Malicious cyberbullying
"We've already contacted Xiao Zhong via satellite phone. They're safe, but traffic and communication have been somewhat affected. The Australian side replied that it will take at least a month to restore traffic."
As soon as Lan Yi finished speaking, Lu Chenyang's tense shoulders suddenly relaxed, and he seemed to have all his strength drained away, collapsing heavily into the sofa.
It wasn't until I heard the word "safety" with my own ears that my heart, which had been hanging in my throat, finally settled back down, leaving me with a bittersweet sense of lingering fear.
He rushed out of the magazine photoshoot as soon as he saw the news, still wearing the clothes he hadn't had time to change out of, his makeup and hair soaked with sweat, his polished look completely gone.
When fear gripped his mind, reason vanished, and his only thought was to find the person most capable of confirming the information—Lan Yi. He even forgot that Shuye's vast information network could also provide him with the answer.
"I'm sorry." Lu Chenyang rested his elbows on his knees, burying his face deeply in his palms, his voice muffled and hoarse. He wasn't sure if this apology was for his abruptness or for some deeper, more unspeakable reason.
"Mr. Lu, are you apologizing for interrupting my meeting, or for hurting Asheng?" Lan Yi leaned back in the sofa chair opposite him, a cigarette burning slowly between his fingers. His expression remained the same as always, gentle and gentlemanly, but when facing Lu Chenyang, it suddenly became more scrutinizing and aggressive.
“I will apologize to Ah Sheng in person.” Lu Chenyang raised his head. “No need for President Lan to trouble you.”
Lan Yi just smiled faintly. In his eyes, Lu Chenyang, like Lan Zhong and Yu Sheng, was a child. "Xiao Zhong is young and does things based on his likes and dislikes. He doesn't allow me to tell you about A Sheng's situation, thinking it's a small punishment for you making A Sheng sad."
He paused, took a drag of his cigarette, and slowly exhaled. "But I think it's too cruel. I'm not sure what exactly happened between you two. If you don't love Ah Sheng, then his safety is naturally insignificant to you. On the contrary, I think you have the right to know. Of course, I have no right to let you speak directly with Ah Sheng. I hope you can understand."
"Thanks."
As I stepped out of Xinghua's gate, the sky was so overcast it felt like it was filled with a wad of dirty cotton, making it hard to breathe.
Ah Jiang was waiting anxiously by the car. As soon as he saw Lu Chenyang come out, he immediately opened the car door. He hadn't been with Lu Chenyang for very long, but he knew how dedicated Lu was. It was absolutely unprecedented for him to disappear from the filming location like this.
The photoshoot continued until 7 or 8 p.m. Lu Chenyang declined the magazine's dinner invitation and had Ajiang drive him back to his apartment.
Pushing open the door, it was still the same space without Yu Sheng, empty and desolate. Over time, even the last trace of her presence had almost completely dissipated.
He tossed his phone aside, walked straight into the bathroom, grabbed the bottle of perfume Yu Sheng usually used from the sink, and sprayed it into the bathtub like it was free, until the air was filled with an overpowering, pungent cologne scent. Then, he completely immersed himself in the cold water.
The water gradually submerged his mouth and nose, the chill piercing his skin like needles, and his limbs began to go numb and lose sensation. In this suffocating feeling, he heard footsteps.
Very lightly, I stepped on the bathroom tiles and stopped at the doorway. There was no knocking, but the door lock made a soft clicking sound.
That was a key that only Yu Sheng possessed.
He dared not open his eyes. Until a warm fingertip gently touched his forehead, which was immersed in cold water.
His throat tightened, and he couldn't utter a single word.
Her fingertips slowly slid down, tracing the furrowed brow. A very soft sigh escaped her lips, tinged with a hint of impatience as she muttered, "...Soaking in there for so long, I thought you'd died in there. Hurry up and get out, go back to your room and sleep. I'm exhausted."
