Chapter 27 The young lady, in her excitement, started throwing money around again.
Yun Qingqing and Gu Mingyan's report about the problems with the props in the Performing Arts Department attracted the attention of the school leaders.
As a top-tier university, Yuncheng University has always valued its reputation. Furthermore, given that the whistleblower was the daughter of the Gu Group, who had donated several buildings to the school, the university's disciplinary committee and auditing department quickly intervened that afternoon and began investigating the substandard props used in the performing arts department.
Upon investigation, they indeed discovered something fishy.
The school discovered that Xu Hui had repeatedly abused his position to embezzle teaching funds by falsely reporting prices and using inferior materials, earning a considerable profit from the difference.
Faced with irrefutable evidence, Xu Hui had no choice but to submit his resignation to the school.
The school issued a statement overnight, announcing that Xu Hui, a teacher in the Department of Performing Arts, had committed serious disciplinary violations, and stated that his suspected illegal activities had been transferred to relevant departments for further processing.
As soon as the news broke, netizens expressed their feelings:
Good heavens! If Yun Qingqing hadn't discovered the problem with the prop on the spot, wouldn't Gu Mingyan have been firmly blamed for "intentionally injuring someone"?
[This teacher even took kickbacks for teaching props—how incredibly greedy!]
[Xu Hui deserves it! His teaching skills may not be that high, but he's a master at manipulating students, bullying the weak and fearing the strong, and lining his own pockets!]
[Am I the only one who thinks Meng Xian is a bit... well, you know? She's rushing to label Gu Mingyan before even understanding the situation. That's incredibly biased; she's practically begging for criticism, isn't she?]
My impression of Meng Xian is that of a model student. While respecting teachers is commendable, this kind of behavior in public, especially during a live broadcast, can easily mislead public opinion and cause secondary harm to the wronged person.
I used to be indifferent to Gu Mingyan, but today, seeing her being stopped and having to start over again and again, her eyes red but still persisting, I actually felt a little sorry for her.
[The young lady may not have a talent for acting, but at least her attitude is serious. Keep it up, Gu Mingyan!]
...
Gu Mingyan sat cross-legged on the lower bunk, slowly swiping her fingers across her phone screen, looking at the messages over and over again.
Beyond discussions about the incident itself, more and more people in the comments section began to speak up for her, affirming her attitude and encouraging her to improve.
As she watched, she suddenly felt her eyes getting hot, and a tear fell without warning, landing on the tablet screen.
"Hmm?" Yun Qingqing, who was standing next to her, seemed to sense something and turned her head. She saw Gu Mingyan quickly wipe her eyes with her sleeve.
She leaned closer and quickly asked, "What's wrong? You weren't crying at all during the day when Xu Hui berated you so harshly, but now that netizens are praising you, you're crying?"
Gu Mingyan was a little embarrassed: "I...I just didn't expect that."
"Didn't expect anything?"
“I never expected so many people to speak up for me,” Gu Mingyan pouted. “In the past, whenever something similar happened, no matter if it was my fault at first, I was always the one who got the worst scolding in the end. Even the fans who defended me would be attacked and accused of having warped values.”
Yun listened quietly to her finish speaking, then reached out and gently patted her shoulder.
“The past is the past,” Yun said softly. “Now, aren’t people gradually seeing the real you? You’re not as bad as the haters say.”
Gu Mingyan looked at her, and what she really wanted to say was, "Many changes are because of you, Yun Qingqing."
It seems that her luck improved after meeting Qingqing.
But when Gu Mingyan got the words to her lips, she felt they were too mushy and too sticky.
It doesn't fit the image of a noble and aloof young lady.
So the young lady switched to her most proficient way of expressing emotions and started transferring money to Yun Qingqing in a flurry.
Yun Qingqing: "?"
On the other hand, Meng Xian never expected that her few words of advice, which were for the sake of the overall situation, would actually provide the content creator with new material, turning it into a parody video 3.0.
Seeing the viral video, Meng Xian was furious and trembling with cold.
She doesn't want to be a comedian, and she certainly doesn't want to become famous in this way.
She wants to be the elegant, intellectual, and beloved Meng Xian, not the funny woman that netizens use to make fun of.
Just as the variety show ended, Meng Xian and Ye Jinyan had dinner in a private room, and Meng Xian recounted what had happened during class.
"...I really meant well, thinking that Teacher Xu is a teacher after all, and if Mingyan and the others talked back on the spot, it would have a bad impact on the program and the school if word got out." She sniffed and said, "But now a lot of people online are saying that I'm scheming."
Ye Jinyan looked at the beautiful woman with tears streaming down her face, and his brows gradually furrowed.
Meng Xian is his ideal woman, gentle, sensible, and well-educated. How could she be the kind of person netizens are talking about?
"Xianxian, don't cry." Ye Jinyan softened his voice. "Don't take those people on the internet who are just spreading rumors to heart. I know you best."
Seeing that the time was right, Meng Xian gradually stopped sobbing.
“Yes, I know you’ve always been good,” she said. “Maybe I’m just overthinking it. I feel like netizens have been misled by the press releases. I wonder if Mingyan still harbors resentment because I’m close to you…”
Ye Jinyan understood what she meant: "Gu Mingyan bought articles to smear you again?"
Meng Xian lowered her eyes and did not answer.
