Marry a female star at a bargain price

In the huge shopping mall, everyone was stunned.

This controversy surrounding "civil servants holding concurrent positions" has been going on for three or four days now, and neither the person involved nor the officials of Nanzhou Province have offered any explanation so far.

The online discussion has already gone through several waves.

Of course, there are also some people with ulterior motives behind this, and their intentions are varied and self-evident.

In short, it fermented for three or four days.

The entire internet now agrees that it is illogical, unreasonable, and illegal for Lin Xiao's deputy mayor to be working as a ride-hailing driver.

In other words, there is absolutely no possibility of defending or clearing his name.

Therefore, netizens are not expecting any reversal or official response; they are just waiting to see how the Nanzhou Provincial Government will deal with the parties involved, and most importantly, how they will deal with Lin Xiao, the superior who is responsible for negligence.

However, no one expected this.

Such an irrefutable and indisputable case could still be reversed.

Moreover, in the midst of Lin Xiao's nonchalant and understated manner, the whole story took a complete 180-degree turn, leaving all netizens and viewers speechless with astonishment.

The person who asked the question was caught off guard by the crowd.

He came here today to ask this question with the intention of embarrassing Han Xixi.

As for who arranged for him to be there, it doesn't matter; the entire entertainment industry is a suspect.

The purpose of haters is to cause trouble, so it's understandable that they would ask about negative public opinion concerning Lin Xiao.

However, the critics did not expect that Lin Xiao himself would appear at the event.

That's perfect. Going all out in front of the main character will definitely be more effective than secretly provoking Han Xixi.

Unexpectedly, Lin Xiao was not someone to be trifled with.

With just a few words, the situation was turned upside down, and the scheme of the trolls was instantly shattered.

Public opinion in the live stream room has quietly shifted.

"I knew it!!!"

"That explanation makes sense now. No wonder it was such a coincidence!"

"If it weren't for the recent boom in cultural tourism, would a small place like Mashan County even need ride-hailing services? I think Lin Xiao's explanation is very reasonable!"

"I knew something was off about this, now it all makes sense!"

"A deputy mayor is a pretty high-ranking official in a small town. Even if he doesn't embezzle or take anything, he could easily support his family on his income alone. Why would he need to drive for a ride-hailing service to supplement his income? That's ridiculous!"

"I have a feeling that Lin Xiao didn't come here today to surprise his wife on their anniversary, but rather to deliberately use this opportunity to clarify something?"

"I'm scared of being scammed online, let's take a second look!"

"..."

Although not everyone believed Lin Xiao's explanation.

But unlike the monotonous accusations and insults of the previous two days, Lin Xiao only offered a few words of explanation, and many netizens instantly switched sides, choosing to believe that his words were the truth.

This shows that Lin Dacaizi's public image and online following are still solid.

The awkward situation now belongs to the officials of Nanzhou Province, who haven't even had a chance to issue a statement yet.

After all, Lin Xiao's explanation was given in a live broadcast to hundreds of thousands of netizens, which was essentially an official explanation.

He blurted out those words without hesitation.

The official stance of Nanzhou Province must be consistent with his, otherwise it would be tantamount to branding his self-approved "cultural tourism image ambassador" with the infamous reputation of talking nonsense and deceiving the public.

Sacrificing a chosen one, capable of impacting the province's cultural tourism and economic development, for an insignificant deputy town mayor.

Even a fool knows this deal isn't worthwhile.

Moreover, Lin Xiao's explanation is equivalent to giving all netizens an explanation.

Whether you believe it or not.

This matter has been resolved in a dignified manner, without any punishment for anyone, and without affecting the credibility of the Nanzhou Provincial Government. It can even create an image of "not being bothered by trifles and serving the people".

It was a remarkable feat to turn the tide and transform crisis into opportunity.

Lin Xiao's reply also relieved the urgent problem for the higher-ups in Nanzhou Province.

There is absolutely no need for them to add anything unnecessary by releasing any investigation results at this critical juncture, or to take any fair and serious action against Dong Jianhui, the person involved.

Nobody really cares.

The only person netizens cared about the whole time was Lin Xiao.

We don't need to speculate on the attitude of the leaders of Nanzhou Province.

Right now, the critic who asked the question was speechless after being choked by Lin Xiao's explanation. He never expected that such a dead end, which seemed to have no suspense, could be turned into a lifeline by him in just a few words.

He admires her from the bottom of his heart.

However, the trolls did not give up, because their purpose in lying in wait here today was not Lin Xiao but Han Xixi.

