Chapter 53: The Paparazzi's Gambit
Xiang Yang tosses and turns for a long time before she finally drifts off to sleep. She feels like she's just closed her eyes when her phone starts ringing nonstop.
Before answering, Xiang Yang realizes there are already two missed calls. She looks at the time. It's just past 5:20 AM.
“Xiao Ai, what's wrong?”
The assistant almost cries when she finally answers the phone. “Sister Xiang Yang, the fact that you went to the hospital was photographed. It's all over the internet.”
Xiang Yang thinks for a moment. She realizes that things aren't that simple. If it were just the fact that she went to the hospital being exposed, Xiao Ai wouldn't be so anxious.
“Anything else?”
“Someone dug up your relationship with Brother Xing. They say you two are a couple. But then someone took pictures of you getting into another man's car at the hospital entrance. So, the internet is going crazy. They're saying you cheated.”
Xiang Yang has a headache. “I know. I'll call Huihui Jie.”
“Okay, Sister Xiang Yang. Huihui Jie called you earlier, and you didn't answer. That's why I tried contacting you.”
“I know.” As soon as Xiang Yang hangs up the phone, Qin Hui calls.
Qin Hui immediately asks, “What's going on with your high school classmate?”
Xiang Yang is thinking about how to explain things clearly with Xing Zhaoyan and Fu Guanxian, but she suddenly realizes that she doesn't even know how she ended up in this ambiguous situation with them.
Xiang Yang feels like it's all her fault.
Qin Hui can't wait for her answer. Thinking that she doesn't know, she says, “Someone online photographed you going in and out of a hospital under Fu's. They have even said that they've gotten information that you're there to visit your injured boyfriend. But after dark, someone saw you get into a black car. The man who picked you up was young. Xiang Yang, you know, the media loves to stir things up. You were photographed with two men on the same day. I just want to ask, are you really dating Xing Zhaoyan?”
Xiang Yang takes a slow breath and says, “Yes. It's only been a few hours since we confirmed it.”
“Then what about the black car?”
Xiang Yang answers directly, “Fu Guanxian.”
Qin Hui naturally knows the name Fu Guanxian. When Boss Fu Qingrui gave her Xiang Yang's information, he told her without hesitation to put all her effort into managing her.
Qin Hui is also an old acquaintance of Fu Qingrui. Even though they're employer and employee, sometimes they talk things over directly. Qin Hui asks, “Why did you want me to personally manage someone? Because of their powerful background or because they're very talented?”
“Both.” Fu Qingrui replies lazily, “That little rascal Fu Guanxian begged me to do this. How could I not give my nephew face? But he also said not to let Xiao Yang know.”
Not many people know that Fu Qingrui is the person behind “Universe.”
Fu's second son, Fu Qingrui, is very talented in music and dance. He later debuted and became a part of the entertainment industry. He quickly rose to fame because of his outstanding looks and extraordinary singing ability. Plus, he's multi-talented and has a sunny disposition. He quickly became a star.
He is successful in his career and comes from a wealthy family. When he has nothing to do, he starts this entertainment company called “Universe.” He rarely makes his true identity public.
Later, Qin Hui learned that the Xiang family and the Fu family are indeed closely related. Plus, there's also Fu Guanxian, the future heir to the Fu family.
Qin Hui has always thought that even if she doesn't bring Xiang Yang to the top, one day when Fu Guanxian returns, Xiang Yang's good fortune will only increase.
But how come reality is so different from her expectations!
Using her intuition, Qin Hui feels that Fu Guanxian must have feelings for Xiang Yang since he's putting in so much effort for her. But why did Fu Guanxian just come back, and Xiang Yang has already established a relationship with Xing Zhaoyan?
What to do? How can she clear this up?
Qin Hui calms down and asks, “Does Fu Guanxian know about your relationship with your high school classmate?”
“He knows.”
“No. Didn't you just say that you and your high school classmate only confirmed your relationship a few hours ago? How did the paparazzi know?”
“This…” Xiang Yang is also surprised.
Xing Zhaoyan is injured and wouldn't leave the hospital. The paparazzi wouldn't be able to enter casually. So who leaked the news?
Qin Hui presses, “Besides the two of you, who else knows about this?”
Xiang Yang silently thinks of Fu Guanxian's name. But he has no reason.
