Chapter 543: A Secret II
To address this problem, she had to determine how this news had leaked despite their careful approach to their relationship and public appearances.
After conducting an investigation, she discovered the root cause of the scandal and how the paparazzi had come to know about Jia Fei and Yuhan\'s relationship. To be honest, she wasn\'t surprised to uncover the person responsible for all this chaos.
It was none other than her so-called mother Lin Ran, and Yuhan\'s mother who discreetly tipped off the paparazzi about the scandalous relationship between Jia Fei and Yuhan. In return for sharing this sensational tip, they made an agreement to have the man\'s face blurred in the pictures and to ensure his identity remained undisclosed at all costs.
Xu Nuan could comprehend Lin Ran\'s motives behind her deceitful actions. After all, Yuhan and Gu Xingren had been engaged for so many years, and when he entered a new relationship with Jia Fei and found happiness, it surely bothered Lin Ran.
Xingren is the apple of her eye, after all.
Anyone who causes harm to Xingren automatically becomes her number-one enemy. Regardless of any wrongdoing on Xingren\'s part, she would still harbor strong resentment towards the other person for blaming her daughter.
However, she was at a loss for words upon discovering that Yuhan\'s mother was also involved in this scheme. Why would she join forces with Lin Ran, who was attempting to dismantle her own son\'s joyful relationship?
After uncovering the source of the scandal, Xu Nuan realized the need to address it before issuing an official statement. That is why she arranged a meeting with Lin Ran and Yuhan\'s mother two days before the Celestial Stars Awards Ceremony.
She was curious and wanted to hear firsthand their intentions and goals behind their actions.
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Two days before the Celestial Star Awards Ceremony, Xu Nuan extended separate invitations to both Lin Ran and Yuhan\'s mother, requesting them to meet her at the Private Restaurant of the Jade Hotel. Unbeknownst to each other, they arrived at the lounge and unexpectedly encountered one another at the entrance, resulting in confusion.
"Mrs. Gu, what brings you here?" asked Yuhan\'s mother, puzzled by the unexpected encounter.
Lin Ran furrowed his brow and replied, "Xu Nuan called me here. But why are you here?"
"Xu Nuan? She invited you too?" Yuhan\'s mother was perplexed, questioning the purpose behind Xu Nuan\'s summoning of both of them to the private restaurant of Jade Hotel and wondering what significant matter she intended to discuss with them.
Perplexed, they followed the waitress and entered the private dining room that Xu Nuan had reserved for their meeting. Upon entering, they found Xu Nuan already seated at the table, savoring the dishes she had ordered, and eagerly awaiting their arrival.
Lin Ran entered the room with a furrowed brow, disregarding the need to knock or announce their presence. After all, she was Xu Nuan\'s mother, and she didn\'t feel obliged to adhere to trivial privacy norms.
It was Xu Nuan who had invited her for a meal, so why should she be expected to wait at the door like a secretary, so that she would stop eating and look at them?
Seeing Lin Ran quietly entering the dining room and taking a seat opposite Xu Nuan, Yuhan\'s mother did the same and sat next to Lin Ran.
Even though their relationship was estranged since Xingren\'s scandalous past crimes were revealed to the world and how the Gu family hid the fact that in truth, Xingren was not their biological daughter.
Similarly, Lin Ran felt deeply disappointed in Yuhan\'s mother for supporting Yuhan\'s decision to call off the engagement between him and Xingren.
During that critical time, when Xingren needed his unwavering support, Lin Ran believed it was his duty as her fiancé to stand by her side, rather than discard her like a used handkerchief.
After all, they had known each other for many years and had been childhood sweethearts. Their families had shared a close bond, making it even more bewildering to comprehend how they could sever their ties in the heat of the moment.
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After downing a glass of cold water, Lin Ran confronted Xu Nuan with a series of questions, visibly irritated by her nonchalant behavior and uninterrupted focus on eating. "Xu Nuan, where are your manners? We are sitting right in front of you, yet you are engrossed in your food instead of warmly greeting your elders," she reproached, assuming a mature and authoritative tone.
Furthermore, Lin Ran taunted, "And why did you summon me here? Just because you married Han Zihao, do you believe you can control everyone at your whim?"
"Moreover, why didn\'t you inform me that Mrs. Yu would also be present? If I had known, I wouldn\'t have arrived empty-handed like this," Lin Ran asked in a cold tone, growing increasingly annoyed by Xu Nuan\'s indifferent attitude towards her elders.
How could she not spare even a single glance in their direction?
"Ah! So noisy." Xu Nuan exclaimed in annoyance.
Xu Nuan finally paused her eating and set down her chopsticks to take a brief break. It wasn\'t due to her concern for Lin Ran\'s words, but rather because she was starting to feel satisfied and needed a momentary break to allow her monstrous appetite to settle before resuming her meal.
She was also irritated by Lin Ran\'s high-pitched voice that was itching her ears. She wanted to deal with them first and send them back. She cannot deal with them for longer.
After delicately wiping her mouth with a napkin, Xu Nuan raised her gaze to meet the bewildered expressions of Lin Ran and Yuhan\'s mother.
They both appeared visibly perplexed by the unexpected nature of this impromptu gathering.
Ignoring Lin Ran\'s unnecessary questions, Xu Nuan cut straight to the point. She retrieved an envelope from her bag and threw it onto the table in front of Lin Ran and Yuhan\'s mother, displaying a rather brusque behavior.
"Xu Nuan, what is the meaning of this disrespectful behavior? Just because I have remained silent doesn\'t mean I will tolerate any humiliation," Yuhan\'s mother frowned, displeased by Xu Nuan\'s action as if she were tossing food to a dog.
Unperturbed by her words, Xu Nuan nonchalantly motioned for Lin Ran and Yuhan\'s mother to open the envelope. "You will understand why I called you both here for this impromptu meeting. I believe you will find it intriguing. Open it," she urged them.
However, the moment Lin Ran tore open the envelope and glanced at the contents, her eyes widened in surprise. Abruptly, she closed them and shifted the blame onto Yang Ning.
Her face paled as she looked up at Xu Nuan with hesitation. "What is the purpose of this? Why are you showing me these poorly lit and blurred photographs?" Lin Ran interjected, attempting to divert the conversation.
Xu Nuan couldn\'t help but smirk at Lin Ran\'s amusing reaction and responded with indifference, "Don\'t you recognize these pictures? These are the same pictures that the renowned media outlet posted on social media after receiving a secret tip from both of you." She revealed.
"Didn\'t you ask them to blur and edit Yuhan\'s photos so that he couldn\'t be identified and to fuel the fans\' animosity towards him? Are you still having trouble recognizing these photos?" Xu Nuan asked sarcastically, her tone laced with mockery.