Hai City.
After wrapping up filming for the day, the cast of Tides of Fate gathered for a meal at a nearby restaurant.
The set was located far from the city center, in a rather remote area, so the chosen spot was a small, nondescript eatery. The private room was cramped, barely fitting the dozen or so people inside.
Ning Shiyue had just finished a phone call in the hallway when he ran into director Zhang Tai, who was returning from the restroom.
Zhang Tai sidled up to him with a grin. "Xiao Ning, was that your girlfriend on the phone?"
Ning Shiyue froze for a moment before shaking his head. "No, Director Zhang, I’ve told you before—I really don’t have a girlfriend..."
Zhang Tai let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha, I know, I’m just teasing you. It was your sister, wasn’t it? I heard you calling her name from a distance—Ning Yuxuan, right? She’s quite the celebrity these days. Even I remember her name."
Ning Shiyue nodded awkwardly. "Yes."
Zhang Tai stroked his chin, still chuckling. "I’d heard before that you’re very close to your family—usually quiet and reserved, but when it comes to them, you’re a completely different person. I was skeptical at first, but now I see it’s true."
Ning Shiyue’s ears flushed slightly. "Director, I..."
The incident stemming from his recent Weibo post had caused quite a stir, forcing the entire crew to ramp up security as a precaution. Ning Shiyue still felt guilty about it.
Zhang Tai waved a hand dismissively. "Ah, no need to explain! I get it. Loyalty and family bonds are good things—especially rare in our industry."
Today’s shoot had gone smoothly, with Ning Shiyue and the other leads delivering strong performances in key scenes.
Zhang Tai, having indulged in a few drinks, was in high spirits.
He continued, "Xiao Ning, if your sister ever visits the set, talk to her for me. I’d love to have her make a cameo."
Ning Shiyue hesitated before politely declining on Ning Yuxuan’s behalf. "That might not be suitable. She... doesn’t have professional training. Her acting isn’t great."
Zhang Tai laughed and clapped him on the back. "Relax, it’s just a small role—no acting required, just a good look! And I’m only mentioning it casually. No pressure! Come on, let’s head back inside."
Ning Shiyue nodded. "...Right."
Zhang Tai’s interest in Ning Yuxuan stemmed from her recent online buzz.
Not only had she been trending frequently, but her cameo could also serve as promotional gold when the drama aired—a "sibling collaboration" angle to draw more attention.
Zhang Tai prided himself on being a modern director, aware that quality alone wasn’t enough in today’s entertainment landscape. Even the finest wine needed visibility.
Still, this was just an offhand thought. He had no intention of pushing the matter.
Back in the private room, the rest of the crew beckoned Zhang Tai and Ning Shiyue to rejoin them.
Someone called out to Ning Shiyue, "Hey, Shiyue, did you see? You’re trending again—just in the short time you were outside on the phone."
Ning Shiyue didn’t respond, but his nerves instantly tightened.
Filming in this secluded location meant he barely interacted with anyone outside the crew. If he was trending, it had to be related to that Weibo post from two days ago.
His manager had assured him that Cheng Xiyang’s situation was under control—the company had gathered evidence and would handle it, allowing him to focus on filming.
Had something gone wrong?
Noticing his tension, the speaker quickly added, "Don’t worry, it’s good news! Check the hashtag yourself!"
Zhang Tai chimed in cheerfully, "Oh? What’s the buzz about? Let me see too."
Ning Shiyue opened Weibo.
Since Cheng Tingting’s video surfaced the previous afternoon, hashtags related to the incident had dominated the trending list.
Initially, public opinion had overwhelmingly condemned Cheng Xiyang.
But after his studio released a statement and legal notice, coupled with fans’ efforts, the tide had begun to shift slightly in his favor.
Then, Cheng Tingting went silent for over twenty-four hours, leaving netizens restless.
[What’s going on? Did Cheng Tingting just drop one video and vanish? Was she paid off?]
