UCS Chapter 40

Qin Shi’s hands trembled as he scrolled through Weibo, uncontrollably clicking into the profiles of the girls who were accusing him. Those Weibo accounts once filled with love were now overshadowed by accusations at the top.

 

Indeed, these weren’t fake accounts-these were his fans.

 

Or rather, former fans.

 

“Little Shi, is this true?”

 

The voice beside him was cold, as if mixed with ice chips, completely different from the tender intimacy of moments ago. It was so different that he didn’t even recognize whose voice it was.

 

The woman beside him, seeing his expression, understood everything immediately. Furious, she slapped him hard across the face. After the crisp sound of the slap, a handprint immediately appeared on his handsome face.

 

The slap woke Qin Shi up. He watched as the woman put on her clothes and prepared to leave. No longer caring about his image, he scrambled toward her, grabbing her wrist with a pleading look in his eyes. “Sister, listen to my explanation. It’s not what you think!”

 

The woman looked down at the face that had once fascinated her. Now, with half his face swollen and the eye on that side also somewhat puffy, he looked ridiculous. She suddenly couldn’t remember what she had ever loved about him.

 

She forcefully shook him off and sneered, “Get lost. If you don’t let go, I’ll also post on Weibo.”

 

The woman turned around, picked up her handbag, and walked out the door, cursing under her breath about her bad luck.

 

Qin Shi’s mind was in chaos. He clutched his hair tightly. Just then, his phone rang. Seeing his manager “Sister Niu” calling, his eyes lit up and he quickly answered, “Sister Niu! Help me, Sister Niu!”

 

From the other end came Sister Niu’s voice, barely containing her anger. “Where are you now?”

 

Qin Shi stammered, unable to speak.

 

Sister Niu exploded in rage, “Are you at the Golden Dragon Hotel?!”

 

Qin Shi blurted out, “How did you know?!”

 

Sister Niu cursed furiously, “Look at Weibo! You pig-brain! Going on a date is one thing, but hiding it from me?! Some paparazzi posted photos of you going to the Golden Dragon Hotel on Weibo!”

 

“Now who knows how many paparazzi are waiting outside, just waiting to catch you!”

 

Cold sweat immediately broke out on Qin Shi. He asked in panic, “Sister Niu, what-what should I do?”

 

After cursing for a while, Sister Niu finally calmed down and decisively ordered, “Find a place to hide now. I’ve already sent someone to pick you up.”

 

“The PR department is already handling the situation. Don’t post anything recklessly.”

 

“Also, don’t contact any of your bedmates privately, to avoid giving people ammunition.”

 

Qin Shi quickly agreed.

 

The Golden Dragon Hotel had good privacy; paparazzi couldn’t possibly break in, and the woman he had just met would probably not reveal his room number.

 

But after tonight’s events, he no longer trusted these bedmates. Afraid the woman might hold a grudge and deliberately set him up, he quickly washed up, fully armed himself, and prepared to leave.

 

When washing his face, he realized in the mirror that the woman hadn’t held back at all when slapping him. One slap had left a complete handprint, even drawing a bit of blood. It hurt terribly at the slightest touch.

 

But he had no choice. To hide his face, he grimaced as he put on a mask.

 

Sister Niu, experienced in cleaning up his messes, had indeed found professional help. Almost no one noticed as he slipped away quietly.

 

“Almost” because Gao Shi’s people not only discovered Qin Shi’s whereabouts but also took photos and enthusiastically gifted them to many well-known Weibo influencers.

 

For such explosive news, there was only one small, hardly-a-condition attached condition.

 

Immediately, Gao Shi received sincere praise as a “living Bodhisattva” from more than a dozen people.

 

As for how Gao Shi could obtain such firsthand information about Qin Shi-simple: he had many people.

 

The people Gao Shi hired ranged from high-level detective paparazzi to grandmas fanning themselves on street corners. There was no one he couldn’t think of, no one he couldn’t hire. Any random child walking past Qin Shi singing “Fight? Yes, fight! This tattered cape” could potentially be a little spy “generously” hired by Gao Shi for five lollipops.

