From the moment he accidentally witnessed Cen Meng sending that text message to Ning Yuxuan, Ning Shiyue had remained vigilant.
During the crew's dinner gathering that day, when Cen Meng deliberately provoked him, Ning Shiyue recorded the entire conversation.
He sent a copy to Ning Yuxuan, kept a backup for himself, and also gave one to his assistant.
Ding Yan nodded. "Alright, Shiyue, how do you plan to release it?"
Ning Shiyue thought for a moment. "Hand the recording over to Brother Gao Lin and let the company handle it."
Gao Lin was Ning Shiyue's manager.
Ding Yan instinctively said, "But—" before pausing abruptly.
"Shiyue, you mean…" He looked at Ning Shiyue as if seeking confirmation. "You want Brother Gao Lin and the company to release this recording?"
Ning Shiyue glanced at him. "What about it?"
Ding Yan shook his head. "No, nothing… I’ll contact them right away!"
Having worked with Ning Shiyue for years, Ding Yan had mentally prepared a long list of arguments to persuade him—urging him to consult the team first instead of stubbornly taking matters into his own hands.
In the past, Ning Shiyue had suffered plenty of setbacks because of this kind of impulsive behavior.
Back when Ning Shiyue and Cheng Xiyang were still equally popular, Cheng Xiyang always presented himself as considerate and understanding in public, while Ning Shiyue openly disdained explanations and pretenses.
As a result, casual observers often described Ning Shiyue’s personality as difficult and unapproachable.
The last time Cheng Xiyang and Ning Yuxuan clashed on a variety show, Ning Shiyue hadn’t consulted anyone. Without any evidence, he directly posted a scathing Weibo post calling out Cheng Xiyang.
Fortunately, someone eventually uncovered proof, and the outcome was favorable—but his manager still reprimanded him harshly.
This time… Ning Shiyue wasn’t planning to take action himself?
Ding Yan couldn’t help but wonder silently.
Ning Shiyue glanced at him and smirked. "Are you thinking, ‘Why isn’t he doing it himself?’"
Ding Yan chuckled awkwardly before admitting, "Yeah, this really doesn’t seem like your usual style."
Ning Shiyue replied calmly, "I learn from my mistakes too."
Last time, his impulsiveness nearly led to Ning Yuxuan and their mother being cornered by the media at the filming location, unable to leave.
He might not care about his own reputation, but he would never disregard his family’s safety and standing.
His manager and the company had far more experience handling such matters. They would know the best time to release the recording.
...
Thanks to the relentless efforts of marketing accounts and hired trolls, the hashtag "#NingYuxuanBadTemper" continued to climb in popularity.
Two new topics also emerged: "#CenMengRecording" and "#NingYuxuanNingShiyueBullyCenMeng."
At the same time, numerous anonymous "insiders" surfaced, spinning elaborate tales.
[My friend is a makeup artist who worked on the set of "My Crystal Lover." They told me Ning Yuxuan has a major diva attitude and is impossible to please.]
[I heard the same from a relative! When Ning Yuxuan was filming with Yin Xueyao, she bullied Yin Xueyao relentlessly, relying on her mother and brother’s connections.]
The comment sections under these posts were flooded with coordinated attacks from anti-fans and paid trolls.
【Damn, I thought Ning Yuxuan had a good personality when I watched the show. Who knew she was actually this kind of person behind the scenes?】
【Exactly! There’s no smoke without fire. A lot of people disliked Ning Yuxuan before the show even aired for a reason—she’s really problematic in private!】
Others took the opportunity to drag Ning Shiyue into the mess as well. After all, in the entertainment industry, Ning Shiyue had made even more enemies.
Currently, Ning Shiyue’s popularity and influence ranked firmly among the top three male artists of his generation.
Fans of actors with similar career paths and age demographics were eagerly waiting for Ning Shiyue’s downfall, hoping their idols could snatch up the resources in film, television, and fashion once he was out of the picture.
