ABOES 33: Public Opinion Reverses

After the family entered the police station and barely had time to say a few words, an officer came forward.

Ye Xinian’s adoptive parents had already been taken into separate interrogation rooms. Now it was Ye Xinian’s turn to give his statement.

Before going in, Ye Xinian couldn’t help but glance back at the three standing behind him.

Tan Yao’s eyes had been fixed on him the whole time. As soon as she noticed his look, she quickly gave him a gentle smile.

Chi Ling didn’t speak, only gave a small nod.

Chi Xiwen also smiled softly and said, “It’s okay. Xinian, just go give your statement. We’ll be waiting out here for you.”

Ye Xinian’s dark eyes flickered. His lashes trembled slightly. After a pause, he nodded. “Alright.”

As the door to the interview room closed, Tan Yao—who had been holding back her tears—couldn’t restrain them anymore. They came pouring out again. Her hand at her side clenched into a fist, her chest heaving. Through gritted teeth, she said, “I really… I wish I could kill those two myself!”

Chi Ling’s heart ached at the sight. He couldn’t help but put an arm around her shoulders and gently pulled her into his embrace.

This time, Tan Yao didn’t resist. With Ye Xinian not around, she didn’t hold anything back anymore and finally broke down in sobs.

Chi Ling’s eyes were red and bloodshot. As he gently patted her back in comfort, he whispered in her ear, “It’s okay now. It’s over. We’ve found Yunxing…”

“Whether it’s the traffickers or those so-called parents, the law will punish them. Don’t cry…”

Chi Xiwen opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end said nothing.

It was fine. With Chi Ling there, he didn’t need to worry.

Chi Xiwen turned and stepped out of the main hall, heading to the station entrance. He took out his phone and returned a call to Duan Zhiyan.

The phone had barely rung once when it was answered.

“How is it?” Duan Zhiyan’s voice was full of worry. “Where are you now? Did you see Xinian? Is he okay?”

Chi Xiwen let out a long sigh and rubbed his aching temples before briefly explaining the situation.

The more Duan Zhiyan heard, the deeper his frown became. Finally, he said, “I’m coming over now.”

Chi Xiwen was stunned for a moment. “Why are you coming here?” he asked. Then after a pause, “This is the police station. They just brought in a whole bunch of paparazzi too. What if someone catches a photo of you?”

Duan Zhiyan didn’t reply.

Chi Xiwen continued, “I know you don’t care about being photographed, but I don’t want anything else to go wrong right now.”

“Don’t worry,” he added. “My parents and I are all here. No one will be able to bully Xinian.”

Only then did Duan Zhiyan relax a little. “Good. What about the situation online, have you taken care of it?”

Chi Xiwen nodded. “Yes, it’s being handled. The official statement should be out within thirty minutes at the latest.”

“Alright.” Duan Zhiyan finally exhaled, reassured.

The two chatted for a bit longer, and then Chi Xiwen hung up.

Just as he turned to go back inside, he ran into Xie Yi walking out.

Seeing him, Xie Yi greeted him first. “President Chi.”

Chi Xiwen gave a slight nod in return.

When he noticed Xie Yi’s calm expression, he understood that she had already figured out the connection between Ye Xinian and their family.

He hadn’t intended to keep it from her anyway. As Xinian’s manager, she would have to know eventually. But just because she knew didn’t mean everyone needed to know.

“I’ve already got people handling the online situation,” Chi Xiwen said. “A statement will go out in half an hour. Xinian doesn’t need to respond to anything, just have your PR team monitor public sentiment. If you’re short on staff, our company’s PR team is on standby to assist anytime.”

Xie Yi was a little surprised but also understood just how much Chi Xiwen cared about Ye Xinian.

She nodded. “Got it,” Then before Chi Xiwen could speak again, she added, “Don’t worry about what happened today, President Chi. Besides me and Chu Wen, no one else will know.”

Chi Xiwen liked dealing with smart people. He nodded. “Mm. Thank you for taking care of Xinian these past few days.”

Xie Yi smiled lightly. “It’s my job. And honestly, it hasn’t just been me.”

She was referring to the company’s public statement from before.

Chi Xiwen smiled faintly but said no more.

Xinian was his younger brother. Of course he would protect him—with everything he had, now and always.

——

It had been nearly two hours since the self-media livestream fiasco ended. During that time, while some fans and netizens chose to believe Ye Xinian, many more remained skeptical.

