Xie Zhiyan sent the message, but there was no response from the other side for a long time.
After what felt like an eternity, a reply finally came:
"…Is today not April Fool’s Day?"
Xie Zhiyan was organizing the documents he had brought back to the hotel. After reading the message, he let out a soft chuckle but didn’t reply.
A short while later, the same friend sent another message:
"Zhiyan, this isn’t something that needs to be kept secret, right? A lot of friends have been asking me about it. After all, it’s the first time you’ve let someone else use your car."
Xie Zhiyan replied: "Up to you."
"Up to you" meant it wasn’t confidential.
Before long, the news that "Ning Yuxuan is Xie Zhiyan’s girlfriend" had spread throughout the elite circles of Beicheng.
Everyone knew that since Xie Zhiyan returned to China, he had devoted himself entirely to his work. The market value of Hengjiang had been rising year after year, yet he had no romantic scandals to his name—he never even brought a female companion to social events.
This time, however, he dropped a bombshell: personally confirming a girlfriend.
Not many in their circles knew Ning Yuxuan. When people first heard her name, some even assumed she was a wealthy heiress from another province.
Upon further inquiry, they learned that Ning Yuxuan’s mother was the famous actress Ning Fei. Her family had some money, but they were far from being considered old money or aristocracy.
As for Ning Yuxuan’s father, Ning Fei had left the entertainment industry to marry him in secret nearly thirty years ago.
No one knew exactly who he was, only that he wasn’t a prominent figure in Beicheng—most likely an outsider.
Of course, none of that mattered much. Dating wasn’t the same as marriage, and it wasn’t unusual for a girl to come from a less prestigious background.
What really raised eyebrows was the reliable information that, just a month ago, Ning Yuxuan had been Gu Yunhao’s girlfriend—and had even attended the birthday banquet of the Gu family patriarch.
At the time, the old man had praised Ning Yuxuan effusively, declaring in front of everyone that her gift was the most thoughtful and to his liking.
This made things… complicated.
Some recalled that Xie Zhiyan had exchanged greetings with Ning Yuxuan at that very banquet.
Rumors began to spread like wildfire.
Some claimed Ning Yuxuan had taken the initiative to cozy up to Xie Zhiyan at the banquet, and the two had secretly flirted right under the Gu family’s noses.
Others insisted Xie Zhiyan had set his sights on the young master’s girlfriend and forcibly taken her for himself.
Gossip traveled fast, growing more exaggerated with each retelling.
Most people knew these rumors shouldn’t be taken too seriously, but the truth hardly mattered—what counted was satisfying their thirst for scandal.
At a dinner gathering, Gu Yunhao was downing glass after glass of alcohol, already visibly drunk.
Qi Ang, the one in their group closest to Gu Yunhao and most skilled at flattery, stayed by his side, feeding him the words he wanted to hear.
Meanwhile, others in the private room drank and chatted loudly—until the latest news reached them.
With Gu Yunhao present, they didn’t dare discuss it openly, so they huddled in the farthest corner and whispered among themselves.
"Wasn’t there a rumor just days ago that Xie Zhiyan went on a blind date with some girl and took her to a Sichuan restaurant? Is it the same person?"
"Who knows? But honestly, whether it’s her or not doesn’t change anything. The fact is, Xie Zhiyan has publicly acknowledged Ning Yuxuan now."
"Exactly! Regardless of who that other girl was, Ning Yuxuan is the only one he’s officially claimed!"
"I called it from the start! Remember at the banquet? Xie Zhiyan barely acknowledged the younger Gu family members, yet he went out of his way to greet some nobody. I knew there was something special about her!"
"Oh, come off it! I distinctly remember you saying back then that Xie Zhiyan only spoke to her because of Gu Yunhao. Now you’re playing the prophet?"
"What’s with the attitude? Weren’t we all just speculating?"
"Then why didn’t you guess that the girl from the Sichuan restaurant was Ning Yuxuan when those rumors first surfaced?"
"I just—"
Their discussion grew increasingly heated, their voices rising without them realizing.
The name "Ning Yuxuan" reached Gu Yunhao’s ears like a lit fuse, sending him rocketing out of his seat.
