Chapter 22: Did He Come Because He Cared About Her?

Control?

Jiang Yu’s heart sank abruptly, but she quickly lifted her head and met his gaze.

“Mr. Fu, if you have nothing else to say, you can leave. After all, I’m just a nobody now and can’t bring you any value.”

Fu Boyun let out a cold laugh and reached out, gripping her chin. “Jiang Yu, what do you think others will say? In this industry, no one cares how hard you work—they only care whether you have someone powerful backing you.”

Jiang Yu broke free from his hand, her voice dropping lower.

“That’s their business. I only want to rely on myself.”

Fu Boyun’s eyes instantly turned icy cold. “Jiang Yu, do you know what you’re saying?”

“I do.”

He was silent for a moment, a complicated look flashing in his eyes, then he straightened and sneered, “Very well, Jiang Yu. I’d like to see just how long you can hold out.”

He turned and left, the door slamming shut behind him.

Jiang Yu leaned back in her chair and slowly closed her eyes.

Late at night, the silence was suffocating.

Her phone vibrated. It was Lin Zhiwei calling.

“Where are you right now?” Lin Zhiwei’s voice was edged with urgency.

“I’m in the makeup room on set. Just finished filming a scene,” Jiang Yu replied.

“Check Weibo right now!”

There was a trace of anger in Lin Zhiwei’s tone.

Jiang Yu paused, hung up, and quickly opened Weibo. The top trending topic leapt out at her—#Jiang Yu Replaced in New Drama, President Fu Promotes Rookie Cheng Xingyu#

She clicked in. It was filled with photos of Cheng Xingyu on set, and several more of her walking intimately side by side with Fu Boyun.

The comments section was in an uproar:

[President Fu really only promotes new faces. Poor Jiang Yu, completely overshadowed.]
[Jiang Yu’s finished, isn’t she? President Fu’s heart clearly isn’t with her anymore.]
[Cheng Xingyu is obviously the chosen one. Jiang Yu should just leave the industry!]

Jiang Yu let out a cold laugh, her finger gliding across the screen.

“Fu Boyun, what a move,” she muttered under her breath.

In the early hours, in Fu Boyun’s office.

“Secretary Zhuang, this is your idea of handling things?”

Fu Boyun slammed his phone down on the desk, his anger palpable. “I told you to monitor public opinion, and this is the result—a tidal wave of negativity?”

Zhuang Luoyan kept her head down, a sheen of cold sweat on her brow. “President Fu, I’ve already contacted the paid posters to delete posts, but these rumors are clearly being deliberately fanned by someone…”

“Who?” Fu Boyun narrowed his eyes, his voice like frost.

Zhuang Luoyan hesitated. “It could be one of Jiang Yu’s competitors—or possibly… her own agent.”

Fu Boyun’s gaze sharpened, his lips thinning. “Wipe out every piece of negative news immediately. And find out exactly who’s stirring things up behind the scenes. I want results in three days.”

“Yes, sir,” Zhuang Luoyan replied softly.

Fu Boyun leaned back in his chair, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table.

Jiang Yu closed Weibo and let out a long sigh.

She had been mentally prepared for this moment, but now that she was truly being thrown into the eye of the storm, exhaustion still washed over her.

She dialed Lin Zhiwei.

“What do you make of all this?” Jiang Yu’s tone was calm.

“What is there to make of it? Fu Boyun is sending you a warning. He’s raising Cheng Xingyu up so obviously—it’s clear he wants you to know you can be replaced at any moment.”

Jiang Yu gave a bitter laugh.

That damn Fu.

How could she not know what Fu Boyun was thinking?

This man had always loved control more than anything.

“Hello? Why are you so quiet?” Lin Zhiwei’s anxious voice came through the phone.