After the livestream ended, fans’ excitement had no outlet and refocused on the mess at Shengyu Entertainment. Lu Xianqing hadn’t mentioned the contract at all; he’d only revealed their relationship, leaving the remaining chaos for He Xing to handle. She was grateful he hadn’t interfered.
As she tried to regroup, someone shouted, “Wait—who’s using the official account?”
He Xing glanced down to see the official Mingfei Entertainment Weibo posting:
“Fourth Sister-in-law, when are you marrying our Fourth Brother? I’ll offer two fifty as dowry.”
Fuming, He Xing yelled, “Mingfei, are you insane? You’re making a scene on purpose, aren’t you?!”
Mingfei, walking past, noticed her rage and smirked, remembering the days she had mentored him. Waving his phone at her, he teased, “Tell Lu Xianqing he doesn’t need to thank me—but if he must, he can kowtow to me.”
He Xing ripped off her high heels and threw them; Mingfei dodged, grinning at his team, “Let’s go, guys. Do your best!”
She ignored him and returned to directing the PR team’s strategy. Though Lu Xianqing’s bold move had shifted public opinion, Qin Sizheng’s exploitative contract remained a critical issue.
“Someone like Xu Zhiliang thinks money can solve everything. He won’t hide—evidence will be easy to find.”
“Xu Zhan secretly blocked many of Qin Sizheng’s jobs to favor two of his juniors. And that recording? The key point is he tricked Qin Sizheng to the company over a termination rumor.”
One team member asked, “Xu Zhan made mistakes, but what about the two junior artists? Will this hurt their careers if exposed?”
He Xing glared, “They took advantage of Qin Sizheng—they should pay the price. Why let them enjoy a free ride? If they had any conscience, why not speak out for Qin Sizheng? Just eat and leave the bowl empty?”
No one dared respond.
He Xing, a veteran of Mingfei Entertainment and the only one who dared to scold its towering figure, set the pace. Half an hour later, the team quickly released evidence: Xu Zhiliang had harassed young artists, using contracts to coerce them, threatened them, and abused them in every way imaginable. Victims came forward one by one.
Xu Zhan had obstructed Qin Sizheng’s work, forcing him into grueling, low-tier commercial gigs, while leaving his exploitative, unequal contract in place. Threats of retaliation accompanied the exposure.
The narrative shifted firmly in their favor; victims spoke out, fans empathized, and some even praised the punch Qin Sizheng had landed.
He Xing logged into Mingfei Entertainment’s official account. Seeing Mingfei’s previous cheeky post, she nearly couldn’t contain herself. Opening a new post, she typed:
“Mr. Lu Xianqing has always respected industry contracts. Despite the unfair terms Mr. Qin Sizheng faced—which would be unreasonable in any field—both Mr. Lu Xianqing and Mr. Qin Sizheng hoped to resolve this amicably. They did not publicize the contract, yet their repeated concessions only encouraged further exploitation.
Mr. Qin Sizheng, signed at age fourteen, lacked the judgment to discern deceit and trusted the contract and Mr. Xu Zhan implicitly. His diligent work was met with betrayal: secret recordings, home surveillance, public defamation, and harassment.
Our company hereby represents…”
The post framed Lu Xianqing and Qin Sizheng squarely as victims, highlighting their patience and endurance.
Qin Sizheng glanced at Lu Xianqing. “Fourth Brother, are you really taking all this?”
When had he ever endured such grievances? Qin Sizheng doubted Lu Xianqing would approach Xu Zhiliang amicably—especially after he had touched his thigh. Could he really forgive Xu Zhiliang?
Before he could ponder further, Lu Xianqing pressed him onto the sofa, smiling with a mischievous glint at the corner of his eyes.
“Leave all that to He Xing. Let’s handle something else.”
“W-what ‘something else’?”
“You tell me,” Lu Xianqing said, gripping his chin, a dangerous glint hiding in his smile. Qin Sizheng felt a shiver run down the back of his neck. He shifted nervously, only to get a playful smack on his rear—instantly freezing in place.
“Fourth Brother, I know I was wrong!”
“Wrong where?”
