Is This The Right Way To Repay A Favor? Chapter 72

Eye Wash

On New Year’s Eve, Shen Ruchu discovered her husband was cheating on her with her best friend, suffered a sudden heart attack, and passed away. Only then did Shen Zhiyu take Ye Mo in and register him under his own name.

The older generations of the Ye and Shen families were comrades in arms, and feeling guilty at the time, they agreed to let Ye Mo be included in the Shen family genealogy.

Shortly after Shen Ruchu’s death, Ye Chengming quickly remarried. However, after two months of trying to conceive without success, a hospital check-up revealed he suffered from severe oligozoospermia.

He later tried with several other women, but none were successful. This led him to consider taking Ye Mo back, and he began making efforts to do so.

The Ye family tried playing the emotional card with Old Master Shen while also resorting to threats and inducements, but Shen Zhiyu never relented.

This continued until Xu Binbin’s exposé came out.

Shen Zhiyu replied with a simple “Good,” put away his phone, and said flatly, “Just wait. This is only the beginning. There’s much more to come.”

“What does that mean? Is someone deliberately targeting you?” Wang Lei couldn’t help but ask.

Such incidents weren’t unprecedented, but Shen Zhiyu had virtually no dirt on him—his taxes were clean, and his private life was immaculate. Even Wang Lei had to admire him. Managing an artist like Shen Zhiyu was incredibly stress-free.

Shen Zhiyu didn’t answer directly, instead asking, “How is Wu Fei, the one you just signed?”

“He’s quite good,” Wang Lei said. “A recent college graduate, obedient and compliant. He hasn’t caused any trouble before; a very clean kid.”

“Alright. Brother Lei, you should focus on managing him from now on. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“Are you really retiring?”

“Yes.”

“What are your plans after retiring?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” Aside from Jiang Zhou, Shen Zhiyu hadn’t developed an interest in anything else recently.

“Okay. How about we get together tonight? Consider it a farewell dinner.”

Shen Zhiyu agreed.

News of Shen Zhiyu going to the police station to cooperate with the investigation spread quickly. Many paparazzi disguised themselves as passersby and staked out the station.

The moment he stepped out of the car, the paparazzi swarmed him, firing questions rapidly.

“Mr. Shen, is it true that Xu Binbin is accusing you of rape?”

“Did you have a relationship with Xu Binbin?”

“Do you have anything to say regarding Xu Binbin’s suicide attempt?”

This was Shen Zhiyu’s first public appearance since the casting couch scandal. When the paparazzi saw Shen Zhiyu, they clung to him like cats to a mouse.

Two police officers came out to maintain order, but the paparazzi refused to back down, and the scene quickly spiraled out of control.

Just then, a car horn blared at the entrance of the police station.

Jiang Zhou stepped out of the car, dressed in a sharply tailored suit.

“If anyone has questions, you can ask me directly. Our Languang Media fully represents Mr. Shen Zhiyu in responding to all allegations. Please move across the street to the coffee shop, where I will accept interviews.”

“Please do not obstruct official duties here or cause unnecessary trouble.”

Shen Zhiyu looked at him, his eyes slightly narrowed, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Mr. Jiang is right. I am here to cooperate with the investigation, and I hope everyone will not obstruct official duties or cause trouble for the police officers.”

“If you have any questions, feel free to ask Mr. Jiang. His stance is my stance.”

“Thank you all for your cooperation.”

The situation at the entrance was still tense, and three or four more police officers emerged from the station.

The paparazzi realized the situation was unfavorable and that continuing to gather and cause trouble might genuinely lead to their arrest.

They were primarily there to get firsthand information. Since Jiang Zhou promised an interview, getting a story was the main goal.

Furthermore, although the client’s pay for this job was generous, they still needed to deal with Languang Media in the future. Making things too difficult would be counterproductive.

The paparazzi finally cleared the way. Shen Zhiyu smoothly entered the police station to give his statement, while Jiang Zhou led the group of reporters to the coffee shop across the street for the interview.

Jiang Zhou vehemently denied Xu Binbin’s accusations and clearly stated that Shen Zhiyu was there precisely to cooperate with the investigation into Xu Binbin’s false allegations.

