Chapter Seventy-One: Weibo, Explanation
Shangguan Renran flew back to City A the very next day. Huangpu Shenqing had deliberately booked the same flight as her.
After arriving in City A, they first sent Shangguan Renran home, and then Huangpu Shenqing returned to his company.
The incident began brewing on the second day after Shangguan Renran’s return. She had spent the entire day at home yesterday, not going out at all.
On her way to the company the following day, she started hearing rumors.
Once she reached her office, Ye Ziyan called her.
He got straight to the point.
“Renran, do you have a boyfriend?”
Shangguan Renran was momentarily stunned, unsure what was happening.
“Brother Ye?”
“Renran is so young, you probably don’t, right? I might deal with this a bit later, but I’ll find out who did this. Sorry for the trouble, Renran.”
Still dazed after hanging up, Shangguan Renran was left confused.
Ye Xin came up as well.
“Miss, there’s news about you circulating online.”
Ye Xin opened the trending headlines.
It was a photo of a tall, imposing man escorting her into a car. He wore a black hat pulled low over his face.
Despite the hat, the woman’s delicate features could be vaguely seen, and her flaxen hair gleamed brightly.
There was also a photo of them entering a restaurant, the background showing a nearby eatery.
The timestamp read: Year of Gengzi, September 20th, Sunday.
Why did it only appear on Z Nation’s trending searches two days later? Clearly, it was discovered yesterday and only spread to Z Nation’s internet today.
She opened her phone, scrolled to Weibo, and sure enough—
“Is the young lady in the photo you? Your name sounds lovely, is it your real name?”
“Does the film emperor really accompany you every Sunday? Did you go to dinner together in the photo?”
“So, are you from Y Nation, or are you mixed?”
“I’m just a passerby who heard the news, but you’re stunning, honestly a perfect match for the film emperor.”
“Watch your words, people. Our Yan’s popularity isn’t something just anyone can ride.”
“Exactly, our film emperor isn’t someone just anyone can…”
---
“Who is this person? So arrogant?”
“How do you have so many followers without any posts? Don’t get it? Did you buy them?”
“Isn’t she someone that Young Master Huangpu follows? How is she involved with the film emperor now? Trending with two god-like men, not easy.”
“If you don’t like the young lady, just leave the comments.”
…
No wonder Brother Ye asked if she had a boyfriend—it turned out they had been photographed at dinner that day!
This really was trouble falling from the sky while she was at home.
“Should we handle it?”
“No need, let Brother Ye deal with it on his end.”
“There’ll definitely be gossip behind this.”
“It doesn’t matter. The hype will die down in a few days.”
---
Royal House of G Nation
“Princess, they… they’ve been photographed.”
Biya handed over the newspaper.
“Also, it’s trending on phones. I checked, she’s the eldest daughter of the Ye family from Y Nation, Ye Xi, and the daughter of Shangguan Xing from Z Nation—Shangguan Renran.”
Qiansu Yin browsed the newspaper’s contents, her eyes darkening.
She clenched the paper, her jaw tight. “Shangguan Renran.”
“Pack up. I want to go to Z Nation right now.”
“But Princess, the General has returned, he…”
“What did you say? Lin Yan has returned? Ridiculous. He’s back and I can’t leave the country? Is he planning to confine our royal family?”
“When the General returned, he said… the Princess had already gone out once without permission. From now on, if you want to leave, you must apply to him, with sufficient reason. Otherwise… otherwise…”
“Otherwise what? Spit it out!”
“Otherwise, the Princess will be removed from the royal family.”
“What? He dares? An insignificant commoner—if it weren’t for the captain’s recommendation, could he have reached his current position? Now what? Planning to rule G Nation?”
“Princess, be careful, walls have ears. It’s bad if someone hears.”
“So, what should I do?”
Qiansu Yin shouted angrily. Even her father and brother couldn’t help her, what could she do?
“Princess, if you can’t leave, you can send someone else.”
“You’re right. I’ll leave this matter to you. I don’t want to see her again.”
“Yes, Princess.”
---
“President, it’s bad! Miss Shangguan is on the trending list.”
Mo Yi rushed in excitedly, turning his phone toward Huangpu Shenqing.
Huangpu Shenqing took it, glanced through, then stood up and tossed the phone back.
“You handle the rest.”
Watching Huangpu Shenqing’s swift departure, Mo Yi hit his own hand hard.
“Serves me right for being nosy. Now I have to work overtime again.”
Mo Yi wailed; his days of ease had lasted less than two days.
“Huangpu?”
Shangguan Renran was dealing with affairs when she answered the phone.
“Renran, I’m downstairs.”
“What are you doing here?”
Shangguan Renran put on her coat, grabbed her handbag, told Ye Xin, then headed down.
Huangpu Shenqing’s black Rolls-Royce was parked on a secluded lane. The license plate, ZA8888, was especially eye-catching. Luckily, there weren’t many passersby, otherwise the plate alone would have drawn attention.
Shangguan Renran quickly opened the car door and got in.
Inside, the windows were one-way: you could see out, but not in.
“Huangpu?”
“Renran, shouldn’t you give me an explanation?”
His tone was rather cold, his expression unreadable.
“Huh?”
Shangguan Renran was a bit confused—Huangpu seemed unusually serious.
“Weibo. Explanation.”
He prompted her.