Chapter 44: Self-Proof

That trending topic was originally bought by Huaying, filled with a lot of fluff, but once it gained a prominent position, many people went in to take a look. Perhaps because of those paid commentators, aside from a few fans of Meng Ying and Gu Yan’s CP who left some sour comments, most actually expressed their blessings.

Mainly because Meng Ying’s image has been very positive recently, earning her a lot of goodwill. Those netizens who were blessing her were waiting for an official announcement, but what they got instead were these words from Huaying.

Huaying Official Weibo V: For, now, just, friends.

Wait, Huaying can issue a statement, but what’s up with the punctuation marks in between? Is the official Weibo account being this careless? Netizens instinctively tried to analyze it, but when they couldn’t figure it out, they gave up and started speculating about other things.

“Are they really just friends?”

“Or are they just not willing to go public yet?”

“Looking at their photos, it does seem like they’re more than friends but not quite lovers. There’s no hugging or anything.”

“Whatever the situation is, the big boss at Huaying definitely has some interest in Meng Ying.”

“Why does it feel a bit grudging? Is the Huaying boss unwilling to admit they’re just friends?”

“Maybe they’re already dating and just lying to us netizens!!!”

As soon as this last comment appeared, netizens noticed something.

Li Yuan’er liked this Weibo post.

Xu Qing liked this Weibo post.

Qin Jun liked this Weibo post.

Damn, all the big shots.

So the netizens understood.

“They really are just friends, haha.”

“Ah, indeed, just friends.”

“The big shots have come out to like it, so Xu Qing’s words are credible.”

“Li Yuan’er’s words are also credible…”

“Wait? Li Yuan’er unliked it?”

Li Yuan’er unliked the post.

This left netizens confused, especially Li Yuan’er’s fans.

“Eh? Li Yuan’er, do you know something? Why did you unlike it? Give us a reason.”

“Oh, you definitely know something.”

Li Yuan’er hid behind her screen, feeling pitiful.

Sigh.

Seeing that Huaying’s statement had shifted the public opinion, Meng Ying stopped paying attention. She picked up the proposal sent by *Leisure Time* and sat cross-legged on the sofa to read it. Her phone on the table vibrated, and she leaned over to glance at it before answering, lazily curling up on the sofa.

“Hello,” her voice was soft and sweet.

On the other end, Xu Dian was silent for a few seconds. “You’re finally answering my calls?”

Meng Ying chuckled. “I always answer.”

“Is that so?” Xu Dian’s voice was low, and he let out a cold snort. He didn’t continue, but they both knew how many of his calls she had hung up on.

At least thirty.

After a few seconds of silence, Meng Ying yawned. “I’m a bit sleepy.”

“Should I come over and sleep with you?”

Meng Ying: “No need.”

“Heh.” Xu Dian let out a cold laugh. The two fell silent again. A few seconds later, just as Meng Ying was starting to doze off, the man’s deep voice came through again. “When you were caught up in that scandal with Gu Yan, why did you allow it? But with me, it’s not okay?”

He rarely questioned her like this.

His tone was low, cold, and stiff.

Gritting his teeth.

Even though his words sounded aggrieved, there was no trace of grievance in his voice—just pure questioning.

Meng Ying rested her chin on her knees and said, “I made a three-point agreement with you before: we wouldn’t publicly announce our relationship. Didn’t you agree to that?”

Xu Dian: “…”

“Xu Dian, you’re the young master of the Xu family, the famously cold-hearted CEO. Be good, stay cold-hearted.” Meng Ying’s eyes were half-closed as she mumbled drowsily.

Xu Dian: “…”

“I’m hanging up now,” Meng Ying said, then ended the call.

Beep, beep, beep—

Xu Dian stared at his phone for a few seconds, then picked up his glass and took a big gulp of wine. The liquid rolled down the corner of his lips and disappeared into his collar. He licked the wine off his lips.

Leaning against the railing, he let out a bitter laugh.

Originally, Meng Ying had planned to continue reading the proposal, but after hanging up the phone, she was too tired and had to go take a shower and sleep. It was much quieter here than in her hometown, making it easy to fall asleep. The next day, she woke up, went downstairs to the supermarket in the complex to buy some vegetables and meat, came back, did some yoga, cooked, and then continued reading the *Leisure Time* proposal to familiarize herself with the process.

She was very comfortable being alone.

The buzz on Weibo had also died down a lot.

It was at this time that the *Leisure Time* official Weibo account released the list of guests for the new episode, and fans of the show went wild.

“Wow, Meng Ying is the next guest? Ahhh, I’m so here for it! I’ve always felt like she’s really mysterious, hardly giving any interviews.”

“Yeah, and I really want to know about her scandals. The show better ask about that.”

“Hmm, feels like it’ll be interesting. It would be even more exciting if they could invite Gu Yan.”

“I’m so looking forward to it. I heard Meng Ying is a great cook.”

“Ying’s yoga skills are amazing too!!! That figure is every woman’s dream. I wonder if we’ll get any tidbits about the Huaying boss. Will Ying talk about him?”

“I hope this episode is exciting! I can’t wait.”

Since the official Weibo account had tagged Meng Ying, and she hadn’t posted in a while, Liu Qin reminded her to interact a bit. Meng Ying then reposted the Weibo.

**Meng Ying V**: Thank you to the show for the invitation. Let’s look forward to it together. @Leisure Time Official Weibo.

“Hahaha, alright, we’ll look forward to it together!”

“Wait… I noticed something. Meng Ying isn’t following the Huaying official Weibo account. That means she’s not following Huaying!!!”

