The Scandal Breaks

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Zi Yan had a restless night.

Lin Hao's words kept echoing in her mind.

"Xu Ming has dug up something from your past. Something that could ruin you."

She didn't trust Lin Hao.

But she also knew that if Xu Ming was planning something, it wouldn't be small.

She had to be ready.

The next morning, Zi Yan woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing nonstop.

She reached for it, still groggy.

Hundreds of notifications.

Her heart clenched.

Something was wrong.

She quickly opened the top trending news.

And her blood ran cold.

#ZiYanScandal

"BREAKING: Zi Yan's shocking past revealed! Her hidden past lover speaks out!"

The article was filled with lies.

It claimed that she had been in a secret relationship three years ago—with Lin Hao.

That she had cheated on him.

That she had used him and abandoned him after getting famous.

There were even fake messages between them.

As if she had begged him for money and left him after finding a richer man.

Her hands tightened around her phone.

This was Xu Ming's attack.

He was using Lin Hao to destroy her reputation.

Her phone rang.

It was Meng Jie.

Zi Yan answered immediately.

"Did you see it?" Meng Jie's voice was sharp.

"Yes," Zi Yan said coldly. "It's all fake."

Meng Jie sighed. "I know. But the internet doesn't care about the truth."

Zi Yan shut her eyes for a moment.

She knew how public opinion worked.

People loved gossip.

They loved watching celebrities fall.

And right now, she was their target.

She opened her social media.

The comments were brutal.

"I can't believe I used to support her! She's a liar!"

"So she dumped her poor ex after finding a rich CEO? Classic gold digger move!"

"This is why I never liked her! Fake from the start!"

Zi Yan felt a burning anger rise in her chest.

These people didn't know her.

They only believed what they were fed.

But she refused to let them crush her.

Meng Jie's voice was firm.

"We need to respond. The longer we stay silent, the worse it gets."

Zi Yan took a deep breath. "Prepare a statement. I want to end this properly."

Meng Jie paused.

"Zi Yan… I have to warn you. Lin Hao is making himself look like a victim."

Zi Yan's fingers curled into a fist.

Lin Hao was good at acting pitiful.

He had fooled her once before.

And now, he was fooling the whole world.

That afternoon, Lin Hao went on a live interview.

He sat in front of the camera, his face full of sadness.

"I never wanted to say anything," he sighed.

"But I can't stay silent anymore."

He wiped at his eyes.

"Zi Yan and I were deeply in love. I supported her before she became famous. I gave her everything."

He smiled bitterly.

"But once she got big, she changed. She left me… without even looking back."

His voice cracked.

"I never wanted money. I only wanted her."

The comments flooded in.

"Poor guy. He really loved her."

"Zi Yan is a horrible person!"

"She doesn't deserve to be famous."

Zi Yan's nails dug into her palm.

Lin Hao was a liar.

A manipulator.

And he had just turned everyone against her.

Meng Jie sent a message.

"We're ready to release the statement. Do you want to add anything?"

Zi Yan's jaw tightened.

She had nothing to apologize for.

She was not a liar.

And she refused to act like one.

She replied:

"Post it. And tell them—I have proof."

Within an hour, Zi Yan's official statement went live.

"The rumors about my past relationship with Lin Hao are FALSE.

I never used him. I never abandoned him. In fact, I was the one betrayed.

I will be releasing evidence soon.

I hope the public will wait for the truth before passing judgment."

The internet exploded.

Some people still attacked her.

But others hesitated.

"She says she has proof. Should we wait?"

"What if Lin Hao is lying?"

"Now I want to know what really happened."

Zi Yan didn't relax.

She knew this was only the first step.

That night, she met Lu Yichen at his private villa.

He was standing by the window when she arrived.

The moment she stepped inside, he turned to face her.

"You're handling it well," he said simply.

Zi Yan sighed. "It's not over yet."

Lu Yichen studied her.

"You're planning to expose Lin Hao."

Zi Yan nodded.

"I have proof that he stole from me. That he used me."

Her eyes darkened.

"I won't let him destroy me again."

Lu Yichen's lips curled slightly.

"Good."

He handed her a USB drive.

"This will help."

Zi Yan took it, confused.

"What is this?"

Lu Yichen's expression was unreadable.

"Lin Hao isn't just a liar. He's a criminal."

Zi Yan's breath caught.

She looked at the USB.

If this had the truth about Lin Hao…

Then she could end him completely.

Her fingers tightened around the drive.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Lu Yichen's gaze lingered on her.

"You don't owe me thanks," he said.

"Just make sure you win."

Zi Yan exhaled.

"I will."

Because this time—

She refused to lose