[Maybe the money hit her account, so she stopped spilling tea? It’s been a full day with zero updates.]
[I’ll wait a bit longer. If she doesn’t provide clearer evidence by tomorrow, I’m siding with Cheng Xiyang.]
[Honestly, I’m worried something happened to her. Cheng Tingting, can you just post something to confirm you’re safe?]
Cheng Xiyang’s fans, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief, hopeful the situation might finally be turning in their idol’s favor.
Across the trending topics, fans deployed carefully crafted rhetoric to sway neutral observers.
[The second the studio sent the legal notice, that so-called sister went silent. Says it all!]
[Cheng Xiyang’s studio provided legally binding documents, while that ‘sister’ just made baseless claims. Who’s more credible? Need I say more?]
[I always thought Cheng Tingting seemed shady. Guess I was right.]
[Stand with Cheng Xiyang. Slander takes a second; clearing your name takes forever.]
Just as the frenzy peaked and began to wane, Cheng Tingting reappeared.
At 4 PM, she posted again—this time not with a video, but with a series of medical records.
Her Weibo detailed every hospital document from the time of her car accident onward, down to individual treatment costs and diagnoses—over a dozen images in total.
The final record explicitly stated: Family voluntarily discontinued treatment.
In her caption, Cheng Tingting explained that these records had originally been in Liu Yufang’s possession, making them inaccessible. But with help from a kind soul, the hospital had retrieved the digital copies, allowing her to share them now.
The post instantly reignited the firestorm, with self-proclaimed insiders emerging en masse.
[I knew it!! Cheng Tingting was just waiting for the perfect moment to drop the hammer. No way someone filing an ID-verified report wouldn’t have receipts!]
[Watching Cheng’s fans scramble to defend him was hilarious. As if celebrity legal notices ever hold up. The slapback came fast!]
[I had a friend in healthcare check these—no red flags. Probably legit.]
[My buddy works at this hospital! I asked, and he confirmed they treated a patient matching these records!]
Cheng Xiyang’s fans, of course, continued to argue, but even a top star’s fanbase couldn’t outshout the internet’s collective voice.
Even though fans continued to question the authenticity of the medical records, they couldn’t gain the upper hand in public opinion.
Jincheng.
Lin Yuanfeng rushed back from a business engagement to the "safe house" his subordinates had prepared for Cheng Tingting—a high-security luxury apartment. The apartment was equipped with a nurse and an assistant, ready to attend to Cheng Tingting’s needs at any moment.
Inside the room, a slender young woman sat quietly in a chair.
"Miss," Lin Yuanfeng began, looking at her. "According to the plan, we’ll release the recordings tonight. After that, there’ll be no turning back. Are you absolutely sure about this?"
Cheng Tingting didn’t hesitate for even a second before nodding.
She had carefully preserved those recordings all this time, waiting for this very moment. How could she possibly reconsider now?
Seeing her resolve, even Lin Yuanfeng—a seasoned businessman—felt a flicker of pity in his eyes.
This girl was only a year younger than his own daughter, yet she had already endured so much hardship. Her eyes bore none of the innocence typical of a woman in her twenties.
Suppressing his emotions, Lin Yuanfeng continued, "Next week, we’ll arrange for you to go abroad for treatment. Someone will assist you in settling down there. But since you’ll be alone, far from your family, you need to prepare yourself mentally."
Earlier that day, doctors had conducted a thorough examination of Cheng Tingting. The aftereffects of her injuries—particularly in her shoulders and arms—were severe. Full recovery was unlikely, but surgery could improve her condition.
If the operation went well, Cheng Tingting’s right arm would never regain full mobility, but at least she’d be able to live without constant pain.
Globally, only a handful of surgeons could perform this procedure. In the country, just one doctor in Beicheng had successfully operated on similar cases.
However, that doctor’s schedule was booked for the next three months. Moreover, undergoing treatment domestically would inevitably attract media attention—and worse, interference from Cheng Tingting’s own family.
