Chapter 5

Chapter 5

#Star Avenue's Third Public Performance Suspended#

#Why Star Avenue is Suspended#

The scandal involving indecent photos caused a storm on Weibo, especially since it implicated two popular contestants and a mentor from the show. Consequently, the official Weibo account of "Star Avenue" announced the temporary suspension of the third public performance.

Ordinary viewers might not know what was happening, but the contestants were all well aware of the situation.

"The higher-ups in the production team found Jiang Ziyi and directly dismissed him from his position as a mentor!"

Yi Tiantian, who was resting in the dressing room due to the suspension, was happily browsing Weibo while enjoying some snacks.

Upon hearing this news, the contestants were all visibly shaken.

Especially Xiao Ren and Chen Chen, who excitedly found Yi Tiantian and hugged her tightly.

Jiao Xiaohua, seeing this scene from outside the door, felt a mix of emotions.

In response to the online turmoil, Xiao Ren and Chen Chen also made subtle statements.

Xiao Ren: The past is behind us; now I am a new person!

Chen Chen: No need to dwell on the past; I move forward with my heart!

Although the third public performance was suspended, it was only postponed by two days. Therefore, the contestants continued their intensive practice the next day.

Only Yi Tiantian was leisurely eating a small cake while browsing Weibo.

She clicked into the comment sections of the two contestants' posts and began to enjoy the gossip.

Red Mud Red Bean Cake: Support Xiao Ren! Whatever happened in the past is over; the future Xiao Ren will be the best! Go, Ren Ren!

Psychologist Sad Sauce: Support Chen Chen! No need to dwell on the past; move forward with your heart!

Most people were encouraging the two contestants.

However, some began speculating about the stories behind these posts.

Sage: What does this mean? Are you not going to explain the previous photos? Did you really go to a mentor for sexual favors??

No Vegetables Today: Exactly, there has been no direct response until now. What's the point of posting these vague messages? Even if the mentor was wrong, it takes two to tango, right?

Yi Tiantian scoffed and took a bite of her cake.

"One slap doesn't make a sound? I'll slap you and see if it makes a sound!"

The contestants, who were training diligently, suddenly heard this and a few almost burst out laughing.

Yi Tiantian continued scrolling down, relieved that someone had already countered the comments.

If Sound Were an Island: Is the person above blaming the victim? Honestly, if you were a small idol with no background, about to debut, how would you react to a mentor's threats? Would you just quit and be forgotten? Come on, we're all adults here, use your brains!

"That's right! My idol Brother Buji Dao is so reasonable!"

However, some people started discussing the backstory.

Summer: But have you heard that the mentor involved seems to be Jiang Ziyi, who was sexually exploiting contestants!

I Am Not a Clown: Jiang Ziyi?? That fat pig, I'll fight him!!

Someone leaked insider information?

Yi Tiantian quickly clicked into Jiang Ziyi's Weibo comment section and found that most of the comments were insults from his fans.

Love Endures: Spit! Here to curse you!

Tiny Dragonfly: You deserve hell!! So disgusting!

"Hahahaha!"

Yi Tiantian's hearty laughter echoed through the ears of all the contestants present.

After finishing her delightful browsing session, Yi Tiantian decided to get up and go to the restroom.

But when she reached the hallway, she saw a familiar figure. That greasy body could only belong to Jiang Ziyi!

How could he be here again?

Wasn't he fired?

Yi Tiantian quietly followed him.

She discovered that this fat pig was actually looking for Jiao Xiaohua!

He pulled Jiao Xiaohua into a small dark room.

Before entering, Jiang Ziyi looked around carefully, ensuring Yi Tiantian wasn't in sight, before sneaking in and closing the door.

Yi Tiantian immediately lightened her footsteps and approached.

Inside the dark room, Jiang Ziyi pleaded with Jiao Xiaohua, "People online are so fickle, Xiaohua. You believe me, right?"

Jiao Xiaohua remained silent.

He wanted to believe him, but both reality and online opinions were overwhelmingly against him.

Seeing that Jiao Xiaohua hadn't yet turned against him, Jiang Ziyi pressed on, "I'm being cursed at by those mindless fans online, and some even sent me razor blades and syringes... Xiaohua... you are the only one who can help me now!"

"Good job, fans!"

"If it were me, I'd do something even worse right outside your door!"

Outside the door, Yi Tiantian was so delighted she almost jumped up and applauded on the spot.

The moment Jiang Ziyi heard Yi Tiantian's voice, his anger flared, and he immediately wanted to push the door open and chase her away.

But just as he was about to act, a pair of slender white hands blocked him.

"Aren't you in need of my help? Just say it."

Jiao Xiaohua's expression was resolute, completely different from his usual weak demeanor.

