Chapter 14: Shattered
After getting out of the car, Liu Qin and the others escorted Meng Ying upstairs. Her condition wasn’t great, so after they helped her inside, Liu Qin asked them to leave first, staying behind to look after Meng Ying.
As soon as the door closed, Liu Qin turned around and saw Meng Ying sitting on the sofa, propped up as if she were exhausted. Liu Qin fetched a first-aid kit, took out some disinfectant, and dabbed a cotton swab to clean Meng Ying’s ear wound. Meng Ying waved her hand and said, “I want to remove my makeup first.”
“Why are you thinking about makeup at a time like this? You need to treat your wound first,” Liu Qin said, anxious. Meng Ying shook her head. “Please get my makeup remover.”
“You…” Liu Qin had no choice but to put down the cotton swab and went to fetch the remover.
Meng Ying looked at her reflection in the TV screen. Her makeup was already a mess, but worse still was the black eyeliner—it was long and disgusting.
She reached up to rub her eyes, trying to wipe off the eyeliner.
Her pale fingers were stained with blood, and the black eyeliner stuck to them, but no matter how hard she rubbed, it wouldn’t come off. It wasn’t until Liu Qin returned with the makeup remover.
She applied some and wiped hard.
The eyeliner at the outer corners of her eyes disappeared immediately, but she kept wiping, making sure there were no traces left. Liu Qin grabbed her hand. “Enough, it’s all off.”
Meng Ying finally looked away from the TV and turned to Liu Qin. “Is it all gone?”
“Yes, but now you need to worry about your wound,” Liu Qin replied. She then gently placed a cotton swab on her ear, and the sharp pain hit her immediately. Meng Ying flinched, and Liu Qin focused on her earlobe. “Such a beautiful earlobe. If this wound doesn’t heal properly, it could cause trouble later. I think you should go to the hospital…”
“No need.”
Meng Ying closed her eyes again and leaned back against the sofa. “As long as the eyeliner is gone, it’s fine.”
“Why are you only worried about the eyeliner? This wound…” Liu Qin’s phone kept ringing. She knew it was someone calling about what had happened at the dinner earlier, but she didn’t answer. She hoped Meng Ying would say something, but she didn’t. Her face was still pale, but no longer in the same disoriented state. She wasn’t crying anymore. Her beautiful face looked completely calm.
After treating the wound, Liu Qin took her phone and stepped into the bathroom to take the call.
It was a friend from their circle, someone who had also been at the banquet, asking Liu Qin what the relationship was between Meng Ying and the eldest daughter of the Yang family.
“Who is the eldest daughter of the Yang family?” Liu Qin frowned and asked back.
The person on the other end explained, and Liu Qin was stunned for a moment before sneering. “What relationship? There’s no relationship at all. Everyone already knows Meng Ying’s family background. She’s not some rich young lady. She has nothing to do with the Yang sisters. And if you’re saying that, then the eldest daughter of the Yang family isn’t so great either. She’s already married but still so close to Xu Dian, oh no, I mean, the president of Huaying. Isn’t she just putting a bright green hat on her husband’s head?”
The person who was listening to the conversation laughed for a moment, and everyone understood without needing to say much. Liu Qin was the one who openly spoke out about it. In reality, very few people knew that the young master of the Xu family was the president of Huaying, and the person who had been listening had only recently heard about it, which is why they came to talk to Liu Qin. This person also knew that the Xu family’s young master had a good relationship with the two daughters of the Yang family, and with that, everything fell into place. Finally, this person chuckled and gently asked, “So, does Meng Ying have anything to do with the president of Huaying?”
Liu Qin smiled lightly and retorted, “There’s no connection at all. They don’t know each other and have never spoken. Meng Ying’s behavior tonight is all because of Yang Tong’s provocation. Yang Tong bullied our Meng Ying, making her wear the same makeup as her sister. Who could stand that?”
The struggle between Yang Tong and Meng Ying had already been made public, so Liu Qin’s explanation made sense. The first person to put on the makeup indeed looked off, while the second one easily became the laughingstock. After getting the information they wanted, the person on the other end of the line hung up.
