The exposé claimed that Ji Dongyang’s parents were born gamblers and had been using drugs for years. This was not their first time in a rehabilitation center over the past few years. A major local drug lord captured by the anti-narcotics police last year also shared the surname Ji: what was the connection between him, Ji Dongyang’s parents, and Ji Dongyang himself? Ji Dongyang’s parents had not worked since he entered the entertainment industry, so where did their financial resources come from? Growing up in such a family, was he affected? Had Ji Dongyang himself ever touched drugs?

The most ironic part was that Ji Dongyang had won his first Best Actor trophy for Black and White, where he played an anti-narcotics officer. He had even participated in anti-drug campaigns. Such a righteous and glorious image: why didn’t he stop his own parents?

Ji Dongyang himself never appeared at the rehab center. Instead, his good friend, a certain Mr. Lu, handled the arrangements. However, Ji Dongyang’s agent, Yang Xun, met with this Mr. Lu frequently. Photos of them drinking coffee together made it clear their relationship was deep. As for why Mr. Lu was so invested in Ji Dongyang’s affairs, rumor had it that they were childhood friends. Mr. Lu’s business losses were supposedly covered by Ji Dongyang’s support, which gave him the status he has today.

Ji Dongyang must be afraid of being exposed; otherwise, why would he never show his face?

In just one night, Weibo, gossip forums, Tieba, and major news websites were flooded with news about Ji Dongyang. Almost everyone associated with him was dug up. There were even photos that seemed to have been taken surreptitiously at unknown times. The public relations department could not delete them fast enough.

This was a long-premeditated conspiracy.

Yang Xun was so angry that he nearly smashed his computer. “Damn it! They are trying to hurl us into a dead end!”

They had considered the worst-case scenario, but they were still caught off guard when it actually happened.

Ji Dongyang put down his phone. He was much calmer than Yang Xun, keeping his head low so his expression was obscured.

A Ming stood nearby with his fists tightly clenched. Wan Wei was just as furious as Yang Xun. “This must be the work of Xinchen International. Li Zheng’s new movie’s box office results aren’t ideal, and even their heavily promoted top star, Fang Ke, was ruined. Last year, Xiao Yi refused to renew her contract and signed with Shiguang instead. With new and old grudges accumulating, and Zhou Yining’s outstanding performance in The Heart Knot, they couldn’t find anything to use against her. Their only option was to crush Ji Dongyang. They simply can’t let both the Best Actor and Best Actress titles fall to Shiguang’s side.”

A Ming cursed angrily, “Too despicable.”

Shi Yu, the boss of Shiguang Media, pushed the door open and looked at everyone. “Xinchen International’s despicable methods are nothing new. What we should think about next is how to respond. Yang Xun, you must have thought of a strategy by now, right?”

Yang Xun glanced at Wan Wei. “Expose the romance between Dongyang and Zhou Yining. Zhou Yining is the female lead of The Heart Knot. She had a high level of discussion before, and her complete absence during the movie’s promotion period has been very suspicious. Reporters have been searching for news about her. If she appears now, and as Dongyang’s girlfriend, it will certainly cause a massive stir. At the very least, it can divert half of the media and netizens’ attention. We can buy some time.”

Wan Wei nodded. “I’ll call Zhou Yining in a moment.”

At that moment, Ji Dongyang, who had been silent, said in a deep voice, “No, I don’t agree.”

Everyone froze. Shi Yu asked, “Why?”

Ji Dongyang stood up, his expression firm. “She is resting. I don’t want anything to disturb her.”

Yang Xun frowned. “Don’t forget that Zhou Yining can also go online. She can see the exposés. If she agrees…”

Ji Dongyang interrupted him. “I don’t agree.”

The air fell silent. For a while, no one spoke. Shi Yu looked at Yang Xun. “What is the second option?”

Yang Xun replied, “Xiao Yi is getting married. We announce her wedding news early.”

Wan Wei added, “But Xiao Yi doesn’t have any works released this year. Her level of attention is lower than last year. I’m not sure if it can attract enough eyes.”

Shi Yu thought for a moment and said, “Xiao Yi has been relatively low profile this year, but her popularity is still very high. Let’s start with that.”

