Chapter 182: The Most Special Gift

Su Wanning knew this matter wouldn't end so easily. Now it seemed that Yin Shanshan and the director's team had deliberately orchestrated all of this just to humiliate her at a time like this.

Forgetting someone's birthday could perhaps be glossed over, but how could she talk her way out of having no gift prepared at all? There were cameras broadcasting live right there on the spot, and tens of millions of pairs of netizens' eyes were staring straight at her. If Su Wanning made even one false step, the abyss would be waiting to swallow her whole.

After filming the program for so long, how much hardship and effort had Su Wanning poured into repairing her image? She had finally watched her popularity steadily rise, but if this matter were to be confirmed...

Standing just outside the camera's range, Vincent also stared at her with an anxious look on his face.

Clearly, Vincent knew that Su Wanning's relationship with Qin Jingchen was not as good as it seemed. Given the tacit understanding between the two over the years, one look was enough to tell him that she had completely failed to prepare a gift.

Making a fool of herself in front of the camera meant that Su Wanning's name would undoubtedly hang on today's trending searches, and this incident would become an eternal black mark on her record that she could never wash clean.

Just as the atmosphere reached an awkward stalemate, Vincent was struck by a flash of inspiration. He turned and bolted, planning to grab just about anything to use as a substitute for a gift—as long as he could muddle through the situation, this crisis could still be averted.

However, as if deliberately determined not to let Su Wanning off the hook, Yin Shanshan smiled and spoke up again, "President Qin, since everyone is here to celebrate your birthday together, why don't you unwrap the gifts and see if what we gave you is to your liking?"

At that exact moment, Vincent, who had just rushed back clutching a bag, felt his heart sink at those words. He instinctively tossed the bag away.

Yu Xin also slipped over to Su Wanning's side and quietly tugged at her sleeve.

"Hey, where's your gift? Why aren't you taking it out quickly? In a moment, she's going to steal all the spotlight!"

Yu Xin had participated in the entire planning process for the birthday surprise, but she had been completely fooled by the act put on by Yin Shanshan and the director. Knowing nothing of the truth, she naturally assumed that Su Wanning had also prepared a special gift.

As the two of them whispered to each other here, Boyu standing nearby noticed that something was amiss and looked over with a frown.

Qin Jingchen, standing right beside Su Wanning, was surrounded and enclosed by the crowd and hadn't caught their conversation. He merely glanced at Su Wanning out of the corner of his eye, the corners of his brows carrying a smile, as if he didn't mind at all that she hadn't prepared a gift.

However, just because Qin Jingchen didn't mind didn't mean the netizens felt the same way.

[Su Wanning hasn't even given her gift yet, why are they starting to unwrap them already?]

[Yeah, where is Su Wanning's gift? Hurry up and take it out, I'm dying of curiosity!]

[Why do I feel like the atmosphere is so weird? Could it be that Su Wanning didn't prepare anything at all?]

[What are she and Yu Xin whispering about over there? How come I can't hear a single thing?]

[With everyone gathered together to celebrate such a lively birthday, the two of them are just whispering to each other off to the side. That is so impolite! Do they even care about President Qin at all?]

A good number of people in the barrage comments had already begun to champion Qin Jingchen. Just as he was about to go unwrap the gifts, Yin Shanshan seemed to suddenly remember something. Opening her eyes slightly wide with a look of feigned surprise, she looked at Su Wanning and asked, "Oh, look at how clumsy I am. I almost forgot to let you give your gift, Xiao Ning. You must have prepared something very special, right? We're all dying to know what it is."

Yin Shanshan's remark successfully pierced the veil, instantly gathering everyone's attention squarely onto Su Wanning.

Countless gazes converged upon her. In all her life, Su Wanning had never faced such an embarrassing scenario. She cleared her throat as countless excuses flashed through her mind in a split second.

Should she say today was Qin Jingchen's lunar birthday, and she intended to celebrate his solar one instead?

Or simply claim that her gift had fallen into the ocean and been swept away by the wind and waves!

Or perhaps jokingly say that she had already given him her gift last night? Though she had no idea if Qin Jingchen would play along...

[Hurry up and give it, what are you hesitating for here?]

[Big sister, this is a live broadcast, there's no need to drag out the runtime like this.]

[In my opinion, Su Wanning simply didn't prepare anything at all. She completely forgot President Qin's birthday!]

[How absurd is that? She doesn't even remember her own husband's birthday—what on earth is going on in her head?]

[As expected, everything on a live broadcast is just a persona. The cloven hoof is showing now, isn't it?]

[And here I thought their marital relationship was so great. Turns out everyone on screen is just a liar.]

[I will never believe in love again.]

[Su Wanning's persona has collapsed; someone like this should have been canceled long ago. Does no one remember she used to abuse children?]

A multitude of hired trolls in the barrage began steering the narrative. It was obvious they had a long-term plan in place; as soon as they appeared, many casual viewers and audience members were led astray, beginning to attack Su Wanning indiscriminately.

The abusive remarks in the barrage were growing increasingly fierce.

Su Wanning knew that all of this must be instigated by Yin Shanshan behind the scenes. At this point, no matter what excuse she came up with, it would be torn apart by the netizens, and might even provoke them into hurling even worse abuses.

Clearing away the countless excuses that had just raced through her mind, Su Wanning sighed. Just as she was about to open her mouth, Qin Jingchen suddenly reached out and took her hand.

Qin Jingchen applied a slight squeeze to Su Wanning's palm. Su Wanning froze, swallowing back the words that were right on the tip of her tongue, and stared blankly at the man before her with wide eyes.

Qin Jingchen's eyes seemed to conceal the vast cosmos, with starlight shimmering in their depths. As he gazed steadily at her, Su Wanning felt as though she were being sucked into those bottomless pupils, unable to extricate herself.

Immediately afterward, under everyone's watchful eyes, Qin Jingchen spoke. Looking at the woman before him, he said slowly and affectionately, "You don't need to give me anything. To me, you are the greatest gift heaven has ever bestowed upon me."

Su Wanning blinked. Hearing his corny words, a layer of goosebumps instantly broke out all over her body.

Yet Qin Jingchen showed no signs of stopping, continuing smoothly on, "Years ago, when we had Suisui and Niannian, I told you that you would never need to give me anything else for the rest of my life. You and this family are my greatest gifts."

[Oh my god, so that's how it is.]

[The relationship between President Qin and Su Wanning is simply too sweet!]

[President Qin really loves her so much.]

[Don't comment when you don't know the whole picture. With a couple whose relationship is this good, is it your place to come here and throw tantrums?]

[Pointing fingers at other people's relationships—how many couples have been torn apart by ignorant netizens like you? Use some common sense!]

[No way, Qin Jingchen is obviously just making up an excuse for Su Wanning.]

[Why isn't Su Wanning saying anything? Did they mess up the script or something?]

[Did she forget her lines? Someone go give her a hint.]

Nearby, watching this sudden plot twist unfold, Yin Shanshan could no longer sustain the smile on her face. She instinctively wanted to speak up, but Wang Zan suddenly grabbed her wrist, signaling her with his eyes to shut up.