Chapter 37
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Ning Yuxuan was silent for a second before asking Xie Zhiyan, “Do you know what happened? Why did so many reporters suddenly show up?”
“The reporters came because of the two people who recently joined the show,” Xie Zhiyan replied. “But just in case, you and Aunt Ning should leave in my car. They won’t dare stop it.”
It was difficult to explain the whole story over the phone.
Ning Yuxuan did not ask anything further and agreed for the time being.
Originally, the guests were supposed to take the production crew’s vehicle back to the villa together, then pack their belongings and head home separately.
But with so many reporters outside, the production crew’s minibus had been surrounded in the underground parking garage.
Even if they managed to return to the villa, there might well be reporters lying in wait there too.
After hanging up, Ning Yuxuan first explained the situation to Ning Fei, then asked Qin Man and Jiang Ning’an whether they wanted to leave together.
Qin Man asked, “Yuxuan, do you know what happened?”
“Not the details, but it probably isn’t us they’re after. It’s more likely that… something happened on their side.”
She cast a glance toward Cheng Xiyang’s group, and Qin Man immediately understood.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Man replied, “Since they aren’t here for Ning’an and me, I’ll have someone from the company come pick us up. You and Ms. Ning should go home first.”
Ning Yuxuan did not insist. “Then remember to let me know you got home safely, Ms. Qin.”
Qin Man smiled. “All right.”
After speaking with the staff, Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei went downstairs to find Xie Zhiyan’s car.
Most of the reporters were waiting around the production crew’s minibus. A few others had gathered by the elevator, hoping to stop Cheng Xiyang and Liu Yufang for interviews the moment they appeared.
Ning Yuxuan and Ning Fei were intercepted by the group near the elevator. Fortunately, Cheng Xiyang was their main target, so they did not pursue the two women too aggressively.
Once they found Xie Zhiyan’s Bentley, they got into the back seat.
Just as Xie Zhiyan had said, the reporters who had been chasing after them did not dare stop them when they saw them enter the car.
The vehicle slowly drove out of the parking lot.
The driver was not the man Ning Yuxuan usually saw. Once they were on the road, he explained, “Mr. Xie is still away on business in South City and will return tomorrow, so he sent me to pick you up.”
Ning Yuxuan confirmed the address with him.
The driver then said, “Mr. Xie said that if you wanted to know what happened, Miss Ning, you could take a look at this.”
As he spoke, he handed Ning Yuxuan a tablet computer.
Ning Yuxuan thanked him, then went through the files on the tablet with Ning Fei. They also checked the several topics currently trending online.
After reading everything, the two of them had a general understanding of what had happened.
Ning Fei’s brows drew tightly together. “Cheng Xiyang and his mother… really did something like this? It’s simply unimaginable…”
Having lived for most of her life, many of those years spent working in the entertainment industry, Ning Fei had witnessed more than a few things beyond ordinary people’s imagination.
Even so, Liu Yufang’s actions had still shocked her.
As a mother, Ning Fei could not help imagining how devastated she would be if her own daughter had gone through something similar.
Ning Yuxuan shook her head. “I didn’t expect it either. I thought Cheng Xiyang merely had an older sister and was unwilling to acknowledge her. I never imagined…”
Ning Fei felt a lingering sense of fear. “Yue was rather impulsive.”
Fortunately, Cheng Xiyang’s sister had exposed him and his mother in time. Otherwise, if Ning Shiyue had become entangled in something like this, he might have ended up covered in scandal himself.
Ning Fei said worriedly, “I wonder how things are with Yue now.”
Ning Yuxuan picked up her phone. “I’ll try calling him.”
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When she called Ning Shiyue, his assistant, Ding Yan, answered.
“Miss Ning,” Ding Yan said, “Shiyue is filming a fight scene and can’t take the call for now. But he said that if you or Ms. Ning called, I should tell you that he’s fine.”
After a pause, Ding Yan added, “Don’t worry, Miss Ning. No reporters have come after us here yet, and we’ve already tightened security at both the set and the hotel. Once Shiyue finishes filming, I’ll have him call you back.”
After hanging up, Ning Yuxuan reassured Ning Fei, “Ning Shiyue is fine. He’s filming right now.”
Ning Fei sighed. “As long as he’s all right. Fortunately… Oh, and Yuxuan, remember to thank Zhiyan.”
Ning Yuxuan remembered that she had not yet told Xie Zhiyan that they had arrived safely.
Still, the driver had most likely informed him when she and Ning Fei got into the car.
Even so, Ning Yuxuan sent Xie Zhiyan a message:
Thank you. Mom and I are already on our way home. Were you the one who had Cheng Xiyang exposed?
Xie Zhiyan replied:
I did have someone investigate Cheng Xiyang’s sister, but someone else exposed him.
Ning Yuxuan raised her brows slightly and typed:
It wasn’t you? Then do you know who it was?
Xie Zhiyan:
As far as I know, your father was also investigating Cheng Xiyang and his sister.
Ning Yuxuan’s gaze fixed on the phone screen.
Lin Yuanfeng?
She had thought he simply did not care about these matters. When she and Cen Meng had caused such a commotion online before, Lin Yuanfeng had not even sent her a message to ask what had happened.
Ning Yuxuan was considering whether she should tell Ning Fei and Ning Shiyue that Lin Yuanfeng had become involved.
