SG 57

Like Lu Ran said about the domino effect, within two days, more influencers and big accounts reposted the clarification videos, and there were two versions from different angles. The truth became clearer, and it was obvious who had twisted things.

The temporary closure of Starfish Pottery added more fuel to the uproar. Many customers who had come after hearing of its reputation saw the notice and posted videos online asking what happened.

More people searched for the reason behind the closure. The first viral video that spread the false claims was clearly the source. More and more people began reposting the clarification videos, supporting the shop owner and joining the side condemning the unethical influencer.

When people online realized they had been manipulated, all the arrows they had fired turned around and hit back. This wasn’t just about one malicious influencer twisting facts anymore. Other shop owners and merchants who had gone through similar experiences stood up and revealed how they too had been threatened with bad reviews when they refused to give things for free.

The influencer who had posted the malicious review hadn’t expected the tide of public opinion to turn. For ordinary people, influencers were an overwhelming force, especially when that shop owner didn’t even have a personal account. A few days earlier, he had searched for the clarification videos and saw that they were posted by nobodies with almost no traffic. He thought they’d never make an impact.

His goal had been to hurt Starfish Pottery’s business during the golden week period, ruin its reputation, and teach the owner a lesson. He thought things had gone perfectly, but then in just two days, many high-traffic accounts started reposting the clarification videos, including ones shot from new angles.

The wave of public opinion hit him without warning. Within two days, he lost tens of thousands of followers. His account still showed hundreds of thousands of fans, but those leaving were the real, active ones who generated income.

Many people commented under his videos demanding he delete the posts and apologize. Even during live streams, crowds flooded in, and the screen filled with comments telling him to apologize. He had no choice but to end the live early and go offline.

At this point, deleting the videos and apologizing would mean admitting defeat. If he didn’t, the growing backlash would only get worse. He couldn’t swallow the humiliation of being publicly humiliated for the first time.

Soon people noticed that his original video had been deleted and replaced with a new one that looked like an apology but avoided the real issue.

He said it was wrong of him to break a plate, wrong of him to lose his temper and curse after being asked to leave the shop. Then he suddenly shifted the blame, saying that the shop owner’s boyfriend had hit him first and that his phone had fallen and cracked.

After that half-hearted apology, the video cut to a clip of him calling the owner an “idiot,” then a tall man punching him and pulling the shop owner into his arms.

The intent was obvious. If he had lost, he wasn’t going to let the other side walk away clean. If he couldn’t smear them indirectly, he’d do it openly, hinting that the shop owner was gay.

The reason he hadn’t shown that part before wasn’t out of kindness, but because he’d worried it would distract his followers and ruin the narrative. Since the purpose was to expose bad shops, including the owner’s private life would have made him look unprofessional. But now that things had gone this far, why bother pretending to have morals?

If that clip had been in the first video, it might have caused harm. But now that people no longer trusted him, posting it only made them hate him more.

The facts were right there, and he still tried to drag sexuality into it. So what if the owner was gay? What did that have to do with the fact that he freeloaded and lashed out when caught? The audience had just lacked context before. That didn’t mean they were idiots.

During an intermission at work, a few coworkers in the lounge scrolled through their phones and clicked their tongues.

“Heh, all that scheming, and a fool still outsmarts him. Can’t even apologize properly and now he’s playing the victim,” a female coworker scoffed after seeing the video.

“That freeloader influencer has no idea what’s going on. When people realize they’ve been used and made to attack someone unfairly, even his breathing will seem wrong to them. Trying to point out that the owner is gay now only makes people angrier. Whether he’s gay or not isn’t his business,” another woman said.

“Wait, listen to this comment. It’s gold.” A male coworker grinned and read from his phone. “So he’s gay, did he eat your rice, drink your tap water? You lack virtue, does your mom know? You broke the plate on purpose and insulted the owner. His boyfriend only punched you once, that’s restraint. Thank you, Ning, for showing us true love exists.”

Everyone laughed. The reversal felt good after days of frustration. When the laughter died down, the man frowned. “Wait, judging by everyone’s reaction, am I the last to find out that Xiao Chu and the shop owner are a couple?”

Chu Baiyan looked up from his glass of water and smiled. “We haven’t been together long. You’re not that late.”

“That’s unfair. I started working here six months before you, and I’m still single. How did you end up ahead of me?” the man complained.

“You two aren’t even in the same lane, what’s there to compare? Maybe you should try broadening your options, bend a little?” the woman teased.

