The afternoon sun bathed the campus in warm light.
But on the rooftop, the atmosphere was unusually heavy.
Ji Xiaolan hurried up the stairs, pushing open the door to the rooftop with a tense expression. This place, known among students as the "couples' territory," was usually deserted. That was exactly why he chose it.
He pulled out his phone and quickly dialed a number.
"Uncle Yang, is there any way to find out who's behind the online posts?" he asked in a low voice, nervously glancing around.
There was a pause on the other end before a deep voice responded: "We can't confirm everything yet, but we have a good idea who did it."
"Who?" Ji Xiaolan asked through clenched teeth.
"In this city, the only ones who could pull it off so cleanly... are likely the Yang family."
At the mention of the "Yang family," Ji Xiaolan's face darkened.
"Is there any way to suppress it?" he asked, trying to steady his voice.
"There will be bigger news released within a few hours to bury this incident. For now, lie low. Don't draw attention."
"I understand. Thank you, Uncle Yang." Ji Xiaolan took a deep breath and replied respectfully.
As he hung up and turned to leave, he suddenly saw—Liu Ruyan was standing behind him.
For a moment, their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze.
Liu Ruyan didn't immediately lash out. Instead, she asked calmly, "Who is Uncle Yang?"
Ji Xiaolan's expression changed, and he quickly waved his hand. "You must've misheard. I didn't say 'Uncle Yang'."
"I clearly heard it," Liu Ruyan said coldly. "You said 'Uncle Yang.' Is he someone from the Yang family?"
Ji Xiaolan bit his lip, eyes suddenly turning red as he spoke in a pitiful tone, "Ruyan, don't you trust me? I'm being set up—I don't even know what you're talking about..."
He knew that whenever he looked vulnerable, Liu Ruyan would stop pressing him.
Sure enough, after a few seconds of silence, she sighed and turned to leave.
The wind rose on the rooftop as Ji Xiaolan watched her back fade into the distance. The vulnerability in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold glint.
"Yang Tian... so you finally made a move."
That night, the breeze stirred the curtains. Liu Ruyan sat at her desk, her thoughts adrift.
She kept replaying Ji Xiaolan's expression on the rooftop, and that name—Uncle Yang.
She wasn't stupid. Though she had once trusted Ji Xiaolan completely, recent hints and inconsistencies had made her waver.
After a long hesitation, she couldn't bring herself to ask Yang Tian directly.
"I have to find out for myself..." she whispered and quietly packed her bag, slipping out the door.
Her mother was already asleep. Liu Ruyan tiptoed down the stairs, out of the neighborhood, and took a taxi to an internet café near the school.
She sat in a corner, logged into her usual forums and social media accounts, and began searching for keywords like "Yang family," "public opinion," and "anonymous tip."
Soon, she found a series of deleted posts pointing to an anonymous organization—interestingly, their activity matched exactly with the days Yang Tian had gone missing.
Her fingers trembled slightly, and suddenly she wanted to cry.
—So, Yang Tian had been helping her all along, behind the scenes.
She closed the browser, staring at her reflection in the screen. For the first time, a true seed of doubt about Ji Xiaolan was planted in her heart.
The night wind was cool as she walked home, mind racing through every interaction she'd had with both men.
That night, she didn't sleep.
The next morning, at the school gate.
Students streamed in. Liu Ruyan walked through the gates, her expression dazed.
"Ruyan!" a familiar voice called out.
She turned to see Ji Xiaolan hurrying toward her, face full of concern.
"You don't look well."
"I didn't sleep much," she replied with a forced smile.
But Ji Xiaolan could sense her withdrawal.
"Ruyan, I messaged you last night. You didn't reply."
Liu Ruyan looked down, saying nothing.
System notification:[Female Lead's Affection -5%][Current Affection: 50]
Panic flashed through Ji Xiaolan's heart. He quickly softened his tone. "Did I do something wrong? Tell me, I'll change."
Liu Ruyan raised her head. Her gaze had lost its former warmth.
"Why did you lie to me?" she asked coldly.
Ji Xiaolan froze. "I didn't."
"Then who were you talking to on the rooftop yesterday?" she pressed. "Who is 'Uncle Yang'?"
Ji Xiaolan tried to explain, "Just a family member, a relative."
"You're still lying." Liu Ruyan took a step back, looking exhausted. "I'm tired of being deceived."
System notification:[Female Lead's Affection -10%][Current Affection: 40]
Ji Xiaolan's expression finally shifted.
Liu Ruyan turned and walked toward the classroom.
Ji Xiaolan stood rooted to the spot, a flash of anger in his eyes.
—When Liu Ruyan arrived in the classroom, she noticed Yang Tian was absent.
Her heart sank, touched with a strange sense of loss.
The bell rang, and the homeroom teacher entered. "Yang Tian has taken leave for a few days due to family matters. Liu Ruyan, please take notes for him."
She nodded silently, pulling out a new notebook.
Inside, however, emotions surged.
At the classroom door, Ji Xiaolan stood waiting with his usual gentle smile. Beside him was a familiar figure—Shen Xue.
"Ruyan," he called out, eyes clear, as if last night's cold rooftop exchange had never happened.
In the base's meeting room, Shen Xue stood in front of a projector, displaying her small PR firm's performance charts.
"This is the company I started after leaving the Yang family," she said, voice a little nervous.
Yang Tian sat in his chair, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm."
"I know you don't owe me anything... But if I have a second chance to make things right, I want to do it my own way."
Yang Tian was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Your company has flaws, but your project ideas are solid. What you lack is capital and resources."
He picked up a file folder and handed it to her.
"This is the first round of funding I'm allocating. Use it to rebuild your team. Also—I'll assign a resource advisor to help."
Shen Xue froze, her eyes welling up.
"You... you still trust me?"
Yang Tian gave a faint smile. "If you betray me again, there won't be another chance."
System notification:[Side Quest Unlocked: Female #2 – Path of Redemption][Female #2 Affection +10][Yang Tian Reputation +5]
Shen Xue took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. "I won't let you down."
Yang Tian sat in his leather chair, eyes calm, and pressed the intercom: "Bai Nuoxue, come in."
Seconds later, his secretary entered briskly. "Boss, you called?"
Yang Tian nodded. "Pull up all current projects suitable for the Shen family."
"Understood." Bai Nuoxue gave a sharp nod and left the room.
Twenty minutes later, she returned, placing a thick stack of files on the desk. "Boss, here are the projects ready for immediate cooperation—total value approximately fifty billion yuan."
Yang Tian glanced at the files and smirked. "Not bad."
He turned to Shen Xue. "Do you want to take these back to discuss with your family, or can you decide now?"
Shen Xue was stunned. "Fifty billion? Are you serious?"
Yang Tian nodded calmly. "I know your father still holds the final say in the Shen family. Go back and hold a meeting if needed."
He added, "Nuoxue, take someone with you and escort Miss Shen. Make sure the deal goes through. If they propose reasonable terms, accept them."
Bai Nuoxue hesitated. "Boss, are you absolutely sure?"
Yang Tian shot her a cold look. "Are you questioning me?"
She bowed quickly. "I wouldn't dare. Miss Shen, let's go."
Shen Xue looked at the stack of project proposals, emotions churning.
She understood—this wasn't just a business deal. It was the road Yang Tian had paved for her—a path back to redemption.
And on this road, there was no turning back.