After Marrying the Villain with Seven Personalities [Transmigration into a Book]) - Chapter 66

Staring at the photo she had taken earlier at Hongxun, Xu Linqiu felt a wave of depression. The shot was too tight—showing only their two faces—making it impossible to prove it had actually been taken at the club.

How am I supposed to spin this? she wondered. Do I just play it by ear?

Amidst her thoughts, a knock came at the door. She climbed out of bed and opened it to find Shi Ji looking helpless. “You’ve been playing pretty high and mighty lately, haven’t you? Want me to ask my dad to help with the PR?”

“No need. I don’t care about the rumors; I’m just worried about how to explain things to Qingqing.”

“How else? Let me tell you: just give her a ‘surprise.’ When you’re in the middle of that with her, she’ll believe anything you say.”

“In the middle of what?” Xu Linqiu laughed, then asked, “What do you want for breakfast?”

“You know exactly what,” Shi Ji said with a look of feigned innocence. She walked toward the exit and winked. “My mom called us to go home for dinner; you should come over and join us for a meal too.”

“I expect it’s because I gave Yanbai annual leave. Since I’m not working either, she probably wants to give me a piece of her mind.”

“I’m planning to stay unemployed for a year, or just work exclusively from home,” Xu Linqiu said. “Once we make it through to the end, everything will be fine.”

“It’s okay. I’m with you. we’ll work together until we reach that point.” Xu Linqiu leaned out and smiled at her. She hadn’t forgotten Shi Ji’s theory: if they could just survive this year, the clouds would part and the sun would shine again.

“Then I’m taking Yanbai and heading out,” Shi Ji smiled back.

“Mm-hmm.”

After much deliberation, Xu Linqiu eventually changed her bedsheets to a purple set. She bought two “Teacher-Student” roleplay outfits and various decorations. She even brought out “Xiao Huang’s” box, selecting and disinfecting a few small toys.

Let’s go with these…

Once everything was prepared, she left the house with a sense of security.

She arrived at her parents’ home near noon. Fang Fengyu was cooking, and Xu Xinping was watching TV in the living room.

Seeing her return, Xu Xinping said softly, “You’re back.”

“Yeah, I came to snag a meal,” Xu Linqiu smiled. “Where are Judong and the others?”

“At the studio. Your mother was worried they’d be bickering too much lately to film properly, but I told her they’re professionals—there’s nothing to fear.”

“True.” Xu Linqiu sat down to watch TV, but to her surprise, Xu Xinping didn’t mention the trending scandal at all.

However, during lunch, Fang Fengyu looked as if she were biting her tongue.

“What are you worrying blindly for? The children can solve their own problems. Do you not trust Linqiu’s character?” Xu Xinping placed some food in his wife’s bowl, timely interrupting her fretting.

She still gave Xu Linqiu a silent look before replying, “Of course not, it’s just that this matter has blown up so much…”

“It’s fine, Mom. Qingqing and I just went to Hongxun to play. Her illness isn’t fully cured yet, so she forgot, but we’ll definitely make up by tomorrow,” Xu Linqiu replied with a smile.

Fang Fengyu looked surprised. “I thought you said it was handled last time?”

“I thought so too.”

“Well… you two handle it yourselves then…” She let out a long sigh.

It wasn’t until dinner time that Xu Linqiu called Yi Chenqing. “When are you getting off work? I’m at my parents’ place; can you come back here for dinner?”

There was a pause on the other end before she replied, “Work is busy and I have to stay late. I won’t be back for dinner.”

“Alright then. Ji-zi and the others are back as well, so I’ll stay here at my parents’ for a bit longer.”

“Mm.”

The atmosphere between them was subtle. Yi Chenqing hung up and looked at Xu Xu, who had been waiting, gesturing for him to speak.

“The PR team is already working online. However, they say the best solution is for you to buy an identical maid outfit, take a photo, and respond saying that the woman at Hongxun was you.” Xu Xu feared he was stepping into a minefield, but he forged ahead. “The only risk is if that other woman decides to speak out.”

“Fine.” Yi Chenqing’s narrow eyes squeezed slightly. Her expression was unreadable as her index finger tapped the desk, seemingly in deep thought.

