Chapter 026 The Young Master – “>>Famous Star Theory: If it’s not sweet, then it’s not worth the money.<<” (26/35)
Wen Xusheng’s embrace was light, his movements gentle as if willow catkins were drifting down upon him, soft and warm, almost like he feared startling Shi Jingge.
Shi Jingge was still processing the moment when Shi Rongqing’s cold voice suddenly cut through the air. “What are you doing?”
In that instant, Shi Jingge sprang from Wen Xusheng’s embrace, like a kitten who’d been kicked while he was low, and darted far away. Wen Xusheng sighed softly, a hint of melancholy in his expression.
Then, under Shi Rongqing’s gaze, the young master slowly shuffled back step by step. He opened his hand to reveal an egg yolk pastry. “Want some?”
The young master stared intently at Wen Xusheng, then looked down at the pastry in his hand, a hint of reluctance in his eyes.
Aunt Bai had made only six egg yolk pastries, and they were delicious. Shi Jingge loved them so much he’d eaten five already—this was the last one.
Wen Xusheng also stared intently at him.
As if a breeze had blown past, a curve touched the corners of Wen Xusheng’s lips. He reached out and took the pastry. His fingertips seemed to brush the young master’s palm accidentally, sending a tingling sensation through him.
The young master swiftly withdrew his hand, watching Wen Xusheng warily. Only his ears flushed slightly.
Wen Xusheng pretended not to notice, slowly unwrapping the pastry and bringing it to his mouth. “Very tasty.”
Shi Jingge turned his head away. “How could something not tasty appear in my house?”
Wen Xusheng smiled, saying nothing, his eyes brimming with gentle warmth.
For a moment, Shi Jingge felt strangely dazed.
Those eyes… They felt so familiar.
Shi Rongqing, witnessing it all: “…”
He didn’t even get to eat one egg yolk pastry.
Shi Rongqing stomped his way with deliberate, heavy steps toward Shi Jingge and Wen Xusheng, his expression stern and radiating the authority of a patriarch.
Just then, Shi Jingge took two steps back and collided directly into Shi Rongqing.
Shi Rongqing: “…”
Shi Jingge: “!!!”
The young master blurted out, “Big Brother”, with a hint of complaint and dissatisfaction, only to meet Shi Rongqing’s overly stern face.
After three seconds of silence, the young master leaped forward and hid behind Wen Xusheng.
Shi Rongqing: “!!!”
Wen Xusheng curved his lips. “Mr. Shi.”
Shi Rongqing’s gaze lingered on the half-eaten egg yolk pastry in his hand, his expression a mocking smile. “Mr. Wen.”
The instant their eyes met, it perfectly illustrated what it meant to see sparks flying.
However, thanks to the evidence Wen Xusheng brought, Shi Jingge and the others could advance their plan earlier than expected.
Several hours after the scandal began circulating, Li Zhuoyun posted on Weibo.
Li Zhuoyun V: Since I took on an esports-themed drama and variety show, I need to post short videos every few days. But with so much on my plate and limited time, I developed the habit of recording every game session, just to have fun clips for promotional videos. Never imagined this would actually save my life and Yiyi’s [wry smile][wry smile]. Without further ado, the full video is right here. All match records are verifiable. The footage explains why we were in that house and other details. It’ll clarify everything. I hope to receive an apology. [Video Link]
The post immediately trended, drawing countless curious clicks. But when viewers saw the runtime, they froze in shock.
The video was nearly nine hours long!
The first sound to play was Young Master’s menacing voice. “Don’t come near my top lane.”
They were actually gaming that day!
The start and end times of each match were verifiable. Eager netizens had already tracked down this information and posted it in the comments section under Li Zhuoyun’s post, providing corroborating evidence for her video.
A nearly nine-hour-long video? No one could possibly watch it all in one sitting. Most people sped it up several times just to confirm the timestamps.