The other person is Fan Xiaoyu. But she wouldn't rashly spread the news without consulting her.
Xiang Yang can't think of anyone else. She just says, “Huihui Jie, you can handle the PR. Or maybe we don't need to clarify.”
“We'll decide after we see how it develops. If it gets serious…”
“Okay.”
Xiang Yang doesn't listen to her explanation. She instinctively trusts her. After hanging up, Xiang Yang can't sleep anymore. She thinks about getting up and making some breakfast to take to Xing Zhaoyan.
She was afraid that there would be nothing in Fu Guanxian's kitchen, but she discovered that everything is complete. The refrigerator is also full of food.
Xiang Yang looks at the ingredients and thinks for a while. She decides to make some nutritious porridge.
Fu Guanxian's phone vibrates for a few seconds before he wakes up. After listening to the person on the other end of the line give a full report, he just squints his eyes and says, “Get everyone to withdraw. If you can't withdraw, then black it out.” He throws away his phone, turns over, unable to sleep, and gets up to put on his clothes. He walks downstairs. But when he reaches the stairs, he hears a clattering sound coming from the kitchen.
Fu Guanxian rarely pauses in his actions, then remembers that there's another person in this house. When he thinks of her, Fu Guanxian's mood soars. He shakes off his gloom from a few minutes ago.
He softens his steps and leans against the kitchen door. He sees her, with her hair tied back, wearing a bathrobe, with an apron tied around her waist, clumsily chopping something.
Fu Guanxian's gaze lingers on her for a while. Then his gaze shifts to the small pot simmering on the stove. He clears his throat. Xiang Yang turns her head and glances at him, then looks away casually.
Fu Guanxian still leans lazily against the door frame. He smiles slightly and says, “When I was abroad, sometimes I would wake up, look at the empty house, and then look at the lifeless kitchen. I would always think, if there were someone living with me who would wake up early every morning and lovingly make breakfast for me. Then, when I get off work at night, they would have dinner ready and wait for me happily. That kind of feeling would definitely be great.”
Xiang Yang's hand stops. She continues chopping, emotionless. “You can just hire a maid.”
“That's different.”
“What's different?”
“The feeling is different.”
Xiang Yang glances at him and doesn't want to talk to him anymore.
Fu Guanxian walks into the kitchen, stands next to her, and asks in a low voice, “So, what's our relationship now?”
“What relationship?” Xiang Yang clearly feels her voice tremble as she speaks. No, why am I nervous?
“You know about the news online, right?”
Xiang Yang remains silent.
“If you didn't, why would you be busy in the kitchen early in the morning? Can't you sleep?”
Xiang Yang hates the way he can guess everything so accurately. She laughs deliberately, “I got up early to make Xing Zhaoyan breakfast. Do I need to ask your permission?”
“Between Xing Zhaoyan and me, who holds a heavier place in your heart?”
“Fu Guanxian, can you stop being so unreasonable?”
“Haven't you always thought I was unreasonable since we were kids?”
Xiang Yang is angry. “It's been so many years. Can't you mature?”
“If I hadn't matured, would Xing Zhaoyan still be alive today?” Fu Guanxian scoffs. “Xiang Yang, I'm just asking you one thing. Do you have feelings for him?”
“Does that have anything to do with you?” Xiang Yang questions without hesitation.
“Do you think that after last night, it has nothing to do with me?”
“Heh, Fu Guanxian. He's my boyfriend. It's none of your business how we feel about each other. And, I want to reiterate. Nothing happened last night. If I hear you say these baseless things again, I believe we don't need to see each other anymore.”
“Xiao Yang, your wings are really clipped.”
Xiang Yang doesn't back down. She replies, “You've also said it's been so many years. I'm not the meek, docile Xiang Yang who you could mold as you pleased.”
“Then, Miss Big Star, do I need to remind you that last night when you got in my car, your current boyfriend was watching you from the window?”
Xiang Yang's face changes slightly. “What are you saying?”
“Did he witness anything? Why don't you inquire when you pay him a visit bearing a delightful breakfast? Certainly, not many are privy to your connection. Those paparazzi possess remarkable skills, don't you agree?” Fu Guanxian remarks before heading upstairs. As an afterthought, he mentions, “Oh, do remember to enhance the seasoning. I have a distaste for bland flavors.”
Xiang Yang clenches her teeth behind him. Eat or don't eat! I don't care!
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