Chapter 54: Unraveling the Leak
Xiang Yang only manages to eat a few bites before she puts away the dishes. Fu Guanxian, after changing into his suit, comes downstairs.
The black suit is sharp, making his composure even more prominent.
Xiang Yang stands by the entrance, changing into her high heels. She stares at him for a few seconds, unconsciously thinking: He's always been a clothes horse. Now, he looks so effortlessly suave in a suit.
Fu Guanxian also watches her. Seeing her eyes leave him, he furrows his brow and asks, “Leaving?”
"Hmm.”
“It's only 6 AM,” Fu Guanxian glances at the clock on the wall and reminds her.
Xiang Yang is unfazed as she puts on her hat, mask, and sunglasses. Without looking at him, she says, “It's precisely because it's 6 AM that I'm in a hurry to leave.”
The earlier she goes, the safer she will be. She won't run into too many people later. Also, she needs to visit the hospital. There are some things she wants to clarify with Xing Zhaoyan in person. Otherwise, it will weigh on her mind, bothering her.
She only has one hour. At 7 AM, Huihui Jie is coming to discuss the event with her. It's a live event, and it would be bad if something went wrong.
Seeing her lack of hesitation, Fu Guanxian can't help but chuckle. “So eager to go see your sweetheart?”
Xiang Yang pauses for a moment before realizing who he's referring to.
She notices, however, that his mood doesn't seem so bright this morning. But, somehow, although he's in a bad mood, her own anxiety from the previous night has diminished significantly. A polite smile spreads across her face. She replies lightly, “Yes, I'm very eager!” As she predicted, Fu Guanxian seems even more upset. She notices a rare furrow of his brow.
As Fu Guanxian takes a step, Xiang Yang darts out of the way, locking the door behind her. The next second, a smile appears on her face. She looks at the car keys in her hand, tosses them up twice, catches them effortlessly, and then presses the unlock button.
Fu Guanxian opens the door just as she is bending to get into the driver's seat. He raises his hand and strokes the left cuff of his sleeve, his expression dark and ambiguous.
Xiang Yang glances at him in the rearview mirror. The smile on her face brightens a bit as she speeds away.
Last night, she noticed there weren't any other cars in the garage. He'll naturally have his driver come and pick him up when she takes his car. But what is this strange sense of exhilaration?
Xiang Yang looks at the luxury car, which is easy to handle. She plans to leave the car at the hospital later. As for the keys, she'll just have Xiao Ai mail them back.
After all, it's his fault for bringing her to that terrible place last night.
There's still a bit of distance to the hospital. From afar, Xiang Yang sees that the hospital entrance is surrounded by reporters. It's a sea of people and noise. A few security guards are desperately trying to hold them back.
Xiang Yang finds it difficult. She parks the car and thinks for a moment. Then she turns the steering wheel and heads in the other direction. She remembers Fu Guanxian saying there's a back entrance to the hospital.
After driving in circles for a while, she finally finds it.
She quickly parks the car, grabs the food container, and pushes open the door. She tries several times but can't open it.
Although this alley where the back entrance is located is narrow and secluded, and few people pass through, Xiang Yang is afraid of being discovered. She rushes to call Fu Guanxian. But she pulls out her phone and realizes she doesn't have his number.
Xiang Yang is a little frustrated.
But only for half a minute. She hears a voice beside her. It's mocking. “You always love to do things unnecessarily.”
It's icy cold, but the voice is magnetically alluring.
Xiang Yang looks up and sees Fu Guanxian in his suit standing beside her.
“You…”
Fu Guanxian raises his hand and knocks on the door three times. The door opens.
Xiang Yang looks at the man in the security uniform who bows slightly to Fu Guanxian, respectfully saying, “Young Master, you've arrived.”
Fu Guanxian glances at him, only saying, "Thank you for your hard work.” Then, he pulls on Xiang Yang's wrist and pulls her inside.
Xiang Yang is taken aback by his forceful action. She almost stumbles, but manages to regain her balance in time. She quickly pulls her hand back.
Fu Guanxian notices her action. He stops and turns to face her.
Xiang Yang doesn't back down. She looks back at him, saying, “I already have a lot of scandals. Be careful.”
Fu Guanxian laughs upon hearing this. “Rare for you to be aware of your tarnished image.”
“No matter how tarnished, it's not as bad as yours!”
"Me?” Fu Guanxian feigns surprise. “What have I done?”
“Fu Guanxian, do I need to list all the things you've done before?”
“I need to.” Fu Guanxian answers without hesitation. “I've been abroad for too long. I've forgotten a lot. Why don't you remind me?”
Xiang Yang looks at his raised eyebrow. Then her brow furrows slightly. She stiffly changes the topic. “I'm going to see Xing Zhaoyan. Don't follow me.”
"Don't worry, I don't want to see him either.” Fu Guanxian walks past her, dropping a sentence. “By the way, please ask that big star for me. Who leaked those news from early this morning? I'm also a victim, after all.”
“You…”
Victim?
Xiang Yang bites her lip and mutters, “You're not afraid your tongue will slip when you say that, are you?”
