The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 51

Chapter 51: I'll Tell You Who's the Boss

His voice trembled with a hint of tears, clearly in a panic.

Shi Yan held onto his phone, his back turned to Xie Yihang, suppressing his anger for a while before managing a composed expression, turning to Xie Yihang. "Let's think of another way."

Xie Yihang sought out Shi Yan with anticipation, but upon hearing his words, understood instantly that Nie Fei must have rejected his request. Xie Yihang's face went pale. He staggered back a couple of steps, collapsing onto the sofa, knees drawn up, head bowed. Shi Yan could see tears falling steadily onto Xie Yihang's knees.

"Xiao Hang..." Shi Yan's heart clenched, moving closer and noticing Xie Yihang's trembling shoulders.

"Why is Nie Fei so heartless..." Xie Yihang's hands pressed against his knees, sobbing heavily, his delicate face flushed red, obscured by tears. He bit his lip, aggrieved and furious. "I just asked for a single sentence! Why is it so hard? Why must he be so against me... What did I do wrong? Where did I fail him? For four years, I endured his criticism and sarcasm. Why can't he just say a few words for me now? Why!"

Clearly agitated, his voice lost its usual warmth, becoming sharp.

Shi Yan stood nearby, utterly unsure of what to do. He knew Nie Fei never got along with them three. Initially, Shi Yan had anticipated Nie Fei's refusal, but never imagined he'd bring up contract termination conditions. Did Nie Fei truly believe his threats would hold for two years?

"Don't worry." Seeing the person he liked in such pain, Shi Yan couldn't bear it, especially when unable to help.

Seeing his beloved suffering, Shi Yan felt a surge of protectiveness.

Xie Yihang paid no heed to Shi Yan's comforting words, consumed by despair and sorrow. He understood fundamentally that he and Nie Fei were different. He was a popular idol, his image couldn't bear any tarnish. Without a lifetime-defining masterpiece, the relentless backlash from public opinion might just end his singing career.

Feeling deeply wronged, Xie Yihang hadn't done anything, yet Nie Fei and Non-Wei wouldn't let him off. Why should he endure such abuse?

"Shi Yan, what should I do?" After crying for a while, Xie Yihang finally calmed down, looking up at Shi Yan with tear-filled eyes.

Shi Yan would surely have a solution... He was the only one who could help now.

"I'll make Nie Fei pay. The company doesn't want to keep him anyway. As for Nie Kaiyi... the Nie Family won't dare to challenge Wankai Group for her favorite singer. They don't have the guts. Don't worry." Xie Yihang's helpless demeanor stirred Shi Yan's protective instincts. He assured him confidently until Xie Yihang smiled through his tears.

When Shi Yan first entered this circle, his strong pride regarding his background made him keep silent about his family. He wanted to prove he could succeed without the Wankai Group's influence. But Nie Kaiyi's actions made Shi Yan realize that background was a person's hardware. He possessed a higher-level background than Nie Kaiyi. Why had he let himself be suppressed by her for so long?

This was his advantage. Why wasn't he using it?

Soon, Shi Yan's mental shift was picked up by Nie Jia, monitored through KK.

At that moment, Nie Jia was in the study with Shi Si, handling official matters. Shi Si heard a faint, unconscious chuckle from the person leaning against him and glanced over, finding his partner engrossed in a book on European cultural history. He chuckled helplessly. "Is there something absurd in that book?"

Nie Jia raised an eyebrow. "Anything from the Middle Ages seems absurd, like uncivilized apes." Especially to someone from his era of interstellar civilization.

He closed the book, glancing at Shi Si's handsome profile. "I'm laughing at your brother. He's finally accepting and confronting his identity as Wankai's Young Master, ready to use it against me."

"What does he intend?" Shi Si frowned unhappily. This brother of his kept testing his limits. If Nie Jia hadn't restrained him, he would've dealt with him long ago.

"You'll find out soon." Nie Jia smiled faintly, finding someone like Shi Yan quite laughable in his mind.