Liu Qin listened to the beeping sound and stayed in the bathroom for a while before walking out.
From this phone call, Liu Qin had already figured out Meng Ying’s situation. She walked over, stood behind the sofa, placed a hand on Meng Ying’s shoulder, and said, “My mother once told me that girls need to be raised with wealth, love, and plenty of candy, so that in the future, they won’t run off with a man for a piece of candy or a cake.”
“Meng Ying, you haven’t had enough love, material wealth, or candy, but now you can earn it and buy it yourself. Some people, if they can’t reach higher, shouldn’t try to. Don’t make things difficult for yourself. You are Meng Ying, unique and irreplaceable.”
Unique and irreplaceable.
Tears began to well up in the corners of Meng Ying’s eyes.
Liu Qin sighed softly and asked, “Is there anything you’d like to eat?”
“No, I just want some peace,” Meng Ying replied quietly.
“Okay.”
Liu Qin took a tissue to wipe her eyes, grabbed her small bag, and left. Before she closed the door, she said, “Call me if you need anything.”
“Okay,” Meng Ying answered softly and calmly.
The door closed.
With a thud, the room fell into silence. Meng Ying reached out and hugged her knees, leaning against the couch.
A black Hummer stopped at the entrance of the residential complex, the headlights turned off, and the interior lit up with a faint orange glow. The window rolled down, and Xu Dian, wearing silver-rimmed glasses, looked up at the building in the distance. The light on the 18th floor was still on, and the window was open, with the curtains billowing outside.
He bit his cigar, quietly smoking.
But he showed no intention of going up.
At that moment, a silver car stopped beside him, and a man in a white lab coat got out, holding a medical kit. He glanced at the Hummer. Xu Dian tilted his head and nodded. The man also nodded back in acknowledgment before quickly turning into the complex, entering the lobby, and taking the elevator.
The room was very quiet. Meng Ying thought about turning on the TV but didn’t. Her thoughts were still a bit disorganized, though much calmer now. Just then, the doorbell rang. She froze for a moment, stood up reflexively, and then realized she was being too nervous. She immediately squeezed the armrest of the sofa and walked over.
She didn’t want to see Xu Dian.
If it was him, she would call the police.
She reached the entrance, and the doorbell rang again, with a steady rhythm. Meng Ying looked through the peephole and saw a polite-looking man standing outside, but it wasn’t Xu Dian. The man was holding a phone and raised it toward her, showing a few words on the screen.
“Liu Qin asked me to come, afraid your wound might become infected.”
At that moment, Meng Ying couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
How could she have thought it was him? She was really being foolish. She stepped back calmly, opened the door, and the man in the white lab coat smiled, “My name is Li, Li Yao. You can call me Dr. Li. Let me check your wound.”
“My wound is fine,” Meng Ying said as she entered the room and poured water for Dr. Li. He smiled, set down the medical kit, and gestured for Meng Ying to sit on the sofa. Li Yao tilted his head and examined her wound. Although she had pulled it with force, the base of the earring was silver, and it had snapped. So, the hole was elongated but not completely torn through the earlobe. She had applied medicine earlier, but it hadn’t been thorough, so Li Yao soaked some medicine and applied it directly to the earhole.
Meng Ying inhaled sharply and grabbed Dr. Li Yao’s sleeve.
Li Yao smiled slightly and nonchalantly pulled his sleeve free, saying, “It’s fine. Let me clean it properly before applying the medication. Don’t be afraid.”
Meng Ying nodded, calming herself. She bit her lip and lowered her head, enduring the discomfort. Soon, the wound was cleaned and treated. It was much more uncomfortable than when Liu Qin had done it earlier, especially with the intense tingling and pain that felt almost numb.
“Thank you, Dr. Li. I’m sorry to trouble you with this,” Meng Ying said as she watched him pack up the medical kit. “How much do I owe you? I’ll transfer it to you.”
