Ye Mingmei was completely panicked at this moment.

Like a person who can’t swim being pushed into the ocean, floating and sinking in despair.

"Then how does Miss Ye explain those photos? In the pictures, you and Mr. Yu seem very close, even sleeping in the same bed."

"..."

At the mention of the word "bed," Ye Mingmei’s entire body jolted violently.

Her beautiful eyes looked at the reporter in horror, her gaze filled with despair, seemingly capable of killing.

The reporter was so frightened by Ye Mingmei’s gaze that they took a step back.

"Miss Ye, I’m not spreading rumors. I have printed out these photos." A reporter beside her handed a photo to Ye Mingmei.

Ye Mingmei glanced at it from the corner of her eye, squinting.

Her heart seemed to drop from her throat back to her chest in an instant.

Looking at the beautifully artistic photos in the reporter’s hand, an indescribable feeling surged in her chest.

They weren’t the scandalous photos she feared, just some ambiguous ones that could provoke imagination.

"I’m sorry, please make way."

The butler quickly rushed out from the villa with others, along with the bodyguards, squeezing into the crowd, clearing a path to protect Ye Mingmei as they retreated.

Under the reporters’ questioning, they quickly entered the villa.

Once free, Ye Mingmei turned and ran to her room.

Without a word, she opened her computer and browsed the photos online one by one, confirming there were no overly scandalous photos before breathing a deep sigh of relief.

"Miss, Mr. Jin is here."

The butler stood respectfully outside the door.

Ye Mingmei paused, holding her laptop as she left the room. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Saw them all." Jin Chenye’s handsome figure stood in the living room, his gentle gaze falling on the laptop in Ye Mingmei’s hand, scanning over the photos as he spoke calmly.

"Don’t worry about these photos."

"I’m fine." Ye Mingmei quickly replied, turning her face to look outside the door.

Outside the villa, the reporters hadn’t left, still unwillingly looking around.

"The reporters can’t see you, so they’ll leave soon. I took the liberty to get you some time off; you don’t have to go to work today. Just stay home and rest, consider it an early off day."

Jin Chenye’s tone was very light, as if he didn’t take the photos seriously.

His relaxed attitude slowly influenced Ye Mingmei.

"There’s no need for time off for something like this. If I keep avoiding it, the news will just stay hot." Ye Mingmei bit her lip, "I want to go to work as usual."

"You can’t avoid reporters, and try not to say anything at this time, especially don’t deny anything." Jin Chenye’s voice deepened, looking at Ye Mingmei earnestly.

"...Senior, what do you mean?"

Not denying—is he suggesting she admit to being in a relationship with Yu Xiuzhun?

"If you don’t respond, the media can only speculate, which doesn’t harm you or Yu Xiuzhun much, and might even bring attention to the group. But once you deny it, the first to get angry will be Yu Xiuzhun. I’m worried he might do something even more outrageous."

The photos Yu Xiuzhun has aren’t just these mild ones.

"But if I don’t respond, everyone will assume I’m admitting to it." Ye Mingmei lowered her eyes, her hands clutching her knees.

She didn’t want to get involved with Yu Xiuzhun.

Yu Xiuzhun, the fraud, would never give up the interests of the Yu family. Sooner or later, he’d stand against everyone.

"That’s just speculation. You always have the right to clarify. But if you provoke Yu Xiuzhun, things might reach an irreversible point."