"Ling Xiaoying is a gold digger—conclusive proof."
"Ling Xiaoying caught on a date with Shen Yizhou—The scandalous double life of a pampered pet."
"The true face of Ling Xiaoying: Popularity born of talent... or connections?"
"From the gutters to the penthouse—Ling Xiaoying, the nobody who clung to a powerful man and now abuses her borrowed wings."
"Ling Xiaoying: The cheap and cunning brat who fooled an entire nation."
"Ling Xiaoying: The sweet downfall of a scam artist."
[Ephraim: Ling Xiaoying—the vile girl who crushed the hopes of every starry-eyed dreamer in the country.]
[Rachel: Ling Xiaoying—the deranged menace who shook the world to its core.]
Ephraim and Rachel both rolled their eyes in unison, voices dripping with sarcasm as they mockingly read the headlines out loud. The morning sun hadn't even fully risen, yet the internet was already ablaze.
With his phone in hand, Ephraim leaned back, scrolling through the more colorful tabloid pieces, each more ridiculous than the last, until he finally let out an amused scoff.
He got the gist.
Apparently, someone had snapped a picture of him and Shen Yizhou during their date yesterday, and that photo had blown up online overnight. Right beside it, a second photo had surfaced, one showing him standing beside Wang Jianyuan and Xu Jinyao's table, speaking to them.
It had clearly been taken at a very… strategic moment.
In the photo, Wang Jianyuan's face was twisted in disdain, while Xu Jinyao looked visibly confused. In the corner, Shen Yizhou could just barely be seen, his expression faintly pinched as he glanced over.
To the unknowing eye, it painted quite the story.
It looked as if Ling Xiaoying had brazenly ditched her date to pester two unimpressed men at a nearby table. And now the narrative had written itself: Ling Xiaoying, a girl with no background or talent, was secretly dating CEO Shen Yizhou. Everything she owned—fame, luxury, prestige—had been handed to her on a silver platter.
According to the netizens and tabloids, 'Ling Xiaoying' was a scheming gold digger, climbing her way up society's ladder one pillow at a time.
The fact that Ling Xiaoying had been seen getting close to Xu Jinyao over the past few days only added fuel to the fire. Rumors now claimed she had never been interested in him at all. No. She had only used him as a stepping stone to get to Wang Jianyuan, whom the photo clearly depicted sitting closely with Xu Jinyao, as if the two were familiar.
Public sentiment swiftly shifted. The skepticism once aimed at Xu Jinyao had now been completely redirected toward Ling Xiaoying. Articles defending Xu Jinyao began to circulate, painting him as the unfortunate pawn, an innocent boy picked up and placed at Wang Jianyuan's side by a manipulative Ling Xiaoying, all so she wouldn't have to get her own hands dirty.
This "truth" was soon "verified" by a number of wealthy voices who stepped forward to confirm it.
According to them, Ling Xiaoying had become a little tyrant among the upper echelons. Backed by Shen Yizhou's silent support, she was now feared for her supposed violent temper and brazen ambition, beating people up with impunity, manipulating her way through society while trying to ensnare even more powerful men to expand her reach.
One prominent story claimed she had sold fake information about several students to the press to ruin their reputations. Another said she had assaulted someone just to fabricate an illusion of being fierce and unshakable.
Even students from Xu Jinyao's school came forward to 'testify' against her.
Rachel, ever sharp, helped Ephraim sift through the noise.
Most of the so-called rich voices who denounced Ling Xiaoying were people who had kept secret "pets" among the students of Xu Jinyao's school. People Ephraim had quietly antagonized. Their hatred wasn't sudden. It was personal.
As for the students who spoke out? Ephraim recognized them too. Many were the very ones he had threatened or outright exposed with the help of Xu Youyi. Their revenge, wrapped in righteous indignation, was thinly veiled.
The sheer amount of fabricated evidence floating around made it clear. Only one man was petty, powerful, and vindictive enough to orchestrate something like this: Wang Jianyuan.
That suspicion became certainty when Rachel's voice rang out calmly beside him.
[Rachel: I've scoured the internet and cross-referenced several network nodes. The photos were first sent to Wang Jianyuan's assistant, forwarded by one of the waiters working at the restaurant. Most likely, the waiter had been instructed ahead of time. I traced a discreet exchange between the assistant and the restaurant's manager... Wang Jianyuan probably contacted the manager directly and asked him to assign someone to take pictures when you approached their table.]
[Rachel: I wouldn't be surprised if he texted the manager during the meal itself. Quiet. Precise. He played it like a seasoned schemer.]
[Rachel: And I missed it. That's on me, my dear. I was a little too occupied admiring your little attempts to rile Wang Jinayuan up. Got a bit distracted. Forgive your charmingly flawed system.]
[Rachel: Nearly all the media activity surrounding the release of the news can be traced back to Wang Jianyuan's assistant. He made multiple calls through the night to various influential contacts. Most of them are the the same wealthy individuals who came forward to smear your name.]
[Rachel: It's all too neat. Too coordinated. Wang Jianyuan lit the fire himself. And that assistant of his? He doesn't act on his own. He answers to only one person.]
