Bo Jingzhou's brows furrowed tighter, wanting to smoke, but he hadn't brought any today.

He doesn't usually smoke much, enduring the urge to smoke whenever it arises. But today, the more he resisted, the more agitated he became. Coupled with Ji Siyuan constantly chattering in his ear, his irritation grew. "I'm going outside for a cigarette."

Ji Siyuan stared at him steadily, without stopping him.

The 薄 family had prepared cigarettes and placed them in the dining area, outside on a small balcony which served as a smoking area.

But at this moment, there was already someone there, a faint figure flickering on the sheer curtain. Bo Jingzhou didn't go over, but instead went to the garden outside.

He didn't have his coat on, and the moment the glass door opened, a gust of wind laden with snowflakes hit him head-on. It rushed in through his collar, cuffs, and pant legs like a swarm of knives, biting and chilling him to the bone. In just a minute, he felt completely drained of warmth. His hand holding the cigarette started shaking uncontrollably, and his lips turned blue.

The cold even suppressed the restlessness in my heart, because it was so cold that I couldn't think of anything else.

There was wind, the fire burned particularly fast. Bo Jingzhou snuffed out the cigarette butt, but instead of entering the banquet hall, he went around to the back and prepared to go upstairs through the safety passage.

……

The upstairs room.

Shen Wanci didn't expect the person coming out of the bathroom to be Nie Yucheng. He was wearing a bathrobe provided by the hotel, his waist tied loosely with a belt that seemed about to come undone at any moment. His hair dripped continuously.

The moment he opened the door, he was clearly taken aback: "How is that you?"

"A waiter told me my mother-in-law had fallen in the garden and they brought her to this room to rest. I knocked just now but got no answer, and seeing the door was open, I came in."

"I had my assistant get me some clean clothes, so the door wasn't closed. I never saw your mother."

This is obviously being deceived.

Although I don't know the other party's purpose, it's best not to stay here long.

Shen Wanci was just about to turn and leave when the half-closed door was pushed open from the outside with a great force. The solid wood door slammed against her back, catching her completely off guard. She stumbled and nearly fell.

Nie Yu Cheng reached out and steadied her. The belt, which was already loose, couldn't withstand such a strong movement and came undone, the neckline slightly opening to reveal his lean but not thin chest. It was the kind of physique that women liked, looking thin in clothes and having flesh when undressed.

But at this moment, Shen Wanci didn't pay any attention to these things. All her attention was on the person who had just pushed open the door behind her.

With such a setup, who could possibly be the one who suddenly burst in? Friend or foe?

She really couldn't figure out why the other party had set this up. Was it just to make people see her and Yu Cheng alone in a room? If they were married, they could at least spread rumors of infidelity, but they were one single and the other divorced. Even if there was something, it wouldn't involve morality or break the law, right?

But when she saw that it was Bo Jingzhou, she instantly understood that all of this was done for him. The person wanted to drive a wedge between their relationship.

She must have thought of Ji Siyuan, that pervert. He's such a creep and so lame. He's still using these old, tired tricks. Has he been reading too many domineering CEO novels and gotten himself caught up in the role of the evil female supporting character?

Bo Jingzhou's gaze fell on Nie Yucheng holding Shen Wanci's hand, his face growing colder by the inch. What angered him even more was that Shen Wanci's hand was actually resting on his waist.

This pose coupled with Nie Yucheng's attire, looked incredibly suggestive, it hurt his eyes to look at.

The man's lips twitched downwards, his voice as though he were holding back a burst of anger like the enraged Nezha. As soon as he opened his mouth, a torrent of fire seemed to erupt: "How long are you planning on hugging for?"

Then Shen Wanci realized she was still being held by Nie Yucheng, her hand still resting on his waist. She hurriedly straightened her body, "I'm sorry."

This sentence also doesn't know who it's addressed to.

Nie YuCheng slowly retracted his hand, deliberately provoking him: "If you hadn't pushed that door, we wouldn't have ended up holding each other."

Shen Wanci suddenly turned her head and glared at him, "Don't talk nonsense."

After saying that, she looked back at Bo Jingzhou: "I almost fell just now, Yu Cheng helped me up. Can you please push the door more gently next time?"

Nie YuCheng: "This is a hotel, cameras are everywhere. You just came here so openly? Aren't you afraid your disguise will be exposed, and someone will drug you until you become mentally ill?"

Bo Jingzhou's gaze was fixed on Shen Wanci. Only she knew about Ji Siyuan giving him medicine, so did she even tell Nie Yucheng about this?

Though I'm upset, I can't argue with her in front of others. Otherwise, wouldn't we be giving them a chance to take advantage?

So this anger could only be vented on Nie Yucheng: "You're not only acting like a white lotus now, but you also want to be the most noticeable bag? Did I ask for your input? You just keep interrupting."

Nie Yu Cheng shrugged, fastening his belt: "That person started to suspect you. This play is deliberately testing your attitude. I estimate that people have been arranged at every passage to block you. Be careful recently, don't really be treated as a guinea pig. A long illness leaves one cold-hearted. If you become stupid, I'll be the first to ditch you. But you don't seem very smart right now, your acting is so bad and you dare to learn how to wear a disguise."

Bao Jingzhou listened, frowning deeply.

What does it mean that "a long illness makes one lose all affection"?

"You're the one who doesn't have a girlfriend and you don't want others to be in a good relationship, right?"

Nie Yucheng's eyes held a deep pain, but only someone like Bo Jingzhou, who had grown up with him and knew him well, could see it. He said, "You guessed right."

With a *ding*.

The sound you hear is the elevator's chime, indicating it has stopped. It should be on this floor.

The hallway was eerily quiet. The door stood ajar, and even the faint sound of the elevator opening could be heard distinctly.

As soon as the door opened, a flurry of footsteps came rushing towards them, fast and furious. The room was close to the elevator, and in the blink of an eye, they were at the doorway.

Bo Jingzhou frowned: "It should be a reporter. Going out now would damage Wanwan's reputation."

Rumors can kill a person because they need no basis, no logic, only malicious conjecture, pouring the dirtiest and most polluted water onto someone.

Three people, a man and two women, alone in a room is already suggestive. Add Nie Yu Cheng's appearance, looking like he just got out of the shower, it's even easier to misunderstand.

Although Bo Jingzhou has the power to reach the heavens, he cannot control other people's mouths or their thoughts. He owns a media company under his belt and knows all too well the terrifying power of rumors. They can elevate an evil person to a revered god in everyone's eyes, and they can also drag a kind person down into the mire, leaving them to be spat upon by thousands and forever unable to recover.

Footsteps are already at the door.

Bo Jingzhou glanced at the wardrobe beside him, pulled it open, and pulled Shen Wanci over, instructing: "Go in."

(Editor in charge:the couple next door a novel)