Li Yao bent down, placing the pills in a neat pile. “It’s not much, but if you want to pay, I’ll accept it. No need to mention it to Liu Qin, though.”
“Okay.” Meng Ying took out her phone and transferred the money to Li Yao.
Li Yao packed up his medical kit, pointed to the pills on the table, and said, “Remember to take them, or you’ll have a fever tonight. Make sure to take them before bed.”
“Okay, thank you.” Meng Ying put the pills away and stood up to see Dr. Li off.
She watched him until the elevator doors closed.
The wind had picked up, and Li Yao’s white coat fluttered in the breeze as he walked toward the conspicuous Hummer. He bent down and looked into the vehicle, where Xu Dian was sitting, smoking and fiddling with his phone. “It’s all taken care of.”
Xu Dian gave a low sound of acknowledgment.
“She also added me on WeChat.”
Xu Dian paused his fingers on the phone, then smiled faintly. “And then?”
Li Yao stared at him, clicking his tongue twice, straightened up, and said, “I’ll leave now.”
Xu Dian didn’t respond.
The silver sedan in front of them started and drove away. Xu Dian, still holding his cigarette, squinted and smoked slowly. After a while, he looked again at the building in the distance, focusing on the window on the 18th floor. The curtain was still fluttering. He watched for a long time before shifting his gaze and unlocking his phone.
WeChat chat page.
The one with Meng Ying. She didn’t send a single WeChat message. Xu Dian stared at it for a while, then clicked into Weibo. After refreshing, he saw that she had just reposted a promotion for Nine Heavens.
Meng Ying V: Ling Yao is a silly girl. @Nine Heavens Official Weibo: Look at our Ling Yao, how beautiful she looks in this outfit.
WeChat beeped a few times.
Zhou Yang: Have you gone upstairs?
Zhou Yang: Why do I see your car? Oh, I even see you at the community entrance, are you too scared to come up?
Xu Dian: Heh.
Then, he glanced at Weibo again, started the car, and left the community. Interstellar was about to start filming, and she would definitely be there.
After sending Li Yao off, Meng Ying still couldn’t fall asleep. Then Liu Qin sent her a message asking her to repost a Nine Heavens still. When she saw Ling Yao in the set of blood-red clothes after her corruption, Meng Ying was shocked. Back when they were filming, the scene where Ling Yao saw Cang Long with Di Xian was filled with intense jealousy and emotional turmoil. Meng Ying had felt that it was already hard to act out. Who would have thought…
That when such a thing actually happened, the emotions—especially the pain—would be even more overwhelming.
She reposted it quickly, adding a short comment. Then she took out her notebook from the room. She could type, but it had to be crystal clear. She logged into the hacker network. Entered the account borrowed from Xu Qing.
She posted a message.
She was looking for information on the Li family, Xu family, and Yang family, especially on the young master of the Xu family.
Soon.
An ID named * sent a message: “I’m sending it to you. Is it the information on the young master of the Xu family and the two young ladies of the Yang family?”
It was as if the person could read her mind. Meng Ying frowned and replied, “Yes.”
“Wait.”
A minute later, a compressed file was sent. Meng Ying asked, “How much?”
: No charge, it’s a gift.
After that, the other side went offline. Meng Ying paused, exited the website, and extracted the compressed file. Inside were photos, relationships between people, and some details, major incidents, and changes. Meng Ying scanned them one by one.
She looked at Yang Rou’s appearance. Yang Rou looked delicate, the type of girl who preferred heavy makeup, like elongated eyeliner. Also, Yang Rou’s red earrings weren’t earrings but a red mole, which made them look like earrings. Upon seeing this, Meng Ying sneered.
Oh.
She was nothing but a poor-quality substitute; she could never grow a red mole.
Yang Rou grew up alongside Xu Dian and Yang Tong, as well as several other young masters and young ladies. Xu Dian had always had a good relationship with women, and because of her studies, Yang Rou had lived with the Xu family since middle school. She and Xu Dian were always together. Her personality was gentle, and she liked to lean on Xu Dian’s shoulder and talk to him.
Xu Dian was kinder to her than to others.
