When she entered the house, Su Ci looked like a little fox who had successfully stolen something sweet, her brows and eyes filled with laughter.

Passing by the study, she saw light spilling through the crack of the door.

“Xiao Ci.”

At this moment, the study door opened from the inside, and Su Zhiyuan walked out.

He was holding a cup in his hand, clearly about to go pour some water.

“Gege, it’s so late, do you still have work to do?” Su Ci thought of the concert tonight, feeling a bit guilty. She didn’t know if her brother had seen her together with Lu Zhe.

“Mm, there are still some documents to deal with.”

Su Zhiyuan had changed clothes. He was now wearing casual attire, looking like an elegant young master from a wealthy family. He held the cup in one hand, and casually placed the other hand in his pocket. “Was the concert good tonight?”

Su Ci kept her face calm and nodded. “It was okay.”

“You said you had an appointment with a friend to watch the concert. That person was Lu Zhe?”

Her eldest brother asked very directly. It seemed he had indeed seen her with Lu Zhe.

Su Ci did not deny it. “Yeah. Last time he got injured while saving you, so I invited him to watch the concert as a way of repaying the life-saving grace he gave you.”

Su Ci was very righteous and confident. Right now she was using the excuse of repaying kindness to date him.

Su Zhiyuan glanced at his sister. “How is Lu Zhe’s injury?”

“The injury on his hand hasn’t healed yet. It’ll probably take another month before he can remove the gauze.”

Of course Su Zhiyuan knew Lu Zhe’s injury wouldn’t heal that quickly, but when he heard the worry in his sister’s tone, he instinctively frowned. “Xiao Ci, Lu Zhe’s life-saving grace toward us — Gege will repay him. You don’t need to bear this responsibility.”

Su Ci looked at her eldest brother. “It’s not responsibility. I’m just doing what I want to do.”

“Xiao Ci?” Only then did Su Zhiyuan realize that his sister felt differently about Lu Zhe.

Even though he had sensed something earlier, he had only thought she was grateful to Lu Zhe and hadn’t thought too much about it.

Su Ci looked at him seriously. “Gege, you don’t need to worry. I know what I’m doing.” She changed the subject. “Besides the car accident, how are Zheng Hao’s manager and assistant doing now?”

How could Su Zhiyuan not know she was intentionally changing the topic? “They’re still being resuscitated. I’ve already sent people over to follow up on the situation.”

Su Ci nodded. She pretended to yawn. “Gege, I’m a little tired. I’ll go back to my room to rest first. You should sleep early too.”

Su Zhiyuan managed such a huge corporation, with so many employees under him — even the old foxes in the company couldn’t outsmart him. How could he not see through such a clumsy excuse from his sister?

Watching her return to her room, he helplessly pinched the bridge of his nose.

Su Zhiyuan was not like Su Mother.

For one, Su Zhiyuan had never been in a relationship. He never believed that without love, a person couldn’t live. And for another, he understood Su Ci’s temperament — once she decided something, it was hard to change. He would not interfere too much in his sister’s feelings.

As the eldest brother, Su Zhiyuan would never restrict the behavior or thoughts of his younger siblings. He would only become their support whenever they needed him.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

The night was deep.

When Lu Zhe returned to the Lu house, he saw that the lights in the living room were still on, and the sound of the television drifted out from inside.

He walked inside.

“Zai Zai, you’re back.” Hearing footsteps, Wen Ya sat up straight, holding back the urge to yawn.

Lu Zhe was a little surprised. “Mom, it’s so late, you still haven’t gone to rest?”

“I was finishing this drama, and now I’m getting ready to sleep.” Wen Ya’s gaze unintentionally fell on her son’s wrist. There, tied around it, was a yellow ribbon, tied into a beautiful bow.

Her eyes carried a smile. She looked at her son with deep meaning. “You met with Su Ci tonight?”

Lu Zhe: “Mm.”

Seeing the joy he couldn’t hide in his brows and eyes, Wen Ya felt both happy and sour.

