Xiao Yanzhi had been kneeling on one knee for quite a while. When he stood up, his leg was even a bit numb. But he still smiled as he got up and took the diamond ring out of the box.
"Which hand?"
Jiang Li hesitated for a moment and then held out her right hand, the one that had been burned before. "Put it on this hand."
The burn scar on her palm and the diamond ring on her ring finger would both remind her of all she had been through.
Love could make the scarred parts grow flesh and blood again.
The moment the ring was on her finger, he hugged her tightly in his arms, using almost all his strength. He kept calling her name over and over again, "Lili, Lili."
Each time his tone was different, as if he was constantly confirming the reality. He kept kissing her lips, saying, "I love you. I love you so much."
Jiang Li was held tightly in his arms. His arm bones were digging into her painfully, but she still shed excited tears. "Me too. I love you so much, too."
At this moment, this man finally got what he wanted. He heard her answer and got her permission. From then on, he no longer had to be afraid and could love her openly.
She also no longer had to fear being alone. From now on, there would be someone by her side to shield her from the wind and rain, someone who would be the rope to pull her out of the abyss when she fell, and someone who would be the way back for her in the fog.
The story began with the words "You should have an umbrella of your own." But in the end, he could finally be sure that he could be that umbrella.
The umbrella that would always protect her and never let her suffer.
At this moment, immersed in happiness, Jiang Li had no idea what had happened throughout this day.
Let's go back a few hours.
Right after the premiere of *The Embroidery Girl*, the media was filled with scolding. Almost everyone was attacking and mocking the movie without discrimination, and there was no shortage of belittling and insulting remarks about Jiang Li.
"What a lousy movie! Isn't it just a movie about a good woman being forced into prostitution? It's so disgusting."
"No wonder it can't be released in the country. This is just a pornographic movie. If it were my wife, I'd rather she die than let someone defile her body!"
"What kind of person makes what kind of movie. It's no surprise."
"I haven't watched it yet, but seeing that Jiang Li is the lead actress, I know it's a lousy movie. Thanks for the warning [praying hands]."
There were also some just and objective comments defending the movie and Jiang Li, but obviously to no avail.
"The people above haven't even watched the movie and they say it's a lousy one. Without investigation, there's no right to speak. Don't just talk nonsense."
"I don't understand why there are so many scolding comments. This movie is actually very good. It has the idea of female awakening and also reflects the complexity of human nature. What are those people who just say it's a pornographic movie thinking?"
"It's really funny. There are still people trying to whitewash Jiang Li? She's just a promiscuous woman. She'll do anything to make money. Do you really think she can make a movie about female awakening? It's so embarrassing!"
"For sure, those who speak for this movie are all Jiang Li's crazy fans!"
"..."
The public opinion was getting hotter and hotter. Someone even revealed that Jiang Li had been too close to Sheng Jingxi some time ago, and specifically stated that it was revealed by an employee inside Shengshi Group.
So everyone's target shifted from the movie entirely to Jiang Li, and the scolding became more and more unbearable.
"I said why this movie couldn't be released in the country. It turns out she's found a new backer. Someone's skills in bed are really extraordinary."
"Oh, the young master of the Sheng family is really a big fool. He picked up a used shoe and treasures it like a precious thing."
Someone also revealed that Jiang Li had already obtained some shares and assets of Shengshi Group and currently had tens of millions of assets under her name. This was just like the treatment for a prospective daughter-in-law.
This phrase "prospective daughter-in-law" completely enraged the netizens who were just watching the show. One by one, they started keyboard attacking, with all kinds of fancy insults and identity mockeries emerging one after another.
Some busybodies even @ed Lu Zhanji, the male lead actor of *The Embroidery Girl*, asking him how he felt about filming with such a person and suffering from the bad reputation.
Lu Zhanji was holding his phone, hesitating to speak up for Jiang Li, but was stopped by his agent.
"What are you going to post?"
Lu Zhanji pursed his lips. "To say that Jiang Li is not what everyone says she is and to ask everyone to stay rational."
"Why do you want to get involved at this time?"
Lu Zhanji's agent was a woman in her late forties. She was very shrewd and knew this industry well. "Her reputation is already so bad. If you still want to help her, do you want the netizens to guess that you've also slept with her?"
Lu Zhanji frowned slightly. "Don't be so mean when you talk."
"This is the truth." The agent raised her eyebrows and glanced at him. "Haven't you ever had feelings for her? Lu Zhanji, I've been managing you for so many years. I can't be blind to your feelings for her."
Lu Zhanji fell silent.
"I didn't mention this before because she had good resources behind her and her acting skills were on par with yours. I didn't oppose you two being on-screen lovers. But now I even regret helping you take this movie."
The agent analyzed the interests coldly. "Right now, not even a god can save her. If you still want to get involved, do you want her to remember you gratefully?"
Lu Zhanji wanted to say no. He just felt guilty inside.
From beginning to end, Jiang Li had done nothing wrong. Even when he had misunderstood her before, she had not made a single defense.
She was always so quiet, accepting all the misunderstandings and scolding.
He was silent for a while before answering. "If she's been misunderstood and is later cleared up—"
"There's no such possibility." The agent sneered. "She's just that kind of person. Now she's involved with the young master of the Sheng family and President Xiao. How can she be cleared up?"
She had long disliked Jiang Li because of her, several of the female artists under her had no chance to shine. "In my opinion, the best public relations method would be if Old Mr. Sheng is her father and the young master of the Sheng family is her brother. But is that possible? Wake up quickly. It's still daytime."
Lu Zhanji lowered his eyes and stared at his phone for a while. Finally, he locked the screen.
Sorry, I still couldn't stand by your side this time, Jiang Li.
While the public opinion was fermenting desperately, Xiao Yanzhi was also in his office seeing the current trend. He thought for a moment and called Sheng Shuocheng to discuss countermeasures.
On the other end of the phone, Sheng Shuocheng asked him again and again, "Xiao Yanzhi, are you sure this is the right way?"
"Right now, the negative popularity is very high. If we don't use this way, she may carry this bad reputation for a long time."
"I understand this, but as her father, I need to be sure—will Lili be unhappy if she knows about this? Will this be a way she doesn't want to accept?"
Xiao Yanzhi was silent for a moment.
Finally, he answered him calmly, "Mr. Sheng, right now Jiang Li is at the forefront of the storm. What she wants is definitely not the kind of weighing that looks before and after, but a firm choice of her. This is the best way to love her."