When Fu Jinxiao uttered that statement, An Ran was taken aback.

Not just An Ran, everyone present was in shock. In fact, it wasn't limited to those present; the audience in the live broadcast room was equally stunned!

But before he could finish, the live broadcast platform crashed due to the surge in traffic.

The sudden blackout sent the entire online community into a frenzy.

“What just happened?”

“I only heard the first part where Mr. Fu said ‘Excuse me,’ and then it cut off!”

“Damn it! My roommate smashed his phone in frustration.”

“What’s going on with this streaming platform???”

“Honestly, the drama so far has already been overwhelming enough for me.”

Within mere minutes, the seemingly insignificant live broadcast had an enormous impact. Multiple trending topics exploded on Weibo. When netizens opened Weibo, they were met with several【Trending】tags:

#JianZhi rumored to be in a relationship with a man#

#JianZhi got dumped#

#AnRan and JianZhi drugged Shen Xingsui but failed#

#Who was behind it all?#

And, astonishingly, just a minute later, another trending topic shot to the top of the list, overshadowing all the rest:

#FuJinxiaoExcuseMe#

Today's shocking revelations about Fu Jinxiao, a top-tier national celebrity known even by elderly passersby, had everyone on the edge of their seats. The blackout during the live broadcast piqued everyone's curiosity, as those in the know suspected an even bigger bombshell was about to drop—yet, just then, the screen went dark!

#OrangeLiveYou'reInhuman!#

Within minutes, a collective outcry against the streaming platform topped the trending list, sweeping across major news platforms. All entertainment reporters were urgently called into work, and those uninformed were bombarded with notifications—each leading to the day's top news alert.

The scandal of the year.

A plot twist so audacious, it seems straight out of fiction.

Although the broadcast was cut, many had been recording. Extensive video clips, including the disgraceful moments of JianZhi and An Ran, were soon circulated. Some initially uninformed fans cried foul, accusing others of spreading lies, but the undeniable evidence left them speechless. The comment section was surprisingly unified:

"I'm unfollowing them."

"How can he be like this? I've been a fan of JianZhi for five years, and I feel utterly sickened now."

"He actually likes men."

"He previously had publicity stunts with female actresses."

"The main issue is his terrible character."

Still, some fans defended their idol: "My idol hasn’t released any statements yet. I believe there's a misunderstanding. I'll wait for his word. I'll always support and trust him."

To which others responded with lively retorts:

"Do you know the fate of people like you?"

"Did you not see the guy who splashed wine on him?"

"He's a scumbag. Wake up, sis!"

To this, a fan replied: "What's all this talk about men being scumbags?"

Because of this comment, JianZhi's fandom was put under the spotlight. The topic of JianZhi being gay and the subject of male relationships became the main discussion point. Many couldn't accept their idol liking men, thinking the injured boy deserved it and criticizing men for being overly dramatic.

Only the rational few asked:

"Aren't boys human too? Don't their feelings matter?"

Gradually, the rational netizens and the irrational fans clashed head-on. Amidst the squabble, the fans of Fu Jinxiao and Shen Xingsui were even busier. The dedicated forum for the two was blowing up with activity, as an influx of people eagerly discussed and analyzed An Ran's words:

"Liked by Fu Jinxiao even more than you."

"Wishing you both well thereafter."

"No longer competing with you."

Astute fans sensed that something was amiss. When piecing together these statements, it sounded precisely like a love affair!

The eagle-eyed netizens began to probe further: "An Ran mentioned an album—the one given to Xingsui as a keepsake."

"When he said he was more fond of Fu Jinxiao than you, notice the expression on Sui Sui's face afterward; he blushed," analyzed a die-hard fan of Shen Xingsui. "Sui Sui is quite transparent with his feelings. When he's shy, he purses his lips, his gaze wavers, and there's a slight curve in his eyes."

As everyone was delving further into the matter, suddenly everyone's internet started glitching, and the Weibo page eventually turned blank, resulting in a complete outage.

Due to the massive influx of users from the streaming platform to Weibo, and following the collapse of the live streaming platform, Weibo couldn't handle the heightened activity caused by several top celebrities causing a ruckus and went down.

Meanwhile, the standoff at the hot spring pool was coming to an end.

