Chapter 251: The Story of the Scar Healing Cream CEO!

Unlike the silence of Jiang Tiancheng and Hu Yuantai, Duan Guxiang was clearly very happy at this moment.

After all, he had discussed real estate with Shen Fei at Shengzhu Restaurant, and when Shen Fei never mentioned it again, it became a small worry in his heart.

Now that the issue had been resolved, how could he not be happy?

He undoubtedly agreed with everything Shen Fei had said.

After a day of work, he had briefly studied future market development and economic trends.

Based on the domestic economic policies, no matter how the economy develops in the future, the impact on the wealthiest individuals will be negligible.

In other words, even if an economic crisis occurs, the rich will remain rich, and their assets will only continue to grow.

For this reason, when he heard Shen Fei planning to target Luohu Mountain as their first real estate project, he suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of urgency.

Indeed, although it was rumored that Luohu Mountain’s feng shui was not very good, its geographical location and climate were excellent.

If the land was utilized to build a top-tier villa community, combined with the design concepts Shen Fei had mentioned, selling it would definitely not be difficult.

If successful, the company would undoubtedly rise to become one of the top real estate brands in the country.

It was either fame in one battle or a devastating fall.

Even if they failed, Duan Guxiang felt it was worth trying.

At worst, he would return home to inherit his father’s small mining business.

“Brother Fei, I’ll follow you wholeheartedly! Whatever you say, I’ll do!”

Duan Guxiang said enthusiastically.

This amused Shen Fei, who quickly replied,

“Calm down for now and hold onto that enthusiasm. The first thing to do is move the company from Bincheng! Also, regarding Luohu Mountain… If any of you three feel this won’t work and want to exit, you’re free to do so anytime! I can turn your 5% equity into cash anytime! If not, I can even hand it over to Guxiang!”

He reiterated the option to back out midway.

“Brother Fei, let’s not talk about that. We’ll stick with you no matter what! Besides, you’ve always had our backs—we wouldn’t do anything disloyal!”

Hu Yuantai quickly waved his hand in earnest.

“Alright, I won’t mention it again! Next, I’ll trouble the three of you with relocating the company! As for the auction of Luohu Mountain, I believe the officials will announce it soon!” Shen Fei said.

“Sure, relocating the company is no problem. Now, we’ll just wait for the auction notice!” Jiang Tiancheng nodded repeatedly without a hint of hesitation.

Hu Yuantai paused,

“Since that’s the case, Brother Fei, if the company moves to Shenzhen, what would be a good name for it?”

“Let’s call it Xinyue Real Estate,” Shen Fei said decisively.

“Great! Xinyue Real Estate sounds pretty good!”

Duan Guxiang didn’t care much about this, and Hu Yuantai and Jiang Tiancheng nodded in agreement.

After finishing their business discussions, the group started chatting casually.

While laughing and talking, the four of them caught over a dozen fish.

After enjoying dishes made from the freshly caught fish, they all left one after another.

Shen Fei drove away from Jiangnan Fishing Park, envisioning the layout of the villas on Luohu Mountain from his previous life.

Soon, advanced design concepts from his past life appeared vividly in his mind.

He also recalled the names of designers with cutting-edge ideas one by one.

“Once the design plans for Luohu Mountain are ready, it’ll be time to recruit those designers,” Shen Fei said with a faint smile.

Having been reborn 20 years into the past, Shen Fei had always remembered his real estate plans.

However, he did not intend to spend too much time on this.

He only needed to guide the initial direction; the rest could be left to Duan Guxiang, Jiang Tiancheng, and Hu Yuantai.

Given that Duan Guxiang alone had achieved great success in real estate in his past life, Shen Fei had complete confidence in his abilities.

As for connections, Jiang Tiancheng and Hu Yuantai were more than capable.

This was why Shen Fei had Duan Guxiang bring them along.

Although Shen Fei had never heard of Hu Yuantai’s background, the fact that he could possess the rare ZGC Peony Card—unattainable by most—indicated that Hu Yuantai was far from ordinary.

Shen Fei only needed to ensure they stayed on the right path and offer occasional guidance when necessary.

His true focus was on high-tech industries.

As society developed rapidly, high-tech industries were becoming a new pillar of growth.

