Chapter 68: Surging Malice
The day after returning from the antiques exchange, unreleased footage from the TV series "Family Time" caused an uproar online. Someone had edited a clip from the gambling area and attached a lurid headline: "Movie Actor Wei Wuxian Leads Minors to Watch Gambling, Improper Guidance Sparks Controversy." The resulting wave of malicious comments flooded in.
"As a public figure, you actually took your child to look at gambling stones? You have such evil intentions!"
"He's truly a bad artist, inherently bad. No wonder he was banned back then!"
"Why doesn't Lan Wangji care? Aren't you afraid that letting someone like that raise a child will lead to bad behavior?"
Vicious words flooded in, even the images of the Lan family's old house were misinterpreted, with claims of "feudal family rules suppressing children's nature" and "hypocrisy." The live broadcast platform's commentary completely spiraled out of control, and the previously rising popularity rating plummeted. The system notification sounded incessantly, as cold as a knife.
[Ding! A large amount of negative emotions detected, favorability -500,000. Current total progress: 2,955,000/100,000,000.]
[Ding! Favorability continues to decrease, -300,000...]
Wei Wuxian sat on the sofa in the living room, his phone clutched in his hand. The hateful comments on the screen pierced his eyes like needles. His face was pale, his fingertips were cold, and his body trembled uncontrollably. The feeling of being condemned by thousands of people in the mass grave sixteen years ago came flooding back.
The same accusations are based on ignorance of the truth, the same angry verbal abuses are directed at the public, and the same feeling of powerlessness that is impossible to defend oneself.
"Teacher Wei, don't take it to heart. These are just people trying to stir up trouble..." The director who was following the filming was sweating profusely. He tried to comfort her but didn't know where to start.
Wei WuXian twitched the corners of his mouth, wanting to laugh but unable to, his voice hoarse as if it had been rubbed by sandpaper: "It's okay, I'm fine."
He stood up and wanted to go back to his room, but his steps were a little unsteady. Just as he reached the stairs, a warm little body hugged his legs.
"Daddy, what's wrong with you?" Si Zhui looked up, his eyes full of worry. "You look so pale, are you feeling unwell?"
Wei Wuxian looked down at his son's clear eyes, his nose sore. He squatted down and touched his head: "Daddy is fine, just a little tired."
"But..." Si Zhui bit his lip and whispered, "I just heard Brother Wen Ning say that someone was scolding you online... Those people are bad people, don't listen to them."
The child's voice was soft, but it was like a warm current that gently touched Wei Wuxian's heart. He sniffed and forced a smile: "Well, Daddy doesn't listen. Si Zhui is really good."
Si Zhui didn't relax, his little hands tightly grasped his sleeves: "Daddy, wait for me." After saying that, he turned around and ran towards the study, his small figure running very fast.
Wei Wuxian looked at his back, feeling both warm and bitter in his heart—this child was always so sensitive and considerate.
When Si Zhui rushed into the study, Lan Wangji was sitting in front of the computer, his fingers tapping away at the keyboard. The screen displayed densely packed codes and webpage screenshots. Hearing the noise, he looked up at his son with a soothing look in his eyes: "What's wrong?"
"Father, Daddy...he's very sad." Si Zhui gasped, his eyes red. "Those people online are going too far. Can we do something?"
Lan Wangji stopped what he was doing, stood up, and patted his son's head. His tone was calm but carried an undeniable strength: "Don't be afraid, I'm already taking care of it."
He pointed at the files on the screen. "These are the sources of malicious comments. Most are from water army accounts, and a few are marketing accounts purchased by competitors. I've asked the legal department to collect evidence and will send a lawyer's letter soon. Also, the program team is preparing a complete behind-the-scenes video, which will show us educating our children to clarify any misunderstandings."
Si Zhui looked at the clearly laid out solution on the screen, then at his father's calm profile, and the panic in his heart gradually subsided. He had long known that no matter what happened, his father would always find a solution, just like when they were in the Cloud Recesses, no matter how big a mess he and Jing Yi got into, his second uncle would always calmly resolve it.
