There are still five minutes until the hero escapes from marriage.

On the cruise ship, Gu Xianting’s mood was far from good.

Initially, he had successfully lowered Wen Zhao’s guard and boarded the cruise ship to leave the island, which had brought him psychological trauma. He should have been happy.

However, halfway through the journey yesterday, Wen Zhao suddenly and inexplicably ordered the captain to turn the ship around and head back!

“Zhaozhao, why are we going back?” He asked her with the most perfect fake smile, his tone gentle.

“Oh, I left behind a piece of luggage,” she replied.

He didn’t understand. They had been sailing for half a day already. What kind of luggage could be so important that they had to turn back?

“Can’t we just buy another one in Licheng?” He asked.

Wen Zhao looked at him seriously, “No, it’s irreplaceable luggage.”

Although he still found it a bit absurd, he temporarily accepted her explanation. What else could he do? She would never listen to him anyway.

It wasn’t until the cruise ship docked at the island’s pier in the middle of the night that Wen Zhao, accompanied by bodyguards, went ashore in person.

By this time, Gu Xianting was increasingly feeling that something was wrong. He grabbed her wrist, “Zhaozhao, whatever it is, can’t we have the maid bring it up?”

She gently freed her wrist from his grasp, “Important things must be retrieved personally. Xianting, you should rest. I’ll be back soon.”

He could only smile and say, “I’ll wait for you to return; otherwise, I can’t sleep.”

“Yes, you really do love me,” she acknowledged his words, then left with the bodyguards.

While Wen Zhao was off the ship, Gu Xianting briefly considered having the captain set sail immediately. He could offer a high bribe to see if he could sway the people on board.

He started chatting with the captain and soon noticed that the captain’s gaze was unfriendly. In fact, everyone on the ship seemed to dislike him. He was initially puzzled until he realized they were all talking about him and Su Mengyao.

He thought, “Alright then.”

To avoid alarming anyone and wasting his previous efforts, he ultimately did nothing.

Wen Zhao returned quickly, but when he saw what the bodyguards had brought on board, he was stunned.

“Zhaozhao, what’s going on?” He forced a smile, feeling his face almost cramping.

“Luggage,” she said matter-of-factly. “Alright, let’s go rest. Captain, set sail!”

“Okay!” The captain, smiling broadly, eagerly gave the order to head back to the bridge.

Gu Xianting stood there, feeling the situation was utterly absurd.

A mere butler was what she considered “irreplaceable luggage,” important enough to turn the ship around?

She didn’t seem concerned about what he was thinking. She walked straight over to the butler, who was being carried on a bodyguard’s shoulder, bound tightly and with his mouth gagged.

His gray eyes stared at her, filled with anger.

She pulled the cloth out of his mouth, “Now, are you willing to come to Licheng with me?”

The butler, seemingly furious, shouted, “No! I! Won’t!”

She stuffed the cloth back into his mouth, leaving him to make muffled sounds of protest.

Gu Xianting took a deep breath and wheeled himself over. “Zhaozhao, if he doesn’t want to come, why force him?”

She turned to look at him with displeasure. “Whose side are you on?”

He was momentarily stunned, just as he was about to say something, she began to berate him, “In the past, no matter what I did, you always thought it was good, even if it was wrong. You would unconditionally stand by my side!”

“I just want a capable butler. Is that too much to ask?” She said angrily, “And you claim to love me. If you really loved me, you’d help me. I just want him as my butler!”

Gu Xianting felt as if a lump of blood was stuck in his chest. “Of course, I love you. You’re right; it’s just a butler. If Zhaozhao values him, it’s his honor. How dare he refuse? He’s being ungrateful!”

She seemed a little appeased, “I knew you’d understand me.”

He breathed a sigh of relief, as if an invisible knife at his throat had been removed.

“It’s late, let’s rest,” she said. “Take the butler to a guest room.”

“Understood, BOSS,” the head bodyguard said dutifully, motioning for the others to follow him with the bound butler.

The only ones left on the deck were Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting. Wen Zhao gazed at the water illuminated by the cruise ship’s lights, recalling the moment in her past life when Gu Xianting had her thrown into the sea.