After Shen Xingsui declared he would never forgive the two, both Jianzhi and An Ran were hastily collected by their outraged managers and teams. Both parties briefly crossed paths before swiftly parting ways.

Shen Xingchen, who loves a good spectacle, commented leisurely, "Well, off you go. See you next time."

Jianzhi's face was ashen.

The manager of the hot spring resort, having witnessed the commotion, approached, "I apologize for the disturbance during your stay. We never anticipated this..."

Shen Xingsui, feeling somewhat responsible for causing trouble for the resort, said, "It's alright."

The manager quickly bowed and offered compensation in the form of VIP cards, hoping they'd visit again and promising improved service.

Shen Xingsui and his companions were clearly not interested.

After all, they hadn't truly come for the hot springs and, with their busy daily schedules, wouldn't travel this far even if they wanted to.

To everyone's surprise, Fu Jinxiao spoke up, "We'll take the cards, but do us a favor."

The manager looked at him, puzzled.

Fu Jinxiao, with a leisurely tone, said, "Give us all the registration details of Jianzhi's visits over the years."

Shock registered on the manager's face, and Shen Xingsui and the others were equally astounded, realizing the implications.

If Jianzhi intended to clear his name in the future, these records, if not destroyed, would be damning evidence against him. Fu Jinxiao's foresight was truly remarkable.

The manager hesitated, "That's private information. We can't disclose our guests' details. We value our guests' privacy."

"Is that so?" Fu Jinxiao replied calmly, "If guest information is so private, then how could An Ran and the cameraman enter another guest's room uninvited?"

The manager's face turned pale.

Fu Jinxiao's sharpness was evident. If this matter were to be probed further, the reputation of the resort would be ruined.

The manager wiped his sweat and said, "But they registered here with someone else's card. Even if we retrieve the records, it might not serve as evidence."

Fu Jinxiao smirked, "So, non-verified registrations are allowed? Such great 'privacy' concerns indeed."

The manager realized he had unwittingly walked into another trap. Dealing with Fu Jinxiao was like navigating a minefield. He lamented, "Sir, we're a small establishment. Please don't make things difficult for us."

As Fu Jinxiao and Shen Xingsui walked through the lobby, Fu Jinxiao paused and looked at the manager, "Don't be like that. Anyone unfamiliar with the situation might think I've wronged you. I'm not unreasonable. Business is tough, and we all need understanding."

The manager breathed a sigh of relief.

Yet, in the very next moment, he heard Fu Jinxiao speak slowly, “Your surveillance must keep records for at least a year. Hand over all the footage from this past year that they've entered.”

The manager stood there, stunned.

Fu Jinxiao's face bore a gentle smile, but he looked ominously intimidating. With deliberate patience, he said, "That shouldn’t be too hard, should it?"

The manager had no doubt that if he hesitated, Fu Jinxiao would have a hundred more ways to corner him. Recognizing the wise course, he gave a wry smile, "Not hard at all. It's all about mutual understanding..."

Fu Jinxiao finally appeared satisfied. He instructed his assistant to handle the details and then left the resort.

Behind him, Shen Xingchen sympathetically glanced at the manager and patted his shoulder, "Brother, when dealing with him, just cooperate. As someone who's been there, trust me, it’s easier if you do as he says. Otherwise, he has far trickier moves waiting for you."

The manager nearly broke into tears.

As the group headed to their cars outside, Zhang Chi said to Shen Xingsui, "Xingsui, Teacher Hu has returned from his errands and is at the Hengtong Building studio. He wants to discuss the music arrangement with us..."

Shen Xingsui recalled the task Hu Kaiyue had mentioned before they left.

After all that had happened, he no longer intended to collaborate with Zhang Chi, which meant he was considering severing ties with Hu Kaiyue.

Better to clarify things now to avoid further awkwardness.

Shen Xingsui turned to Fu Jinxiao and whispered, "I might need to make a trip there."

Fu Jinxiao's chauffeured car arrived. He leaned against it and cast a significant glance at Zhang Chi, "Going there alone, is it safe?"

"I'll take an assistant with me," Shen Xingsui smiled, "Given potential contract termination talks, it might be better to discuss in person, right?"

