[At the same time · Inside the school classroom]
Ji Xiaolan sat in his seat, completely unaware that the internet had begun to turn against him.
He glanced at Liu Ruyan, still wearing that faint, unreadable smile on his lips.
But just a moment later, several students' phones buzzed simultaneously. Whispering rippled across the room—
"Yo, did you see this? Ji Xiaolan's getting exposed…"
"No way—holy crap, these videos… He's been scheming behind everyone's back?"
Liu Ruyan caught the noise and instinctively lowered her head to check her phone.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she tapped.
And in her heart, a name surfaced, uninvited: Yang Tian.
[At the base · Lounge Room]
Yang Tian pushed open the glass door and entered a quiet lounge area.
Shen Xue followed silently behind.
They sat across from each other, silence hanging between them.
Leaning against the back of the couch, Yang Tian spoke in a calm voice:
"What do you plan to do next?"
Shen Xue was caught off guard for a second. Before she could reply, Yang Tian asked again:
"This time, I'll lend you my hands. My resources.How long will it take for you to deal with Ji Xiaolan… and the one behind him?"
Shen Xue lowered her head, knuckles turning white.
"I… can't promise anything."
She wasn't lying. In their past life, they had taken Ji Xiaolan down, but only after his death did the shadow behind him truly bare its fangs.
It was mysterious. Terrifying. A force built on towering capital and silence.
Yang Tian nodded quietly, as though everything was within his grasp.
He looked up toward the ceiling, a rare trace of weariness flashing in his eyes—but also a fierce determination:
"I know it all."
"You know what I'm talking about."
Shen Xue froze—then looked up at him abruptly.
She hadn't expected Yang Tian to say it out loud.
To admit the truth of their past lives.To acknowledge that he knew she had once—been part of the enemy's side.
For a moment, even her breath faltered.
Yang Tian stood up, straightened his sleeves, and spoke with an even tone:
"Let's go."
"Grab a bite. I'll take you home."
[Meanwhile · After-class bell rings]
The school bell echoed across campus, signaling a brief moment of rest.
Ji Xiaolan rushed through the corridor, face tense and pale—like he was trying to escape something.
He made his way up the side staircase, pushing open the rooftop door. A gust of wind hit him in the face.
The rooftop—normally where couples snuck away for secret chats—was now completely empty.Perfect. No one to overhear.
The Whisper on the Line
Standing near the railing, Ji Xiaolan took out his phone and dialed a heavily encrypted number.
It connected quickly. A deep, icy voice answered on the other end:
"Speak."
Ji Xiaolan lowered his voice, unable to hide the panic:
"Uncle Yang, the stuff online… can you figure out who did it?"
A second of silence followed. The voice remained calm:
"We can't trace the source directly. But we can guess."
Ji Xiaolan's pupils contracted.
"Who?"
The voice continued coldly:
"Who do you think has the power to dismantle a whole smear campaign,strike back cleanly, and block offshore platforms from reposting it?"
Ji Xiaolan's face went rigid, his jaw tightening.
"…The Yang family… Yang Tian?"
The man didn't answer directly. He simply said:
"Don't act rashly for now."
"I'll release a much bigger piece of gossip to divert the public's attention.That'll suppress the fallout from this one."
"All you need to do—is stop making mistakes."
Ji Xiaolan inhaled sharply, his expression turning darker:
"…Understood."
Truth, Passing in the Wind
Just as he hung up, some of the tension finally left his shoulders.
But the moment he turned to leave—
A figure stood behind him.
Liu Ruyan.
She held her phone in hand, her expression complex, brows tightly furrowed.
"…Who's Uncle Yang?"
Ji Xiaolan froze for a split second, his eyes darting away:
"Wh-what Uncle Yang? You must've misheard…"
Liu Ruyan stepped closer, refusing to let it slide:
"Don't lie to me. I clearly heard you say 'Uncle Yang.'"
"And I heard you mention a 'diversion', and 'covering things up'.What exactly are you hiding from me?"
Her voice trembled slightly—not clear if from anger, or from the dawning realization that she might have trusted the wrong person.
Ji Xiaolan remained silent for two seconds. Then suddenly furrowed his brow, eyes turning red, voice choked with emotion:
"Ruyan… do you think I'm out to hurt you too?"
"I never once treated you as a pawn. Never…"
"I know you're confused right now—have you been influenced by Yang Tian?"
He stepped closer, eyes full of hurt and sorrow:
"I only wanted to protect you. You know how he's always hated me…"
Liu Ruyan bit her lip, her thoughts a chaotic mess.
Her emotions surged—but a sliver of reason started to cut through the haze.
She looked up sharply and stared at him coldly:
"You said… you did this for me?"
"Then tell me, right here and now—who is 'Uncle Yang'?"
Ji Xiaolan faltered.
His lips twitched slightly, but not a single word came out.
Liu Ruyan stared into his eyes.
And in that moment, the faint, creeping unease in her heart—finally began to fracture into something real.