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The fans in her live streaming room felt deeply moved. They liked Zhou Lingling because of her inner beauty, and they called her a goddess despite her densely pimpled face. Their love for her was genuine.

However, in the middle of their heartfelt comforting, they saw a “terrifying” scene.

Zhou Lingling’s skin started oozing black liquid, just like in Fang Ziyang’s live broadcast. The difference was that it happened a bit quicker because Zhou Lingling had more toxins and impurities in her body.

Upon hearing the fans’ reminder, Zhou Lingling quickly went to look in the mirror and used a wet tissue to wipe off the black liquid from her face.

Once her skin was revealed, although the acne was still there, it was noticeably smaller. Most of the black liquid had come out of the pimples.

The sight was a bit disgusting, but… it was also pleasantly surprising!

The effect of this beauty essence was truly not exaggerated.

It was genuinely a trustworthy product!

That was the only thought in Zhou Lingling’s mind and the minds of the fans in her live streaming room.

As expected, Zhou Lingling’s live stream went viral.

In addition to her, several other customers with obvious skin improvements also gained popularity with their live videos.

Although the price of the 9,999 yuan instant beauty essence was expensive for ordinary people, there were still quite a few wealthy individuals in Huaguo. As a result, there were plenty of people who directly purchased the most expensive beauty essence.

This led to a surge in live experiment videos.

Although there were doubts about whether it was just Dongsheng Pharmaceutical’s astroturfing and marketing, the astonishing visual effects still attracted many people.

Especially those who knew the people in the videos hurriedly called them and, after getting their confirmation, immediately went to buy the product without hesitation.

The rich bought the most expensive and effective one, while the less affluent bought the cheaper one with slower results.

After these examples of verified effects emerged, people no longer cared about the price or potential side effects. Who would want to be ugly when they could become more beautiful!

Even those who didn’t care much about their appearance went to buy the product because of its “detoxification function.”

The massive response resulted in an increase in sales of the beauty essence every day. The company’s official blog followers also surged, and the stock of Dongsheng Pharmaceutical rose overnight.

Fang Ziyang, Zhou Jun, and Zhao Jingyu, the three young shareholders and employees of the company, couldn’t sleep well over the weekend. They woke up with smiles on their faces!

Fang Ziyang checked the online situation and, before returning to school, had a video conference with Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu from the company headquarters in Jiangshi.

The video conference was straightforward: they wanted the company to establish a charitable fund department. In the future, a percentage of the proceeds from every product sold by Dongsheng Pharmaceutical would be allocated to the fund for charitable purposes.

The high-level executives of the various departments hesitated because of the significant cost involved in this charity initiative.

However, Fang Ziyang left them speechless with one sentence:

“Do you want Dongsheng Pharmaceutical to experience the power of public opinion in the future?”

That single sentence brought the managers back to reality from their jubilant mood.

“When we took over Dongsheng Pharmaceutical, I told you that Dongsheng Pharmaceutical would shine in our hands. The beauty essence is just the beginning. Please trust the research and development team that I have rebuilt.”

“I admit that establishing this charity department has some personal motives, but it is mostly for the future of Dongsheng Pharmaceutical.”

“In the future, Dongsheng Pharmaceutical will undoubtedly become a thorn in the side of the industry peers. Therefore, we must have the support of the public…”

Fang Ziyang was well aware of the power of public opinion.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Whether it was an individual or a company, in this era of flourishing internet and increasingly free expression, the direction of public opinion could be powerful enough to destroy a giant enterprise.

The information and formulas in the “Golden Finger” were superior to the technology of this era. The company’s development would increase exponentially. When a new industry leader rose, they would inevitably face suppression from the established giants.

Even if Fang Ziyang was confident and had cooperation with the country, he dared not be too arrogant.

Therefore, before facing difficulties, they must be prepared. They needed to lay the groundwork in advance and win the hearts of the people. No matter how powerful the capital was, the ultimate competition of an enterprise lay in the hands of consumers.

Their products had high production costs and high selling prices, and it would be the same for every product they brought out in the future.

Initially, people might understand, but as time went on and they were led by others, many people would overlook the premise and question the high price of the products.

There might even be conspiracy theories suggesting that their products didn’t contain the claimed ingredients and were just a money-making scheme. They would be accused of being heartless capitalist vampires, and so on.

Take from the people, use for the people.

Please believe that giving back to society and supporting customers will make your company thrive.

Of course, they could have taken the high-end route for all their products and made them exclusive luxury items. That would have made things less complicated.

But Fang Ziyang didn’t want that. The “Golden Finger” formulas were not as simple as beauty products. Just like the beauty essence, although it was called a beauty essence, it would be more accurate to call it a detoxification essence. These were things that enhanced the body’s overall health, and he wanted to promote them widely.

There was another reason as well.

If Dongsheng Pharmaceutical’s “Golden Finger” products were widely promoted in the future, they could undoubtedly single-handedly drive the development of the traditional Chinese medicine market in Huaguo and arouse worldwide interest in Chinese medicine research.

As a Chinese person, Fang Ziyang hoped for a better future for his country. Chinese medicine was truly worth exploring, and the information in the “Golden Finger” was the best proof of its effectiveness.

Setting aside lofty ideals, there was a practical truth:

Our peaceful and happy lives are based on the strength of our motherland. The motherland protects us, and we contribute to the motherland. That is the meaning of each of us striving to protect and dedicate ourselves to our motherland.

“But let’s keep this matter quiet. No publicity, low-key operations. Being too high-profile is not good for our company,” Fang Ziyang added.

In fact, the real intention behind this statement was that he wanted to keep the fund department as a trump card.

If no one tried to attack their company in the future, that would be great. But if someone foolish enough came, they would be ready to strike back.

He had skipped that pitfall in his previous life, and once was enough.

…

This weekend, Fang Ziyang experienced both joy and worry.

There were happy events, but also troublesome ones. However, regardless of his emotions, he couldn’t resist the urge to continue moving forward.

In the afternoon of the weekend, he packed his things and returned to his dormitory at school, ready to continue attending classes.

The other roommates had also returned, but Xie Wenxu brought two bodyguards to pack his belongings and prepare to move off-campus.

“Ziyang, can we talk alone for a moment? I promise that, after today… I will never disturb you again.”

In just two days, Xie Wenxu’s state had deteriorated several times over. It seemed as if he had suffered a major blow overnight, appearing dejected and frustrated.

It wasn’t hard to guess what had caused this impact.

As for what Xie Wenxu wanted to say to him…

Fang Ziyang understood very well. He nodded and said, “Fine. Let’s talk outside.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

His attitude remained calm and indifferent.

This made Xie Wenxu even more miserable and uncomfortable. He would rather have Fang Ziyang hate and scold him than face this calm and indifferent version of Fang Ziyang. It showed that he no longer held any place in Fang Ziyang’s heart.

Endless regret overwhelmed him like waves, suffocating him every day.

He had ultimately made the wrong choice, but there was no turning back now.

Walking to a secluded corner, Xie Wenxu remained silent and repressed for a long time before forcing out a smile.

“Ziyang, I know you can never forgive me, but I still want to say sorry to you. In the past… I let you down. You were good, you never changed. It was me who changed. It was my foolishness and arrogance that made me lose you.”

“The controversy over the guest list for the previous event was orchestrated by Yan Tong. I apologize on his behalf. If you need any compensation, you can tell me, and I will try my best to fulfill your requests.”

“You’re apologizing on his behalf?” Fang Ziyang suddenly smiled.

Although there was no sarcasm in his smile, it felt deeply ironic to Xie Wenxu for some reason.

Xie Wenxu knew exactly what that irony meant.

When Fang Ziyang had an incident in the past, he didn’t believe in him or support him. He was indifferent and merciless. Now, it was Yan Tong’s turn, and Xie Wenxu gave him trust and support. To Fang Ziyang, it was a second act of cruelty.

But that wasn’t what he meant.

Xie Wenxu’s heart ached unbearably. “It’s not for him. Ziyang, I don’t expect your forgiveness, but I hope you won’t look down on me anymore…”

Sometimes, you only realize the true value of something after losing it.

He had never realized how important Fang Ziyang’s glances, smiles, and approval were to him.

Fang Ziyang looked at the pained and worn-out Xie Wenxu, but his heart couldn’t stir even a little.

If apologies were effective, what would the police be needed for?

Even if he had been reborn, the events of the past were remembered only by him. Could he consider it as if nothing had happened, as if he had a fresh start?