Qin Sizheng hesitated, unsure which part he was most concerned about, so he listed everything. “I shouldn’t have clashed with Xu Zhiliang and made such a scene. I should have left when he touched my leg. I shouldn’t have hidden things from you, I shouldn’t have said we weren’t close, I shouldn’t have…”
“Qin Sizheng,” Lu Xianqing said, his smile softening, warmth in his eyes.
Qin Sizheng’s heart skipped; he cautiously raised a hand. “Yes.”
“Touched where?”
Knowing Lu Xianqing was a jealous sort—last night’s teasing alone had driven him nearly mad—Qin Sizheng bit his lip, took Lu Xianqing’s hand, and placed it on the spot Xu Zhiliang had grazed, then buried his face in the crook of Lu Xianqing’s neck. He wanted to please him.
Lu Xianqing was surprised. Qin Sizheng usually blushed easily and only submitted after being pressured. But now, he seemed genuinely afraid of Lu Xianqing punishing him—last night had scared him enough.
Shen Changfeng, packing up his computer, looked up to see Qin Sizheng nuzzling into Lu Xianqing’s chest, the tips of his ears red, faint bite and kiss marks on his collarbone. Flustered, he muttered, “Uh… I’ll just, uh… step away.”
Remembering Shen Changfeng was there, Qin Sizheng tried to get up, but Lu Xianqing pressed him back onto the sofa, grabbed his ear, and flicked his tongue across it. Qin Sizheng shivered instantly, and Lu Xianqing laughed.
“Wow, whose little cat is so sensitive? Just a touch and trembling.”
Qin Sizheng, pinned in place, glanced toward Shen Changfeng heading to the kitchen and whispered, “Fourth Brother, there’s someone here. You should—”
“Where do you want me to go?” Lu Xianqing interrupted, voice low and teasing.
“No, I mean… let’s go back to the room, okay? Changfeng will hear.”
Lu Xianqing ignored him, keeping him pressed close, forcing him to recall everyone who had touched him. Qin Sizheng felt Lu Xianqing’s fingers press through his clothes near his groin, making him weak. He recalled with difficulty, “Um… no one else touched me… You-Si only touched my hand, does that count?”
“It counts.”
“…Hand doesn’t count!” Qin Sizheng tried to pull Lu Xianqing’s hand away, keeping his voice low since Shen Changfeng could still see.
“Shi Jianhu only touched me once. I avoided it… Chen Qiu, who lives with me sometimes plays on my bed, sometimes hugs me by the shoulders—nothing else. Shi Jianhu was only slightly intimate during photoshoots; the night of the gala was the third time.”
Lu Xianqing softened, touched by his obedience, but the more gentle Qin Sizheng was, the more he wanted to tease him. He pressed against his ear. “Little Tomato hugs you to sleep, bathes with you, can even kiss you whenever.”
“Little Tomato is only four! How are you even jealous of him?”
Lu Xianqing smiled. Qin Sizheng realized he was just finding an excuse to tease him. He pushed him away and sat up. “Then what about those scenes you filmed with others? I haven’t settled that yet.”
“Come on, let’s review the past. I’ll list everyone who shook my hand, to punish me,” Lu Xianqing spread his arms, daring him to challenge.
Qin Sizheng avoided his gaze. “I’m not counting that. I’m not like you—I even get jealous of kids.”
“I am! I’m petty. If anyone touches you again, I’ll… deal with them,” Lu Xianqing said, half-joking. He hooked a finger at Qin Sizheng. “When I film scenes with others, I never force it. Only you saw me lose control. Last night was my first time. Thanks for your tolerance, Yan Yan.”
Qin Sizheng, being with him for a while, felt a different nuance in that ‘tolerance’ and pushed him. “Don’t go overboard. Watch your limits.”
Lu Xianqing arched a brow. “Who said I’m overboard? I said tolerance. Why are you thinking dirty? Well… the tolerance there…”
Qin Sizheng clamped his hand over Lu Xianqing’s mouth. He licked his palm, eyes closed, letting out a low, husky breath, reminiscent of the previous night’s peak.
Qin Sizheng quickly withdrew his hand, seeing Lu Xianqing smile and finish, “Not bad, really. Even though I said I couldn’t finish it, I ate it all. Every drop counts—no waste.”
“I need to go to the bathroom,” Qin Sizheng muttered, desperate for a break. Footsteps followed, and before he could move, someone grabbed his wrist.
“I’m coming too.”
