Chapter 16 : Tangled Hearts and Trending Troubles

It was past midnight when they reached the hotel, and after their escapade, dawn broke.
They’d barely slept a few hours when Shen Mengke’s phone rang.
She groaned, burrowing under the covers, refusing to answer.
Chen Yanxing hung up for her, but seconds later, it rang again.
Chen Yanxing sighed.
“Why’s there always drama after you?”
Twice they’d done this, twice interrupted by calls.
“You trending again?”
She slid the buzzing phone to Shen Mengke’s pillow.
Shen Mengke huffed, snatching it from the covers and smashing it to the floor.

Silence fell, broken only by their breathing.
Chen Yanxing stared at the lump under the blanket for a few seconds, about to get up when a hand shot out, grabbing her.
“Chen Yanxing…”
The muffled voice from the covers sounded teary.
Chen Yanxing froze, sitting still, watching her.

After a long pause, Shen Mengke spoke again.
“Let’s do it one more time.”
Chen Yanxing looked at her, silent, then leaned forward, yanking the blanket off.
Light flooded in.
Shen Mengke squeezed her eyes shut, shielding them with a hand.
“What’re you doing?!”
Chen Yanxing grabbed her hand, pinning it to her side, staring wordlessly.

Shen Mengke, under pressure, opened her eyes, glaring.
“Don’t want to?
Get out.”
Chen Yanxing sneered.
“Shen Mengke, I’m not your toy for venting.”
Shen Mengke met her gaze, then laughed, pushing her away to sit up, brushing her tangled hair.
“Then what?
You think I keep you for decoration?”
Chen Yanxing’s eyes cooled as Shen Mengke continued, “I don’t want your money or power—just you.
Am I the one losing out here?”
“You stressed one-on-one in the contract.
What, that’s just for me?
You can walk away whenever, no strings?
No such deal.”
She lunged, nearly knocking Chen Yanxing flat.
“I said from the start, I want you.
When I need you, you’re there.
You think you can just show up when I call and ditch me when you’re done?
Not that easy.”

The move jarred her injured foot.
Shen Mengke gasped in pain but held her ground, glaring up at Chen Yanxing.
Her twisted logic poured out, dousing Chen Yanxing’s rising anger.
Chen Yanxing laughed, exasperated.
“And if I refuse?”
Shen Mengke frowned, shoving her down.
“Not your choice.”
Straddling her, Shen Mengke’s fingers trailed down Chen Yanxing’s neck, a brazen rogue.

Chen Yanxing looked up, a slow smirk forming.
She grabbed the wandering hand.
“Miss Shen, we have a contract, but I’m not a hired escort.
It’s mutual consent or nothing.”
Shen Mengke pouted, about to argue, but Chen Yanxing cut in.
“But if you insist… I can make you happy another way.
It’s not just about penetration…”
“Shut up—” Shen Mengke tried to stop her, but Chen Yanxing’s hand—the one that had teased her last night—covered her mouth.
The topic and touch sent Shen Mengke’s mind racing, her ears reddening.
Chen Yanxing noticed but ignored it, continuing, “We’re partners, allies.
We should respect each other.
If you’re distracted like last night, neither of us will enjoy it.”
Shen Mengke pursed her lips, sliding off, guilt creeping in but unadmitted.
Grabbing her clothes, she limped to the bathroom, tossing back, “Boring.”
Chen Yanxing watched her flustered retreat, chuckling, then glanced at the shattered phone.

Shen Mengke showered quickly—they’d cleaned up last night, even stealing a round in the bathroom.
She just needed an escape from Chen Yanxing.
How could she be so dull?
A beauty throwing herself at her, and she plays coy?
Boring!
Utterly boring!

Emerging, Shen Mengke saw Chen Yanxing, fully dressed, on the sofa, fiddling with her phone.
Embarrassment hit—she’d nearly forced herself on her.
Chen Yanxing didn’t look up.
“Screen’s cracked, not too bad.
Should work.”
“Oh.”
Shen Mengke approached, watching her boot the phone.
“Your agent called earlier.
Might be important.
Use mine to call back.”
She took Chen Yanxing’s silver phone, puzzled—last time, it was black?
She set it down.
“No need.
She knows everything about me.”
Sitting, she rubbed her ankle, worse after slipping in the shower, though she hadn’t fallen.
Chen Yanxing glanced over, setting the phone down.
“It’s swollen.
Get it checked at the hospital, could be a bone issue.”
Shen Mengke frowned, gently massaging it.
“Break that easily?
And you!”
She glared.
“Your fault for yanking my foot last night!
It was probably swollen then!”
“Accident,” Chen Yanxing said.
“And why were you running?
Couldn’t just do it properly?”
She grabbed Shen Mengke’s hand.
“Stop rubbing, it’ll swell more.”
Shen Mengke, speechless, dropped it, picking up her phone.
The cracked screen flickered, then died.
She pressed the power button, sighing.
“Dead.”
Chen Yanxing offered her phone again, but Shen Mengke shook her head.
“Don’t remember her number.”
Chen Yanxing tapped the screen and handed it over.