She turned to look at him, her dark eyes glinting with a dangerous intensity.

“Zhaozhao, let’s go rest,” he said softly, gazing at her with affection.

She stared at him for a long time, restraining the urge to throw him overboard. She finally smiled, “Alright, let’s go rest.”

Despite her words, she and Gu Xianting didn’t share a room.

“The rooms on the cruise ship are small, and your leg is injured. You also have other wounds. I’m worried that in my sleep, I might accidentally hurt you,” she said with a look of regret outside his door.

He replied, “Actually, it’s fine. We used to sleep together, didn’t we?”

Gu Xianting knew that Su Mengyao was his true love and that he couldn’t truly be with Wen Zhao. However, he needed to act quickly to make her feel his affection.

“That was before when you weren’t you,” she said matter-of-factly. “How could I bear to hurt you?”

He thought, “Weren’t you the one who injured me?!”

“Xianting, I love you, so I’ll always care about your feelings,” she said. “Alright, rest well and recover.”

With that, she turned to leave. Gu Xianting, quick to react, grabbed her wrist. Wen Zhao turned back to him, confused, “Good night?”

“Shouldn’t there be a goodnight kiss?” He remembered how she had demanded a goodnight kiss in front of Su Mengyao.

Wen Zhao looked at him disapprovingly. She bent down, leaning close to him, catching him off guard with her sudden move.

Under the dim light, she looked stunning, like an enchantress. As she drew closer, Gu Xianting instinctively tightened his grip on the wheelchair’s armrests, “Zhaozhao…”

“You behave yourself. We’re in love now, but I have to control myself, or I might not be able to stop…” She smiled seductively, “Your leg is still injured, after all.”

Gu Xianting felt dizzy and, before he knew it, he was inside his room, the door closed behind him.

Wen Zhao stared at the door, the smile fading from her eyes. She had thought this scumbag loved Su Mengyao deeply, but now it seemed that wasn’t the case.

She turned and entered her room.

Meanwhile, in one of the guest rooms, the butler was securely tied to the bed, though the gag had been removed from his mouth.

In the darkness, the room’s small television suddenly made a static noise, like something out of a horror movie.

His eyes turned his eyes towards the television.

The screen was filled with exclamation marks.

He closed his eyes briefly, then said, “It’s not my fault. I followed the rules: I didn’t leave the island, I didn’t go with Wen Zhao, and I didn’t reveal my identity. I didn’t break any rules.”

The screen’s text flickered wildly, as if in frustration. After a moment, a new message appeared:

“But you didn’t resist seriously! You’re suspected of dereliction!”

“Serious resistance?” The butler chuckled, “Fine, you’ll see resistance.”

The chaotic characters on the screen gradually stabilized, forming another sentence:

“When? What are you going to do?”

“It’s late now, and I need rest. After all, I have a body now, and I still count as a person, right?” He said leisurely.

“You don’t want to disturb her sleep! I’ve figured you out!” the text on the screen accused.

“Who are you talking about?” The butler’s gray eyes were full of innocence. “Ah, I’m very tired. I’ll sleep now. Don’t disturb me.”

The characters on the TV screen appeared agitated, but it was useless. The only person who could see them, the butler, clearly wasn’t going to cooperate right now.

However, to be fair, he did keep his word.

So, early the next morning, he began to cause trouble.

When the bodyguard brought breakfast to him, he untied one of his hands to allow him to eat. The butler immediately flipped the table over.

The bodyguard was furious, “Butler, how can you do this? We got along well on the island for more than half a month. Besides, what’s wrong with continuing to work for the BOSS? Staying on that island alone would be boring, wouldn’t it?”

The butler refused to cooperate and tried to untie the ropes with one hand, even pinning the bodyguard down when he approached.

“Someone! Get in here!” the bodyguard screamed, sounding like a pig being slaughtered. If the butler hadn’t been sure he was just holding the bodyguard down, he would have wondered if he had been too rough.

The other bodyguards rushed in, and together, they managed to restrain the struggling butler once more.

“Tell the BOSS I won’t submit!” He declared with a look of resolute defiance.

