The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: I'll Tell You Who's the Boss

After posting this Weibo, Chen Tian shut off his phone. His eyes were bloodshot, carrying a sense of disappointment and dejection. He tossed his phone aside and then turned off the TV. He got up, grabbed a bottle of vodka from the liquor cabinet, and poured himself a full glass in silence.

This Weibo post quickly sparked heated discussions. Even though the show hadn't finished airing, the second round of performances by the three male groups was completely ignored, flooded by a plethora of related discussions. Someone with unbeatable speed even edited together snippets of Nie Fei's activities with DDD over the past four years and uploaded it across major platforms.

Nie Fei rarely appeared in the public eye, so the available material was scarce, mostly limited to press conferences or bits captured by dedicated fans and paparazzi. Yet, all the videos shared a common trait: Nie Fei had zero interaction with the other three. During press conferences, he always sat alone on the sidelines; at airports, he was always seen walking separately while the others laughed and chatted. Nie Fei remained expressionless, standing alone as if merely passing by.

For four years, Nie Fei had been subjected to relentless criticism from fans of the other three in DDD. He was labeled as antisocial, with personality issues, and accused of maintaining an arrogant demeanor.

The title of this video compilation raised doubts among non-Nie fans and towards DDD and their management: "Is it a matter of being incompatible or being isolated!?"

Countless non-Nie fans flooded the comment sections of the company's official accounts and the other three members' Weibo, demanding an explanation regarding Chen Tian's behavior.

"I've always suspected internal suppression of Ni Ni within CBC. Firstly, Ni Ni is undeniably passionate about music. It's understandable if he doesn't participate in variety shows or films, preferring to concentrate on his music. But this isn't entirely his choice. Signing with DDD for these programs is a company decision. The production team wouldn't just sign the other three without Ni Ni, right? That's one point of suspicion. Moreover, DDD frequently attends major music festivals abroad without Ni Ni's presence. Rarely do we see Ni Ni participating in activities other than concerts. Would someone so passionate about music refuse such opportunities? These are the two most glaring doubts. We hope CBC provides an explanation to all fans concerned about Ni Ni."

This top comment successfully stirred emotions among non-Nie fans. Many non-Nie fans studying or working overseas even went to great lengths to follow updates on this issue. Apart from albums and concerts, Ni Ni had limited exposure to the public eye. Unlike the other three, who had abundant resources to remain active in the public's view for the past four or five years, non-Nie fans were fewer in number but staunchly loyal and rational. As the situation escalated, none of them resorted to foul language or cursing but stood united, demanding answers from CBC.

Initially targeting Shi Bai Cai, non-Nie fans suddenly shifted the narrative, alleging that Nie Fei was being isolated and suppressed. "If that's the case, doesn't it implicate Shi Yanshen and Chen Tian too?"

Immediately, fans of Chen Tian and Shi Yanshen couldn't remain silent and began questioning.

"Even though I support Yanshen, I've never disliked Nie Fei. Isn't it a bit much for non-Nie fans to say this? No one has ever denied that Nie Fei is the ace of DDD, his abilities surpassing the other three. Would CBC be foolish to suppress him? Even if they don't exclusively allocate resources to Nie Fei but share them equally with the others, he'd still bring in double the revenue for CBC, potentially billions. Would CBC suppress someone who's a money-making asset? Think with your brains, non-Nie fans."

"Non-Nie fans are too biased. Aren't all fans protective of their idols? Just because Nie Fei is precious to your fandom, does that mean trampling on others is justified?"

"Nie Fei has always been expressionless on stage and spends all his time on his phone in the waiting room. When Chen Tian tried to talk to him and discuss the finals, didn't Nie Fei ignore him? So, is it about being isolated or antisocial? Non-Nie fans, can't you see? Nie Fei clearly has psychological issues. CBC not sending him to a mental institution is already generous."

Seeing their idol being criticized, non-Nie fans immediately took action, bombarding the battlefield with their keyboards.

"Even if Chen Wei is questionable, does Chen Yanshen have the right to accuse others? The first thing Shi Yanshen said to Nie Fei when he came back from the restroom was questioning him. Are all Chen Yanshen fans blind? Shi Yanshen didn't even think twice before saying that. I bet they've always sided with Shi Bai Cai to bully Nie Fei."