That question was just a starting point, not a fatal blow.

The real killer move is yet to come.

Hei Zi pondered for a moment before speaking to Han Xixi: "Ms. Han, I saw online this morning that someone photographed you at a plastic surgery hospital in Ninghai City yesterday, speculating that you went there for cosmetic surgery. What is your response to this?"

The question was thrown out of the blue, instantly diverting everyone's attention.

For a moment, both online and offline, everyone was stunned by this sudden and unexpected event.

Even the host, who should have quickly restored order to the event, was stunned and stood there dumbfounded.

Agent Chen Jiajia reacted the fastest, immediately rushing onto the stage and shouting, "Friend, we have the right to pursue legal action against you for such blatant lies..."

These words made the bewildered audience realize what was happening immediately.

The scene was immediately filled with criticism.

The host tried to smooth things over, saying, "Friend, if you keep bringing up topics unrelated to today's event, we'll have to have security escort you out!"

The critic, however, was prepared for this and shouted even louder, "How can this be a problem unrelated to the event? Jiarun brand has always promoted natural ingredients and encouraged consumers to pursue natural beauty. If the spokesperson they hire is a plastic surgery addict, it goes against the brand's product philosophy. I believe the brand wouldn't want to take that kind of risk and crisis, would it?"

Upon hearing this, the brand's CEO on the stage also became serious, and his attitude and expression wavered somewhat.

The atmosphere at the scene became increasingly tense, with the audience and viewers in the live stream making all sorts of crazy comments.

Faced with this sudden storm, Lin Xiao was completely bewildered, not knowing where these words came from.

Of course, he remained outwardly calm, showing no sign of knowing or not knowing, and no emotion whatsoever.

He glanced at his wife, Han Xixi, out of the corner of his eye.

Xi Xi, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, seemingly unfazed by the unexpected turn of events.

However, Lin Xiao knows his wife well; she's always been a ruthless character who pretends to be weak while actually being strong. Even if she's terrified inside, she won't show it on the surface.

Lin Xiao's gaze shifted downwards, and he saw his wife's slightly trembling hand, knowing that she was very flustered at that moment.

He reached out and took his wife's hand.

The rough touch and intense heat spread from her palm throughout Han Xixi's body, instantly calming her down.

She didn't look at her husband, but simply clenched her fist in response.

This response reassured Lin Xiao, who put away the microphone and waited patiently for his wife to finish.

Han Xixi smiled and faced the questioner directly, saying, "Excuse me, teacher, did you personally see me go to the plastic surgery clinic?"

Hei Zi remained calm: "No, but photos of you were taken online. Even though you were wearing a hat and mask, I could still recognize you. And judging from the location of your personal account on the 6th, you were indeed in Ninghai at the time. You can't deny that, can you?"

Han Xixi shrugged calmly: "I don't deny it! Ninghai is my home. I stayed home during the National Day holiday. What's wrong with that?"

Hei Zi was stunned for a moment.

Han Xixi's answer was not particularly clever; it was merely standard and expected.

What truly surprised Kuroko was her nonchalant, relaxed, and calm demeanor. It didn't feel like she was accepting criticism; rather, it was as if she found the event too boring and was just messing around with the troublemakers.

Hei Zi felt insulted and gave a cold laugh: "So, Miss Han, are you denying that you've been to a plastic surgery clinic?"

Han Xixi laughed too: "Don't ask me whether I admit it or not yet, let me ask you first. On the 4th, at the Rice Paddy Music Festival in Yizhou City, I performed on stage, you know that, right?"

Kuroko nodded subconsciously.

Han Xixi smiled again: "Today is the 8th, and I am standing in front of you all to sincerely recommend the Jiarun brand!"

As she spoke, she deliberately raised her chin, displaying her lightly made-up face from every angle.

"From the 4th to today, only three days have passed. I would like to ask this gentleman, is there any cosmetic surgery in the world that can be completed and fully recovered in three days without leaving any trace?"

Han Xixi smiled and asked the questioner with genuine sincerity, "If you know, you must tell me about it. I really want to know!"

This attitude immediately caused the entire audience to burst into laughter.

The netizens immediately realized what was happening.

Yes, in just three days, what kind of cosmetic surgery can go from the procedure to complete recovery in just a few days?
That wouldn't be plastic surgery, it would be magic!
Of course, some whitening injections and beauty injections can show results within two or three days and will not leave any traces.

