Chapter 13

Bribery?!

Although many at the scene suspected that this sudden trouble caused by the gang of ruffians was deliberately orchestrated, hearing the word "bribery" still came as a shock.

Fans watching the live stream who admired Lin Yi were as happy as children. Look, my precious one is being framed!

"This person, being too outstanding is sometimes a curse. See, aren’t they just jealous?"

"Appearance matters too. They say the face reflects the heart. Look, that crew-cut guy claimed that Ian is the one who abused the fish."

The trolls fell silent.

Jiang Xuan was nearly furious. What kind of look was that crew-cut guy giving? How did his son resemble the fish abuser in any way?

Out of a one-in-six chance, he was singled out as Ian?

Could Yang Xing be a spy planted by Zhong Qi to keep tabs on me?

Yang Xing shivered under Jiang Xuan’s suspicious gaze, his voice trembling: "Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Xuan wanted to confront him but knew this wasn’t the time. No matter how angry he was, he had to hold it in.

When Zhong Qi learned the reason behind this commotion, he was very nervous. Now that someone had exposed that they were bribed, half of his heart finally eased.

The production team would definitely investigate this further.

Zhong Qi’s eyes landed on Jiang Xuan. He was convinced that Jiang Xuan was the one who bribed these people.

At this moment, Yang Xing and Jiang Xuan were whispering conspiratorially, confirming Zhong Qi’s suspicions.

Weren’t they supposed to avoid the cameras when talking?

Yet Zhong Qi deliberately let them fall into the spotlight.

He called out to a cameraman, who quickly panned back to include Yang Xing and Jiang Xuan, who had just slipped out of frame.

However, most netizens were focused on the director’s conversation, so few paid attention to them.

But there would always be some netizens who noticed them. One suspicious behavior might mean nothing, but Zhong Qi believed that with enough accumulated evidence, Jiang Xuan would be brought down.

The only thing that delighted Zhong Qi was that the crew-cut guy actually pointed at Ian!

Ha! This was too hilarious!

They tried to slander Yi Bao, but the boomerang hit their own son.

Was Jiang Xuan digging his own grave?

Lin Yi noticed Zhong Qi’s distraction and tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to focus on what the director was saying.

The group in front of the director was chattering noisily, speaking in dialects, giving the director a headache.

Director: "Whoever speaks Mandarin well, come forward and speak on behalf of the group."

A young woman holding a baby stepped forward: "Our East Fishing Village and West Fishing Village have always been at odds. Today, Tian San from West Fishing Village came to our East Fishing Village—"

"Wait, what does this have to do with the production team?" the director interrupted.

The young woman bounced the baby: "How could it not? Our East Fishing Village made the news and became popular. West Fishing Village was already jealous of us, and now that they see us making money, they’re scheming against us."

The director immediately caught on: "…So you’re saying the person who bribed Wang Datou was Tian San?"

The woman nodded, smiling: "Yes, yes. City folks are clever; I hadn’t finished, and you already guessed."

He Tong couldn’t help but nudge Xie Yu: "I thought it was someone from our production team."

Xie Yu smiled but said nothing.

He Tong hadn’t muted her mic, so her words were heard in the live stream.

[What does He Tong mean? Just because two kids were playing around, you want to manipulate public opinion to frame Xuan Xuan?]

[Shameless! No wonder he’s just a small-time nobody.]

[No, it’s her daughter who made Ian bleed, so how does she have the face to badmouth my Xuan Ge behind his back?]

[What’s going on? Did Jiang Xuan’s fans just collectively lose it while I was on the phone?]

At the scene, Lin Yi hadn’t expected things to unfold like this.

Though he knew it was impossible to topple Jiang Xuan all at once, he intended to tarnish his reputation again.

He was still too young, and in this society, extreme measures were not feasible.

He had casually overheard the phrase "social death" and thought it suited Jiang Xuan perfectly.

Before he made a move, the other side had already delivered themselves. Why not take advantage of it?

