Chapter 103

Chapter 103

At three-thirty in the afternoon, Weibo was still buzzing with the news of Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia's new marriage.

Everyone was so invested in their relationship that they were practically living and dying for it, and in the process, they were also mercilessly berating the marketing accounts that had previously "slandered" Gao Wenye...

Whether to retaliate or to satisfy the netizens' demand for evidence, the marketing account suddenly posted several videos related to Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia.

The content was so shocking and the contrast so stark that everyone was left speechless.

As soon as the leaks appeared, they devastated the fans and CP supporters who were cursing under the marketing account's posts.

Most people couldn't accept it and hoped it was just a malicious creation by the marketing account after being attacked with vulgar language to defame their idols.

However, amidst even more intense cursing and questioning, the marketing account continued to release more videos and photos, which were quickly forwarded by other marketing accounts.

Immediately following this, the wedding-related hashtags like "Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia's Wedding," "Sweet Ye," and "Together Forever" were overshadowed by new trending topics such as "Gao Wenye Cheats," "Gao Wenye Scandal," "Gao Wenye Abuses," and "Gao Wenye Is Rotten, Ye Zhixia Is Despicable."

The news not only gained immense popularity, but it swiftly claimed the top three trending positions, with the "Hot" tag transforming into a striking red "Explosive."

Even Weibo's servers couldn't handle the high volume of visits and forwards, causing them to crash temporarily.

Internet users who hadn't finished viewing the videos and photos were desperately seeking out sources, acting like rabbits in a melon patch.

Fans either broke down, remained in wait-and-see mode, or some rational ones announced they were unfollowing, though they hadn't yet turned against their idols.

Meanwhile, most netizens outside the fan base were enjoying the drama, discussing it enthusiastically on forums when Weibo crashed.

"Damn, this is too crazy! Sweet wedding in the morning, cheating and abuse in the afternoon—this has to be the fastest downfall ever!"

"That's because their fans and CP supporters asked for it. They went looking for evidence, and now they're getting it but refusing to believe it, claiming it's all fabricated."

"Hilarious, the comment about 'fabricated movies.'"

"Looking for resources, willing to pay. Damn, the second 'movie' blurred out the key parts and the face of the other person, but the skin looked so tender it could ooze water. How good does Gao Wenye have it?"

"That person must be top-notch; Ye Zhixia can't compete."

"No wonder there were rumors that Ye Zhixia wasn't in her element during filming recently, almost driving the director mad. It all makes sense now."

"How could she endure it? She still got married and even invited Cui Xuan as a groomsman to clean up her image. Her standards must be thousands of meters below sea level. How can someone be so despicable?"

"For fame, I guess. These two have benefited greatly from their public displays of affection over the past few months. Ye Zhixia's fan count has multiplied five or six times. With such huge benefits and traffic, they might even help each other find partners."

"Thinking about 'Together Forever,' I've been so invested for months, and now I feel like throwing up."

"So Gao Wenye is collecting conquests? There are already nearly twenty exposed, and who knows how many more there are. Doesn't he care about his reputation?"

"This is inevitable."

"Good heavens, Gao Wenye appears so sincere and reliable, yet he indulges in such frivolity. He employs any gadget within his reach."

"Unlocking new item usage."

"Unlocking new item usage +1"

"..."

"Unlocking new item usage +10086"

"At his age, he got lucky and won an acting award. Instead of focusing on his career, he's obsessed with these sleazy affairs. What was Gao Wenye thinking?"

"He always avoided talking about his background. He didn't even invite his parents to his wedding. Why does he only care about low morals now? Disgusting."

"Gao Wenye is finished."

"These two are both done. One is full of evil deeds, and the other has no standards for fame. Just seeing them is nauseating."

"Indeed, catching him cheating and still marrying him, inviting the cheater as a groomsman... There are too many points to criticize. Every aspect breaks the limits of human decency."

"Before seeing this, they might have still been praising him. Being this despicable is truly something else."

"..."

At the same time, inside Xinye, chaos reigned.