But this kind of thing can be done at beauty salons, there's no need to go through all the trouble of going to a plastic surgery hospital, it's not only conspicuous but also easy to be photographed.

Even female celebrities are wary of this; who would willingly take such a risk!

Therefore, both logically and emotionally, the accusations by this troll against Han Xixi regarding plastic surgery are completely unfounded. Combined with his previous exploitation of the public opinion surrounding his concurrent position as deputy mayor of Xingguang Town, everyone immediately saw through his deliberate attempt to stir up trouble. The brand owner also realized this at this point and immediately ordered security to throw the troublemaker out, giving him no chance to explain.

This move immediately drew cheers from the live stream audience.

The event was a lively and bustling affair.

"Actually, when it comes to plastic surgery, there's no need to go to a plastic surgery hospital. I know a way that's fast, good, and safe. Do you want to know what it is?" Han Xixi suddenly said with a smile.

In the huge shopping mall, thousands of customers were all staring at her.

Han Xixi picked up the products laid out in front of her and smiled gently, "Just use our Jiarun brand skincare series. If you stick to it for one cycle, it will directly improve your skin texture, brighten your complexion, remove blemishes, and whiten your skin. The effect is even more immediate than plastic surgery. With Jiarun, do you still need to go to a plastic surgery clinic? Don't you all agree?"

These words immediately brought the atmosphere to an even higher climax.

The brand's CEO standing nearby was utterly astonished and amazed by his spokesperson's brilliant reaction.

Upon further reflection, I realized that I had actually become suspicious of the spokesperson because of the trolls' instigation.

The boss wanted to slap himself on the spot: I deserve to die!!
……

A brand event fraught with complications finally came to a safe conclusion.

Back to the hotel.

As soon as Han Xixi entered the room, she was so tired that she collapsed onto the bed.

Lin Xiao followed along in the car arranged by the organizers.

The young couple had finally reunited, and their agent, Chen Jiajia, was quite perceptive; she didn't go into the room, but thoughtfully closed the door and left.

Lin Xiao put down the bouquet of gardenias.

He stepped forward and smacked his wife's firm, bouncy bottom, making Xixi wince in pain.

"What are you doing?!" Xi Xi frowned, very angry.

Lin Xiao was still savoring the feeling of the touch from earlier.

Hehe, not bad at all!
"What do you mean, 'Why are you going to the plastic surgery clinic'? Aren't you going to explain it to your husband?" Lin Xiao pressed.

"You doubt me too?"

In her haste, Xixi rolled over and stood up from the bed, instantly looking down at Mayor Lin.

Seeing that his wife was really getting angry, Lin Xiao immediately backed down and grinned, "What do you mean I suspect anything! You're my wife, we sleep in the same bed every day, how could I not know if any part of you moves?"

Xi Xi pursed her lips when she heard this.

How come his words sound so different?
"If you trust me, then why ask?" Xixi said, sounding a little aggrieved.

"We should still ask!"

Lin Xiao grinned and stepped forward, hugging his wife's legs. His hands naturally climbed onto her two firm breasts, gently kneading them as he said seriously, "On the way back, I searched online and found some candid photos of you at the plastic surgery clinic. So... what were you doing at the plastic surgery clinic?"

Lin Xiao asked seriously, so Xi Xi stopped hiding anything.

“It’s not me, it’s Xiaowei,” she said.

"Hmm? Oh..."

Lin Xiao was stunned for a moment, then immediately remembered that his wife went to Ninghai on the morning of the 5th because of a sudden phone call from her best friend Xie Xiaowei.

After all, the two are best friends, so it's normal for them to meet up during the holiday.

Lin Xiao didn't take it to heart.

He had been preoccupied with Dong Jianhui's matter these past few days and had completely forgotten about this incident. Only now, with his wife's reminder, did he remember that there was such a thing as Xie Xiaowei.

Xixi blurted out the whole story.

Actually, it's quite simple: Xie Xiaowei has figured things out and decided to accept Han Xixi's previous suggestion—to leave home, go to the mountains, and work with her best friend to develop art education in rural primary schools.

Last Qixi Festival, Han Xixi suddenly made this suggestion during a dinner party of five people, and Xie Xiaowei hesitated and was afraid.

After all, she was disabled and unable to walk after a fire when she was eight years old, and her face and body were marked with burns, which looked shocking.

Her physical disability and scars made her extremely self-conscious, and she dared not appear in public at all.

So over the years, she has spent 99% of her time in her little house, making her practically the pioneer of staying at home.

Xie Xiaowei planned to live like this for the rest of her life.

