C7 The Reporter Came to Attack Again

At that moment, the man radiated a chilling cold, and the air around him grew tense with anticipation.

Xiong Miao noticed his clenched jaw and the dangerous look in his eyes, which made her heart race uncontrollably.

She balled her fists, took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and puffed out her chest, declaring, "None of this has anything to do with you. You need to leave, now."

Zhan Yeling took a step forward with his long legs.

His movement alone was enough to send Xiong Miao stumbling backward. "What are you doing? Stay away from me."

"Why the act of innocence? You went to great lengths to bring me back to your place. Was it really just to sleep with me?" Was it all just for money?

His towering presence closed in, his powerful aura overwhelming her with a relentless pressure.

With her back against the wall and no escape, Xiong Miao found herself face to face with the man's strikingly handsome features. The annoyance in his gaze was as intimidating as a demon's.

The icy intensity of his demeanor made Xiong Miao's fingers tremble, and she stumbled over her words, "You, I, it wasn't me..."

Hadn't he come to her house on his own? How had it turned into her bringing him back?

Xiong Miao's mind was flooded with a myriad of questions.

Beneath the shadow of his imposing figure, she nervously lowered her head to avoid his fiery glare.

Her head was near his nose, and the subtle, elegant scent of magnolia from her hair relentlessly invaded his senses.

That familiar aroma...

Images from four years ago tumbled through his mind, the unique sweet and fresh fragrance of a woman, as vivid as if it were yesterday.

He constantly remembered her scent, yet she was with different men every day, changing her tactics to seduce them!

He, the esteemed Second Young Master of the Zhan family, was obsessing over a woman unworthy of his attention!

Damn it!

Zhan Yeling's eyes, dark as a bottomless pool, grew even more intense, and the chill emanating from him intensified.

"It really wasn't me. We just slept, that's all," Xiong Miao blurted out, her head snapping up as she sensed his growing rage.

The man clenched his jaw, his eyes as deep and dark as ink.

"This 'sleep' is a noun, not a verb—don't get the wrong idea," she said, quickly realizing her previous statement might have been misconstrued and hastening to clarify the relationship.

"No matter what you're after, don't even dream of gaining any advantage!" She spat out the words with a chilly edge.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and answered, "I need a pickup in two minutes!" With that, he strode off with purposeful steps.

The sound of the door closing snapped Xiong Miao out of her stupor. She glanced around the deserted living room, certain that the man had indeed left. Her body, previously tense, now relaxed, leaving her feeling utterly drained.

What in the world was happening?

Why was the CEO of Rich Group in her house, asleep in her bed?

He hadn't arrived on his own. Could someone have knocked him out and brought him here?

It must be Su Mumu's doing—she's always had a thing for handsome men!

The thought made her mouth drop open in astonishment.

No, this wasn't the time to puzzle over why he was in her house.

What if he started investigating her after he left, and discovered her child?

If he learned the children shared his genes...

He might take her precious ones away from her!

She stood no chance against the current CEO of Rich Corporation with her limited means. After all, that's an emblem of power and wealth.

She needed to come up with a plan—and fast!

Xiong Miao was as frantic as an ant on a hot skillet, her thoughts in complete disarray.

Just then, she heard the sound of the door unlocking. Her eyes darted to the entrance, her heart pounding.

No way, was he back already to take the children?

The door swung open and Su Mumu burst in, distraught, "Miaomiao, you're home! Where are the little ones? Oh no, I've lost the six dumplings..."

Su Mumu circled the living room, not spotting a single child, and broke down in tears.

While Su Mumu was a bundle of nerves, Xiong Miao breathed a sigh of relief, "They're in the toy room playing."

Su Mumu hurried to the door and upon opening it, she saw several tiny figures sitting on an animated foam floor, each engrossed in their toys.

"One, two, three, four, five, six—none are missing. Phew... that scared me to death."

"Aunt Mumu, did you catch up to your handsome guy?" Sixth Baby asked with her plump little face lifted, her voice sweet and childlike.

"I lost him," Su Mumu admitted, scratching her head sheepishly.

"What happened?" Xiong Miao sensed something was amiss.

Under her persistent questioning, Su Mumu spilled the beans.

Xiong Miao grew even more perplexed. Wasn't it Su Mumu who had brought him home? Then who else could it be?

The six little ones were oblivious to their mother's worries, joyfully playing with their toys. They certainly weren't going to tell their mother that they were the ones who had the police uncle bring Zhan Yeling to sleep in their mother's bed.

"Ahhhhh! Miao Miao, you've gone viral!" Su Mumu, who had been peacefully scrolling through TikTok, suddenly shrieked.

Before Xiong Miao could react, Su Mumu thrust her phone in front of her to show her the video.

In the TikTok clip, Xiong Miao was seen pinning Xiong Jingxi to the ground, holding her hands down with one hand, denying her any chance to fight back, and with the other hand, she delivered several resounding slaps.

With each slap, the words she spoke were powerful and compelling, earning admiration from viewers.

"It must have been some nosy reporter who filmed it," Xiong Miao said with a frown.

"Oh my God, what on earth did I miss in these past few hours?" Su Mumu lamented, regretting missing the dramatic event.

"Why are these netizens reacting like this? It's obvious that Mrs. Su deserved it, so why are they all attacking you?" The online comments were deeply upsetting upon reading them.

Xiong Miao couldn't help but take a look herself.

Looking at the Flowers and the World: Absolutely shameless, seducing someone else's husband and beating up his wife. This kind of woman should be dunked in a pig cage.

I'm a Righteous Hero: What's wrong with the world, where the other woman acts so brazenly?

With You in My Life: Vixen, don't let us catch sight of you, or it'll be a beating every time.

Three Fortunate Lifetimes: Using her beauty to lure men everywhere, all for money.

Xiong Miao felt nauseated as she read through the chaotic comments online, as if her heart was clogged with filth.

People who hurl insults without regard for the truth are truly infuriating.

She was undeniably the victim, yet she found herself the subject of widespread scorn.

"Miaomiao, did Mrs. Su give you that panda face too?" Su Mumu had been ready to ask earlier, but held back upon noticing her preoccupation.

Now, everything made sense.

"I think I should take the kids and start over in a new city." What was really bothering her wasn't the vitriol online, but her interactions with Director Zhan from the Rich Group.

"Miaomiao, don't be foolish. The internet is the same everywhere in the country; you'll be recognized no matter where you go. You might as well stay put. If we're doing nothing wrong, we've got nothing to fear!" Su Mumu encouraged her.

Xiong Miao couldn't bring herself to mention her encounter with Zhan Yeling at home today, and the misunderstanding that ensued.

"You have a gift for design and you're so talented; you must have aced the interview. Just focus on your job for now—the priority is to take care of the children. I'll handle the online drama," Su Mumu said, draping an arm around her shoulder with a resolve to take on the world.