After careful consideration, Lin Yuanfeng had decided sending her abroad was the best way to ensure she could recover in peace.
Cheng Tingting nodded again, her voice steady. "I’m ready. I won’t regret it."
Her unwavering certainty surprised even Lin Yuanfeng.
He hadn’t expected this 26-year-old woman to possess such determination.
When he’d first sent someone to bring her to Jincheng, he’d assumed she’d take days to decide. Instead, she’d agreed in less than ten minutes.
Her reasoning had been simple: "I’d rather take a gamble than spend the rest of my life in the shadows. It can’t get any worse."
After hearing that, Lin Yuanfeng had known this woman was extraordinary.
Satisfied with her answer, he gave a slight nod. "Very well. Rest and recover. We’ll handle the public fallout—you just need to cooperate."
"I understand. Thank you, Chairman Lin," Cheng Tingting said. Then, hesitating, she added, "May I ask… why are you willing to help me?"
Lin Yuanfeng smiled faintly. "Because I’m a father."
…
Once the medical records were exposed, they quickly topped the trending charts.
A flood of outraged netizens stormed Cheng Xiyang’s social media.
["Cheng Xiyang, you’re inhuman! How could you stand by and let your sister sacrifice her health for your fame? Don’t you feel guilty wearing clothes bought with her compensation money?"]
["Pay it back! Return the compensation to your sister!"]
["Quit the industry! Whether or not the law punishes you, I never want to see your face again!"]
Fans still clung to desperate defenses.
["The medical records only say the family refused treatment—they don’t explain why! No one knows the full story. Maybe the cost was too high, and the compensation wasn’t enough!"]
["Stop judging! Cheng Xiyang might not even have known about this—it could’ve been all his mother’s doing!"]
["If anyone deserves blame, it’s Liu Yufang! Cheng Xiyang is a victim too!"]
But the public wasn’t buying it.
["Liu Yufang is vile, but Cheng Xiyang is worse! He reaped the benefits while letting his mother play the villain!"]
["As if he didn’t know! Right after his sister’s accident, his family suddenly had money for designer clothes and copyright fees. He didn’t wonder where it came from?"]
["Fans, stop making excuses! Cheng Xiyang and his mother are both scum—neither is innocent!"]
…
As Cheng Xiyang’s social media crumbled under the backlash, he himself remained silent, too afraid to respond.
In a Beicheng apartment, Cheng Xiyang, his mother Liu Yufang, and several company executives sat in tense silence, their faces grim.
Liu Yufang looked as if she were attending a funeral. Her golden goose—the son she’d painstakingly groomed for success—was about to be ruined by that worthless daughter of hers!
After an agonizing silence, one of the executives finally spoke. "Cheng Xiyang, given the circumstances, the company has no choice but to cut ties with you."
Cheng Xiyang’s face paled.
Liu Yufang shot to her feet, her voice shrill with panic. "No! You can’t do this! My son—he’s earned you so much money these past two years! You can’t just abandon him now!"
The executive slammed a hand on the table. "Ms. Liu, get your facts straight! We’re not abandoning him—you and your son failed to handle your family affairs, and now it’s damaging our company’s reputation!"
Liu Yufang shrank back, cowed by his aggression. She was a bully at heart—the fiercer the opposition, the quicker she folded.
After a moment, she slumped back into her seat, muttering, "But… you knew about this from the start. It was your people who suggested using Tingting’s compensation for his wardrobe and copyright fees…"
The executive shot her a withering look. "So what if we did? You and Cheng Xiyang assured us this would never come to light. And now? Cheng Tingting has resurfaced with evidence! Meanwhile, you can’t even get in touch with her!"
Liu Yufang’s face turned ashen. "I…"
Cheng Xiyang said nothing, but his expression was no less despairing than his mother’s.
He knew his career was over. There was no coming back from this.
While Liu Yufang panicked, Cheng Xiyang had already given up.
