This matter had nothing to do with Yan Xi, but the subtle gossiping look in the director's eyes reminded her of something. Although she and Song Zhao both knew the truthâthat he didn't have much affection for herâothers seemed to believe that Song Zhao was deeply infatuated with her. In the eyes of those who loved imagining romantic scenarios, all of Song Zhao's sacrifices could easily be interpreted as being for her sake.
Even though she hadn't done anything, she might still be labeled a femme fatale. Yan Xi felt she was a typical case of someone succeeding in love and career while struggling in other areas.
Fortunately, the director was tactful and knew better than to ask questions, no matter how curious they might be.
"The guest invited this time has familial ties with the Song family," the director explained apologetically to the two hosts. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Once we've secured a new guest, we'll record again."
"It's fine. I know you're only doing what's best for the show." Their serious talk-show program was nothing like sensational variety shows, and negative publicity was strictly avoided. This guest had become a casualty of circumstance, but given the rules of the production, Shen Xingyan wasn't about to speak up for someone so insignificant.
Yan Xi, seeing that Shen Xingyan remained silent, also sat quietly on the sofa without saying a word.
After the director left, Shen Xingyan turned to Yan Xi and said, "As for the Song family, no matter who at the station asks, you should refrain from saying anything. The more people involved, the messier it gets. Whether they're friends or colleagues, it's important to stay cautious."
Yan Xi nodded and said with a wry smile, "At this point, even if I came out and said I barely know Song Zhao, probably no one would believe me, right?"
"Honestly, even I wouldn't believe you," Shen Xingyan said with a laugh. "But don't worryâlife is about encountering a few bizarre situations and people. That's what makes things colorful."
Yan Xi felt that this reassurance wasn't particularly comforting.
Because the recording ended early, Yan Xi returned to her office, knowing Yuan Yi hadn't yet left to pick her up. She opened her computer and began reviewing footage from Life Around Us.
The situation with the Song family had long been the center of heated debate online. Netizens had spun countless dramatic tales of intrigue, and anyone remotely connected to the Song family with a social media account had been bombarded with questions.
What was the truth?
Probably no one knew anymore, except for the deceased head of the Song family.
The rumor accusing Song Zhao of being the culprit had no clear origin. Yan Xi felt that, with Song Zhao's cunning and manipulative nature, he wouldn't be foolish enough to personally harm a frail elderly manâespecially not in a hospital with surveillance cameras.
Unless he'd completely lost his mind, or had a mental breakdown and acted impulsively, it didn't align with his character to do something so irrational.
When Yuan Yi arrived to pick her up, he immediately noticed her hesitant expression and knew she must have something to ask. "Come on, what's on your mind? Is there a question your big brother needs to solve for you?"
"Maybe just a little," Yan Xi gave him a sweet, ingratiating smile. "But I'm afraid if I say it, you'll get jealous."
"The Song family?"
"Big shot, you're so smart. Your IQ must be over 180."
"Alright, if you want gossip, just say so. No need to butter me up," Yuan Yi snorted lightly. "Besides, do I seem like the kind of person who would be petty enough to get jealous over this?"
Yan Xi shook her head vigorously. "Of course not."
Yeah, right.
"Didn't I tell you before that the Song family is in chaos?" Yuan Yi brought up the Song family's troubles, not with schadenfreude, but with a faint sense of melancholy. "The Song family has been declining in business over the years due to internal conflicts. Now that the old patriarch has passed, the family is going to fall apart."
"Aren't the Song family and your family business rivals?" Yan Xi asked curiously. "Why do you seem like you don't want them to fall further?"
"Though the Song family and the Yuan family have been competitors over the years, it's been healthy competition. That's good for the market and consumers alike. But with the fall of the patriarch, parts of the Song family's enterprises are bound to shrink or even collapse." Yuan Yi's sharp expression softened with a trace of sympathy. "The Song family supports countless employees. If they collapse, it means a lot of workers will lose their jobs. Some of them have been working for the Song family's companies for most of their lives. At their ageâforty or fiftyâit's harder for them to adapt, innovate, or compete with younger job seekers. It'll be tough for them to find work again."
Yan Xi, not being involved in business management, hadn't considered the issue from this perspective. Hearing Yuan Yi's explanation, she finally realized the gravity of the situation. Thinking about the future struggles of those unemployed workers, she couldn't help but frown.