“There’s only one bathroom. You’ll have to wait.” Qin Sizheng tried to pull away, but Lu Xianqing held him fast, stepping back until they reached the storage shelf.
“I’m not waiting,” Lu Xianqing said, pressing his fingers to the inside of Qin Sizheng’s wrist, one hand supporting his waist. “They said you hid some of my things. Show me.”
“I didn’t hide anything. They’re lying,” Qin Sizheng’s eyes darted around, avoiding him.
“Then I’ll find out myself,” Lu Xianqing said, hooking his arm around his waist and opening a drawer. Inside lay a matching R-ring. He picked it up with a low, impressed “Whoa.”
“Yan Yan,” Qin Sizheng said, his face flushed, reaching for it.
Lu Xianqing held it high, the ring dangling from his fingertip, exuding a subtle, irresistible charm.
“What’s this? And a pin? What’s it for?” he asked, hugging Qin Sizheng’s waist, like a curious child.
Qin Sizheng whispered, “You already know I’m asking on purpose.”
“I knew? I did not know. I only have one ring like that, and I wear it on my hand. I have no idea why it ended up like this. Where exactly is it worn?”
Lu Xianqing reached out, sliding his hand down from Qin Sizheng’s chin to a certain spot, tapping lightly as though knocking on a door.
A bad premonition shot through Qin Sizheng. The hair on his arms stood up. “Fourth Brother!”
Lu Xianqing brought two fingers together and gave a sharp tug.
“Mm—!”
Qin Sizheng’s legs went weak. He stumbled forward into Lu Xianqing’s arms, biting his lip until it turned pale.
Lu Xianqing liked this instinctive reaction of his. His fingertips pinched and twisted hard, then squeezed firmly. Feeling the other man’s pained gasp and trembling brought him both physical and emotional satisfaction.
“What is it? Tell me and I will let you off.” His voice dropped into a coaxing murmur, then turned cold in the next second, threatening. “Otherwise, I will tear it.”
Qin Sizheng could not say it out loud. He gritted his teeth and refused, which instead gave the other man a perfectly legitimate excuse.
“Then let us see just how stubborn Yanyan’s mouth is.”
Lu Xianqing’s fingers were deft—pressing, rolling, pinching—driving Qin Sizheng to the brink of collapse, forcing broken sounds from his throat.
“Fo—mm… Fourth Brother, I will tell you.” The moment the words left his mouth, Qin Sizheng startled himself and clamped his lips shut again. Just then, something crashed in the kitchen, and his whole body froze.
Shen Changfeng was still there. He might have heard everything!
Qin Sizheng’s face was already burning red. He struggled to lift his head and leaned close to Lu Xianqing’s ear, lowering his voice to the barest whisper, breath brushing against his ear.
“It is… it is a ring. I like you, but I did not dare wear it on my hand, so I had it… done there.” After saying it, he wished the ground would swallow him. His head dropped lower and lower. It sounded like he murmured, “Let go,” but it was barely audible.
Lu Xianqing released him, though he could still feel him trembling. He wrapped an arm around him as he slumped against his chest and laughed softly. “Why are you still shaking? Does it feel that good? Want me to do it again?”
Qin Sizheng immediately covered himself with his hand. “No more! It does not feel good at all.”
Lu Xianqing snorted. “You know it does not feel good, yet last night you were biting me there? Anyone who did not know better would think you were not weaned yet. Will you dare bite me again next time?”
“I will not,” Qin Sizheng thought silently. When he had accidentally bitten him last night, he had not seemed angry at all.
Lu Xianqing then pulled out several other items—necklaces he had worn before, watches, glasses, even a suit he had once worn. He could not help being stunned.
This little obsessive fan.
“You like me to this extent, so why did you keep your distance afterward? Did you stop being a fan? Turn from fan to anti? So every time you saw me, you hit me? You hit pretty hard too. Not an ounce of mercy.”
Qin Sizheng immediately threatened him, “You said you would not hold grudges. No digging up old scores. If you find another excuse to bully me, I will hit you! You know my punches are heavy!”
“I am not holding a grudge.” Lu Xianqing picked up a pair of glasses and asked, “Watches and necklaces were sponsorships. They were auctioned off later for charity. I do not think I ever donated these glasses. Where did you get them? One of the legs is broken.”
