Chapter 119: Preparing to Expose

Qin Zi Mo thought it over, and still had no solution.

This counts as a hopeless remedy, like treating a dead horse as if it were alive.

But the two of them struggled for a while, and it was still useless.

I didn't expect this kid to be so lucky.

Qin Zi Mo couldn't go on and said, "Sleep quickly; we have filming tomorrow."

He really couldn't get hard at all.

Qiao An was also exhausted and said, "Fine, anyway I told Nan Gong Jue that we have to stay at the maternal home for a week, so there's still time."

She didn't believe it, still tormenting for several days and still couldn't shake it?

Early the next morning, Song Huan Yan got up.

She hadn't slept well at all last night; although she trusted her judgment, she still felt inexplicably a bit worried.

After getting up, she sent a message on her phone.

The other side replied quickly: "Went to the Bieshu at 2 a. m."

Song Huan Yan exhaled, replying, "Hmm. Have you organized the conversation?"

The other side said, "Done."

Song Huan Yan said, "Send it to me."

The other side sent it over.

After reading it, Song Huan Yan felt nauseous to the point of being overwhelmed.

After freshening up, she left the wash area and ran into Nan Gong Yu.

Nan Gong Yu said, "Woke up so early? Didn't sleep well last night?"

Song Huan Yan thought for a moment and said, "This afternoon, accompany me to a place, and also bring Second Brother along."

Nan Gong Yu raised an eyebrow, "You want to say 'and'?"

Song Huan Yan shook her head, "I have a Bieshu that Qin Zi Mo is still living in; I plan to take it back. Afterwards I want to have dinner with Second Brother."

She said that, yet Nan Gong Yu still understood it as wanting to say "and", though he didn't state it outright.

After thinking, Nan Gong Yu said, "Huan Yan, I'm afraid you can't act as a mediator now. Second Brother is currently very high up; if he had a bit more reason, he wouldn't have been so forceful yesterday in demanding the certificate. Since we gave them a Fake Certificate, just leave it to time for him to discover. He won't listen to anyone's words now. Even if his parents intervene, he'll still cling to his so‑called love."

Song Huan Yan pressed her lips and said, "I guarantee he absolutely won't persist this time."

Nan Gong Yu, being extremely perceptive, immediately sensed something off and asked, "Do you have anything particularly persuasive?"

Song Huan Yan hesitated for a second and said, "Hmm, yes."

"What is it?" Nan Gong Yu asked.

Song Huan Yan thought, looked at Nan Gong Yu, and seriously said, "Lord Nan, do you… trust me?"

Nan Gong Yu was momentarily stunned, then nodded, "I trust."

Song Huan Yan said, "Alright, then I'll tell you at dinner."

Since she said so, Nan Gong Yu didn't press, and said, "Fine."

Song Huan Yan added, "Call Second Brother and talk to him? Also, tell him not to look for Qiao An today for now."

Nan Gong Yu nodded, "Okay. I'll do as you say."

After they finished speaking, Nan Gong Yu went to freshen up.

Song Huan Yan suddenly said, "Lord Nan, if I, because of my own ideas, interests, and some convictions I deem important, were to temporarily conceal some very important matters, would you blame me?"

What she said sounded increasingly strange.

Nan Gong Yu, guessing, said, "Things concerning Qiao An?"

Song Huan Yan slightly widened her eyes, "You guessed it."

Nan Gong Yu looked at her, "Not hard to guess. Your relationship with her is too strange. You praise her at work, yet outside work you target her. She must have done something excessive and unforgivable. From my judgment and understanding of you, if it weren't excessive, you wouldn't keep harping on it."

Song Huan Yan fell silent.

Nan Gong Yu added, "Go ahead and do it; you don't need to compromise for anyone. When you feel you can tell me, tell me then; it's not too late."

On set, Tang Chenge, per Song Huan Yan's request, wrapped up at five p. m.

Nan Gong Yu also preemptively told Nan Gong Jue not to look for Qiao An today.

After work, he took Nan Gong Jue to pick up Song Huan Yan.

Song Huan Yan also brought people: Sang Wan, Tang Chenge, and her Legal Department Minister, an elite lawyer.

After the two groups met, Song Huan Yan got into Nan Gong Yu's car.

Tang Chenge and Sang Wan were with the Legal Department Minister.

Once in the car, Nan Gong Jue said, "Elder Sister-in-law, why are you only now thinking of reclaiming the house?"

His tone was a bit off.

He meant that if they've broken up, they should have reclaimed it already, not delayed until now.

He probably also wondered what it meant to involve him and Nan Gong Yu together.

Song Huan Yan replied succinctly, "I hadn't paid much attention before."

Then she asked, "Did you contact Qiao An today?"

Nan Gong Jue frowned, "Big brother won't let us contact her. What exactly are you all trying to do?"

Song Huan Yan said, "Oh, then you can message her and ask what she's doing. But don't tell her I'm reclaiming the house."

Nan Gong Jue's brows furrowed further, also finding her words odd.

Unexplained, he probably had some vague suspicions in his mind.

He said nothing, just opened his phone and sent a message to Qiao An.

After a short while, Qiao An replied, saying she finished work early today and just got home.

I also sent the Qiao Family Living Room photo to the Nan Gong Marquis.

Then she coquettishly asked the Nan Gong Marquis whether he missed her.

The Nan Gong Marquis thought for a moment, went along with her and said he missed her, then suggested that in a while he would simply go to the Qiao Family for dinner.

According to the rule Qiao An mentioned, they only need to stay at the bride's family for a week, and it never said the two cannot meet during that week.

Qiao An immediately replied, "Husband, not for now."

The Nan Gong Marquis's expression instantly tightened, and he asked, "Why?"

