ABBWW Chapter 24: Young Master (24)

Since that night, Shi Rongqing became extremely wary of Wen Xusheng.

He avoided socializing as much as possible, worked from home whenever he could, and sent Aunt Bai to check on Shi Jingge and Wen Xusheng every half an hour. He also tracked Shi Jingge's location every hour and insisted on sleeping with him every night.

He treated Wen Xusheng like a ghost that he had to guard against.

Moreover, he didn't hesitate to show his hostility and resentment towards him at every opportunity, such as at the dinner table yesterday. Shi Rongqing had the advantage of being the host, so Wen Xusheng couldn't really offend him. He had to swallow his pride and endure his insults, occasionally complaining to Shi Jingge.

Wen Xusheng stayed at Shi's house for three days, until the fourth day, when Du Yi came to pick him up. He persuaded him to leave with him by saying:

- Big Brother, we still have a lot of things to do. You have to work too!

Du Yi was very worried.

As soon as he got in the car, Wen Xusheng felt that he started to miss the young master.

He thought for a moment and said, "Let's cut down on the schedule this year."

Du Yi: "?"

"You want to cut more? You haven't taken any new drama yet!" Du Yi protested. "Except for that Living Together variety show, all your other activities were arranged months ago. How can you cut them?"

"Why not?" Wen Xusheng said confidently.

Du Yi: "?"

"I don't want to take any drama for now. The scripts are not very interesting," Wen Xusheng said casually. "I've been working hard for so many years. I need a break."

Du Yi: "...Can you give me a reasonable and legitimate reason?"

"Can't you tell?" Wen Xusheng asked in surprise. "I'm fighting for my lifelong happiness."

"Is this a reasonable and legitimate reason?"

Du Yi: "..."

A love-struck man, huh.

When Wen Xusheng left, Shi Rongqing looked very refreshed and cheerful, so much so that Shi Jingge kept stealing glances at him.

The young master was very funny when he peeked. He couldn't time it well and always looked away half a beat too late. Maybe because he was guilty, he would also add various small gestures. He was just like a kitten, who couldn't even hide his tail. Shi Rongqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"If you have something to say, just say it," Shi Rongqing raised his eyebrows. "Don't be sneaky. What does that look like?"

The young master chuckled twice and came over to grab Shi Rongqing's arm and shook it.

Shi Rongqing glared at him. "Don't play that trick!"

But he didn't push the young master's hand away.

"Brother, don't you like Wen Xusheng?"

Shi Rongqing was amused and annoyed. He deliberately put on a cold face. "What if I say I don't like him?"

The young master touched his nose. "But aren't you friends with him?"

"Do friends have to like each other?" Shi Rongqing asked back.

"Why be friends with someone you don't like? Isn't that torturing yourself?" The young master widened his eyes in disbelief.

Shi Rongqing tapped the table. "Don't change the subject. Tell me, what will you do if I say I don't like him?"

The young master hesitated and finally asked in a low voice: "...Can you, maybe, like him?"

The young master stretched out his little finger and gestured: "Just a little bit, a little bit is enough."

He looked somewhat uneasy, his eyes wide open, making Shi Rongqing's heart soften.

Shi Rongqing couldn't help but rub his head, thinking, why was he arguing with this little brat?

They were brothers, connected by blood, and that would never change.

No one could change their relationship.

Shi Rongqing didn't have the heart to tease him anymore, so he sighed and said: "I was kidding."

"Wen Xusheng is a capable person. I admire him."

The young master's eyes lit up, but he still asked doubtfully: "Really?"

"Mhm."

"You really don't hate him?"

"No."

"You're not lying to me?"

"Why would I lie to you?"

"To avoid making me uncomfortable or something... Ouch..."

The young master didn't finish his sentence when he was hit by Shi Rongqing.

The young master covered his forehead and glared at Shi Rongqing. "Isn't that how they act on TV? I didn't say anything wrong!"

Shi Rongqing was speechless. "Watch less of those nonsense dramas!"

The young master pried his hand away, jumped off the sofa, ran up the stairs, and then turned his head and asked: "...Are you sure you're not forcing yourself?"

"No!" Shi Rongqing glared at him, but his eyes unconsciously showed a hint of smile. "I've known him for so many years, and I didn't know you and him would become so friendly like now. Do you think I've been forcing myself since a few years ago?"

