Recalling the boy's bright and dazzling smile before going on stage, Qu Feng felt a little breathless. He wiped his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried his best to remain calm.
"Charge up there with bodyguards! Where are the staff? Ask every single one of them to help us get out through the back door."
"Don't respond, ignore everything else, just get the person out."
Qu Feng floored the accelerator, ignoring the ear-piercing honking behind him, and said, "I'll be there soon!"
Qu Feng couldn't remember what happened next. Maybe he just happened to pick up Wen Jiu when she came out, or maybe there was some struggle involved, but none of that mattered.
On the way back, the group roughly recounted what had happened. Initially, it was just wild speculation from marketing accounts, which brought up a few topics related to Wen Jiu.
The opening is intriguing. "Let's delve into the story behind Wen Jiu, the nation's heartthrob."
In summary, Wen Jiu has been in the industry for a long time, and apart from being harassed by Li Peiqi at the beginning, she has had a smooth and successful career since then.
Li Peiqi faded from public view after that, and there has been no news of him since.
The marketing account also listed some "insider information," revealing that there are actually many investors who are interested in Wen Jiu, but those people either dare not make a move or were dealt with before things escalated.
All signs point to Wen Jiu having someone backing him.
"However, it is common knowledge that Wen Jiu comes from a humble background. Her father died early, Wen Jiu has always depended on her mother for survival. There are no other relatives known. In her sophomore year of college, which was also the first year of Wen Jiu's debut, her mother passed away due to illness."
"So the question is, who's behind him?"
Meng Xiao, her eyes red, cursed, "Who the hell are you!"
Qu Feng: "This marketing account really understands people's hearts. It didn't say everything, but the information it revealed was enough for the public to speculate, and it just so happened to come right after the scandals involving the company's two previous celebrities were exposed."
"Fans are eager to protect their idol, which will inevitably lead to disputes, and the online discussion can easily become heated."
Rational fans are a minority, Wen Jiu has a huge fan base. When faced with such disgusting things, there will inevitably be a lot of people rushing to fight back.
"The video was released precisely when the topic was at its peak online."
It's like a cleverly designed mechanism, where every step is precisely locked onto the gears, interlocking and pressing forward relentlessly.
"But that's not Wen Jiu!" Meng Xiao exclaimed, her voice trembling. "The person in that video didn't even show their face! The voice was synthesized; anyone with a brain knows it's not him!"
"I know," Qu Feng said hoarsely, his eyes closed, "But I know it's useless."
Meng Xiao's throat tightened, and her eyes, which had just been wet with tears, turned red again.
Qu Feng took a deep breath to calm himself down and turned to look at the boy behind him.
The other party hadn't said a word since leaving the stage. Due to the urgency of the situation, Qu Feng didn't have time to figure out exactly what had happened on stage, but he couldn't have felt good about it.
"... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left you then."
He couldn't imagine how isolated and helpless the boy must have felt, standing alone on the stage.
" Brother Qu..."
Wen Jiu's lips parted as if she wanted to speak, but it was as if something held her lips and tongue captive.
After a long silence, Wen Jiu buried her face in her hands, trying to hide her panic.
"Just stay in your apartment and don't go out. Suspend all your appearances, and ignore the rumors online. Don't respond to anything, because nobody will listen..."
"Don't look, don't listen, don't think. The innocent will clear themselves. Leave this to me."
Qu Feng offered a few words of comfort, then began to make arrangements methodically. At the end, he emphasized firmly, "Trust me, I can solve this."
After listening, Wen Jiu nodded sullenly, wiped her eyes, and said in a hoarse voice, " Brother Qu, I haven't finished singing this song yet."
This is not the stage he wanted.
Hold!
Qu Feng turned his face away, not wanting him to see the tears in his eyes. "It's okay, it will all pass."
"For the next stage, let's work together to make it even better."
Wen Jiu was still in pain, but things were already chaotic enough. He didn't want Brother Qu to be distracted and worry about him, so he looked up and smiled gently at him.
