"Yes!"
Lu Heng nodded. "That video only showed the first half. Someone deliberately cut out the rest, which means whoever did this still wants to smear Starlight—and clearly has it in for me, too."
"If you're willing to come forward and tell the full story yourself, to let the public know the truth, then it'll improve the Seven's image."
"Because when you were treated unfairly, someone stepped up for you."
Homelander frowned. "That'll only restore Starlight's reputation, or maybe improve the public's opinion of the Seven while we're at it. What does that have to do with me?"
"Don't rush me."
Lu Heng continued, "Annie's testimony alone isn't enough. The full video has to be released, or no one will find the story convincing."
"What happens in the second half?" Homelander hadn't seen the complete video.
He'd only heard a few scattered details from The Deep.
He had no idea about the part where Guardian rescued the damsel in distress.
Ashley Barrett volunteered an explanation. "In the second half, Guardian kicked the door open, confronted The Deep in front of everyone, and delivered justice perfectly and at just the right moment!"
Homelander tilted his head.
"So now we're clearing your name again? What about me? Am I not a person?"
"Look, you're getting worked up again. I haven't finished!"
Homelander hurriedly waved a hand. Rarely had he shown such patience.
"Go on, go on."
"Annie's testimony, the video as evidence, and my help with the publicity."
"This time, Starlight was rescued because Homelander had already realized there was misconduct within the team. He'd simply kept it under wraps while waiting to get solid evidence."
"That video is the key evidence we wanted to use to accuse The Deep of sexual harassment."
"But someone with ulterior motives took advantage of it to slander the Seven, even pointing the finger directly at Homelander. Their intentions are despicable!"
"They aren't just fooling the public. They're America's greatest enemy!"
After Lu Heng rattled off that whole speech, Homelander was practically dumbstruck.
Holy shit!
You could spin it like that?
Before you came along, we were absolute amateurs at PR!
Madelyn had already heard enough to make her ears ring.
Ashley Barrett didn't dare say a word. That was exactly what she'd been thinking.
But if she'd said it herself, Madelyn would've taken all the credit.
So she'd kept quiet.
Starlight's eyes lit up. She thought it was an excellent plan.
She could restore her reputation, Guardian could win some goodwill, and Homelander's credibility would improve.
The press conference could be explained from a new angle, too.
Vought's reputation wouldn't suffer.
Everyone had a bright future ahead!
"Good!"
"Great!"
"Excellent!"
Homelander said it three times in a row, making it clear how pleased he was.
"I was misled by someone with ulterior motives. I even suspected you were a spy who'd infiltrated Vought. I owe you an apology!"
"I shouldn't have doubted your motives!"
"Because you're a real hero, pure justice. You're far better than those useless PR people!"
Homelander had just insulted both Ashley Barrett and Madelyn.
Madelyn could barely keep her composure.
But Lu Heng added, "Actually, I only thought of all this thanks to Ashley Barrett."
"Oh? There's another talent here?"
Homelander looked at Ashley Barrett in delighted surprise.
He had someone this capable right beside him, and he'd never even noticed!
Ashley Barrett looked bewildered.
"I... me?"
"I'm talented?"
Lu Heng explained, "Actually, the night I stopped The Deep, Ashley Barrett called me in the early hours of the morning, but I didn't answer. When I came to Vought the next day, she showed me that internal video."
"She'd already suggested a PR response at the time, but someone disagreed and buried the video."
"You know what happened after that. Translucent stole it."
Homelander had been listening to Lu Heng's heartbeat the whole time.
It confirmed that everything he said was true.
Ashley Barrett's heartbeat had settled down, too.
She showed Homelander the time of the call on her phone.
Sure enough, she had tried to contact Guardian that night.
"Good!"
"Ashley Barrett, why didn't you tell me earlier? I nearly ended up clashing with Guardian again!"
"Was something making it difficult for you?"
Ashley Barrett's heartbeat suddenly sped up.
Homelander's expression darkened.
Ashley Barrett really had been in a difficult spot!
Whoever had given her trouble over this was giving Homelander trouble, too—slapping him in the face!
"Someone threatened you! They stopped your PR plan from going through, didn't they?!"
Thump, thump, thump!
Someone's heartbeat in the room went haywire again.
Homelander followed the sound with his eyes.
Madelyn shook her head frantically.
"No, that's not it! Let me explain!"
"Don't bother!"
Homelander made his judgment on the spot.
He'd been at Vought for years. How could he not know how harsh Madelyn was on her subordinates?
Ashley Barrett was one of them.
Whenever there was credit to claim, Madelyn took it all.
But whenever something went wrong, her subordinates were the ones who paid for it.
Homelander used to keep quiet, but now Madelyn's judgment no longer met his needs.
So it was time to make a choice.
"Ashley Barrett, from now on, you'll handle PR strategy for the Seven yourself."
"Your decisions will be reported directly to me."
"If anyone has a problem with that, they can come to me!"
Homelander had "forcefully" promoted Ashley Barrett on the spot.
The unexpected promotion left Ashley Barrett stunned.
She immediately thanked him, visibly moved.
"Homelander, thank you. I'm just... so excited!"
"Waaaah!"
"You really are my Superman!"
Homelander could hear the sincerity in Ashley Barrett's voice. She was genuinely grateful to him.
"All right, let's put an end to this farce. We have business to take care of."
Lu Heng was the first to leave the room.
No one objected.
If even Homelander trusted Guardian, what could the rest of them say?
A short while later.
Lu Heng returned to the room.
"This is my office. You're the ones who should leave."
After everyone else had left, Ashley Barrett remained seated.
Madelyn shot her a glare sharp enough to draw blood.
How could she not see it now?
Ashley Barrett had firmly sided with Guardian.
With Guardian and Homelander backing her, there was nothing Madelyn could do to her.
Madelyn didn't leave until then.
Only after she was gone did Ashley Barrett get up.
But Lu Heng put his index finger to his lips, signaling her not to speak yet.
Homelander was still in the hallway.
He was listening to Madelyn explain herself.
Half an hour later.
Homelander left Vought.
Madelyn stood where she was. Homelander hadn't listened to her explanation; he hadn't even wanted to look at her.
Only then did Lu Heng signal that Ashley Barrett could speak.
"You were the one who leaked that video, weren't you?"
Lu Heng said nothing.
"You don't have to admit it. I just wanted to confirm something."
Ashley Barrett took a deep breath.
"Was everything you said earlier true? About Madelyn, having connections, getting ahead, and all that?"
Lu Heng rested his legs on the desk.
He looked at Ashley Barrett.
Ashley Barrett understood at once and hurried over to massage his legs.
"I just put in a good word for you. My recommendation is worth a lot. If you don't make good use of the opportunity—!"
Lu Heng didn't finish his sentence.
But Ashley Barrett immediately made her position clear.
"Then I've made up my mind. From today on, I'm yours. If you tell me to go east, I absolutely won't go west!"
"Good girl!"
[Key Character: Homelander — Emotional Change: Growing trust; deeply dissatisfied with Madelyn]
[Ability Points Gained: +3,891]
[Key Character: Starlight — Emotional Change: Grateful, trusting, willing to cooperate]
[Ability Points Gained: +1,456]
[Key Character: Madelyn — Emotional Change: Hostility, anger, unease over losing power]
[Ability Points Gained: +1,877]
[Key Character: Ashley Barrett — Emotional Change: Ambition, obedience, admiration]
[Ability Points Gained: +2,134]
[Key Character: Maeve — Emotional Change: Conflicted]
[Ability Points Gained: +743]
Current Ability Points: 97,760 / 100,000
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