Chapter 67

Kong Xiyan's sudden arrival completely shifted the journalists' attention. A flurry of camera flashes lit up the venue as questions were hurled from every direction.

"Miss Kong, what exactly do you mean by that?"

"Miss Kong, does this imply there's more to the divorce three years ago?"

"Miss Kong, are you saying you were wrongly accused?"

The reporters seized the opportunity like drowning people grasping at driftwood, pushing forward desperately to get close to Kong Xiyan and ask their questions.

The security guards stepped in promptly, forming a barrier around Kong Xiyan. Wei Yan's face paled with panic. "What are you standing around for?! Throw these troublemakers out!"

He Wei was calmer than Wei Yan, though her clenched hands betrayed her unease. "Miss Kong, today is the press conference for Mr. Wei and myself. I must ask unrelated persons to leave."

"Security!"

At her call, the security guards did not move. Instead, they encircled Kong Xiyan, Tong Yue, and her group in a protective ring. Kong Xiyan looked coldly at He Wei and gave a faint smile. "A press conference?"

"Since this is a conference about clearing up the events of three years ago, how could the main party involved be absent?"

"Besides, three years ago, when you brought my so-called stepmother and stepsister to my press conference, you didn't give me any advance notice either. So why, now that I'm simply following your example, are you asking me to leave?"

"Unless... there's something shameful you're trying to hide."

Her words rang out with force and sharpness. He Wei's heart began to race inexplicably as she looked at her.

She suddenly realized: this was no longer three years ago.

At the very least, the person before her was not the same Kong Xiyan who, three years ago, had just lost her father and was utterly spiritless—someone He Wei could twist and crush at will.

He Wei's expression shifted through several shades before she gritted out, "Miss Kong, if you continue slandering me like this, don't blame me for disregarding any past kindness between us."

Kong Xiyan glanced at her sidelong. "Past kindness?"

"I wasn't aware I had any kind of relationship with you."

"I'm not here to cause trouble today. I'm simply here to shed light on the truth. If you're interested, Miss He, why not sit down and listen?"

Her expression was calm, her eyes sharp and clear, locking directly onto He Wei.

He Wei took a step back guiltily. "Kong Xiyan."

"Wha—what do you plan to say?"

Wei Yan's face had gone paper-white. His tall frame, a full 180 centimeters, trembled slightly. His lips moved wordlessly as if he wanted to speak but no sound came. Sweat dripped down his cheeks, and his eyes held the dull stare of a dead man.

It was over.

As if sensing something, he snapped his head up to look at Jiang Yuan.

There, by the door, Jiang Yuan gave him a familiar smile—a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Just as the journalists were frantically snapping pictures of the standoff on stage, a rumbling noise was heard. Beside the platform where He Wei and the others had been sitting, a long table was now revealed, along with several chairs. Each chair had a name card placed on it.

The area had previously been covered with white cloth, so everyone had assumed it was just stacked tables.

No one expected this.

Kong Xiyan stepped forward a few paces and smiled. "Miss He, when you were gathering information, didn't you think to ask where our press conference was being held?"

He Wei's expression drastically changed, and she bit her lip in silence.

Wei Yan's body collapsed heavily into his chair. He wanted to get up and leave the press conference, but Tong Yue called out, "Mr. Wei."

"Aren't you going to stay and listen?"

"Ah, well, it doesn't matter whether you stay or go, because you'll still see it all."

"After all, this is a live internet stream. We have you and Miss He to thank for that."

Tong Yue then led Kong Xiyan to take their seats. The noise in the venue quieted considerably, and the journalists returned to their positions, though their cameras lingered on Wei Yan's devastated face.

The contrast between the two sides was stark.

Even online viewers sensed something was off.

They began typing comments on the live stream.

—Who was it that said Kong Xiyan had run off?

—Where are those brainless Wei Yan fans now? Why aren't they defending him?

—Defend what? Haven't you seen their master's face is gloomier than dirt? It can't be washed clean.

—Waiting for Kong Xiyan's bombshell!

Wei Yan's fans, who had once swarmed like locusts, were now utterly silent. No matter how much the internet insulted them, they stayed quiet. The tide of public opinion had turned overwhelmingly, and on Wei Yan's side, there was a deathly stillness.

Once Kong Xiyan sat down, a reporter eagerly asked, "Miss Kong, about your earlier words—did Wei Yan actually date you three years ago?"

"No."

"Mr. Wei and I never had any relationship."

As soon as she finished speaking, gasps filled the room, followed by hushed whispers. Several other reporters quickly aimed their cameras at Wei Yan. "Mr. Wei, do you confirm Miss Kong's statement?"

"What do you think of Miss Kong's words?"

"Did you lie three years ago?"

