Shi Lan nestled on the sofa, browsing through the slightly milder comments. As for the ones that were cursing and insulting, she simply ignored them. Although the original owner's parents had already passed away, she didn't want the original owner's emotions to resurface and make her feel suffocated.
A melodious tune echoed in the spacious hall. Shi Lan tilted her head, and the delicate telephone screen displayed Ning Zeyuan's name.
Shi Lan raised an eyebrow and picked up the phone. "Hello."
"It's me," Ning Zeyuan's voice was a little deep, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Shi Lan said, sitting up straight, her voice as soft and pleasant as ever.
Ning Zeyuan's grip on the phone tightened slightly. "That's good. Go to bed early if you have nothing else to do, lock the door, and don't go out for the next few days. Call me if you need anything."
Shi Lan's lips curved into a smile. Although she didn't need his help, listening to him pretend to be serious and say words that were completely inconsistent with his domineering and cold demeanor, her heart still felt soft and warm, as if a ball of fire was gently and warmly warming her heart.
"Thank you, I will," Shi Lan said, hanging up the phone. She stared blankly at the empty space for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.
Since the falling out with Si Yue, the Si family has been silent, and Si Yue seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth. The rumors outside are rampant, and anyone with a mobile phone can know about them. Si Yue is no exception.
But he, her childhood sweetheart, has not sent her any word.
Indeed, the two are no longer engaged, but they still have feelings for each other. After twenty years together, shouldn't there be some basic care and concern? But he didn't. Si Yue's character, like his family, is disheartening.
Fortunately, Shi Lan already knew he was unreliable and never expected to receive comfort from him, but Ning Zeyuan's sudden phone call touched her somewhat.
Sometimes taking a step back can really open up a whole new world. There are many outstanding men in this world, and Si Yue is just one of them, perhaps even the most inconspicuous one.
“You see, you can have other options,” Shi Lan said to herself. A moment later, she went back upstairs and went to sleep.
For several days in a row, the internet was full of news about her. Shi Lan estimated that she could be ranked in the top three of the trending topics list. Especially after someone claiming to be a restaurant waiter released several photos of Cheng Yueyao kneeling in front of her with tears in her eyes, netizens' anger reached a boiling point.
There are countless comments suggesting that evildoers must be punished, that they should be given rotten eggs, and that they should be beaten so badly that they wouldn't even recognize their own mothers.
Shi Lan's address was also discovered, just like the original owner had experienced. However, Shi Lan was honest and stayed at home all day, never even stepping out of the door. This community was a wealthy area, and ordinary people had no way to enter. They could only wait anxiously for Shi Lan to come out through the gatekeeper's stern face.
Shi Lan's earlier reminder had made Si's father keep a close eye on the company's movements, and he immediately took crisis management measures as soon as the news broke.
Yesterday evening, a statement was issued clearly stating that Si Yue and Shi Lan had dissolved their engagement, and that Cheng Yueyao was merely an ordinary employee of Si's Group, currently suspended from work due to personal issues. The statement clarified that her affairs with Shi Lan were unrelated to Si's Group, and that they would not rule out taking legal action against anyone maliciously spreading rumors about the company.
Si's statement was clearly a retaliation against Shi Lan for transferring shares. It was a well-timed attempt to avoid suspicion, hoping that the public would vent all their emotions on Shi Lan. This put Shi Lan, who was already extremely popular, in an even more heated situation, with all sorts of angry insults and mockery directed at her emerging one after another.
Shi Lan laughed it off. She knew very well how cold-hearted the Si family was, and it was within her expectations that they would extricate themselves from the situation so quickly. What surprised her was that another voice had emerged on the internet.
Looking at the detailed list of Cheng Yueyao's experiences from childhood to adulthood, as well as the time and position she held at Si's company, and even the floor number of her department marked on it, Shi Lan's heart stirred.
Although this person didn't say anything, every word he uttered made one point: given Cheng Yueyao's qualifications, background, and status, it was impossible for her to get close to Si Yue, who was the president, let alone have any relationship with him that went beyond friendship. This also indirectly refuted Xu Kai's claim that he had stolen someone else's lover.
Shi Lan clicked on the commenter's profile, only to find it completely blank.
Although she couldn't know who the person who had stepped in to help was, she was deeply grateful. Amidst the escalating barrage of criticism, this one person who was willing to lend a helping hand made her feel incredibly warm.
Time passed slowly. Shi Lan finished arranging the preliminary work, and then, according to the time when the original owner had the accident, she came to another exit of the community, which was the place where the original owner had the accident.
On a bright and sunny summer morning, Shi Lan, wearing a sun hat, squinted at the lush green trees and colorful flowers dotting the rugged rocks.
A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, causing them to rustle softly. Shi Lan, carrying a small bag, arrived at the winding staircase with perfect timing. Behind her, not far away, from behind a strange rock, came faint, almost inaudible breathing sounds. Shi Lan, with her keen senses, easily detected the unusual activity.
With a slight upturn of her pink lips, Shi Lan revealed a barely perceptible cold smile, but her face showed a troubled and slightly worried expression.
Looking at the steep steps, she hesitated for a moment. After a few seconds, as if she had made up her mind, she stretched out her fair little feet and moved in little by little. Her fair little hands gripped the railing tightly and she moved clumsily and slowly.
The sound of grass being trampled underfoot came from behind, and a gust of air rushed past. Shi Lan's expression suddenly turned serious. Before the air gust arrived, she exerted her strength with her slender, white arms and twisted her waist nimbly to the side. Her long body twisted into a strange shape with a beautiful arc.
Stopping herself, Shi Lan turned her head and saw a figure with its face covered, maintaining a forward-pushing posture.
Shi Lan gripped a protruding rock firmly, her long legs slightly bent, standing steadily on the grassy, rocky ground. The figure, however, after missing its target, involuntarily leaned forward, accompanied by a low, hoarse gasp, and tumbled down the stone steps like a rolling gourd.
Shi Lan let out a breath, her vest beaded with sweat.
Fortunately, she acted in time and timed it perfectly, narrowly avoiding the man's forceful push just as he was about to push forward.
The man rolled around for a few seconds before finally collapsing at the bottom of the steps. Shi Lan straightened his hat brim, stepped back onto the steps, and looked down at the woman, covered in blood and unconscious.
After a long while, she turned around, feeling the resentment slowly dissipating in her chest, and slowly walked home.
Having dealt with the force that led to the original owner's death, Shi Lan put away her belongings, humming an off-key song, and took out an anonymous phone card she had prepared beforehand. She then posted the photo she was holding and the crucial recording online using an anonymous account.
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