To grow stronger, this was also the fastest route.

However, the industry’s current development was still slow, so Shen Fei was waiting for an opportunity.

Once China designated Shenzhen as a technology pilot zone and launched high-tech investment initiatives, Shen Fei would seize the opportunity to make his move.

This would accelerate the construction of his business empire.

—

At Yunhe Villas.

Once home, Shen Fei went straight to his study to plan the layout of the Luohu Mountain project.

Time ticked by.

This continued until the sun began to set.

Shen Fei finally stopped his work, picked up his keys, and left home.

After picking up Shen Jiayue from kindergarten, he drove to the market.

Buying groceries, cooking dinner—he enjoyed it all.

—

Late at night.

After dinner, a trending topic appeared on the headlines:

“The Story of the Scar Healing Cream CEO.”

The scar healing cream had become hugely popular recently, so as soon as people saw the words “scar healing cream,” it immediately attracted widespread attention.

The trending topic’s popularity began to soar, especially as it involved the CEO of the product.

For a moment, the public’s curiosity was ablaze.

This was precisely the outcome that Zhao Chengli, CEO of Pretty Diary, had been waiting for.

Over the past few days, Zhao had secretly teamed up with several industry leaders to compile Shen Fei’s past “misdeeds” into a detailed table, which he spread furiously within the industry.

Other industry insiders were surprised upon seeing the allegations but became determined to join Zhao after noticing how Shen Fei’s scar cream was booming while their own sales declined.

What they didn’t realize was that they had fallen into Zhao Chengli’s trap.

Even if they refused to join him, Zhao would still hire an army of online trolls to smear Shen Fei and manipulate public opinion.

After all, Zhao’s goals were not only to destroy Shen Fei but also to sever his relationship with Tang Xingwen and obtain the scar cream formula.

—————- END —————-

Chapter 252: Abusive Man, Unappealing!

The trending topic regarding the scar-healing ointment continued to gain momentum.

With more and more people reading about it, even more individuals joined the discussion. The rumors about Shen Fei escalated further, with past events being corroborated by text, images, and audio clips. Major influencers on the platform adopted a godlike perspective, unleashing a series of criticisms about Shen Fei’s behavior and actions.

At this point, the situation spiraled out of control.

“Damn, I didn’t expect the owner of the scar-healing ointment to have such a messed-up past!”

“This guy is pure scum! Seriously, how can someone like this succeed in business? Is there no justice?”

“An abusive man? I’m done with this! I don’t even want the scar-healing ointment anymore—straight into the trash can! What a waste of my 500 bucks!”

“Am I the only one wondering how this guy developed such a product in just a few months?”

“Boycott the scar-healing ointment! Buying it supports abusers! Boycott it now!”

“Ladies, the product may work, but do we really want to support someone like this? I won’t buy it, no matter how good it is. Men like this are disgusting!”

“If women around me dare to buy this product, I swear I’ll cut ties with them. What nonsense!”

“For every ointment you buy, this man’s wife gets abused! Ladies, let’s stand together and say no to this!”

The fierce rhetoric instantly put the scar-healing ointment and its founder, Shen Fei, in the spotlight. Discussions were no longer limited to the original trending topic “The Scandalous Life of the Scar-Healing Ointment Founder.”

New trending terms emerged: “Xinyue Group,” “Shen Fei,” “Shen Fei’s Wife,” and “Domestic Violence.”

Shen Fei quickly became the subject of nationwide outrage. While a few skeptical voices questioned the accusations, they were soon drowned out by the orchestrated online attacks, with critics being labeled as Shen Fei’s accomplices.

Under the storm of ridicule and accusations, Shen Fei had seemingly become public enemy number one. The scar-healing ointment and Xinyue Group were widely predicted to collapse within three days.

Meanwhile, armies of paid trolls flooded the internet, solidifying Shen Fei’s national infamy. For a celebrity, such a scenario would have meant complete panic, possibly being forced to leave the public eye or face indefinite suspension.

However, amidst this frenzy, Shen Fei remained completely unfazed. At Yunhe Villa, he was calmly helping his wife and daughter practice the violin.

Just then, the phone rang.

