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"I'll wash my hands before I hug you!"

Inside the room, Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang were still talking.

"Mom! You can keep these thoughts to yourself, but please don't spread them around outside!"

"Don't worry about that. I just couldn't stand that mother and daughter, and I was just saying it to you. Once the cameras start rolling tomorrow, I definitely won't say anything out of line."

"Sigh... I hope you'll still remember those words tomorrow. I was almost scared to death by what you said this afternoon."

"So what? Son, you're being too cautious. I just spoke the truth! That rude little brat deserved it—"

Ning Yuxuan didn't linger at their room door; she walked to the innermost side and knocked.

The knock was on Qin Man's door, but Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang's room suddenly fell silent, and Liu Yufang didn't even finish her sentence.

A second later, Jiang Ning'an's voice came through: "Who is it?"

“It’s me, Ning Yuxuan,” Ning Yuxuan replied. “Did you sleep with Teacher Qin? I’d like to borrow something from you, I don’t know if it’s convenient.”

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll open the door for you right away!"

A moment later, Jiang Ning'an, wearing pajamas, pushed open the door: "Yu Xuan, come in. My mother just finished showering and is drying her hair inside."

The bathroom door was closed, and the sound of a hairdryer could be heard coming from inside.

Ning Yuxuan entered the room and closed the door behind her.

Jiang Ning'an was wearing pink cartoon pajamas with two rabbit ears on the back.

This is in stark contrast to her cool and aloof beauty image on screen.

Seeing Ning Yuxuan's gaze fall on the two rabbit ears, Jiang Ning'an smiled shyly: "I saw this pajama on sale when I was shopping at the mall, so I bought it."

Ning Yuxuan raised an eyebrow: "Really? But I remember... during the gift-giving session last time, Teacher Qin gave you a rabbit doll. Do you really like rabbits?"

Jiang Ning'an looked surprised, with a hint of shyness: "Yu Xuan, your observation skills are amazing."

Ning Yuxuan smiled and said, "Rabbits are cute, and I like your pajamas too."

Jiang Ning'an's eyes lit up: "Really? Then I'll buy you another one when I get back!"

Ning Yuxuan didn't hesitate: "Okay, I wear size M."

Seeing that Ning Yuxuan had agreed, Jiang Ning'an was visibly happier: "Actually, I've always liked this kind of cute style of clothing! It's a pity that my agency wants me to go for a cool and aloof mature woman image, so I don't usually have a chance to wear it."

Ning Yuxuan smiled and said, "Then wear it more often in private and try to satisfy yourself."

A hint of surprise flashed in Jiang Ning'an's eyes: "I thought that with your personality, you would definitely tell me not to care about other people's opinions."

Ning Yuxuan shook her head: "I am not you, and I cannot take your place in not caring. Moreover, it is impossible for an actor to be completely unaware of these things. Like my mother, she also cares a lot about her image in front of the audience. She will check her styling and makeup repeatedly before recording a show every day."

Jiang Ning'an laughed: "Be careful, or I'll tell Teacher Ning that you've been talking badly about her behind her back."

After chatting for a while, Jiang Ning'an remembered what Ning Yuxuan had said when she knocked on the door.

When you came, did you say you wanted to borrow something?

Ning Yuxuan explained that Ning Fei's leg was uncomfortable and she wanted to borrow a massage gun.

Jiang Ning'an nodded: "Yes, yes, I'll go find it in your suitcase!"

As she spoke, she immediately went to rummage through her suitcase in the corner of the room.

After a while, Jiang Ning'an not only took out a fascia gun, but also a leg massage roller, a massage hammer, and a box of muscle and bone patches.

Jiang Ning'an presented all these items to Ning Yuxuan: "Give these to Teacher Ning and see which one she prefers."

Ning Yuxuan couldn't help but laugh: "This is too much."

Jiang Ning'an laughed and said, "My mom often has aches and pains, so she always brings these with her when she goes out."

Ning Yuxuan took the massage gun: "I'll take this one first, otherwise Teacher Qin won't have any left."

Jiang Ning'an insisted on pulling out a few plasters from the box and stuffing them into Ning Yuxuan's hands: "Then take these with you too, they're very useful and convenient!"

Ning Yuxuan answered the call and asked, "What time do you and Teacher Qin usually go to sleep?"

