Chapter 35 You Call This Being Good to Me?

Chapter 35: You Call This Treating Me Well?

After a busy half-day, all the guests finally finished setting up their tents.

The beach was scorching, and the sun beat down intensely. Everyone was drenched in sweat, taking a brief respite under the shade of the trees to rehydrate.

Despite being on an island surrounded by a vast ocean, the production team maintained its rule of providing only a single day’s worth of nutritional supplements and drinking water.

The fresh water they possessed was extremely precious. No matter how thirsty, everyone drank it sparingly, taking small sips, unwilling to finish it all at once.

Finding a source of potable water was now the top priority, Yu Xin thought to himself as he drank.

“Yu Xin?”

Someone called his name—a faint, delicate male voice that sounded somewhat unfamiliar to Yu Xin. He turned around.

It was Yu Ning, standing beside Ye Ran, who had his arms crossed and wore an expression of displeasure.

What did he want with him?

“What is it?” Yu Xin set down his water cup and asked calmly.

“Could you come over for a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

What could this True Young Master possibly need to discuss with him so formally?

Curious, Yu Xin stood up and followed the two to a more secluded spot.

“Go ahead.”

“It’s been a while since we last saw each other. How have you been getting along outside all this time? I’ve been worried about you…”

Yu Ning’s tone was filled with concern, and his expression seemed genuinely caring, without any hint of pretense.

Yet Yu Xin once again felt that subtle unease.

This was his first time facing the True Young Master of the Yu family, whom everyone adored as the epitome of purity, kindness, and beauty. From Yu Zhizhou’s and others’ descriptions of him, he truly seemed like a peerless white lotus—a saint born with an innate radiance. No wonder everyone liked him.

Yu Xin had no particular opinion about such people. They were too different from him, and he couldn’t quite understand their way of thinking. He would have been content to coexist peacefully, but the more he interacted with this True Young Master, the more peculiar he found him. Although Yu Ning had pleaded for the original host when he was expelled from the family, during the entire time the original host struggled outside until his death, Yu Ning never sent a single word of concern, let alone offered any help.

If Yu Ning resented the original host for occupying his identity for over a decade, that would be understandable. Yet, here he was, on broadcast, acting as though he cared deeply about Yu Xin.

Upon closer reflection, aside from paying lip service, Yu Ning had never actually done anything for Yu Xin.

Was this what some fans and Yu Xin’s elder brother called “innocent and kind-hearted”?

If so, the cost of such kindness was truly cheap.

But the effect was undeniable. Shortly after he spoke, the live comments were flooded with Yu Ning’s fans:

“Boo hoo, Ningning is such a good person. He actually cares so much about the one who took his place.”

“Ningning is a little angel, beautiful inside and out.”

“Who wouldn’t love a Ningning like this? I certainly can’t resist. No wonder his parents and elder brother accepted him so quickly and dote on him so much.”

“Exactly! I heard Ningning quickly integrated into high society circles soon after returning home and made many genuine friends. Everyone adores him.”

“Let’s drag the previous one—the difference is night and day, tsk tsk.”

“I’m doing just fine. There’s no need for your concern,” Yu Xin said coldly, unwilling to play along. “Is there anything else?”

“You…” Seemingly hurt by his indifferent tone, Yu Ning’s eyes reddened, and he bit his lip. “I know you’re still upset, but I genuinely just wanted to check on you. You don’t have to be like this…”

He looked as though he had been bullied, on the verge of tears, appearing utterly pitiable.

His fans in the live comments immediately erupted:

“What’s with Yu Xin’s attitude? Ningning took the initiative to talk to him, and he’s being so ungrateful?”

“Don’t cry, Ningning. My heart is breaking. Someone like that ungrateful wretch isn’t worth your tears.”

“Ningning is too kind, boo hoo. How could he care about someone like that? If it were me, I’d just let him fend for himself outside.”

“…But Yu Xin didn’t even say anything harsh. Is Yu Ning really crying over this? Isn’t he a bit too fragile?”