No.

Fang Ziyang was still living in hell. Why did these people deserve redemption?

“Xie Wenxu, do you know what it means to kill someone’s heart?”

Fang Ziyang calmly looked at the person in front of him.

Xie Wenxu raised his head.

“You’ll understand soon. Everything you once bestowed upon me, I will return to you all. And then, I will completely erase you from my life.”

Fang Ziyang chuckled lightly.

He turned around and walked away.

Xie Wenxu stood still, completely shattered by the words “completely erase you from my life.”

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Xie Zheng took awhile to fetch the sheet music, he returned with a somewhat dazed expression.

Fang Ziyang knew that the other person must have seen the diary.

He pursed his lips and chose not to expose it. He politely took the sheet music and continued playing, his smiling face showing no special emotions.

However, deep down, he still felt a discomfort that was hard to explain.

Everyone longed for sunshine, but someone as pure and clean as Xie Zheng was not something he could possess. He couldn’t always pretend to be the person the other liked. There were still many things he hadn’t done and he didn’t want to become a moth to the flame.

Before he could embrace the sunshine, he didn’t have the right to do so until he sent those people to hell. It would burn him.

Although he had already decided not to harm innocent people, he still wanted to preserve a glimmer of light. He didn’t want to lose himself in the process of seeking revenge and become the heartless enemy he hated.

It’s okay. He had overcome so many difficulties and pain before, he could do it.

…

There were only two days in a weekend.

Fang Ziyang seemed outgoing and cheerful, but he was actually lazy and liked to stay at home.

So he didn’t go out the whole weekend, staying at Xie Family Manor with Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu, focusing on monitoring the promotion of the beauty essence online and reviewing the sales reports from Dongsheng Pharmaceutical.

As they expected, the short advertisement live broadcast, which had only a few minutes of dialogue, created a huge response.

They say seeing is believing, and the audience had high trust in what they saw with their own eyes.

Fang Ziyang’s live broadcast didn’t use any filters and there were no editing issues or lags. It was a complete and unobstructed playback from all angles. There was no possibility of faking it.

Even if they couldn’t confirm the final results of using the beauty essence through the screen, the immediate detoxification effect was undoubtedly real!

In this day and age, who hadn’t read a few fantasy novels or watched a few fantasy TV dramas? Based on the situation during the live broadcast, the first thing that came to everyone’s mind was: Damn, is this the legendary purification and marrow-cleansing technique?

Even if it was out of curiosity, after the live broadcast ended, 90% of the netizens rushed to Dongsheng Pharmaceutical’s official website.

The remaining 10% stubbornly refused to believe that such a miraculous scientific research result was real. They insisted that it was a gimmick intentionally created by the company using magic tricks! They just didn’t believe it!

However, having 90% of the netizens attracted to Dongsheng Pharmaceutical’s official website was already enough.

As long as the feedback from the first batch of buyers came out, the product wouldn’t have any sales issues in the future.

And the first batch of netizens who flocked to the official website didn’t disappoint. Almost half of them placed an order after seeing the product information on the website, while the other half hesitated due to the price and waited for the experimental results from others. After all, they had been tormented by advertisements and their hearts were almost broken.

Fang Ziyang wasn’t surprised by this situation either. The selling price of the beauty essence was indeed not cheap.

In the advertisement, he showcased only one product from the beauty essence series, which consisted of different types such as Beauty Essence No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and so on, with varying effects and prices.

The one he presented in the live broadcast was the best one with immediate results, priced at 9,999 yuan per box.

It did sound frighteningly expensive, but a careful analysis of the costs revealed that the price was absolutely cost-effective.

Although he could provide the formula, it still required the efforts of the research team. All the ingredients used in the product were genuine Chinese medicinal materials, and the effectiveness of the product depended entirely on the age of those medicinal materials. The high cost naturally resulted in a high selling price.

For those who couldn’t afford the expensive one, they could choose the lower-priced options. However, the lower-priced products would take longer to show effects, and the final results would be slightly inferior.

When formulating the product series, they had already considered the economic capabilities of consumers at different levels.

On the official website, all the information about each product, including the expected time for results, was clearly stated. The government had also approved and completed all the necessary procedures, ensuring the quality.

Although some people criticized the prices online, many others had positive comments:

“Those who doubt the reasonable pricing obviously haven’t carefully read the product description. Although it’s a bit expensive, considering the raw materials and the final results matching the live broadcast, I believe it’s definitely worth the price… I’ve already ordered a box and will provide feedback.”

“Mama, do you know how I felt when I saw the prices on the official website? I suddenly felt so poor that I doubted my life…”

“9,999 yuan per box! Is this pricing really reasonable?”

“Is the product’s effect really as good as shown in the live broadcast? Will there be any side effects from the immediate results?”

“Why do I feel like it’s not real? That live broadcast must be fake. Can the Industrial and Commercial Bureau really turn a blind eye to such pricing?”

Many people criticized the prices, but there were also many positive comments.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

“The person upstairs is right. If the product’s effect is really the same as shown in the live broadcast, then the price is incredibly reasonable. Getting a whitening injection at a beauty salon costs several thousand yuan at the cheapest, and the results are still debatable.”

“9,999 yuan is the price of the most expensive one. If you can’t afford it, you can choose a cheaper option. It’s a series, right? The lower-priced products may take longer to show results and the final effect may be slightly inferior, but it’s similar to buying regular skincare products.”

“I checked, each product has been registered with the Industrial and Commercial Bureau, and the official health procedures have been completed.”

“I bought one for 1,999 yuan. It’s supposed to show results within two months. I’ll give it a try. After all, the effects in the live broadcast were amazing!”

“I also bought the 999 yuan one. It shows results in three months. My skin has been through so much. I’m willing to be a test subject for everyone.”

“I bought the 499 yuan one. Wait for me…”

Appearance is something that people of all ages and genders pay exceptional attention to, especially women. They can endure any amount of pain for the sake of beauty.

People are willing to go under the knife or get injections to modify their appearance, so when they see something that can change their skin with just a drink, the risk they’re taking seems much smaller compared to cosmetic procedures. If they don’t have the courage to try it, they might as well be dead for those who love beauty.

The beauty essence series had different price ranges.

On the day after the live broadcast, those who were both beauty-conscious and courageous enough chose the product that suited their financial capability.

On the third day, when customers in the same city as Jiangshi received the product and tried the ones with immediate effects, they shared videos of their experimental results through their Weibo and live streaming accounts.

This caused a real uproar and made the beauty essence completely viral on the internet.

One of the most impactful videos was shared by a female student from a university in Jiangshi.

Her name was Zhou Lingling, and her facial features were actually very good. She also maintained a hot figure. However, the only flaw was that she constantly suffered from acne on her face, and neither medicine nor cosmetic procedures could solve the problem…

Since middle school, Zhou Lingling had been subjected to sympathetic or mocking looks from her classmates and friends because of the acne on her face. The acne was like a nightmare that haunted her throughout her growth.

To get rid of the acne on her face, Zhou Lingling had gone to extremes.

After watching Fang Ziyang’s live broadcast, she thought that this beauty essence seemed like the purification and marrow-cleansing technique from the novels she had read. Her acne could be considered a toxin resulting from imbalanced hormone secretion, so it should fall within the range of treatment, right?

Whether it was exaggerated in the advertisement or not, as long as it had even a slight effect, it was worth buying!

Without any hesitation, Zhou Lingling immediately rushed to Dongsheng Pharmaceutical’s official website after closing the live broadcast and placed an order. The price and safety of the product were not even in her consideration.

As long as it could solve the acne on her face, she would even drink poison without changing her expression!

Thanks to the local express delivery service, she received the package the next day.

Although she was anxious and not afraid of any side effects, Zhou Lingling had high expectations for the product. She had been deceived enough by advertisements.

Instead of consuming the product right away, Zhou Lingling opened her own live streaming account and prepared for a live broadcast.

Since Fang Ziyang dared to do such a live broadcast advertisement, he must be prepared for more rigorous scrutiny from everyone. People couldn’t be easily fooled.

After explaining the situation to the few hundred fans in her live streaming room, Zhou Lingling courageously followed the instructions and drank a bottle right in front of the camera.

