Chapter 84: Backlash

Late at night, fans who were still in a frenzy of excitement finally received a single image from Xu Dian.

**Xu Group Xu Dian V:** [Image]

No words were said. The image showed a floor covered in rose petals, balloons floating in midair, and candles scattered across the ground—romantic to the point of breathtaking.

A bunch of fans: “…”

All girls, right? Seeing such a scene, how could their hearts not race a little?

“I zoomed in and saw the reflection on the wall—there are two people, oh my gosh…”

“Look, he’s provoking us again. Hmph, I absolutely won’t admit it’s pretty good.”

“Alright, I’m convinced by this move.”

“Well, do we still need to remind you? Tsk tsk, fine, I’m charmed too.”

And so, a temporary truce was called between Xu Dian and his fans.

The next morning, Meng Ying saw Xu Dian off. At the entrance, she tied his tie for him. Xu Dian answered a call from Jiang Yi, who asked if a private jet should be arranged for today. Xu Dian glanced at the sky outside and said, “Arrange it.”

Jiang Yi: “Alright.”

Xu Dian lifted Meng Ying’s chin, kissed her, and said, “I have a business trip for a day. I’ll be back tomorrow. I won’t make it to your premiere, is that okay?”

“It’s fine. I’ll be at the company tonight anyway. We’ll talk when you’re back tomorrow.” Meng Ying, wearing a fitted dress, smoothed his tie and chest.

She turned to grab his suit jacket. Xu Dian took it, draped it over his arm, leaned down to kiss her again, and then left.

Meng Ying closed the door. As she turned back, her gaze swept across the room and landed on a green diamond lying by the window. She froze, walked over, picked up the diamond, and retrieved a velvet box tucked in the corner. She stared at it for a moment.

Why was it here? Wasn’t it in Xu Dian’s pocket?

Suddenly, she recalled some moments from last night, her face and ears flushing red. She quickly placed the diamond back in the box, stood up, and walked to the bedroom.

She put it in a small safe, planning to give it to Xu Dian when he returned.

Tonight at midnight was the nationwide premiere. Meng Ying rushed to a magazine shoot in the morning and stayed at the company all afternoon and evening because the subject matter was sensitive.

The theme involved a stand-in, and Meng Ying’s past experience as a stand-in for *Leisure Time* was still a vivid topic. As a result, no one in the company wanted to attend the premiere. They gave away their tickets, planning to support Meng Ying at the theaters in a couple of days.

That day, Meng Ying wasn’t as nervous as the previous two days. As the time approached, she grew calmer. All related companies were in a state of high alert, ready for action.

Data was being prepared to roll out, both online and offline.

Waiting for that moment to arrive.

The team responsible for Meng Ying’s work stayed late at the company, ordering food and drinks, preparing to pull an all-nighter.

Meng Ying, naturally, couldn’t sleep either and stayed at the company.

The crowd made her feel at ease.

At that moment, across the country, audiences clutching tickets for *Twins* lined up at cinemas, entering one by one. Meng Ying’s fanbase was high-profile, holding banners and merchandise, checking in groups. Regardless of the story, many were there for Meng Ying.

For this film.

Midnight struck.

The lights dimmed in every cinema hall. After the ads, the story slowly unfolded.

It was a rather oppressive story. None of the characters were truly happy—neither the missing sister Yue Ling, nor Yue Yan, a policewoman who became a stand-in, nor Zhang Heshen, who lost his love and sought a substitute, nor the murderer, who had a relationship with Yue Ling and brutally killed a girl near Zhang Heshen’s villa, framing him. Yue Yan’s senior, Lin Wei, revealed his true colors in the end, having manipulated the clues. Yue Yan went down the wrong path and nearly let Zhang Heshen become the real culprit.

The story revolved around the murder case but was inseparable from the sister, Yue Ling, who was protected by three men, all scheming against each other.

Yue Yan, the one who took action, uncovered the killer. She became a stand-in, fell in love with a man who didn’t love her, and ultimately lost her life for him.

Even as her medals increased and another star was added to her shoulder, she still died.

Her sacrifices, her love, and her final act left the audience with heart-wrenching pain.

In the theater, as the film ended, soft sobs filled the air.

The screen froze on Yue Yan, wearing the dress Yue Ling loved, collapsing into Zhang Heshen’s arms. Her final glance at him was still gentle, full of love.

She had no regrets.

The camera lingered on Meng Ying’s tearful eyes, her gaze, and her delicate, pale wrist, which rose and slowly fell.

Zhang Heshen’s anguished scream became the final sound echoing in everyone’s hearts.

“AAAAAHHHH… SOB SOB SOB…”

“Yue Yan.”

“AHHHH, Meng Ying acted so well, my Yingying!”

Many couldn’t wait to go online, posting reviews and ratings. Seeing Meng Ying and the word “stand-in,” they recalled her own past as a stand-in.

Clutching their phones tightly, they frantically typed comments, comforting Meng Ying, pitying her, boosting her rankings, and giving high scores.

*Twins* quickly trended.

The news of Meng Ying’s past as a stand-in resurfaced.

At the same time, another trending topic quietly emerged:

#InRealityTheOneWhoMadeMengYingAStandInWasXuDian#

This topic stabbed into everyone’s hearts like a knife. Fans went wild, screaming, boiling with rage, clicking to verify the truth.

The evidence provided—chat records—was real. Fans could hardly believe it, wishing they could blind themselves.

A private jet landed on a tarmac surrounded by mountains and water. The stairs descended, and Jiang Yi opened a black umbrella, stepping aside. Xu Dian loosened his tie and walked down. Rain poured heavily. He glanced at his watch; there was still time before the premiere. He got into a car heading to the villa, flipping through Meng Ying’s chat history.

