Chapter 65

Yan Xi opened her phone and saw the top trending news: someone had exposed that due to dissatisfaction with his girlfriend, the Yuan family had clashed with the second young master, Yuan Yi, resulting in him being stripped of his management position at Changfeng.

The person who leaked the news not only posted screenshots of chat records with an internal staff member from Changfeng but also shared some screenshots from the live confession broadcast, attempting to prove the authenticity of their claims.

"Xiao Yan, could this... really be true?" Xiao Yang looked at Yan Xi worriedly, unsure how to comfort her. A prestigious family like the Yuan family would surely have high standards for choosing a daughter-in-law, and Xiao Yang wasn't sure if Mr. Yuan could withstand the pressure from his family. Thinking about the possibility of a couple being separated due to family reasons, Xiao Yang felt troubled. Yan Xi was a wonderful person, so why did Yuan's parents have to be so unreasonable? Couldn't they hope for something better?

"It's nothing," Yan Xi replied calmly after reading the post. "It's just baseless gossip online."

"Well, alright then. You have your first co-hosting gig with Teacher Shen tonight, so don't let these external factors affect your performance." Xiao Yang, seeing that Yan Xi appeared unaffected, assumed it was indeed a rumor, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Once Xiao Yang left, Yan Xi's smile faded. Considering Yuan Yi's usual strong stance online, if someone dared to expose this kind of information, it could only mean one thing: the matter was true. But for the average person, internal management changes in a wealthy family shouldn't matter much to them; even if leaked, it shouldn't have attracted this level of attention.

She'd met Yuan Bo, Yuan Yi's older brother, who treated him well. Even though this incident was beneficial to him, he didn't seem like the type to use such means. As for Yuan Yi's parents, even if they disapproved of her as a daughter-in-law, they would hardly want the matter to become public. There's an old saying about not airing one's dirty laundry in public, and there's nothing glorious for the Yuan family in this situation.

So, was it a business rival of Yuan Yi's? Or someone with a past grudge against the Yuan family?

Unable to figure it out, Yan Xi checked the time, put on her staff badge, grabbed the snacks she had prepared, and left her office.

"Teacher Yan, good luck! Don't be nervous," a colleague said encouragingly as she walked by, knowing Yan Xi was heading upstairs to co-host with Teacher Shen Xingyan. "Represent Channel Eight with pride."

"Thank you."

"Teacher Yan, you got this!"

Yes, that colleague was definitely from Sichuan.

"Xiao Yan, don't chicken out! Go for it!"

She was only tagging along as a junior host, not going into battle.

But seeing her colleagues' encouraging smiles eased her nerves a lot. After thanking everyone, she entered the elevator with renewed enthusiasm.

Yan Xi was co-hosting a talk show, Face to Face, that interviewed well-known figures from various fields and set high standards for its hosts. Shen Xingyan had been the host of this show for nearly eight years and had a very high level of national recognition; just mentioning Face to Face brought Shen Xingyan to mind.

When Yan Xi arrived backstage at the Face to Face studio, Shen Xingyan wasn't there yet, but most of the backstage crew had already arrived. Although Shen Xingyan herself hadn't arrived, she had called ahead to instruct everyone to take good care of the new junior host, so they treated Yan Xi with great courtesy.

After sharing her snacks with everyone, Yan Xi went to change outfits and do her makeup. Before her makeup was fully done, Shen Xingyan arrived.

"Teacher Shen," Yan Xi tried to stand up from her chair to greet her, but Shen Xingyan smiled and said, "Stay seated."

Looking at Yan Xi in the mirror for a few moments, Shen Xingyan nodded and said, "You look great with makeup on, and you'll look good on camera too. Qiqi, give Xiao Yan a stylish hairstyle later; she'll look fantastic."

"Don't worry, Teacher Shen. We'll make Teacher Yan look beautiful enough to outshine you," promised the hairstylist named Qiqi with a laugh.

Everyone in the show crew respected Shen Xingyan's authority, and seeing her treating Yan Xi so warmly, they were even more polite to her.

Yan Xi sensed that Shen Xingyan was being unusually attentive to her, which felt a bit odd. They had barely crossed paths before, so even if Shen admired her, this level of warmth seemed unexpected.

Once both of them were done with makeup, Shen Xingyan noticed Yan Xi still looking at the script and said, "The script just outlines the main flow of the interview. Sometimes, however, guests won't respond as we expect, so for hosts, the ability to think on the spot is crucial. I've seen the shows you've hosted, and I'd say your hosting skills are above average for someone your age, but you're still lacking some live experience."

