Chapter 16: Qin Yan Didn’t Hurt Me

Chapter 16: Qin Yan Did Not Hurt Me

"Cheng Xiang."

Yang Yichen searched his memory and hesitated before asking, "Is that the guy who lost to Su Zhiyu in that endorsement competition?"

"..."

Qin Yan didn't have the original body's memories and really didn't know about such trivial matters, nor had he paid attention to whether the original comic even covered it.

He just didn't answer and said, "He released pheromones at Su Zhiyu, trying to mark him as his, but I beat him up and broke both his arms for it. Now he's dying to get back at me."

"Damn." Yang Yichen was stunned and didn't speak for a few seconds. "Brother Yan, you're a beast, but he seems to have people on the production team. Could that cause trouble?"

"Don't worry, he's not getting on this show."

Hearing that, Yang Yichen relaxed.

"Need any help?"

"Nah, just sit back and watch the show."

After hanging up, Qin Yan dialed another number with a cold smirk: "How's that person I asked you to look into a few days ago?"

The other end replied quickly.

The next second, Qin Yan's phone buzzed with an email notification.

"They sure know how to get wild."

Qin Yan didn't rush to confront Cheng Xiang, but the production team called first.

The man on the other end sounded cold: "Qin Yan, right? You see the trending topic online?"

Qin Yan raised an eyebrow: "Yeah, so what?"

The guy seemed surprised Qin Yan was so calm after seeing it, and paused for a moment before saying, "Since you've seen it, you should know what you did has caused a huge problem for the production team. We want you to issue a public apology and voluntarily leave the show."

Qin Yan chuckled: "What I did? And what exactly is that?"

"It's all over the internet, and you're still denying it? The cameras also caught you going into the prop room and beating up an innocent contestant—absolutely disgusting.

But since you were quick enough to get him to the hospital, the production team won't give you a hard time.

But you signed a contract with us, and you nearly broke the law. This seriously damages the show's reputation, and you'll have to pay compensation."

"So?"

"After an emergency meeting, and since you're young and don't know any better, as long as you sincerely apologize in public and win the audience over, we'll waive the penalty fee. But you're off the show."

Qin Yan couldn't help but laugh at the self-righteous speech on the other end.

The caller snapped coldly, annoyed: "What are you laughing at? At your age, going down the wrong path—do you want us to contact the victim and file a police report?"

Qin Yan's eyes went cold.

So the production team had already gotten to Su Zhiyu.

What would Su Zhiyu do now?

"Hello? Hello? If you're scared, just apologize and get it over with."

"Fine." Qin Yan smirked. "Go ahead and file the report. Let's see who gets arrested—me or your precious nephew. What do you think, Director Liu?"

Director Liu's heart clenched, and he instinctively shot back: "What the hell are you talking about? I'm speaking for the production team. Don't drag other people into this."

"Director Liu really goes out of his way to protect Cheng Xiang."

"You..."

Director Liu warned darkly: "I don't know what you're talking about, but if you don't apologize publicly and leave the show, this isn't over."

"August 27, 2024, at Canghai Club. Cheng Xiang brought a 13-year-old male Omega. After they came out..."

"Shut up!"

Director Liu cut Qin Yan off mid-sentence, panicking, and spat viciously, "If you dare slander me, I'll make sure you're finished in this industry," before hanging up.

"..."

That was it?

He still had other dirt.

Qin Yan pouted and couldn't help but marvel that money really did make the world go round—if you wanted to know something, you just threw enough cash at it.

Anyway, it wasn't his own money, so he didn't feel bad spending it.

He didn't like the original body's brother, but since he had this identity, not using the resources and just cowering in humiliation would make him an idiot.

The Qin Group was a real powerhouse, with companies and connections in the entertainment industry—otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to get the original body onto the show.

It was just that Cheng Xiang and his uncle only knew the original body was a rich second-generation heir; they didn't seem to get how much power the Qin Group actually had.

Nor did they know Qin Yan's status in the Qin Group.

He immediately called Qin Mo's secretary, briefly explained the situation, and asked her to send someone over to the production team tomorrow.

Tomorrow was the first official filming day.

Cheng Xiang sure knew how to pick his timing—he wanted to put Qin Yan in a tough spot: either quit the show and take the blame, or get torn apart by the public during the live broadcast.

But... the key to all this was still Su Zhiyu.

Sure, he didn't have much influence, but he was still the one involved. Even if people were twisting the story, his words would still carry some weight.

Buzz buzz.

His phone buzzed. Yang Yichen was calling again. Qin Yan picked up: "What's up? Something else happen?"

Yang Yichen: "Brother Yan, I just thought—maybe you should reach out to Su Zhiyu? Apologize to him sincerely and beg him not to kick you while you're down. Just get him to tell the truth—wouldn't that work?"

"..."

You think I haven't thought of that?

Qin Yan retorted, "Remember what I did to him back then?"

"..." Yang Yichen couldn't hold it together either, muttering awkwardly, "Uh, forget it, forget it. If I were Su Zhiyu, I'd be a saint for not calling you out for rape."

Qin Yan spread his hands. "See? Problem solved."

"But if Su Zhiyu lets this slide, you can kiss the show goodbye."

With that, Yang Yichen slapped his forehead, lightbulb going off. "If you quit the show, that'd be a huge win for Su Zhiyu."

"..." No shit, you just realized that?

"Well, that's that. Brother Yan, you're screwed. Best case, you drag Cheng Xiang down with you and you both go down in flames."

Qin Yan was thinking exactly that.

Cheng Xiang was definitely going to be ruined. As for himself... though he'd never planned on joining the entertainment industry, since he'd already signed the contract for the show, he figured he'd just do his best to finish it. Not being able to do it wouldn't be a big deal.

But that didn't mean he'd just sit there and take the flak!

Tomorrow, if he didn't wreck those two on the livestream, his name wasn't Qin!

Right next door, one wall away.

Su Zhiyu sat at his desk, quietly scrolling through Weibo topics. The hashtag "Poor Su Zhiyu" was trending hard.

His popularity had hit an all-time high.

At least, way more than someone at his level would normally get.

For him, there was no downside—it boosted his exposure and earned him netizens' sympathy, which might make it easier to land gigs.

His manager's message popped up again, echoing what was said on the phone earlier: hold off on responding, let the story cook a little longer, and during tomorrow's livestream, drop subtle hints to solidify the victim persona for better marketing results.

Marketing...

Everyone who entered the industry was a prisoner commodity, inevitably bound to marketing.

Su Zhiyu curled his lips in self-mockery, disgustedly exiting the topic page and logging into his main account.

"Su Zhiyu V: Thank you all for your concern. Qin Yan didn't harm me, and I appreciate his help."