After several days of "fishing enforcement," Xue Qian noticed a significant decrease in the number of paparazzi around him, and he felt much more at ease.
What was even more unexpected was that the arrested paparazzi, in an attempt to save themselves, turned informants and revealed a trove of explosive secrets. The most shocking among them were the private rendezvous photos of Ding Yingyao with an older "baby," along with allegations involving illicit substances.
In Dragon Country, once such matters were involved, no matter how powerful one's connections were, it was nearly impossible to escape unscathed.
Even the Wanlong Association, which had been unable to uncover this information, was surprised to extract it from these paparazzi.
Truly, professional matters were best handled by professionals.
To express their gratitude for the paparazzi's revelations, the Wanlong Association had no choice but to "reluctantly" let them enjoy an extended stay behind bars.
Meanwhile, Ding Yingyao, who was partying in a residential complex, remained oblivious to the fact that the police were already onto him. They were merely waiting for the evidence to be fully gathered before making the arrest.
Over at Shangyu Entertainment, however, a sense of unease began to creep in.
Lin Yu, who was overseeing operations in Bright Pearl City, felt an inexplicable restlessness.
"Why haven’t the paparazzi submitted any photos recently?"
"Boss Lin, it seems like they’ve all gone missing. Their phones are unreachable."
"Missing? A dozen paparazzi vanishing at the same time? Are you fucking kidding me?"
"It’s true. Not a single one can be reached. Um, Boss Lin… could I… take a leave of absence?"
"A leave? Sounds like you’re quitting!" Lin Yu snapped.
After a moment, he suppressed his anger and asked, "What’s really going on with you?"
The assistant replied sheepishly, "Boss Lin, I’ve heard small towns can be pretty shady. I suspect the paparazzi we hired might have been…"
He made a throat-slitting gesture.
Lin Yu’s heart skipped a beat. He had recently familiarized himself with the situation in Bright Pearl City, and compared to big cities, the safety index here was indeed lower.
Especially since he’d learned from Ding Yingyao that Xue Qian was closely associated with a local gang.
Now that the assistant mentioned it, the possibility seemed all too real.
The more Lin Yu, who had always held himself above such matters, thought about it, the more anxious he became.
Though he had the backing of capital and could ruin someone through various means, his methods were always psychological.
In contrast, those underworld types tended to eliminate problems by eliminating the person.
Much darker.
Still, as a seasoned corporate executive who had weathered many storms, Lin Yu maintained a calm exterior.
"Little Li, don’t panic. What era is this? The 21st century—a society governed by law. No matter how ruthless these local thugs are, can they really outmatch the law?"
"I’ve been with Shangyu for years. What haven’t I seen? A few missing paparazzi? Maybe they just left for other reasons."
"Hell, if it’s really as you say, they’ve saved us a fortune in hush money."
"Still… we should prepare for the worst. Clean up all recent records of dealings with these paparazzi. And I mean spotless!"
"Yes, Boss Lin!"
"Also, find new paparazzi—preferably locals who know the area well, fearless… no, I mean tight-lipped."
"Understood, Boss Lin."
To reassure the assistant, Lin Yu added, "Do this well, and I’ll give you a promotion and a raise."
The assistant perked up. "Consider it done!"
"Go on, then." Lin Yu waved him off.
Once the assistant left, Lin Yu immediately went online to search for security firms.
Paparazzi mysteriously disappearing wasn’t something he’d never heard of, but losing so many at once was a first.
It was highly unusual. And downright terrifying.
Better safe than sorry—time to hire some bodyguards.
Meanwhile, Little Li, now without leads, turned to his computer for answers.
He stumbled upon a trial-run local website, oddly advanced for what he was used to. It advertised services ranging from shopping and errands to odd jobs like distributing flyers—quite a mixed bag.
Place an order, and they’d send someone.
Curious, Little Li reached out using the contact info listed and tentatively asked if they could handle surveillance and photography.