“You all must be familiar with the condition of my face, which has been troubled by acne since middle school. I’ve tried both Chinese and Western medicine, but nothing worked…”

“Do you know what nicknames I had? In middle school, they called me ‘Acne.’ In high school, they called me ‘Flower with Acne.’ In college, they were more subtle, at least from their perspective, the ‘Killer of Backs’ nickname made me feel like they were praising my figure…”

“I don’t expect this beauty essence to be as good as Fang Ziyang’s live broadcast, but as long as it has some effect, I have decided to become Fang Ziyang’s loyal fan! I will be a loyal customer of Dongsheng Pharmaceutical.”

With teary eyes, Zhou Lingling shared her experiences and expectations.

She had truly been driven crazy by the acne on her face. It was a disaster for someone who loved beauty like her.

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A car turned the corner and drove towards Yan Tong. Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice it until he was directly startled.

Fortunately, the car wasn’t going fast and managed to stop in time, avoiding an accident. However, it frightened Yan Tong to the point that his legs gave way, and he fell to the ground.

Then, a handsome man, as if radiating light, got out of the car and politely asked with concern, “Are you okay? Did you hit anything? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“Lu… Lu Yan…”

Yan Tong raised his head and saw the man’s appearance, his eyes widening in surprise!

**

Xie’s Manor.

Fang Ziyang ended the livestream and turned his head, only to see Xie Zheng, Tang Xun, and Rick standing at the entrance of the piano room, their expressions solemn.

Clearly the previous performance of “Abyss” not only shocked the viewers of the livestream but also deeply affected them, even with some advertisements to lighten the atmosphere, their mood couldn’t improve.

The piece “Abyss” had a firm determination, but the overall atmosphere was too dark and oppressive. It gave a feeling of struggling through a thorny path, drenched in blood, making it hard to breathe.

The emotions conveyed in the entire piece were extremely intense, and it couldn’t be written without personal experience.

So… what was he hiding in his heart, the innocent and obedient young man in their eyes? Were there still things in the Fang family that they hadn’t uncovered?

The three men were weighed down by heavy emotions.

Fang Ziyang could see it, but he didn’t plan to expose it. Instead, he playfully changed the topic and blinked mischievously.

“Brother Xie, Brother Xie, Brother Rick, was my advertisement impressive just now? I’m sure after tonight, the whole country will know about our company’s new product. Once the first product gains popularity, we won’t have to worry about promotion for the subsequent products. Do you want to praise me?”

His voice was lively, with no trace of sorrow or darkness.

If they hadn’t just heard the extremely breathtaking piano piece, Xie Zheng and the others might have believed that everything was peaceful.

But the more it seemed like this, the more uneasy the three men felt.

This uneasiness made Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu, who were still immersed in the joy of successfully advertising the company’s products, quickly detach from their emotions.

Zhou Jun signaled Zhao Jingyu with his eyes.

Zhao Jingyu immediately understood and spoke to Fang Ziyang, “Ziyang, did you really compose the piano piece you just played? It was so shocking and yet so sad. When did you write it? Why haven’t we heard you play it before?”

“Not only was ‘Abyss’ shocking, but it was also capable of making one’s soul tremble. Now that I think about it, I immediately feel a bit breathless.”

Upon hearing the question, Fang Ziyang maintained a smile.

He remained silent for a few seconds before continuing to smile and say, “I wrote it a long time ago, but I haven’t played it before because the piece isn’t finished yet. Today… it can only be considered a half-finished work.”

“This is only a half-finished piece?”

The faces of the three men changed slightly upon hearing his words.

The emotional repression revealed by just a half-finished piece was already suffocating. If it was a finished piece… they couldn’t even imagine.

Zhao Jingyu couldn’t contain his curiosity and was about to ask further.

But he was interrupted the next moment.

Fang Ziyang maintained his smile, looking charming, “The finished piece is already complete, but it’s not time to play it yet. Brothers, don’t worry, one day I will play it for you, and at that time, you must applaud for me.”

This clearly indicated that he didn’t want to say more.

Xie Zheng pursed his lips, his face cold.

Rick glanced at his friend and remained silent.

Tang Xun clenched his fists tightly, his heart aching. He hated himself for not discovering the truth earlier, so he didn’t know how his younger brother had been hurt to become like this right under his nose.

With great effort, Tang Xun suppressed his heartache. He knew Fang Ziyang was stubborn, so he forced a smile and said, “Okay, we will definitely applaud for you then. So, what piano piece are you preparing for the school performance? Make sure to choose a good one. The performance will also be live-streamed on the internet, and your uncle will come to see you.”

“Uncle? Lu… Lu Yan?”

Fang Ziyang paused upon hearing that.

Tang Xun nodded and smiled, “Yes, it’s Lu Yan, your uncle. He called me yesterday and said he just found out about the situation in the Fang family. He couldn’t reach you before because you changed your phone number. He’s flying back today and asked me to tell you that he will come to the university’s performance to watch your show.”

Grandpa Lu had a son and a daughter. His daughter was Lu Fei, and his son was Lu Yan.

Although they were siblings, Lu Yan was the youngest, and there was a considerable age difference between them. Lu Yan had just turned thirty this year.

Lu Yan didn’t inherit the family’s natural talent, but he inherited their good looks. Interested in acting, he entered the entertainment industry as an adult. With the family’s money, connections, and his exceptional appearance, he flourished in the entertainment industry and became one of the famous actors in the industry.

Last year, he successfully auditioned for a role in Hollywood, directly rising from the first-tier to the top-tier position. He was undoubtedly one of the most prominent stars in the entertainment industry in recent years.

When the Fang family encountered trouble, Lu Yan had already gone abroad to film, and it was reasonable for him not to come back according to everyone’s perception.

In his previous life, Fang Ziyang also believed that his uncle didn’t help him in time because he didn’t receive the news while abroad.

However, in this second life, he wouldn’t be so foolish and naive.

How could Lu Yan not have heard the news? It was clearly a deliberate disregard.

The film set was closed, but not a prison, and it wasn’t some signal-blocked mountainous area. In this day and age, with internet access on mobile phones, how could someone not know what was happening? Even if he unconsciously checked, the Fang family’s situation was so big at that time that it would have been trending on any browser.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Furthermore, Lu Yan is part of the entertainment industry, which values being well-informed about news the most. It’s absolutely impossible for him to stay offline for months.

So no matter how nice his words sound, it’s all intentional.

His brother didn’t notice when he received the call, but that’s because he didn’t think much about it, considering they were the only remaining family members. But upon closer thought, Lu Yan’s words were nothing more than empty talk.

In his previous life, although Lu Yan didn’t do anything substantial to harm him, he always stood by Yan Tong’s side, coldly observing all his pleas for help and the difficulties he faced. Lu Yan, as his little uncle, was not a good person.

Lu Yan was never close to him from childhood. He used to think that Lu Yan had a naturally cold personality, but the reality proved otherwise.

Lu Yan could be meticulous in caring for Yan Tong, but he was indifferent to his only family member. The reason was simply due to the absurd and extreme sense of injustice over the fact that his grandfather didn’t leave him the entire inheritance.

In the past, Lu Yan observed him indifferently, and now he wanted to be his little uncle. It was quite amusing.

But it was good that he came back. The more these people gathered, the more people he could catch in his net.

He had said that he wouldn’t spare anyone who had wronged him…

Fang Ziyang didn’t plan to reveal all of this to Tang Xun. He nodded happily, “Really? Uncle is coming to watch my performance? That’s great! I have to prepare well and not embarrass myself. Brother, please give me uncle’s phone number later. You’re busy usually, and it’s a bit inconvenient for you to always answer his calls for me.”

“Okay, I’ll give it to you later.”

Tang Xun nods. He doesn’t know much about Lu Yan, but seeing his little brother’s happiness, Lu Yan shouldn’t be as despicable as Fang Yandong.

No one notices anything strange about Fang Ziyang, except for Xie Zheng.

Although Xie Zheng now sees Fang Ziyang through a thick filter, he hasn’t completely lost his intelligence. Unlike when they first met and Xie Zheng saw Fang Ziyang’s obedient side, he has also seen Fang Ziyang’s aggressive side.

When Fang Ziyang was just reborn, his emotions were unstable, and the hatred and aggression emanating from him were intense and overwhelming. Even though Xie Zheng’s view of Fang Ziyang has changed, he can’t forget it.

So, he is quicker and more accurate in catching Fang Ziyang’s emotional fluctuations compared to others.

He is certain that there was a significant and intense emotional reaction when he heard Lu Yan’s name.