The bodyguards had no choice but to nervously report his behavior to Wen Zhao.

At that moment, she was having breakfast on the deck with Gu Xianting.

After hearing the report, the bodyguard expected her to be angry. They knew their boss well; she was generous but had a bad temper, as evidenced by her harsh treatment of her “gentleman.”

“Is that so? I’ll go check,” she said, wiping her mouth and standing up. “Prepare another breakfast; skipping meals is not an option.”

Gu Xianting overheard the entire conversation and felt uneasy, possibly because he was now fully embracing his role as Gu Xianting. Seeing Wen Zhao care so much about a butler made him uncomfortable. “Zhaozhao, missing one meal isn’t a big deal. After all, he’s just a butler.”

“He’s not just an ordinary butler,” she retorted seriously. “How can someone who works so seamlessly with me be just a butler? Xianting, you used to never judge people based on their status.”

There was a hint of disappointment and disapproval in her eyes.

This was almost like a signal. Gu Xianting instinctively smiled at her and said, “Of course, I still don’t. I was just a little jealous of how well you treat him. Zhaozhao, you’re too good to him.”

“He’s a talent. Isn’t it natural to treat talented people well?” She said. “Xianting, you should understand me, right?”

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but she continued to stare into his eyes, pressing, “Right?”

“Right, Zhaozhao, you’re right. Special talents do deserve special treatment. How could I misunderstand you because of my personal feelings?” He said. “Sorry, I just love you too much.”

“I know,” Wen Zhao replied, satisfied.

She followed the bodyguard to the guest room where the butler was being held.

When she saw him bound tightly, she couldn’t help but laugh.

The butler turned his gray eyes toward her, filled with resentment.

She walked over to the bed, looked down at him, and said, “I heard you’re absolutely not willing to submit?”

The butler turned his head away, refusing to meet her gaze.

She sat down beside him and forcibly turned his face towards her, “You don’t want to see me?”

He closed his eyes.

Seeing his uncooperative attitude, Wen Zhao didn’t seem angry. “What, you don’t even want to look at me?”

She found him amusing, reminding her of many interesting memories.

“Back on the island, you seemed very concerned for me, always ensuring my safety and willing to serve me. Why this attitude now?” she asked. “Is it because I want you to come back to Licheng with me?”

She sighed, “It’s no use. You’ve done too well. In every aspect, you’re perfect for me, especially your skill at blow-drying hair. You’re the only one who can make me fall asleep while drying my hair.”

The butler finally opened his eyes, filled with anger.

Wen Zhao reached out and removed the cloth from his mouth. He gasped for breath, “Boss, can’t you be reasonable?”

“I thought I was being reasonable,” she blinked innocently, looking sincere. “But can’t you see? Your refusal is futile.”

He almost laughed out of anger, “Are you a bandit?”

“If that’s what you want to call me,” she shrugged. “You’d better give up resisting and be my butler. You’d get ten times the salary. But with this attitude, I might not give you any salary at all.”

He was dumbfounded at her audacity.

“Are you cursing me in your mind?” She asked, watching his eyes.

He turned his head away, “I’m not that petty!”

She turned his face back towards her, “Then why don’t you dare look at me?”

“I’m afraid that if I look at you, I won’t be able to control myself,” the butler said coldly, glaring at her.

“Fall in love with me? That would be a problem, considering I remember you have a girlfriend you love deeply,” Wen Zhao said with a malicious smile. “Would you betray her?”

The butler’s face flushed, perhaps with anger. “Boss!”

At that moment, a steward arrived with a bowl of century egg and lean pork congee. He seemed unsure of what to do with the tense atmosphere.

“Give it to me,” Wen Zhao said, taking the bowl. “You can go now.”

The steward breathed a sigh of relief, glad he didn’t have to feed the bound man himself.

“Butler, you should eat breakfast,” she said, stirring the congee with a spoon. “After all, I want you to be healthy to serve me.”

“I’ll report you for workplace harassment!” He retorted angrily.

She looked at him in surprise, “Butler, what are you thinking? I just want you to be healthy so you can do your job well.”

He was silent, his eyes full of accusation. How could it be his fault when her words were so ambiguous?

