LOI Chapter 24 — Cough Syrup

With Weibo temporarily inaccessible, Rong Ke checked Guatian, only to find the original exposé deleted. A pinned announcement stated the forum would close for three days of rectification, during which no posts or replies could be made.

Without a centralized discussion platform, gossip-hungry netizens seemed restless. The topic dominated all major social media platforms. Outside, the night was quiet, but online, it was bustling with activity.

After a while, Weibo finally returned to normal. The top three trending topics all related to Rong Ke.

#RongKe Model Citizen#
#RongKe Assists Police in Solving Major Case#
#RongKe Cleans Up Entertainment Industry#

The last hashtag was initiated by marketing accounts, as Rong Ke was the only artist in the industry’s history to be labeled a “legal celebrity” with official endorsement after being implicated in a scandal.

Public opinion on the square¹ had completely reversed. Those who had criticized Rong Ke now supported him with equal fervor.

No, even more so.

Rong Ke’s Weibo followers increased at a visible rate, breaking one million within minutes and continuing to rise.

[I knew my Ke-bao wasn’t using drugs! Those who spread rumors, kneel down and apologize!!]
[Rumors spread fast, but the truth runs on tired legs. Thank goodness justice prevails, even if delayed]
[I didn’t choose the wrong idol! I’ll support him forever! Mom says he’s the positive role model we need!]
[Congrats to Ke Ke on becoming the #1 untouchable celebrity in the industry. Any objections? /so happy]
[…]
[Now this is a high-quality heartthrob. Following!]
[New fan checking in]
[New fan +10086]
[…]
[So someone was indeed trying to smear Rong Ke?]
[Didn’t expect officials to step in, gifting him a wave of popularity. His rivals must be fuming /dogface]
[He’s so unknown, who are his rivals? JS? RK can’t possibly threaten him]
[He’s not unknown anymore. Ever seen a nobody crash Weibo like this?]
[With official backing and even Guatian under rectification, his influence is unmatched in the industry]
[So what if he’s not backed by capital? He can make it on his own]

Comments refreshed too quickly for Rong Ke to keep up.

Meanwhile, his WeChat notifications were incessant. Many directors and producers inquired about his schedule, eager to collaborate.

Teacher Zheng called urgently. “Xiao Ke, no need to audition for ‘Patchwork Family’. The director wants to meet you soon to see which role suits you best.”

After acknowledging Teacher Zheng, Rong Ke turned off his phone.

The world finally quieted, as if nothing had happened. But hearing Yan Zhi on the phone with the lawyer, saying no further clarification was needed, Rong Ke realized it was all unfolding for real.

“The marketing accounts that spread the rumors posted handwritten apologies. Since you suffered no actual losses, the matter ends here,” Yan Zhi said after hanging up.

“Alright, let’s leave it at that.” Rong Ke knew how low the cost of spreading rumors was. Plus, he’d unexpectedly gained popularity, making it pointless to pursue those accounts further. “Though I bet Jiang Si won’t sleep well tonight.”

Just then, a fierce argument erupted downstairs.

Though the details were unclear, the voices were familiar – Jiang Si and Liu Qing.

——Jiang Si was home.

Realizing this, Rong Ke turned to Yan Zhi and asked, “Want to watch the fun?”

Yan Zhi immediately understood, his eyebrows lifting with interest. “Let’s go.”

At the sixth-floor elevator, the argument was still muffled, but the content became discernible.

“I told you not to use these tactics. Are you satisfied now?” Jiang Si’s voice.

“What’s the use of saying this now? Didn’t you give me the address?” Liu Qing’s shrill voice. “It’s all your fault for not mentioning earlier he was a model citizen!”

“He only mentioned it once. I fucking forgot. If you hadn’t pulled this stunt, none of this would’ve happened.”

“Who knew officials would step in to clear his name? What’s his background?”

“He has no background!” Jiang Si’s tone was furious. “Now the officials are his background. Let’s see how you’ll deal with this.”

Rong Ke tried recording, but only caught indistinct yelling, so he gave up.

He rang the doorbell. The voices inside abruptly stopped. Shuffling footsteps approached, and soon Jiang Si opened the door, face gloomy. “What is it?”

“Just wanted to thank you,” Rong Ke smiled. “You’re such a kind person.”

– Kind enough to boost him to trending topics.

Jiang Si naturally understood Rong Ke’s sarcasm. Gritting his teeth, he spat out a “You’re welcome” and slammed the door shut.

Back upstairs, after washing up, Rong Ke lay in bed, ready to sleep. But Yan Zhi suddenly entered his room, deftly lifting the covers and slipping into his bed, saying, “I’ve trended along with you.”

Rong Ke, having already turned off his phone, was too lazy to turn it back on. He leaned towards Yan Zhi and said, “Let me see.”

#Yan Zhi Scored Big#

Clicking on the hashtag, the discussions on the plaza had already surpassed the scope of CP fans.