 

It must be said that Gao Gusheng’s preference for human wave tactics was very likely learned from his father.

 

Qin Shi got into the car. In the back seat sat a minor actor from the charity film crew. The young actor forced a smile and said to Qin Shi, “Brother Qin, Sister Niu said to take a photo with you and post it on Weibo.”

 

The reason for posting on Weibo was, of course, to whitewash that hotel photo and create an image of him as a hardworking actor, fabricating an alibi.

 

The young actor felt like he had eaten excrement.

 

Previously, taking a photo with Qin Shi to gain some attention would have been a great opportunity, given Qin Shi’s popularity. But now it was clearly providing a false alibi for Qin Shi. With such solid evidence on Weibo, it was uncertain whether Qin Shi could recover. If Qin Shi managed to clear his name while the young actor got criticized into oblivion, that would be terrible.

 

The young actor suddenly regretted not taking the business card from that big-bellied Mr. Li before. Having no background, he could only be used as a stepping stone.

 

Sister Niu was indeed thoughtful. The car trunk had been set up with a simple backdrop. Though it was only about the size of a person’s behind, like a false collar, it was enough for a headshot of the two of them. The crude backdrop wouldn’t reveal any clues, allowing them to pretend the photo was taken on set.

 

Qin Shi and the young actor hurriedly took a photo and posted it on Weibo. The post immediately shot to the top of the trending topics, and Qin Shi felt slightly relieved.

 

At least the hotel issue was temporarily resolved.

 

Qin Shi kept refreshing to see the battle between fans and haters. Fans were crying and shouting [We believe in our brother, our brother isn’t that kind of person], while haters were mockingly commenting [The evidence is so solid, only you would pretend not to see it].

 

Not long after, just about ten minutes later, the young actor beside him suddenly tugged frantically at his sleeve. “Brother Qin! Brother Qin, look at the trending topics!”

 

Qin Shi quickly switched screens to look. The newest topic shooting to the top of the trending list was actually a photo of him leaving the hotel, taken just five minutes after he had posted the photo with the young actor.

 

Just then, they arrived at the company building. Qin Shi hurriedly got out of the car, his legs so weak he almost fell flat on his face.

 

The young actor didn’t even want to help him up, looking at him with disdain, wondering just how wild Qin Shi’s night had been that he could barely stand.

 

When he saw Sister Niu in the break room, Qin Shi couldn’t maintain any semblance of composure. He was so anxious he stammered, “Sis-Sister Niu! I-I-I…”

 

Sister Niu gave him a look that Qin Shi had never seen before-one of defeat and despair.

 

“Stop stuttering. Think about what you’ll do after leaving the entertainment industry.”

 

Qin Shi sat down beside Sister Niu and pleaded, “Sister Niu, please help me think of something! I beg you! I’ve been under your management for so long and made so much money for the company. CEO Li won’t abandon me!”

 

Sister Niu pressed her temples. “You’ve offended someone.”

 

Qin Shi asked in confusion, “I… who?”

 

Sister Niu pulled the laptop in front of her toward Qin Shi, pointing at the damning photos on Weibo. “You were being watched from the moment you left the hotel, and they took photos.”

 

The photos were very clear-one captured him hurriedly leaving the hotel, another showed him getting into the car.

 

Especially the one of him bending over to get into the car-the photo angle was somehow from below, perfectly capturing Qin Shi’s masked face. It was hard to imagine what position the photographer had used to take that shot.

 

-Actually, this photo was taken by Cheng Zeqi’s five-year-old nephew, sucking on a lollipop and using his children’s smart watch.

 

Sister Niu said, “They clearly took the photo right when you left the hotel, but they held onto it and only released it after you posted your clarification Weibo. It’s obvious they’re deliberately targeting you.”

 

If they had released the photos immediately after taking them, the company could have spun it as Qin Shi going to discuss business or meet friends, and some fans would have believed it.

 

But releasing the photos after Qin Shi posted his clarification Weibo was clearly meant to slap him in the face. It easily led people to connect it with the previous trending topic and suspect that Qin Shi had done something unsavory-after all, if it wasn’t something shameful, why would he fabricate evidence?

