Chapter 40: A Chapter Filled with Lawyer's Letters Regarding the Engagement
Jiang Xinglan and Shen Yuheng heard the sound and turned to look at the same time.
Zhou Cuo walked over. "Xinglan, let's talk."
"Now?" Jiang Xinglan frowned imperceptibly. "It's too late. Let's do it another day."
“You can go for a walk with him at this time,” Zhou Cuo’s gaze swept over Shen Yuheng, and he took a step forward, “but you won’t even chat with me for a few words?”
Zhou Cuo's sudden approach caused Jiang Xinglan to instinctively take a step back, and Shen Yuheng took the opportunity to stand in front of Jiang Xinglan.
Seeing the two of them, Zhou Cuo couldn't help but smile bitterly, "What about our engagement?"
These words not only reached Jiang Xinglan's ears, but also, through the photographer who rushed over, reached the ears of all the audience members.
[A marriage agreement?!]
[No wonder, no wonder President Zhou was so shocked when he saw Jiang Xinglan in the observation room on the first day!!]
[So Jiang Xinglan is already engaged, why is she even on a dating reality show?! It's really ruining her image!!!]
[That's so outrageous! What do they take my brother for?!]
[Everyone, please calm down! Teacher Jiang isn't that kind of person!]
[What's with the calm? Haven't you heard the saying, "You can know a person's face but not their heart"?]
The production team backstage was stunned, speechless, never expecting such a hidden story.
Director Wang was the first to react. He immediately put down his walkie-talkie and ran to the cabin to report the matter to Jiang Yunye.
Jiang Yunye frowned and muttered, "Why bring this up out of the blue?"
Upon hearing this, the comments section erupted even more fiercely!
[So the engagement was indeed true?]
[How interesting, so President Jiang specially organized a program to amuse his own sister?]
The comments section was filled with extremely offensive language.
"Where is Xinglan now?" Jiang Yunye asked.
“At the south exit of the park,” Director Wang wiped the cold sweat from his brow, glanced at Jiang Yunye’s expression, and whispered, “President Jiang, should we cut off the live stream now?”
“No need!” Jiang Yunye coldly refused. “We at Xinglan have never done anything to wrong Zhou Cuo or Shen Yuheng. There’s no need to try to cover it up like this.”
After saying that, Jiang Yunye left the hut and headed towards the south exit.
I believe Teacher Jiang is not that kind of person.
[I feel like there might be a plot twist.]
[You've all been fooled by that woman Jiang Xinglan!! Link]
---
Upon hearing Zhou Cuo mention the engagement, Jiang Xinglan's first reaction was to look at Shen Yuheng.
But I read anger on his face.
His anger towards Zhou Cuo.
“But that,” Jiang Xinglan turned her head to look directly at Zhou Cuo, her tone calm, “is all in the past.”
"But I won't accept it!" Zhou Cuo's voice rose slightly. "This engagement started without my knowledge and ended without my knowledge. How can I accept that?"
"You," Jiang Xinglan asked, a hint of confusion in her eyes, "didn't know?"
“Of course I didn’t know!” Zhou Cuo retorted immediately. “If I had known, we wouldn’t have missed each other for so many years!”
“But,” Jiang Xinglan paused for a moment, “the day I found out about the engagement, my mother said that it was your Zhou family who brought it up first.”
“Say it, I’ve already asked for your opinion.” Jiang Xinglan’s calm words were like a sharp blade piercing Zhou Cuo.
“How is that possible! I had no idea—” Zhou Cuo was stunned.
He recalled that a few days before he brought Su Wan home, his mother had indeed talked to him about Xinglan's recent situation.
He staggered back a step, all the resentment and anger on his face vanishing, replaced by immense bewilderment, disbelief, and panic.
Zhou Cuo gave Jiang Xinglan a deep look, as if he caught a trace of complexity in her eyes.
Then, his gaze fell on her hands, which were clasped tightly with Shen Yuheng's, at some point.
He turned abruptly and rushed towards the parking lot as if fleeing.
He needed to go home immediately to get an answer from his mother.
I don't quite understand.
[But regardless, Mr. Zhou himself said that the engagement was over.]
