Chapter 22: Who Did You Offend?
Xingze Gu sat on the sofa, contemplating how to handle the situation. Did he have to go find that woman again?
The thought of being mistakenly accused of theft today rekindled the anger he had managed to suppress. He had already received notification from his company to temporarily suspend his broadcast, realizing the seriousness of the situation. For both artists and influencers, public opinion and scandals were extremely troublesome.
Furthermore, Xingze Gu’s fanbase consisted mostly of “girlfriend fans.” Upon learning of the sudden appearance of a girlfriend, they erupted, waiting outside the company to demand an explanation. A temporary suspension was the most leniency Brother Hu could secure for him.
At this point, Xingze Gu frowned. It seemed his only option was to go to the hospital and find that woman to clarify things. He hoped she hadn’t left yet.
He thought about it and the next day, he drove to Yeyun Ye’s hospital room. Just as he was about to push the door open, he heard a man’s voice inside. He stopped, leaning against the doorframe, and listened quietly.
Inside the hospital room, Jingxian Xiang, after having Yeyun Ye beaten, was constantly worried about her video being leaked. She sent someone to find out that after Yeyun Ye was taken to the hospital, she went to Xiuqi Chi’s house early the next morning.
As soon as she entered, she tearfully complained to Xiuqi Chi, claiming Yeyun Ye had taken something important from her and refused to return it. She even brought up Yeyun Ye’s deceased parents, saying it was the only memento they had left her. She accused Yeyun Ye of selfishly wanting to monopolize it, completely disregarding her as her own sister.
Xiuqi Chi listened to Jingxian Xiang’s tearful account. The more he heard, the angrier he became. Seeing her pitiable appearance, he comforted her and promised to get it back for her. And so, he had arrived at Yeyun Ye’s hospital room.
“Yeyun Ye, do you have any conscience? How dare you take Jingxian’s parents’ last memento from her?” Upon entering the room and seeing Yeyun Ye’s injuries, a flicker of something unusual crossed Xiuqi Chi’s eyes. However, sensing Jingxian Xiang tugging at his sleeve, her eyes red as she stood beside him, he didn’t think too deeply. He only felt that Jingxian Xiang had been wronged and coldly questioned Yeyun Ye.
Yeyun Ye watched as Xiuqi Chi, pulling Jingxian Xiang, stormed into the ward, only to be bombarded with a barrage of questions that all defended Jingxian Xiang. Her heart, which she thought was numb, began to ache.
Pale-faced, she looked at Xiuqi Chi and said, word for word, “Jingxian’s parents, hah, don’t forget, they were my parents too! Jingxian is now a daughter of the Xiang Family.”
Seeing her stubbornness, Xiuqi Chi irritably tugged at his tie, stepped forward, and grabbed Yeyun Ye by the throat. He said grimly, “Stop the nonsense. Hand over the video tape.”
Yeyun Ye grabbed Xiuqi Chi’s hands around her neck. Her face began to turn red from lack of oxygen. “Let go of me, what video tape… I don’t have any!”
Seeing her in pain, Xiuqi Chi softened for a moment. He loosened his grip and pushed her away.
“Cough… cough…” Yeyun Ye, gasping for air, began to cough violently.
“I can’t give you the video tape unless I’m dead.” Yeyun Ye knew this video tape must not be handed over. She looked up at Xiuqi Chi, her gaze intense.
“You are simply unreasonable!” Xiuqi Chi said, and then, pulling Jingxian Xiang, he was about to leave the room. Jingxian Xiang was unwilling and wanted to ask Yeyun Ye for it again, but seeing Xiuqi Chi’s grim expression, the words got stuck in her throat, and she didn’t dare to speak further. She could only follow him silently, thinking about coming back next time.
Yeyun Ye watched their retreating figures, feeling utterly exhausted. The physical pain combined with the psychological torment caused her tears to flow uncontrollably.
Just then, Xingze Gu pushed the door open.
Seeing someone enter, Yeyun Ye quickly lowered her head, wiping away her tears to hide her emotions. She then looked up and asked Xingze Gu what he needed.
Seeing her like this, Xingze Gu, who had intended to clarify things with her, suddenly felt it wasn’t the right time. A sense of pity arose in his heart.
“It’s nothing, just came to see how you were. Take care of yourself, I’m leaving.” He then left the room uncomfortably.
Yeyun Ye, deeply saddened, didn’t think much of his behavior. After he left, she was once again lost in her emotions.
Outside the hospital, Brother Hu, who had been waiting, saw him emerge and stepped forward to ask about the situation. Xingze Gu paused and said they would talk about it in a few days.
Brother Hu wanted to say more upon hearing this, but he noticed Xingze Gu’s expression and sensed his low mood. He didn’t press further, only saying, “This needs to be resolved quickly,” before driving Xingze Gu back to the company.
In the car, Xingze Gu thought of his parents. When he was very, very young, his parents had passed away, leaving him only the necklace he wore around his neck as a memento. He could deeply understand Yeyun Ye’s feelings. It was the only thing left by her closest relatives in this world; how could she give it up so easily?
During the time he lived with relatives before earning his own money, his relatives considered him a burden and wanted to sell this necklace. At that time, his feelings were the same as Yeyun Ye’s.
This was why he felt pity for Yeyun Ye just now.
—The matter of clarification can wait a few days.
After Yuxun Xia was hospitalized for a stomach problem and had just recovered, he realized Yeyun Ye hadn’t visited him for several days. When he called her, he learned she was also in the hospital. Disregarding his own health, he went to take care of her.
“That woman is too much! Does she even have any regard for the law?”
After listening to Yeyun Ye recount her experiences during this period, Yuxun Xia clenched his fists in anger, wanting to go find Jingxian Xiang. Yeyun Ye stopped him.
“Yuxun, don’t go. Don’t get involved in this, it will harm you,” Yeyun Ye said weakly, tugging at Yuxun Xia’s sleeve.
Seeing her like this, Yuxun Xia’s heart ached. He sat down, patted her hand, and comforted her not to overthink things.
Meanwhile, after returning to the company from the hospital, Xingze Gu had intended to ask for a few more days to resolve the issue. However, the company’s attitude seemed to have changed drastically. No matter how Brother Hu spoke or explained, they wouldn’t listen and directly terminated Xingze Gu’s contract.
With no other options, Xingze Gu had to leave the company and return home. As soon as he arrived, he received a message from his good friend.
“A woman came to the company today and said something in the CEO’s office. Then the CEO made the decision to fire you.”
“Think about it, who have you offended recently?”
After reading the message, Xingze Gu replied with “Got it” and put down his mobile phone.