 

What angered fans even more than their idol’s downfall was that their idol was full of lies, attempting to fool them as if they were idiots.

 

The condition Gao Shi had given to the many Weibo influencers was to release the photos they had only after Qin Shi’s clarification-or rather, his excuse-was posted.

 

If Qin Shi had chosen to apologize, these photos would have been useless.

 

But Gao Shi believed that, given Qin Shi and his manager’s habits, their first reaction would definitely not be to apologize, but to make excuses.

 

He had calculated correctly.

 

Sister Niu wearily pressed her temples. “The company is contacting these accusers to see if money can make them change their statements.”

 

“What did you do? Why did they suddenly today…”

 

“I don’t know, Sister Niu, I really don’t know.” Qin Shi collapsed, running his hands through his hair. “I hid it so well. They didn’t know about each other at all. They all thought they were my only girlfriend. I told them that I was at a rising point in my career, and for their own good, I couldn’t make our relationship public, or else the anger of other fans would affect them.”

 

“Everything was fine before…”

 

“And how did they even get in touch with each other?”

 

“Someone is targeting you.”

 

Sister Niu repeated, “Someone is targeting you.”

 

“Think carefully about who you’ve offended.”

 

Qin Shi covered his forehead.

 

Who? Who could it be?! Who wanted to destroy him!

 

Could it be… could it be Gao Gusheng?

 

But that didn’t make sense. Wasn’t Gao Gusheng rumored to be just someone’s lover in the Gao family? Would someone risk offending Wanxing for a mere lover?

 

Then who else could it be?

 

The original exposé Weibo post was trending so intensely it had turned black from red. More and more people clicked into the Weibos of the victims who had been deceived and hurt by Qin Shi, condemning his actions.

 

Among them were not only women but even a young man.

 

Most damning of all, the youngest girl was only sixteen, still a minor.

 

The girl’s parents were already preparing to sue Qin Shi for enticing a minor into sexual relations.

 

One photo after another was uncovered.

 

Qin Shi preferred younger girls. Such girls lacked life experience-a cheap gift could easily win them over. They would willingly scrimp and save to work part-time jobs just to buy him brand-name items. Even if he forgot to prepare a gift, picking a few flowers on the way and saying he saw them and thought she would like them would make a young girl beam with joy.

 

But the fault didn’t lie with these girls.

 

Their love burned intensely like a flame, and it was Qin Shi who was despicable enough to use lies to obtain their affection.

 

And now, the time for retribution had finally come.

 

That underage girl, after their first night together, was in so much pain she couldn’t sleep. Looking at the sleeping figure beside her, she felt both love and joy. Disregarding Qin Shi’s daytime warnings, she secretly took a selfie of them together.

 

The photo only showed their faces-two heads close together, just half of their faces touching. The girl’s eyes were closed, cold sweat streaming down her forehead from the pain, yet her mouth couldn’t hide her smile.

 

The white hotel sheets with the hotel logo in the background revealed where the photo was taken.

 

The young girl carefully hid this photo in an encrypted album.

 

Later, the girl became pregnant. Qin Shi made her have an abortion and broke off their relationship.

 

Under Qin Shi’s long-term oppression, the girl only felt that she wasn’t good enough. She didn’t dare tell her parents about this, and day after day, she developed moderate depression.

 

Later, they discovered this photo.

 

After Gao Shi approached them, they were almost eager to see Qin Shi, that beast, receive the punishment he deserved.

 

The photo that the young girl had cherished so dearly wasn’t posted online but became evidence for the court confrontation.

 

Gao Shi arranged hospital care and psychological counseling for the young girl. The doctors said she was recovering fairly well, though her condition remained unstable, with good days and bad.

 

Looking at the girl, Gao Shi felt that the punishment Qin Shi was receiving for toying with others’ feelings was still not enough.

 

There was also a nineteen-year-old girl.

 

When Gao Shi found her, she didn’t believe what the investigators told her, insisting these people were just haters trying to make her destroy Qin Shi.

 

But when she hesitantly came to the location Gao Shi had specified and saw those familiar and unfamiliar faces, she broke down.

 

Especially when she saw one person almost all fans knew.

