Chapter 117: Collapsing Without Warning

“Did you see that? Our brother is perfectly fine. Maybe he was just acting bravely for a righteous cause!”

“Oh, really? So your Lin Ze can be a hero? But our brother can’t?”

“Just wait and see, you bunch of little black sheep! We’re just waiting for the police station’s letter of commendation.”

That entire evening, Zhang Yang’s fans kept shouting and boasting, and somehow the story spread.

They claimed Zhang Yang saw his little cousin being followed by a bad guy and courageously took down the villain.

Later, the story grew more and more outrageous—some even said Zhang Yang single-handedly busted a human trafficking ring.

“Is Zhang Yang some kind of returning Dragon King, taking down a whole criminal gang all by himself?”

Lin Ze watched as Zhang Yang’s fans were practically turning him into the Chinese Black Widow.

This guy was far more entertaining than reading a novel.

“Heh, hehe,” Su Zitan giggled foolishly nearby, staring at her phone.

Lin Ze leaned over, glanced at the screen, and was stunned.

“What is this?”

“Hmm… it’s a fanfiction about the love-hate relationship between you and Zhang Yang.”

“Cut down on the dirty stuff! She’s my own sister!”

Lin Ze grabbed Su Zitan’s phone and deleted everything clean.

Su Zitan put the phone aside. “Liu Xiaorui’s sister said Liu Xiaorui seemed possessed—no matter how the family pleaded, she insisted it was all voluntary.”

“She’s still in high school and has to attend classes. Without public opinion on her side, if Liu Xiaorui keeps insisting, there might be no way out.”

Lin Ze nodded. “He’s done so many rotten things, sooner or later the whole building will collapse. But… let’s hope this time it wakes his fans up.”

There’s nothing wrong with admiring celebrities, but people shouldn’t be foolish.

…

“Do you even have a brain?” Zhang Huai looked at Zhang Yang lying on the ground, fists clenched.

“I told you to behave and not mess around, but you can’t stay put, can you?”

Zhang Yang lay on the floor, the shoe prints on his stomach and the slap marks on his face clearly visible.

“Dad! I… I didn’t expect this either.”

“When have you ever thought things through? What can a pig brain like yours think of?”

Zhang Huai slapped him once, then kicked him, easing some of his anger.

“If that girl identifies you, your future is over. Understand? Don’t even think about walking that path again!”

Zhang Yang curled up beside him, feeling wronged. “But she hasn’t spoken yet. I made everyone else sign confidentiality agreements—it’s fine…”

“You…” Zhang Huai raised his hand, making Zhang Yang shudder.

“You idiot, your confidentiality agreements only fool people who don’t know the law. They have zero legal effect!”

Zhang Huai looked at his foolish son, his teeth grinding in frustration.

“But my agent said they’re effective…”

“You two idiots!”

Zhang Huai sat down in his chair with a long sigh, exhaustion flashing on the once energetic man’s face.

“Nothing else?”

“Nothing! Nothing!” Zhang Yang’s eyes lit up, thinking he could leave.

“I’m asking if you did anything else!” Zhang Huai gritted his teeth.

Zhang Yang suddenly remembered the last incident and felt a pang of guilt.

But… it should be fine. Nothing happened all this time…

“No, nothing!”

“Really nothing?” Zhang Huai eyed him suspiciously.

“Nothing!” Zhang Yang patted his chest earnestly.

“Good…” Zhang Huai muttered, pocketing his phone. “Let’s go home.”

…

The online heat about Zhang Yang’s case didn’t cool down easily.

Many mocked Lin Ze and demanded he apologize to Zhang Yang.

Donghuang Entertainment even sent a lawyer’s letter demanding Lin Ze apologize.

“Come on, no way someone just spreads rumors and then plays dead!”

“Where’s Lin Ze? Speak up! Which building collapsed?”

“Our brother won’t collapse. Even if he did, we’d catch him. Unlike some people who don’t even dare speak now.”

Some even role-played as fans to join in.

“Don’t you know our Brother Lin is a star? He’s the godfather of the entertainment industry. If he falls, you fall!”

“How dare you speak ill of our Brother Lin? Believe it or not, he could bring down the entire entertainment circle!”

Meanwhile, Lin Ze and Su Zitan were at home, snacking and watching a movie, ignoring the online chaos.

“Dad, it’s nothing. What trouble haven’t we been cursed for?” Su Zitan said on the phone. “Okay, tell Mom not to worry, it’s fine.”

She handed the phone to Lin Ze. “Dad wants to talk to you.”

“Hello? Godfather.”

Lin Ze lazily answered.

“Son, what’s up? Though I’m not in the entertainment industry, I’ve got some money to help get things done.”

On the other end, Su Zhenguo spoke loudly and confidently, like a newly rich man.

“Nothing, Godfather.”

“You’re really popular now. If I weren’t afraid of exposing things, I’d have you endorse our group’s products already.”

“Then let’s get married sooner! After marriage, we won’t have to worry about exposure!” Lin Ze said cheerfully.

“Alright, I…” Su Zhenguo was about to speak when Li Qingping nearby gasped.

“That Zhang Yang, why is he in jail again?”

Huh?

Lin Ze was taken aback.

“Godfather, I gotta go check this out.”

“Okay, alright, bye.”

After hanging up, Lin Ze opened Weibo.

Donghai Chai posted again—this time, Zhang Yang was back in the police station.

At first, Zhang Yang’s fans were nervous.

But by the second time, it seemed like the story about him dismantling the crime gang was confirmed.

Soon, fans stopped laughing.

“Announcement: Zhang Yang is suspected of ** and is under formal investigation…”

The announcement hit every Zhang Yang fan like a bucket of cold water.

“Impossible, my brother wouldn’t…”

“Investigation doesn’t mean guilt! We have to believe in Brother Zhang!”

“It must be Lin Ze trying to frame my brother!”

Fans argued fiercely, but then an anonymous account posted two audio clips.

One of Zhang Yang assaulting someone, the other of him coaxing the girl with a confidentiality agreement.

The anonymous account detailed Zhang Yang’s family’s scheme and everything that happened that day.

Online, many of Zhang Yang’s fans exposed their chat records with him.

The fact that the anonymous account knew the family’s plan revealed a lot.

Companies that had Zhang Yang as their spokesperson immediately cut ties overnight.

Even the stars close to Zhang Yang dared not speak out.

This time, even Donghuang Entertainment remained silent.