Chapter 30: What Shampoo Do You Use? It Smells So Nice.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

"A five-year advertising contract with Yan Corporation—Yan Corporation's annual advertising budget is in the tens of millions, isn't it? Ling Xia, you're incredible."

"Ling Xia, I suspect you're the young mistress of Yan Corporation. Your boyfriend is called Yan Feng, and the heir to Yan Corporation is also called Yan Feng. Last time you said it was just a coincidence, but now you can't really deny it."

"Our Ling Xia just wants to keep a low profile. Not like some of you, who trumpet a contract worth a few hundred thousand as if it's earth-shattering news."

The entire conference room was suddenly full of flattery toward Ling Xia.

Yan Corporation was one of the top enterprises in Rong City, its advertising budget rivaling dozens of smaller companies combined.

Moreover, Ling Xia had secured a five-year contract.

Even the station director would probably come down in person to pop champagne and celebrate.

And it was clear Ling Xia was destined to become Yan Corporation's future young mistress; to ally oneself with her would surely bring many benefits.

So, for the moment, no one cared about Jiang Zhiyou.

Jiang Zhiyou understood well—this was a place where warmth was fleeting and interests ruled supreme.

After the meeting ended.

Tang Fei came over to offer her some symbolic comfort, "Xiao You, I still believe in you. Your program has always been our station's top-rated. I'm sure you won't lose to Ling Xia in this. This hosting competition is just a formality anyway."

That much was true.

Over the next week, Jiang Zhiyou and Ling Xia alternated as the prime-time hosts.

The station even organized a public popularity vote for the prime-time hosting slot.

Today was Sunday, the final day of their competition.

They had each hosted three days already.

Looking at the data, Jiang Zhiyou consistently outperformed Ling Xia by a wide margin.

Today, the station arranged for them to co-host together.

Viewers would vote live to decide who would become the prime-time host.

According to the current numbers, the position was unquestionably Jiang Zhiyou's.

Her appearance and professionalism were impeccable.

Especially since she had previously anchored the midday news, she already had a devoted following.

So, from the moment the news broadcast began, Jiang Zhiyou's votes soared far ahead of Ling Xia's.

Just as everyone was convinced that Jiang Zhiyou would be the prime-time host—

An unexpected incident occurred.

During the news broadcast, a trending topic shot to the top of Weibo's hot searches, quickly taking first place.

The topic: #PrimeTimeHostJiangZhiyou'sMurdererMother#

Someone had uncovered that Jiang Zhiyou's mother was none other than Yin Ruyun, the suspect in the infamous husband-murder case from three years ago.

The internet exploded instantaneously.

Criticism toward Jiang Zhiyou swept in like a tidal wave.

[The daughter of a murderer as a prime-time host? How can she be worthy?]

[Her mother is a murderer, not her. They're two different people, okay?]

[The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If her mother killed her father, the child's psyche must be warped.]

[Having to watch the news every day with a murderer's daughter as host—I might develop a psychological shadow.]

Ten minutes after the story broke, voting numbers shifted rapidly.

Jiang Zhiyou's votes plateaued, barely rising.

Meanwhile, Ling Xia's numbers soared at an astonishing pace.

Jiang Zhiyou could see the live voting results as she broadcast.

Given such abnormal fluctuations, she guessed immediately that something was wrong.

But she still finished her broadcast professionally and calmly.

Afterward, Jiang Zhiyou and Ling Xia exited the studio.

Everyone looked at Jiang Zhiyou with complicated, hesitant expressions.

"What's going on?" Jiang Zhiyou asked.

Cameraman Zhao Yuan spoke up, "Jiang, you should check Weibo's trending topics."

Jiang Zhiyou immediately picked up her phone and opened Weibo.

Her expression gradually turned cold.

Editorial assistant Xiao Zhao asked cautiously, "Jiang, is what they're saying online true?"

Others crowded around.

"Jiang, is your mother really Yin Ruyun?"

"Did you witness your mother killing your father?"

"Jiang, you've never talked about your family or your parents..."

"Stop asking. None of this is Jiang's fault."

Ling Xia walked over.

She looked at Jiang Zhiyou with concern, "Zhiyou, are you alright? Don't let what's happening online get to you. Your parents' lives don't define yours."

Her words seemed comforting, but in truth, they confirmed the rumor that Jiang Zhiyou was the daughter of a murderer.

Jiang Zhiyou closed her phone, lifted her head, a faint smile on her lips but a chilling coldness in her eyes.

"Ling Xia, was this your doing?"

Ling Xia quickly adopted a look of surprise and hurt.

"Zhiyou, what are you talking about? I only just saw the news myself."

Jiang Zhiyou's smile deepened, her gaze grew colder, "It had better not be you. Otherwise, you know my temperament."

Ling Xia tried to explain, but Tang Fei had already walked over.

Tang Fei’s brows were knit tightly, his expression grave.

"Jiang, your family's situation is not your fault, but the public backlash is overwhelming. I have to consider the station's reputation. For now, the prime-time hosting slot will go to Ling Xia. Once things settle down, we'll reevaluate."

Jiang Zhiyou smiled gracefully, always maintaining her composure and elegance.

"Alright, I'll follow your arrangement, Director."

Tang Fei sighed in relief, "You haven’t taken your annual leave in a while. Why don’t you take a week off and rest?"

Jiang Zhiyou left the television station and went straight back to her villa in Green Lawn.

The light in Bo Jinshu’s study was on.

Jiang Zhiyou headed directly to the study.

He was seated at his desk.

He had evidently showered, dressed in gray pajamas.

He stared at the computer, thoughtful, his slender fingers gliding over the mouse, his handsome face expressionless.

Those hands were beautiful.

That was Jiang Zhiyou’s first impression.

She strode in on high heels, then sat herself right on his lap.

She leaned close to Bo Jinshu’s ear and inhaled softly, "What shampoo did you use today? You smell so good."

Bo Jinshu’s arm naturally encircled Jiang Zhiyou.

He gazed at the woman in his lap, who was as alluring and lazy as a cat, his eyes growing darker.

"Are you in a bad mood?"

From the moment Jiang Zhiyou appeared at the door, Bo Jinshu had sensed her emotional turmoil.

Jiang Zhiyou raised her head, gently biting his Adam’s apple.

"Yes, so I urgently need some comfort."

Normally, at this point, Bo Jinshu would have taken charge.

But today, he caught Jiang Zhiyou’s mischievous hand as it slipped inside his shirt.

"Because of the posts online?"

Jiang Zhiyou was surprised, chuckling softly, "Even the crown prince finds time for online surfing?"

Bo Jinshu wrapped one hand around her slender waist, freeing the other to click on his computer.

"I've already found out who posted it. Take a look."

Jiang Zhiyou was surprised again, then looked at the screen.

There was a video—the woman in the video wore a baseball cap and was posting from an internet café.

And the content she posted was exactly the top trending topic.