“To show my sincerity, I’ll serve you this time,” she said, taking a spoonful of congee and tasting it to check the temperature. Then she brought the spoon to his mouth, “Eat.”

The butler’s eyes widened, shocked by her actions. He turned his head away, refusing to eat.

“What, are you rejecting me?” Wen Zhao’s smile faded. She put the bowl down and grabbed his jaw, forcing him to open his mouth. She shoved the spoonful of congee into his mouth.

The butler hadn’t expected this move. Forced to swallow the congee, he looked furious, about to spit it out.

“If you spit it out, I don’t mind using another method to feed you,” she threatened with a wicked smile. “Your girlfriend wouldn’t want that, right?”

The butler flushed with anger. “Boss, you’re going too far! I’m just working for you; I didn’t sell myself to you!”

She seemed to have a realization, “You’re right. You could sell yourself to me.”

The butler: …

Reluctantly, he swallowed the congee.

Wen Zhao, feeling victorious, scooped more congee and held it to his mouth. The butler’s eyes suddenly caught sight of someone.

It was Gu Xianting, who had come looking for Wen Zhao after waiting too long for her to return. He sat in his wheelchair, stunned by the scene.

The butler’s eyes gleamed with malicious glee. He opened his mouth and obediently drank the congee Wen Zhao offered.

She was surprised by his sudden cooperation but quickly adapted, feeding him the rest of the bowl.

The butler’s gaze remained on Gu Xianting, watching as his expression darkened with each spoonful. There was a sense of vindictive satisfaction in his eyes. He suddenly leaned in close to Wen Zhao’s ear, speaking in a low, soft voice, “Boss, your man is right outside. Oh, I forgot to mention, he’s been watching for a while now. Won’t he be angry seeing you feed me?”

Wen Zhao turned her head, their faces close enough to see the malice in his eyes. “Butler, you really are surprising.”

“Likewise, Boss,” he replied, his tone mockingly polite.

Gu Xianting, eyes wide with disbelief, gripped the armrests of his wheelchair, veins bulging. From his angle, it looked like the two were about to kiss!

Seeing his anger, the butler’s smile deepened. He shifted his gaze back to Wen Zhao, “Boss, your man looks really upset. You love him so much, and you just got rid of another woman to win him back. Aren’t you afraid he’ll misunderstand?”

“Is this your revenge for me taking you off the island?” She chuckled. “Butler, you still don’t understand me…”

As she spoke, she suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head down. The butler, shocked, could see her reflection clearly in his gray eyes.

“Boss!”

The butler, unable to move his hands, struggled in vain. Just as Wen Zhao was about to kiss him, Gu Xianting grabbed her arm, pulling her away, causing the butler’s head to fall forward.

His eyes widened in disbelief as Wen Zhao and the butler’s lips collided!

Wen Zhao was equally surprised, and the butler was bewildered.

She hadn’t intended to kiss him; she had just wanted to scare him. But things had escalated unexpectedly.

“Zhaozhao! Get away!” Gu Xianting pushed the butler, who fell back onto the bed.

He looked at Wen Zhao with disappointment and sadness. What was wrong with her?

Hadn’t she always been madly in love with him, refusing to let go even after knowing he had fallen for someone else?

What was this situation now?

Did she think that because he seemed to be coming back to her, she could take him for granted?

“Zhaozhao…” He quickly realized this was an opportunity to turn the tables!

Wen Zhao had always held the upper hand in their relationship, using the past five years as leverage. But now, he had caught her in a compromising situation with the butler. This was his chance to control the narrative!

“Xianting, it’s all a misunderstanding!” She quickly interrupted, not giving him a chance to speak. “I was just trying to discipline the unruly butler. If you hadn’t suddenly pulled me, this accident wouldn’t have happened!”

Gu Xianting: Huh???

“Xianting, you wouldn’t be upset about this, right?” She looked into his eyes. “It was just an accident because of your mistake. You wouldn’t get angry over that, would you?”

