Ling Mei stared at her phone screen, dumbfounded.
How? When? Who was spreading these false rumours?
The next moment, her phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she saw it was Yan Yi. She immediately picked up.
"Have you seen the headlines?!" Yan Yi screamed over the phone.
Ling Mei sighed heavily. "I've seen it… are you coming already?" she asked, her calm voice betraying how fast her heart was racing.
Yan Yi wasn't surprised. Just like every other time, Ling Mei acted like everything was under control, even when her entire life and career were in chaos.
Ling Mei hung up and made her way to the sitting room. She carefully climbed down the stairs and was greeted by the presence of Guo Yan and Feng Zhi. Both men sat across from each other, discussing her condition.
"Miss Ling," Guo Yan greeted.
"Good morning, Mr Guo," Ling Mei replied, forcing a warm smile. She then turned to Feng Zhi.
"Thank you for helping me, President Feng… I'll take my leave now," she said, her tone appreciative.
"Wei Chen will send you off," Feng Zhi said, his gaze fixed on her.
"No… no, you don't have to bother yourself. My manager will be here soon," Ling Mei countered.
Just then, Madam Gong rushed in.
"Miss Ling, your manager is here."
Ling Mei turned back to Feng Zhi with one last smile before making her way out of the mansion.
Yan Yi sat inside the car, watching Ling Mei approach through the tinted windows. She got in immediately, settling into the back seat.
Ling Mei clenched her fists.
Just who did Jun Xinyi think she was? Framing her and spreading false rumours… She needed to think fast, or things would spiral out of control.
"What are you planning to do?" Yan Yi asked as she started the car and drove out of the mansion.
"I don't even know what to do, Yan Yi… I never thought she would go this far," Ling Mei admitted.
"You have to do something, Mei Mei. We can't afford to delay and give Jun Xinyi more time."
"We need to go back to the company… maybe check if the media department has CCTV footage from that night," Ling Mei said, rubbing her forehead.
"Jun Xinyi might have tampered with it," Yan Yi replied.
Ling Mei sighed heavily, resting her head in her palms as they drove toward the company.
When they arrived at Zhang Tian Modelling Firm, paparazzi and reporters crowded the front entrance.
Yan Yi's eyebrows furrowed in anger.
A small rumour, and they swarmed like ants to sugar.
"We'll use the underground parking lot," she muttered, reversing the car.
Ling Mei's chest tightened. The last time she had been there… Jun Xinyi and her group had beaten her nearly to death.
Unconsciously, she gripped her seatbelt, trying to steady her racing heart.
Yan Yi parked, and they both stepped out. Ling Mei took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay composed before heading inside. Yan Yi followed closely behind.
"Why don't we reach out to President Feng for help?" Yan Yi asked.
Ling Mei stopped in her tracks and shot her a sharp look, as though his name itself was forbidden.
"I'll figure it out," she replied coldly.
Yan Yi rolled her eyes. She wasn't surprised—Ling Mei always carried too many burdens on her own.
As they entered the building and headed toward Ling Mei's office, they ran into Jun Xinyi.
Yan Yi felt an immediate urge to slap the smug expression off her face.
Jun Xinyi smiled—a smile filled with mockery.
"Sister Mei… you made it through the front door?" she taunted.
Ling Mei remained expressionless.
"You don't look like someone who was beaten to a stupor," she replied calmly.
Jun Xinyi laughed and stepped closer.
"I honestly thought you'd be walking in shackles by now… It's a miracle your face is still on magazines. But don't worry—soon, you'll be completely wiped out."
With that, she turned and sashayed away.
Ling Mei didn't look back. Her hands curled into fists.
"Jun Xinyi… just wait and see," she muttered under her breath before walking gracefully to her office.
Yan Yi followed, still holding back the urge to drag Jun Xinyi back and make her pay.
Once inside, Ling Mei sank into her swivel chair, burying her head in her hands as her mind raced.
"Do you still have the file from two years ago?" she asked.