Jiang Ning'an: "The earliest is 10:30, maybe 11:00. I'm a night owl, and my mom isn't used to going to bed too early either."

Ning Yuxuan nodded: "Okay, then I'll return the fascia gun before 10:30."

After leaving Qin Man's room, Ning Yuxuan closed the door and headed straight for the stairs.

A voice suddenly called out to her: "Yu Xuan".

Ning Yuxuan turned her head and met Cheng Xiyang's gaze: "What?"

Cheng Xiyang handed the item in his hand to Ning Yuxuan: "This is a calming sachet. The herbs inside can help you sleep. It's for you and Teacher Ning."

Ning Yuxuan did not answer.

Cheng Xiyang looked somewhat embarrassed: "It really is just a sleep aid. If you don't believe me, go to my room and see. I even have one by my mother's bedside. We live in a society governed by law now, so I wouldn't dare put poison in it."

Ning Yuxuan's eyebrows twitched, and she said bluntly, "It seems you know very well that our relationship isn't very good."

Cheng Xiyang's expression stiffened when he realized he'd been right.

But he quickly smiled again: "I know that Shi Yue and I have very different personalities, which is why he doesn't like me very much. Because of Shi Yue, you may also have some prejudice against me. But since we have the opportunity to record a program together, I still hope that I can get along well with you, Yu Xuan."

Ning Yuxuan said calmly, "Ning Shiyue doesn't like you, and it's not just because of personality differences, is it?"

Cheng Xiyang: "..."

Ning Yuxuan watched Cheng Xiyang's changing expression without changing her face before slowly saying, "If you want to ask about what just happened, my answer is that I don't like to meddle in other people's business."

Clearly, Cheng Xiyang's main purpose in stopping her was not to give her the sachet, but to test what she had overheard and whether she would tell anyone.

“However,” Ning Yuxuan looked at him coldly, “if you provoke me and my family, I will not show any mercy.”

After saying that, she turned and went upstairs, not giving Cheng Xiyang another chance to speak.

Cheng Xiyang held the sachet he hadn't been able to give away in his hands, his fingers unconsciously tightening.

It wasn't until the sachet made a "crunching" sound from his grip that Cheng Xiyang snapped out of his daze, gritted his teeth, and went back to his room.

...

Back in the room, Ning Yuxuan handed the massage gun to Ning Fei.

Ning Fei massaged her calves while chatting casually with her daughter.

During filming at the villa, all the guests' electronic devices were confiscated.

Therefore, they not only cannot contact the outside world, but also have fewer entertainment activities. They cannot use social media platforms, nor can they watch TV series or videos.

However, there are also advantages, as it gives Ning Fei more opportunities to chat with her daughter.

Ning Fei sat on the bed massaging herself with a fascia gun, while Ning Yuxuan sat on the bed opposite her eating snacks.

"By the way, Xuanxuan," Ning Fei said, looking at her daughter eating dried tofu by the bed, "how's things going with that guy you mentioned who was pursuing you last time?"

Over this period of time, Ning Fei and her daughter have grown closer, and now she dares to ask her daughter directly about her love life.

In the past, if she had mentioned it even a little bit, her daughter would have argued with her.

Ning Yuxuan paused, holding the package: "You mean him..."

Ning Fei glanced at her daughter's expression, and seeing that her daughter didn't seem to be rejecting it, she asked, "Hmm, is he still pursuing you? Or have you already made up your mind?"

Ning Yuxuan blinked.

She had promised Xie Zhiyan when she took him to the garage that she would tell her mother when the time was right.

Now seems like a good time.

After a slight hesitation, Ning Yuxuan nodded slightly: "I... I agree to him."

Ning Fei, who was massaging her calves with a fascia gun, subconsciously stopped upon hearing this: "Really?"

Ning Yuxuan: "Mm."

“Then…” Ning Fei looked at her daughter, “Can you tell Mom who you are? What’s your name? What do you do?”

“You know him too.” Ning Yuxuan pursed her lips slightly. “Xie Zhiyan.”

Ning Fei: "..."

It would be a lie to say that Ning Fei was completely unaware of the subtle changes in the relationship between Xie Zhiyan and her daughter during this period.

But the two have such different personalities that Ning Fei always felt she might just be overthinking things.

Hearing her daughter admit it herself, Ning Fei was shocked.

