Chapter 46 "Yun Qingqing, do you want to talk to me..."
The lengthy article by "Zhiwei Says" apologizing for suspending updates and revealing the truth was more convincing than the one-sided statements of CP fans and die-hard fans.
[This is hilarious! Anyone who watched the whole thing in the live stream knows the truth! Even with such solid evidence, some fans are still trying to defend it. They must be blinded by greed!]
[Meng Xian's fans, stop making a last-ditch effort. The more you promote this supposedly beautiful love story, the more devastating its collapse will be.]
[Ye Jinyan has the nerve to call Gu Mingyan a substitute? Who does he think he is! Meng Xian is the epitome of hypocrisy, wanting money, a title, and a devoted lover persona all at once—she gets all the benefits?]
The "Best Partners" production team must have had incredibly bad luck to invite these two jinxes. Will the show even be able to air?
Online criticism was rampant, with not only ordinary netizens but also many entertainment bloggers joining in the commentary. They dug up all the past scandals of Jin Yan and Meng Xian from "Ever Night," causing their public image to plummet.
The storm of public opinion quickly spread to the "Best Partners" program team.
As a highly anticipated reality show, the exposure of such a heinous scandal by a core guest has dealt a devastating blow to the show's reputation.
Sponsors have requested to suspend their cooperation, and the program's official account has been attacked by angry netizens.
Based on the contract terms, the production team formally demanded an exorbitant penalty from Meng Xian for breach of contract and announced that filming of the program would be postponed indefinitely.
When the news reached Ye Jinyan and Meng Xian, the two were hiding in a private room.
The private room was lit by only a dim light. Ye Jinyan held Meng Xian in his arms and gently comforted her, "Xianxian, don't cry. It's not a big deal if something happens. There's always news in the entertainment industry. Once this storm passes, with my connections and resources, you can ask me to make any movie you want or get any endorsements."
Meng Xian buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled: "Really? Jin Yan, I'm so scared right now. The netizens are saying such awful things to me, they're all telling me to quit the entertainment industry..."
"What are you afraid of? I'm here." Ye Jin said confidently. "Anyway, I am the only heir of the Ye family, and all the family property will be mine in the future. If you don't want to act, then relax and be a wealthy wife; if you want to act, I will find a way to help you restore your reputation."
His vision was beautiful, and Meng Xian gradually stopped crying. She then asked a very practical question: "What about the breach of contract penalty that the production team is demanding? I heard it's quite a lot."
When the topic of breach of contract came up, Ye Jinyan's hand, which was combing his long hair, suddenly paused, and the gentle smile on his face faded slightly.
An awkward silence fell over the private room.
He's really not well-off lately.
Previously, in order to please Meng Xian, and due to his extravagant spending, he had long since run out of money.
Without Gu Mingyan's financial support, Ye Jinyan could even be described as destitute.
Now we can't count on Gu Mingyan anymore. His father is angry and has suspended his credit cards. Where is he going to get the money to compensate the production team?
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Meng Xian's dissatisfaction gradually began to surface.
She pulled away from Ye Jinyan's embrace, sat up straight, and looked at him in the dim light: "Why aren't you saying anything? Didn't you say you could solve any problem?"
Ye Jinyan was getting a little annoyed by her questioning, so to save face he could only reply perfunctorily, "What's the rush? I'm trying to figure something out, aren't I? I'll handle the breach of contract fee, don't worry about it."
His tone was slightly urgent, a stark contrast to his usual obedient manner towards her.
Meng Xian felt even more uncomfortable, thinking that Ye Jinyan was avoiding the issue.
The warm, soft body in his arms didn't seem so comforting anymore, and a strange sense of irritation swept through Ye Jinyan's heart.
He sensed that Meng Xian's silence at this moment was a questioning of his abilities, which was quite different from the understanding Meng Xian he remembered.
To dispel the subtle discomfort, Ye Jinyan cleared his throat and changed the subject: "By the way, I have to go back to the old house in the next couple of days, so we may not be able to see each other for a while."
He seemed to be comforting Meng Xian, and also comforting himself, as he repeatedly emphasized, "I am the only heir of the Ye family. No matter how angry the old man is, he won't really abandon me. His suspension of my card is only temporary. Once his anger subsides, everything will go back to normal."
Meng Xian gave a listless "hmm," her reaction indifferent.
Ye Jinyan wasn't in the mood to coax anyone right now, so he stood up and said, "I'm leaving now. Contact me by phone if you need anything."
Without waiting for Meng Xian's response, he strode out of the private room.
Meanwhile, downstairs at a luxury clubhouse on the other side of the city.
Yun looked up at the brightly lit building in front of her and asked, "System, are you sure the male protagonist's half-sister, Ye Jiahe, is inside?"
"Confirmed." The system's mechanical voice rang in her mind. "Every Wednesday night after finishing her company business, Ye Jiahe comes to this club alone for a drink. It's one of the few ways she relaxes."
Yun Qingqing narrowed her beautiful almond-shaped eyes: "That's good."
