Ling Yuchen stood on the balcony, a cigarette between his fingers. His brow was furrowed, his cold eyes frosted, and he asked in a chilling tone, "Did she say anything else?"
Mama Ou recounted what had just happened. Ling Yuchen's expression grew increasingly grim, his cold gaze unfathomably deep, like a devouring abyss.
"I understand. Call me anytime if anything comes up."
Inside the house, the atmosphere was harmonious, everyone smiling and chatting amiably. Ling Yuchen stood alone on the balcony, puffing smoke, his expression so indifferent that it was impossible to discern his emotions.
He could block all the malicious comments online, but he couldn't stop the unbridled chatter in group chats. He hadn't intended to make their relationship public, but the online rumors grew more and more outrageous. This led to widespread gossip at the birthday banquet, which eventually reached the ears of the elder.
The elder's face turned grim, believing he had indeed been keeping a college student. He publicly questioned him, forcing him to reveal their relationship. The elder was pleased, and the public's gossip subsided. However, many people online were still stirring up trouble, and he didn't stop them, allowing the news to spread.
This was at the Ling family's residence; without his permission, how could anyone have leaked the video and information? He had promised Xia Wantang he wouldn't go public, but now he had broken his word. When he received Mama Ou's call, his heart clenched, and he desperately wanted to rush back. But he soon received a message from Xia Wantang, which somewhat calmed his heart. At that time, he thought she was upset because he had publicized their relationship without her consent. Who knew the reason for her distress was still the baseless rumors, truly annoying!
He took a deep breath and posted his first message on Weibo. "From now on, I will pursue legal responsibility for all defamation and inappropriate remarks. I urge everyone to express themselves rationally. Thank you."
As soon as this Weibo post went out, it caused an uproar. Comments, likes, and shares grew at an astonishing rate. Teng Kong Group's official account reposted the content, adding, "The internet is not a lawless land. We urge everyone to think twice before acting." Ling Yuchen then instructed someone to monitor the comments on this Weibo post and to sue anyone who made inappropriate remarks, assigning Situ Jing to handle the lawsuits. There were always those who didn't believe in consequences and were eager to test the waters. However, they would all eventually be punished, but that's a story for another time.
The birthday banquet continued, with Ling Yuchen standing beside Elder Ling, attending to guests. Time had left deep marks on the old man; his hair was white, and his face was lined with wrinkles. His old eyes, however, were sharp, and the pressure they contained was no less than Ling Yuchen's. Ling Yuchen's demeanor was calm, and he spoke very little. Everyone knew he was naturally cold and taciturn, so no one dared to object. This was because the Ling family's current status in the business world was enough to awe everyone. Before Ling Yuchen took over, the Ling family was only slightly superior to the other three major families.
Elder Ling was in excellent spirits at the moment, smiling broadly. He was eighty years old, and his greatest wish was to see Ling Yuchen marry and have children. But Ling Yuchen was nearing thirty and had never been in a hurry to marry; he didn't even have a woman by his side. Now that he finally had a girlfriend, and they were getting their marriage license the day after tomorrow, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed. This was the best birthday gift he had received for his eightieth birthday.
Sitting beside him was Madam Ling, three years his junior. Her hair was white but meticulously styled, and she wore a well-fitting dark red gown, exuding an elegant aura. She had a kind smile and a gentle demeanor, and her youthful beauty was still discernible beneath her aged appearance. Ling Yuchen's father, Ling Junye, and his mother, Zhu Yunfei, stood behind the elder couple. Although they were both over fifty, they were still distinguished and radiant, captivating to behold. The three generations had their own legendary lives. Their appearance, presence, and temperament were all top-notch, beautiful as a painting, and pleasing to the eye.
Many people secretly took out their phones to take pictures and post them online, causing another stir. Later, some netizens, with their penchant for gossip, claimed that the Ling family didn't care about Xia Wantang at all. If they were about to get married, why wasn't she present at such an important occasion? Combining this with previously leaked photos from the hospital, they directly speculated that Xia Wantang was pregnant and getting married. They surmised that the Ling family, valuing the child, chose to go public to legitimize her and the child, planning to discard the mother after the child's birth. In short, the more outlandish, the better.
When Xia Wantang found out later, she was amused and speechless. She had simply not wanted to attend the banquet, never expecting to be spun into such a narrative. However, thanks to the constant push from these netizens, her relationship with Ling Yuchen had progressed.
The private cinema was pitch black. The large screen flickered ominously, displaying the scariest scene of a horror movie. The soundtrack, designed to accelerate heartbeats and chill the bones, was utterly unnerving. Xia Wantang covered her eyes, too frightened to watch. Meanwhile, Qiao Xinyue stared intently at the screen, thoroughly enjoying herself.
On screen, a heavily pregnant woman was curled up in a waiting hall. She was cowering on the ground in fear, facing a twisted, fallen body. The corpse's eyes darted erratically. With a loud "bang," another body fell, this time a child, equally contorted. Horrifically, no one else could see this scene; only the woman could.
"Sister Wantang, I've lost count of how many times I've rewatched 'The Eye.' It's simply the pinnacle of ghost films; the horror atmosphere is rendered perfectly," Qiao Xinyue exclaimed excitedly. She turned and noticed Xia Wantang covering her eyes in fear. She quickly paused the movie and turned on the lights with the remote.
"Sister Wantang, if you're scared, we can stop watching," Qiao Xinyue said apologetically, regretting bringing her. Xia Wantang slowly revealed her face, her complexion pale, clearly terrified. The movie told the story of a woman who could see ghosts after a suicide attempt. Soon after, she became pregnant and witnessed ghosts reincarnating into human wombs. The terrifyingly realistic ghosts in the movie had deeply frightened Xia Wantang, leaving her with a psychological scar. If a child was conceived this way, it would be too horrifying. Xia Wantang thought, would she have a ghost accompanying her during her pregnancy?
"If you're scared, we won't watch it," Qiao Xinyue said, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were afraid." Xia Wantang forced a smile and shook her head. "It's okay, I wanted to watch it myself."
Without finishing the movie, the two went downstairs together. The sweet scent of milk wafted through the air, incredibly fragrant.