Chapter 022: Can’t Lose Both the Battle and the Troops

Several marketing accounts simultaneously posted the same video on Weibo in real-time — a clip of Fang Yimeng joking in the interview studio about throwing a water cup and acting like a diva.

Without surprise, this video ignited a firestorm online. Netizens pounced, unleashing full criticism against Fang Yimeng. Hashtags criticizing her shot up to the top of the trending list.

Soon, a message came in from Meng Qing.

Meng Qing:

“Why are you trending so frequently again lately? Did you mess with Li Jinchen again?”

Yimeng (Not emo):

[Bitter.jpg] “I’ve been busy filming a variety show, and when I’m not, I’m fighting mental warfare with my parents over marriage. And anyway, I’m over Li Jinchen. Let Liao Ran treat him like a treasure for all I care.”
[Disdain.jpg]

Meng Qing:

“…I understand every word you said, but put together, none of it makes sense to me.”

Meng Qing:

“This incident relates to the last ‘set bullying’ scandal — we can’t afford to stay silent again. I’m still on a business trip abroad, but I’ll contact PR soon to discuss countermeasures. Be ready for a late night — wait for our notice.”

Yimeng:

“Just send me updates directly. I’ll see them.”

After their rapid exchange, Fang Yimeng tossed her phone aside with exhaustion and rubbed her temples in frustration. After a short rest, she got up and headed to the bathroom. By the time she had removed her makeup and returned to bed, it was already around 2 or 3 a.m.

Later, Meng Qing sent another update: the company would investigate the original source of the edited video related to the “set bullying” accusation to uncover the truth. As for Yimeng, she was instructed not to respond publicly on Weibo until the facts were confirmed.

In other words — do nothing for now.

Fang Yimeng sneered and shut her phone off. She wasn’t really bothered by online gossip. More than anyone else, she knew what really happened behind the so-called “set bullying” scandal.

But this wasn’t the right moment to expose it.

She’d wait.

…

The Next Morning

Fang Yimeng was woken up by the sounds of a heated argument outside. She stretched lazily in bed, originally wanting to ignore it — but the voices grew louder, eventually impossible to tune out.

With no choice, she got up, washed, changed into a long T-shirt and shorts, then walked out of her room.

“That video was clearly maliciously edited! Why are you going after Ah Yi for this? You know what she’s like — she may be willful, but she’d never bully someone!”

Descending the stairs, she heard her mother arguing passionately with her father.

“All I know,” her father retorted, “is that flies don’t land on seamless eggs! If Ah Yi hadn’t done anything to cause misunderstanding, how could someone maliciously edit it like that? At the end of the day, it’s still her fault! Eldest, go get that little brat downstairs!”

Just as he finished speaking, Fang “Little Brat” Yimeng stepped into the living room in her slippers.

“No need — the little brat’s already here,” she said, tugging at the hem of her oversized shirt.

Only then did she realize that aside from the immediate family, Lu Jingshan — who had said he’d visit yesterday — was also present.

“You still know how to show your face? Just look at the news — every day there’s some scandal about you on the trending list! Do you know your brother and Xiao Lu were up all night last night trying to suppress the hot search for you?”

Father Fang was clearly furious. He pointed to the television, now showing a Weibo trending list that had been cleaned up to look peaceful and scandal-free.

“Your company’s PR can never keep up with your screw-ups! Honestly, I’d rather you waste tens of thousands on handbags and vacations than spend it all on damage control!”

Fang Jianyuan sat on a single-seat velvet sofa, dressed casually in a crewneck sweatshirt. Unusually, he wasn’t wearing his signature gold-rimmed glasses.

“Someone’s obviously targeting me. It’s easier to guard against thieves and fires than petty people. What am I supposed to do — quit the industry?” Fang Yimeng glanced at her cold and aloof older brother, who showed no intention of helping her.

She shuffled over to Lu Jingshan and plopped down next to him, her head drooping.

Father Fang continued his scolding without pause.

Feeling wronged but not daring to talk back, Yimeng could only carefully nudge Lu Jingshan’s elbow with hers, trying to recruit an ally.

Though nudged, Lu remained calm and composed.

Thinking she hadn’t gotten his attention, she scooted even closer and reached out to tug at his sleeve.

“Fang Yimeng! Are you even listening to what I’m saying!?”

Father Fang had tolerated her antics up to that point. But when he saw his daughter reaching toward Lu — practically about to hold his hand — he lost it.

He wasn’t just worried about her wasting money — now he had to worry about her being “taken” by someone else’s wolf pup!

Even if he liked this particular “wolf pup,” not at this critical time!

Hearing her full name shouted, Fang Yimeng jumped and immediately withdrew her hand, curling up like a school troublemaker getting scolded in class.

Finally, Mother Fang couldn’t take it anymore. She stood up, pulled Father Fang aside, trying to maintain a stern atmosphere while still scolding him for being too harsh.

“Ah Yi is such a good girl! Say what you want, but don’t be so mean! Didn’t you say you wanted to check company matters with our eldest? Jianyuan, come — let’s go to the study.”

She half-pulled, half-dragged Father Fang away, and even took the “light bulb” Jianyuan with them.

Jianyuan glanced at the fake “couple” on the sofa. His cold eyes flickered with thought, but after a moment of hesitation, he stood up and followed them upstairs.

Now, only Fang Yimeng and Lu Jingshan remained in the living room.

With the pressure gone, she immediately turned to him — the “villain” who had ignored her this whole time.

Only now did she notice how tired he looked. His handsome face was pale, with dark shadows beneath his eyes from lack of sleep. Even so, his sharp features remained stunning.

She suddenly remembered what her father had just said.

“The matter’s been handled,” Lu Jingshan said, his deep voice rasping like it had been scraped by sandpaper. “For your reputation, your little brother’s out tens of thousands again. What now?”

His dark eyes locked on hers — solemn and unreadable.