I was exposed for adding my female boss to my group of female friends.

"beep--"

"beep--"

With each ring of the phone, Liu Chenmin felt her heart sink a little deeper.

On the other end, Liu Ruyan held her phone, looking confused.

Xiao Qing, who was standing next to him, crossed her arms and said, "Don't answer it, ignore him."

He Shiying also said, "That's right, this guy has all sorts of tricks up his sleeve, once you accept, you're hooked."

Liu Ruyan thought for a moment and said, "But I want to make things clear to him."

"It's hard to explain. Look at these comments now. Liu Chenmin's popularity is exploding. People simply can't accept that you don't like him," Xiao Qing said.

Liu Ruyan thought for a moment and said, "I still want to make things clear."

Qin Yunchu said, "I support Ruyan. It's a completely open and honest matter. Not clarifying it only complicates things."

Xiao Qing grabbed Liu Ruyan's hand and frowned, saying, "Have you thought this through? Your novel, 'Offside Cohabitation,' is currently being adapted into a TV series. If something goes wrong at this time, you could be greatly affected!"

It's not uncommon for authors to face widespread boycotts of their works due to reputational issues, ultimately resulting in exorbitant breach of contract claims from investors.

Liu Ruyan paused for a moment, and finally answered the phone before the last ring.

"Hey?"

After that sound rang out, countless people watching the video on their screens cheered on the spot.

After keeping everyone in suspense for so long, the main character has finally made his appearance.

Liu Chenmin's voice trembled slightly with nervousness as he whispered, "Is it Ruyan?"

"Ah."

Where are you now?

There was no reply from the other end. After a while, a man's voice broke in:

“Chenmin, this is Yuanzhen. Many of us are with Liu Ruyan now and have already seen your program.”

Liu Chenmin's expression changed: "You were with her. Why didn't you answer her phone just now?"

The person on the other end stammered in response, "Well... there's a reason for that, of course."

What could be the reason?

At this moment, He Shiying grabbed the phone again and said, "Ruyan isn't good at expressing herself, so I'll say it for her: she doesn't like you, she already has someone else she likes! Please don't bother her anymore!"

Upon hearing this, even Lu Yu's expression changed.

Lu Yu was extremely frustrated at this moment. How could that woman not like Liu Chenmin?

What will happen to my show if she doesn't like Liu Chenmin?

Is this how it ends?

Unexpectedly, Liu Chenmin remained calm: "Give the phone to Ruyan, I'll talk to her."

"She doesn't want to..."

"Give her the phone!" Liu Chenmin ordered, and He Shiying awkwardly gave up her seat.

"Hello?" Liu Ruyan said into the phone.

Liu Chenmin said affectionately, "Ruyan, you've been away from home for three years. I often visit your aunt and uncle. They are in good health, but they miss you very much. I want you to reconnect with them and make up for lost time. Are you really so heartless that you won't even show your face?"

Liu Ruyan fell silent, and so did her family and friends.

This move can be considered a trump card.

Once Liu Ruyan's parents are brought up, even the most kind-hearted people will feel embarrassed to stop him.

If Liu Ruyan were to truly act heartlessly in front of so many viewers on the show, she would definitely be branded as "unfilial."

After a while, Liu Ruyan said calmly, "I'll have Gu Yuanzhen send you your location. Come here."

Then the call ended.

After hanging up the phone, Liu Chenmin closed his eyes slightly, as if he were resting.

Lu Yu covered her mouth, her heart still pounding. She was even more excited than Liu Chenmin.

Through her earpiece, the director was shouting at her to make sure the show's ratings had broken all previous records and that she had to seize the opportunity!

……

The car sped away, and soon Liu Chenmin and his group arrived at Liu Ruyan's villa.

Surrounded by Qin Yunchu, He Shiying, Gu Yuanzhen, and Xiao Qing, Liu Ruyan walked out confidently and stood in front of the camera.

Her appearance immediately sparked a new wave of barrage comments.

"This is so beautiful!"

"She looks even better than celebrities!"

"No wonder Liu Chenmin has liked her for so long, she's really too beautiful."

"Oh no, she just looked directly into the camera, my heart just stopped!"

Liu Chenmin stared at Liu Ruyan, his eyes glazed over and unable to move.

In the studio, Gao Xiaobai, fanning himself, commented: "A perfect match."

Jupiter said, "Not only is he talented, but he's also quite handsome."

Gao Xiaobai sighed: "What an amazing couple they are!"

Jupiter said, "Professor Gao, how about composing a poem for us?"

Gao Xiaobai tapped his hand with his fan: "No, no, my skills are not good enough to describe this scene. The ancients have expressed all the beauty in the poem 'A golden breeze and jade dew meet.'"

Liu Ruyan nodded to Liu Chenmin: "Hello."

Liu Chenmin snapped out of his daze and said, "Ruyan, it's been three years. Why don't you come back to your family with me?"

Liu Ruyan reached out and pointed to the villa behind her: "This is my home."

Liu Chenmin glanced at it.

To be honest, Liu Ruyan's current life is much better than he imagined.

“I already have someone I like. I’ve never liked you. Please go back to your own life,” Liu Ruyan said. “I’ll contact my parents. I’ll call them.”

Liu Chenmin forced a smile, trying to appear composed: "I had no idea you had someone you liked. Is that person, really that great?"

Liu Ruyan nodded: "Very excellent."

She paused, then added, "Better than you."

Chapter 25, I really want to, but I haven't yet.

Upon hearing Liu Ruyan say "I'm better than you," Liu Chenmin smiled.