There is a very complicated secret in the young man’s heart, but he is completely unaware of it…

Xie Zheng feels somewhat stifled by this discovery.

Xie Zheng has a strong presence.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

So, even if he doesn’t speak out and remains silent in the corner, it’s hard not to notice his change in mood.

Especially when he constantly observes Fang Ziyang, since discovering Xie Zheng’s hidden thoughts about him, Fang Ziyang has also been observing Xie Zheng.

The more he observes, the more difficult Fang Ziyang finds it to bear his feelings towards Xie Zheng, and the more restless he becomes.

No one dislikes being liked by others, but he is genuinely afraid that the pureness of Xie Zheng’s feelings is something he can’t handle. So,

he wants to cut off these feelings from Xie Zheng as soon as possible, for both Xie Zheng’s sake and his own. It’s best to do it sooner rather than later.

Lu Yan has returned, and it’s time to start reeling in the net. This is the perfect opportunity.

Fang Ziyang casually flicks his fingers on the piano keys and then looks at Xie Zheng with a smile, saying, “Brother Xie, I feel like playing the piano for a while. Can you help me get a sheet music from my room? It’s on the third shelf of the bookcase, the handwritten one. The room is unlocked, so you can just go in.”

“Sure, but you can only play for half an hour. Get some rest early tonight.”

Xie Zheng is now willing to fulfill any request from Fang Ziyang, so getting something for him is no problem at all.

Tang Xun and Rick already know what Fang Ziyang is thinking.

Xie Zheng is a great candidate to be Fang Ziyang’s younger brother. Tang Xun naturally wouldn’t stop it and would be supportive if they have a connection.

But Tang Xun still ruffles Fang Ziyang’s hair and affectionately scolds him, “You’re so lazy. You even need someone to get something for you. It’s only because the boss has a good temper and spoils you more than I do. You can’t be this lazy in the future…”

“I got it, just this once… just this once…”

Fang Ziyang grins. He promises with his mouth, but his words have no credibility at all, showing his youthful nature.

Seeing this, Tang Xun’s indulgent smile grows even more, and the gloom from the Abyss Piano Sonata he heard just now dissipates.

Xie Zheng listens to the laughter behind him and can’t help but raise the corners of his lips. The heaviness he felt just a moment ago also disappears.

Being the only one among the group who isn’t bossed around by the young man indicates that he holds a special position in his heart.

With a pleasant mood, Xie Zheng quickly enters Fang Ziyang’s room and finds the handwritten sheet music on the third shelf of the bookcase.

Due to the tightly packed books on the shelf, he exerts a little more force when taking it, causing a few books to accidentally fall down.

Xie Zheng quickly squats down to pick up the scattered books.

However, at that moment, he notices a notebook wrapped in other books, clearly meant to be concealed.

Due to the angle at which it fell, the notebook caught his attention…

“Why are there such detestable people in the world? If that’s the case, then let’s destroy everything even faster…”

“He’s done for… He’s over… He has entered my game… Dealing with them one by one is too troublesome… Let’s do it together next time… All neatly in order, that would be great.”

“Hehe, this person is really interesting today… If they don’t know their place, then I’ll compose a more perfect ending for them. Otherwise, it would be unfair to their beautiful expectations of me, right?”

“Once Pandora’s box is opened, nobody is allowed to shut it until the game is over!”

These fragmented words were spoken casually but carried an overwhelming sense of hatred and aggression.

They were grim and chilling to the core.

Xie Zheng looked at the beautiful handwriting, feeling a bit blank in his mind.

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In order to gain the favor of Xie Wenxu, Fang Qianhao, and other supporting male characters, Yan Tong had put in a lot of effort into how to attract them.

In the end, he concluded that it had to be perfection.

This perfection wasn’t the kind that everyone commonly understood, where everything was excellent. Instead, it meant that he would present himself in whatever way Xie Wenxu, Fang Qianhao, and others desired.

No matter what others thought, in the eyes of his chosen targets, he was the most perfect existence in the world. And to protect the ideal image of himself in their hearts, he was capable of doing anything.

Therefore, it could be said that Xie Wenxu and the others didn’t fall in love with Yan Tong as much as they fell in love with the illusion of their own dreams, which was why they repeatedly helped him as if under a spell.

However, once Yan Tong couldn’t maintain this “perfection” and his persona collapsed, his control over Xie Wenxu and the others would begin to diminish.

This was the current situation with Xie Wenxu.

The saying goes, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Previously, Yan Tong had been unattainable to him, and not being able to obtain him had been the best outcome. Now that he had obtained him, Xie Wenxu discovered that Yan Tong didn’t match his imagination, and naturally, their feelings began to encounter problems.

Especially since Xie Wenxu was not any less arrogant than Fang Qianhao.

Rather than saying that Xie Wenxu was angry and reignited his feelings for his old love, Yan Tong, it was more accurate to say that he was angry at Yan Tong’s deception.

Yan Tong was no longer perfect now; he had become dark and cunning. This contrasted greatly with the kind and gentle image Xie Wenxu had of him, making it difficult for Xie Wenxu to accept.

While Xie Wenxu appeared to be deep in affection, in reality, he was heartless. He would never truly realize his own mistakes; he would only find excuses that even he himself could be hypnotized into believing for each of his mistakes.

Just like when he cheated on Yan Tong, he felt that Fang Ziyang had become domineering, capricious, and foolish, which greatly disappointed him.

Now, Xie Wenxu was subconsciously hypnotizing himself, believing that the current terrible situation was all due to Yan Tong’s instigation. Although he wasn’t entirely wrong, he never considered that he himself had any issues.

“Xiao Tong, I really doubt if I ever truly knew you…”

Xie Wenxu felt anger and disappointment, suppressing his rage.

Yan Tong wasn’t a person with a good character to begin with.

The consecutive blows and frustrations he had endured during this period had pushed his emotions to the brink of eruption. Now, hearing the blaming tone in Xie Wenxu’s words, his anger flared up as well.

What did it mean to doubt if he ever truly knew him? How could Xie Wenxu have the audacity to say such words? He really wanted to ask Xie Wenxu this question!

He had always believed that Xie Wenxu was a deep and affectionate supporting male character. In the novel, Fang Ziyang was too harsh in rejecting Xie Wenxu. But now that he had gotten close to Xie Wenxu, he realized that Fang Ziyang’s rejection of Xie Wenxu was completely justified.

This so-called emotionally invested supporting male character was nothing more than a fickle scumbag!

He had easily played the role of understanding and considerate person, and the moment Fang Ziyang showed any flaw, he immediately turned his back on him, claiming that Fang Ziyang wasn’t attentive enough. And now that he saw Fang Ziyang’s excellence, he wavered again. Let it be known that they had just gotten engaged!

“Xie Wenxu, you say I’m malicious? Cunning? But how much better are you?!”

Yan Tong finally couldn’t hold back his anger and vented his frustration.

“Did I beg you to like me back then? Did I beg you to say those hurtful things about Fang Ziyang? It’s true that I had some feelings for you, but I told you many times that I only wanted to be friends…”

“Now that we’re together, it’s all because you pursued me relentlessly! You were the one who said you would love me for a lifetime, protect me for a lifetime. I was your true love. If it wasn’t for your passionate efforts, why would I have risked being labeled a homewrecker to be with you?”

“Are you planning to treat me the same way you treated Fang Ziyang back then? Ha, it’s not impossible, considering how crazy you were for Fang Ziyang. You truly are the most affectionate person in the world!”

Yan Tong mocked with a bitter smile.

Back then, he had been a damn idiot to believe that Xie Wenxu was affectionate! Fang Ziyang was such a smart person, and if Xie Wenxu had truly been affectionate, how could Fang Ziyang have abandoned their childhood friendship and broken up with Xie Wenxu?

The truth was directly shattered, and Xie Wenxu’s face instantly turned pale.

Yan Tong’s words reminded him of all the things he had done to Fang Ziyang, memories he had deliberately ignored during this period. They reminded him of how he had treated the person he once deeply loved with such despicable actions.

And now, it seemed like he was walking down the same path again.

Yan Tong didn’t have many virtues, but he was adept at understanding people’s hearts, especially those of men.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Seeing that Xie Wenxu was affected by his words, Yan Tong regained his confidence, suppressing his previous guilt.

He continued to speak, his angry expression turning into one of restrained sadness.

“Xie Wenxu, if it wasn’t for your fickleness, would I become like this? Do you know how much insecurity you’ve given me? Think about your actions during these days! How many times have you trampled on my dignity in public?”