Suddenly, Liu Yufang’s phone rang.
She glanced at it—and then leaped to her feet again.
"It's Tingting! My daughter!" Liu Yufang cried out. "She finally contacted me! She must have come around and decided to reconcile with us!"
...
Two hours after the treatment records were released, Cheng Tingting's Weibo account posted new updates—this time, three audio recordings.
These recordings shattered any hope fans had of Cheng Xiyang cutting ties with his mother.
The first recording dated back to before Cheng Xiyang debuted.
A woman's voice, identified as Liu Yufang, said: "Tingting, I know you resent me, and I’ve failed you. But I promise you, your brother is good-looking. Once he debuts and makes it big, I’ll pay you back every penny."
Cheng Tingting's voice replied: "What good will that do me then? The doctor said if I don’t get treatment soon, my arm might never function normally again!"
"It’s not that serious! Doctors always exaggerate to squeeze more money out of you! Listen to me—once Xiyang starts earning, we’ll get you the best treatment!"
The second recording began with Cheng Xiyang’s voice.
"Cheng Tingting, didn’t Mom already transfer your living expenses? I’ve told you a thousand times—I’m busy. The entertainment industry isn’t some cushy job like the ones you’ve had!"
"My jobs? Thanks to you and Mom, no one will hire me now!"
"What’s the point of bringing this up now? It’s done. At least I’m supporting you, aren’t I?"
"Supporting me? Cheng Xiyang, how dare you say that? Do you even give me a thousandth—no, a ten-thousandth—of what you earn?"
"Isn’t 1,500 yuan enough for you to live on? I earn more because I’m talented. What’s that got to do with you? If you’re so capable, why don’t you debut too?"
The last recording was clearly made that same day. Liu Yufang could be heard pleading with her daughter to cooperate and help clear her son’s name.
At first, Liu Yufang tried to hand the phone to someone from Cheng Xiyang’s company, but Cheng Tingting insisted on speaking directly to her mother or refusing the conversation altogether.
In the background, someone repeatedly warned Liu Yufang to choose her words carefully to avoid being recorded.
Yet, in her unguarded moments, it was obvious Liu Yufang felt no real remorse—only desperation to salvage her son’s career before her daughter ruined it.
The recordings sent netizens into a fury.
[What kind of monster is this Liu Yufang?! All she cares about is her son, not her daughter’s suffering!]
[She even tried to lure Cheng Tingting into a meeting. Thank goodness Tingting refused—who knows what they’d have done to her!]
[This mother-son duo is vile. I’m so angry I could burst a blood vessel!]
[I don’t just want Cheng Xiyang out of the industry; I want him and his mom sued and thrown in jail!]
Amid the outrage, some netizens remembered Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue.
The chain of events began when Ning Yuxuan clashed with Liu Yufang, sparking a feud that led Cheng Xiyang’s fans to attack Ning Yuxuan and her family. Ning Shiyue then retaliated on Weibo, ultimately exposing Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang’s misdeeds.
Related hashtags trended:
#Ning Shiyue Speaks the Truth
#Ning Yuxuan Saw Through Liu Yufang
#The Ning Siblings Are Heroes
[Now I get what Ning Shiyue meant by "debuting by bleeding your family dry"—it’s not an exaggeration! Cheng Xiyang and his mom are literal vampires!]
[Vampires? More like cannibals! Poor Cheng Tingting never stood a chance with family like that.]
[Thank you, Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue, for exposing these monsters! I thought this was just celebrity drama, but it’s straight-up crime!]
[Respect to Ning Shiyue for standing up to Cheng Xiyang despite the risks. I’m officially a fan!]
[Ning Yuxuan was iconic during that confrontation. Absolute queen behavior!]
...
In a private dining room, Ning Shiyue and Director Zhang Tai scrolled through the trending topics.
When Cheng Tingting’s recordings went viral, Ning Shiyue didn’t look triumphant—just somber.