“Hmm? Lixin? Why are you calling so late?” Han Xinyan asked, puzzled.

“Sis? Why are you so cheerful? Something big just happened!” Han Lixin sounded anxious.

“What happened?” Han Xinyan was even more confused.

“Check the headlines! Everything’s there!” With that, Han Lixin hung up abruptly.

He then immediately called Zhang Xiulian.

“My son! You finally decided to call your parents? Xiaomin said you left without a word, and I’ve been worried sick!” Zhang Xiulian pretended to wipe her eyes.

“Did you recently spread rumors about Shen Fei’s past to anyone?” Han Lixin asked bluntly.

“W-what? Uh…” Zhang Xiulian stammered, clearly guilty.

Hearing her hesitation, Han Lixin’s heart sank, and he shouted, “Answer me—did you or didn’t you?”

“I didn’t really say much! Li Yi from Qian Kun Group asked me about Shen Fei, and I just mentioned a few things! But I wasn’t trying to badmouth him—I only stated the facts!” Zhang Xiulian replied weakly.

“Mom! Seriously?!” Han Lixin nearly lost his breath in frustration.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Zhang Xiulian panicked upon hearing her son’s anger.

“Why can’t you stop stirring trouble? Do you have to push my sister and brother-in-law until they cut ties with everyone? Is that what you want?” Han Lixin roared before hanging up.

“This… what did I do? I only spoke the truth! I’m innocent!” Zhang Xiulian turned to her husband, Han Jian, looking both confused and wronged.

—

At Yunhe Villa, Han Xinyan anxiously browsed through the trending headlines. When she saw the explosive topic, her heart sank.

Hands trembling, she clicked on it and read through the contents. The vicious attacks and netizens’ anger made her face turn pale.

“Shen… Shen Fei…” she uttered in disbelief, her mind blank.

However, when she looked up, Shen Fei was casually scrolling through his phone, seemingly entertained.

“Why are you so relaxed?” Han Xinyan asked, incredulous.

“What’s there to worry about? Cheer up!” Shen Fei said with a smile.

“Cheer up? How can you be so carefree?” Han Xinyan couldn’t believe it.

“This was bound to happen sooner or later. It’s nothing to be afraid of,” Shen Fei replied calmly.

“You mean… you expected this?” Han Xinyan was surprised.

“Of course! It’s actually better that this happened now; otherwise, it would’ve caused even more problems down the line.” Shen Fei spoke with complete composure.

In his previous life, Shen Fei had experienced the online harassment triggered by this same incident. Back then, his beloved wife had already passed away, leaving him and his daughter, Shen Jiayue, to face the storm alone.

Only now did Shen Fei realize the true cause of his daughter’s trauma. After this incident, his daughter had grown increasingly silent, with her psychological wounds worsening until she eventually fell into deep depression.

That depression was what had ultimately led to her tragic decision to jump off a building.

Thinking of this, Shen Fei sighed deeply. Fortunately, this time, he had realized his mistakes early. He no longer cared about his reputation or financial losses.

“Ah Yan, I owe you a sincere apology. I really was a jerk,” Shen Fei said apologetically.

Han Xinyan smiled and shook her head. “The past is the past. Let’s not talk about it anymore. What matters now is how to deal with this situation. Are we just going to sit here and let the trolls have their way?”

“This is clearly the work of competitors trying to undermine the success of the scar-healing ointment. But this crisis is nothing serious—it can be resolved. Don’t worry so much. Just smile!” Shen Fei reassured her confidently.

—————- END —————-

Chapter 253: Are You Behind This?

“They’re not focusing on improving their own product quality, yet they’re trying every trick to suppress us!”

Hearing this, Han Xinyan said angrily.

“There will always be people who envy and hate you—that’s just life.”

Shen Fei smiled, trying to calm her down.

Although he hadn’t anticipated the timing of this online smear campaign, he could guess who the culprits were—his former classmates.

After all, other than a few acquaintances, only his old classmates knew about his past struggles.

If it were truly competitors digging into his past, it would have been impossible to gather such comprehensive information in such a short time.

In Shen Fei’s previous life, the informants were precisely those classmates. The reason was simple—after Shen Fei’s success, they all came to him asking for loans. When he refused, they lashed out in retaliation by spreading these rumors.

