Chapter Seventy-Seven: Disguise

That night, she thought Rong Qing had spoken casually, but to her surprise, the next day, Rong Qing contacted her agent and openly purchased two properties at Jinhong Villa Estate: one a luxurious traditional-style villa, the other an ordinary apartment. This move clearly emptied Rong Qing's savings; her newly filled coffers were immediately depleted.

Yan Lin looked at her, self-satisfied and pleased, and scolded helplessly, “Even if you want to support your man’s business, you don’t have to throw your money into a bottomless pit. The Huo Corporation hasn’t reached the point where it needs you to keep it afloat.”

Rong Qing nodded obediently, pretending to heed the advice. She pointed at the model of the villa estate, exclaiming, “Look at this one near the ancient tree! You can see the lush woods from the window—it’s wonderful!”

Yan Lin couldn’t help rolling her eyes. Although Young Master Huo was her former boss, Rong Qing was a newly popular actress; compared to Huo’s vast empire, her contributions were a mere drop in the ocean. Yet this stubborn young lady insisted on throwing herself into the fray. Though Yan Lin was full of grievances, her hands didn’t falter as she easily transferred the money for the two properties.

“Stop showing off—go take a look at your new house,” Yan Lin said, handing her the keys and hurrying her along.

This time, unlike her usual low-key purchases, Rong Qing made a show of it on social media, posting pictures of her new home's scenic views, accompanied by adorable emojis. The moment the photos appeared online, they sparked a frenzy of views. With her fans sharing the post, Jinhong Villa Estate quickly became a sensation on the internet.

On set, Rong Qing couldn’t put down her phone, frantically responding to comments as if possessed. Yan Lin, following beside her, massaged her forehead, muttering, “Crazy, absolutely crazy... Not only has she wagered all her fortune, now she’s risking her hard-earned reputation too.”

Faced with her artist’s near-manic behavior, Yan Lin could do nothing but support her. Rong Qing had tied her reputation to Huo Real Estate—they were now grasshoppers tied to the same rope. If the Huo family failed, they still had immense assets to stage a comeback, but if Rong Qing’s image suffered, her acting career would be over, with no hope of recovery. She wasn’t unaware of the risks. Yan Lin looked at the devoted girl with mixed feelings. Young Master Huo, you must not let down the woman who’s given everything for you.

At a brand’s gala, Rong Qing, dressed in a white dress, immediately caught the attention of the media upon arrival. She didn’t shy away from questions about her new home, but instead admitted it openly.

“There have been reports of quality issues at Jinhong Villa Estate. Why did you buy a house there?” a reporter seized the chance to bombard her. For them, any celebrity’s private affairs provided the headlines they craved.

“Were those ‘quality issues’ reported by the regulatory bureau?” Rong Qing asked innocently, her demeanor hinting that the reporters had been fooled. “I’m sure everyone has seen the photos of my home—the house is beautiful and there are no problems at all.” She answered confidently, “I don’t know if someone is deliberately spreading rumors, but there’s no reason for me to risk my reputation and money on a joke.”

The reporters were stunned by her calm and confidence. After all, they had no evidence of any real problem, and those troublemakers who had made a fuss for a few days had since vanished.

“Of course, if you want to buy a house there too, I’d be delighted to have you as my neighbors!” Rong Qing’s playful tone quickly spread through the media and became a household phrase online.

For her fans, this was a momentous event. Most celebrities are wary of revealing their addresses—partly to avoid invasive paparazzi, partly to prevent harassment. But for fans, who can usually only catch a distant glimpse of their idol, this was an irresistible temptation; who wouldn’t want to see their idol up close?

“Are you endorsing Jinhong Villa Estate with these comments?” a reporter challenged.

“Of course. If they need me, I’m happy to do it.” Rong Qing shrugged without a care, making her support for the estate clear.

Seated at his panoramic desk, Huo Lingtian watched Rong Qing’s every move through a wireless feed. In this critical moment, his woman had stepped forward. Even with all his confidence and certainty, he was still warmed by her unexpected help. From childhood until now, apart from his parents, no one had ever been willing to sacrifice for him. He’d faced countless crises alone, but this time, he wanted to act quickly—to give his woman a safe harbor and an impenetrable fortress.

He activated the internal line. He’d intended to let the troublemakers dance a bit longer, but now he couldn’t wait—he couldn’t wait to go home and embrace and kiss the treasure God had given him.

“It’s time. Begin!”

