Chapter 79: Watch

More than an hour after Xu Dian left, Meng Ying was awakened by a call from Liu Qin. When she checked the time, she was stunned and quickly got up to wash up and change clothes. She grabbed a bottle of smoothie and hurried out the door. A business car was waiting outside, and early in the morning, there were already some reporters and fans gathered. Meng Ying greeted them with a smile, then bent down and got into the car.

Liu Qin pulled the car door shut and sat in the back seat, saying, “Now that your address has been exposed, are you going to keep living here or look for a new place?”

Meng Ying opened the lid of her smoothie, took a sip, and thought for a moment before asking, “What about Xu Qing?”

“Recently, news has leaked that many celebrities live in Xinyue Community, so a lot of them are considering this issue. Xu Qing will probably move back to her husband’s place, right? He lives in Yiwan Shanshui.”

“Your husband also has a villa there,” Liu Qin added, suddenly teasing her with a suppressed laugh, recalling the hot search she had seen earlier that morning.

Meng Ying gave her a puzzled look and said, “I’m planning to buy a new place. I’ve already prepared the money. I’ll transfer it to you, and you can help me look.”

Liu Qin had always been well-informed, and Meng Ying trusted her judgment.

“Alright.”

Meng Ying reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear, and Liu Qin immediately noticed the black wristwatch on her hand. She froze for a moment, then grabbed her wrist. “You got a new watch? And it’s studded with diamonds?”

The watch face was beautiful, shaped like a heart, adorned with white diamonds and a yellow gemstone. The design resembled a well-known brand, and Liu Qin couldn’t believe her eyes. She turned the watch over to inspect it closely.

[Princess]

A brand known for designing exclusively for royalty, crafted by a top-tier designer with the most original craftsmanship. There were many knockoffs on the market, but after carefully examining it, Liu Qin’s eyes widened in shock.

“This is the real deal. When did you buy this? No… this is custom-made. Last year, Wen Na—that award-winning actress Wen Na—visited over a dozen times and wasn’t even granted an audience. How did you…?”

Meng Ying silently stared at the watch. She had been in such a rush this morning to wash up and leave that she hadn’t even noticed the watch on her wrist. Now that she thought about it, there had been three boxes on the nightstand—two black and one red. This watch…

“Did Xu Dian give it to you?” Liu Qin asked, seeing her confusion.

Meng Ying nodded. “Yes, I woke up with it on.”

“…He really spares no expense.”

Moreover, this watch wasn’t something you could buy even if you had the money.

Liu Qin gently wiped the surface of the watch and said, “Wear it. It’s truly stunning, and right now, no one in this industry has managed to get their hands on the real thing.”

Meng Ying had no intention of taking it off.

She glanced at it, admiring the beauty of the yellow diamond, which seemed to shimmer as if light could pass right through it. However, it was a bit too eye-catching, and she found herself staring at it a few more times.

The promotion for *Twins* had intensified, with the release date set for June 28th. Time was tight, and Meng Ying’s roadshow was now focused on the main battleground—Licheng. Today, only Director Lin, the production team, and Meng Ying’s team were present for the roadshow. Qin Jun had returned to Jindu, and Li Yuan’er had gone there for her own roadshow. The cinema they were visiting wasn’t far, located in the central district.

After finishing her smoothie, Meng Ying flipped through Weibo and noticed that the comments under her post had gone off-topic.

Xu Dian’s official account had even posted a somewhat aggrieved explanation earlier that morning.

Meng Ying couldn’t help but imagine Xu Dian’s expressionless face as he typed out that post, and it made her chuckle. Liu Qin, sitting behind her, saw it too and said, “I can’t believe Xu Dian would… do something like this.”

Meng Ying smiled faintly and put her phone down.

Compared to cities like Dongshi, Licheng had more fans, and they were even more enthusiastic. Today, Tang Yi, the author of *Twins*, was also attending. Three entrances had been opened, and Meng Ying was assigned to the middle one. The area was already packed with a sea of people. Security was provided by the cinema, and the company had also arranged additional personnel. As the black business car pulled up, the doors hadn’t even opened yet, but the screams from outside were already deafening. Liu Qin helped Meng Ying adjust her dress.

Then, Liu Qin and Xiao Meng got out of the car first. Meng Ying followed a moment later, her high heels stepping onto the red carpet.

The screams grew even louder.

“Wow—”

“Meng Ying, you’re so beautiful!”

“Ah, I love you, goddess!”

“Ahhh, those legs, that waist, that figure—I’m obsessed! But…”

“Sis, are you trying to say she looks like she’s gained a little weight? Go ahead, say it. Let’s roast her a bit.”