 

Han Zhimiao.

 

Qin Shi’s number one fan photographer, who attended all of Qin Shi’s performances even while pregnant, producing extremely refined photos. Many fans speculated she was a professional photographer and possibly a single mother.

 

Because Han Zhimiao was already five or six months pregnant, yet still fighting on the front lines of fan activities. Sometimes at crowded public performances, she would charge to the front with her pregnant belly and camera. Even if her husband supported her fan activities, he wouldn’t allow her to go to such dangerous places alone.

 

After all, these were Qin Shi’s events that had nearly caused trampling accidents.

 

Now, Han Zhimiao told her with reddened eyes that the child in her belly was Qin Shi’s.

 

This way, everything made sense.

 

For Gao Shi, he could have directly given the evidence to those Weibo influencers. His investigators were truly capable-even if the victims didn’t come forward to accuse, even without telling the victims before exposing the truth, even if all the victims stood on Qin Shi’s side, he could still have thoroughly exposed Qin Shi. But after consideration, he decided to contact the victims.

 

In the end, he even organized a meeting for the victims.

 

Initially, it was because he couldn’t bear it.

 

Han Zhimiao was still pregnant, the sixteen-year-old girl was suffering from depression, and there was a young man who had been forcibly “turned” and was trying to convince himself to accept Qin Shi.

 

If this news suddenly broke, the shock would be too great for them. Gao Shi feared they might do something drastic.

 

When he first obtained the evidence, he bit his cigarette butt and cursed fiercely.

 

Later, unexpectedly, the meeting helped several girls who couldn’t believe the truth face reality, become stronger, and move past these failed relationships that weren’t their fault.

 

Sometimes, fragile girls become stronger than anyone when faced with someone more vulnerable than themselves.

 

When they saw Han Zhimiao, they were furious.

 

What Han Zhimiao had done for Qin Shi, they as fans knew clearly. The more they knew, the angrier they became.

 

What man who truly loves his girlfriend would let her get pregnant out of wedlock and charge into battle for him with a big belly?

 

From Han Zhimiao, they also saw themselves in Qin Shi’s eyes.

 

To prevent more victims from being hurt, they decided to unite and expose Qin Shi’s true face.

 

Shouldn’t celebrities stand in front, shining brightly, guiding their fans to become better people?

 

Qin Shi didn’t deserve to be their star.

 

…

 

The phone rang, and Sister Niu quickly answered, “How is it? Is anyone willing to change their statement?”

 

Whatever was said on the other end made Sister Niu’s face turn pale. Finally, she just said, “Alright… I understand.”

 

“Sister Niu! Sister Niu, how is it?! If the money isn’t enough, I can add more! I still have money, I can add more!”

 

Sister Niu shook her head. “It’s not about money.”

 

Looking at Qin Shi’s anxious expression, she sneered, “I told you not to touch those fan photographers, told you over and over, but you just wouldn’t listen! Those fan photographers spent hundreds of thousands for you. Do you think they lack money?”

 

The fans who could get close to Qin Shi had all spent significant amounts.

 

Qin Shi’s face turned pale. “But, but aren’t there several ordinary fans with average backgrounds among them?”

 

Sister Niu took a deep breath. “They won’t back down.”

 

Some men always think women are vain and materialistic, that everything can be resolved with money.

 

But could the youth and sincerity of those girls who had been with Qin Shi for so long really be bought with just money?

 

Moreover, would someone who could gather all the women Qin Shi had been with lack money?

 

Perhaps as the company kept raising the price, the person behind the scenes was also raising their offer, always higher than the company’s, ensuring they would never back down.

 

Sister Niu stood up wearily.

 

She looked down at Qin Shi and felt he was like a dog.

 

When she had first brought Qin Shi up, she was full of ambition. She never imagined they would come to this day.

 

Her phone kept ringing with messages from major brands. She calmly announced:

 

“You’re finished.”

 

Qin Shi’s contracts with numerous major brands were terminated. Overnight, his towering status collapsed.

 

He still had some fans supporting him.

 

[Brother is so handsome, what could they possibly be unsatisfied with?]

 

[I will always support brother!]