Shi Jingge was relieved and chuckled a few times before going upstairs.

Shi Rongqing watched his figure and smiled after a while.

"Little rascal."

"Aunt Bai," Shi Rongqing called out. "Make a few more dishes for that little rascal today. Look how thin he is!"

Aunt Bai smiled and agreed.

Shi Rongqing got up from the sofa and made a phone call. "You told me last time, which brand launched a new sports car? The very flashy kind, even a bit childish."

"I don't like this stuff. I'm over my childish phase."

"Who else can I buy it for? Of course for my little brat. He'll definitely like it."

"Why buy it for him? What a joke. Who else can I buy it for if not for him? I only have one brat in my family!"

"The little brat has grown up and knows how to care for his brother. Don't you think he deserves some reward?"

"Stop talking nonsense. I'll come over to find you."

Do I need a reason to buy a sports car for my own cub?

Shi Jingge stayed at home for two days, enjoying the life of being fed and pampered. He was very happy.

This season's first episode of "Starting from Living Together" was very well received, so on Wednesday, the program team also released an edited version of the video, which was a compilation of interesting clips from various live broadcast rooms. They originally planned to cut a two-hour video, but there was too much information to fit in!

In the end, they cut two episodes, one for each part, totaling more than four hours. But in fact, the program team still had to delete many funny clips.

On the day they released it, the program team asked them to post on Weibo to promote it.

Everyone reposted the official Weibo of the program team, except for Wen Xusheng.

He reposted Shi Jingge's Weibo, with one word: good-looking.

This one word seemed to mean nothing, but in the eyes of the CP fans, this was a huge sugar!

This "good-looking", did it mean that the edited version was good-looking, or did it mean the young master?

Of course it meant the young master!

The CP fans spread the news and called everyone to eat sugar together. The topic soared and the playback volume of the edited version also skyrocketed. In the end, "Starting from Living Together" even made it to the hot search list, and its position kept rising. The program team was so happy that they sent several big red envelopes in the group chat.

Shi Jingge got the best luck as usual.

The director couldn't help but sigh to the person next to him: "I didn't expect it. This little young master is also a koi. He always gets lucky."

T/N: Koi fish are a common symbol in both Japanese and Chinese culture. They have various meanings depending on their color, behavior, and context. Here it means good luck. Koi fish are believed to bring good luck to those who own or touch them. They are also associated with good fortune, prosperity, and positive energy.

"Isn't he?" The person next to him agreed. "This young master is really popular and has a lot of traffic and topics. He also brought Wen Xusheng to us. I can see it. This Wen Xusheng is not here to participate in our variety show. He is here to chase someone!"

The director nodded in agreement.

"First place, first place, hot search first place. We saved money on buying hot search. Come on, send another red envelope. Get ready, one, two, three, grab!"

The director and the person next to him immediately went to grab.

"1.28 yuan," the director was dumbfounded. "This seems like a joke!"

The person next to him asked: "How much for the young master?"

The director looked and said: "68.88 yuan? He took more than half by himself! This is not fair!!"

The person next to him patted the director. "This is a koi."

"You compare your luck with a koi, isn't that asking for trouble?"

But the two of them didn't stay happy for long. Half an hour later, the first place on the hot search list changed.

It was a very shocking headline:

- [Popular Actress Beats up Newcomer, Real-Life Workplace Bullying]!

This headline was very eye-catching, and there was even a video, which was irrefutable evidence.

Shi Rongqing was watching the cut version of Shi Jingge on Weibo from "Starting from Living Together", but he saw that "Starting from Living Together" was squeezed to the second place on the hot search list. He accidentally clicked on the first place.

The video played automatically. Shi Rongqing wanted to exit, but he saw a familiar figure.

- It was Li Zhuoyun and Hua Mingyi.

The video was very blurry and the lighting was poor, but you could still recognize them.

It should be a dressing room or a lounge or something like that. Three people were pushing and shoving each other. The other actress was backing away while apologizing and bowing. They should have been talking, but the video was too noisy, with all kinds of sounds, and you couldn't hear what they were saying.

Then Hua Mingyi suddenly got angry and slapped her in the face. The sound was very loud.

The video stopped here, making it look like Hua Mingyi and Li Zhuoyun were bullying that actress together!

