Back Then, I Adored You

“Liang Doukou, you can change your name to Liang Jinlian. I will give you that name for free. You’re welcome.”

The online comments were extremely nasty. Qin Zhi’ai only glanced at a handful of them before she read the actual articles about Liang Doukou.

A well-known reporter was the first to report that Liang Doukou had cheated on Gu Yusheng. Liang Doukou’s scandal was reported much differently than the usual celebrity scandals. This article had photographs of her, as well as other evidence that backed up the allegations.

The first photograph was of Liang Doukou and Zhou Jing walking into the Four Seasons Hotel together. The second photograph was of the two of them standing outside a hotel suite with the door half open and a man standing just inside in a bathrobe. The third photograph was shot 20 minutes later, when Zhou Jing walked out of the suite. And the fourth photograph was 2 hours and 10 minutes later: Liang Doukou had opened the door while Zhou Jing was standing outside in the corridor. Through the door opening, Liang Doukou could be seen with her messy clothing, hair, and lipstick, and hickeys covered her neck.

The photographs looked sexual in nature, particularly given the timing in which they were taken. Their publication indicated to the world that she had done something shameful with the man in the bathrobe.

If her marriage to Gu Yusheng hadn’t been announced, this would not have been a scandal, but now the news was a big hit to Liang Doukou’s reputation.

Qin Zhi’ai could not help but curl up the corners of her mouth as she read the article.

She had been grateful to Liang Doukou when she had given her a way to pay off her father’s gambling debt, but Qin Zhi’ai had been set up by Liang Doukou so many times by now that she had no sympathetic feelings toward her.

Even though Qin Zhi’ai knew that Liang Doukou had not cheated, she did not feel bad for her as everyone was accusing her of it anyway. Instead, she felt slightly good about it.

The degree of happiness Qin Zhi’ai felt in Hangzhou was the same degree of sadness Liang Doukou felt in Beijing.

Liang Doukou did not come home from the Four Seasons Hotel until 11:00 in the evening. She was disgusted and went to take a shower right away. Her furious mood had slightly improved when she’d washed off the smell of Mr. Yang, but then her phone rang.

She glanced at it and saw it was Zhou Jing.

If Zhou Jing hadn’t been out of the suite for so long on a phone call, Mr. Yang would not have had a chance to touch her. Liang Doukou was in no mood to talk to Zhou Jing now. But the phone rang continuously, until Liang Doukou answered it in anger. As she was about to snap at her, Zhou Jing worriedly said, “Xiaokou, hurry up and log in to your social feed.”

This was the first time Liang Doukou had ever heard Zhou Jing sound so worried since she’d met her many years ago. Liang Doukou was shocked until she swallowed her harsh words, turned on her computer, and logged in to her social feed.

After just a glance, she slammed the mouse on the floor. “What the hell just happened? Didn’t you promise me that no reporters were following us? Now I’ve lost the leading actress role and my name is ruined!”