A popular actress publicly supporting the ailing Jinhong Real Estate instantly injected new vitality into the business. After the news broke, many people came to inquire about buying homes. Those who viewed the properties were full of praise. Driven by her celebrity influence and the chorus of positive reviews, Huo’s company quickly escaped its credit crisis and the real estate business revived.

In the world of commerce, things change in the blink of an eye—one moment you’re riding high, the next you’re the target of all. Old Wu watched the stock market plummet, feeling a powerful force slowly devouring the Wu family’s holdings. Recently, in order to develop a new property, the Wu family had poured all their funds into the project, leaving nothing to stop their shares from being eaten away.

Meanwhile, the same crisis was unfolding in the Li family. Li Yingming, the eldest grandson, held most of the controlling shares, but the recent attacks on the Li conglomerate had drawn the board’s attention. The elders of the family, during this seemingly calm period, sensed the scent of danger on the breeze.

“More investment? Do you know how much we’ve already put in? Have you calculated how much we stand to lose?” Li Yingming sneered. “Old Wu, you’ve spent your life in business, but now you’ve lost your nerve!”

“Don’t worry. Huo Lingtian is buying up our assets as well. I don’t believe he has the funds to develop his new land too! He’s just a cornered dog making a last-ditch effort. When his capital chain breaks, we’ll strike at the heart and see how long the Huo Corporation can last!”

Li Yingming’s words calmed Old Wu. Indeed, for such evenly matched families, Huo Lingtian was overreaching himself. He wasn’t as formidable as the rumors claimed.

“Haha… Let’s just wait for Huo’s bankruptcy!” The two exchanged a conspiratorial grin, their wolfish ambitions in perfect accord. Unfortunately, for all their calculations, they had underestimated the strength of the Huo family. What they’d seen was just the tip of the iceberg; this secretive family had accumulated a century’s worth of wealth, with assets spread across the globe. The X City real estate venture was just their opening gambit.

Negotiations for Rong Qing’s new film, “Miss Y’s Transformation,” were heating up. The director, Fang Ziqing, was a top graduate from the Film Academy’s directing department, but due to lack of opportunity and funding, he’d never realized his dream. He’d started by shooting micro-budget short films, gradually building skill and reputation, and had spent five years preparing this inspirational feature. Every aspect, from the script to the casting, was handled with meticulous care, and Fang Ziqing’s tenacity and professionalism only deepened Rong Qing’s admiration for him.

Though this urban drama was not a big-budget production, its focus on detailed performances and nuanced storytelling was a true test of an actor’s skills. It was a stepping stone for Rong Qing’s entry into the international market—a film with her as the lead, designed to catch the eye and prove her mettle.

For the initial makeup test, Rong Qing played a plain, insecure rural girl. Through hardship and social prejudice, she progressed from being deceived to starting her own business, her character gradually gaining depth and complexity. The film’s tone was richly comedic—a genre Rong Qing had never tackled before, making it even more of a challenge.

Her fair, flawless skin was painted dark; her glossy black hair was pulled into a messy ponytail. Her beautiful face was hidden under heavy makeup, her refined eyebrows concealed with powder. In an instant, the glamorous Rong Qing became an authentic country girl. As she deliberately messed up her hair and struck a pose like a character from a ghost story, her exaggerated rural accent had everyone on set in stitches.

Through the camera lens, her eyes sparkled with laughter. At first glance, she was not conventionally beautiful, but a closer look revealed a subtle, captivating charm. Beyond her stunning appearance, Rong Qing, like the heroine she portrayed, drew more and more attention with her own unique charisma.

Before long, whenever he had time, Huo Lingtian would come to set to pick her up. He’d lean against the car door, waiting patiently, his expression calm and gentle, without the slightest hint of impatience.

“Guess who?” A soft, clear hand covered his eyes from behind, the rural accent making Huo Lingtian break into laughter.

He turned, pulling her into his arms. What he saw was an ugly, rustic girl—completely mismatched with his status and identity. But he hugged her tightly, unfazed, and for this rare moment of initiative, he kissed her fiercely.

“Ugh! How could you still kiss me like this?” Rong Qing squealed, wiping the white powder and saliva from her face with her sleeve in mock disgust. It really took courage to kiss someone like this—she’d checked in the mirror and even she found herself hard to look at.

Huo Lingtian’s eyes were full of indulgent affection. No matter how she changed her appearance or costume, she was still his darling, the one he had chosen.

— — — Author’s Note — — —

Sorry, my father was ill today, so I went to the hospital and the update is late. I’ll post on time tomorrow.