“It’s you, it’s all because of you that I’ve become this jealous and malicious. During this time, I’ve been constantly worried that you would leave me one day, constantly worried that you would rekindle your old flame with Fang Ziyang…”

“I have nothing left; I only have you. I revealed my biggest secret to help you stabilize the mess left by Xie Zheng. You’ve done so much for me, but have I not shown any friendship towards you?”

“Xie Wenxu, I can do these things because I love you so damn much! I’ve given everything and stood by your side, but you keep wavering in the middle. Who are you to blame me… sob…”

After saying that, Yan Tong ran out of the door in tears.

Of course, he wasn’t really running away from home; he just needed to temporarily separate from Xie Wenxu. His image in Xie Wenxu’s eyes had begun to crumble, and given Xie Wenxu’s character, he wouldn’t tolerate his deception.

But he couldn’t afford to lose Xie Wenxu at this moment, so he had to find a way to salvage the situation.

Temporarily separating and calming down was the best choice. Distance could create beauty, and he could only rely on Xie Wenxu’s slow-wittedness to transition his persona.

Although he wasn’t perfect anymore, he could still be “affectionate”… With Xie Wenxu’s self-importance and indecisiveness, he still had a chance to turn things around.

And in fact, Yan Tong had a pretty accurate grasp of men’s mentality.

As he watched Yan Tong run off in tears, Xie Wenxu stood frozen in place, completely stunned by Yan Tong’s breakdown.

Yan Tong’s words kept replaying in his mind.

“Are you planning to treat me the same way you treated Fang Ziyang back then? Ha, it’s not impossible, considering how crazy you were for Fang Ziyang. You truly are the most affectionate person in the world!”

This mocking remark felt like a sharp knife piercing his chest, digging up the reality he had been avoiding all this time.

He was scum, a true scumbag.

He had once loved Fang Ziyang so intensely, yet he could abandon him just like that, inflicting such cruel pain.

And now, it seemed like he was following the same path, treating Yan Tong, who he now regarded as his true love, in the same way.

He had never seen how Fang Ziyang looked when he discovered the truth, his voice filled with anguish. But he could easily imagine how Fang Ziyang must have been more devastated than Yan Tong is now.

After all, he and Fang Ziyang had several years of history together.

In this moment, Xie Wenxu, who had never recognized his own mistakes, suddenly realized the truth.

The truly malicious person was him; the true scumbag was him. His biggest mistake was himself!

He had betrayed and hurt Ziyang, and now he was betraying and hurting Yan Tong…

What had he done?

Xie Wenxu lowered himself, hugging his head, unable to hold back his tears. His heart felt as if it had been ruthlessly stabbed and torn apart.

He remained in that spot, crouched down, not knowing how long he spent lost in his thoughts.

Finally, he took out his phone and made a call, his voice hoarse, “Hello, Uncle Cai, please contact the school for me. I don’t want to live on campus anymore…”

Xie Wenxu closed his eyes in pain, a tear rolling down from the corner of his eye.

He couldn’t continue like this.

If he carried on, Ziyang would look down on him even more.

…

Meanwhile…

Yan Tong ran out of Xie’s house, haphazardly hailed a taxi, and hurriedly left, not daring to stay at Xie’s house any longer.

He was worried that once Xie Wenxu regained his composure and grabbed him to question him, he wouldn’t be able to explain himself clearly.

He was truly panicked now. Fang Yandong and Fang Qianhao were both in prison, and he hadn’t had any contact with the other male supporting characters. Currently, Xie Wenxu was the only assistance he had. If anything happened to Xie Wenxu, his future would turn into a living hell.

He couldn’t understand why he had turned this good hand into such a mess!

Now, forget about reaching the pinnacle of life, he wasn’t even sure if he could maintain his current advantage!

After leaving Xie’s house, Yan Tong felt regret and remorse.

If he had known things would turn out like this, he wouldn’t have gotten together with Xie Wenxu. It would have been better to focus on keeping Fang Qianhao firmly by his side. After all, Fang Qianhao would never fall in love with Fang Ziyang, and they had a natural advantage due to their opposing backgrounds.

Xie Wenxu was just a fickle scumbag! He must have been out of his mind to have rushed into a relationship with Xie Wenxu!

Yan Tong walked aimlessly on the street, his mind filled with confusion.

And at that moment…

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Clearly, the viewers in the livestream room didn’t take Fang Ziyang’s words seriously. They truly thought he was telling a joke and expressed their genuine amusement.

Fang Ziyang wasn’t surprised. Without further ado, he beckoned to Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu, who were already prepared by his side.

Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu had been anxiously waiting and, upon seeing him gesture, they finally got their chance. Both of them were a little excited as they ran over, each holding an exquisitely packaged gift box.

Fang Ziyang invited them to sit down and made sure both of them were in the frame before opening the gift box and taking out a bottle packaged like an oral solution.

Without wasting any words, he smiled at the livestream viewers and said, “The advertisement I’m giving you is, of course, a product from my own company. What I have in my hand right now is the latest product developed by Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals. It’s called ‘Beauty Elixir.’ Although the name is a bit tacky, the effects are real. I won’t waste time on other nonsense. Let’s move straight to the experiment… Today, I’m here to pull a ‘Wang Po sells melons, boasting about his own wares.'”

After speaking, Fang Ziyang disregarded the barrage that instantly started scrolling madly once again. He, along with Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu, each took a bottle of the Beauty Elixir and boldly drank it.

This directly stunned the livestream viewers for a moment before they finally reacted.

So, this was really an advertisement!

And they were personally trying the product, live!

The barrage in the livestream room exploded once again.

“Oh my god, is this for real? Fang Ziyang, are you really promoting the new product from Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals?”

“6666, as expected of our young master. Even when doing an advertisement, he’s so confident and even tries the product himself. I salute him!”

“Although there wasn’t a beautifully crafted advertisement, this ad got my blood pumping, hahaha…”

“So, when the young master mentioned the experiment, does that mean this beauty elixir works instantly? The speed is so fast, it feels like magic…”

Although the viewers in the livestream room realized that Fang Ziyang was actually doing an advertisement, they didn’t show any resentment. On the contrary, they couldn’t help but grow fond of it and laughed.

In an era where advertisements have become increasingly frequent and intrusive, most people have developed immunity to advertisements, and they are well aware of the deceptive tactics used in many ads.

Many celebrities and internet personalities would accept advertisement deals as long as the money was right, without caring about the quality of the product. They wouldn’t be foolish enough to try the product themselves before endorsing it.

Especially in the case of health supplements, people generally have a skeptical attitude, as the effects are often not noticeable in the short term, and the long-term effects depend on one’s perception. These products often manipulate people into spending money.

Although there are people like Fang Ziyang who conduct live experiments and assure everyone of the quality and safety of the products, it’s clear that Fang Ziyang’s intentions go beyond simply guaranteeing health and safety.

Just now, he used the phrase “let’s move straight to the experiment,” which, if understood correctly, means that this product shows immediate results.

This is definitely something worth looking forward to!

And Fang Ziyang did indeed have that intention.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

The beauty elixir currently introduced by Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals should actually be called “Physical Nutrition Liquid.” It is a common daily health beverage in the interstellar era, just like the milk people consume daily, providing nutritional support, detoxification, and improving physical conditions.

The finished product developed by Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals might not have as remarkable effects as described, but through experiments, it has been proven that this beauty elixir effectively removes toxins and impurities from the body, to some extent improving the health of the skin, organs, and more, leading to noticeable cosmetic effects.

Moreover, the results are achieved incredibly fast, which is truly miraculous for the current era.

As expected, ten minutes later, Fang Ziyang, Zhou Jun, and Zhao Jingyu began to show reactions in their bodies.

Under the watchful eyes of all the livestream viewers, a layer of black liquid slowly appeared on their exposed skin. When they wiped it off with wet tissues, their skin looked significantly better than before, with visible changes.

It was like scenes from a fantasy TV drama!

“Oh my god, this is special effects, right? It must be special effects! Or maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me. It’s exactly like the novels, where they consume some miraculous pill!”

“Is this the legendary marrow-cleansing elixir? Please tell me I’m not dreaming…”

“My mom asked me why I was kneeling while watching the livestream. I want to tell her that from today onwards, we’re entering an era of spiritual recovery. The marrow-cleansing elixir, oh no, the marrow-cleansing liquid has arrived!”