Slamming his glass down, he stormed over to the group huddled in the corner.
"You lot!" Gu Yunhao snarled. "What the hell are you talking about?"
The chatter died instantly. After an awkward silence, one of them ventured cautiously, "Nothing important, Yunhao… just idle gossip."
They all knew Ning Yuxuan had once been Gu Yunhao’s girl.
In the past, they could’ve mentioned her freely—Gu Yunhao had never seemed particularly attached to his unofficial girlfriend.
But after seeing his reaction earlier, it was clear to everyone just how much he actually cared.
Now that Ning Yuxuan had moved on, no one wanted to provoke his temper.
Gu Yunhao wasn’t having it. He slammed a palm onto the table, making the dishes rattle.
"Don’t lie to me!" he roared. "I heard her name! Are you all thrilled that my girlfriend got into another man’s car? Laughing at my expense, are you?"
The group avoided his gaze, none daring to respond.
One thought silently: Your girlfriend? She’s someone else’s now.
But of course, no one said it aloud.
Qi Ang hurried over. "Yunhao, calm down. We’ve been brothers for over a decade—who’d dare mock you?"
He knew Gu Yunhao’s temperament well. Usually, a few placating words were enough to smooth things over.
But tonight, Gu Yunhao was a hundred times more agitated. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw that damn photo of Ning Yuxuan getting into Xie Zhiyan’s car. The fury burning inside him had nowhere to go.
And the alcohol wasn’t helping.
Gu Yunhao shoved Qi Ang aside and growled, "Tell me the truth! What were you all saying? Were you making fun of me?"
No one dared answer under his glare.
In the sudden silence, someone’s phone buzzed.
Gu Yunhao pounced like a wolf spotting prey, snatching the phone from its owner’s hand.
"What’s the passcode?"
None of them had the status to openly defy the Gu family’s young master.
Qi Ang shot the phone’s owner a look, mouthing silently: Just tell him.
There was no reasoning with a drunk.
Gritting his teeth, the man muttered, "3… 312515."
Gu Yunhao eyed him before inputting the numbers.
Once unlocked, he scrolled through the chat logs.
Amidst the scattered and trivial chat logs, the names Ning Yuxuan and Xie Zhiyan stood out like glaring thorns.
Gu Yunhao caught sight of one sentence: "Xie Zhiyan has admitted that Ning Yuxuan is his girlfriend."
The next moment, Gu Yunhao's eyes turned bloodshot, and he hurled his phone to the ground with force.
...
Gu Yunhao wasn’t the only one who lost his composure.
Two hours earlier, swarms of reporters had surrounded the filming location of Mom.
Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei managed to escape in Xie Zhiyan’s car, while Qin Man and Jiang Ning'an also left the scene shortly after in another vehicle.
Only Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang, the moment they stepped out of the elevator, found themselves cornered by waiting journalists, pressed against the wall with no way out.
"Cheng Xiyang, is it true you have an older sister? Please respond!"
"Ms. Liu Yufang, did you really divert your daughter’s accident compensation money to fund your son’s debut?"
"Where is Cheng Tingting now? How severe are her injuries? Did you two really cause her disability?"
At these questions, Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang both paled.
After Cheng Xiyang rose to fame through the talent show, they had taken precautions to prevent this very scandal from coming to light.
Cheng Tingting had always been average academically, failing to get into university and lacking any specialized skills. She held only an ordinary job with a meager salary.
Despite working diligently and saving what little she could, she handed most of her earnings to her mother and brother, leaving herself with no savings.
After her injury, the constant pain in her right shoulder and entire arm made it impossible for her to continue working, cutting off her only source of income.
Liu Yufang seized this vulnerability, telling Cheng Tingting that as long as she obeyed, she would receive a monthly allowance of 1,500 yuan. She even rented a small apartment for her in the outskirts of Beijing.
In Beijing, 1,500 yuan was barely enough to scrape by, leaving no room for savings.
With the rental contract held firmly in Liu Yufang’s hands, Cheng Tingting’s survival was entirely dependent on her mother and brother.
