#Cen Meng's Showboating Backfires#
#Cen Meng Ning Yuxuan#
Two trending topics sat side by side on the hot search list, glaringly conspicuous.
Even though she had anticipated the inevitable mockery from netizens, Cen Meng couldn’t resist clicking into the threads.
[OMG, Cen Meng is so cringe! Stealing someone else’s book to show off? Her face must be thicker than a city wall!]
[How can she keep filming the show like nothing happened? Does Cen Meng even have any shame?]
[LMAO, I always thought this girl was fake. Not surprised she got exposed.]
[Guess this proves the saying—the more you lack something, the more you flaunt it. Cen Meng is nowhere near as good as Ning Fei’s daughter, both inside and out.]
...
After just skimming a few top comments, Cen Meng swiped away the app, her chest heaving with anger.
Without another moment’s hesitation, she opened her contacts and dialed a number from her secondary phone.
"Hello?" she whispered sharply once the call connected. "It’s me. Yes..."
"Mm-hmm... That’s right. Pull the hashtags, flood the comments with bots, and... make sure these rumors get leaked..."
"Focus on the term ‘homewrecker.’ Shift the narrative to Ning Yuxuan meddling in other people’s relationships..."
"What’s there to fear? Gu Yunhao has my back—he won’t blame me! If anything goes wrong, I’ll take responsibility. Just do as I say!"
After giving detailed instructions, Cen Meng hung up and exhaled slowly.
Everything was under her control. It wouldn’t be long before public opinion flipped in her favor.
...
The kitchen of the villa buzzed with lively energy.
Pan Wenyan, who had earlier boasted about his cooking skills when Ning Yuxuan asked, naturally took the lead as head chef.
Surprisingly, Ning Shiyue also volunteered to cook.
Living alone in his apartment, Ning Shiyue had honed his culinary skills over time.
However, since Ning Fei employed a dedicated cook at home and doted on her son, she never let him near the kitchen whenever he visited.
Neither Ning Fei nor Ning Yuxuan had tasted much of Ning Shiyue’s cooking before.
Ning Yuxuan stared at him in disbelief. "Did the sun rise from the west today? Since when did you grow a conscience and decide to cook for your dear sister?"
Ning Shiyue replied flatly, "I’m doing this to spare Mom and the other guests from your culinary disasters. Not for you."
Ning Yuxuan let out an exaggerated "Oh."
Before Ning Shiyue could react, she deadpanned, "But the two dishes you’re making are the ones I requested."
Earlier, when tasks were divided, Ning Shiyue had been assigned garlic spare ribs and braised pork—both dishes Ning Yuxuan had specifically asked for.
Ning Shiyue: "..."
[LMAO, I can’t help but laugh every time these siblings interact!]
[Is Ning Yuxuan the only person in the world who can shut Ning Shiyue up like this?]
[How did elegant, graceful Ning Fei end up with these two chaotic gremlins? This is too funny.]
[Let’s not forget Ning Shiyue is the aloof, untouchable heartthrob in other shows. Here? Pure comedy gold.]
Ning Yuxuan smirked triumphantly, staring Ning Shiyue down with an unshakable "whatcha gonna do about it" expression.
Ning Fei watched them fondly, chuckling to herself.
Pan Wenyan, meanwhile, looked utterly bewildered.
As a fellow young actor, he had crossed paths with Ning Shiyue at several events. In his memory, Ning Shiyue was anything but talkative—let alone playful.
Yet here he was, completely out of character.
Pan Wenyan glanced at Ning Yuxuan, marveling at her influence.
Ning Shiyue didn’t seem the least bit annoyed by his sister’s teasing.
If anything, he appeared in unusually high spirits. He side-eyed Ning Yuxuan and said, "Whatever. Believe what you want."
Ning Yuxuan raised an eyebrow. "Did something good happen today? You’re being weirdly agreeable."
Ning Shiyue smirked. "No reason. Just in a good mood. Got a problem with that?"
Without waiting for a response, he turned away and grabbed a scallion.