Especially since Ye Xinian’s adoptive parents had spent quite a bit of money to stir the pot, a wave of trolls and paid posters were still flooding the internet with smear campaigns.

No matter the platform—Weibo, Tieba, forums—anywhere you looked, there were trending posts.

Open any of those posts, and you’d see comments almost entirely filled with accusations of Ye Xinian being an ungrateful backstabber.

Fans couldn’t stand it and rushed to defend him.

【Are you serious? Did none of you watch the livestream just now? He called the police! His adoptive parents bought him and abused him throughout his childhood. How can you just blindly believe their story?】

But the paid trolls replied just as fast:

【Aren’t you also blindly believing just one side?】

【LOL, by your logic, what Ye Xinian said is just “one side” too. Where’s your proof?】

【There’s no solid evidence of human trafficking. I think he was abandoned, and his adoptive parents took him in—and now he’s biting the hand that fed him.】

【No matter what, I could never imagine getting famous and then throwing my parents away. I’ll never forgive someone like Ye Xinian.】

And so on.

These kinds of malicious posts were everywhere.

Of course, not everyone bought into it. Some netizens stayed neutral and started digging up old info about Ye Xinian.

They actually found some telling pieces.

The one that gained the most traction came from someone claiming to be a former high school classmate of Ye Xinian:

【@Anonymous: Let me put it this way—our high school didn’t require uniforms, but Ye Xinian wore his uniform every single day for all three years.

I don’t know what his family was like, but I know he often had dinner at our homeroom teacher’s place.

When he didn’t, he’d buy a single steamed bun at the cafeteria.

While the rest of us bought snacks and drinks between classes, I never once saw him with any. Not even a single bottle of water.

There are many more examples like this. At our school, none of this was a secret. Anyone who knew Ye Xinian knew these things.】

If that was all, it might not have convinced anyone. But this user also posted a photo of Ye Xinian in his school uniform.

The boy in the photo looked young and thin, his head bent over his homework. The photo was clear enough to show the faded blue shirt collar under the uniform, washed so many times it had lost its color.

Netizens were stunned.

【Holy crap… now I’m starting to believe him.】

【Not just the shirt—look at his shoes. They’re torn!】

【God, he was so skinny…】

【His face is pale, and he looks short for his age. He probably wasn’t getting enough to eat.】

…

Though more and more people were beginning to speak up for Ye Xinian, the smear campaign didn’t let up. Until Yunxing Entertainment posted an official statement.

The company account posted a list naming over a hundred media outlets and marketing accounts, with just one sentence:

“Legal notices have been sent. See you in court.”

Fans who supported Ye Xinian teared up on the spot.

【I’m sobbing!!! Yunxing Entertainment, you’re the best!】

【The speed! Their legal team is amazing!】

【Sue them all!!!】

【So sick of those smear campaigns. I support this!】

【Finally standing tall! Thank you, Yunxing, for backing Xinian!】

…

Most of the media accounts targeted were just doing it for money. Once the threat of legal consequences became real, many quickly deleted their smear posts.

But a few still didn’t take Yunxing’s threat seriously and kept fanning the flames.

These were industry veterans, used to companies who made big threats but never followed through. In their minds, Yunxing was bluffing too.

Until…

Haishi Public Security Bureau released an official statement:

@HaishiPoliceOnline: Two weeks ago, a suspect involved in trafficking multiple children was successfully apprehended in Luzhou.

Through interrogation, the suspect confessed and provided details about the victims.

Upon cross-checking the data, local police discovered that one of the victims was a boy abducted seventeen years ago in our city.

The police contacted the boy and his biological family. DNA testing confirmed his identity.

Today, the two suspects involved in the purchase of the child have been successfully arrested.

The case is currently under further investigation.

The internet exploded.

【What???】

【Highlight: “Two suspects arrested TODAY for child trafficking.” It’s all true! Everything matches!】

【This is irrefutable proof.】

【Holy—he’s talking about Xinian, isn’t he?!】

【No doubt. It’s him!】

【So the earlier claims were true. His childhood must have been hell…】

【This is heartbreaking…】

【Damn traffickers!】

【Xinian’s life has been so tragic!】

【Where are all those accounts that smeared him? Get out here and apologize!】

…

At last, public opinion had completely turned around.