LOI Chapter 23 — Official Intervention

“Did you get a clear shot of his face?” The voice on the phone urged impatiently.

“Don’t worry, it’s crystal clear,” the paparazzo hidden in the bushes replied, reviewing the camera. “I’m sending you the photos right now.”

The coffee stain on the sofa had long been cleaned. Liu Qing crossed his legs, swinging his phone gleefully. “We’ve got footage of Rong Ke being escorted into a police car.”

“Even if he’s taken in, they won’t find any evidence of drug use,” Jiang Si handed Liu Qing a glass of wine before sitting down at the other end of the sofa. “I know him.”

“Does it matter if he actually used drugs?” Liu Qing raised his glass nonchalantly. “As long as we have this image and let some gossip accounts stir up drama, even if he clarifies later, those idiots online won’t believe him.”

Jiang Si took a sip of wine, his face grim as he remained silent.

“Hey,” Liu Qing extended his leg to nudge Jiang Si. “What’s wrong? Having second thoughts?”

“I hate to say it, but your methods are really underhanded,” Jiang Si frowned.

“You’re the one who gave me his address,” Liu Qing retorted. “Didn’t you want to crush him too? Why am I suddenly the villain here?”

An hour ago, Liu Qing discovered someone leaking dirt on Rong Ke online. Seizing the opportunity, he had his agent arrange for people to infiltrate the thread and manipulate public opinion.

Before long, the narrative in the thread had completely shifted from observing half-true allegations about prostitution to debating whether Rong Ke had ever used drugs.

Once the groundwork was laid, the next step was simple: find people to report Rong Ke for drug use. Regardless of its authenticity, the police would certainly show up to take him in for testing.

Then, arrange for paparazzi to capture images of Rong Ke being taken away by the police. Let gossip accounts fan the flames, and the matter would essentially be settled.

“Yan Zhi will guess I’m involved,” Jiang Si anxiously set his glass on the coffee table. “I knew Rong Ke was staying with him.”

“So what? He’s an outsider. Does he really think he can outmaneuver us?” Liu Qing scoffed. “Winning the public relations battle requires connections. Which PR firm is he close with?”

“I’m not worried about the public opinion reversing,” Jiang Si said.

The trending topic of Rong Ke’s alleged drug use had already exploded online. Even if he were to clarify later, no one would dare collaborate with him.

In short, Rong Ke’s career was over, but that didn’t mean Yan Zhi would let the matter rest.

“Oh, I get it. You’re worried about losing your magazine cover, aren’t you?” Liu Qing sneered. “A magazine cover or destroying Rong Ke—which would you choose?”

Jiang Si didn’t answer, but by revealing Rong Ke’s address to Liu Qing, he had already made his choice.

“Relax, everyone knows Yan Zhi is just here to play in the entertainment industry. He won’t stay in China for long,” Liu Qing sipped his wine leisurely. “Worst case scenario, you can be on MQ’s cover after he leaves. It won’t affect anything.”

“The cover I want is for the anniversary issue,” Jiang Si rubbed the back of his head in frustration. “Forget it, we’ll take it one step at a time.”

–

The explosive headline on Weibo was glaring, and public opinion in the square was overwhelmingly critical.

[Another celebrity falls into the legal trap. Is our entertainment industry actually a sewing machine squad¹?]
[Damn, I just became a fan of Rong Ke, and he’s fallen from grace already]
[A minor scandal every three days, a major one every five. The entertainment industry is doomed]
[Where’s his CP partner? Weren’t they all lovey-dovey before, even taking him to Paris for fashion shows? Laughable]
[I bet Yan Zhi was doing drugs with him too]
[Don’t say that… Actually, do. Foreign countries aren’t as strict as we are. Maybe Yan Zhi was the one who introduced him to it]
[…]
[Can you all stop being so stupid? Being taken away by the police and coincidentally photographed? It’s obviously a smear campaign]
[The clarity of this photo screams professional camera. Someone’s targeting Rong Ke]
[I heard someone doesn’t want Rong Ke to star in a new drama]
[…]
[Delusional fans are terrifying. The police are involved and they’re still defending him]
[I think “Rong Yan Forever” should be renamed “To (Zhi) the Darkest Hour (Ke)” lol]

Yan Zhi’s Weibo page was flooded with “righteous” citizens demanding he prove his innocence.