 

[Not saying much, I’m just here for his looks.]

 

But he could never return to his previous position as a top celebrity in the entertainment industry.

 

The company also issued a notice, telling him to keep quiet for a while-essentially putting him on ice.

 

Huge compensation payments emptied his bank accounts, and he was left with a mountain of debt.

 

In a few days, he would also face a lawsuit from the parents whose child he had nearly ruined.

 

And there was the young man he had forcibly “turned,” using methods that were half coercion and half enticement, who was now suing him for molestation.

 

He crouched in his rented apartment.

 

His house had been sold to pay debts. Now he could only live in a rented place. Sister Niu, considering their past relationship, had found him an affordable rental-a one-bedroom apartment, sufficient for Qin Shi alone, and in a decent location.

 

But for Qin Shi, who was used to living in large houses, this was practically no different from sleeping in a toilet.

 

He couldn’t accept it.

 

He couldn’t understand how just three days ago he was enjoying himself with a beautiful woman in the five-star Golden Dragon Hotel, and now he was sleeping in this tiny rented apartment.

 

He took out his phone. The woman he had met at the Golden Dragon had already blocked him on WeChat.

 

The woman came from a powerful and wealthy family, which was why he was willing to have a relationship with her despite his preference for younger girls. If she was still willing to spend money on him, perhaps he could get a bigger place.

 

Without much hope, he dialed the woman’s number. After ringing a few times, surprisingly, she answered.

 

There was a lot of noise in the background where the woman was, as if she was in a bar.

 

He held his breath. The drinking of the past few days had made his voice a bit hoarse, but it also added a certain seductive charm. Using the most alluring voice he could muster, he said softly, “Sister, I miss you.”

 

Unexpectedly, the woman didn’t hang up.

 

This gave Qin Shi a glimmer of hope.

 

The woman said softly, “Little Shi, I actually miss you too.”

 

Qin Shi’s eyes widened with wild joy. “Then…”

 

The woman said, “I’m at Golden Age. Come find me?”

 

“Yes! Yes!”

 

Qin Shi jumped up from the sofa eagerly. He quickly groomed himself to look like the dazzling top star he once was, then took a taxi to Golden Age.

 

“Sister, I’ve arrived. Where are you?”

 

“Little Shi, sister is in the small alley next to Golden Age.”

 

The woman’s voice carried a seductive suggestion.

 

Qin Shi’s blood boiled as he secretly recalled the woman’s preferences. If he could please her this time, perhaps…

 

“Sister, I’m coming-Ah!”

 

However, as soon as he entered the alley, he was hit on the head with a club.

 

Qin Shi was stunned.

 

The sexy and elegant woman in a black dress stood in the middle of the alley, surrounded by several large bodyguards. She looked at Qin Shi with disgust. “Didn’t I tell you? Stop bothering me.”

 

“Beat him.”

 

“Just don’t kill him.”

 

The bodyguards closed in.

 

…

 

Morning.

 

Qin Shi’s fingers twitched as he struggled to get up.

 

These bodyguards had been precise with their beating, not even breaking his bones-all superficial injuries.

 

But before leaving, they had scarred his face.

 

The woman had smiled like a demon. “Little Shi, sister really liked your face, so to prevent myself from softening, I’m sorry~”

 

“This way you won’t be able to deceive people with your face anymore.”

 

“Here’s some compensation.”

 

Five pink banknotes fluttered down onto his face.

 

…

 

Qin Shi tremblingly took out his phone. The phone was broken, but the shattered screen still reflected his face.

 

He threw the phone to the ground like a madman.

 

No!

 

No! His face!!! He didn’t want to be an ugly freak!!!

 

Just then.

 

“Qin Shi?”

 

Qin Shi froze. He saw Han Zhimiao.

 

Han Zhimiao wasn’t his favorite woman, but she was the one who loved him the most.

 

For him, she had carried equipment heavy even for men to take photos in 104-degree weather; for him, staying up all night to edit photos was routine; for him, she had taken 2 AM flights to follow and photograph him.

 

For him, she had even conceived a child…

 

She always seemed so gentle, so accommodating. She didn’t have the clinginess of those young girls, yet she poured all her passion into him.