“Mom recently found a doctor abroad who is very experienced in treating ALS. Whenever you have time, I’ll invite him over to give you a consultation.” Wen Ya had never given up on treating her son’s illness.

Even though she knew ALS was one of the seven major terminal diseases in the world, her son now looked perfectly healthy, no different from ordinary people. She could not accept that he would one day fall ill and pass away.

Lu Zhe’s eyes darkened slightly. He nodded. “Next Monday.”

Ever since returning to the Lu family, his parents had found many specialists to treat him. He cooperated, taking medicine, undergoing examinations, exercising, massaging his limbs — he never complained.

He felt that his body was better than before.

Previously, his left leg had been numb and weak. When he walked, he would limp slightly or even fall, but that situation had not occurred again.

Even his arm no longer went numb as often, and the muscle twitching had gradually decreased.

After being ill for nearly a year, his condition had not worsened but had instead improved.

No matter how cold his personality was, Lu Zhe would still have expectations.

He didn’t dare hope for a recovery, that wasn’t realistic, but he wished he could live a little longer.

Only two years left was far too short.

He wanted to stay with Su Ci for a longer time, even longer.

When Wen Ya heard his answer, her beautiful face bloomed with a smile. She quickly replied, “Alright, Mom will book the appointment for next Monday.”

With Zai Zai cooperating like this, as his mother, she would absolutely never give up.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

Zheng Hao’s mistake during the concert climbed onto the trending searches, and following that, news broke out that he had gotten into a car accident after the concert ended.

A marketing account posted that Zheng Hao’s nanny van had been hit by a black car, and both Zheng Hao and his manager had been sent to the hospital for emergency treatment.

“Zheng Hao got into a car accident? What happened? I just finished watching his concert!”

“Please bless our Hao Hao. His manager lost so much blood. What about Hao Hao? Did anyone capture where he was injured?”

“I heard that after Hao Hao’s car left the concert, he was followed by sasaengs on the road. The car accident was caused when the sasaengs rear-ended them.”

“Seeing this news, I’m shaking all over from anger. Do sasaengs have a problem? Isn’t the concert enough for you to take photos? You still have to chase the car?”

“Those sasaengs are insane. Please, I’m begging you, act like human beings. You even caused Zheng Hao to end up in the hospital! You’re murderers!”

“Sasaengs are truly disgusting, extreme and brainless. Are you so free with nothing to do? Is this what you call chasing idols? I think you’re sewer rats.”

“How is Hao Hao now? I’m so worried. In the photos, there’s only his back, and it looks like his hand is covered in blood.”

“Do you sasaengs really love Hao Hao? It’s terrifying. Are you trying to kill Zheng Hao!”

“After the concert, we normal fans just waited obediently at the main gate to say goodbye to Hao Hao. Who would’ve thought sasaengs would actually follow him? Why are there always people who chase idols irrationally, using the name of love to do things that hurt Hao Hao?”

“I’m just a passerby, and even I think sasaengs are scary. Seeing this trending topic made my scalp numb, I got goosebumps everywhere.”

“Ai, please chase idols rationally.”

“Why can’t you keep a distance from your idol? Why must you be so crazy and follow him around? Now something’s happened, please, police uncles, you must punish them and make them pay for their wrongdoings…”

Seeing this kind of news, Zheng Hao’s fans were both heartbroken and angry. They had just finished watching the concert, so they couldn’t accept that their idol had gotten into a car accident the moment they turned around.

Just as the trending topic stirred up wave after wave of fan comments, another piece of news suddenly shot up the hot search: Zheng Hao secretly meets with the Su family’s young miss, escapes car accident.

Clicking into the trending topic, there were photos attached of Su Ci appearing at the concert, as well as in the parking lot where Zheng Hao was seen getting into her car.

Originally, fans had been worried that Zheng Hao’s condition was unknown, and furious over sasaengs hurting him. But now there was a huge reversal — not only had Zheng Hao not gotten into a car accident, he had been with Su family’s young miss, Su Ci. Fans were completely stunned.

