Chapter Fifty: That Girl

Guilt changes nothing.

For just a fleeting moment, it felt like a tiny thorn in his heart, but when he carefully brushed it away, it was gone without a trace.

Zhou Yifan maintained a natural relationship with Xu Meiqi.

He brought her into the company where he worked and led her onto the path of becoming a live streamer, mainly to avoid drawing attention by frequently visiting the university.

Xu Meiqi never doubted him.

He became increasingly brazen and reckless, ignoring all propriety. Everyone in the company knew their relationship was abnormal, but Xu Meiqi never cared.

She even took a certain pride in overhearing her colleagues whispering behind her back, never once arguing with them.

Zhou Yifan relished this feeling.

Given his background and fortune, to put it bluntly, there were more suitors than space along Chang’an Avenue. Yet when Xu Meiqi showed him favor, she didn’t even know what he really did for work; she simply thought he was an ordinary employee at Yellow Lantern Software.

After all, what kind of leader would be sent to a university in the middle of summer to help students set up a venue?

What no one knew was that Zhou Yifan simply liked college girls.

He had encountered many young female students.

By merely showing off some wealth, countless people would cater to him as if he were a god, but he was already bored with that.

His moves were always swift—he made his approach quickly and withdrew just as fast. The price was right, his deception was of the body but not the heart, and in all these years, he never made a mistake.

Yet somehow, he fell captive to Xu Meiqi’s gaze.

She never pried into his affairs nor asked him for a single cent. If he hadn’t brought her into the Yellow Lantern MCN organization, Zhou Yifan wouldn’t even have known what he could offer her.

That environment unnerved him.

He could not allow anything to slip beyond his control. If she completely refused his charity, how could Zhou Yifan comfortably enjoy himself?

Yes, enjoy.

Originally, it was merely about enjoyment.

Enjoying the sunshine and innocence of a college girl, enjoying the purity that was so out of place in this circle.

Unwittingly, it dragged on for two whole years.

That was a dangerous sign.

He could not maintain long-term relationships with people in the industry, nor could he let others think it was a weakness of his. Not to mention, legally, he was already a married man with children.

Zhou Yifan deliberately began to distance himself from Lin Ke—he stopped answering her calls, ignored her messages, and maintained a cold distance from her in every setting.

But Xu Meiqi didn’t care at all.

She still thought it was because her fame was growing and that Zhou Yifan, as her manager, needed to focus on work. Even if they could only chat through a simple app like Momo, she never complained.

She believed every word he said.

Even today, with just one phone call from Zhou Yifan, Xu Meiqi let her guard down completely, returning to the company and being taken to a hotel. Though she hesitated at the door, the moment he opened it, she stepped inside with trust.

Zhou Yifan was not there to shield her from drinking.

President Li of Shengshi Chaoyang was right—the two companies had long since reached an agreement. This project was Yellow Lantern’s last lifeline. If there was no improvement, the company would sell off the platform portion of Yellow Lantern and cease operations.

The higher-ups at Yellow Lantern had already spoken to Zhou Yifan.

He was just a small streamer; the leaders didn’t think he cared much. They casually advised him to let her go, a show of respect for Zhou Yifan as her manager after the deal was settled by the higher-ups.

In fact, if not for Zhou Yifan’s background, it wouldn’t have mattered if they hadn’t told him.

This dinner was a trap from the start.

Zhou Yifan had already agreed.

He planned to use this opportunity to make Xu Meiqi give up completely and sever their entangled relationship of two years. This was a predetermined strategy.

For Xu Meiqi, this was indeed a rare chance. If she hadn’t been under his name, Director Song from Shengshi Chaoyang would never have offered such favorable terms for a lead female role, no matter how terrible he was.

If she really soared to stardom, Zhou Yifan wouldn’t have used their past relationship to ride on her coattails. If she only made a brief appearance at the gates of the entertainment world and ultimately failed, Zhou Yifan could use this to end their original relationship.

It was all benefit and no harm.

As for innocence?

Is it not laughable to talk about innocence in this industry?

After the incident, the benefits landed squarely in her hands. Would she really risk everything and confront the capitalists head-on?

Besides, was Xu Meiqi truly innocent?

This was how Zhou Yifan had reasoned with himself.

Even after bringing Xu Meiqi into the company, he maintained this line of thought.

But when he saw Xu Meiqi’s anxious and hopeless eyes, when he looked at her helpless and panicked gaze, Zhou Yifan didn’t know what came over him.

He shouldn’t have acted impulsively.

It was truly a blunder.

Had he forgotten the basic wisdom—better to offend a gentleman than a petty villain?

Who knew what that despicable Director Song might do?

But… today, helping her out, he had done all he could.

It was time to end this relationship that dared not see the light of day.

“Meiqi.”

Zhou Yifan finally spoke.

Xu Meiqi suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Before Zhou Yifan could say another word, she turned and ran back, throwing herself into his arms, bursting into tears.

“I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! I knew you wouldn’t abandon me.”

Zhou Yifan stood frozen, words failing him.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry—it’s all my fault. I drew attention, didn’t handle things with Director Song properly, and caused you to stand up for me.”

Xu Meiqi had always cried silently, but now she suddenly let it all out, sobbing uncontrollably.

“I was so scared, really scared. I thought I was going to die. You know, I brought a razor with me. I thought if someone forced me, I would take us both down!

I even wanted to gouge out his eyes and slit my own throat! I was trembling all over when I stood at the door!

But then I saw you, and I wasn’t afraid anymore. I knew you would protect me! I trust no one else—I don’t trust the company, I don’t trust the boss, only you!”

Xu Meiqi’s cries were contagious. Otherwise, Zhou Yifan wouldn’t have taken her on as a streamer. Holding her, trembling as she wept, his own eyes grew slightly moist.

Damn it, this was unreasonable.

He didn’t raise his hand to embrace her—he only gently patted her shoulder.

“It’s alright. It’s all going to be alright.”

“I know, I know it’s alright. I know you can handle everything, but I just want to cry! I always cause you trouble, I can’t help you with anything, and I even got you into conflicts with others… it’s all my fault…”

Zhou Yifan pulled her away from around his neck.

“I’ll take you home first. Rest well. Don’t worry, I’ll handle the rest.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the surveillance camera outside the corner shop.