The online sentiment shifted again.
The police had obtained their system password from Yue Chengqi’s side. Inside it was a very comprehensive membership list, detailing their identities and occupations, and even including facial images, so they could scan their faces to enter restricted areas.
However, while many people who were summoned never had the chance to come back out, Duan Baisui, on the other hand, acted like nothing had happened. He continued appearing in the public eye as usual and kept working, completely unaffected by this incident.
There were all sorts of rumors spreading online. Some said that the influence of the Crown Prince’s family had protected him, that Yue Chengqi had already deleted all his related information long ago, so the police couldn’t find any trace of him. Others said that the Crown Prince indeed had visited the Freedom Island, but only to bring artists under his company. He didn’t play around much and thus didn’t leave behind any incriminating evidence. Only a small number of people speculated that perhaps Rong Jin had lied. After all, during the previous incident between Rong Jin and Ju Xiao, the Crown Prince had firmly supported Ju Xiao and had discarded the money-making Rong Jin like a worn-out shoe. If Rong Jin now wanted to drag him down with him, that would align with Rong Jin’s pathological personality.
Amidst the clamor of differing opinions, Xing Entertainment released a clarification statement, clearly declaring that Duan Baisui had never been to that place, nor had he ever taken any artists to the island. They also solemnly stated that they would fully cooperate with the police at all times and would resolutely pursue accountability against those who insulted or slandered them.
The person in the blurry photo that had been circulating earlier also came forward. He released a much clearer image, proving that it was himself and his two daughters in the picture. It was a commemorative photo taken on his daughter’s birthday, which had been maliciously altered by someone with an agenda and used to fabricate rumors and stir up trouble. Both he and his daughters had been harmed by this, and they would be filing a lawsuit against the first person who posted the photo and made up the lie.
The situation gradually began to show signs of easing. The gossiping crowd who had been shouting curses at Duan Baisui earlier finally calmed down, ready to “let the bullet fly a little longer”.
Just then, an audio recording was exposed. The one who exposed it was none other than Rong Jin’s former manager, Hu Chun.
In the recording, the man, probably drunk, his voice muddled with intoxication, cursed loudly: “That bitch Ju Xiao, he thinks just because he climbed into Duan Baisui’s bed, he can get rid of me? Fuck that! Dream on! If I’m going down, neither of them should think about having it easy. Even if I die, I’m dragging someone down with me.”
Hu Chun: “You’re drunk again, Rong Jin.”
Rong Jin said, “The two of them hooked up long ago, didn’t they? You knew, too, didn’t you? I knew it. How else would Ju Xiao have the nerve… the nerve to not answer my calls, to ignore me… How dare he? He’s just a Beta. Duan Baisui will get tired of him sooner or later. Only me, I’m the one who truly loves him.”
Hu Chun replied, “Can’t you just stop? If you keep messing with Ju Xiao, you’ll end up behind bars sooner or later.”
The man laughed, a “haha” slipping out: “Even if I go in, I’ll make Duan Baisui go down with me. He dared to touch someone that’s mine…”
In just a few minutes, Rong Jin’s intentions were laid bare.
His earlier declaration of love toward Ju Xiao on foreign social media had gone unanswered. Unwilling to give up, he repeatedly changed phone numbers to harass Ju Xiao. After being rejected several times, he redirected his rage toward Duan Baisui.
Hu Chun later posted that the Rong family had business dealings with the Yue family, and that Rong Jin had gone to that place because the eldest young master of the Yue family had taken him there. It had absolutely nothing to do with Duan Baisui.
He had been by Rong Jin’s side ever since his debut and knew their every move like the back of his hand. He even had more evidence to prove that Rong Jin had maliciously framed and slandered Duan Baisui.
Amid the public uproar, the police officially announced that the accusations against a certain Mr. Rong for sexually assaulting an underage Omega had been confirmed, and that he was suspected of providing false testimony. He had already been formally detained.
The filth thrown onto Duan Baisui was being washed away bit by bit, but the relationship between Ju Xiao and Duan Baisui had now become the new explosive topic.
Truly, just as one wave settles, another surges.
That evening, just as Duan Baisui stepped out of the company, he received a phone call: “Director, they’ve gone to Boss Lu’s bar.”
Duan Baisui paused in his steps and said, “Got it.”
—
The nightlife in A City was filled everywhere with the allure of debauchery and excess. Even though it was already late at night, the streets were still bustling with traffic. Fashionably dressed men and women were pouring out in full force at this hour, indulging in the wild excitement of the night.
This was the most prosperous entertainment street. A newly opened bar was holding a promotional event. Seven or eight rows of grand opening flower baskets were lined up at the entrance, and the parking lot had already been completely taken over by all kinds of luxury cars, showcasing its immense popularity.
