An icy voice cut off Xu Liangzhou's "righteous" speech, its intimidating force palpable even through the phone.
Although the phone slightly distorted the voice, Xu Liangzhou's heart involuntarily chilled. His earlier suspicion had become reality: these two children really were connected to the Shen Family.
Back then, Shen Changgeng had often brought his eldest son to meetings. Shen Xubai had been capable of handling matters independently at a young age. One could say that Shen Xubai had more experience than he did, despite him being in his forties.
Seeing Xu Liangzhou's expression change abruptly, Shen Yu realized that his eldest brother was already so formidable he needed no introduction. He immediately bobbed his head smugly, then shuffled closer to Shen Xingshuo to stand by him.
That's what you get for bullying my second brother. All your high-sounding words aren't worth shit in the face of my eldest brother's absolute power!
Xu Liangzhou looked at Shen Xingshuo's familiar features, then at Shen Yu, who looked so smug he practically had his tail in the air. Remembering Madam Shen's Moments post that had been shared everywhere a while ago, he instantly understood how they were related.
"Mr. Shen, that wasn't what I meant. The young master is innocent and kind. He certainly wouldn't do something like this." Shen Xingshuo had not revealed his identity, so Xu Liangzhou naturally did not dare expose it and could only gloss over it vaguely.
"So I misheard?" Shen Xubai tapped lightly on his desk. Though he was not even in the same room, each tap hammered at everyone's hearts.
Back then, out of regard for their ties, Shen Changgeng had felt a kinship with those who had started businesses around the same time, or perhaps he had simply found it difficult to fall out with them openly.
Shen Xubai was different. As soon as he took over the company, he acted decisively, kicking out the stubborn old guard and those who threw their seniority around. Shen Changgeng had also tacitly approved of his son's actions, not to mention that he had two grandfathers behind him as well.
"I was too eager to protect... the child, and spoke without thinking." Xu Liangzhou looked at the troublesome Yang Yi beside him. Knowing that Shen Xubai could easily get to the bottom of things, he did not dare conceal anything.
"Investigate." Shen Xubai could not be bothered to waste words. His youngest brother had excitedly roused the whole family to watch the performance, only for this to happen. The rest of the family looked displeased.
Thinking of the underhanded tricks Yang Yi had been playing from the start, Shen Xubai added without mercy, "Everything."
With the demand out in the open, Xu Liangzhou naturally could no longer cover for him. It was not just his own reputation at stake; his career could be affected too.
"Little Yi, I believe you're innocent, but you heard him. Everyone needs evidence."
Yang Yi paled at those words, looking in disbelief at the man who had solemnly promised his mother that he would protect him. He had never expected both of his supposed safeguards to fall through.
The atmosphere backstage was stiff. Anyone who still did not understand what was going on would have to be a fool. Shen Yu had become the person everyone wanted to curry favor with; after all, even Mr. Xu had to defer to his brother.
Yang Yi also knew there was no salvaging the situation. Weighing the pros and cons, he realized that releasing the evidence would only embarrass him, so he could only desperately reassure himself that he still had a long road ahead.
"Could I have taken the wrong one?" Yang Yi feigned confusion, even turning to ask Zhao Kuang beside him, "Wasn't my microphone together with yours?"
Zhao Kuang was a little bewildered at suddenly being named. How had watching the drama landed him in the middle of it? But seeing how certain Yang Yi looked, he muddled along and began doubting things too. "I don't know?"
"Then maybe I really did take the wrong one. That microphone was supposed to be mine, and I mixed them up when I went onstage..." Yang Yi put on a one-man show, not forgetting to pat his head in frustration.
"My memory's bad, and I was in too much of a hurry to get onstage. Sorry, Xingshuo. Maybe I really did take the wrong one."
Yang Yi pressed forward to secure a retreat, his pitiful appearance making him look truly wronged.
"Tsk. What a waste not to go into acting with those skills." Chu Yao could not bear to watch such an embarrassing scene, his disgust written all over his face.
Qiao Luo also frowned at Yang Yi as he covered up the fact that he had broken the microphone. He pursed his lips without speaking.
Leave people some room; there's still a long road ahead. But the evidence has to be kept. Who knows what might happen in the future!
Shen Xingshuo was thoroughly displeased that such a trivial matter had prompted his eldest brother to intervene, especially with the two brothers still being so affectionate off to the side.
"Are you hurt, Little Yu? Did anyone bully you?" Shen Xubai's voice was gentle, completely different from his earlier coldness.
"I'm not hurt, and no one bullied Little Yu." Shen Yu narrowed his eyes, thoroughly enjoying his eldest brother's concern, and did not forget to sneak in a complaint. "But Brother Xingshuo and Qiao Luo were wronged."
Hearing his youngest brother call him "Brother Xingshuo," Shen Xubai could not help chuckling, earning a round of eye-rolling from Shen Xingshuo.
It's over. Now I've embarrassed myself in front of the whole family.
"President Xu, did you hear that?" After soothing his aggrieved little brother, Shen Xubai calmly addressed Xu Liangzhou again. "Our little one is very protective of his own."
Protective was an understatement. Little Shen Yu was bristling with aggression, wishing he could personally land two punches.
Under everyone's scrutiny, all the others turned their gazes toward Yang Yi. Xu Liangzhou raised a weary hand. "Little Yi, apologize to the friends you falsely accused."
"Heh." At the word "friends," Shen Xingshuo sneered. His mocking expression left no doubt that he would not accept an apology.
Sure enough, forced to apologize, Yang Yi suppressed his reluctance and repeated his earlier evasive words.
Qiao Luo nodded perfunctorily without exposing Qiao Luo's little scheme. Shen Xingshuo ignored him outright, leaving Yang Yi standing awkwardly before him.
"You put them through all that, and one apology is supposed to settle it?" Chu Yao sounded like an emotionless, sarcastic narrator, yet every word stabbed at Yang Yi's heart. "If apologies worked, what would we need the police for?"
Had the timing not been wrong, Shen Yu would have applauded Chu Yao on the spot. That was brilliant. He was practically speaking for him.
Since Xu Liangzhou knew Shen Xingshuo's identity, he did not dare keep putting on airs. He could only hint to Yang Yi, "Your mistake embarrassed them. You should apologize to the audience too."
Yang Yi clenched his fists in anger. His original confidence had been ground down bit by bit. Making him apologize to the audience now-wasn't that going to ruin his chances of debuting in the future?
In fact, even without Yang Yi apologizing, clips from the livestream were already spreading rapidly. Their popularity even far exceeded the show's traffic, catapulting them into the top three trending searches, high above "White Peach TV."
[What a wish-fulfillment twist. Just tell us, do your faces hurt?]
["Accidentally took the wrong one," "mixed them up"-so the microphone went on strike by itself and suddenly decided it didn't want to work?]
[Hahaha, what the hell was that "the burden of proof lies with the accuser"? Turns out they rely on the investor to provide the proof.]
[You know what, you really have a point. What's the relationship between President Xu and Yang Yi?]
[Father and son? Doesn't he already have a family? Boss and employee? Has Yang Yi signed with anyone?]
[Yiyi already apologized. What more do you want?]
[We can't do much. Just send him to the trending searches he wanted and let him stay there a few more days.]
The standoff continued. Yang Yi stood rooted to the spot, his eyes red. Just as Shen Xingshuo frowned in displeasure, a rumbling sound rang out.
Shen Yu clutched his stomach pitifully, pouting as he complained, "I wanted to watch the performance, so I ate dinner early."