【Why are you only talking about Ning Yuxuan? In the recording, wasn’t it Ning Shiyue who kept insulting Cen Meng? He even called her shameless!】
【I agree. Ning Shiyue has zero class as a man, hurling insults like that.】
【Probably because Cen Meng has no popularity or fans now, so he thinks he can bully her freely.】
【As a casual fan of Ning Shiyue, this recording made me switch sides. I’m done with him.】
As these two topics gained traction, they eventually climbed to the top of the trending list, and more and more voices criticizing Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue emerged.
Some were orchestrated by marketing accounts and paid trolls, while others were netizens who had been swayed by the narrative.
Gradually, even Ning Fei was affected.
【My impression of Actress Ning has taken a hit too. She might not have done anything wrong herself, but how did she raise such terrible kids?】
【+1. My admiration for Ning Fei is pretty much shattered.】
...
In an apartment in Beicheng.
Watching the public opinion shift exactly as she had hoped, Cen Meng clenched her fists nervously, her nails digging deep into her palms.
Was she finally about to succeed?
Her company had long given up on her, and Gu Yunhao was utterly unreliable.
After abandoning her, she’d heard that Gu Yunhao had actually gone back to Ning Yuxuan.
Resentment burned in Cen Meng’s heart.
Everything she had lost was because of that woman. Only by crushing her could Cen Meng make a comeback.
Now, she had staked everything on this final, desperate gamble.
To hire marketing accounts and troll armies, Cen Meng had nearly drained the last of her savings.
Her eyes bloodshot, she stared fixedly at the trending negative hashtags about Ning Yuxuan, silently pleading: Just a little higher. Go up a little more.
This time, she would make sure Ning Yuxuan was utterly ruined.
...
Jiangcheng, on the set of "Tides of Fate."
The makeup artist frowned at the trending scandals. "What’s wrong with these netizens? They have zero critical thinking. This is obviously a coordinated smear campaign against Ning Yuxuan and the others."
The prop master nearby was equally furious. "Right? This is so deliberate—it’s disgusting."
After working with Ning Shiyue on set, everyone knew he wasn’t the kind of person who acted one way in public and another in private.
In fact, when they first met, the crew had worried Ning Shiyue might be difficult to work with. But later, they realized that as long as requests were reasonable, he was more accommodating than anyone.
It was just that his resting face looked cold and unapproachable, which often led to misunderstandings.
As for Ning Fei and Ning Yuxuan, most of the crew members didn’t interact with them much—but a few days ago, when Ning Fei visited the set, she brought gifts for everyone in the crew.
Not only did the main actors receive presents, but even the ordinary staff members like them got something.
On top of that, Ning Fei treated the entire crew to an elegant afternoon tea with desserts.
Because of this, the crew members all had an excellent impression of Ning Fei and Ning Yuxuan.
The makeup artist continued scrolling through Weibo.
Seeing another so-called "expose" from a supposed makeup artist of Crystal Lovers, she grew even more indignant. "How can random people just come out and spout nonsense? My mentor was the one handling makeup for that drama, and she told me Ning Yuxuan was really nice and pretty too."
The prop master chimed in, "Probably bought troll accounts. All anonymous, no way to verify."
The makeup artist read a few more smear posts about Ning Yuxuan, her frustration mounting.
"No," she said firmly. "I’m posting something."
With that, she started typing on her keyboard.
The prop master beside her hesitated. "Junjun, the online backlash against Ning Shiyue and the others is really bad right now. Are you sure you want to speak up?"
The makeup artist glanced up, shaking the bracelet on her wrist. "If I don’t say something now, my conscience won’t let me rest."
The bracelet was a gift from Ning Fei during her visit—a designer piece from C-brand.
Seeing this, the prop master touched her own hair.
She, too, had received a gift from Ning Fei—the hairpin she’d been wearing every day since.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford it, but she’d never splurge nearly four figures on an accessory otherwise.
It was rare for crew members like them to receive gifts at all. Usually, a treat like milk tea or coffee was considered generous.
With that thought, the prop master quietly pulled out her phone and began drafting a Weibo post.