Inside the bar, the flashing lights were dazzling. The deafening music allowed the young people on the dance floor to release their emotions to the fullest.
Liu Gong had had a bit too much to drink. It was a friend’s birthday today, and the celebration was being held here. That friend had some connections. Rumor had it he was the nephew of the bar’s owner. Just a while ago, even the bar manager had come over, bowing and scraping as he toasted them. Liu Gong, riding on those coattails, also benefited and naturally grew a little bolder in spirit.
On his way to the restroom, he bumped into a man. The drink in the man’s hand accidentally spilled all over him.
Already tipsy and emboldened by borrowed power, Liu Gong grabbed the man by the collar and cursed, “You damn bastard. Don’t you have eyes?!”
The man kept a smile on his face, but his tone was casual and unconcerned as he said, “Sir, I’m truly sorry. But to be fair, you were the one who bumped into me first. How about this, I’ll take your clothes to be dry cleaned. Would that be alright?”
“Dry clean? Once this coat is washed, it’s ruined!” Liu Gong shouted.
“Then I’ll compensate you with a new one,” the man said, trying to reason.
“It’s custom-made. Can you even afford that?”
In truth, it was just an ordinary jacket, worth no more than five hundred. Liu Gong thought the man in front of him, with his plain outfit and harmless appearance, looked like someone easy to take advantage of, and he intended to extort some money from him.
“It doesn’t look like custom-made to me… they’re everywhere online,” the man said.
“You trying to get out of paying?” Liu Gong narrowed his eyes.
The security guards quickly noticed the situation here and informed the manager as well. Everyone who came tonight was either rich or powerful. They didn’t dare step in recklessly and risk offending anyone.
The manager recognized Liu Gong and hurried over, saying, “Mr. Liu, what happened here? Why are you so angry?”
Liu Gong immediately straightened his back and said arrogantly, “This blind dog spilled his drink all over me, ruined my clothes, and doesn’t want to pay up!”
The manager tried to mediate, “Look, it’s our opening night today. Please calm down. We can talk outside.”
The man had kept a smile on his face from beginning to end, speaking gently, “How about this, I didn’t bring any cash on me today. Come with me to my booth, and I’ll have my friend get it for you.”
The manager asked, “Mr. Liu, what do you think?”
Liu Gong was shrewd enough and said, “Then I’ll trouble the manager to come with us, just in case things get unclear later.”
The booth was dimly lit. Compared to other areas filled with the lively sounds of drinking games and toasts, this booth was not only far from the stage but also especially quiet. The people inside all seemed to be silently drinking. No one was speaking.
As soon as Liu Gong entered, two tall, burly men pinned him to the ground.
He lifted his head and shouted, “What are you doing?! Do you know who my friend is—”
Before he could finish the sentence, he saw the man sitting in the center.
The young man had a face full of indifference, legs naturally crossed. Though not very old, he exuded a powerful aura that commanded respect without needing anger.
Liu Gong sobered up more than halfway. He recognized him. This was that idiot’s husband, Director Duan.
“Is it him?” asked the man in the black suit standing beside Director Duan.
The man who had just gotten into a conflict with Liu Gong adjusted the collar of his trench coat, sat back down beside Duan Baisui, and said, “Got the right guy?”
Duan Baisui exhaled a smoke ring lightly. “That’s right.”
“My friend… my friend is right out front. What do you guys want to do?” Liu Gong was starting to lose his nerve.
Duan Baisui chuckled and said to the man in the suit, “Your little nephew has pretty bad taste in friends.”
The man in the suit waved at the manager. The manager hurriedly responded, “Boss.”
Boss? Liu Gong was completely stunned.
“Tell that little brat to get over here right now,” the man in the suit said.
Cold sweat poured down Liu Gong’s back. He knew he was finished. This Director Duan was clearly here specifically for him.
Not long after, Liu Gong’s friend was brought over.
He glanced at Liu Gong, then looked at the man and called out timidly, “Uncle.”
“Is this your friend?” the man in the suit pointed at Liu Gong and asked.
“Uh… not really. We just… played a few games together and had a couple of meals,” the young man quickly denied, clearly flustered by the situation.
Duan Baisui leaned forward and extinguished his cigarette with a soft motion, then said airily, “Since he’s not Young Master Lu’s friend, then I won’t be polite.”
“What did he do, Brother Duan?” Lu Congran asked.
Duan Baisui pointed at the man in the trench coat beside him and said, “He gave my friend a hard time…”
At that point, his tone paused. His eyes suddenly turned chillingly cold, and he spat out the next words one by one: “—and hit my wife.”
Lu Congran fell silent. The words he had been about to use to plead for mercy were stuck in his throat.
