Chapter 120: The Assault

The next day, everyone expected Tang Zhijie to cause a scene, but surprisingly, nothing happened. The media had no updates about the previous night’s incident, leaving Lin Qihua and the others puzzled.

“That shouldn’t be,” He Li frowned. “Tang Zhijie isn’t someone who swallows his pride quietly. Even if he doesn’t make a big fuss, he’d at least cause some commotion.”

“That’s exactly why I’m worried,” Yu Fengqin said anxiously. “The calm before the storm. His silence means the situation is about to explode. Don’t we know this man well enough by now?”

“Maybe he’s really gone to find his backers,” Lian Yuling whispered. “You know, Chen Yan is backing him.”

“Oh, right,” He Li said grimly. “Even if Tang Zhijie doesn’t act, as long as Chen Yan moves, it’s basically the same as him acting.”

“So, all we can do is do our best and leave the rest to fate,” Yu Fengqin said with a bitter smile. “If they don’t make a move, we can only passively wait for judgment. Hopefully, it won’t come to that.”

“I doubt it,” Lian Yuling said despondently. “Since I’ve appeared on stage with Qihua, everyone knows our connection. We’ll surely be dragged into this too. It’d be strange if Chen Yan didn’t seize this opportunity.”

Yu Fengqin and He Li fell silent. Lian Yuling’s words were true. They all knew how Chen Yan would react after discovering Lian’s connection to Lin Qihua. Even after ten years, Chen Yan wouldn’t hesitate to escalate the matter for the sake of the powerful person behind her. Any chance to strike at Lian Yuling would not be wasted.

“So this time, it’s not Qihua dragging us down, but me dragging you,” Lian Yuling said with a bitter smile.

“Don’t say that,” Yu Fengqin patted Lian Yuling’s shoulder sympathetically. “What did the three of us sisters say back then? When one of us faces hardship, we bear it together, face it together. Now Chen Yan is making trouble—so what? We confront it head-on. We weren’t afraid before, and we’re not afraid now.”

“We’re not afraid, but what about Qihua? ‘The Singing Star’ has witnessed his rise. But everyone knows audiences can be easily swayed. Can Qihua hold steady?” Lian Yuling asked.

“I’ll talk to him clearly. Whatever difficulties come, we bear them together. Galaxy Entertainment isn’t afraid of anyone.”

“All together then,” the three women declared in unison.

But would things really go as they hoped?

Not necessarily. The storm was about to arrive, fiercer than anyone imagined.

On the third day, the shoe finally dropped. At nine in the morning, Tang Zhijie updated his social media platform with a message: “Some young artists truly lack manners, disrespect their seniors, and have rotten morals. They are tarnishing the entertainment industry and the profession.”

This statement stirred a huge wave. As a top-tier star with countless fans and intense media scrutiny, Tang Zhijie’s words spread rapidly. Fans flooded the comments, expressing support and asking which artist had dared to offend Master Tang.

An insider replied with speculation, suggesting it was aimed at a currently popular young star participating in a hot variety show. After achieving some success, this person had become arrogant and was capable of anything.

This speculation led many media professionals to quickly guess the show was the phenomenon “The Singing Star.” Among the young talents, only Guan Shengjie, Zhang Yuxin, and Lin Qihua fit the profile. Guan Shengjie wasn’t in Yanjing and wasn’t particularly popular; Zhang Yuxin was a girl—what clash could she have had with Tang Zhijie? So it had to be Lin Qihua, who had been relatively unknown until his surge in popularity through “The Singing Star,” gaining a growing fanbase. Some inappropriate behavior was quite possible—after all, young people often lose their way, and such incidents had repeatedly surfaced over the years.

“They’re coming,” He Li and the others, already on high alert, read the message and immediately understood Tang Zhijie was about to act, his sights clearly set on Lin Qihua.

Judging from the insider and media analyses, there were clearly handlers orchestrating this behind the scenes.

“This is just the prelude,” He Li, experienced in managing public opinion, said calmly. “As long as Tang Zhijie doesn’t name Lin Qihua directly, this won’t escalate—at most, it remains a rumor.”

“But he will name him. He’ll tear the mask off.”

“Hmm.”

“Can’t we strike first, expose this ourselves?” a staff member asked.