Lu Chenyang suddenly opened his eyes.
Yu Sheng squatted by the bathtub, tilting her head slightly to look at him, her eyes filled with undisguised disdain. He could even see the fine moisture clinging to the other's eyelashes.
Overwhelmed by ecstasy and immense sorrow, he frantically raised his hand from the water, desperately trying to grab the severed wrist.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The urgent banging on the door exploded like thunder.
Yu Sheng before my eyes was like mist scattered by the sound, her figure suddenly blurring and disappearing, the slight smile on her lips vanishing completely into the air without a trace.
Lu Chenyang's heart sank. Cold water rushed into his lungs, and he choked awake, looking around blankly and desperately. There was only the misty water vapor and the strong, bitter scent of perfume in the air.
It was just a dream.
"Brother Chenyang! Brother Chenyang!" Outside the bathroom door, Ajiang's voice was trembling with urgency, as he continued to pound on the door, each pounding more urgent than the last.
Lu Chenyang coughed violently, put on his bathrobe, and opened the door.
Before he could even ask, Ajiang shoved the phone into his hand, his face ashen, and he stammered, "Brother! Something terrible has happened!"
Lu Chenyang was still reeling from the shattered dream, his gaze blankly falling on his phone screen. The next second, his own name appeared prominently, hovering at the top of the trending search list.
He clicked on it, and at the very top was an exclusive report from a gossip media outlet:
[Exclusive In-Depth Analysis! Shocking Background of Top Actor Lu Chenyang Revealed: His Biological Father is the Ring Leader of a Human Trafficking Gang! His Police Academy Background Questioned!]
[Exclusive Report] Recently, this magazine received a bombshell revelation from a mysterious insider: behind the seemingly perfect resume of popular actor Lu Chenyang lies a chilling secret! His biological father, Yang Tieshuan, was one of the main perpetrators in the "XX Major Human Trafficking Case" of 20XX. The judgment shows that he not only participated in the trafficking of women and children but was also suspected of abusing and maiming multiple victims! (See the court file photos inside for details)
Even more shocking is that this "son of a criminal" was admitted to the XX Police Academy with high scores in 20XX! According to an anonymous instructor, "At the time, the father's occupation was listed as 'unknown' in the political background check materials..." (The complete recording has been submitted to the relevant department)
Lu Chenyang, who now navigates the entertainment industry with the persona of "the police chief of the entertainment circle," commands a salary of up to 20 million yuan per film! Is the money that fans are spending to support him, even to the point of tears, nourishing the dark bloodline of this sinful family? This magazine cannot help but ask: When a family with a history of bad deeds dons the crown of a top star, where exactly is the bottom line of our social morality?
(Continued Unveiling of Inside Pages) P3: High-Resolution Scan of Key Pages in Yang Tieshuan's Judgment
P4: A fellow student from the police academy makes a public accusation.
P5: Criminal Psychology Experts Explain the Hereditary Nature of Family Crime
#Lu Chenyang's father's criminal record# #Demand a thorough investigation into loopholes in the political vetting of celebrities# #An anti-corruption storm in the entertainment industry#
(All evidence in this article has been notarized and preserved; we are willing to bear legal responsibility for the accuracy of this report.)
This was the first time Lu Chenyang had ever seen the name "Yang Tieshuan," but his first reaction was not to investigate who this person was or what connection he had with him, but rather a kind of absurd relief.
Fortunately. Fortunately, Yu Sheng is not in the country, and fortunately, communications on Kuyari Island are cut off, so he won't see this filth immediately and won't worry about it.
As for his maternal grandmother, he wasn't too worried. After all, the old lady didn't use a smartphone, and he had previously instructed the caregiver not to let her access online comments and news about him.
“…Brother?” Seeing Lu Chenyang staring at the screen for a long time without any reaction, Ajiang thought he had suffered a huge blow. He carefully tried to take back his phone and comforted him, “Brother, don’t worry, these people are deliberately smearing us! Sister Zhou just called and told you not to respond. She said…she said that before Brother Yu Sheng left, he had already discussed the whole plan with the head of the public relations department. No matter what tricks they play, we can handle it!”