For someone as accomplished at a young age as him, such words would only allow him to feign humility with a nonchalant air.

“Of course, someone who is worthy of you must be outstanding,” Liu Chenmin replied.

He Shiying no longer dares to secretly look at the comments.

She knew that after Liu Ruyan said "I'm better than you," she would definitely be met with a lot of ridicule.

After all, in this world, people who are more outstanding than Liu Chenmin at his age are not just rare, they are practically one in a million.

Gu Yuanzhen noticed the situation was getting out of hand and stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Chenmin, let me introduce you. This is Teacher Xiao Qing, a very famous romance novelist."

The cameraman shifted the lens to Xiao Qing, the former beauty standing gracefully to the side, her curved sideburns framing her pretty face, sunglasses clipped to her clothes, and fine beads of sweat glistening on her soft cleavage.

Liu Chenmin was slightly moved: "Xiao Qing? Is that Xiao Qing who wrote 'Crystal Love'? It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Xiao Qing didn't like Liu Chenmin. His manipulation of public opinion to suppress a young girl had already crossed a line for her. She merely nodded perfunctorily at Liu Chenmin as a greeting.

Gu Yuanzhen continued, "This is President Qin Yunchu, the vice president of Hongtu Company."

Qin Yunchu was very generous. He shook Liu Chenmin's outstretched hand and said, "Hello, my company has in-depth business dealings with Qixing Company, and we may contact you again in the future, Mr. Liu."

Liu Chenmin said with a smile, "I've long heard that Hongtu has a beautiful and capable woman named President Qin. Today I'm finally meeting her."

Gu Yuanzhen then introduced He Shiying behind her: "This is He Shiying. She is currently a freelancer, but she has a wide range of interests. I am currently pursuing her."

Liu Chenmin reached out his hand to He Shiying, but was glared at fiercely by He Shiying, and he awkwardly withdrew his hand.

However, he quickly recovered from the awkwardness and turned to Liu Ruyan, saying:

“Ruyan, I contacted your aunt and uncle before I came. They were very worried about you. Right now, they are watching the Human Observation program on TV. Can you talk to them? Just once, just once.”

“I will speak with them later,” Liu Ruyan said. She didn’t want to speak with her parents in front of a large audience.

Several comments and opinions floated across the screen:

"This girl is beautiful, but she's so unfilial. She hasn't seen her parents for years and won't even call them."

"Yes, I've been away from home for three years and haven't taken care of my family. But Mr. Liu still cares about the old folks and has been looking after the elderly."

"Maybe she's a rebellious teenager. There are a lot of these 'the world is no place for me' types in society these days."

……

Liu Chenmin said, "There's no time like the present. I've been video chatting with your uncle and aunt. Why don't you talk to them? They miss you very much."

As he spoke, he took out his phone, the screen facing Liu Ruyan.

On the phone screen, Liu Ruyan's parents sat upright, staring at Liu Ruyan in front of the screen.

The cameraman observing the human world quickly stepped forward, switching back and forth between the phone screen and Liu Ruyan's expression.

Upon seeing her parents whom she hadn't seen for many years, Liu Ruyan didn't experience the emotional fluctuations she had expected.

She looked at them, her expression revealing only an indescribable weariness and exhaustion.

"Liu Ruyan! You've been out of contact for so long, completely cut off from home. I don't know where you've been running off to. Dad is very disappointed in you!"

Mr. Liu looked at his daughter with a serious expression, as if he were looking at a failed work.

Liu's mother wiped away her tears and sobbed, "My child, what have I done to offend you? You hate me so much that you won't even see me!"

Contrary to what the audience might have imagined, Liu's parents were not old and frail. Liu's father had a ruddy complexion, and Liu's mother had very good skin. Both of them were well-maintained and their ages were not apparent.

Behind them was a carved mahogany background wall, with wooden latticework filled with artworks such as coral, gold ingots, and rare stones, all of which looked quite valuable.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, you can see a long lawn and a deep blue swimming pool.

Mr. Liu placed his hands on the expensive desk, looking serious as if he were giving a press conference, and wearing a Rolex watch on his wrist.

Liu Ruyan glanced at them briefly, and said in her voice as calm as before, "Mom and Dad, don't worry, I'm doing very well now."

“Living well? Of course you’re living well. You don’t attend the classes arranged by the family, you don’t learn etiquette, and you don’t shoulder any of the family’s responsibilities. You’re carefree, of course you’re living well!” Father Liu said sternly.

Wiping away her tears, Liu's mother said, "You're our only daughter. We've always doted on you like a precious treasure. You don't know anything. How can you expect to survive on your own when you're all alone in society?"

After a while, Liu's mother calmed down and asked again, "Child, where have you lived all these years?"

Liu Ruyan pointed to the villa behind her and said, "I live here."

Both Liu Chenmin and his father on the screen changed their expressions.

Mr. Liu said, "Here? Whose house is this? Did you secretly get married without telling us?"

The girl shook her head and said, "This is my teacher's house. He gave it to me, and now I live here by myself."

"Teacher? What teacher? Could he be some shady character from society?" Liu's mother twisted her fingers together, afraid that her daughter had been deceived.

Mr. Liu frowned and said, "Give it away? You can't just give away a villa worth tens of millions like that. You're probably just trying to fool some young girl."

Qin Yun Chu pressed her forehead.

Liu's parents reacted in the same way they had at the beginning.

At this moment, the comments from netizens were even more entertaining.

"666, a villa worth tens of millions is just given away for free."

"It's not April Fool's Day today."

"If giving a villa could win over this girl, I would give her a villa too, but I don't have a villa."