Jiang Sen: “…Didn’t you delete the contact?”

In the office, Shen Qiming spoke up: “It’s from an overseas IP. The PR team initially deleted it, but soon after, a new post was uploaded. Now it’s spread too widely, and deleting it again might have a negative impact.”

Jiang Sen: “Well, it doesn’t even accuse you of being a scumbag. After a few days of blocking it, everyone will forget about it. What’s the negative impact?”

Shen Qiming looked up at him: “It negatively impacts Yaotiao.”

Jiang Sen: “…True.”

He regained his composure and gave a dry laugh: “But Yaotiao is moving quickly too. It seems she’s already hired someone to change the narrative online. I just saw several accounts commenting below the article, saying that you didn’t break up with her. I wonder if they’ll also reveal that she was the one who called off the engagement. That would be really embarrassing.”

As he spoke, he leaned over to look at his assistant’s computer: “Since it’s not the contact’s block, what are you doing now?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he saw the assistant’s computer screen and froze.

In the office, Shen Qiming’s calm voice rang out: “Clarification.”

Online, ever since the engagement photo was released, the credibility of the article skyrocketed among netizens.

The author clearly had no intention of offending Jingmao, although the story described Jin Yaotiao being dumped by Shen Qiming, it mainly focused on her relentless pursuit of him.

In the story, Shen Qiming appeared more like a divine figure, a benevolent benefactor, which perfectly matched his public persona.

Even though the ending showed him breaking up with Jin Yaotiao, the plot still made sense because a man like him would never settle for anyone.

This only made Jin Yaotiao’s departure seem even more tragic, as the entire story was essentially a monologue.

Such a drama was incredibly compelling, especially with both parties being big names in the business world.

Jingmao’s CEO, Shen, was incredibly low-key, but his legend spread in every corner, while Mingde’s Chairman Jin had recently risen to fame in the business world.

The bigger the names involved, the tastier the gossip.

Though the scandal wasn’t damaging enough to hurt their reputations, most people couldn’t help but express their sympathy for Jin Yaotiao.

Some of the internet trolls mocked:

[What’s the point of being a successful woman? She’s still dumped and unloved.]

[People kept saying how impressive she was, I always thought it was fake. Now, her lies are exposed, haha!]

Those who couldn’t stand the mockery responded:

[Unloved? Jin Yao Tiao is stunning, even if she had no money, someone would love her, okay?]

[She’s impressive, really. She turned Mingde into a conglomerate, who else in her industry could make products popular with foreign influencers like she did?]

The fans from her fan club didn’t consider this a smear, angrily cursing out the writer. But it didn’t stop the trolls from reveling in the situation, as they found themselves mocking someone they could never reach. When their comments were met with disapproval, they escalated further:

[What’s the point of praising her? Didn’t Shen Qiming still look down on her? Was there any public buzz when they were engaged?]

[Hahaha, the funniest part is that Jin Yaotiao hired a bunch of paid commenters to pretend to be Jingmao employees to salvage her image. It’s just ridiculous!]

They were referring to the most unusual accounts in the discussion—those accounts with Jingmao employee names, shouting about how Shen Qiming was truly heartbroken.

Everyone had nothing to say. Honestly, even regular people could tell their posts were fake.

Just as they were saying this, another account popped up with the Jingmao logo, posting something utterly confusing:

[There was no relentless pursuit or tiredness from giving. From the beginning, I have always liked her. There was no breakup, I wasn’t good enough, which led to her proposing to break up. Since the engagement was called off, I have been trying to win her back. Please don’t speculate or spread rumors.]

What was this nonsense? It sounded like the person involved was speaking.

Everyone checked the account’s name—Shen Qiming.

Netizens: “……………………”

They clicked on the profile, and it was all reposted Mingde company news.

The trolls instantly burst out laughing:

[Hahahaha, fake employees pretending to be Jingmao staff weren’t enough. Now, even Shen Qiming is cosplaying as them. Oh my god!]

Neutral parties frowned and commented:

[Bro, there’s a limit to jokes. Why would you mess with Mingde for no reason? Jin Yao Tiao has had a hard time too.]

Fans from the fan club were furious:

[Shut up!!! Stop being so low-class with your self-deprecating humor. Do you think we’re all fools and can’t see through it?!]

The assistant who was being mocked could only stand there, stunned.

