When the crew exited from the other end of the underwater tunnel, their faces still carried delighted awe.
Surrounded by deep blue water, colorful corals, and exotic fish, it was indeed a unique and unforgettable experience.
The tunnel’s exit faced the meticulously maintained ecological garden.
Meng Xian glanced at the straight path leading into the garden, a small thought stirring.
She had originally planned to lead everyone directly there, but realized Gu Mingyan and Yun Qingqing were on the way. Why not wait for them to arrive and enter together?
It was also a perfect opportunity to show off the pass Ye Jinyan had given her.
So, she stopped and gently said to the group: “Let’s rest in the pavilion for a while. Once Mingyan and Qingqing arrive, we can enter together.”
No one objected.
The pavilion sat under a shady area, facing the tropical garden in full bloom—a fresh, elegant environment.
While waiting, Meng Xian’s gaze swept over the plants, and she introduced a few, such as the pale yellow fragrant flowers of ylang-ylang and the tall, aerial-rooted banyan tree.
Ji Sihan, surprised, complimented: “Meng Xian, you know so much—recognizing so many uncommon plants!”
Meng Xian just smiled modestly, saying nothing.
She had learned these from the guards explaining during her last stay on the island, remembering a few botanical names that left a deep impression, now using them practically.
The bullet comments erupted again:
【Wow, Meng Xian is such a treasure girl—beautiful, kind, and knowledgeable!】
【As expected, truly excellent people excel in all aspects, perfectly matching Young Master Ye.】
【This is a real socialite—knowledgeable, humble, and low-profile.】
Meng Xian glanced at the bullet comments, growing more eager for Gu Mingyan’s arrival.
Soon, two figures appeared at the end of the path.
Gu Mingyan had changed into a black dress and walked briskly in high heels. Yun Qingqing walked beside her, chatting and laughing.
The live-stream audience quickly noticed, and comments lit up:
【Here they come, the part I’ve been waiting for!】
【Gu Mingyan actually dared to come. Is it because Meng Xian is stealing the spotlight in the stream?】
【Asking for trouble, insisting on seeing the difference with Meng Xian in person.】
【This is going to be awkward, haha.】
As they approached, Ding Manni cheerfully said: “Perfect timing! Xian is just introducing us to ylang-ylang and the banyan.”
Jiang Mingqian laughed: “Yes, with Teacher Meng as our encyclopedia, we don’t need a guide in the garden.”
“Ming Teacher, you flatter me. I just happen to know a bit,” Meng Xian said modestly.
Before she finished, a light snort came from beside her.
“You can tell you only know the surface,” Gu Mingyan said, arms crossed. “That’s not ylang-ylang.”
Ding Manni frowned: “Gu Mingyan, don’t pick on her! Xian wouldn’t be wrong.”
Meng Xian’s face stiffened slightly, but she maintained grace and asked gently: “Mingyan, do you have a different opinion? Please explain.”
Gu Mingyan said coolly: “Ylang-ylang petals are slender, pendulous, and turn yellow-green when mature, with a complex fragrance, used in high-end perfume. This one,”
She pointed at a nearby flower, “has wider, shorter petals, cup-shaped upward, bright pale yellow, strong but single-note scent. It’s plumeria, also called frangipani—a common tropical ornamental flower. Completely different from ylang-ylang.”
Despite her explanation, the live-stream viewers were skeptical:
【Does anyone know if Gu Mingyan is telling the truth? Feels like she’s just undermining Meng Xian.】
【But she explains so professionally… could Meng Xian really be wrong?】
The island’s plant and animal consultant, quietly following behind, adjusted his glasses and carefully said: “Actually… this is plumeria, not ylang-ylang. The ylang-ylang is planted deeper in the garden.”
With a professional confirming it, the commenters defending Meng Xian went silent, feeling stung.
Yun Qingqing, beside Gu Mingyan, secretly thought: “I thought Mingyan knew nothing, but she even knows botanical knowledge.”
The system explained to her: 【Host, not surprising. Gu Mingyan’s mother, Ms. Xu Manhua, is a renowned botanist specializing in tropical plant ecology. This island was one of her research bases. Gu Mingyan grew up exposed to this, so knowing these plants is basic.】
Ah, that explains it!
Yun Qingqing suddenly understood and gained a deeper respect for Gu Mingyan.
