Mu Bai stared at the flickering messages on his phone.
The Mu family held a significant position in Yan City.
He hadn't left his home for two days, burdened by the entanglement with Zhan Xiaoya and the Zhan family.
Under these circumstances, to uphold the Mu family's reputation, he could not break off his engagement with Zhan Xiaoya for now.
Thus, he was left to sulk at home.
He even grew to resent Zhan Zhicheng and Zhan Xiaoya.
If Zhan Xiaoya hadn't been so brazen that day, not even wearing underwear after they were done, he wouldn't be in this predicament. They were already engaged, and everyone in Yan City knew their relationship. So, when she was filmed, her disgrace was also his disgrace.
He had always been the prince charming for many women in Yan City, with a positive image. Now, he had been dragged down by Zhan Xiaoya!
The groups he was in were all abuzz with discussions about Zhan Xiaojun.
Spreading all sorts of negative rumors about Zhan Xiaojun.
The sight of Zhan Xiaojun's name triggered a physical aversion in him. He frowned, not wanting to see any more.
Just as he was about to switch off his phone, he suddenly saw a message.
It said Zhan Xiaojun was the woman of Ning Yecheng!
And she had even been brought out by the Ning family's old matriarch to attend various gatherings.
"Ning Yecheng? She's gotten involved with Ning Yecheng?" Mu Bai couldn't believe it.
How had only a few days passed?
Not long ago, she was still pestering him, trying all sorts of methods to attract his attention. Now, in the blink of an eye, she was with Ning Yecheng?
And how could Ning Yecheng be interested in her?
A woman from the countryside, good for nothing.
He found her an eyesore.
Although she was indeed attractive, even more so than Zhan Xiaoya, she was too naive.
So many women in Yan City wanted to be Ning Yecheng's woman, why would Ning Yecheng fancy Zhan Xiaojun?
This news exploded in Mu Bai's mind like a bomb, making him utterly uncomfortable.
It was as if someone who was within his sight, someone he could humiliate at will, had suddenly become unavailable, belonging to someone else. This feeling made him feel betrayed.
If Zhan Xiaojun had found an elderly sugar daddy, as Zhan Xiaoya had claimed, it would have been one thing, but she had targeted the most prestigious man in Yan City!
He called Zhan Xiaoya.
By this time, Zhan Xiaoya was already abroad.
She was drowning her sorrows in a bar.
With blurry eyes, she lay in the arms of a tall, handsome foreigner, her lipstick smudged all over, her hands restlessly exploring his body.
Her phone rang and rang.
Only then did she notice.
Seeing Mu Bai's name on the caller ID, she pulled herself away from the foreigner, found a quiet spot, and answered, "Mu Bai, I'm sorry, my phone was accidentally on silent, I didn't hear it."
For days, she had been calling and texting Mu Bai frequently, but his responses had been distant.
Even with her slow reaction, she could sense that he no longer seemed to like her.
It was only then that she realized her mother had been right: one shouldn't be too easy for a man to get; if it's too easy, they don't cherish it.
However, his sudden call surprised her.
"Have you seen the messages in the groups? The ones you and I are in?" Mu Bai asked.
Zhan Xiaoya tugged at the corner of her lips. "I've muted the group messages during this period. What's wrong?"
Those groups had been discussing her video.
She had initially wanted to leave, but thinking it would be troublesome to rejoin later, she had muted the group notifications.
"Go and check the messages." Mu Bai hung up after speaking.
Zhan Xiaoya yawned. She had partied all night, hopping between different venues. Although she felt a bit tired now, she felt she hadn't had enough fun yet.
What could be in the groups?
Just laughing at her, right?
Still, she found a group and casually glanced at it.
To her surprise, she saw the names Zhan Xiaojun and Ning Yecheng!
How could these two, who were from completely different worlds, be connected?
Didn't Zhan Xiaojun have a sugar daddy?
Her phone rang again.
It was still Mu Bai.
"Did you see it? Everyone knows Zhan Xiaojun is Ning Yecheng's woman now! And the Ning family's old matriarch likes Zhan Xiaojun a lot. Didn't you say Zhan Xiaojun had a sugar daddy? Someone decades older? With a sugar daddy, how could she possibly be with Ning Yecheng?" Mu Bai asked.
Zhan Xiaoya, who had been drinking all night, had a headache that was now intensifying.
How was this possible?
Ning Yecheng?
The man she dared not even think about.
And he chose Zhan Xiaojun?
"Is it a rumor? How could Ning Yecheng possibly be interested in Zhan Xiaojun?" Zhan Xiaoya retorted.
"It's probably not. Check another group. Someone took photos. There are pictures of Zhan Xiaojun and Madam Ning at the entrance of a hotel. This must be true," Mu Bai said.
Zhan Xiaoya sobered up significantly, her expression growing increasingly grim.
"It's true? She's a bumpkin, how can she?" Zhan Xiaoya's voice suddenly rose.
In Yan City, there were families far superior to the Mu and Zhan families. Many socialites had tried every method to become Ning Yecheng's woman, but none succeeded. Yet, Zhan Xiaojun had managed it?
The more she thought about it, the more incredulous she became.
She suddenly remembered something. Her mother had called yesterday, saying the family had encountered some trouble, possibly orchestrated by Zhan Xiaojun's sugar daddy. Her parents were investigating this person.
Ning Yecheng, who could manipulate affairs in Yan City with a flip of his hand, could easily ruin the Zhan Corporation.
She had heard some whispers these past two days. Her father was forced to leave the Zhan Corporation, with only his shares remaining.
That was why she had gone out to get drunk last night.
After hanging up Mu Bai's call, she immediately called her mother.
She called twice, but no one answered.
She kept calling.
Finally, the call was connected.
"Hello?"
A strange male voice.
The voice was deep.
It wasn't her father's voice.
Zhan Xiaoya gripped her phone tightly and asked, "Who are you, where is my mother?"
The person on the other end was clearly stunned. After a few seconds, Wang Ke's voice came through, "Is that Xiaoya? Mom was busy just now and forgot her phone. It was the newly hired driver who answered."
Hearing it was a new driver, Zhan Xiaoya finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She had just suspected her mother was having an affair.
If her mother truly had a lover, and her father found out, their family would likely be in turmoil!
"Mom, have you heard the news in Yan City? I can't believe Zhan Xiaojun has such capabilities, to even hook up with Ning Yecheng! Mom, Zhan Xiaojun's sugar daddy is Ning Yecheng!" Zhan Xiaoya quickly said.
Wang Ke was still somewhat groggy. She sat up from the bed. "What? Ning Yecheng?"
"Yes, I already know about it. Mom, don't you know?" Zhan Xiaoya asked.
Wang Ke's eyes darted. She glanced at the man lying beside her. She had been here all day, indulging from morning till now, and hadn't had time to check her phone. She could only respond to Zhan Xiaoya while opening the messages from various groups.
Upon seeing the messages, her face changed drastically.
Ning Yecheng?
Zhan Xiaojun's sugar daddy is Ning Yecheng!