The Xu family parents were often away, so Yang Rou was often cared for by Xu Dian, who also cared for her. When she occasionally had a fever or cold, it was Yang Rou who brought him medicine and made congee. They both experienced the deaths of Yang Rou’s mother and Xu Dian’s grandfather, comforting each other. Even when Xu Dian’s grandfather passed away, Yang Rou held his hand, which slightly crossed the line.
Even though Yang Rou had to fulfill her marriage contract and marry Li Yao, the young master of the Li family, Xu Dian still couldn’t forget her. He didn’t attend her wedding but sent a lot of dowries to support her, including a Rolls Royce she had always wanted.
Snap—
The notebook closed, and Meng Ying smiled.
She gradually smiled out loud. People always said Xu Dian was indifferent, but in this world, the most indifferent people were often the ones who loved the deepest—it’s just that you were not the one to receive that love.
Meng Ying.
She stood up, walked into the bathroom, took off her long red dress, turned on the shower, and let the hot water pour over her. The water made her skin turn red, and the rose tattoo on her back seemed to come to life under the water, as if it was about to bloom.
Amid the sound of the water, A faint song echoed.
“I dare not look back, nervously glancing around, secretly liking you, restlessly trying to start a conversation, testing with a goodnight, so empty and bittersweet, murmuring to myself, my love for you is too obvious, a clown spinning in place, constantly heartbroken…”
Faintly…
“…As long as today passes, I will love myself a little more, and there will be no more ‘you’ in my world…”
Half an hour later, the bathroom door opened, and the steam rushed out. Meng Ying walked out wrapped in a towel, her long white legs dripping with water droplets, each one falling onto the carpet. She pulled down the suitcase from the wardrobe and placed it on the floor, standing up to start packing her clothes.
She folded them one by one.
After she finished, she leaned back against the bed and called Liu Qin: “I want to take some time off.”
Liu Qin wasn’t fully awake and sat up suddenly: “Time off? For how long?”
“I’m not sure, maybe a year, maybe two…”
Liu Qin was completely awake now. She paused, “Then what about Interstellar?”
On the other side, Meng Ying laughed softly, “Interstellar? Not filming anymore.”
Liu Qin was even more stunned. Her head felt like it was exploding. On the other side, the usually gentle voice was still gentle, but with an unspeakable determination and calmness that made Liu Qin’s heart tremble.
“Not filming… the contract, right, the contract wasn’t signed, but a one or two-year break, you know, for an actor, that’s a huge blow…”
“It’s okay, I can handle it.”
Liu Qin’s throat tightened.
Meng Ying smiled again, “Then it’s settled.”
After that, she hung up the phone. Liu Qin, still in shock, saw a notification on her phone. She looked at her account, and 800,000 yuan had been transferred in. Then, Meng Ying sent a WeChat message.
“Chen Jie, for Yu Lin’s salary, the excess, can you help me save it?”
“Isn’t this all of your money?” Liu Qin was stunned and hurriedly returned the question.
Meng Ying replied, “I still have some left, don’t worry. As for my parents, I’ve transferred enough to them too.”
The night was dark. A woman with long, flowing hair walked slowly toward the high-speed rail station under the night sky. Despite the darkness, the station remained brightly lit. Travelers bustled in and out of the gates. Blending into the crowd, Meng Ying, wearing a mask and sunglasses, dragged her suitcase onto the long train. The wind was fierce.
It lifted her hair, as if blowing away all her emotions.
That night, something that could have trended on social media was suppressed by Huaying Entertainment. Online, there was only joy and laughter. The author You Lanqin received countless blessings from readers and friends in the industry. A short Weibo post garnered 120,000 comments and a million shares, all filled with well-wishes. Only the guests at the birthday banquet knew what truly happened.
