Chapter 16: Does Your Face Hurt?

I was too careless. I shouldn’t have shown Gu Chengze the photo so early. Now, I can’t find any solid evidence against him.

“Are the previous photos useless?” Wen Ya asked Lawyer Ye.

“The other side could dismiss it as a casual affair. Even if they twist the story and spread rumors about you, public opinion might side with them,” Lawyer Ye explained. Considering the Wen family’s current situation, he advised against forcing the engagement to end. “I think it’s better to wait until we have more evidence before striking decisively.” After all, in matters like these, women often bear the brunt of the blame.

Fabricate a scandal? The original Wen Ya had truly loved Gu Chengze and had never been intimate with anyone else. How could they find fault with her? Wen Ya immediately thought of Ji Ming.

On the day she took over Wen’s, Ji Ming had appeared at the press conference. And yesterday, during their inspection in the west of the city, even though it was work-related, if someone took photos of them together, they could easily be misinterpreted. With the right spin, people might dig up all sorts of rumors.

“Do I have to wait until he shows his true colors?” How much longer would she have to endure this disgust?

As Wen Ya listened, Assistant Wang showed her the latest news report. It featured a photo of her with Ji Ming, suggesting a special relationship between them. The report also included a picture of Gu Chengze looking grim, implying that Wen Ya had shifted her affections to Ji Ming. The article painted her as fickle and unfaithful.

Wen Ya’s expression darkened. She was sure the Gu family had orchestrated this. Her firm stance yesterday must have provoked them.

The news quickly spread online, becoming a hot topic on major websites.

Wen Ya had been abroad for four years and hadn’t joined the company, so few people knew her. However, Ji Ming and Gu Chengze were widely recognized, almost like kings in their world. Their popularity even surpassed that of celebrities, making them the idols of countless women. When the news linked both men to Wen Ya, it exploded instantly.

The headline, “Gu Chengze’s Fiancée Suspected of Falling for President Ji,” grabbed everyone’s attention. Many were unaware of Gu Chengze’s engagement, and curiosity grew about the woman who could be his fiancée while also being linked to Ji Ming.

The article began with an engagement photo of Wen Ya and Gu Chengze, portraying them as a perfect match. It then recounted Wen Ya’s relentless pursuit of Gu Chengze in high school, even threatening suicide to marry him. The narrative suggested their engagement was the result of her manipulation.

Below the engagement photo was a picture of Wen Ya and Ji Ming standing close, her whispering in his ear while he smiled faintly. The image seemed intimate. Another photo showed Gu Chengze with them, his smile strained, as if hiding pain.

Netizens reacted swiftly:

Netizen A: “I didn’t know Gu Chengze had a fiancée!”

Netizen B: “Is she two-timing?”

Netizen C: “She looks like the type who can’t stay loyal.”

Netizen D: “The Qing Dynasty is long gone, but indecisiveness isn’t a good look.”

Netizen E: “…”

“Mr. Wen, stop reading,” Assistant Wang urged, closing the webpage. The comments were becoming increasingly harsh.

Wen Ya smirked. “He should’ve been an actor with that kind of performance.”

She knew she’d been set up.

“Mr. Wen, reporters are here for interviews,” Assistant Wang informed. The reporters had swarmed like vultures.

Wen Ya glanced out the window. Though she couldn’t see them clearly, she could imagine the chaos below.

“Call the crisis PR team. We need a plan,” Wen Ya said coldly. Gu Chengze had played a dirty hand, and she would make him pay.

“Mr. Wen, check the latest news!” Assistant Wang exclaimed.

Wen Ya frowned. Had Gu Chengze released more photos?

The new report featured photos of Gu Chengze and Xu Qingqing, from their college days to graduation, showing a loving relationship. Compared to the ambiguous photo of Wen Ya and Ji Ming, these images were straightforward.

The whistleblower claimed to be a classmate of Gu Chengze and Xu Qingqing, even sharing a dorm with Xu Qingqing. They revealed that Xu Qingqing, from an ordinary family, had dated a school idol in high school but left him for a wealthy suitor in college. Photos of Xu Qingqing with the wealthy suitor, his face blurred, were included.

The whistleblower detailed how Xu Qingqing met Gu Chengze during a summer event and interned at his company. Photos of them attending events and working together followed. The whistleblower alleged that Xu Qingqing dumped her wealthy boyfriend for Gu Chengze.

The story took a dramatic turn when Gu Chengze got engaged to Wen Ya, the eldest daughter of the prominent Wen family. The engagement photo of Wen Ya and Gu Chengze was reposted, highlighting Wen Ya’s beauty and wealth.

The climax came when the whistleblower claimed Xu Qingqing, heartbroken, threatened to leave Gu Chengze but was seen with him again shortly after, even entering a hotel together. Photos of them leaving the hotel, looking happy, were included.

At this point, someone asked, “Where did the fiancée in the story go?”

Don’t worry, the whistleblower quickly explained that the fairy-like beauty, Wen Ya, was studying abroad. She had no idea what was happening in China and certainly didn’t know she was being cheated on.

The bachelor’s photo released earlier clearly showed Xu Qingqing and Gu Chengze together until graduation.

Although the revelation ended there, the entire situation flipped instantly. The timeline and locations in the story were accurate, and there were photos to back everything up.

Netizen A: “Emma! Don’t you feel embarrassed for those who said Miss Wen wasn’t good enough for Gu Chengze?”

Netizen B: “Oh my god, what a shocking twist! I can’t wait for more gossip.”

Netizen C: “Doesn’t that rich guy look familiar?”

Netizen D: “It’s hard to tell with the blur, but I think so too.”

What started as a wealthy family’s romantic drama took a new turn when someone uncovered the identity of the rich second-generation man Xu Qingqing had dumped.

Despite the blurred details, loyal fans figured out that the man was actually a popular idol in the entertainment industry. The news exploded, overshadowing the earlier story about Wen Ya possibly transferring her affections to Ji Ming. After all, that was just speculation, while this was solid evidence of cheating.

Netizen 1: “Oh my god, the one dumped back then was our Nian Nian!”

Netizen 2: “How dare she dump my Nian Nian?”

Netizen 3: “Did you notice how stunning the fiancée in the video is?”

Netizen 4: “You’re not alone. Where did this fairy come from? Her beauty is breathtaking.”

Netizen 5: “I found my fiancée’s info. Here’s her address. You’re welcome.”

Netizen 6: “May the good man above live a peaceful life.”

Netizen 7: “Is Gu Chengze blind or something?”

Netizen 8: “Don’t you know? Overlord presidents have unique tastes. They like delicate, timid women.”

Ji Ming replied to Netizen 8, “I don’t like that.”

Netizen 8: “Wait, is that the president of Ji Corporation? Ahhh, he actually responded!”

Ji Ming’s comment made the news even more exciting, drawing more netizens into the discussion.

Netizen 9: “Isn’t this a family feud? The Wen family’s eldest daughter and the Gu family’s eldest son, an engaged couple, are fighting each other. First, Gu Chengze posted a photo suggesting Wen Ya cheated, and then Wen Ya exposed Gu Chengze’s cheating. From my experience, there’s more to come. I’m looking forward to the next twist. It’s going to be wild.”