The man in the suit shouted at Lu Congran, “Still not getting lost? Go back and tell your parents. They’d beat you to death!”
Lu Congran obediently walked away, not daring to say a word.
The men holding Liu Gong down were still waiting for instructions. Duan Baisui said indifferently, “Take the left hand.”
Accompanied by a heart-wrenching scream, Liu Gong’s left wrist bone was viciously twisted and snapped. He rolled on the floor in agony, but his cries were drowned out by the blaring music and the screaming of the bar guests. No one knew what had just happened here.
Duan Baisui gave a slight lift of his chin, and Liu Gong’s right hand was pressed onto the big bar counter. One of the burly men smashed a beer bottle, and the jagged glass shards were aimed at the back of Liu Gong’s right hand. He began struggling violently and begged, “Director Duan, Director Duan, I’m not even human. I swear, I won’t dare again, I swear! Please let me go, have mercy just this once!”
Duan Baisui leaned forward, reached out, and lightly patted Liu Gong’s face. He said, “That just settles what happened a couple of days ago. There’s still something from high school. Let’s settle that now.”
Liu Gong howled, “High school… I had a foul mouth back then. I called him a retard, but I never laid a hand on him… I swear I didn’t…”
“You’d better think carefully.” Duan Baisui’s voice was gentle, but to Liu Gong, it sounded like a death sentence.
Liu Gong cried so hard that snot dripped from his nose. He frantically racked his memory until he finally remembered that incident, one that had even alarmed their parents.
“Remember now?” Duan Baisui asked.
“I—I only took a ring from him that day. I didn’t know that ring meant so much to him… He came at me like a madman. But I didn’t make the first move… I really didn’t…”
Duan Baisui: “What ring?”
It was already very late when he got home. Duan Baisui didn’t see Zuo Nian on the couch.
The light in the living room had been left on. Duan Baisui thought Zuo Nian must have given up waiting for him and gone to bed on his own.
Not wanting to wake his sleeping lover, Duan Baisui took a shower in the downstairs bathroom before going upstairs.
When he opened the bedroom door, there wasn’t the usual little mound on the bed, just a doll lying under the covers. It was Duan Baisui’s magical little pig. Behind the doll’s head stood an A4 sheet of paper.
This late at night, where had Zuo Nian gone? And what was that piece of paper?
While reaching for his phone to call Zuo Nian, Duan Baisui stepped closer and picked up the note.
The handwriting, written in colorful markers, was neat and delicate: I’m angry. I’m in the wardrobe.
At the end of the sentence, there was even a little doodle of an angry face.
It was only then that Duan Baisui realized his phone had been turned off.
He casually tossed the phone onto the bed and headed into the walk-in closet.
The wardrobe built against the wall was quite spacious. Duan Baisui opened its doors and found Zuo Nian already asleep inside, tightly hugging Little Sui and Little Nian in his arms.
Duan Baisui felt both worried and amused. He carefully picked Zuo Nian up.
As his body was lifted off the ground, Zuo Nian woke up, alert and wary.
After a brief moment of confusion, he pouted and said, “Stinky gege, so you do remember how to come home?”
Duan Baisui smiled. “If I didn’t come home tonight, were you planning to sleep in the closet all night?”
Zuo Nian grew anxious and retorted, “If you didn’t come back, where else would you even go?”
“I was teasing you. How could I possibly not come home?” Duan Baisui placed him on the bed, leaned down, and kissed his face. “Why are you angry?”
“You promised Nian Nian that you’d come home for dinner, but then… suddenly you didn’t,” Zuo Nian muttered. “You didn’t reply to my messages, and the call… You hung up. Then your phone was off…”
Duan Baisui explained, “Maybe the battery was too low. When you called, it probably auto-disconnected and powered off.”
“Then where… where did you go tonight?” Zuo Nian asked.
Duan Baisui smiled. “I ran into an old classmate. We went out for a couple of drinks.”
Zuo Nian sniffed him with his nose. “You even took a shower before coming up.”
Finally sensing something off about Zuo Nian, Duan Baisui pinched his cheek and said, “Oh? Our little Nian Nian has learned to check up on me now?”
“Hmph.” Zuo Nian turned his face away, pretending to be angry.
“I thought you were already asleep, so I showered downstairs. I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Really?” Zuo Nian asked slowly.
Duan Baisui kissed the pink little dot through his pajamas and said, “If you don’t believe me, I’ll let you check right now. See if I’ve been sneaking around.”
Zuo Nian: “How do I check?”
Duan Baisui took his hand and guided it downward, voice low and teasing: “See how your little gege perks right up the moment he sees you.”
Zuo Nian: ?
Big gege.. Little gege.. 😂