In the morning, Wang Ge, Gao Wenye's assistant, had been smiling happily, but now he was furious.

Wang Ge had been with Gao Wenye for many years.

When Gao Wenye left his original company to start his own, Wang Ge carefully weighed his options before deciding to follow him.

After all, starting a new company isn't something that happens overnight.

By following Gao Wenye, he would become one of the founding members of Xinye.

His future position and influence within the company would be something his previous company couldn't offer.

Leaving a big company to start anew with Gao Wenye meant betting his entire future on him.

But he never expected that just a few months later, such a major issue would arise.

To be honest, he knew a little about Gao Wenye's activities.

However, since they were private matters and not particularly honorable, he only knew the tip of the iceberg.

Gao Wenye had always been cautious, and since the company was his, there was no reason for him to destroy it himself.

So, after warning him once, he let the matter go.

But now, watching the information being revealed one by one, and seeing that over twenty people were involved, Wang Ge immediately felt despair and suffocation.

However, his keen eye quickly noticed that both the videos and photos had automatically generated shooting dates.

Moreover, these shooting dates were densely clustered.

Leaving aside Gao Wenye's work commitments, Wang Ge simply couldn't believe that he would seek release so frequently, let alone engage in such elaborate activities.

Thinking he had found a breakthrough, Wang Ge's spirits lifted slightly.

He immediately instructed someone to seek professional technical departments for authentication to confirm whether the videos and photos had been forged or altered.

Meanwhile, he personally contacted the whistleblower's marketing account and asked the public relations department to communicate with Weibo's official operations team to see if there was any chance of removing the current trending topic.

News came in one after another, but none of it offered any comfort.

Firstly, he failed to truly contact the whistleblower.

The other party did not respond to private messages, and even after finding numerous connections, he discovered that the account had already been sold.

The entire transaction was completed online.

The buyer's account was an offshore virtual account that had been deleted, leaving no trace on the internet whatsoever.

At this point, even a fool could see that this was a deliberate act.

The idea of solving the issue at its source was completely shattered.

Simultaneously, the forensic agency had already provided their results.

The photos and videos were indeed genuine, with no signs of post-production alteration or modification.

And the Weibo operations team explicitly rejected Xinye's request to pay for the removal of the trending topic.

After all, in today's age, information spreads exponentially.

With a smartphone, anyone can access the latest news of the day.

Over time, everyone has become "well-informed," making it much harder to create a viral sensation.

Such massive traffic and attention cannot be bought with money alone, and the refusal was somewhat expected.

As events unfolded, the online public opinion escalated due to Gao Wenye's lack of response.

Although the most explicit videos and photos had been deleted from the websites, most netizens had already saved them.

They enthusiastically spread them around, and some seemed to have a keen eye, constantly discovering various details to discuss.

Some creative netizens even produced second and third creations, further fueling the spread.

At this point, the situation was nearly out of control, yet Wang Ge could not come up with a suitable public relations strategy.

Not only was this a monumental challenge, but several specialized PR firms he approached also refused to take the case.

Without knowing the full truth and scope of the matter, he could not find an accurate angle for PR intervention, which was already enough to make anyone despair.

Moreover, Gao Wenye was still on the plane, and there was no way to contact him.

Wang Ge had worked tirelessly all afternoon, but to no avail; everything he did was useless.

He knew that speed was crucial to minimize damage.

Yet, he also understood that during such times, PR efforts must hit the bullseye.

If they issued statements just for the sake of it, it would not only be ineffective but also become a laughingstock, exacerbating the situation.

Now, he could only wait for Gao Wenye to land and understand the full picture before taking corrective action.

Though he knew that Gao Wenye might really be finished this time, Wang Ge still clung to a sliver of unrealistic hope.

He glanced at his watch, eyes downcast.

It was almost five o'clock, with an hour and a half left until Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia landed.

Seeing the pale, bewildered faces of all the employees in the company, Wang Ge closed his eyes.

Then, he asked his colleague in charge of public relations, "Have you informed Cui Xuan?"