But this time…

Shen Fei was puzzled.

During their last class reunion, he had already torn into them and burned bridges. Logically, they shouldn’t have acted this way. Could it be because he embarrassed Pei Lian, causing him to lose the deal with Dongyue Restaurant? Was this Pei Lian’s revenge?

Regarding this smear campaign, Shen Fei completely ruled out Su Ruyan.

In his eyes, even if he deleted her on WeChat, Su Ruyan wouldn’t go so far as to seek revenge out of love or hatred.

“But wouldn’t they get a better deal by using this dirt to blackmail us rather than selling it to competitors?”

Han Xinyan frowned.

As the target of these allegations, they would likely agree to pay a high price to protect the company’s image.

“Stop overthinking. What’s done is done,” Shen Fei said casually.

“What do we do now? If the rumors keep spreading, this will spiral out of control!” Han Xinyan said anxiously.

“Relax, take it slow. The best solution right now is to ignore it. Scar-healing ointment is unmatched in effectiveness—there’s nothing else like it in the country or even globally. Are we really worried about a minor PR storm? Let the rumors fester; this might even turn out to be a good thing for the company.”

Shen Fei spoke with absolute confidence.

But the more Han Xinyan listened, the more confused she became.

“Ignore it? Are you serious?”

“Yeah! Just ignore it. If I’m not wrong, the company will be swarmed tomorrow. If you don’t want to face them, just stay home or head straight inside the office.” Shen Fei grinned and ruffled her hair.

“I’m fine, but what about you? You’re the one they’re attacking online!”

Seeing Shen Fei still so optimistic, Han Xinyan couldn’t help but worry.

“I’ll be fine! In a few days, I’ll release a video, and public opinion will flip instantly.”

“Huh? A video? What do you mean?” Han Xinyan asked in confusion.

Could a single video really change public sentiment?

Shen Fei’s plan wasn’t just for the company; it was also for Han Xinyan. He wanted to show her how deeply he regretted the past.

“You’ll see in a few days!”

Shen Fei winked playfully, which reassured Han Xinyan.

With such a massive online uproar, it was destined to be a sleepless night.

Jiang Tiancheng, Hu Yuntai, Duan Guxiang, Duan Guoan, Jiang Shengcai, and others all called Shen Fei one after another.

Even Zhong Qi, Zhou Zhengji, and Jin Liyao—people who hadn’t contacted him in ages—reached out.

Some old middle school teachers and Qian Kun Group’s president, Jiang Rou, also called him.

These rumors and blackmail had completely overturned their impression of Shen Fei.

The Shen Fei they knew seemed entirely different from the one trending on social media.

The evidence was so solid—photos, videos, and recordings—that even they couldn’t convince themselves it was fake.

…

That night.

At an upscale bar in Shenzhen.

Zhao Chengli looked earnestly at Tang Xingwen.

It had taken all his effort to trick Tang Xingwen into coming out.

“Stop wasting your breath. I’m not handing over the formula for the scar-healing ointment.”

Seeing Zhao Chengli, Tang Xingwen’s expression turned cold.

He had come because a friend invited him, but to his surprise, Zhao Chengli was behind it.

Had he known, Tang Xingwen wouldn’t have come.

“Xingwen, don’t be like this. Weren’t we comrades who fought side by side before?” Zhao Chengli said with a bitter smile.

Before Tang Xingwen could respond, Zhao Chengli added,

“Xingwen, you’ve seen what’s trending, right? Is that the kind of boss you want to follow? Is he really worth it? A man like that? You know what I admire most about you? Your honesty and integrity. You’re not driven by money or power. Who else can say that nowadays?”

Zhao Chengli flattered him relentlessly.

Tang Xingwen frowned, his expression hard to read.

The headlines had indeed shocked him.

The Shen Fei described online was completely different from the Shen Fei he knew.

But no matter what, with photos, videos, and recordings as evidence, he couldn’t convince himself it was all fake.

Had he known about Shen Fei’s past before partnering with him, he would never have agreed to work together.

After a pause, Tang Xingwen stared at Zhao Chengli suspiciously.

“Are you behind all this?”

“How could I be?”