...
As the negative hashtags about Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue climbed higher on the trending list, more and more bystanders joined the gossip frenzy.
[Wow, this is wild. Why are so many people suddenly calling out Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue?]
[Is it really because their personalities are that terrible, sparking public outrage?]
[But why are all the accusers anonymous? How credible is this?]
[Exactly. Every post is like, "I heard from a friend of a friend"—not a single firsthand account.]
Just as netizens grew tired of the vague, baseless accusations, someone from the industry finally stepped forward under their real name.
@MakeupArtistJunjun: Had a great time working with Ning Shiyue on set this time—looking forward to everyone enjoying the final product!
The post included several photos: the blogger posing with Ning Shiyue, Ning Yuxuan, and Ning Fei.
Though it didn’t directly address the leaked recording scandal, the timing and choice of images made the intention clear.
This wasn’t some blank-profile troll account but a verified personal page.
Past posts documented the makeup artist’s professional work, including numerous photos with actors from various productions.
Looking back through the records, it becomes clear that while this makeup artist appears to be only around thirty years old, her professional experience is extensive, having collaborated with many renowned actors and directors.
Netizens quickly flocked to the scene.
[Wow! A genuine industry insider—so many group photos!]
[I know this makeup artist! She’s worked on a lot of famous dramas and is incredibly skilled!]
[Honestly… compared to those shady anonymous accounts, I trust this makeup artist way more.]
[+1, she’s actually worked in the entertainment industry. If she’s speaking up now, it must mean Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue’s character is truly beyond reproach.]
Soon after, the prop master for Tides of Fate also posted on Weibo.
They similarly confirmed that Ning Shiyue got along extremely well with the crew, and everyone was delighted when Ning Fei and Ning Yuxuan came to visit the set.
The prop master was a complete non-public figure, with no managed social media presence—just casual work diaries scattered across their account.
Still, it was obvious they were a genuine industry insider, spending most of their year on film sets.
This clarifying post was quickly discovered by Ning Shiyue’s fans, who naturally seized the opportunity to spread the word.
[The prop master from Ning Shiyue’s new drama has spoken up—go check it out!]
[Ning Shiyue has zero negative reviews from crew members! There’s no way someone like that could have poor character!]
As several real industry professionals stepped forward, public opinion finally began to shift.
[I feel like this situation is about to flip. So many people are speaking up for Ning Shiyue and Ning Yuxuan now.]
[Same. That recording was always sketchy… plus all the anonymous "leaks"—it feels like someone’s pulling strings behind the scenes.]
However, Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue’s anti-fans weren’t about to back down.
They rallied in group chats, flooding negative hashtags with likes, reposts, and comments to push the scandal higher on trending lists.
Their presence dominated the comment sections.
[People use throwaway accounts because they’re afraid of retaliation. Meanwhile, these so-called "insiders" are clearly banding together with an agenda!]
[Exactly! Just look at that makeup artist’s photos with Ning Fei and Ning Yuxuan—how can she claim to be unbiased?]
[No matter how many people defend Ning Shiyue, it doesn’t change the fact that he bullied Cen Meng and hurled insults.]
For a while, the discourse under the trending topic was pure chaos, with neither side gaining clear dominance.
On one side: multiple verified industry professionals speaking up. On the other: video and audio evidence.
The recording, in particular, became the focal point of debate.
Was it edited? Maliciously clipped? These questions fueled endless speculation.
Some experts weighed in, insisting the audio had obvious cuts and wasn’t the full context.
But others argued: Regardless of editing, Ning Shiyue’s harsh words in the clip were undeniably real.
Just as the controversy peaked, a new recording surfaced—posted by an anonymous Weibo account.
In a high-rise office in Beicheng, Ning Shiyue’s agent, Gao Lin, smirked in satisfaction as the audio successfully went live.
"Ning Shiyue, well done," the agent said over the phone. "This time you actually informed me in advance and even prepared the recording. This strategy of leaking the story first and then countering it could become a classic case study in marketing."