“Really? She really isn’t following! So, is the Huaying boss just being wishful?”

“Then, the person with Meng Ying at the airport probably isn’t the Huaying CEO either.”

“Ah, right! Maybe it’s Gu Yan! Gu Yan!”

#Meng Ying Not Following Huaying Official Weibo#

This topic quickly climbed onto the trending list.

It didn’t rise too fast, but it maintained steady heat, hovering around the sixth spot.

While this topic was climbing, Meng Ying was preparing lunch. She planned to make chicken cutlets, egg tarts, and even a cup of silk-stocking milk tea. She believed in eating well, even when alone.

—

At the Xu family mansion.

The long dining table was set, and the three members of the Xu family sat quietly eating. They were all well-mannered, rarely chatting during meals. Even Zhao Qiao, who usually loved to talk, rarely spoke while eating.

Once they were almost done, Zhao Qiao wiped her lips with a napkin and looked at her son.

Xu Dian sat across from her, his shirt collar slightly open, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone. His eyes were slightly narrowed, exuding a lazy, indifferent demeanor.

Zhao Qiao kicked her husband under the table.

Xu Yi’s chopsticks trembled, and he had no choice but to put them down and also look at Xu Dian.

Over the years, Xu Dian had quietly cleaned up the pests within the group, elevated the company to new heights, invested heavily in chip and sensor development, and collaborated with the Li family on medical projects, earning strong government support. His methods were ruthless, and beneath his charming, smiling facade was a decisive wolf.

This son of theirs had never lacked female attention since he was young. Being constantly adored by women had made him somewhat indifferent to them. The only exception was perhaps the slight tenderness he held for Yang Rou.

Xu Yi had once thought that when Yang Rou got married, Xu Dian would at least go head-to-head with Li Yi. At that time, it was a critical moment in the competition for a key medical sector. Given Xu Dian’s usual temperament, he should have resorted to any means necessary—either securing the top spot in the medical field by stepping over Li Yi or snatching Yang Rou away, achieving both.

Because Xu Yi knew his son could be quite extreme.

But to everyone’s surprise…

He neither took Yang Rou nor crushed Li Yi. Instead, he collaborated with Li Yi to share the pie, working together harmoniously.

This left Xu Yi and Zhao Qiao utterly confused.

So, to this day, the parents dared not ask about their son’s love life.

They didn’t dare ask, nor did they dare interfere.

But now, Xu Dian is twenty-nine years old. Since he didn’t choose to be with Yang Rou, it’s likely he won’t fall in love with anyone else in the future.

If that’s the case.

Then it’s up to them to arrange Xu Dian’s marriage.

In families like theirs, this is quite normal.

The young masters and ladies of these families are all well aware of their future paths. There are far more important things than love.

Xu Yi coughed and said, “Xu Dian, Uncle Wen’s daughter arrived in Licheng yesterday. She has a fashion show here, and after it’s over, she’ll have three to five days off. She’ll come to our house for dinner on New Year’s Eve. You’ll go pick her up.”

As he spoke, Xu Yi opened his phone, pulled up some information, and slid it over to Xu Dian.

Xu Dian glanced down, put down his chopsticks, picked up a napkin, and slowly wiped his lips. Then he leaned back, looking at Xu Yi with a calm expression.

Xu Yi coughed again, reached under the table, and patted his wife’s thigh.

Zhao Qiao let out a soft “oh” and smiled. “Son, just take some time to pick her up, alright? Besides, don’t you still have collaborations with the Wen family?”

Xu Dian took the phone, glanced at it, then picked up his own phone and took a photo of the information. “Alright.”

Xu Yi and Zhao Qiao breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Dian crossed his long legs, having taken the photo but not bothering to look at it, his expression still lazy.

At that moment, his phone buzzed.

Zhou Yang had sent him a Weibo link.

Xu Dian clicked on it.

The first thing he saw was the trending topic: **#Meng Ying Not Following Huaying Official Weibo#**

Whether she followed him or not.

He knew very well.

To this day, she still hadn’t taken him out of her WeChat blacklist.

Xu Dian’s face darkened.

He then clicked into the comments, first seeing the Weibo post Meng Ying had shared, along with the comments underneath.

“That photo from yesterday definitely wasn’t the Huaying boss. Yingying isn’t even following him! How could it be him? It must be Gu Yan, it’s Gu Yan!”

“Exactly, it’s Gu Yan!”

“Right, if it were the Huaying boss, why wouldn’t Meng Ying follow him? And he said they’re just friends for now, so that person must be Gu Yan!”

“Gu Yan, Gu Yan, I’m alive again! I’m back on the Meng-Gu CP train! Hahaha!”

“Tsk, yeah, looking at that figure, I also think it’s Gu Yan. You can tell just by the physique—it’s amazing.”

Across the table, Xu Yi and Zhao Qiao watched as their son’s expression turned cold. They were confused and exchanged a glance. Just then, Xu Dian picked up his phone, opened the camera, and took a photo of his wrist.

His sleeve was rolled up, revealing half of his forearm and a wristwatch.

*Click.*

Zhao Qiao hesitated for a moment before asking, “Son, what are you doing? Why are you taking a photo of your wrist?”

Xu Dian’s voice was low. “Posting it on Weibo.”

Zhao Qiao: “???”

“To prove it’s me,” Xu Dian said, lifting his eyes to meet his mother’s gaze.

For a moment, Zhao Qiao thought she saw something in his eyes.

Was that… a hint of grievance?

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