Just as the rumors were raging, Shu Yang suddenly posted a photo on her public social media account, which only fueled the rumors even further.
Only then did she call Chen Du. When the call was answered, she said, "Du, I have a variety show that's going to air soon. Is it okay to ask you to help generate some buzz?"
She had done this once before, and Shen Du turned a blind eye and didn't make a fuss about it.
However, she forgot that Shen Du had warned her last time not to go too far. Previously, she had only spread some unfounded rumors online without any substantial information, and the buzz she generated was not significant. But this time, she not only released such a misleading video, but also personally posted a group photo, causing the online public opinion to intensify.
Chen Du didn't speak on the other end of the phone. Shu Yang suddenly felt a pang of panic and hurriedly asked, "Du, you're not angry with me, are you?"
Chen Du said in a deep voice, "Shu Yang, have I been too lenient with you?"
Shu Yang felt a pang of panic. She quickly said, "Adu, I had no choice. The production team asked me to generate some buzz at the right time..."
Chen interrupted her, saying, "The video was for publicity, and so are the photos? Do you think I've been too tolerant of you?"
Hearing Shen Du's calm tone, Shu Yang realized she had truly angered him this time and continued to argue, "Ah Du, I told you before, and besides, you weren't angry last time, we've known each other for so many years..."
Shen Du frowned even more deeply, and he simply said, "I have already arranged for someone to clarify the situation. You will have to bear the consequences of your stubbornness."
After saying that, he hung up the phone without waiting for Shu Yang to say anything more.
Hearing the dial tone on the phone, Shu Yang angrily threw the phone away. The phone hit the wall and shattered into pieces. She sat on the sofa, panting, her face flushed with anger.
She couldn't understand why Shen Du could date Xie Yao and get engaged to Ye Zhao, but couldn't even try to get to know her? Didn't he have any feelings for her at all? Shu Yang was still unwilling to accept it.
At the same time, major mainstream media outlets and even Shen's official website issued clarifications and released videos from the restaurant on the day the two dined together. The restaurant's surveillance footage showed that the two were a distance apart from each other from any angle. However, when Shen bent down to pick something up, it was taken by someone with ulterior motives and used to make a fuss online. In an instant, the online opinions shifted again.
"I knew it! My friends in the entertainment industry told me that Shu Yang is incredibly arrogant and always puts on airs at the theater. How could President Shen possibly be interested in someone like that?"
"Am I right? It's all Shu Yang's wishful thinking. She even posted a photo of the two of them together. Did she see Premier Shen? It's just a one-woman show."
"What a slap in the face! She posted a photo together, and then President Shen clarified the relationship right afterward."
"It's so embarrassing to be slapped in the face like this. How can I face anyone after this?"
Some of Shu Yang's fans spoke up for her: "Chen Du is a total scumbag; maybe Yangyang was just fooled by him."
"That's right, our Yangyang is so beautiful, maybe she was deceived by a scumbag."
"He must have been dating Yangyang before posting the photos together. That scumbag is bullying people because he's rich and powerful."
"She just announced her relationship and then got dumped. Poor Yangyang."
A new wave of online discussion has taken hold, but Shen Du has no time to dwell on it anymore. Only after dealing with this matter did he begin to tackle the backlog of work.
...
In City A, the sun slowly rises, a gentle breeze blows, and it's another workday. Employees downstairs at Shen's building come and go, walking in twos and threes, whispering about yesterday's gossip. Xie Yao, as usual, takes a cup of coffee and hurriedly walks into the elevator.
The elevator doors slowly closed, and someone behind them whispered, "I used to think Miss Shu and President Shen were a good match, but it turns out it was all just wishful thinking on Miss Shu's part."
Someone scoffed: "What wishful thinking? He's just trying to use public opinion to blackmail Mr. Shen because he's his childhood friend."
"Exactly. In all these years at Shen's, have you seen President Shen get close to any woman? No, right? But his childhood sweetheart, who's only been back for a few years, is already secretly doing this online. Does she really think nobody knows what she's thinking?"
"Anyway, our CEO Shen is a man of integrity. His fiancée never saw them being very intimate, let alone the two of them even dating."
"It's making me curious, who exactly can win over our unattainable beauty, CEO Shen?"
Xie Yao listened quietly without turning around.
By the time we reached the top floor, most of the people in the elevator had already left.
Xie Yao hurried into the office, only to find Lin Yi and Yang Xu both slumped on the sofa, snoring loudly. She hesitated slightly before carefully entering, grabbing her laptop, and then turning back out, closing the door behind them.
She had heard about what happened last night, and judging from Lin Yi and Yang Xu's expressions, they must have been extremely busy.
Chen Du didn't get a proper nap until dawn. When he saw that it was almost time, he grabbed his documents and left the office. He had an important meeting to attend that morning.
Perhaps because he hadn't slept all night, he had a light stubble on his chin and looked slightly tired. Xie Yao was taken aback when she saw him before saying, "Lin Yi and Yang Xu are resting. I'll accompany you to the meeting."
Shen Du merely glanced at her, nodded, and said nothing.
Inside the elevator, Xie Yao looked up at Shen Du's tall figure, a flicker of unreadable emotion in her eyes. At that moment, Shen Du was resting with his eyes closed, contemplating work matters.
Over the past four years, Xie Yao and Shen Du have gradually developed a tacit understanding at work. Sometimes, he doesn't need to say much; just a glance is enough for Xie Yao to understand his meaning. However, when it comes to matters of the heart, she can't figure out what he's thinking.
Although she didn't want to admit it, Xie Yao had feelings for Shen Du over the years. However, the two of them were so busy with work that they seemed to have forgotten about these things. Xie Yao could occasionally feel Shen Du's unique care for her, but she still didn't quite understand what he meant to her. Without breaking through that barrier, the two of them remained just boss and employee.
This situation lasted for four years, and she still couldn't understand him.
The two hurried into the conference room, while Ye Zhao and Yuanbao left B City.
Since it was a rare opportunity to come here, Ye Zhao wanted to accompany her grandmother for a walk and a family outing to relax.
Yuanbao was very lively, well-behaved, and sensible around Ye Zhao, making him very likable.
Sometimes, their innocent remarks will make everyone laugh.
Ye Zhao let Shen Du decide on the visiting time himself. He set it for the first two days of each month. When Yan Sen told her about it, Ye Zhao agreed without hesitation. The only condition she put forward was that he come to B City to see the child.
Judging from the online discussion yesterday, Ye Zhao was still worried about sending her child to City A.
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