While Lin Meng was left speechless by Ms. Ji's nonsensical instructions, the emergency hall downstairs had turned into a chaotic scene.
By the time Zhong Xiang and Xiao Xingheng arrived, Deer, Laomai, and Panda were already surrounded by a crowd.
They awkwardly squeezed into the center of the crowd, and the young and beautiful reporter thrust the microphone under Zhong Xiang's nose, smiling sweetly, "Manager Zhong, long time no see, haha!"
After the series of events related to Star Media, Zhong Xiang couldn't help but feel uncomfortable when seeing Tang Xiaotu. He forced a smile and pushed the microphone away, "What are you doing here so late?"
"We heard that an important figure from Team E was injured and came to express our condolences," Tang Xiaotu smiled sweetly, fluttering her carefully crafted false eyelashes, "After all, the relationship between our Star Media and your team is not ordinary."
Zhong Xiang muttered, "..." There's no special relationship between us.
Of course, he wouldn't say these things in front of them. Zhong Xiang forced a smile and looked at Panda who was frantically gesturing on the side, "You might have run in vain, no one from our team is injured," he said professionally, "Gossip outside shouldn't be trusted, and paid news should be even less trusted..."
"Oh really?" Tang Xiaotu pretended to be surprised, "But just now PANDA Baby told us that you were all accompanying him to see a hemorrhoid doctor?"
Zhong Xiang: "..."
Xiao Xingheng: "..."
On the other side, Deer and Laomai covered their faces in unison.
Tang Xiaotu's expression was filled with implication, resembling a female demon from Journey to the West who wanted to eat people, "Seems like there's a little secret in your championship team. Can't you tell me? "
Panda swallowed hard and stammered, "Damn, now the whole world knows I'm going to see a hemorrhoid doctor- thanks a lot, Zhong Ge!"
Zhong Xiang gritted his teeth, "I didn't say that!"
Panda tried to clarify, "Seeing a hemorrhoid doctor is a very private matter! I felt embarrassed, that's why I asked Zhong Ge to keep it from you!"
Tang Xiaotu didn't give up, "It didn't seem like it. You were very straightforward just now, not a bit embarrassed at all."
Panda: "..."
At this point, Deer sneered, and swatted away the microphone in Tang Xiaotu's hand, "Looks like your platform knows that we won't cooperate in the future, so you came here to take one last bite, right?"
Deer was always rebellious and sharp-tongued, which could easily be used against him by the media. Xiao Xingheng furrowed his brow and stepped forward to pull his shoulder, whispering, "Don't be impulsive."
"Did I say anything wrong?" Deer struggled, his anger rising, "We don't want to talk about tonight's events. Are you blind, or is your brain underdeveloped and can't comprehend?"
After his outburst, Tang Xiaotu was stunned, a trace of chilly arrogance flashing in her eyes. This attitude made things clear.
Without a reaction, she casually adjusted her slightly messy bangs and lazily smiled, "Why are you so angry, my dear Deer? If we weren't old friends, and you had made that call on another network, I wonder how they'd spin it!"
Deer's breathing got faster.
Tang Xiaotu glanced over their group and smiled, "Where's Mos? Why isn't he here? After the last match tonight, he taught the stuttering team a lesson again. Shouldn't our coach accept an interview and the admiration of fans? I'm really looking forward to it."
Deer's lip formed an "F" as he bit down on it.
Zhong Xiang intervened, halting the incensed teenager and said, "Silence." He explained, "Mos has an appointment with Hengbo's host tonight and left after the match. He didn't come to the hospital with us, I apologize. If you want an interview, I'll schedule a suitable time for you another day."
This was a type of concession. However, Tang Xiaotu lightly hummed in response.
"We really want to know why Team E appeared at the hospital tonight. The fans are concerned about the players' health, should we not give them an explanation?" she kept pressing, smiling like a charming snake, "If Manager Zhong doesn't make things clear, our reports may end up being less favorable."
Zhong Xiang's molars involuntarily clenched.
It seemed that Star Media had genuinely crossed them, probably since the last incident.
"Aren't you afraid of us suing you for spreading rumors?" Zhong Xiang said slowly, "For what happened today, for what you did before."
