Chapter 110: Either Let It Rot Like This

Ye Yaoyao was no fujoshi, but she couldn't help but overthink such a dynamic.

The atmosphere during breakfast was exceptionally strange. Unfazed, Ye Yaoyao finished her meal and left for work. Inside the apartment, Shen Yan cast a lingering look at Gu Yancheng before turning to leave.

Recently, Gu Yancheng’s resources had been severely restricted, a tactic employed by the Gu family of the capital to force his return. However, Gu Yancheng was stubborn and refused to yield. Unfortunately, with his financial lifelines severed, he had no choice but to seek refuge with Ye Yaoyao. She understood his predicament and kept her silence; friends, after all, were meant to help one another in times of need.

The first thing Shen Yan did upon arriving at his company was task Feng Yuqi with investigating the situation. Once he learned the truth, a wave of superiority washed over him. *Hah, a man like Gu Yancheng thinks he can compete with me for a woman?* After a minor struggle with his family, he had already lost his financial backing. Even when he himself had been sidelined and pushed out by the Shen family, he had never descended to such a state.

After Feng Yuqi finished his report, he noticed Shen Yan lifting his chin in triumph, his eyes filling with confusion. What had come over Mr. Shen?

"Yuqi."

Shen Yan’s sudden address caught Feng Yuqi off guard, but he quickly replied, "Yes, Mr. Shen?"

"Do you think a man who needs a woman’s protection is useless?"

Feng Yuqi was baffled. His mind raced, but he could find no answer. Did this question have anything to do with their boss? They hadn't seen each other for days, yet somehow, the boss had once again managed to provoke such profound confusion in Mr. Shen.

Seeing Feng Yuqi hesitate, Shen Yan frowned. "What? Is the question that difficult?"

"No, it's not that..." Feng Yuqi lowered his head, still unsure how to respond.

"Physiologically, men are born to shield women from the storm, and women... should live happily under a man's protection." Shen Yan’s tone dripped with disdain. "If a man’s wings can be broken by mere minor setbacks, then he is not a man worth relying on."

He was, of course, taking a dig at Gu Yancheng. Naturally, Feng Yuqi was oblivious to this subtext and could only listen while nodding incessantly. Following this comparison, the corners of Shen Yan's mouth curled upward uncontrollably as he worked.

...

Gu Yancheng’s sudden blacklisting incensed his fans. With his massive following, they flooded the comment sections of his agency’s social media accounts. Wave after wave of public opinion surged, only to be suppressed by corporate power, yet the topic would soon trend again—largely because Ye Yaoyao had poured fuel on the fire. She hadn't initiated the conflict, but she was more than happy to leverage the momentum.

Soon, the news of Gu Yancheng being blacklisted topped the trending charts. The Gu family of the capital was far from pleased, but no matter what they tried, the system seemed to malfunction, unable to pull the topic down. The Gu family had forbidden Gu Yancheng from entering the entertainment industry to avoid becoming common fodder for gossip, and this top trending spot was a direct violation of their wishes.

Seeing the topic gain traction, Gu Yancheng’s fans pressed their advantage.

"Oh my god, whose interests did Yancheng step on? How could they blacklist such a wonderful person?!"

"It’s all capitalist tyranny! Since they won’t give Yancheng scripts, we’ll crowdfund our own money to produce films for him!"

"I think that’s a great idea, I’m in!"

...

Most star-struck fans had a bit of disposable income and were incredibly fervent. With this call to action, many actually emptied their personal savings. Yet, producing a film was hardly that simple. Ye Yaoyao felt gratified by the fans' support, but she knew better than to intervene further; she had done enough.

The trending topic infuriated the Gu family. They sent men to apprehend Gu Yancheng, determined to drag him back and prevent him from continuing to show his face in public. Gu Yancheng refused, and a scuffle broke out in the apartment. His assailants were numerous, and Gu Yancheng was quickly overwhelmed, ending up injured after being pinned down.

Just then, Ye Yaoyao returned and witnessed the scene. Without a word, she leaped into the air and kicked the man closest to Gu Yancheng, sending him flying. Gu Yancheng was struck by her prowess. Ye Yaoyao stood before him, casting a cold, sweeping glare at the rest of them.

"Ms. Ye, this is a family matter. I suggest you stay out of it," the leader said coldly.

The men from the Gu family despised Ye Yaoyao, just as their masters did. They believed that if not for her, the Gu family would not have been pushed into the spotlight time and again, and none of these headaches would have occurred.

"You break into my apartment and assault my guest, and you tell me I’m meddling?" Ye Yaoyao smiled coldly. "I should be charging you with trespassing, yet you dare to turn the tables and accuse me of meddling?"

"Get out. Now. Or I’m calling the police." Her tone dropped below freezing. "If you don't want the Gu family of the capital back on the trending list, feel free to keep testing me."

The leader hesitated, but for the sake of caution, he signaled for his men to retreat. The head of the family cared most about the Gu family’s reputation, so he knew exactly what needed to be done. After they left, Ye Yaoyao helped Gu Yancheng up from the floor.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Gu Yancheng smiled, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Sorry you had to see this again."

Ye Yaoyao shook her head. "It's nothing."

She looked at him deeply, but ultimately chose to stay silent. She would not involve herself in someone else’s family affairs. Consequently, she did not intend to intervene in his blacklisting either. With the Gu family’s influence looming over him, it was a foregone conclusion that he would be unable to secure any resources.

Desperate, Gu Yancheng had no choice but to contact the Gu family himself. When Gu Shicheng received the call, his tone was laced with triumph. "Well? Can't handle this little bit of pressure? I thought you were more capable than that."

"Besides using your power to bully people, what else can you do?" Gu Yancheng felt a deep hatred for his own powerlessness. "I reached my current height without relying on the Gu family for a single thing, which proves I don't need the Gu family to live well." Unfortunately, he had neglected to build his own power base over the years, leaving him helpless when the Gu family finally struck.

"I don't care about that. I only know that right now, you are nothing." Gu Shicheng had no patience for these roundabout arguments. "I'll give you two choices: either come back to inherit the family business, or rot away just like this."