Under the witness of relatives and friends, the engagent ceremony went very smoothly, and they clearly told their relatives that they wouldn’t be having a wedding, so the engagent was very grand. The banquet was held at the best five-star hotel in L City, and the gifts for each guest were quite luxurious, each valued at over a thousand.
As for how much money the relatives and friends gave, that was entirely symbolic. After all, the Zhou Family of today wasn’t lacking money. Whatever you gave, it was up to your own conscience.
Although Zhou Yiyi’s family no longer had any relatives, during the engagent, it was the Lin Family that stepped in as her family. For this, she felt very uncomfortable and knew Mrs. Lin had given the relatives their share of money to co and show support. Such a favor, she feared, she would never be able to repay in her lifeti.
In the end, she also took Zhou Mo to visit her ntor’s ho to et the Master, and then went to see the village chief, for his help after her mother’s death, for which she was always grateful.
She showed him her old ho, walked the road she funded for repair, and saw the original site of the old house that had now beco part of the road.
At the beginning of December, they returned to Beijing.
Unexpectedly, right at the parking spot outside their house, they found many more people lurking around.
Zhou Yiyi and Zhou Mo parked the car without rushing to get out. Instead, they watched those peering people, frowning.
"It seems my address has been exposed, huh? Do these people have nothing better to do? Is prying into my life that interesting?"
"As long as they can slander Lin Mu, naturally it is interesting."
Over this half month since they got ho, they paid no attention to the online developnts, indifferent to the pointing and comntary from those around them, whether in L City or Y City. Irrelevant people, why care about them? As long as they didn’t shove caras in their faces to take pictures or insult them, everything was still within tolerable limits.
However, their hotown was not like Beijing, as you can see. No sooner had they arrived than people were squatting here to snap up the first-hand news.
In fact, so real news about the two had been posted, but it was completely drowned out by the paid trolls, causing barely a ripple.
Without causing a splash, naturally, it wouldn’t catch the dia’s attention.
Unless they now posted their wedding photos online, these people wouldn’t let them off easily.
"What should we do?"
Her studio had other teachers covering her classes for the ti being (she had hired two teachers before leaving Beijing), so there was no need to worry for now.
At least during their traveling and marriage, the studio didn’t need her attention.
But this was the only place she had to stay in Beijing, they couldn’t just live in a hotel because of these people, could they?
And even if they could hide temporarily, could they keep hiding forever? They had to co up with a solution.
Zhou Yiyi flipped through her phone, getting angrier as she did, and finally tossed it aside, refusing to look any longer. At the sa ti, she also felt sorry for Lin Mu.
"I’m being cursed out so badly, Lin Mu must be feeling even worse, right?"
As she spoke, she picked up the phone again, intending to call Lin Mu. Zhou Mo had naturally seen the keyboard warriors’ insults as well, but he was used to ignoring all the people not worth his attention, so he didn’t take it to heart.
"Forget it, let him know we’re stuck at our doorstep and he’ll probably feel worse."
"So are we just going to sit here? I don’t mind for myself, but it’s not right to affect the old neighbors. Otherwise, shall we go stay at a hotel?"
"Nowadays, all sorts of things are being said online, they’re saying she’s two-timing, calling her a howrecker, saying she’s out of her league, eating from one bowl while eyeing the pot—all sorts of vicious things. It seems like there’s nothing people can’t imagine, nothing they won’t say."
Before all this started, Zhou Mo and she had been seen coming and going together for several days, and the neighbors had all seen it. On the contrary, Lin Mu had never appeared at her house. Plus, considering her character, both in the past and now, the neighbors probably wouldn’t be speaking ill of her.
Of course, this was just her own thought, and no one could truly judge what the reality was.
Speaking of which, Zhou Mo’s phone had been ringing nonstop these days. However, each ti he’d just glance at it and not pick up. Presumably, they were all greetings from various friends.
The fact that she was Zhou Mo’s girlfriend was already an open secret within their circle. Four years in undergrad, then another four for her master’s and Ph.D., plus there were quite a few alumni on the M country side. Even though they were at different universities, everyone was in a group chat, so at least they would not believe she betrayed Zhou Mo.
After all, she had only returned to the country a few months ago. How could she be accused of betrayal just like that?
But those people aren’t from the entertainnt circle. Even if soone wanted to speak up for them, considering the attention the story was getting on Weibo, their voices would quickly be drowned out by the paid trolls.
Unless the mainstream dia spoke out, it was likely this issue wouldn’t blow over.
After thinking it over multiple tis, Zhou Mo said, "I think if we don’t resolve this issue, we won’t be able to go out and have fun."
With that, he took the initiative to open the car door and step out. As soon as those people saw Zhou Mo, they rushed over like crazy, carrying their caras, and surrounded him in an instant.
Zhou Mo had been interviewed abroad nurous tis, but this was the first ti he faced such a press siege at ho, and it was due to personal reasons.
"Mr. Zhou Mo, what is your relationship with Ms. Zhou Yiyi? Why did you fight with Mr. Lin Mu that day? Is it true, as the online rumors say, that you two are fighting over the sa woman?"
"Today, I won’t provide any explanation. Please go back, and in a few days, I will accept so interviews from the mainstream dia. At that ti, the truth will co to light for everyone to see. Now, you have already disturbed and my neighbors. I have the right to lodge a complaint against you. So, do you choose to leave peacefully or to face legal proceedings?"
Zhou Mo brushed the dust off his clothes, his face impassive as he scanned the faces of the journalists present. Though he didn’t say much, his words hit right on the mark. And standing at 1.87 ters tall among these people, he definitely stood out like a crane among chickens, emanating an unusual pressure that none had ever experienced before.
"Are you leaving or not? Or should I call the police right here, right now?"
As he spoke, Zhou Mo pulled out his phone. The reporters, seeing how resolute and formidable he was, and considering he had already ntioned that he would be accepting interviews, realized they wouldn’t get anything more by lingering.
"May I ask which dia outlet you will be granting an interview to?"
"That’s none of your business."
The reporters: "..."
Half an hour later, they finally left, still reluctant to go. Zhou Yiyi and Zhou Mo heaved a sigh of relief, then moved the local specialties they’d brought back from ho into the house.
Then they knocked on the door across the hall to apologize and express their greetings to the neighbors, and introduced Zhou Mo and her relationship to them.
The young couple who used to live opposite had moved out, and now an older couple resided there. They were very kind to Yiyi, and she frequently gave them vegetables, naturally getting along very well.
At first, they thought sothing major had happened and only got an idea about the situation after talking to their children on the phone. Thus, when the reporters interviewed them, they were sowhat reserved, always speaking well of Zhou Yiyi while not betraying personal information.
After expressing their apologies repeatedly, the two returned ho, actually feeling completely drained. But Zhou Mo still took the initiative to make a phone call.
"Zhen Dong, I agreed to your interview, when will it be? Hmm, you can ask. My wife has been troubled by this matter. You set the ti. Alright, then I’ll co over tomorrow."
After hanging up, Zhou Yiyi looked at him curiously, "Are you really going to do an interview? Which dia outlet?"
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