Chapter 100 – Reversal

Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai rushed to the hospital, arriving at the designated floor. After learning that Jiang Yuan and Yang Yingying were safe and sound, Shen Fubai felt a sense of relief, which was quickly replaced by nervousness.

Was this his first meeting with the family?

What should he say when the time comes?

He had no idea what Heng Heng’s parents were like.

He heard that Heng Heng’s mother once handed Yang Yingying a check for ten million yuan, urging her to leave… Would she be a cruel woman straight out of a TV drama, the type that strikes fear into others?

He was so poor, with just a few hundred million in his account. Would Heng Heng’s mother also hand him an astronomical check?

Should he accept it or decline?

Truth be told, he wanted both the money and the man… However, to avoid ending up empty-handed due to excessive greed, he firmly chose Heng Heng!

It wasn’t that Shen Fubai deliberately thought ill of people; it was just that he was nervous about the impending encounter, and all sorts of wild thoughts came to mind. His mind was a mess, lacking coherent thoughts.

When Shen Fubai finally met them, he froze on the spot, unable to utter a single word.

These were Heng Heng’s parents?

A handsome, tall middle-aged man exuded mature charm. Alongside him was a beautiful matron, her face gentle, dressed elegantly, exuding an air of timeless beauty.

Both were well-preserved, young-looking for their age, with remarkable poise. They could pass for celebrities.

If not for the fact that they were the only middle-aged couple in the hallway, Shen Fubai wouldn’t have dared to imagine that these were Heng Heng’s parents.

They could easily be called brother and sister.

Jiang Heng approached, calling out, “Dad, Mom.”

Indeed, they were Heng Heng’s parents… No wonder they could produce such a handsome son. This family’s genes were truly extraordinary.

Shen Fubai grumbled inwardly, completely forgetting that his own family’s looks were also out of this world.

After a brief exchange with his parents, Jiang Heng turned to Shen Fubai, “Fubai, these are my parents. Say hello.”

Shen Fubai obediently greeted, “Mom and Dad, nice to meet you.”

Father Jiang: “…”

Mother Jiang: “…”

What was going on with this young man? How did he start calling them mom and dad on their first meeting?

Shen Fubai realized his mistake only after speaking. He had been mulling over how to greet Heng Heng’s parents, but his greeting had come out too casually. He wished he could slap himself.

Fortunately, he improvised quickly, throwing an arm around Jiang Heng’s shoulder in a display of camaraderie. “Hello, Uncle and Aunt. My name is Shen Fubai. I’m Jiang Heng’s sworn brother. His parents are my parents!”

Jiang Heng: “…?”

How did his loving wife suddenly become a sworn brother?

Father Jiang smiled warmly. “Hello. Young people are so enthusiastic. It seems you and our Heng Heng have a good relationship.”

“That’s right,” Shen Fubai said proudly.

Jiang Heng: …Why are you so proud? I was about to tell my parents about our relationship, but then you suddenly switched to brotherly affection.

It was as if he had just welded the closet door shut.

Mother Jiang exclaimed in delight. “Ah! I recognize you! You played Yu Tang in ‘Pear Blossoms’! I adore you.” She reached out to caress Shen Fubai’s hand, filled with sympathy. “I know you suffered terribly in the drama. The hardships you endured… I couldn’t bear to watch. Don’t worry, I’ve already given this brat a good scolding on your behalf!”

Shen Fubai was bewildered. What?

Jiang Heng cleared his throat. During the airing of ‘Pear Blossoms,’ his family had started watching because of his role, but unexpectedly, Yu Tang’s portrayal was so endearing that his mother became a die-hard fan of Fubai, shouting at the television every day, “My poor child, you’re suffering so much!” “Why is it always my child who gets hurt?” She cried through two boxes of tissues.

Sitting nearby, Jiang Heng: “…” I am your child.

Especially during the episodes where Chu Yu misunderstood Yu Tang and was cursed by netizens as a big pig hoof, Mother Jiang got so immersed in the drama that she angrily scolded Jiang Heng. “Are you a pig? Why didn’t you trust Tangtang? Why? You even treated him coldly. I don’t have a son like you!”

Jiang Heng: “…” That was just acting, dear mother.

Perhaps sensing Shen Fubai’s disorientation, Mother Jiang instantly regained her composure, transforming back into an elegant matron. “Sorry, fans get excited when they meet their idols. It’s wonderful to see you, Tangtang… no, Bai Bai.”

Shen Fubai: “…It’s an honor to meet you as well.”

