False accusations

As though he had anticipated viewers asking for proof in the live comments, the young man on the phone changed the subject:

"Seeing Xinghui work so hard, his boyfriend must be worried too. We all saw him when we went drinking last time. We accidentally took a photo, and Xinghui even told us not to expose his private life. After all, his boyfriend bought so many things for him."

He couldn't say that!

The director immediately cut the connection and turned to look at Chu Xinghui.

There wasn't much expression on his face, but beside him, Wen Liangtian and Pei Hanmo looked thunderous, glaring at the camera like two stone guardians.

[Chu Xinghui has a boyfriend?]

[Seriously? More like a sugar daddy, right?]

[Why hasn't Pei Hanmo distanced himself from him yet? So disgusting.]

[Wen Liangtian doesn't look happy either. Is he disgusted by Chu Xinghui too?]

It wasn't that Chu Xinghui had no expression; he simply hadn't expected the company to move so quickly.

He thought he had heard that young man's voice before. He usually brought him water and had fled at the last minute on the day he was drugged.

He had thought the boy had been frightened. It turned out the company had bought him off.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't rattled, but he wasn't someone who could be pushed around either.

This was his first time being targeted by sexual rumors.

He stood up and addressed the camera:

"That young man just now does work at our company, but I'd like to know: do you have any evidence for what you've said?

You say I have a boyfriend. Fine, show me the evidence. What can a single photo prove?

And you said I made you carry water. I remember the company has security cameras everywhere. Could we check the footage before discussing this?

If you have no evidence, I'll sue you."

When someone spread rumors about you, the worst thing to do was fall into the trap of proving your innocence. The best approach was to challenge the accuser.

After speaking, he returned to his seat and sat down.

[Well said. That call just felt strange. Don't you think?]

[The fact that Chu Xinghui leeches off Pei Hanmo's popularity is enough to make me dislike him.]

[I'm just here for the drama. I'll wait quietly. I'm not taking either side.]

To prove he was telling the truth, the male entertainer posted the photo.

The photo was extremely blurry, but Chu Xinghui's conspicuous white hair was still clearly visible. His head drooped lifelessly as he leaned against a potbellied man.

[Gong Wenxuan: It's not an edited photo. That's Xinghui's boyfriend. You can have it checked.]

[But Chu Xinghui is so good-looking. How could he possibly like a fat pig like that?]

[Gong Wenxuan: No idea, but the photo is real.]

Pei Hanmo lowered his head, picked up his phone, and messaged Gu Chupei.

[Pei Hanmo: Is that company boss still alive?]

After bankrupting his company, he hadn't paid him any more attention. He hadn't expected further complications to arise.

[Gu Chupei: No.]

The moment he saw the trending topic, he had picked up his computer and started investigating.

That man was now in a psychiatric hospital, little different from being dead. He wouldn't be coming out, but Chu Xinghui's company might simply find some random man to come forward and corroborate the story.

[Gu Chupei: Should we release the footage from that day?]

Back then, Chu Xinghui hadn't let that man take him to the hotel. Instead, he had beaten that pig half to death on the way.

He had even calmly walked to a nearby clinic for treatment.

Releasing that footage of the beating would definitely benefit Chu Xinghui.

Pei Hanmo looked at Chu Xinghui, who was lost in thought beside him, and replied, connecting it with the messages on his phone just now.

[Pei Hanmo: Not yet. Hire some paid commenters to clear his name, and send me the information on Chu Xinghui's company.]

On the other end, Gu Chupei immediately grew excited.

Was it finally starting again?

Ever since reclaiming control of Pei Holdings, Pei Hanmo had been drifting around the entertainment industry as though recuperating.

Now he finally seemed to have some ambition.

"Are you all right?"

Wen Liangtian patted Chu Xinghui's shoulder, his face full of guilt.

"It's all my fault. I believed what that man said back then too. I actually thought you were..."

His voice paused there before he continued:

"Is there anything I can help you with? I'll do everything I can."

Help?

Chu Xinghui raised his eyes to look at Wen Liangtian.

Did the company's major shareholder know the company would do this?

Or did they support it?

"What... what does your family say?"

Wen Liangtian was a very innocent person. After all, even Chu Xinghui knew competition within the Wen Family was fierce.

His family might never have intended to give him inheritance rights, sending him into the entertainment industry to raise him as a bargaining chip for a marriage alliance in the next generation.

"My family? My father is very supportive of me entering the entertainment industry."

Wen Liangtian didn't understand the implication behind Chu Xinghui's words and tilted his head as he looked at him.

Chu Xinghui gave up on telling Wen Liangtian. If Wen Liangtian opposed his family, he probably wouldn't even be able to protect himself.

After Gong Wenxuan's disruption, the event became difficult to continue.

The subsequent calls all became dull, almost entirely fans offering well wishes to their idols.

Most were fans of Man Feiluan and Yuan Zhanpeng.

Chu Xinghui lowered his head and discussed filing an appeal with Gu Kai.

The two searched online to learn about the relevant laws for filing an appeal.

With no money, they couldn't hire a lawyer better than the company's.

The evening ended on that unhappy note.

All eight returned to their respective rooms in a tense atmosphere.

[Xinghui, just for what you said, I believe you!]

Chu Xinghui opened Weibo, wanting to see how the situation had developed.

To his surprise, the comments beneath his Weibo posts were all words of encouragement.

[I've disliked this company for ages. Huihui, we support you switching companies!]

[Yes, we support you! We've already contacted several entertainment companies. Just wait!]

[If you're worried about the contract termination fee, we've already started raising money for you.]

Reading the messages, he felt warmth flow through his heart and still chose Weibo in the midst of the storm.

[Chu Xinghui: Thank you.]

After posting, he put down his phone and discussed how to file an appeal on a video call with Gu Kai.

A knock sounded at the door.

At this hour, it could only be Pei Hanmo.

Chu Xinghui didn't want to face him.

How would he react?

Would he be angry that his ex-boyfriend was actually that kind of person?

Or had he come to mock him for making a fool of himself on a variety show?

The knocking continued, as though it wouldn't stop until Chu Xinghui opened the door.

Eventually, he got out of bed, shuffled to the door one small step at a time, and opened it.

Outside, Pei Hanmo was still wearing the clothes he'd worn that day. His eyes were bloodshot, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and his expression was gloomy.

After Chu Xinghui opened the door, he said nothing, merely lowering his head to look at him.

"What's wrong?" Chu Xinghui put on a practiced smile. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Pei Hanmo stepped forward, reached out with both hands, and wrapped them tightly around Chu Xinghui's waist, pulling him into his arms.

Chu Xinghui instinctively tried to struggle, but Pei Hanmo was far too strong. He shouted:

"What exactly do you want?"

Pei Hanmo's voice caught with a sob. The hurt in his tone sounded unlike anything Chu Xinghui had heard from him that day, like a little child who had lost the person he loved most:

"Can't you... rely on me just a little?"