Meng Zhen’s eyes flickered, and she nodded slightly, following the waiter into the lounge.

As soon as she entered, she found that all four members of the Xu family were present. Xu Youheng sat on the sofa and said in a serious tone, “I have decided to take advantage of this celebration to reveal Zhenzhen’s identity.”

Hearing that, Meng Zhen didn’t react much, but Xu Xuero’s pupils suddenly contracted. Her nails dug deeply into the edge of the table, and the veins on the back of her hand bulged.

“This is too sudden, we’re not prepared.” Zhao Rong disagreed with her husband’s decision and couldn’t help but try to persuade him.

She indeed owed her biological daughter a lot and had thought about making it up to Meng Zhen. However, if this news were to be announced at the banquet, it would undoubtedly cause a huge stir. The long-lost daughter of the Xu family had ended up in an orphanage and was practically illiterate. Just the thought of those scornful looks made Zhao Rong feel breathless.

“Dad, I disagree!” Xu Ruixi shouted at the top of his lungs, his still boyish face turning bright red, clearly due to his overwhelming emotions.

“Meng Zhen is your biological sister and she’s suffered so much since she was a little child. How can you disagree? Do you have any conscience at all?” Xu Youheng reprimanded sternly.

Xu Ruixi had never been scolded before. Seeing his father protecting Meng Zhen at this moment, he felt a surge of anger welling up inside him, but no matter what, he couldn’t let it out.

Xu Xuero, being a smart person, remained silent.

Meng Zhen glanced at her and said calmly, “Dad, I think there’s no need to rush this matter. It’s not too late to announce it later.”

“It’s already been delayed for several months. What’s the point of delaying it further?”

“Though I’m not very famous, I am a public figure after all. Revealing my identity might not be convenient, and it could also impact the group.”

Xu Youheng also understood this reasoning. After a moment of thought, he said, “Then let’s postpone it for a while and discuss it again at the end of the year.”

Upon hearing that, Xu Xuero’s tense body gradually relaxed.

After the banquet ended that evening, many media outlets uploaded photos they had taken online. Xu Group had invited dozens of celebrities, but the most eye-catching among them was undoubtedly Meng Zhen.

She wore a snow-white dress, and the photo of her delicately touching flower petals was shared tens of thousands of times. Many people even set this image as their desktop background, illustrating just how powerful her beauty’s influence was.

As the netizens admired the beauty, a marketing account with several hundred thousand followers made a post on Weibo.

【A certain daffodil star is indeed beautiful, but her bold style and shattered moral compass leaves much to be desired. [Image]】

The woman in the photo was Meng Zhen, standing at the corner of a spiral staircase. Beside her was a well-dressed man. Despite his good looks and maintained physique, his age was unmistakable, likely over forty years old.

A newly legal-aged beautiful artist standing with a forty-year-old male boss in a corner—— no matter how one looked at it, this scene sparked imagination and triggered discussions among netizens.

【I know the woman is Meng Zhen for sure. But who’s the man?】

【Upstairs, you’re so uninformed. That man is Xu Youheng, the CEO of Xu Group.】

Xu Group is a local enterprise that started in real estate development. Nearly one-tenth of the real estate projects in the capital were by the Xu Group. Xu Youheng himself made it onto that year’s Forbes World’s Billionaires List, with personal assets exceeding tens of billions.

【Wow, I used to think Meng Zhen’s sugar daddy was just some wealthy businessman. I didn’t expect her to directly latch onto CEO Xu. No wonder she has such good resources. Are all orphans as unscrupulous as her? She can do anything to become famous. Xu Youheng already has a son and a daughter.】

【Age doesn’t matter as long as you have money and resources. Otherwise, how could the ‘fairy’ bear to descend to earth and attend Xu Group’s banquet?】

Many of those making such comments were fans of Yue Yuanzhao. Previously, Yue Yuanzhao and Meng Zhen recorded the variety show 《Do-Re-Mi-So-La》. After it ended, many people posted saying that Yue Yuanzhao’s guzheng playing sounded like plucking cotton. Not only was it unpleasant to hear, but it also lacked aesthetic beauty, far inferior to Meng Zhen’s.

Yue Yuanzhao’s fans were mostly young people whose idol worship sometimes clouds their judgment. They have gone so far as to attack Meng Zhen online and even manipulated many unsightly photos to spread rumors.

Fortunately, most netizens have basic critical thinking skills and understand that those photos were fake and didn’t believe the rumors.

However, it was different now. The photo of Meng Zhen and Xu Youheng standing in the corner was indeed real and hadn’t been edited. This indicated to them that Meng Zhen’s behavior was indeed questionable, having enticed a man old enough to be her father.

Yue Yuanzhao’s fans have been forwarding the marketing account’s post and some even flooded the comment section of Xu Group’s official account, bombarding them with questions about the relationship between Xu Youheng and Meng Zhen.

Meng Zhen sat in front of the computer, looking at the online comments, her gaze becoming increasingly cold.

It was said that birds of a feather flock together, and people are known by the company they keep. Yue Yuanzhao himself was a hypocritical and deceitful person, and his followers were no different. They’re unable to distinguish right from wrong, and they twist facts and use low tactics to smear others, simply following him blindly.