He shook hands with Mother Jiang in a daze, wondering why such a senior would resort to handing out checks. She seemed like a genuinely nice person.

After the introductions, Jiang Heng broached the main topic. “What exactly happened?”

At that moment, Jiang Yuan and Yang Yingying emerged from the ward. Jiang Yuan looked at Shen Fubai and Jiang Heng. “You’re here.”

Shen Fubai glanced at Jiang Yuan, then at Jiang Heng.

Then back at Jiang Yuan.

And again at Jiang Heng.

He quietly sidled up to Yang Yingying. “To be honest, if they wore the same clothes, I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.”

They were practically identical. Standing there without speaking, even their parents might confuse them.

Yang Yingying asked, “Isn’t true love supposed to make you recognize them?”

“It’s too abstract. Honestly, can you tell them apart?” Shen Fubai questioned.

Yang Yingying replied, “Nope.”

Shen Fubai gave her a look that said, “Your love is so cheap.”

Yang Yingying returned a gaze that said, “Same goes for you.”

From Jiang Yuan’s account, they learned a more detailed and complex sequence of events.

The driver was indeed innocent; he was merely a taxi driver. The taxi itself was blameless; there was nothing wrong with the steering wheel or the brakes.

The problem lay with the passenger he picked up that day.

This passenger had crossed paths with them before. Her name was Xiao Wei, the assistant to Yu Xiaoxiao who had bullied Yezi but was silenced by Yang Yingying and subsequently fired by Yu Xiaoxiao.

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t dismiss Xiao Wei because she found her bullying behavior wrong; rather, she felt embarrassed by the public humiliation.

After her dismissal, Xiao Wei had no choice but to seek another job. As Yu Xiaoxiao’s assistant in the entertainment industry, who would hire someone Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t want? With her low educational qualifications, she was forced to take on arduous and laborious jobs.

Previously, as an assistant to a celebrity, she encountered glamorous people and lived a life of luxury. Suddenly falling from grace, who could endure such a drastic change? Xiao Wei struggled to perform those jobs and was fired by her employers for incompetence. Her life deteriorated.

As her life worsened, she yearned even more for her previous fortunate days.

If only she were still Yu Xiaoxiao’s assistant, how wonderful.

But she didn’t dare provoke Yu Xiaoxiao. Having been her assistant, she knew how difficult this seemingly kind and approachable actress could be. She didn’t dare, for she was weak against the strong and feared the powerful.

Thus, she developed a deep hatred for Yang Yingying, whose fame wasn’t as great nor as familiar.

If not for Yang Yingying’s intervention, humiliating Yu Xiaoxiao and causing her distress, why would she have been fired?

Xiao Wei hated Yang Yingying to the core.

Some people never search for reasons within themselves; they excel at shifting blame.

So, when Xiao Wei, eating two steamed buns for a yuan each, saw Yang Yingying and Jiang Yuan exit a high-end restaurant and climb into a luxury car, jealousy distorted her.

Why was she suffering so much, while this despicable woman, who had caused her so much pain, lived such a comfortable life, attracting one excellent man after another? And Jiang, the film emperor, was also her idol…

Driven by madness, Xiao Wei spent her last bit of money to hail a taxi, instructing the driver to follow the Bentley ahead.

The driver was wary. “I’m just a taxi driver. I don’t do tailing jobs.”

Xiao Wei was almost deranged. “Driver, please help me. The man in front is my husband. I want to see where he and his mistress are going.”

The driver was skeptical, considering Xiao Wei’s shabby appearance, which didn’t match the elegance of the couple in front. But he didn’t dwell on it; these days, wealthy men abandoning their loyal wives for mistresses wasn’t uncommon. This person looked unwell, possibly suffering from mental issues due to the shock.

Yang Yingying’s striking beauty inadvertently fueled prejudice.

The driver followed, expecting a routine fare, but he nearly lost his life.

At a crossroad, Xiao Wei snatched the steering wheel, recklessly crashing into the Bentley.

Bang!

She sustained minor injuries in the passenger seat.

The driver was severely injured.

“Woah, this person,” Shen Fubai couldn’t find the right words. There were truly all kinds of oddities in the world.

Yang Yingying felt guilty about the incident, having involved an innocent driver. The driver had truly suffered a stroke of bad luck, encountering such a passenger.

But if she felt any guilt for Xiao Wei’s miserable state after being fired, there was none.

People brought misfortune upon themselves. If only Xiao Wei hadn’t been so bitter and arrogant, she wouldn’t have ended up so miserably. Despite her plight, she blamed others without ever reflecting on herself. There was nothing to sympathize with in such a person.

