“Yes, Mr. Xuan.” Qiuci nodded and stepped forward to help the softly sobbing Shiyao. “Miss Shi, I’ll walk you back to your room.”

Knowing that making more of a scene would only make her more unlikable, Shiyao docilely followed Qiuci out of the dining room.

——

Close to ten o’clock that evening, Xuan Yanyu finally returned to the Xuan Residence — having once again failed to see the person he wanted to see, his expression was thoroughly sour.

“Yanyu, Uncle intends to issue a statement clarifying our relationship.” Shiyao stepped forward, having waited a long time. Every word she spoke trembled.

The man lazily raised his eyelids.

“Yanyu, if you disagree, give me a reasonable explanation.” Xuan Shi’an squeezed the words out through gritted teeth.

Xuan Yanyu’s gaze swept across the family sitting neatly on the sofa, one eyebrow lifting slightly.

“Xuan Xixi, you’ve really outdone yourself — how magnanimous of you, playing father to someone else’s child.” Xuan Zhaoyang stared at Xuan Yanyu as though looking at a fool.

Xuan Yanyu’s eye twitched slightly at the corner.

“Explain yourself.” Wen Shuyun pressed a hand to her chest, trembling with anger all over.

“Mom, don’t be upset.” Xuan Zhaoran and Xuan Zhaoyang took a position on either side and gently patted her back.

“You want to upset Mom?” Xuan Zhaoyang shot Xuan Yanyu a look. “Give Mom a proper explanation.”

Xuan Yanyu’s lips pressed together briefly. “Mom, Shiyao’s situation is a bit complicated. The child in her womb truly isn’t mine, and we aren’t a couple. I kept it from all of you because I was afraid you’d let something slip — especially Dad.”

“…” Xuan Shi’an bit down on his back teeth.

“Dad, Mom — just act as though you don’t know. Once Shiyao safely gives birth, I’ll issue a clarification that she and I have no relationship whatsoever. For now, it still can’t be done.”

Xuan Shi’an’s brow furrowed hard. “No. The compromise I’m willing to make is tolerating Shiyao’s presence at the Xuan Residence as a servant until she gives birth. The statement must go out.”

“Dad!”

“Xuan Yanyu! What danger could there possibly be from staying at the Xuan Residence?” Xuan Shi’an huffed indignantly. “If you don’t issue it, people will misunderstand — especially my future daughter-in-law. Would she still want you if that happens?”

Xuan Yanyu’s throat worked slightly. Whatever he was thinking seemed to weigh on him — he appeared to be in poor spirits. In a subdued voice, he said, “Do as you like.”

“Good, good, good.” The smile on Xuan Shi’an’s face was unmistakable as he hurriedly pulled out his phone to make a call.

“Yanyu.” Shiyao shook her head through her tears.

Xuan Yanyu glanced at her once and then turned and walked into the elevator.

Xuan Zhaoyang raised her chin with a coy smile, helped Wen Shuyun to her feet, and walked toward the staircase. Before reaching it, she didn’t forget to glance back at Shiyao’s reddened nose tip.

The following morning, the moment the statement was released, the official account of Xuan Corporation erupted:

【Let me laugh for ten minutes — single Young Master Xuan, can I go after him???】

【I always knew something was off between Young Master Xuan and Shiyao. Every photo that leaked online had them standing eight hundred meters apart — not one intimate shot. And sure enough — just friends.】

【You know what, now that you say it, there really isn’t a single photo of them looking like a couple. A fake couple who didn’t even bother acting like one — ha, not even trying.】

【And every time Young Master Xuan gave an interview, he always answered so vaguely — turns out he was laying the groundwork to distance himself from the start.】

【Ahh, so ordinary people really can’t marry into wealthy families!!!】

【Does anyone else feel like Shiyao just doesn’t match Young Master Xuan’s level?】

【Young Master Xuan is actually a decent person — one phone call brought him into someone’s accident, and he nearly didn’t wake up.】

【If a friend can go that far for you, will Young Master Xuan’s future girlfriend really not be jealous???】

【How do I make a friend like Young Master Xuan?】

【Dream on.】

【Blind guess — Young Master Xuan issued this statement not for us to see, but for his true love to see. Girls.】

【That makes sense — you have to clear up the rumor before you can pursue the girl you like.】

【Waiting for the true love reveal.】

【Whether the true love surfaces or not, Young Master Xuan being single is confirmed. Everyone, charge!】

【In your dreams.】

【…】

【…】

No particularly harsh comments appeared, and Xuan Corporation’s PR department didn’t step in to manage them.