A flash of panic crossed Zhao Chengli’s face, but he quickly regained his composure.

“Xingwen, you’ve worked with me long enough to know me better than that. Honestly, I don’t think this scandal will harm the scar-healing ointment much.”

Tang Xingwen nodded reluctantly.

Although Zhao Chengli was no saint, his point was valid. Given the product’s effectiveness, this wouldn’t cause irreparable damage.

Besides, Shen Fei wasn’t their real rival—the scar-healing ointment was.

If Shen Fei fell, another “Shen Fei” would take his place.

But the product itself was irreplaceable.

“Xingwen, I’m not badmouthing Shen Fei, but think about it—this is a man who hits his wife and child. Do you really want to work yourself to death for someone like that? Come back to Pretty Diary. We can build a skincare empire together. Or, if you prefer, share the formula with the entire industry. You’d have shares in every major company, and you’d live a life free of worries. Isn’t that a better choice? Why tie yourself to someone like him?”

Zhao Chengli’s voice turned soft and persuasive.

—————- END —————-

Chapter 254: He Really Doesn’t Have Much Common Sense!

“You keep talking about this and that, but isn’t it just that you want the formula for the Scar-Healing Ointment?”

A trace of mockery appeared on Tang Xingwen’s lips as he coldly chuckled.

He might be straightforward, but he wasn’t a fool.

“No, Xingwen, don’t talk about me. Tell me, in the beauty industry today, who doesn’t want the formula? The Scar-Healing Ointment has made many competitors anxious. If this goes on, how many companies will go bankrupt? I know you want to develop a legendary product, but if it leads to so many people losing their jobs… that’s not a blessing, it’s a deadly poison!”

Zhao Chengli paused, calmed himself down, and continued, “Besides, regarding the Scar-Healing Ointment, does Shen Fei really deserve all this? If he were a person of loyalty and honor, maybe that would be fine, but is he? He drinks, gambles, and is abusive. A scoundrel like him deserves to die a million times! Who knows, one day he might just sell you and the Scar-Healing Ointment formula for his own benefit! Aren’t you scared?”

As Zhao Chengli spoke, he noticed Tang Xingwen across from him seemed to be forcing himself to hold back his emotions.

“Alright, stop talking. Forget about the Scar-Healing Ointment formula. No matter whether I follow Shen Fei or his company in the future, or whether I stay in this industry, I will never sell the formula to anyone! The reason the Scar-Healing Ointment was developed so early is also due to Shen Fei’s help. He always gives me tips at the right moments. Otherwise, it would have taken years to develop it!”

“Because of that, only he and I know the formula! You should stop thinking about it!”

Tang Xingwen said this firmly.

“No possibility of a reversal?” Zhao Chengli asked, still not willing to give up.

“None,” Tang Xingwen replied.

“Even if Shen Fei is a person of bad character?” Zhao Chengli asked, with a slight challenge.

Although he had expected this conversation to turn out like this, hearing Tang Xingwen’s blunt rejection still left him feeling humiliated.

“There’s no connection between these two! Let it go!” Tang Xingwen said.

“Old Tang, you’re not leaving any way out for yourself! I’m telling you…” Zhao Chengli glared at Tang Xingwen angrily.

Before he could say anything more, Tang Xingwen raised his hand to stop him.

“Zhao, stop. Just let it go.”

“You… You’re hopeless!”

Seeing Tang Xingwen’s resolve, Zhao Chengli stood up abruptly, his face filled with anger, and left. Before leaving, he glanced towards a corner of the tavern.

There, Su Ruyan was laughing as she tasted some wine, dressed in a sleek black biker outfit with a high ponytail. Despite her heavy makeup, her delicate features were undeniable.

Even in the corner, she was approached by several people who tried to start conversations.

When she saw Zhao Chengli looking over, she mischievously blinked at him.

The silence between them conveyed more than words could.

After Zhao Chengli stormed off, Tang Xingwen’s mouth curved into a bitter smile.

His emotions were tangled with pain and conflict.

Ever since he started working with Shen Fei, Shen Fei had given him a chance to fulfill his dreams and had been loyal.

This made Tang Xingwen feel extremely lucky.

But now, the image of Shen Fei portrayed online was completely different from his own impression of him.