Truthfully, Ning Shiyue had encountered a stroke of luck before arriving at the show—
Four hours earlier, at Xingcheng International Airport.
The flight to Beicheng was boarding in ten minutes.
Footsteps echoed at the entrance of the VIP lounge. Ning Shiyue glanced over and recognized the newcomer—Xie Zhiyan.
Due to Ning Fei’s close friendship with Xie Zhiyan’s mother, the two had once been fairly acquainted.
Xie Zhiyan was six years older. As a child, Ning Shiyue had idolized him—the epitome of academic excellence and gaming prowess.
One memory stood out: Ning Shiyue had been stuck on a video game level for days until Xie Zhiyan stepped in and cleared it effortlessly. From then on, Ning Shiyue became his little shadow, calling him "Brother Zhiyan" at every turn—even more than he did his own sister.
But childhood attachments fade quickly.
As Ning Shiyue’s studies grew demanding, his visits to the Xie household dwindled. Eventually, they lost touch entirely.
Now, Xie Zhiyan was a powerhouse in Beicheng’s business world, and Ning Shiyue had no intention of cozying up to him.
Out of courtesy and respect for their families’ ties, Ning Shiyue stood and greeted him. "President Xie, didn’t expect to see you in Xingcheng."
Airport encounters were common. Their assistants discreetly stepped back to give them space.
Xie Zhiyan’s voice was calm. "Here for business."
Ning Shiyue nodded. "Same. Work brought me here."
A brief silence settled.
Just as Ning Shiyue prepared an excuse to leave, Xie Zhiyan’s gaze landed on the bag beside him. "Gifts for family?"
Ning Shiyue paused. "Yeah. Someone at home likes Xingcheng’s snacks, so I grabbed some."
In his rush to the airport, he hadn’t had time for proper shopping. Luxury goods were out of the question—Ning Fei and Ning Yuxuan had everything they needed. So he’d settled for casual treats, all tailored to Ning Yuxuan’s tastes.
Xie Zhiyan gave a slight nod. "A client gifted me some local specialties. They’re quite good. Take some back for your family."
With a glance at his assistant, Liu Cheng promptly retrieved the items.
After a brief hesitation, Ning Shiyue accepted.
Given Ning Fei and Zheng Xinmei’s friendship, refusing Xie Zhiyan’s gesture would’ve been impolite.
Xie Zhiyan asked again, "How is your family doing lately?"
After years apart, Ning Shiyue felt that Xie Zhiyan seemed more talkative than he remembered.
Since Xie Zhiyan’s mother was Ning Fei’s closest friend, Ning Shiyue didn’t brush off the question. "Yeah, my mom’s doing fine aside from her usual trouble with poor sleep. Everything else is good."
After a pause, Ning Shiyue added, "My sister’s doing well too. She even joined a show with my mom recently. But lately… she seems a bit different. I can’t quite put my finger on it."
People’s hearts are hard to read, especially in a place like the entertainment industry. Even though Ning Shiyue had a few friends he got along with, he never discussed family matters with them.
Perhaps it was because he hadn’t talked about his family in so long, or maybe it was the childhood bond they once shared, but Ning Shiyue found himself feeling unexpectedly at ease with Xie Zhiyan, unwittingly sharing more than he intended.
Only after answering did Ning Shiyue realize he might have said too much.
Xie Zhiyan, however, showed no reaction. He simply nodded lightly, his tone indifferent. "Hmm, probably just the aftermath of a recent breakup. It’s normal."
Ning Shiyue instinctively echoed with an "Mhm," before the words fully registered.
His face twisted in shock, and he forgot all politeness toward the man in front of him. "When did she— Wait, how do you know my sister broke up?"
Xie Zhiyan remained unruffled, as if it were just casual mention. "I heard about it by chance. Must’ve happened a few days ago."
Ning Shiyue: "..."
The news took Ning Shiyue a while to digest. As soon as Xie Zhiyan left, he immediately sent Ning Fei a message.
Ning Shiyue: [Mom, did Ning Yuxuan break up with that Gu guy?]
A few minutes later, Ning Fei replied.
Ning Fei: [You heard about it too? Yes, they did.]