Looking at the delicate beauty before him, Ye Jinyan felt a surge of protectiveness and instinctively wanted to speak: "Don't worry, I'll make sure Gu Mingyan knows her limits..."
He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.
Gu Mingyan has changed a bit lately.
She no longer clung to him, no longer tried to find topics to talk about, and even the messages he sent her often went unanswered, with only brief and polite replies when she did.
This made Ye Jinyan feel vaguely uneasy.
He still needs Gu Mingyan's support and can't afford to break up with her.
So, he abruptly changed the subject, saying, "Ultimately, it's the production team's poor oversight that caused you to be misunderstood and attacked by ignorant netizens time and time again. Rather than let you suffer like this, I'd rather withdraw my investment!"
Meng Xian: "...?"
No, this isn't the outcome she wanted!
If Ye Jinyan withdraws her investment, who will give her preferential treatment and convenience in the second episode?
*
The recording of the first episode has come to a temporary end, and all the guests will have a few days to rest and adjust.
Yun Qingqing was shoved into the passenger seat of Gu Mingyan's eye-catching red sports car and taken back to the Gu residence along with her luggage.
As the car entered the renowned luxury residential area of Yuncheng, Yun Qingqing finally understood why Gu Mingyan had mistaken the original owner's small apartment for a toilet.
...because Gu Mingyan's home was simply too luxurious.
This is no home, it's a mini palace!
The gardens, swimming pool, fountains, and the entire main building are magnificent and elegant, exuding a sense of noble luxury.
"Let's go." Gu Mingyan got out of the car and naturally pulled Yun Qingqing, who was still a little dazed, up. "The food I had packed from the restaurant should have arrived by now."
The lavish dinner was as extravagant as ever, featuring a variety of expensive ingredients that Yun Qingqing couldn't even name.
Gu Mingyan didn't talk much while eating, but she kept quietly observing what Yun Qingqing liked to eat, and then asked the maid to move that dish in front of her.
After the meal, Gu Mingyan, in a good mood, pulled Yun Qingqing to her walk-in closet.
The huge circular walk-in closet is filled with a dazzling array of clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories, arranged like a high-end boutique.
Previously, Gu Mingyan's clothing style mostly catered to Ye Jinyan's preferences, leaning towards a gentle and ladylike style.
But ever since they dressed each other up last time, Gu Mingyan has also started to try to find her own style.
"Look at this, doesn't it match my new hair color perfectly?"
"These shoes are a limited edition; I waited three months to get them!"
"And this bag, isn't it super cute? I'd like to give it to you."
Yun leaned gently against the door, watching Gu Mingyan twirl around in front of the mirror like a happy little bird, and couldn't help but smile.
Gu Mingyan is actually very easy to understand.
She wears her heart on her sleeve and says what she hates directly. When she's happy, she beams with joy; when she's unhappy, she pouts and gets angry. Her mind is so simple that you can see right through her.
She felt that Gu Mingyan was becoming more and more vibrant.
*
After finishing his last class, Gu Xubai rushed to the company to handle the backlog of work. By the time he returned to the Gu residence, it was already past nine o'clock in the evening.
A dull, sharp pain shot through his stomach. He pressed one hand to his upper abdomen, while also dealing with his father on the other end of the phone.
"How did your meeting with Mr. Wang from Wansheng go today?"
Gu Xubai: "The contract has been signed, and the legal department is following up on the details."
"Well, that's good." Mr. Gu habitually adopted a stern tone and gave a few words of admonishment. "Everyone says you have a reserved nature; you should learn more from your mother. She was always so gentle and considerate in her dealings with people..."
Upon hearing him mention his mother, Gu Xubai's fingers tightened suddenly, and a wave of nausea rose in his stomach.
This man pretended to be single, deceiving his eighteen-year-old mother. After she became pregnant, he abandoned her and only reluctantly took him back when his wife had been unable to give birth to a son for many years.
How dare he still have the nerve to pretend to reminisce and talk so eloquently here today?
Just as Gu Xubai was about to say something—
"Pah! How dare this scumbag mention his dead mother to the child? He's shameless!"
A clear yet angry shout came from the second floor.
The raging anger in Gu Xubai's chest was strangely momentarily sluggish by this sudden sound.
He looked up and noticed a faint light coming from the second-floor audiovisual room, as if someone was watching a movie inside.
Mr. Gu, who was on the other end of the phone, had obviously heard the scornful rebuke, and his lecturing suddenly stopped.
"Ahem," he cleared his throat, trying to regain his previous authority, "In short, as my only son, you must always be mindful of your words and actions..."
"Hypocritical! Hypocritical!" the people in the video room cursed angrily.
Mr. Gu forced himself to finish speaking: "...Don't disgrace the Gu family."
"Mind your own mess!" The curse became clearer, accompanied by a "crunch crunch" sound like biting into potato chips. "I, Yun Qingqing, have never seen such a shameless person."
"Gu Xubai!" Gu's father finally couldn't hold back any longer. "Who exactly is on your side? How can you be so rude!"
Gu Xubai's gaze remained fixed on the light filtering through the crack in the door, and a barely perceptible smile played at the corners of his lips:
"They're watching a movie, they're not talking about you."
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Author's Note: I've sorted out the romantic relationships. Sorry I'm late!
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