A paparazzo pressed, “Why would Xu Binbin falsely accuse Mr. Shen, even risking jail time? They are both artists under Languang Media. Did they have any private conflicts before this?”

Jiang Zhou was waiting for this question. He first showed a look of difficulty, as if unsure whether he should speak or not.

The sharp-nosed paparazzi immediately sensed a hidden story and began asking questions in rapid succession.

Jiang Zhou adopted a reluctant expression and said, “This was originally an artist’s private matter, but given the circumstances, I can only tell the truth.”

“Xu Binbin has been secretly in love with Mr. Shen for many years. This is an act of revenge and entrapment after his romantic advances were rejected.”

The scene instantly erupted in an uproar.

“Before joining the company, Xu Binbin had a secondary account where he reposted a large number of Mr. Shen’s performance clips, and in the comments, he repeatedly expressed intense admiration for Mr. Shen.”

“During his contract signing, he personally admitted that he came to Languang Media specifically for Mr. Shen. We have the video of the in-person interview as proof of this.”

“Based on our subsequent investigation, we also discovered that Xu Binbin engaged in sasaeng behavior toward Mr. Shen.”

“Mr. Jiang, could you elaborate on what kind of sasaeng behavior?”

“Of course. At this point, we will no longer spare Xu Binbin any face. Last month, when Mr. Shen was filming in the mountains, Xu Binbin specifically applied to the company for a cameo role.”

“Because wild animals occasionally appear in the mountainous area, the crew installed surveillance cameras at the base camp for personnel safety. These cameras coincidentally captured footage of Xu Binbin stealing Mr. Shen’s underwear.”

This revelation was too explosive, and the paparazzi’s eyes lit up.

This was something Jiang Zhou had later instructed Wei Yan to arrange for staff to investigate all projects Xu Binbin had participated in since joining the company.

Xu Binbin stole the underwear not out of a desire for desecration or a special fetish, but to resell it for profit. The company later confirmed that he sold the stolen underwear online to other sasaeng fans.

Furthermore, the posts he reposted and the affection he expressed for Shen Zhiyu during the interview were all meant to cultivate an image of someone who liked Shen Zhiyu, hoping to attract traffic. He was not actually obsessed with Shen Zhiyu; he was even jealous of him.

But at this moment, the motive was no longer important; the action itself was more shocking.

“After company discussion, we have decided to release the relevant surveillance footage to allow everyone to see Xu Binbin’s actions clearly and clear Mr. Shen’s name.”

“Languang Media will compile a complete chain of evidence and will release a formal statement and all evidence shortly.”

“We hope everyone will report based on the facts. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”

The last sentence carried a subtle hint of threat.

They were all people in the industry, and they understood each other implicitly. Paparazzi work for money; they speak for whoever pays more. Although these people were paid by others to come here, Languang Media could afford to pay just as much.

With the evidence and facts laid bare, continuing to harass the situation would be unwise.

The paparazzi weighed their options and eventually dispersed.

Wang Lei, who had observed the entire process, couldn’t help but secretly marvel at Jiang Zhou’s thoroughness and his skill in shifting the focus of the conflict.

By defining the incident as “Xu Binbin falsely accusing Shen Zhiyu after a failed romantic pursuit,” he not only cleared the suspicion through a sensationalized gossip format but also garnered sympathy points for Shen Zhiyu.

Shen Zhiyu’s judgment of people was truly never wrong.

Jiang Zhou finished handling the matter, stood up, and prepared to leave.

Wang Lei recalled Shen Zhiyu’s unsatisfied look when he arrived, mistakenly thinking the two were having a conflict recently, and decided to try and mediate. He stepped forward to stop Jiang Zhou. “Mr. Jiang, would you like to join us for dinner tonight?”

Jiang Zhou paused, looking at him with a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Wang Lei explained, “It’s kind of a farewell dinner for A-Yu.”

Jiang Zhou raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

They must truly be arguing; Shen Zhiyu hadn’t even informed Jiang Zhou about something as major as retiring.

Wang Lei briefly explained Shen Zhiyu’s decision. Jiang Zhou was silent for a moment, then agreed.