“You can’t just decide to bend. But I’m fine with gay people. It’s their own choice whether they’re with a man or a woman. No one else should interfere.” He sighed. Changing lanes wasn’t that easy.

“Exactly. That influencer completely misread the situation. When the facts are already against him, dragging sexuality into it just shows what kind of person he is. Even those who dislike gay people won’t suddenly think he’s right just because the shop owner is gay.” The first woman lifted her phone.

“I checked the comment section. Everyone’s supporting Xiao Chu and the shop owner. There are more comments than likes. You don’t need to worry. The backlash has fully flipped. Even if your relationship’s out now, it won’t matter much. You might even get more customers who want to witness a ‘beautiful love story.’”

Another coworker comforted him. “There are tons of gay couple vloggers on that platform showing their daily life. That influencer just dug his own grave.”

Things unfolded exactly as they predicted. The shallow, manipulative “apology” video only made people angrier. Delayed justice was still justice. Supporters of the pottery shop, rainbow flag allies, and merchants who’d also been exploited all flooded the comments cursing him out.

The malicious influencer learned how powerless one person could be against public backlash. From that “apology” video onward, every comment section he had was flooded until he had to take down everything. His livestreams stopped, his followers dropped daily, and no one knew how long the fallout would last.

After watching the updates every day, Chu Baiyan could finally relax.

“In two days, the pottery shop can reopen.” That night, he pulled Yan Anqing into his arms in bed and kissed his nose.

“Will people still come take photos every day?” Yan Anqing held his neck and asked.

“We’ll see once it reopens. If someone visits but doesn’t disturb you, will you be scared?”

“The last time was fine, but I hope they don’t ask too many questions.” After staying home for several days, Yan Anqing didn’t want to deal with people. Painting and pottery were enough as long as he could stay quiet.

Chu Baiyan pressed his thumb to smooth the crease between Yan Anqing’s brows. “Don’t frown. Try it first. If it doesn’t work, I’ll hire someone for the afternoons. There’s always a way.”

“You remember that day the customer broke the plate? There were two guys in the shop too.”

Yan Anqing nodded. “I remember. They bought a lot.”

Chu Baiyan felt his neck itch where Anqing’s hair brushed it. “Yeah. One of them’s called Xiao Xia. He’s nice. He said he’ll drop by once you reopen.”

“Was he the one who said the guy who broke the plate deserved a beating?” Yan Anqing remembered him clearly.

“You’ve got a good memory.” Chu Baiyan lowered his head and bit lightly his lips. The pale lips glistened instantly.

“He… he spoke up for me.” Yan Anqing’s voice broke as his lower lip got caught between teeth.

A moment later, he couldn’t make any sound. Chu Baiyan held his waist and kissed him, their lips pressed tight together, tongues locked, and the unsaid words turned into muffled wet sounds.

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Even though the shop was closed, every morning Yan Anqing and Chu Baiyan still went to check and tidy up. Dust collected on the shelves even without customers. Since the reopening was near, they decided to spend some time giving it a thorough cleaning.

By Sunday, a week had passed since the closure. When they arrived, the A4 paper on the glass door that said “Temporarily Closed” was covered in handwritten notes from customers who had stopped by, all with kind words, encouragement, and wishes for the shop to reopen soon.

“Let’s reopen tomorrow. I’ve got the day off, so I can stay in the shop with you. If anything happens, I’ll be there.” Chu Baiyan unlocked the door. Morning light streamed through the windows, and in the beams they could see the fine dust floating in the air.

Yan Anqing answered “Mm” and went to the washroom to get a cloth. While they were halfway through cleaning, his phone rang in his coat pocket.

“Hello, Grandma.”

“Baby, are you busy today?”

“I’m cleaning. We’re reopening tomorrow.”

“Your mom’s here to see you. Since you’re closed today, come over for a bit.” Grandma found it strange. Aside from summer vacations and New Year, his mother rarely came back.

“Okay, I’ll come now.” Yan Anqing hung up, turned, and said to Chu Baiyan, “Grandma wants me to come over.”

“I’ll drive you.” Chu Baiyan put down the broom.

“No need, I’ll call a car. It’s quick.” Yan Anqing opened the ride app.

“Alright. I’ll finish up the cleaning then.” Chu Baiyan didn’t insist. He wanted to get the shop spotless so Yan Anqing wouldn’t have to do any more later.