Chapter 21

Qin Wen did indeed go looking for Leng Xiang.

Even though Leng Xiang had hung up on him, that didn’t mean he couldn’t find her.

He first went to the place where Leng Xiang used to live, but it seemed she no longer lived there. A young couple now occupied the apartment, and the landlady told him that the girl who had lived there before had moved out long ago.

Qin Wen asked, “Do you know where she lives now?”

The landlady said, “It seems like a friend came to pick her up.”

Leng Xiang’s friend?

The only friend capable of arranging a place for Leng Xiang was undoubtedly Shen Cheng.

Shen Cheng was Yu Shan’s manager and also Leng Xiang’s manager. Qin Wen knew her address.

Qin Wen wandered alone downstairs from Shen Cheng’s apartment building, wearing a mask and hat.

He used to go out fully equipped with a mask and hat to avoid being recognized and asked for autographs. But now, after being trashed all over Weibo and becoming the poster boy for scumbags, if he wasn’t wearing a hat and mask and got recognized, he might drown in spit or even get pelted with rotten eggs.

He didn’t know if Leng Xiang was still in Shen Cheng’s apartment or if she had already gone out.

But the apartment building had restrictions—only a keycard could get him inside. Without access, he couldn’t go upstairs to find her.

He had to see Leng Xiang today, or he was finished.

With no other choice, Qin Wen could only wait downstairs at Shen Cheng’s apartment.

The neighborhood security guards noticed this man lurking around suspiciously under his hat and mask several times. They approached multiple times to ask if he needed help. Qin Wen lowered his hat brim and said no, that he was waiting for a friend.

But more than an hour passed, and the so-called friend still hadn’t shown up. The security grew wary and told Qin Wen to come with them or leave immediately.

Qin Wen wasn’t about to leave.

The security guards got angry too. He spoke into the walkie-talkie, and soon, a few more patrolling guards from the neighborhood arrived.

The security guard said, “If you don’t leave now, don’t blame us for escorting you out.”

Qin Wen, who had been in the spotlight for years, always adored by the public and flanked by burly bodyguards even on red carpets, had never been reduced to being chased off by neighborhood security.

Qin Wen got angry too and argued, “I told you I’m waiting for a friend here. What do you think you’re doing? I’m going to report you!”

This upscale neighborhood prided itself on privacy. No one knew how this man had slipped in, and if something happened because of him, the guards couldn’t take the blame.

The security guards didn’t bother talking anymore. They grabbed his arm to drag him out of the neighborhood. In the ensuing scuffle, someone yanked off Qin Wen’s hat and mask.

Gradually, people noticed the commotion and gathered to watch. Slowly, some recognized Qin Wen and gasped in surprise, then pulled out their phones to take photos.

.

Leng Xiang had been watching from downstairs for a while.

She had only come down to buy some fruit, but she never expected to see Qin Wen.

Separated by a door, she stood in the shadows of the stairwell, watching the ridiculous scene unfold before her.

She hadn’t answered Qin Wen’s call that morning, but she hadn’t thought he would actually show up at her door.

Now she couldn’t even buy her fruit.

With that thought, Leng Xiang turned toward the elevator.

But Qin Wen spotted her with sharp eyes and immediately shouted, “Xiangxiang!”

In an instant, all the onlookers erupted in shock, and every phone’s flash turned toward her.

Leng Xiang: “…”

His shout had suddenly made her the center of attention.

With no choice, Leng Xiang opened the door and stepped out from the stairwell.

Qin Wen broke free from the security guards’ grip and ran up to her.

Before long, the crowd around them also recognized Leng Xiang. The Weibo drama had blown up massively, and everyone who had scrolled the hot topics knew about it. More and more people crowded over upon hearing the noise.

Leng Xiang looked at Qin Wen standing in front of her.

She thought, He looks so pathetic right now.

Back when she lived in that rental, Qin Wen had found out and come over, telling her she could move in with him. After all, they were a couple, and it was only a matter of time.

Leng Xiang hadn’t hesitated and refused.

Qin Wen, dressed impeccably and handsome, had looked completely out of place at the door of her rundown rental in the old neighborhood.

Seeing her so unmoved, he got annoyed and said, “You’d rather live in a dump like this than with me?”

Leng Xiang looked at him and said, “Yes.”

Qin Wen stormed off, slamming the door.

Now, Qin Wen looked disheveled and wretched. His usually neat hair and clothes were a mess, his white shirt smeared with gray dirt. Gone was his former debonair poise.

He forced a difficult smile and said, “Xiangxiang, can we talk?”

Of course, she could guess why Qin Wen had come looking for her.

Looking at his face, Leng Xiang suddenly couldn’t remember why she had ever been with him in the first place.

This man was pathetic, cowardly, selfish, and a cheater.

And the moment trouble hit, his instinct was to clear his own name at all costs.

Leng Xiang said, “Ever since you got together with Yu Shan, there’s nothing left for us to talk about.”

Her words rang out clearly within a three-meter radius. The onlookers froze, then the crowd boiled over.

Someone had already secretly started live-streaming and posted the link on Weibo, inviting netizens to watch the drama of the year unfold.

Amid the undercurrents between them, the Weibo peanut gallery devoured the melon with relish.

Ironclad evidence, with video and audio broadcast live on the scene—this melon was simply too delicious.

Weibo buzzed with discussion.

“Scumbag played dead for so long, turns out he went to find the victim.”

“Is he stupid or brainless? At a time like this, why not lay low instead of rushing to his doom?”

“Done for, totally done for.”

“Speaking of which, folks, I’ve got a bold theory…”

“Me too, a bold theory…”

“I think the scumbag wanted to find the victim to whitewash himself, but she wasn’t having it. Why should she help you?”

“Who does he think he is!”

“At the end of the day, he’s just brainless.”

“But… don’t you think Leng Xiang is kinda cool?! I wanna stan her!!”

“Yes!! That cool expression!!”

“Stanning! Stanning!”

“I actually spotted Leng Xiang in the shadows early on. She saw Qin Wen and was about to turn and leave, but he called her out of nowhere. Poor Leng Xiang hhhhh”

“Wait… what is Qin Wen doing?? He’s kneeling??”

“Leng Xiang is so cool!!”

…

…

Qin Wen knew he was utterly finished.

Leng Xiang just stood there, not even bothering to glance at him again.

Though Leng Xiang appeared aloof with low emotional intelligence, unable to fit into the entertainment industry, she was actually very smart. From the moment she saw him downstairs, she knew exactly why he was there.

When she turned to leave, he knew she wouldn’t get involved anymore.

It was he who had clung to delusions, bringing humiliation on himself.

Qin Wen collapsed to his knees powerlessly. Suddenly, he looked up, glaring venomously at Leng Xiang.

Qin Wen said, “I know you’re cold, you’re noble, you never care about anyone.”

“It’s been three years. Three whole years with me, and I was never in your eyes.”

“You never liked me at all. You’re just a liar!”

“I liked you so much…”

Leng Xiang looked at him quietly for a moment, then said flatly, “Is cheating how you show you like me?”

“Qin Wen, if I hadn’t liked you back then, I never would have been with you.”

Qin Wen froze. It took him a long time to process her words. Finally, he covered his eyes with his hand.

He had ruined this relationship himself.

He had brought this ending on himself; he had no one to blame.

Leng Xiang ignored him and turned back into the building, taking the elevator up.

This time, no one stopped her.