IOLYF Chapter 70

“You actually agreed? Han, you’re way too easy to fool.”

When Han Shao Zhou mentioned that he was going to wait for Mo Ming for a year, Zhao Cheng was both amused and exasperated. He knew his buddy was a bit clueless when it came to relationships, but he didn’t expect him to be this naive.

It was obvious that Mo Ming was using this as an excuse to shake him off. Who knew what new excuse he’d come up with a year later?

Han Shao Zhou didn’t seem regretful at all. He said calmly, “I want to show him my sincerity. The past three years were too casual; he doesn’t believe I genuinely like him.”

Seeing Han Shao Zhou so serious, Zhao Cheng couldn’t help but straighten up. “I’m actually surprised. Little Mo Ming can be really stubborn when he wants to be. I used to think he was like a little kitten around you.”

Han Shao Zhou leaned back on the couch. “It’s like I’m getting to know him all over again. Sometimes it’s frustrating, but other times it’s a pleasant surprise.”

Zhao Cheng moved to sit next to Han Shao Zhou and put an arm around his shoulders. “Let me ask you this, Han. What if a year from now, Mo Ming falls for someone else?”

“He promised me he wouldn’t. He said he’ll be busy with his career.”

“And you believe that?”

“I’ve already considered him my wife. Why wouldn’t I trust him?”

“…”

Looking at Han Shao Zhou’s calm demeanor, Zhao Cheng couldn’t help but admire him a little. He smiled meaningfully, “But seriously, Han, can you really hold out? Not seeing the person you like for a whole year is going to be tough. Long nights, no company… Aren’t you going to get a little lonely? There are plenty of people who’d love to keep you company.”

Han Shao Zhou shot Zhao Cheng a sideways glance. “I’m not like you. I can just look at a photo of my little one and be fine.”

“…Wow, a man of virtue, I see.”

Zhao Cheng could tell that his friend had fallen head over heels in love again, even after three years. And that was a good thing—falling in love might make you a bit foolish, but it also helps you grow. It seemed like Han Shao Zhou, after experiencing a relationship setback, had become more restrained and rational.

As they continued chatting, a pair of hands suddenly landed on their shoulders from behind the couch, and a familiar voice laughed, “Han ge, now that you’ve got a partner, aren’t you supposed to keep a distance from my brother?”

Zhao Cheng turned around, his eyes lighting up. “Oh, Xiao Li Zi, not busy today?”

Zhao Li was wearing a black baseball cap, her hair tied into two braided pigtails draped over her shoulders. She was dressed in a wool sweater covered in letters. She laughed as she sat on a nearby couch, tossing her hat aside. “I was just doing an event nearby. Came over to check on you after it ended.”

Zhao Cheng remembered what Zhao Li had said earlier and laughed. “Your Han ge and I have been friends for years. Does he need to keep his distance from me?”

Han Shao Zhou pushed Zhao Cheng’s arm off his shoulder. “I’m a married man now; better be careful.”

Zhao Cheng rolled his eyes. “I’m not gay, thanks.”

Zhao Li couldn’t stop laughing. “Bro, didn’t you used to bounce back quickly after every breakup? How come you’ve been single ever since you split with Xiao Mei? I think Han ge is right to be cautious.”

At the mention of his ex-girlfriend, Zhao Cheng’s face fell. “Alright, Xiao Li Zi, don’t rub it in.” He still hadn’t fully recovered from that, and dating was the last thing on his mind. Seeing any woman just reminded him of that whole messy situation.

“By the way, Han ge, did you watch last night’s episode of Mystery Quest?” Zhao Li asked Han Shao Zhou.

Han Shao Zhou nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he recalled his little one’s calm and intelligent demeanor. “I did.”

It was the first time he had actively sought out something Mo Ming was in, watching more intently than he ever had his stock portfolio. It was also the first time he realized just how smart his little one was. Although Mo Ming didn’t strive for the spotlight, he still gave off a dependable vibe… even if he didn’t get much screen time.

“What are you guys talking about?” Zhao Cheng asked.

“The show I was on earlier, the one Mo Ming was also in.”

“You worked with little Mo Ming?”

“Yeah, bro, you should watch it. Mo Ming isn’t some delicate flower like you thought. He’s smart. Oh, and I’ve got to tell you, the production team really screwed him over by cutting a lot of his scenes and changing the game’s outcome.”

Han Shao Zhou frowned. “What happened?”

Zhao Li had been itching to defend Mo Ming, so she quickly recounted everything that had happened during the recording. She insisted that Mo Ming should have been the MVP of the episode.

When Mystery Quest aired, thanks to excellent post-production editing, Wen Ci’s performance stood out the most, causing him to gain a massive number of fans overnight. Even the public opinion that had turned against him during the previous controversy began to shift in his favor. Meanwhile, Mo Ming had been edited into the background, with his standout moments overshadowed by Wen Ci’s spotlight.

“Everyone knows that Xingci Entertainment is a powerhouse in the industry.” Zhao Li said with a knowing look. “It’s easy for them to influence post-production editing on a show.”

Han Shao Zhou didn’t say anything, but his expression grew colder.

Zhao Cheng frowned as he listened. “Your industry is a mess.”

Han Shao Zhou stubbed out his cigarette and stood up to leave. “Just remembered something I need to take care of. I’m heading out.”

He would follow Mo Ming’s request not to interfere in his work or life, but he couldn’t stand seeing the person he liked being mistreated right under his nose.

No mistreatment, from anyone, was acceptable.

