“Have the photos been delivered?” Wu Yuwan asked faintly from her bed.
Zhao Liang’s gaze evaded slightly. “Of course… they were!”
In reality, he had not delivered that photo to Mei Mengran at all. Instead, he had sold it for a high price to a certain well-known magazine. It had to be said that the currently raging “Plastic Surgery Incident” partly owed its fervor to his contribution.
“The money?” Wu Yuwan struggled to open her eyes a crack.
“That girl of yours is no pushover either!” Zhao Liang squatted before the bed, clutching his head, scratching his hair in frustration. “She took the photo but immediately went back on her word on the spot. I didn’t get a single cent.” He sighed heavily. “This time I’ve really been taken for a fool, and to think it was by a green little girl!”
“What!?” She suddenly sat up, her whole body trembling with anger. “Are you telling the truth?”
“Would I lie to you?” Zhao Liang lied without blushing or his heart racing. “If it weren’t for their numbers, would I be afraid of her? I would’ve fought with my life to snatch the photo back! You know what I’m like. Would I swallow such a loss?”
“Fine, fine!” Wu Yuwan gnashed her teeth, her voice dry as it squeezed from between them. “No wonder she was so agreeable last time. So she was digging a pit here, waiting for me to jump in!”
Seeing she believed him, Zhao Liang relaxed his slightly tense nerves and quickly chimed in, “Everyone in her circle, who among them is an easy mark? How could we ever outwit her?”
“Hehehe…” Wu Yuwan chuckled coldly. “That’s not necessarily so. If she dares make the first move, I dare make the fifteenth!”
She suddenly began coughing violently, a breath stuck in her chest, impossible to expel. A layer of unnatural redness appeared on her pale face. “Quick! Take… take me… to the hospital.”
Zhao Liang was also startled by her near-death appearance. Just as he bent to pick her up, a sour, rancid body odor assaulted his nostrils, making him gag again. He had no choice but to wrap her in the bedsheet and carry her out over his shoulder.
After delivering her to the hospital, Zhao Liang originally intended to just dust off his hands and leave. But a notification on his phone indicated a large sum of money had been deposited into his card. With that hard cash securely in his pocket, every penny his own, promising a comfortable life ahead for a good while… thinking of this, he went back to pay Wu Yuwan’s hospitalization fees.
This woman was already old and faded, but after all, she had been with him for several years. There was still some sentiment there. But he had kept such dealings from her… paper could never wrap up fire… It seemed he couldn’t stay in City A anymore.
He returned home to pack his luggage, conveniently scooping up a few valuable pieces of jewelry from the dresser drawer as well, and that same night boarded a northbound train.
Tossing and turning all night, getting examinations and intravenous drips, that bastard didn’t know where he’d run off to—not even someone to pour a glass of water. The more Wu Yuwan thought about it, the more her heart’s indignation grew. That wretched girl Mei Mengran actually dared treat her like this! Did she really think that besides the photo, she had nothing else to hold over her?
“…The number you have dialed is powered off…”
Wu Yuwan glared hatefully at the two characters “亮哥/Brother Liang” on the screen, exited, and dialed another number.
“…The number you have dialed cannot be reached for the moment…”
“Wretched girl! Conscience-stricken, don’t you dare answer my call?” She dialed again, receiving the same reply.
“Who keeps calling? Why aren’t you answering?”
Mei Mengran powered off her phone and tossed it onto the tea table. “Just someone unimportant.”
Her old photos being exposed had brought about the thing she least wanted to see. What else did this woman think she could threaten her with now?
“For now, it’s best you don’t contact the outside world,” Cen Chen added, “…Wait until things have calmed down a bit…”
“How could they possibly calm down?” Mei Mengran snorted coldly. “You’re not unaware of how many people are just waiting to see me become a laughingstock.”
Cen Chen said thoughtfully, “If exposure is inevitable sooner or later, now might actually be advantageous for us. Your uncle, Mei Hongyuan, was first exposed in a scandal of keeping a female college student, then later someone else broke the news that she wasn’t his lover, but his illegitimate daughter from outside.”
If he were just an ordinary businessman, he wouldn’t garner such attention. The key point was he was recently elected as the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. His every move was closely watched within the industry. To suddenly be hit with such scandals one after another was undoubtedly a huge blow, both publicly and privately.
“Mengran, why do you seem… not the least bit surprised?”