She wasn’t a saint.

Due to this event and its media coverage, it was impossible to hide her reconciliation with Jiang Yuan.

“Have you found out who tampered with the surveillance footage?” Jiang Heng asked.

“Yes,” Jiang Yuan revealed a name. “Yu Xiaoxiao.”

Initially, they were busy assisting the doctors and nurses in treating the driver, paying no attention to online discussions. Father Jiang and Mother Jiang, assuming their son was injured, had no time for anything else. By the time they arrived at the hospital and the driver’s condition stabilized, they learned their son was unharmed and began investigating the source of the online surveillance video.

With the Jiang family’s extensive connections in Beijing across various industries, finding answers took only half an hour. They had already released evidence online to clarify the situation.

Yu Xiaoxiao was responsible for editing and spreading the surveillance footage. The motive was the same two words: jealousy.

Jealousy of Yang Yingying.

After the company changed management, although resources weren’t reduced for Yu Xiaoxiao, they clearly favored Yang Yingying. As the former top star, suddenly being overshadowed by Yang Yingying in every aspect, who could swallow that?

Perhaps deep down, she harbored resentment… Yang Yingying had saved her from Wang Hui, knowing she was almost assaulted… Proud as Yu Xiaoxiao was, how could she not care? It was akin to her weakness being exposed to her enemy.

Even though Yang Yingying never intended to use it as leverage.

She never even told Yu Xiaoxiao that she later found a hidden camera in the room. Wang Hui had planned to record a video to blackmail Yu Xiaoxiao.

Yang Yingying silently deleted the video and smashed the camera to pieces.

She disliked Yu Xiaoxiao but saw no need to retaliate with such vile means.

Only vile people speculated about others using vile intentions.

In this incident, Yu Xiaoxiao merely wanted to fan the flames. With Yang Yingying embroiled in such a scandal, Shenjiu Group would surely drop her from their ad campaign. She had long coveted the endorsement for wedding rings…

However, she didn’t anticipate that Shenjiu Group was behind the first wave of rumor clarifications.

As for Yu Xiaoxiao, her career was destined to be ruined by this act.

As for Xiao Wei, endangering public safety and intentional harm would ensure she spent ample time in prison for reflection.

The online discourse flipped, flipped, and flipped again, with so many developments that people couldn’t keep up.

First, there was the morning car accident and a segment of surveillance footage, sparking gossip about Yang Yingying’s rumored affair with the film emperor, outrage over hit-and-run, condemnation of the wealthy, and moral coercion… It was a real-life tale of twisted morals and lost virtue, a definitive social news story.

By noon, a mysterious blogger uncovered a foreign dance battle video, proving Jiang Heng’s alibi. The narrative shifted to a suspenseful detective drama. People speculated on why there were two Jiang Hengs simultaneously. Time-travel theories, parallel universe theories, ghost possession theories… the conjectures were endless, showcasing wild imagination. Of course, there were also melodramatic guesses, suggesting Yang Yingying secretly loved Jiang Heng, and the person in the car was a substitute who resembled him…

Netizens, however, were all-powerful. Jiang Yuan’s information wasn’t particularly confidential, and soon, the news spread that the person in the car was Jiang Yuan, president of Jiang Real Estate. People’s initial reaction was, “Oh, twins.” Their second reaction was, “Holy shit? Jiang Heng is the second young master of Jiang Real Estate! Why would someone so rich enter the entertainment industry? Is this a playboy entering for fun? And he became a film emperor? What kind of cliche plot is this?”

At this point, some people’s attention was diverted, shocked by Jiang Heng’s identity. Netizens dug deeper, uncovering the fact that he scored 700 on his college entrance exam but chose to study acting.

Already a film emperor, with the addition of academic brilliance and the status of a wealthy heir, Jiang Heng went from being vilified across the internet to being universally praised.

#IsThisAGodDescendingFromHeaven?

Still, a large portion of people’s focus remained on the car accident itself. Was the driver Jiang Yuan? Even better, as the CEO was wealthier, they would criticize him more harshly. They were envious of the rich, so what?

Another group claimed to be rational, offering opinions: “Not hating the rich, just sticking to the facts. If Jiang Yuan broke the law, no matter how handsome or rich he is, he’s still guilty.”

This argument had some impact; the Jiang family’s stock prices slightly dipped during that period.

In the afternoon, the truth struck back. The official Weibo account of Jiang Real Estate posted a tweet, containing merely eight characters: “Right and wrong, justice lies in the hearts of people.”

Accompanied by a video—the complete surveillance footage.