Was he really going to let this slip by so easily?

"The village chief is here, and the chief from West Fishing Village is here too!" someone suddenly shouted from the crowd.

---

Before filming started, the director had met the village chief and greeted him as he approached.

After exchanging pleasantries, the director asked, "Should we turn off the equipment?"

The village chief inwardly scoffed. Why turn it off now? Were they going to blow their nose with their snot hanging out?

Everyone online knew about the fishing village framing the kids. If they didn’t clear things up publicly, who would dare come to the village?

They invited the production team over, not to get negative publicity!

Thinking of this, the village chief wanted to wring Tian San’s neck.

Always shirking important matters, doing foolish things instead.

Though his mind was racing, his face bore a smile: "No need, no need. Oh, right, this gentleman beside me is the West Fishing Village chief, and behind him is Tian San."

"Tian San, come over here and explain things clearly!"

The last sentence was directed at Tian San.

Tian San was a thin middle-aged man: "I admit, I took money to bribe Wang Datou and his group to slander one child from the production team."

"But this has nothing to do with the two villages. I took money from someone in your production team."

He then showed a black plastic bag containing several stacks of cash, estimated to be over thirty thousand.

Seeing the money, Wang Datou and his group’s eyes widened instantly.

Especially the crew-cut Wang Datou, who grabbed Tian San’s collar: "Old Tian, is that how you treat your brothers? You took so much money but only gave us a pack of Liqun each? And it’s the cheap Sunshine Orange brand."

[Hahaha, that’s hilarious. So much money, and you only bought them cheap cigarettes?]

[I don’t smoke; can someone explain?]

[They say people who smoke Liqun have stories. Liqun isn’t expensive, and Sunshine Orange is among the cheapest. Thirty thousand yuan in cash, and you gift your partners a lipstick worth thirty to fifty yuan?]

The village chief pushed Wang Datou aside: "Let’s talk business first!"

Director: "You said someone from the production team contacted you to do this? Do you remember who?"

Tian San nodded, then shook his head. The West Fishing Village chief, known for his short temper, slapped him on the back: "If you know, just say it!"

He had secretly felt relieved watching the live farce. Why was all the good fortune tied to East Fishing Village? But he also understood the principle of shared glory and shared loss.

Upon hearing Tian San’s story, he brought people to confront the East Fishing Village chief.

This matter had to be clarified.

Tian San gestured: "It was a man, but he wore a mask, hat, and sunglasses. I couldn’t see his face."

Director: "Do you remember what he wore? His height? Was he fat or thin?"

Tian San thought back and described vaguely: "A white shirt, pants I didn’t notice, about this height…"

He gestured, then suddenly pointed at Yang Xing: "It was him! He’s about that tall!"

Yang Xing wanted to slip away when he saw Tian San but suddenly disappeared, making him look even more suspicious.

He could only hide within the crowd.

Everyone else was standing still, but he kept shifting slightly, which made him stand out immediately.

All eyes turned to Yang Xing.

Cold sweat broke out on Yang Xing’s back.

Yang Bai was confused about what was going on but knew it wasn’t good.

He was no longer amused by the spectacle; his eyes full of disdain and coldness.

Lin Yi saw this scene.

When Yang Bai noticed Lin Yi looking at him, he hesitated briefly but nodded in greeting.

Lin Yi thought: Yang Bai dislikes Yang Xing.

Interesting—the son hates his father but still agrees to come on the show with him?

Yang Xing quickly composed himself, allowing everyone to scrutinize him and even joked: "I really do have an average height."

But Tian San frowned thoughtfully.

Yang Xing’s sweaty palms and pounding heart betrayed his nerves. If he was exposed publicly, his reputation and career would be ruined.

"It’s him! He’s the one who gave me the money!"

[Wait, did I see that right?]

[The person pointed out was Jiang Xuan?]

[Ah, my head hurts. I thought it was a conflict between the two villages, then a staff member appeared, and just as I thought it was Yang Xing, this guy turns around and points at Jiang Xuan?]