Yan Xi put down the script and listened to Shen Xingyan's advice.

"Talk shows are different from other types of programs," Shen continued, smiling as she closed her script. "You could host the show in a way that would put the audience to sleep, or you could make them so captivated they'd endure every single second of commercials just to avoid missing a moment. In my opinion, your problem is that you're too soft-hearted. There are some questions that could generate more buzz, but you hesitate to ask them."

Yan Xi simply smiled without refuting Shen Xingyan's words, but she didn't fully agree either.

"But that's exactly what I admire about you," Shen Xingyan added with a smile. "Ratings and buzz are important, but as media professionals, we must never lose our integrity and conscience."

Yan Xi's eyes curved in a smile, making her look like a harmless, compliant junior.

If Shen Xingyan hadn't personally seen Yan Xi sharply respond to someone at the elevator, she might've been fooled by her innocent appearance. This young woman had principles and knew when to speak and when to remain silent, making her both principled and clever.

"Alright, don't feel pressured. I'll be guiding you on stage, so don't hold back just because you're afraid of saying the wrong thing," Shen Xingyan said, patting her on the shoulder. "A host who doesn't even have the courage to speak up on stage has already failed."

"Thank you, Teacher Shen."

"No need to be so formal. Just call me Sister Shen from now on—it'll make me feel younger."

"You already look young, Sister Shen." Yan Xi looked up at her. Shen Xingyan had an oval face and, while not traditionally beautiful, her quick wit and eloquence gave her a strong on-screen presence. For someone like her, describing her beauty by age or appearance felt almost like an insult.

Some women possess a charm that transcends looks or age. Even at eighty, people would still see her as a beauty.

"You sure know how to talk. I'm already thirty-six or thirty-seven, a full zodiac cycle older than you." Shen Xingyan quickly gave Yan Xi's face a playful pinch. "This soft, youthful skin—I love it."

Yan Xi quietly covered her face. Another one of those mischievous seniors.

Shen Xingyan then took Yan Xi to meet the guest, exchanged a few words to lighten the mood, and the official recording began.

Knowing she was new, Yan Xi didn't try to dominate the conversation. She simply responded when Shen Xingyan gave her an opening, never overshadowing her senior. Halfway through the recording, they took a break, and Shen Xingyan went offstage to touch up her makeup. Her assistant commented, "Teacher Shen, you're really looking after the newbie."

Fortunately, this newcomer could keep up with Teacher Shen's leads. Otherwise, it would've wasted all her effort.

Shen Xingyan smiled and softly replied, "Don't say things like that again. This young woman is talented—I like her." She looked over at the other side, where Yan Xi was taking photos with a few audience members. After finishing the photos, Yan Xi went back onstage to sit with the guest, keeping them from feeling awkward.

The recording wrapped up after two or three hours, finishing around 9 p.m. Yan Xi thanked everyone in the crew, grabbed her bag without even removing her makeup, and hurriedly left.

Watching Yan Xi leave, Shen Xingyan remarked to the director, "Seeing her like that, I can guess someone's probably waiting for her downstairs."

The director smiled and agreed, "Couples in the honeymoon phase are all like that."

Shen Xingyan just smiled and said nothing more.

As Yan Xi stepped out of the elevator, she saw Yuan Yi waiting by the elevator door. She reached out and grabbed his hand, finding it a bit cold. "Are you silly? Why aren't you waiting in the car? What are you standing here for?"

"I was afraid you wouldn't spot my car, so I waited here," Yuan Yi said as he wrapped a scarf around her neck. "Let's go."

"Are you trying to put a scarf on me or strangle me with it?" Yan Xi adjusted the scarf, bemused by his straightforward, looping style. "Have you been really busy with work lately?"

Sometimes when they were chatting on WeChat, Yuan Yi would suddenly go silent, sometimes taking half an hour to reply. She had thought it was just work, but after seeing the latest online gossip, she had a better idea why he was so busy.

"It's been a bit busy, but don't worry, things will calm down soon," Yuan Yi didn't want to talk about work. "You haven't had dinner yet. Let's get you something to eat."

Noticing the dark circles under his eyes, Yan Xi rubbed his cold hand and said, "No need, I ate earlier. You should go home and rest."

"A little less sleep won't hurt me," he replied, pulling her into the car and fastening her seatbelt. "Now tell me, what do you want to eat?"

