Before netizens had a chance to fully process the information in that post, the blogger known as Xiaoxiliu posted another Weibo update.
Xiaoxiliu: "Nine years ago, I was fifteen, a minor, and didn't understand anything about so-called 'silent and deep affection.' In these nine years, I've never had any contact with Mr. Song Chao. As for certain netizens' imaginings that Mr. Song was quietly following me abroad, I don't have eyes that can see a thousand miles, so I can't say whether it's true or not. However, when I met Mr. Song at a banquet this year, he addressed me as 'Miss Song.' In my view, if someone is truly quietly paying attention to another, they'd likely know if that person's surname had changed, not to mention their hobbies."
At this point, if netizens still didn't understand Yan Xi's implication, then they were being willfully dense.
Certain marketing accounts had been overhyping how deeply Song Chao loved her, how much he sacrificed for her, but upon close inspection, these articles were filled with excessive sentimentality and read more like fantasy romance novelsâa one-sided spectacle meant only to tug on the audience's heartstrings without any substance.
Most importantly, the blogger had highlighted that she was a mere fifteen-year-old at the time, making it clear she viewed these sappy narratives with a healthy dose of disdain.
Some netizens who were easily moved by such stories felt furious, accusing Yan Xi of trampling on someone else's feelings and being "heartless."
Yan Xi responded directly: "If expecting a fifteen-year-old girl to fall for a love letter from a stranger is what it takes to be 'humane,' or if forcing a girl with a loving relationship to endure flowers and confessions from a man she barely knows is the only way to be 'humane,' then I suppose I'm heartless."
Her response was blunt, but most people resonated with it, even finding it refreshing.
The phrase "heartless" quickly became a trending term across the internet within hours.
After a few more spirited replies on Weibo to the sarcastic comments, Yan Xi felt much more at ease. She said goodbye to her colleagues and prepared to head home.
Her serendipitous connection with Zhao Wantong? It always began in the elevator.
Besides Zhao Wantong, a few other TV station staff members were also in the elevator. They clearly knew about the "Yuan Yi cheating with a popular internet artist" incident but hadn't yet seen Yan Xi's clarification. They all gave her sympathetic looks.
Zhao Wantong noticed Yan Xi smiling, seeming to be in a good mood, which made her inexplicably annoyed. It was as if she was thinking, "I finally thought you were amazing, but how can you be so indifferent when your man cheats on you? You should be storming in and beating him up!"
"Yan Xi, aren't you angry?" Zhao Wantong asked.
The others in the elevator secretly perked up their ears, hoping the elevator would descend slower so they could catch more gossip.
"Angry about what?" Yan Xi asked with a smile.
"That bastard Yuan Yi dared to cheat! Aren't you supposed to be awesome, able to catch a cheater like that? You should be beating him up right now!" The more Zhao Wantong spoke, the angrier she got, and she almost wanted to grab Yan Xi's shoulders and shake her to see if there was anything going on in her head.
"Why should I beat him up? I love him so much, of course I'd forgive him," Yan Xi teased her. "It's okay; I believe he loves me the most."
When the elevator reached the first floor, Zhao Wantong gritted her teeth and threw back, "Fine, go ahead and be shameless!"
Yan Xi watched Zhao Wantong storm off and suddenly thought that, sometimes, Zhao Wantong could be pretty cute.
The others in the elevator exchanged glances and quickly exited, embarrassed to continue eavesdropping since the subject herself didn't seem bothered.
Still fuming as she got into her car, Zhao Wantong logged into her alternate Weibo account, ready to leave another angry message at Yuan Yi. But when she saw the top post on her feed, she was stunned.
What? The internet artist Xiaoxiliu was actually Yan Xi?
So, all those things Yan Xi said in the elevator just nowâshe did that on purpose?
"Yan Xi, you little trickster!" Zhao Wantong threw her phone onto the passenger seat in frustration, cursing out loud. She knew it; she and Yan Xi just weren't destined to get along.
Meanwhile, Yan Xi, with whom Zhao Wantong felt cosmically incompatible, found herself blocked at the building's exit again. This time, the person was more assertive and even had two professional bodyguards escort her into a car.
"Kidnapping and illegal detention are against the law, you know," Yan Xi, though trained in self-defense, knew she couldn't take on the two men, so she wisely chose not to resist. "If you want money, go to my father or boyfriendâthey have plenty of it."
Money could always be earned again; her life was still important.
"Miss Yan, do you think someone who can afford a luxury car like this would need to resort to kidnapping for money?" The man in the front seat turned around, removing his oversized sunglasses to reveal a somewhat slick and slightly oily face.
Yan Xi found him vaguely familiar. She glanced around the undeniably expensive car and remarked, "Nice car. Limited edition, right?"
"Mm-hmm," the man raised an eyebrow, a hint of pride in his expression. "Good eye."
Yan Xi secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed like this man wasn't out to harm her. After all, what kind of kidnapper brags to their hostage?