She looked at her daughter, unsure of what to say.

The fascia gun fell onto the bed with a "thud," making a "buzzing" sound on the mattress.

Ning Fei snapped out of her daze and pressed the power button.

She looked up at her daughter: "Xuanxuan, Mom... is a little surprised."

Ning Yuxuan smiled: "I can tell."

Ning Fei confirmed, "You and Zhi Yan are together? He's the one who pursued you?"

Ning Yuxuan: "Yes."

Ning Fei couldn't help but recall the previous scene: Xie Zhiyan visiting her home for the first time in many years, and later accompanying her and her daughter to the supermarket, eating hot pot, and bringing her gifts...

As she recalled, she asked, "When did you two start dating...? The day Zhiyan first came to our house and said he wanted to invest in Huayuan?"

Ning Yuxuan laughed and denied it: "Not that fast. Mom, you forgot, I had only broken up with my boyfriend three days ago."

Ning Fei suddenly realized: "Oh, that makes sense."

"When Zhiyan came to our house for hot pot..."

Ning Yuxuan rested her chin on her hand: "He was pursuing me back then."

Ning Fei nodded: "No wonder..."

She felt that on that day, her daughter's attitude towards Xie Zhiyan suddenly changed.

Ning Fei asked, "When did you agree to his request?"

Ning Yuxuan: "When he came to our house last weekend, I was planning to tell you that night, but something unexpected happened..."

The unexpected person was Ning Shiyue.

Ning Fei was lost in memories and thoughts.

She still couldn't quite believe that her daughter was dating her friend's son.

After the two had known each other for ten years, she and her friends all agreed that having two children was impossible.

Seeing this, Ning Yuxuan got up from her bed, put the dried bean curd packaging on the table, and sat down next to Ning Fei.

The vibration of the mattress brought Ning Fei back to her senses, and she looked at her daughter beside her.

"Mom," Ning Yuxuan blinked, "do you support us?"

Ning Fei hadn't fully recovered from her surprise: "...Of course. What you like, Mom likes too."

Ning Yuxuan couldn't help but tease her mother: "Who said that? You didn't like the previous one either."

She didn't want to mention that annoying person's name again.

However, Ning Fei immediately recognized who her daughter was referring to and glared at her daughter: "How can that be the same?"

Ning Yuxuan asked curiously, "Why are they different?"

Ning Fei: "Zhiyan is a good child. He knows how to behave properly and is not like that person... who always makes our daughter cry."

Ning Yuxuan smiled and joked with Ning Fei, "How do you know Xie Zhiyan won't make your daughter cry?"

Ning Fei's gaze sharpened slightly: "Did Zhi Yan make you cry?"

Ning Yuxuan was slightly taken aback, then burst out laughing.

If Xie Zhiyan heard this, he would probably feel even more wronged than Dou E.

"Not yet." Ning Yuxuan kindly clarified for Xie Zhiyan, "But Mom, you know Xie Zhiyan's personality. He doesn't seem to know how to comfort people. What if he makes me feel wronged or makes me cry in the future?"

Ning Fei thought for two seconds: "Then you should talk to him nicely and let him learn. It's not difficult to coax someone. Even if it doesn't work once or twice, he'll eventually learn after a few tries."

Ning Yuxuan was surprised: "I thought you would say that I should be more sensible, after all, he is quite successful now."

From childhood to adulthood, Xie Zhiyan has always been an outstanding representative among his peers, the "other people's child" that parents always talk about.

Although the mother never compared the two children to others, she had praised Xie Zhiyan many times in private.

Now Xie Zhiyan is a successful businessman and a powerful figure in the business world.

Ning Yuxuan felt that if she said the same thing to others, they would probably think that she was being greedy by asking Xie Zhiyan to coax her.

Ning Fei shook her head: "Even the most successful man should care about his partner's feelings, and..."

She smiled and gently tapped her daughter's forehead: "You are my daughter, of course I will unconditionally side with you."

Ning Yuxuan blinked her eyelashes.

The next second, she suddenly reached out and put her arm around Ning Fei's shoulder: "Mom, you're so good!"

Ning Fei was taken aback for a moment, then a gentle smile appeared on her face: "You're such a big girl now, and you still act all coquettish with your mother."