But Yan Zhi, busy contacting lawyers, couldn’t be bothered. He simply posted an old photo of himself smoking a cigar and flipping off the camera.

The comments under this Weibo post were a toxic mess, with insults flying left and right. However, a small group of CP fans derailed the conversation entirely.

[I don’t believe my husband uses drugs. Waiting for an official statement]
[If he used drugs, there’d be an official statement. Let’s wait for a clarification]
[Hey, wifey flipping the bird is so alpha… (whispers)]
[I know, right? I might switch sides]
[Wifey must be the last real person in the entertainment industry. Who else would dare respond to controversy like this?]
[At this moment, I’m willing to call him husband]
[…]
[Are CP fans out of their minds? Still shipping a drug user?]
[Is there an official statement yet? Don’t believe or spread rumors until the results are out]

Yan Zhi contacted a partner from a law firm that worked with many foreign companies in China, including CVV. Upon hearing that a major client needed legal services, the lawyer personally led a team to meet Yan Zhi at the police station, despite it being nearly midnight.

“Mr. Yan, please don’t worry. If Mr. Rong hasn’t used any drugs, he’ll be out soon.”

Yan Zhi checked the time. Rong Ke had been taken away for almost two hours, well past the time needed for a drug test. But without the lawyer present earlier, he couldn’t enter the station to inquire.

“He definitely hasn’t used drugs. Let’s go ask why he’s been held for so long,” Yan Zhi strode towards the station’s main entrance. “Issue a lawyer’s statement and gather evidence against those spreading rumors. I want to sue them all.”

He wore a long black coat, followed by several lawyers in suits. Their presence drew curious glances from people entering and leaving the station.

Just as they reached the entrance, Yan Zhi suddenly stopped. He saw Rong Ke in the lobby…

Shaking hands with a police officer.

“Thank you for your help last time. We subsequently took down an entire drug manufacturing and trafficking chain.”

“It was just a lucky coincidence,” Rong Ke replied.

“The internet is quite hostile these days and quick to jump to conclusions. The government has been wanting to address this trend, and we need public figures like you to take the lead.”

“It’s my duty,” Rong Ke said. The drug test at the station was just a formality. The chief recognized Rong Ke and never believed he would use drugs. He kept praising Rong Ke, making him a bit embarrassed.

“We’ll educate those who reported you. You should clarify things quickly to avoid impacting your career.”

After saying goodbye to the chief, Rong Ke turned and saw Yan Zhi rushing in.

Before Rong Ke could speak, Yan Zhi strode forward and hugged him tightly. His tone was reproachful but mostly concerned, “Why did it take you so long to come out?”

Rong Ke glanced at the lawyers behind Yan Zhi, thinking how dependable this prince was. He patted Yan Zhi’s back and said, “I’m fine. I was just chatting with the chief.”

Yan Zhi released Rong Ke but his brow remained furrowed. “Do you know they’re calling you a ‘legal celebrity’ online?”

“I haven’t had a chance to look,” Rong Ke said, reaching for his phone, but Yan Zhi snatched it away.

“Don’t look now, it’s not good for your heart,” Yan Zhi said. “We need to think about how to clarify this.”

The middle-aged lawyer stepped forward. “There are two issues to clarify: drug use and prostitution. Regarding drugs, Mr. Rong has passed the test, so we can simply issue a statement. But about the prostitution allegation, Mr. Rong, have you worked in a bar before? We need to understand the situation to better address it.”

The lawyer spoke tactfully, essentially wanting to confirm if Rong Ke had been involved in prostitution. If so, they’d need an alternative strategy.

“Remember I told you about that bar where I danced being investigated?” Rong Ke went outside the station, borrowed a cigarette from a lawyer, and started smoking leisurely.

“Was it really for prostitution?” Yan Zhi lit one too, but was too distracted to smoke, just holding it between his fingers.

“Yes,” Rong Ke said, cigarette between his lips, chuckling. “I reported it.”

