The promotional video for the show was filmed for a whole day, and the director didn't let them go until the afternoon. Xi Nian had just changed his clothes and was about to leave when he was blocked at the door by Sister Jian. She seemed to have run all the way, holding up her phone and saying breathlessly, "Xi... Xi Nian, have you seen Weibo? Su Ge's fans are causing a scene!"

Hearing this, Xi Nian's first reaction was that he was being dragged into another fan war. But Sister Jian seemed to have read his mind and quickly waved her hands to explain, "It's not about you this time. It's their own internal strife. Hurry up and check Weibo, you'll see."

Xi Nian immediately logged into Weibo and finally understood what had happened. In short, it was a case of "injustice" that had been accidentally exposed.

With Shen Xilin's major accident and the fuss her manager kicked up, there was no way the media wouldn't get the news. Once it spread, almost the entire internet knew, and the fans were in an uproar.

The damaged competition uniform was kept in the locker room, but the CCTV at the door had been deliberately damaged and didn't capture the culprit. Someone had dug up the sports arena's surveillance video, hoping to identify the perpetrator by screening the people passing through the corridor. However, this dig didn't matter; not only was the culprit not found, but it exposed Su Ge.

It was a very short video, and its content wasn't thrilling, but in the eyes of the fans, it was more chilling than any malicious words.

In the footage, a man, surrounded by his assistants, walked towards the elevator. From the custom suit he was wearing, someone identified him as Su Ge. He was holding a blue gift box, and as he passed a trash can, he opened it, glanced inside, and then tossed it in directly.

The action was light, swift, and clean.

The audio in the video wasn't very clear, but if one listened closely, a few sentences of conversation between Su Ge and his assistant could be faintly heard.

—After all, it was a gift from a fan... throwing it away... what a waste...

—What's there to waste... on the street... there are plenty...

They left quickly, their backs disappearing at the end of the corridor.

To ordinary netizens, this was at most a matter of poor character. They'd scold him a bit, have a laugh, and then move on, not worth taking to heart. But unexpectedly, this time, while everyone else let Su Ge off the hook, his fans did not.

First, as was typical of Su Ge's fans, they suspected the video was photoshopped and immediately had it authenticated. But it showed no signs of tampering. Then they started chattering among themselves, arguing that the video wasn't clear enough to see properly, that maybe what was thrown away wasn't a fan's gift, maybe it was just an ordinary box.

They came up with a thousand and one excuses. However, just then, one of Su Ge's biggest fans, [Su Xixi], silently changed her profile picture to black. All her Weibo posts were deleted, leaving only a short new post.

[@Su Xixi

To be honest, I never thought I would say goodbye to Su Ge in this way. He debuted at seventeen and is twenty-seven this year. I've been a fan for a whole ten years. It feels neither long nor short.

I've seen the video, and there's no need for everyone to guess wildly anymore. The thing Su Ge threw away was indeed a gift.

Because I gave it to him myself. A blue box with white polka dots and a yellow ribbon. Inside was a glass bottle filled with 9,999 hand-folded stars. It took me two years to fold them.

Maybe it was too cheap and worthless, so it got thrown away.

When I saw the video, I sat in front of my computer for a whole afternoon, feeling like a fool.

It's a lie to say my heart doesn't hurt, but I also suddenly feel a sense of relief. Actually, all these years, helping him maintain his reputation, staying up all night to suppress negative news and fight off anti-fans—I didn't realize it, but I was already very tired. Especially when the evidence is conclusive, and I still have to help him find excuses, deceiving myself and others...

There's so much more I want to say, but I don't know what to say anymore. I'll treat this post as a farewell to everyone. This account will no longer be used.

Finally, I want to apologize to everyone I have ever innocently attacked. Also, thank you to the person who was willing to pick it up...]

Su Xixi was a ten-year veteran fan of Su Ge, an absolute old guard figure. Her quiet post was like a clap of thunder on a clear day. The Gezi Fans looked at each other, at a loss for words.