Thinking of the suffering Cheng Tingting endured, his heart ached.
Logically, he knew he couldn’t have acted without evidence sooner, but the regret lingered.
Only when he saw the netizens praising Ning Yuxuan did the faintest smile touch his lips.
Director Zhang Tai sighed. "Who could’ve predicted this mess…"
The producer nodded. "Cheng Xiyang seemed like such a clean-cut guy. Turns out he’s a nightmare. Thank goodness we didn’t cast him!"
Zhang Tai turned to Ning Shiyue. "You might not know this, but before your audition, we considered Cheng Xiyang for the male lead. You outperformed him, so we went with you."
Ning Shiyue blinked. "I… had no idea."
Zhang Tai raised his glass. "Call it fate. Without you, this whole project might’ve collapsed. To you, Ning Shiyue—our lucky star!"
...
Elsewhere, Xie Zhiyan bid farewell to Ning Fei.
"Auntie, I’ll visit again when I can."
Ning Fei smiled warmly. "No need to trouble yourself if you’re busy. Spend your free time with Yuxuan instead."
After exchanging pleasantries, Ning Fei asked her daughter to walk Xie Zhiyan out.
On the way to the garage, Ning Yuxuan—usually so talkative—stayed silent.
Xie Zhiyan broke the quiet. "What’s on your mind?"
She stopped walking, hesitating.
His brow lifted. "Nervous?"
Ning Yuxuan bit her lip. "...A little."
She couldn’t explain how, but Xie Zhiyan had somehow convinced her to visit his mother, Aunt Zheng, that very week—as his girlfriend.
Though she’d once been close to Aunt Zheng, years had passed. Showing up now in this new role left even Ning Yuxuan unsettled.
Amusement flickered in Xie Zhiyan’s eyes. "Rare to hear you admit that so readily."
Hearing this, Ning Yuxuan turned to look at the instigator and spoke indignantly, "So what if I'm nervous? It's my first time getting married, my first time meeting the parents—of course I'm nervous!"
Xie Zhiyan replied unhurriedly, "It's my first time getting married too."
Ning Yuxuan shot him a dissatisfied glance. "Obviously I know that."
Xie Zhiyan added calmly, "And my first time bringing a girl home to meet my mother."
Ning Yuxuan pouted. "As if I'm any different. It's my first time bringing a boyfriend to meet my mom too."
In the past, she had considered bringing Gu Yunhao to meet her family. Back then, she had been stubbornly persistent—the more her family disapproved, the more she wanted to introduce Gu Yunhao to them, doing everything she could to make Ning Fei and Ning Shiyue accept the man she had chosen.
But Gu Yunhao had refused to even give her the official title of girlfriend, let alone agree to visit her family.
Now, Ning Yuxuan actually felt relieved. Thank goodness Gu Yunhao had never agreed—at least Ning Fei and Ning Shiyue had been spared the disgust of meeting him face-to-face.
And if Gu Yunhao had actually come to meet Ning Shiyue, the two might have ended up in a physical fight right then and there...
Xie Zhiyan's deep voice pulled her back to reality. "Really?"
Ning Yuxuan answered without hesitation, "Yes, why would I lie? You're the only one I've ever brought home."
The man fell silent.
The air grew quiet for a couple of seconds before Ning Yuxuan suddenly realized something.
She looked up at Xie Zhiyan accusingly. "You were fishing for information!"
Xie Zhiyan watched her without responding.
Ning Yuxuan widened her eyes, staring at the man across from her. Under the dim glow of the streetlights, she finally caught the faintest trace of a smile at the corner of his lips.
"Xie Zhiyan!" she exclaimed, even more certain now. "You were deliberately trying to get me to admit whether I'd ever brought Gu—"
Before she could finish the name, her lips suddenly tingled with warmth.
Xie Zhiyan's fingertips lightly pressed against her cupid's bow, the touch featherlight.
Ning Yuxuan shuddered in surprise.
