On camera, He Qiqi suddenly broke down in tears.
The live stream audience was stunned.
"What's going on?"
"Why is she crying? Someone punch this whiny girl already."
"She was just on the eighth floor—how did she come out from the ninth-floor stairwell? Weird."
The contestants rehearsing on the ninth floor heard the crying and rushed over, surrounding He Qiqi with concern. "What happened? Did you fall...?"
The more people gathered, the harder He Qiqi cried.
Trembling, she pointed toward the stairwell. "I—I was stressed and went there to get some air... Then I met this strange old man. He—he..."
She trailed off, sobbing even louder.
Lisa grew frantic. "What did the old man do to you? Speak up! Explain properly!"
"He... he harassed me..." He Qiqi's face flushed red. "He touched my hand and tried to hug me... I ran away as fast as I could..."
"No way!" Lisa looked incredulous. "Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand...?"
Before she could finish, a girl pushed open the stairwell door.
Old Master Ji stood right there.
Just moments ago, he had been wondering if his stern expression had frightened He Qiqi into tears.
After all, back when he led the Ji Group, he had a reputation for reducing shareholders to tears during monthly meetings. He was well aware of his intimidating aura.
He had hesitated over whether to apologize.
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to be accused of something so outrageous.
The door swung open, revealing a crowd of girls comforting He Qiqi.
When He Qiqi saw him, she shrank back in fear.
"Oh my god, there really is an old man hiding in the stairwell. How creepy!"
"At his age, still harassing young girls? Can’t control himself, huh?"
"Where’s the Ji Group’s representative? Call them! Report this to the police—lock up this disgusting old man!"
"Don’t be like this..." He Qiqi wiped her tears. "He’s a fan of Rong Yu’s, a viewer of the show... Maybe he just had a momentary lapse in judgment. Sending someone his age to the police isn’t right... Let’s give him another chance..."
The live chat erupted in fury.
"Disgraceful old pervert. What’s the point of living so long? Just drop dead already."
"If this creep is Rong Yu’s fan, then Rong Yu’s just as shameless. Unbelievable."
"Bet this was a fan’s revenge on He Qiqi."
"Poor He Qiqi—first Rong Yu steals her team leader position, now she gets harassed. My heart breaks for her."
"Are you all just taking He Qiqi’s word for it?"
"I can confirm—that old man is definitely Rong Yu’s fan. I saw him outside the studio before."
"Rong Yu is disgusting. So are her fans..."
Meanwhile, Rong Yu and her team had just finalized their performance plans when news of the ninth-floor incident reached them.
A staff member hesitated before speaking. "He Qiqi was harassed by an old man... Apparently, he’s... your fan..."
Rong Yu’s expression darkened instantly.
She took the stairs without another word.
Before she even reached the scene, she heard her son Ji Shunying’s voice: "You’re accusing me of harassment? Where’s your proof?"
He Qiqi only cried, refusing to answer.
Rong Ruoyao stood beside her, coldly stating, "No woman would ever joke about something like this. He Qiqi was willing to give you a chance, but you won’t even apologize. I think we should call the police..."
Before she could finish, Rong Yu pushed through the crowd.
The moment Old Master Ji saw her, his face twisted with grievance.
He had only come to deliver lunch to his mother—how did he end up framed like this?
Rong Yu stepped in front of He Qiqi. "Are you certain this man harassed you?"
He Qiqi bit her lip, tearfully nodding.
But before she could speak—
A sharp gust of wind.
A resounding slap landed on He Qiqi’s face, snapping her head to the side. She stood frozen, dazed.
Old Master Ji was stunned.
In his memory, his mother was always calm, rarely clashing with others.
Yet here she was, slapping He Qiqi in front of everyone.
For him.
He still had his mother. Even now, he could hide behind her, just like when he was a child.
No longer did he have to shoulder every storm alone.
Old Master Ji’s eyes reddened instantly.
"Rong Yu! How dare you hit someone?!" Rong Ruoyao gasped. With cameras live-streaming everything, had Rong Yu lost her mind? But the crazier she acted, the better for her. "Even if he’s your fan, He Qiqi is the victim! How can you slap her without hearing the full story?"
He Qiqi buried her face in Rong Ruoyao’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Rong Yu scanned the crowd. "Who else hurled insults? Either step forward and apologize now, or I’ll pull the footage and slap each of you myself."
Calling her son a "disgusting old man"?
Her Shunying, who had remained devoted to his late wife, never so much as glancing at another woman—now being slandered like this in his old age?
They could insult her all they wanted.
But not her son.
Her gaze was sharp as a blade, forcing onlookers to look away.
"Rong Yu, you can’t just bully people because he’s your fan..." He Qiqi’s cheek burned red as she fought back tears. "He did harass me! Otherwise, why would some random old man be lurking in the stairwell?"
No cameras there.
Her word against his.
Even if they couldn’t convict him, the scandal alone would skyrocket her fame.
The live stream’s viewership surged past a million.
"Holy crap, Rong Yu’s insane. Slapping He Qiqi? Bold."
"He Qiqi gets harassed AND slapped? Brutal."
"Stop—if this keeps up, I’m becoming a He Qiqi stan."
"I’ve never wanted to reach through a screen and slap someone so badly..."
Just then—
Rapid footsteps echoed down the hall.
Secretary Jiang rushed over, the show’s director in tow. He had been nearby on business and immediately recognized Old Master Ji on the live feed.
The girls didn’t know Secretary Jiang, but they recognized the director and quickly made way.
He Qiqi waited for the director to deliver justice.
Rong Ruoyao smirked. After assaulting someone on live TV, Rong Yu’s career was over.
But the director’s next words stunned everyone present.
"Chairman!"
What?
Chairman?!
Every pair of eyes widened in shock.
Secretary Jiang stepped up to the old man and spoke coldly, "This is Mr. Ji Shunying, the founder of Ji Group. The reason Old Master Ji is here today is to conduct an undercover inspection of the work. However, someone with ulterior motives took advantage of the situation to stage this spectacle for clout. He Qiqi deliberately spread false accusations and rumors, severely damaging Old Master Ji's personal reputation. I have already reported this to the police, and they are on their way. Miss He Qiqi, you might want to prepare yourself."
He Qiqi froze as if struck by lightning.
This strange old man… was the chairman of Ji Group? How… how was that possible?
The esteemed chairman of a major corporation, hiding in the stairwell to deliver meals to Rong Yu—wasn’t that utterly absurd?
Her legs gave way, and she stumbled toward Rong Ruoyao for support.
Rong Ruoyao immediately sidestepped her.
The chairman of Ji Group held absolute authority within the company. She must have lost her mind to have sided with He Qiqi in condemning Old Master Ji…