In the past, they could still find excuses for Su Ge, but this time, the knife was stabbed directly into them. Should they continue to protect him?

A civil war broke out among the Gezi Fans. A major fan leader was the first to quit, coldly dropping a single sentence as she left the group chat: I don't want my affection to be treated like trash and trampled on the ground. If you like him, you can continue to be his fans. I'm out.

Netizens weren't clear on what happened within their internal fan groups, only that over the course of a day, several of Su Ge's support groups quietly disbanded. One of the major fan sites also announced it was going dark. His Weibo follower count plummeted, leaving only a small, isolated group of people.

While enjoying the drama, netizens also noticed the last sentence in Su Xixi's post and began to dig into who she was talking about. Who would have thought the case would be solved in less than a minute.

[You'll know who it is if you watch the whole video. You'll never guess this person.]

Hearing this, people didn't understand what had happened and had to patiently go back and watch the second half of the video. Only then were they surprised to discover that the person who picked up the gift was actually Xi Nian.

In the audience's memory, he was silent most of the time. He didn't make a sound when he was attacked, nor did he when he was bullied. He was always surrounded by countless controversies, leading to a terrible public image. But it was this most unlikely person who did the most unexpected thing.

In the footage, not long after Su Ge left, a figure appeared in the corridor at the corner. It was none other than Xi Nian. He was probably planning to take the elevator after the competition, but he happened to see Su Ge throwing the item away. So while waiting for the elevator, his gaze kept drifting to the trash can.

Anyone could see his hesitation.

However, after a few seconds, Xi Nian turned back after all. Probably out of pity, he crouched beside the filthy trash can and patiently searched for a long time before finally finding the glass bottle. Then he went to the restroom to wash it clean, placed it on a long bench, and only then did he leave.

One video, yet the before and after presented a starkly different contrast.

Someone treated a fan's heartfelt gift like a worn-out shoe, while someone else was willing to pick it up regardless of the filth.

One moment, netizens were calling for Su Ge's head, the next they were sobbing over Xi Nian. Who said there were no good idols in the entertainment circle? They just had bad taste and hadn't met one before. They had previously thought Xi Nian was a troublemaker, but seeing this today, wasn't he clearly an angel on earth?

The Niangao fans nodded frantically, and some even posted a video: [It was raining on the day of the competition, and he specifically went to find the staff to help us borrow umbrellas and raincoats. In the end, because there weren't enough raincoats, he himself got soaked. Brother looks cold, but he is super, super nice.]

Netizens: QAQ Does an idol like this really exist?

The winds of the entertainment circle had always shifted faster than a tornado, changing completely overnight. There were too many comments later on for Xi Nian to read in detail. He turned off his phone, thinking that he probably wouldn't have to see Su Ge for a while. Shanxing's usual practice for this kind of scandal was to shelve the artist. It would be a dream for him to make a comeback within three to five years.

Sister Jian smiled, seeming to be happy for him. "Congratulations."

Xi Nian habitually wanted to curl his lips into a smile, but then he remembered that his end in his past life was similar to Su Ge's, and the curve of his lips gradually flattened.

It was only then that he suddenly realized that this life was already different.

With the top star they had worked so hard to cultivate now ruined, it was impossible for Shanxing to do nothing. When Xi Nian returned home, he was cornered at the door by Sun Ming. The man had completely shed his former arrogance, his gaze now fawning and sycophantic as he tried his best to appear close. "Xi Nian, the big boss wants to talk to you about something. After all, so much has happened recently, there are bound to be misunderstandings. We're all from the same company, it's better to clear things up face-to-face."

Xi Nian raised an eyebrow. "You want to plead for Su Ge?"

Unexpectedly, Sun Ming waved his hands frantically. "It's not about Su Ge. The company is already preparing to shelve him. I'm giving you a private heads-up this time. Actually, the big boss wants to promote you."

He said the last few words in a very low voice, looking somewhat profound and mysterious.

It was to be expected. With Su Ge's fall this time, the biggest beneficiary was Xi Nian. Since they were from the same company, what was the difference in promoting one over the other?