[Then what is he here for? To demand an explanation?]
[From what he said, it seems he knows nothing?]
[I'm so upset, I was just starting to enjoy this gossip!]
"You don't seem surprised at all." The voice that suddenly came from the screen drew the audience's attention back.
In the scene, Jiang Xinglan turns to look at Shen Yuheng, and the two are still holding hands.
"Actually, I know." Shen Yuheng's eyes darted away.
"You knew?" Jiang Xinglan was genuinely puzzled now. "How did you know?"
“That day, wasn’t your brother drunk?” Shen Yuheng brought up the incident.
"Then why didn't you ask me?" Jiang Xinglan gently shook their clasped hands, gesturing for him to look at her. "What if what he said was true?"
“No, it won’t happen,” Shen Yuheng said immediately.
"Hmm?" Jiang Xinglan tilted her head.
"The Jiang Xinglan I know would never do something like participating in a dating reality show while already engaged," Shen Yuheng said seriously.
“So, I trust you, so I don’t think there’s any need to ask,” Shen Yuheng continued. “Besides, if you think it’s important, you’ll tell me, right?”
Jiang Xinglan stared at Shen Yuheng for a long time, then nodded and said, "Yes."
“I will tell you,” Jiang Xinglan glanced at the camera, “but not in this kind of situation.”
[To put it bluntly, wasn't that also a case of a research goddess hiding her engagement to appear on a dating reality show, while a newly crowned movie star knowingly became the other woman?]
[I've said it so many times, the engagement is off!!]
[Those who spread rumors will be held legally responsible!]
“It’s alright,” Shen Yuheng stepped forward and took Jiang Xinglan’s hands in his. “I can wait.”
"I can't wait," Jiang Yunye said coldly, arms crossed.
[Hahahaha, the camera suddenly panned to President Jiang, and his expression cracked me up!!]
[Brother: You guys really can't see me, can you?!]
"They're gone?" Jiang Yunye glanced around and asked.
"Yes, she probably went to see Aunt Wen," Jiang Xinglan said.
“Now there’s one more issue to resolve,” Jiang Yunye pointed to the camera, “Your conversation was just broadcast. Do you want to explain that?”
“No need,” Jiang Xinglan glanced at the camera. “There’s nothing to explain. And even if I were to explain, the audience wouldn’t be the one to explain.”
[These two siblings have exactly the same attitude!]
[Stop trying to defend her! Your goddess isn't just stringing Shen Yuheng and Zhou Cuo along! There's another one! Link]
Netizens, hearing the news, immediately clicked on the link in the comments section.
All of these are group photos of Jiang Xinglan fans, mostly taken when getting on and off the bus.
"Um, there are some negative comments about Teacher Jiang online..." Director Wang, who came with Jiang Yunye, said, "...some negative comments about Teacher Jiang Xinglan. Would you like to take a look, Mr. Jiang?"
Jiang Yunye took the phone, almost laughing in exasperation. After reading it, he handed the phone to Jiang Xinglan.
The brother and sister reacted exactly the same way.
Jiang Xinglan handed the phone back to Director Wang and spoke with a firm tone, "If it's just this, it's not enough to have any impact on me. No one in my social circle will believe these things."
The next second, Jiang Xinglan changed the subject, "But given its reach on the internet, I will appoint a lawyer to hold you accountable."
“I’ve noted down your ID. Zhichen’s legal department will contact you shortly,” Jiang Yunye replied.
"In addition, there is something that needs to be corrected. It was I who pursued Teacher Jiang from beginning to end," Shen Yuheng said. "The situation described in the post does not exist. The studio will pursue legal action to hold those responsible accountable. Please be aware of this."
[You people are impolite, all using the formal "you" in polite speech; yet, you all want to sue people.]
[Well done! It was all fabricated out of thin air!]
[Friends! Go check it out! All the major corporations have issued statements.]
[@Song's Group v: Song Huai, the name of the man in the fourth photo. He was just having dinner with his sister. Don't overthink it. I've already hired a lawyer, and they'll contact you all later. Also, what's with the look? Putting me in the fourth photo.]
