ABOES 25: Look at Xinian

Hearing the tone of Chi Xiwen’s voice, it was obvious he was furious. His secretary didn’t dare ask more and immediately went to carry out the orders.

As soon as the call ended, the teary eyed Tan Yao asked, “You’ve given the orders?”

Chi Xiwen nodded grimly. Seeing Tan Yao’s reddened eyes, he couldn’t help but say, “Mom, don’t worry too much. I’ll take care of it.”

Of course Tan Yao knew Chi Xiwen would handle things. What she was worried about was Ye Xinian.

While waiting for the paternity test results, Tan Yao began gathering information on Ye Xinian through every possible channel, trying to make up for the seventeen years of absence in his life.

Whether it was the clubs he joined in university, or the magazines he shot before debuting, or his recent appearances on shows, livestreams, and interviews. Tan Yao watched all of them.

The more she learned, the more clearly she realized that Ye Xinian had not lived a bad life without them.

He had close friends and even a steady romantic partner.

As long as Ye Xinian was doing well, Tan Yao could be a little more at ease.

Knowing that today was a filming day for Let’s Go Travel, Tan Yao specifically called Chi Xiwen home so they could watch the show together.

When she heard Ye Xinian say that his fiancé had bought him a place to live near the university, Tan Yao couldn’t help but say, “I have to admit, even if this Xiao Xia is a bit older, he really cares about our Xinian.”

She never expected that not long after saying this, they would witness a scene that made their blood boil.

Just thinking of Ye Xinian walking away with tears in his eyes made Tan Yao’s heart ache. Tears welled up again.

“That Xia Huaiming is simply too much! No, we can’t let this go!” Tan Yao gritted her teeth. “Whatever Xinian suffered, I’ll make sure they pay it all back! I remember your father’s company still works with the Xia family, right?”

Chi Xiwen frowned, thinking for a moment. “I’ll call Dad.”

Before he could make the call, Chi Ling was already calling him.

Over the phone, Chi Ling’s voice was furious. “I’ve looked into it. That Song guy is under your company—deal with him immediately! This is outrageous! What do they take us for? Do they think Xinian has no one backing him, so they can just bully him like this?”

Before Chi Xiwen could speak, Chi Ling continued, “I’ll handle the Xia family. You take care of that man. Also, I don’t know if your mom has found out about this yet… if she has, make sure to comfort her and tell her not to worry. I just spoke to Officer Wang, the paternity test results will be out within three days at the latest.”

The villa was quiet. Tan Yao was sitting right next to Chi Xiwen. Chi Ling’s voice was loud enough that she had clearly heard everything.

Chi Xiwen glanced at her before responding, “Okay. I’ll take care of it.”

Chi Ling grunted in acknowledgment and hung up.

Chi Xiwen gripped his phone, silent for a few seconds, then couldn’t help but say, “Mom, you and Dad…”

“I just remembered,” Tan Yao interrupted him. “That Let’s Go Travel show—your company produces it, right? Tell the director to reschedule filming. Let Xinian rest and get his emotions in check. I remember Zhiyan and Xinian are close, right? Call him and ask him to check in on Xinian.”

Chi Xiwen knew Tan Yao was deliberately changing the subject.

She didn’t want to talk about Chi Ling.

He sighed subtly and nodded.

Indeed, just as Tan Yao said, the only one who could check on Xinian right now was Duan Zhiyan.

…

Even before Chi Xiwen called, Duan Zhiyan had already heard.

The livestream was still ongoing when his face suddenly changed.

He You received a call at the same time and immediately went over to have staff shut down the stream.

Before he could ask what to do, he saw Duan Zhiyan already standing up and saying, “Notify some media accounts, and see if Xia Huaiming has done anything else shady.”

He You nodded and went to make calls.

By the time Chi Xiwen’s call came in, Duan Zhiyan was already on his way to see Ye Xinian.

Chi Xiwen was very grateful. “Thank you.”

Duan Zhiyan simply said, “Xinian is my brother too.”

…

While everyone was worrying about Ye Xinian, he had just finished a phone call with Xie Yi.

After seeing the message Ye Xinian sent her, Xie Yi immediately opened the livestream. Even Xie Yi hadn’t expected things to explode like this. It went way too smoothly.

Seeing the online response, Xie Yi quickly realized this was a golden opportunity. If they played it right, Ye Xinian could rise to second-tier stardom within a month.

Who cares if he hasn’t worked out yet?

As long as the public liked him and fans sympathized with him, he would get access to better resources. Then getting good projects would be a matter of time.