"Yes," the colleague said, handing over the countless drafts of the PR statement written in the past hour and a half.

Wang Ge looked at it for a moment and then shook his head.

"Never mind," he said. "Let's wait until the boss lands."

All they could do now was wait.

Although delaying a response often meant being seen as guilty,

at this point, responding now would be meaningless since the evidence had been thrown right in their face.

Wang Ge sighed heavily, his face showing exhaustion.

Just as things seemed to settle, another wave arose.

Less than two minutes later, the public relations staff member who had just left knocked on his office door again.

"W... Wang Ge..." he stammered, unable to form a complete sentence, his face pale.

"What is it?" Seeing his panicked expression, Wang Ge's heart sank instinctively.

"Cui... Cui Xuan," the other person said, their face pale as they swallowed hard. "Cui Xuan gave an interview."

"Didn't we tell him to hide?" Upon hearing this, Wang Ge jumped up and started searching for his phone. After a while, he realized it had been in his hand all along.

In all the information that the marketing account had exposed today, except for Gao Wenye, everyone else's faces were blurred out, except for Cui Xuan.

So, from the very beginning, he had someone call Cui Xuan, telling him to hide for a few days until things calmed down.

Wang Ge unlocked his phone while looking down and opened Weibo, saying to the public relations officer, "You can go out now."

Until this moment, he still thought that Cui Xuan was giving the interview to help clear Gao Wenye's name.

He never imagined that things had gone so badly beyond his wildest expectations.

Cui Xuan indeed gave an interview.

The first shot of the interview video showed his tear-streaked face.

Tears streaming down his face, he looked pitiful.

But when he spoke, Wang Ge exploded with anger.

It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck him from above, leaving him numb from head to toe.

"I was forced," Cui Xuan said through tears.

Wang Ge stared at the screen in a daze, unable to even curse properly.

In the video, the host wore a sympathetic expression. "Are you saying that you were threatened by Gao Wenye into having a relationship with him?"

Cui Xuan didn't speak but slowly lowered his head. After a long pause, he finally nodded slightly twice.

"Damn!" Wang Ge cursed loudly, slamming his phone down in frustration.

This time, he was more certain than ever that Gao Wenye was truly finished.

The original exposé was already fatal.

He had hoped that after Gao Wenye landed and they clarified the full situation, they might find some way to salvage it, maybe even a glimmer of hope.

But even then, he knew that Gao Wenye's reputation was beyond saving.

In just these few hours, the public had already branded him with a new label.

And now, Cui Xuan had come forward to accuse Gao Wenye of forcing him into a relationship, looking so pitiful...

Given the initial impression, it was almost natural for the public to believe and side with him.

Wang Ge fell silent for a moment, then pulled up the first exposé video.

The video played on the cracked screen, showing the scene where Ye Zhixia burst in on Gao Wenye and Cui Xuan kissing.

In the video, Ye Zhixia slapped Cui Xuan repeatedly until Gao Wenye grabbed his hair and hit him, making her stop.

Wang Ge slowed down the playback, almost frame by frame, hoping to find any expression or action that could refute Cui Xuan's lies.

Unfortunately, there was nothing.

But thinking about it, they were a couple, and the one slapping him was his boss's wife...

No matter how unwilling, Cui Xuan had to endure it.

While Wang Ge was anxious, Cui Xuan finally saw a turning point in his career.

During the filming of Building No. 8, he took several leaves of absence.

Though he felt guilty, with Gao Wenye backing him, he wasn't too worried.

But in this industry, secrets don't stay hidden.

After wrapping up his scenes, compared to Li Ling, who was also a newcomer, their treatment and reputations were polar opposites.

Li Ling was flying high; he was stuck in the mud.

So, while Li Ling had already landed a second role, he hadn't even touched a script.

This made him increasingly anxious.

However, he still had Gao Wenye by his side.

After Gao Wenye stood up for him against Ye Zhixia, Cui Xuan had great confidence that he would succeed in replacing her.

Even Gao Wenye's explanation for planning a wedding was that they still needed Ye Zhixia to maintain their loving couple image for a few more years before divorcing.