Simultaneously, the Beijing Public Security Bureau issued a statement, clarifying that the taxi passenger was solely responsible for the incident.

After watching the video, the trolls who had previously raged and hurled insults fell silent.

—The video clearly showed the Bentley parked at a traffic light, while the taxi, in a fit of madness, crashed into it and overturned. No one could blame the Bentley owner anymore.

Jiang Yuan and Yang Yingying even got out of the car to save the injured.

Considering the statement from the Public Security Bureau, the truth was evident.

What was initially perceived as a victim turned out to be the perpetrator, while the accused was actually the rescuer.

Misleading headlines and selective information. The morning’s onslaught of curses and self-proclaimed righteous crusades became a joke. Combined with the official blog’s message of “right and wrong, justice lies in the hearts of people,” it was indeed ironic.

People’s hearts were too easily swayed, and their eyes too easily deceived.

Underneath this corporate Weibo post, the number of retweets and comments was unprecedented.

Netizen A: “I’m sorry for my remarks this morning. I didn’t understand the facts and cursed based on a so-called surveillance video. Now, I realize how easily I was manipulated.”

Netizen B: “I’m sorry.”

Netizen C: “Who was the one spreading the incomplete surveillance video in the beginning? How could they be so malicious?!”

Netizen D: “So, it wasn’t Film Emperor Jiang dating Miss Yang Yingying… but President Jiang dating Miss Yang Yingying?! I just want to say, Sister Yang, you’re amazing.”

Netizen E: “Since the official Weibo clarified, it’s confirmed that our Heng Heng is indeed the second young master of Jiang Real Estate, right? Both surnamed Jiang and identical in appearance, it couldn’t be a coincidence. This is official confirmation. Our Heng Heng is super rich!!!”

Netizen F: “Best wishes to President Jiang and Miss Yang Yingying~ I’m sorry for my previous prejudice against Sister Yang. Later, I was captivated by her acting skills in ‘Green Peony.’ Now, I’m charmed by her character! She pulled the injured person out of the car, despite being the victim of a sudden disaster… Can any keyboard warrior match her calmness and kindness?”

Netizen G: “+1 to the above comment. Not following dramas, not mingling in fan circles, and not knowing celebrities, I was purely drawn in by this series of events. Kind people deserve to be liked. I’m now a fan of President Jiang and Sister Yang! Also, Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai. Didn’t a charity organization say this morning that they secretly donated to several schools of hope? Indeed, good people surround themselves with good people. I’ve decided to catch up on ‘Pear Blossoms.’ I’ve heard recommendations before but avoided it due to its reputation for being heart-wrenching. Now, I want to watch it. A drama featuring such warm-hearted people must be equally heartwarming!”

Netizen H: “Go ahead and watch. If you don’t cry, consider it my loss. 23333”

Following this dramatic turnaround, the Jiang family achieved a stunning comeback. Not only did they clear their name, but their reputation soared. Their stock prices surged, recovering and multiplying beyond their earlier losses.

In business, one must assess the reliability and trustworthiness of their counterpart. Jiang Yuan’s integrity was evident for all to see.

Of course, there were still skeptics: “Why didn’t they call the police or dial 120? Taking the injured person to the hospital in their own car isn’t inviting suspicion upon themselves? What if there was no surveillance footage to clear their names? I can’t comprehend this. They’re kind, but foolish.”

Below, someone replied: “Original poster, you’re quite level-headed. I hope you remain calm when faced with such situations in real life. Please refer to the Beijing Public Security Bureau’s Weibo post. The driver was critically injured; if not for timely medical assistance, he might not have survived. Do you think they wouldn’t have considered your scenario at their status? They valued human life over their own suspicions.”

This response received countless likes, indicating widespread agreement.

It was a ridiculous era. An era where one could ask, “If you didn’t cause an elderly person to fall, why would you help them up?” An era where displaying any shred of kindness would earn accusations of being a saint or a fake saint. Everyone was cautious, bystanders in real life, yet online crusaders for justice. Good and evil had no clear boundaries, as if the world was utterly corrupt. The only option was to close one’s eyes, tune out the noise, and ignore reality.

Open your eyes again.

Why would someone help an elderly person who might falsely accuse them?

Why would someone rush into a raging fire without hesitation?

Why would someone travel thousands of miles to a battlefield, placing a flower in the barrel of a gun, not for war, but for peace?

Selfishness and self-preservation were understandable.

Selflessness and unwavering commitment warmed hearts and were choices made by individuals.

Look, there are too many bad people in the world.

There are also far too many good ones.