“We can’t say that. He’s the legitimate young master of the Yu family. How dare ordinary people judge him?”

“Yu Xin’s fans, stop pretending. Defending someone like Yu Xin is disgusting. Even if he didn’t say anything, it’s undeniable that he harmed Ningning. He should spend his life remembering Ningning’s kindness!”

Although many viewers had developed a favorable impression of Yu Xin, Yu Ning’s fans attacked anyone in sight like rabid dogs. Yu Xin had managed to clear his name in the eyes of the audience, but Yu Ning’s arrival reminded everyone of Yu Xin’s status as the fake young master. Moreover, the things Yu Xin had done to Yu Ning were indisputable facts. For a while, even viewers who wanted to defend Yu Xin were quickly silenced by Yu Ning’s fans.

“How dare you speak to him like that?” Ye Ran, seeing Yu Ning upset, immediately confronted Yu Xin.

The Ye and Yu families had been close for generations. Both Mr. Ye and Mr. Yu were newly wealthy upstarts, viewed as nouveaux riches by the established old money families who excluded them from their circles. The two families had no choice but to stick together for mutual support.

The younger generations had interacted frequently since childhood. Even when Yu Xin was still part of the Yu family, Ye Ran had never gotten along with him. After Yu Ning returned to the Yu family, he quickly became friends with Ye Ran—a fact that Mr. and Mrs. Yu often cited as proof of Yu Xin’s inferiority to Yu Ning.

“Ningning talking to you is doing you a favor. Do you think anyone in the Yu family besides Ningning would even acknowledge you? Don’t be ungrateful. How dare you make Ningning sad?”

“I have nothing to do with the Yu family anymore. Why would I care if they acknowledge me? Similarly, I don’t need any hypocritical concern from anyone in the Yu family. I’ll ask one last time: Do you have business with me or not?” Yu Xin remained unmoved by Ye Ran’s accusations, his impatience clearly written on his face.

Yu Ning wasn’t genuinely concerned about him. Putting on such an elaborate performance surely had an ulterior motive—Yu Xin didn’t believe for a second that it was sincere.

“Yu Xin, you—” Ye Ran was furious and about to say more when Yu Ning stopped him. “Ran, don’t be angry. This is a matter for the Yu family. Let me talk to Yu Xin myself.”

His face deathly pale, eyes still red, he looked like someone who had been wronged but was putting on a brave face. “Yu Xin, I came to you because there’s something I need to discuss.”

“Spit it out,” Yu Xin said impatiently.

“I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but since you joined the show, there have been rumors on the Star Network about our family—saying that the Yu family treated you poorly…”

“So? I didn’t spread those rumors,” Yu Xin said, puzzled by the white lotus’s logic. If there were rumors, why not confront the ones spreading them? Why come to him?

Did they expect him to silence everyone?

“I’m not saying you did. But I’m afraid Mom and Dad will be heartbroken if they see such comments… It’s also damaging to the Yu family’s reputation on the Star Network. Dad and Big Brother work so hard in their business. I don’t want them to be affected by baseless rumors.”

Yu Ning wore a troubled expression, looking deeply concerned for his family. He lifted his head and met Yu Xin’s gaze.

“So, could you please publicly explain to everyone on broadcast that the Yu family never treated you poorly? Ask them to stop spreading these rumors.”

“After all, Mom and Dad raised you all these years, and Big Brother used to be so good to you. Even if there’s no birth debt, there’s the debt of upbringing. I’m not asking you to repay them, but surely you wouldn’t stand by idly and watch them be misunderstood like this?”

Yu Xin almost laughed out loud.

How could Yu Ning say such a thing with a straight face? The Yu family treated him well?

Revoking his citizenship rights on the Imperial Star, expelling him from school, freezing all his accounts, throwing him a pittance, and kicking the underage original host out to fend for himself on the Imperial Star—was that what he called “treating him well”?