The system's electronic voice carried a hint of human curiosity: "But, host, why did you suddenly want to find Ye Jiahe?"
Yun smiled gently, covering her mouth: "Give her some information about her competitors."
The system guessed what she was planning and clicked its tongue in amazement, "She really isn't leaving Ye Jinyan any way out."
"Who told him to team up with Meng Xian to bully Mingyan?" Yun said calmly. "I was just putting his misplaced life back on the right track."
Hei Xinlian walked confidently toward the clubhouse entrance, organizing in her mind what she wanted to say to Ye Jiahe.
As soon as he stepped inside, he was stopped by a tall security guard in a black suit.
"Madam, please show your membership card," the security guard said expressionlessly.
Yun gently gritted her teeth.
I miscalculated; I forgot this is a high-end club that isn't open to the public casually.
She was just about to call Gu Mingyan to ask if she had a membership at this club, or simply wait for Ye Jiahe to come out at the entrance, when a voice suddenly sounded behind her:
She is my girlfriend.
Yun turned around in surprise and saw Gu Xubai standing not far behind her, looking down at her.
He seemed to have just finished a business meeting; a few strands of hair fell across his forehead. He wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, and his tall and straight figure exuded an air of aloofness and nobility under the club's dazzling lights.
Yun Qingqing immediately understood, stepped forward, and hugged the other person's waist in a very cooperative manner, looking up with a smile that made her eyes crinkle: "Yes, I am Gu Xubai's girlfriend."
Gu Xubai's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment, then he returned to normal and put his arm around her shoulder.
The security guard seemed to recognize Gu Xubai, and his attitude immediately became extremely respectful: "I'm sorry, I didn't see it right. Please come in."
Yun Qingqing took Gu Xubai's arm and, taking advantage of his power, sneaked into this high-end club.
The elevator doors closed, leaving only the two of them in the cramped space.
Gu Xubai then released his arm from her shoulder and took a small step back to the side: "I'm sorry, I offended you just now."
Yun paused for a moment, then realized he was referring to the gesture of him putting his arm around her shoulder earlier. She quickly shook her head and said, "It's nothing, I should thank you. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have been able to get in here today."
She looked up at Gu Xubai and asked curiously, "What are you doing here?"
"I just happened to be passing by and saw you being stopped at the entrance, so I came to help." Gu Xubai's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before shifting to the ever-increasing floor numbers.
"Oh." Yun nodded gently and didn't ask any more questions.
The elevator fell silent, with only the faint sound of mechanical operation.
Gu Xubai suddenly spoke up: "You came alone?"
“Yes,” Yun answered lightly, “Mingyan went to dance practice and doesn’t have time to keep me company.”
Gu Xubai hummed in agreement, without asking her why she had come here, and simply said, "Then I'll take you back later. It's getting late, and it's not safe for you to go back alone."
Yun tilted her head slightly, feeling that this villainous big boss was being a little too enthusiastic.
But why not take advantage of a free ride? She quickly agreed, saying, "Okay, then I'll trouble you, Xu Bai."
With a "ding," the elevator arrived at the target floor.
The door opened, revealing a quiet corridor covered with a thick carpet.
Gu Xubai didn't follow her out; he just stood in the elevator and nodded slightly to her: "I'll wait for you downstairs. Call me when you're done."
"Okay." Yun waved to him gently.
The elevator doors slowly closed, shutting out that tall, imposing figure. Yun Qingqing followed the system's guidance, walked through the corridor, and stopped at the door of a private room at the end.
*
Ye Jiahe was sitting alone on the sofa. On the coffee table in front of her was an open bottle of red wine and several empty wine glasses.
She was wearing a sharp-tailored black business suit, but her complexion wasn't good.
Ye Jinyan's recent trouble has utterly disgraced the Ye family.
The old man was furious, but instead of severely punishing Ye Jinyan, he dumped a mess on her and instructed her to help Ye Jinyan familiarize himself with company affairs.
Ye Jiahe picked up the red wine glass on the table, poured herself a full glass, and drank it all in one gulp.
The spicy liquor slid down her throat, but it did nothing to dispel the frustration in her heart.
She couldn't understand why chromosomes were so important to the old man.
In terms of ability, seniority, and contributions to the company, in what way is she inferior to that good-for-nothing Ye Jinyan?
Over the years, she worked diligently at the company and made a lot of money for the Ye family. The old man said he appreciated her abilities, but he never really considered her as his successor.
Even though Ye Jinyan made mistakes time and time again, bringing shame to the Ye family, the old man would only scold him a few times, and in the end, he would still ask her to clean up the mess and assist that good-for-nothing.
Ye Jiahe was unwilling to accept this.
She was unwilling to let her efforts become a stepping stone for others, and unwilling to let her talents be used to create a life for a good-for-nothing.
Feeling increasingly frustrated, Ye Jiahe picked up the bottle again and gulped down a few mouthfuls.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the private room.
"Tap, tap, tap—"
Three slow, deliberate knocks sounded on the door.