[@Zhou's Group v: It's just our CEO picking up a childhood friend for his coming-of-age ceremony. Please don't spread rumors. A lawyer's letter has already been sent.]
[@ZhiChenGroup v: Please be aware of receiving lawyer's letters from the following users: xx, xx…]
[@StarryEntertainmentV: I apologize for taking up public resources. I am Chen Rui. The fifth photo was taken at Mr. Jiang's behest, showing Ms. Jiang being escorted to the recording venue. I have already contacted a lawyer. Please do not over-interpret this.]
[@沈菿珩工作室 v: We've already contacted our legal team to collect evidence~ See you in court!]
"Pah! Pah! Pah! Who wants to see you in court!"
"Let's take a group photo in the front row!"
"You even give your sister flowers when you have dinner with her?"
[@Song's Group v: I encountered someone who was being stubborn, so I just sent flowers, is that wrong? But what does that prove? Our Xinglan is so outstanding, what's wrong with me sending flowers?]
"Exactly, what's wrong with sending flowers!"
The online farce quickly came to an end with the deletion of posts and the banning of accounts.
Upon returning home, Zhou Cuo immediately sought out his mother, Wen Jingyi.
"Mom!" Zhou Cuo called out.
Wen Jingyi raised her hand, stopping Zhou Cuo from speaking. "Mom knows what you want to ask, but that happened eight years ago."
“But…” Zhou Cuo wanted to ask why he had kept it from him.
“You and Xinglan are both good kids. After Xinglan was kidnapped, we discussed with Aunt Lin about the possibility of our two families getting engaged.” Wen Jingyi patted the sofa, gesturing for Zhou Cuo to sit down.
"But at the time, it was just a verbal agreement, saying that we would wait until you grew up and see if you were truly in love, then we would tell you."
"Later, as you know, Xinglan was always engrossed in scientific research. Even though you went abroad, you never lost contact with her," Wen Jingyi began to recall. "So I took the time to ask you what you thought and how you and Xinglan were doing."
“Back then, you were always going to Jinghua University. I thought you were going to see Xinglan. Then I brought up the marriage again with Azhi. I didn’t expect you to bring your girlfriend back and run into Xinglan’s family.”
"Later, I wanted to tell you, but you already had a girlfriend, and Xinglan didn't seem that excited when she saw that you had a girlfriend, so I didn't tell you."
Through Wen Jingyi's words, Zhou Cuo pieced together the whole story of Jiang Yunye's punch back then.
He was indeed standing up for his sister, but not because Jiang Xinglan liked him; rather, it was because of this farce.
Zhou Cuo got up, took a deep look at his mother, and returned to his room without saying a word.
What he didn't say was that he recalled the scene:
After he answered about Jiang Xinglan's recent situation, his mother asked him for his opinion on Xinglan.
He failed to grasp the deeper meaning and simply said, "It's fine," and "Just like when I was a kid."
He remembered that when he was a child, he often said things like Xinglan was cute and that he should protect her.
He also overlooked the unfinished sentence his mother uttered when the sudden phone call interrupted her: "Let's see each other."
It turned out to be "mutual observation".
Zhou Cuo tilted his head back and covered his face with his hands, as if that would stop the tears from welling up in his eyes.
He didn't hear it, so when Song Huai called to tell him that Wen Jingyi might already know that he had a girlfriend, he subconsciously made the connection.
He assumed that the previous conversation about Xinglan was just another routine inquiry, since Xinglan was a name that was frequently mentioned in their family.
That's why his whole family appeared together on the day he brought Su Wan home.
So, he was unaware of the existence of this engagement simply because of a phone call.
Because he didn't know, he didn't think about going to find Xinglan after breaking up with Su Wan.
By the time he realized his feelings for her, there was no longer a place for him in her life.
---
Downstairs, Wen Jingyi looked at her son's dejected figure, as if all his vitality had been drained away, and sighed silently.
She was somewhat dazed.
She suddenly remembered the words she and her husband had uttered when Zhou Cuo escorted Su Wan home—
"This child will definitely regret it later."
Who would have thought that her words would become a self-fulfilling prophecy?
If only she hadn't said that.
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