Ning Fei: [But don’t bring it up around your sister these days! And don’t message her about it—I don’t want her getting upset thinking about it.]
Ning Fei: [The show’s crew asked me to get her a gift, so I’ll use the chance to cheer her up.]
Ning Shiyue: [Don’t worry, I got it.]
With confirmation from Ning Fei, Ning Shiyue’s mood instantly brightened.
On the way back, even his assistant, Ding Yan, noticed something was off.
Given how packed his schedule had been lately, Ning Shiyue should’ve been exhausted.
Yet, throughout the trip back to Beicheng, Ning Shiyue kept humming to himself, his lips curling into occasional smiles.
Having worked with Ning Shiyue for years, Ding Yan had never seen him this cheerful.
What on earth had happened?
Watching Ning Shiyue’s inexplicable grin, Ding Yan was deeply puzzled.
……
Ning Shiyue chopped scallions in the kitchen, replaying the joy he’d felt upon learning about Ning Yuxuan’s breakup.
His dislike for Ning Yuxuan’s boyfriend was no secret—it had been brewing for ages.
Ever since Ning Yuxuan fell for Gu Yunhao, Ning Shiyue couldn’t stand the sight of him.
Aside from his family’s wealth, Gu Yunhao was a walking red flag. How could Ning Yuxuan be so infatuated with that trash for years?
When they actually started dating, Ning Shiyue’s resentment only grew.
If not for Ning Yuxuan’s explosive reactions whenever he brought it up, he would’ve urged her to break up a hundred times already.
After waiting so long, he was downright thrilled they’d finally gone their separate ways.
Finishing the scallions, Ning Shiyue hummed a cheerful tune and turned to grab the meat.
Ning Yuxuan eyed him suspiciously. "Weird."
This guy usually sat stone-faced in front of the TV, yet today he was singing while chopping vegetables?
Ning Shiyue scoffed. "What’s so weird? You’re allowed to be happy, but I can’t have a good mood?"
With that, he started slicing the pork belly.
Ning Shiyue’s skilled knife work made it clear he was no stranger to the kitchen, easily matching Pan Wenyan’s earlier claim of culinary prowess.
The audience was amazed, showering him with praise.
[Look at Ning Shiyue handling that meat like a pro! No wonder he’s my favorite celeb crush!]
[I never expected Ning Shiyue to be this good at cooking! With his busy schedule, I figured he’d be average at best.]
[I’m shocked he not only cooks but seems to enjoy it. Is this the same aloof, untouchable Ning Shiyue we know?]
[Even the coolest A-lister has to cook for his big sister at home!]
When Cen Meng returned from her phone call and entered the kitchen, this was the scene that greeted her.
Ning Shiyue stood by the counter, sunlight casting a glow on his fair profile, highlighting his long lashes and sharp nose.
Ning Fei, her hair elegantly pinned up, leisurely mixed a sauce nearby.
Meanwhile, Ning Yuxuan bickered with Ning Shiyue while handing him a paper towel.
Even Cen Meng had to admit—the sunset-lit scene was picturesque.
So picturesque it stung.
Pressing her lips together, Cen Meng stepped inside.
Instead of heading straight to her mother, she approached Ning Shiyue first.
"Shiyue," Cen Meng flashed a flawless, sweet smile. "We didn’t get to talk much earlier. You remember me, right? I’m—"
Before she could finish, Ning Shiyue cut in without looking up. "You’ve got the wrong person. We’re not in the same group."
He continued prepping ingredients, not sparing her a glance, as if the pork belly demanded more attention than she did.
Cen Meng opened her mouth to speak.
Beside them, Ning Yuxuan pointed toward Guan Cheng and Qiao Yazhen’s direction, deadpan. "Your group’s over there. The one in the blue apron is Guan Cheng, and next to him is your mom."
Cen Meng: "..."
[LMAO Ning Yuxuan, you’re killing me. Like Cen Meng doesn’t know her own mom? Why’re you giving directions?]
[I’m wheezing. Ning Shiyue and Ning Yuxuan just hit Cen Meng with the ultimate combo, and she’s speechless.]
