Chapter 17

Chapter 17

"She's here!"

Whoa, that was quick???

"His ex is a beauty vlogger. She came to the orchard to shoot a fruit-inspired makeup video."

"Talk about a coincidence—her first pick was the plum grove."

"But she didn’t notice Wan Hong at the time, and later, he even blackmailed her. What kind of lowlife does that?"

Lin Tingyue was furious.

Everyone turned to look at a girl not far away, holding a camera and wearing a light blue ruqun. She must be that beauty vlogger, right?

Her destination wasn’t actually this way. Seeing so many people gathered here, some even carrying recording equipment, she realized a show might be filming. She gave a quick apologetic bow and prepared to quickly pass through.

"OMG!!! Wan Hong’s right here! Don’t let that jerk escape!!!"

What was that sound?

Gu Qingti cocked her head, confused, the little plum-shaped hair ornaments bouncing as she moved—so cute!

"Such a sweet girl, later driven to suicide by Wan Hong’s cyberbullying... A life just..."

Gu Qingti was shocked. Wan Hong’s here?

Who got cyberbullied to suicide?

Her?

At that, Gu Qingti froze.

"Is fate on her side?"

Meanwhile, Wan Hong no longer wanted to keep up the standoff with Huo Ting. After all, while the jealous lover bit was trending, he couldn’t overdo it.

Thinking this, he peered out from behind the tree—yup, he’d been lurking there, waiting for Huo Ting to come find him.

As soon as he peeked out, he locked eyes with a very familiar gaze. Wan Hong froze—why was Gu Qingti here?

After a brief panic, he pulled himself together. Having an ex wasn’t a crime. Even if Gu Qingti spoke up, at worst, he’d catch some flak for a few days. If he played it right now, he might even score points for being chivalrous.

Wan Hong walked up to Gu Qingti and said, "Qingti, what are you doing here?"

All the hurt Wan Hong caused came flooding back, but Gu Qingti was still a dignified person. Her face pale, she answered, "I’m here to film a video."

Some fans in the chat already ID’d Gu Qingti.

[Dang, she’s gorgeous! Her makeup gives off such a fresh, plum-like vibe. Just seeing her makes me think of summer.]

[That’s Gu Qingti! Check out her channel @WhimsicalGuQingti!]

[The way they’re acting… do they have history?]

[Nooo, not my Wan Hong and Huo Ting!]

[Is this staged? They script live shows now?]

Now that Gu Qingti was out in the open, rather than letting netizens dig it up, he might as well come clean himself.

Wan Hong then introduced her naturally and generously: "This is Gu Qingti. We used to be together." [Sarcasm]

[No way???]

[Dude, for real???]

Lin Tingyue was about to explode.

"If scamming your ex-girlfriend, emotionally manipulating her, and then ghosting after her death counts as a 'beautiful relationship,' then even Satan would be demoted to runner-up!"

Since Wan Hong had already gone this far, Gu Qingti could only give a stiff nod before turning to leave.

"Wait, she’s just gonna walk away?"

"Don’t forget, Wan Hong once threw shade at Gu Qingti on her birthday, calling her a clout-chaser and saying she looked pure but was actually... ugh." [Mocking tone]

Gu Qingti clenched her fists. Noticing her reaction, Wan Hong immediately stepped forward, putting on a show of concern. "Qingti, are you okay?"

"Wow, just wow—what a hypocrite. Weren’t you just treating her like air a moment ago?"

Gu Qingti was visibly shaken by Wan Hong’s presence. Seeing him approach, she instinctively took a step back—which darkened Wan Hong’s expression. He muted his mic and growled, "Gu Qingti, you’d better know your place."

Gu Qingti looked up, disbelief in her eyes as she stared at the man she had once loved deeply.

Wan Hong continued, "You don’t want me showing up at your door again, do you?"

"Enough!"

Gu Qingti snapped sharply, her voice breaking as she cried. After their breakup, she had been harassed by this man and treated like garbage. Did she really have to die for someone like him in the end?

No. She wanted everyone to see his true nature.

"Wan Hong, when we were together, you had no job and spent all my money, yet you called me useless."

"You gambled and racked up debts, and I was the one who paid them off. After all I did for you, this is how you repay me?"

Gu Qingti’s tears streamed down her face, leaving the livestream audience equally confused.

[What’s going on?]

[Ah, I remember Gu Gu once said her boyfriend adored her.]

[So is Gu Qingti doing this for attention?]

[Please, keep the drama queens away from our favorite couple.]

[I feel so bad for her.]

The guests could all see the comments. See? Even if Gu Qingti spoke up, the crowd would still take his side.

Wan Hong frowned. "Qingti, if you don’t have proof, don’t run your mouth."

"Gu Qingti, shove those receipts in his face!"

Lin Tingyue, eating this drama up, was even more anxious than Gu Qingti herself.

Reminded by Lin Tingyue, Gu Qingti cooled down and shot back. "Oh, I’ve got proof alright."

Her tears hadn't even dried yet when she pulled out her phone, scrolling furiously for evidence before slamming those screenshots in Wan Hong's face.