Qin Sizheng’s memory of the original storyline was hazy. He vaguely remembered sneaking to one of his performances. When Lu Xianqing came out, he had seemed angry and tossed the glasses into An Ning’s arms. Someone shoved her, and the glasses fell right in front of him.
He had injured his hand when he bent down to pick them up.
Lu Xianqing set the glasses down and picked up something else. He pressed a button. The top half suddenly began to rotate and vibrate.
“……………………”
Qin Sizheng snatched it back and hurriedly turned it off—only to switch to another mode, which buzzed even louder. Mortified, he pressed several buttons in quick succession before it finally went quiet.
Lu Xianqing lifted the corner of his eyes, watching him with leisurely amusement.
Qin Sizheng tossed the thing into the drawer and slammed it shut with a bang, then solemnly shifted the blame onto You Si. “I have a friend who makes these. He, um… he asked me to test the quality for him. I have not used it. Really!”
Lu Xianqing folded his arms with a smile. “Mm?”
“Fine, I used it. I swear, only once!” The day Qin Sizheng arrived, he had happened to be wearing it. He had been so frightened that when Xu Zhao showed up, he instinctively turned it off and tossed it into the drawer, then forgot about it.
Last time he cleaned up, he had asked You Si to take everything away—except he had forgotten this one.
“No wonder you do not like me anymore. Turns out Yanyan has so many fun toys. I cannot even compete with something rechargeable.” Lu Xianqing’s voice turned aggrieved. He sighed and even feigned a trace of hurt.
Qin Sizheng grabbed his hand and coaxed softly, “Gege.”
That single word felt like a brand pressed against Lu Xianqing’s heart, making it tingle. He could not help wanting to kiss him again. Before the thought fully formed, his hand was already resting on Qin Sizheng’s lips.
Qin Sizheng recognized the meaning behind that look immediately and pressed a hand against Lu Xianqing’s mouth. “Fourth Brother, wait. I need to make a phone call!”
“Who are you calling? A man or a woman? Better-looking than me?”
Qin Sizheng: “… I am calling Sister He Xing. I caused her so much trouble. I need to thank her and apologize. And… I should call Auntie too.”
Lu Xianqing was slightly surprised. He himself had not even thought of telling Ye Xu about what happened today. She never paid much attention to the entertainment industry and would not change her opinion of Qin Sizheng because of this. There did not seem to be any need.
“What are you going to say to her?”
Qin Sizheng pursed his lips. “Even though Auntie allowed us to be together, things blew up like this. I still want to apologize. I do not know if it will cause her trouble. With our identities, there are many antis who are not exactly rational.”
And at that very moment, people had indeed found Ye Xu’s company and surrounded the entrance so tightly that not even water could pass through. They were asking her, with ill intentions, what she thought about Lu Xianqing publicly coming out.
On the surface it looked like questioning. In truth, it was stirring up trouble. Solo fans and antis were mixed together. Their main purpose was to break them apart and ruin them, with even more people simply enjoying the chaos.
The secretary tried desperately to block them, shouting for security at the top of her lungs, all decorum forgotten.
Ye Xu could not be bothered with them and was about to leave in another direction. If necessary, she would just return to the company and work overtime.
Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, “Your own son likes men—and not just any man, but someone who used to be his rival, someone who had been secretly obsessing over him for years. Do you not find that disgusting?”
Ye Xu stopped in her tracks. She pushed aside the secretary who was shielding her and looked toward the crowd.
She lifted her hand in a casual downward gesture, the same one she used in meetings to call for silence. Years in a position of authority had given her an innate air of competence and command. Though she looked young, the force of her presence was unmistakable.
The crowd quieted at once.
Standing high on the steps, Ye Xu let out a short laugh. “My son came out, and I am not even worked up. Why are you? What business is it of yours? If you have that much free time, go tear down the little ads pasted on telephone poles instead of meddling in my family’s affairs.”
The secretary’s eyes widened in shock. She had never heard Ye Xu swear before.
“Are you just putting on a brave front? You are the president of such a large company. Is it really appropriate to curse in public? Do you not care about the company’s image?”
Ye Xu clicked her tongue, looking genuinely puzzled, leaving the crowd exchanging confused glances.
What did that expression mean?