“Surprised?” Mei Mengran asked back with a laugh. “Why should I be surprised?”
“The scandal about Mei Ran being his illegitimate daughter—it was me who leaked it.”
While the relationship of a kept mistress had explosive potential, it couldn’t withstand scrutiny. Anyone who investigated Mei Ran’s identity would debunk the rumor. Of course, an “illegitimate daughter” story might not last long either, but she just wanted to spite Mei Ran, vent the hatred in her heart.
“Are you insane?!”
“Don’t worry, this time I made it very clean too,” Mei Mengran said. “Besides, even if Mei Hongyuan finds out, he won’t do anything to me.”
Where on earth was she getting such confidence?
Cen Chen was nearly angry enough to spew blood. “Someone who has stood firm for many years in a cutthroat business world where bloodshed is unseen—they’re not likely to be a pushover. Mengran, you’re playing with fire!”
As for this baseless smear, Mei Hongyuan indeed had no intention of letting it go. The third-rate magazine promising to apologize was just the first step. Yet, unexpectedly, before the apology statement was even out, a new wave of rumors had already spread.
A well-known Weibo blogger, “Those Things in the Entertainment Circle,” dropped another bombshell: the gist was that according to sources, the woman in the photo was not Mei Hongyuan’s mistress, but his illegitimate daughter.
One wave had not yet subsided before another arose. Keen onlookers following the event exclaimed their brains couldn’t keep up. What an exciting year-end blockbuster drama!
Appearances could be deceiving! They said this Mei Group President lost his wife in middle age and had never remarried in all these years. Who would’ve thought he was secretly keeping an illegitimate daughter outside all along? Was all that deep affection just an act?!
A single move affected the whole board. Mei Group’s stock price began to drop as well, falling below the forecasted values of assessment experts within a single day. With their vital interests at stake, the major shareholders grew restless, each demanding Mei Hongyuan come out and give an explanation.
Things had blown up to this extent—an explanation was definitely needed. But this concerned… the issue of publicly acknowledging his daughter’s identity.
If not forced by circumstances, Mei Hongyuan had not wished to disrupt his daughter’s peaceful life. But if he did not step forward to clarify now, she would be forever forced to wear the dirty hat of a “mistress” or a secret, illegitimate daughter, living a life forever under pointing fingers.
The daughter of Mei Hongyuan should not have to endure such humiliation.
“Ranmar, Dad has thought for a long time, and this is the best way.” Mei Hongyuan paused. “What do you think?”
Mei Ran was silent for three seconds before speaking. “I remember I once said, being able to be Dad’s daughter is my happiness.”
“Calling me an illegitimate daughter doesn’t just insult me; it insults you and Mom too. That is my final bottom line. You’ve always protected me very well, but Dad, do you know? If I weren’t Mei Hongyuan’s daughter, I would likely be like many ordinary girls in this world: maybe walking on the street, I could be taken hostage; I could encounter a car accident…”
Being Mei Hongyuan’s daughter did not grant extra luck to resist all destined misfortunes.
“Dad understands.” Mei Hongyuan’s heart suddenly tightened. He pressed a hand over his chest. “Don’t think too much. Leave everything to Dad to handle.”
Setting down the phone, he pressed the intercom, and soon Secretary Wang entered.
“Find the person behind this as quickly as possible,” Mei Hongyuan said, looking straight ahead, his voice utterly cold. “At all costs.”
“Yes.” Secretary Wang had been by Mei Hongyuan’s side for nearly fifteen years, yet this was the first time he had seen him reveal such a… sinisterly cold side. Like a slumbering lion abruptly awakened, baring sharp claws. He couldn’t help feeling a chill in his heart.
“At all costs.” The six words fully expressed his inner fury. It seemed this time, even if it meant sacrificing the entire Mei Group, sacrificing the life’s work of his prime years, he would not relent.
Some people were about to be struck by heavens-falling misfortune.
Over the years, father and daughter had been north and south apart. Though the times they gathered weren’t many, he knew just how much Mei Hongyuan cherished his only daughter. Just how much daring had those people borrowed from heaven, to dare extend their greedy hands toward her?
“President Mei, any other orders?”
“Make preparations. This afternoon I will hold a press conference.”
“Press conference?”
“Yes!” Ye Qihan verified again with the person, “Just one hour ago.”
Fu Shijin was driving, a Bluetooth earpiece attached to his ear. He thought for a moment and asked, “Could there be any connection between the two matters?”