 

Among all the girls he had met, Han Zhimiao wasn’t particularly beautiful. Initially, he had wanted to pursue another fan photographer.

 

That time, to consolidate his fan base, he had organized a three-day small fan exchange meeting. Those who came were fan photographers and wealthy women who had spent hundreds of thousands supporting him. Originally, he had intended to enter another fan photographer’s room, but by mistake, he entered hers.

 

She wasn’t asleep yet, had just taken a shower, and was wearing somewhat childish pink pajamas-long-sleeved and long-legged, conservatively old-fashioned.

 

He had initially planned to just say a few words and then go find the other fan photographer, but perhaps it was Han Zhimiao’s starry eyes that were too bright that day, or maybe it was the pink flush on her cheeks from the steam that looked a bit cute-he inexplicably stayed.

 

Later, she became his underground girlfriend-one of them.

 

She wasn’t his favorite, but she was the one who made him feel most at ease.

 

Sometimes, he would even be willing to play the game of pretending to be a family of three with her.

 

Now, seeing her, he reddened his eyes as if he had suffered a great injustice.

 

“Miaomiao…”

 

He staggered forward, wanting to embrace her.

 

But she frowned and avoided him.

 

Qin Shi became somewhat panicked. He said urgently, “Miaomiao, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have kept our relationship secret. Will you marry me? In the future, I’ll stay with you and the child.”

 

As he spoke, he looked eagerly at Han Zhimiao’s belly, wanting to say something, but froze in place.

 

Han Zhimiao’s once prominently swollen belly had flattened.

 

Only then did he notice that her complexion was somewhat pale, and she had become much thinner than before. Her clothes hung on her with a kind of emptiness.

 

Han Zhimiao freed her wrist from his hand. “I had an abortion.”

 

“In the future…”

 

She seemed to want to say something, but perhaps because there was too much to say, she didn’t know where to start.

 

In the end, she simply said, “In the future, we’ll have nothing to do with each other.”

 

She turned and left.

 

Like shedding a burden, saying goodbye to the past, with an indescribable grace.

 

Qin Shi wanted to step forward and grab her wrist. He felt an indescribable anger in his heart, perhaps anger that Han Zhimiao, who had always followed him, would actually leave, or perhaps anger that she had aborted the child without his consent.

 

But when he saw the person waiting to pick up Han Zhimiao, he became somewhat cowardly, involuntarily taking two steps back and hiding in the shadows.

 

At the original spot, waving to Han Zhimiao was that nineteen-year-old fan.

 

They had all been deceived by Qin Shi.

 

The devastated young fan was carefully comforted by Han Zhimiao, gradually becoming stronger and beginning to feel sympathy for Han Zhimiao.

 

Han Zhimiao was perhaps the most heartbroken among them, yet she still acted like a big sister, comforting them all.

 

The young fan and Han Zhimiao regretted not meeting sooner. When she learned that Han Zhimiao was having an abortion procedure and her family wasn’t local, she volunteered to take care of her.

 

They shared similar interests-one gentle and strong, the other lively and optimistic-and quickly became very good friends.

 

Now, they were walking hand in hand toward a new life.

 

Qin Shi, watching their retreating figures, suddenly collapsed.

 

He grabbed his hair forcefully, almost tearing it out.

 

Those women who once loved him desperately no longer loved him, his fans had left him, his face was ruined-he had nothing left.

 

Why had everything turned out this way?!

 

Thinking back, it seemed that things started going wrong after meeting Gao Gusheng.

 

Gao Gusheng, Gao Gusheng.

 

The youth he first met was wearing a mask, his eyes smiling, carrying the unique vitality and youth that silently attracted everyone’s attention.

 

Even now, remembering him still made his heart flutter.

 

Originally, he was bisexual with a preference for women.

 

But the feeling Gao Gusheng gave him was something none of his many previous partners had ever given.

 

Too clean, too pure, a whiteness so extreme that it provoked the dark desires in one’s heart.

 

Gao Gusheng…

 

[Since I’ve already been ruined, why not drag him down to hell with me?]

 

##

 

---