Chapter 61

When Kong Xiyan first entered the entertainment industry, her Weibo had always been managed by her agent. She was too busy to spend much time online, let alone manage her own account.

Later, the Kong Xiyan Fan Club and the Kong Xiyan Tieba Official Weibo were established, both run by fans. She never interfered, only aware that there was a small group chat containing the core members of the fan club and the official Tieba account.

Eventually, an official Kong Xiyan Weibo account was created. Her agent initially wanted the studio to manage it, but fans in the group chat volunteered, and after consulting Kong Xiyan, she agreed.

Because these three IDs held special meaning for Kong Xiyan, she paid more attention to them than to others.

Especially when she made her comeback, someone tagged those three IDs, and she went to check them out. Their most recent posts were all from three years ago, on the same day.

Coincidentally, that was the day she decided to go to the countryside with Wang Haining.

After three years apart, she never expected to see those three IDs leave her messages, apologizing to her. To outsiders unaware of the truth, she had been the one at fault.

Yet these fans hadn't abandoned her at the first sign of trouble. Instead, they had stuck by her for a while, and only when she gave up did they, too, let go.

Kong Xiyan's eyes burned with unshed tears. She pressed her lips together, lowered her head, and sent a message to Tong Yue: "Sister Tong, those three accounts—did you recover them?"

Tong Yue replied quickly: "It wasn't me; it was Assistant Zhou."

"It may sound sentimental, but they've been quietly checking on you all these years. When you made your comeback, they were overjoyed but didn't dare follow you right away."

Kong Xiyan replied faintly, "I understand."

She had hurt them before.

They were afraid.

Naturally, they hadn't dared follow her.

After a moment, she asked again, "Do they know now?"

Tong Yue: "Just a little."

Kong Xiyan stared at her phone, then switched back to Weibo, watching those three IDs bicker with Wei Yan and He Wei's fans with a fierce, unstoppable momentum.

The followers on these accounts were substantial—back in her heyday, counting only her personal account, the combined followers of these three numbered in the millions. Though there must have been plenty of overlap, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse; their influence could not be underestimated.

As soon as the three IDs reposted her Weibo and posted supportive messages, their comment sections came alive again.

As if those three years had never happened.

Many fans left comments—"What's going on? Are my eyes playing tricks on me? I thought these accounts had been abandoned long ago!"

"Me too... I figured all the sisters had scattered three years ago."

"Back then, they left a single message and vanished, and now they're back to support Yanyan because she's in trouble?"

"I don't know why, but I want to cry. I miss those days when we all chased after Yanyan together."

"But haven't you noticed what the sisters said? They must know something and came back for a reason!!! Could it be the inside story behind Wei Yan and He Wei's divorce? Holy crap!!"

"Whoa, exciting!!"

"I thought these accounts were full of ghost followers, but there are real people here."

"Of course there are!!! Speaking of which, what exactly happened?"

"@KongXiyanFanClub, sisters, can you explain what's going on?"

@KongXiyanFanClub then posted their first Weibo in three years.

"There's nothing to explain. The truth will come out sooner or later. I just feel sorry that Yanyan suffered so many grievances three years ago and we couldn't stand by her. We're sorry. From now on, we'll walk this road with you, slowly."

Just as she finished posting, @KongXiyanOfficial immediately followed with their own post.

"Does anyone remember not long ago when Guo Yixi wanted to spill something, but it was quietly suppressed? Aren't you curious? Why would she say those things? Why would she claim there was an inside story to Wei Yan and He Wei's divorce? And why did she vanish from the entertainment scene so silently?"

Soon, many people flocked to Guo Yixi's Weibo to demand answers, but received no reply.

Netizens always seem to have endless time and energy when it comes to gossip. They never tire of it. Like Sherlock Holmes, they pieced together a whole plot and waited for confirmation.

One netizen even commented directly: "I have a bold theory. Three years ago, Wei Yan and He Wei never divorced. They set a trap to ruin Kong Xiyan's reputation!"

Replies flooded in immediately.

"No way, that's too bold? If so, poor Kong Xiyan!"

"Damn, if that's true, those two are shameless!!! Kong Xiyan was at the top of her game back then—just one award-winning work away from solidifying her throne!!"

"If it's true, they deserve to die!!!"

"Despicable!!!"

Of course, He Wei and Wei Yan's fans also chimed in.

"Bullshit!! Our Weiwei would never do such a thing. Don't project your own filth onto others!"

"Exactly! Wei Yan was so depressed after the divorce announcement—have you all forgotten that?"

"Pfft, it's just some mistress making noise, and only you people listen to her, following her like dogs."

"Careful now. Gossip requires caution, especially comments. You might find a lawyer's letter in your inbox."

Because they commented directly under Kong Xiyan's official account, the account replied to each of these questions one by one.