True, the original host did mess up, and it was understandable for the Yu family to cut him off. However, the Yu family cannot simultaneously drive him to the brink while acting all tolerant and generous across the entire star network, yet can't handle anyone speaking ill of them.

Since they’ve done such things, they must bear the corresponding risk of public opinion. Star net users aren't stupid; they can naturally see what's really going on. To commit such acts and still try to silence the voices of the public, maintaining the Yu family’s pristine image—isn’t this the epitome of wanting to have one's cake and eat it too?

Yu Xin doesn’t believe Yu Ning was completely unaware of the Yu family’s actions toward the original host. If he were truly some innocent white lotus, how could he have the nerve to say such things?

Moreover, in his words, he washes his hands clean of any responsibility, never once mentioning his own role, and instead uses the Yu parents and eldest brother’s "kindness in raising" Yu Xin to pressure him. His skill in guilt-tripping is so polished—if the original pushover were still in this body, he would have likely succumbed to Yu Ning’s manipulation long ago.

Too bad for Yu Ning, the person standing before him now is Yu Xin.

He let out a mocking laugh, his tone dripping with sarcasm: "Young Master Yu, do you even hear what you’re saying?"

"Do I need to remind you that the Yu family has already kicked me out? I have nothing to do with your family anymore. Why should I care what others say about the Yu family?"

"Before I left, your so-called mom and dad personally told me they were cutting ties with me. Stop using them to pressure me. The fact that your father and eldest brother work hard in business isn’t my fault, and the money the Yu family earns won’t be shared with me. What gives you the right to demand I speak up for the Yu family?"

"How can you be like this…" Yu Ning almost lost it, a crack appearing in his pitiful expression.

He had thought that by invoking the "kindness of raising" Yu Xin in front of the camera, Yu Xin would at least care about his image and obediently comply. He never expected Yu Xin to retaliate so bluntly and without restraint.

After not seeing him for a while, how did Yu Xin become so sharp-tongued? And he dared to refute him in front of so many viewers—nothing like the fool he could easily manipulate before.

But perhaps this was for the best. With Yu Xin acting so ungrateful, his image would likely plummet from now on.

He had long been fed up with those clueless netizens who praised Yu Xin to the skies over some trivial, unremarkable skills. Yu Xin was nothing but a worthless counterfeit who had stolen his identity—how was he even worthy?

He simply couldn’t stand to see Yu Xin doing well. He wanted Yu Xin to forever live in the contempt and disgust of others, with no chance of turning things around. Only then would he be satisfied.

"I can’t take it anymore. Yu Xin is truly so ungrateful. The Yu family raised him all these years, and he doesn’t feel even a shred of gratitude?"

"It was his own fault for being jealous of how likable Yu Ning is and trying to harm him. The Yu parents were right to kick him out. Yet he still acts like he’s the victim."

"Yu Fake must have been holding a grudge all along. Maybe he’s the one spreading these rumors. What a malicious person."

"Ugh, can Yu Xin just leave the show? I don’t want to see someone like him in the public eye."

"Seconded!!"

"I disagree. I’m here for Yu Xin. If Yu Xin is kicked out, what’s left to watch?"

"But still, isn’t Yu Xin right? The Yu family already cut ties with him and treated him like trash. Why should Yu Xin care about the Yu family now that they’re in trouble?"

"Exactly. And if we’re really talking about the kindness of raising, wasn’t Yu Xin still a minor when the Yu family kicked him out? Imperial law clearly states that guardians can’t casually abandon minors. Maybe we should first investigate whether the Yu family committed abandonment."

"Plus, I heard the Yu family was extremely harsh—they left Yu Xin with no way to survive."

"Here come the rumormongers again? Do you have any proof? Did you personally witness the Yu family driving Yu Xin to the brink? Spreading rumors carries legal responsibility, you know."

"Laughable. When rumors were said to be spread by Yu Xin earlier, no one mentioned legal consequences. But now you have proof? Talk about double standards."