Because of that protective slap, Cui Xuan hardly doubted Gao Wenye's words.

But he never expected that he was just one of many "sweethearts" Gao Wenye had.

What a mess.

His career was affected, and his feelings were toyed with.

Even if Gao Wenye was once his idol, now his image was shattered.

Looking at the date in the corner of the video, recalling the time he was beaten by Ye Zhixia and had to take leave, Cui Xuan decided to strike first.

This was a rare opportunity for his career, a one-time chance that wouldn't come again.

This would allow him to smoothly enter the public eye as a newcomer whom no one knew, and he could also gain a wave of sympathy.

Not only that, but he could completely reverse his already tarnished reputation in the industry.

Without any hesitation, Cui Xuan chose the most influential media outlet from among those calling him.

"Gao Wenye is my idol, so even though his company is a new one, I still turned down invitations from other companies and chose Xinye. I never expected..."

Cui Xuan's eyes were swollen from crying. Seeing this, the host handed him a tissue.

"Occasionally taking leave during the last production was not my intention; it was because my face..." Cui Xuan played the video of Ye Zhixia slapping him repeatedly. "My face was beaten by Ye Zhixia to the point where I couldn't appear on camera, but there was no way to explain it to the production team."

Cui Xuan cried even harder, covering his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking from sobs.

"Damn." Li Ling couldn't help cursing, "He acts like a wooden plank when filming, but when it comes to drama, he's a master."

Cui Xuan's move was indeed unexpected, but upon closer thought, it made sense.

After all, people are self-interested creatures.

As the situation escalated, its impact extended far beyond Gao Wenye alone.

If he was going to be ruined, others couldn't afford to go down with him, could they?

However, while Cui Xuan could escape unscathed, others weren't so lucky.

Looking at the overwhelming news online, Tang Yue's face alternated between green and white.

His last hope in life now rested on Tao Ruoqing.

But ultimately, Tao Ruoqing's connections in the entertainment industry relied heavily on Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia.

Now that both of them were in trouble, they likely had their own problems to deal with, let alone caring for him.

Tang Yue stood quietly by the window for a moment. Then, he turned around and tore up all the design drafts on the table.

Afterward, he picked up his phone and called Tao Ruoqing.

The evening sky was filled with beautiful sunset hues, but in Tang Yue's eyes, they looked like blood.

It seemed that if he moved, tears of blood would stream down his cheeks.

The phone rang continuously, but Tang Yue felt himself drowning in an ocean of pain and despair.

It turned out fate could torment him like this, unwilling even to give him a quick end.

First, it stripped away his heart, leaving him barely alive.

Then, just as he managed to ignite a spark of hope, it threw him into a pot of oil to simmer slowly.

Fate cruelly tormented him, making his death long and painful, without a shred of mercy or hope.

After an unknown amount of time, a cold, emotionless female voice came through the phone: "Sorry, the number you dialed is currently unavailable..."

Before she could finish, Tang Yue gritted his teeth and hung up.

Then, he dialed again.

But the call remained unanswered on the other end.

At this moment, regardless of who it was, even if it were the emperor himself, Tao Ruoqing did not want to answer the phone.

Today was supposed to be a joyous day, but now, everyone in the family looked more grim than ever.

Ye Hongxian cherished his face the most, and Tao Ruoqing was no different.

But now, they had become a complete laughingstock, not just in the city, but nationwide.

If Ye Hongxian was furious merely due to losing face, Tao Ruoqing felt her heart torn apart.

Because she saw firsthand how her child lived in hellish conditions.

Being treated so poorly, being beaten by having her hair pulled, being mentally and physically tortured...

Yet as a mother, she had compromised for the sake of face, leading them into marriage.

That was her child, whom she had raised with utmost care.

For years, she had schemed and plotted every day, all to give her child the best.

But how could he have ended up like this?

Even worse, he would have to live under the ridicule and contempt of others...

Tao Ruoqing couldn't bear to think about it; the pain was suffocating.

