chapter 24

Chapter 24: One Punch - The only thing abundant on me is money.

From this interrogation, He Guan gleaned two pieces of information.

First, Tong Jiaqi's mother had been assaulted, suffering a secondary trauma.

Second, the bodyguard wasn't present that night.

At He Guan's request, the police quickly retrieved the surveillance footage related to Tong Jiaqi. However, the video wasn't very clear.

The assault took place in an old alley, and the monitoring equipment hadn't been updated in a long time.

The footage showed Tong Jiaqi chasing someone out of the hospital. After catching up, he appeared to throw a punch, but whether it landed...

It wasn't clear from the video.

The camera's angle was from behind; it was impossible to see the front.

He Guan requested the police to access the hospital's surveillance footage. Upon scrutiny, he saw the bodyguard left at 12:15.

This would've been just minutes before Tong Jiaqi's arrival.

Shortly after, a man who had waited in the hallway for a long time entered.

He Guan now checked his phone and noticed the WeChat message sent by Yan Xu.

[Yan Xu: The bodyguard's number is unavailable, can't get through.]

Weary, He Guan looked up and said to him, "Next time something happens, call me directly. Don't send a message."

Yan Xu nodded earnestly.

Scrolling further, He Guan saw a message from Gan Qing.

[Gan Qing: After class, Jiaqi received a call and left. We followed and managed to stop him. He definitely didn't hit anyone, especially not in the face.]

He Guan's gaze shifted to the man in the corner.

The man had a mark on his face, but it was relatively small. If Tong Jiaqi's punch had landed, the injury would have been much worse.

According to Yan Xu, the man had come forward because Wen Mo had initially reported domestic violence.

He Guan asked the man, "What's your name?"

The man pointed to himself, "Are you addressing me?"

He Guan nodded.

The man grinned, releasing a strong odor of alcohol, "My name is Tong Gang, Tong Jiaqi's father."

Jin Jue took a step back, disgusted by the smell.

Tong Jiaqi's knuckles cracked with tension, "You're not my father."

Tong Gang retorted, "Dare you say you're not my son?"

Tong Jiaqi shot back, "I'm the son of my mother. What are you to me?"

The conversation was heating up and seemed like it would devolve into a full-blown argument. The police officer stepped in timely, "Gentlemen, we understand you want to resolve this matter quickly. However, considering the privacy within hospital rooms, we don't have surveillance there. We couldn't obtain evidence of domestic violence. We sincerely apologize."

Tong Jiaqi's eyes blazed with anger, "But I clearly saw him! He hit my mother in the hospital room!"

The officer replied apologetically, "I'm truly sorry, but based on the footage from the hospital corridor, it appeared that you chased and attacked this gentleman. If he decides to press charges, you'll need to remain at the police station for mediation."

Tong Jiaqi exclaimed, "Mediate with him?! I didn't lay a hand on him!"

Tong Gang smugly pointed to his facial injury, saying, "Even if Bai Xiaojie were here today, I never committed domestic violence. Believe what you will."

He Guan wore a dark expression.

Tong Jiaqi spun around twice on the spot and inquired, “Can any other patients in the ward vouch for that?”

The officer replied, “Of course, if you can find them.”

He Guan swiftly added, “Yan Xu will search. The rest of you four should head back. You have training tomorrow. Don't act rashly. I'll handle this. If he wasn't hit, we can surely prove it.”

Jin Jue ruffled Tong Jiaqi's hair, saying, “See you at training tomorrow.”

Only then did Tong Jiaqi react, giving a slight nod.

Chu Li handed a Snickers bar to Tong Jiaqi, “Eat this if you're hungry.”

Tong Jiaqi clutched the Snickers tightly.

Soon, only He Guan, Tong Jiaqi, and Tong Gang remained in the room.

He Guan asked Tong Gang, “Do you have any other business? If you're not pressing charges against your son, you should leave. We won't see you out.”

Tong Gang let out two ambiguous chuckles, “So you're his boss?”

He Guan responded, “What of it?”

Tong Gang smirked, “Thought he'd become all capable with a boss backing him, yet you still wouldn't dare to hit me?”

He Guan removed his suit jacket, tightened his fists, and under the watchful eyes of everyone in the police station, threw a punch!

The force of the blow sent Tong Gang leaning sharply backward, causing him to topple over and crash onto the chairs in the police station with a loud thud!

The force of the punch left his face stinging, and he was too stunned to speak for several seconds.

