TL: Hua
Campus Life 8
Qin Chaoyan saw his name prominently displayed on the hot search. Connecting this with Ji Qingyu’s recent WeChat message and Ye Boxuan’s ongoing “interrogation,” he felt increasingly bewildered and subtly uneasy.
He immediately clicked on the trending topic, so he didn’t notice two other related topics listed further down: #ArtistRongYan and #PresidentQinRongYan.
However, clicking on just the first topic was enough to understand the reason. When he saw the most popular Weibo post begin by speculating about his infidelity, his usually calm mind couldn’t help but be irrational with anger.
What kind of rumor is this? He’s cheating? With whom? Aside from going to the office, he’s either at home or with Xuxu. Cheating with a ghost?
Looking further down… Okay, he did indeed “cheat,” and the “other party” was Xuxu, his wife.
Qin Chaoyan had been falsely alarmed. He pressed his temples, feeling that these unscrupulous marketing accounts were too idle, fabricating stories from thin air, and making wild guesses based on a single photo.
But where there’s smoke, there’s fire. There’s always a reason for things. He scrolled further and saw the artist’s short essay, plus the summaries from other gossipers. He finally pieced together the whole story.
…It was somewhat speechless.
“Uncle, this is a misunderstanding,” he briefly explained to Ye Boxuan, promising to handle it.
Ye Boxuan: “Of course I know it’s a misunderstanding. I just don’t know what you two are doing, getting on such a hot search for no reason, and even…” being rumored to be cheating.
He thought for a moment and felt that the fact they hadn’t held a wedding yet might also be somewhat related. If they had held a wedding, perhaps they wouldn’t have been so misunderstood.
So he added, “How about after Xuxu graduates, you two go ahead and have the wedding?”
After speaking, he couldn’t help but sigh silently, his heart complex. He never imagined that he, Ye Boxuan, would have a day where he urged someone to get married, feeling melancholic.
After hanging up the phone, he turned to look at Ji Qingyu, who was still on his phone in the living room, and suddenly asked, “Qingyu, how about you? Did you find someone recently?”
Ji Qingyu, who was engrossed in Qin Chaoyan’s drama: “?”
He quickly put away his phone, looking serious: “Uncle, why are you suddenly asking that?”
Ye Boxuan sighed: “You and Xuxu, one keeps putting off finding a partner, the other finds one too early; you both cause worry.”
Ji Qingyu: “…” Unwarranted disaster.
*
After hanging up the phone, Qin Chaoyan’s mood was a bit subtle. He never expected this hot search to bring him such a benefit. Was this a blessing in disguise?
However, thinking of some of the online slander against Ye Rongxu, he frowned deeply, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes.
He quickly called his assistant. Before the other side could speak, he said, “I know about the situation. Handle the public relations. Send me the draft before it’s released.”
Not long after, Rongchao Group’s official Weibo responded to the online situation—
[…Mr. Qin Chaoyan @QinChaoyan and Mr. Ye Rongxu @ArtistRongYan are married and legally wed. The claim of infidelity is baseless. Some individual accounts have fabricated rumors and caused trouble, seriously infringing on the reputation rights of Mr. Qin and Mr. Ye. We request all platforms, media, and individuals to delete the relevant false statements. Our company has collected evidence of the relevant online content and reserves the right to pursue legal action.]
Attached were a lawyer’s letter and a list of several accounts with severe defamatory content.
Almost simultaneously, Ye Group’s official Weibo also published similar content, stating that they reserved the right to pursue accountability.
Netizens who were feasting on the gossip were instantly dumbfounded. After a while, those who had finished studying both official Weibo posts finally reacted.
[If I’m not mistaken, the official Weibo mentioned Mr. Ye Rongxu and @-ed ArtistRongYan, so RongYan is the young master of the Ye family?]
[This is so embarrassing. We cursed out the “mistress” for half a day, but it turns out they’re the original spouse.]
[This plot twist is truly amazing. What kind of novel plot is this?]
[I’m actually feeling embarrassed for those idiots who were criticizing RongYan earlier.]