Fu Jinxiao, knowing Shen had his matters to attend to and trusting him to handle them, nodded, "Have Mei Can accompany you."

Shen Xingsui agreed, "Alright."

They were about to part ways.

Shen Xingsui looked longingly at Fu Jinxiao, but his priorities were clear. He simply said, "I should go then."

"Hmm." As Shen Xingsui prepared to leave, Fu Jinxiao pulled him close, delivering a soft kiss to his lips. He stared deeply into Shen's eyes and reiterated, "Are you sure you’ll be okay going alone?"

Shen Xingsui's cheeks reddened. No matter how close they'd become, every approach from Fu Jinxiao still made his heart race. But he nodded confidently, "I'll be fine. I'm not a child anymore."

Fu Jinxiao smirked and responded leisurely.

He gently ruffled Shen Xingsui's hair and whispered, "But remember, you always have the right to tell your parent."

If bullied, tell a guardian.

It was a privilege Shen Xingsui had never known, but with Fu Jinxiao, it was possible.

Warmth surged in Shen Xingsui's heart. Just when he thought Fu Jinxiao couldn’t be kinder, the man proved he could be. Exceptionally kind. So kind, it brought Shen to the brink of tears.

...

They parted ways.

While in the car with Zhang Chi, Shen Xingsui mentioned that he might no longer compose the remaining songs, but he had drafts that could be shown to Hu Kaiyue.

Upon arrival, the first thing Hu Kaiyue did was to inquire about the recent events. After getting a rough idea, he shot Zhang Chi a stern look and then told Shen Xingsui, “You can still write the upcoming songs. Submit the lyrics to me. If they're satisfactory, I'll collaborate solely with you. If not, we'll terminate the contract and find a replacement.”

Shen Xingsui hadn't expected that he'd still be offered a collaboration.

If it meant working independently without returning to the villa, he could consider it. His aversion was to collaborating with Zhang Chi, not giving up songwriting altogether. He was clear on this.

As they left the building, Zhang Chi grabbed his hand, attempting to stop him. Shen Xingsui looked back cautiously. Recognizing this caution, Zhang Chi mustered courage and began, “Xingsui... I want to apologize…”

Shen Xingsui silently observed him.

"I'm truly sorry," Zhang Chi said with evident sorrow, "I've always wanted to make amends for hurting you, but I seem to keep making things worse."

Shen Xingsui replied calmly, "Zhang Chi, you don't owe me an apology. If you genuinely feel remorse, it's you who must come to terms with your own actions first."

Face your own weaknesses.

So that the future you doesn't constantly live in regret.

Zhang Chi was taken aback. By the time he looked up, Shen Xingsui was already leaving. As he left, he softly said, "I've long let go of the past. You're the one still trapped. If you're truly remorseful, don't seek my understanding or forgiveness—change yourself first."

With that, he walked away.

Zhang Chi stood there, half-understanding...

Downstairs, Shen Xingchen was waiting for him in the car. With an alarmed expression, he said, "Xingsui, brace yourself when we get home."

Shen Xingsui asked hesitantly, "What do you mean?"

"Big bro's furious!" Shen Xingchen exclaimed dramatically, "Mom and Dad are upset too because they weren't aware of your relationship with Mr. Fu, nor about the hot springs incident."

Patting Shen Xingsui on the shoulder, Shen Xingchen quipped, "Brace for the storm, brother."

"..."

On the way home, Shen Xingsui felt like he was walking on eggshells.

When they finally reached, he entered the living room to find his family lined up, as though ready for a tribunal. The atmosphere was thick with tension, especially from Xu Enzhen. She looked at her sons and snorted, "Back already?"

Shen Xingchen, ever the sycophant, quickly chimed in, "Mom, I wasn't fooling around. Mr. Fu had called me over."

Xu Enzhen retorted coldly, "Does it even matter? In your eyes, there's no place for me or this family. You never bother informing me about anything."

She was clearly furious.

Shen Xingsui became anxious. He rushed over to see his father and elder brother engrossed in financial magazines. But the room was filled with an indescribable tension.

Shen Xingsui hesitated before uttering, "Mom…"

Xu Enzhen pursed her lips in disdain.