[Pretty sure Cen Meng just wanted to greet Ning Shiyue, but dude wasn’t having it.]
Cen Meng’s fans rushed to her defense.
[Birds of a feather! Ning Shiyue and his sister are so rude!]
But they forgot—Ning Shiyue’s fanbase had flooded the livestream.
The moment Ning Shiyue appeared on the show, his fan groups had mobilized, urging supporters to tune in.
While Ning Shiyue’s fans weren’t particularly attached to Ning Yuxuan—his newly publicized sister—they at least refrained from bashing her.
However, if anyone dared insult Ning Shiyue himself, they wouldn’t stay silent.
["Where was she being rude? Was Ning Shiyue wrong? This segment is about preparing dinner in groups—Cen Meng should've gone to find her own teammates in the first place."]
["Exactly, Cen Meng is the weird one here. Showing up late for no reason, then instead of joining her own group, she goes to chat with another team."]
["What has this woman even done? Never heard of her before. Is she trying so hard just to ride on Ning Shiyue's fame?"]
["If Cen Meng wants to fake a romance, she should go bother Guan Cheng. Stay away from Ning Shiyue."]
As one of the top celebrities in the entertainment industry, Ning Shiyue's fans were among the most fiercely loyal, never backing down from an argument.
Cen Meng wasn’t aware of the exact situation in the live stream, but she knew that with her current level of popularity, provoking a top star like Ning Shiyue would be unwise. Suppressing her emotions, she first gave Ning Shiyue a faint smile before turning to Ning Yuxuan. "Thanks, but Yuxuan, you misunderstood. I just came to remind you about the rules."
Adopting a troubled tone, Cen Meng continued, "I remember the staff saying everyone should collaborate and participate in preparing dinner. If you're just standing by and watching, I’m afraid..."
At this, Ning Yuxuan frowned and held up the kitchen towel in her hand right in front of Cen Meng’s face.
She didn’t say a word, but her expression and gesture conveyed everything—
Can’t you see what I’m holding?
For a moment, Cen Meng was at a loss for a response. Handing kitchen towels to Ning Shiyue and Ning Fei did technically count as participating in dinner prep.
[Hahaha Ning Yuxuan’s frown, paired with that look and gesture, was like she was staring at an idiot.]
[She’s not wrong though! Passing towels totally counts! Not everyone needs to be crammed together cooking.]
[Right? Even in medical dramas, there are nurses whose job is just to wipe the surgeon’s sweat!]
As if on cue, just then, Ning Fei accidentally got a drop of sauce on the back of her hand.
Ning Yuxuan swiftly handed her a towel.
Ning Fei took it and said softly, "Thanks, Xuanxuan."
Cen Meng happened to be standing between Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei.
When Ning Yuxuan passed the towel, she subtly curved her arm around Cen Meng, and Ning Fei accepted it without even glancing at her—both acting as if Cen Meng wasn’t there.
Cen Meng: "..."
No matter how much she pretended not to notice, she couldn’t ignore how out of place she felt now.
Having made a fool of herself, Cen Meng could only mutter a weak "Keep it up" to Ning Yuxuan before walking away dejectedly.
She glanced over at Jiang Ning’an’s group.
Jiang Ning’an wasn’t much of a cook, so she was assisting Pan Wenyan while Qin Man helped on the side.
After a moment’s hesitation, Cen Meng decided against approaching them. Jiang Ning’an had always been indifferent toward her, and if she got rejected again, the audience would definitely start seeing her as someone no one wanted around.
Qiao Yazhen was busy chopping vegetables, with Guan Cheng watching nearby.
When Cen Meng finally approached, Guan Cheng greeted her warmly, "Mengmeng, where’ve you been? Auntie and I have been waiting for you."
Cen Meng lowered her lashes. "It’s nothing, my eyes were bothering me earlier... but I’m fine now."
Guan Cheng looked concerned. "Not feeling well? Then you should rest. Auntie and I can handle this."
Cen Meng shook her head. "It’s okay."
She forced a smile and said to Qiao Yazhen, "Mom, let me help you."