It scared Xu Xu half to death. How deep must her love be for her to be willing to wear a ‘green hat’ (be cheated on) and still clean up the mess like this?

“I’ll take the photo at home. Have someone deliver the clothes directly there.”

Interrupted by her own words, Yi Chenqing stood up and walked to the door. Xu Xu nodded quickly. “Understood. CEO, I will send the draft for the post to you later.”

“Mm.”

By the time she returned home with the clothes, the entire villa was pitch black, though the lights next door were bright.

Yi Chenqing breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t even turn on the lights, heading toward the bedroom to change. Halfway there, she turned back to the study. She turned on a single small lamp, took out the maid outfit she never would have dreamed of wearing, and gritted her teeth as she put it on.

The cool fabric touched her skin, but it only stirred her melancholy. The thought of Linqiu playing at an entertainment venue with another woman—especially one dressed like this—made her feel an irrepressible, sinking depression.

She turned on the main lights, took a photo, applied for an account, and posted the picture with the drafted text. She added one extra line herself, then flicked the lights back off.

The endless darkness seemed to reflect her heart, which was being swallowed whole.

Once the post was shared by the official Yi Corporation account, it instantly topped the Hot Search list.

Back at the parents’ house, Xu Linqiu noticed a light in one room of her villa flicker on for a moment, then go out.

Thinking she had misseen, she looked down at her phone, which was buzzing with notifications.

“See? I told you Qingqing was reliable.” “Oh, thank goodness, everything’s solved.”

Amidst these voices, Xu Linqiu’s gaze remained fixed on the post, unable to look away.

The photo only showed the upper half of Yi Chenqing’s body. She looked as cold and aloof as ever, but unlike usual, she was wearing a black-and-white pleated outfit with a butterfly bow—clearly a maid’s uniform.

[Post]: I didn’t have a social media account before, but I didn’t expect my private affairs to garner such attention. As shown in the photo, it was simply some roleplay between a married couple. To those who insulted my wife, please apologize to @XuLinqiu.

The comment section exploded:

[Told you to wait for a response! Everyone acting like a social justice warrior, dying to make someone get a divorce. What, CEO Yi needs to report her private bedroom life to you? Can’t a couple have a little fun? If she was really being cheated on, do you think she’s an idiot?]

[I really didn’t expect the CEO to play like this (crying). @XuLinqiu, I’m sorry for doubting you.]

[The boss of Hongxun??]

[Apologize now!]

In an instant, a warm current flooded Xu Linqiu’s heart. She never expected Chenqing to go this far. Even though Xu Linqiu hadn’t explained a thing—even though all the evidence pointed to her being unfaithful—Chenqing was willing to post such a private photo on a public platform and side with her unconditionally, even “pretending” to be the person in the video to clear her name.

She really is a total fool.

“Mom, Dad, I’m heading back now.” “Alright.”

Thinking of the light she saw earlier, Xu Linqiu hurried home. She opened the door, and without even turning on the lights, she rushed straight toward the study.

She pushed open the study door with anticipation and flicked on the light. Under the sudden glow, the woman who had been standing silently in the dark squinted at the brightness, then stiffly turned her head.

She hadn’t changed out of the maid outfit. The black-and-white palette made her skin look like snow. The pleated skirt only reached her mid-thigh, creating a powerful visual impact.

“Why are you…” Yi Chenqing looked extremely uncomfortable. She took two steps back, but Xu Linqiu lunged forward, catching her in a tight, fierce embrace.

“What if I really had cheated?”

Xu Linqiu whispered the question. It made Chenqing’s heart leap, bringing an unbearable pang of pain.

“Don’t let it happen again,” her voice was hoarse and strained.

“But they say cheating is either zero times or infinite times…” Xu Linqiu continued, her tone casual. She suddenly felt a wicked urge to tease her, because she knew that even if she were the worst person in the world, this woman would seemingly tolerate her forever.

But the woman seemed truly provoked. She lifted her head, grabbing Xu Linqiu’s collar, her eyes rimmed with red. “Then tell me, why? Is it because I’m not uninhibited enough in bed? Or am I too bo—”