“Is the news real? Zheng Hao didn’t get into a car accident?”

“What’s going on? One moment it’s a car accident, the next moment he’s secretly meeting the Su family’s young miss.”

“Can Su Ci stop trying to cling to my Hao Hao? Without a front-facing photo, we won’t acknowledge anything.”

“Isn’t this Su Ci the one who trended a few days ago because Qin Shiyan tried to harm her? Why is it her again? Is she desperate to get famous?”

“I won’t deny she has a good family background and is pretty, but she’s not our Hao Hao’s type. Maybe they’re just acquaintances. After all, Hao Hao’s family background isn’t bad either.”

“Upstairs, do you even know what Su Ci’s family background is? Zheng Hao is only the rich second generation of a small business. How can he compare to the Su family? Put it this way — a single Su Corporation is worth more than ten thousand of Zheng Hao’s family companies. That’s the gap. Zheng Hao and Su Ci can’t possibly be just friends. I lean more toward them being a couple.”

“Did Zheng Hao get into a car accident or not?”

“Su Ci is pretty and rich. I actually think Zheng Hao isn’t worthy of her.”

“Su Ci’s face is indeed flawless, and her family background is unbeatable. But please stop trying to cling to my Hao Hao.”

“Take my Hao Hao away from this. The photo is so blurry, which eye of the photographer saw that it was him?”

“So Zheng Hao didn’t get into a car accident, but was having a secret date with Su Ci? I feel so stupid for worrying and panicking earlier. I’m so angry right now. I’d rather he really got into a car accident and went to the hospital than see him dating another woman.”

“Upstairs, don’t get too worked up. Let’s wait for the studio to release a statement…”

Su Ci only saw the trending topics when she went online the next day.

Just one night, and netizens already thought she was dating Zheng Hao?

Su Ci was speechless.

At this moment, she received a call from her eldest brother.

After returning to the company, Su Zhiyuan had received a report about the situation from his subordinates. “Xiao Ci, what’s going on between you and Zheng Hao?”

Su Ci explained, “Everything online is nonsense. I don’t like him at all.”

“Mm. I’ll have people take the news down.” After hearing his sister’s words, Su Zhiyuan didn’t say anything more.

As soon as Su Ci hung up her brother’s call, in the next moment, she received a call from her father.

“Xiao Ci, have you been close to any boys recently?” Father Su asked tactfully, yet with heartache. Just thinking that his precious daughter might be taken away by someone made him upset to the point of wanting to beat up that brat.

Clearly, Father Su also knew about the online rumors.

“No, Dad. That male artist is an employee of our company. Yesterday I just went with a friend to watch his concert. I don’t like him.” Su Ci repeated the explanation she had given her brother.

Hearing this, Father Su finally felt relieved. “Those media outlets are going too far. Don’t worry, I’ll have people deal with them and delete all the posts.”

After he hung up, in the next second, someone knocked on Su Ci’s door.

Mother Su walked inside.

“Cici…”

Su Ci cut her off, repeating once again the same explanation she had given her father and brother.

Mother Su was stunned, and after recovering, she said, “The media nowadays really have no conscience. For the sake of clicks, they dare write anything. I’ll have your brother send them lawyer’s letters.”

“Mom, you didn’t come in to talk about that?” Su Ci thought Su Mother had also seen the trending topics.

“No, later I’m taking Ning Ning and Tiancai out. The two kids insisted I bring you with us.” Mother Su walked over and rubbed her daughter’s soft hair. “Get up. Your brother will handle everything online. Don’t worry.”

Su Ci nodded and lazily got out of bed.

The Lu family, of course, also knew about the online rumors regarding Su Ci.

Especially Wen Ya — she browsed trending topics whenever she was bored, scrolling through gossip news.

She didn’t expect that she would end up eating gossip about her own son’s girlfriend.

Wen Ya tapped into the trending post. There were not only photos, but the analysis was detailed and “logical.” The comments had already exceeded a hundred thousand.