Her act of pushing through discomfort only made her fans adore her more—and resent Ning Yuxuan even further.
By a little past six in the evening, all three groups had finished preparing their dishes.
The food was divided into three sections and laid out on a round table.
Admittedly, all the dishes looked impressive.
Ning Shiyue’s braised pork and garlic spare ribs were the standout dishes—while the taste couldn’t be judged yet, the aroma alone had everyone’s mouths watering.
Especially Ning Yuxuan, who was practically staring holes into the meat dishes.
If not for the staff holding her back, she might have lunged at them already.
Ning Shiyue noticed and, though pleased, scoffed, "No shame at all."
Ning Yuxuan turned to him, eyebrow raised. "What did you say?"
Suppressing a smirk, Ning Shiyue repeated in a mocking tone, "It’s just two dishes, and you’re acting like you’ve been starving for days. No shame at all."
Unfazed, Ning Yuxuan shot back, "Then don’t eat any later."
Ning Shiyue glared. "I cooked it—why shouldn’t I eat it?"
Ning Yuxuan grinned. "Because you’ve got shame, right?"
Ning Shiyue: "..."
[Hahahaha the kindergarten-level bickering is back! These two are literally three and four years old, max!]
[But Ning Shiyue lost again—anyone keeping count? How many times has he lost today?]
[No need to count. Against Ning Yuxuan, his record is a clean sweep of losses.]
[Time for Teacher Ning to step in. Every time Ning Shiyue loses, she mediates.]
[Let me speak for Ning Shiyue: Mom, control your daughter! She’s bullying me again!]
By now, the audience had fully grasped the family’s dynamic.
Sure enough, Ning Fei chuckled and shook her head. "Xiaoyue, your braised pork smells amazing—no wonder Xuanxuan can’t resist."
Ning Yuxuan didn’t hold back her praise either, nodding. "Seriously, when did you get so good at this? I had no idea you could cook like this."
Ning Shiyue’s lips twitched, threatening to curve up again.
"Didn’t practice or anything," he said, turning his head away. "Must be natural talent."
[Hahaha if Ning Shiyue had a tail, it’d be wagging nonstop right now!]
[No way he didn’t practice! He never liked braised dishes—he definitely learned this just to show off!]
Next to Ning Shiyue’s dishes were Pan Wenyan and Jiang Ning’an’s shrimp scrambled eggs, oyster sauce greens, and stir-fried three vegetables.
Pan Wenyan had garnished them with scallions, making them look even more appetizing.
As for Cen Meng’s group, Guan Cheng was a disaster in the kitchen, so the cooking had fallen to Cen Meng and Qiao Yazhen.
Both were decent cooks, and Cen Meng had put in extra effort to shine in this segment.
Had the special guests not been here, she might have stood out.
Neither Ning Fei and her daughter nor Qin Man and hers were particularly skilled in the kitchen, while Cen Meng’s dishes were well-presented and clearly made with care.
But with Ning Shiyue and Pan Wenyan—both accomplished cooks—her advantage vanished instantly.
What Cen Meng didn’t realize was that not only the final dishes but also the atmosphere in her group during prep had been the worst among the three.
Jiang Ning'an's group had the popularity boost from "Heart's Plunder," and even casual interactions between Jiang Ning'an and Pan Wenyan sent their shippers into a frenzy.
Meanwhile, Ning Yuxuan's family brought such a lively atmosphere that the barrage of "LOL" comments never stopped.
Only Cen Meng's pair remained awkward, as she deliberately kept her distance from Guan Cheng, leaving their conversation sparse and strained.
Once the dishes were presented, the staff announced that everyone could begin eating.
As dinner officially started, Pan Wenyan, a seasoned variety show guest, took on the role of energizing the mood.
While eating, he chatted with Jiang Ning'an about amusing behind-the-scenes stories from "Heart's Plunder," delighting shippers while also promoting the drama.
Ning Yuxuan, a big fan of the show, was deeply curious about the filming process and eagerly asked Pan Wenyan and Jiang Ning'an all sorts of questions.
