Chapter 79: Second Lady’s Scandal

Chapter 79: Second Lady's Scandal

The reporters rushed into the private room so swiftly that Second Lady was caught completely off guard.

The viewers, who were already stunned by the TV broadcast exposing the corrupt judge Lü Hanzong and Gan Haishan's conspiracy against the small eatery, found their minds reeling from the shocking revelation.

While they were still grappling with the legal scandal involving Lü Hanzong, the image of the elegantly dressed Second Lady, Mo Cuiyun, with a male celebrity sitting on her knees, unfolded before their eyes, an eye-catching scene that left them aghast. As the journalists barged in, several other male celebrities were also seen fawning over her. Some even stripped off their shirts to grab her attention, holding her hand to touch inappropriate areas...

The citizens of Hong Kong were stunned by such an unsettling sight.

"Is TVB going crazy today? How can one sensational news story top the other?"

Many Hong Kong residents were left speechless, with some parents shielding their children's eyes, fearing that they might be influenced negatively by such indecent scenes.

Both the live event and the television audience were in upheaval, albeit for different reasons. Second Lady and Zhu Meiqing were panic-stricken, while the viewers at home were eagerly devouring the drama.

Zhu Meiqing, having spent years in the entertainment industry, instinctively covered her face and ducked under the table upon seeing the journalists, hoping to avoid being captured on camera.

However, Hong Kong paparazzi were not to be underestimated; they would spare no one in the private room.

As Zhu Meiqing was pulled out from under the table, her visible panic spoke volumes: her life, as she knew it, was over.

The second wife also shared the same sense of doom. Though Gu Chengfu was known for his infidelity, no man took kindly to being cuckolded.

If Gu Chengfu were to witness this scene, the consequences would be unbearable for the second wife.

In her distress, she attempted to push away the male star clinging to her, but the throng of journalists crowding into the room prevented her from doing so.

Instead, the male star was inadvertently pushed back against her by the incoming reporters, creating an extremely indecent position between them.

"Wow, folks, what you're witnessing now is 'Second Wife of Tycoon Tangles with Three Men, Desperate for Attention.'"

Hong Kong paparazzi headlines were notorious for their brazen creativity and piercing accuracy. They had a knack for crafting titles that piqued curiosity, even for passersby.

A housewife, who happened to be at the butcher's with her child, overheard the television broadcast from Porky Wong's shop. Captivated by the sensational news, she stood mesmerized at the entrance, unable to tear herself away from the scandal.

"Deputy Second Lady, despite her age, still knows how to have fun, eh? Truly a resilient mother. I wonder if she'd use steel wool on a male celebrity's... assets?"

The Hong Kong paparazzi had truly venomous tongues; even Shen Qing had to admit defeat upon hearing their remarks.

As the camera lenses focused on her face, Deputy Second Lady could no longer maintain her composed elegance. All she wanted was to escape this chaotic scene as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, the male celebrity clung to her like glue, and both of them were in a bind. They knew that if today's scandal got out, they would surely be hunted down by Gu Chengfu.

Alas, the paparazzi were tenacious and numerous.

During the meal, Zhu Meiqing, seeking to curry favor with Deputy Second Lady, had followed protocol and seated her at the head of the table.

The head seat was in the innermost part of the private room, typically reserved for someone of high status or seniority. This way, when waitstaff served tea and dishes, they wouldn't disturb the person sitting there.

But precisely because of this, Deputy Second Lady found herself trapped by everyone at the table, unable to move. As she cursed at the paparazzi and warned them against pursuing the story, she also struggled to push away the male celebrity who was pressed against her. Her meticulously styled hair and makeup became disheveled in the chaos.

In the environment of 1970, waterproof cosmetics were not yet available, even in Hong Kong.

Second Madam's hair was disheveled, her face smudged with powder from sweat, and her lipstick smeared across her cheeks...

In this moment, Second Madam appeared utterly humiliated, devoid of any aura or elegance befitting a wealthy socialite. The Hong Kong citizens watching the TV were captivated, their eyes gleaming as they cheered excitedly.

"Even a wealthy madam plays around with men? What a pity for that male star, who could have been Second Madam's son, to end up in such a situation."

"What's there to pity? Both parties were willing participants; neither is innocent here."

"I wonder if Gu Chengfu will beat Second Madam to death after seeing her scandalous affair with a gigolo broadcast on TV? He must be furious about the green hat she's put on him."

At that moment, Gu Chengfu wasn't merely contemplating killing Second Madam; his rage extended to everyone in the private room, including those male stars and Zhu Meiqing – he wanted them all dead.

When Gu Shaoqian learned of the news, he was strolling through the garden of their hilltop mansion with Su Qilan, admiring the flowers. Upon hearing about the chaos caused by Second Madam, he hastily took Su Qilan to find Gu Chengfu.

This was Su Qilan's first encounter with Gu Chengfu, the patriarch of the powerful Gu family. He seemed younger and more imposing than she had imagined, exuding a maturity, refinement, and handsomeness that Gu Shaoqian lacked.

