"What? Not divorced?" Anya’s tone was more shocking than when Xu Xinyi told her yesterday that Yi Yang wanted to divorce her. She looked at Xu Xinyi as if she were seeing an idiot. "Are you okay?"
"Anya, he didn't cheat, that day was an accident, those photos were all deliberately taken by Zuo Rong, it had nothing to do with him."
"So what? He doesn't love you, cheating is just a matter of time."
Xu Xinyi, like a naive eighteen-year-old, was full of longing, "He said, love can be nurtured with time, so I believe him."
Anya looked at her hopelessly, as if to say 'you are beyond help', "Xu Xinyi, do you believe him? Are you crazy?"
Seeing Xu Xinyi's unresponsive look, Anya sighed, unlocked her phone, and swiped her thumb through the contacts on WeChat, skimming past a list of names.
Most of those WeChat profile pictures were personal photos, and with one glance, they were all good-looking, cheerful, handsome young men with striking facial features and overflowing charisma.
"I thought your divorce was a done deal this time, but I didn't expect it didn't go through. Look at him, isn't he a thousand times better than your Yi Yang?" Anya opened the friend circle of one of the WeChat accounts and enlarged the selfie in the friend's circle to show Xu Xinyi.
"You see, here, twenty-one years old, one meter eighty-eight, campus heartthrob! Basketball team player! Look at these abs, look at this face, handsome or not?"
"And then look at this, twenty-three years old, one meter eighty, this boy is especially gentle, look at his smile, sweet, right?"
"And then these," Anya opened several Weibo moments one by one, enlarged a few one hundred and eighty-degree photos with no dead angles for Xu Xinyi to see, "this one is twenty, this one is twenty-two, so tender, they are all good boys!"
After finishing, she sighed, "Except that they are not as rich as Yiyang, I think they are better than Yiyang in every aspect, but you are stubborn, you just won't listen no matter what!"
Xu Xinyi watched the black screen of her phone with expectation, covering the position of her chest, feeling her little heart pounding in her chest like a battle drum.
Who can withstand this?
"Yiyang...he is good, Anya, stop talking about it." She really couldn't help but cry.
So many "fresh meat" were right in front of her, but she could only watch from afar, too cruel! Too cruel!
With a snap of her thumb, Anya locked her phone. "Forget it, I know your personality, once you've made your decision, no one can change it. I won't mention it again."
Reluctantly averted her gaze, Xu Xinyi said, "I won't have any work tonight, if you have nothing to do, I'll leave by myself in the evening. The driver doesn't need to send me."
"Do you have something to do?"
Xu Xinyi nodded, her face filled with happiness. "He said he's coming to pick me up tonight."
"To pick you up after work? Weren't you two keeping your marriage secret?"
"Yiyang doesn't want it to be public, so it won't be."
Anya rolled her eyes secretly. "Okay, I won't ask about your affairs anymore, anyway, I know it will always be the same result no matter how much I ask."
It seemed something was wrong on the set, and Director Zheng was scolding someone, his voice carrying far, the staff members all silenced.
Anya nudged her with her elbow. "What are you going to do, Zuo Rong? That woman doesn't seem simple."
Xu Xinyi's expression changed like turning a page, and she coldly leaned back, sneering, "We'll talk about it tonight."
In fact, at present, Xu Xinyi really had no reason to hold Zuo Rong accountable. After all, her marriage to Yiyang was a secret, no one knew about their marriage, Zuo Rong included. At most, she was just like an ordinary star in the entertainment industry, trying to hook up with a powerful mountain, and make connections with a man with power and status.
"Wrap it up, everyone! You've all worked hard this morning, take a break after lunch and we'll continue in the afternoon."
With Director Zheng's command, the crew members worked swiftly on packing up.
The entire crew was filled with the aroma of food.
Zuo Rong had no time for lunch. During the lunch break, she hastily entered a dressing room and locked the door.
"How did it go? What did the magazine say?"
Zuo Rong's agent was a savvy publicist who had managed to make many stars popular. Viewing Zuo Rong's relationship with Yiyang as a rare but difficult opportunity, he had confidently approached several magazines. However, he didn't expect that the magazines that had been initially receptive had suddenly changed their minds and refused to leak any information.
"I approached several magazines, but they refused to cooperate with us. It's possible that Yiyang's side has intervened."