For instance, how they prepared for the only kiss scene between the apprentice and her master.
Or how they interpreted their characters' emotions during their climactic fallout.
Pan Wenyan and Jiang Ning'an answered in detail, covering exactly what the drama's fans were most interested in.
Viewers in the comments thanked Ning Yuxuan for her questions.
"Ning Yuxuan is asking all the things I wanted to know!"
"Let’s all say it together: Thank you, Ning Yuxuan! We’re getting so much insider info!"
Others teased:
"Who remembers Ning Yuxuan is actually a shipper of the Demon Lord and the female lead? Pan Wenyan’s cooking must be really good to win over a rival shipper’s top fan!"
While Ning Yuxuan led the questioning, Qin Man and Ning Fei listened just as intently.
Qin Man had always cared about Jiang Ning'an's career in acting, but since her daughter had gone abroad before turning sixteen, their years apart had left their reunion lacking the effortless closeness they once had.
Jiang Ning'an rarely brought up her work, and Qin Man wasn’t sure if it was reluctance or simply busyness holding her back.
Afraid of annoying her daughter, she seldom asked.
Now, finally hearing Jiang Ning'an share stories from the set, Qin Man felt grateful to Ning Yuxuan—though she kept that gratitude to herself, unused to showing such emotions on camera.
As for Ning Fei, her reason for enjoying the conversation was simple.
A decade ago, she had stepped back from acting, partly to spend more time with her children and partly because quality roles for actresses over forty were scarce, stifling her passion for the craft.
But her love for acting had never faded.
Hearing the younger generation discuss their work with such enthusiasm reminded her of her own younger days.
Pan Wenyan and Jiang Ning'an spoke vividly, while Ning Yuxuan, Ning Fei, and Qin Man listened attentively, creating a warm and engaging atmosphere.
However, some viewers noticed something odd about Ning Shiyue’s behavior.
"What’s up with Ning Shiyue? Why does he keep looking at Ning Yuxuan like he wants to say something?"
"Yeah, why isn’t he joining in?"
Finally, during a lull while Ning Yuxuan was focused on her food, Ning Shiyue spoke up.
"Ning Yuxuan," he said casually, "you’re really that into their drama?"
"Huh?" She lifted her head from her rice. "Yeah, why?"
Ning Shiyue’s gaze flickered away. "No reason."
Ning Yuxuan blinked, then seemed to realize something. Slowly, she enunciated, "Ning. Shi. Yue."
He frowned at her tone. "What?"
She narrowed her eyes. "You’re not about to say I’ve never shown this much interest in your dramas, are you?"
Ning Shiyue: "..."
After two seconds of silence, he denied firmly, "No. You’re overthinking it!"
Then he hastily piled food onto his plate, stood to ladle soup, and took a big bite of meat—doing everything except meeting her eyes.
"LOL Ning Shiyue’s reaction says it all!"
"Dead. When people are embarrassed, they suddenly get very busy. Ning Shiyue is textbook."
After his flurry of activity, Ning Shiyue peeked at Ning Yuxuan.
Finding her still watching him, he jerked his head away.
The exaggerated evasion nearly made her laugh.
Clearing her throat, Ning Yuxuan said, "Ning Shiyue, guess what? I’ve actually been binge-watching all your dramas lately."
The past three years—Ning Shiyue’s debut period—had coincided with her peak obsession with Gu Yunhao.
As a result, she hadn’t watched a single one of his shows properly.
But after her awakening, she’d grown curious about her brother’s work and started catching up in order.
Ning Shiyue almost retorted, "Yeah, right."
Then he remembered walking in on Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei watching one of his dramas at home recently.
So… she really had been binge-watching his work?
Ning Fei had been watching their exchange closely.
Now, she chimed in, "I can confirm. Yuxuan dug up every drama you’ve been in and made me watch them all with her—from the very first one, no skipping."
She smiled. "Though honestly, I’d already seen them all multiple times. I could probably recite the scripts by now."
Ning Shiyue froze.
Ning Fei wasn’t one for exaggeration—if she said "multiple times," she meant at least three.
