Chapter 56: Mercilessly Despised by Zhou Yanran
Seeing the countless messages online from fans volunteering to help, Su Bai was moved to tears.
What had he done to deserve such affection from so many people?
[Ding! Fan count has surpassed ten million, system reward: Mastery in Composition!]
[Ding! Fan count has surpassed ten million, system reward: Mastery in Dance!]
[Current Glory Points: 1,932,203!]
Watching his points surge to nearly two million in an instant, Su Bai could hardly believe it.
He also noticed that the system shop had unlocked several appealing new skills, and even Su Bai couldn’t help but feel tempted.
However, he managed to restrain his impulse to exchange points. After all, he didn’t know when he might need a particular skill. It was wiser to wait until the time came.
After drinking with the people from King of Battle Company, Song Liang was humming a tune, singing and looking quite happy. But the moment he saw the messages online, he suddenly sat up in bed, a bad premonition rising within him.
Ignoring the late hour, he immediately dialed Su Bai’s number.
“Su Bai, make a statement on Douyin right now. Say that the kidnapping incident has already been reported to the police, and the authorities will handle the follow-up. Thank everyone for their concern!”
“Also, make it clear that everyone should simply wait quietly for the results and not act on their own!”
“This fan volunteering movement is making too much noise—I’m worried someone might be fanning the flames behind the scenes!”
“If things get out of hand, it could backfire spectacularly!”
Song Liang’s words instantly sobered Su Bai, who’d been riding a wave of excitement—it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.
Indeed, if someone with ulterior motives twisted the situation, he’d be hard-pressed to explain himself.
Immediately, Su Bai posted a statement on Douyin:
Hello everyone, this is Su Bai. First, thank you all for your concern.
I want to let you know: the kidnapping incident has already been handed over to the police.
Please trust them—they will give us all a satisfactory answer.
At the same time, I earnestly ask everyone not to take matters into their own hands, so as not to interfere with the police investigation.
Thank you all once again! Please, I’m counting on you!
After releasing the statement, Su Bai felt a wave of fear. If someone used this fan movement as a pretext to do something extreme, he’d ultimately be the one to bear the consequences.
Seeing Su Bai’s anxious expression, Yang Mengke tried to comfort him.
“Brother, if you have things to take care of, just go back to the city. I’ll be fine here on my own.”
“I can always stay with Teacher Yu Lan.”
Su Bai shook his head slightly. There was much to handle in the city, but he could no longer feel at ease leaving Yang Mengke on her own.
He was waiting—for Wang Yan and his team to arrive.
Ever since the kidnapping, Su Bai had discussed forming a covert guard for Yang Mengke with Wang Yan, who had agreed to contact his former comrades.
After the previous incident, Su Bai realized Wang Yan was someone he could trust.
Only once Wang Yan and his people were in place would Su Bai feel comfortable leaving.
Early the next morning, Yang Mengke left with Yu Lan.
Su Bai still had an important matter to settle: meeting Zhou Yanran.
Even though he’d asked fans not to interfere, Su Bai didn’t intend to let the culprits off so easily.
A dragon has its reverse scale; touch it and you die. Yang Mengke was Su Bai’s reverse scale.
Previously, Su Bai had always sought stability, so much so that everyone thought he was all bark and no bite—a paper tiger. He might have been imposing online, but anyone who wished could easily challenge him.
If he didn’t make an example this time, he’d be trampled by anyone who pleased in the future.
When he saw Zhou Yanran again, she had already shed her haughty demeanor.
“Quite the grand gesture—you really surprised me!”
“When my people told me you were on CCTV last night, I thought I’d misheard!”
“Why didn’t you warn me you had a trump card? When I tried to intercept you at the airport yesterday, you must have been heading to record the show, right?”
“You weren’t afraid of being late for the program?”
Su Bai merely smiled, offering no explanation.
He sneered inwardly: If I’d told you yesterday, would you have believed me?
“It’s not too late now. Tell me: what’s your trump card?”
Zhou Yanran extended her slender fingers, removing her oversized sunglasses to reveal her enticing, almond-shaped eyes.
Her gaze sparkled with humor as she smiled at Su Bai, then suddenly leaned forward, her rosy lips parting alluringly.
“This isn’t the place for a conversation. Come home with me—if you dare!”
Su Bai instinctively leaned back, unsettled by her seductive posture and provocative words.
He couldn’t help but laugh softly. “I thought I was supposed to be the man here.”
Zhou Yanran traced her moist, red lips with her tongue, teasing him further. “Who says only men can be wolves?”
“If you dare—come with me!”
With that, Zhou Yanran picked up her purse, swayed her hips, and walked out.
Su Bai sat for a moment, then broke into a smile. “Interesting.”
He drained his glass and followed her.
Once inside Zhou Yanran’s car, she unexpectedly fell silent, not speaking a word the entire drive.
Her home was a classic three-bedroom apartment. The décor wasn’t as luxurious as he’d imagined; instead, it exuded a delicate, romantic femininity.
“Make yourself at home. There are drinks in the fridge and fruit on the table. Help yourself.”
“I’m going to take a shower.”
A beautiful woman? At home? Taking a shower?
Something about this didn’t feel quite right.
Su Bai eyed the bathroom door and the sound of running water with some suspicion.
Surely not...
Half an hour later, bored, Su Bai was scrolling through Douyin when Zhou Yanran emerged from the bedroom in pajamas, holding a laptop.
She plopped down next to him.
“Open the video file on the desktop and watch it.”
Puzzled, Su Bai clicked on the file.
At once, suggestive sounds filled the air, accompanied by images explicit enough to make anyone blush.
Su Bai immediately shut it off, turning to Zhou Yanran with a very peculiar expression.
Did she really call him over for... this?
“President Zhou, you—?”
Zhou Yanran casually ran her fingers through her damp hair.
“Watch it all before you say anything.”
“A big star like you can’t handle this? You’ll need more self-control in the future—after all, once you’re famous, you’ll be surrounded by admirers. If you can’t resist a little temptation, you’ll be in trouble.”
To be looked down upon like this left Su Bai speechless.
This was intolerable!