Thus, Liu Yufang was confident her daughter would never dare expose them—she had no means to support herself otherwise.
Moreover, Liu Yufang knew her daughter’s timid, submissive nature all too well. She would never betray them.
As for guilt—
Initially, when Liu Yufang decided to divert Cheng Tingting’s compensation money for her son’s use, she had felt a twinge of remorse.
But as her son skyrocketed to fame, earning sums that dwarfed Cheng Tingting’s former salary, Liu Yufang became increasingly convinced of her decision’s righteousness. Any lingering guilt faded entirely.
In her eyes, she and her son were generously supporting Cheng Tingting—she didn’t have to work, yet she wouldn’t starve. What more could she possibly want?
This secret was known only to Cheng Xiyang, Liu Yufang, and a select few within Cheng Xiyang’s agency. It should never have come to light.
Now, hearing the reporters mention it—even uttering Cheng Tingting’s name—Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang panicked.
Liu Yufang, especially, had never imagined this would be exposed. She had no experience being ambushed like this.
Her face drained of color, and she instinctively shrieked in denial, "What nonsense are you spouting? Who’s Tingting? I’ve never heard of her!"
Cheng Xiyang appeared slightly calmer than his mother, but not by much.
Beads of sweat dotted his forehead as he forced out a response, "My mother and I just finished filming. We have no idea what you’re talking about. We’re going home to rest now. If there are any false rumors online, my agency will address them later."
Unlike Liu Yufang, Cheng Xiyang knew better than to engage with the reporters’ questions directly—anything he said could be twisted.
But with a scandal this explosive, the media wasn’t about to let them go.
The crowd continued to swarm Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang, firing off more accusations.
"You really don’t know Cheng Tingting? She’s already posted a video confirming she’s your sister!"
"Give us an answer! The public deserves the truth!"
The reporters’ relentless pursuit terrified both Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang.
After a tense standoff lasting over ten minutes, Cheng Xiyang finally spoke again, "Friends from the media, I admit… I do have a sister. But my mother and I would never harm her! She’s family—we love her dearly. These rumors are completely baseless and malicious!"
Cheng Xiyang knew that unless he gave the media some semblance of a response, they would never back off.
But admitting to causing his sister’s severe disability was out of the question—it would ruin him forever.
So he acknowledged having a sister but left the rest for later, hoping to spin the narrative once he understood the full situation.
The reporters continued their barrage, but Cheng Xiyang refused to say more, repeating the same vague statements.
Two hours later, he finally broke free and called his manager.
That night, Cheng Xiyang’s studio released an official statement on Weibo:
Cheng Xiyang Studio V:
Recently, numerous false claims about Cheng Xiyang have circulated online. We hereby clarify: Cheng Xiyang does have an older sister named Cheng Tingting. However, allegations such as "Cheng Xiyang and his mother caused her disability" are entirely fabricated. Legal action is being pursued against those responsible.
Attached to the statement was a lawyer’s letter.
The moment it dropped, Cheng Xiyang’s fans flooded the comments in support.
[Finally! Stand with Cheng Xiyang! Sue the liars!]
[Cheng Xiyang is innocent! Apologize to him!]
Earlier, when Cheng Tingting’s video surfaced, many fans had wavered.
This wasn’t just another petty fan war—it was serious. Some had already left fan groups, vowing to abandon Cheng Xiyang if the allegations were true.
But the hardcore believers remained steadfast, convinced their idol was being framed.
Now, with the studio’s statement, the fan groups erupted in excitement.
[SunshineLikeFire: OMG the statement is finally here! Everyone, go like and control the comments!]
[ChengXiyangTo80: I always said we should trust Xiyang unconditionally! His character is beyond reproach!]
[XiyangHome: The studio should sue Ning Shiyue while they’re at it! Let’s see how he dares act high and mighty in the industry after this!]
The scandal had already dominated multiple trending topics, with netizens debating fervently.
Soon, this statement also made it to the trending list, sparking mixed reactions among netizens.
Some dismissed it with scorn.
["Who doesn’t know that lawyer letters are as good as scrap paper these days? Only fans would believe this."]