These days, Zuo Rong's mind was full of thoughts about Yiyang.
The night she saw Yiyang, he was calm and composed, and his cold, penetrating gaze struck her heart. This was the first time Zuo Rong couldn't forget about a man.
There were many female stars in the entertainment industry who married into wealthy families. It was publicly acknowledged that she was beautiful. Why couldn't she be the next one?
"How is that possible? We haven't leaked these photos. How would Yiyang's side know about it?"
"If the magazines won't cooperate, we'll have to contact some online influencers. Last night I contacted a few marketing companies and by tonight, we'll be able to spread this matter through them."
"Really?" Zuo Rong's eyes lit up.
"When the time comes, keep calm and don't say anything to anyone who tries to get you to talk. After the situation has developed for a day, you can issue a clarifying statement. Remember that, okay?"
Zuo Rong vowed, "Don't worry, I know what to do."
In the afternoon at five o'clock, Xu Xinyi had a scene with Zuo Rong.
Of course, Xu Xinyi had actually swapped this scene with the director.
Zuo Rong's lines were not good from the start, and when the director found her at lunchtime and asked her to act with Xu Xinyi in the afternoon, Zuo Rong had hastily memorized her lines, resulting in numerous outtakes when it was time to actually shoot.
Director Zheng was getting impatient. "Take a five-minute break."
Xu Xinyi was also getting impatient. "Zuo Rong, can you even act? I need you to put your heart into it."
Zuo Rong stood in place looking bewildered, not daring to retort.
"Who are you pretending to be pitiful for? I still have things to do later, do you know how much you've delayed me from getting off work?"
"Sorry, Xinyi, I didn't mean to, I'll work hard later!"
"Work hard?" Xu Xinyi looked at her critically, her face full of disdain and arrogance, arrogantly aloof, "If I throw some feed on the ground, even a chicken would act better than you. With your acting skills, I suggest you change careers as soon as possible. Don't waste my time and be a burden to me. I can't believe I have to work with you!"
Seeing Zuo Rong's face turn pale and green, Xu Xinyi continued with a sarcastic tone, "The stars these days, one worse than the next. I need to be more careful when choosing a script next time. If I end up acting with someone who doesn't know how to act and doesn't bother to learn about acting, how can I handle it?"
With such merciless mockery and reproach, Zuo Rong's eyes turned red in an instant. Beautiful and quiet, she became extremely fragile when she cried, like a flower without a stem, evoking a sense of pity.
"I'm sorry! Really sorry! I'll try harder, I promise!" Apologetic and tearful, she seemed genuinely pitiful.
"Alright, Xinyi, you're a great actress. You take care of her. Zuorong, if you forget your lines, just wing it. I'll have someone dub it in post-production. Let's aim to get it done in one go this time."
"Okay, director, I will definitely do my best!"
Xin Yixun rolled her eyes and turned away.
After ten NGs, Director Zheng finally reluctantly let it go.
Xin Yixun wrapped up her work and was about to call Yi Yang to ask about his location when An Ya stormed over and handed her the phone.
"Xin Yixun, you need to talk to the director about this, find out who put this video online!"
"What video?" Xinyi took the phone and saw that it was a video of her berating Zuorong not long ago, which had been filmed and quickly circulated online.
One arrogant and overbearing, the other pitiful, the contrast was so stark that it led to a lot of abuse, most of it directed at Xin Yixun.
Of course, this abuse was directed at Xin Yixun.
Xin Yixun looked at the 10,000+ comments under the video, but didn't open them. She handed the phone back to An Ya absentmindedly and said, "I know, I will talk to Director Zheng later."
"Go now! While the person is still here, find out who did it!"
But Xin Yixun didn't care at all. She put her things in her bag and said, "Yi Yang is coming soon, we can talk about it tomorrow."
An Ya looked at her in disbelief, "Xin Yixun! I really want to open up your brain and see what kind of rubbish is inside!"
"It's filled with Yi Yang," Xin Yixun thought to herself.
Her phone rang, and after a few excited words, she hung up, put on her coat in a hurry, grabbed her bag, and eagerly walked out. "An Ya, I'm leaving, you should go back and rest. Bye!"
"Hey, you…"
Before An Ya could say a word, Xin Yixun disappeared.