Unfortunately, Fu Guanxian, who's walking ahead, can't hear her.
Xiang Yang looks at his back with a complicated expression.
He's reminded her twice now. Has he found out something?
Are those leaked news really related to Xing Zhaoyan?
Lying in bed, seriously looking at his phone, Xing Zhaoyan sees the door open. He sees a graceful figure in a white dress and black long skirt. He immediately says, “Yangyang, you're here.”
Xiang Yang takes off her sunglasses and mask. Seeing his sincere eyes and pure smile, her heart inexplicably tightens.
She asks herself: Would Xing Zhaoyan do something like that?
But, surprisingly, the answer is: I don't know.
Yes, she doesn't know.
She can't guarantee Xing Zhaoyan, with a straight face, when Fu Guanxian questions her repeatedly. She can't guarantee that he wouldn't do something like that.
Xing Zhaoyan sees her standing at the door, clearly lost in thought.
He doesn't need to think too much. He knows what's going on.
His expression is natural. “Why are you just standing at the door? Didn't you bring me a loving breakfast? Come over here and let me take a look. I'm starving.”
Xiang Yang finally snaps out of her thoughts and forces a smile towards him. She walks over. “I was in a hurry, so it's just something simple.”
Xing Zhaoyan says, “As long as you made it, I'm happy.”
Xiang Yang smiles faintly, but the smile freezes. Fearing that she can't control her expression, she stands up. “You eat first. I'll go get you a glass of water.”
“Thanks, my dear.” Xing Zhaoyan says. He reaches out and holds her palm. He rubs his thumb against the back of her hand.
The moment his warm fingers touch her, Xiang Yang trembles involuntarily. She instinctively wants to shake off his hand, but her reason prevails. She smiles, calmly pulling her hand back. She turns and says, “Eat first. Weren't you saying you were hungry?”
“Okay.” Xing Zhaoyan looks at her with affection. But the affection disappears from his eyes as he finishes speaking.
Doubt creeps into his heart. He finds the breakfast tasteless, but he still eats half of it.
Xiang Yang sits quietly beside him. Seeing him slow down as he eats, she says, “If you can't eat, don't. You just woke up not long ago. Taking it slow is the best thing for you.”
Xing Zhaoyan smiles at her. “But I want to finish it. I don't know when you'll have time to make me a loving breakfast again, or when you'll have time to sit by my side and keep me company like this.”
Xiang Yang is silent for a moment. She says, “I'm sorry.”
A bad feeling washes over him. Xing Zhaoyan looks slightly disturbed and says, “Why are you apologizing for no reason?”
Xiang Yang replies, “I don't have any experience being someone's girlfriend. Maybe I won't do many things well. Maybe I don't even know what to do. Maybe I can't even give you the most basic companionship.”
“Silly, why apologize for this?” Xing Zhaoyan reaches out his hand and says in a low voice, “Come here.”
Xiang Yang looks at his hand. She doesn't take his hand, but she walks to the edge of the bed and sits down. She asks him, “Even if we see each other rarely, you wouldn't mind?”
“I support you. I'll wait for you.”
“Then what if, like last night, I have a scandal with another man, you wouldn't get angry?”
Xing Zhaoyan reaches out to touch her hair. “It's a scandal. It's definitely not real. When two people are together, you naturally have to…”
“Xiang Yang!”
Before Xing Zhaoyan can finish, he's interrupted by someone who rushes in. He raises his head in displeasure and glares at the doorway.
Qin Hui notices his gaze and returns a fierce look. Then she ignores him and turns to Xiang Yang. “Xiang Yang, I have an urgent matter. I need to tell you right now. Come out for a minute.”
It's the first time Xiang Yang sees Qin Hui so anxious. She glances at Xing Zhaoyan and says softly, “Wait for me.”
“Okay.”
The ward door closes.
Xiang Yang sees that her lips are tightly pressed together. She asks, “Is the online situation serious?”
“No, it's been suppressed.”
“Suppressed?” Xiang Yang is surprised. “Universe's” capabilities seem to be more powerful than she imagined.
Qin Hui realizes that she's misunderstood something. She quickly says, “The company hasn't acted yet. Fu Guanxian has already sent someone to take down all the news.” Then, she adds involuntarily, “They cleaned it up thoroughly.”
Xiang Yang is speechless for a moment.
Qin Hui continues, “And we have found out that the information they got was provided by an informant. We traced the IP address. It shows it's from here.”
Xiang Yang's eyes widen slightly.
Qin Hui says, “I've thought about it again and again. The biggest suspect is…” She looks at the closed door and doesn't say it. Then she gives her opinion. “But I'm curious. Last night, you only just confirmed your relationship. Even if he was eager to make it public, he should still discuss it with you. He shouldn't just leak it as a scandal. Making it public on Weibo and a scandal are two completely different things. Besides, he also made you look like that.”
Xiang Yang's gaze darkens, she doesn't answer.
Qin Hui continues, “Maybe I have no right to comment on anything, but after last night, I realized he's simply not right for you. Xiang Yang, you'd better think carefully. It's still not too late.”
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