The event that unfolded at the start of the banquet was puzzling and sparked endless speculation. Various versions circulated:
Some said Meng Ying stormed off in anger after pulling off her earrings due to Yang Tong’s provocation. Others claimed Yang Tong arranged Meng Ying’s makeup artist, deliberately making her look identical to her elder sister. Some speculated that Meng Ying was the Yang family’s illegitimate daughter; otherwise, why would they look so alike? Another version suggested Meng Ying was the lover of the Li family’s young master, who had intentionally matched her makeup to find out she was just a poor imitation, leading to her angry departure.
Even wilder rumors followed.
A portion of people guessed Meng Ying deliberately used her makeup to seduce the heir of the Xu family, aiming to marry into wealth. Or that Meng Ying knew the Xu heir and Yang family’s eldest daughter were close friends and had a history, so she was trying to replace her. Lastly, there was speculation that Meng Ying had already been acting as a stand-in, and upon discovering the original, she stormed out in fury.
Of all these guesses, only the last one was true. Yet, truth mixed with falsehoods remains mere rumors unless confirmed by those involved. It was nothing but gossip, sensationalism, and scandal. Coinciding with You Lanqin’s birthday, the official Weibo account of Interstellar released its cast list, igniting a frenzy across the platform.
At the top was the male idol Gu Yan, followed by Yang Tong, and finally Meng Ying. These three had complex dynamics: two were a popular online couple, and the two actresses were rivals constantly at odds.
The situation thrilled fans and netizens alike. The on-screen couple would be split up, with the male lead paired with one of the quarreling actresses—making for a dramatic spectacle.
Interstellar trended repeatedly on social media. Interestingly, the cast list and the author-screenwriter list were displayed in two separate columns. By coincidence—or not—Meng Ying’s name was placed next to Yang Rou’s. Those in the know stared at the list with subtle expressions.
Xu Dian glanced at the two names:
【Meng Ying】【Yang Rou】
After a moment, he put down his tablet and leaned over to press the internal phone. His deep voice called out, “Come in.”
“Yes,” the assistant replied promptly.
The door soon opened, and the assistant entered, holding a box in both hands. They handed it to Xu Dian.
Xu Dian raised an eyebrow. “What’s this?”
“A courier just delivered it. It’s been scanned—nothing suspicious.”
Leaning against his desk, Xu Dian accepted the box and lifted the lid.
Inside lay a pair of red gemstone earrings. He froze momentarily before noticing a box of eyeliner pens. Several had been used, one nearly depleted. Beside it was a brocade box filled with red earrings. Beneath it all was a magazine.
Inside the magazine, Meng Ying tilted her eyes up with a smile, looking at him. Red gemstone earrings peeked out from her hair. Her fingers held them delicately, exuding a sensual yet pristine allure. Xu Dian’s gaze darkened. He reached into the bottom of the box and yanked out a document with force. It was the contract for Interstellar. His defined fingers flipped to the final page.
The last page bore Interstellar’s official seal, but the actor’s signature line was blank—empty and untouched.
At that moment, a foreboding feeling surfaced in Xu Dian’s heart.
With a loud bang, he slammed the box shut, grabbed his car keys, and strode out of the office.
Startled, his assistant rushed forward to open the office door for him. The man’s profile was cold and hard, his usual charming demeanor gone. He headed straight to the underground garage, drove out in his Hummer, and went directly to Meng Ying’s apartment complex. Swiping his card, he entered the gate, passed through the lobby, and took the elevator up to the eighteenth floor.
The wind blew strongly, ruffling the collar of his shirt. Xu Dian took out a key and inserted it into the lock.
It wouldn’t turn.
His expression darkened as he stared at the lock, realizing it was new. It had already been changed.
He remained silent, his fingers pressing against the lock for a long moment. Then, his gaze swept over to a nearby trash bin. Inside were four credit and debit cards, all cut to pieces. One of them, bearing his name on the back, was shredded into even smaller fragments.
She had discarded them all.
Just then, his phone beeped.
Xu Dian glanced at the screen.
Meng Ying: It’s breakup.
He quickly typed a reply: Where are you?
The screen displayed a cold notification:
[Message sent, but the recipient has refused to receive it.]
She had blocked him.
Immediately after, his phone rang. It was the director of Interstellar. Xu Dian picked it up while bending down to gather the card fragments. On the other end, Director Liu sounded incredulous.