When Shi Si used to protect him as a younger brother, Wan Kai was his eternal retreat, giving him the confidence to claim self-reliance and search for self-worth. But now, facing something he couldn't solve on his own, the belief he'd upheld for over twenty years—that he could prove himself—easily crumbled. Immediately, he thought of his brother who could arbitrate everything behind his back.

In truth, what did Shi Si mean to Shi Yan? Definitely not a family member.

Shi Si indeed quickly learned about Shi Yan's actions. Just as the concert date was nearing its end, a blogger claiming to be part of the Star Wars program suddenly posted a short video online. It was like cold water splashed into hot oil, instantly causing an explosion.

The video wasn't a sneak shot; it was filmed by a high-definition camera, matching the angles seen in the program. Clearly, it was genuine behind-the-scenes footage cut from the actual show.

There was no sound in the entire video, but the content was intense and astonishing. Upon hitting play, one could see Nie Fei coldly gripping Shi Yan's neck. Chen Tian, his face bearing injuries, was lying on the ground. Xie Yihang stood nearby, eyes reddened in apparent shock, until the manager arrived. Only then did Nie Fei let go of Shi Yan, uttering a chilling warning before leaving with his entourage.

Following that was Shi Yan's painful coughing, and Xie Yihang hurriedly helping him up. The video ended there.

Shi Yan's anguish was laid bare before countless internet users. Everyone was stunned, never expecting the radiant Nie Fei on stage to turn violent right after coming off! Even long-silent haters started mocking Nie Fei, exposing his true colors and arrogance. They claimed his talent in singing and performing was overshadowed by his awful personality. It was an old story, asking how such a talented person like him couldn't surpass the 'Little Angel' for four years. They made jokes about the company's suppression being a reality.

Soon, the internet was flooded with various lengthy posts digging up dirt on Nie Fei. His bad character was now undeniable, disappointing some new fans who couldn't believe they'd admired such a person. They flooded Nie Fei's social media to curse and vow never to support him again.

Nie Kaiyi, the president of the Non-Wei Association, also faced ridicule. However, Nie Kaiyi remained composed. That night, he posted a detailed report on the earpiece malfunction, stating, "The nauseating truth you all want to know. Some are believing in this cherry-picked video without context, shouting to unfollow. Who acknowledges you as Non-Wei? Here's a triple crown for Nie Shen: Overly dramatic, dramatic actor, and contemptuous."

Nie Fei's fanbase grew rapidly. Some new fans were swayed by the video's impact, but Nie Kaiyi's post, despite the mockery from new Non-Wei fans, quickly stabilized some opinions and drew the attention of many onlookers.

According to the report, Nie Fei's in-ear monitor was malfunctioning from the start—there was no sound. Removing it midway wasn't for show!

People were astounded! Even without hearing the earpiece feedback, Nie Fei flawlessly completed the entire song with such fervor during the intense finals. This guy was something else!

The importance of an in-ear monitor for a singer can't be overstated. For instance, during the finals with intense accompaniment, wide spaces, and noisy crowd voices, without the in-ear monitor, the singer would be like a deaf person. Yet, Nie Fei could still sing!

This report not only amazed but also made people ponder. Was Nie Fei's earpiece issue connected to his off-stage violence? Nie Kaiyi referred to the earpiece problem as a disgusting secret. Could it be someone intentionally sabotaged Nie Fei's earpiece? The Star Wars finals held the attention of the entire continent, undoubtedly a crucial performance for Nie Fei. If that got ruined, he might never recover. Reflecting on this, regardless of being Non-Wei or not, it was easier to understand why Nie Fei might have resorted to violence.

Put oneself in his shoes, one might even contemplate murder!

Yet, Nie Kaiyi's statement didn't save the situation for Non-Wei, as a more significant scandal quickly followed.

Overnight, the internet was flooded with a series of photos depicting Nie Fei kissing another man. Because the environment was dimly lit, the pictures weren't clear, making it hard to discern the other person's appearance. However, Nie Fei's face was unmistakable, particularly his bright eyes. In the photo, Nie Fei was held by a tall man, their lips intertwined in an ambiguous atmosphere that could be felt even through the picture.