Damn! He's really grown some wings!

Jiang Ziyi cursed fiercely in his heart.

But at that moment, he could only grit his teeth and continue.

"If you could help me clear things up online, I think the fans wouldn't be so hostile toward me."

Jiang Ziyi's chubby face twisted as he tried to force a seemingly sincere expression.

Before Jiao Xiaohua could react, Yi Tiantian outside the door started her sharp critique.

"Others clarify rumors; what are you going to clarify?"

"Are you going to clarify that you not only threatened contestants on this show but also on 'Dragon's Battle' and 'Spring Messenger'?"

"Don't make yourself look ridiculous! It's not funny, buddy!"

Jiang Ziyi clenched his back teeth, suppressing the urge to rush out and attack, and continued to placate: "I really didn't do those things; they all volunteered! Xiaohua, I'm sincere with you!"

"Do you even have a heart? Last night you were at the nightclub, playing the Khan's army, and now you're talking about sincerity?"

"Would you let Xiaohua see your phone? There are photos of models you took last night in your gallery!"

Jiao Xiaohua's face darkened, and he extended a hand. "Show me your phone."

Sweat pouring down his forehead, Jiang Ziyi steeled himself and pulled out his phone.

Jiao Xiaohua opened Jiang Ziyi's already unlocked phone and directly tapped on the gallery icon.

Jiang Ziyi swallowed hard, his heart pounding nervously, sweat dripping from his forehead.

To everyone's surprise, after searching through the gallery, Jiao Xiaohua found no photos of the models Yi Tiantian mentioned.

Jiang Ziyi's furrowed brows instantly relaxed, and he smirked. "See, I'm innocent!"

"Innocent? What about the hidden photos in your gallery?"

"You're darker than a pig in the mud!"

Hearing this, Jiao Xiaohua's expression turned cold. He swiped down the screen, opened the hidden gallery, and held the phone in front of Jiang Ziyi. "Open it."

His voice was firm and emotionless, filled with coldness.

Jiang Ziyi's mind raced, but he realized there was nothing he could do.

"Haha! Sweating like a pig!"

"Listen, little bro, you're just making a fool of yourself!"

"Oh, right, you're always a nobody."

"Ahhahahaha!!!"

Jiao Xiaohua, with a stern face, threw the phone at Jiang Ziyi.

Before Jiang Ziyi could explain further, Jiao Xiaohua picked up a beautifully wrapped gift bag he had prepared earlier.

Inside was a scarf he had painstakingly knitted for this old dog during his spare time between practice and interviews.

Every stitch was filled with his love.

But now, it was all for naught.

Jiao Xiaohua threw the scarf on the ground and angrily stomped on it twice.

Feeling unsatisfied, he slapped Jiang Ziyi twice across the face.

Jiang Ziyi tried to dodge but tripped over the scarf, crashing into the corner of the table like a fat pig, yelping in pain.

"You!" Jiang Ziyi, clutching his sore back, yelled in fury: "You'll pay for this! I'll expose all your photos!"

"Expose?"

"Or will you get tattled on by paparazzi and get beaten by your mom again?"

Jiang Ziyi's pudgy face turned beet red.

Jiao Xiaohua sneered and spat directly onto Jiang Ziyi's oily face. "Get lost!"

"Good job!"

"After leaving Jiang Ziyi, Jiao Xiaohua's career soared smoothly, becoming a new idol through his own hard work. Impressive!"

Yi Tiantian, still marveling at how fate hadn't wronged Jiao Xiaohua, saw the door suddenly open.

Jiao Xiaohua walked out, with tear stains still visible on his face, but he wore a relieved smile: "Thank you, Yi Tiantian."

Yi Tiantian, who had tried to avoid being seen but failed, had expected to be labeled as an eavesdropper, but instead, she received Jiao Xiaohua's gratitude.

Jiao Xiaohua took Yi Tiantian's hand and said sincerely: "Tonight, I'll treat you to Japanese food!"

Yi Tiantian opened her mouth wide in surprise.

Jiao Xiaohua, who usually worked so hard that he barely had time to eat, was now willing to take the precious time to treat her to Japanese food?!

.

"The scandal about Jiang Ziyi, that scumbag mentor, has finally been exposed!"

In her dormitory that evening, Yi Tiantian was scrolling through her phone and saw that Jiang Ziyi had made it to the top of Weibo's trending topics.

The other contestants, who were in the middle of brushing their teeth, rushed back to their desks, toothbrushes still in their mouths, to check Weibo.

#StarAvenueJiangZiyiScammer

#StarAvenueJiangZiyiExploitation

Both hashtags were at the top of the trending list, marked with "Breaking News" tags.

The comment section was buzzing with activity.