“You insult my son and expect me to praise you?” she said. “Are you all right? Tell me—what company’s image depends on pleasing people who insult it? The image of my company is simple: if you dare to humiliate my people, I will fight you to the end.”
An uproar broke out.
With one hand on her hip, Ye Xu sneered at them. “I advise you to disperse immediately. Do not block my employees from getting to and from work. If even one person gets hurt, I will make sure you pay until you are left without a pair of pants.”
“Now get lost.”
Carrying her bag, her high heels steady and firm, Ye Xu descended the steps. The crowd automatically parted to make way.
At the end of the path stood Lu Mingxun. He had changed out of his usual Zhongshan suit into a light gray T-shirt and black trousers. His posture was still upright and proper, just as before.
Ye Xu paused for a moment. Then she chose to walk past him and get into her car. The secretary followed closely behind and thought she saw President Ye tilt her head slightly to glance at him through the rearview mirror.
“Do you know him, President Ye?”
Ye Xu withdrew her gaze. “Oh, no. I do not.”
Just then her phone rang. She instantly put on a bright smile as she answered. “Oh, sweetheart, are you done with everything? Do you need Mommy’s help? Do not be shy.”
Qin Sizheng sounded apologetic. “Mommy, I am sorry. I saw people causing trouble at your company. Will it affect you or the company?”
Ye Xu smiled. “You saw that? Did you see Mommy scold them? Was I not cool?”
“….” Qin Sizheng felt a little embarrassed to nod, worried about encouraging bad habits.
He had thought Lu Xianqing suddenly kissing him on camera and forcing him to confess his feelings during a livestream was crazy. Now he realized that kind of madness did not come from nowhere.
As the old saying went, like mother, like son. Qin Sizheng once again witnessed the power of genetics.
“My son has made it public—good. Now you can openly call me Mommy,” Ye Xu said dreamily, already planning wedding venues, guest lists, and creative ideas in her head.
“What about two sets of wedding outfits? One white and one black? That feels a little few—let us add a red one. Sweetheart, you are so fair, you would look good in red. Or maybe tomorrow we can scout a place to take wedding photos?”
“You are so pretty—why not wear a wedding dress? Xianqing could too. A girl at my company got married recently; she wore a suit and her husband wore a wedding dress. I was so envious. I have never worn one in my life. Just thinking about it makes me feel wronged.”
Qin Sizheng knew she was divorced, but not the details. He suddenly felt a pang of sympathy.
“Good, it is settled,” Ye Xu declared.
Lu Xianqing sucked in a breath. “That is not necessary, is it? They do not even make wedding dresses in my size.”
“No need to worry. I have Yalusi design. I will have her create it personally. I guarantee you will look breathtaking.”
Lu Xianqing looked irritated. “All right, that is enough.”
Ye Xu seemed able to picture the scene already, her face glowing with excitement. “Oh, sweetheart, after you get married, move back home. I will renovate the house for you. Then I will have people design matching outfits for you every day so when you go out, everyone will know at a glance that you belong together. What do you think?”
Qin Sizheng was blushing so hard he nearly buried his face in himself. In a soft, clingy voice, he said, “We will listen to Mommy.”
Lu Xianqing could not take it anymore. He wrapped an arm around Qin Sizheng’s waist and pulled him into his embrace, resting his chin on his shoulder as he spoke toward the camera. “That is enough. Are you ever going to stop teasing? If you have no serious business, we are hanging up. He is busy.”
Only then did Ye Xu remember the important matter. “Sweetheart, do not be afraid. I am in business. Your industry cannot affect me.”
Qin Sizheng nodded, then suddenly recalled the man who had briefly appeared in the earlier video and grew tense again. “I heard from You Si that Uncle is the top official in Yu Province. What about him?”
“Ah?” Ye Xu glanced at Lu Xianqing, who was holding Qin Sizheng’s waist and pretending to look fierce. “You did not tell him?”
Qin Sizheng turned to look at him.
Keeping the same position, Lu Xianqing tilted his head and kissed his ear lightly, smiling as he explained, “That is just a rumor. My father works at the Jiangcheng Criminal Investigation Bureau. He was a police officer for a few years. He is not that high-ranking.”
Qin Sizheng still felt the position was not insignificant. Even if it was not high-ranking, it might still be affected.