Although she was tempted by Han Xixi's suggestion, she also knew her best friend's worries and good intentions.

But her inner fear prevented her from taking that step across the threshold of her home. Of course, the main reason was that her leg was crippled, making it impossible for her to "step across."

So after Qixi Festival, Xie Xiaowei never responded to this suggestion again.

No response means rejection.

The turning point came three days ago with that phone call, or more precisely, two weeks ago with that song.

What a coincidence, this song is by Lin Xiao.

It's the song he wrote for Jiang Feng, "All the Way South".

There's a line in the song that says, "No one can replace my freedom," which struck a chord with Xie Xiaowei's lonely, fragile, and closed-off heart.

She hesitated for a long time and calmed down for a long time.

Ultimately, her desire for freedom overcame her fear, leading her to send that WeChat message to her best friend, Han Xixi.

And then everything that followed happened.

Han Xixi was overjoyed and burst into tears at her best friend's change of heart, and she wholeheartedly supported her.

Xiaowei's experiences and the rest of her life have become a source of deep sorrow for Xixi over the years.

In the past two years, although she has been very happy and successful in her career, love life, marriage and family, she finds it hard to be truly happy whenever she thinks about her childhood friend who is still suffering.

Therefore, Xixi was even happier than Xiaowei was to take this step.

Of course, I'm happy.

Han Xixi hoped that Xiaowei could embrace her new life as a normal person, so the first thing she did after picking up Xiaowei was not to find a way to help her become a good rural art teacher, but to take her to a plastic surgery hospital to treat the scars on her face and to install prosthetics on her disabled legs.

Xi Xi had known about this years ago; Xie Xiaowei's condition was completely treatable, and she could look no different from a normal person.

Han Xixi's decision to venture into the entertainment industry was partly motivated by a desire to earn money to support her best friend and even help her in her old age.

Now, the money she earned can finally be put to good use.

The reason she was photographed by paparazzi at the plastic surgery hospital was this—not because she was going for plastic surgery, but because she was accompanying Xie Xiaowei.

Actually, the day before yesterday, Chen Jiajia had advised her that it was best not to show up, as having Jiajia with her would be just as good.

But Xixi still chose to go by herself.

Because she was there for not only her best friend, but also for her entire childhood.

As expected, the incident was subsequently captured on camera, leading to the controversy at today's event.

After hearing the whole story, Lin Xiao fell silent for a moment.

After a long while, he reached out and pinched his wife's stubborn little chubby face to comfort her.

I didn't say much about this topic, because no matter how serious the public opinion it caused, it was ultimately a great thing for Xiaowei and them.

Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

"lets change a topic!"

Xi Xi waved her hand, then suddenly became serious and said, "Today at the event, you directly said that Deputy Mayor Dong was also driving for a ride-hailing service. You arranged and instructed this... Did you discuss this statement with my dad and the provincial leaders? Did they agree to it?"

Lin Xiao shook his head: "No!"

Xi Xi wasn't surprised at all, after all, her husband was used to being bold, and there was nothing he wouldn't do if she couldn't think of it.

"So you're saying you acted first and then informed me later?"

"That's it!"

"Aren't you afraid... your boss will hold you accountable later?" Xi Xi was very worried.

"What's there to be afraid of?"

Lin Xiao grinned, "You chose to bear the rumors and slander for Xiaowei's sake, and I'm willing to endure any punishment from above for Lao Dong's sake. We're both protecting those who should be protected, and as long as we have a clear conscience, that's enough, don't you think?"

Xi Xi was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly understood.

"You're right, honey. As long as we have a clear conscience, that's enough!"

"Hehe~"

Lin Xiao smiled knowingly, then pinched his wife's plump bottom and said with a smile, "Now that everything is settled, my dear wife, shouldn't we also think about ourselves and properly celebrate our second anniversary of getting our marriage certificate?"

Xixi nodded: "Okay~"

As she spoke, she reached out and put her arms around his neck, asking softly, "How do you want to celebrate?"

Lin Xiao thought for a moment, then quickly looked back at his wife's face. Seeing her eyes sparkling with spring and her smile gentle, the plans that had just come to mind were immediately forgotten.

He suddenly knelt down and climbed onto the bed, wrapped his arms around his wife's slender waist, and laid her down on the soft, wide bed.

"Let's not celebrate yet!"

Lin Xiao's smile turned wicked, his hand wandering towards places it shouldn't have. "Four days...absence makes the heart grow fonder!" (End of Chapter)