When the video started playing, Zhong Liangchen’s originally impatient expression instantly changed to shock. His mind went blank at the sight of the video’s content.
The young man with him had a similarly ghastly expression on his face. He didn’t even need to think back to know what had happened in the video. Scandals were commonplace in the entertainment industry, but they were also the most feared. If the media reporters publicized this content, not only would his reputation be ruined, but his gradually rising acting career would also likely come to a complete end.
Thinking of this, he panicked in an instant.
As he expected, once the video started playing, the reporters in the room immediately perked up. Their eyes lit up as they crowded around the phone and the two men in the video, frantically taking photos of them. They looked eager to do an impromptu live interview to dig into the two’s inner thoughts.
The chaos rendered the young man beside Zhong Liangchen stunned and at a loss. He reached out a trembling hand to clutch at Zhong Liangchen’s clothes, calling out weakly, “…Liang-ge.”
Hearing the young man’s voice seemed to snap Zhong Liangchen out of his daze. He hurriedly stepped forward to quickly turn off the phone screen, then picked up the phone without thinking and flung it forcefully at the opposite wall. The phone smashed into pieces instantly.
Zhong Liangchen’s sudden action startled the reporters. One even exclaimed in fright, likely not expecting that someone caught cheating would still have the audacity to destroy evidence so blatantly right in front of them. After the initial shock wore off, the reporters became even more excited and continued madly snapping photos of Zhong Liangchen’s face.
“What is all this rubbish!” Although feeling a twinge of unease, Zhong Liangchen had long understood Jing Li’s personality and patterns of behavior. No matter how guilty he felt, he decided to take the initiative and try to suppress Jing Li first.
He turned his head and looked at Jing Li who was still sitting idly in front of him. Zhong Liangchen angrily pointed at him, his finger almost jabbing Jing Li’s nose. “I don’t know where you got this trash to try and discredit me. If you want to insult me, just say it directly instead of acting so despicably!”
“Are you trying to imply I have an improper relationship with Lin Xiao? Why go through the trouble of making fake videos? Wouldn’t it be simpler to just confront me directly so we can make things clear?”
Jing Li looked back at him calmly, his expression unchanged, almost seeming intrigued and entertained.
This attitude was completely different from Jing Li’s past possessive and jealous behavior over Zhong Liangchen. He even seemed strangely composed. This made Zhong Liangchen unsure, and he vaguely thought that the other party was determined to break off the relationship with him this time.
As soon as the thought appeared, Zhong Liangchen first panicked, then quickly calmed himself again.
Impossible! Given Jing Li’s obsession with him, if Jing Li really didn’t care anymore, he would have directly ended things when first seeing the video.
This attitude was likely just another attempt to make Zhong Liangchen plead for forgiveness like in the past!
But, in fact, upon first seeing the video, Jing Li’s original self had flown into a rage and lost all reason. He had rushed out intending to confront Zhong Liangchen but tripped on the stairs and hit his head. This allowed Jing Li’s soul to enter his body.
Of course, Zhong Liangchen didn’t know any of this. Now that he had regained enough confidence for himself, he looked back scornfully at Jing Li, intending to bring up their past like usual to prick Jing Li’s nerves. “Have you forgotten how hard you tried to pursue me back then? It’s barely been that long, yet you find excuses to pick fights with me again and again. Ask yourself, do you deserve me?”
As expected, Jing Li’s expression changed, making Zhong Liangchen think he had succeeded in striking a sore spot. Feeling triumphant, he continued bitterly, “Do you really think I care about tolerating your insults like this? I got sick of this endless situation long ago! If you hadn’t pestered me so persistently, do you think I would willingly stay by your side while you monitor and suspect me like a criminal?”
“If you’re really that unhappy, we might as well just break up!”
Staring decisively at Jing Li, Zhong Liangchen observed his reaction, waiting for Jing Li to panic and plead at the threat of breaking up like in the past.
Indeed, Jing Li moved. He tilted his head with a puzzled look. “Are you referring to when you deliberately arranged for people to surround and attack me, then came out playing hero to ‘rescue’ me?”
With this one line, the room erupted into a surprised uproar. No one had expected there to be more behind-the-scenes drama. The reporters’ gazes toward Zhong Liangchen became even more disgusted.
Zhong Liangchen’s face paled. He stared at Jing Li in shock, unable to comprehend how Jing Li knew about the incident.
Zhong Liangchen had arranged for Jing Li to be surrounded in order to get close and befriend him, then take advantage of the Jing family’s resources. He hadn’t expected a twist of fate leading to Jing Li falling for him instead. Zhong Liangchen had then reluctantly gone along with the developments.