Before she could reach a conclusion, the man sent another message:
I’ve been busy with work this week and wasn’t able to visit your home. But after I fly back to North City tomorrow, I don’t have any other plans for the time being.
Ning Yuxuan came back to herself. Recognizing the hint in his words, she smiled faintly.
Pretending not to understand, she replied:
That’s all right. I’ve been quite busy this week too, discussing the hotel’s design with the designer.
Xie Zhiyan:
Then I’d like to reserve your time for Monday evening in advance. I wonder whether Miss Ning, despite being so busy, might spare some time to see me?
His teasing made Ning Yuxuan laugh.
I’ll think about it.
Ning Yuxuan:
By the way, there’s something else I need to tell you.
Xie Zhiyan:
What?
Ning Yuxuan:
I’ve already told my mother about us.
Xie Zhiyan:
About what, exactly?
Staring at his reply, Ning Yuxuan strongly suspected that he was pretending not to know.
She typed:
Nothing. Forget it if you don’t know!
After sending that, Ning Yuxuan simply put her phone away.
Seeing what her daughter had done, Ning Fei asked, “What’s wrong?”
Ning Yuxuan smiled. “Nothing, Mom. I just thanked Xie Zhiyan, like you told me to.”
Ning Fei studied her daughter for a few seconds, instinctively sensing that things were not quite so simple.
But Ning Fei had been through it all before. She knew that now her daughter was in love, she would not necessarily tell her everything.
She did not expose her daughter. “As long as you thanked him. Fortunately, we had Zhiyan’s help this time. Otherwise, we probably wouldn’t have made it home so smoothly.”
Ning Yuxuan hesitated for a few seconds before saying, “Mom, I heard that my father was also involved in investigating and exposing Cheng Xiyang’s sister.”
Ning Fei froze. “Your father?”
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Ning Yuxuan nodded.
Ning Fei fell silent for a long while.
When it came to her marriage to her former husband, she might not have completely let go immediately after the divorce. She had stubbornly refused her ex-husband’s help partly because she wanted to prove that she could stand on her own.
But nearly twenty years had passed. She had truly moved on from that relationship, and her heart was far more peaceful than it had once been.
After a moment of silence, Ning Fei looked at her daughter. “If he really helped Yue this time, I’ll thank him.”
Ning Yuxuan looked at her mother, wanting to speak but hesitating.
She knew that her mother was a proud and strong-willed woman. That was why she had hesitated over whether to tell Ning Fei that Lin Yuanfeng had been involved.
But after thinking it over, she realized that nothing stayed hidden forever.
If Ning Fei heard about it from someone else after being kept in the dark, it would be better for her own daughter to tell her personally.
Even so, Ning Yuxuan was still worried that her mother might feel differently once she knew.
Ning Fei saw her daughter’s concern and suddenly smiled. “Silly girl, what are you worrying about on your mother’s behalf?”
Ning Yuxuan had been seen through. “I…”
Ning Fei smiled at her. “Your mother has lived this long. How could I keep dwelling on such a small matter? Besides, I’ve always said that no matter what, he is still your and Yue’s father. And even setting this matter aside, if the two of you ever want to make use of the Lin family’s resources in the future, I won’t stop you.”
She herself refused to accept help from her former husband—that was her principle. But she would not impose the same standard on her children.
He was, after all, their father, and she wanted her children to have good lives.
Seeing that her daughter was still stunned, Ning Fei tapped her lightly on the nose. “All right, Yuxuan. Stop worrying about your mother. I’m not that fragile.”
Ning Yuxuan finally smiled. “All right. I understand, Mom.”
Mother and daughter exchanged a smile. Then the phone Ning Yuxuan had tossed into her bag suddenly rang.
She took it out and froze when she saw the caller ID: Xie Zhiyan.
Hadn’t they just exchanged messages? Why was he calling again?
Ning Fei noticed her daughter’s hesitation. After glancing at the screen, she teased her with a smile, “Why aren’t you answering your boyfriend’s call? Is it because your mother is sitting beside you? I won’t listen.”
As she spoke, Ning Fei deliberately turned her head slightly away.
“Mom!” Ning Yuxuan gave her a helpless look before answering the call.
The man’s deep, magnetic voice came through. “Yuxuan?”
“Why did Mr. Xie suddenly call? Aren’t you the very busy man who’s away on business?”
Xie Zhiyan let out a soft laugh. “I just met with a client, and I’m on my way back to the hotel. What? You don’t want me to rest?”
She gave a light snort. “That’s right. I hope you work from morning until late at night every day, putting in more than eighteen hours a day, and earn piles and piles of money for me to spend.”
In truth, before she and Xie Zhiyan had registered their marriage, they had signed an agreement stating that the money he earned had nothing to do with her. She had said this purely to contradict him.
Still, if Xie Zhiyan dared say he would not spend money on her, Ning Yuxuan would immediately hang up.
Xie Zhiyan said calmly, “There’s no need to make it sound so difficult. I earn enough to support your spending.”
Ning Yuxuan raised her brows. “That may not be enough. I spend a lot. Once these four new stores are all running smoothly, I want to open four more. What do you think, Mr. Xie? Why don’t you pay for them too?”
She said it with complete confidence. She herself saw nothing unusual in it, but the words drew the attention of the other two people in the car.
Ning Fei looked at her daughter in surprise, wondering whether Xie Zhiyan and her daughter had only just begun dating and yet her daughter was already being this straightforward.