Outside the drama set, Yi Yang was going through a pile of information about Xin Yixun that someone had investigated over the past two days. As his phone buzzed, a news notification lit up the screen.
It was an entertainment news push notification.
Yi Yang glanced at the news, catching sight of Xin Yixun's name.
He casually closed the file on Xin Yixun, put it aside, and opened the video on his phone.
The car door opened.
"Honey!" Xin Yixun got in the car and said excitedly, "Thank you for picking me up."
"I'll spread some rice on the ground, even the chickens act better than you," a sharp and biting voice echoed in the entire car.
Xin Yixun blinked, "Honey, what are you watching?"
Yi Yang gave her a meaningful smile and held the phone screen in front of her, "Madam Yi, how imposing."
Xin Yixun looked panicked at once and pleaded with him, explaining, "Honey, that's not what I meant. I just wanted to teach Zuorong a lesson. I'm not usually like this on set, really! Do you believe me?"
Yi Yang put away his phone and scrolled through the comments under the video.
Xin Yixun looked at him nervously, her tense expression strangely tinged with a suppressed excitement.
"It's starting, it's starting! Quick! Give me a cold, indifferent look and say, 'What else is there to explain? I didn't see it with my own eyes before, but now I do. I didn't expect you to be so malicious!'"
Yi Yang remained calm and continued to scroll.
"Why no reaction yet? Did my words just now not malicious enough?"
"Just now, I should have slapped Zuorong hard, to make it look even more malicious and convincing."
Yi Yang raised an eyebrow, turned off the phone, and leaned back.
"I know you're not like this, I believe you. Besides, it's not a big deal. You insulted a little star, so what? If someone dares to bully you next time, just hit back."
He spoke casually, as if it really didn't matter.
Xin Yixun looked at Yi Yang in a daze for a long time, then threw herself at him, choked with emotion, and cried out, "I knew you would believe me! Zuorong, that woman who stoops to any means, just pretends to be pitiful and gain sympathy. I just wanted to teach her a lesson, I did nothing wrong!"
"Yeah, you did nothing wrong."
"...and these netizens! They're so despicable, cursing at me!"
"I'll sue them tomorrow."
Xin Yixun choked up.
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "Honey, I don't want to see Zuorong at the drama set anymore."
He looked at her, "Alright, I'll blacklist her."
"…"
Xin Yixun hesitated.
"Why is Yi Yang so malicious?!"
As the Bentley slowly drove into the villa at Fushui Bay, the lights at the Yi family villa were all on.
Upon entering, Xuxinyi felt the tense and heavy atmosphere in the air. Mr. Chen and a few servants remained silent and did not utter a word.
When Xuxinyi and Yiyang exchanged glances, they both saw confusion in each other's eyes.
"What's going on here?" Xuyang asked.
Mr. Yi was sitting on the sofa in the living room with a cane, and Mrs. Yi was beside him, wearing a stern expression.
"Mr. Yi, the young master and young mistress have returned together," emphasized Mr. Chen on the word 'together.'
"Grandfather, mom, we're back." Mr. Yi ignored him and instructed Mr. Chen, "Old Chen, you all go back and rest first."
This meant they needed to have a private conversation.
Mr. Chen led the servants away.
Once everyone had left, Mr. Yi turned to Yiyang and Xuxinyi with a completely serious expression.
Something was amiss.
Xuxinyi, having married into the Yi family, had never seen Mr. Yi look so serious. Even when Mr. Yi had been hospitalized, he had always looked kindly at her, asking if she was adapting to the Yi family and if Yiyang was treating her well.
She didn't dare speak out.
It was Yiyang who broke the heavy atmosphere, asking, "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" Mrs. Yi unlocked and opened a tablet and placed it on the coffee table in front of them.
"Take a look, what's this all about?" Yiyang picked up the tablet, and Xuxinyi leaned in closer.
On the tablet screen was an entertainment news piece with a huge headline: 'Heir of the Yi Family Meets with a Female Star Late at Night. The Perfect Match of Talents and Beauty, the Next One to Marry into a Wealthy Family is Her!'. It was even repeated three times, catching people's attention.
Left Rong had taken action. Failing to get the news published in entertainment newspapers, she had found bloggers online to expose the matter. Through several bloggers, the matter had gained a lot of attention online.
A few of the photos had been edited to be slightly blurry, but they were still clear enough to discern Yiyang and Left Rong's faces.