“Hahahaha, you guys are so mean! Yingying, don’t listen to them. You’re still the most beautiful!”

“Yingying, was that Weibo post really from you? Or was it your husband? Tell us!”

A fan holding a phone laughed as she followed Meng Ying, who paused slightly, tilted her head, and smiled. “It was me.”

“We don’t believe you!”

“You’re just trying to whitewash your husband’s image.”

Meng Ying’s eyes curved into a smile, but she didn’t respond further. She walked straight into the cinema. Today, she was wearing a soft pink dress that made her look ethereal and stunning. Her tall figure and long, straight legs drew the attention of fans, who happily snapped photos, creating a lively and cheerful atmosphere.

Meanwhile, on the other entrance.

Tang Yi’s book fans were also present, but their numbers were much smaller. In comparison, the scene was rather quiet. Tang Yi adjusted her glasses, feeling slightly awkward, and quickened her pace to enter the venue.

Yang Rou had faced several setbacks.

She had been impacted as well. Previously, she had subtly hinted that Meng Ying wasn’t suitable for the role of Yue Yan and that Yang Tong would have been a better fit. However, Yang Tong had since disappeared from the public eye.

The most awkward part was having to participate in the roadshow alongside the actress she had once indirectly criticized. She hadn’t wanted to attend, but her overconfidence had led her to sign a contract that included this obligation, leaving her no choice but to fulfill it.

Sure enough, as soon as she stepped onto the stage, reporters who had just finished interviewing Meng Ying rushed over and shoved their microphones in Tang Yi’s face. “Tang Yi, you once said that Meng Ying wasn’t suitable for the role of Yue Yan. Do you still feel the same way now?”

“The movie is about to be released. Do you still stand by your opinion?”

Tang Yi’s face flushed with embarrassment.

If she said Meng Ying wasn’t suitable now, why was she even here for the roadshow?

If she said Meng Ying was suitable, wouldn’t that be admitting she was wrong?

Tang Yi pushed the microphone aside and hurried inside, laughter trailing behind her. Some of Meng Ying’s long-time fans felt a sense of vindication.

“Why aren’t you saying anything, Mrs. Tang Yi?”

“Go on, say more. Someone as talented as you should definitely speak up.”

“You were so confident back then. I almost gave you a thumbs-up. You should really consider becoming a producer instead of writing books.”

Backstage, Meng Ying touched up her makeup as fans gradually filled the venue. After more than a month of practice, Meng Ying no longer felt any nervousness about taking the stage.

Once she was ready, she stepped out and happened to run into Tang Yi coming out of the opposite restroom. Their eyes met, and Tang Yi’s expression changed before she turned and walked away, as if snubbing her.

Meng Ying remained composed and walked calmly toward the stage.

Since this was the main battleground for promotions, the event was longer, and there were more media present. Meng Ying sat next to Director Lin, essentially in the center position, while Tang Yi was on the right. Most of the attention and questions were directed at Meng Ying, leaving Tang Yi’s side still relatively quiet. However, perhaps due to prior arrangements, no one brought up the awkward question about Tang Yi’s earlier comments before the screening began.

When the movie finished playing and the credits rolled, the room fell silent. Suddenly, a teary-eyed reporter asked Tang Yi, “Do you still think Meng Ying isn’t suitable for this role?”

Tang Yi remained silent, her face flushed with embarrassment.

She hadn’t stayed until the end of the filming process, often excusing herself for various reasons, so she hadn’t been on set to witness the final product. Now, not only was she embarrassed, but she also felt deeply ashamed.

Because, as it turned out, the final product was stunning. Yue Yan had truly come to life.

After the event ended, it was nearly noon. Meng Ying quickly ate lunch and, without any time to rest, headed to another cinema in the western district.

This cinema was the most upscale, with higher prices than other venues, and it was located near residential areas and the courthouse. Before stepping on stage, Meng Ying received a WeChat message from Zhao Qiang.

Zhao Qiang: Yingying, after the roadshow today, come over for dinner. I’ll cook something special for you!  

Meng Ying: Sure, I’ll be there.

She had already prepared a gift to thank Zhao Qiang. After replying, she was about to exit WeChat when she noticed a notification.

[Lighting Company’s Copyright Infringement Case Goes to Trial Today]

That was a subsidiary of Xu Corporation. Xu Dian had been handling this case for a month. Meng Ying clicked on the notification and skimmed through it, noticing that the trial was taking place at the courthouse nearby.

She stood up, pushed open the window, and looked outside. It was just a short walk away.