Now what was happening?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Zhong Liangchen forced himself to remain calm, but inwardly his heart had dropped. If Jing Li truly knew what had happened back then and came to confront him, he didn’t dare imagine how things would unfold.
Forget about how the media would report it – just the Jing family’s retaliation would be more than he could withstand.
Throwing aside pretense, Zhong Liangchen gave Jing Li an injured look in an attempt to garner sympathy. “I never thought you would see me this way. Back then, I nearly broke my ribs trying to rescue you and had to lie in the hospital for half a month before I could walk again. If I had just been scheming against you, why would I have let myself get so badly hurt?”
But Jing Li no longer wanted to waste time chatting. Originally, he had just speculated about Zhong Liangchen’s selfish motivations for suddenly helping a stranger. But seeing Zhong Liangchen’s reaction now made everything clear.
Jing Li scoffed. “Did you really think some sob story would be enough to deceive everyone?”
“Actually, I just never told you this: your attending physician privately spoke to me and said your injuries had fully healed after just two to three days. The bruises looked bad but weren’t serious.”
This was the truth. As Jing Li was the second son of the Jing family, the attending physician didn’t dare slight him and had explained things clearly to Jing Li’s original self at the time. But back then, blinded by love, Jing Li’s original self had ignored the physician’s words and had even happily viewed the extra alone time with Zhong Liangchen during recovery as a nice bonus.
Jing Li sneered, too lazy to say more to Zhong Liangchen. Glancing at his watch, he stated bluntly, “I don’t have time to talk to you about all the dirty things you did before.”
“You directly said you wanted to break up. How convenient, I was thinking the same thing. I’ll grant your wish.”
“But considering Mr. Zhong thinks so highly of himself, please return everything you previously took from me, as I wouldn’t want to stain your noble soul.”
Having said this, Jing Li stood up and instructed his bodyguards, “Show these two gentlemen out. Don’t let them disturb the event.”
The bodyguards acknowledged the order and stepped forward.
Zhong Liangchen’s face drained of color. He hurriedly grabbed Jing Li’s wrist and hissed, “What do you mean?”
Jing Li’s brows furrowed as he glanced in distaste at his seized wrist.
The panicked Zhong Liangchen didn’t notice Jing Li’s expression at all. He just kept yelling while clinging onto Jing Li, “Jing Li, explain clearly what you mean!”
“You know exactly how I’ve treated you the past couple of years. Don’t think you can just slander me and then walk away like this!”
Seeing that Jing Li remained entirely unmoved, despair crept into Zhong Liangchen’s heart. He stared blankly at the person before him, feeling Jing Li become more and more foreign. “No… you’re not Xiao Jing. Xiao Jing would never bear to treat me like this.”
Jing Li paused at his words. For once, he lowered his eyes to glance at Zhong Liangchen. “You’re right, I’m not Jing Li, or rather, I’m no longer the past Jing Li. So can you let go now?”
But Zhong Liangchen remained entirely unmoved. Seeing Jing Li finally willing to respond to him, he became even more eager as he clung onto Jing Li, pleading, “No, I won’t let go. Xiao Jing, there must be some misunderstanding here. Can we find a quiet place to properly talk it through?”
“At least—” He glanced around the room full of reporters and urgently added, “At least make them leave first and suppress this matter, alright?”
Even now, his reputation and interests were still his main concern. How disappointing.
Disgusted, Jing Li shook Zhong Liangchen off and shouted over his shoulder, “Guards! What are you still waiting for?”
Jing Li’s yelling gave the bodyguards a fright. They hurriedly came over to hold back Zhong Liangchen, not letting him get close to their young master.
Still unwilling to give up, Zhong Liangchen continued yelling, “Xiao Jing, don’t go! Hear me out!”
Without even turning his head, Jing Li left his assistant to properly handle the aftermath as he directly headed out.
Behind him, Zhong Liangchen called out a few times but, upon seeing no reaction, switched to angrily roaring, “Jing Li, you’ll regret treating me like this, just you wait!”
“I’ll be here waiting for you to kneel and beg me to forgive you!”
Jing Li ignored him completely. Stepping through the doorway, the phone in his pocket suddenly rang. Taking it out for a glance, he casually pressed to answer.
The call was from Li Yuanpeng, one of Jing Li’s original owner’s friends. Hearing the noise coming through, he unconsciously asked, “What are you up to over there? Why is it so noisy?”
“Oh, nothing much, just clearing up some trash,” Jing Li calmly replied. As he walked towards the elevator, he added, “See you at the banquet. I’ll be right there.”
Inside the room, Zhong Liangchen listened to Jing Li’s fading footsteps, his face twisting in rage.
Trash?! Jing Li actually dared to call him trash?!
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