Ning Shiyue's tone was indifferent on the other end of the line. "I don’t care about marketing tactics. I just don’t want my family to be wronged."
The agent chuckled. "Wronged? Far from it. Cen Meng is definitely finished this time."
If Cen Meng hadn’t struck first, the agent might have suspected that the recording was actually a trap set by Ning Shiyue and Ning Yuxuan for Cen Meng.
After all, in the recording, Cen Meng openly admitted to being the other woman and laid bare all her malicious intentions.
By releasing the unedited recording at the peak of the scandal, Cen Meng had effectively destroyed her own career in the entertainment industry.
In other words, she had dug her own grave.
The agent watched the situation unfold with cold detachment.
As expected, the moment the full recording was exposed, it sent shockwaves through the internet.
The audio was crystal clear and complete—unlike the heavily edited version that had circulated earlier. Even non-professionals could instantly tell the difference.
[...Wait, did I hear that right? Did Cen Meng just admit to all the scandals surrounding her?!]
[Yes, you heard correctly. She outright said she took the book, the house, and even that guy out of sheer jealousy.]
[This recording is insane… I don’t even know what to say. It’s been a while since I’ve had such a juicy piece of gossip.]
[I’m stunned. How can someone like Cen Meng steal from others and still act so entitled?]
...
At the filming site of Dear Mom, all the guests finally returned to the villa.
After bidding farewell to the audience, the live broadcast of this episode officially came to an end.
Before leaving, a staff member kindly reminded Ning Fei and Ning Yuxuan, "Ms. Ning, Yuxuan, there was some trouble on Weibo while we were filming."
Hearing this, Ning Fei frowned slightly.
Joining this show had been a blessing for her—it had helped mend her relationship with her daughter.
She was deeply grateful she had signed up for the show and had thoroughly enjoyed the filming process.
The only downside was that ever since the show began airing, her daughter had frequently trended on social media—often for the wrong reasons.
Though they always managed to turn things around quickly, Ning Fei didn’t want her daughter to keep facing such situations.
Her daughter wasn’t part of the entertainment industry; she shouldn’t have to endure this.
Judging by the staff’s tone and expression, something unpleasant must have happened again.
Ning Fei exchanged a glance with Ning Yuxuan. "Xuanxuan..."
Ning Yuxuan spoke first. "Mom, didn’t you say we were having hot pot at home tonight?"
Ning Fei paused.
"Yes," she replied. "I asked Auntie Xu to prepare the ingredients—enough for four people."
Earlier that morning, Ning Yuxuan had casually mentioned craving hot pot after a long time.
So Ning Fei had instructed their housekeeper to get everything ready and even invited Xie Zhiyan and Zheng Xinmei to join them.
Having just the two of them would feel too quiet; four people would make for a much livelier meal.
Zheng Xinmei readily agreed. In recent years, she and Ning Fei had been meeting elsewhere, and it had been a long time since she last visited her friend’s home. This was a perfect opportunity to see what had changed.
During the day, Xie Zhiyan stayed at the old residence with Zheng Xinmei, and in the evening, the two of them came over together.
Ning Yuxuan: "That works."
Ning Fei: "Xuanxuan..."
Ning Yuxuan: "Let’s head home first. We can discuss anything else on the way, okay?"
Ning Fei hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright."
Uncle Li was already waiting outside, and Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei got into the car together.
Settling into a comfortable position in the back seat, Ning Yuxuan finally opened her phone.
Ning Fei watched the screen with a worried expression.
Opening Weibo, the first trending topic that caught their eyes was: #The Real Recording of the Ning Yuxuan and Ning Shiyue Incident#
Ning Fei was baffled. "What recording?"
Ning Yuxuan clicked into the trending topic while explaining to her mother, "It’s probably about what happened that day we had barbecue in Jiangcheng."
Ning Fei hadn’t attended the barbecue gathering, so she wasn’t aware of the scene Cen Meng had caused that day.
Entering the trending topic, the first post was a complete video of the recording.
