CHAPTER 70 — When the Internet Turns
The internet was a battlefield.
And tonight, the battlefield burned.
Rumors had flipped.
Accusations had reversed.
The predators had become the hunted.
And the entire world was watching.
Phoenix Entertainment Headquarters — Midnight
Every floor was in chaos.
Phones rang nonstop.
Employees whispered in corners.
Security escorted panicking managers out of the building.
And in the top-floor conference room—
The board members stared at the massive screen showing Roulan's leaked video.
Her voice echoed through the room:
"Leak more videos. This time, make them impossible to deny."
Silence followed.
Heavy. Suffocating.
Finally, Chairman Zhao slammed his palm on the table.
"That's enough! Suspend all of Roulan's endorsements immediately!"
Another director added sharply, "Issue a statement distancing the company from her behavior."
"And Qin Yuhan?" a third asked.
"Fire him," Zhao snapped. "Today."
Everyone nodded. No one argued.
Reputation mattered more than loyalty.
And after tonight…
Roulan was poison.
Roulan's Apartment — The Collapse
Her living room was a mess of shattered glass, torn pillows, and broken decor.
Roulan crouched on the floor, hands over her head, breathing fast as the news reports repeated her betrayal again and again.
Her assistant stood near the door, trembling.
"Miss Roulan—w-we need to leave. Reporters are downstairs. Paparazzi are surrounding the building."
Roulan didn't look up.
"Leave…?" she whispered. "Leave and go where?"
The assistant swallowed. "Anywhere. Before it gets worse."
Roulan suddenly laughed.
A broken sound.
"It's already worse," she whispered. "Do you know how hard I worked? How many years I spent building that image?"
Her eyes were red—wild, desperate.
"She took everything from me."
Her assistant opened her mouth to speak—
But Roulan cut her off.
"No," she said coldly, eyes sharpening with poisonous resolve. "This isn't over."
She rose slowly.
Her voice lowering.
"I will destroy Shi Yunxi—even if it ruins me in the process."
Mu Family Residence — Night
The house was quiet when Lingchen and Yunxi arrived.
The children were asleep upstairs. Auntie Mei had already set out herbal tea for them.
Yunxi removed her coat slowly, her body finally beginning to feel the exhaustion she'd been holding back.
Lingchen watched her quietly.
"You should rest," he said softly.
"So should you," she replied without looking at him.
He didn't argue.
Not tonight.
Instead, he poured both of them tea and sat opposite her on the sofa.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Yunxi broke the silence.
"Why did you protect me like that?" she asked quietly. "So fiercely?"
Lingchen looked up.
His voice was steady. Too steady.
"Because you were innocent."
"That can't be the only reason."
His gaze held hers.
"You think I would move the world for just anyone?"
Yunxi's breath caught.
His expression softened, but only slightly.
"I don't care what Roulan does," he said. "I don't care what the internet says. But you—"
He paused.
"You are not allowed to be hurt."
Her heartbeat stumbled.
She looked away, overwhelmed.
"Lingchen…"
But before she could finish—
A loud notification pinged on both their phones.
They exchanged a glance.
Something new had dropped.
Breaking News — 12:41 AM
[Anonymous whistleblower leaks documents proving Roulan manipulated award shows.]
[Photos of Roulan meeting male executives late at night surface.]
[Private chat logs hint at Roulan trading favors for roles.]
The internet exploded again.
This time, devouring Roulan.
Comment sections went feral.
"So she was the one sleeping around?!"
"Fake videos of Yunxi but she's the one guilty?"
"Phoenix should sue her!"
"Is her career finished? (Yes.)"
Yunxi stared at the screen, stunned.
"These… are real," she whispered.
Lingchen didn't respond.
She turned to him slowly.
"Lingchen. How did these get out?"
His expression didn't move.
"You don't need to worry about that."
"Lingchen."
After a long pause, he sighed.
"Some of Phoenix's senior staff were very… cooperative tonight."
Yunxi blinked.
"So you… pressured them?"
"No," he said calmly. "I simply gave them a choice."
She didn't ask what that choice was.
She wasn't sure she wanted to know.
But she knew this—
Roulan wasn't just losing a fight.
She was losing her entire identity.
Online — Public Sentiment Shift
#TeamYunxi started trending.
Commentators demanded Roulan retire.
Marketing agencies began pulling out of contracts.
Netizens compiled every suspicious clip of Roulan over the past year.
The tide had turned completely.
Yunxi wasn't just cleared.
She was vindicated.
And Roulan—
Crushed.
Mu Residence — Balcony
Yunxi stepped outside for air.
The night wind was cool. Soft. Almost soothing.
Lingchen followed her quietly.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I don't know."
"You won," he said quietly.
"That's the problem."
He frowned. "Explain."
Yunxi turned toward the dark sky.
"I didn't want a war," she whispered. "I didn't want to destroy anyone. I didn't want any of this."
"But they forced your hand."
"Yes," she said softly. "But that doesn't make the ending feel any lighter."
Lingchen's voice deepened.
"You're too soft-hearted."
"I'm human," she corrected. "That's all."
He stepped closer.
Close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating off him. Close enough that her entire body stilled.
"You won't have to fight alone anymore," he said quietly. "Not in this lifetime."
Her chest tightened.
And before she could speak—
He brushed a soft kiss against her temple.
A promise without words.
She closed her eyes.
Letting herself lean—just slightly—into the one man who never let her fall.