>> Holy crap, I barely made it through at 10x speed. Honestly, I couldn’t even make out what they were saying—it was way too fast. But I can confirm they really were gaming the whole time! <<
>> They paused around midnight for about twenty minutes. I thought something important was happening, so I slowed the playback to check. Turns out it was just the young master rallying votes. Lost interest instantly. <<
>> Who were they voting for? Let me check! <<
>> As someone who doesn’t play this game, my head is spinning. Starting to nod off QAQ. <<
>> This drama has me completely confused. Does this video actually prove anything? <<
>> It probably does? It’s not just Young Master, Hua Mingyi, and Li Zhuoyun. There are also Young Master’s assistants. Five people playing together all night. How did this even get linked to a sugar daddy situation? <<
>> So is this a twist? <<
>> Twist my ass! Have you ever seen such a dumb rich kid ? Just letting them live there for free? Does he even have a brain? <<
>> ??? What’s wrong with you, upstairs? Li Zhuoyun explained on Weibo why she’s staying in that house, and the video has the explanation too. Can’t you just watch the whole thing before showing off your intelligence? The Young Master rented that place to them! They even signed a lease agreement, okay! <<
>> This is hilarious. If this isn’t a twist, then what is? <<
>> Don’t even get me started. Poor girl’s got some bad luck. Li Zhuoyun needed a roommate to split rent, but finding one was tough. Then the young master practically delivered a roommate to her doorstep, and then… well??? <<
At first, paid trolls and haters were still trying to spin it, but as more people watched the video at double speed, the trolls just couldn’t keep up.
What truly flipped public opinion was an audio clip leaked by a marketing account.
—The very recording from that hotel night!
In the audio, Hua Mingyi’s refusal and terror were crystal clear. Her voice trembled so much that even without seeing her, just hearing it conveyed her fear and despair.
Just like any girl who’s ever been harassed, that fear and panic resonated with every woman.
She finally couldn’t take it anymore and ran out.
Then came those arrogant, tyrannical curses. Those voices could stir up endless fury deep within people’s hearts.
At that moment, everyone hoped Hua Mingyi could escape and protect herself, but she was still caught.
Her suppressed sobs sent countless hearts plummeting to the depths.
Save her, save her.
Someone, please save her!
Many girls instinctively closed their eyes, unable to bear the unseen horror.
Just then, a voice rang out abruptly, like a heavenly sound.
It was the young master! The young master saved her!
Now, all the timelines from that day have finally aligned.
There was no sugar daddy arrangement, no hidden rules—the young master had simply intervened when he saw injustice, rescuing a helpless girl!
Hua Mingyi was traumatized and distraught. Not knowing what to do, the young master recalled that Li Zhuoyun needed a roommate and sent her there.
Some even dug up that leaked video and isolated the clip where Hua Mingyi got out of the car. She looked utterly numb then, only moving when someone pushed her. The young master had even rubbed his temples while carrying her; just seeing his back made it clear he was deeply troubled.
Then, in that later game video, Hua Mingyi’s transformation was even more pronounced.
At first, she barely spoke, uttering only a word or two. Gradually, she began reporting enemy positions and such, her tone shedded the initial tension and tearfulness, growing calmer and more composed.
So, did the young master and the others just want to play games?
No!
They were worried about Hua Mingyi. They were comforting her and keeping her company in this way!
Shi Jingge wasn’t some arrogant, spoiled rich kid at all. On the contrary, he was sincere, kind, open, straightforward, and eager to help others, possessing a pure and tender heart.
As for Hua Mingyi and Li Zhuoyun, they weren’t the figures everyone mocked either. They weren’t climbing the social ladder or being kept; they supported and depended on each other, two genuinely good girls.
The trumpet of reversal now began to sound.
Seeing these matters clarified, the paid trolls and haters still refused to give up. They seized upon the accusation that Hua Mingyi and Li Zhuoyun bullied newcomers, clinging to it relentlessly.
These trolls and haters were masters at setting the narrative. Their uproar swayed some people. While Hua Mingyi and Li Zhuoyun weren’t kept as mistresses, bullying newcomers was a rock-solid fact—how could they explain that?
The trolls and haters weren’t hired by that actress anyway—they couldn’t care less about her. Their only goal was to bring Hua Mingyi down. So they flooded all the major forums, even trying to make themselves look “impartial.”
>> Maybe neither side is exactly squeaky clean. <<
>> They’ve addressed every other issue—the lack of evidence on this one just proves it’s true. <<
>> Pity them all you want, but when they bully others, their true, vicious faces show. <<
>> That tiny bit of goodwill I had just vanished. <<
Watching the online developments, a certain troll felt something was off.
But he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.
The Hua Mingyi incident was indeed orchestrated; they’d been recruiting trolls and haters en masse beforehand. They’d even contacted him, but he’d just worked three days and two nights straight for nothing and ended up paying compensation. Exhausted and drained, he’d flat-out refused.
After recovering, he even felt a twinge of regret. The price they offered was just too tempting!
But his regret didn’t last long before he saw Shi Jingge dragged into the mess.
In that moment, an overwhelming sense of relief welled up inside him; he almost wanted to find a temple to pray at!
Thank goodness he refused!!
Shi Jingge? Was that someone you can even successfully bash?
