue, Michael Angarano, and Zou Zhao-long walked together.

This lineup was absolutely dominant.

Today, Li Lianjie would walk the red carpet twice.

Once for “The Promise,” and again for the upcoming “Kung Fu Panda.”

Both were big-budget productions.

At the interview zone, Li Lianjie was preparing for his second red carpet walk, so he declined interviews.

The host asked a few questions about “Kung Fu Panda,” then quickly pivoted to the hottest gossip.

“An Feng, Li Xuexue—you’ve both worked with Qi Hao. There’s currently online speculation about his orientation… uh, being… problematic. What do you think?”

How convenient—a single film, “Kung Fu Panda,” gathered Qi Hao’s two rumored girlfriends.

As if by unspoken agreement, upon hearing the question, Fang Long and Zou Zhao-long shifted slightly aside; Michael Angarano, the foreigner, didn’t understand but followed suit obediently.

“Ah, I’ve seen it…” An Feng didn’t dodge the question. She said without hesitation: “I know this isn’t true. In real life, he’s a very confident, principled person—he wouldn’t compromise his values for resources… Those photos were all taken secretly during group drinking sessions, and they’re all old pictures…”

Beforehand, Aunt Liu had already discussed potential media questions with her daughter.

She didn’t want her daughter dragged into this.

After all, everyone could see this was another “Six Sects Siege Mount Bright Top” scenario.

Get involved, and you’re making enemies with them.

But An Feng had convinced her mother.

First, when online smears targeted her, Qi Hao had spoken up for her—she owed him a favor.

Haruki Murakami said, remember those who held umbrellas over you in the rain.

In 2005 and 2006, the media directly asked Qi Hao if he had heard that An Feng was a man.

Qi Hao did not answer directly but countered the reporters: “What if I were a woman—would you believe it?”

Then he added: “Do you believe she’s a man, or do you believe I’m Qin Shi Huang?”

Responding absurdity with absurdity was a clear show of support for his partner.

This was during the time Qi Hao and An Feng were collaborating on *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*.

Precisely because of this, rumors about the two spread wildly; Hong Kong media even used phrases like “strongly supporting girlfriend.”

Second, as someone who had once been mindlessly vilified, An Feng understood best the feeling of isolation and helplessness.

What Qi Hao needed most right now was support from his friends.

After An Feng finished speaking, everyone turned to Li Xuexue, eager to hear her thoughts on Qi Hao.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to discuss topics that insult my intelligence.”

Although Li Xuexue still smiled sweetly, her words were icy and firm, as if to say: ask me again and I’ll walk out.

The host silently thought: Li Xuexue and Qi Hao must have some issues.

Gossip in the industry claimed that after collaborating on *Waiting Alone*, Li Xuexue and Qi Hao had essentially cut off all contact.

Everyone speculated about the reasons.

Some said it was because the film received poor reception, and both young actors, then on the rise, were too embarrassed to mention it.

But there was another version with more credibility.

According to insiders, Li Xuexue fell in love with Qi Hao during filming and developed real feelings for him; she even confessed her affection, but Qi Hao, consumed by his career, rejected her.

Even if it was love turned to resentment, Li Xuexue’s stance on this question was unmistakably clear.

She felt such questions insulted her intelligence.