Seeing Yan Xi's glum expression, Yuan Yi regretted bringing it up. He smiled and said, "But you don't need to worry too much. With so many people affected, the government will definitely come up with measures to help them."
Yan Xi felt a little better and nodded slowly.
"Tonightâ"
"Tonight, if I don't go home, my dad's going to show up at your house to demand me back," Yan Xi interrupted Yuan Yi, glancing at the shop windows outside, where fabric firecrackers and red lanterns had been hung. "The New Year is almost here."
Every street seemed to be playing cheerful festive songs, spreading joy to the passersby.
Yan Xi opened the car window and was hit by a faceful of cold wind. "It's snowing again."
Yuan Yi leaned over and closed the window. "It's freezing. Why are you letting the wind in?"
"There's a handicraft shop up ahead with lots of interesting little items," Yan Xi said. "Since the New Year's coming, I want to buy something meaningful and fun for Grandpa Xu. Will you come with me?"
Yuan Yi glanced at the snowflakes falling outside and then at Yan Xi's expectant eyes. In the end, he nodded.
"Scarf and glovesâput them on." After getting out of the car, Yuan Yi bundled Yan Xi up tightly, as if he wanted to wrap her entire face.
There's a kind of cold that only boyfriends think you're feeling. Yan Xi adjusted the scarf covering her mouth and took Yuan Yi's arm as they walked toward the shop.
Yuan Yi looked at the shop Yan Xi had mentioned. It wasn't big, and it was run by an elderly couple. The shopkeeper's wife seemed to recognize Yan Xi. Upon seeing her, she greeted her with a warm smile. "Miss Yan, you're coming here so late?"
Noticing that Yan Xi was holding onto a young man's arm, the shopkeeper's wife put on her reading glasses from the display shelf, took a closer look, and her smile became even kinder. "This young man must be your boyfriend, right? He looks so handsome and sturdy. Must be strong too."
Yan Xi glanced at Yuan Yi with a playful smile and nodded. "Yes, you guessed it. He's my boyfriend."
"He's got a good faceâlooks a bit fierce, but it's actually a sign of warding off evil and living a long life. You two are a perfect match," the shopkeeper's wife said as she rambled on about face-reading while bringing the two some water.
Yuan Yi, having been with Yan Xi for a while, was already used to people mistaking him for some kind of bad influence forcing himself on her. But now, someone not only complimented his face but also said he was a perfect match for Yan Xi. He found it surprisingly refreshing.
For a moment, he found the old lady incredibly pleasant.
"Miss Yan, you're here?" The shopkeeper, who had been relaxing in a reclining chair, opened his eyes and slowly stood up. "What are you looking for today?"
"I'd like to buy something meaningful for an elder in the family," Yan Xi said, browsing through the display shelves. "With the New Year coming up, they don't lack money or material things. It's just about showing some thought."
"Good that you know how to be filial and thoughtful," the old man praised her. He bent down to take a wooden box from the lowest shelf. "This is something I spent half a year craftingâ'The Immortal and the Crane.' See if it's suitable."
When the box was opened, Yan Xi couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration. Inside was a scene of pavilions, mountains, trees, and an elder playing with cranes in the forest, giving the piece an aura of mystery.
Yan Xi bought it without hesitation.
Ever since hearing the shopkeeper's wife say that he and Yan Xi were a perfect match, Yuan Yi had been in an excellent mood. Without blinking, he picked out several more handicrafts. Carrying the heavy bags, he left the shop feeling particularly cheerful.
"Take care, Miss Yan! Take care, Mr. Yuan!" The shopkeeper's wife walked to the door to see them off but was stopped by Yuan Yi.
"It's cold outside. You don't need to see us off," Yuan Yi said, standing at the steps. He turned back to the shopkeeper's wife and added, "The snow makes the roads slippery. If there's nothing urgent, you shouldn't go out tonight."
"Alright," the shopkeeper's wife replied with a wide smile, nodding. The way she looked at Yuan Yi was as if she were gazing at her own beloved grandson.
"These are all made of wood and quite heavy. Let me carry a few bags for you," Yan Xi reached out, but Yuan Yi stopped her. "It's freezing out here. Keep your hands in your pockets, don't take them out. If they get frostbitten and turn into carrots, it won't look good on camera."