[Not to brag, but YZ really scored big. RK is truly a hidden gem in the industry]
[So YZ actually has an eye for discovering treasures, right? Removing JS was clearly the right choice]
[All I can say is, if they’re real, I wish them happiness]

Seeing Yan Zhi about to repost a Weibo praising his decision to remove Jiang Si, Rong Ke quickly stopped him. “Tonight’s been chaotic enough. Don’t add fuel to the fire.”

“Alright,” Yan Zhi obediently put away his phone. “Then we’ll do it tomorrow.”

Rong Ke: “…”

“By the way, we need to register a studio soon,” Rong Ke said. “Some directors are already reaching out to me. Having a studio would be more convenient.”

“Mm, I’ll handle it,” Yan Zhi found a comfortable position to lie down. “Tomorrow, come with me to your former agency. Zou Wei wants to see me.”

Rong Ke found it strange. “Why?”

“I revoked Jiang Si’s CVV Asia regional endorsement.”

Rong Ke: “…Oh.”

The night deepened, and the evening’s drama finally came to an end.

Rong Ke elbowed Yan Zhi beside him and asked, “Aren’t you going back to your room?”

“I’ll sleep here tonight,” Yan Zhi said. “To celebrate your rebirth from the ashes.”

…What kind of logic is that?

“Go back to your own room,” Rong Ke nudged Yan Zhi again, but seeing no reaction, he sighed helplessly, muttered “clingy,” and turned off the bedside lamp.

Overnight, the official statement continued to trend.

More curious onlookers flooded Rong Ke’s profile, with his followers increasing by about ten thousand per minute.

His phone was nearly overwhelmed. Besides directors offering roles, many agencies wanted to sign Rong Ke, along with endorsements, variety shows, interviews, and more. Work invitations were too numerous to count on both hands.

Rong Ke had no time to discuss work for now. He set his phone to Do Not Disturb mode and accompanied Yan Zhi to his former agency.

A flashy red sports car was parked right in front of the company. Employees coming and going were all abuzz, clearly aware of last night’s big event.

“Isn’t that Yan Zhi and Rong Ke? Why are they here?”

“Rong Ke has already terminated his contract with the company. I wonder if Mr. Zou regrets it now.”

“I’m sure he regrets it, but it’s probably not about that. I heard CVV removed all of Jiang Si’s materials overnight… apparently at Yan Zhi’s request.”

“Really? Let me see… It’s true, not a single photo left.”

“How does Yan Zhi have such influence? Even if he has good relations with CVV’s CEO, it shouldn’t be enough to revoke an Asian regional endorsement with just a word.”

“Exactly, he’s just well-connected in the fashion circle, how can he have actual power?”

“I heard the reason for Yan Zhi coming to MQ as a consultant isn’t simple. It seems he has some connection with the fashion group.”

“But MQ isn’t under the fashion group, what connection could there be?”

“I don’t know, but if CVV really dropped Jiang Si at Yan Zhi’s word, it shows this young master isn’t to be trifled with.”

“Wait, Rong Ke was targeted, Yan Zhi revoked Jiang Si’s endorsement, what does this mean?”

“Alright, stop the wild guesses. If this gets out, we might lose our jobs.”

In the conference room, after ensuring everyone had turned off their phones and had no other recording devices, Zhuang Kang introduced, “This is Mr. Zou, Zou Wei.”

Zou Wei was a well-dressed middle-aged man in a three-piece suit with a pocket square. If not for his sagging mouth corners and protruding belly from overindulgence, he would have looked quite presentable.

Yan Zhi, naturally needing no introduction, nodded casually, “Hello.”

“Hello,” Zou Wei said, glancing at Rong Ke with a friendly tone, “You brought Xiao Ke along too.”

Only then did Rong Ke realize that today’s meeting originally had nothing to do with him.

“I assume you called me here to apologize,” Yan Zhi glanced at the silent Jiang Si, “But the one who should decide whether to accept the apology is Rong Ke.”

Everyone present knew why Jiang Si’s endorsement was revoked by CVV.

Zou Wei didn’t respond further, looking at Jiang Si beside him and urging with a raised chin, “Hurry up and explain what happened last night.”

“It was Liu Qing,” Jiang Si said, eyes lowered, “It was all his idea.”

“Do you have any brains at all?” Zou Wei rapped on the table, “Don’t you consider the consequences before acting?!”

Jiang Si had considered it, but he thought at most he’d lose a magazine cover, which wasn’t a big deal. On the contrary, it could completely eliminate Rong Ke as a potential competitor. In a moment of impulse, he agreed to cooperate with Liu Qing.

But now it seemed Yan Zhi’s influence in the fashion world was far greater than he had imagined.

“I didn’t expect Liu Qing to go so far,” Jiang Si raised his eyes to Rong Ke, “Maybe it’s because you threw coffee at him before, and he’s been holding a grudge.”