Ning Yuxuan thought for a moment and went straight to the comments section.
[Wow, thank goodness for this full recording, or else Ning Shiyue would’ve been wronged worse than Dou E!]
[Seriously, if anyone dares to say Ning Shiyue has a bad temper after this, I’ll fight them! With the outrageous things Cen Meng said, calling her shameless was way too mild!]
[Ning Yuxuan was so composed too! Every comeback hit the mark perfectly—left Cen Meng speechless.]
[See, I knew standing by Ning Yuxuan was the right call! With all the trending scandals this month, hasn’t she come out on top every time?]
[Honestly, the fact that people went through all the trouble of editing the recording to smear Ning Yuxuan just proves she has no real dirt on her.]
There were plenty more comments bashing Cen Meng, most of them rather crude. Since Ning Fei was beside her, Ning Yuxuan skimmed through them quickly without reading in detail.
Closing the comments section, Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei exchanged a glance.
"Mom," Ning Yuxuan said, her eyes curving into a smile, "it looks like the issue is already resolved."
Ning Fei seemed thoughtful. "This time… was it Cen Meng causing trouble for you again?"
Though her daughter hadn’t explained the details, Ning Fei could piece together the gist from the netizens’ reactions.
Ning Yuxuan nodded. "Yes, but don’t worry, Mom. After today, Cen Meng won’t be able to stir up any more trouble."
Ning Shiyue had already sent her the recording earlier, and Ning Yuxuan had listened to it once—Cen Meng had admitted to everything she’d done.
Now that the full recording was out, Cen Meng’s career in the entertainment industry was as good as over.
Ning Fei gave a slight nod before asking, "Who released the clarifying recording?"
Ning Yuxuan chuckled. "Who else but Ning Shiyue? I bet he’s already texted me to brag about his contribution."
Opening WeChat, sure enough, there was a message from Ning Shiyue:
Ning Shiyue: [So, how’d I do this time? Perfect timing too—right as you and Mom finished your livestream, everything was neatly wrapped up.]
Ning Yuxuan showed the message to Ning Fei.
Ning Fei smiled warmly, her voice full of approval. "Shiyue has really matured compared to before."
As a mother, Ning Fei knew well that while her two children appeared to have vastly different personalities, they actually shared many similarities—like their tendency to act impulsively under the sway of emotions.
Yet, in just over a month, not only had her daughter seemed like a completely different person, but even her son appeared to have matured significantly.
She could finally breathe a little easier.
Ning Yuxuan replied to Ning Shiyue: "You really have improved—Mom even praised you. And this time, you didn’t call me crying afterward!"
Ning Shiyue: "...Who cried?! Stop making things up!"
Ning Shiyue: "Mom, you’re reading this too, right? I absolutely didn’t shed a single tear that day—not one!"
...
Not long after Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei arrived home, Xie Zhiyan drove over as well.
This time, he came with Zheng Xinmei.
Once inside, Zheng Xinmei greeted the mother and daughter warmly, then casually instructed Xie Zhiyan to bring in the gifts they’d brought.
The hot pot set was already prepared at home, with ingredients laid out around it.
Zheng Xinmei smiled and waved. "Come on, Zhiyan, you sit over there with Xuanxuan."
Then, turning to Ning Fei, she added, "A-Fei, you and I can sit here."
Ning Fei chuckled. "Alright."
Her old friend had always been like this—wherever she went, she loved taking charge. Later, she’d only restrained herself in front of outsiders, but now, in the home of a longtime friend, her true nature had reemerged.
The four of them took their seats, and Zheng Xinmei glanced at the hot pot broth.
"It’s a split pot," she remarked to Ning Fei. "As far as I remember, out of all of us, only Xuanxuan likes spicy food, right? You and I prefer milder flavors, and Zhiyan takes after me—I’ve never seen him eat anything spicy."
Ning Fei’s brow twitched slightly.
Ning Yuxuan also turned her head to look at Xie Zhiyan. "So at home, you never eat spicy food at all?"