This was the sophistication that only a seasoned man could possess, unlike Gu Shaoqian's seemingly mature and refined demeanor. When standing before Gu Chengfu, Gu Shaoqian appeared notably inexperienced.

As Gu Chengfu's gaze swept over them, both Gu Shaoqian and Su Qilan lowered their heads nervously, too afraid to meet his eyes.

Assuming Gu Chengfu would erupt in anger, he only instructed the servants calmly to take Gu Shaoqian and Su Qilan downstairs.

"Daddy, there must be a misunderstanding about Mommy's situation," Gu Shaoqian knew that the calmer Gu Chengfu appeared, the more intense his inner fury was.

Wanting to defend Second Aunt, Gu Shaoqian was interrupted by his father's stern gaze: "Your mother's affairs are none of your business as a junior."

Regardless of whether Second Aunt was indeed involved with another man, now that the media had exposed the incident, making a mockery of Gu Chengfu in all of Hong Kong, he wouldn't let it slide easily.

Not losing his temper in front of Gu Shaoqian was because Gu Chengfu valued his reputation and dignity, not wanting his descendant to witness his disgrace.

If Gu Shaoqian were truly clever, upon learning of the situation, his first instinct shouldn't have been to rush back and plead for Second Aunt but rather to go to the scene, retrieve her, and handle the tabloid scandal.

Looking at the somewhat timid Gu Shaoqian standing before him, Gu Chengfu felt a tinge of disappointment.

After all, he was still too young; when faced with adversity, he easily lost composure, unsure of what actions were appropriate and which weren't.

...

Meanwhile, the people dispatched by Gu Chengfu to fetch Second Aunt were en route.

On the television, the cringe-worthy scenes between Second Madam and the male stars continued to play.

In reality, Second Madam had bodyguards as well. Whenever there was any sign of trouble, they would immediately rush to protect her.

But today, for some unknown reason, all the bodyguards were lying unconscious on the ground, allowing the paparazzi the chance to storm into the private room. Otherwise, they would have been stopped at the door by Second Madam's guards.

As Shen Qing ran alongside the paparazzi, she paused in surprise when she saw the bodyguards lying on the floor. Had someone else taken advantage of the situation to target Second Madam today, besides her plan to trap Lu Hanzong and his wife?

Just as Shen Qing was pondering this, she heard a loud crash, followed by someone stumbling out of the neighboring private room. Was the person drunk, or was there another reason? Despite appearing on the verge of collapse, the young man moved hastily.

Curiosity piqued, Shen Qing couldn't help but take a closer look. When she recognized the man's face, she gasped in astonishment, "Guan Jingyuan??"

Hearing his name called, Guan Jingyuan lifted his gaze. Shen Qing instantly met a pair of dark, lifeless eyes.

Her heart tightened in that moment, weighed down by an oppressive feeling. Her mind filled with the original storyline's description of Guan Jingyuan. This man, who rose from a minor role on TVB to become a dual-star in both film and music, was found hanged at home just before his big press conference at the age of 23.

Looking into Guan Jingyuan's eyes, which seemed to belong in the underworld, Shen Qing felt a profound discomfort in her chest, accompanied by labored breathing.

She opened her mouth, intending to say something, but Guan Jingyuan had already turned and left.

He still ran clumsily, and Shen Qing noticed that his pants were completely soaked in blood... Was he injured?

Curious, Shen Qing watched Guan Jingyuan's stumbling figure retreat. The next moment, the shrill screams of paparazzi inside the private room caught her attention.

She instinctively turned her head and saw the Second Madam being hastily escorted out by bodyguards, looking utterly disheveled.

Shen Qing then realized that the bodyguard who had collapsed earlier was now fully awake and had rushed into the room to protect the Second Madam.

With the bodyguards' intervention, the Second Madam managed to escape from the paparazzi.

Some of the other male stars either jumped out of windows to flee or, wisely, followed the Second Madam's bodyguards out.

However, Zhu Meiqing was tightly held back by the paparazzi. One of them spat out the most venomous question, "Zhu Meiqing, as a TVB host, you're procuring for a wealthy family's second child. And you're dressed so provocatively? Are you planning to put on a show of eating duck in the private room?"

"The public might not know that Zhu Meiqing is actually the wife of the wicked judge, Lu Hanzong," the Hong Kong paparazzo professionally informed the viewers at home about Zhu Meiqing's background. "Is it possible that today's duck feast for the Second Madam has something to do with your husband and Ganhai collaborating to defame the snack store?"

"Wha-? What are you talking about? How could my husband do such a thing? You can't just accuse people without evidence; there are legal consequences," Zhu Meiqing was taken aback that the paparazzi knew everything, but in front of the media, her first reaction was to deny it while fiercely threatening the Hong Kong paparazzi.

"Wow, you're still threatening me at a time like this?" The inquiring paparazzi was Eight-Dimension's disciple, and after years under his tutelage, his words were equally sharp. "Your husband was just exposed for attempting to kill his mistress, caught red-handed by our reporters just now. Both of you as a couple truly have venomous intentions..."

...