"What are you looking at?"
Yan Xi suddenly looked up, smiling warmly at him.
Yuan Yi took large strides forward and kissed Yan Xi deeply on the lips. After a while, he reluctantly pulled away, gently brushing his thumb along her soft, moist lips. "Yan Xi, let's get married."
Yan Xi looked at Yuan Yi's serious expression and lowered her gaze, momentarily speechless. Just then, her phone rang. She felt a slight relief in her heart, smiled, moved Yuan Yi's hand away, and took out her phone from her bag to answer the call.
"Dad?"
Yan Xi glanced back at Yuan Yi. "The snow outside is too heavy, so I won't be coming home tonight."
"Alright." Yan Xi hung up the phone, turned to Yuan Yi, and said, "It's late; let's go to sleep."
Yuan Yi was silent for a moment, then casually stood up. "Alright."
They went upstairs in silence. When Yan Xi entered the guest room, she glanced back down the hallway. Yuan Yi was standing in the corridor, unmoving, his face obscured in the shadow cast by the lights, making his expression unreadable.
In that moment, Yan Xi suddenly felt reluctant to close the door.
"What's wrong?" Yuan Yi stepped out from the shadows, his face showing a faint smile, not the sadness or disappointment Yan Xi had anticipated. She shook her head. "It's nothing. Goodnight."
Yuan Yi walked up to her, kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Goodnight."
As the guest room door closed, the smile on Yuan Yi's face slowly faded. He returned to his own room, closed the door without turning on the light, and lay down on the bed. The room was oppressively quiet; he could hear the sound of snow falling on the trees and plants outside.
Time passed slowly, but Yuan Yi felt no urge to sleep. He went downstairs and turned on the television.
The show "Things Around Us" was just starting on the Imperial Capital TV station. The opening featured cheerful, bright faces of children, along with their innocent laughter and words.
These were a group of very happy children.
But soon, the joyful scenes shifted to show children performing on the streets, dirty children causing trouble and littering in public places, teenagers cursing and playing games in internet cafes, and cleanly dressed elementary schoolers holding thick textbooks.
Their faces were blurred, shielding them from the viewers, but it didn't make it any easier to watch.
Each scene starkly contrasted with the happiness at the beginning, as if they were different worlds, yet somehow coexisting in the same reality.
In the footage, adults with the children performing on the streets cursed at the camera. A slightly overweight woman even rushed at the host, and after a few shaky frames, the woman vanished from the camera's view.
Yuan Yi, though not part of the production crew, understood why they chose to keep this footage.
The adults making children perform were clearly guilty. They knew what they were doing was wrong. They weren't ignorant of the law; they just didn't want to give up the money that the children's performances brought them. So, in their shame and anger, they tried to stop the filming.
Yuan Yi didn't know how Yan Xi handled these sudden situations, but as he watched each frame, he saw Yan Xi and the production team's sincere desire to change something.
When the content touched on family cold violence, Yuan Yi's brow furrowed slightly, but he continued watching.
As the first part of the program ended, Yuan Yi sat on the sofa, motionless for a long time.
When Yan Xi woke up in the morning, the snow was still falling. Yuan Yi asked the driver to bring out the Jeep that had been sitting in the garage unused for a long time. Though the snow on the roads had been cleared, a thin layer of ice still covered the surface, making it difficult for regular cars to navigate.
Neither of them mentioned what happened the previous night, as if it had never occurred.
Meanwhile, the hotline at the Imperial TV station was overwhelmed with calls. Many viewers asked if there was a donation channel, expressing their wish to help those unfortunate children.
The video of the program was already being widely shared online, with countless people discussing issues of education and parent-child relationships. Things people usually avoided talking about finally found an outlet, giving them the impulse to voice their worries across the virtual divide of the internet.
This was the first time Yan Xi received genuine praise from netizens for her show. Some praised her courage to film groups of street-performing, wandering children, while others worried she might face retaliation from these people, leaving comments on her social media reminding her to stay safe.
Yet, there was one sentiment shared by everyoneâthey were grateful that she had the courage to stand up.
Netizen 1: "When that overweight woman charged at her, I was so worried for the host. With her tiny arms and legs, she'd probably get knocked out with one slap."
