Song Yan woke up to find the public opinion almost entirely one-sided.
The paid online trolls she had hired were drowned out by organic traffic. The posts smearing Su He were long buried under comments related to Lu Yanbei. This was not the outcome she had intended.
Just then, a call came from an unknown number.
Song Yan tiptoed out of bed and walked to the adjoining suite before answering. "Hello?"
"Miss Song, the matter you asked us to handle is done. When will you transfer the money?" The other party was direct, without any pleasantries.
The thought of it made Song Yan furious. "You still have the nerve to ask me for money? Look at what you've done; it didn't achieve the expected results at all."
"You can't say that, Miss Song. We worked overtime all night at great expense according to your request. We pushed the popularity to the top five on the trending list. What more do you want?"
"You know, what I wanted was not popularity at all!"
"Then I don't care! We provided our labor, and we deserve to be paid accordingly. This amount of money isn't much for a big star like you, is it?! Even if not, don't you have a wealthy boyfriend? You wouldn't want us to go to him for the money, would you?"
The other party's words struck her lifeline.
She absolutely could not let Lu Jingyang know about her other side.
In Lu Jingyang's eyes, Song Yan was an otherworldly fairy. Kind-hearted, obedient, and sensible. How could she possibly do something as insidious as backstabbing?
Song Yan clenched her fists, forcing herself to swallow her anger. "Account number!"
"Pleasure doing business with you." The other party hung up with a smile.
"Damn it!" Song Yan stomped her foot in annoyance.
Lu Jingyang, startled from his deep sleep, sat up rubbing his eyes. "Baby, what's wrong?"
Song Yan suppressed her anger, putting on a piteous expression. "It's nothing, I'm just a little worried..."
"Worried about what?" Lu Jingyang didn't quite understand at first.
"We were accidentally photographed on our date yesterday, and it even made the trending list... I'm afraid your family won't be happy..." Song Yan said, her voice choked with tears.
"Oh, is that all?" Lu Jingyang said dismissively after listening, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "So what if they were photographed? It's not the first time."
"It's all my fault, I wasn't careful about being followed..." Song Yan covered her face, sobbing uncontrollably.
Seeing his beloved cry, Lu Jingyang felt immense guilt. "How can this be your fault! It's those paparazzi, they're everywhere!"
"But I've still implicated you..." Song Yan leaned into his arms, sobbing softly.
"Yan Yan, don't say that, it's not your fault." Her tears made Lu Jingyang's heart ache.
Song Yan hummed. "Please don't look at the comments online these few days. I don't want it to affect your mood..."
"What did they say?" The more she said this, the more curious Lu Jingyang became, and he reached for his phone.
Song Yan pretended to try and snatch it away. "You'd better not look... it's nothing good..."
However, Lu Jingyang had already opened Weibo.
Seeing the comments at the top calling Song Yan a mistress, he became furious. "This is outrageous! They don't know anything and yet they spread rumors!"
Song Yan lowered her eyes, appearing wronged and submissive. "Actually, what they're saying is also true... After all, you're already married... it's really not appropriate for us to be like this..."
"It's that I'm not good enough for you..." Tears welled up in her eyes, about to fall, making her look even more pathetic.
"Yan Yan, don't say that." Lu Jingyang put his arm around her shoulders, feeling increasingly guilty. "In my eyes, you are the best girl in the world. No one can replace your place in my heart!"
Lu Jingyang tenderly kissed Song Yan's forehead.
"Really?" Hearing this, Song Yan's sorrow turned to joy. She turned and hugged him. "With your words, I'm content even if I can only be by your side in this clandestine way!"
"That won't happen." Lu Jingyang coaxed gently. "I'll find a way to divorce her as soon as possible and marry you openly."
Song Yan's smile was a little forced. "It's okay if you don't divorce, I've gotten used to it over the years..."
"How can that be! You are the woman I love, and I won't let you be wronged anymore," Lu Jingyang stated.
"But Grandpa likes Su He so much, he won't agree..."
"Then let's find a way to make Su He actively propose a divorce!" Lu Jingyang gritted his teeth.
"What if she refuses?" Song Yan sighed softly. "I can tell she likes you very much..."
"Who cares if she likes me! I can't stand looking at her!" Lu Jingyang exclaimed, as if he had heard something disgusting, his face filled with disgust.
"Don't talk about her like that, she was also forced into it..." Song Yan's words were like adding fuel to the fire.
As expected, the next moment, Lu Jingyang exploded. "She was forced, so she had to drag me into this pit of fire? If she hadn't agreed, Grandpa wouldn't have forced me to marry her!"
"Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you! Don't they understand this principle?"
"Oh, right, she didn't even finish high school. How would she know these things!"
"A woman who is both uncultured and unattractive, and Grandpa actually agreed to an arranged marriage!"
Lu Jingyang was so angry he felt like his lungs would explode. Was he just a tool? To be married off to anyone!
Seeing that she had successfully ignited his anger, Song Yan couldn't help but curve her lips slightly. "Then don't go too far with it, talk to her properly. Even a day's marriage builds a hundred days' grace!"
"Who is married to her!" Lu Jingyang's eyes suddenly turned sharp and fierce.
He would definitely find a way to make his grandfather agree to their divorce as soon as possible.
***
Airport Departure Lounge
Lu Yanbei had to rush back to China immediately after finishing his meeting.
His assistant, Cheng Jue, knocked and entered, whispering something in his ear.
Lu Yanbei, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them after hearing his assistant. His captivating eyes were unfathomably deep. His narrow, slightly upturned eyes did not appear frivolous but carried a cold, authoritative air.
Lu Yanbei lowered his gaze, his long fingers clasped naturally. His calm expression was unreadable. "For now, keep this from the old man."
Cheng Jue, as his personal assistant, knew something about the Lu family's situation. Although the other members of the Lu family did not favor the second young mistress, the old man regarded her as a lucky star and doted on her immensely.
"But... the second young master has just made his stance clear, and the popularity is rising again. I'm afraid we can't hide it..." Cheng Jue reported with trepidation.
A ruthless glint flashed in Lu Yanbei's eyes.
This idiot!
Knowing full well that Grandpa couldn't handle any shocks due to his poor health, he dared to be so high-profile and flaunt his presence!
"Make him delete it!" Lu Yanbei commanded coldly.
"Yes." Cheng Jue quickly took out his phone and dialed a number.
After a short while, the call was connected. Before Cheng Jue could speak, an anxious defense came from the other end of the line. "Big brother, I know I was wrong... You've always doted on me the most, you'll help me, right..."
Lu Yanbei's expression darkened. "You shouldn't be making a scene at this time."
With this light remark, Lu Jingyang was immediately scared into silence.
Actually, Lu Jingyang didn't need to say anything; he already knew what was going on. After all, who else could instigate this pig-brained idiot other than Song Yan?
"You'd better pray that Grandpa doesn't have an accident, or else..." Lu Yanbei didn't finish his sentence, but the threat was fully conveyed.
Lu Jingyang meekly replied, "I, I understand. I... I'll delete it immediately!"
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Old Master Lu was not an old fogey; he was quite adept at using the novel gadgets of youngsters.
Five minutes later, the old master's 'death-seeking' call reached Lu Jingyang. "You scoundrel, get back here immediately!"