“Mr. Xu, is it true? Meng Ying, the actress for Jiao Lan, announced she’s taking a year off for recovery and won’t be filming?”
“How did you find out?” Xu Dian asked tightly, clutching the fragments in his hand.
“It’s on Weibo. Her company issued a statement.”
Xu Dian narrowed his eyes. The sharp edges of the fragments dug into his palm, drawing blood. Slowly and methodically, he gripped them harder, stood up, and walked to the window.
“Recast,” he said coldly.
Director Liu sighed on the other end. “What a shame. She’s absolutely perfect for the role. What could’ve happened for her to leave the entertainment industry at the peak of her career?”
Xu Dian didn’t reply.
A thin stream of blood seeped from his fingers. He put down the shattered cards and brought his hand to his lips, gently sucking the blood away. Even after the call ended, Xu Dian kept his fingers at his lips. Finally, he wiped the corner of his mouth, opened Weibo, and began scrolling.
# Meng Ying Takes a Year Off #
The news has made its way to the trending topics, stirring up quite a storm.
Meng Ying’s small company, Xingyao Media, made a brief announcement: Meng Ying needs rest and will take a one-year break.
That was all. Nothing more. The comment section was flooded with questions:
Why so sudden?
Why take a break at the peak of her popularity?
Did something happen?
…
Xu Dian glanced at it briefly and was about to exit when he noticed a fan tagging Gu Yan:
“Idol, do you know where Meng Ying went? Please reply…”
Xu Dian narrowed his eyes and clicked on Gu Yan’s Weibo.
Gu Yan V: I can’t tell you where she went, but I can assure you she’s doing well.
Comments under the post:
Gu Yan’s little cutie: Ahhhh, I knew you’d know! Okay, we won’t ask anymore.
Gu Xiaoxiao: Got it, understood. Just let us know when you’re getting married, okay?
Gu Meng’s daughter: Mm, okay, we won’t ask. Just share some of her photos with us occasionally…
The glowing screen reflected a pair of charming almond-shaped eyes. The handsome man holding the phone exited Weibo abruptly and dialed Jiang Yu’s number.
Jiang Yu answered quickly, his cold voice carrying a hint of amusement. “You want to ask me where Meng Ying went, don’t you? No need to ask—I don’t know.”
Xu Dian tugged at his collar and remained silent for a while. After a long pause, he let out two low chuckles, nonchalant yet sharp as a blade:
“Oh? I wasn’t planning to ask.”
Then he hung up—click.
He stood quietly by the door for a while, gazing at it before turning around and leaving.
Mount Buddha was always bustling with worshippers, but the path to the mountain was difficult to traverse. Visitors had to make reservations in advance to offer incense or request blessings. In a secluded courtyard of the temple, those with a karmic connection to the Buddha could retreat from the secular world.
Meng Ying, dressed simply in a wrapped skirt, was bent over, preparing lunch. The water she used flowed down from the river at the mountain’s base, crystal clear. Even when scooping it, the reflection in the water remained pristine, pure, and undisturbed.
Cultivation required distancing oneself from worldly desires and seeing through karmic entanglements.
Meng Ying lit a fire to cook.
The door of the neighboring room creaked open. Xu Qing leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
“Wow, this smells amazing…”
Meng Ying didn’t look up and merely asked, “When are you leaving?”
“I have a karmic connection here. Can’t I stay a bit longer? Geez, don’t you need my company?” Xu Qing sauntered over and sat on a chair, resting her chin on her hand as she watched.
Meng Ying chuckled, “No need. I’m fine.”
“Yeah, you look fine now.” Xu Qing toyed with her phone as Meng Ying brought the dishes to the table. She glanced at the incoming call on Xu Qing’s phone and said, “Your husband in the secular world wants you to hurry back…”
“I’m not leaving. I need to cultivate too.” Xu Qing set her phone aside, picked up chopsticks, and drooled over the appetizing dishes. “I’m digging in.”
“Mm, I’ll get you some rice.”