Yan Zhi: “…”

“So you weren’t personally involved in prostitution?” the lawyer standing nearby asked.

“No,” Rong Ke flicked his ash. “I discovered it was a prostitution den and cooperated with the police to shut it down. The situation was chaotic, and I was taken to the station to give a statement, so some might have thought I was arrested too.”

“That’s good,” the lawyer nodded, telling his assistant, “You’ve heard the situation. Quickly draft a statement.”

He then asked Rong Ke, “Do you have anything to prove what you’re saying? A written statement alone might not be enough.”

“Would a ‘Model Citizen’ banner count?” Rong Ke asked. “I also have photos with the police from that time.”

“That’s perfect,” the lawyer’s tone relaxed. “However, public opinion is overwhelmingly against us now. We’ll need to make examples of a few rumor-spreaders to deter others.”

Rong Ke nodded, “Then I’ll leave you to your work.”

After parting with the lawyer, Rong Ke got into Yan Zhi’s car.

The red Mustang roared through the night. Yan Zhi stared ahead silently. Sensing the tense atmosphere, Rong Ke asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking about how poor your judgment is,” Yan Zhi was angry.

Rong Ke: “?”

Seeing Rong Ke hadn’t caught on, Yan Zhi hinted, “The police know you’re staying with me.”

“Oh, you mean him,” Rong Ke had already figured this out. Only Jiang Si knew he was living at Yan Zhi’s place, so the culprit was obvious. He sighed, “You’re right, I was blind.”

“A drug scandal is extremely serious in China,” Yan Zhi frowned. “He’s trying to destroy you completely.”

“I know,” Rong Ke turned to look out the window.

He no longer had any feelings for Jiang Si. He just lamented at how much this industry could change a person.

“Your termination agreement has a confidentiality clause. He’s betting you won’t dare expose him, or he’ll sue you into bankruptcy,” Yan Zhi’s eyes were stormy. “Simply put, he thinks you’re an easy target.”

“Mm,” Rong Ke opened the car window, feeling frustrated.

“Have you thought about how to retaliate?” Yan Zhi asked.

“No,” Rong Ke leaned back, exhaling. “I know his PR team. Fighting a public opinion war with him would only bring trouble. As for smear tactics… I find them distasteful.”

Rong Ke couldn’t help but reflect that sometimes being too upright wasn’t always a good thing.

“Perhaps the best revenge,” he pondered, “is to become more famous than him.”

“You will,” Yan Zhi said, furrowing his brow and looking at Rong Ke seriously. “I’ll make sure you become more famous than him.”

Rong Ke smiled, “Let’s focus on getting through this crisis first.”

A drug scandal wasn’t a minor issue. In truth, Rong Ke wasn’t confident that public opinion would favor him even after clarifying the situation.

When they got home, he finally steeled himself to open Weibo, but the page wouldn’t load.

“Can you open Weibo?” he asked Yan Zhi.

“No,” Yan Zhi refreshed the page. “Is the server down?”

“Strange, why would it crash in the middle of the night?” Rong Ke said self-mockingly. “Maybe some top celebrity’s career is crumbling like mine?”

He was about to go wash up when Yan Zhi suddenly stepped in front of him, blocking his way, staring intently at his phone. “It’s loaded.”

Seeing Yan Zhi’s odd expression, Rong Ke leaned in to look and was stunned.

[@Peace××: On ×/×, police received reports that actor Rong (male, 25) was suspected of drug use. Upon investigation, Rong has no criminal record or history of drug use. A urine test was conducted, resulting negative, ruling out suspicion of drug use.
Additionally, online rumors that Rong was arrested for prostitution are false. Rong has assisted police in cracking down on prostitution dens, earning the title of “Model Citizen,” and recently aided in solving a major case, receiving commendation from the city bureau.
As a public figure, Rong hasn’t forgotten his social responsibility. We hope citizens won’t believe or spread rumors, will discern right from wrong, and not direct public opinion weapons at those truly contributing to society.]

No wonder Weibo crashed, Rong Ke thought dazedly.

It turned out the authorities had personally stepped in to debunk the rumors for him.