Wei Yan sat motionless in his chair, his face bloodless. With each question, his fingers dug into his thighs. Sweat trickled down his cheeks, and his voice trembled. "I don't know what Miss Kong is talking about."

Kong Xiyan saw he was still resisting, and she only pressed her lips together in a faint smile. She nodded at Tong Yue, who immediately went to the computer and plugged in a USB drive.

Photos were displayed on the screen.

"The photo on the left is of Mr. Wei and Miss Sun."

"The photo on the right is of Mr. Wei and me."

A journalist immediately raised a hand. "Miss Kong, are you implying the photo on the right is manipulated?"

Kong Xiyan shook her head. "No, both photos are genuine."

As soon as she said that, the room buzzed with discussion. Another reporter asked, "Then, Miss Kong, are you admitting you had a relationship with Mr. Wei three years ago?"

Kong Xiyan smiled lightly. "I think it's better that someone else answers that question."

"I've also invited an old friend—Miss Sun."

The doors to the venue opened once more. Sun Rui stood at the entrance, head bowed. She had lost weight compared to when she retired from the industry two years prior, her chin now pointed and her figure slender. Seeing her step in, Wei Yan raced down from the stage as if possessed.

He rushed to Jiang Yuan and hissed through gritted teeth, "Didn't you say you'd dealt with her?"

"Jiang Yuan!"

"Didn't you say you'd dealt with her?!"

"Why is she here?!"

He no longer cared about the implications of his outburst. He grabbed Jiang Yuan by the collar with both hands, his eyes bloodshot. Under the barrage of camera lights, Jiang Yuan gave a faint smile. "Mr. Wei, I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."

Wei Yan raised a hand to strike him, but Jiang Yuan caught his wrist and said into his ear, "Mr. Wei, we're still in the middle of a press conference. Please mind your behavior."

"Also, how does it feel to be betrayed by your own company?"

Wei Yan's right hand was held firmly in Jiang Yuan's grip. His entire body shook with rage, his eyes bloodshot. He nearly screamed, "Jiang Yuan!"

Jiang Yuan merely released his wrist coldly and said to the guards beside them, "Mr. Wei seems emotionally unstable. Please escort him back to his seat."

Two security guards quickly held Wei Yan and guided him back to his seat.

The cameras followed his every move, capturing his distorted face with perfect clarity. He Wei sat beside him, her expression as foul as his.

Sun Rui walked in slowly. Under the weight of so many stares, she appeared completely composed and at ease. Kong Xiyan stood up and said, "Miss Sun, please, this way."

Sun Rui walked past the journalists and took the seat next to Kong Xiyan.

For a moment, the press conference fell silent. It seemed everyone had forgotten how to speak, or perhaps no one had expected Sun Rui to show up at all.

Then a reporter snapped out of it, and after the first question, the floodgates opened.

"Miss Sun, did you know about this matter?"

"Miss Sun, were you the one involved with Mr. Wei three years ago?"

"Miss Sun, Miss Sun..."

The stream of questions was interrupted by Tong Yue lifting her hand toward the crowd. She spoke into the microphone, "Ladies and gentlemen, please calm down. Since we've invited Miss Sun here, we will certainly give you a proper explanation. Please be patient."

Her commanding presence did the job—after her announcement, no one in the room dared to speak.

Sun Rui glanced toward the other platform and met Wei Yan's eyes briefly, then lowered her gaze and said, "That's right. Three years ago, I was indeed dating Mr. Wei."

"Moreover, Miss Kong Xiyan had no relationship with him."

"That night, after Mr. Wei and I took those photos, we left and spent the night in the room next door. If you don't believe me, I have proof."

She handed a USB drive to Tong Yue, who then projected a series of photos—all taken that same night in the other room after they'd left. He Wei was no longer looking at Wei Yan; her gaze was fixed on Sun Rui with a venomous stare, as though she wanted to drink her blood and eat her flesh.

After reviewing the photos, journalists immediately bombarded her with questions. "Does that mean, three years ago, you and Mr. Wei deliberately set a trap for Miss Kong?"

"Miss Sun, why did you do that three years ago?"

"Miss Sun..."

Sun Rui's voice was calm and composed. "First of all, I'm standing here today because Xiyan has already forgiven me. I am ashamed of what I did, and that's why I've decided to tell everyone the truth about what happened three years ago."

"Xiyan originally had no intention of bringing this up again. But the netizens, and the fans of Wei Yan and He Wei—you were so aggressive and unrelenting that I couldn't bear it anymore. I couldn't stand by and watch a girl carry a burden for something she never did. She shouldn't have to suffer that injustice."

"The person who orchestrated the scheme three years ago was not me—it was He Wei and Wei Yan."

She turned her head toward the nearby table and said coldly, "Wei Yan, He Wei—as a couple, don't you owe her an apology?"