What Xie Yi didn’t understand was, why would Ye Xinian give up this opportunity?

“Why?” Though a bit disappointed, Xie Yi always respected her artists’ choices.

Ye Xinian thought for a moment before saying, “Yi Jie, my goal from the beginning was just to expose those two traitors. Now that I’ve done that, I’m satisfied. Even if I don’t do anything else, their reputations are already ruined. That’s enough.”

He paused, then added, “As for becoming a second-tier star, even if I don’t reach that level right away, I will eventually if I keep working hard. I don’t want to be just another hype-based celebrity, I want more. Fame is important but hype alone won’t sustain a career.”

Xie Yi couldn’t help but smile.

She chuckled softly. “I knew signing you was the best decision I ever made. Ye Xinian, you’re different from every artist I’ve ever worked with. You will make it. Not just a flash in the pan, you’ll have staying power.”

Ye Xinian blushed slightly from the praise. “I’ll work hard.”

They both laughed.

Xie Yi returned to business afterward.

Since Ye Xinian didn’t want to exploit the scandal, so be it. However, they still couldn’t leave online discussions to grow unchecked. They needed to guide the narrative.

In the current entertainment industry, the internet was full of bots.

Though most of the public supported Ye Xinian, there were always shady accounts muddying the waters and Xia Huaiming was probably already paying off PR teams. Some might even try to paint Song Jing as a victim.

To avoid that, they had to release the evidence file that Ye Xinian had prepared earlier, as soon as possible. Ye Xinian had already sent it to her, so Xie Yi just had to hand it to a trustworthy gossip account.

However, before she could do that, another massive scandal about Xia Huaiming exploded online.

It came from a well-known entertainment forum. The poster didn’t say much, just dumped a pile of photos.

Netizens who clicked in were stunned.

There were 20 photos. Each one showed Xia Huaiming in intimate poses with different men and women. In some, he even had more than one person on his lap.

The poster left one line: 【These were all taken within the last three months. That’s all I’ve got for now. Honestly, when I saw Ye Xinian acting all sweet and innocent on the show, I wanted to say it—Xia Huaiming is known in our circles as a total playboy. Only someone as naive as Ye Xinian would think he was faithful.】

The post detonated the internet.

【How many more skeletons does this guy have?!】

【Disgusting.】

【The most repulsive scandal of the year…】

【Multiple partners while being in a relationship? Vomit.】

【So Song Jing was just one of many? Maybe he’s also a victim?】

【Nope, no whitewashing Song Jing. Don’t even try.】

【Get lost! That homewrecker is done!】

【Goodbye, Xia Scumbag. I was gonna buy a property from his family’s company. Nope. Not anymore.】

【Off-topic, but rich lady above, hi.】

…

Even before this post dropped, public opinion was already siding with Ye Xinian. After this? Even more sympathy flooded in.

【Xinian is too tragic…】

【Such a good person, and he meets scum like this?】

【In a way, at least he now sees their true faces.】

【But at what cost? Hugs for our angel Xinian!】

【He’ll be okay. He’ll never meet trash like this again!】

Meanwhile, Xia Huaiming saw the post while heading to the Xia estate.

In this internet age, news spreads like wildfire.

He hadn’t even left the Nanda apartment when his father called, screaming, “Your bed video landed on my phone! Are you trying to disgrace our whole family?!”

Only then did Xia Huaiming realize his little video had gone viral.

With a dark face, he immediately called his assistant, “Get the lawyers and PR on the phone. I want everyone who posted that video sued! Call Weibo and get them to delete it!”

After hanging up, he checked Weibo again.

His comments were flooded with hate, and the more he scrolled, the angrier he became.

Someone had even dug up his old photos.

Why should these people share his private photos?

Who he slept with was his business, what did it have to do with them?

Normally, he wouldn’t have lost control like this. But now, blinded by fury, he snapped.

Seeing even his WeChat friends mocking him pushed him over the edge.

Xia Huaiming logged into Weibo and posted:

@XiaHuaimingGMofXiaGroup¹gm means general manager: He wouldn’t let me sleep with him, so I can’t go find someone else? What, just because you people can’t get laid, that makes you more moral than me? Bunch of keyboard warriors, pathetic worms of the internet! One day, you’ll be begging me for a job. If you’ve got time to flame me, go work in a factory.

Netizens saw it and collectively lost their minds laughing in rage.

At the same time, someone was knocking on Ye Xinian’s door.

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  gm means general manager