He knew she watched his shows, but he hadn’t realized she rewatched them so devotedly.
And Ning Yuxuan, who’d once struggled to even name his dramas, was now marathoning them?
Noticing his stunned silence, Ning Yuxuan leaned in teasingly. "Ning Shiyue, are you about to cry from emotion?"
Avoiding her gaze, he deflected, "Mom’s one thing, but why are you watching them? I never asked you to."
Without missing a beat, Ning Yuxuan replied, "Obviously to mock your terrible early acting!"
Ning Shiyue, who’d just started feeling touched: "..."
"HAHAHA Ning Yuxuan said NO to sentimentality!"
"Ning Shiyue was totally about to tear up, and she just wrecked the moment LOL."
"Tbf, his acting was a bit rough at first, but he’s improved so much!"
"Can we appreciate what an amazing mom Ning Fei is? Rewatching all his dramas like that!"
Jiang Ning'an was still reminiscing about various incidents during filming, currently recounting a scene where she nearly drowned after getting tangled in lake weeds during an underwater shoot. Fortunately, Pan Wenyan and the crew rescued her at the last moment.
Qin Man's heart ached upon hearing this.
As an actress herself, she had endured similar experiences—it was part of the job, and professionalism was expected. But as a mother, she couldn’t help but feel distressed that her daughter had gone through such danger without ever mentioning it to her.
Not wanting to reveal too much emotion during the live broadcast, Qin Man silently reached out and gently patted Jiang Ning'an’s back.
The touch startled Jiang Ning'an.
The atmosphere tonight had been unusually warm. Pan Wenyan was a close colleague, Ning Yuxuan’s personality unexpectedly clicked with hers, and Ning Fei was a gentle elder who never put on airs.
Because of this, Jiang Ning'an had spoken more freely than usual, sharing things she normally wouldn’t.
Now, she regretted it.
Qin Man was someone who held both herself and others to extremely high standards. She once famously said, "An actor who isn’t professional doesn’t deserve to be one."
Over decades in the industry, Qin Man had suffered countless injuries for her roles, yet she never marketed herself as "dedicated" or complained—not even once.
Had her words just now made her mother uncomfortable?
Jiang Ning'an abruptly stopped mid-sentence, and the atmosphere cooled for a moment.
Then, a sweet voice broke the silence. "Which scene was that underwater shoot for again? Teacher Qin, do you remember?"
Qin Man turned to Ning Yuxuan, who had interjected, and after a slight hesitation, replied, "It must have been after Caixin’s fallout with her master, when she fell into the Heavenly Pool in a daze, right, Ning'an?"
Jiang Ning'an paused. "...Yes."
Her mother… remembered it so clearly.
Suddenly, Jiang Ning'an recalled what Ning Fei had said to Ning Shiyue earlier.
Had her mother, like Ning Yuxuan’s mom, watched her dramas more than once?
Her nose tingled with emotion, and she quickly took a sip of juice to suppress it.
Then, warmth brushed the back of her hand—Qin Man’s palm lightly covering hers in a comforting pat.
Jiang Ning'an stiffened slightly before taking another large gulp of juice.
...
While the mood among this group remained tender yet lively, Cen Meng couldn’t seem to blend in.
She had tried earlier, but her attempt to ask Jiang Ning'an a question nearly exposed that she hadn’t actually watched the drama.
Now, she deeply regretted claiming during their introduction that she had binge-watched Jiang Ning'an’s series to bond with her.
Had she just admitted she’d been too busy with work to watch it, she wouldn’t be stuck in this awkward silence, too afraid to join the conversation.
To make matters worse, Guan Cheng kept trying to engage her, leaving Cen Meng irritated and forcing herself to respond half-heartedly.
She had once promoted a fake romance with Guan Cheng, but that was before she met Gu Yunhao—back when her career was stagnant and she needed a way to stay relevant.
Now, she wanted nothing to do with him. Especially after admitting on today’s show that she had a non-celebrity boyfriend.
If she acted flirtatious with Guan Cheng now, wouldn’t that just make her look hypocritical?
The entire dinner felt like torture.