Soon, however, the trolls realized something wasn’t right.

After relentlessly mocking the account, it was—retweeted by Jingmao’s official account?

That official account, verified with a full page of business-related posts, not only retweeted it but also added a careful message: [Wishing the boss all the best.]

The trolls were speechless.

Moments ago, they were gleefully mocking, but now, they deleted their comments in confusion.

Neutral parties were baffled, asking:

[Wait, does Shen Qiming also browse the internet and watch online drama?]

Fans from the fan club: “…”

Wait a minute, they suddenly recognized the account.

Wasn’t this the wealthy tycoon who had been the biggest backer when the new product was launched by Mingde’s group?

Damn!!

At the same time, everyone noticed Shen Qiming’s serious post.

To this, the onlookers could only say four words:

“Chairman Jin, you’re amazing.”

---

Jin Yao Tiao had come to the broadcasting station to attend the final meeting.

With the year nearing its end, the program preparations were almost done, and representatives from all cities were about to part ways.

She was preparing to expand Mingde’s three branch offices nationwide, so she naturally valued her relationships in each city. Therefore, this final meeting saw her team bringing numerous farewell gifts.

These were all new flavors released by Mingde before the winter solstice.

Everyone in the industry was interested, and even before taking them home, some people were already eager to try them.

In the end, they cooked everything with top-tier equipment, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Of course, the representative from the city who was eagerly looking for business opportunities remained quiet throughout.

These veteran chefs, when it came to food, treated it like a tasting event, debating and discussing non-stop. Jin Yao Tiao couldn’t handle it and stepped out, seeking some peace.

While holding the bowl she had been given, she received a call from Lei Qiu. After listening to it, she froze.

Opening the link that was sent to her, she looked at it with a complex expression.

Just as she was about to contact Shen Qiming, a soft voice suddenly came from behind: “Jin Yaotiao.”

The voice was so melancholic that it nearly startled her. As she quickly identified the person speaking, Jin Yaotao took a moment to recognize her, before displaying an expression of surprise. “How is it you?”

Ning Meng, wrapped in a thick coat, stood not far away, her face pale and weary. “I saw the article they posted online.”

Jin Yaotao asked, “What about it?”

Ning Meng replied, “I just wanted to tell you, I didn’t write it.”

After hearing this, Jin Yaotao took a few seconds to process the meaning. “Who suspected you?”

She had almost forgotten about Ning Meng.

Ning Meng seemed as if she didn’t believe it. “You should’ve suspected me first, after all, I hated you so much.”

Jin Yaotao chuckled, “There are too many people who hate me to count. You don’t even make it to the list.”

Things weren’t like before at home. Now, Jin Yaotao was fighting battles for Mingde, cutting off countless people’s financial resources. Not far off, the boss from Xinghe probably hated her to death.

Ning Meng stayed silent for a long time after hearing this.

She lowered her head and spoke softly, “I was fired by Mr. Shen, so I must be the one who hates you the most.”

Jin Yaotao froze. “Mr. Shen fired you?”

Ning Meng was equally stunned. “You didn’t know?”

Jin Yaotao was genuinely surprised. Mr. Shen hadn’t told her.

Ning Meng seemed to lose her composure for a moment, then smiled bitterly. “Who are you fooling? You hated me so much, how could you not know I was gone? You should’ve noticed right away when you didn’t see me by Mr. Shen’s side, no one there to pose a threat to you anymore.”

Jin Yaotao suddenly realized, as she faced Ning Meng, her heart felt utterly unmoved.

In fact, she had hated her a long time ago.

Until the last time they met at Jingmao Park, she still found Ning Meng’s methods laughable and disgusting.

But just now, she didn’t even recognize her at first glance.

Jin Yaotao smiled slightly, lowering her gaze. “Ning Meng, the only one who can give me a sense of crisis is myself.”

Ning Meng looked at her blankly.

Jin Yaotao didn’t mind at all. She stepped forward and handed over the untouched bowl she had been holding. “Believe it or not, today is the winter solstice, and I’m treating you to Mingde’s most expensive new flavor.”

With that, she glanced at Ning Meng’s hospital gown, which was faintly visible under her thick coat, and sighed. “Take care of your health.”

Jin Yaotao turned and entered the lively room.

In the hallway, Ning Meng stood for a while, then turned back, still holding the slightly hot bowl.

