Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Upon receiving the message, Qu Wen's girlfriend rushed over and was met with this juicy gossip. For some reason, the suffocating frustration she had felt for days—watching her boyfriend flirt with another girl while insisting he loved her the most—finally dissipated.

Compared to this, her grievances seemed trivial. Xiong Beijing even felt like applauding Qu Wen.

Pale-faced, Qu Wen spotted Xiong Beijing in the distance as if she were his lifeline. With desperation, he lunged toward her, intending to embrace her and grovel.

But to Xiong Beijing, Qu Wen was like the plague now. She sidestepped, and Qu Wen ate dirt, spitting out grass and mud when he scrambled back up.

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Lin Tingyue didn’t hesitate to burst into laughter. The Lin family wanted to laugh too, but Lin Tingyue’s laughter was so overpowering that even someone who had just stepped onto the grass froze mid-step, glancing around, unsure what was happening.

Qu Wen spat out the grass and pleaded, "Beijing, now you must believe that I truly love you, right?"

"God, what nonsense is this guy spouting?"

"Who in their right mind kisses their 'sister'? That’s full-on cheating, and honestly, downright disgusting."

"Ew, no wonder Qu Wen turned out like this—runs in the family. Does this kind of thing even get passed down?"

"Qu Wen’s father fell for Yi Tianxin’s mother back in the day. But at the time, the Qu family’s company was in crisis, and Qu Wen’s father had to marry Qu Wen’s mother to save the family business."

"You think that made him give up on Yi Tianxin’s mother? Nope. He promised her that he was only with that woman for the money and that Yi Tianxin’s mother was his one true love."

"And so, Qu Wen’s father leached money off his wife while soaking up affection from Yi Tianxin’s mother, living the high life."

"Yikes. Yi Tianxin’s mother probably still dreams that Qu Wen’s father will marry her someday. How could anyone trust a man’s promises? Now, he’s on the prowl for someone new, thinking she’s petty, embarrassing, and a has-been."

Yi Tianxin staggered before plopping down onto the grass. For as long as she could remember, she had never met her father. She thought he was dead, but her mother insisted he wasn’t.

So he had just abandoned them.

But the truth was far uglier than she could have imagined.

"Huh? What’s wrong with her? Young people these days—just flopping onto the grass whenever they feel like it."

Lin Tingyue brushed off her graduation gown and was about to drag her second brother elsewhere for photos when a sharp, crisp slap echoed from ahead.

"That’s the slap heard 'round the world."

Lin Tingyue stood on tiptoe to see.

"Why are Qu Wen’s parents here?"

She thought about it. She and Qu Wen were in the same grade, and today was graduation. Bai Yaxin and Lin Rusong had come, so it made sense Qu Wen’s parents would too.

"Why did Qu Wen’s mom slap his dad? Did she find something out?"

"Ah, too bad no matter how smart she is, she’d never guess Qu Wen’s father has his eyes on her best friend."

What?! Qu Wen’s mother was fuming. No wonder her best friend had been throwing shade all week.

She’d chalked it up to their usual beef and brushed it off.

Seething, she slapped Qu Wen’s father again.

A man, and a successful one at that, was actually slapped twice in a row. His eyes burned with anger as Qu Wen's father said, "Cai Wanli, don't push it."

"When you used my money to keep another woman outside, why didn't you say it was pushing it?"

How did she know?

Qu Kuo quickly pleaded, "Wanli, just hear me out..."

Cai Wanli, who had been about to leave with her bag, turned back to look at Qu Kuo. Qu Kuo's heart jumped, and he reached out to grab Cai Wanli's hand, but she snapped and pushed him away in disgust. "When you married me, you spelled it out to my parents. They were afraid you'd change your mind and made you sign an agreement—if you ever betrayed me, you wouldn't get a single cent. You'll be walking away with nothing!"

Qu Kuo's knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground. Qu Wen rushed over, grabbing his collar and demanding, "Dad, did you really betray Mom? Dad, say something, damn it!"

Unaware of the truth, passing classmates thought this was some kind of act on the grass and even asked if they could take a group photo.

Qu Wen told them to fuck off.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA."

"Such a famous father-son bonding spot, why can't we take a photo?"

After finishing her drama, Lin Tingyue tugged at Lin Chengyan's sleeve. "Second Brother, let's go somewhere else."

This grass was too chaotic—definitely not suitable for photos anymore. Lin Chengyan nodded but suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

"Wait for me, I see my friend."

Lin Tingyue: "?"

"Second Brother, having a friend on this grass can't be good."

Lin Chengyan stumbled and was steadied by Ying An, who asked worriedly, "Chengyan, are you okay?"

But Lin Chengyan looked at Ying An with deep suspicion—could this guy have some scandal too?

Ying An was Lin Chengyan's university classmate. After graduation, they both entered the entertainment industry and were called the "Twin Stars of Showbiz." Lin Chengyan knew him well—his family was harmonious, his parents often traveled the world, and apart from Ying An, they had a daughter, the family's darling. Ying An himself was polite and well-mannered.

How could such a flawless person have any scandal? Lin Chengyan scolded himself for overthinking.

But—

"Why does this person look so familiar?"

Shit, there really is a scandal.

Lin Chengyan immediately distanced himself from Ying An, ready to pretend they didn’t know each other if his family asked.

Ying An frowned. "Chengyan, what's your problem?"

Lin Chengyan was even more frantic than him. "Why couldn’t you just keep your nose clean?!!"

Now it was a total gossip fest.

Lin Chengyan was miserable, leaving Ying An utterly confused.

Lin Tingyue was getting closer and closer to Ying An. This was bad, really bad. Lin Chengyan freaked out—Ying An, your dirt's coming out!

"Ah, isn’t this that really handsome guy from the movie set? Even his... you know... is pink?"

Lin Chengyan: "?"

Lin Tingyue, what the hell—?

Ying An was wearing a gray short-sleeved shirt today. Hearing Lin Tingyue's words, he subtly adjusted his collar, his ears turning flaming red.