Meng Ying turned back, filled two bowls of rice, and placed them on the table. She then took her seat. Xu Qing glanced at her several times, clicking her tongue in admiration.
The two ate in silence for a while until Xu Qing said, “Oh, right. That Yang Rou—you know, the legit one—is apparently going through a divorce lawsuit recently.”
Meng Ying ate her food quietly, unbothered, her lips curved in a faint, unaffected smile.
Xu Qing smirked. “Looks like by the time you return, that dog Xu Dian will have gotten everything he wanted and found his happily ever after.”
Meng Ying shot her a glance, still smiling. “Then help me prepare a gift for him?”
“Sure, I’ll take care of it once I’m down the mountain. Now, eat up.”
The marriage between Miss Yang, the eldest daughter of the Yang family, and Mr. Li, the eldest son of the Li family, had been arranged by their grandparents long ago. Childhood sweethearts, their bond seemed unbreakable. At sixteen, Li Yi joined the military for rigorous training, and upon retiring at twenty-one, he entered the Yang family business. At twenty-five, he married twenty-four-year-old Yang Rou.
Their married life appeared harmonious, filled with love and understanding. However, two years of marriage eroded not only their deep childhood bond but also the romantic love they once shared. A cold war ensued in their marriage, culminating in a miscarriage that became the breaking point for dissolving their union.
Due to the significant social standing of both families, the divorce lawsuit dragged on for three months—not over financial disputes but because the woman repeatedly raised accusations. In the end, the man won the case. To preserve the families’ reputations, the man conceded by adding two villas to the property division, just to expedite the separation.
The Yang-Li alliance failed.
The next day, the news spread like wildfire across Li City.
The office door opened, and an assistant hesitated at the threshold. Xu Dian, biting down on a cigarette, raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
The assistant cleared his throat and stepped forward hurriedly, leaning over the desk to whisper, “Mr. Xu, a delivery of over a dozen gift boxes just arrived downstairs.”
“What kind of gifts?”
The assistant appeared hesitant, pointing toward the entrance. “You might want to see for yourself…”
Xu Dian removed the cigarette, smirking. “What are you so scared of?”
He stood, adjusting the collar of his shirt as he made his way to the first floor. At the reception area, the front desk staff and security guards stood awkwardly near the pile of gift boxes. Seeing Xu Dian approach, they greeted him quickly.
He removed his silver-rimmed glasses, standing silently in front of the mountain of gifts.
His chiseled profile exuded a sharp coldness.
The pile of gifts consisted of twenty boxes in total.
A banner was draped across them, boldly stating:
“Wishing Xu Dian and Yang Rou a long and happy marriage, and many children to come. Best regards, Meng Ying.”
The timing was impeccable. Miss Yang had just finalized her divorce. The divorce trial had revolved around the fact that Mr. Li harbored feelings for someone else, suggesting that the dissolution of the marriage was so he could pursue his true love. Among those privy to the details, Mr. Li was undoubtedly guilty of emotional infidelity.
And yesterday, the divorce certificate was issued.
Now, here…
At the Xu Group Headquarters…
These twenty boxes of gifts carried a distinct implication.
The receptionist, the security guard, and the assistant all stood quietly, heads lowered, not daring to make a sound. Xu Dian stepped forward, leaned down, and stared at the name “Meng Ying.”
It wasn’t her handwriting.
He looked at it for a few seconds before gesturing with his fingers. “Open it. Let’s see what’s inside.”
Three people immediately obeyed. Each grabbed a box and opened it.
Red earrings.
Black eyeliner…
Ten boxes of each.
Xu Dian put his hands on his hips, standing straight. His thin lips pressed into a line as he glanced at the blessings included with each box. Turning away, he said, “Burn them all.”
“Yes, sir.”
He then strode toward the elevator. After a few steps, he added, “Cut out the names of the well-wishers and keep them.”
“Understood.”
In the elevator, with his hands in his pockets, he looked indifferent, but his eyes held a stormy gloom.