Meng Ying had sent a WeChat message an hour ago: *At the company, preparing to stay up.*

Xu Dian thought about what to reply. When the car reached the villa, he grabbed an umbrella, got out, and walked inside, heading straight upstairs.

Jiang Yi jogged in behind him, carrying a stack of documents, following Xu Dian to the study and placing them on the desk.

Xu Dian pulled back the curtain to look at the rain outside, then turned on the screen. Jiang Yi handed him a USB drive, saying, “*Twins*, the full film.”

Xu Dian opened a drawer, lit a cigarette, took the USB, and plugged it into the computer. “You can go.”

“Alright.” Jiang Yi nodded, left the study, and closed the door.

Xu Dian sat, flipping through documents while the film played.

Gradually, the film’s sound distracted him. He shifted his chair and glanced at the screen.

That glance.

It was the moment Yue Yan walked out wearing the dress Yue Ling loved.

Just like when Meng Ying touched her ear.

Veins bulged on Xu Dian’s hand, his eyes locked on Meng Ying’s face on the screen. His body tensed, as if plummeting.

The film continued.

Familiar and unfamiliar looks, scenes, Zhang Heshen’s expressions, his actions—Xu Dian abruptly slammed the close button.

His mind went blank.

His tablet pinged.

He glanced at it.

Jiang Yi had sent trending topics, comments, and a question.

Jiang Yi: *Mr. Xu, should we take down the trending topic?*

Xu Dian didn’t reply, only clicked on the trend.

“Xu Dian, get lost.”

“Get out, get out, get out.”

“Sob sob sob, how could you do this? You’ve gone too far.”

“AHHHH, seeing Meng Ying’s eyes shattered me. You’d better spend your life making it up to her.”

“So angry, you’re a jerk.”

“If Meng Ying leaves you, we’ll absolutely support her…”

*Swipe—*

Xu Dian stood abruptly, grabbed his car keys and phone, and headed downstairs to the garage. He started the car, and soon the black Hummer sped out of the villa complex. Halfway, he called Meng Ying. “Where are you?”

His voice trembled with uncontrollable panic, fear, and tension.

But the rain was loud, and Meng Ying couldn’t hear clearly. She only replied, “Heading back to Xinyue Community.”

The rain masked her voice, and Xu Dian couldn’t discern her tone. His grip tightened on the wheel, and he grunted in response.

Meng Ying hung up.

Xu Dian floored the accelerator.

He arrived at Xinyue Community, but the night was deep, and the rainy haze made it restless. A small group of fans lingered outside, holding signs, umbrellas, and wearing raincoats, some crying, others cheering for Meng Ying.

A black business car pulled up.

Meng Ying stepped out with an umbrella, her heels splashing in puddles. Through the rain, she urged the fans to go home, saying something to calm them. Their emotions gradually settled. Just then, the black Hummer arrived.

In the dark, through the rain, its polished body gleamed.

The wipers still moved, the headlights still on. The fans stirred again. The car door opened, and Xu Dian, in a black shirt and pants, stepped out, his long legs striding into the rain.

The fans grew more agitated, their voices a mix of curses, hatred, and tears.

Xu Dian didn’t look at anyone, nor did he chase after her. He hesitated slightly as the fans’ voices grew louder, condemning him as if they wanted to curse him to death.

Ahead, that slender, gentle figure was about to enter the complex.

Meng Ying finally heard the commotion. She turned and saw Xu Dian standing in the rain, his black shirt and pants blending into the dark, rainy night. She frowned, but perhaps due to the distance and the downpour, Xu Dian seemed to see the Meng Ying from a year ago—calm, cold, and emotionless.

His heart pounded, as if being hammered, even aching sharply.

Xu Dian strode forward, reached Meng Ying, cupped her face, and pressed her against the iron gate.

His voice was hoarse, dry.

“Wife, I was wrong. I’ll spend my life making it up to you, I…”

Meng Ying’s umbrella wavered.

Rain dripped from his brow, making him look sharper, yet somehow disheveled. Seconds later, Meng Ying grabbed his hand and turned to walk into the complex.

The fans screamed again, as if in disbelief or confused by the development.

They went upstairs.

Inside the apartment, Meng Ying tried to let go, but Xu Dian held on tightly, pulling her back forcefully and tentatively kissing her.

Meng Ying paused, sensing his tension, then turned her head, meeting his lips first.

The moment he felt her soft, warm lips, Xu Dian kissed her frantically. Meng Ying struggled slightly but wrapped her arms around his neck.

Both were soaked, their bodies pressed together. The kiss grew heated.

But Xu Dian didn’t dare move further. Meng Ying touched his face, cold yet slightly warm. They were drenched. She pushed him away.

Xu Dian didn’t dare move, unbuttoning his cuffs, his gaze deep on her.

A trace of panic hid in his eyes.

They locked eyes for a long moment. Xu Dian rolled up his sleeves and said, “Get a keyboard.”

Meng Ying, not thinking much, was puzzled and turned. Xu Dian’s peripheral vision caught a washboard under the coffee table. He said, “Never mind.”

Meng Ying turned back. Xu Dian kicked out the washboard and knelt on it with one knee.

“I was wrong.”

Meng Ying: “…”

Seconds later, Meng Ying walked over, sat on the coffee table, leaned down, stared at him, and gently touched his face, saying softly, “Jerk husband.”

“Who taught you this?”

Xu Dian saw the playful glint in her eyes.

His heart settled, his voice low. “Whatever you want me to kneel on, I will.”

“As long as you don’t leave me.”

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