“Liu Qing isn’t our company’s artist, so I can’t make him give an explanation,” Zou Wei interjected, “I know there’s some emotional entanglement between you, but I hope we can resolve this peacefully. Just like when you wanted to terminate your contract, I didn’t make things difficult for you. It’s best if we both take a step back, right?”

Rong Ke watched Jiang Si and Zou Wei’s coordinated performance with a blank expression, feeling utterly unmoved and thinking that sitting here was a waste of time.

Seeing no response from Rong Ke, Zou Wei turned to Yan Zhi, “Regarding the CVV endorsement, could you reconsider?”

Yan Zhi glanced at his watch, “I don’t think I’ve heard an apology yet.”

Zou Wei frowned at Jiang Si, who finally mumbled to Rong Ke, “I’m sorry.”

“Did you eat?” Yan Zhi asked coldly.

Jiang Si pressed his lips, took a deep breath, and raised his voice, “I’m sorry, Rong Ke. Considering our…”

“Stop,” Rong Ke interrupted, “I don’t accept your apology. That’s all.”

He stood up and asked Yan Zhi, “Can we leave now?”

“Sure,” Yan Zhi said.

“Wait,” Zou Wei hurriedly called out to Yan Zhi, “Let’s forget about the CVV endorsement, but there’s no need to blacklist Jiang Si, right? It’s always good to leave some room for future encounters.”

“You heard him,” Yan Zhi nodded towards the departing Rong Ke, “He doesn’t accept the apology.”

After they left, Zou Wei erupted in fury in the conference room.

“You can’t borrow clothes from any luxury brands now! Will you wear Uniqlo to future events?!” He berated Jiang Si, pointing at his nose, “If you wanted to target someone, why not both? Why only Rong Ke? Didn’t you know Yan Zhi was backing him?!”

“I didn’t think that far,” Jiang Si frowned, irritated, “Who knew he could interfere with CVV’s operations?”

“Look at the mess you and Liu Qing created. Now many directors are approaching Rong Ke. You’ve hand-delivered your ex-lover to the A-list, you pig-brain!”

“Mr. Zou,” Zhuang Kang, who had been listening silently, spoke up to ease the tension, “Yan Zhi didn’t mention the anniversary issue cover. We have a signed contract for that, so he probably won’t remove Jiang Si.”

“Right,” Jiang Si raised his head, “They’re the client for the endorsement, so we can’t stop them from ending the collaboration early. But for the cover, he’d have to pay a penalty for breaking the contract. Even if he wants to remove it, at least we’ll make him bleed some money.”

“The traffic route is completely closed for you now,” Zou Wei paced the room, hands on his hips, “Forget about TV dramas, focus on films from now on. ‘Meihua Lane²‘ is about to be released, whether you can successfully transition depends on this movie. I’ll talk to Liu Qing’s boss, you tell him to behave!”

–

“What does it mean to blacklist Jiang Si?”

Leaving the agency, Rong Ke and Yan Zhi got in the car, heading to their partnered law firm.

Registering a studio required numerous documents and complex procedures, so Yan Zhi had handed the matter to lawyers. They now needed to sign papers in person.

“It means banning him in the fashion industry,” Yan Zhi said, “The most immediate effect is that luxury brands won’t lend him clothes for red carpet events anymore—unless he buys them himself.”

“I see,” Rong Ke pondered, then asked, “Using your connections against Jiang Si, won’t that affect you?”

“A bit,” Yan Fei would soon learn about this, and Yan Zhi would need to find an excuse, “But not much.”

“That’s good,” Rong Ke said.

“I’ve also sent word about Liu Qing. He won’t be collaborating with any brands under the fashion group.”

Rong Ke nodded, clicking his tongue with a hint of unease. “You’re making me feel guilty about being the husband in public.”

“Oh?” Yan Zhi raised an eyebrow.

“You should be the husband,” Rong Ke said.

His judgment was simple: Yan Zhi protected him in public, so he felt he should give up the husband position.

“It’s fine,” Yan Zhi said with a smirk. “We can balance it out.”

Rong Ke soon understood what Yan Zhi meant by balance.

Looking at the stack of documents the lawyer brought for signing, Rong Ke was momentarily confused, “Cough Syrup Studio?”

“Why this name?”

The lawyer, a young woman, suppressed a smile and said: “Zhi-Ke Syrup, isn’t it sweet?”

Alright.

Rong Ke understood. It was another CP name.

However, unlike “Rong Yan Forever”, this name put Yan Zhi in the front position.

Just as he was thinking about giving up the husband position, Yan Zhi had already made his move.

After leaving the lawyer’s office, Rong Ke asked Yan Zhi, “Have you always felt I was taking advantage of you in public?”

“Isn’t that the case?” Yan Zhi said. “You’re the husband in public, the wife in private. That’s fair.”

Rong Ke thought there was no point in two “sisters” fighting over this, but Yan Zhi had indeed done a lot for him this time. So he went along with Yan Zhi’s words. “Yes, dear husband. Satisfied now?”

“Mm,” the prince nodded. “It’ll do.”