Chapter 446 - 446

Chapter 446: Chapter 446

In the specially appointed office in Zhonghai, Ning Guangyao, who had been hung up on, was unaware that Lin Ruoxi had fainted from the overwhelming shock.

Ning Guangyao simply assumed that Lin Ruoxi was still angry with Ning Guodong and, by extension, did not welcome him either. He shook his head with a wry smile.

Seeming to reminisce, Ning Guangyao took out his wallet. Unlike ordinary people who store money and bank cards, his wallet contained mostly items of sentimental value, such as photos, business cards, and other small mementos.

Ning Guangyao retrieved an old photo encased in plastic from the innermost section of the wallet. The photo was slightly yellowed but still clear.

The photo depicted a woman dressed in the scholarly attire of a past era, holding a book and sitting on a stone bench, reading quietly as if the outside world had nothing to do with her.

Ning Guangyao gazed at the woman in the photo for a long time, lost in thought, until he was suddenly startled by a knock on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Ning Guangyao turned around, instinctively putting the photo back in his wallet. He stood up and displayed a mild smile, "Cuishan, why are you here in Zhonghai?"

At the door stood a short-haired middle-aged woman dressed in a neatly tailored white women's suit. Clearly, she took great care of herself, as time had left few marks on her face. With a radiant complexion and a mature, full figure, she walked with the grace of someone used to wearing high heels. UppTodated from nô/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)/m

This was Luo Cuishan, the matriarch of the Ning family, Ning Guangyao's wife, and Ning Guodong's mother.

"If you and Guodong won't return to Yanjing, then I have no choice but to come from Yanjing to see what's going on," Luo Cuishan said, playfully glaring at her husband, though her smile was warm.

Ning Guangyao was noticeably gentler in front of his wife, his eyes reflecting genuine affection. "It's nothing serious, you don't need to worry. Guodong made a mistake, and I'm here to correct him. I was planning to fly back to Yanjing tonight. I'll definitely be back in time before the election begins."

"Work has never been something you needed anyone to worry about, but you do need to tell me why you're scolding our son," Luo Cuishan said with some concern. "I just visited where Guodong is staying. He's been very silent and brooding, which isn't like him at all."

A flash of anger passed through Ning Guangyao's eyes. "Don't worry about him. He'll be fine in a while. We've spoiled him too much, and it's made him a bit unruly. You can come back to Yanjing with me this afternoon. We'll deal with that boy's issues later."

With that, Ning Guangyao walked straight out of the office, still visibly annoyed by Ning Guodong's behavior.

Luo Cuishan turned and watched her husband's back as he left the office, her eyes glinting with an inscrutable light.

In the Lin family's old villa, in Lin Ruoxi's room:

Yang Chen slowly pulled open the curtains, letting the afternoon sunlight pour into the room, casting a gentle golden glow.

Lin Ruoxi had awakened from her fainting spell but remained in bed, quietly leaning against the headboard. She stared silently at the photograph on the bedside table, lost in her own world, seemingly disconnected from her surroundings for over half an hour.

"What?!" Lin Ruoxi's eyes widened. "Are you saying what you just said was a lie?!"

"Ah?" Yang Chen quickly shook his head. "Of course it's true."

"Hmph, then get out!" Lin Ruoxi finally relaxed her frown.

Yang Chen sensed that staying any longer would lead to trouble, so he quickly patted Lin Ruoxi's head and ran out of the room.

Hearing Yang Chen's footsteps as he ran downstairs, Lin Ruoxi, still sitting on the bed, couldn't help but smile softly, her eyes showing a trace of tenderness.

Over the next two days, Lin Ruoxi gradually returned to her usual energetic self. Upon returning to the company, she decisively implemented various measures for the launch of the new material products. She also reinvested the funds gained from this recent victory into more investments, strengthening Yulei International's position even further.

Yang Chen, too, was kept busy. Although the promotion of Yulei Star was mainly handled by Zhao Teng and Wang Jie, with assistance from Christine, he, as the director, had to make appearances, say a few polite words, and occasionally perform a double act with Christine.

Christine's popularity left Yang Chen in awe. From her first appearance, Zhonghai's population seemed to skyrocket, with fans flocking from all directions, causing headaches for the city's traffic bureau. Even during typically low-traffic periods, Zhonghai experienced severe congestion. Some of her more prominent fans proved to be a challenge for the traffic police and security personnel.

Christine's numerous fervent admirers often brought gifts and red roses to her hotel, overwhelming the security barriers with their enthusiasm. Christine, occasionally encountering these "lucky" fans, was both amazed by their persistence and delighted to sign autographs and take photos with them.

The hotel Christine stayed at was originally owned by the Liu family but was now managed by An Xin's father, An Zaihuan, who eagerly offered sponsorship for the Yulei Star auditions. Yang Chen didn't see it as a quest for profit but rather as a way for An Zaihuan to strengthen his relationship with him, so he let it be.

What puzzled Yang Chen the most was An Xin, that little enchantress, who, acting on a whim, decided to become a host! Under her persistent request, Yang Chen had to negotiate with the show's producers to allow An Xin to co-host Yulei Star alongside a renowned male TV host.

An Xin effortlessly passed the rehearsals, though her male co-host almost misspoke, having been warned by the TV station's director about An Xin's influential family background and advised to avoid any improper thoughts. The poor host, fearing any misstep that might offend An Xin, ended up treading on eggshells throughout the event.

Yang Chen was pleasantly surprised that, due to Christine's presence, Wang Jie and Zhao Teng managed to invite several other high-profile guests. Many popular singers from Yanxia were eager to make a brief appearance at the Yulei Star opening, offering their blessings or even volunteering to join the judges' panel.

Ultimately, several well-known celebrities from Yanxia were selected to join the judging panel, not necessarily for the final round but for some of the crucial elimination rounds, which was enough to capture the audience's attention.

The first weekend of March arrived, and the much-anticipated Yulei Star auditions, already generating substantial buzz, finally commenced. Hui Lin, a promising newcomer, was set to make her debut, which had become the family's main topic of interest as they eagerly awaited the live broadcast.

Meanwhile, Yang Chen, who could afford a bit of downtime, received a call from Liu Mingyu.

Liu Mingyu's voice sounded hesitant as she said, "Yang Chen, my parents want to meet you tomorrow. Can you come?"

Yang Chen replied in surprise, "Of course, I can. If it weren't for your busy schedule earlier, I would have met them already."

"Actually, if you're too busy, it's okay," Liu Mingyu suddenly said.

Yang Chen found her words a bit odd but assumed she didn't want to inconvenience him. He laughed and said, "No problem, Mingyu darling, don't worry. Just tell me what your parents are like so I can be prepared."