Ye Jiahe frowned but ignored her.
She had already instructed the club staff not to come and disturb them tonight.
But the person outside was very patient. Seeing no response from inside, he knocked again with the same steady force, seemingly determined not to give up until he achieved his goal.
This behavior actually piqued Ye Jiahe's interest. She walked to the door, pulled open the door of the private room, and prepared to see who was so bold.
A young girl stood outside the door, wearing a simple dress. In the dim light of the club, her skin was radiant and her eyes were bright.
Seeing the door open, she looked up and smiled at Ye Jiahe.
"Hello, my name is Yun Qingqing."
Before Ye Jiahe could say anything, the girl said with her smile still on her face, "I came here just to give you some advice."
"Perhaps you could do a DNA test for Old Master Ye and Ye Jinyan."
Ye Jiahe suddenly jolted awake, instantly sobering up considerably: "What do you mean?"
...
After finishing her business, Yun took the elevator downstairs in a good mood.
The lobby was brightly lit, but almost empty. She spotted Gu Xubai sitting on the sofa in the lounge area at a glance.
The boy lowered his head slightly, the light from the phone screen illuminating his expressionless profile, making him appear somewhat aloof.
Yun jogged over lightly and said with a smile, "Have you been waiting long? Let's go."
Gu Xubai put away his phone and stood up: "Not long."
He paused, then asked, "Is the matter settled?"
"Mmm!" Yun nodded vigorously, seemingly in a good mood. "It went more smoothly than I expected. To thank you for helping me tonight, I'll treat you to a late-night snack!"
Looking at her untroubled smile, Gu Xubai couldn't refuse at all: "Mm."
The two walked out of the club side by side, and the driver had already driven the car to the entrance.
Gu Xubai gently opened the car door for Yun first and helped her into the back seat.
The interior of the car was dimly lit, with only the occasional neon lights flashing past the window.
Yun gently took out her phone, wanting to see if there were any recommended snacks near the night market. Just as the screen lit up, a new message popped up.
It was sent by Ji Sihan.
The other party seemed very excited, sending several messages in a row, along with several photos of the competition venue.
【Gently! You were right, I really won! This is my first victory since returning to the team!】
I played exceptionally well in the last game; my teammates all praised me!
Yun gently clicked on the picture and took a look.
In the photo, Ji Sihan is wearing his team uniform and is being interviewed as the MVP after the game. He is smiling brightly at the camera, his eyes full of youthful vigor.
Yun couldn't help but smile, genuinely happy for him.
She replied to several congratulatory and complimenting messages, and just as she clicked send, she keenly felt a gaze fall on the side of her face.
Yun turned her head gently and found Gu Xubai quietly watching her.
"What's wrong?" Yun blinked gently, puzzled.
Gu Xubai's voice sounded normal: "Who are you chatting with? You seem to be having a good time."
"With a friend." Yun Qingqing answered casually without thinking much. "Ji Sihan, you've seen him on the variety show 'Best Partners'."
Gu Xubai simply replied, "Oh, that loud, spiky guy."
His description was so precise and apt that Yun Qingqing couldn't help but chuckle.
The car soon arrived at the night market recommended by Yun Qingqing.
The market at night is bustling with people and full of lively atmosphere, with all kinds of food stalls emitting tempting aromas.
Yun got out of the car quickly and led Gu Xubai through the crowd with familiarity, finally stopping in front of a stall selling teppanyaki and congee.
"This teppanyaki is absolutely delicious!" she recommended, her eyes sparkling.
"Mm." Gu Xubai nodded as he looked at her.
The two found a small table by the side and ordered a bunch of food. Yun ate with her eyes slightly narrowed, in a very good mood.
When it was time to pay, she naturally took out her phone to pay, but the stall owner waved his hand with a smile: "Young lady, your boyfriend has already paid."
Yun paused slightly, then quickly realized that the "boyfriend" the boss was referring to must be Gu Xubai.
She turned to look at the person beside her who had already stood up, a little annoyed: "Didn't we agree that I would treat? Why did you secretly pay?"
She puffed out her cheeks slightly, her beautiful round eyes full of reproach.
Her puffed-up face was particularly charming, attracting the attention of many people around her.
Gu Xubai frowned almost imperceptibly, turning to the side to block most of the view.
Then, as if he had made up his mind, he called her by her full name: "Yun Qingqing".
"What?" Yun tilted her head slightly.
"Do you have any plans to date?" Gu Xubai asked.
The question came somewhat abruptly, as Yun Qingqing was still thinking about paying and hadn't fully caught up: "Dating? With whom?"
Gu Xubai looked at her lips, which were rosy from eating hot food, and said without any beating around the bush:
"Follow me."
Yun Qingqing's eyes widened slightly: "...?"
Gu Xubai leaned forward slightly and calmly added, "Don't you like me? Well, I like you too."
Would you like to date me?
Yun Qingqing was completely stunned, her mind filled with nothing but huge question marks.
? ? ?
After a moment, she swallowed hard: "...Um, how come I don't know that I like you?"
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