["So, he’s admitting there’s a sister? That means at least part of the rumors are true—Cheng Xiyang lied about being an only child. How do we know this statement isn’t just another bigger lie?"]
["Hah, I don’t believe a single word of this statement."]
However, others voiced their support.
["From what we’ve seen so far, Cheng Tingting’s side only released one video. The evidence isn’t exactly solid."]
["This is a serious matter. If Cheng Xiyang was truly framed, I support him defending himself."]
Most netizens, though, chose to wait and see, anticipating Cheng Tingting’s next move.
But no one was more anxious than Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang themselves.
The moment they realized the truth had come out, they rushed to the rented apartment Liu Yufang had arranged for Cheng Tingting in the northern suburbs. Yet, the place was empty—Cheng Tingting was nowhere to be found.
Neighbors claimed they had no idea when the occupant had left.
Cheng Xiyang and his mother dialed her number countless times, but her phone remained switched off, cutting off all contact.
Liu Yufang had initially believed that if she personally intervened, offering her daughter more benefits—perhaps a lump sum of a million or so—Cheng Tingting would surely cooperate in clearing her brother’s name.
But without any way to reach her, all their plans were futile.
Cheng Tingting’s Weibo account was newly registered, with an IP address traced to Jincheng. After posting that one video, she had gone silent.
Given Cheng Tingting’s current health condition, it was impossible for her to have traveled alone to Jincheng, thousands of miles away.
This meant someone else was behind it—someone helping her.
Once Cheng Xiyang grasped this, his panic and desperation deepened.
Whoever was behind this wanted to ruin him.
And they weren’t done yet. At any moment, they could strike the final blow.
The statement and lawyer letter might have seemed like Cheng Xiyang’s counterattack, but in reality, they were nothing more than a bluff.
He felt as though an axe was hanging over his head, ready to drop at any second.
……
After her call with Ning Shiyue, Ning Yuxuan ran a hot bath, soaking away the exhaustion of the day.
Freshly changed into her nightgown, she stepped out of the bathroom just as her phone rang—Lin Yuanfeng was calling.
"Hello, Xuanxuan?" A middle-aged man’s voice came through. "I was worried your mother might already be asleep, so I called you instead."
Ning Yuxuan carried her phone to the living room, not wanting to disturb Ning Fei.
"Mom’s about to sleep. You can tell me whatever it is."
Lin Yuanfeng hesitated. "Well… alright. There’s something I need to tell you—"
Ning Yuxuan cut straight to the point. "Is it about Cheng Xiyang?"
Lin Yuanfeng sounded surprised. "How did you know?"
Ning Yuxuan replied, "I heard the Lin family is involved in investigating this matter."
A brief silence followed before Lin Yuanfeng spoke again. "Yes, Xuanxuan. It seems you already know some of the details. Don’t worry—Cheng Tingting is now in a safe location under my protection. She’s agreed to cooperate with us in exposing Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang step by step."
Ning Yuxuan gave a quiet "Mm."
Lin Yuanfeng continued, "Leave this matter to me. Tell your mother and Shiyue not to worry. Cheng Xiyang won’t have a chance to recover from this."
Ning Yuxuan agreed.
After her earlier conversation with Ning Fei, her last reservations had faded.
If Lin Yuanfeng was willing to handle this mess, she had no reason to refuse.
But more than Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang’s downfall, she was concerned about Cheng Tingting.
"Has Cheng Tingting had a medical checkup yet?" she asked.
Lin Yuanfeng answered, "She just arrived today, so only basic tests were done. But I know you’re kindhearted—I’ll arrange for top specialists to examine her. If necessary, we can even send her abroad for treatment. If you and Shiyue have no objections, I’ll attribute the financial support to both of you…"
For the Lin family, medical expenses were a drop in the bucket.
But Lin Yuanfeng was a businessman—every expenditure had to yield returns. Hence, he proposed crediting the goodwill to his children.
Ning Yuxuan didn’t outright reject it. "Whose name it’s under doesn’t matter. Just make sure she gets the treatment she needs as soon as possible."
