Chapter Ninety-Eight: How Could It Possibly Be?

"Everything is only what you think. Is this the result of all your assumptions?"

Shangguan Renran cried out at him in anguish. How was she supposed to explain this to Uncle Xia now?

One was her best friend; the other was someone she had always regarded like a brother.

Ouyang Muya stepped forward and pulled her back. There was no point saying any of this now. The most important thing was for Wanqing to wake up safely.

Ye Zuo kept his head lowered, and no one could tell what he was thinking.

Xia Rubing and Xia Wanqing's agent, Song Qingli, had also come.

"Uncle Xia."

"Uncle."

Shangguan Renran and Ouyang Muya hurried up to them.

Then Xia Rubing strode straight to Ye Ziyan and slapped him hard across the face, drawing blood from his gums.

"How utterly arrogant you are. Do you think the Xia family has no one left? How dare you treat my daughter like this? Do you think I'm dead?"

Shangguan Renran gasped instantly, tears flooding her eyes. "Uncle Xia, please calm down first."

Ouyang Muya also stepped forward to comfort him. "Uncle, the most important thing right now is to wait for Wanqing to wake up. We'll deal with everything else later. Please steady yourself first."

"I can't calm down. You want me to stand here and watch this villain who hurt my daughter stay here?"

Shangguan Renran immediately stepped in front of Ye Ziyan. "Uncle Xia, let's calm down for now. If we investigate and find out what really happened, it won't be too late to deal with him then. Right now, our priority is to wait for Wanqing to wake up."

Xia Rubing forced down his fury. "Fine. Then make him get out of here right now. I don't want to see him for even one more second."

Shangguan Renran looked awkwardly at Ye Ziyan.

Ye Ziyan knew full well that he should not remain here. He spoke in a heavy, apologetic voice. "I'm sorry, Uncle. I will investigate everything thoroughly and give you a complete explanation."

...

...

...

Xia Wanqing realized she was lying on a hospital bed and had not died. A mocking curve touched her lips, and her eyes were colder than ice.

"The patient is awake. Keep your voices down."

Shangguan Renran and the others followed behind Xia Rubing and stepped inside carefully.

When Xia Wanqing saw those still expressionless faces, it stabbed at her heart. She flew into a rage and began smashing whatever she could reach. "Who told you to come in? Get out! All of you, get out!"

Ye Zuo stepped in front of Shangguan Renran and took the objects she hurled, shielding her. A sharp scratch appeared across his face at once.

Tears were still hanging on Shangguan Renran's cheeks. "Wanqing?"

Ouyang Muya and Song Qingli did not understand either.

Xia Rubing went forward and gathered his daughter into his arms. "Good girl, don't be afraid. Daddy is here now. Daddy will protect you."

Xia Wanqing also buried herself in her father's warm embrace and broke into heart-wrenching sobs.

After she finally cried herself out, she lifted her head. "Dad, I'm hungry."

"All right, all right. Dad will go buy you something to eat."

After Xia Rubing left the ward, Ouyang Muya stepped forward to pour her a cup of hot water.

Shangguan Renran also wanted to help, but Xia Wanqing shoved her away. "All of you, get out. I don't want to see any of you."

Shangguan Renran froze beside her, bewildered. "Wanqing?"

"I told you to get out. I don't want to see any of you for now."

Ouyang Muya, still holding the cup, also froze. "Wanqing, is there some misunderstanding?"

"What misunderstanding could there be? He admitted it himself last night."

Xia Wanqing wore the hospital gown, far too loose on her fragile frame. Her hand was still wrapped in bandages, and from now on her wrist would bear a scar that could never be erased.

She pointed at Ye Zuo, and the tears she had only just stopped could no longer be held back.

"Ye Zuo?"

"Miss Xia, if this is because of me, then I am deeply sorry. But this has nothing to do with the young lady."

Xia Wanqing pressed him relentlessly. "Are you afraid she will find out?"

A flicker of panic flashed through Ye Zuo's eyes. He said flatly, "No matter how Miss Xia blames me, I accept it."

Shangguan Renran was completely lost. "Ye Zuo, what's going on?"

Xia Wanqing let out a scornful laugh. "You accept it? Hahaha. How ridiculous."

"What do you mean, what happened? Shangguan Renran, Ye Zuo likes you! And for your sake, he rejected me. Tell me, isn't that laughable?"

"What?" Ouyang Muya and Song Qingli blurted out in unison.

"So that is why I don't want to see any of you now. Is that clear enough? All of you get out. Don't come again after this."

After leaving the ward, Shangguan Renran felt utterly dazed. She looked back at Ye Zuo. "What she said isn't true, is it? How could you possibly..."

How could he possibly like her?

And she had not sensed even the slightest thing?

If she had known Ye Zuo liked her, how could she ever have failed to tell Xia Wanqing?

And now...

Ye Zuo averted his eyes in panic. He had always believed he had concealed his feelings well in front of her, yet in the end...

She looked at his evasive gaze. "So it's true."

"Miss, I only wanted to protect you. I only hoped you could live a happy life."

"Ye Zuo, but I'm not happy now."

So she was the real culprit who had hurt Wanqing.

He lowered his head, overwhelmed with remorse. "I'm sorry, Miss."

---

On Thursday, November 21, at 11:00 a.m., award-winning actor Ye Ziyan spoke out personally, saying that all the blame rested with him and asking everyone not to hurt innocent people.

In an instant, the entertainment world turned against him. Even many of his fans became anti-fans, and fierce debate erupted online.

Ye Ziyan had found out that the person who drugged the drinks at the banquet was connected to the entertainment industry, and that artist happened to be a singing contestant who had participated in last night's recording and was on roughly the same level as Xia Wanqing's show.

The champion of the ninth episode was very likely Xia Wanqing.

As for why they had chosen him, that was easy enough to guess: he had just become a mentor for the tenth episode.

Country Y, the Ye family estate

"Has the line gone through yet?" Old Master Ye's voice was practically exploding.

"Father, it's still busy. Maybe Ziyan is trying to find a way too."

"What way? After committing such a humiliating disgrace, what possible way is left for him to find?"

Not only was Old Master Ye furious, but the Ye couple were also nearly driven mad with anger.

The moment they went out, people looked them over with judgmental eyes. They almost wished they could sever all ties and be done with it.

"Give me the phone. I'll call myself."

Old Master Ye took the phone from Ye Lilan's hand and dialed the number personally.

Under the two of them's expectant gazes, the call finally went through.

Without another word, Old Master Ye exploded at him. "You wretched boy, do you think I've lived too long? Are you trying to make even my old age this unbearable? I wanted you to find me a granddaughter-in-law, but I never told you to do something this outrageous!"

Ye Ziyan rubbed his forehead in pain. "Grandfather, we were both set up last night."

"Set up, and that gives you the right to bully a young girl like that? Huh? Who taught you this? Tell me yourself, are you not a bastard? Huh?"

"Yes, I'm a bastard. Grandfather, please take care of your health first. I'll handle this properly."

"Handle what? I don't care. I'm packing my bags right now and going to Country Z. I'll apologize to that girl myself."

"Grandfather!"

"Dad!"

The Ye couple cried out in alarm as well. How could they let the old man go?