"Um!"
Wen Jiu's smile brought a lump to Qu Feng's throat.
No one knew better than him the importance of the stage in Wen Jiu's heart.
Regardless of their motives, the person behind this is extremely malicious and despicable.
Nothing kills more than destroying one's spirit.
After that, Qu Feng slept at the company and worked through the night to manage public relations.
He didn't know what method Lin Changfeng had used, but thankfully, there were bodyguards present.
At least, there won't be any media outside Wen Jiu's apartment.
Qu Feng would call every two hours, and Meng Xiao would take care of Wen Jiu's three meals a day and comfort him.
" President Lin has dealt with the reporters and paparazzi. You are safe now. Don't be afraid, this will all pass soon."
Wen Jiu would always smile at her, and always look very apologetic, saying, "I'm fine, I'm sorry for troubling you and Brother Qu."
"No way! Please don't say that."
Meng Xiao gave him a reproachful look and emphasized, "You are the best Wen Jiu in the whole world!"
Wen Jiu's smile grew even brighter, and she even started practicing singing and dancing in her room, which gradually eased Qu Feng's worries after receiving feedback from Meng Xiao.
Another day passed, and the online public opinion still hadn't turned around. All sorts of people came to join in the fun: those who were envious of Wen Jiu's resources, those who were jealous of his top-tier status, and those who coveted him but were targeted and suppressed by the Feng Chi.
Each snowflake fell gently, and snow drifted down from the sky.
That evening, Wen Jiu went out alone.
Wearing a mask and sunglasses, and a large coat with the hood pulled down to cover my forehead, I took a taxi to the cemetery.
After that, Wen Jiu disappeared without a trace.
Everyone is looking for him.
Wen Jiu didn't have her phone with her, so she couldn't be contacted or located.
The last time the boy appeared in the surveillance footage was at an intersection.
According to the director of the Municipal Transportation Bureau, there is an 80% chance that Wen Jiu went to the beach.
Upon receiving the news, Qu Feng immediately rushed from the company to the East Sea.
Halfway there, I suddenly received a call from Meng Xiao.
" Brother Qu, Xiaojiu, he..."
Qu Feng's heart clenched painfully as he listened to the girl opposite him, her voice trembling with sobs, announcing the devastating news—
"Dead..."
Qu Feng felt ice-cold all over.
It felt like my blood had frozen.
Qu Feng hung up the phone and hurriedly checked the news online.
As expected, at the top of the trending search list marked with a deep red "hot" tag, I saw an entry about Wen Jiu.
After clicking, it showed the last Weibo that Wen Jiu regularly published:
"To my fans and friends who love me, thank you for your efforts in clarifying things for me. You must have also endured a lot of Malice these past two days."
It must have been very hard work.
I'm sorry to have caused you trouble.
I feel so lucky to have so many people who love my stage, and I know you all want me to stay on stage and shine.
This is also what my mother expects of me.
Longtime fans might remember that not long after I debuted, I was entangled with Li Peiqi. He said he was willing to spend money to treat my mother, on the condition that I become his mistress.
To be honest, I started to waver.
But my mother refused. She easily saw through my lie and resolutely left in the middle of the night.
My mother would rather endure her illness than make things difficult for me; she just doesn't want me to succumb to capitalism.
She said that if one day I have to kneel, it must be for the love of my life and for the shining stage.
Therefore, I will never, and cannot, submit to anyone.
I tried to explain on stage, but it seems not many people listened. This time, whether you believe me or not, please give me a chance to clarify things.
As for what happens next, how the internet will react, or whether I will make a comeback... none of that matters anymore.
Because I no longer have the courage to face the stage.
December 31, 20XX, a cold winter day.
-
Considering my darlings and my own fragile heart, I'll finish writing the truth about my past life in the next few days, no more procrastination.
Don't worry, it's only a bit angsty in the past life, but that's it after that part, trust me! I love sweet moments too!