Countless recognized the clothes Nie Fei wore as his outfit for the finals, confirming the photos were taken on that very night! To leave the program's recording and go for a secret rendezvous was truly disgraceful. Is he that desperate?

Nobody knew who the man was. Although his face wasn't visible and his age couldn't be determined, his aura definitely didn't belong to a young person.

Guided by several news outlets, the news of Nie Fei being kept by an older man spread across the internet, shocking the nation. Non-Wei seized the opportunity to call for a joint report against Nie Fei, hoping to have him banned for being a corrupting influence on young people.

Since the main figure hadn't appeared, some people still remained on the fence.

On that day, during an interview, Xie Yihang was asked about Nie Fei being kept by someone. He remained silent for a long time before stuttering, "I actually don't know... It's common knowledge that Nie Fei doesn't spend time with us three, so I have no idea about his private life. But..." He shifted his tone, gazing innocently at the camera, "During the semifinals recording, right after we left the stage, Nie Fei went out. Later, I saw him in the restroom; his lips were particularly red. He used cold water there for quite a while before returning... I've seen him with a man a few times at the company, but I don't know if it's the same person in the photo."

This interview prompted countless people to rewatch the semifinals' videos. Not paying much attention before, they now saw that indeed, Nie Fei's lip color was entirely different when he left and returned! Even though Xie Yihang mentioned Nie Fei using cold water for a long time, the crystal-clear footage clearly showed Nie Fei's lips were much redder upon his return, even after the cold treatment. Who knows how red they were when Xie Yihang saw him in the restroom? This kiss must have been intense!

Oh my, this mind-boggling scandal might never end.

Xie Yihang's comments in the interview undoubtedly confirmed, indirectly, the fact that Nie Fei was financially supported. Some of Nie Fei's early fans were heartbroken, some furious, and a few even took to live broadcasts to burn posters of Nie Fei, vehemently stating that such a person didn't deserve to be an idol.

CBC turned a blind eye to this, taking no PR measures, allowing the negative news to spread. Nie Fei had just risen to fame, but it seemed like he was about to be dethroned.

The secretary, after seeing Xie Yihang's interview, subconsciously touched his heart, checking if it was still beating.

"Boss, I don't think CBC will resolve this. If left unchecked, Mr. Nie's career will truly be ruined," the secretary said with a grim expression.

Shi Si's expression was even worse, sparks seemed to fly as he breathed, "Of course, CBC doesn't want to solve it, and neither does Fei Fei himself." Shi Si glanced out the window at Nie Jia, who was tending to a cactus on the balcony, his gaze filled with both heartache and helplessness. He couldn't help but wonder if he had been too obedient. He told himself not to interfere, and he truly hadn't, allowing the outside world to malign him like this.

"Mr. Nie, do you have any plans?" the secretary couldn't hold back, leaning in to ask.

Nie Jia dusted off his hands, stood up, leaned over to glance at the secretary's computer screen, and Shi Si couldn't help but grab his hand and carefully wipe it clean with a wet tissue.

After a quick glance, Nie Jia smiled and said, "The day has finally arrived."

"Have you been waiting for this day?" Shi Si switched hands to wipe.

"Of course, otherwise, how could I confidently leave the group?" Nie Jia, who had been listless for a month, seemed a bit livelier at this moment. He smirked, grabbed Shi Si's tie, planted a kiss on his lips, then turned with a teasing smile to the secretary, "Please arrange for a lawyer. I want to terminate my contract with CBC."

Shi Si still didn't understand what was going on in Nie Jia's mind, but seeing him finally willing to take action, the tension in his own mind relaxed a bit.

Nie Jia chuckled and pinched Shi Si's ear. He didn't mean to keep secrets from Shi Si; it was related to the original owner Nie Fei's wishes. It wasn't easy to bring up, and frankly, it wasn't necessary. When the world ended, the data integration would clarify everything.

Nie Jia couldn't resist another peck and softly said, "I like you the most."

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