"You probably know who I am. I'm Song Chao's cousin, Song Ci." Song Ci climbed from the front seat to sit beside her, noticing Yan Xi inch away. He sneered with disdain, "Relax, I prefer big chests and long legs. I'm not interested in women like you."
Yan Xi turned her head. "Six months ago, another man said the same thing to me."
"Seems he had as much taste as I do." Song Ci patted his silver-gray suit jacket. "But I didn't come here today to discuss a man's taste with you."
"I would appreciate it if Mr. Song chose a gentler approach next time he wants to chat," Yan Xi clutched her bag tightly, her seemingly casual posture actually defensive.
"Why would I waste time bothering you for no reason?" Song Ci lit a cigarette, opened the window, and flicked the ash out. "Never thought my proud cousin would be into someone like you. It's honestly a bit surprising."
Yan Xi didn't respond; she had nothing to say.
"I'm just here out of boredom, being a good brother by giving you a little warning. My cousin has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. When he was a kid, he killed Grandpa's prized koi fish and managed to pin it on me. Now he's fully capable of using these same shady tactics against Yuan Yi. You and Yuan Yi humiliated him in front of countless people online. Don't think he doesn't hold a grudge; he's just been too busy with his project issues to come after you."
"He's always been arrogant, believing that our other cousins are idiots and that he's the only clever one. This time, he even secretly partnered with others to invest in a project, thinking he'd make easy money despite his limited connections here. Well, as his older brother, I can't help but teach him a lesson and keep him too occupied to cause you any trouble. Really, you should thank me."
"You mean the project that found ancient artifacts underground?" Yan Xi looked at Song Ci in surprise. The public saw Song Ci as a playboy with mediocre business skills, and Song Chao was considered the standout of their generation. She never imagined he could be so cunning.
"It only took buying off a few people to trip him up," Song Ci raised an eyebrow, "Seeing you disdain Song Chao makes me happy."
Yan Xi thought: I really don't understand these big-family feuds.
Song Ci's behaviorâboasting about tricking his cousin in front of a strangerâgave her the impression he was the type to brag for a decade over one victory.
"This whole thing about you and Yuan Yi online was also orchestrated by that little scumbag Song Chao. If you're willing to say a few bad things about him online, I could sponsor your show." Song Ci raised his chin, "For example, call him an illegitimate child who acts like a homewrecker. I originally planned to have others say it, but after thinking it over, it would be most satisfying coming from you."
"Mr. Song, if I may be blunt, calling Song Chao a 'scumbag' doesn't seem very respectful to your second uncle," Yan Xi replied. Although she didn't like Song Chao, she could understand why he turned out so devious. Being bullied by his cousins as a child, unable to win by force, he learned to use underhanded methods. If Song Ci said Song Chao was a bad person, how good could he himself really be?
Back when Li Jiayu, the only one at the station who could compete with Shen Jie for the top position, committed suicide, there were even rumors that her suicide might have something to do with her boyfriend, Song Ci.
A mistress is disgusting, but isn't a man who gets involved with a mistress equally so? A whole family that doesn't blame the actual wrongdoer but gangs up to bully one childâdo they feel a sense of achievement?
"Miss Yan, are you implying that you don't agree to my request?" Song Ci frowned in displeasure. This woman looked timid, yet she dared to reject his request?
"If Song Chao schemes against me, I'll deal with him. But he was born a year after his parents married, so by law, he is a legitimate child, and he even resembles your Song family. You call him a bastardâare you saying his mother had him with another man from the Song family?"
Song Ci was stunned for a moment before he realized, "Are you cursing my family?"
"No, I'm just calmly discussing your family's relationships with you." Yan Xi was beginning to believe that Song Chao might indeed be the most capable of the younger generation in the Song family.
On a whim, Song Ci could instruct people to bully Song Chao. Even she, someone who had only a minor connection to Song Chao, was being forced by him to "curse Song Chao to vent." Had he just grown up used to flaunting his power?
Just as Song Ci was about to curse Yan Xi, the car suddenly braked hard. Not wearing a seatbelt, he nearly fell out of his seat. Looking ahead, he saw a Hummer blocking the path of his new, limited-edition luxury car.
He rolled down the window, stuck his head out, and yelled, "Idiot! Do you even know how to drive?!"
The door of the Hummer opened, and Yuan Yi, expressionless, strode over and dragged Song Ci out of the car without a word.
The two bodyguards in the car immediately jumped out to help, but before they could get far, two or three young men in suits stopped them. Recognizing that these men weren't to be messed with, the bodyguards dared not make a move.
In the blink of an eye, Yuan Yi had already pinned Song Ci to the ground, landing several hard punches on him.
"Second Young Master Yuan, let's talk this out. Don't misunderstand; I just wanted to chat with your girlfriend..." Song Ci covered his face, unable to fight back. He wanted to explain he had no ill intentions toward Yan Xi, but before he could finish, Yuan Yi, face darkened, hit him even harder.
"Little Yuan..." Yan Xi leaned out of the car window.
Seeing that Yan Xi was safe and even smiling a bit, Yuan Yi let go of Song Ci's collar, then gently lifted Yan Xi out of the car as if she were a child.