She didn't hear the ringing phone, nor did she hear Ye Hongxian's shouting.

"I told you the high-born one wouldn't work, but you insisted on bringing them together. Now look what happened?" Ye Hongxian yelled. "How can I show my face in public now? How could such a lowly thing be my child?"

He said it without thinking, but Ye Zheng, who was smoking irritably by the window, flinched, dropping a bit of ash.

"When Ye Zhixia returns, make her pack her things and get out. I won't recognize her anymore," Ye Hongxian said coldly.

Tao Ruoqing hadn't heard the earlier part clearly, but this sentence struck her like thunder.

"No," she hurriedly said, "She's your child. Don't you feel any compassion for her? You want to kick her out. Aren't you being too heartless?"

With a loud "slap," Ye Hongxian's pent-up anger exploded, landing a heavy blow on Tao Ruoqing's cheek.

Seeing this, Ye Zheng hurriedly stepped forward to shield Tao Ruoqing behind him.

"Fine, now it's clear you two are close, right?" Ye Hongxian said. "Why don't you both get lost then?"

"Dad," Ye Zheng said with patience, "please calm down. Don’t ruin your health. Xia Xia doesn't know any better. I'll teach him a lesson when we get back, and I promise you'll feel better."

Ye Hongxian glared at him with a twisted expression before slowly turning his gaze away after a moment.

"Mom." Ye Zheng helped Tao Ruoqing up from where she had been struck to the ground.

Afraid of provoking Ye Hongxian further, which might lead to Ye Zhixia being punished, Tao Ruoqing endured the slap without making a sound.

"I'll accompany you upstairs," Ye Zheng said. "Xia Xia should be landing soon."

Tao Ruoqing nodded and allowed Ye Zheng to help her up the stairs, entering the bedroom in a daze.

As soon as they entered, she took out her phone.

Ignoring all the missed calls, she dialed Ye Zhiqiu directly.

Ye Hongxian hit her.

Given Ye Zhiqiu's feelings for her, he would surely rush back to confront Ye Hongxian just like before.

Then, Ye Hongxian's anger could be diverted onto Ye Zhiqiu.

Perhaps, he wouldn't be so determined to kick Ye Zhixia out anymore.

"Mom," Ye Zheng saw Ye Zhiqiu's name on the screen and reached to take her phone. "What good will it do to call him now?"

"How so?" Tao Ruoqing sneered, showing no restraint in front of Ye Zheng.

"Pitying him?" she said. "As long as I'm around, forget about it."

Ye Zheng pursed his lips. Moments later, Ye Zhiqiu's clear voice came through the phone.

"Mom," he called.

"Xiao Qiu," Tao Ruoqing wailed, "your father hit me, and he wants to kill me."

"Something happened to Xia Xia, and I’m terrified," she sobbed. "Can you come back and stay with me?"

Having just finished work, Ye Zhiqiu was driving home.

Upon hearing this, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

"Okay," he said. "I'll come back."

Under these circumstances, it was normal for Tao Ruoqing to ask him to return.

No one understood Tao Ruoqing’s little schemes better than he did.

In fact, he had already informed Qin Jianhe that he would be returning to the Ye family home after work.

Driving to his own place was merely for show.

However, he wasn't going back to help Tao Ruoqing out.

Since Tao Ruoqing was so concerned about Ye Zheng getting close to him,

he would deliberately get closer to Ye Zheng, adding insult to injury at this moment.

When it came to being repulsive, Ye Zhiqiu could be quite adept if he wanted to.

Turning the steering wheel at the next intersection, Ye Zhiqiu casually turned on the car radio.

The music station was introducing a new song.

The female singer's voice was powerful and captivating.

"This world of black and white is truly absurd,

Good souls never meet a good end.

This world driven by greed is hard to understand,

Trading stars for sugar is a futile exchange.

Different mouths tell the same lie,

Different beasts trapped in the same skin.

One moment they revel in their wicked deeds,

The next they pray for divine forgiveness.

..."

"Pity," Ye Zhiqiu thought, his smile particularly cold, "the gods won't forgive."