Tong Jiaqi was in complete shock.

He had never seen He Guan act so aggressively before.

The officers, thinking they were about to leave and having let their guard down, were caught off guard by He Guan's swift move, and it was too late to intervene.

He Guan was pulled back by two officers, not resisting or throwing another punch.

After striking, he spoke with chilling calm, his words making the officers' skin crawl: “Tong Gang, he might not hit you, but I can. I'm not a celebrity concerned about public image.”

“If you provoke me again, once we leave this station, I'll send you to the VIP ward at Bai Xiaoju's place, and let you experience what it feels like to be completely immobilized.”

Bai Xiaoju is Tong Gang's mother, the woman who lay in a hospital bed that afternoon.

Inside the police station, Tong Gang wailed, clutching his wrist in agony, “You've injured my hand! I demand compensation! I want compensation! I...”

Seeing that He Guan showed no intention to attack further and that there was sufficient distance between them, the officers released him.

But he still dared not stray too far from him.

He Guan cut off Tong Gang's words with an imposing demeanor, "Of course I can compensate. Do you have a salary? I assume not. Relying solely on Bai Xiaoju's hard work to support the household, right? I don't owe you for any lost wages, but I can pay double, even triple, the medical expenses. Doesn't matter to me. I've got more money than I know what to do with. Come here, let me hit you one more time, even harder than before. Do you dare?"

The two officers flanking him immediately took a step forward, prepared to prevent another punch.

Now even Tong Jiaqi was trying to restrain him, "Bro, calm down, think rationally."

He Guan slightly lifted his eyelids and chuckled, "I am calm."

At the company, he was always easygoing. Even when confronted by the rude Jin Jue, he would merely retort lightly.

This was the first time Tong Jiaqi had seen him so angry up close, his eyes dark and intense, as if they could swallow someone whole.

Tong Jiaqi had no doubt that if He Guan had been the one to witness Tong Gang's domestic abuse, he'd have sent him straight to the VIP ward.

Realizing he wasn't going to get anywhere and fearing another beating, Tong Gang scrambled out of the police station as quickly as he could.

Many abusers are bullies, taking out their frustrations on their legal partners, treating them as punching bags, because they know they won't fight back or can't divorce them.

Now that Tong Gang realized He Guan wasn't someone to be trifled with, he didn't even ask for compensation and just fled.

Seeing Tong Gang leave, He Guan shrugged off Tong Jiaqi's grip, "Stop holding me, it hurts. What hard bones you have!"

Tong Jiaqi immediately let go, saying, "Bro, are you still mad? Don't be upset over him; he's not worth it."

He Guan teased, "Are you a goose? Always 'bro, bro, bro'."

It took a moment for Tong Jiaqi to catch the jest.

He Guan was poking fun.

"Goose, goose, goose, stretching its neck to sing."

Mocking him for saying 'bro' too often.

Tong Jiaqi replied, "Bro, I didn't mean..."

He Guan, still heated, interrupted, "Didn't you call me He Guan earlier? Why did you stop? Am I not He Guan now?"

Tong Jiaqi straightened up, bracing for a scolding, "Bro, after seeing how mad you were, I'd be crazy not to get it. I was wrong earlier, taking my anger out on you. I apologize; you can punish me however you see fit."

A bodyguard's error isn't something He Guan should have to deal with; it's clearly an issue with his subordinates. It was wrong of him to lash out at He Guan in his frustration.

But that 'punish me however you see fit'...

He Guan could sense the officers around him growing tense once again.

Grabbing Tong Jiaqi's ear, He Guan pulled him out of the police station, saying in the open space outside, "Let's go. Get in the car. We're going to retrace our steps."

Tong Jiaqi was taken aback, "What?"

He Guan said, "We need to check if there are any other surveillance cameras around. I noticed a few retail stores near the alley's entrance; the shopkeepers might have installed cameras, or the residents might have their own. We'll ask each one of them."

Tong Jiaqi began, "But it's already past midn..."

He Guan interrupted, "Online, they don't care about the time. They're eagerly following your story, and if this isn't resolved by tomorrow, you'll be criticized all day. Dally any longer, and I swear I'll kick your butt."

Tong Jiaqi quickly scrambled into the passenger seat of the car.

Once they arrived at the hospital, He Guan parked near the south entrance, stating, "This is where you came out, right?"