To his surprise, the reply was instant: "If we’re not the best at photography, no one is. We’re professionals, with guidance from top-tier lawyers."
Heart leaping, Little Li arranged an in-person meeting to discuss further.
.........
On the day of the book signing, both the Wanlong Supermarket and the Wanjia Supermarket near the university district had set up makeshift stages, pulling out all the stops in promotion.
It was as if neither would rest until they’d outdone the other.
In terms of setup, Wanlong Supermarket clearly had the edge. They’d even installed a massive multimedia screen connected to a computer, looping Xue Qian’s promotional video.
Of course, the cost was higher, but for Wanlong Supermarket, it was nothing.
When Xue Qian arrived, the crowd swarmed around him.
Surprisingly, over half the audience consisted of elderly men and women—far more than at the neighboring Wanjia Supermarket.
In contrast, Wanjia’s crowd was predominantly young, creating a bizarre polarization.
From the comfort of his van, Ding Yingyao peered through the window and scoffed. "Xue Qian’s fanbase is all grandpas and grandmas? Pathetic."
He turned to his assistant. "Are the TV crews here yet?"
The assistant hurriedly replied, "They’re on their way, Brother Yao."
Ding Yingyao nodded. "Good. Once they arrive, send the ‘victims’ over. This time, I’ll crush Wanlong Supermarket and Xue Qian—humiliate him right in front of the cameras!"
The assistant echoed, "Yes, Brother Yao."
"Brother Yao, your fans are chanting your name. Should we head over now?"
Ding Yingyao waved dismissively. "No rush. Let them wait."
Of course, he had another plan: he’d planted people in the crowd to incite attacks against Xue Qian.
Once Xue Qian was publicly shamed, Ding Yingyao would make his grand entrance. The stark contrast would electrify the scene, catapulting his fame even higher.
Unlike Ding Yingyao, Xue Qian didn’t keep his waiting fans in suspense. He stepped onto the stage immediately, flanked by over a dozen Wanlong Association members for security.
Yet the moment he appeared, chaos erupted from Wanjia Supermarket’s side. A mob of Ding Yingyao’s fans surged forward, hurling insults and abuse.
"Xue Qian, get out of the entertainment industry!"
"Disgraced celebrity daring to hold a signing? Shameless!"
"Your songs are trash—get off the stage!"
Some even threw eggs and drink bottles at him.
The elderly men and women in the audience frowned at the scene, casting disapproving glances at the young people.
What kind of manners are these?
Even when we rush for groceries at the supermarket, we behave a hundred times better than you youngsters.
Meanwhile, reporters from TV stations and online news portals quickly arrived at the scene, setting up their cameras and aiming their lenses at the stage, clearly waiting for the "drama" to unfold.
Xue Qian stood calmly on the stage, unfazed by the overwhelming torrent of insults.
Over the past period, he had been vilified across the internet, had his photos maliciously edited into funeral portraits, received curses targeting his family, and even seen former friends distance themselves from him.
Yet he had never defended himself—because he knew that without solid evidence, any explanation would only make things worse.
So, he had no choice but to endure, following Zhao Tianyi’s instructions while gathering proof.
The attacks and verbal abuse continued, growing even more intense.
Xue Qian let the members of the Wanlong Society hold umbrellas to shield him from physical projectiles. Though he appeared somewhat disheveled, he knew that starting today, he would finally clear his name of the slander his enemies had smeared upon him.
And as for the pain and humiliation they had inflicted on him—he would repay them tenfold, a hundredfold.
Shortly after the reporters took their positions, several actors pretending to be "victims" arrived.
They immediately approached the radio journalists, weeping and wailing in exaggerated distress.
"Reporter, you must stand up for us common folk!"
"This Wanlong Supermarket is nothing but a bunch of heartless—"
Watching the scene, Xue Qian felt no ripple of emotion. Instead, the corners of his lips curled slightly.
"The show has begun."
