As those people pointed fingers and cursed at Qing Muye, Meng Jingwei's heart tightened, her emotions mirroring Qing Muye's sadness.
Despite the man standing tall and aloof, seemingly indifferent to everything, Meng Jingwei still felt a pang of heartache.
"Grandmother, I think this might be a misunderstanding? Are the pictures online photoshopped?"
She voiced her question.
Even as she said it, she found it unbelievable.
Upon hearing her voice, Qing Muye turned his head slightly, his peripheral vision catching a glimpse of the person behind him, but he didn't meet his gaze.
Silly girl, why did you come?
Old Madam Qing sat in her chair and snorted, "The videos are flying all over the internet, do you think they're all photoshopped?"
"This... that's true. However, saying he acted recklessly in the dressing room, he must have been framed. Without evidence, it's just those unscrupulous media outlets writing nonsense to get traffic."
The online controversy claimed the two of them had a wild encounter in the dressing room.
But all of it was just one side's story, with no video evidence whatsoever.
This, at least, was a good starting point.
Sensing Meng Jingwei's concern for Qing Muye, Qing Sihai gave her a meaningful look and nodded in agreement, "Mm, what the little girl said isn't entirely unreasonable."
He chimed in.
Meng Jingwei was a bit surprised by Sheng Sihai's response, wondering what his intentions were in siding with Qing Muye now.
Perhaps, the astute Sheng Sihai knew that everyone present had ill intentions and were all coveting the position of CEO of Songyu Group. That was why he chose to side with Qing Muye, to gain favor with Old Madam Qing.
After all, everyone knew that in the entire Qing family, Old Madam Qing doted on and cherished Qing Muye the most.
"Seventh, that's not right. The clothing store employee admitted it to the media, so how could it be false?"
"As the person in charge of Songyu Group, every move Qing Muye makes is monitored by the outside world."
"Yes, who knows, the company might be ruined by him."
"Mother, Muye has been delaying marriage precisely because he likes men. If that's the case, and you hand over Songyu Group to him, who will inherit it in the future? And who would be willing to do business with a pervert?"
"Mom, for the sake of our Qing family, it's better to temporarily find someone to manage Songyu Group's affairs and let Muye reflect on his actions alone for a while."
...
Everyone was using this opportunity to ostracize Qing Muye.
It wasn't merely 'everyone kicking a man when he's down,' but rather, they had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
"Enough! All of you, shut up!"
Old Madam Qing slammed the table in anger.
Because they were in the Qing family ancestral hall, everyone stood, with only Old Madam Qing seated.
She glared at them. Although her hair was white, the accumulation of years made her even more dignified and imposing.
While normally amiable, her angry demeanor was truly intimidating.
With a single furious reprimand, everyone immediately fell silent, watching Old Madam Qing expectantly, awaiting her next words.
She frowned, her cloudy eyes, still sharp, fixed on Qing Muye. "You, tell me, what exactly happened?"
Old Madam Qing, in her heart, was undeniably partial to Qing Muye.
Being experienced and shrewd, she understood the intentions of these people and naturally knew that Meng Jingwei was the only one who supported Qing Muye, which was why she had deliberately called her over.
Because there were things she couldn't say herself, she needed someone else to step forward.
However, this girl had never disappointed her.
As she waited for Qing Muye's answer, Meng Jingwei felt her heart pounding in her chest, so tense she felt suffocated.
Her hands clenched into fists in her trench coat pockets, she anxiously gazed at Qing Muye's imposing figure.
Though they were together, she could only let Qing Muye bear all the pressure alone now.
She felt extremely guilty.
"I have nothing to say."
Qing Muye held his head high, his gaze fixed on the ancestral tablets of the Qing family's ancestors, showing no sign of remorse.
"So, you admit you like men?"
Old Madam Qing pressed him, her questioning becoming more insistent.
In her heart, she hoped that the proud Qing Muye would lie, at least to prevent these people from seizing his weakness.
It wasn't that Old Madam Qing was favoring Qing Muye, but as someone who had experienced life, she knew very well that in the vast Qing family, only Qing Muye possessed the sufficient capability and business acumen to lead the Qing family further and achieve greater brilliance.
"Yes."
Qing Muye admitted without hesitation.
"Shameless."
"Does he think liking men is something to be proud of?"
"Mom, look, Muye has admitted it."
"Presumptuous wretch! Your parents are dead, do you think no one can control you anymore?"
...
From the crowd, someone, unprompted, mentioned Qing Muye's mother, speaking quite offensively.
It was as if they were implying Qing Muye was "born of a mother but raised without one."
The man, who had been calm and detached moments before, abruptly turned his head, his cold, piercing gaze directed at his Third Uncle, Qing Haoyu, standing in the crowd. "Third Uncle, what did you say? I didn't hear clearly."
He asked in a measured tone, his placid expression making it impossible to guess his emotions.
But Meng Jingwei knew this was the calm before his storm.
Third Uncle Qing Haoyu, believing he had found Qing Muye's weakness, became even more audacious, scoffing, "I'm just telling the truth. Your parents have been dead for so many years, do you really think no one in the Qing family can control you!"
His words had clearly touched Qing Muye's raw nerve.
The man clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking audibly, the sound exceptionally clear, so much so that everyone in the ancestral hall felt his impending anger.
Some even hoped Qing Muye would confront Qing Haoyu immediately, stirring up more trouble.
"Enough! Third, you just have a foul mouth. You're half a hundred years old, can't you control your words? Or do you not even respect me, this old woman? Huh?!"
Before Qing Muye could make any further move, Old Madam Qing immediately reprimanded Qing Haoyu, indirectly preventing a tragedy.
"Mom, you're just spoiling this boy Qing Muye. Who do you think is your real child?" Qing Haoyu's wife, the third daughter-in-law of the Qing family, defended her husband, muttering.
Old Madam Qing shot her a cold glance, completely ignoring her.
"Muye, it's the twenty-first century. I won't stop you from liking whoever you like, but filial piety has three aspects, and not having offspring is the greatest offense." She tapped the table again. "Do you understand this principle?"
Qing Muye's expression remained indifferent; he said nothing.
Old Madam Qing continued, "I don't care who you like, as long as you don't bring it out into the open. And you must find a woman and get married as soon as possible."
"Mother, aren't you being too lenient with Qing Muye? The matter has escalated so much, and it's settled with just a single sentence?"
"Exactly. Second, our mother is simply favoring Qing Muye. Who knows who her real child is."
"First, he was engaged to Miss Li, then the engagement was broken off at the wedding, and now it's exposed that he likes men. He has no shame, but we still have our reputation."