Suddenly, Meng Zhen’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen and pressed the answer button directly.

“Meng Zhen, I was wondering why you didn’t fancy Director Ou. Turns out you’ve climbed up to Xu Group. Quite a skill you have there.” Yu Jing’s words dripped with sarcasm, depicting Meng Zhen as someone who trades her body for resources.

“My relationship with CEO Xu isn’t what you think.”

Yu Jing didn’t believe a word Meng Zhen said. To her, the photo was solid evidence. If Meng Zhen and Xu Youheng didn’t have a romantic relationship, why would they be standing in such a secluded corner? Moreover, they were standing very close, far beyond what would be considered an appropriate distance.

“Alright, there’s no need to lie to me. It’s good that you’ve gained favor with CEO Xu. Now you can pay the penalty early. Let’s part ways amicably.”

Though Yu Jing disliked Meng Zhen, she didn’t dare to offend Xu Group. She called Meng Zhen to assert her stance and ensure Meng Zhen wouldn’t overstep her bounds.

Xu Group held significant influence domestically but hadn’t ventured into the entertainment industry. Therefore, while Yu Jing was wary of Meng Zhen, she wasn’t afraid to the extent of fearing repercussions from Xu Group.

Having worked in the entertainment industry for many years, Yu Jing had seen numerous female celebrities aspiring to marry into wealthy families. How many of them actually succeeded in the end?

Meng Zhen was just a stupid and inexperienced girl in Yu Jing’s eyes, and she didn’t believe Xu Youheng would abandon his original wife for her.

Meng Zhen couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to Yu Jing and had no intention of arguing further. She spoke coldly, “Rest assured, Sister Yu. I will pay the fee for breach of contract in full to the company. I won’t renege on it.”

After saying that, she hung up the phone.

Upon hearing the dial tone from the other end, Yu Jing’s face turned red with anger. She complained to her assistant, “Meng Zhen is really shameless. She forgets who she is just after becoming a mistress. Even if she marries into the Xu family, she’s still that abandoned child who grew up in an orphanage without parents!”

The assistant brought a cup of coffee to Yu Jing and murmured in agreement, “Women like Meng Zhen usually rely on their youth. Even if they’re pretty, they won’t go far in acting. When she gets older and can’t rely on her looks to seduce men anymore, she’ll regret it.”

“You’re right.” Yu Jing agreed, grasping the porcelain cup tightly. “I’ll let her off for now to give CEO Xu a face. When Meng Zhen loses the backing of the Xu Group, we can deal with her then.” Her every word was filled with resentment.

———pr

That day, Meng Zhen had no work, so she stayed in the apartment to make soup.

This pig trotter soup was medicinal. In addition to the main ingredient of pig trotters, it included ingredients like angelica root, codonopsis root, astragalus root, goji berries, and so on. Following a specific ratio, these ingredients were added to a porcelain pot and simmered for an entire day until the soup turned into a beautiful milky white color, known for its nourishing and beautifying effects.

The kitchen in the apartment was not large, but it was currently filled with the rich aroma of the simmering soup. Meng Zhen took a deep breath and her eyes suddenly lit up.

In her previous life, Meng Zhen grew up in an orphanage and only enjoyed a hearty meal during the Spring Festival. Later, she became a singing girl, struggling daily in difficult circumstances and not having the leisure to enjoy good food.

Now, reincarnated into this unfamiliar world, she could finally sit down peacefully and enjoy a meal.

But before Meng Zhen could even serve herself a bowl of soup, Xu Youheng sent a video call invitation. As soon as she answered, she saw his face, dark as the bottom of a pot.

“I’ve said before that we should disclose your identity, but none of you agreed. Now, look at what happened. A rumor spread based on a photo hasn’t only damaged our reputations but also tarnished the company’s image.”

Xu Youheng’s voice carried suppressed anger. He couldn’t understand what those netizens were thinking. He was just standing together and exchanging a few words with his daughter. What was there to fabricate rumors about?

Just now, the company’s directors had been calling him one after another. Xu Youheng had to put on a smiling face and explain to the old gentlemen for a long time, reassuring them repeatedly that he would resolve the matter smoothly before they finally relented.

If they didn’t clarify the situation soon, who knew how far things could escalate?

“That marketing account must have been bought off by someone. Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare provoke the Xu Group.”

“No matter what their motives are, the most important thing right now is to clarify the truth. I will have the PR department handle this matter. Since you don’t have a management company, stay out of it.” Xu Youheng, as the company’s CEO, was always decisive. He didn’t seek Meng Zhen’s opinion and made the decision directly.

“By the way, when are you going to quit the entertainment industry?”

While Xu Youheng harbored some guilt towards Meng Zhen, his foremost concern remained the interests and reputation of the Xu family.

If Meng Zhen weren’t involved in the entertainment industry, those marketing accounts wouldn’t have posted photos of the father and daughter talking online. This industry really is murky and chaotic.

“Are you mistaken? I don’t intend to give up my career as an actress.” Meng Zhen replied calmly.

She had approached the Xu family to expose Xu Xuero’s true face and seek revenge for the other Meng Zhen. However, seeking revenge did not mean she was willing to sacrifice her dreams.