Walker said, "My Huayu Film Industry is just getting started, yet as a director, you pull a stunt like this? For this incident, you will pay a penalty of three times your contract fee."

"And you! As an actress, you tried to curry favor with the director this way? Double the penalty for you."

"Pay up and get lost. I don’t want to see either of you ever again."

After Walker delivered his harsh verdict, he prepared to leave. Director Wang and the actress were scared half to death, not daring to utter a word. They knew all too well how formidable Walker could be.

A threefold penalty for him and a twofold one for her. They were already down on their luck in the entertainment industry; after paying these fees, they would be utterly penniless. At this moment, they lacked even the courage to beg for mercy.

Walker ordered his men, "Make them pay. If they’re short by a single penny, throw them in the river to feed the fish!"

"Yes, sir!"

Instantly, six or seven men fixed their gazes on Director Wang and the actress. Director Wang forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace. What a joke. How could I possibly afford that much money? It’s impossible. He knew that after paying for all this, he would be finished. He once had decent connections in the entertainment industry, but now he was completely blacklisted. Yesterday, he was a high-and-mighty director; today, he was a ruined man.

The actress turned on him and spat, "You good-for-nothing, you scum! You finally got what was coming to you!"

"You’re no saint yourself!" Director Wang retorted coldly. "If it weren’t for people like you, do you think I could have gotten anywhere? You have no right to judge me!"

In that instant, they transformed from intimate partners into sworn enemies.

The actress said with a sneer, "Even if I leave the entertainment industry, I can still make money. But you? Looking at your pitiful state, I wonder if you’ll be beaten to death the moment you step outside! You’ve offended more than just one or two people in this industry. Just you wait for your miserable end!"

"That’s none of your business, you filthy woman!" Director Wang shot back.

"Say that again, I dare you!" the actress shrieked, losing her temper completely.

"What’s wrong with saying it? You’re a slut who’s been ridden by a thousand men!" Director Wang snarled back.

In the next moment, the two were seen brawling right at the entrance of Huayu Film Industry. As fate would have it, the entire scene was caught on camera, plunging the already desperate pair into even deeper despair.

Just then, Luo Ling arrived. She hadn’t expected Walker to personally call her to apologize, claiming he had been unaware of the situation. She could believe he had been unaware, but for Walker to apologize to her personally was extraordinary. My brother must be handling this behind the scenes. Of course, I’ve never really considered Ye Fan my brother. She happened to see Director Wang and the actress wrestling on the ground. It was quite a spectacle.

When they saw Luo Ling arrive, both of them stopped fighting. Director Wang saw her being escorted by several of Huayu Film Industry’s bodyguards and immediately started cursing, "So it was you, you bitch, who caused all this trouble!"

"You wench, why did you have to ruin us?" the actress screamed, joining him.

They were both seething. They still hadn’t understood why disaster had suddenly befallen them, but now they thought they had their answer: Luo Ling. Although she hadn’t admitted anything, they weren’t idiots. They could put two and two together.

Luo Ling said coldly, "Watch your mouths. People like you with your twisted morals deserve to be blacklisted. Otherwise, who knows how many more innocent people would have to suffer at your hands!"

"I’ll kill you!"

Director Wang and the actress, enraged, charged at Luo Ling. Their reputations were already in tatters, so they didn’t care about making things worse. But they had to get their revenge; anything less would be infuriating.

However, the moment they got close to Luo Ling, the bodyguards intercepted them. They were beaten so badly they had to be sent to the hospital.

The entire entertainment industry was in an uproar. Many celebrities came forward to support Luo Ling, saying her actions were a breath of fresh air. The industry, they claimed, lacked such righteous actors. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

News headlines were filled with praise for Luo Ling. With her cute, sweet, and angelic looks, many experts believed she would become an instant sensation with her first movie. Furthermore, beauty on Luo Ling’s level was incredibly rare in the entertainment industry; some might even say she was one of a kind. If her acting skills were just as good, her rise to fame would be unstoppable.

What was even more intimidating was the mysterious power backing her. No one believed Luo Ling could single-handedly take down an industry veteran like Director Wang. On top of that, she had forced the top brass at Huayu Film Industry to apologize. For her sake, the company had replaced all the directors and actors on the project and even fired several producers.

It was clear Luo Ling was no ordinary person. Although she hadn’t even debuted, many already considered her someone not to be provoked. Actors who became famous before their debut were rare enough, but one who could dominate the headlines as she had was virtually unheard of.

Luo Ling knew Ye Fan was full of surprises, but she hadn’t expected one this big. At the same time, a sense of crisis washed over her. This is the source of my anxiety. I’m completely helpless, always relying on Ye Fan to solve my problems. I’m so worried that if this continues, the gap between me and his other women will just keep growing. I know for a fact that at least two of the women around him have incredibly powerful backgrounds. Even if I become a superstar, a top-tier actress, I could never compare to them. The gap between us is just too immense.

Luo Ling refused to accept this. I can succeed in becoming his woman, too. Even though there’s been no progress yet, I’ve already started planning.

This shocking affair spread like wildfire through the entertainment industry, but the frenzy didn’t last long. In the end, celebrity gossip couldn’t compete with national news. This kind of story was bound to be washed away by the next tide of headlines.

However, one person’s popularity didn’t fade—or rather, two people’s. The first was Luo Ling. She had become a goddess in the eyes of many, her popularity surpassing that of many A-list actresses, all without a single film to her name. The second was the mysterious man behind her. Speculation ran rampant about the identity of her backer. It was baffling that not a single clue about him could be found.

After returning home, Su Qingxue asked Ye Fan, "What’s been going on with you these days? You’ve been hemming and hawing when I call you! Tell me, were you out finding another woman again?"

Ye Fan was caught off guard but recovered quickly. "How could that be, Honey? I’m always perfectly clear when I speak!"

"Hmph! Don’t let me find any evidence, or you’re dead," Su Qingxue huffed.

Ye Fan was used to this, and he maintained a nonchalant demeanor. Women are always suspicious. Even now, though Su Qingxue’s suspicion was correct, Ye Fan felt no flicker of guilt. He had simply grown accustomed to it.