Wan Wei nodded. “Alright, leave this to me.”

Wan Wei quickly contacted Xiao Yi’s agent, Lu Xing. After explaining the situation, she immediately contacted the media.

Only Ji Dongyang and Yang Xun remained in the office. Yang Xun took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. “Zhou Yining would absolutely agree to my suggestion. Why won’t you? Do you feel it is disgraceful for a man to rely on his woman to clear his name?”

Ji Dongyang frowned. “This matter has nothing to do with her. I don’t want to affect her mood. That is all.”

Yang Xun pointed at him, nearly trembling with rage. “Fine! This mess: I’ll go clean it up for you!”

Yang Xun turned to walk out. Ji Dongyang asked, “When is the press conference?”

“Tomorrow morning at ten. Prepare yourself. If there are things that shouldn’t be said, then don’t say them. You are just too honest sometimes. The entertainment industry is full of lies. You want to stay low profile, but others won’t let you.”

“I just don’t want to deceive the fans.”

Yang Xun had nothing left to say and walked away.

Xiao Yi was extremely cooperative. She sent over the videos and photos of her fiancé’s previous proposal. Yang Xun walked up behind Wan Wei. “How is it going?”

Wan Wei didn’t even look up. “I’ve already contacted seven media outlets and major Weibo accounts. We have our people on gossip forums and Tieba. Tonight at nine, the news will be released simultaneously. Tonight’s crisis should be temporarily drowned out. We’ll wait for tomorrow morning’s press conference.”

Yang Xun said, “Thank you.”

Wan Wei glanced at him. “There is nothing to thank me for. You helped me a lot in the beginning; now I’m just returning the favor.” She changed the subject. “Ji Dongyang still doesn’t agree to exposing the romance?”

Yang Xun nodded. “Mm. I’ve been discussing this with him for a month. He hasn’t wavered once.”

…

Meanwhile, Weibo was in an uproar.

When Ji Dongyang played the anti-narcotics cop in Black and White, did he ever think about his parents’ drug use? When he participated in anti-drug campaigns, did he try to stop his parents first? No wonder he’s been so low profile all these years. Turns out he was afraid of being exposed! I knew there was no smoke without fire; this is actually true.

Has he made enough money after hiding for so many years? The money probably all went to his parents for drugs and gambling! I feel bad for the movie tickets I contributed in the past; they all went to junkies.

This exposé only has photos. Entering and leaving a rehab center doesn’t seem to prove everything, does it?

Exactly! Does going to a rehab center mean the parents really use drugs? Dong-ge is busy filming away from home all year round. How many times does he go home in a year? Even if his parents really use drugs, what does it have to do with him? He isn’t the one using! Even if his parents spent his money, so what? Has Dong-ge donated little money over the years? Families of firefighters, earthquakes, floods, and orphanages: have you counted how much he has donated?

Dong-ge’s parents use drugs, so what does that have to do with Dong-ge? He never touched them!

…

Ji Dongyang’s fan base was massive, and most expressed their refusal to believe it. Ji Dongyang was an upright and low-profile person; he certainly wouldn’t let his parents use drugs.

Just as Shiguang Media’s PR department and the fans were fighting a bloody battle, another news item broke.

It was the diagnostic certificate from the rehab center for Ji Dongyang’s parents. The first time they entered was six years ago. The most recent was their third time. They had just finished compulsory detoxification the day before yesterday.

When Yang Xun saw this news, his limbs went weak.

As for Ji Dongyang, he had likely prepared for the worst. Looking at the continuous stream of exposés online, he showed no panic other than a cold, somber expression.

Ji Dongyang faced the greatest suspicion from public opinion. Some fans fell silent; silence represented disappointment. Rumors began to spread online that Ji Dongyang’s parents had been using drugs since he was a child. Living in that environment since he was young, he must have touched that stuff.

Almost all the company’s manpower was gathered to handle the crisis. Even Xiao Yi’s wedding announcement only had a temporary effect. By the next morning, the news was once again flooded with stories about Ji Dongyang.

The press conference was held on time. It was finished with great difficulty. Everything that needed to be clarified, said, or could be said was stated.