Lin Yuanfeng knew his daughter disliked his pragmatic side and didn’t press further. "Understood. I’ll keep you and your mother updated on any developments."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries and checking in on the family, he ended the call.
Less than a minute later, another call came through—this time from an unknown number.
Assuming it was someone from Lin Yuanfeng’s side, Ning Yuxuan answered.
Instead, a familiar, grating voice filled her ear. "Ning Yuxuan! Don’t think just because Xie Zhiyan gave you status, you can act all high and mighty! I’m telling you—he doesn’t care about you at all!"
Ning Yuxuan: "…"
Gu Yunhao’s voice was slurred, thick with drunken fury.
In contrast, Ning Yuxuan remained unshaken, her heart as calm as still water.
She chuckled. "Who said I was the one who wanted status? Maybe it was Xie Zhiyan begging me for it?"
"You—"
Before Gu Yunhao could retort, Ning Yuxuan hung up.
She hadn’t realized that aside from being a scumbag, Gu Yunhao was also this clingy.
From now on, she decided, unknown numbers were best ignored.
……
On Monday morning, Ning Fei received an invitation from Qin Man for lunch and a script discussion.
Joining them were Liang Jihuai, an award-winning actor Ning Fei had worked with before, and another screenwriter.
Before leaving, Ning Fei reminded her daughter, "I’ve already told Auntie Xu—dinner will be ready by six. My lunch with Qin Man and the others won’t run late. If Xie Zhiyan arrives early, make sure to entertain him."
Ning Yuxuan nodded. "Got it. Just make sure you come back on time."
Ning Fei tapped her daughter’s forehead playfully. "Of course! Did you really think I’d sell you off? I still need to properly vet my future son-in-law."
"Alright." Ning Yuxuan grinned and waved. "Bye, Mom!"
After Ning Fei left the house, Ning Yuxuan also headed to her office at Huayuan.
The preliminary designs for several stores were complete, and she had scheduled a meeting with the renovation team that day to finalize the plans and timeline.
After reviewing Ning Yuxuan’s designs, Ning Fei felt reassured about her daughter’s capabilities and entrusted her with handling all the coordination work.
The meeting lasted the entire day. By evening, Xie Zhiyan sent her a message:
[Are you home? I’m leaving now and will arrive in half an hour.]
Ning Yuxuan replied:
[Not right now, but I’ll be heading back soon.]
Xie Zhiyan:
[Where are you? I’ll pick you up.]
It was perfectly reasonable for a boyfriend to pick his girlfriend up after work, so Ning Yuxuan agreed and sent him the address.
At 5:20 PM, Xie Zhiyan appeared downstairs outside her office.
The moment she saw him, Ning Yuxuan confronted him:
“Xie Zhiyan, what’s going on with you? How did everyone suddenly find out I’m your girlfriend?”
Earlier that day, in the middle of her meeting, she had received countless friend requests—all from businesspeople in Beicheng.
At first, Ning Yuxuan didn’t understand why. Thinking it might help her build connections for managing Huayuan in the future, she accepted a few.
But then, one after another, these people subtly—or not so subtly—brought up Xie Zhiyan in conversation. That was when she realized how they had found her.
Her contact information wasn’t a secret; anyone determined enough could track it down. These people were clearly trying to curry favor with Xie Zhiyan through his girlfriend.
Xie Zhiyan took the handbag she was carrying and said, “Someone asked me if you were my girlfriend, and I answered.”
Ning Yuxuan glared at the unfazed man.
“Just like that? Then how did everyone find out overnight? Did you deliberately announce it everywhere so I couldn’t back out?”
Xie Zhiyan chuckled.
Instead of answering, he turned to the car and pulled out a bouquet of flowers.
The Ecuadorian roses he had mentioned before.
Before Ning Yuxuan could fully process it, she was enveloped in the rich fragrance of the deep red blooms.
Xie Zhiyan said, “I told you I’d give these to you.”
The unexpected gesture made her forget what she had been about to say.
No wonder everyone loved receiving flowers, she thought.
Holding the bouquet and looking at the man’s handsome face, she found it impossible to stay angry.