The two hadn’t seen each other for several days. Shen Zhiyu had stayed indoors, and Jiang Zhou had been tied up at the company dealing with the aftermath of Xu Binbin’s false accusation, busy beyond measure.

It wasn’t until he received a message from a familiar paparazzo that he learned a group of reporters had descended upon the police station, and he immediately rushed over.

There were still a few scattered paparazzi staking out the police station entrance.

Jiang Zhou pondered for a moment and made arrangements. “After he finishes his statement, Brother Lei, please make a detour through the main entrance. I’ll pick him up at the east gate.”

Jiang Zhou was meticulous and thorough in his planning.

Wang Lei nodded in agreement.

Jiang Zhou left first by car. Wang Lei sat in the coffee shop for a while longer, and only after receiving a message from Shen Zhiyu did he re-enter the police station.

The two paparazzi still lingering nearby saw this and quietly followed him.

Jiang Zhou waited at the east gate until Shen Zhiyu emerged.

Shen Zhiyu looked slightly surprised. “You haven’t left yet?”

“No.”

He quickly understood. “Brother Lei told you?”

Jiang Zhou nodded again.

Shen Zhiyu raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you have anything you want to question me about?”

“Don’t you feel like I’ve wasted all your efforts?”

Jiang Zhou pondered for a moment, only answering, “No.”

Languang Media was established for Shen Zhiyu, and all resources prioritized him. But if he wanted to retire, Jiang Zhou would only support him.

As long as he was happy.

Shen Zhiyu heard the answer but wasn’t pleased, letting out a cold scoff, lowering his head to scroll through his phone, and no longer looking at Jiang Zhou.

Jiang Zhou didn’t understand why Shen Zhiyu was angry.

The two traveled in silence to the restaurant.

Wang Lei had arrived before them and saw them enter one after the other, both looking displeased. He became even more certain of his earlier guess.

He tried to lighten the mood by bringing up the reality show they had participated in together.

“Mr. Jiang, I heard that ‘Peach Blossom Dream Weaver,’ the show you and A-Yu filmed, is airing tomorrow?”

“Yes,” Jiang Zhou replied faintly.

“When the production team sent it over, I watched a few clips. Dong Qianqian’s tarot card reading segment was quite interesting. I listened to A-Yu’s evaluation, and it seemed pretty accurate.”

Both men gave distracted hums, neither seeming interested in continuing the conversation.

Wang Lei struggled to keep the conversation going for a few more sentences, but the atmosphere grew oppressive, and he felt he didn’t belong there. So, he found an excuse to check on the food and quietly slipped away.

Before leaving, he thoughtfully ordered turtle soup and soft-shelled turtle stew for the two of them, his good deed hidden from view.

As soon as Wang Lei left, the private room fell silent.

Both men looked down, scrolling through their phones.

Languang Media had already released its latest statement, clearly responding to every one of Xu Binbin’s accusations and attaching the complete chain of evidence.

Fans were very satisfied with Languang Media’s handling and the outcome, changing their previous complaints about the company’s poor career planning for Shen Zhiyu and leaving messages thanking the company.

Netizens, seeing the visual evidence, quickly took sides. Furthermore, a paparazzo who had previously spoken up for Xu Binbin revealed that Xu Binbin’s suicide attempt was self-staged, deliberately seeking sympathy from the public.

In an instant, the victim who had been pitied by the entire internet became a universally condemned pariah.

Shen Zhiyu saw the surveillance screenshots posted by Languang Media and felt a wave of nausea. “He really stole my underwear?”

He hadn’t noticed anything at the time. The day after, they encountered a heavy rainstorm during filming, and the entire crew was scattered, with everyone looking out for themselves, let alone their clothes.

Shen Zhiyu couldn’t help but recall the naked body he had glimpsed in the hotel room that night, and he shivered, feeling as if his purity had been defiled.

He needed to wash his eyes.

He crooked a finger at Jiang Zhou. “Mr. Jiang—”

Jiang Zhou: “?”

Shen Zhiyu’s eyes narrowed slightly at the corners, a hint of subtle grievance in his tone. “I feel dirty.”