From 10:00 p.m. onward, Lin Qian’s phone did not stop ringing.
It was as if an animal losing blood had fallen into a muddy puddle, attracting a swarm of bloodsucking leeches that swarmed and leaped about. The trending topic had surged from thirteenth place all the way to the top, ending with a bright red "Explosive" tag.
Her daughter, Sisi, had not been sleeping well, waking up to cry and fuss several times before finally drifting back to sleep in tears.
Now that she could finally catch her breath, Lin Qian walked to the dining room to pour a glass of water. In those few moments, over a dozen missed calls had piled up. The phone screen flashed so incessantly it made her anxious, so she simply picked it up.
"It seems Mrs. Gu is quite dissatisfied with the content in the footage?" Reporter Fang’s nauseating voice rang in her ear.
"What is it you’re trying to get out of me?"
"I’m just returning the truth to the public. It’s the responsibility of us media professionals, isn't it?"
"I’ve already said it: I trust Gu Chenxi. He and Su Yurou were merely attending the same business banquet on the top floor of the hotel."
Reporter Fang let out a sharp, mocking cluck. "Do people hold each other that tightly just because they’re attending a banquet?"
A silence followed. Lin Qian’s fingertips, gripping the glass, turned white.
"Mrs. Gu—oh, no, no, Ms. Lin Qian. I got it right this time, didn't I?" Reporter Fang cleared his throat. "News Weekly has always been opposed to moral violations like infidelity. As long as you are willing to tell the truth, I will certainly fight for justice on your behalf."
"And I won't hide it from you: I was able to capture such high-definition footage only because I have other sources for these scoops. But I’m a reasonable man; I’d still prefer to cooperate with you."
"I’m not interested. I have nothing to say to you."
"Why are you acting like a hen guarding her nest, refusing to be swayed by soft or hard tactics? I have another clip of audio I haven't released yet. Want to hear it?"
Was it a bout of hypoglycemia from skipping dinner? Lin Qian suddenly felt she couldn't stand; she pulled out a chair and sat down. "No need. Your publication's expertise in forging audio is top-tier. I’ve already had the pleasure of experiencing that firsthand."
"It’s all just to make a living," Reporter Fang gave a dry laugh. "But this time, it’s the real deal."
"You said the same thing before."
"I don't know how you managed to make it in this industry, learning things so quickly. But I’m not bluffing you this time. To be honest, I pity you."
"Spare me the crocodile tears. Send the file to Lu Yuanzheng’s email. We’ll listen to it and then discuss."
"Fine, but you have to agree to an exclusive interview with us."
"I retired from the industry long ago, and I have no plans for a comeback anytime soon."
"It’s just a pity that plans can never keep up with changes," Reporter Fang drawled. "You never expected that your 'wedding of the century' would end up in such a mess, did you?"
"I’ll be a good guy this once. I’ll send you the file first. Just remember that you owe me a favor."
These reporters were always best at fanning the flames. Even a nod and a smile between people could be described by them as a "passionate three-hour conversation." Though Lin Qian thought this to herself, her finger hovered over the play button for a long while before she finally pressed it.
The audio had been recorded at the airport. Aside from the broadcast urging passengers to board, Lin Qian clearly heard Su Yurou’s coquettish, giggling laughter, followed by Gu Chenxi’s husky voice:
"...I want you."
She knew that voice better than anyone. In public, Gu Chenxi wore a cold, ascetic mask, but once that skin was peeled away in the bedroom, he was nothing but a shameless rogue who could never get enough. Every time Lin Qian was exhausted and tried to push him away, he would wrap himself around her, whispering those words, over and over.
A rush of blood surged to her head. Her eardrums throbbed with the sound of her own heartbeat.
The recording date showed it was from two months ago—the very day Su Yurou returned to the country after her studies. Lin Qian had intended to pick her up at the airport, but Su Yurou had made one excuse after another to keep her away, so she had dropped the idea.
The second knuckle of her index finger was pressed so hard it ached. Lin Qian took several deep breaths and placed her phone face-down on the table.
She knew the ins and outs of manufacturing scandals; it was all about the art of leaving things unsaid, of knowing when to stop. But this audio had clearly crossed the line. If News Weekly published this now, it would be a lethal blow aimed directly at Su Yurou. And if they meant to destroy Su Yurou, their true target was clearly the Deep Space Matrix behind her.
Lin Qian was aware of the terms of the valuation adjustment mechanism Gu Chenxi had signed. If the Deep Space Matrix failed to list on the NASDAQ by the end of next year, more than half of its equity would have to be transferred to the investors.
"How was it? If there’s anything you’re unhappy about, speak up, and I’ll help you drive the point home," Reporter Fang’s message popped up, seizing the gap.
*Haste makes waste,* she thought. He was too eager to pull the line before the bait had even been taken.
Lin Qian no longer hesitated. She forwarded the video to Gu Chenxi, Su Yurou, and the public relations team at the Deep Space Matrix. A role like that of News Weekly could be smoothed over with money; regardless of whether it was a competitor of the Deep Space Matrix behind this, being prepared was always the right move.
"Ma'am, I finally found you!" Aunt Li trotted over. "Sisi is in her room crying and saying she wants her mother. I really can’t soothe her."
"I understand. I'm going up now." Lin Qian pressed the power button on her phone.
Sisi kept saying she was scared, waking up repeatedly throughout the night. She didn't sleep soundly until dawn. Lin Qian dozed off alongside her daughter and didn't wake up until near noon.
When she went downstairs to the dining room for a meal, Sun Meijuan was sitting on the sofa eating mangosteen. Seeing Lin Qian come down, she immediately pulled a long face.
"On what grounds did you fire Sister Chen?"
"Mom, I was just about to talk to you about that. She filmed many videos of the house and posted them to social media. They have a very high view count."
"She told me about that. Who doesn't have a bit of vanity? She’s been working for this family for decades; just let her film if she wants to."
"But she was filming videos of Xiaoxi and Sisi." Lin Qian stared at Sun Meijuan’s face.
"That can't be true." Sun Meijuan’s tone softened. "You must have misread the situation. I know what kind of person Sister Chen is."
"I’ve already had my lawyer collect evidence of those videos. Shall I send a portion to you later?"
Sun Meijuan looked away, eyes darting. "Even so, you should tell me about things like this beforehand. You’re not the one who gets to order the Gu family’s servants around."
Lively laughter erupted from the television. Sun Meijuan glanced at Lin Qian and picked up the remote, turning the volume up two notches.
On the screen, a News Weekly livestream was being cast. Su Yurou was wearing a champagne-colored satin princess dress, hugging a large Usagi plushie, laughing heartily at a cliché joke.
Seeing she was in a good mood, the host seized the opportunity to press further. "I’m asking this on behalf of the chat: What do you think of Gu Chenxi, the CEO of Deep Space Matrix?"
Su Yurou lost her usual spirited demeanor—the one she used when shouting "3, 2, 1, link is live!" on her streams—and suddenly turned shy.
"He... he’s very impressive. I know many female streamers at companies, and many female celebrities, who all like him."
"Then can I take that to mean that you like him, too?" A glimmer of craftiness flashed in the host's eyes.