Zhao Li turned around on the couch, grinning as she called after him, “Han ge, how far have you and Mo Ming gotten?”

Han Shao Zhou waved his hand without turning back. “I’ll invite you to the wedding in a year.”

“Han ge is really confident.” Zhao Li turned to her brother with a smirk. “He never seemed this sure of himself when he was chasing after Wen Ci.”

Zhao Cheng snorted. “After being loved by little Mo Ming for three years, his ego’s through the roof. If I were in his shoes, I’d be confident too.”

Three days after the latest episode of Mystery Quest aired, it continued to dominate the trending charts. Topics like “Wen Ci’s Speedy Puzzle Solving” “Wen Ci’s High IQ” and “Wen Ci Eliminating Villains” took turns trending.

Wen Ci, who had been keeping a low profile for the past week, took advantage of the momentum to officially resume work. It was as if the previous wave of negative publicity had never existed. At a charity gala, when asked about his upcoming projects, Wen Ci calmly and confidently mentioned that he was working hard to secure a role in a film with a director he admired.

As the event was wrapping up, Wen Ci was about to leave when he was suddenly swarmed by a group of reporters.

“Mr. Wen, the editing of Mystery Quest seemed to favor you. Was that your request or your company’s?”

“What’s your take on the video circulating online?”

“Mr. Mo Ming was clearly the biggest winner in the escape room segment, yet you took the credit that should have been his. Is it because you couldn’t stand losing to him?”

“Did you stage the drowning incident to frame Mr. Mo Ming because he stole your spotlight during filming…?”

Wen Ci didn’t say anything, maintaining a smile on his face, but his heart sank. He guessed that something had happened, which had prompted the reporters to suddenly latch onto him, sensing a juicy scandal.

His assistant and bodyguards escorted Wen Ci to the car, and once inside, with the doors and windows shut, the assistant filled him in on what had happened online. About an hour earlier, Mystery Quest had uploaded Mo Ming’s solo cut to all platforms.

Wen Ci quickly pulled out his phone to check. The video was over an hour long, and as he skimmed through it, he realized it was filled with Mo Ming’s highlight moments, especially the part where Mo Ming, as the villain, eliminated eight heroes.

While the video didn’t directly target anyone, it clearly showed a stark contrast with the original episode.

Wen Ci clenched his phone, his temples throbbing…

There were only a few people who had the power to access such comprehensive footage and release it on the official platforms.

Seeing Wen Ci’s face turn pale, the assistant hesitated before saying softly, “Sister Nan asked me to tell you not to worry about the online buzz. It’ll die down in a few days.”

“Why isn’t the company issuing a statement or handling PR for me?”

The assistant pursed their lips. “This is something Mystery Quest needs to explain. The company already put out a lot of marketing drafts. Any more explanations now would be hard to justify.”

Wen Ci’s voice trembled. “Is it true that someone higher up is protecting Mo Ming? Otherwise, what scandal has Xingci Entertainment ever been unable to suppress?”

As he looked at the overwhelming criticism and accusations flooding his phone, Wen Ci’s expression grew darker, and he finally threw his phone onto the seat beside him.

Everything stemmed from his “drowning frame-up.” He only regretted using such a reckless and consequential method. As long as Han Shao Zhou continued to protect Mo Ming, anything he did would be a futile effort.

He finally understood. The problem he had been grappling with wasn’t really about Mo Ming.

It was Han Shao Zhou…

After the evening performance at the theater, it was already past 9 PM.

While having a late-night snack with Qi Yue and Xia Tang, Mo Ming checked the online video after being prompted by Xia Tang… It was yet another whirlwind of public opinion, but this time it was in his favor.

“Was this Xingci’s doing?” Qi Yue asked, looking at his phone. “It’s not easy for a regular person to get their hands on this kind of footage, let alone edit it with subtitles and explanations like a proper episode.”

“No way it was Xingci. Wen Ci is one of their top artists. There’s no way they’d risk putting him in the middle of a storm just to boost Mo Ming. I could believe they’d use Mo Ming to prop up Wen Ci…” Xia Tang said, then turned to Mo Ming. “Do you know what’s going on?”

Mo Ming put down his phone, his long eyelashes gently casting shadows on his cheeks. “I’m not sure.”

After leaving the restaurant and getting into his car, Mo Ming picked up his phone again.

He sat in the driver’s seat for a long time, watching the video. It was almost like the video had been created specifically for him, a personal highlight reel.

In truth, the original episode of Mystery Quest hadn’t negatively affected him. He hadn’t placed much importance on the show to begin with, so this “clarification” video wasn’t something he cared about.

But the appearance of this video… It felt as though someone couldn’t stand the idea of him being overshadowed.

Mo Ming scrolled through his phone and opened his messages.

He had set his notifications from Han Shao Zhou to “Do Not Disturb.” After just over a week, the unread messages had piled up.

Mo Ming didn’t open them. Instead, he exited to the home screen.

Just as he was about to start the car, a call came in.

Frowning at the unfamiliar number, Mo Ming answered.

“Is this Ming’er?”

A raspy, middle-aged man’s voice came through the phone, and Mo Ming’s hand suddenly tightened around the wheel.

“It’s your dad. Do you still remember me?”

Mo Ming closed his eyes tightly, his voice cold. “Sorry, you’ve got the wrong number.”

“No matter if you acknowledge me or not, I’m still your father. You can’t just forget about me now that you’re doing well…”

Mo Ming immediately hung up and set his phone to block calls from unknown numbers. Then, he quickly dialed another number.

“I need you to look into something for me…”