After the roadshow ended around 4 p.m., Meng Ying grabbed her small bag, got into the car, and said to Xiao Meng, who was driving, “Take me to the courthouse.”

Xiao Meng was a bit confused.

Liu Qin, however, understood immediately. Xiao Meng started the car and drove toward the courthouse. The blue lettering on the building exuded an air of solemnity, and the area outside was quiet and deserted.

Yet, it gave off an intimidating vibe that made people hesitant to approach.

The car came to a stop.

Meng Ying was about to send Xu Dian a WeChat message when Liu Qin said, “It’s not over yet. The cars are still here.”

Meng Ying glanced around and, sure enough, spotted several official vehicles parked nearby. She decided not to move and closed her eyes to wait. After a while, Liu Qin tapped her shoulder.

Meng Ying sat up and looked outside.

A large group of people was emerging from the courthouse. In the middle was Xu Dian, dressed in a black suit, his slender fingers adjusting his tie. He wore silver-rimmed glasses, his sharp brows furrowed as he listened to someone speaking. A man beside him offered him a cigarette, which Xu Dian casually took and placed between his lips. Suddenly, his gaze paused, sweeping toward the entrance.

His eyes locked with Meng Ying’s through the car window. Meng Ying tapped the corner of her lips with her fingertip.

Xu Dian froze for a moment, then leisurely removed the cigarette from his mouth and, without expression, handed it back to the man, saying, “I don’t smoke.”

The man, now holding the cigarette Xu Dian had just had in his mouth, looked utterly confused.

“President Xu?”

Xu Dian turned to Jiang Yi and said, “Go get the car.”

Jiang Yi, who had also noticed Meng Ying, quickly ran down the steps and soon drove the car over. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Xu Dian got into the car. The black Hummer pulled up to the entrance, stopping in front of the black business car. Xu Dian stepped out, opened the car door, and caught Meng Ying, who nearly stumbled, scooping her up into his arms and carrying her into his own car.

Liu Qin hurriedly got out of the car and handed Meng Ying’s small bag to Xu Dian.

*Bang—*

The car door slammed shut.

The black Hummer sped away.

The crowd at the courthouse entrance stood in stunned silence for a moment.

One of the executives muttered, “Is that the boss’s wife?”

“Obviously. Did you see how he wouldn’t even smoke in front of her?”

“I suddenly feel better. President Xu is so domineering outside, but at home, he’s still under a woman’s thumb. What’s so special about him anyway?”

The group fell into deep thought.

It seemed there wasn’t much.

Aside from being a bit richer, more capable, and more handsome, he was just like any other man.

Destined to kneel on a washboard.

The black Hummer arrived at the Xu family’s main residence. The sun was setting, and the family villa, located in the southern district of Licheng, was part of a property passed down through generations. After extensive renovations, it now blended modern architecture seamlessly. Xu Dian helped Meng Ying out of the car, and she carried the gifts she had picked up from Xinyue Community.

As they walked in, Meng Ying glanced at Xu Dian and asked, “Your lawsuit…”

“We won,” Xu Dian replied in a low voice, his gaze briefly sweeping over Meng Ying’s wrist.

Meng Ying felt relieved. As soon as she stepped inside, Zhao Qiang rushed over and hugged her. “I knew you were here as soon as I heard the car.”

Zhao Qiang had hastily taken off her apron to hug Meng Ying, and Xu Yi was now holding it. The apron, adorned with blue dolphins, looked utterly out of place with Xu Yi’s usual demeanor.

Xu Dian took off his coat and handed it to the housekeeper, then narrowed his eyes and said, “Alright, that’s enough. Haven’t you hugged her enough?”

Zhao Qiang shot him a look.

She then led Meng Ying to the living room sofa. As soon as they sat down, Zhao Qiang grabbed Meng Ying’s wrist and exclaimed, “Wow, the *Princess* imprint!”

The “imprint” referred to the series of Meng Ying’s watch.

“Did Xu Dian give it to you?” Zhao Qiang glanced at Xu Dian, who was sitting at the other end of the sofa peeling an orange.

Meng Ying smiled and nodded, “Yes.”

“Look at the one on his wrist. It’s from the same brand and the same series as yours…” Zhao Qiang pointed to Xu Dian’s watch. Meng Ying then noticed that they did seem somewhat similar. Zhao Qiang clearly liked this series of watches. She explained, “His is the *King* model. Translated into Chinese, yours is the *Princess*, and his is the *King*. However, there’s one controversial feature of the *Princess* model—this diamond can be equipped with a tracking system…”

At this point, Zhao Qiang abruptly stopped speaking.

Xu Dian’s fingers, which had been peeling the orange, paused for a moment.

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