Chapter 125: Standing Tall

Downstairs at Galaxy Entertainment, more than a dozen security guards stood at the ready. Although this was their first time facing such a situation, they were well aware of the potential fallout for the company if such a collective incident escalated. Any untoward event could be devastating, and as a result, they were all on high alert.

Chang Yan led a group of people down to the main entrance just as the fans arrived. The two sides stood face to face. About a hundred fans, carrying signs with various slogans, had gathered downstairs, their collective agitation creating an immense sense of pressure.

Chang Yan felt a flutter of panic, but she did not take a single step back. Instead, she stepped forward. She knew she had to hold the line. As the de facto leader of "Morning Star," she had always felt she lacked the presence of the other two sisters—He Yanlin was better at organization and decision-making, while Li Zixuan was superior in management and writing. As the founder, Chang Yan often felt she lacked talent, and though she never harbored resentment, she occasionally felt a quiet sense of melancholy.

Yet, while her abilities might not match theirs, her devotion to her idol was second to none.

With this thought, Chang Yan steadied her heart and shouted to the fans, "Everyone, listen! I am Chang Yan, the leader of Lin Qihua’s official fan club, 'Morning Star.' If you have any concerns, you can speak directly to me. Please remain calm. Gathering like this without permission is a violation of regulations. We have already notified the public security authorities. I urge you all to stay calm and not to cause trouble. If you have demands or opinions, bring them forward, but if you start a disturbance and the police intervene, you will all be held legally accountable."

Chang Yan’s words had an effect. At the very least, they broke the momentum of the fans, causing a wave of confusion and hesitation.

"We want to see the CEO of Galaxy Entertainment and Lin Qihua! Make them come out and talk to us!" a fan leading the crowd shouted.

"That’s right! Lin Qihua is morally bankrupt and has deceived our feelings as fans. We want him to come out and apologize publicly!" another yelled.

"Since you are all fans of Lin Qihua, you should know that there is currently no evidence to prove that he is the shameless artist Teacher Tang Zhijie claims he is," Chang Yan explained. "As his fans, please don't be swayed by rumors. Believe that the truth is not what you imagine it to be. Please, wait patiently."

"I don't believe it! Bring Lin Qihua out!"

"Yes! Bring him out! Liar, shameless scoundrel, scum!" The crowd’s emotions flared up again.

"If he doesn't come out, we’ll rush in and drag him out!" someone shouted.

"Who dares?" Chang Yan bellowed, her voice cutting through the noise. She spread her arms to block the entrance. "This is the office of Galaxy Entertainment. You are not allowed to enter without an invitation. If you force your way in, it will constitute a public safety incident involving rioting and vandalism. The police will inevitably intervene and detain you. Do you really want to carry a criminal record for the rest of your lives over a small matter like this?"

Her words struck a chord of fear. In China, unauthorized gatherings already draw police attention; any further escalation would certainly lead to heavy-handed intervention. Aside from a few agitators, most of the fans had gathered on a whim, fueled by provocation. Faced with the threat of a permanent criminal stain, they cooled down, breaking into a cold sweat. Nobody wanted that.

"If you are truly fans, you should know my name," Chang Yan said, sensing the shift and softening her tone. "I am Chang Yan, the founder of 'Morning Star.' If you are real fans of Lin Qihua, you know I wouldn't lie to you."

"I know you," a fan in the middle shouted. "You often speak in the group chat, and you’ve organized many events."

"Yes, that’s me," Chang Yan smiled. "I’m glad you recognize me. We are all fans of Lin Qihua. We gathered because of our love for his singing and his character. We are a family. Now, our family member is being slandered and framed. We don’t ask for your blind support, but we hope you stick to your original intentions. Ask yourselves: why did you become his fans in the first place? Are you willing to trust him just once? Are you willing to wait for the truth to come out before passing judgment?"

"Don't listen to her nonsense! We want an apology from Lin Qihua! You’re just a woman trying to block our way—everyone, ignore her and rush in!" the leader shouted.

"Stop right there," Chang Yan barked, sneering. "I don't think you are a fan of Lin Qihua. State your name. We have records of every fan in every region. If you are a fan, you would know me. If you aren't, then I suspect you are inciting everyone to attack the offices of Galaxy Entertainment with malicious intent—not just to smear Lin Qihua, but to send these fans to prison."

