The photo's popularity continued to surge, with an undeniable trend towards going viral. It was nighttime, and more and more netizens were joining the discussion. The comment section even saw the emergence of several self-proclaimed "insiders."
"I'm a photographer who has collaborated with the beauty of Meiyuan. Before she entered university, she was a model for Qingshang Huafu. In case some people don't know, Qingshang Huafu's boss is the man in the photo."
"A staff member from an online modeling agency, we've been cooperating with Qingshang Huafu for years. As far as I know, after the beauty entered university, she never took on any more jobs. The reason why, you understand."
"OMG! She's totally being kept! Look at the bags she's wearing, and the luxury items in her hand. If there's nothing going on, it's unlikely, right?"
"A student at the Academy of Fine Arts, I know she has a boyfriend but haven't met him. However, I have seen her getting into luxury cars. After an outdoor sketching trip in her freshman year, she was picked up by a supercar."
"Rich, haven't seen her in person, there's definitely something going on!"
"That man could be her father, how could she have the nerve to show him off?"
"Whatever, she's rich! Everyone knows Qingshang Huafu is the leader in the Hanfu community, they have inexhaustible money!"
At that moment, Wen Tingxue had just finished a painting and was about to take a bath. Yu Wenli returned from outside, a little damp. She took a towel to wipe him.
"Why are you so late?"
"There was a slight accident," Yu Wenli looked down at the top of her fluffy hair, his expression slightly serious, "Did you not see the message I sent you?"
"You sent me a message?" The young girl instinctively reached for her phone.
Yu Wenli cupped her waist, his voice a lazy whisper near her ear, "It's not important."
That's right.
He was already back, so she could check the message later.
"I had Do Not Disturb on," she explained obediently, snuggled in his arms.
"Mm," Yu Wenli responded indifferently.
After hanging the towel back, he asked without changing his expression, "So, you haven't looked at your phone at all?"
"Yeah, why?"
"It's nothing, go take a bath. I have some things to handle."
Yu Wenli lowered his head and kissed her small earlobe, then gently pushed her towards the bathroom door.
"I..."
"I'll get your pajamas," Yu Wenli said understandingly.
"?"
Wen Tingxue felt he was a little strange today, but couldn't pinpoint why. She went into the bathroom to take a bath.
After placing her pajamas in the small basket by the door, Yu Wenli stood there for a moment. Only when the sound of running water came from inside did he take his phone to the balcony.
Three consecutive calls, none went through. Yu Wenli's brow furrowed slightly as he watched the phone screen dim. His eyes darkened.
Lin Wanqing called and got straight to the point, "I tried, but the heat can't be suppressed. It's likely being manipulated by someone behind the scenes, and their influence is definitely not inferior to the Lin family's."
In the capital, the only families that could overshadow the Lin family were the Han family and the Fu family. The Han family was unlikely; Han Xianyun wasn't that idle. What Lin Wanqing could deduce, Yu Wenli could naturally guess as well. But Fu Yushen's phone was unreachable.
Yu Wenli took a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. He didn't smoke it, just held it between his fingers, watching it burn away.
"Do you think it's Fu Yuchuan?" he asked, his tone eerily calm. Calm to the point of being unsettling.
"What are you planning to do?" Lin Wanqing frowned. "Even if it is Fu Yuchuan, can you go against him?"
Yu Wenli lowered his gaze to the glowing tip of the cigarette, remaining silent. Lin Wanqing's heart sank. "A'Li, you'd better abandon whatever you're thinking now. The Fu family is not someone you can afford to offend." Even at the peak of the Lin family's power, her father dared not offend the Fu family, let alone the mere Yu family.
"I will find a way to handle this matter," afraid he would do something foolish, Lin Wanqing cautioned him with concern, "Don't mess around, do you hear me?"
After a long silence, Yu Wenli reluctantly replied with an "Mm."
...
When Wen Tingxue came out of the bathroom, she smelled smoke.
"You were smoking?" she asked, looking somewhat surprised at Yu Wenli, who was playing with her phone on the sofa. After confirming they were living there, he hardly ever smoked indoors. He hadn't even smoked on the balcony.
"Mm," Yu Wenli placed her phone on the table. "Come here." He patted the seat beside him. When Wen Tingxue sat down, he pulled her directly into his arms. He was warm, and in winter, Wen Tingxue loved to snuggle up to him for warmth. So, she didn't struggle. Instead, she found a comfortable position and kissed the corner of his lips. Surprisingly, there was no smell of smoke.
Yu Wenli, distracted by thoughts of the online situation, responded perfunctorily before getting to the point. "There's something, don't rush when you hear it..." He briefly explained the cause and progression of events. Originally, he had intended to resolve it secretly, not wanting her to see those vulgar words. But the complexity of the situation far exceeded his expectations. Now, if he didn't step forward to explain, he feared the rumors would only escalate.
"Let me see." Wen Tingxue's first reaction was to check Weibo.
"There's nothing to see," Yu Wenli held her back. "I've already turned off your phone." He had also deleted all the messy messages and calls.
Wen Tingxue paused for a moment, then couldn't help but curse, "Who is so idle? I just went to pick up a gift, how could they think of so much?" How could they spread rumors indiscriminately without understanding the facts?!
"It's okay, the innocent will remain innocent. I'll post a clarification statement on your Weibo later," Yu Wenli said, patting her small hand reassuringly.
Wen Tingxue was still indignant about being secretly photographed, but she retained a sliver of rationality and said, "Professor Fu was present the entire time, he can help explain this matter."
"He..." Yu Wenli opened his mouth, wanting to say he couldn't get through to him. Then, he realized that she didn't know he knew Fu Yushen. So, he took out his phone and handed it to her. "Use my phone to call." After all, Fu Yushen had two numbers, and he hadn't saved them with names, so it wouldn't be exposed.
Wen Tingxue didn't notice the fleeting expression on his face and took the phone to make the call. Because her work was misattributed last time, she had accidentally memorized his number. She pressed the dial button. No answer.
"What's going on?" Wen Tingxue's heart sank. "Could he have already gone abroad?"
"Abroad?" Yu Wenli frowned.
Wen Tingxue explained, "On the way back, he said he was going abroad for leg treatment." After speaking, she continued to call. This time, she called NAPA's number.
Yu Wenli watched her actions in silence, knowing the result would be the same, but he didn't stop her. He knew Fu Yushen was unreliable. But this matter still needed to be resolved. He had a premonition that even if he told the truth, netizens wouldn't buy it. They were here for gossip, for solid proof of an old man and a young woman, not some so-called innocence. Most importantly, the speed of clarification was far slower than the spread and fermentation of rumors.
Yu Wenli sat by the bedside and patiently coaxed her for a long time before the young girl finally closed her eyes and fell asleep with a frown. But she slept restlessly, seemingly having nightmares. Yu Wenli stayed by her side, heartache evident, taking care of her while also monitoring the direction of Weibo. Just as he had predicted, the clarification statement received very little readership. Even spending money on it was useless.
As daylight pierced the darkness, Yu Wenli sat by the bed, his laughter tired and mocking. What those people wanted was not the truth; they only wanted to revel in the rumors. Even if it meant the destruction of an innocent person, they wouldn't care. Because the cost of spreading rumors was too low.
"How is it?" The young girl's hoarse voice was heard. Yu Wenli's heart ached. How could he tell her?