Gu Xianting: “Of course, I wouldn’t be angry about that, but weren’t you standing too close to him before? And you personally fed him congee, you…””You’re still holding a grudge, aren’t you?” Wen Zhao interrupted him, “I’ve told you before, the butler is someone I admire and value. What’s wrong with treating him well? Why do you think so poorly of me? Is that really how you see me?”

“No, it’s not…” He instinctively denied.

“Then why are you so upset? Haven’t I treated you well enough? Back then, you favored Su Mengyao so much, you even kissed her, and with your tongue! If I were like you, should I be telling you to go to hell now?” She looked at him with a deeply disappointed expression. “Xianting, are you really that upset?”

“Of course not. How could I be? It was just a misunderstanding,” he forced a smile. But what could he do? How could she be so unreasonable?

They had agreed not to bring up old grievances, but she had no qualms about doing so, especially when she was caught in the act. She would boldly dig up old issues!

What could he do but grin and bear it?

“I’ve wronged you over these five years; it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have done that,” he was almost choking on his words. What was this logic? He had caught his wife being overly intimate with another man, practically in his face, feeding him by force, looking so close! Even if it was a mistake on his part that led to them kissing, she shouldn’t be so unapologetic!

“Hmm, as long as you know,” Wen Zhao showed no sign of feeling at fault. “The butler has a beloved girlfriend. If you talk like that, and she finds out, she’d be heartbroken. Besides, I have you. The butler and I both have people we care about; it’s impossible for anything to happen, right?”

Gu Xianting smiled gently, “Right, I was just momentarily jealous. You understand that, don’t you? I love you too much…”

He tried to use her own words against her.

“If you love me, you should understand me. If you misunderstand me like this again, I’ll be really angry,” she smoothly responded.

Mm, it won’t happen again,” Gu Xianting agreed.

Only then did Wen Zhao seem satisfied. She glanced back at the butler, still lying in bed pretending to be asleep, and then walked around to the other side of the bed. She bent over and looked into his eyes.

His beautiful gray eyes reflected her mischievous smile, “Butler, please forget about that little mishap. I hope you can figure things out soon. We’ll arrive in Licheng later; I expect good news from you when we get there.”

“Hah.” He scoffed and closed his eyes, refusing to look at her.

She reached out and quickly wiped something off the his face. The butler glared coldly at her, “Boss, please behave!”

That’s what Gu Xianting wanted to say too!

He hadn’t left yet!

“Oh, there was a bit of lipstick on your face. I was just cleaning up the little mishap my husband caused,” she said, looking warmly at Gu Xianting. “Xianting won’t misunderstand, right?”

“Of course not,” Gu Xianting felt his patience steadily rising, “Butler, rest assured, Zhaozhao has no other intentions.”

Wen Zhao gave the butler a smug look, then dropped the smile as she walked behind Gu Xianting, pushing his wheelchair out of the room.

As they reached the door, she turned back, just in time to catch the butler glancing towards them. His gray eyes flashed with a mad, cold glint, like a wolf’s. Shevsmiled at him, and before he could adjust his expression, she turned back and pushed Gu Xianting away.

The butler lay on the bed for a long time before suddenly laughing softly.

“You said my resistance was half-hearted. Was this resistance satisfying?”

Wen Zhao and the others arrived in Licheng after dark. Jiang Xinyan had called earlier, asking Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting to go directly to the Gu family estate, where she and Wen Zhao’s father would also be. This time, everyone was expected to attend the Gu family dinner.

In recent days, Jiang Xinyan and her husband, Old Wen, had been negotiating with Gu Yuancheng. After all, with the Gu family’s vast business, it seemed strange to skip over both the son and daughter and hand over control to a daughter-in-law who had only been married for a month.

“Take the butler to the lakeside apartment and make sure he stays put,” Wen Zhao instructed the bodyguard team leader. Once she was sure he was taken care of, she had the driver head straight to the Gu estate.

When they arrived, the estate was brightly lit, and many of the Gu family elders were present. Their expressions were quite something when they saw Gu Xianting being wheeled in by Wen Zhao.

Jiang Xinyan, amidst the crowd, smiled and nodded at her, putting her mind at ease. No matter what, tonight would be a stable situation.