He Wei jumped to her feet. "Why should I?!"

"Why should I apologize to her!"

"Even if it wasn't her three years ago, it was still you and Wei Yan! If anyone owes me an apology, it's the two of you!"

She flailed wildly in her defense, fury radiating from her, her eyes nearly maniacal. The people around her cast strange glances at her, but she didn't notice. "You owe me an apology!"

"You owe me a sorry!"

Sun Rui, facing her hysteria, simply lowered her eyes. "Is that so?"

"Three years have passed, and your acting has certainly improved, Miss He."

"Then let me explain why I don't owe you an apology."

"Because we were together long before you two divorced!"

The entire press conference erupted in shock at her words. Many journalists even stood up, unable to contain their curiosity, like cats that had caught the scent of fish. "Miss Sun, what do you mean by that?!"

"What divorced?"

"How is that possible?"

At Sun Rui's words, He Wei's expression changed drastically. She bit her lip hard and yelled, "You're spouting nonsense! I'll sue you!"

Sun Rui picked up her phone from the table. "You want evidence? Well, would you like to see the date on your divorce certificate, Miss He?"

With that, she held her phone up toward the journalists. The screen was large enough for those in the front rows to capture it clearly. The divorce certificate showed the date as April 20th.

Netizens watching the live stream saw it clearly as well, and a flood of "Whoa" filled the chat.

Sun Rui merely smirked and put the phone away. "Mr. Wei and I started our relationship in early May that year, while the so-called affair between him and Miss Kong was exposed in mid-May. Both occurred after your divorce, didn't they?"

"In other words, I have no reason to apologize to you."

"Also, even if Miss Kong had dated him, it couldn't be called seducing a married man—let alone that they never actually got together."

"You two used her position in the entertainment industry to fabricate that story, manipulated your fans, steered public opinion, and forced her out of the industry. Don't you owe her an apology?"

Sun Rui's voice was resounding. She addressed the media and the countless cameras, speaking each word with unmistakable clarity. "I am willing to bear full legal responsibility for every word I've just said. If I've told a single lie, you're welcome to sue me, Miss He!"

He Wei's hands clenched tightly. She suddenly turned to look at Wei Yan.

Wei Yan just shook his head. "I didn't."

How could he have shown Sun Rui something that important? Even when they were together, he had only given her bits and pieces of the story. He'd never once revealed his divorce certificate to her.

That certificate was still in his safe.

His safe!

Wei Yan's head snapped up, staring straight at Jiang Yuan. The latter stood ramrod straight, a faint smile on his lips, his gaze no different from usual. Yet Wei Yan wished him dead!

He'd been betrayed!

The press conference buzzed once more with Sun Rui's revelation. Journalists discussed in heated whispers, each guessing at the truth. He Wei's face was as drained of color as Wei Yan's.

He Lao sat beside He Wei. He let out a cold snort, stood up, and asked, "Miss Sun, who's to say this photo isn't fake? If it were true as you claim, why didn't you speak up three years ago? Why didn't you come forward when Kong Xiyan returned? Why choose now, just as they were getting back together? What is your intention?"

"Why?" Sun Rui looked at Wei Yan. "I think Mr. Wei knows better than anyone."

"Because he threatened me with nude photos of me."

The venue and the internet alike exploded at her words. The exposé at today's press conference was juicier than a year's worth of scandals. Journalists couldn't tear their eyes away, their cameras sweeping back and forth between the two platforms, peppering Wei Yan with questions. "Mr. Wei, please respond!"

"Mr. Wei, is what Miss Sun said true?"

"Mr. Wei, please explain."

On the other side, they turned their guns on He Wei.

"Miss He, when exactly did you two divorce?"

"Miss He, is the divorce certificate in the photo genuine?"

"Miss He..."

He Wei and Wei Yan remained silent, their faces as white as sheets of paper. They didn't utter a single word until the very end of the press conference, looking utterly disgraced.

Online, the discussion spiraled. One netizen kept asking: if He Wei and Wei Yan had really done those things, why did they remarry? They repeated the question again and again. Sun Rui caught sight of the comment on the big screen and smiled as she responded, "Why did they remarry?"

"That question should ideally be answered by the two who remarried."

"But perhaps I can offer an answer."

"Since Mr. Wei could threaten me with nude photos, he could certainly threaten others. Moreover, he once told me that the reason he divorced Miss He was that he had obtained certain photos of her."

"For instance, evidence of how she was chosen as the leading actress."

The journalists erupted in a commotion. Online, viewers let out another collective expletive for the third time.

The huge screen was flooded with the words "Wei Yan apologizes" and "He Wei apologizes."

Kong Xiyan, however, sat quietly to the side, her expression serene.