"Ah Sheng?" Lu Chenyang suddenly raised his head, a glimmer of light suddenly breaking through his dull eyes, and he was shocked in disbelief.
"Mmm-hmm!" Ah Jiang nodded repeatedly. "I don't know the specifics, but Sister Zhou said the plan was prepared a long time ago. Let those who spread rumors wait to receive lawyer's letters!"
In the following days, Sister Zhou suspended all of Lu Chenyang's public appearances, ordered him to stay home and rest, cut off his internet access, and refrain from making any responses.
His Weibo account has long been handed over to the company for management, but in this era where information is ubiquitous, various push notifications still manage to sneak into view.
He learned piecemeal that Xinghua's public relations response was extremely swift and forceful, with a series of official documents being released in an orderly manner: certificates issued by the civil affairs and public security departments of the place of household registration, detailed political review materials from when he entered university... Many of these documents were ones he himself had never seen before.
As if possessed, he still opened Weibo and logged into Yu Sheng's account. His name was still trending on social media.
[Official Clarification! My brother is innocent! The trolls and marketing accounts must apologize! See you in court!]
[I just can't stop crying... He endured so much suffering to get to where he is today, and yet he still has to be hurt like this.]
[Orphan certificates and official seals from the Public Security Bureau and Civil Affairs Bureau can be forged? Aren't these trolls ashamed? Xinghua will pursue this to the end!]
The document appears to be genuine; this is a reversal of events. They should apologize for the harsh criticism they received. Cyberbullying is truly terrifying.
The chain of evidence is complete, and the background check was reasonable. However, this incident will definitely have a significant impact on his career, severely damaging his public image.
I truly feel sorry for him... His background is so tragic, and yet he still has to be dragged out and whipped.
[Isn't anyone curious about the whistleblower? How did they obtain that kind of criminal record? Isn't that an invasion of privacy? Shouldn't they investigate?]
Does nobody remember how Chenyang debuted? Does nobody remember him subduing a thug with his bare hands at a comic convention? How could someone like that have a blemish on his record?
There were certainly haters and malicious speculations in the comments, and quite a few trolls deliberately stirring up trouble and confusing the public. But Lu Chenyang only saw the comments that were kind to him.
Every word, every word of support, was like a solid brick, a strong bulwark that Yu Sheng had built for him without his knowledge, protecting him from both open and hidden attacks. All of this demonstrated Yu Sheng's love for him.
And he... was only fixated on that sentence, "You said you needed me, but you never said you loved me."
This morning, Lu Chenyang received a call from an unknown number. Due to the nature of his work, his first reaction was to hang up. The other party didn't persist, but instead sent a text message explaining that they were Yu Sheng's friend.
When the call connected, the woman on the other end identified herself as Song Ciying. She said she couldn't reach Yu Sheng and apologized for not finding Yang Tieshuan in time, which led to the escalation of the situation. She concluded by saying she would find him as soon as possible.
Only then did Lu Chenyang truly understand. Before the filming of "Dark Fire" even began, or even earlier, Yu Sheng had already shielded him from hidden attacks in places he couldn't see, silently protecting him in a strong and safe shell.
He remained comfortably within this shell, enjoying all the protection and love, completely unaware of it, and even... felt justified in feeling betrayed and deceived, questioning and hurting the person who silently protected him in the most hurtful way.
Regret and pain tightened around his heart like vines, making it hard for him to breathe. A single malicious cyberbullying attack wasn't enough to crush Lu Chenyang, but his longing for Yu Sheng had reached its peak, threatening to kill him.
After leaving the comments section, Lu Chenyang opened the private message dialog box and sent a private message to his own Weibo account using Yu Sheng's account: I miss you so much.
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