---
"If it doesn't cause any major issues, ignore it," Liang Yexuan replied coolly, voice low and calm like always.
"Understood," Jin Shu said with a small nod.
He immediately called Chen, his tone brisk. "Young Master said to ignore it unless there's a critical issue. Just monitor the spread and alert me if anything unusual happens."
Once he hung up, he glanced up at the rearview mirror, his eyes settling on Liang Yexuan's calm face.
Strange.
Didn't Young Master always hate having his photos taken?
Every time he was caught on camera in the past—especially during public appearances—he had always made sure the news was scrubbed from every corner of the internet.
It wasn't even about privacy anymore—it had become a habit.
A rule.
Even during the trendy gossip about him and Miss Su, his team had reacted within minutes later, pressuring platforms to delete the articles and bury the footage before it could spread further.
But now...
What was going on?
He couldn't help but wonder… What was the Young Master planning this time?
He'd worked for Liang Yexuan for almost twelve years now.
From the time when Liang Yexuan had just started taking over the Liang family business, Jin Shu had always been by his side.
Yet even after all these years, he still couldn't fully understand the thoughts of the Young Master.
Every action he took had layers—subtle, calculated, and sometimes, utterly unpredictable.
He let out a quiet sigh.
Guess all he could do was keep guessing.
---
The Next Morning, the internet was on fire.
Top star Zhang Zeyan photographed kissing a woman outside a hotel!
The photo was taken in the dim glow of streetlights, but it was clear enough.
Zhang Zeyan's face was unmistakable.
The woman he held in his arms had her face partially hidden under a hoodie, but their intimate posture couldn't be denied.
—
"NOOOOOOOOO! ZEYAN GEGE WHY?! I THOUGHT YOU WERE MINE!!"
"I'm not crying… It's just raining inside my heart…"
"Wait, is that his real girlfriend? Or a PR stunt before the new movie?"
"Honestly, he's human too. Let the man fall in love."
"She's probably a sweet person. As long as he's happy."
"How dare she steal our national treasure!"
"Who cares who she is. I'm just gonna cry in the shower now. Zhang Zeyan is taken!!"
---
At the Su Mansion, the clack of high heels echoed down the elegant marble staircase.
Su Meilin, dressed in an elegant ivory blouse and fitted trousers, held her phone in hand as she descended.
She was scrolling absentmindedly through trending news, her mind half-focused on the upcoming product launch at the company.
As she tapped through her notifications, something caught her eye.
She halted mid-step.
Her brows furrowed. "Huh?"
She tapped the trending post and stared at the image.
Her heart skipped a beat.
That woman…
Why did she look… so familiar?
The posture, the curve of her back, the slight tilt of her chin, even though the face was hidden… There was something about it.
And then it hit her.
Wait a minute.
Her breath caught in her throat.
That brown chestnut hair. That awkward, pigeon-toed stance with legs slightly apart…
"Wait—no way…"
She quickly zoomed in on the photo.
Her eyes scanned the neck area.
And there it was—barely visible, but to someone who knew, impossible to miss.
A small, faint red birthmark just under the left side of her jaw.
"Yanyan?" she whispered aloud.
Lin Xingyan.
It had to be her.
"No way..." Su Meilin whispered. "That's really her. Lin Xingyan..."
Her mind reeled. She hadn't spoken to her since senior year.
Liang Qianyu and she had transferred during the final term.
They'd all gone their separate ways.
Su Meilin's fingers quickly scrolled through her contacts and tapped on a name.
---
At the Liang Mansion, Liang Qianyu sat in front of her grand vanity mirror, gently applying a layer of nude-pink lipstick.
Her long curls were pinned back, face glowing with soft makeup.
She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled.
She was finally signing her contract with Orchid Blossom Entertainment.
Her soon-to-be manager had called earlier to tell her that her first audition would be for a movie directed by none other than Gu Yanchuan.
The Gu Yanchuan.
Despite the lingering rumors about his involvement in Yan Qingsi's tragic death, his name alone could guarantee a blockbuster.
Being chosen by him would skyrocket her career.
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the caller ID. Su Meilin.
Tch. What did she want?
Liang Qianyu's eyes narrowed slightly.
Her lips curved into a flawless smile as she picked up.
Her voice turned honeyed. "Sister Meilin, good morning."
"Morning," Meilin replied casually, reclining back in her chair. "Tell me—have you seen the news?"
Liang Qianyu blinked, confused. "News? What news?"
Su Meilin chuckled softly. "Trending news. Go on, check it out."
Curious now, Liang Qianyu opened her phone's news app, swiping through until she saw the top article.
Top Star Zhang Zeyan Caught Kissing Mysterious Woman—Fans Speculate Girlfriend Reveal.
She raised an eyebrow. "So? What does this have to do with—"
Her words stopped.
Her breath hitched.
No way.
That... hair. That chestnut brown hair.
And that weird standing posture...
Su Meilin's voice came again. "Doesn't she look kind of familiar?"
"That looks like—" she said frowning.
No mistaking that person.
"Lin… Xingyan?"
---