Chapter 58 clearly caused quite a stir, didn't it?
Ning Jiu has been completely trapped in her apartment for the past few days and can't get out.
In the past few days, photos of her and Wen Yi have gone viral online. Even though Wen Yi's facial features are clearly visible in the pictures, while she is just a blurry figure from behind, fans still managed to dig up all the "suspected partners" in a very short time.
Ning Jiu sat in the living room of her apartment, looking at the "insider revelations" and "shocking gossip" on her phone screen.
Most of the posts were a mix of truth and falsehood, with many accounts claiming to be Ning Jiu and Wen Yi's high school classmates jumping out and saying that they had been rumored to be dating back then.
The most outrageous one is an account called "Little Fairy Also Eats Melon".
She posted a timeline on social media, saying that Ning Jiu was a seasoned player in love in high school, having a passionate relationship with Wen Yi while also hooking up with a famous male god and academic star on campus.
"During the day, she's in a campus romance, and at night, she's tutoring top students. While ordinary students are still preparing for the college entrance exam, Ning has already taken care of 'double insurance'."
When she posted it, she specifically included the hashtag #WenYi#, which instantly pushed the post to the top of the homepage.
Shortly after it was posted, it went viral on social media that night, quickly climbing to the top of the trending topics list.
[#Ningjiu is two-timing#] And that's how they reached the top.
What followed was a torrent of insults and ridicule beneath the trending post—
[YiYi's Candy]: Speechless. Did she climb to the top by stepping on my brother? Have some shame!
[Lemon Seven Lemon Eight]: LOL, two-timing? Don't insult ships, okay? This is definitely deep-sea submarine level.
[Sweet Donut Loves Xiao Yi]: Don't believe or spread rumors. The picture is photoshopped. He's in the prime of his career; if he's going to date, he should date a top-tier actress, not a nobody.
【Wind Blows Through the South Alley】: Go away, marketing accounts! Stop trying to ride on my Yi Ge's popularity!
[Neighbor Ahua]: It's easy to spread rumors, but this blogger speaks as if it's the truth. Does he have any evidence? Those who believe him, leave a comment below, and I'll sell you health supplements when I'm old.
Ning Jiu looked at these comments and the trending topics that popped up one by one. At first, she thought it was absurd, but later she gradually became numb to it. She could tell what netizens were discussing without even clicking on them.
These things didn't affect her too much.
There was just one thing she couldn't stand.
In just a few days, someone actually turned their attention to the psychology studio she now runs, digging up its address and contact information in great detail.
Dou Miaolin's colleagues were also implicated, and some client meetings were canceled due to the impact. Apart from Kailin, almost all cooperative projects came to a standstill.
Pei Yueli noticed that Ning Jiu was not in a good mood, and sent her a few messages intermittently, advising her not to look at those comments, saying that netizens are always fickle. But the more she thought about it, the more worried she became, and finally decided to come over in person.
The moment the doorbell rang, Ning Jiu was texting a bewildered Dou Miao to comfort her, and hurriedly put down her phone to open the door.
The door opened, and the first thing you saw was Pei Yueli standing in the doorway, holding a thermal bag in her hand. Her beautiful eyes immediately fell on her bare feet, and then precisely spotted the half-eaten instant noodles on the table.
"Ning-tian-jiu, why aren't you taking good care of yourself again?" She raised her fist threateningly, her tone joking, "If you don't eat properly, I'll come to your house every day to supervise you. I won't let you starve, but I'll annoy you to death."
Ning Jiu rarely feels wronged.
Whether in school or at work, everyone has moments of feeling wronged, which is normal, and getting overly emotional won't solve the problem.
The moment he saw Pei Yueli, for some reason, before he could even say anything, his nose suddenly felt sore.
When he came to his senses, he had already pounced on her and hugged Pei Yueli tightly like a koala.
Ning Jiu rarely acted like this, and Pei Yueli knew this, which is why she felt extremely distressed when she saw the red marks at the corners of Ning Jiu's eyes.
She brought Ningjiu's favorite tomato beef brisket rice and cherry pudding, first making sure she finished her main meal before taking out the cherry pudding.
Neither of them looked at their phones. Pei Yueli casually clicked on an old movie, "The Legend of 1900," which Ning Jiu had recommended years ago. The lighting was dim, and the screen flickered with soft, changing light and shadow. By the time the end credits rolled, night had fallen outside the window.
After the movie ended, Ning Jiu suggested going downstairs to buy some ingredients for a late-night snack. Wearing a hat and sunglasses, she walked side by side with Pei Yueli in the supermarket.
In front of the supermarket's refrigerated display case, the two were selecting vegetables. Ning Jiu vaguely felt someone's gaze on her. When she looked up, she saw a girl who looked to be in her early twenties. She looked hesitant and kept turning back to look at her as she walked, clearly trying to recognize her.
After hesitating for a long time, the girl finally mustered up the courage to walk this way, as if she had made up her mind.
At that very moment, Pei Yueli leaned closer and whispered something in her ear—
"run!"
Before Ning Jiu could react, she was grabbed and rushed out of the supermarket.
