Chapter 269: A Family Secret
Xia Yangyang was plagued by uncertainty and suspicion. The coincidences surrounding the necklace incident were too numerous to ignore. Someone was clearly manipulating events from the shadows. Her first thought was Shen Manbing, but several factors cast doubt. Gu Qichen trusted Shen Manbing, and the incident with the obsessed fan seemed unlikely to be orchestrated by her. Would Shen Manbing risk her life—and even the life of the assailant—for a mere gossip headline? The timing seemed impossible to arrange beforehand. Xia Yangyang was deeply confused.
However, she didn't want her problems with Shen Manbing to damage her relationship with Gu Qichen. He'd likely seen the news articles and had already taken action; his secretary had been on the phone early that morning, and by afternoon, traditional media coverage had been suppressed. Social media, however, was another matter. Artificial suppression only fueled the fire, making anyone involved look guilty. Ultimately, Xia Yangyang ended up comforting Gu Qichen, urging him to ignore the online rumors; they would eventually fade. In the entertainment industry, the truth often gets lost in the noise.
Nevertheless, Xia Yangyang needed answers. That afternoon, she went to the hospital to see if Shen Manbing's illness was genuine. A private confrontation, she hoped, would reveal the truth.
She arrived at Shen Manbing's VIP ward—the only patient on the entire floor. Security guards, recognizing her from the previous day, readily admitted her. The thickly carpeted corridor muffled her footsteps as she approached the room.
She found the door ajar and entered, discovering Shen Manbing wasn't alone. A richly dressed middle-aged woman, adorned with expensive jewelry, sat with her. Xia Yangyang didn't recognize her.
Suddenly, the woman's sharp voice cut through the air. "You've disgraced the Shen family! A centuries-old family of scholars, and you're a third-rate actress. You're no 'Queen of Heaven,' just a common attention-seeker. We were utterly foolish to adopt a wild horse like you!"
Shen Manbing, huddled in the bed, retorted, "Auntie, your language is unbecoming of a noblewoman. It sounds more like a street brawl."
The woman flew into a rage, slapping Shen Manbing. "Impudent girl! You dare talk back? Outside, you're a celebrated 'Queen of Heaven,' but here, in the Shen family, you're nothing more than a dog we keep for amusement!"