"Yes! This is perfect!"

"Honestly, Wan Hong is already done for. The show's producers might as well drop him and highlight the evidence Gu Qingti provided—it could actually win them new fans."

The director, who had been practically despondent earlier, immediately urged the livestream crew to zoom in on Gu Qingti's screenshots, even projecting them on the main screen for a full public roasting.

[Wait, I thought you were the sweet younger boyfriend type TM, but turns out you're just a mooching, gaslighting POS?]

[Sis, see? Never waste your sympathy on men. What's there to pity? Absolutely nothing lol.]

[Oh my god, my Gu Gu suffered so much injustice, ughhh my heart...]

[I remember Gu Qingti kept updating the whole time too. She really... I can't even.]

The whole drama between Wan Hong and Gu Qingti was later compiled and even trended on Weibo.

Despite the producers' quick response, the show's reputation still took a hit. The director was completely crushed, convinced there might not be a next season.

Lin Chengyan, upon receiving the news: ?

Seriously? Seems like Lin Tingyue really is a walking disaster.

Lin Chengyan looked at Lin Tingyue, who was sitting there quietly in the room, with a complicated expression.

Today was Lin Tingyue and Lin Xiawan's graduation ceremony.

University A always pulls out all the stops for its annual graduation ceremonies, even inviting distinguished alumni back to campus. Lin Chengyan and Lin Yuhuan were among those invited.

Attendance wasn't mandatory, but this was Lin Tingyue and Lin Xiawan's graduation—Bai Yaxin had laid down the law that both Lin Chengyan and Lin Yuhuan had to attend.

Lin Xiawan and Lin Tingyue were done up like walking flower arrangements by Bai Yaxin and Zhang Ma, with even their graduation caps adorned with flowers. Bai Yaxin wanted her two daughters to look absolutely radiant on their big day.

Lin Chengyan took one look at their outfits and did a double take. Were they trying to attract butterflies or get swarmed by bees?

If bees really did show up, maybe he should keep his distance from his sisters later.

Lin Tingyue, however, was preoccupied with something else.

"Why didn't the school send me an invitation?"

"I'm a total catch—the Lin family's little lucky star, a celebrity magnet!"

Lin Chengyan pondered. The only way the school would send Lin Tingyue an invitation was if University A turned into a hotbed of drama—then she'd have a role to play.

...Not entirely impossible, huh.

Suddenly, Lin Chengyan became unusually attentive, hovering around Lin Tingyue.

"Huh???"

Lin Tingyue was immediately suspicious.

"Something's off. Very off. Second Brother seemed disinterested earlier, but now... Could it be because he'll see Cheng Jinshuang at the ceremony?"

Way off base. Lin Chengyan smiled as he fussed with Lin Tingyue's graduation gown. Of course, it was all for his dear little sister.

After all, who doesn't love some drama?

"Why is Second Brother grinning like that?"

Lin Chengyan: "..."

Lin Xiawan smiled and reached for Lin Tingyue's hand, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "Let's go."

"Okay."

The Lin family set off at 8:30 and arrived at A University around 9. The campus was beautifully decorated everywhere, perfect for graduates about to leave the school to take photos.

Today was Lin Tingyue and Lin Xiawan's big day. Whatever they wanted, Bai Yaxin and Lin Rusong would gladly fulfill.

Thus, Lin Yuhuan and Lin Chengyan—one a superstar, the other a powerhouse CEO—took on the role of photographers.

Lin Chengyan was happily snapping photos of Lin Tingyue when he suddenly saw her stumble in the frame, pushed by someone.

Who the hell just pushed his sister?

His expression darkened as he stormed forward, shielding Lin Tingyue behind him, and glared at the young man and woman in front of them.

The guy brushed right past Lin Chengyan and sneered at Lin Tingyue behind him. "Lin Tingyue, I heard that ever since your sister was found, your standing in the Lin family tanked."

"Where’d you hear that fake news?"

"These days, it’s not just bootleg liquor that harms people—fake news does too."

The guy and girl’s expressions shifted. Had Lin Tingyue gotten superpowers in the months they hadn’t seen her?

Lin Tingyue asked seriously, "Who are you?"

Lin Chengyan snorted. "You hear that? My sister’s asking."

The guy, furious, snapped, "Lin Tingyue, are you messing with me? You don’t even remember me, Qu Wen?"

"This guy… sounds like there's tea here."

"Not sure, lemme look it up."

Huh? More tea? Lin Chengyan exchanged a glance with the other Lin family members who had just arrived. They quietly waited to get the tea.

"Ah, found it. This guy and girl have a sibling thing going on, but they’re not blood-related. The guy has a girlfriend."

"The girlfriend has gotten upset many times because her boyfriend is too close to this girl."

"But the guy and girl kept it up anyway, claiming, 'We’re just siblings, that’s how siblings are.'"

"Before coming here, they even kissed..."

Lin Tingyue’s expression suddenly turned odd as she looked at the squirming pair.

Pfft, that's what you get for going all 'brother' and 'sister' all gross-like. Oh snap! Now you're legit half-siblings. Burn!