In the original story, Gu Mingyan’s image was always defined by the love triangle with Ye Jinyan and Meng Xian, portrayed as a jealous, unreasonable female supporting character.
But stepping away from that messy love triangle, she was still a young lady raised in privilege and nurtured with professional guidance, with a rich and well-rounded knowledge base.
It was just that her brilliance always seemed overshadowed by that unequal relationship.
Meng Xian, now publicly embarrassed, felt her cheeks flush: “Ah, I must have been mistaken. Thank you for correcting me, Mingyan. Looks like I still have much to learn.”
Her tone was sincere, honest and humble, instantly regaining some goodwill.
Meng Xian quickly regained her composure.
After all, what use was it if Gu Mingyan knew more? Whether it was ylang-ylang or plumeria, it was all planted on Ye Jinyan’s territory.
And the person holding the pass, free to enter at will, was her—Meng Xian.
Thinking this, her mood brightened again.
“My apologies for the earlier mix-up,” she said lightly, moving past the incident, then elegantly took the pass from her handbag. “Let’s enter the garden first. There are even rarer plants and animals inside, many of which are rarely seen elsewhere.”
As she spoke, her eyes casually swept over Yun Qingqing and Gu Mingyan. “Maintaining this ecological garden isn’t easy. To ensure the animals and plants can thrive, it reportedly costs tens of millions of dollars annually. Only distinguished guests holding a pass are allowed in.”
Yun Qingqing asked innocently at the right moment: “Teacher Meng, do we just use the pass in your hand to get in? It looks so special!”
Just what Meng Xian wanted—she stopped and held the card outward, displaying it for both of them.
“Yes, this is the highest-level pass. It grants free access to all areas of the island.”
Ding Manni, who had always resented Gu Mingyan, seeing an opportunity, deliberately praised loudly:
“You’re the one with the face, Xian! Thanks to you today, we get to visit this heavily funded ecological garden.”
Gu Mingyan lazily lifted her eyelids: “Whether it works or not is another matter.”
Meng Xian inwardly snorted. She felt Gu Mingyan was sour-graping—saying this just to save face.
She didn’t take it to heart; instead, she thought the more Gu Mingyan acted this way, the more pitiful and pathetic she appeared.
The bullet comments mirrored Meng Xian’s thoughts:
【Pfft, is Gu Mingyan just being stubborn? Is admitting someone else is loved really that hard?】
【LOL, she has the highest-level pass—how could she not get in? Are you kidding me!】
【Clearly sour grapes. Acts casual, but she must be dying inside.】
Meng Xian forced a smile of helpless tolerance, as if to say, “If you insist on being stubborn, there’s nothing I can do.”
Without hesitation, she moved the pass to the entrance scanner.
“Beep—” A crisp tone sounded, and her lips curved slightly.
But instead of the expected green “Access Granted,” a glaring red warning flashed: 【Permission verification failed, access card invalid.】
Meng Xian’s smile froze instantly. Her hand holding the highest-level pass hovered mid-air, awkwardly exposed.
“Impossible…” she murmured.
She tried again, once, twice, three times…
“Beep—Permission verification failed, access card invalid.”
“Beep—Permission verification failed, access card invalid.”
“Beep—Permission verification failed, access card invalid.”
The group, who had been admiring the surroundings, turned their eyes to the repeatedly failing card.
Jiang Mingqian stepped forward, concerned: “Teacher Meng, what’s wrong?”
Meng Xian forced a calm explanation while holding the suddenly invalid card: “Seems like the card is temporarily malfunctioning… it won’t scan.”
【Whoa? Gu Mingyan called it! It really won’t work?!】
【Is her mouth blessed or something? She predicted it!】
【Did Gu Mingyan mess with the card somehow? Maybe broke the magnetic strip?】
【Wait… how could she? The card has been in Meng Xian’s hand the whole time. Unless… Gu Mingyan is the island owner and can remotely revoke card permissions.】
【Maybe just a coincidence, but man, this is dramatic.】
Ding Manni, eager to see the garden, quickly offered a possible explanation: “Maybe it got bent in the bag? Magnetic cards are fragile—they can demagnetize if handled roughly.”
Meng Xian’s eyelids twitched, recalling Gu Mingyan’s ominous words. Unease crept in.
She had no choice but to follow Ding Manni’s lead: “Perhaps it was accidentally damaged.”
Gu Mingyan, standing aside, chuckled lightly: “Or maybe you just never had access to this area in the first place. The message says ‘Permission verification failed,’ not ‘Card damaged.’”