Time in the mountains flies quickly, and a year passed in the blink of an eye. After the airing of Nine Heavens, it was met with great acclaim. Gu Yan’s popularity skyrocketed, but the actress who played Ling Yao, Meng Ying, was gradually forgotten by fans. Another hit drama, an eSports idol series promoting positivity and redemption, stole the spotlight. It told a love story between a jungler and a manager, launching two fresh actors to fame. Their chemistry sparked a new wave of “worshipping” among fans, who eventually began to forget the pairing of Gu Yan and Meng Ying.
During this year, Meng Ying went on a break, disappearing entirely from the public eye. No news surfaced about her. The company announced she was no longer part of the roster, and her social media had gone silent for over a year, with no updates. It was as if she had vanished from the industry.
In such a fast-changing entertainment world, actors adored by fans come and go quickly. Over the past year, Yang Tong’s fame grew significantly. Meanwhile, the eSports idol drama A Beam of Light became so popular that fans unearthed its original source material, discovering that it was written by Yang Rou, the screenwriter of Interstellar.
This revelation brought Yang Rou into the limelight, amassing millions of followers. Skilled in calligraphy and painting, her social media exuded the charm of an ancient soul navigating the modern world, drawing many admirers. Occasionally boosted by Yang Tong, the sister duo took the industry by storm, gaining unparalleled fame.
Recently, the script for Interstellar underwent frequent revisions, causing severe delays in filming. The exact issues were only known to those deeply involved in the production chaos.
Despite being the male lead, Gu Yan took time off to handle personal matters. His fans didn’t know what he was up to, but that didn’t stop them from waiting for him at Li City’s airport. Around 4 p.m., a flight from Tianjin City landed at Li City International Airport.
Meng Ying lowered her sleep mask, yawned, and unbuckled her seatbelt. Standing up, Gu Yan closed the tray table and glanced at her with a smile. “You’ve been asleep since we boarded.”
Meng Ying smiled back. “That’s just how I am.”
She was dressed in black: a black top and wide-leg trousers, with a hint of her waist showing. Reaching up for her luggage, she hesitated when Gu Yan took the suitcase down for her and placed it on the floor. Pulling the handle, his tall figure moved ahead, and Meng Ying paused momentarily before smiling and following him with her handbag.
The weather in Li City was scorching, the surroundings bathed in golden sunlight.
Meng Ying and Gu Yan exited the plane, waiting briefly as his team collected their luggage. They soon moved toward the airport’s exit, surrounded by a bustling crowd. Not far away, Gu Yan’s fans were holding signs and banners, their enthusiasm palpable. The group remained calm, steadily making their way to the main doors.
As they approached, a tall, handsome man stepped out of a black sedan. Adjusting his silver-framed glasses and straightening his shirt collar, he walked leisurely into the airport. The two groups met face-to-face. Xu Dian lowered his glasses slightly, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Meng Ying.
Meng Ying also recognized Xu Dian at a glance. She gave him a calm, indifferent look before quietly brushing past him. Her high ponytail swayed and lightly flicked against the back of his hand. Xu Dian paused, turned his head to glance at the back of his hand, and a few seconds later, subtly brought it to his nose for a faint sniff. The corners of his lips curled up, his eyes carrying a cool and faintly mocking smile.
Taking a long stride forward, he turned around.
All he saw was a large hand resting on Meng Ying’s shoulder. His eyes narrowed slightly.
At that moment—
Fans screamed in excitement.
“OMG! Is that Meng Ying? She’s been out of the spotlight for a year, and I almost didn’t recognize her! How did she get so stunning?!”
That evening.
Weibo trending:
#MengYingReturns,AbsolutelyGorgeous
The photos went viral:
Short black top, black wide-leg trousers, a hint of a slim waist peeking through, her high ponytail swaying behind her, flawless skin glowing like a baby’s. Most importantly, her demeanor had changed—it now exuded an unattainable ethereal quality, a divine elegance that left fans in awe. Some even commented that her aura was now one of pure desire, making her someone they admired yet couldn’t approach.
Xu Dian stared at those words.
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