The leader’s face paled, and the other fans began to look at him with suspicion.

In the distance, the shrill sound of sirens approached as several police cars appeared. Chang Yan’s legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed. She was relieved; the police had arrived quickly, and the situation was under control. Maintaining this facade in front of over a hundred people had been an immense pressure.

With the police intervening, the fans calmed down and cooperated with the questioning. The officers, realizing no major incident had occurred, breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the girl standing at the front, they couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. They had already gathered enough information to realize that Galaxy Entertainment and Lin Qihua were victims of a malicious smear campaign, but they could not interfere; entertainment industry matters, unless they crossed into criminal territory, were left for the industry to resolve itself.

Seeing the situation stabilized, Chang Yan spoke to the fans again. "Now that you've calmed down, surely you realize there is something fishy about this? I understand your feelings, so I’d like to ask you to choose a few representatives to come in with me. Lin Qihua will meet with you to explain what has been happening. Of course, those 'fake fans' don't need to come."

The fans looked at one another and eventually selected a few representatives. Chang Yan checked their names against the club's records, felt reassured, and led them into the building, leaving the rest to wait outside.

The police left all but two officers to monitor the scene. As for the agitators, they had slipped away unnoticed. The reporters, having failed to capture a chaotic scene and seeing only a woman standing firm against the crowd, also left, knowing there was no major story to be had.

Of course, they didn't leave empty-handed. Soon, the news of "fans storming Galaxy Entertainment" spread like wildfire, accompanied by photos of the fans in their earlier, agitated state.

Galaxy Entertainment was unfazed. "Morning Star" released an official statement: A small group of fans, incited by individuals with ulterior motives, had come to Galaxy Entertainment to seek answers. With the help of the police and company staff, they had realized their mistake, seen the truth, and met with Lin Qihua and company executives for a friendly discussion. The company had communicated the recent events to the fans, who now understood the situation. This proved that the truth could not be buried; fans might be misled for a moment, but the light would eventually prevail.

The post included photos of Chang Yan standing her ground, as well as images of Lin Qihua and Yu Fengqin meeting with the fan representatives, with both sides chatting cordially.

Thanks to Chang Yan's efforts, the crisis was resolved. "Morning Star" gained significant recognition, and more fans realized the danger of acting impulsively under the influence of public opinion. As the various chat groups emphasized: why cause irreparable harm to others and yourself over a moment of impulse? We don't ask for blind support, only for patience. The truth will always surface.

That evening, an unexpected voice emerged. Zhao Qiao, once the golden boy of Galaxy Entertainment, who had been sidelined after conspiring with Star Glory Entertainment, finally broke his silence. He aimed his attack directly at Lin Qihua: "Lin Qihua is an incredibly tyrannical person who demands total obedience. Seeing my position in the company was secure, he framed me as a mole to freeze me out, so he could monopolize the best resources. Furthermore, since I was sidelined, Lin Qihua has been the only male artist at Galaxy. From the CEO to the head of the Artist Department, the training director, the remaining artists, and even his managers and personal assistants—they are all beautiful women. His intentions are as clear as day."

Zhao Qiao's words gave the media a new narrative, and they piled all sorts of scandalous labels onto Lin Qihua.

"Beautiful CEO keeps a boy toy?"
"Is Lin Qihua trying to build a harem?"
"A story of one man and many women—you think it's a novel? Think again; this is reality."
"It is proven that Lin Qihua is a devil of lust. Galaxy Entertainment has become his playground, and the artists his playthings. How pathetic."
"Shocking revelations: the dark secrets behind the Galaxy Entertainment scandal."

Sensational headlines flooded the internet, drawing in countless gossip-hungry onlookers. Every conceivable theory was used to dump filth on Lin Qihua, attempting to paint Galaxy Entertainment as a den of corruption. The effect was staggering; such a scandal attracted far more attention than the previous criticisms of Lin Qihua’s professional conduct. Many uninformed netizens joined the fray, demanding that the "scum of the entertainment industry" be purged.