"Yu Xin!" Ye Ran, seeing his uncooperative attitude, exploded and righteously scolded him: "How dare you speak to Yu Ning like that? If it weren’t for Yu Ning, you would’ve probably died in some corner of the trash planet long ago. You owe Yu Ning everything. Yu Ning is so kind—you lived his lavish life for over a decade. If it weren’t for you, all of that would have been Yu Ning’s!"

Yu Xin scoffed and turned his criticism toward Ye Ran: "You really are a loyal dog for Yu Ning, aren’t you? What right do you have to interfere in matters between me and the Yu family?"

"Do you think I care about the so-called lavish life of the Yu family? I’d rather never have known the Yu family at all than be here now, disgusted by all of you."

The original host never took advantage of his rich second-generation status to squander the Yu family’s money during his over ten years with them. When he left, his belongings were pitifully few. He never enjoyed any of the benefits of the Yu family’s so-called lavish lifestyle. Yu Xin sensed that, if given the choice, the original host would have preferred to be born into an ordinary family, loved and cared for, rather than experience over a decade of "luxury" only to end up universally condemned.

"Ye Ran is right. Yu Xin owes Yu Ning. He deserves to spend his whole life making it up to Yu Ning!"

"What is Yu Fake pretending for? If he didn’t care about the lavish life, why would he hate Yu Ning so much? Now he’s putting on this innocent act for whom?"

"Stop pretending, stop pretending. It’s making me sick."

"Laughable. Can Yu Ning’s fans stop being so delusional? It’s like Yu Xin stole your wealthy identities. Besides, wasn’t Yu Xin also innocent in this? The Yu family couldn’t even keep track of their own child, and they blame Yu Xin??"

"Exactly. Some people talk as if Yu Xin himself deliberately swapped places with Yu Ning. I doubt an infant could pull off something like that."

"The Yu family already cut all ties with Yu Xin. Yu Xin doesn’t owe Yu Ning anything now. Stop using that to guilt-trip him."

"Yu Xin, can’t you just clarify things? Even if you and the Yu family have no relationship now, for the sake of having called them Mom and Dad for over a decade, don’t let them be slandered, okay?"

Yu Ning wasn’t giving up. Today, he had to make all the viewers see how selfish and indifferent Yu Xin was toward family ties. At the very least, he had to let his parents and eldest brother see how much more sensible and considerate he, Yu Ning, was compared to Yu Xin.

"Mom and Dad really didn’t drive you to the brink like the internet says. Didn’t they give you some money? Wasn’t that enough??"

Gave him money? Treated him well?

If the original host’s spirit were still lingering, hearing such words would probably prevent him from resting in peace.

Yu Xin chuckled softly. Since the original host couldn’t speak, he would act as his voice and bring everything to light.

His tone was unusually calm as he said slowly, "I hadn’t planned to say this so soon…"

"But since you claim it’s all rumors, why don’t I prove those rumors true for you? How does that sound?"

Yu Ning suddenly had a bad feeling. "Wait—"

But it was too late. Word by word, Yu Xin laid bare everything the Yu family had done to the original host:

"Without even asking me, they revoked the school enrollment I earned through my own efforts. Is that treating me well?"

"They froze all my accounts, gave me a pittance to shut me up, and kicked me out while I was still a minor, without a thought as to how I would survive once that money ran out. Is that treating me well?"

"They revoked my status as an official citizen, turned me into an undocumented person, made me ineligible for government aid, unable to even find a job to support myself. I could only watch helplessly as the money ran out in a cheap rental. Is that treating me well??"

"They left me on my own for so long without a care. If I’d died in that rental, no one would have even noticed. Do you think I’d have joined this show if I hadn’t been desperate to survive? And now, just because of some online gossip, you want me to acknowledge the Yu family’s ‘kindness’? You call this—call any of this—treating me well?"

"You claim to be understanding, pure, and kind, Yu Ning. Why don’t you tell me: did the Yu family’s actions treat me, Yu Xin, well?"