Yiyang and Xuxinyi exchanged glances.
Mr. Yi angrily slammed his cane on the ground twice and said, "Yiyang, what's going on? Is the person in these pictures you? And that girl, do you have any relationship with her? Speak clearly in front of me, your mother, and Xuxinyi!"
Yiyang had nothing to hide, so he explained, "Grandfather, it's indeed me in the pictures. I attended a party that night, and that woman was someone at the party. She came over and said a few words to me, and someone took the photos. The suit I was wearing wasn't even mine, and I don't know who lent it to her. I also don't know who the woman is."
After speaking, Yiyang looked at Xuxinyi and said, "Don't worry, I won't betray Xuxinyi."
Mr. Yi seemed unsure, "Really?"
Yiyang responded confidently, "Yes."
Hearing Yiyang's explanation, Mr. Yi seemed to calm down a lot and cleared his throat, "Well... as long as you have nothing to do with that girl, Grandfather will still believe in you." He glanced at Mrs. Yi. "Isn't that right?"
Mrs. Yi was at a loss for words.
Before Yiyang and Xuxinyi had returned, Mr. Yi had been angry, talking about how he'd teach Yiyang a lesson.
"Yes, Yiyang has been under your watchful eye since he was young, so you know his character best."
Xuxinyi also smiled and said, "That's right, Grandfather, Yiyang has said he will be good to me in the future and won't do anything to hurt me."
"Xinyi, speaking of that, Grandfather also has something to ask you," said Mr. Yi with a serious expression.
Xuxinyi was puzzled. She had only spoken for Yiyang, so how did she end up being scolded too?
"Xinyi, it's not about scolding you, we are all your relatives. No matter what troubles you, whether you want to drink or go out for a break, it's okay. But how could you, a girl, go to a bar alone in the late evening?"
"Huh?" Mr. Yi pointed at the tablet. "Scroll down."
Yiyang scrolled down, and they saw a photo of Xuxinyi getting drunk at a bar, but no one knew when it was taken.
"This... Grandfather, actually, I wasn't alone. I had a friend with me," Xuxinyi explained.
"Even if you had a friend with you, it's not acceptable. How could you drink at such a place late at night? Where can't you drink? There's always a risk, what if something happened?" said Mr. Yi.
"I... Grandfather, I'm sorry, I was wrong, I was..." She suddenly thought of something and choked up, "I misunderstood Yiyang, that's why I wasn't feeling good and went to drink. I won't do it again!"
Yiyang turned to look at her, asking with his eyes what she was doing by apologizing for no reason.
Xuxinyi, feeling guilty, avoided his gaze, not daring to look at him.
"Look at you! What are you looking at?! I'll twist off your head! A grown man carrying a burden, what's wrong with that? And it's your fault to begin with! How petty and mean!"
"Is that so?" Mr. Yi glared at Yiyang and then said to Xuxinyi, "Since you already knew about this, why didn't you tell Grandfather? You were just brooding over nothing."
"You had just returned, so I didn't want to bother you."
"You, child, next time you must not do this again. If Yiyang does something to make you misunderstand and feel sad again, you must tell me the first time. Grandpa will take care of it for you! Also, Yiyang, if there is another incident like this, you must address it immediately. Don't let me see your scandal again, do you understand?"
"Yes, Grandpa, I understand."
This matter is considered settled.
Mr. Yi's kindly demeanor returned, but he had a stern face as he said, "Turn the page."
"..." Yiyang turned the page.
It was a video.
"I'm scattering rice on the ground, and even the chickens act better than you!"
The video transmitted a sarcastic and cutting remark.
A video of Xinxinyu mocking Zuo Rong on the set also fell into Mr. Yi's hands.
"Grandpa, this actress has poor acting skills, and she even tried to seduce Yiyang, so I got angry and said a few words," Xinxinyu explained.
"But you shouldn't say such things in public! Can't certain matters be discussed in private?" Mr. Yi sighed. "I know your parents passed away early, and I was the one who raised you. I have always indulged you, and you have become a bit arrogant. But you can't bully people like this. Look at how that girl is being bullied on the set, and now the video is being circulated online. In the end, who is being scolded? Doesn't it hurt when you read those words scolding you?"
Xinxinyu looked at Yiyang, quietly tugging at his sleeve, seeking help.