“Stop gloating,” Ding Manni snapped. “Even if the permissions are temporarily disabled, it’s nothing. Young Master Ye can contact the island staff and reactivate it in a heartbeat!”
Yun Qingqing blinked innocently: “Ah? But… that ‘Young Master Ye’ isn’t the island owner, right? How can he reactivate it?”
Ding Manni rolled her eyes: “Seriously? If he’s not the island owner, who is?”
Yun Qingqing said confidently: “The island owner is my Mingyan!”
Gu Mingyan raised her chin in agreement: “Mm-hmm.”
The crew was utterly confused: “???”
The bullet comments fell silent for a moment, then erupted in full-screen laughter, mocking Yun Qingqing and Gu Mingyan’s claim.
【Are they insane? Are they performing a double act? Gu Mingyan the island owner?】
【Looks like Gu Dog has been a lady of leisure too long, thinking all good things in the world belong to her.】
【I’m dying laughing—saying anything to one-up Meng Xian without fear of consequences.】
【Does Gu Mingyan think ‘island owner’ is a title anyone can claim?】
【But… what if? What if she really is the island owner? Meng Xian would be mortified.】
【Yeah right, if you believe them, you’re lost. If Gu Mingyan’s the island owner, I’ll wash my hair standing on my head while streaming.】
Ding Manni also doubted them, scoffing: “Gu Mingyan the island owner? Yun Qingqing, there’s a limit to kissing her ass. How can you spout such nonsense?”
Meng Xian frowned, flustered by her pass failing, but even more irritated at Gu Mingyan and Yun Qingqing’s antics.
Seeing Gu Mingyan manipulating a device on the gate, she warned: “Mingyan, be careful. This security system isn’t cheap. Don’t break anything—you’ll have a hard time explaining it.”
Clearly, she didn’t believe Gu Mingyan was the island owner.
Gu Mingyan didn’t even raise an eyelid. She leaned slightly, her eyes on the recognition window.
The next second, a clear, pleasant system chime rang:
【Iris recognition passed. Welcome home, Island Owner.】
“Click”—the previously impenetrable gate, which Meng Xian couldn’t open, swung open.
Silence fell over the scene.
All the guests stared in shock. Ding Manni’s eyes nearly popped out.
Meng Xian stared at the slowly opening gate, her composure completely gone.
The bullet comments erupted explosively:
【I’m dumbfounded! Gu Mingyan really is the island owner?! That’s a face-slap tornado!】
【Hahaha, the guy who said he’d wash his hair standing on his head—where’s he now? Give me his livestream ID, I want to watch!】
【So… Meng Xian was showing off on Gu Mingyan’s island??? Just imagining it makes me cringe for her.】
【Gu Mingyan: I’m just watching you embarrass yourself quietly.】
【Calling it now, I had a feeling from when she corrected her plant mistake… sure enough…】
【This is a massive plot twist. Even scripts wouldn’t dare write this.】
Gu Mingyan calmly turned, looking at the pale-faced Meng Xian and the disbelieving Ding Manni, teasing: “So, need me to pull out the permanent ownership certificate and transfer contract for this island, to let you examine it carefully?”
Meng Xian felt her face burn, as if slapped publicly.
Clutching her pass, humiliation left her speechless. All her previous boasting and hints now became huge ridicule.
Ding Manni still couldn’t accept it, stammering: “I-It’s impossible! If Young Master Ye isn’t the island owner, how could he have the highest-level pass? It doesn’t make sense!”
“Or… could it be…” Yun Qingqing tilted her head, “the pass he has was actually given by Mingyan?”
“…”
Gu Mingyan had lost patience with them. Palm up, she said to Meng Xian: “Now, can we return my card to its rightful owner?”
Meng Xian, looking at her outstretched hand, felt unprecedented shame and humiliation.
Even though she loved this lavish island, under so many eyes, she couldn’t cling to the card any longer.
Meng Xian could only swallow her humiliation and place the pass back into Gu Mingyan’s outstretched hand.