“Unlikely,” the voice on the other end said decisively. “You’re not unaware of your future father-in-law’s methods. He just needs to give a heads-up and apply a little pressure from above, and that bunch at that third-rate magazine will cower like grandsons. Who among them with a death wish would dare act up?”
“I’m at the entrance of her building now. Goodbye.”
“Beep beep beep…” Ye Qihan listened to the string of busy tones, nearly feeling his qi and blood churn. Was he just a piece of rag, to be used when needed and thrown aside when done? Was there not a shred of dignity left?!
Hah! Having a girlfriend is so special, huh? He has one too—it’s just… not yet caught up with her!
Mei Ran was already waiting by the fountain. Seeing the familiar black car slowly pull to a stop, she walked over, opened the passenger door, and sat in.
They went out for dinner. When they came out, dusk had descended outside, street lamps gradually being lit by the moonlight. Mei Ran rolled down the car window; the fresh fragrance of trees and flowers drifted in together with the dazzling lights, and she took a deep breath.
The man beside her glanced sideways, speckles of laughter starting to spill from the depths of his eyes.
He took her on a drive across the city, from west to east, covering nearly half of City A.
Perhaps from tomorrow onward, she would begin facing a different kind of life. Then let tonight begin the farewell.
“Shijin, I’d like some red bean milk tea.”
Fu Shijin pulled the car over by the roadside. “I’ll go buy it. Wait in the car.”
Mei Ran blinked. “I’d like to take a walk too.”
“Alright then.” He came around to take her hand and walked forward with her.
The milk tea shop was across from a square, possibly newly opened with a grand promotion—a long queue had formed in front. Mei Ran could scarcely imagine this man squeezing amidst a bunch of young girls. Halfway there, she changed her mind, swinging his hand gently. “Actually, let’s not.”
Fu Shijin looked at her slightly dry lips, his gaze darkening a little, his voice carrying a mix of helplessness and affectionate laughter. “Be good, wait for me here. I’ll be right back.”
“…Alright.” She was actually a little thirsty.
Mei Ran looked around. Not far away were couples, also husband and wife out for a stroll, holding the hands of jumping, hopping children, their laughter making the night lively just right.
Then, from somewhere, a familiar voice came through: “To all friends from the media, hello, I am Mei Hongyuan…”
She stared dazedly in the direction of the voice, only to see that immensely familiar person appear on the huge screen at the center of the square. He wore a formal black suit, his expression steady, speaking unhurriedly as he delivered his statement. Aside from the official remarks, the statement could be summed up in three main points:
First: The exposed girl is the daughter of him and his deceased wife, and also his, Mei Hongyuan’s, only daughter.
Second: Regarding the relevant media and individuals spreading and disseminating false statements, such actions have not only damaged his reputation and that of his daughter, but also caused losses to his corporation… He has authorized legal departments to collaborate with relevant authorities to investigate and collect evidence, while sincerely advising certain media continuing to spread false statements to immediately cease such actions… The right to pursue legal responsibility according to the law is reserved.
Third: He hopes everyone will not focus excessive attention on his daughter, so as to return her to a peaceful, tranquil life.
Several girls who had bought milk tea were walking back, chatting as they went. “The rumor spreaders are just too malicious. First a kept mistress, then an illegitimate daughter. Their imagination really is far too rich?”
“Yes, who would have thought she was actually Mei Hongyuan’s biological daughter!” Her companion chimed in, “If I had such a dad, wouldn’t I have nothing to worry about for my entire life?”
“You? Go back, wash up, and sleep. Maybe in the next reincarnation…”
“How annoying!”
The girls chased each other ahead and away, running farther off.
Mei Ran stood where she was, suddenly feeling her eyes heat up a little. She blinked, looking upward, then looked across again. A tall, slender, clear-cut figure was slowly walking towards her.
The man resembled the clear breeze and bright moon of this deep autumn night, his deep gaze fixed on her. His black trousers seemed to hold a current of wind with each step, soon bringing him nearly before her.
Five steps, four steps… Mei Ran counted silently in her heart the remaining steps he had to climb, like the rhythm of a heartbeat. Three steps, two steps…
Huh?
When only a single step separated them, she saw his knee suddenly bend downward—a fairly significant dip, as if the next second he was going to kneel.
C-could it be… a proposal?
Anytime, anywhere?
In a place like this? While holding a cup of hot milk tea in his hand?