Sober and beautiful, my husband and son begged for my forgiveness on their knees.

beep-

After the phone rang a few times, Lu Mingjin's expectant, youthful voice came from the other end.

"Dad, did Mom say yes?"

With just one sentence, he refuted all of Ning Yao's previous guesses.

Ning Yao frowned, a warm image of Lu Jingmo, Ning Yan, and Lu Mingjin's family of three flashing through her mind.

Even if Mingjin really wanted her to go, it couldn't compare to Ningyan's place in his heart.

In the end, she, his so-called mother, was nothing more than a tool he would occasionally visit when he remembered.

Ning Yao took the initiative to speak.

"I'm too busy with work to go. Why don't you have your aunt go with you?"

Lu Mingjin froze, her initial anticipation and excitement vanishing in an instant.

"Mom...I...I want you and Dad to go together. All the other kids go with their parents, and I don't want to be an outsider. Can you grant me this wish?"

Lu Mingjin now understands clearly that no matter how good her aunt is, she is still just her aunt, not her mother.

So he was especially happy when his father suggested that his mother could attend the parent-teacher conference.

He used to be accompanied by his mother, and he didn't feel anything was wrong. But ever since his mother stopped caring about him, he has become more and more helpless.

The more Lu Mingjin thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and unconsciously blurted out what was on her mind.

“Although we are divorced, we are still Mingjin’s parents, and we both have a responsibility to ensure his healthy growth,” Lu Jingmo also expressed his opinion.

Ning Yao's opinion of Lu Mingjin changed somewhat after the birthday incident, but only slightly.

However, when she heard him say that he didn't want to be an outcast, she softened.

“I can go, but only if I’m available. If I’m not available, I’ll let you know in advance.”

Lu Mingjin's eyes suddenly lit up, and she was so excited that she almost jumped up from the spot.

Even so, he still suppressed his happy yet awkwardness.

No matter what, you have to come!

After saying that domineeringly, Lu Mingjin hung up the phone.

Ning Yao turned her gaze back to Lu Jingmo, a cold smile playing on her lips.

The two started to work together.

"Are you all right now?"

The implication is that you can leave now if there's nothing else to do.

Lu Jingmo understood her meaning and looked at her with a deep gaze.

After a moment, he said, "Mingjin's parent-teacher meeting is the day after tomorrow. I'll come pick you up then."

Ning Yao waved her hand, not wanting to say a word to him.

Not long after, Zhong Yunche came in.

"Lu Jingmo didn't make things difficult for you just now, did he?"

Ning Yao smiled in response to Zhong Yunche's constant concern.

"No, we were just talking about Mingjin. By the way, have you made arrangements with the organizers of Fashion Week?"

Zhong Yunche nodded.

"We've already contacted them. The organizers have specially placed our model last. With the finale and the reputation that 'Shattered Star' has built up, our designs will definitely shine at Fashion Week."

Although Zhong Yunche's tone was certain, Ning Yao felt a strange unease.

To outsiders, Suixing has the powerful Lu family as its backing, but countless eyes are still secretly watching Suixing with predatory intent.

She always felt that things wouldn't go so smoothly, but she hoped she was just overthinking it.

That day after get off work, Ning Yao originally wanted to discuss the details of the design draft with Mei Lin, but suddenly Xiao Xiao and Wen An rushed in in a panic.

"Something terrible has happened, Yao Yao!"

Ning Yao's heart skipped a beat, and the next second she saw Wen An pull up the trending posts on his phone.

[Ning Yao, the daughter of the Ning family, actually severed ties with her biological parents for the sake of the Lu family's wealth and status?!]

Within just half an hour of its publication, the post had been forwarded hundreds of thousands of times, and netizens were leaving numerous comments.

I initially thought Ning Yao was quite pretty, but it turns out she's an ingrate!

No wonder she disliked Ning Yan so much; it turns out she had already chosen to abandon her parents and sister!

I disliked her the first time I saw her. I heard she even bullied her own sister at the banquet! This marriage with the Lu family originally belonged to Ning Yan, but that scheming Ning Yao stole it!

In an instant, in the eyes of netizens, Ning Yao became an ungrateful, heartless, and despicable person.

As Ning Yao's gaze moved downwards, Wen An and Xiao Xiao subconsciously held their breath, not daring to utter a sound.

The online insults are so nasty, Yao Yao must be angry.

"Sister Yaoyao, we've tried our best to suppress the buzz, but these messages and posts keep popping up, it's like..."

Wen An's voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

Ning Yao put down her phone and said calmly.

"It's like someone is pushing me from behind, and their goal is to ruin my reputation. Once it's confirmed that I abandoned my parents, not only me, but our fashion week and even the entire 'Broken Stars' will be affected."

Ning Yao calmly explained their current situation, as if she were not at the center of the vortex.

Xiao Xiao was already pacing around anxiously.

"Sister Yaoyao, what should we do now? They're absolutely certain you abandoned your parents, and the Ning family hasn't made any statement, which clearly means they're tacitly acquiescing. I'm afraid you..."

Xiao Xiao didn't dare to continue.

Ning Yao looked at her and Wen An, and gave them a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, I'll handle this smoothly. You just need to focus on your work."

After saying that, Ning Yao got up and left the studio.

As she went out, she bumped into Zhong Yunche, who was rushing over.

Zhong Yunche almost instinctively grabbed Ning Yao's hand, his eyes filled with worry.

"I've already contacted public relations to handle it. Although the situation isn't expected to escalate further, but..."

At this point, Zhong Yunche took out his phone and pulled up a post that had been published just over ten seconds ago.

[Shattered Star Studio is suspected of money laundering; its head, Ning Yao, has been taken in for questioning by the police!]

One piece of news after another came crashing down on her, and some of it was even spread as a rumor that she had been taken away. Ning Yao's expression turned serious.

The other party clearly wanted to destroy everything she had worked so hard to build, which is why they schemed against her one after another.

However, if the other party is going to fabricate this money laundering claim, there should at least be some basis for it. How could such a post appear out of thin air?

The other party's purpose in taking this step is not as simple as it seems on the surface.

Who posted this?

"It's not clear yet, but I'm already looking into it."

Zhong Yunche observed her expression and, finding nothing amiss, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“It’s not the right time for you to be in the public eye. Why don’t you go back and rest first? I’ll handle the rest. You can come back when things have calmed down.”

After all, if Ning Yao stayed in the studio at this time, she would be vulnerable to attacks from malicious individuals.

Ning Yao noticed that his hand had unconsciously gripped her wrist. Just as she was about to refuse, a rebuking voice suddenly rang out.

"Ning Yao! What are you doing!"

Ning Yao turned around and saw Lu Jingmo standing at the end of the corridor at some point.

His expression was angry, and his cold eyes seemed to be filled with fire.

He was staring intently at Ning Yao's hand.

He rushed over as soon as he heard the news online, but he never expected that this woman would be so intimate with another man.

Does she even respect him?