The person in the photos was indeed Su Ci.

Wen Ya frowned.

At this moment, Lu Zhe came downstairs.

“Zai Zai, you’re up.” Wen Ya looked at her son, her smile a bit strained.

“What happened?” Lu Zhe immediately sensed something was off in her expression.

Wen Ya’s gaze toward her son was filled with heartache and pity. “Mom needs to tell you something, but don’t be too sad.”

“Mm.” Lu Zhe took the phone from her.

On the screen was the news about Zheng Hao secretly meeting Su Ci after the concert.

Lu Zhe only looked at it for a few seconds before handing the phone back. “Last night, I was the one who went to the concert with Su Ci.”

Hearing her son’s words, Wen Ya finally relaxed.

But the way she looked at her son was still full of heartache and pity. Compared to that male artist, did her Zai Zai not even get a name in the gossip?

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

While Su Ci was shopping, she saw a private message from Zheng Hao: Sorry for causing you trouble. I’ll clarify the situation.

The Su family had already deleted all the online posts and even released a clarification, but most netizens still remained doubtful.

After the concert, Zheng Hao had already been exhausted. Added to that, he had stayed in the hospital for most of the night. When he returned home, he practically collapsed into sleep. It was only after waking up that he saw the trending topics.

Regarding the marketing accounts’ “exposé,” he had vaguely expected something like this might happen.

But after he got into the car and saw Su Ci interacting with that young man, he knew very clearly that the one Su Ci liked was not him, but that boy.

Zheng Hao’s face still carried heavy fatigue. He finished typing his message and sent it directly: Su Ci has saved my life twice. She is my benefactor. I feel only respect and gratitude toward her. Please stop making wild guesses and attacking her. Otherwise, I don’t mind using legal means to stop the rumors.

His message had been out for less than a minute when the comments surpassed ten thousand.

“Hao Hao is really okay? I thought you got into a car accident, scared me to death.”

“Hao Hao’s lifesaver is also the lifesaver of us Hao-fans.”

“So where are yesterday’s black fans who were stirring trouble?”

“Su Ci actually saved Hao Hao? This young lady is truly beautiful and kind. I’m a fan now, I’m a fan.”

“Yesterday’s news was wave after wave of stimulation. Good thing Hao Hao came forward to clarify. The Su Corporation also clarified earlier, but some people just choose to be blind.”

“As long as it’s explained clearly, that’s good. Thank you, fairy-sister Su Ci, for saving our Hao Hao.”

……

After a while, the news that Su Ci was Zheng Hao’s lifesaver climbed to the top of the trending list, and the rumor between them was finally cleared.

Su Ci received many messages and private DMs from Zheng Hao’s fans, and her follower count rose rapidly.

Previously, her brother had bought her more than a million fake followers, but after a few rounds of trending topics, her follower count had quickly risen to over two million.

Zheng Hao was a top traffic star, currently very popular. He had more than thirty million fans. Even if only a small portion followed her, the number was astonishing.

Su Ci didn’t bother checking the rapidly rising follower count. She put away her phone and accompanied Mother Su, little Su Ning, and little Tiancai as they shopped in the mall.

Mother Su had already enrolled the two little ones in school. In September, not only would Su Ci be going to school, the two little ones would also be entering kindergarten.

Little Tiancai was over five years old. He was originally supposed to enter the middle class, but in order to take care of little Su Ning, he willingly chose to enter the junior class with him. Mother Su had brought them out today to buy small items they would need for kindergarten — little water bottles, tiny backpacks, and so on.

At this moment, while they were passing by a beverage shop, little Su Ning suddenly stopped.

His big black eyes swirled around. His tiny hand shot out, pointing inside the shop, and he said in his milky voice, “It’s Chicken Wing Gege.”

Su Ci lifted her gaze.

There stood Ji Chi, wearing a black staff uniform. His face was cold and handsome. In front of him lined up many excited girls, eagerly waiting to buy drinks.