“The situation is still uncertain. We can only prepare. Otherwise, we’ll fall into their trap,” He Li shook her head. “Unprovoked attacks against a senior star cause serious backlash.”

“Unfortunately, when we tried to access the surveillance videos, we were denied. They must have controlled it early,” a staff member said, frustrated.

“That was my oversight,” Lin Qihua apologized. “I didn’t think to secure the footage as evidence then.”

“It wouldn’t help,” He Li shook her head. “Under such pressure, the hotel won’t hand over footage without police involvement.”

“So, without evidence, it’s tough to fight Tang Zhijie.”

The head of publicity, Qian Jiayi, stormed in, her face dark. “There’s a problem. The press releases we sent to the media have vanished without a trace. Even the reporters who usually cooperate aren’t answering my calls. This might get serious.”

Everyone inhaled sharply. The media was a crucial battleground for public opinion. Without a voice in the press, Galaxy Entertainment would be cornered.

“Looks like someone has really made a move. With Tang Zhijie’s skills, he wouldn’t have media this compliant otherwise,” Yu Fengqin said, her face grim.

“We can only rely on our own social media to refute the rumors,” He Li said bitterly. “Everyone, brace yourselves. The storm is coming.”

“Understood,” came the subdued responses.

“Don’t worry too much,” Lin Qihua smiled. “If anything happens, it’s just me getting insulted and blackened, maybe told to quit the industry. The sky won’t fall. So stop scowling and relax.”

Lin Qihua’s reassurance somewhat eased the tension. He Li nodded; as the center of this storm, if Lin Qihua remained steady, the others wouldn’t panic.

A leader’s demeanor—this was He Li’s verdict. Once they weathered this storm, Lin Qihua would soar.

What was meant to come had come. That very evening, an entertainment talk show, “Entertainment Night,” invited Tang Zhijie—the very star who had posted the provocations—as a guest. After official teasers, social media buzz, and media hype, countless viewers tuned in, eager to hear what Tang Zhijie would say.

The “Entertainment Night” production team was ecstatic. As a live talk show, they thrived on drama. They feared no scandal, only the absence of one. Their decision to reschedule the program was proving wise. If a major incident erupted tonight, it might break all viewership records since the show’s inception.

At eight sharp, “Entertainment Night” began. Eyes glued to the screen, the famously sharp-tongued host Lin Zhao appeared, tapping a gavel lightly on the desk.

“Entertainment Night, focusing on hot topics in the entertainment world, chasing the truth behind incidents, and hearing firsthand accounts. Please stay tuned.”

After the intro, Lin Zhao shifted tone. “Recently, top star Tang Zhijie lashed out at young artists in our industry. Although he didn’t name names, everyone guesses it’s a male artist surnamed Lin. What’s the real story behind this? ‘Entertainment Night’ is dedicated to uncovering the truth, so we specially invited Master Tang to join us. Please welcome him.”

Amid applause, Tang Zhijie entered with a smile, shook hands with Lin Zhao, and sat on a nearby sofa.

They chatted casually about Tang Zhijie’s recent work before moving to the main topic.

“Master Tang, I noticed your recent social media post caused quite a stir among fans and media. Can you elaborate?”

“Yes,” Tang Zhijie shifted comfortably on the sofa, his face darkening with anger. “It’s simple. Some young artists, after tasting a bit of success, become arrogant and act without restraint. This happens often in our industry. Talented people earn respect, but that doesn’t give them the right to act like tyrants or divas. We’ve been through so much to reach the top tier. At the very least, young people should respect their seniors and uphold basic decency. But such behavior happened right before me. How could I tolerate it? So I posted that message, hoping this artist would find his way.”

Lin Zhao caught the scent of a big scoop, excited. “Indeed, while our culture isn’t as rigid about hierarchy as Japan or South Korea, basic etiquette is still essential. Otherwise, a young artist swaggering and staring down a veteran artist would be an insult to our rich cultural heritage.”

“Exactly,” Tang Zhijie agreed. “It’s not just about rank—out of respect for elder generations, basic manners are mandatory. That’s why I’m so angry.”

“Absolutely,” Lin Zhao nodded. “We hope all young artists learn from this.”

“What angers me most is this young artist’s lack of character. What’s wrong with today’s young artists? To grope women in public? That’s utterly disgraceful. How can such an artist exist and thrive in our entertainment industry?”