“Ah, is this for real? Can you really buy this product with money? Wait for me, I’ll go sell everything I have!”

No glamorous advertising campaign can compare to what is witnessed with one’s own eyes.

The mind-blowing and fantastical scene ignited the frenzy of the entire livestream room. The number of viewers increased exponentially.

The impact of the visuals was beyond imagination.

Upon seeing this situation, Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu couldn’t help but wear broad smiles. They knew the reactions of the crowd when they saw the experimental effects were no different from those of screaming fans.

Normally, new products of the company would be promoted through celebrity endorsements.

However, due to the astonishing effects of the beauty elixir and the opportunity for such an attention-grabbing livestream, all the shareholders, including Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu, unanimously decided to showcase the product in the livestream. There was no need to spend money on endorsements with celebrities!

“This is our first time doing a livestream product promotion, so I won’t say much. You can see the effects for yourselves. If you’re interested in our company’s product, visit our official website for more information and to make a purchase. Currently, this product is only available for sale on the official website of Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals. To ensure after-sales service and prevent the circulation of counterfeit products, purchasing requires registration and verification of identity.”

“With that, today’s livestream comes to an end. See you next time.”

Fang Ziyang didn’t continue with any further sales pitch. He smiled and ended the livestream.

With the mind-blowing visuals they had just witnessed, there was no need for him to say anything else. The enthusiasm of the viewers had already reached its peak, and the publicity effect was off the charts.

Nothing can compare to word-of-mouth and actual results.

From this day forward, he would bring a whirlwind of change to this country and the world.

…

As Fang Ziyang’s livestream ended, the entire internet in Huaguo (China) once again erupted, not because of a person, but because of a product.

At the same time, Xie Wenxu, who had finished watching the livestream, put down his tablet with a gloomy expression and turned to Yan Tong, whose face was as pale as Wang Yang’s.

“Is the person in that recording you?”

Xie Wenxu couldn’t describe his emotions at this moment. His mind felt as if it was being burned by fire, causing him great discomfort.

Although the voice in the recording had undergone significant alteration and disguise, his intuition told him that the person in the recording was undoubtedly Yan Tong.

He looked at Yan Tong, his voice unable to conceal his anger. “Although the voice in the recording was heavily disguised, I’m too familiar with your voice. And among Fang Ziyang’s enemies, you are the one with the biggest grudge against him… Why did you do this? Do you know what consequences this will bring to Ziyang?!”

Xie Wenxu couldn’t believe the reality in front of him. He never expected Yan Tong, who had always been kind and understanding, to do such a despicable thing behind his back.

If Fang Ziyang’s piano skills weren’t excellent, if he couldn’t demonstrate a significant gap compared to his peers, Xie Wenxu could easily imagine the scene where Fang Ziyang would face contempt and isolation, just like before.

A seemingly small rumor could have such a malicious impact!

Yan Tong was completely dumbfounded at this moment.

Being someone who had no understanding of the capabilities of tech geniuses, he couldn’t fathom the fact that his phone had actually been monitored. Wasn’t this something that only happened in exaggerated spy movies? How could it happen in reality?

Especially the person who had been observing him from behind and was helping Fang Ziyang, just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine!

Facing Xie Wenxu’s dark expression, he couldn’t help but tremble and feel a mixture of fear and remorse.

“N-No, that’s not it. Wenxu, listen to me. I-I didn’t intend to harm him. I was just jealous for a moment, sob… Recently, you’ve been becoming more distant from me, always going to see Fang Ziyang. I was genuinely scared, scared that you would leave me, so I impulsively sought someone to sabotage him…”

“Sob… I really didn’t mean to harm him. I just wanted him to be exposed for his lies, so that you wouldn’t look at him anymore. Wenxu, you used to like him so much, I was genuinely scared.”

Yan Tong’s eyes turned red as he burst into tears.

Other than these explanations, he couldn’t find any other reasons. The evidence was right in front of Xie Wenxu, and there was no way for him to escape from this situation!

Originally, he didn’t want to personally get involved, but Fang Yandong and Fang Qianhao had been affected one after another, and Xie Wenxu still had lingering feelings for Fang Ziyang. He couldn’t find anyone else reliable to do this, so he had to do it himself.

But who would have expected that he would be so unlucky as to be monitored!

Could it be that Fang Ziyang’s halo was so powerful? To this extent that it could attract such terrifying figures with ulterior motives?!

Normally, when Yan Tong cried like this, Xie Wenxu would immediately feel distressed and put everything aside.

However, recently, Xie Wenxu had reflected on himself multiple times and noticed that he didn’t feel as sympathetic as before when he saw Yan Tong crying like this.

He even felt that Yan Tong’s current crying and explanations had an indescribable sense of falseness, a hint of deceit.

“Scared that I would leave you? Even if you were scared that I would leave, you shouldn’t have done something like this!”

“I admit that I’ve been influenced by certain things recently, and my state of mind hasn’t been great. But couldn’t you have just talked to me directly about any issues? Yan Tong, I have done more for you than I have for Fang Ziyang. Is my love for you really so untrustworthy that you have to resort to such methods to deal with a romantic rival and keep me with you?”

“Yan Tong, I really doubt if I ever truly knew you.”

Xie Wenxu’s breath became heavy, and anger surged within him.

Today, he suddenly realized that some things weren’t as he had imagined.

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Although non-musical viewers are the fairest judges, it can still be challenging for ordinary viewers to evaluate when the difference in musical skill is not particularly significant. People are often influenced by the pianist’s appearance, personality, reputation, and other factors, which can affect their judgment.

However, since Fang Ziyang dared to livestream such a challenge, it naturally meant that he had great confidence in his abilities.

Among his peers at the moment, he could guarantee that no one surpasses him by more than a handful, and even within that range, it would be a worldwide comparison. After all, he had lived two lifetimes, and both his experiences and talents were perfectly combined. Compared to his physically-aged peers, he possessed too many hidden advantages, allowing him to create a significant gap.

Indeed, “The Abyss” is a piano piece he composed, but not recently. He created it in his previous life.

Back then, too many terrible things happened. From being expelled from the Fang family to his death, he lived in darkness and gloom during those ten years. Endless insults and disdain prevented him from living openly in the sunlight like a normal person. He didn’t dare to casually interact with others and could only cautiously hide behind the scenes.

Every day, apart from plotting revenge and researching, his only entertainment was playing piano. Through music, he found relief from stress and tension.

Fang Ziyang’s slender and fair fingers danced on the piano keys, flowing like an art form.

When the first note resounded, the audience in the livestream room was pulled into the world of music, completely immersed in it.

Although his previous life was filled with darkness and pain, he never avoided or feared recalling those memories. They were all lessons and warnings, reminding him how he became excellent and acquainted with darkness.

In order to completely emerge from these shadows, he must personally shatter all of his enemies.

What does it matter if his father and elder brother dislike him?

What about Xie Wenxu’s betrayal?

And what does his uncle’s indifference count for?

When he becomes strong and resilient enough, nothing can harm him. Even if he walks through the abyss and faces thorns along the way, as long as he perseveres until the end, what’s so remarkable about it?

Fang Ziyang’s composition “The Abyss” is filled with a dark style that resonates with the soul and invokes fear of the endless abyss.

But once the emotions are completely stirred, people discover an indescribable determination and hope within the fear and anxiety. It’s as if there is always a ray of sunshine guiding them forward in despair, firmly propelling them ahead.

A soul-piercing sound.

When the last piano note fades away.

Wang Jiajia knows she has lost, and lost miserably.

However, excitement fills her face. “I concede. I admit defeat wholeheartedly. Did you really compose ‘The Abyss’? Can I learn it? I want to use it for competitions.”

Wang Jiajia is incredibly excited. Among her peers in China, there are only a few who excel in piano skills, and she hasn’t found a new rival in a long time.

No, to be precise, Fang Ziyang can’t be considered her rival; he is her pursuit.

She can confidently say that Fang Ziyang’s piano piece is of a world-class level, both in terms of technique and depth.

“Let’s leave these matters for now and continue with the challenges. Let’s start with the second one… After all, I really want to make a living through my talent. I don’t want to rely on scandals to trend online. How can I promote the TV shows and movies I like if I’m constantly on the trending headlines? I’m someone who loves to watch dramas.”

Fang Ziyang smiles faintly, raising his hands in a straightforward manner.