The more he compared Shen Fei’s image from the internet with his personal experience, the more conflicted he felt.

No matter how he tried to rationalize it, he couldn’t deny that these events had changed the way he felt about Shen Fei.

“Haah—”

“Could someone really change so much in such a short time?”

Sighing deeply, Tang Xingwen muttered to himself.

He then tilted his head back and downed the bottle of alcohol in one go.

Drinking wasn’t his hobby, but it helped him clear his mind, so he drank.

He drank five bottles, and soon his mind began to feel foggy.

At that moment, a graceful figure caught his eye.

“Hey, drinking alone?”

Tang Xingwen looked up and was slightly stunned upon seeing her appearance.

Though he wasn’t a fan like Zhao Chengli, he was certainly struck by Su Ruyan’s looks.

Her biker outfit, high ponytail—she was everything he imagined his dream girl to be.

He froze for a moment but didn’t immediately engage. His mind seemed to clear up a little as he skeptically asked,

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing much! I saw you drinking alone, so I thought I’d join you!”

Su Ruyan raised her glass and downed it in one gulp.

Tang Xingwen heard this and casually responded with confidence, “What do you mean by that? Are you saying I’m good-looking and that’s why you’re here?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly realized how bold that sounded and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

“Sorry, I’ve had too much to drink.”

“It’s fine. As for looks, you’re not stunning, but not bad either! And drinking alone is boring, isn’t it? Having some company is much better, don’t you think?”

Su Ruyan smiled lightly, her eyes full of charm.

Tang Xingwen couldn’t help but stare at her, captivated.

He kept his eyes fixed on her face, and then seemed to remember something, his gaze flickering down towards her stomach.

“You wouldn’t…”

His eyes moved between her face and her stomach, his meaning clear, though he didn’t speak it.

Su Ruyan understood what he was implying, and her face immediately darkened. She snapped,

“What are you implying? Forget it, you should just keep drinking alone!”

With that, she stood up.

However, just as she was about to walk away, a loud voice called out from behind her.

“Wait!”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Su Ruyan turned back, confused.

“It’s my fault! I shouldn’t have assumed anything about you! The whole ‘plain person taking over the business’ thing was just my imagination!”

Tang Xingwen quickly apologized, clearly worried she might leave.

When she heard this, Su Ruyan smiled sweetly,

“You’re funny.”

“Whether I’m funny or not isn’t important. I’m not good with words, and people always say I’m too blunt and thick-headed…”

Tang Xingwen lowered his head in discouragement.

“You’re right, you’re a bit thick-headed,” Su Ruyan said softly.

Just as she finished speaking, she waved her hand and pretended to leave.

But she was waiting for Tang Xingwen’s next move.

Before she could take a step, she heard him call out.

“Miss, wait a moment!”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Su Ruyan frowned as she looked at him.

“I… this… you…”

Tang Xingwen hesitated for a moment.

Then, taking a deep breath, he said seriously,

“Can I add you on WeChat?”

It had been ten years since he had been in a relationship, and after being cheated on and breaking up, Tang Xingwen had never actively sought to start another relationship since.

—————- END —————-

Chapter 255: The Journalists’ Harassment

For Tang Xingwen, this was destined to be an extraordinary night.

He tossed and turned in bed, with the delicate face of Su Ruyan from the tavern lingering in his mind.

Unable to suppress the feelings stirring inside him, Tang Xingwen chatted with Su Ruyan on his phone until three in the morning.

A smile unconsciously spread across his face, something he hadn’t experienced in the last ten years.

Although their conversation on WeChat was about trivial matters, Tang Xingwen felt a sense of peace he had never known before.

If Su Ruyan could be his life partner, he would have no regrets.

Tang Xingwen had little experience with romance, and simply chatting with the woman of his dreams for an hour or two was enough to leave him content.

He had even imagined where they might settle down after marriage and what their children’s names would be.

This wasn’t enough, though. Tang Xingwen even revisited Su Ruyan’s WeChat moments several times.

Her posts varied—some were positive and uplifting, others were filled with restlessness.

What excited him the most were the pictures of Su Ruyan in different moods.

