Chapter 50: The Gossipmonger, Lord Quan, Makes His Debut

"You two are really something else," Quan Hao said, ignoring the complicated look in Li Wanbai’s eyes. He shook his head and sneered. "One minute you're getting along, the next you're at odds. Yet as soon as the show ends, you huddle together to chat. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you two were truly in love! I have to wait ages just to get a word in with you."

Li Wanbai retorted, "Even if Bai Chuan and I aren’t really in love, that has nothing to do with you. What you just said doesn’t even make sense together."

"You—!" Quan Hao was momentarily taken aback, then quickly grew angry, his handsome face flushing red as he glared at Li Wanbai. "Are you out of your mind? That’s not what I meant at all—whatever, think what you want! There are too many people here. Come with me, I want to talk to you alone."

Li Wanbai eyed him suspiciously, but still followed him step by step. They’d barely walked a few paces when Yu Bai Chuan’s voice suddenly sounded from behind them: "Wait, where are you two going?"

Striding over in just a few quick steps, Yu Bai Chuan’s gaze hovered sharply between the two.

Great, that feeling of being a cuckold is back, Li Wanbai thought, swallowing nervously, already pondering how to explain.

Quan Hao let out a sarcastic laugh. "You two are practically divorced already, and I can’t even have a few words? Yu Bai Chuan, aren’t you meddling a little too much?"

"We are getting a divorce, but until the papers are signed, we’re still married in the eyes of the law. Quan Hao, even if you want to steal someone’s spouse, you don’t have to be so eager. If you want to play the homewrecker, just say so. No need to twist things around and blame me," Yu Bai Chuan said coldly.

Li Wanbai looked from the furious face of Quan Hao to Yu Bai Chuan’s impassive, stony countenance and could only wish she could slap her own face for the way she’d acted on the show.

The two of them were clearly rivals—archenemies, even! The on-camera camaraderie was just an act. As soon as the cameras stopped rolling, this tense, explosive atmosphere was all too real.

Caught in the middle, small and pitiful, she forced a laugh and said, "Why don’t you two talk? I’ll just slip away—"

"Stop right there!" Yu Bai Chuan and Quan Hao said in unison.

Quan Hao folded his arms and sneered, "Since your oh-so-precious husband wants to listen, let him. If he doesn’t like what he hears, not my problem."

What’s that supposed to mean? Li Wanbai’s heart skipped a beat. Quan Hao continued, "That Mu Sang fellow wants to be the second male lead in my upcoming drama. He came to me asking for the part, said he was introduced by you. Is that true?"

As he spoke, Quan Hao fixed Li Wanbai with a stare so clear and penetrating it seemed to look straight into her soul.

If that were really the case, he probably wouldn’t see anything at all.

Li Wanbai was utterly bewildered. What? What upcoming drama? Whose recommendation? Who… Mu Sang?

At the mention of that name, Li Wanbai subconsciously straightened up. "You’re saying Mu Sang contacted you through me, wanting the second male lead in your drama?"

Quan Hao snorted. "Want? No, let’s call it demand."

Relying on his supposed connection to Li Wanbai, Mu Sang hadn’t exactly been polite in his approach to Quan Hao.

For example: "I’m asking for this part for your own good. With Li Wanbai backing me, when the show airs, both she and Yu Bai Chuan will use their connections to promote it. Hiring me means gaining two extra sources of support. Think it over, Teacher Quan—there are plenty of other dramas airing at the same time as yours."

For twenty-eight years, Quan Hao’s life had been smooth sailing. Even if his parents hadn’t doted on him in his school days, his grandparents had, and he’d never lacked for love. Later, when his parents became successful and brought him to live with them, there was nothing he wanted that he didn’t get. He’d only ever been refused twice in his life.

Once, when he tried to persuade Yu Bai Chuan to quit the industry and was scolded for it.

The other time…

Quan Hao gave Li Wanbai a sidelong glance, snorting. "I was already doing him a favor by not throwing him out in person!"

Well, actually, he’d had him thrown out instead.

Good job! Li Wanbai nodded approvingly, barely stopping herself from saying it aloud. After a moment’s pause, she asked, "If you already knew what you were going to do, why come to me?"

Her tone was genuinely puzzled, free of any sarcasm or irony. After all, Quan Hao’s decision was exactly what she’d hoped for—she could have applauded him.

But to the two men, she sounded nothing but sarcastic, as if venting her frustration.

Quan Hao paused, his voice stiff, "I did kick him out, but I thought I should check with you, just in case you really wanted him in. If you did, then—"

"No need. You did the right thing!"

More than right—perfect, in fact!

If only Mu Sang could be erased from her world, she wouldn’t have to rack her brains trying to explain things to Yu Bai Chuan anymore.

Before Quan Hao could finish, Li Wanbai hurriedly cut him off.

Her anxious expression and abrupt words were so unlike her earlier demeanor that both Yu Bai Chuan and Quan Hao looked at her with curious, probing eyes.

Li Wanbai cleared her throat, her mind spinning frantically for an explanation. "Acting is all about the right fit between role and actor. If you think Mu Sang is right for the part, give it to him. If not, don’t. It’s really up to the director and producer. I’m just an outsider—I shouldn’t get involved."

Quan Hao found her behavior even stranger.

Was this really the Li Wanbai he knew?

The Li Wanbai who used to bring up Mu Sang every three sentences and Ye Xiruo every five—why was she suddenly being so considerate of him?

His mind spun for a moment, but then he regained composure. Ever since Li Wanbai had rejected him, he’d resolved not to get entangled with her again. His face returned to its usual calm. "I’ve been meaning to ask—did you have a falling out with Mu Sang?"

At this, Yu Bai Chuan, who had been about to leave, abruptly turned around. He said nothing, but his gaze fixed on Li Wanbai, deep and searching. She looked utterly lost.

To be honest, I barely know this Mu Sang you keep talking about, she thought. But even if I say that, neither of you would believe me… Fine, then.

Countless explanations ran through her head as she stiffly nodded, "I suppose… there was a bit of a disagreement."

"I knew it," Quan Hao said, pulling out his phone and quickly bringing up the chat history to show Li Wanbai.

It was just as he’d described: Mu Sang demanding the role, and also trying to wrangle a few fashion resources from Quan Hao.

He was arrogant and self-important, but not stupid. He assumed Li Wanbai had okayed him asking for the role, but when it came to fashion resources, he was noticeably more humble, if not exactly polite.