[By the way, Young Master Ye’s online name is ‘RongYan.’ Is it taken from one character from ‘Ye Rongxu’ and one from ‘Qin Chaoyan’?]
[They’re actually a real couple! So awesome!]
—
On the other side, in the small circle of 2D artists, the fans of artist RongYan were screaming in delight.
[I actually found a real couple! Woohoo, the artist and his husband are so hot!]
[When I saw the photo, I noticed that the staff member’s gaze towards Teacher Rong was suspicious. Sure enough, it’s real!]
[President Qin is so doting! The ‘Destiny’ booth is right next door, but he was with Teacher Rong the whole time, serving tea and water.]
[Those of you who weren’t there didn’t see it, but President Qin even knelt down to massage the artist’s hand later.]
[Ahhh, I’m dying from the cuteness!]
[Wait, sisters, I made a major discovery on President Qin’s Weibo!]
Qin Chaoyan’s main Weibo account was one that he hadn’t used much after registering. Aside from this time, reposting the statements from Ye Group and Rongchao Group, he had hardly posted anything before. He didn’t even repost his own group’s content, just like his aloof personality.
The accounts he followed were companies or individuals related to the business circle, like Ye Group, Rongchao Group, Ye Boxuan, Ji Qingyu, Lu Yunfeng, etc.
But going further back, netizens dug up that he also followed an account called “Xiao Yu Mao” (Xiao Yu Mao), and had even liked posts from this account.
As for “Xiao Yu Mao,” fans of artist RongYan were very familiar with this account. This person frequently hung out in Teacher Rong’s Weibo comment section, showering him with praise, calling him “wife,” and sending virtual hugs and kisses.
For example, their most recent comments:
[Ahhh, wife’s new drawing is also absolutely beautiful, hugs and cuddles!]
[Today is also a day to cuddle with my wife~]
[The artist’s drawing is so beautiful, blowing kisses, cuddles!]
Just looking at the comments, it seemed no different from a regular adoring fan, and “Xiao Yu Mao” only followed artist RongYan, clearly a die-hard fan.
However, some of RongYan’s biggest fans remembered very clearly that “Xiao Yu Mao”‘s commenting style wasn’t like this initially.
“Let me show you their early commenting style in the artist’s comment section,” a big fan in the group said, quickly sending screenshots.
The messages in the screenshots were from four years ago. At that time, Ye Rongxu didn’t have many Weibo followers, but because of his strong art foundation and having studied under famous masters since childhood, his artwork was exquisite and high-quality. People often praised him in the comments and called him “wife.”
And then “Xiao Yu Mao” would go to each comment and seriously correct them:
[Why call them ‘wife’? If Mr. Painter has a wife or husband, calling them that is very inappropriate. Suggest deletion.]
[Why ‘hugs and cuddles’? If the artist has a wife or husband, such behavior is very immoral. Suggest deletion.]
[Is expressing a desire to kiss someone on a public platform considered sexual harassment? Very inappropriate. Suggest deletion.]
[…]
The fans in the group stared at the “suggest deletion” comments on the screen, their eyes blurring. Where did this ‘Xiao Yu Mao’ come from? An old fossil? And someone just posted “hugging and kissing the artist,” how did that become sexual harassment? Is ‘Xiao Yu Mao’ from the Qing Dynasty?
“Pay attention, the ‘Xiao Yu Mao’ in the picture called Teacher Rong ‘Mr. Painter’ four years ago. At that time, everyone didn’t know Teacher Rong’s gender. How did they know?”
“Also, after I privately messaged ‘Xiao Yu Mao’ and ‘explained’ things to them, they finally stopped posting those old-fashioned comments, but then they started cuddling and hugging Teacher Rong in the comments every day. And President Qin actually follows this account and likes their posts?”
“There’s only one truth: Xiao Yu Mao is President Qin!” the group admin concluded.
All the group members: !!!
Is President Qin’s private persona that split?
So, everyone started secretly checking “Xiao Yu Mao”‘s account, digging through its history.
Qin Chaoyan still didn’t know his alt account had been exposed.
After reading the statement posted by the official Weibo, he personally reposted it with his main account and then also reposted Ye Group’s official Weibo.