At the same time, Xuan Yanyu’s group of brothers created a small chat group, and that too erupted. After some discussion, they arrived at one conclusion:

Xuan Shi’an was dissatisfied with Shiyao and had deliberately issued the statement. Why else would Shiyao still be staying at the Xuan Residence?

Yan Ruijing relayed their analysis to Yan Yunning. Yan Yunning nodded, the heat in her heart cooling down. “You’ve all analyzed it quite well. I don’t really want to hear about it. You don’t need to tell me things like this in the future.”

She hated hearing anything about Xuan Yanyu and Shiyao right now.

“Understood.” Yan Ruijing scrolled through his phone a couple of times and then said, “Ningning, go apologize to Yanyu Brother in person tomorrow. You…”

“Still need to apologize?” Yan Yunning raised her voice. “Didn’t I already apologize to him?”

“Yanyu Brother said you need to do it in person. Apologizing over the phone lacks sincerity.” Yan Ruijing replied without looking up.

Yan Yunning took a deep breath. “What time tomorrow?”

“Get to the private room around three in the afternoon.”

“Got it.” Yan Yunning stood up from the sofa, ran upstairs to grab her bag, then padded back down the stairs again.

“Where are you going?” Yan Ruijing’s slender fingers hovered over his phone screen as he looked up at Yan Yunning putting on her shoes.

Yan Yunning left behind one word: “To buy a gift.” And she walked out of the villa.

Yan Ruijing: “…”

——

The Shopping Mall.

Yan Yunning specifically called Gu Jingye to come along.

“See something you like, just pick it out. I’m paying.” Yan Yunning said generously.

“A gift for me?” Gu Jingye tilted his head, flashing a roguish grin. “Little Ningning, don’t waste your energy on me. No matter what, there’s no place for you in my heart.”

“How convenient — there’s no place for you in mine either.” Yan Yunning gave him a shove. “Hurry up and pick something.”

Gu Jingye lifted his chin with a smarmy grin. “Oh? Is this for a boy you have feelings for?”

Yan Yunning rolled her eyes at him. “Whatever you like, pick something like that.”

Gu Jingye leaned in close with a grin. “Little Ningning, if you’re buying something for a boy you like, you need to put in your own thought. What I like, he might not necessarily like.”

Yan Yunning’s lips curved. She came down hard on his foot. “Keep your distance and hurry up and pick something.”

“Sss…” Gu Jingye recoiled in pain, grumbling, “You ask for my help and you can’t even be a little nicer about it.”

Yan Yunning’s eyes curved into crescents, her voice rising coyly. “Young Master Gu, dearest Young Master Gu — could you please help me pick something, pretty please~”

“Yan Yunning!” Gu Jingye’s skin prickled all over.

“Oh, so you men can actually tell when a girl puts on that voice…”

Gu Jingye rolled his eyes. “Stop. Men who claim they can’t tell are just playing dumb. Talk normally — none of that saccharine act.”

“Then stop making me wait and help me pick a gift.” Yan Yunning gave Gu Jingye’s shoulder a solid smack.

Gu Jingye gritted his teeth and casually pointed at a black velvet leather belt displayed inside the glass case.

The sales associate smiled and opened the cabinet. Her gloved hands deliberately turned the price tag and the embossed gold lettering reading “Limited Edition, Hand-Stitched” outward so both Yan Yunning and Gu Jingye could see it at first glance.

“Miss, sir, only ten pieces of this design were ever made — each one numbered. Every step of the process is handcrafted. This is the only one allocated to our boutique. The gentleman has a wonderful eye — you spotted it straight away.” The associate beamed warmly.

Gu Jingye: “…”

He had pointed at it at random.

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together, picked up the belt with one finger, and looked it over. “Is this appropriate?”

Before Gu Jingye could speak, the associate cheerfully cut in. “Miss, it’s perfectly appropriate. People don’t dwell on those old-fashioned meanings anymore. This belt is simple in design — it doesn’t carry so much as a hint of any unintended meaning. Your friend won’t overthink it…”

The associate rattled on for another full minute. Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow — she could see a sales associate working very hard toward her monthly targets.