It was a fact that Ji Dongyang’s parents used drugs, but Ji Dongyang first discovered this after the release of Black and White. Before that, he was unaware. As for the claim that he spent money to support his parents’ addiction, he stopped giving them money as soon as he found out and sent them to compulsory rehab.

These explanations did not completely convince the public. Various claims still existed. Ji Dongyang’s years of being low profile were now described as a fear that being too high profile would attract attention and expose his parents’ flaws.

Fans expressed their belief in Ji Dongyang, stating they would stand by him no matter what. However, a large number of bypassers and anti-fans stated they would no longer go to theaters to support his movies, lest he use the money to support junkies again.

The box office for The Heart Knot was in jeopardy.

The movie promotion continued. Paparazzi were everywhere. As soon as Ji Dongyang appeared, he would be surrounded.

On Wednesday, they rushed to the airport. Having just dodged a group of reporters, Yang Xun and Ji Dongyang squeezed into the car. Thinking about Ji Dongyang’s mention of “retiring behind the scenes” last night, Yang Xun really wanted to kill someone. He warned again, “Ji Dongyang, let me tell you. If you dare say those words, I will fight you to the death!”

Ji Dongyang looked at him and said calmly, “It’s a matter of time. I have my own plans. Even if it isn’t now, I will gradually reduce my workload in the future.”

Yang Xun knew Ji Dongyang wanted to be a director. He had spent his free time over the years studying. “I know, but not now.”

Yang Xun wanted to say more, but Ji Dongyang’s private phone rang.

Ji Dongyang glanced at it. It was Zhou Yining.

Zhou Yining didn’t ask anything else. She only asked, “Are you okay?”

Ji Dongyang smiled. “I’m fine. What about you? Are you listening to Mike?”

“I am.” This was a lie. Her appointment with Mike was for tomorrow morning, but she was currently rushing to the airport. She was going to break the appointment tomorrow.

“That’s good.” Ji Dongyang heard the sound of honking and asked with a frown, “Are you outside?”

Zhou Yining closed the car door. “Mm. I have an appointment with Alice to have dinner tonight.”

Ji Dongyang said, “Alright.”

They hung up. Zhou Yining frowned. Since he didn’t ask, did he assume she didn’t know? She had already called A Ming and Wan Wei. She was very clear about the current situation.

Yang Xun glanced at him. “Is Zhou Yining coming back?”

There were only two days left before the movie was released. Yang Xun hoped Zhou Yining could return to shift public focus from Ji Dongyang’s parents to his personal romance. However, Ji Dongyang refused no matter what. In the current situation, only time could fade everything.

Ji Dongyang’s career had already been affected. Some advertisers had already proposed to terminate their contracts. Among the scripts that had originally come to him, several had stated they had already found a male lead.

Ji Dongyang replied, “No.”

When things here were over, he would go to the UK to find her.

…

After finishing the check-in process, Zhou Yining took out her phone and checked Weibo.

A major account had posted a long message.

Ji Dongyang started acting at fifteen. Since he was a minor at the time, all contract signings required his parents’ signatures. The money he earned was definitely collected by them. Ji Dongyang officially signed with Xinchen International at eighteen. Since he was not yet eighteen at the time, the contract was still signed by his parents. The renewal at eighteen was for eight years, ending at twenty-five. But that contract had traps. The salary Ji Dongyang actually received was very low. Most of it went into the company and his parents’ pockets. When the contract expired, and he wanted to leave, Xinchen International used the contract to pressure him. Didn’t Ji Dongyang have to pay a lot of money in damages to finally terminate it?

Finally, the blogger stated, I hope everyone can be rational. Ji Dongyang is Ji Dongyang, and his parents are his parents. If one could choose, no one would want their parents to be such people.

The content of this Weibo post was very rational and was reposted by many industry insiders and fans.

The airport announcement rang. Zhou Yining put away her phone, shouldered her bag, and walked into the security checkpoint.

The plane landed in B City. Zhou Yining called A Ming. “Where are you guys now?”

A Ming replied, “In C City. We return tomorrow morning. The movie premiere is tomorrow night.”

Zhou Yining said, “Alright, I understand.”

Hanging up the phone, Zhou Yining booked a ticket to C City.

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