Ye Xu had no idea they had already spoken over the phone before, nor did she know about Qin Sizheng’s earlier teasing remark. After a pause, she said, “I still have some matters at the company. I will talk to you later.”
After hanging up, she instructed, “Head back.”
—
He Xing had already brought public opinion completely under control. From Qin Sizheng’s use of force, to Xu Zhiliang’s injury report, to the contract termination dispute, to his secret crush on Lu Xianqing—what had seemed like an uncontrollable tidal wave shifted direction entirely within just four hours.
Xu Zhao knew he was finished.
Qin Sizheng used that single bargaining chip to win everything.
From the moment Lu Xianqing appeared, Xu Zhao knew Qin Sizheng stood in an invincible position. He simply had not expected Lu Xianqing to go that far—kissing him in front of the media and cutting off every possible retreat.
Now he still had one last card to play: Qin Sizheng’s contract.
Unless Lu Xianqing intended to keep him outright, as long as he wanted Qin Sizheng to remain in the industry, he would have to negotiate with Sheng Entertainment.
Xu Zhao tried to calm Xu Zhiliang, only to be slapped and kicked. “Damn you! You told me Qin Sizheng wanted to amend his contract. And now? I got beaten by him, Mingfei Entertainment has stepped in, and you know who He Xing is? Do you think she is someone easy to deal with?”
Of course Xu Zhao knew. He clenched his teeth and endured the slap. He still needed to stay at Sheng Entertainment.
If he lost this job, it would be nearly impossible for him to survive in this circle.
“President Xu, do not worry. As long as Qin Sizheng’s contract is in your hands, she will have to come begging you!” Xu Zhao was confident. He understood Lu Xianqing and He Xing well.
Those two were ruthless. Even if they did not care about financially supporting Qin Sizheng, Lu Xianqing could not tolerate this. He would secure Qin Sizheng’s freedom at any cost.
Xu Zhiliang felt irritated just looking at him. Public opinion had completely shifted in Qin Sizheng’s favor. Even the minor celebrities he had once toyed with dared to step forward and condemn him.
He had even been named by official media. Between the lines was a call to severely punish the unhealthy practice of exploiting industry rules. Even the tax bureau had begun investigating his company’s finances.
Xu Zhiliang was furious. “All these years, how much trouble has Qin Sizheng caused me? This is all your fault! Who told you to sign him?”
Xu Zhao sneered inwardly. Without Qin Sizheng these past years, Sheng Entertainment might have collapsed long ago.
The phone rang incessantly. Xu Zhiliang yanked the cord out of the wall, but his cell phone rang again. He answered irritably, “Stop calling! I have nothing to say!”
“Mr. Xu Zhiliang, we have found issues with your company’s accounts, as well as details regarding tax payments that require verification.” The voice on the other end was calm, businesslike, with a trace of cold disdain.
Xu Zhiliang immediately softened his tone. “Oh, it is you. The media has been hounding me nonstop, I spoke a bit harshly. I will have the company’s tax department coordinate with you, all right?”
…
He hung up and immediately heard a knock at the door. The head of the publicity department, looking anxious, said, “The film that was scheduled for release has just been postponed indefinitely.”
Xu Zhiliang shot to his feet. “What do you mean?”
“The film the company invested in cannot be released. It failed to pass review due to content issues.” The department head finished speaking and looked at him cautiously, afraid he would vent his anger on her.
“Get out! All of you, get out!” Xu Zhiliang grabbed a crystal ornament and hurled it at the door. The woman shut her eyes as it shattered against the door, fragments splashing onto her hand.
Content issues? Xu Zhiliang knew perfectly well someone was interfering behind the scenes. The script had already been submitted for approval before filming began. Even if it failed review now, it should at most require edits before release. An outright withdrawal?
The film had cost an enormous sum. If it could not be released, he would suffer severe losses. He called out to the department head again. “What about the other film?”
“President Xu, I think the other one will not be released either. Because you were criticized by official media and the company is under tax investigation, nothing will likely be released until the investigation concludes. And the talent competition show—I already received a call. They have decided to disband and restructure the team. They also said…”
“Said what?”
“They said Mingfei Entertainment has invested in them. The mentors have already been decided. And they asked me to pass along a message—if our artists have nowhere to go, they are welcome to participate.”