The entertainment industry has all kinds of open and hidden conflicts, but rarely does anyone resort to physical violence.

In an instant, the netizens were in an uproar.

"Damn, I used to have a good impression of Li Zhuoyun, but I didn't expect her to be this kind of person!"

"She's still an 18th-tier star, and she's already bullying newcomers?"

"I'm so disgusted, thank goodness I'm not her fan, or I'd be sick."

"This kind of person doesn't deserve to be popular."

"And that Hua Mingyi, she looks pure and pitiful, but she's actually a violent and scheming bitch."

"I heard they're close friends. Birds of a feather flock together, huh."

"I heard... some gossip, they have some connections, they have a sugar daddy, that's why they're so arrogant."

"Otherwise, how dare these two small stars bully someone like that? Even Wen Xusheng wouldn't bully someone like that, okay?"

"???? Why are you dragging my Brother Wen down? ?? Are you crazy??"

This was a big expose, and all the major marketing accounts and big Vs reposted it. In a blink of an eye, they pushed "Starting from Living Together", which had a high topic popularity, off the hot search list and landed on the first place. Shi Rongqing didn't believe that there was no one behind this who was messing with them.

But he couldn't let the little brat at home know about this.

Shi Rongqing walked out and saw that there was no light in Shi Jingge's room. He knew he was asleep and felt relieved.

The next second, Shi Jingge's room door opened and the young master came out with his phone in his hand. He looked anxious.

Shi Rongqing: "..."

"Why won't she answer the phone!"

The young master was so anxious that he ran around in circles, and then bumped into Shi Rongqing.

"Ouch, that hurts!"

The next second, the phone was answered.

Then, Shi Rongqing saw his stupid younger brother's eyes light up. He didn't even give him a look, and just said loudly: "How are you guys? Where are you?"

Shi Rongqing: "..."

Did he have no presence at all?

"We're at home," Li Zhuoyun spoke very fast, as if she was afraid that Shi Jingge would hang up. "Young Master Shi, let me tell you, it's not what it looks like. That bastard set us up, damn it!"

Li Zhuoyun cursed. "She seemed to have a grudge against Yi Yi. She started to trouble her since she joined the crew. I don't know the details, but this time she went too far. She almost exposed Yi Yi's body, and she had prepared a video. Luckily we found out in time. You know how much impact this would have on a female star."

"I was so angry, I went up to reason with her, and she insulted Yi Yi's mother!"

Li Zhuoyun took a deep breath and lowered her voice. "Yi Yi's mother had surgery that day. Yi Yi was already a bit anxious. That beast actually cursed my aunt to die on the operating table, and said a lot of nasty things. Yi Yi then - then -"

Li Zhuoyun thought of what happened that day and felt like she was going to explode.

"Damn," Shi Jingge also cursed along. "This is not a human being!"

Shi Rongqing wanted to take the phone from Shi Jingge's hand. Shi Jingge opened his mouth to swear, and then realized it was Shi Rongqing.

"Who the hell... Big, Big Brother?"

"Give me the phone." Shi Rongqing reached out his hand.

Shi Jingge let go of his hand subconsciously, but he stuck close to Shi Rongqing, as if he was afraid of missing something.

Shi Rongqing glanced at him and sighed slightly. Then he said calmly: "It's not just her who wants to mess with you. The marketing accounts and big Vs are working together. They bought a lot of water army. The hot search list dropped from the sky to the first place. They're not just trying to mess with you, they're trying to kill you."

"Next, there might be more exposes. You list all the things you've done recently that might cause trouble, and I'll have my assistant contact you. You send them to his email."

"The public relations department will take action. Tell Hua Mingyi, she's a Shi person. She's not someone anyone can bully. Let her rest assured."

Shi Rongqing hung up the phone. Shi Jingge grabbed his arm and his eyes sparkled.

"Big Brother is so handsome!" Shi Jingge gave him a thumbs up.

Shi Rongqing looked at him with a faint smile. "Don't flatter me."

"Big Brother," Shi Jingge squeezed out a pleasing smile. "My big brother is wise and brave, kind and gentle, good-tempered, good-looking, the best big brother in the world..."

Shi Jingge racked his brains and used all the words he could think of to praise him, but then he couldn't go on.

"You win." Shi Rongqing tapped his head. "What did I just say? Didn't you hear me?"