After forcing down a few bites, Cen Meng couldn’t take it anymore.
She excused herself to the restroom and sought out the same intern who had lent her his phone earlier.
"Hey," she said sweetly, tilting her face up. "My eyes are bothering me again… Could I borrow your phone one more time? I just need to ask my doctor about the medication. I promise I’ll return it quickly!"
The intern hesitated but remembered she had kept her word last time. Figuring it wouldn’t disrupt filming, he nodded.
Once inside the restroom, Cen Meng locked the door and swiftly navigated to the trending topics.
Her eyes lit up.
Her plan was already in motion.
The hashtag "Ning Yuxuan Homewrecker in Cen Meng’s Relationship" was climbing the charts, gaining traction by the minute.
A netizen had "exposed" that in one of Cen Meng’s old Weibo posts—a photo of her holding a wine glass—a man’s luxury watch was visible on the opposite side of the table.
Coincidentally, Ning Yuxuan had once posted the same watch on her overseas social media with the caption: "When will I have all your love, just like I have this watch?"
The watch was a rare limited edition, and the custom strap’s color scheme in both photos matched perfectly.
With so many overlapping details, netizens concluded it was the same watch in both pictures.
The comments section was ablaze.
"No wonder Cen Meng said those things during the livestream! Ning Yuxuan really did steal her man?"
"This explains everything! That book incident earlier must’ve been Ning Yuxuan’s doing too!"
"Cen Meng’s so pitiful—having to share a show with the other woman AND getting humiliated!"
"I can’t believe I ever supported Ning Yuxuan. What a snake!"
In reality, two photos of the same watch proved nothing. But the "netizen" who "uncovered" this was Cen Meng’s plant, and the top comments were all from her company’s hired trolls.
Between the controlled narrative and the manipulated likes, casual browsers would easily be swayed into believing Ning Yuxuan was guilty.
Cen Meng scrolled further, satisfied.
Soon, a "source close to the matter" would "leak" that Ning Yuxuan’s homewrecking was an open secret.
With fabricated witnesses and "evidence," the majority would buy the story.
Even without concrete proof, Ning Yuxuan’s name would be synonymous with "homewrecker" for a long time.
Originally, Cen Meng hadn’t planned to go this far—she knew it risked dragging Gu Yunhao into the mess.
But after the book incident today, she couldn’t let the insult slide.
As for Ning Yuxuan’s potential rebuttals? Cen Meng wasn’t worried.
She had already confirmed with Gu Yunhao that he had never publicly acknowledged Ning Yuxuan as his girlfriend—no social media posts, not even a couples’ photo in his private circles.
Only a handful of Gu family members and his childhood friends knew about their relationship.
None of these people had any reason to stand up and speak for Ning Yuxuan.
Perhaps that was why she lacked a sense of security, sighing, "When will I ever have all of your love?"
At this thought, Cen Meng’s lips curled into a faint smile—
Ning Yuxuan, you’re lucky. You have a good mother and a better family background than mine.
But unfortunately, the man you love is mine. I will be the one laughing last in this battle.
...
Stepping out of the restroom, Cen Meng felt refreshed.
By tonight—or tomorrow at the latest—netizens would all rally to her side, condemning Ning Yuxuan together.
Cen Meng returned the phone to the intern and walked back to the restaurant with a bright smile.
What she didn’t expect was that almost the moment she returned, a video posted by an ordinary blogger began circulating wildly on social media.
The footage focused on a store window—the person filming had clearly intended to capture the moving doll inside.
But since the doll moved slowly, the camera lingered long enough to pick up a conversation between a man and a woman nearby.
The woman’s voice was unmistakably Ning Yuxuan’s.
Though the man’s identity was unclear, his words were faintly audible.
One line in particular stood out—
"I know Cen Meng and I wronged you, but love doesn’t follow rules of first come, first served. Breaking up with you was for your own good."
His voice was emphatic, the words ringing with startling clarity.
The comments section of the video quickly filled with astonished netizens, all echoing the same sentiment—
Plot twist after plot twist. This night just keeps getting more dramatic!
