Success

But if he exposed the truth, his mother would...

While Xia Luan was thinking it over, Gu Ze and Ye Qing waited outside the door.

"What do you think he'll do?" Ye Qing asked.

"It's hard to say. Whatever his mother has done, she's still the person who raised him. And judging by how torn he is, they haven't had any real conflict before. That makes it even harder."

"Then, Brother Gu, what would you do if something like this happened to you?"

"No one can truly know how someone else feels. Without going through it myself, I can't know how I'd feel."

Gu Ze gazed into the distance. "But I think, if this happened to me, I'd expose the truth."

"One thing shouldn't excuse another."

"That's what I think, too."

Ye Qing had always felt that the relationship between parents and children was difficult to navigate. If children did even the slightest thing to let their parents down, they were called unfilial. Yet when parents did something wrong, everyone else would just say, "They're doing it for your own good. Your parents don't know any better."

But weren't the parents clearly the ones at fault? Some children only wanted fairness.

It wasn't as though they were saying they would never support their parents afterward. Why keep holding those things against them?

Of course, there were also genuinely unfilial children.

That was why he had always believed that every relationship required effort from both sides, though sometimes that effort could become a burden, too.

The two waited outside for Gu Ze's decision. After an unknown length of time, a soft sound came from behind the door.

The door opened!

Xia Luan looked awful, but no one could have been in a good mood after something like this.

He walked up to them. "Qing, Brother Gu, I've made up my mind. I'm still going to tell the truth."

Since things had already come to this, he didn't want to compromise for his mother's sake.

Xia Luan laughed bitterly to himself. Besides, his mother didn't actually need his protection at all.

"All right. I have a recording of your phone call just now." Ye Qing paused, then apologized to Xia Luan.

"I'm sorry I did it without telling you. I thought it would help prove your innocence."

"But it'll hurt your mother. I'm really sorry."

"But I swear I haven't listened to the recording." The call had come in too suddenly, and the idea had only just occurred to him, so he hadn't had time to tell Xia Luan.

"We don't have to use it. There are other ways."

Xia Luan believed Ye Qing, and he didn't mind. "It's fine. Screenwriter Bai called afterward, and I recorded that myself."

"Your recorder should have caught it, too. That's already the strongest evidence we could have."

Who knew whether Screenwriter Bai had lost his mind? He had actually dared to call directly.

"But I want to wait a few days before posting it."

"Sure. Just let us know when you need us."

"In that case, I'll stop having someone keep an eye on your mother," Ye Qing continued. There really was no need anymore.

Xia Luan nodded.

As for why Xia Luan wanted to delay a few days, both Gu Ze and Ye Qing could guess. He probably still wanted to see what his mother would do.

Even with his mind made up, it must have hurt to have things come to this between mother and son.

Besides, Xia Luan was halfway into the entertainment industry himself. He knew how terrifying some people could be.

He was worried about whether his mother could bear the consequences, but he didn't want to give up his dream, either.

He also wanted to know whether his mother would change her mind and take his side once she saw what he was facing.

So no matter how chaotic things became online, Xia Luan remained silent. Even when some fans began doxxing him, he still didn't speak out.

Nor did his mother call. He sent her screenshots of the abuse being hurled at him, only to receive, "It'll all blow over."

Those four words felt so bitterly ironic to Xia Luan.

He chose the same time to upload the recording. He posted only the call with Screenwriter Bai, with some of the uglier remarks edited out.

Along with it, he posted his earlier drafts, some character profiles, and his notes.

Some were visibly dated earlier than what Screenwriter Bai had posted.

It was powerful evidence, and it left some netizens bewildered.

"Does anyone else get it? I thought this was already settled, and now there's another twist."

"I was so sure Xia Luan was framing Screenwriter Bai. Who knew Xia Luan was the one telling the truth?"

"Then why didn't he post this earlier?"

"Maybe you guys remember his mother?"

There had been quite a few reversals, but that didn't stop netizens from eagerly chasing the drama.

At long last, Xia Luan received a call from his mother.

"Luan, what are you doing? Do you know the consequences of this?"

"Do you know what this will do to your Uncle Bai?"

Xia Luan answered without hesitation. "Of course I do. But Mom, wasn't I in the same position before?"

"Honestly, child, what do you gain by saying all this now? You're not even famous. What good do you think speaking out will do?"

"And aren't you making a liar out of your own mother?"

"Mom." Xia Luan was very calm. "I know what I'm doing. And you were the one who refused to take my side in the first place."

"From now on, I'll send you money every month. Other than that, let's keep contact to a minimum."

This was the best choice Xia Luan could make. He couldn't forget that she had raised him, but he couldn't bring himself to move past what had happened, either.

If she kept in touch with Screenwriter Bai after this, he would have no choice but to resort to unconventional measures.

With the matter that had weighed on his heart finally resolved, Xia Luan felt light all over. He looked through the window at the blue sky outside.

It really was a beautiful day.

Ye Qing also felt relieved once he learned that everything had been settled. As he strolled beside Gu Ze, the smile never left his face.

"What's going to happen with the production now?"

"We'll terminate the contracts that need terminating and hire replacements where necessary, of course."

"Are you planning to bring Xia Luan in? Aren't you worried, though? I don't think he's ever actually worked as a screenwriter."

"It's fine. He's very talented. He just needs someone beside him to give him a little guidance."

At that, Ye Qing said nothing more.

[Ah, I helped someone else. I'm so happy.]

Gu Ze thought Ye Qing could be rather childlike at times. But a question suddenly occurred to him.

"Why did you choose to enter the entertainment industry?"

Huh? Ye Qing blinked. Gu Ze had changed the subject so abruptly that he couldn't quite keep up.

"Because I like it."

"And apart from that? Look, everyone in the entertainment industry wants to climb higher, whether it's for money or influence. But you don't seem all that interested in those things."

"Otherwise, you wouldn't still be so little known."

"Maybe because I don't lack any of those things, I just want to take my time," Ye Qing replied.

That made sense. He was a member of the Ye Family, after all.

"There's actually another reason, though it might sound a little funny," Ye Qing continued.

"Oh? What is it?"