YJDNY - 53

For any team handling a crisis, speed is a fundamental operation. By that afternoon, Huanqiu had mobilized various influencers and media outlets to release statements and audio clips.

Among them was part of the conversation Xiang Ge had with Song Zhi earlier that morning.

“I don’t want to see him, but I also don’t want anything bad to happen to him. If he truly realizes what he’s done, then spending the rest of his life alone as penance is enough.”

A childhood marked by misfortune, yet still shining brilliantly like a sunflower growing toward the light—having endured hardship without harboring resentment or bitterness. Even after everything, her thoughts were focused on “not wanting him to get into trouble again.”

The media’s skillful writing was impressive. In just half an article, they painted Xiang Ge as a Mary Sue-like saintly figure.

The narrative then shifted to Cocoon , the movie itself. By enduring immense pain to take on this role, she hoped to draw attention to these issues—not just in father-daughter relationships, but also in marriages and mother-in-law dynamics.

The remaining portion of the article crafted an image of selflessness and greatness, portraying her as someone willing to peer back into the abyss to warn others—all while conveniently promoting the film.

When Xiang Ge returned to her hotel that evening and saw it, she was astounded. She couldn’t help but clap twice, exclaiming, “Damn, they’re good.”

At the end of the video was Xiang Lin.

His head hung low, his features obscured by shadows, his expression unreadable. Xiang Ge stared at it for two seconds before closing the video.

Gong Mo emerged from the kitchen with a glass of water, placing it in front of her. “Don’t you want to hear what he has to say?”

Xiang Ge slumped back onto the couch, rolling her eyes. “Song Zhi went too far. He said he’d respect my wishes, but no matter what I said, he still did whatever he wanted, didn’t he?”

Gong Mo smiled faintly. “I can tell you’re upset.”

She was already addressing him directly by his name, Song Zhi.

Xiang Ge didn’t respond, only letting out a couple of irritated hums.

As Gong Mo tidied up the clothes draped over the couch, she said, “If you’re upset about your private matters being exposed, President Song wouldn’t have said anything.”

“I might’ve cared before, but now I don’t feel much,” Xiang Ge replied lazily, her eyes closed. “Anyway, after this project is over, I don’t plan on continuing in this line of work. Compared to worrying about this, I’d rather…” She trailed off, reaching into the crevice of the couch for her phone.

She had forgotten to bring it when she left in a hurry that morning and now felt an overwhelming urge to hear Zhou Xingyan’s voice.

She didn’t want anything else—just to talk to him.

Xiang Ge turned on her phone screen and froze immediately before even unlocking it.

Zhou Xingyan had called and texted her countless times throughout the afternoon. The most recent call had been fifteen minutes ago.

Startled, Xiang Ge quickly unlocked her phone and dialed him back.

He picked up almost instantly.

Before Zhou Xingyan could say anything, Xiang Ge blurted out quickly and decisively, “Xingyan, I love you!”

“…”

On the other end, Zhou Xingyan fell silent.

Gong Mo glanced at her silently and retreated to the kitchen.

Xiang Ge licked her lips, straightened up, and explained, “I forgot my phone when I went to the set this afternoon.”

Zhou Xingyan responded with a simple “Mm.”

Xiang Ge remembered there was still Actress Su on set keeping an eye on things for him. She blinked. “Then why did you call me so many times?”

He was quiet for a moment.

Xiang Ge wasn’t in a rush. Leaning her chin on her hand, she tilted her head, then sat upright and took a sip of water from the glass in front of her.

The warm water slid down her throat and esophagus. Finally, she heard him speak softly: “I was afraid you’d miss me.”

Xiang Ge froze, her movements halting.

She had originally just wanted to hear his voice.

But now that she had heard it, she wanted to see him.

She wanted to see him, touch the bridge of his nose and his lips, hold him, and feel his warmth and scent.

There was some commotion on Zhou Xingyan’s end. Xiang Ge wrinkled her nose slightly and placed the glass on her knee. The warm bottom of the cup pressed against her kneecap, radiating comforting heat.

“Where are you right now?” she asked softly.

Zhou Xingyan didn’t answer. In the background, an airport announcement came through. Xiang Ge paused, surprised. “Are you at the airport?”

“Mm.”

She was stunned. “Are you coming to see me?”

“Mm.”

Xiang Ge didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“You can’t do this.”

Zhou Xingyan sounded genuinely confused. “Can’t do what?”

Xiang Ge thought for a moment and said earnestly, “I always knew this issue would come out sooner or later. I’m not really bothered by it anymore. The company handled it well, and I’m fine on my end. Can you think of me as braver? Can you?”

Zhou Xingyan didn’t respond.

Xiang Ge wasn’t sure what he was thinking and didn’t continue.

After a long pause, he finally called her name: “Xiang Ge.”

She instinctively responded.

“Did you misunderstand something?” Zhou Xingyan said calmly. “When I said I was afraid you’d miss me, I meant that I missed you terribly. I want to see you.”

He spoke slowly, steadily. “Didn’t you catch that?”

Xiang Ge gripped the glass in her hand, unable to speak.

The water Gong Mo had poured was too hot.

The sip she had just taken burned her stomach, its warmth spreading through her veins to every part of her body. Her heart felt full, as if it might overflow.

After a long moment, she finally asked, “So, are you coming?”

“Do you want me to come?” he countered.

Xiang Ge shook her head, then remembered he couldn’t see her. She quickly added, “Seeing you makes me want to cry.”

After she said this, Zhou Xingyan’s voice sounded hoarse. “Then cry.”