"Hua Mingyi is already our designated artist. The company can't ignore her."

The young master shrank his neck and said sweetly: "- Big Brother is the best!"

Where was he good?

He was a good person, obviously his stupid younger brother.

He used to care about people, but he had to pull out a bunch of nonsense reasons, so awkward.

Now that something really happened, he couldn't pretend anymore, and he was so anxious that he ran around in circles.

What a... fool.

Just like Wen Xusheng said, after that, there were endless attacks on Hua Mingyi and Li Zhuoyun. All kinds of black materials were exposed one by one, making the melon-eating masses excited.

T/N: It should be Shi Rongqing, right?...

Not only that, according to the marketing accounts, there was more explosive news.

Under the public's demand, the more explosive news was exposed.

It was the photos of Hua Mingyi being molested by that Zhang guy in the hotel that day. They made a nine-square grid.

This became the ironclad proof that Hua Mingyi was kept by someone.

Because she was kept by someone, she was so arrogant and bullied people!

Well, the logic was perfect. With the water army leading the rhythm, the haters followed and cursed. They were originally two small stars with not many fans. After this operation, the whole network was condemning them.

Occasionally there were some different opinions, but they were also chased and scolded by various water armies. In the end, they had no choice but to delete their opinions and stay safe.

At this time, Li Zhuoyun and Hua Mingyi also received bad news from all sides.

Li Zhuoyun was on the phone, and Hua Mingyi was sitting on the sofa, her eyes unfocused and depressed.

"... Cancel the cooperation? It's not what the internet says, it's really not! Listen to me explain, no, it's really not, don't, don't hang up, listen to me..."

Before she finished speaking, the other side hung up the phone. Li Zhuoyun rubbed her temples and couldn't help but curse.

Hua Mingyi said hoarsely: "I'm sorry."

"It's my fault."

Li Zhuoyun sighed when she heard this. "What are you talking about?"

"It's not like you forced me to argue with that idiot."

"I'm an adult. Since I did this, I can bear the consequences."

Hua Mingyi covered her face. "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have argued with her..."

"Stop talking about this." Li Zhuoyun patted Hua Mingyi's shoulder. "Things are not that bad yet. Shi Rongqing said the public relations department will take action and won't let you be bullied."

Hua Mingyi smiled bitterly. Shi Rongqing said that because of the young master's face.

But the young master had helped her so much, how could she continue to drag him down?

Hua Mingyi was silent for a long time, and suddenly said: "My mom is in the People's Hospital, room 512. The doctor said that if she recovers well, she can be discharged next Friday."

Li Zhuoyun was stunned for a moment, and slapped Hua Mingyi on the head. She scolded: "What are you thinking?"

"I'm telling you, don't you dare do anything extreme!"

"You take care of your own mother, I won't take care of her for you!"

"If you dare to do anything, I'll tell your mother about it, do you believe me?"

As she spoke, Li Zhuoyun couldn't help but hug Hua Mingyi in her arms and comforted her: "Alright, don't look so sad. This is just the beginning. There will be more storms in the entertainment industry. If you fall here, you'll only make your enemies happy and your loved ones sad."

"Just wait a little longer -" Li Zhuoyun gritted her teeth. "Actually, I have something here that can prove your itinerary that day."

Hua Mingyi looked at her blankly. Li Zhuoyun whispered: "That day, the young master sent you over. Didn't we play games together?"

"I recorded the whole process. At least it can prove that you didn't spend that day with anyone else."

Hua Mingyi smiled bitterly: "But even if it's not that day, there will be other days. Who will believe it? And it will involve the young master. He has already helped me so many times. It took him a lot of effort to improve his reputation. I really don't want to..."

She hadn't finished speaking when there was a knock on the door.

It was Shi Rongqing and Shi Jingge, who had disguised themselves.

They quickly opened the door and let them in.

As soon as they entered, Shi Jingge stripped off all the messy things on his body and looked at Hua Mingyi. "How are you?"

Hua Mingyi didn't want to owe him more, so she forced a smile. "I'm fine."

But her face was so pale that even a fool would know she was not fine.

Shi Jingge turned his head to look at Li Zhuoyun. "When we played games together that day, did you record everything? Hua Mingyi was taken away by me that day. Can this prove Hua Mingyi's innocence?"