"Oh." Yan Xi took a sharp breath, stuffed her hands back into her pockets, and obediently complied.
"Yuan Er, what are you dawdling on the sidewalk for in this freezing weather?"
A black Jeep cruised by slowly, and the passenger-side window rolled down. Zhang Wang's head popped out from inside. "Are you two lovebirds trying to be a fire in the winter chill? Why are you out for a stroll in this kind of weather?"
"Passengers should not stick their head or hands out of the car window while the vehicle is in motion," Yuan Yi replied with a straight face. "That's basic knowledge they teach in kindergarten."
Zhang Wang: ...
"What's in all those bags you're carrying?" Zhang Wang asked casually when he noticed Yuan Yi's hands full of packages. "Put them in my car. I'll give you two a ride back."
"No need," Yan Xi said with a smile, watching the two bicker. "Our car is just parked up ahead. I stopped by a shop earlier and had Yuan Xiao Er accompany me to look around."
"So these things are yours, huh?" Zhang Wang made a knowing "oh" sound and gave Yuan Yi a teasing glance. "Look at our Yuan Er, so considerateâgoing shopping with Dahe and even carrying her bags. Unlike me, rough and careless, never carrying bags for women. Looks like if I ever want to find a girlfriend as amazing as Dahe, I'll have to change my ways."
Yuan Yi raised an eyebrow slightly and shot Zhang Wang a glance, his hands gripping the bags steadily without the slightest movement.
Yuan Yi: Who was it that said they'd never carry bags for women? The louder they bragged back then, the more awkward it is now. Why act so stubborn? Now here you are, carrying bags in the cold night, grinning like an idiot. Isn't this just karma slapping you in the face?
"What you need to change is your fickleness, not whether you carry bags," Yuan Yi said arrogantly, lifting his chin slightly. "A man who flits from woman to woman could hang bags all over himself and still never find someone as wonderful as my Xiao Xi."
Zhang Wang: Damn, he can't argue back; otherwise, Dahe might not take him on the next raid tomorrow.
When did Yuan Er turn into this shameless guy who flaunts his girlfriend at every opportunity?
"Yeah, you got lucky to win over our stunningly beautiful and incredibly talented Dahe," Zhang Wang said as he retracted his head into the car. "As a lonely single dog, I reject your display of affection. Goodbye!"
Watching the Jeep disappear into the distance, Yan Xi remarked, "Why do I feel like something's off with Zhang Wang?"
"Probably broke up again," Yuan Yi said calmly. "He's always like this. Just ignore him."
"Oh." Yan Xi thought his explanation made perfect sense.
After dropping Yan Xi off at her house, Yuan Yi returned to his car and opened their WeChat group chat, only to find Zhang Wang had sent five consecutive voice messages.
"Who was the one who said men shouldn't carry bags for women?!"
"Who was the one who said men shouldn't go shopping and carry stuff for women?!"
"Yuan Xiao Er, come out!"
"Yuan Xiao Er, go take a look in the mirror and see if your face is swollen from slapping yourself!"
"You better pay me hush money, or I'll tell Dahe about this! Come on, flatter me, beg me!"
Yuan: It's fine, Xiao Xi trusts me and not you.
Entire group chat: ...
Why do they have to suffer through this kind of public display of affection?
Qiao Sheng: Let's get serious. Do you guys think... Old Master Song was really murdered by Song Chao?
Yuan: Impossible.
Qiao Sheng: Why?
Zhu Han: It's simple. Song Chao's personality might be a bit sinister, but he's not an idiot. If he wanted to kill Old Master Song, he'd have countless ways to do it without getting caught. Why would he choose the dumbest method?
Zhang Wang: Maybe it was the other members of the Song family trying to frame Song Chao. Life hasn't exactly been easy for him in that household.
Yuan: Until the truth is revealed, it's impossible to determine who will come out on top in this inheritance battle.
As the year-end approached, many people working in the capital but with families elsewhere had already started heading home to visit relatives. The once bustling city seemed to quiet down significantly. However, online news only grew increasingly lively.
For example, the Song family brothers had presented several conflicting wills, each claiming theirs was legitimate. Initially, online discussions condemned Song Chao as ruthless and accused him of not even sparing his own grandfather. Gradually, however, the narrative shifted: stories emerged of how Song Chao had been bullied by his cousins growing up, and how, after returning home a highly capable individual, he gained the favor of Old Master Song, who even considered grooming him as an heir. Out of jealousy, the cousins supposedly conspired to frame him, saddling him with the crime of murdering his grandfather.