【Put yourself in Meng Xian’s shoes… I’d already want to vanish on the spot. Too socially mortifying.】
【Who could’ve guessed the island would, of all people, belong to Gu Mingyan?】
【Well, Meng Xian only has herself to blame. The flashier she bragged before, the more awkward it is now.】
【I’m actually more curious why Ye Jinyan even had Gu Mingyan’s personal pass. There’s gotta be some complicated connection there.】
Gu Mingyan casually tucked the card away and addressed the guests: “Since you’re here, welcome to explore. But one thing to note—this is the nesting season for the ridley sea turtles. To avoid disturbing them, please avoid the eastern beach.”
Among the group, Ji Sihan was the first to recover from the awkward scene.
Laid-back as ever, he had felt secondhand embarrassment for Meng Xian, but hearing they could still tour the island, his attention immediately shifted.
“Don’t worry, we’ll follow the rules. No disturbing the turtle moms!” Ji Sihan cheerfully said, tugging Nan Xu along as they walked ahead.
Meng Xian’s footsteps were heavy, falling at the back. Her head was bowed, her expression sullen.
Ding Manni, noticing this, loudly consoled her so everyone nearby could hear: “Xian, even if this island isn’t Young Master Ye’s, his feelings for you are genuine, absolutely real! Didn’t he even specially airship fireworks for you?”
She deliberately raised her voice, sending a clear message to the one ahead—Gu Mingyan: “Even if the island is yours, so what? Ye Jinyan put so much effort into preparing a romantic surprise for you, Mingyan?”
Sure enough, Gu Mingyan’s stride halted. She frowned and turned back. “Fireworks? What fireworks?”
Seeing she’d caught her attention, Ding Manni tilted her chin and said boastfully: “Of course, the fireworks Young Master Ye airshipped to make Xian happy—meant to set off at sea.”
Gu Mingyan’s expression instantly darkened. “Are you all idiots?!”
Ding Manni froze, clearly not expecting such a blunt curse.
Meng Xian quickly defended her friend: “Mingyan, if you have a problem, take it out on me. No need to speak harshly to others.”
“Gu Mingyan, who are you cursing?!” Ding Manni finally snapped, her voice sharp. “Are you just jealous because Young Master Ye prepared such a grand romantic gesture for Xian? The fireworks are over the sea, not on your island. What’s your problem?”
Yun Qingqing shook her head, giving them a “seriously?” look: “Did she say something wrong? You two are just idiots!”
“Who has time to care about your petty romance drama? Even though the fireworks aren’t on the island, they’re close enough. The explosions and bright lights can severely stress nearby wildlife, possibly even killing them. Plus, the debris—metal particles and chemicals—pollutes the water and sand, harming coral reefs and marine life.”
“This isn’t just a moral issue—it may violate wildlife protection laws and international conventions!”
Yun Qingqing’s clear, structured explanation immediately made everyone realize the severity of the situation.
Behind the romantic fireworks lurked a huge threat to the fragile ecosystem.
Before, everyone had heard from Meng Xian about the planned fireworks and assumed Ye Jinyan could casually splurge for romance without worrying about consequences.
But now, the situation was different. This wasn’t Ye Jinyan’s island. Meng Xian and Ye Jinyan, in the name of romance, were recklessly damaging someone else’s carefully protected ecological sanctuary. What kind of behavior was that?
“I… I didn’t know it would be like this!” Meng Xian’s face drained of color. She immediately pulled out her phone: “I’ll contact Jinyan right away—tell him to cancel the fireworks!”
She desperately wanted to salvage her image, prove she wasn’t an environmentally ignorant person.
But before she could even send the message—
“Whoosh—Boom!” A brilliant flash tore across the darkening sky, exploding into a huge, dazzling firework.
Then the second, the third… countless fireworks rose in succession, painting the sea with vibrant colors, their booms echoing nonstop.
The once-tranquil ecological garden was filled with the panicked flapping and cries of disturbed birds, scattering in all directions.
The fireworks were undeniably beautiful, brilliant and dazzling—but Meng Xian no longer felt a trace of pride.
【This is going to be fun. How will Meng Xian get out of this? Gu Mingyan, as island owner, can definitely hold her accountable, right?】
【Actually, Nan Xu mentioned before the ecological risks, but Meng Xian casually brushed it off with ‘Jinyan doesn’t care about a little loss.’】
【Can I say it? I even asked a similar question in the comments this afternoon, but Meng Xian’s fans and CP shippers attacked me, saying I was just jealous of their romance!】
【This is pure selfishness disguised as romance.】
【At first, I thought Gu Mingyan and Yun Qingqing scolding them for being idiots was aggressive—but looking back, it was well deserved!!】