"I'm sorry," Shen Xingsui gently tugged at his mother's sleeve, softly explaining, "I just didn't want to worry you, and it felt shameful mentioning such a disgraceful incident..."

Xu Enzhen defensively retorted, "What disgrace? If there's any disgrace, it's not on you but on those despicable maggots!"

"How dare An Ran and Jian Zhi drug you!" Xu Enzhen's face reddened in anger, her usually gentle demeanor nowhere in sight, "You've been bullied so severely, yet you never told us. Do you know how worried I was when I found out?"

Seeing his mother's teary eyes, Shen Xingsui felt guilty. "Mom, I'm really sorry..."

Detecting his remorse, a sly smile flashed across Xu Enzhen's eyes. She seized the moment, "So, will you ever hide things from me again?"

Shen Xingsui, ever the obedient child, quickly shook his head.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Xu Enzhen pressed on, "Now, have you discussed matters with Teacher Fu? How long have you been seeing each other? How serious is it?"

Shen Xingsui: "..."

'Mom, you're being unusually intrusive.'

However, the entire family's attention was now honed in on this topic.

Feeling cornered by the collective gaze, Shen Xingsui finally admitted, "We... we're indeed in a relationship."

Snap

Two business magazines abruptly closed. The two seemingly calm men opposite him were clearly flustered.

Xu Enzhen paused to process the revelation, then softly advised, "Xingsui, I've always hoped for you to find a good match. But if you're concerned about that childhood engagement, you shouldn't feel obligated. You're still young. Decisions about marriage should be taken with utmost caution, not out of impulse."

The other two men nodded in agreement.

Shen Yong added, "Your mother and I feel you're still too young. This isn't the right time."

Puzzled, Shen Xingsui looked towards his mother, "Why…"

He had assumed his parents would be supportive.

Xu Enzhen gazed at her son with reluctance. It had been barely over a year since her child had returned to her. She wasn't ready to let him go so soon. Even if she thought Fu Jinxi was the perfect match, she wasn't willing to part with her son yet.

As the family found themselves at an impasse, the doorbell rang.

The housemaid peeked outside and announced, "It's Teacher Fu and Mrs. Fu."

Everyone looked taken aback.

Fu Jinxi's timely arrival seemed as though he was here to support Shen Xingsui amidst a challenging family situation.

Shen Yong suggested, "Let them in." As Xu Enzhen realized her close friend had arrived, she got up to greet them. Seeing them in the rain, she expressed her concern, "Why did you come in this rain? It's so risky."

The friend remarked, "I heard about Su's situation and was concerned, so I came to check in on him."

Xu Enzhen glanced towards Fu Jinxi.

The man, though dressed casually, radiated an undeniable charm and charisma. He greeted warmly and with utmost respect, showing no hint of guilt. "Auntie, it's been a while," he greeted with a smile.

Xu Enzhen huffed softly.

"The rain did make the roads a bit congested on the way here. I was thinking about how often Su travels for work. I happen to have a place near the mansion, which is close to here. It would be much more convenient and safer for Su to come and go," Fu Jinxi spoke calmly, "What do you think?"

While Xu Enzhen was mourning the thought of her son leaving home after getting married, she found herself swayed by Fu Jinxi's words. Although she felt pleased inside, she didn't show it.

From behind, Shen Xingsui looked at his mother anxiously, then cast a wary glance at Fu Jinxi, worried about any potential complications.

However, Fu Jinxi flashed a reassuring smile back at Shen Xingsui.

"Oh, and," Fu Jinxi continued at his own pace, producing a gift – an incredibly rare and sought-after fabric. "I noticed you were crafting a Zen robe. This fabric is ideal for that. I managed to find it and thought you might appreciate it. I hope it's to your liking."

Though the box looked simple, its contents were priceless, even potentially beyond valuation.

Xu Enzhen, having her sources, knew just how scarce this material was both domestically and internationally. Realizing the lengths Fu Jinxi went to showed her his genuine intentions and devotion to her son.

Xu Enzhen's mood lightened, and she beamed, "Jinxi, you've always been so thoughtful. How could I ever refuse? And Su, what are you waiting for? Invite your brother Fu in!"

Shen Xingsui: "..."

mom?

That was a quick change of heart!