"First, whether they did it is something only they know—unless you are He Wei, and even then, it's useless because we have evidence. Second, Wei Yan's depression after announcing the divorce wasn't because of the divorce but because he had just broken up with an S-list actress, leaving him in a bad mood. Third, if you call her a mistress one more time, let's see who gets a lawyer's letter first. Fourth, a message for your masters: Heaven's punishment can be escaped, but self-inflicted disaster cannot."

Netizens were frantically digging for information because of this post.

Evidence again, an S-list actress, self-inflicted disaster—she spoke with such conviction that netizens were unsure which side to take.

Just a few hours earlier, everyone was blessing He Wei and Wei Yan's reunion. By evening, the tide had turned, and even the trending topic "Wei Yan and He Wei Remarried" had vanished.

Replaced by:

#KongXiyanExposesTruth#

#TheTruthBehindTheDivorce#

#InsiderGuoYixiSuppressed#

#ThreeAccountsReuniteForWhom#

Kong Xiyan read through it all, and for some reason, her eyes turned red.

When Chi Wanzhao returned to the apartment that evening, she immediately noticed something off about Kong Xiyan. Her nose was pink, her eyes slightly swollen—clearly, she had been crying.

Chi Wanzhao had known Kong Xiyan for so long. Apart from that emotional outburst in Changning, she had never seen her shed a single tear.

Even when she was vilified online in the harshest terms, she never let it get to her. But today—she had cried.

Chi Wanzhao set down her briefcase, walked over, and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Kong Xiyan was still lost in her thoughts, holding Yanyan in her arms, when the sudden voice startled her. She instinctively tried to jump up, but Chi Wanzhao pressed a hand on her shoulder, keeping her seated on the sofa.

"You're back."

Kong Xiyan's voice was hoarse from crying. She cleared her throat. "Let me go to the bathroom."

Chi Wanzhao caught her wrist. "What's the matter?"

Kong Xiyan lowered her head. "Nothing."

She gently twisted her wrist free from Chi Wanzhao's grip and headed straight into the bathroom. Looking at her still-red eyes in the mirror, she splashed cold water on her face, which brought instant relief.

When she came out, Chi Wanzhao was already starting to prepare dinner.

Kong Xiyan watched her silhouette moving in the kitchen, thinking about what Tong Yue had said.

She had said that Assistant Zhou had recovered the group chat.

That must have been Chi Wanzhao's doing.

She shuffled forward a few steps and leaned against the kitchen doorway, calling out, "CEO Chi."

Chi Wanzhao was stir-frying vegetables, her expression calm. "What is it?"

Kong Xiyan pressed her lips together and said, "Thank you."

Chi Wanzhao raised an eyebrow. "I believe I've said—"

But Kong Xiyan interrupted first: "I know what you want to say, but even if we are legally married now, I still want to thank you."

"Thank you for pulling me out of Changning Village, for helping clear my name, for coming back to the village with me and helping resolve my inner conflict."

"For all of that, I want to thank you."

Chi Wanzhao's hand, gripping the spatula, tightened slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she began, "Actually—"

"Oh, right!"

Without waiting for her to finish, Kong Xiyan hurried back into the room, then returned, presenting a small box with a delighted smile. "Here."

Chi Wanzhao turned off the stove, took the box she offered, and opened it. Inside was a necklace.

The pendant was in the shape of a sun, with a platinum chain. It sparkled under the light. Chi Wanzhao had watched Kong Xiyan's live stream repeatedly, so she naturally recognized the significance of the necklace.

Lowering her gaze, she asked, "For me?"

Kong Xiyan nodded. "Come here; I'll put it on for you."

She took the necklace out of the box, stood beside Chi Wanzhao, and reached her arms around her neck to fasten the cool chain. With Kong Xiyan so close, Chi Wanzhao looked down and said, "Do you know what SO's products signify?"

Kong Xiyan was busy clasping the necklace, and without thinking, she replied, "No, what does it signify?"

Chi Wanzhao's expression was faint, her profile betraying no emotion. Her voice remained steady: "Eternal love."

"That's what SO's products stand for."

Just as Kong Xiyan finished putting on the necklace, she turned her head to see Chi Wanzhao's profile—delicate, beautiful, exuding a quiet nobility.

She couldn't read Chi Wanzhao's emotions.

But considering her previous failed attempts to test the waters,

Kong Xiyan opened her mouth and said, "Anyway, I don't have anyone I like right now, so giving it to you works just fine."

Chi Wanzhao stepped closer, wrapped an arm around Kong Xiyan's waist, and murmured near her ear, "Is that so? Miss Kong, aren't you afraid I might misunderstand?"

Kong Xiyan tried to step back, but behind her was the glass sliding door of the kitchen, trapping her. Chi Wanzhao was so close that she could smell that familiar fragrance without even lowering her head. After a moment's hesitation, Kong Xiyan reached out and wrapped her arms around Chi Wanzhao's neck.

Just as Chi Wanzhao's eyes brightened, Kong Xiyan's fingers brushed against the necklace and said, "Then give it back to me."

Chi Wanzhao: "..."