The next day...
After class, Shen Ning and her friends were walking back to the dormitory, chatting. The crisp afternoon air carried a sense of normalcy— until someone called her name.
"Ning!"
Mu Chen came running up, slightly out of breath. His eyes were filled with concern. "Why didn't you pick up my calls?"
Shen Ning stopped and turned, surprised. "My phone ran out of battery. I didn't notice. What's wrong?"
"You... Are you okay?" He asked hesitantly
"What happened to me?" Shen Ning was confused.
Mu Chen avoided her gaze, his voice softening. "Don't be sad. He didn't do it on purpose... maybe." Though he still had feelings for her, he didn't want her to be upset.
"Who are you talking about?" Shen Ning asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Qin Yuheng."
Shen Ning's frown deepened. "What are you talking about?"
Mu Chen was stunned by her response. "You don't know anything yet?"
Shen Ning shook her head, still lost.
Mu Chen's words dropped like a bomb. "There are rumors about his girlfriend... that's not you in the photo."
Shen Ning's expression stiffened, her brow furrowing. "Let me see."
Without hesitation, Mu Chen pulled out his phone, quickly unlocking it and opening Weibo. His fingers hovered nervously over the screen before he handed the phone to her.
On the screen were two glaringly obvious trending hashtags:
#QinYuheng'sGirlfriend
#MysteriousFutureMrsQin
The photos were undeniable. One showed Qin Yuheng and a woman standing close, engaged in an intimate conversation. The other, more damning photo, seemed to capture them in a moment where their bodies were close enough to appear as if they were hugging.
Shen Ning's eyes hardened as she glared at the photo. Then without saying a word, she calmly handed Mu Chen his phone back.
"Thank you for your concern, Mu Chen. I'm fine."
Yun Xi, who had been quietly watching from a distance, stepped in. "Hey, there must be a misunderstanding. Don't overthink it."
Lu Nan nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Why don't you call him and ask about it?"
Shen Ning's expression darkened slightly, her voice taking on an icy edge. "Heh." She turned away, walking briskly towards the dormitory. "Let's go. Don't bother with this nonsense."
As they walked, Zhao Min caught up to her and asked quietly, "Do you trust him?"
Shen Ning's gaze softened, her answer unwavering. "Yes."
Zhao Min let out a relieved breath. "That's good. You should hear his explanation first. I've been through something similar. I once got a photo like that too, and my boyfriend and I almost broke up over it. But he explained, and everything was fine."
Shen Ning smiled faintly, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little. "Yeah." She glanced over at her friends, changing the topic. "Let's focus on our work now. Let him clean up the mess he created."
Zhao Min chuckled. "Haha... you're right."
Behind them, Mu Chen watched her retreating, his heart sinking. Lowering his gaze, he concealed the pain in his eyes.
-------
At ShengTian Group...
Qin Yuheng returned to his office after a long meeting, sinking into his chair. Just as he leaned back, his phone rang.
"Hello?"
Huo Siang's voice came through, sharp and incredulous. "What the hell is going on, Yuheng?"
Qin Yuheng's brows furrowed. "What happened?"
Huo Siang's exasperation was palpable. "Your wife just confessed to you, your love rival still harbors feelings for your wife and here you're, trending on Weibo for cozying up to another woman? Are you out of your mind?"
Qin Yuheng immediately sat up straight, his voice urgent. "What scandal? What are you talking about?"
"Check Weibo!" Huo Siang barked. "It's been trending since yesterday. You haven't even issued a denial! Are you trying to sabotage your relationship? Don't come crying, if something happens."
Without wasting a second, Qin Yuheng opened Weibo on his phone. His expression turned grim as he scrolled through the trending hashtags and the attached photos. The images painted a damning picture—him with a woman, standing close enough to seem intimate. One photo, in particular, appeared to show them mid-embrace.
"Damn it." His grip on the phone tightened. If Ah Ning saw this... she'd misunderstand for sure.
He slammed the intercom button on his desk. "Get the PR team to release an official clarification immediately!"
Even after giving the order, he felt it wasn't enough. Logging into his personal Weibo account, he typed furiously:
[The rumor is half true and half false. The truth: Yes, I am no longer single. The false: The woman in the photos has nothing to do with me. Please stop spreading baseless rumors, or I'll have to go home and kneel on durians.]
Despite the humor in his post, Qin Yuheng's heart was far from at ease. He immediately dialed Shen Ning's number, but the call went unanswered. His brow furrowed in frustration.
After a moment's thought, he called Nine, his trusted aide. "Where is Young Madam right now?"
"Young Madam just returned to the dormitory with her friends," Nine reported promptly.
"Did she seem... off?"
Nine hesitated briefly. "At first, she seemed fine. But on the way, someone approached her and showed her the rumors about you."
Qin Yuheng's voice turned sharp. "Who?"
"A man. I heard her call him Mu Chen."
Qin Yuheng fell silent, his jaw tightening.
Sensing his boss's mood, Nine added, "Young Madam appeared calm outwardly, but I got the feeling she was angry."
Qin Yuheng exhaled slowly, his mind racing. "Keep an eye on her. Don't let her out of your sight until I get there."
"Understood."
Hanging up the call, Qin Yuheng leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing dangerously. If Mu Chen dared to take advantage of this situation, he wouldn't let it slide. But first, he needed to ensure Shen Ning didn't let this misunderstanding drive a wedge between them.