Xi Nian wasn't interested. Seeing Sun Ming blocking the doorway, he was about to shove him aside, but then he suddenly remembered that his contract with Shanxing was due to expire in half a month. The matter of contract termination should also be on the agenda. After a moment of thought, he changed his mind and agreed, "Fine, let's talk then."

Sun Ming's face lit up with a smile. "I knew you were a smart person. Kaixuan Hotel, the big boss has already booked a banquet. Let's go."

Anyone who could make it in business had a bit of cunning, let alone in a place like the entertainment circle that devoured people whole. Ouyang Shanxing's face screamed that he was a shrewd and calculating man who never took a loss. He was in his fifties, with a lean and short frame. People in the company usually called him the big boss.

When Xi Nian was led into the private room by Sun Ming, he discovered that Jiang Lun was also present. He glanced around, saw that there were other people, and then gave a polite smile to Ouyang Shanxing in the host's seat. "Big boss."

Ouyang Shanxing stood up to shake his hand, motioned for him to sit, and then returned to his seat. His smiling demeanor made it easy for people to let down their guard. "Ah, Xi Nian, I've heard about some of the recent events. This was the company's mistake, you've been wronged. I've already scolded Jiang Lun. It's also my fault for being on a business trip recently and not being able to handle this matter in time."

Jiang Lun's expression was ugly.

Xi Nian knew he was shifting blame. "Not at all."

Seeing that he was tactful, Ouyang Shanxing's smile widened. "I don't know if Sun Ming has told you, but the company has decided to suspend Su Ge's activities for a year to let him reflect properly."

The entertainment circle was changing too quickly. One year was equivalent to cutting off his future prospects. This was Ouyang Shanxing's show of sincerity, but Xi Nian was unmoved. He knew that even if Su Ge made a comeback, it would be useless; the audience would no longer buy it. This old fox was just trying to bestow a favor with a few words.

Xi Nian smiled and said nothing, looking seemingly dissatisfied.

There were others at the table who, seeing this, also joined in to persuade him. After more than a dozen rounds of toasts, Ouyang Shanxing finally revealed his purpose for the day, pretending to be drunk as he said, "Ah, Xi Nian, you're a newcomer with potential, no worse than Su Ge. I believe that with proper cultivation, your achievements will surely surpass his. I am a person who loves and cherishes talent, and I don't want to see you buried."

With a wave of his hand, the secretary behind him immediately took a document out of her bag. Xi Nian had been deliberately plied with a lot of alcohol by them, but his mind was still clear. A quick scan revealed that it was a contract renewal, for a term of...

Thirty years.

...

Only an idiot would sign it.

Ouyang Shanxing seemed drunk, stumbling as he got up and patted Xi Nian's shoulder. "In the future, the company will definitely pour all its resources into cultivating you. As long as you sign the contract, we'll all be one family..."

Xi Nian had originally planned to bring up the matter of contract termination, but seeing this, he immediately dismissed the thought. They definitely wouldn't agree now. Even if they did, they would probably exploit him to death in the remaining half-month. It would be better to bring it up in the last few days.

Xi Nian had been forced to drink a lot of alcohol. He lowered his head and unbuttoned his collar, his breathing heavy, looking half-drunk, and didn't respond. Jiang Lun, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke up, "Big boss, I think Xi Nian has had too much to drink. Let's have the waiter bring some sobering soup."

Ouyang Shanxing nodded, and soon a waiter came to deliver the soup. Jiang Lun ladled a bowl and placed it in front of Xi Nian. His voice, hoarse and unpleasant from habitual smoking, said, "I'm also responsible for what happened with Su Ge. I apologize to you here, I hope you don't mind."

Xi Nian still didn't believe it.

He had never believed anyone.

Xi Nian looked at Jiang Lun with a delayed reaction. Because of the alcohol, his face and neck were red. He deliberately slurred his words, "I won't."