"I'm not too concerned, it's just rumors after all," Tang Xiaotu shrugged, "People in our line of work face plenty of gossip; you need a big heart to survive. But your Team E is so protective of its reputation. If you wade into this mess, the loss would be even greater, right?"
Speechless, Zhong Xiang.
Some people had no shame.
At that moment, Deer suddenly spoke up, "It was me."
Zhong Xiang turned to see Deer forcibly shaking off Xiao Xingheng's restraint and rolled up his sleeve, "It was me, I'm here to have my hand looked at."
He revealed the large bruise on his elbow, quite noticeable at first glance.
The little rabbit squinted and asked coquettishly, "What's wrong with your hand, Alu baby?"
"I got injured," Alu said coldly. "It's not very convenient to move, so I played terribly in the daytime competition."
"Yes, that's true," a thought flashed in Zhongxiang's mind, and he quickly said, "The injury is not minor, I wonder if it will affect the subsequent competitions, so I specially came to the hospital to take a look."
Thinking back to the day's competition, Tang Xiaolu recalled that Alu's performance seemed indeed mediocre, and he played very awkwardly, making her somewhat skeptical: "Really?"
"Whether you believe it or not, I don't give a damn," Alu was irritable. "I'd better not be able to play in the autumn season to please you guys."
"Oh, how could that be? Just get well soon and that'll be it."
"You definitely can't miss the autumn season, stop talking nonsense," Alu said dismissively.
Zhongxiang and Xiaoxing hurriedly went up to comfort him in a perfunctory manner.
Alu's attitude seemed genuine, extremely irritable from start to finish. Tang Xiaolu was somewhat convinced but still hesitant. "Then Mo Shen—"
"Playing so poorly today, I almost got crushed by Saint Laurent, of course the organizers are not happy," Zhongxiang said. "So Silence went to apologize..."
"I see," Tang Xiaolu's lips twitched. "That's really a shame."
"We have to go up to shoot now," Zhongxiang said. "It's not convenient for such a big group of people in this public place, so why don't we—"
"I have one more question, and then I'll leave," Tang Xiaolu raised her eyebrows, glanced at Alu, and asked softly, "How did Alu baby get injured?"
This woman is simply a monster.
Zhongxiang felt like she was about to ask, "Did you guys get into a fight?"
At that moment, a woman's voice rang out from a distance, saying crisply, "It's because of me!"
Everyone turned to look in the direction of the sound and saw a short-haired girl running over, saying anxiously, "Alu got injured while trying to help me!"
---
Lin Meng put Yumo's phone back on the table with a distracted mind.
Yumo turned over gently in bed, looking a little more spirited. Lin Meng hurriedly went to help him up and put a pillow behind his back.
"Thank you," Yumo smiled.
"What are you thanking me for? Your mom might not even believe it," Lin Meng frowned. "I couldn't talk properly when I was nervous, and I didn't even come up with a decent excuse."
"No need," Yumo sat up straight. "When my mom hears that it's you, she'll probably feel relieved."
"Why?" Lin Meng was puzzled.
"She's just that kind of person," Yumo said. He took a deep breath and wondered, "Why are you so nervous?"
"Damn, lying with no preparation at all!" Lin Meng said.
Yumo glanced at her sideways. "What preparation do you need? Aren't you good at fooling people?"
"What do you mean I'm good at fooling people," Lin Meng's tone flipped suddenly. "It depends on the person, it's your mom we're talking about!"
Her voice suddenly lowered, full of resentment. "If she finds out, she won't have a good impression of me..."
"What's wrong with my mom?" Yumo pursed his dry lips and looked down. "You weren't nervous at all when fooling me."
It seems like he's feeling wronged?
Lin Meng was a bit puzzled.
"When did I fool you?"
"You—" Yumo hesitated.
Am I being delusional...
He seemed to have used too much force and started to cough intermittently. Lin Meng hurriedly got up to make tea for him.
Suddenly, Yumo reached out and grabbed her wrist.
Lin Meng paused, turned abruptly, surprised that even in his illness, the man had such strength. His palm was cold from the intravenous drip, and it held her firmly like an iron shackle.
Lin Meng wanted to break free, but she was afraid of dislodging the IV needle, so she just stood still.
Yumo looked at her steadily.
"There's something I... " He swallowed and his voice was hoarse. "There's something I want to ask you."