He was a professional at reversals!! You could barely keep the momentum going for ten minutes before he flipped the script!
Trying to bash Shi Jingge was like punishing your own wallet.
He himself was a bloody example of that!
So, when his friend came looking for him and invited him to bash Shi Jingge together, he firmly refused and even gave his friend a piece of advice.
His friend scoffed at him a few times before charging headlong into the fray.
Mr. Troll lit a mental candle for him.
Three hours passed, and still no reversal.
Just as the troll started to feel tempted, the reversal began. It felt like a slap from the heavens, each blow nearly tearing the other side’s face to shreds!
Shi Jingge was truly unmatched! So, did Hua Mingyi’s situation reverse yet?
Typically, reversals should be more decisive.
He casually refreshed Weibo and glanced at the trending topics, instantly perking up.
It really reversed!!
It was surveillance footage.
An actress emerged from the dressing room clutching her face, appearing weak, wronged, and deeply distressed, the very picture of victimhood. After running a short distance, her hands gradually dropped. Her face showed only minor marks at that point. Then she began vigorously rubbing her cheeks, pinching them hard until they swelled and flushed.
Then she smiled.
Her expression was radiant, arrogant, and triumphant, her eyes even flashing with malice. She then strode away with a swagger. This was the very picture of a malicious antagonist!
It was quite some time before Li Zhuoyun and Hua Mingyi finally emerged.
Hua Mingyi had been crying; her eyes were red and swollen, her expression utterly haggard. Li Zhuoyun held her shoulders, murmuring words of comfort.
This… This…
What a twist!
This was the twist!
Any clear-eyed observer could see Hua Mingyi and Li Zhuoyun had been set up!
Hua Mingyi posted a video explaining the incident in detail. In the footage, she appeared barefaced, her dark circles heavy, her expression haggard; clearly she hadn’t slept a wink in days.
She recounted the events with utmost calm and objectivity, her nails digging into her palms several times as she fought back her emotions. At the video’s conclusion, she expressed gratitude to everyone who had supported and trusted her.
This single video reduced countless viewers to tears.
After all, Hua Mingyi was the one who had been set up, framed, and nearly had her life destroyed!
The exploitation of her kindness fueled an even greater fury. The depth of their sympathy for Hua Mingyi matched their hatred for those who had manipulated them.
Kindness must never be exploited like this!
Watching the video, Mr. Troll felt a pang of sympathy by the end. He couldn’t resist creating a secondary account, grabbing his keyboard, and taking on the trolls and paid commenters himself.
Being a professional with the moral high ground, debating a hundred people was no challenge.
But soon, he received a message from his friend.
[?]
[Is this you? [Image]]
[Why are you cursing me?]
[Did you take a job from them?]
[Damn it, you have inside info and didn’t tell me? Got paid and didn’t bring me in? Are you even my brother anymore?]
Mr. Troll: “…”
Would you believe me if I said I just had a change of heart and was doing this for free?
And so, the tables completely turned.
#ApologizeToHuaMingyi, #ApologizeToLiZhuoyun, #ApologizeToShiJingge, #TheTruth, and other hashtags trended one after another. Countless people apologized to them. Hua Mingyi received numerous private messages, all encouraging and supporting her. Her taut nerves gradually began to relax.
Li Zhuoyun wrapped an arm around her shoulder and said softly, “Everything will be okay. No matter how dark the night, dawn will always break.”
Hua Mingyi slowly closed her eyes, resting her head against Li Zhuoyun. “Mm,” she murmured softly.
And so, Hua Mingyi fell asleep.
It was the first time she’d closed her eyes in days.
Li Zhuoyun couldn’t bear to disturb her. She simply reached out, pulled the sofa blanket down, and covered her with it.
Tomorrow would surely be a beautiful day.
At that moment, Li Zhuoyun received a group message from the young master in their gaming group chat.
[Want to play?]
Li Zhuoyun replied: [Yiyi’s asleep. I’m free.]
Just as she was about to launch the game, she saw the young master’s response.
[Oh, then you should go to sleep too.]
Li Zhuoyun chuckled inwardly.
The awkward young master always showed his concern in such roundabout ways.
After a moment’s thought, Li Zhuoyun decided to return the favor. She found Wen Xusheng’s WeChat and sent him a video.
Li Zhuoyun: [Famous Star Theory: If it’s not sweet, it’s not worth the money.]
Wen Xusheng: “?”
—– —– —–
Author’s Note: Shi Rongqing: Great! That’s really biting the hand that feeds you and pulling up the ladder after you’ve crossed the river!!!!!!!!!
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux_choux