Ning Yuxuan wouldn't let go: "I don't care, even when I'm fifty, I'll still be holding you like this! And you won't be able to refuse me then!"

"Okay, okay, you're the only girl I like who loves to be pampered. If I don't let you hug me, who else will? Hey, your hands are oily, don't rub them on my clothes—"

"Wait a minute, I'll wash my hands before I hug you!"

...

After using the neck massager, Ning Fei's legs felt much better.

A little after ten o'clock, Ning Yuxuan went to the second floor to return the fascia gun, and before leaving, she also grabbed a bag of unopened dried tofu.

When I knocked on the door, Qin Man was leaning against the bed reading a script.

This time, Jiang Ning'an was the one drying her hair in the bathroom.

Seeing Ning Yuxuan arrive, Qin Man smiled and said, "I heard from Ning An that Ning Fei's leg is uncomfortable, right?"

Ning Yuxuan nodded: "Yes. But thankfully, my mom is much better now thanks to your fascia gun. Thank you."

Qin Man said gently, "You're welcome. Ning Fei probably has this old problem from filming, right? I have it too. I've tried a lot of products over the years, some good and some bad, and I've written them all down in my notes. When the production team gives me the phone, I'll send it to your mother."

Ning Yuxuan: "Then thank you very much, Teacher Qin."

Qin Man: "It's nothing. Oh right, I also know a good traditional Chinese medicine doctor. I'll send his contact information to your mother later."

Ning Yuxuan smiled and agreed.

She could tell that Qin Man and Jiang Ning'an, mother and daughter, actually had very similar personalities. They both appeared cold and even somewhat difficult to get along with when they were not familiar with each other.

But once she shows kindness first, they will also give their true feelings without reservation.

After saying what she had just said, Qin Man looked somewhat hesitant.

She hesitated for a moment and said, "Yu Xuan, there are actually some things I've always wanted to tell you."

Ning Yuxuan's brow twitched slightly: "What?"

Qin Man glanced in the direction of the restroom, then looked away: "I really love your and Ning Fei's birthday gifts, thank you for your blessings, and also..."

After a pause, Qin Man spoke again: "I'm really grateful to you and your mother for these past few episodes."

Ning Yuxuan: "What?"

Qin Man's expression was slightly unnatural, but she still insisted on saying the rest: "If it weren't for you and your mother, Ning An and I... wouldn't have been able to clear up the misunderstanding so quickly and become as close as we are now."

Ning Yuxuan smiled and said, "Teacher Qin, you don't need to thank me specially. We only exchanged a few words, it's nothing."

Qin Man shook her head slightly: "I am sincere. Everything you and your mother have done is very important to Ning An and me."

She knew Ning Yuxuan was a smart child and would definitely know what she was saying, so she didn't explain further.

As they were talking, the bathroom door was pushed open.

Jiang Ning'an came out and was slightly taken aback when she saw Ning Yuxuan: "You've finished using the fascia gun?"

Ning Yuxuan hummed in agreement and handed over the dried tofu in her hand: "I also brought you a bag of snacks. I think they're delicious. You can try them when you have time."

Jiang Ning'an accepted it: "Then I won't be polite!"

"Teacher Qin, Ning'an." Ning Yuxuan said goodbye to the two of them, "Then I'll head back first. You two should get some rest."

...

At 10:30 p.m., Ning Shiyue had just returned to the hotel.

He just landed in Haicheng today, and after a short rest at noon, he went to the film set.

Filming officially starts tomorrow, so there are many things to prepare today.

Ning Shiyue met with a group of people and even attended a dinner party for the film crew that evening.

He doesn't like socializing, but in the entertainment industry, many things are unavoidable, and he inevitably has to toast with all sorts of different people and say a lot of polite words.

I was exhausted by the end of the day.

Once back at the hotel, Ning Shiyue just wanted to lie down in bed and sleep immediately.

The male lead has a lot of scenes, and he has scenes to film early tomorrow morning, so he needs to be fully energized.

However, after taking a quick shower, Ning Shiyue still couldn't resist opening Weibo.

Having not followed the show for so long, I feel like something's missing, and...

The person he dislikes is also on the show.

Ning Shiyue originally just wanted to take a quick look and then go to sleep.

However, after browsing through the trending topics on Weibo, his expression became increasingly unpleasant.

