Social media was in flames.
The hashtags #WeiYuChen and #MysteriousGirl climbed straight to the top of the trending list.
Among thousands of comments, the discussion split into two sides:
@StarWatcher99
"Hey, wasn't the rumor that Wei Yu Chen isn't interested in women? He's been linked to men for years."
@MoonLover22
"Yeah, that rumor's been around, but there's never been real proof. Maybe these photos are the first to deny it."
@Cinephile88
"Come on, the entertainment industry runs on PR stunts. This could be his agency's move to cover old rumors. Too coincidental to be real."
@YChenFansForever
"I don't care about his orientation. I'm a fan because of his talent. But honestly… these photos do make me curious."
And as if adding fuel to the fire, a top gossip outlet released an "investigative" headline that only made things worse:
"Three Times Caught on Camera — Who Is the Mysterious Woman Beside Wei Yu Chen?"
1. At the International Airport — the top actor was seen assisting a girl through a mob of fans. Their silhouettes were clearly captured by passengers nearby.
2. At His Private Penthouse — a blurry photo showed Wei Yu Chen helping a drunk woman into the building's lobby. The man's posture was unmistakable.
3. At the Emergency Room — a short video captured him carrying a young woman into the ER. Though both faces were blurred, the same curly hair and petite figure appeared in all three incidents.
The article ended with a provocative line:
"Does this mean the long-standing rumor about the actor's orientation is nothing but a myth? Or… is this woman merely a smokescreen for something far bigger? The public awaits answers."
The comment section ignited again:
@DramaAddict77
"Three times caught on camera? That's not coincidence. That's a relationship."
@SkepticCat
"Or an inside leak. The timing's too perfect to be accidental."
@BlushBlush
"If he's really dating, I'm glad. It means he's human capable of love like the rest of us."
@ColdObserver
"Glad? This could destroy his career. The public doesn't forgive easily."
The online world turned into a battlefield of speculation.
Behind the scenes, Wei Yu Chen's name was no longer just that of a movie icon — it had become the very definition of mystery.
The breakfast table was tense.
The modern chandelier reflected on the glass surface while the glow from Jiang Fan's laptop displayed an endless stream of breaking headlines.
Jiang Fan closed the screen slowly, leaning back in his leather chair.
"We can't just stay silent, Ge. If we let this go on, it'll spiral out of control. The public is waiting for a statement."
Wei Yu Chen stood by the tall window, the city lights reflecting faintly on his profile. His arms were crossed, eyes cold and detached.
"They're just speculating. It'll die down on its own."
"Die down?" Jiang Fan arched a brow, stepping forward.
"Ge, this isn't some cheap tabloid story. Major outlets are picking it up. Even with your face blurred in the video, everyone knows it's you."
Silence.
Only the low hum of the AC filled the room.
"I've been thinking," Jiang Fan continued. His tone was measured, sharp. "We'll issue an official statement through X Dragon. But that's not enough. We need something solid a visible reason."
Wei Yu Chen turned to him. "Meaning?"
A thin smile appeared on Jiang Fan's face — the kind that belonged to a man with a plan.
"We'll bring Miss Xiao into X Dragon Studio. Introduce her publicly as your personal assistant. Once people see that, they'll stop asking who she is."
Wei Yu Chen's expression didn't shift, but his gaze darkened slightly.
"My personal assistant?"
Jiang Fan nodded confidently.
"Yes. It makes sense. You're a top actor — of course you'd have someone by your side. Once she's labeled your assistant, her presence won't raise questions anymore. No more 'mysterious woman.'"
The room fell silent again.
Only the golden glow of the city seeped through the glass, casting lines of light across Wei Yu Chen's still face.
Then, faintly, almost imperceptibly, the corner of his lips lifted.
Jiang Fan caught it — the hint of something human.
And for the first time in years, he thought: Maybe this woman could truly change him.
The next morning, the scent of warm soup and toasted bread filled the dining room.
Aunt Li was busy arranging the dishes, while Jiang Fan sat casually at the table, laptop already open.
"I've decided," Jiang Fan said, closing the lid and glancing toward Xiaoxi, who was poking at her chopsticks. "To stop this scandal, we'll make an official announcement. You'll be introduced as Wei Yu Chen's personal assistant."
Crack!
The chopsticks in Xiaoxi's hand almost snapped. Her head shot up, eyes wide.
"W–what?! His personal assistant?! No, no, no! I still have a job! I can't just suddenly become someone's assistant, especially his!"
Aunt Li froze mid-motion, glancing curiously between them.
Wei Yu Chen, meanwhile, sat quietly at the end of the table, sipping his coffee like a man untouched by chaos.
Jiang Fan tilted his head, his smile laced with amusement.
"Miss Xiao, it's not random. If we don't do this, the rumors will only grow. His career's at stake. You've seen how ruthless the public can be."
Xiaoxi half-stood, flailing.
"Why me?! I'm just a nobody! I don't belong in your fancy world! How did I end up being the 'mysterious woman' in some celebrity scandal?!"
Her hand pointed dramatically toward Yu Chen.
"Come on! Look at him walking limited edition luxury! And me? I'm instant noodles at the end of the month! We're not even from the same menu!"
Jiang Fan nearly choked back laughter. "Instant noodles, huh?"
At that, Wei Yu Chen finally set his cup down. His gaze cut sharp through the air.
"Are you refusing?"
Xiaoxi froze instantly. "Ehn-no! Of course not! I justuh… my boss might throw a stapler at me if I quit without notice! I need my salary to survive, you know?!"
Aunt Li chuckled softly under her breath.
The tension melted into chaos — the kind only Xiaoxi could cause.
Then, just when laughter returned to the room, it happened.
Wei Yu Chen rose slowly, walked over, and without warning, placed his hand on Xiaoxi's forehead.
The air froze.
His palm was cold, yet the touch carried a strange warmth. His fingers brushed lightly along her temple, and for the first time, his expression softened genuinely.
"Still warm," he murmured quietly.
Xiaoxi blinked rapidly.
"E-eh? Hello?! Mr. Wei Yu Chen?! I'm alive, thank you! You don't need to check my temperature like I'm boiled chicken!"
Her voice wavered with nervous laughter, clearly trying to mask the storm in her chest.
But Wei Yu Chen didn't move.
His gaze lingered, calm yet intent — as if the rest of the world had fallen away, leaving only her.
From the other side of the table, Jiang Fan's jaw dropped. Aunt Li covered her mouth, eyes wide.
Was that… affection on Wei Yu Chen's face?
The famously cold, untouchable actor suddenly looked human. Almost tender.
The spell broke when Xiaoxi flailed again, her voice cracking.
"Stop looking at me like that! What am I, a thermometer?! H–hello?!"
Finally, Wei Yu Chen pulled his hand back, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips.
Not the sharp, performative kind he wore for cameras but something quiet. Real.
Jiang Fan leaned back, exhaling softly. "Unbelievable. This really isn't the same Yu Chen."
Aunt Li nodded in agreement, whispering,
"He's… different now."