The bleak lighting at the hospital entrance illuminated the asphalt, casting long, dark shadows of the two of them.

Tong Jiaqi hesitated, "Bro, did you just wake up too..."

He Guan gave him a light kick on his behind.

All that talk, too much chatter.

Usually patient, Tong Jiaqi's temper finally flared, "Can't I even show concern for you?!"

He Guan retorted, "Is your concern for me of any use right now? Hurry up and find the camera that proves you didn't hit anyone. If not, we don't even know if Nolimit will debut. Do you realize that Starfield evaluates boy bands every quarter? There'll definitely be an evaluation before debut. If this blows up further, you can forget about debuting! And you have time to worry about me?"

Tong Jiaqi's spirit deflated.

Against someone with a solid argument and fierce demeanor, his brashness didn't stand a chance.

He followed He Guan, and at a nearby store, they purchased two flashlights, planning to retrace the path where he chased Tong Gang.

As He Guan was paying, he felt something was amiss. Looking up, he noticed a distorted-angle camera on the store's awning.

He Guan laid down a hundred bills, inquiring, "Sir, is that camera of yours working?"

The cashier nodded vigorously, pointing sideways, "Thieves often run this way, avoiding the main hospital road. They dart into these alleys. So, I adjusted the camera for a more discreet angle."

He Guan asked, "Is the footage clear?"

The shopkeeper boasted, "Of course! It's real-time cloud-uploading. 1080P!"

He Guan smiled, placing an additional five hundred on the counter, "Could we take a look? And, if possible, get a copy of your footage on a USB drive?"

The shopkeeper nodded, "Sure, come over here."

The footage surprised both of them.

They hadn't expected this camera to perfectly capture the entire alley.

The angle, taken from directly above them, clearly showed the trajectory of Tong Jiaqi's hand.

Tong Jiaqi's hand never touched Tong Gang.

The video clearly showed his restraint; he awkwardly maneuvered his hand around Tong Gang's face, then, grabbing him by the collar, stood up and engaged in a heated argument.

Tong Jiaqi, filled with excitement, banged on the table, only to be warned by the shopkeeper, "It's made of glass! Glass! Take your hands off!"

Tong Jiaqi retracted his hand with a sheepish grin, saying, "See? I never hit him; I held back!"

He Guan, wearing headphones, listened to the entire argument and responded with a simple, "Mhm."

With the major concern addressed, the online public opinion would be the next challenge.

Holding the USB drive with the backup footage, He Guan walked back, deep in thought.

While Tong Jiaqi hadn't struck anyone, the intent was still evident, which might be seen as a stain on his reputation.

Further clarity on this matter would require testimony from Bai Xiaoju.

It was for her sake that Tong Jiaqi had chased after someone, intending to hit them.

The question remained: would she be willing?

Would she be open to bringing her experience of domestic violence to light?

Assuming she agrees, there's also the need to validate the authenticity of her claims.

This would involve Yan Xu identifying fellow patients, whose testimonies would then persuade the police to recognize the public domestic violence incident, leading to a detention of at least fifteen days.

With six people in her ward, besides Bai Xiaoju, convincing the other five would depend on Yan Xu.

However, all of this hinged on Bai Xiaoju's consent.

After pondering for a moment, He Guan inquired, "Auntie's staying in a nearby apartment, right?"

Tong Jiaqi replied, "When I left, she was still awake. Bro, are you planning to visit her?"

He Guan simply said, "Let's go."

After a pause, He Guan added, "Once we're back, you should get some rest. I'll talk with your mother. Tomorrow, you'll head to the company as usual."

Tong Jiaqi acknowledged with a nod.

Driving to the Dream Lake Complex near Starfield, He Guan realized he might have overthought things.

Carrying a half-asleep Tong Jiaqi, who was on the brink of slumping onto his lap, he went through the security facial recognition system and entered the building.

Once out of the car, the fatigue showed on Tong Jiaqi's face; he could barely keep his eyes open. At eighteen, he should have been as lively as any post-high school graduate, with a consistent biological clock.

His earlier adrenaline had kept him awake, but now, with things somewhat settled, his drooping eyelids made him resemble a drowsy koala.

Guiding him by the wrist, He Guan used the apartment's fingerprint lock, only to cross paths with Bai Xiaoju, who was pacing in her living room.

He Guan raised his index finger, signaling her to remain quiet.

Since the afternoon meeting at He Guan, she looked much more haggard, with fresh bruises on her face and a swollen cheekbone.