Li Zhuoyun nodded subconsciously, and soon reacted, looking at him with some astonishment. "How do you know?"

"You turned on the recording sound so loud, I'm not deaf." Shi Jingge shrugged. "There was a prompt sound when the recording started, and there was a ding-dong sound. That wasn't a game sound effect. How could I not hear it?"

Li Zhuoyun stared at Shi Jingge blankly. "Then you... then why...?"

Shi Jingge looked at her puzzled. "Why what?"

Li Zhuoyun took a deep breath. "Why didn't you expose me and stop me?"

Shi Jingge was even more confused. "Why should I expose you and stop you?"

Li Zhuoyun looked at Shi Jingge steadily.

In those clear black eyes, there was only confusion and incomprehension, nothing else.

He really didn't think there was anything wrong with what she did.

Even though she secretly recorded everything without his consent.

Li Zhuoyun asked herself, if it was her, would she be angry?

Of course she would!

She saved people with good intentions, gave people a place to stay, and never bothered them. She made her attitude very clear.

But she was still doubted, suspected, and guarded. How could she not be sad and angry?

But the young master in front of her, who was labeled as arrogant, spoiled, and domineering, knew everything, but pretended not to know. If it wasn't for this incident, would this secret have been buried forever?

Actually, Shi Jingge was younger than them, but he was so tolerant of them and took care of them.

At that moment, Li Zhuoyun only felt a tremor in her heart, and a sourness slowly spread from the bottom of her heart.

"What the hell are you doing!"

"Don't cry!"

"Ah, what's wrong with you?"

"Brother! Big Brother! Big Brother, come here!"

"Don't cry, don't cry!"

Li Zhuoyun didn't cry.

But her expression looked like she was going to cry the next second.

The young master had no idea what was going on. He comforted her awkwardly, but didn't dare to get too close. He could only turn his head and ask Shi Rongqing for help.

He looked panicked, like a kitten who had just found out he was bald.

"Thank you." Li Zhuoyun said solemnly. "I'm sorry, I didn't ask for your consent, and..."

The young master waved his hand, looking around nervously, not daring to look at Li Zhuoyun. "It's... it's normal."

He wanted to hide behind Shi Rongqing, but Shi Rongqing took a step back and avoided him.

The young master looked at Shi Rongqing's back in disbelief.

Shi Rongqing pretended not to see.

The young master was forced to face Li Zhuoyun, and could only stiffen his neck and say: "Girls, you have to learn to protect yourself."

"My mom said that, and I think it makes sense."

"Let's talk about how to prove Hua Mingyi's innocence now."

He paused, and the young master added with difficulty: "... Okay?"

His expression was a bit uneasy.

Li Zhuoyun felt that the one who was going to cry was not her, but the young master.

Maybe the young master felt that he didn't look tall enough. "I... I don't care if you cry."

"But..."

The young master muttered softly: "My mom said that making a girl cry is a shameful thing."

"I'm just listening to my mom."

"Why don't you wait until I leave and then cry?"

"I definitely won't care if you cry or not."

Li Zhuoyun: "..."

Do you think I'll believe that?

"What else did Mom say?" Shi Rongqing asked.

The young master glared at him, still angry that he didn't help him just now. "I won't tell you!"

Shi Rongqing said casually: "But it seems that only having the game record can't fully prove Hua Mingyi's innocence."

The young master: !!!

The young master was always a flexible and adaptable young master.

So he grabbed Shi Rongqing's arm and said seriously: "Mom said, listen to everything my brother says, my brother can do anything!"

This sounded like he made it up on the spot.

Li Zhuoyun blinked and wiped away a tear.

At this moment, she felt the same as Hua Mingyi.

- It was so good to know the young master.

Author's Note: 

#Little Theater#

Shi Rongqing: Do you need a reason to buy a sports car for your cub?

Wen Xusheng suddenly realized: I understand.

Later, every time a new sports car came out, he immediately bought one for Shi Jingge.

Shi Rongqing: ?

Wen Xusheng: Do you need a reason to buy a sports car for your cub?

Shi Rongqing: ? ? ?

Shi Rongqing: That belongs to my family!!

Wen Xusheng: Oh, okay, okay, if I'm part of Xiao Ge’s family, we're all one family, so don't bother.

Shi Rongqing: ?

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!

<Prev                        [TOC]                        Next>