It was already dialing.
Fan Shi’s voice came through.
Shen Mengke gaped at Chen Yanxing.
“You…”
“I looked into you.”
“…”

“Dreamy?
That you?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
Shen Mengke focused on Fan Shi.
“Sister Fan, I’m at…”
She glanced at Chen Yanxing.
Last night, dazed by her injury, she hadn’t noticed where they’d gone.
“Senlan Hotel,” Chen Yanxing said.
“Senlan Hotel.
My foot’s hurt, come save me!”

“You twisted your ankle in bed?”
Fan Shi, picking her up, was incredulous.
“That intense?”
Shen Mengke, in her couture gown and Chen Yanxing’s shoes, draped in Fan Shi’s jacket, limped out.
“No, twisted it in heels yesterday.”
Fan Shi’s eyes drifted to her feet.
“Where’re your shoes?”
“Probably at Yuechen.”
Helping her into the car, Fan Shi said, “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”
Shen Mengke held up her broken phone.
“Here.”
Fan Shi: “…Be careful in bed next time.”
Shen Mengke: “…”

Fan Shi laughed at her indignant look.
“The dating show contract’s at the company.
Was gonna have you review it, but in your state… I’ll bring it later.”
“Fine.”
“And you’re trending again.”
Shen Mengke froze.
“Chen Yanxing?
She can’t be online!”
“Not her.
Xu Shinian.”
“Who?!”

“Odd thing is, we haven’t done anything, but one group’s suppressing the trend while another’s boosting it.”
Fan Shi handed her the phone.
“Dreamy, since this morning, your Weibo’s gained 700,000 followers.”
Shen Mengke’s eyes widened, taking the phone.
Her follower count was still climbing.
“What trend?
Ask the Heart didn’t air, did it?”
“Close.
It’s you and Xu Shinian’s CP.”

#XuShinianShenMengkeKCP#

On the way to the hospital, Shen Mengke scrolled through the hashtag, piecing it together.
It started with photos from the gala—her and Xu Shinian talking, especially Xu whispering in her ear, glancing at the camera.
Netizens read possessiveness and flaunting into that look.
Then, a flood of set bloopers and paparazzi shots were edited into CP videos.
Initially, just CP fans having fun, not enough for a trend.
But at midnight, Xu Shinian posted, “Drinking with someone was fun,” and “accidentally” browsed the CP hashtag.
Fans took it as a nod to Shen Mengke, spinning wild stories.
CP fans flooded Xu’s comments with Shen Mengke’s name, angering Xu’s fans, who didn’t want her tied to a small-time web drama or Shen Mengke’s scandals.
The feud exploded, fueled by Shen Mengke’s old dirt and rival fanbases, dragging in five or six fandoms.

Shen Mengke stared at the top-trending hashtag, seething.
“Suppress it!
Xu Shinian did this on purpose—can’t you see?
Maybe she’s why Ask the Heart stopped!”
Fan Shi blinked, startled.
“Calm down.
Some are suppressing it, but others keep pushing it up.
Can’t stop it.”
“Who’s pushing?”
Fan Shi shook her head.

Shen Mengke, frustrated, shoved the phone back, crossing her arms, staring out the window.
“Sue them.
This time, all the old rumors—sue every liar!
I’m done swallowing this!”
Her outburst shocked Fan Shi.
Shen Mengke, known for her “big heart,” used to shrug off vile comments.
“What’s wrong?” Fan Shi asked.
“I’m fed up…” Shen Mengke muttered.
Three seconds of silence, then she erupted.
“I’m losing it, Sister Fan!
She’s coming back!
If she sees me like this, what do I do?”
“Who?” Fan Shi asked, confused.
“Shu Yun!
Who else?!”