Jiang Lun smiled upon hearing this. "Hurry up and drink some soup. I couldn't tell you had such a low alcohol tolerance at your age."

With him watching, Xi Nian could only take a few sips of the soup. Seeing Ouyang Shanxing eyeing him covetously from the side, seemingly waiting for him to sober up and sign the contract, he knew that it would be difficult to leave if he stayed any longer. He stood up and made an excuse to slip away, "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."

"You can't even walk straight. Get someone to help you so you don't fall," Jiang Lun said, then turned to Ouyang Shanxing's female secretary. "Yingzi, you help Mr. Xi."

It was just to offer support, wouldn't a man be more convenient? Why find a young and beautiful female secretary? Xi Nian had already sensed something was wrong and glanced at him. "No need to trouble you, I can go by myself."

He didn't know if it was because he hadn't built up his alcohol tolerance in this life, but as the aftereffects kicked in, his vision began to blur, and his steps became unsteady. After leaving the private room, Xi Nian keenly sensed that something was wrong. Just as he was about to go to the restroom to throw up what he had just drunk, a pair of soft arms suddenly supported him. "Mr. Xi, let me help you. There are a lot of stairs here, don't fall."

It was Ouyang Shanxing's female secretary. She was wearing a very eye-catching red slip dress, her graceful body pressed tightly against Xi Nian.

Xi Nian pushed her away, but the woman stuck to him again like a piece of sticky candy.

In a corner of the first-floor lobby, a camera was quietly aimed at them. The reporter, after making sure the man and woman's posture was sufficiently ambiguous, clicked the shutter. Who would have thought that his shoulder would suddenly be gripped from behind, scaring him so much his soul nearly flew out. He turned his head to see a man in black wearing a baseball cap.

The man's voice was low, with no emotional fluctuations. "Hand over the camera."

The reporter was about to refuse when a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. The next thing he knew, his camera was in the other man's hands. The man in black deleted all the photos and records inside before tossing the camera back to him. "If you dare to take random pictures again, you'll face the consequences."

The reporter paused at his words, mistaking him for a staff member. He quickly collected his camera and hurried towards the door. "Who's taking random pictures? Psycho."

Lu Xingzhe watched him leave, paused, and then turned his gaze back upstairs, only to see Xi Nian shove the female secretary away and rush straight into the restroom.

Walk by the river often enough, and your shoes are bound to get wet. Xi Nian never thought that after a lifetime of setting others up, he would be set up himself this time. He splashed cold water on his face by the sink, but his consciousness was becoming increasingly blurry. Feeling top-heavy, he slid down the wall and couldn't get up for a long time.

The System appeared, about to wake him up, but it quickly retreated when it saw another person enter the restroom.

Lu Xingzhe really wasn't intentionally following Xi Nian this time. He had just taken on a new job, and his target was also in the hotel. Who knew it would be such a coincidence.

He leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, his dark eyes hidden in the shadow of his cap's brim, sizing up Xi Nian from a distance without expression. He looked like he was watching a good show, but not quite.

There weren't many people in the restroom at this time. After a few seconds, Lu Xingzhe walked over to Xi Nian and kicked his leg. "Wake up."

Xi Nian still had a shred of consciousness. The kick brought him back to his senses a little. He struggled to get up from the floor, but his steps were wobbly, and he stumbled straight into Lu Xingzhe.

For some reason, the latter didn't dodge, so the two of them collided.

The warm lighting in the restroom was magnificent and graceful. Xi Nian's vision was filled with ethereal shadows. In a daze, he could no longer distinguish between his past and present life, barely managing to steady himself with the help of the person in front of him.

Lu Xingzhe didn't move, just sized up Xi Nian with a scrutinizing gaze. A moment later, he suddenly remembered with irritation that this person had rejected him. There was no need to be a busybody. He frowned and tried to push him away.

"Lu Xingzhe..."

Xi Nian suddenly whispered in a low voice.

His consciousness was still muddled, and he couldn't see clearly who was supporting him. He had simply called out the name subconsciously, based on a familiar scent.