Now, people had high moral expectations of public figures or wealthy high society members. Any scandal that challenged public morals could lead to a massive backlash.

Recently, Wen Zhao had been buying hot search spots for news about Gu Xianting and Su Mengyao. The topic had never left the hot search list, and over five years, they had accumulated a lot of material to expose.

The Gu family was under intense scrutiny, and even if they didn’t face bankruptcy, losing billions in market value was easy. Moreover, a tarnished reputation would be hard to recover.

Hence, the Wen family felt secure, knowing the scandal currently involved the Gu family.

The evening was filled with subtle confrontations and unseen tensions.

At the lakeside apartment, the butler was brought inside by the bodyguard team leader. “Don’t blame us. The boss seems determined to keep you here, so please don’t cause trouble for us,” the team leader said, locking the apartment door from the outside and leaving two guards at the door. After ensuring he couldn’t escape, they headed to the Gu estate to pick up Wen Zhao.

The Gu family dinner lasted until midnight, with everyone sporting extremely polite smiles.

“Zhaozhao, you’ve been close to Xianting since childhood. We all recognize your abilities and excellence. We hope you’ll take good care of the Gu family business in the future,” Gu Yuancheng said kindly, even though it pained him to hand over control of the company to her. But given the current situation, it was the best way to restore the family’s reputation.

“Don’t worry, Dad,” Wen Zhao said, holding Gu Xianting’s hand. She turned to look at him, seeing the deep affection in his eyes, presenting them as a loving couple. “Xianting just made a temporary mistake; we’ll be fine from now on.”

“Xianting, you must treat Zhao Zhao well in the future,” Jiang Xinyan said to him.

“I’ve given Zhaozhao everything I have,” hevquickly replied. “What’s mine is hers. I’ll be the best support and won’t have any other thoughts.”

“I believe you will,” Wen’s father quickly added, raising his glass. “Let’s toast to Zhaozhao and Xianting’s future happiness, and to the continued success of both the Wen and Gu families!”

Everyone echoed the sentiment, lifting their glasses, filling the room with an air of joy.

Following the dinner, the Gu family quickly made their next move. The company’s official Weibo account announced that at noon the next day, Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting would hold a press conference to address the rumors circulating online.

This announcement quickly attracted public attention and shot up to the top of the Weibo trending list.

In a small rented apartment in a city village in Licheng, Su Mengyao clutched her newly bought phone, her eyes fixed on the Weibo post.

“You’re back in Licheng… you’re back, but why haven’t you come to see me?”

“It must be Wen Zhao’s doing. Yes, she’s keeping him too tightly.”

“Xianting, I miss you so much.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she gently touched the screen, caressing the image of Gu Xianting’s face.

After returning to the dormitory that day, her dorm leader had subtly suggested that she move to a different room, and her advisor had bluntly told her, “You’ve failed several courses and haven’t completed your third-year courses. If this continues, the school may have to consider advising you to withdraw.”

She had fled the school that day, not even sure how she ended up dragging her suitcase through the streets of Licheng, wandering aimlessly like a lost soul.

People recognized her and followed her, whispering and pointing. She had been dodging and hiding like a rat scurrying away from the light.

In truth, her feelings for Gu Xianting had waned during their time on the island, but returning to Licheng brought everything back, especially the protection she once felt under his care.

Having tasted luxury, it was hard to go back. The overwhelming hostility she faced everywhere was too much for her to bear. She couldn’t live without him; she would die…

“Tomorrow at noon. She double-checked the press conference location. No matter what, she had to see him.

She was like this because of him; how could she lose him now?

Moreover, the hot searches for them hadn’t disappeared for so many days, attracting even more people to dig into her past. A photo of her playing around with a group of people in a private room had been dug up, and netizens began speculating wildly. Some even suggested that she might have cheated on Gu Xianting with multiple men, given how much fun she appeared to be having in the photo.

She knew how to make herself look good in front of the camera, even when playing around. That photo was from a time when a friend was trying to matchmake her, and she didn’t like the guy at all, so she acted quite casual in the photos. But in the eyes of onlookers, it seemed different.

She wanted to refute these claims, but who would believe her now? Everything she said would be dismissed as lies.