"Well, how about... a simple bowl of noodles?" Yan Xi cleared her throat. "Maybe Aunt Li could make me a bowl, and after I finish, your driver could take me home."

"Yan Daqi," he said, looking at her for a long moment, "do I look like someone who can't afford a meal?" Then he narrowed his eyes. "You saw the online rumors, didn't you?"

Yan Xi hadn't wanted to bring it up, not wanting to affect his mood, but since he did, she nodded. "Just a little bit."

Amused by her response, Yuan Yi clicked his tongue. "Relax. Even without shares from the Yuan family, it wouldn't make a difference. Don't overthink it."

Seeing his indifferent attitude, Yan Xi swallowed her words of consolation. "Is it... because of me?"

"What does this have to do with you?" Yuan Yi looked at her, puzzled. "You believe those rumors online?"

Yan Xi: ...

"The old man has disapproved of me for ages. He didn't want to let go of any shares, but he was forced to give me some because my grandparents were still alive. Now that he wants them back, I'm not about to start a fight over it," Yuan Yi said, thinking she was worried about his finances. "Relax, I'm not short of money."

"Are you... really his biological son?" Yan Xi's expression was complicated.

"If I weren't, would I have been part of some promotional deal?" he replied, pulling out two chocolates and handing them to her. "Here, eat these to tide you over."

She took the chocolates, watching him with a hint of sadness. This was someone whose expectations of his parents were so low that he could remain so calm in a situation like this.

In the end, Yan Xi went back to his place. Aunt Li, who was watching TV on the sofa, got up to prepare noodles for her, complaining that Yuan Yi wasn't thoughtful enough to feed her earlier.

"It's late, so don't go home tonight," Yuan Yi said, sitting beside her. "I worry when you're at home alone."

"If I don't go home, where will I sleep?"

"Of course, the guest room," he replied, his cheeks reddening slightly. "Where else would you want to sleep?"

"I wasn't thinking about anything," she replied innocently. "What are you thinking?"

Yuan Yi: ...

That night, he behaved like a gentleman, sleeping in the master bedroom. The next morning, he even had Aunt Li knock on her door to wake her, demonstrating his decency.

If it weren't for the way he looked at her with such warm intensity, Yan Xi might have doubted her own charm. He'd gone to so much effort to keep her over, only to genuinely just spend the night.

Yuan Xiao'er might be the purest man she had ever met.

After dropping her off at the TV station the next day, he finally went to work. As soon as he entered his office, Assistant Meng came in with some documents. "Boss, a few companies are planning to pull their investments from the project."

"Alright," Yuan Yi said, taking the papers. "They're worried about potential risks now that I've lost the Yuan family's support, which is understandable. Business is about harmony, so let them be."

"And those companies backing out have connections with Song Chao," Meng lowered his voice. "Boss, are you sure the information we received about Song Chao's project was correct? The land survey hasn't found anything unusual so far."

That project had been underway for a while, and no significant cultural artifacts had surfaced.

"Why the rush? Whether there's an issue or not, it has nothing to do with us anymore," Yuan Yi seemed unaffected. "How's our mobile game progressing?"

"It's nearly finished. After testing, it'll be ready to launch."

"Then let's start the marketing," Yuan Yi said, pondering a bit. "Focus on online promotions."

Their game targeted internet-savvy users with disposable income and high information-receptiveness. If they could spark these users' interest, they wouldn't have to worry about making a mark in the mobile gaming market.

"Isn't that a bit risky, Boss?"

"I trust my judgment," Yuan Yi glanced at a thriving succulent on his desk, watering it slightly. "And about the recent online rumors regarding my inheritance—was that spread by someone connected to Song Chao?"

Meng nodded.

"What did Song Chao study abroad again?" Yuan Yi put down his cup, looking at Meng. "His investment acumen may be average, but his dirty tricks are endless."

"I hear the Song family has plenty of offspring," Meng chuckled. "And his mother supposedly got her position as a mistress."

"No wonder he has the same ambition," Yuan Yi raised an eyebrow. "Seems like a family tradition."

Meng: Why does this sound... off?

A few days later, the capital had its first snowfall of the year. As people welcomed winter, more news broke.

In the western part of the city, an ancient, large-scale tomb was discovered deep underground. Archaeologists identified it as possibly a two-to-three-thousand-year-old noble's tomb with immense archaeological value.

All ongoing construction projects in the area were ordered to halt in order to protect this cultural heritage.