The online viewers, who were just immersed in the musical atmosphere, burst into laughter again at his words.

“Haha, so our young master also likes to watch dramas? Suddenly, he seems more down-to-earth.”

“Actually, the young master wants to express that he doesn’t want to become the entertainment industry’s public enemy, right? As an amateur, our young master has a higher frequency of trending searches than actual celebrities. It attracts too much hatred.”

“Our young master’s will to survive is strong, hahaha…”

“Alright, let’s continue with the second challenge. Our young master is rarely generous like this, and today, I want to be fully entertained…”

The online viewers start to banter and call for the second challenger to join the livestream.

However, the second challenger quickly sends a golden bullet screen message in the livestream, indicating that they give up on the challenge. Anyone knowledgeable could discern Fang Ziyang’s skill level from before, and the second challenger had no intention of seeking humiliation.

With the second person giving up, only the third one remains.

After listening to “The Abyss,” Wang Yang knew he had no chance. He was inferior to Wang Jiajia, so how could he win against Fang Ziyang?

But the thought of even if he loses, there’s a consolation prize of one million, which is a huge temptation for an ordinary person like him.

Moreover, even if he can’t emotionally connect like Fang Ziyang, it doesn’t mean he lacks technical skills.

“The Shock” is a well-known piano piece in the music festival.

The characteristic of this piece is completely opposite to Wang Jiajia’s “To Conrad.” While playing “To Conrad” requires complex emotional involvement, “The Shock” demands rich piano techniques.

In the piano world, “The Shock” is considered the ultimate test of skill because if one’s level is not high enough, they won’t be able to play the entire piece.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Seeing Wang Yang appear, Fang Ziyang’s expression immediately became somewhat indifferent. “It’s not a matter of teaching, just exchanging skills. Your name is Wang Yang? Are you the piano heartthrob from Beijing Music Academy?”

“Yes, is there a problem?” Wang Yang didn’t understand the meaning behind Fang Ziyang’s sudden question.

Fang Ziyang revealed a mysterious smile.

“Well, it’s quite a coincidence. Yesterday, I received an anonymous file. Someone told me that my appearance on the trending searches was no accident, and someone intentionally targeted me. If I didn’t believe it, then I should wait until today to see if there’s anyone from Beijing Music Academy named Wang Yang challenging me…”

As he finished speaking.

Wang Yang’s face turned pale in the live video.

The barrage in the livestream room fell silent for a few seconds before rapidly filling the screen.

“What’s going on? Are we going to have another big revelation?”

“Indeed, our young master’s livestreams are never simple. It’s not his style to make such a fuss over a simple piano skills competition.”

“I love our young master’s straightforwardness. Who is daring to blacken our young master from behind?”

Accompanied by the frantic barrage, the number of viewers in the livestream room surged.

A massive influx of traffic overwhelmed the platform, and the platform director excitedly directed, “Quick, shut down all the low-traffic livestreams and maintain the server! Our platform’s traffic is going to explode again today, hahaha…”

Seeing the increase in viewers in the livestream room, Fang Ziyang is satisfied. Great, the crowd is finally gathering.

Then, he made a pained expression towards the livestream camera and said, “Although I can’t believe that my popularity is so poor, the facts are right in front of me, and I can no longer deceive myself. This is something from the anonymous file. There’s a recording on this USB drive. Let’s all have a listen.”

Saying that, Fang Ziyang inserted the USB drive into the slot on his phone, and everyone heard a voice deliberately altered and disguised to lower the tone:

“Wang Yang, right? The piano heartthrob from Beijing Music Academy… As long as you challenge Fang Ziyang and make him lose face and ruin his image in the livestream… If successful, I will give you five million and an opportunity for advanced studies at the Tower Nation Music Academy…”

“Don’t worry… nothing will happen. Fang Ziyang doesn’t have any exceptional piano skills… He’s just bluffing. With his family’s wealth and influence, can’t he find someone to perform for him?”

“…Rest assured, even if you lose, I’ll still give you one million.”

With just a few simple sentences, anyone could piece together the truth.

Speculation and discussion are one thing, but concrete evidence is another.

Many people could sense that Fang Ziyang was being targeted again, but when they saw the evidence confirming the truth, the viewers in the livestream instantly felt sympathy for Fang Ziyang and their anger towards the cunning person behind it reached its peak.

The person trying to bring down Fang Ziyang wasn’t just targeting him. They were disregarding all the netizens, using everyone as pawns, as mere monkeys to be toyed with!

No one likes being fooled. The netizens were infuriated, and the livestream room once again filled with furious barrage.

“Damn it, who is the one in the recording? They really think we’re monkeys, using us as pawns at their whim?”

“It’s a good thing I’ve learned my lesson and didn’t join the crowd in criticizing Fang Ziyang again…”

“Actually, I think Fang Ziyang is not bad. He doesn’t have any major flaws. Why do so many people keep picking on him?”

“Who is the mastermind behind the anonymous file and the recording? Please just expose the person behind the scenes.”

“I demand an exposé!”

“I demand an exposé, part 2!”

“I demand their ID card number!”

“Do you still want to challenge me?”

Fang Ziyang calmly looked at Wang Yang through the livestream.

Wang Yang’s face turned ashen, unable to utter a word. He panicked and immediately ended the livestream connection, leaving the livestream.

People in the arts world value integrity the most, and today, his exposure for being bought for money to target Fang Ziyang completely ruined his reputation!

However, Wang Yang’s panicked reaction confirmed Fang Ziyang’s claims from the anonymous file.

The viewers in the livestream room were furious, each barrage swearing to expose the cunning person behind it all! It was clear deception, treating the netizens as fools and igniting their anger.

Fang Ziyang watched the barrage scroll madly and the various angry curses for about five minutes before they gradually subsided.

Seeing that everyone had vented their emotions, he spoke again.

“Alright, I made everyone angry with my personal matters earlier, and I’m sincerely sorry. To make it up to you, I’ll tell you a joke next…”

Although the livestream viewers were angry that they had almost been fooled again, after a few minutes of venting, their emotions had improved significantly.

Hearing Fang Ziyang’s slightly teasing voice, the viewers holding their phones, computers, and tablets couldn’t help but smile, their attention shifted.

Fang Ziyang’s loyal fans were the first to respond.

“What kind of joke is it?”

“Hahaha, little master, are you about to make fun of someone again?”

“Tell us, I’m feeling so angry right now, I need something to lighten the mood.”

Fang Ziyang curled his lips. “The joke is… I’m going to give you all… an advertisement.”

The air suddenly became quiet.

After the barrage disappeared for a full minute—

“Hahaha, Fang Ziyang, are you trying to make me laugh to inherit my credit card debt?”

“Hahaha, baby, if you need money, just say so. I’ll send you gifts. Mom doesn’t need you to sell your face.”

“To be honest, which wealthy group and what product could actually invite my young master to do an advertisement?”

“Hahaha, no matter what the advertisement or product is, as long as it lets my young master appear, I will definitely open my wallet to support it.”

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On Saturday morning, Fang Ziyang saw that the netizens had made their choice and without saying much, he directly posted the challenge information in his live stream.

Then he went out for a morning jog, adjusting his state and preparing for the evening’s live stream battle.

In the afternoon, Li Xiao, Zhou Jun, and Zhao Jingyu rushed over.

Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu didn’t attend Qing University; they both went to Nan University. They could only meet on weekends, so they usually kept in touch through the internet and their phones.

This time, the two of them came not only to cheer him on but also to witness his live promotion.

Yes, promotion.

The new products from Dongsheng Pharmaceuticals had already been fully produced and packaged, and now it was time to start selling.

Originally, the company was contemplating its promotional strategy. But now, with the opportunity to broadcast live in front of a massive online audience, Fang Ziyang naturally wanted to seize it. That was part of his plan.

Saturday evening, 8 o’clock.

Fang Ziyang logged into the Orange Live streaming platform right on time.

First, he checked the number of viewers in the live stream room. 5 million, and the numbers were still skyrocketing.

The capacity of the live stream room had also been maximized by the Orange Live hosting team. Clearly, they were prepared after the previous bullying incident, which almost caused the server to crash. The Orange Live platform was ready for battle.

They had great confidence in Fang Ziyang’s ability to attract attention.

As soon as Fang Ziyang appeared in the live stream, he was greeted by his loyal fans.

“Ahh, Little Master, you finally decided to come online again? You only feed us once in a while, do you not feel guilty at all?”

