The news of Zhan Yichen's return naturally reached his old friends.
Thus, he had to attend so-called welcome parties, though in reality, he couldn't remember many of the attendees.
For him, there were only a few true friends, those who had genuinely helped him.
There were even people he was certain he had never met, like the young lady from the Lin family and the young master from the Du family. They were clearly there to curry favor with the Zhan family.
Zhan Yichen managed to fend them off and found an excuse to leave the party early, though it was already late.
He called Mu Linjing, "Wife, I'm done here. I'm heading back now. Don't worry about me, just go to sleep."
After hanging up, he walked towards the parking lot.
To be honest, he disliked dealing with those people. They weren't his real friends; they were all after the Zhan family's reputation.
Zhan Yangyi had established his own businesses early on, so after returning to the Zhan family, he continued to run his own company.
As for Zhan Mohan, he was known for his cold demeanor, and they couldn't get close to him. Thus, their attention turned to Zhan Yichen.
Zhan Yichen took out his car keys and pressed the unlock button. His car lights flashed.
Just as he was about to walk to his car, he was hit hard on the back of his head.
The blow didn't knock him out immediately. He instinctively turned around, trying to see who had done it, but his vision blurred, and his head spun. He eventually collapsed, unable to stand.
Everything happened so fast that Zhan Yichen had no idea what was going on.
When he woke up, he found himself in a hotel, and his clothes were gone.
"It hurts so much..." Zhan Yichen touched the back of his head where he had been struck, still throbbing. "What happened to me?"
He looked around. The bed was in disarray. On the floor, besides his clothes, were male clothes he didn't recognize.
"No way?" He could hardly believe it.
His mind felt foggy, and the scene seemed eerily familiar.
Wasn't the incident with Wei Yumeng and Chai Yanyu's video similar to this situation?
Zhan Yichen's mind was a mess. What was going on?
Could it be that he had actually been with a man last night...
He couldn't bear to think about it further.
Yet, all he remembered was going to the parking lot to get his car, and then being knocked unconscious. He knew nothing else.
Although he desperately wanted to believe that nothing had happened, the scene before him seemed to suggest that something significant had indeed occurred last night.
Regardless, he decided to call Mu Linjing first. She must have been worried sick waiting for him all night.
As for what exactly happened last night, he would have time to investigate. Until he found out, he refused to believe anything had happened.
But just as he was about to dial Mu Linjing's number, her phone's ringtone echoed from outside the door, followed by a knock.
"Zhan Yichen! I know you're in there, don't hide!" Mu Linjing's voice revealed her anger without reservation.
Zhan Yichen felt a chill. If Mu Linjing saw him like this, there would be no explaining it. Moreover, her finding him here suggested she might already know something.
Since there was no escape, he reluctantly went to open the door.
Mu Linjing initially found it hard to believe, but upon seeing Zhan Yichen, she had no choice but to accept it.
The moment she realized what she was seeing, she slapped Zhan Yichen across the face.
"You... you actually... actually..." Mu Linjing trembled with rage.
Zhan Yichen quickly tried to explain, "Wife, listen to me. I don't know what happened, I..."
"You don't know what happened? How can I believe you!" Mu Linjing said, pulling out her phone. A photo was displayed on it.
The photo clearly showed Zhan Yichen in bed with another man.
Mu Linjing had initially thought it was a prank, but when she inquired at the hotel reception and found a registration record under Zhan Yichen's name, and now seeing Zhan Yichen's state, how could she still believe him?
"You've disappointed me so much," Mu Linjing's eyes were filled with disappointment and sadness. She stepped back, eventually turning and leaving the hotel.
"Wife!" Zhan Yichen tried to call out to Mu Linjing, but he was naked and couldn't chase after her.
Mu Linjing returned home, feeling as though she couldn't stay in this house for another moment.
Why would Zhan Yichen treat her like this? And to think she only now discovered he was interested in men.
She packed all her belongings and clothes, deciding to move out and then file for divorce from Zhan Yichen. It would be better for everyone this way.
But just as she pulled her suitcase out, Wei Yumeng rushed to find her.
She had also seen the photos circulating online. Worried that Mu Linjing might not cope, she had immediately dropped everything to come find her.
"Linjing, what are you doing?"
Mu Linjing held back her tears, her face contorted with anger. "What else can I do when things have come to this? I don't even know if he ever truly loved me, or if I was just a tool to hide his sexual orientation!"
Saying this, she pulled her suitcase and prepared to leave again.
Wei Yumeng quickly blocked her path. "Linjing, calm down! Have you forgotten what I went through before? What's on the internet isn't always true."
"I saw it with my own eyes. How can I not believe it? I can't convince myself. I... I don't know what to do anymore? What can I do?"
Mu Linjing sobbed, finally sinking to the ground in tears.
Wei Yumeng knelt beside her and hugged her. "Linjing, I know how heartbroken you are right now, but this won't solve anything, will it?"
Looking at Mu Linjing, Wei Yumeng felt immense sorrow. Mu Linjing had done so much for her; it was time for her to help Mu Linjing figure all this out.
"How about this, Linjing. Leave this matter to Mohan and me. We will get you an explanation, alright?"
Mu Linjing nodded in Wei Yumeng's embrace.
Wei Yumeng gently stroked her back. "Alright, until we have an answer, why don't you come stay with me?"
Mu Linjing didn't object. Wei Yumeng stood up, helped with the luggage, and then took Mu Linjing's arm as they got into the car heading to Wei Yumeng's place.