Chapter 65

The day before Kong Xiyan's press conference, Xingyue Entertainment's official Weibo account broke a story titled, "What's the Real Reason Behind a Certain Star's Frequent Recent Comeback Teasers?"

Xingyue Entertainment had always been a trendsetter in fashion, with magazine sales consistently ranking in the top three domestically. They only featured A-list guests, which earned them a massive following and solid backing.

Of course, many buried stories were brought to light and resolved once they reported on them.

Netizens dubbed Xingyue Entertainment a breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry, the embodiment of justice, daring to expose the darkness of human nature.

So when they posted this Weibo message, countless netizens flocked to it.

The news piece wasn't long. They used "K" to refer to the actress they were exposing. The gist was that this K had made a comeback, latched onto one of the company's assistants, and started fabricating evidence to attack a male star, W, with the intent of destroying him.

The reason? W had supposedly ruined her three years ago.

What followed were the pieces of evidence Xingyue released.

Fragmentary audio recordings, all heavily edited, but a few words came through clearly.

"Let them go... sorry... you... think highly of... on what grounds should they live comfortably... I..."

Though no one had heard the full recording, netizens used these fragments to spin a story of K harboring resentment, returning only to fabricate evidence and try to destroy W.

There were also several screenshots.

They were written from a mother's perspective, trying to persuade her child to turn back, sincere and tear-jerking.

Beneath the post, netizens immediately began speculating.

—The K is Kong Xiyan, right? And W is Wei Yan? What's with that recording? Did she really climb into someone's bed out of spite to destroy her old flame?

—Kong Xiyan's playing this dirty!

—Hmph! I always said Kong Xiyan was no good!!! Shameless! Trying to frame our Wei Yan!!!

—Unbelievable. Our Wei Yan was cursed to run into Kong Xiyan. She's like a sticker that won't come off no matter how you try!

—The evidence is out, right? Eaten your words yet? Xingyue is mighty!!! They'll beat her so bad her own mother wouldn't recognize her!

—Upstairs, her mother's been dead a long time.

—Shh, shh, don't say that. What if Miss Kong thinks I'm cursing her mother? Oh, right, didn't she basically anger her father to death three years ago with that scandal? Heh... Good thing her mother died early, or else she might have...

—Hey, hey, hey, don't you brainless fans think you're going too far? If you're going to insult someone, insult them. Why drag their parents into it? Don't you have parents?

—You're the one without parents! Even Kong the homewrecker's parents would be ashamed of what she did. What's wrong with cursing them?

As they argued fiercely, the ID 【Love Wei Forever】 popped up.

【Love Wei Forever】: Pfft, I always said Kong the homewrecker was no good. Tsk, tsk, tsk, look what got dug up? Resentful? Climbing into someone's bed? How does she have the face to play the innocent fairy? Disgusting!! Oh, and I'm officially boycotting Chu Qian in 【Breaking the Cocoon】!!!

Her ID was always a hive of activity.

He Wei's fans followed her lead. As soon as she left a comment, her fans upvoted it to the top of the thread, followed by countless replies.

—Exactly! I also officially boycott Chu Qian!

—Shameless homewrecker! She should have left the entertainment industry three years ago!

—Ha, ridiculous. I don't know what she's so high and mighty about. Go keep that assistant of yours company!

—Ew, maybe the assistant didn't want her anymore anyway. That body of hers...

Then a bystander tagged Kong Xiyan's Weibo account.

Kong Xiyan didn't show up.

Tong Yue was busy preparing for the press conference when her assistant told her about the news online. Her face darkened for a moment, and she quickly called Kong Xiyan.

Kong Xiyan had just fallen asleep. She answered Tong Yue's call in a weary tone. "Hello?"

Tong Yue asked bluntly, "Have you seen the news on Weibo? Are you..."

She was cut off by Kong Xiyan. "The leak?"

"The recording? The screenshots? Xingyue Entertainment?"