He Guan laid Tong Jiaqi on the bed, locked the door, and went to the adjacent room with Bai Xiaojie.

Lowering his voice, he introduced himself, "Hello, I'm Tong Jiaqi's boss."

Bai Xiaojie stared at him. A hint of surprise finally emerged from her blank eyes as she asked, "You're so young?"

She addressed him with the formal "you."

He Guan recalled the messages she sent from Tong Jiaqi's phone earlier. Coupled with what he knew of her actual circumstances, he speculated that she might have been educated but didn't finish her studies for some reason.

He Guan said, "Call me He Guan. I'm here for Tong Jiaqi today."

Bai Xiaojie replied, "Go on."

"You probably know he's on the rise in his career. The group is about to debut, and I'm sure he's mentioned to you that we ask our artists to avoid scandals during this period to prevent any negative impact."

"But tonight, after arguing with Tong Gang, Jiaqi was caught on camera outside."

He Guan handed her the phone, "Take a look at this trending topic."

Now, the comments below the trend weren't just confusion, as earlier. Various groups weighed in, and it was chaos.

Some outright dissed the entire group.

[Nolimit sure is unpredictable. Just a few days ago, a royal left, and now there's this law-abiding figure. Will the remaining four just get worse?]

[Honestly, Jin Jue with his perpetual scowl is just annoying. Gan Qing is just too nice, and that's frustrating. Wen Mo is eerie and pops out of nowhere, which is scary. Chu Li? I never even noticed him since the show began.]

[They're debuting? More like debuting at a funeral, lol. [Sweating emoji]]

There were big fans waiting for news.

[Trust in Tong Jiaqi. This came out of the blue. Let's wait for the company's response tomorrow.]

[The video is only three seconds! It's just three seconds long! I have to say it thrice because it's crucial. Some haters are already having a field day, and their IPs trace back overseas. Are you enjoying this? Care to include me?]

Some were criticizing the company.

[Only you would believe that Xingyu would respond. When has Xingyu ever addressed group controversies? How many groups have they ruined? Remember Infinity? They debuted so happily, and look at what's happened to them now. Chasing stars in my dreams?]

There were haters venting.

[What's this nonsense? Some nobody trending in the middle of the night. Bought the spot, didn’t you? Must be laughing to yourselves now.]

[What's all the fuss about? It's clear from the photo and the video that Tong Jiaqi hit someone. If he didn't, I'll wash my hair upside down, okay?]

The one talking about washing hair upside down even changed their profile picture to a black and white photo of Tong Jiaqi.

Bai Xiaojie skimmed through rapidly, scrolling faster and faster. Finally, with trembling hands, she handed the phone back to He Guan, muttering, “Why are these comments so...”

He Guan: "Yes."

He fell silent for a moment, eventually deciding to enlighten this mother about what her child was experiencing.

“After becoming an idol, he's faced unimaginable pressures, primarily from public opinion.”

“While they receive immense attention, they also attract a lot of malice. The internet amplifies emotions, and many comments, while perhaps not intended to bash him specifically, are outlets for people’s personal frustrations. However, once published, they're interpreted as harsh criticism.”

“Then there’s the training pressure. Xingyu hasn’t produced a successful boy or girl group in years. A company that used to form groups now relies on variety shows and low-budget web dramas to break even. After a long hiatus, they selected these five, and Jiaqi is among them. Hence, the company's expectations are stringent.”

“Trainees are evaluated monthly, not only on singing and dancing but also on interpersonal skills and English proficiency. Those who don’t make the cut are eliminated.”

“But he’s persevered here for three years. He’s truly exceptional.”

“Lastly, there's the family aspect. As you’re aware, Jiaqi hasn’t spent quality time with you for years. He may have neglected you. As for the issue with Tong Gang, we need to address it together. Otherwise, Jiaqi will face even more disparagement upon his debut...”

Bai Xiaojie: "What should I do?"

He Guan: "Leave Tong Gang. Divorce him."

Up to this point, everything was going smoothly, and Bai Xiaojie’s expression had softened.

But upon hearing this, something seemed to strike a nerve, and her lips tightened.

Her lips, usually flat, when tightened, gave off an aloof, distant aura.

He Guan: "Did I say something wrong?"

Bai Xiaojie: "You should leave now."

Author's Note:

Text is being revised, there may be inconsistencies between the comments and the main content.

——2022.4.8 2：39