With Cheng Xiyang's company's emergency public relations efforts, netizens' attitudes have shifted from initially believing that Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang had problems to mostly supporting Cheng Xiyang.

Several positive trending topics about Cheng Xiyang are still trending at high positions:

#Cheng Xiyang says he will be a doting father to his daughter in the future#

#Cheng Xiyang said girls should love themselves before loving others#

#Cheng Xiyang regrets not having a younger sister#

Ning Shiyue felt like vomiting just looking at these trending search titles.

He would have believed it if he hadn't accidentally stumbled upon what happened at Cheng Xiyang's house.

When Ning Shiyue first participated in the talent show, she not only didn't dislike Cheng Xiyang, but even felt a sense of mutual respect with him.

Ning Shiyue has been dancing for over ten years, while Cheng Xiyang has been learning to sing since childhood. Among the contestants, one is the best dancer and the other is the best singer.

Two young people who are only one year apart in age, participating in a highly competitive talent show when they are both unknown, are bound to develop a friendship.

Cheng Xiyang himself also took the initiative to befriend Ning Shiyue, often inviting him to discuss stage effects and guide his singing techniques.

In one round of the talent show, the two performed a duet, which remains the most-viewed video among all the videos related to that talent show.

However, on the eve of the final, Ning Shiyue overheard Cheng Xiyang making a phone call.

Ning Shiyue then learned that Cheng Xiyang had an older sister. Cheng Xiyang's family was not well-off, and the clothing and music copyright fees he used to participate in the talent show were paid for with the compensation money his sister received from a car accident.

The girl, who should have received proper treatment with the compensation money, missed the best time for treatment and suffered serious aftereffects.

As an outsider, Ning Shiyue found it difficult to interfere in Cheng Xiyang's family affairs, but from then on, he distanced himself from Cheng Xiyang.

At this very moment, Cheng Xiyang's trending topics are filled with online trolls and fans praising him.

Cheng Xiyang is so respectful of women, a real man! I love it!

[So netizens these days are easily swayed by rumors, but luckily our Xiyang can withstand thorough scrutiny and has absolutely no flaws!]

It's really fortunate that Cheng Xiyang has strong moral principles and left behind so much evidence, otherwise people would have been able to smear him.

If it were just these unfounded compliments, Ning Shiyue might be able to tolerate them.

But besides these, some people took the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with Ning Yuxuan.

[When everyone was praising Ning Yuxuan before, I felt something was off. The older generation tends to be more traditional in their thinking. Was it really necessary for Ning Yuxuan to be so eloquently lecturing her elders on a TV show?]

Ning Yuxuan is so fake. In order to show that her thinking is progressive, she deliberately embarrassed Cheng Xiyang's mother.

In addition, some marketing accounts only took a clip of Ning Yuxuan giving Cheng Xiyang a score of 59, without mentioning the background, and misled netizens by taking things out of context.

Who is this woman? She's so disrespectful! Giving people scores so casually.

[Ning Yuxuan has the nerve to criticize others? How is her behavior any different from those disgusting boys who rate the looks of the girls in the class?]

[I've felt something was off for a while now. I didn't dare say anything when everyone was praising Ning Yuxuan. Is giving someone a score something to be proud of?]

There are also many attacks targeting Ning Yuxuan's family, which have even implicated Ning Fei.

[Ning Yuxuan shouldn't even mention Cheng Xiyang's mother; didn't her own mother give birth to a younger brother? If you ask me, the one who favors sons over daughters isn't Cheng Xiyang's mother, it's Ning Fei!]

[I'm dying of laughter and I dare not say it, but Cheng Xiyang's mother only had one child, and it just happened to be a boy. Ning Fei, on the other hand, had twins. Who knows if she was trying to have a son?]

Cheng Xiyang is an only child, while Ning Yuxuan's family has siblings. In my opinion, Cheng Xiyang's side is more privileged.

Ning Shi grew angrier and angrier as he looked at it.

He was all too familiar with these netizens' arguments; it was obvious that someone was controlling public opinion behind the scenes.

He didn't want to report to his agent anymore, so he just edited a Weibo post and sent it out.

Ning Shiyue V: Some people should have some self-awareness. It's one thing to debut by sucking the blood of your relatives, but you think everyone else is like you? What goes around comes around.

[Author's Note]

Have a happy holiday everyone!