"Then...then Daddy..."
"I'll go check on him." Lan Wangji turned off his computer and took Sizhui's hand. "Go find Jingyi and Jin Ling first. Tell them to stop looking at their phones and stay in the yard."
"Yeah!" Si Zhui nodded vigorously, turned around and ran out.
When Lan Wangji entered the bedroom, Wei Wuxian was sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to the door, his shoulders slightly heaving. He walked over and gently hugged him from behind, resting his chin on the top of his head. His voice was low and gentle, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Wei Wuxian's body stiffened, and he turned around and threw himself into his arms, like a wronged child, his voice tinged with tears: "Lan Zhan, why are they always like this... cursing people without knowing right or wrong..."
"Because they're stupid." Lan Wangji patted his back gently. "They can't tell the truth and just follow others in making trouble. But these people can't influence us. Sizhui, Jingyi, uncle, big brother... everyone we care about knows what kind of person you are, and that's enough."
“But…” Wei WuXian buried his head in his chest, his voice muffled, “That feeling of being blamed by everyone is so uncomfortable… It’s like going back to the old days…”
"It's different now." Lan Wangji held his face and wiped away his tears with his fingertips, his eyes firm. "You were alone before, but now you have me, Sizhui, and our family. We will never let you suffer that kind of injustice again."
He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on Wei Wuxian's forehead, his movements gentle yet solemn: "Trust me."
Wei Wuxian looked into his deep eyes, which contained no hesitation or wavering, only trust and support. The panic in his heart gradually dissipated like fog dispersed by the sun.
He sniffed and nodded: "Well, I believe you."
Just then, Lan Wangji's phone rang. It was Nie Huaisang calling.
"Brother Wangji, it's done!" Nie Huaisang's voice was filled with joy. "I found out it was that real estate developer named Zhang who was behind this. He wanted to steal our Wangji Group's projects, so he started with Brother Wei. I've sent you the evidence of him hiring trolls. He'll be in big trouble!"
Lan Wangji hummed, "Thank you."
"Why are you being so polite to me!" Nie Huaisang said with a smile, "By the way, the program team has already released the complete behind-the-scenes footage. Ask Brother Wei to check it out. The comments section has already started to turn around."
After hanging up, Lan Wangji turned on his phone and saw that the official account of the program had released a full clip titled "Parent-Child Education at the Gambling Stone Site: Teaching Children to Stay Away from Temptation." In the video, the clip of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji educating their children was clear and complete, and the comments were already turning against each other:
"So that's how it is! I told you Teacher Wei isn't that kind of person!"
"Those marketing accounts that take things out of context are disgusting! Support the rights protection!"
"The part about two fathers teaching their children is so well said! This is the correct guidance!"
[Ding! Audience sentiment reversal detected, Favorability +200,000. Current total progress: 3,155,000/100,000,000.]
[Ding! Favorability continues to rise...]
The system notification tone finally took on a warm tone. Wei Wuxian looked at his phone screen, then at Lan Wangji beside him, and the haze in his heart completely dissipated.
He leaned over, kissed Lan Wangji on the cheek, and said with a smile: "Lan Zhan, you are truly my savior."
Lan Wangji raised an eyebrow and shook his hand: "Then...is there any reward?"
Wei Wuxian looked at the smile in his eyes and his heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a light cough coming from the door.
Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen stood at the door. The former's expression remained serious, while the latter smiled and said, "Looks like we came at the wrong time?"
Wei Wuxian's face flushed instantly, and he quickly sat up from Lan Wangji's arms, pretending to tidy up his clothes.
Lan Qiren snorted and handed over a cup of hot tea: "Drink something to warm yourself up, don't let irrelevant people's anger ruin your health."
Lan Xichen smiled and said, "I've asked Wen Ning to make some soup. Just drink it."
Looking at his family in front of him, Wei Wuxian suddenly felt that those malicious comments and accusations were not that scary after all.
As long as he has these people around him, he can weather any storm.
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