After doing all this, he still felt a bit melancholic. Only he had authenticated, reposted, and liked it; Xuxu hadn’t yet.
He knew he should wait until Ye Rongxu woke up tomorrow to tell him about it, but he couldn’t wait. That secret desire to @ Ye Rongxu and announce their marriage was overwhelming.
Ideally, he wanted to take a photo of their marriage certificate and a photo of their hands clasped and post them both on Weibo, just like those celebrities who announce their relationships.
In short, he wanted to show off.
He turned and left the study, quietly entered the bedroom, and turned on the small bedside lamp.
Ye Rongxu had been too tired during the day and was now fast asleep, his sleeping face peaceful.
Qin Chaoyan gazed at him for a long time and finally couldn’t resist. He gently nudged him and whispered, “Xuxu?”
Ye Rongxu didn’t respond.
Qin Chaoyan whispered again, “Xuxu?”
Ye Rongxu let out a soft “Hmm,” but irritably turned over, facing away from him, and continued to sleep.
Qin Chaoyan: “…”
He sighed softly, feeling exceptionally melancholic. His gaze fell on Ye Rongxu’s slender, pale fingers extended from the quilt, and he paused.
He can’t show affection with his main account, but he can subtly show it with his alt account, right?
Thinking of this, Qin Chaoyan suddenly searched by the bedside and, sure enough, found the ring Ye Rongxu had taken off before sleeping, strung on a red string.
The corners of his lips unconsciously curved into a slight smile. He picked up the ring, untied the string, gently removed the ring, then took Ye Rongxu’s hand resting on the quilt, and with extremely light movements, slipped the ring onto his left ring finger.
After doing all this, his heart actually beat a little faster, and he felt a sense of guilt.
However, looking at that beautiful, pale hand wearing a ring identical to his own, a smile unconsciously appeared in his eyes.
He gently lifted that hand, fingers intertwined, the simply designed silver rings gleaming against each other. Perhaps it was because the slender hand was so pale, making the wider hand appear slightly darker in skin tone. The two hands clasped together were inexplicably warm and harmonious, yet also held an indescribable tension.
Qin Chaoyan picked up his phone, took a photo of their clasped hands resting on the quilt, then edited it with one hand and posted it on Weibo.
—Of course, it was on his alt account.
All the fans who were secretly checking the alt account: !!!
The fan group quickly erupted:
“Oh my god, did you guys see it? The Weibo post Xiao Yu Mao just made.”
“Holy cow, those two hands, so hot!”
“Ahhh, I recognized the slender, pale hand at a glance! It’s Teacher RongYan, the artist. The artist live-streamed his drawing before, and he has a small mole on his left thumb joint.”
“Those who went to the autograph session confirm it; the location is exactly the same.”
“Case closed, Xiao Yu Mao is President Qin!”
“I never expected President Qin’s private persona to be like this.”
“It’s mainly because netizens taught him so well, chuckles~”
After posting on his alt account, Qin Chaoyan wanted to appreciate the photos he took again, but suddenly a bunch of people flooded the comment section.
[President Qin, still not asleep so late? Taking pictures of your wife’s hands?]
[Take more pictures; I love to see them!]
[Teacher Rong’s hands are so beautiful, hiss hiss!]
[Upstairs, is it really okay to hiss hiss on President Qin’s Weibo?]
[President Qin, why didn’t Teacher Rong like the official Weibo post?]
[Teacher Rong must be exhausted and asleep. At a glance, I recognized the photo was taken on the comforter.]
[So President Qin took the photos after the fact? No wonder you can vaguely see a faint bruise on Teacher Rong’s wrist, hiss hiss.]
[Upstairs, your pants are falling down.]
Qin Chaoyan: ?
How did these people find him?
In a flash of lightning, he suddenly remembered that his main account seemed to have followed this alt account. Tsk, he usually didn’t use his main account, so he forgot about it.
And—
He gently glanced at Ye Rongxu’s wrist. The mark wasn’t from tonight; it was from last night.
How were netizens so sharp-eyed?
He was uncharacteristically guilty, deleting comments all night and worrying about how to explain this to Xuxu tomorrow.
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