Netizen 2: "I'm curious, what happened to that woman who lunged at her?"
Netizen 3: "Oh, you're so naive. As Yan Xi's die-hard fan, let me tell you: two words, Iron Barbie."
Netizen 4: "I remember that father who neglected his child to indulge in drinking and gamblingâwasn't he subdued by the host with her high heels?"
Netizen 5: "I didn't expect... the CEO of Hengtai would be into this. If he marries Yan Xi and ever cheats, she'd probably beat him to death."
This comment received numerous likes from bystanders.
Netizen 187: "To be honest, I didn't initially like this female host. She looked too much like a 'white lotus'âevery time I saw her, I'd think of those weepy melodramas. But after being moved by her show again and again, I realized you really can't judge a book by its cover. I apologize for my shallow thinking."
Netizen 269: "The editing is well doneâno forced sentimentality or exaggeration. But it's precisely this calm style that makes my heart ache even more after watching. Family cold violence, abuse, abandonment, sexual assault, overparenting, lack of communication... all these negative aspects of parent-child relationships laid bare make one both sad and angry. There are exams for so many things in life, yet why is there none for being a parent?"
Netizen 947: "I'm an expectant mother. After watching this episode, I'm taking it as a cautionary taleâI don't want to become a frightening mother."
Netizen 3871: "Just heard that a few influential figures saw this episode and are planning to establish a child protection foundation. 'Things Around Us' has really hit the mark this time."
After the broadcast, the positive feedback was greater than expected, and the anticipated criticism was much less than imagined. The entire production team, as if having run a marathon, could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
This episode was split into two parts. The success of the first part encouraged the executives, and so the second part aired smoothly the next day.
Yan Xi's interview with the teenagers in the internet café was included in the second part. This segment again sparked public discussion, reminding people that family issues don't only affect children. The influence extends to those who grow up without skills or directionâadults who are also victims of negative family dynamics.
Children, though not yet grown, can still be saved. But what about these adults who live perpetually in shadows, deprived of education and without the chance for stable jobs? What path remains for these victims?
Society progresses, and times change, yet no matter how prosperous or affluent society becomes, hidden under this prosperity lies helplessness and despair, unseen by most.
The conversation shifted from children to families, from families to education, and now to the broader responsibilities of society.
Behind all this prosperity, there is always warmth in people's hearts.
This episode of the show was an unprecedented success, with an enormous impact afterward. Some labor protection centers actively stepped forward, and certain technical training centers offered to provide free training for specific groups, waiving tuition fees. Their power may be limited, but if they can change even one person's fate, perhaps things will improve in the future.
Yan Xi, due to this episode, became more widely known and earned a reputation as a "conscientious host" in the minds of many viewers.
A reporter interviewed Yuan Yi, asking if he worried about his girlfriend's safety while she worked. Yuan Yi replied that he did, but he would still support her dreams and ambitions. This response earned him praise from countless female netizens, some even joking that Yuan Yi's thoughtfulness made them want to spend money on a mobile game under Hengtai's brand.
But as the internet buzzed with praise for Yan Xi and Yuan Yi, a sudden post from an anonymous account claimed Yuan Yi had an ambiguous relationship with a popular online illustrator.
The revelation caused an uproar. Just moments ago, they were lauding Yuan Yi for his devotion, only for him to be exposed as unfaithfulâthis was a slap in the face.
Coincidentally, someone soon uncovered that a few months ago, in a viral video of two best friends fighting over a boyfriend, one friend referred to a "Song Yan," who was actually Yan Xi. Meanwhile, the unlucky guy, who had his love letter tossed away by the other friend, turned out to be Song Chao, one of the heirs to the Song Corporation.
Back then, Song Chao was ridiculed online for being the "side boyfriend," but now, with the revelation of Yuan Yi's possible infidelity, netizens started to sympathize with Song Chao, realizing he had confessed his love to Yan Xi nine years ago, only to have his letter unknowingly discarded.
"How many nine-year cycles does a person have in life?" people wondered. Song Chao had quietly adored Yan Xi since high school, cherishing his feelings over the years. He worked to improve himself, mustering up the courage to confess, only to find that the woman he loved was now with someone else. This wasn't just a twist of fate; it was a tragic mischance.