The shopping cart was left aside, and the sound of footsteps formed a rapid rhythm in the night. The two crossed the street corner and turned into a narrow alley. The wind whistled past them, making the girl's hat brim and hair messy.
In a daze, Ning Jiu recalled that everyone seemed to be like this in high school, rushing from the teaching building to the school gate as soon as school was over.
My breathing was rapid, my heart was pounding, but there was a strange sense of excitement in it. How long had it been since I felt this way?
They finally ran back to the apartment and slammed the door shut. The two of them leaned against the door, panting heavily.
The moment Ning Jiu looked up, she met Pei Yueli's gaze.
Their eyes met, and neither of them could help but burst out laughing at the same time.
After this little incident, all the pent-up emotions I had before suddenly seemed insignificant.
The two opened the refrigerator door; there were still some vegetables and eggs left inside, enough to make a simple dinner.
During the meal, Pei Yueli casually picked up a piece of food and said, seemingly unintentionally, "By the way, Aunt Linda recently mentioned Wen Yi's situation to me as well."
She observed Ning Jiu's expression and, seeing that he showed no change in demeanor, continued.
“Wen Yi hasn’t had an easy time these days either. Ke Shini is keeping a tighter grip on him. As soon as his trip to Shanghai is over, he has to go back to Beijing immediately.”
"I thought Wen Yi would lose his endorsement after the scandal broke, but no brand dared to withdraw. The partners also chose to hold back because they were concerned about Ke Shini's feelings. Surprisingly, he was still on the guest list for the Silver Night three days later."
The Silver Night is Shanghai's annual top charity gala, with most of the guests being social elites and political and business figures from all over the country. Although Wen Yi's recent development momentum is very strong, he was able to get such a rare opportunity without the help of Ke Shini.
“Ke Shini’s PR team is also very clever, skillfully shifting the risks from the outside world,” Pei Yueli paused, her tone becoming indignant, “but they can’t just turn the public opinion onto you, clearing themselves of all responsibility while throwing all the mud at you. That’s just too shameless!”
That night, Ning Jiu clearly chose a secluded spot, yet the paparazzi managed to stake it out; it was most likely Wen Yi's deliberate arrangement.
Ning Jiu wasn't stupid; he knew Wen Yi's intentions, but the result was also obvious: given his current situation, he had no chance of resisting Ke Shi Ni.
She originally thought that he was now doing a job he liked and was good at, and that he must be free and happy.
But his words that night almost overturned her understanding.
And that night, he mentioned Joe Bolin...
The thought flashed through her mind, but Ning Jiu took a deep breath and suppressed it. Kai Lin's orders were still pending, and even though the situation was quite turbulent, she couldn't let herself get caught up in it.
The contract was in its final stages, and she couldn't afford to slack off. Unexpectedly, Liu Qingman took the initiative to invite her to dinner.
The other person was young, but had a keen sense of judgment. Although they didn't talk much, Ning Jiu could feel that Liu Qingman had a very comfortable magnetic field. Ning Jiu didn't mind talking to her more and more deeply.
They arranged to meet at a music restaurant in the suburbs on a weekend evening.
The store is uniquely decorated, with old vinyl records and retro posters hanging on the walls. In the center is a huge projection screen, with soft stage lighting in front of the screen. The resident singer is holding a guitar, and his voice is lazy and magnetic.
The resident singer was performing Yu Jiayun's "Late September," which perfectly suited the current weather. The guitar sounds intertwined with his gentle voice, and his face still carried the youthful energy of a student, suggesting he was working part-time while still in university.
Ning Jiu sat down and ordered. Just then, the young man on stage finished singing the last line of a song and said into the microphone, "The next song is one of my personal favorites. It's Yu Jiayun's 'With You,' which I'd like to sing for everyone here."
As the familiar prelude began, she was caught off guard and paused for a moment, a fleeting instant that Liu Qingman keenly noticed.
"Do you like this song?"
"I really liked it in high school." Ning Jiu quickly came back to her senses and smiled frankly at Liu Qingman, "But that's all in the past. People's preferences and tastes, like everything else, can change."
"That's all uncertain."
After Liu Qingman finished ordering, she thanked the waiter, turned to Ning Jiu, and said meaningfully.
"Just like you've always had a sweet tooth, you clearly still have feelings for this song, don't you?"
Ning Jiu was a little confused; she couldn't tell if she was talking about a song or something else.
The two chatted and ate as they did last time. Halfway through the meal, two young women sat down at the next table. Even through the partition curtain, their voices were still clear.
"Hey, is he going to perform at that charity gala tonight?"
"That's right! Those kinds of occasions are for big shots and celebrities. The fact that Yi Zi was able to go on stage means his status is secure!"
"But didn't he get into trouble recently? Why is Silver Night still happening...?"
“Hey, do you believe that? The official account has already clarified that he’s single now.” Another girl immediately chimed in, “Besides, didn’t someone find out that the girl’s photo circulating online was photoshopped? She’s not that pretty in real life. Yi Zi has such high standards, he’s definitely not that indiscriminate.”
"......"