[Ephraim: The amount of resources he must've thrown into this... Man's really desperate. Not gonna lie, I'm almost touched. Like... wow. All that effort? Just for me?]
[Rachel: Heh. Give me a few hours and I can reduce all that effort to nothing. I can trace their transactions, message history, digital footprints, anything of value, really. You'll have more than enough proof to flip the table. Want me to, sweetheart?]
[Ephraim: Nah~ I wanna handle it myself. If I rely on you, I won't earn as many karma points, right?]
[Rachel: Oh? Since when did karma points start mattering to you? You were all about the mission... and the vibes. What changed?]
[Ephraim: Mmm... I was scrolling through the system store last night. Couldn't sleep. Jialei tore me a new one for not telling her about my... situationship with Shen Yizhou. I had to endure an hour-long sibling lecture. Emotionally scarring.]
[Rachel: Ah, yes. I remember. She sounded more relieved than angry, though. Naturally, she's worried. What sister wouldn't be? But I'd say she was less upset about you dating Shen Yizhou... and more about the fact that you hid it from her.]
[Ephraim: Right? Still made me pouty though. So after you logged off, I kept browsing the system store to pass time. Ended up getting interested in something. It's kinda pricey.]
[Rachel: Oh? And what exactly caught your attention?]
[Ephraim: Secret~]
Rachel chuckled softly, a smile playing at the corners of her voice.
[Rachel: I see. So we're keeping secrets from each other now, are we?]
[Ephraim: We are indeed~]
Ephraim's gaze drifted back to that photo, the one of him standing beside Wang Jianyuan and Xu Jinyao, while in the corner, Shen Yizhou could be seen looking over with a faintly pinched expression.
To outsiders, it might've seemed like he was witnessing his lover give him a green hat.
But Ephraim? Ephraim grinned.
[Ephraim: He rarely lets anything show on that stone-face of his... Ah, what a pity I missed it in real time. This! This right here! This is clearly the look of jealousy! What a cutie patootie. I just wanna chomp- ugh, I can't handle this. He's too adorable.]
[Rachel: He did sound rather jealous when you told him you were heading over to Wang Jianyuan's table, too. You just didn't notice, buttercup.]
[Ephraim: Hm? Not really. Well… maybe a tiny bit. But I wasn't sure. Heh heh. This is so flattering~]
Overcome by an acute case of cuteness aggression and crush-induced brain fog, Ephraim rolled around on his bed like a gremlin, squealing face-first into his pillow. His hair grew increasingly chaotic with each joyful kick of his feet, and Rachel merely watched on in fond exasperation.
Until a knock at the door made him freeze.
Snapping out of his euphoric spiral, Ephraim shoved his phone under his pillow and dragged himself out of bed, assuming it was Old Wu again, here to nag about missing breakfast.
He opened the door, only to blink dumbly at the figure standing on the other side.
Shen Yizhou.
Hair still damp, a few drops trailing from his temples. He was dressed in a fitted dark tracksuit, his breath steady and calm. The morning light framed his cool, unhurried face like something from a drama scene.
"Good morning, Little Yu."
"…Ah. Yes. Good morning to you too, Mister Shen," Ephraim replied a beat too late, his voice hitching mid-formality. "Do you… always go for a jog this early in the morning?"
Shen Yizhou gave a slight nod. "Running in the morning reduces blood pressure, appetite, and risk of heart disease. It also improves focus, sleep quality, and promotes consistency."
Ephraim blinked at the sudden string of health benefits. "Wait… Am I being preached to right now? Is this Mister Shen's subtle way of telling me you're sick and dying, clinging to health routines at the edge of your mortality?"
Shen Yizhou's lips twitched, ever so faintly. He met Ephraim's gaze calmly, as though deciphering every chaotic train of thought that passed behind it.
"I thought," he said gently, "you asked why I jog in the morning instead of any other time… Also, I am making small talk."
Ephraim burst into a giggle, tapping his chest lightly. "I was messing with you… But really, you look very charming in that tracksuit. I like it."
His inner thoughts weren't so calm.
[Ephraim: He works so early every weekday... and still manages a morning jog? I like that. Fit guys are hot.]
[Rachel: Then why not try maintaining your fitness too, hon? You've been a bit indulgent lately. I'm seeing horizontal developments in areas that'll not look good in the dresses you swiped from Ling Jialei.]
[Ephraim: …Rachel. As a matter of fact, that was already my plan. Hmph. I'm going to the gym today. Just watch. Meanie.]
But before his pout could fully settle, he noticed the way Shen Yizhou was looking at him, quiet and steady, eyes deeper than usual. Even with no overt expression, Ephraim could tell. There was something weighing behind that gaze.
"…Uh, Mister Shen. What can I help you with?"
Shen Yizhou didn't reply at first. He simply stepped a little closer, then slowly reached out, his hand rising with care. With featherlight fingers, he brushed Ephraim's messy bedhead into place, as though every strand was precious.
His voice, when it came, was soft and deliberate. "…Are you okay, Little Yu?"
And in that moment, Ephraim realized.
Shen Yizhou had seen the news. The scandal. The smears. The twisting of truth.
And after his jog, without even showering properly, he came straight here, to see him.