She needed Gu Xianting’s support. With him, she could make a strong comeback. 

Lost in her thoughts, she dozed off with the phone still in her hand. 

The next day, she woke up to find herself logged out of her Weibo account. An error message popped up, stating that her account had been suspended due to violations of the platform’s terms of service. 

She felt a chill run down her spine. “This must be Wen Zhao’s doing,” she muttered, rage bubbling up inside her. 

With renewed determination, she prepared herself for the press conference. She wouldn’t let her win this time. 

As noon approached, the Gu family estate buzzed with activity. Media representatives and reporters filled the hall, their cameras and microphones ready. 

Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting appeared on stage, holding hands, presenting a united front. 

Gu Xianting, dressed impeccably, looked every bit the loving husband. Wen Zhao’s serene smile, her graceful presence, added to the air of a carefully orchestrated show. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here today,” Wen Zhao began, her voice steady and composed. “There’s been a lot of speculation about our family recently, and we’re here to clarify a few things.”

Gu Xianting took over, his voice firm. “Firstly, the rumors about my relationship with Su Mengyao have been greatly exaggerated. While I did know her in the past, there’s been no inappropriate relationship between us. My wife and I are committed to each other.”

A murmur went through the crowd as they took in the statements. 

Wen Zhao continued, “We deeply regret any distress caused by these rumors, and we ask that our privacy be respected. We are focusing on our future and our family.”

Just then, a commotion erupted at the back of the room. Su Mengyao, looking disheveled and distressed, burst in, her eyes wild. 

“Xianting!” she shouted, pushing through the crowd. “Tell them the truth! You love me, not her!”

The room fell silent as her words hung in the air. 

Wen Zhao remained composed, but her grip on Gu Xianting’s hand tightened. Gu Xianting, visibly shocked, struggled to maintain his composure.

“Ms. Su, please,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm. “This isn’t the time or place for this.”

Su Mengyao, tears streaming down her face, ignored his words. “You’re lying! You promised me you’d leave her for me!”

Gasps and murmurs filled the room as the reporters eagerly captured every moment.

Wen Zhao finally spoke up, her voice icy. “Ms. Su, I understand you’re upset, but this behavior is inappropriate. Please leave.”

Before the situation could escalate further, security personnel intervened, escorting a sobbing Su Mengyao out of the room.

The press conference continued, but the damage was done. The media had all the drama they needed for a headline-grabbing story. As Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting continued to address the crowd, questions about their marriage and Su Mengyao’s accusations lingered in the air.

Wen Zhao maintained her calm, but inside, she was seething. This was supposed to be their moment to clear the air, and Su Mengyao had ruined it.

Gu Xianting, on the other hand, felt a pang of guilt. He had tried to distance himself from Su Mengyao, but now it seemed he had only made things worse.

As the press conference concluded, they left the stage, still holding hands. The media followed them, eager for more statements, but they were whisked away by security to a private area.

Once they were alone, Wen Zhao turned to Gu Xianting, her eyes flashing with anger. “What was that about?” she demanded. “You need to get your affairs in order.”

Gu Xianting looked down, avoiding her gaze. “I never meant for this to happen,” he muttered.

She sighed, frustration and exhaustion evident in her voice. “We need to fix this, and fast. Our reputation is at stake.”

As they prepared to leave the venue, her phone buzzed with notifications. The press conference was already making headlines, and the scandal was far from over.

Back in her small apartment, Su Mengyao sat alone, her phone buzzing with messages from concerned friends and family. She felt a mix of shame and anger, but most of all, she felt lost. The life she had imagined with Gu Xianting was slipping away, and she didn’t know how to get it back.

Meanwhile, Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting returned home, their minds racing with the fallout of the day’s events. They knew they had a long road ahead to repair the damage and restore their family’s reputation. But as they faced the challenges together, they knew they had to stay strong, no matter what.

As the night wore on, each of them was left to grapple with their thoughts, uncertain of what the future held.

And somewhere in the city, the butler, still locked in the lakeside apartment, waited. He knew the role he had played in the day’s drama, and he knew that his involvement in the lives of Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting was far from over.