The picture of 'Yongliang' assaulting a girl went viral and spread across all platforms. Meanwhile, Yongliang was just leisurely running in his home gym. He began running every day to marinate the scandal for a bit longer. He wanted to see the female lead's stupidity when there was inaction from the parties involved.
Due to Ren Entertainment and the person of rumor's silence, the public went into a frenzy because this accusation was heavy and inexcusable if it was true.
[Please be an idol lord Ren: How can this person be worthy of lord Ren?! He needs to stay away from him as far as possible!!]
[Passerby 3: I heard something like this happened before and that was why he went abroad last time.]
[Chrysanthemum flower: WICKED!! SO HE HAD A HISTORY OF HARASSMENT!!]
[Passerby 5: Calm down guys, he is filthy rich like lord Ren too. If he wanted to, he didn't have to use lord Ren's influence at all. And think about it, this blurry photo could not prove anything. You should not persecute someone without evidence or you will face-slap yourself.]
[Fairy Beauty: I agree with upstairs. We should not jump to conclusions to accuse someone just yet.]
"Ho, there are people with brains here." Yongliang was wiping his face after finishing his routine.
[Zhou Qian my love: Are you trying to defend the perpetrator? What about the victims? Because he was powerful so no one wanted to come out and press charges.]
[Passerby 9:+1]
[Passerby 802: +1]
...
"Such fierce arguments. I guess having money is a crime too. But who dares to press charges if it's not true?"
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[Zhou Qian my love: SEE!! THIS IS PROOF, IT IS CLEARLY THE YOUNG MASTER LAI'S FACE.]
[Passerby 92: My uncle is professional in assessing the authenticity of photos. He said that this picture is 100% not fabricated.]
[Please be an idol lord Ren: I knew it!! Whoever said that we would face-slap ourselves, come out now! I want to see how red your cheeks are!!]
The internet went into a frenzy again when a clear picture of Yongliang holding a girl in his arms was released on the Internet. The girl in the picture was blurred to protect her identity but it was rumored to be a small actress from Ren Entertainment.
Yongliang just hummed while looking at the picture. Just the other day he dropped by Ren Entertainment to retrieve his N*ntend* that he left there 2 weeks ago. When he walked past the hall, suddenly a girl tripped and fell into his arms. He could hear the silent shutter sound when that happened. He only gave a slight smirk.
"Maybe this female lead has never been a good person... How can she be so petty and determined to get rid of me?"
The more Yongliang thought about it, the more possible it became. She was obviously talented in acting with a decent look, she could have gotten some small roles here and there. However, she never got in until she started associating herself with powerful people. It seemed like she had attitude problems. Yongliang even started to doubt her ranting when she met Ren Jian.
Yongliang was just lying on the bed with his laptop on his stomach for the Lai parents to suddenly stormed in.
"What's wrong? Did something happen to grandma?"
Yongliang jumped up and anxiously asked. He really grew attached to this family.
"Y-You... How could they slander you like this? All these proofs are fake, fake!!" Father Lai was fuming as he showed the smart tablet displaying the scandal.
"Do you not want to clear your name? We know that you are not interested in g... I mean we know that you are innocent." Mother Lai took Yongliang's hands and patted him reassuredly.
Looking at their worried appearance, Yongliang's eyes softened and his heart felt warm. It was the first time he received such warmth and trust. He tried to calm down his emotional state and coax the Lai parents.
"Don't worry, I will handle it quickly. You don't need to care about this matter as I am capable enough to resolve it. You just need to make sure grandma won't hear about this. I'm scared she will escape the hospital and beat up the news stations."
Yongliang squeezed mother Lai's hand with a soft smile. The Lai parents were still worried but their baby insisted that he could take care of it, there was nothing more for them to do. They blocked all those news from reaching grandma Lai as instructed by Yongliang.
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At a wrap-up party of the upcoming movie starring Sun Xia, Ren Jian was invited as he was one of the biggest investors in this project. He was wearing a matching dark blue suit with black stripes. Holding a cup of champaign in his hand, he looked just like those models in the magazine if not more handsome. Because of that, people started surrounding him but quickly got chased away by the director until a few people remained.
Sun Xia swallowed hard as she looked at that dashing appearance. He must be hers. She was one of the few people that could interact with him directly, she had to mean something to him. She then started walking forward to him with a smile in her white mermaid dress.
"President, are you doing ok?" Sun Xia noticed his gloomy atmosphere. She snickered in her mind as she guessed he was bothered about that young master.
"I... I know that you have an eye for people. But it would be hard to be objective if you have been friends forever. I care about the president." She lowered her voice at the last sentence with a blush on her face.
Ren Jian glanced at her saying nothing. This prompted her to continue talking.
"I always felt that he looks at me indecently when we meet. I guess we never know who people really are until reality hits us." She fluttered her lashes and lifted them up to meet Ren Jian's icy glare.
Sun Xia unconsciously stepped back and watched Ren Jian turn his back.
"Ms. Sun! What did you say for President Ren to leave?" The director hurriedly walked over.