Xiang Ge laughed softly. “It’s not because of all the messy stuff. It’s just that thinking about you leaving tomorrow makes me want to lock you in a cabinet.”

Before Zhou Xingyan could respond, Liang Shengxi’s impatient voice cut in from the other end: “I beg you both, can you stop being so mushy? Spare a thought for us single people, okay? It’s just three months apart—it’s not like life or death—” He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly silenced.

Xiang Ge leaned back into the couch and laughed. “He’s right. Why didn’t you let him finish?”

Zhou Xingyan replied without hesitation. “I didn’t stop him from finishing.”

Xiang Ge nodded and returned to the previous question. “So, are you coming?”

“Do you want me to come?”

“No,” she said firmly. “Go back.”

Zhou Xingyan: “….”

Xiang Ge spoke with feigned seriousness: “I need to hone my razor-sharp willpower. Even you, Zhou Xingyan, cannot sway me with your charm. Give up. Even if you come, I won’t open the door for you. I won’t let in a monster who lets his girlfriend drink plain water with KFC.”

“…”

Zhou Xingyan: “?”

That night, after ruthlessly dismissing Zhou Xingyan, she received calls from Xia Wei and Qiao Xin in succession.

Xia Wei was probably still working overtime. With the phone on speaker, she furiously typed away on her keyboard while scolding Xiang Ge. By the end, her voice began to choke up. After saying, “Wait till you get back, and I’ll deal with you,” she hurriedly hung up.

Qiao Xin, on the other hand, burst into tears as soon as Xiang Ge answered.

The girl sobbed uncontrollably, her nose running as she hiccupped through her words. Xiang Ge had no choice but to patiently wait for her to calm down.

Amidst Qiao Xin’s crying, Xiang Ge faintly heard a man’s exasperated “Tsk” in the background.

Xiang Ge blinked and asked her, “You’re not home yet?”

Still hiccupping, Qiao Xin replied, “No, I was just called in by President Song for questioning.” She broke into sobs again. “Gege—Xiang Ge—I love you forever, waaaah!”

Xiang Ge: “….”

Once it was confirmed that the video was shot from the direction of the women’s restroom, the situation became easier to handle. While there were no cameras inside the restroom, the corridor camera captured the area near the restroom entrance. Qiao Xin spent an hour reviewing the footage, straining her eyes, but saw no one exiting.

In the end, Song Zhi returned from another errand and found her still staring at the screen. He looked at her incredulously and sighed. “Were there any latecomers that day?” He paused, adding, “And those who don’t usually get along with Xiang Ge?”

Qiao Xin hesitated. “Not among the models, but…” She opened her mouth. “Yes.”

Song Zhi raised his chin. “Time.”

“Huh?”

“Scroll. How late? Move the progress bar to around that time.” Song Zhi shot her an annoyed glance. “What’s wrong with your IQ?”

Qiao Xin didn’t respond. She dragged the timeline forward by more than half an hour. Soon, someone appeared on the screen.

It was Xu Yiqi’s assistant.

She had waited inside for nearly an hour and a half before coming out. Qiao Xin was astonished. “Did she also use the bathroom?”

Song Zhi raised an eyebrow. “Who’s that?”

Qiao Xin lowered her gaze. “I won’t tell you.”

“…”

Song Zhi: “?”

“Oh, really?”

The young girl shrank back. “Sister Xiang Ge just said that she’ll handle this herself when she gets back.”

Song Zhi chuckled in frustration. “Are you her little maid? Does she pay your salary, or do I?”

Qiao Xin lifted her chin defiantly. “Hit me if you dare!”

Song Zhi: “….”

Since Xiang Ge had spoken, Boss Song decided not to meddle further. With a derisive snort, he left. Qiao Xin collapsed on the table and called Xiang Ge to report the findings.

Xiang Ge wasn’t particularly surprised. She had always kept to herself and, though she seemed to naturally repel people, the only person she had ever truly clashed with was Xu Yiqi.

Besides, she didn’t have the energy to deal with this matter now. For the foreseeable future, she immersed herself completely in her work, just as she had told Zhou Xingyan.

Zhou Xingyan was busy too. In the past, when she was free, she could adjust her schedule to match his. Now, their downtime barely overlapped. They could only chat briefly at night. After returning to the hotel and taking a shower, she sat cross-legged on the bed and sent him a video call.

Zhou Xingyan didn’t answer for a while. Two minutes later, he called her back.

When the video connected, Zhou Xingyan tilted his head, looking at her with deep, dark eyes. His focus seemed distant. The background appeared to be a KTV corridor, with muffled cheers and chaotic singing faintly audible in the distance.

Xiang Ge was startled. “Are you out?”

Zhou Xingyan hummed in affirmation, his lashes lowered. He looked obedient, his lips unusually red.

Had he been drinking?

Xiang Ge blinked. “Are you okay?”

He hummed again, leaning quietly against the wall. His voice was raspy as he called her name: “Xiang Ge.”

She responded.

“I had a bit to drink. My tolerance isn’t great,” Zhou Xingyan said, holding the phone with one hand and leaning his head back against the KTV corridor wall. “I miss you so much right now. I can’t seem to control it.”

Xiang Ge paused, softening her tone. “I’ll be back soon. Go home early, sleep well. Get a designated driver or take a taxi.”

Zhou Xingyan tilted his head slightly, looking at her through the video. He licked his lips. “Stay with me.”

Because of the alcohol, his voice lacked its usual detachment. It carried a faint, sticky warmth, his tongue slightly curled, his words slightly slurred but imbued with an odd tenderness—soft, hazy, and ambiguous: “Come back and sleep with me.”