Qiao An said, "You… haven't given the Betrothal Gifts. Coming to the house for dinner… feels a bit odd. I don't think it's a big deal, but my parents think the etiquette looks off."

That explanation does hold water.

The Betrothal Gifts had actually already been prepared by the Nan Gong Marquis.

Seeing her say that, he replied, "Alright. Got it. Then we'll discuss it after the Betrothal Gifts are sent tomorrow."

After sending the message, the Nan Gong Marquis turned off his phone.

Song Huan Yan didn't ask further, but took out her phone and sent a message.

The other side quickly replied, "Back to the Bieshu."

Song Huan Yan put away her phone.

When the group arrived at Qin Zi Mo's Bieshu, the Qin Family was having dinner.

Song Huan Yan didn't let Nan Gong Yu and the Nan Gong Marquis get out of the car.

She led Tang Chenge, Sang Wan, and the minister inside first.

Seeing them, the Qin Family was stunned.

Qin Zi Mo was the first to react, hurriedly putting down his bowl and standing up, "Yan Yan!"

Song Huan Yan stepped back, looked at the dumbfounded Qiao An, and asked, "Miss Qiao, how did you end up here?"

Qiao An's face turned white with fright instantly.

Only then did Qin Zi Mo remember, and he hurriedly said, "Um, I left my phone at the set earlier; Miss Qiao delivered it to me, and since we were having dinner at home, I invited her to join us."

The excuse was airtight.

Qiao An quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, that's it. Sorry...."

After speaking, she stood up, "I, I'll leave first."

Song Huan Yan pursed her lips and said nothing.

Qiao An, feeling uneasy, didn't say more and hurriedly stepped away.

Li Peilan pretended to detain her, "Finish eating before you go; it's just a meal, nothing big."

Qiao An declined, "No need, Aunt."

She said that and walked away even faster.

Song Huan Yan turned her gaze to Qiao An's back and stepped forward to follow.

Qin Zi Mo was stunned for a moment, then felt guilty enough that his legs went weak.

He hurriedly stepped forward as well, saying, "Yan Yan, did you need something from me? Why did you also go out?"

Song Huan Yan ignored him.

Qiao An rushed out of the Bieshu, and upon seeing the car parked outside, she froze instantly.

The people inside the car were also stunned.

The Nan Gong Marquis knit his brows.

Nan Gong Yu said, "Why is your partner… at Song Huan Yan's ex‑boyfriend's Bieshu?"

The Nan Gong Marquis immediately opened the car door.

When Qiao An saw him step out of the car, she was struck as if by lightning and turned to stone.

The Nan Gong Marquis's handsome face darkened instantly, and he strode forward, "Why are you… here? You just messaged that you had just arrived at the Qiao Family."

At this moment, Song Huan Yan and a few others, including Qin Zi Mo, stepped forward.

"I…," Qiao An was so frightened she could barely speak.

Qin Zi Mo was also terrified, but immediately pulled out his earlier excuse.

He said Qiao An delivered his phone, he happened to be having dinner at home, so she was left to eat a few bites, and then Song Huan Yan arrived.

Qin Zi Mo even added that when Song Huan Yan arrived, Qiao An hurried away to avoid suspicion.

Only then did she meet the Nan Gong Marquis at the Bieshu's entrance.

The Nan Gong Marquis looked at Qiao An, "How long does it take from your home to here? Why did you lie to me?"

"It's not like that, let me explain," Qiao An hurriedly said.

The Nan Gong Marquis said, "Explain."

Qiao An was incoherent, saying, "It's just because… because… I really did once worship and adore Qin Yingdi… I came… to tell him that I… I'm married. To… make a farewell. Husband, please don't misunderstand."

The Nan Gong Marquis's face turned black, "You said the worship and pursuit were just jokes before, and now you tell me you adored? Qiao An, have you been lying to me all along?"

Qiao An shook her head in panic, "No, no, you have to understand me. How could I… say I loved, adored… Husband, it's not what you think, I didn't lie. I just couldn't tell you."

"He's not your husband." At that moment Nan Gong Yu stepped forward, "Stop flattering yourself; your Marriage Certificate isn't real."

Upon hearing that, Qiao An's face turned as white as paper, "What?"

Qin Zi Mo, standing nearby, was also so frightened he almost knelt.

Fake Certificate…

This was originally something he and Qiao An had discussed earlier to set up Song Huan Yan.

But now…

Qiao An stared wide‑eyed, "What did you say? Why did you…?"

Nan Gong Jue was also very surprised, looking at Nan Gong Yu.

Then he turned his gaze to Qiao An, "I don't know. But your explanation is also feeble; the one who deceived me is you."

"No," Qiao An frantically denied, "I didn't deceive you. I truly only came to say goodbye, to say goodbye to the person I once admired. I didn't tell you before because I was afraid you'd misunderstand!"

Her excuse held a tiny bit of credibility.

Nan Gong Jue slowly furrowed his brows, "But you just sent me a message, and you're still lying to me."

Qiao An cried, "To prevent you from misunderstanding, I could only lie."

At that moment, Song Huan Yan suddenly spoke, "Nan Gong Jue, for you, was willing to fall out with his family and marry you. He even obtained the Marriage Certificate; let's not even discuss its authenticity, at least he and you both don't know it's fake. In this situation, what good is there for you to say? Just because you once admired someone, you get so attached? Then why did you marry him? The marriage is already done; saying you're saying goodbye is even more untimely, isn't it?"

Nan Gong Jue looked at Song Huan Yan, somewhat understanding.

Probably Song Huan Yan had known about this for a long time.

It wasn't as lightly brushed off as Qiao An had said before; it was merely admiration, and the pursuit was just talk.