The seemingly calm lobby was already seething with undercurrents, reporters disguised in various corners, poised to strike.
The secretary was reporting the upcoming itinerary next to Ou Yunchen.
The moment they stepped out of the door, they were suddenly surrounded by a crowd!
Reporter: "Mr. Ou, can you tell us about your relationship with Xiya?"
Reporter: "Is it true that all celebrities are subjected to 'hidden rules' before their debut?"
Reporter: "What did Xiya do after staying at your place overnight?"
Ou Yunchen glared furiously at the paparazzi, their barrage of questions preventing him from even responding! It seemed everyone was throwing their questions at this CEO who had briefly gained traction online, only to fade away just as quickly.
While blocking the paparazzi's advance, the secretary frantically shouted for the lobby security. It was evident that these people's appearance had been deliberately orchestrated!
Secretary: "Please move aside, can you leave? Mr. Ou will not answer your questions!"
***
Meanwhile, Mo Qingyun had just unbuckled her seatbelt.
Mo Qingyun signed with her hands: "Thank you, I could have actually come by myself. I'm sorry to have troubled you to drive me here."
Xie Youlin: "It was on my way."
Mo Qingyun held the homemade lunch she had prepared. She hadn't seen Ou Yunchen for quite some time. Remembering the recent online storm that seemed to have left Ou Yunchen in a frantic state, all she could do was silently care for him from afar.
Actually, there was an even more important point. Ever since Ou Yunchen mistakenly believed she was dating Xie Youlin, he had never given her a chance to explain. Mo Qingyun really wanted to clarify things in person, so she took the initiative to find him.
Xie Youlin: "Do you want me to wait for you?"
Mo Qingyun waved her hands. She gave a faint smile and was about to open the door when she saw the entrance of the office building packed with people. Mo Qingyun immediately spotted Ou Yunchen in the middle of the crowd. She yanked the door open and rushed out. Seeing this, Xie Youlin also got out of the car.
Mo Qingyun followed the crowd, anxiously texting Ou Yunchen. However, at this chaotic moment, Ou Yunchen couldn't hear his phone ringing. He kept his head down, wanting only to leave quickly. Pushed to the side, Mo Qingyun listened to the reporters' questions and desperately tried to reach Ou Yunchen. But the slender Mo Qingyun was no match for the paparazzi. Amidst the jostling, she was knocked down, and the lunchbox she was holding fell too.
Mo Qingyun knelt on the ground, reaching to pick up the lunchbox.
"Ow..."
Someone accidentally stepped on her hand! Perhaps the paparazzi hadn't even noticed someone had been knocked down...
Xie Youlin quickly pushed through the people around Mo Qingyun. He roared and helped her up. Finally, the paparazzi noticed the girl injured beside them.
Ou Yunchen stopped in his tracks, looking towards the angry roar. The crowd naturally parted. Security quickly seized the opportunity, separating the paparazzi from Ou Yunchen. The food from the lunchbox was scattered all over the ground. Mo Qingyun rubbed her arm and slowly stood up.
Xie Youlin asked with concern: "Are you okay? Where does it hurt? Are you injured?"
Mo Qingyun shook her head. When she looked towards Ou Yunchen, he stared at her in surprise for a second, then his expression turned anxious. But when he saw that Xie Youlin was still standing beside Mo Qingyun, Ou Yunchen's previously gentle gaze immediately turned sharp.
Ou Yunchen: "Didn't you want to ask what my relationship with Xiya is?"
The paparazzi immediately turned back, quickly aiming their equipment at Ou Yunchen, as if he was finally going to respond!
Ou Yunchen, while keeping his eyes on Mo Qingyun, answered solemnly.
Ou Yunchen: "Whatever relationship you want Xiya and I to have, that's the relationship we have."
The scene erupted in uproar. After speaking, Ou Yunchen didn't look at Mo Qingyun again. Escorted by security, he walked straight past her and got into his car.
The paparazzi were still shouting questions: "Is she your girlfriend? Is this considered an admission?"
Mo Qingyun, however, could only stand there blankly. Her nose suddenly stung, and her eyes instantly welled up.
Xie Youlin bent down to pick up the lunchbox for Mo Qingyun. He saw the tears in her eyes, feeling both heartbroken and angry.
Ou Yunchen's car slowly started to move. Mo Qingyun suddenly ran towards it. She chased desperately, unsure if Ou Yunchen's words were sincere or said deliberately to create negative buzz for TBP. She wanted to go up and ask him clearly, and even more so, to clear up the misunderstanding! But she couldn't catch up to the car, and couldn't even see Ou Yunchen's silhouette.
Mo Qingyun remembered her childhood. If she hadn't listened to her brother's words and had made some noise... would she have been captured along with her brother? At least that would have been better than being left alone to hide in the closet. If she had been brave today, would Ou Yunchen have left her alone like her brother did... Why did the people she loved always leave her alone!
Mo Qingyun ran forward with all her might, terrified that Ou Yunchen would truly abandon her. But the car drove further and further away, disappearing from her sight.
Xie Youlin: "Xiao Yun!"
Xie Youlin reached Mo Qingyun. It was the first time he had ever seen Xiao Yun cry. Even though her time in the orphanage had been difficult, he had never seen this girl so sad. She always smiled and interacted with everyone, making them all believe she was forever cheerful.
Xie Youlin pulled up the fallen Mo Qingyun and held her tightly in his arms! He hated Ou Yunchen. How could he let this kind girl get hurt! How dare he make Mo Qingyun cry!!! But at the same time, he felt a glimmer of hope. For Mo Qingyun to be so heartbroken now might be good, as it would make him appear as the more suitable man for her in the near future!
***
Meanwhile, Ou Yunchen, who had escaped in his car, was not faring any better. At this moment, he was incredibly agitated. He kept picking up his phone and putting it down, wanting to call Mo Qingyun and explain that he wasn't angry anymore... But when he saw Xie Youlin by her side, he got impulsive again! He had no idea that Mo Qingyun had chased after his car for hundreds of meters, that she had been so close to him. He had only deepened the misunderstanding that could have been cleared up!
The secretary's phone rang. Ou Yunchen's muddled explanation had reignited Xiya's popularity, and the head of public relations didn't even know what to do next.
Secretary: "Mr. Ou, the PR team is asking..."
Ou Yunchen: "Has the negative publicity about TBP been completely resolved?"
Secretary: "The PR team is asking if we can guide the narrative towards her being a girlfriend?"
Ou Yunchen: "Then let's do that..."
Secretary: "Additionally, the PR team mentioned that while this explanation might prevent people from thinking Xiya was 'hiddenly ruled,' but..."
Ou Yunchen: "Continue."
Secretary: "The only issue is that netizens will start paying attention to your private life, and the PR team can't think of a way to suppress this level of attention for now..."
Ou Yunchen: "Isn't this industry just like this?"
Ou Yunchen: "Hype is traffic, and traffic is money. If my words can bring more value to Xiyou through TBP, then let Liu Jinhua utilize this hype and work hard for Xiyou."
Secretary: "Understood."