C43 Not in Ann City

Ye Ziyan had been at the center of controversy for the past few days, facing backlash and unfollowing from her own fans, as well as harsh criticism from onlookers and detractors.

Due to this incident, her once-rising popularity plummeted, and her image shifted dramatically from "national goddess" to "national manipulator."

What frustrated Ye Ziyan even more was her sense that Gu Qinian hadn't taken her situation to heart.

In the wake of the scandal, Gu Qinian had merely instructed someone to release a new trending topic to distract the public.

Yet, it did nothing to boost her popularity or salvage her reputation.

The thought made her incredibly uneasy, like an ant on a hot pan.

Since the incident, she had been dreading that Gu Qinian would confront her about what had happened, leaving her feeling apprehensive.

But after two days without a single call from Gu Qinian, her anxiety had only intensified.

Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, she decided to confront the issue head-on.

...

At Gu's Group, in the CEO's office.

As Han Cheng entered the room after knocking, he instantly noticed his boss's displeased frown and silently lamented to himself.

Gu Qinian muttered a couple of sentences in French to his computer screen before moving the mouse to pause the video call.

"What's the matter? Didn't I say we had an international video conference scheduled?"

His voice was low and deep, the coldness in his tone indicating his clear dissatisfaction.

Han Cheng, steeling himself, approached and cautiously began, "President, Miss Ye has arrived. She insists on seeing you immediately."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qinian's brow furrowed, his dark eyes clouded with ambiguity.

Unable to read his thoughts, Han Cheng continued, "Miss Ye... she's been crying quite a bit. Her eyes are all swollen..."

After a brief silence, Gu Qinian lifted his hand to massage his temples, his deep voice tinged with weariness, "Let her in."

Shortly after, Ye Ziyan entered the room.

True to Han Cheng's words, her eyes were red and puffy, with streaks of tears still visible on her face, and she looked at Gu Qinian with timid, misty eyes.

"Qinian..."

Her voice was hoarse as she began to speak, betraying the length of time she had spent crying.

Gu Qinian rose to his feet, guiding her to sit on the sofa before pouring her a cup of warm water.

"What's wrong? Why the tears?" he asked in a calm tone.

Ye Ziyan felt a slight sense of relief upon hearing his voice. She moved closer and clung to his arm, her sobs growing.

"Qinian, do you... do you not care about me anymore? It feels like you're growing distant. Did I do something wrong?"

Her voice broke with emotion, and she struggled to hold back tears. For some reason, this stirred an inexplicable irritation in Gu Qinian.

He kept his feelings in check, remaining silent.

Ye Ziyan, ever observant, noticed a certain sternness in his jaw and felt a pang of anxiety.

Then, with a flicker in her downcast eyes, she began to explain.

"Have you any idea how much those false rumors have tormented me these past few days? They were completely fabricated, yet someone exploited them for their own gain..."

Lifting her head, she gazed directly at Gu Qinian, her eyes brimming with hurt.

"That day, it was Ye Tian who provoked me. I was so frustrated that I blurted out those words. You know how toxic her words can be. I couldn't outtalk her, so in the heat of the moment, I retaliated. It wasn't intentional."

She continued, her tone casual, "And that day, when she came looking for trouble, there was no one else around. So how did those recordings come about? They edited out her part, leaving only my response..."

She left her sentence hanging, but the implication was clear.

The insinuation was that Ye Tian had intentionally angered her, then secretly recorded the exchange and released it out of context.

Ye Ziyan was unaware of Ye Tian's illness, and even more oblivious to the fact that Gu Qinian had inexplicably stayed by her side all night.

Gu Qinian, however, was aware that she had been unconscious when the rumors were spread.

He said nothing of this, simply handing her a tissue and whispering, "Stop crying. You have a shoot to return to, don't you? In a few days, the company is investing in a new series. I'll make sure Han Cheng secures the lead role for you."

Seeing that he was finally taking her seriously, a flicker of triumph passed through Ye Ziyan's eyes. She had this man figured out a long time ago, knowing he was almost always at her beck and call, which is why she had the confidence to come to him in tears.

She was aware that showing vulnerability would inevitably soften his heart. Though he wasn't as tender as usual, his usual demeanor was reserved, so she wasn't fazed.

"Qinian, I knew you would believe me. You're the only one who truly cares for me," she said, biting her lower lip, her eyes shimmering with emotion as she gazed at him, subtly alluding to their shared history.

"I admired you so much back then that I did everything for you. My dad often said I made the right choice, that you're the best man in the world for me..."

However, her words didn't resonate with Gu Qinian. Hearing the beginning of her speech, his heart didn't soften as it once might have; instead, his suspicions deepened.

He remained silent, simply mentioning he had a meeting and suggesting she leave first. Ye Ziyan, slightly deflated but having achieved her aim, acted understanding and departed.

As Han Cheng was summoned, he caught a glimpse of his CEO emerging from the lounge, freshly changed into a crisp shirt, fastening his cufflinks. The lingering scent of perfume pervaded the spacious office. Without hesitation, Han Cheng grabbed the remote and opened the high window to the left.

"What's the status of the matter I asked you to look into?" Gu Qinian inquired.

Han Cheng, momentarily taken aback, quickly composed himself and responded earnestly, "We've only uncovered some of the information so far, but there are inconsistencies with what we know, so we're still verifying the details."

Gu Qinian's brows knitted together. "Inconsistencies?"

"Yes. It appears Miss Ye wasn't in Ann City during the time of your surgery four years ago."

At this revelation, Gu Qinian's expression grew stern. "What do you mean?"

Han Cheng chose his words carefully, "It seems Miss Ye was traveling abroad with a friend at that time. But it's been a while, and we're still clarifying the details. There might be mistakes, so I didn't report to you immediately."

Gu Qinian's suspicions intensified. His gaze darkened, and his thin lips pressed into a firm line. After a moment, he issued a cold command, "Keep digging. I want to know her exact location, no matter what it takes."

Then, a peculiar glint flickered in the deep pools of his eyes, and he added another instruction. "Also, look into Ye Tian's movements from four years ago."

Upon hearing this, Han Cheng felt a surge of surprise, but he wisely refrained from asking questions and promptly set out to carry out the orders.