Tong Yue paused. Kong Xiyan's voice was too calm, as if she'd known all along. Tong Yue pressed her lips together. "You've seen the news?"

Kong Xiyan picked up Yanyan and sat up straight. "Not yet. But I've been waiting for this call from Zhou Han—for a long time."

Tong Yue frowned.

After a moment, she hung up.

Not long after, a flood of new IDs surged into the comment section.

Including Kong Xiyan's official fan club.

Kong Xiyan Fan Club: Tsk, what a familiar tactic. I still remember three years ago when Xingyue Entertainment leaked some recording of Xiyan's "affair" along with a few text message screenshots. Ah, some of you newcomers might not know about that. No worries—I've got it all saved. 【Image】【Image】【Image】.

—Now that you mention it, I remember. Wasn't it Kong Xiyan's sister who leaked it?

—Yeah, yeah, that sister of hers.

—Isn't she He Wei's assistant? Zhou Han! I remember this!

—Right, but isn't this tactic a little too familiar? Didn't they do the same thing last time?

—And don't you think that recording is weird? It's clearly been edited.

—Yeah, I thought it was odd when I first heard it. I was curious, but Wei Yan and He Wei's fans are too scary. I didn't dare say anything.

—Why bother with those brainless fans? This is definitely fishy.

—Waiting for more direct evidence.

—Not picking a side on this one for now!

The Kong Xiyan Fan Club thread got bumped to second place, right below Love Wei Forever. The two IDs were racking up replies at a furious pace, their like counts neck and neck.

Wei Yan's fans were also supporting Love Wei Forever, hurling abuse at Kong Xiyan under that ID—some of it too foul to repeat, and it got reported countless times.

After Love Wei Forever left that comment, she didn't reply again, letting netizens speculate on their own.

In front of her computer, Zhou Han smiled, her eyes curving like crescents. With the air of a victor, she sent He Wei a message: "Sister He Wei, public opinion is under control."

He Wei received the message and smiled faintly. "Good. Then tomorrow, I'll make sure none of the reporters can make it to the press conference."

Zhou Han lowered her gaze and put away her phone.

The topic remained heated on Weibo all evening, as more and more netizens flocked in for the drama, some sharing their opinions, others grabbing popcorn, and most waiting for the press conference the next day.

Kong Xiyan, of course, paid no attention to the online chatter.

But she knew exactly how things would unfold.

When Chi Wanzhao got off work and returned home, she found Kong Xiyan sitting on the sofa, holding Yanyan and lost in thought. Chi Wanzhao walked over and sat down beside her. Yanyan spotted her and jumped off Kong Xiyan's lap, rubbing against Chi Wanzhao's calves.

Kong Xiyan noticed Chi Wanzhao's arrival and said flatly, "You're back."

Chi Wanzhao replied, keeping her expression neutral, "Mm. Is everything set for tomorrow's press conference?"

"Mm, Sister Tong has it pretty much arranged."

Chi Wanzhao noticed the unhappiness in her voice. She reached out to pat Kong Xiyan's shoulder, but her fingers curled back the moment they touched the fabric of her clothes. She simply echoed, "That's good."

Kong Xiyan kept her head down, her long hair obscuring her vision on both sides, so she didn't see Chi Wanzhao's gesture. She said with a sigh, "Thank you. I thought a single photo would be enough to topple him. I was too naive. Good thing I didn't tip him off prematurely."

Chi Wanzhao replied, "It's not your fault. This matter was too complicated. You've done very well already."

Kong Xiyan looked up and met Chi Wanzhao's eyes—her own bright and shimmering, her cheeks flushing pink. She bit her lip and said, "No matter what, if it weren't for you, I..."

Chi Wanzhao clenched her hands, her jaw tightening. She said in a flat tone, "No need to be so grateful. I'm just fulfilling the contract."

Kong Xiyan: ...

You really know how to kill a moment.

But at least this burden she'd carried for three years could finally be set down.

With that thought, Kong Xiyan felt a restless energy. She turned to Chi Wanzhao and said, "Let's have dumplings for dinner. I'll make them for you."