Ordinary people could only speculate what life in a wealthy family was like. So, with their limited understanding, they filled the gaps with endless imagination, crafting their own bloody palace intrigue drama.
When the police showed up to find Yan Xi, she was busy with her colleagues working on the final edits for the last episode of Stories Around Us before the New Year. Seeing the police approach, she couldn't help but wonder: Did my dad evade taxes or something?
But with my dad's cautious personality, he shouldn't be capable of something like that... right?
"Ms. Yan Xi, we're officers from the Western District Police Bureau. We're here to ask for your assistance with a small matter. Would you happen to have time now?" The speaker was a female officer, likely assigned to make Yan Xi feel more at ease.
Yan Xi nodded and, under her colleagues' worried gazes, led the officers into her office.
"This matter has nothing to do with you, Miss Yan. We're just here to gather some information," the female officer said, accepting the glass of water Yan Xi handed over and smiling apologetically. "According to our investigation, you recently met with Mr. Song Ci?"
Yan Xi nodded.
The troublesome Song family... even though she was ten thousand miles away, she still managed to get caught in their mess.
"We found a miniature listening device in Mr. Song Ci's car," the female officer said, carefully observing Yan Xi's expression, not wanting to miss the slightest emotional reaction. However, Yan Xi's response assured the officer that this matter had nothing to do with her.
Yan Xi was dumbfounded. So this is the kind of high-tech drama that unfolds in wealthy families?
"Two hours ago, Mr. Song Ci was in a car accident and is currently in the hospital undergoing emergency treatment." Since this news would eventually reach the media, the officer saw no reason to withhold it from Yan Xi. "It's said that Mr. Song Chao once had feelings for you. In your opinion, what kind of person is Song Chao?"
"I don't know much about him personally," Yan Xi shook her head. "Although he claimed he had a crush on me in high school, I only attended that school for six months. I was quite young when I started high schoolâstill two months shy of fifteenâso I wasn't thinking about romance at all. The next time I saw Song Chao was at a banquet six months ago, but we barely exchanged a few words. After that, there was that dramatic public confession, which left me utterly baffled. I couldn't figure out why he suddenly decided to confess to me."
"Feelings are strange like that. Sometimes, only those involved truly understand them," the female officer said with a smile. "Thank you for assisting us with our investigation. Sorry to have bothered you today."
"It's no bother at all. Police and citizens are like family," Yan Xi said as she got up to see the officers out. "By the way, how is Mr. Song Ci doing?"
"They say he's seriously injured but not in any life-threatening condition." The female officer paused at the door and turned back to look at Yan Xi. "Oh, one more thing, Ms. Yan."
"Yes?" Yan Xi looked up, her expression a bit puzzled.
"Old Master Song's autopsy report indicates that he died of natural causes, not foul play. Therefore, Mr. Song Chao is not under suspicion of murder," the officer said with a touch of helplessness. "Unfortunately, the public doesn't seem to believe our conclusion. Since you're a media professional, do you have any advice on how to handle public opinion in a case like this?"
"Let it cool down. Once emotions have subsided, explain the cause and effect of the situation. People will be more rational in understanding the truth then," Yan Xi replied softly. "There's always a small group of people who don't care about the truth. They just want to watch the drama."
"Perhaps you're right," the officer nodded and sighed. "Thank you for enlightening us."
Yan Xi smiled and said, "It's just that you all have to work harder."
"Serving the people is what we do," the female officer replied with a smile. After shaking hands with Yan Xi, she finally left the TV station.
As soon as the police left, Yan Xi's colleagues gathered around her.
"Ms. Yan, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. The police just came to ask a few questions. Let's all get back to work."
"That's a relief, as long as you're okay."
After the officers exited the TV station building, one of them turned to the female officer with a puzzled expression.
"Captain, why didn't you ask her about the time Song Ci forcibly took her away? What if she's lying? Who knows what really happened in that car?"
"There's no need. It couldn't have been her," the female officer shook her head. "She wasn't lying. Asking too many questions would not only risk blowing things out of proportion but would also be completely unhelpful to this case."