But Yiyang just glanced at her, turned his back, and had an indifferent look, as if to say, "It's none of my business."
...He tui!
"Before, Grandpa always wanted to talk to you, but you know he was not in good health and didn't have the chance. Now that you've come back, let me tell you honestly, I don't like your behavior. From today onwards, you must change. Don't be so aggressive when speaking publicly, don't be impolite, and don't lack refinement. Do you remember?"
As Xinxinyu looked up with a view of Yiyang's slightly raised mouth, she could hardly bear it.
This arrogant man is actually smiling!
Smiling?!
Is he mocking me?
Fine, nicely done!
Xinxinyu can't stand this temper.
When one's wife shines, so does the husband, and when she suffers, so does he.
If you are not compassionate, don't blame me for being unrighteous!
Xinxinyu hung her head, saying, "But Yiyang is also trying to protect me and doesn't want me to be wronged."
Both Mr. Yi and Mrs. Yi were surprised, "For your sake? What's going on?"
Yiyang had a faint ominous premonition.
"This... this is what Yiyang taught me. He said, as a small star, it's okay to be scolded. If someone bullies me in the future, I should fight back. If someone scolds me online, he will speak up for me. As long as I am happy," facing Yiyang's gradually resentful eyes, Xinxinyu gathered her courage and continued, "he also said, in a few days, he will help me blacklist that small star!"
"Blacklist?" Mr. Yi looked at Yiyang, completely disbelieving that his grandson would say such things. "Yiyang, did you say that?"
Even Mrs. Yi was shocked, "Yiyang, how could you...?"
Though skilled at negotiation at the negotiating table, Yiyang was now caught off guard by Xinxinyu's seemingly reasonable but actually distorted words. He was unable to speak for a while.
He did say those words, yes, but...
"Grandpa, Mom, I..."
Xinxinyu quickly confessed, "Grandpa, Mom, I dare not lie in front of you. Although those words were indeed said by Yiyang, don't blame him, blame me. I... I know I was wrong, I shouldn't have been so arrogant and domineering outside. I won't dare to do it again in the future."
"Xinxinyu!"
“Why are you scolding her?” Mr. Yi pointed at Yiyang with his cane. “You, did you say those things? Did you teach Xinyu?"
"Grandpa, indeed those are my words, but..."
"But what?" Mr. Yi was anguished, "How could you say such things? Haven't I taught you to be reasonable, polite, and to carry yourself with dignity and integrity? How could you become like this just because you have a little power?"
"Grandpa, don't blame him, really, don't blame him. Yiyang is also doing it for me, afraid that I will be bullied outside. I promise you, Grandpa, I won't do it again in the future, don't be angry with me."
Mr. Yi was helped by Mrs. Yi to sit on the sofa, sighing and shaking his head.
Yiyang had never expected Xinxinyu's move, and after glaring at her for a moment, he quietly apologized, "Grandpa, I'm sorry, I will be careful with my words in the future and won't say such things again."
Following suit, Xinxinyu made a declaration, "Grandpa, I will also be careful with my words in the future!"
It's been said that "wealth does not pass three generations," but the Yi family has made remarkable progress, relying on the efforts of three generations and the teachings of Mr. Yi.
"Be careful with your words, that's what's most important for you!"
That night, after the one-sided accountability was over, Yiyang was called into the study by Mr. Yi and scolded for a full hour before being allowed to leave.
Once he got back, Xinxinyu immediately came up to him, "Honey, Grandpa didn't do anything to you, did he?"
Yiyang kept a stern face and didn't say a word as he took off his coat and loosened his tie.
- "Ai, isn't winning this battle really refreshing? Are you still laughing at me? Why aren't you laughing now? Didn't you enjoy watching me make a fool of myself?"
- "Will Yiyang think that I, Xinxinyu, am crafty and insidious? Distorting the truth, causing discord, and from this moment starting to be annoyed by me and wanting a divorce!"
As Yiyang was halfway through untying his tie, he hung it around his neck and turned to look at Xinxinyu, saying, "Xinxinyu, Grandpa said, let me supervise you."
"Supervise me for what?"
"You said you wanted to be cautious, right? Grandpa let me supervise you. Will you continue to be arrogant and overbearing outside after that?"
"Host, you haven't been vicious enough lately."
Xu Xinyi: ".........."