"Chen Wei, don't be in such a hurry to jump the gun. Oppa mentioned knowing Xie Yihang for six years and only now seeing his true colors. It's obvious that usually, the three of you gang up against me, making me wonder if you're selectively blind."

Wei's fans clashed, and online, it was nothing but smoke and chaos. Xie Yihang's angelic image was showing signs of collapse. When it fully crumbles, it'll likely be over. Both Wei's and group fans tonight are losing their devotion and feeling heartbroken. Despite some die-hard fans showing support, they couldn't match the strength of the anti-Wei force.

The fans of the other two sides hurriedly distanced their idols from Xie Yihang, trying not to get entangled, but clearly, the anti-Wei faction wasn't buying it.

The real climax of the event began with a young actress in the entertainment industry, Nie Kaiyi. She's the sole heiress of the Nie family conglomerate, a typical elite in society with an immensely powerful background. Nie Kaiyi is notorious for her arrogance and outspoken nature, fearlessly challenging everything. Tonight, she dropped a bombshell.

Actress Nie Kaiyi posted: "Tonight, I've become a fan of Nie Fei. True talent is impressive. I declare I'm joining Miss Anti-Wei's team from now on. And as an Anti-Wei, there are some things I need to address for our girl. Seeing people doubt CBC suppressing her. Answer: Definitely. You think CBC is foolish enough to suppress a cash cow like her? CBC isn't foolish; they just treat you all like idiots. Do you know Shi Yanshen is the younger brother of Shi Si, a board member of Wankai Group? Wankai's heir doesn't fancy her, so CBC relentlessly restrains her resources to please their master. Do you know why CBC promotes Xie Yihang, a useless guy? Because Shi Yanshen likes him! Remember when Chen Tian said, 'You have a taste for this'? Guess what that meant! Shi Yanshen's post not only stays at the top but won't be deleted. Feel free to screenshot and even welcome Shi Yanshen and CBC to sue me. I'm open to court if my words are true or false. I, Nie Kaiyi, firmly support Nie Fei in every way, with no fear, be it manpower, materials, or finances."

Shortly after Nie Kaiyi's post, comments and shares exploded. Several A-listers from entertainment companies under Wankai Group silently reposted her tweet. Besides being A-list stars, they were crucial artists under Wankai, effectively confirming Nie Kaiyi's statement about Shi Yanshen being Wankai's heir!

Anti-Wei fans were bewildered, both by the sudden involvement of this actress and Shi Yanshen's revealed identity.

Wankai's heir holds a significantly higher social status than Nie Kaiyi, almost two levels above. He could easily dismantle CBC, which supposedly supports Xie Yihang. And Nie Kaiyi's revelation that Shi Yanshen likes Xie Yihang?! That can't be true!

Yan Wei's girlfriend fans' hearts shattered instantly. They cried out on Shi Yanshen's post for clarification and cursed on Xie Yihang's post.

Nie Kaiyi's fans were genuinely worried. Veteran fans of her fan club asked if exposing Wankai's heir might cause trouble for her. Nie Kaiyi chuckled as she held her phone, reposting and replying, "I support her, and someone supports me." Her statement was ambiguous, leaving people to guess who supported her. No one would probably guess it was Shi Si, Shi Yanshen's brother.

Think without the involvement of Wankai's top management, would those movie stars and singers dare to repost Nie Kaiyi's tweet?

One bombshell after another tonight. After watching the show, Nie Jia casually scrolled through Weibo and was dumbfounded. The top ten trending topics were all about him. But after a brief glance, Nie Jia understood.

He sighed and walked to the bathroom where Shi Si was preparing his bath. Shi Si wore a simple black embroidered shirt, his back to the door, his rolled-up sleeves revealing toned arms. Nie Jia approached, leaned on his back, placed the phone in front of him, and nibbled his ear, "Was it you?"

"Shi Yanshen always wanted to shed his identity as my brother. I just granted his wish." Shi Si chuckled, effortlessly lifting Nie Jia and twirling him around before gently placing him in the bath.

Standing in the water, facing Shi Si, Nie Jia gazed at him, feeling a sincere and deep affection, a girlish blush on his cheeks.

"Those who hurt you will pay, including my brother," Shi Si murmured as he tenderly caressed Nie Jia's delicate cheek, his voice low. Nie Jia was overwhelmed by emotions, forgetting everything at that moment, while Shi Si harbored a heart full of resentment, recalling the torment his beloved endured due to his brother's actions.

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