Director Jiang, don't let the divorce get out of control.

Jiang Yubai's eyes, visible behind his glasses, were gentle and warm. "When have I ever lied to you?"

Wen Ruan opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't say anything. She only felt a soreness in her chest.

Inside the old house, the old lady's face was ashen. "They've rebelled...they've really rebelled!"

Aunt Zhou quickly stepped forward to comfort her, "Madam, please don't get too angry. Young master is young and impetuous, and it's understandable that he was momentarily blinded by his own thoughts... He will eventually understand your good intentions in the long run."

The old lady's gaze was as cold as ice: "Wen Ruan... can't be kept. If she stays by Yu Bai's side any longer, I'll lose this grandson sooner or later."

Aunt Zhou lowered her eyes and didn't dare to reply.

The next morning, when Wen Ruan woke up, Jiang Yubai had already left.

She got up to wash up and prepare to make breakfast when her phone suddenly rang.

Wen Ruan picked up her phone and swiped to answer: "Director Shen."

"The matter of the trending topic has been investigated and clarified. The photo has been confirmed to be photoshopped. The technical team has provided a complete analysis report, and the statement from the Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation has been issued..."

"The Ji family also released a statement clarifying that your encounter with Ji Shiyan was purely accidental and there was no cross-border behavior."

A hint of surprise flashed in Wen Ruan's eyes: "The Ji family... also issued a statement?"

"Yes, almost immediately. The press releases were very carefully worded, completely distancing themselves from you. Public opinion has shifted, and it won't have any impact on you."

Ji Shiyan: "You can come back to work in a couple of days. I'll have HR confirm the exact time with you."

Wen Ruan: "Okay, thank you, Director Shen. You've worked hard."

Ji Shiyan: "You're welcome. Get some rest; there are still a few projects waiting for you when you get back."

Wen Ruan hung up the phone and opened the trending topics page.

As expected, public opinion has completely shifted.

The top-voted comments were unanimously condemning the marketing account for spreading rumors without any bottom line. Some people posted screenshots of technical analysis to prove that the photo had clear signs of being spliced.

The official account of the Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation pinned a statement, which was concise and to the point.

The Ji family's statement was more formal than she had imagined; it was a scanned copy stamped with the company seal and signed by the Ji Group's Brand Public Relations Department.

Wen Ruan thought that Ji Shiyan wouldn't care about this matter. After all, given his personality, he would be eager to distance himself from her, let alone take the initiative to help her clarify things.

Wen Ruan hesitated for a moment, but finally dragged Ji Shiyan's number out of the blacklist.

She hesitated for a few seconds, then edited a message and sent it: "Mr. Ji, thank you for the trending topic. I saw the Ji Group's statement; it was a great help."

Just as she was about to put down her phone after sending the message, Ji Shiyan called.

Wen Ruan swiped to answer the call, and a nonchalant, mocking voice came from the other end: "What, you've unblocked me? I thought you never intended to talk to me again."

Wen Ruan said calmly, "Of course I should call to express my gratitude."

"Thank you?" Ji Shiyan said unhurriedly, "Wen Ruan, you know this trending topic has also affected me, right?"

"The photo may have been photoshopped, but it really is you and me in the picture. You are now Jiang Yubai's wife, and I'm making headlines for having a falling out with my ex-fiancée. Guess what my business partners think?"

"I cleared things up for you, and all you're going to do is thank me?"

Wen Ruan's tone remained unchanged: "President Ji's family is large and powerful, this little incident won't cause any serious damage. Besides, you were the one who showed up at that coffee shop first, I just happened to be there."

"Even if you don't issue a statement, the clarification from the Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation is enough to explain the situation."

"Oh, so tough." Ji Shiyan's smile faded slightly. "You're quite the calculating one. If you think I don't need it, why did you bother to drag me out to thank you?"

Wen Ruan paused for a moment: "Because I don't like owing favors to others."

"So what? You think saying thank you is enough?" Ji Shiyan said sarcastically, with an ambiguous tone. "Wen Ruan, you've got a pretty good plan."

"What kind of compensation does Mr. Ji want? If it's money, I can give it to you in the form of public relations expenses. If it's a favor, I'll remember it and repay it when I have the chance."

Ji Shiyan was speechless, stunned by her words. After a moment of silence, he sneered, "Wen Ruan, you even calculate your thanks so meticulously. Aren't you tired?"

Wen Ruan said calmly, "I'm not tired. There shouldn't be any unclear entanglements between us in the first place."

Ji Shiyan hung up the phone immediately.

The receiver went dead. Wen Ruan put the phone aside, her eyes showing no emotion.

She was already used to Ji Shiyan's way of speaking: three parts sarcasm, three parts probing, and the rest was just stubbornness.

But she admitted one thing: Ji Shiyan had indeed helped her.

She doesn't like owing favors, and she especially doesn't want to owe him any.

But given their current relationship, any expression of gratitude she might give would seem inappropriate.

Inviting me to dinner? That's too strange. Giving me a gift? Even stranger.

Even sending just another message to express gratitude can make the other person feel like she's playing hard to get.

Wen Ruan rubbed her temples and decided to put the matter aside for now, waiting until the storm had completely subsided in a few days.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye, and the controversy on the trending topics completely subsided. The statement from the Institute of Translation and Interpretation and the clarification from the Ji family acted like two floodgates, completely suppressing public opinion.

The day Wen Ruan returned to work at the Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation, He Huahua grabbed her wrist and looked her up and down as soon as she entered the office area.

"You're finally back!" He Huahua looked at her with bright eyes. "The office has been so quiet these past few days without you. I didn't even have anyone to gossip about."

Wen Ruan smiled helplessly and joked, "It's not that exaggerated. Besides, you just want to chat with me about gossip?"

"What do you mean, 'no'? You don't know, while you were gone, Wang Lin and the others all wilted."

"Hmm?" Wen Ruan looked at her suspiciously. "What happened to them?"

She remembered that she did not complain, but only gave them a warning.

He Huahua's eyes were full of sarcasm. "That day they were talking badly about you in the break room, and Director Shen happened to hear it when he came back. He called them out by name in front of the whole group, saying that translators don't even have the most basic judgment, and that they should go back and reflect on their actions..."

He Huahua revealed a gloating expression, "You didn't see their faces back then, they were like a color palette."

Wen Ruan was slightly surprised that Shen Yicheng had actually done this.

It seems they didn't take her warning to heart.

"Director Shen, you're very kind."

"Of course, Director Shen may seem gentle, but he's really protective of his own people." He Huahua released her wrist and returned to her workstation with her.

"By the way, Ruan Ruan, did you know that Lin Xia hasn't been to work for the past few days?"

Wen Ruan was about to turn on her computer when she heard this and paused slightly, "She didn't come?"

"Yes, she hasn't appeared since that day at the forum." He Huahua pouted. "At first, everyone thought she had taken leave, but she's been absent from work for several days."

Wen Ruan frowned slightly. After she questioned Lin Xia at the forum that day, Lin Xia's reaction was indeed unusual.

I thought she would take the initiative to confess to me after calming down for a few days, but I didn't expect her to just disappear.

They said they wouldn't come, and they just didn't.