Some perceptive netizens began to feel sympathy for Song Chao.
Further digging revealed that the online illustrator Yuan Yi was allegedly involved with was named Xiaoxiliu. Xiaoxiliu's artwork was ordinary, but her ability to weave warm stories had won her over a million followers. Her recently published collection even made the top ten in book sales. Observant fans noticed that from the time she opened her social media account until a month ago, Xiaoxiliu had never posted ads for any brands or shops. Her ad drawings only began in the past two weeks, including promotions for a new mobile game by Hengtai, for which she had even drawn fan art. Uninformed fans left excited comments, gushing over the cuteness.
Critic 1: "Ha, I knew there was a reason certain people could stay above taking adsâthey were being kept as playthings by a rich, handsome guy."
Critic 2: "Just because she can draw a bit, she thinks she can become a mistress. Wow, you must be really proud of yourself."
In just a few hours, the online illustrator known as Xiaoxiliu was bombarded with tens of thousands of angry comments from netizens. People were busy, simultaneously cursing Xiaoxiliu and Yuan Yi, sympathizing with Yan Xi and Song Chao, and stirring up emotions all over the internet.
If this episode hadn't become so popular, Yan Xi wouldn't have gained such national recognition, and the public wouldn't be so outraged. But seeing how intense the backlash had become, it was clear to insiders that someone was specifically targeting Yuan Yi.
Their aim was to tarnish his reputation, and they even tried to incite the public to boycott all of Hengtai's products, including its latest hit mobile game. Some marketing accounts took advantage of this, trying to brainwash netizens into believing that supporting Hengtai's products was akin to supporting a cheater and a mistress.
Yan Xi had only hosted a segment on the Midday News, then attended a meeting at the main broadcasting station on assistance channels for children. By the time she returned, a storm had erupted online.
Was Xiaoxiliu, the illustrator, actually a mistress to host Yan Xi?
What on earth was going on?
With things escalating so wildly, Yuan Yi must have known about it. One sentenceâ"Yan Xi is Xiaoxiliu"âwould settle the matter, so why hadn't he spoken up?
When Yan Xi called Yuan Yi, she immediately asked, "I just got out of the meeting room. Do you know about the stuff going around online?"
"Yes," Yuan Yi's voice was calm on the other end, even a bit warm. "You don't need to worry. This sort of thing will blow over soon."
"By the time they forget, how much revenue will your company lose? How much will the stock price drop?" Yan Xi was exasperated by his laid-back attitude. "Why not just tell them that I am Xiaoxiliu?"
"I know you don't want your two identities mixed up. You want to simply draw and simply host the show," Yuan Yi said, chuckling to calm her down. "Alright, why are you suddenly so nagging? You're only twenty-four. How did you start sounding forty-two?"
Yan Xi retorted, "I think you're the one with the Zen calm of seventy-two! Should I start calling you Grandpa?"
"Why don't you try calling me Grandpa then?"
"Little Grandpa, just stay calm and zen in your office. Leave this to your incredibly beautiful granddaughter to handle," Yan Xi huffed over the phone before hanging up.
"Is he clueless or what? Even if my artist identity gets revealed, it's not a big deal. But letting the netizens throw thousands of insults over this trivial matter... And he calls himself a CEO, yet he can't calculate something this simple," she thought, glancing at the comments under Yuan Yi's latest post, where every top comment was critical, with varying levels of eloquence or crudeness.
She opened her messaging app, where several friends had privately messaged her, asking what was going on.
Yan Xi didn't reply to each of them individually. Instead, she opened their group chat and typed a message:
Xiaoxiliu: "Sorry, there's something I haven't told you all. I am Yan Xi. I'm not a mistress, nor have I been anyone's mistress."
Everyone in the group: ...
After closing the group chat, Yan Xi logged into her Xiaoxiliu Weibo account.
Xiaoxiliu: "I don't know where this rumor started, but I'm sorry for upsetting everyone. I've been keeping something from you for a long time, and I hope you can forgive me. Given the situation, I have no choice but to clarify the rumors that emerged today. I am not a mistress, and Yuan Yi is not two-timing, because I am Yan Xi."