The tenderness in Chi Wanzhao's eyes hadn't had time to fade before Kong Xiyan caught it directly.

Chi Wanzhao kept her expression neutral and smiled faintly. "Sure."

Kong Xiyan looked at her smile, and her heart gave a sudden thump, beating faster. She looked away, her face flushed. Luckily, her hair hung down on both sides, hiding her expression.

Chi Wanzhao asked, "Need any help?"

Kong Xiyan stood up and covered up her momentary fluster with a small gesture. "No need. It'll be ready in a bit."

She hadn't had any scenes these past two days, so she'd stayed in the apartment with nothing to do and stocked up on groceries. All the ingredients were on hand.

After refusing Chi Wanzhao's help, she went into the kitchen to wash vegetables and prepare the dumpling filling.

There was no ground meat in the house.

So Kong Xiyan grabbed a few pieces of dried bean curd, some eggs, and washed some chives.

Chi Wanzhao sat on the sofa, watching her in quiet stillness, unable to hide the tenderness in her eyes. Yanyan, unwilling to be ignored, hopped onto her lap and nudged her hand with her head, begging for a pet.

Chi Wanzhao lowered her head, sighed, and picked up Yanyan.

While Kong Xiyan was still busy in the kitchen, Chi Wanzhao carried Yanyan upstairs. She grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom, while Yanyan curled up obediently on her big bed.

Half an hour later.

Chi Wanzhao emerged from the bathroom.

Fresh out of the shower, her cheeks were flushed from the steam, her eyes glistening, and her long hair hung damply behind her. She was just about to grab a dry towel when she saw Yanyan on the bed, playing with the necklace box.

It had been sitting on the nightstand.

Yanyan had dragged it onto the bed.

Chi Wanzhao dried her hair in a hurry, sat down on the edge of the bed, scooped up Yanyan, and picked up the box with her other hand.

The box looked even more exquisite under the light.

For a moment, she thought of Kong Xiyan downstairs, her eyes curving in a smile. She opened the box, and the necklace inside glittered. Chi Wanzhao set Yanyan aside, lifted the necklace with both hands, and sat down in front of the mirror. She clasped it around her neck.

It was beautiful.

Especially the platinum chain resting against her fair, delicate collarbone—it added an extra touch of elegance.

Chi Wanzhao traced her fingertips along the necklace, thought for a moment, then took it off. She fastened the clasp and was about to put it back in the box when Yanyan hopped up beside her and rubbed against her, accidentally bumping the pendant.

The pendant was inlaid with gemstones, leaving tiny gaps between them. Yanyan's white fur got caught in one of the crevices. Startled, she leaped off the bed in fright!

Chi Wanzhao heard the necklace clatter against the floor and was thoroughly displeased. She called out coldly, "Yanyan."

Yanyan froze instantly.

Chi Wanzhao scooped her up from the floor. Just as she was checking her white fur and about to pick up the necklace, she heard a knock at the door. She said, "Come in."

Kong Xiyan stepped in and saw Chi Wanzhao bent over, busy doing something with Yanyan.

She walked closer.

Wait—putting on the necklace?

And it was the one she'd given her???

Recalling what Chi Wanzhao had said about the necklace's meaning before, Kong Xiyan let her head droop.

Chi Wanzhao noticed her low mood, turned her head, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Kong Xiyan glanced at her from the corner of her eye and said, slowly and softly, "CEO Chi, I looked it up online. Obsessive cat-loving is treatable. Would you like to give it a try?"

Chi Wanzhao's face instantly darkened.

Author's note: Kong Xiyan: CEO Chi, petting cats will get you nowhere. Come pet me instead.

Chi Wanzhao: ...

The next day, she asked Tong Yue for two days off.

On the third night, Kong Xiyan threw both Yanyan and Chi Wanzhao out of the room: "I've thought about it. You should just stick to petting the cat."

Chi Wanzhao: ...