"I-I was just asking if he was ok. Maybe he was feeling under the weather so he left." Sun Xia quickly came up with a reply and looked puzzled at the banquet door.
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A luxurious car drove hurriedly into the Lai residence. When it stopped at the door, a gloomy and dark figure stepped out. He stomped his way up to the second floor with a frown on his handsome face. His teeth were clenched and his hands rolled into fists.
Ren Jian knew he should not have felt like this toward Yongliang. Yongliang was not the person that he was looking for, but this attraction, the moment he saw Yongliang's sleeping figure, bothered him greatly. He wanted to stay away, but he could not bear to take his eyes off him.
Looking at a girl being in Yongliang's embrace brought him great anger. If it was a rumor then it was fine, but to see someone touching him to bring the so-called proof online, Ren Jian's eyes darkened. He wanted to tear them all apart.
As Ren Jian kept walking with his head deep in conflict, he heard a faint sound of a piano. His steps paused.
The piano piece was soft and light. It made people feel like they were floating and wandering in space. It was like everything around should have been just a dream. There was a sense of loss and helplessness hidden behind those notes as if they had become tired of traveling around among those dreams.
Ren Jian's heart tightened. This familiar melody... It was not just familiar, it was identical to the piece that only he and another person knew! Ren Jian quickened his steps to the music room that only mother Lai used before. As he opened the door, he fell into a daze. A knot in his heart finally disappeared.
It was him all along. The lovely figure was playing the piano skillfully. He was completely immersed in playing with a few tears in his eyes that got concealed by sweats. Those hands glided across the keys with familiarity.
Ren Jian just stood at the door in a daze. He waited until Yongliang finished playing to approach him. His steps were solemn but they were also light as if some weight had been lifted.
Hearing the familiar footsteps, Yongliang quickly looked in Ren Jian's direction. The atmosphere around the iceberg seemed strange today? Did he come to reprimand him because of the rumor? Yongliang raised an eyebrow and waited in anticipation.
"W-Where did you learn that piece?" Ren Jian asked in bated breath. It was like there was something stuck in his throat.
"Oh, I just picked up the piano when I was abroad." The original Yongliang had no knowledge of piano even though he liked to listen to mother Lai's music. He had to make some excuse.
"Then what is this piece called?" Ren Jian did not want to drop subject at any moment. He needed to confirm something. His eyes were full of yearning and desperation that it made Yongliang choke.
"I-It's called 'Lifetime'. Um... this piece is written by me so you won't be able to find the artist online." Yongliang had always been able to guard his little hobby against others as a habit when he crossed worlds. Even if this world was relaxing, he was still vigilant but somehow, his guard failed him with Ren Jian's appearance. Also, Ren Jian stubbornly asked about this topic, did he notice something?
When the answer escaped Yongliang's mouth, Ren Jian's eyes and heart shook. He looked at the lovely questioning face for a while before a tear dropped from his face.
"Jian-ge?"
Yongliang was shocked. He immediately got up from his seat and ran toward Ren Jian. Before he knew what he was doing, he was already wiping the tears from the other person's face.
"What happened? Are you ok?"
Yongliang worriedly asked before he got pulled into a tight embrace. Yongliang did not have the time to think before his heart ached again. Ren Jian's silent tears had turned into a sob and he buried his head into Yongliang's shoulder. He could only hug back as he also leaned onto Ren Jian's shoulder and patted his back.
'I found you, my love.'
All the ice around Ren Jian melted at that moment. There was no need for confusion and concealment anymore. He did not mistake him at all. His love, for some reason, had forgotten about him. But it did not matter, as long as he found him, they would fall in love again.
"Jian-ge, are you really ok? Answer me, hm?"
Yongliang also shocked himself with the way he tried to comfort Ren Jian. Maybe, he had a more favorable impression of this male lead than he thought. Before he could think further, Ren Jian wrapped his face with his large hands and lifted his head up. Their eyes met and Yongliang could feel all the unconcealed tenderness and warmth. It made his heart beat wildly.
"Liangliang, do you want to clean up those unsavory rumors?" Ren Jian asked in a soft voice.
"Did you believe in those rumors, Jian-ge?" Yongliang asked him expectantly.
"I only believe in you."
Yongliang's heart was attacked once more. The tear-filled, earnest, and pitiful appearance really touched his soft spot. He shook his head.
"I already hired an investigator. It would not be hard since the rumors weren't true and it seemed like they stemmed from within Ren Entertainment." He already knew who did it with undeniable proof, but to not appear suspicious, he had to use this ruse. Yongliang glanced at Ren Jian to see his reactions. Would he protect him or protect the company?
"I always know that you are capable." Ren Jian said with a soft smile.
A soft touch landed on his forehead. At this point, Yongliang was stunned stupid for the first time by the male lead.
"Wha... Wha...Wha...Wha..."
Yongliang touched his forehead with a flustered appearance. His eyes were wide open revealing those lovely starry eyes and his mouth was hanging down looking adorable. A look of indulgence appeared on Ren Jian's face. He could not help but kissed his slightly less chubby cheek.
"Wha...WHAT?!?"
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS MALE LEAD?!?