All of this made Tang Xingwen feel incredibly lucky, and even in his sleep, he couldn’t shake the image of her from his mind…

—

In stark contrast to Tang Xingwen’s romantic reverie, things at Yunhe Villa’s 1602 apartment were filled with anxiety and tension.

Despite Shen Fei repeatedly assuring her that they didn’t need to worry about the matter for now, Han Xinyan couldn’t relax.

Just thinking about what would happen the next day kept her awake.

She sat up at 4 a.m., restless, and stayed in this state until it was almost time for work, before she finally mustered the courage to act.

When Shen Fei offered to accompany her to work, she refused him outright.

This public outcry had been triggered by Shen Fei, and if he appeared in public again, the backlash would be unbearable!

After applying a thick layer of foundation, Han Xinyan tried to pump herself up in the car before finally getting out.

As she neared the company entrance, a large crowd holding cameras and smartphones quickly surrounded her.

Though she had anticipated this, seeing it in person still left Han Xinyan startled.

“Ms. Han, have you seen the headlines? How do you feel about your husband now? Do you agree with what the netizens are saying?”

“Ms. Han, it’s said that a large portion of the facts in the headlines were shared by your mother, Zhang Xiulian! Mothers usually love their children. If that’s true, why do you still live with Shen Fei?”

“Ms. Han, what exactly happened to your husband in the past few months that led to such a dramatic change?”

“Ms. Han, it’s rumored that you wanted to divorce your husband, but after he became rich, did you stay with him for the money?”

“Ms. Han…”

A barrage of questions came at Han Xinyan, catching her off guard. The complexity of the questions far exceeded her ability to answer them.

Her mind went blank, and her face turned pale.

But realizing they were all reporters, she had no choice but to pull herself together.

Taking a deep breath, she calmly replied, “Friends, whether it’s Shen Fei or you, don’t we all have uncomfortable pasts that we don’t want to talk about? Who among us is perfect? Why keep dwelling on those dark moments?”

“Yes, Shen Fei’s past is somewhat unsightly, difficult for everyone to accept. But do you know how his past was? I’ve been with him for seven years, and I understand him better than anyone! If Shen Fei had truly been that awful, would I have continued with him? Would I have married him and gotten pregnant?”

“I can’t deny the past, as when Shen Fei started his business, we were both full of hope for the future. But when his business failed, it was a huge blow for someone with such dreams. Naturally, Shen Fei fell into despair.”

“That said, I don’t want anyone to think I’m trying to whitewash Shen Fei. I’m not! I must apologize to him because I didn’t encourage him or help him out of his troubles.”

“But it’s never too late. A prodigal son can still return. He admitted his mistakes, let go of his past self, and started to look forward to the future. Life only happens once, but there are many opportunities to change for the better! Shen Fei seized that chance and has done well.”

“As for this divorce question… I believe that anyone in a desperate situation might consider it. But if I were staying with Shen Fei for his wealth, I would have severed ties with him the moment his business failed, rather than staying with him in a poor rented apartment and having children. I’m not a perfect woman, but I don’t ask for much—a warm home is enough. Now that Shen Fei has provided that, I will continue for my own happiness.”

With sincere words, Han Xinyan said a lot.

But to the reporters trying to generate traffic, her answers weren’t what they were looking for.

In the age of viral content, they were hoping for something explosive.

“Ms. Han…”

They didn’t give up, trying to ask more questions.

“Move! Move!”

A strong voice came from behind.

Tang Xingwen pushed his way through.

“Where are the security guards? Is the company paying you to do nothing?”

“Why are you all standing there? Can’t you see Ms. Han is surrounded?”

Tang Xingwen’s reprimands snapped the security guards out of their daze.

A dozen of them quickly moved to clear a path for Han Xinyan and Tang Xingwen.

“Ms. Han, those people have ulterior motives. Don’t say too much to them! Otherwise, they’ll twist your words again!” Tang Xingwen quickly advised.

“Alright.” Han Xinyan nodded.

As they entered the company building, the reporters’ resentful glares followed them.

Inside the elevator, noticing Tang Xingwen’s uneasy expression and his repeatedly opening and closing mouth, Han Xinyan couldn’t help but smile helplessly.

“Old Tang, what do you think of Shen Fei?”