When Ning Shun and Qiao Yusi found her, she was sitting on the ground by the wall, tears falling as she ate dumplings.

Mingde’s new dumplings this year had red beans kneaded into the dough, giving them a soft pink hue.

These beautiful dumplings were filled with incredibly fresh and sweet ingredients, with crunchy sea intestines chopped into small pieces and mixed into a fish paste.

The fish paste was rich and fatty, probably mixed with several kinds of fish, and the deep-sea fish oil was particularly outstanding.

Combined with the subtle sweetness of the red bean dough, it felt like a tropical vacation, lying on a beach in the sun during the coldest winter.

Ning Shun stood at a distance, his mood clearly terrible as he coldly watched her eat without approaching.

Qiao Yusi, who was very tired from her own troubles, came over and kept asking why Ning Meng had run away from the hospital.

Ning Meng cried while eating, ignoring her.

Jin Yaotao, still indifferent, had given her the dumplings for winter solstice and reminded her to take care of her health.

It had been many years since Ning Meng had last eaten dumplings for winter solstice, and in that moment, she suddenly realized just how ridiculous she must have seemed in Jin Yaotao’s eyes.

Not long ago, Qiao Yusi had dealt a blow to Jin Yaotao’s pride, and now Jin Yaotao had put her in a mess. Exhausted, Qiao Yusi received a call from a partner who was unexpectedly terrified, scolding her harshly.

It took a while before Qiao Yusi realized what was happening. With shock, she opened her phone.

In just a short moment, everything had changed.

Shen Qiming’s unexpected appearance caused a huge stir, and under the article that the partner had painstakingly promoted, there was now a sea of ridicule.

Outside that, netizens everywhere were astonished:

【Did you see President Shen’s profile from Jingmao?】

【I’m wondering, those accounts at the beginning that spoke for Jingmao, could they really be employees? If so, then those rumors about President Shen cooking love soup for Chairman Jin might not just be a prank.】

【I can’t imagine President Shen in the kitchen… he’s really doing everything to chase after her.】

【Actually, I still think Chairman Jin’s persona is ruined. I knew she was amazing, but never thought she could be this amazing.】

【I came here to eat melon seeds, but ended up with dog food.】

【Wuwuwu, although he’s really rich and handsome, I don’t know why I’m more and more wanting to marry Chairman Jin.】

---

Qiao Yusi quickly realized the direction of things and showed Ning Meng the phone, her eyes wide in disbelief. “Why is this different from what you told me? Didn’t you say Mr. Shen had no feelings for Jin Yaotao and broke up with her first?”

Ning Meng chewed on dumplings, looking at the phone, then suddenly cried out loudly, “Because I’m a despicable person! I’m jealous of her!”

She hiccupped and drank the dumpling broth, finishing it completely.

Qiao Yusi froze, watching her drink the soup, and her own tears began to fall.

“Damn.”

“You ruined me, do you know that?”

In the same room, in the same miserable world.

After bidding farewell to the provincial representatives she might meet again in the future, Jin Yaotiao headed to the garage, looking at her phone as she walked, keeping an eye on the developments in the situation she hadn’t yet intervened in.

She suddenly came across a comment:

【Although Mr. Shen has already come out to clarify, I have to say, even when there was no clarification, I admired him even more after reading the article. Even if what the post said was true, the way he fought for his career and went after someone he liked, even if he didn’t succeed, that’s still very brave and impressive!】

Jin Yaotiao smiled and swiped away.

But when she looked up, she saw an unexpected car and person in the parking lot.

Shen Qiming, tall, opened the passenger door of the car and smiled at her.

Clearly, he was seeking compliments.

Jin Yaotiao hesitated for a few seconds, then gave up her own car and let the driver leave first.

Shen Qiming closed the door for her, got in the car, and leaned over to fasten her seatbelt.

The scent of cedar hit her face, and Jin Yaotao glared at him. “I’ll do it myself.”

Shen Qiming smiled and calmly leaned back in the driver’s seat, watching her fasten the seatbelt.

Jin Yaotao had rarely seen him act so smug and spoke seriously, “Shen Qiming, you’ve said so much online. If you don’t catch me in the future, it’ll be a huge blow to your face.”

Shen Qiming was unconcerned. “I just like you, and that’s not something to be ashamed of.”