[What does Jiang Xuan have to do with this?]

[Boldly unmute—could it be that the two villages have conflicts but, to protect the fishing village’s reputation, they’re throwing the production team under the bus? And Tian San fabricated a person who paid him?]

[But earlier villagers said they saw someone giving money to Tian San, and their descriptions roughly matched his. The time was too short for collusion.]

Jiang Xuan exploded: "What nonsense are you talking about? I’ve never met you! Nor have I ever given you money! You—"

He wanted to expose Yang Xing, but Tian San, fed up with being insulted, fired back: "Why not you? I remember your hat and sunglasses had this ‘C’ logo!"

"Oh, and when you gave me the money, you wore gloves, which also had a tiny ‘C’."

Zhong Qi sneered. As expected of Jiang Xuan, cautious to the extreme—wearing gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints.

He Tong’s eyes lit up. Jiang Xuan was trying to negotiate a perfume collaboration with the C family and wore their accessories.

He Tong: "I think only Jiang Xuan uses C family products here?"

Jiang Xuan wanted to tear He Tong apart but had to clear his name first: "I—"

Yang Xing stepped up: "It can’t be Brother Jiang. He was filming on set the entire time. He never left."

At this moment, Xu Du Ruo’s father arrived with a hard drive: "Based on Tian San’s provided time and location, we checked nearby surveillance and captured the person who met him."

The director was delighted; finally, a breakthrough!

Though the incident had garnered much attention, it was risky. One slip and it could backfire. Resolving it quickly was best.

Both on-site and online, no one cared about the fish abuse anymore. Most netizens were busy feeding on the drama, and even Lin Yi, the “victim,” was forgotten.

This was undoubtedly good for Lin Yi!

Those caught in the storm stayed untouched.

Who would still say he attracted negative attention?

If there was any hate, it must be from jealous haters buying fake accounts!

The production team had no shortage of playback equipment, and soon the surveillance footage was shown to everyone.

The video matched Tian San’s account—a man in white meeting him.

The man’s face was concealed by a hat, mask, and sunglasses, making identification impossible.

He also walked with an obviously disguised gait, and the footage was blurry.

However, the timestamp showed the meeting occurred around 2:12 p.m.

At the same time, Jiang Xuan was live streaming, so he could be ruled out.

Zhong Qi’s expression darkened but was not surprised by the result.

He knew Jiang Xuan’s cunning better than anyone.

Lin Yi squeezed Zhong Qi’s hand, as if comforting him.

Zhong Qi forced a smile and stroked little Lin Yi: "I’m fine."

The incident caused a huge stir. Police arrived, taking Wang Datou and others away. Many on-site had to give statements.

Filming could not continue today.

Lin Yi experienced a modern police station—quite novel.

Outside the station, after the statement, Lin Yi thanked Xu Du Ruo: "Thank you today. Luckily you brought people in time."

The young girl smiled broadly: "It’s nothing."

Then lowered her voice: "Here, the thing you wanted."

Lin Yi quickly pocketed it, unnoticed by others.

"Ruo Ruo, time to go home."

The girl waved goodbye: "See you next time. Call me Ruo Ruo."

Lin Yi nodded.

Watching her get into the car, he turned and saw Qin Siyang standing behind him.

Lin Yi remembered Qin Siyang had little to do with the incident and shouldn’t have needed to give a statement.

Qin Siyang: "Mom came to handle some business. You and that girl are close?"

Lin Yi tilted his head, puzzled. What business at the police station?

Lin Yi: "Yeah, she’s great."

Qin Siyang: "…Oh."

He turned and left. Lin Yi scratched his head, wondering what he meant.

After Qin Siyang got into the car, Xie Yu looked puzzled: "I thought you came to pick up Yi Bao? Why did you go back to the car alone?"

Qin Siyang: "He said he’s taking the production team’s car back with Uncle Zhong."

Xie Yu: …You’re teasing your mom again, aren’t you?