Over the past few days, Ning Jiu had become completely immune to such conversations. She continued eating without changing her expression. Liu Qingman, who had been observing her, raised an eyebrow slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but the lights in the room suddenly dimmed.
A considerable commotion immediately arose around them as the customers looked up. The owner quickly stepped forward and explained with a smile.
"Sorry to bother everyone! Today, some fans have booked the entire venue to perform and support their favorite idol. The big screen will be broadcasting the entire event live soon, so everyone can watch together!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the big screen lit up, and the background of the Silver Night shone like a stream of fire, and Wen Yi's figure appeared in the picture.
His meticulously styled red hair shone brightly under the lights, and his already striking features appeared even more sharp and intimidating with the makeup and styling, making him almost unrealistically handsome.
To showcase its influence, the organizers of the Silver Night will invite globally renowned media and video platforms to broadcast the entire event live. For any artist, performing at such a gala is a symbol of recognition of their status.
The customers who were complaining about the noise instantly changed their expressions. The girl sitting next to Ningjiu almost immediately screamed and took out her phone to record the incident.
Most onlookers are the same; even if a popular celebrity has a scandal or scandal, as long as it's not a matter of principle, they can still forgive everything when that handsome face is truly in front of them.
The lights, sound effects, and stage created an atmosphere of excitement that easily overwhelmed the restaurant patrons. Many couldn't help but clap along to the rhythm, their faces beaming with excited smiles.
Ning Jiu followed everyone's gaze and looked at the striking red-haired boy on the big screen.
Whether it's his demeanor or his aura, he exudes the presence of a mature artist, at least in front of the camera, unaffected by any rumors or gossip.
But is that really the case?
Ning Jiu forced a mocking smile. The fatigue of the past few days washed over her, and she completely lost her appetite.
Amid the cheers of the crowd, she softly apologized to Liu Qingman in front of her.
"Sorry, I'm not feeling well, so I'll head back now—"
"Mr. Qiao, Mr. Qiao, you can't go over there!"
The sudden change caught everyone off guard.
The large screen flashed, and the previously lively atmosphere suddenly fell silent.
On the screen, Wen Yi, who was originally at the absolute center of the stage, suddenly stopped singing.
His face still wore the standard idol smile, but his slightly upturned eyes suddenly turned cold.
As the organizer's shouts grew increasingly panicked, the camera shifted slightly, and Wen Yi's figure was no longer the focus of the stage.
Instead, a strange man appeared.
Although the face was unfamiliar, Ning Jiu clearly heard a low gasp from the restaurant the moment she saw his face.
—So handsome.
Broad shoulders and narrow waist, with well-defined facial features and bone structure, sharp yet not ostentatious.
She has a cool and aloof demeanor, giving off a sense of detachment that can be felt even through a screen, yet she exudes a unique tension in every gesture.
He casually rolled up his sleeves, revealing his forearms with prominent veins. Just by standing on the stage, one could feel an oppressive aura emanating from within. His face and presence were in no way inferior to those of celebrities, and perhaps even more attractive.
The audience who had just been cheering for Wen Yi suddenly turned their attention to the unfamiliar man who had suddenly appeared on camera. Although the organizer standing next to him was trying to stop him, he was clearly wary of the man and dared not make any rash moves.
Offending Qiao Bolin is like throwing away his job; disrupting the order means he'll have to take the blame. Heaven knows how difficult his situation is right now.
The person in charge looked as if he had swallowed poison, and he still couldn't understand why the usually mild-mannered CEO Qiao would specifically choose to come to the stage when there were artists performing. Wasn't this just picking a fight?
Just as he was about to say a few more words of advice, someone gently patted his left shoulder.
Turning around, I saw a wild, unrestrained man with an imposing aura who had somehow arrived.
The person in charge met his gaze and couldn't help but tremble.
“Mr. Xiao…”
"You'd better not stop him," Xiao Xiye advised, unusually kindly. "Don't worry about what happens next. It's rare to witness a scene like this once in a lifetime."
......What's the meaning?
When two men, both exceptionally handsome and physically imposing, appeared together, not only the live stream viewers but also the guests inside the banquet hall began to turn their heads in surprise.
Before the person in charge could grasp the deeper meaning of Xiao Xiye's words, he suddenly felt the wind rush past him.
Qiao Bolin walked past him and straight onto the stage, his back straight and upright. Just by stepping over the stairs, one could see the upbringing and dignity he had cultivated in his bones.
At that moment, the music on stage reached its climax, and the surging accompaniment echoed throughout the venue.
Wen Yi put down the microphone, his gaze coldly fixed on Qiao Bolin as he walked onto the stage, wondering what he was up to—
Bang!
A sudden, dull pain shot through his right cheek, and a muffled thud of flesh hitting flesh echoed across the scene.
The scene was deathly silent for two seconds, then the crowd erupted in a tremendous scream almost instantly.
In the live broadcast watched by millions across the country.
Qiao Bolin's expression remained cold and restrained.
Suddenly, his hand swung down, and in front of millions of people, he punched Wen Yi hard on his delicate right cheek without hesitation.
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