“A few days of not seeing you, and you’re still so good-looking. I can’t understand why some people keep trying to bring down my baby. Baby, don’t worry, Mommy will defend you. Muah~”

“Wifey, I’m here to support you.”

“Get lost, people on top! Who’s your wifey? Clearly, he’s my husband! I want to see my husband perform his face-slapping act.”

“You mortals, how dare you claim my Little Master as your own? Scatter all of you! There are too many bullet comments, and I can’t see my Little Master’s face…”

Although these netizens were easily swayed, once they became diehard fans of someone, their sincerity and adorableness were off the charts.

In this life and the previous one, it was the first time that Fang Ziyang had such external support.

He couldn’t find the words to respond to these bullet comments for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions and recalling many things in an instant.

But it was only a momentary distraction, and soon he regained his composure, putting on a smile.

“Thank you all for your support. I didn’t expect to be attacked again. We don’t have much time, so let’s skip the small talk and get straight to it. Let our skills do the talking.”

However, what Fang Ziyang didn’t know was that some viewers noticed his brief distraction, and after the live stream, they captured screenshots and sparked another lively discussion online.

Now, after a brief greeting, Fang Ziyang dove straight into the main topic and immediately connected with the first challenger.

The other party was prepared and quickly joined the call. Soon, the live stream room was divided into two, and the other side of the video showed a girl dressed and with expressions that exuded a cool and elegant charm.

Fang Ziyang had heard of this girl before, as he was also a piano student and naturally knew a bit about talented individuals of his age group in the circle.

Moreover, this girl was acquainted with the music prodigy who lost the performance opportunity to Fang Ziyang. Her name was Wang Jiajia, and her family had a three-generation background in music. Currently, she was studying at Nan University and was a well-known “cold and elegant” beauty.

Coming to challenge Fang Ziyang, Wang Jiajia’s motive was purely out of curiosity.

She was childhood friends with the Music Prince who lost the performance opportunity to Fang Ziyang, and she knew his piano skills well. It could be said that he was quite outstanding among the young pianists in the country. Not only did he lose the performance opportunity to Fang Ziyang, but when she inquired about it, she found that he spoke highly of Fang Ziyang’s piano skills.

People who played in the field of arts were inevitably inclined to compare and compete. After all, Fang Ziyang had no reputation in the piano circle.

Wang Jiajia had a very direct personality, and when the video connected, she didn’t waste any words and went straight to the point.

“I’m friends with Liu Yu, the Music Prince who lost to you in the performance opportunity. He holds your piano skills in high regard, and I rarely hear him praise anyone in this regard. Our skills are similar, so I want to challenge you.”

“‘To Conrad,’ this is the piano piece I excel at. I will give it my all, so please don’t disappoint me.”

Although her tone was cool, Wang Jiajia’s attitude was respectful.

After speaking, she adjusted her camera and sat in front of the piano. After ten seconds of preparation, she began playing.

The title “To Conrad” might not be one of the top ten famous piano compositions, but it was still quite well-known.

In fact, to a certain extent, this piano piece was even more challenging to play than the world’s top ten famous compositions because it required a wealth of love experiences. Young people who lacked the necessary age and life experience couldn’t play it well.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

To better understand, let’s briefly explain the background of “To Conrad,” which might help everyone understand.

The composer of this piano piece was a female pianist from the 19th century. She wrote “To Conrad” for the man she loved the most, and it was also her final composition before her death.

The pianist’s love life was full of twists and turns. She had four boyfriends in her lifetime.

The first boyfriend was her classmate, and they were in love for many years. However, the man eventually betrayed her and got together with her best friend. Both her boyfriend and friend betrayed her.

Because of this, the pianist began to develop some aversion towards love. But in the end, she was moved by her second boyfriend’s perseverance, and they fell in love and got married.

However, little did she know that her second man was just a gold digger. Pursuing her was solely for her wealth, and after he obtained her family’s wealth, he abandoned her.

At this point, the pianist completely lost hope in love. She then began a destitute life and encountered her third man. She thought this would be her redemption, but it turned out to be another tragedy. Once again, she was deceived and hurt.

When she met her fourth man, the pianist turned dark and harbored intense resentment and disgust towards men.

However, this fourth man genuinely loved the female pianist and had been pursuing her relentlessly. However, the female pianist never responded to him. It wasn’t until he went to the battlefield due to war and came back with a pile of mementos and ashes that his comrades told the female pianist that his final words were that he loved her…

This news caused the female pianist to collapse on the spot.

She also loved Conrad, but she was afraid of being disappointed again.

Her life seemed like an absurd drama, as if she were a puppet played by the heavens. Endless despair, sorrow, resentment, love, regret, and remorse… all these emotions intertwined, leading to the creation of “To Conrad.”

Conrad.

That was the name of the fourth man.

After finishing writing this piano piece and playing it, the female pianist committed suicide in her home.

So, if one doesn’t have such profound experiences in love, it’s difficult to play “To Conrad” genuinely. Essentially, anyone who can play “To Conrad” well has experienced serious emotional trauma.

Therefore, in the piano world, this piece is also known as the music that no one wants to play.

However, Wang Jiajia, a girl who was not even twenty years old, managed to play “To Conrad,” and she played it exceptionally well.

Even Fang Ziyang’s diehard fans in the live stream room couldn’t help but admit that the piece she played was truly beautiful and moving.

In fact, true music appreciation doesn’t come from master experts but from ordinary people who don’t understand music at all. Because they don’t understand the technicalities of music, their immediate feelings after listening become the most accurate judgment of the music’s quality.

“I don’t understand music, but the way the young lady played made me want to cry. It reminded me of the jerk who dumped me! And also reminded me of the tenderness when my boyfriend tied my shoelaces…”

“I just looked up the background and difficulty of ‘To Conrad.’ The fact that the young lady can play it so well is amazing!”

“Wuwu, has the young lady experienced heartbreak? Otherwise, why is she so emotionally invested wuwu…”

The audience in the live stream room unanimously praised Wang Jiajia’s piano skills.

She definitely had the level to perform in a concert.

When Wang Jiajia snapped out of her musical emotions, Fang Ziyang generously praised her with an honest smile, “You have a high level of skill, and I can’t play this piece.”

“This is my specialty.”

Wang Jiajia accepted the praise modestly, nodding slightly, and waited for him to continue.

“But the piece I’m going to play, you also won’t be able to play.”

Fang Ziyang smiled faintly and didn’t say much.

After adjusting the camera angle, he sat down at the piano and lifted the piano lid.

However, with this casual movement, Fang Ziyang’s demeanor underwent a tremendous change in an instant.

Although he was still himself, the viewers in the live stream room suddenly seemed to see another person. The sunny young man with a gentle smile in the video suddenly appeared mature and experienced.

“The Abyss!”

When the first note of the piece rang out, everyone in the live stream room was stunned, as if their minds were suddenly drawn away.

Even Wang Jiajia’s cool expression immediately changed.

The piece Fang Ziyang chose, “The Abyss,” was not a world-famous composition. As he mentioned before, the viewers in the live stream room were the first audience for this piano piece because he composed it himself.

Just like the name of the piece, the inspiration for this piano composition came from the abyss-like experiences in his previous life.

He wasn’t arrogant, thinking that his composition skills could rival those of famous pianists. He simply wanted to show respect for Wang Jiajia. Since Wang Jiajia had challenged him with her best piece, he naturally had to present his own work that could best showcase his skills.

And among all his compositions, which one could better demonstrate his level and emotional investment than this one?

Music is an expression of emotions, and playing music that can touch people’s hearts is of the highest level.

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There is no evidence more reliable than speaking with strength.

Fang Ziyang’s pride and arrogance have always been based on his clear assessment of his own abilities. Every step he takes after his rebirth is calculated, considering the risks and gains before he acts.

After posting the Weibo message, the next day, it was Friday, the day the school had a break.

When Fang Ziyang returned to Xie Zheng’s small mansion and saw many workers coming and going in a lively manner, he became curious. “Uncle Wang, Aunt Fen, are we renovating the house or preparing for a banquet? Why is it so lively?”

Although he always felt awkward living in Xie Zheng’s house and felt out of place, since he had already moved in, Fang Ziyang didn’t continue to be pretentious or conflicted. He became very familiar and had a good relationship with Uncle Wang and Aunt Fen in just a few days.

Seeing him return, Uncle Wang and Aunt Fen were also delighted and quickly took credit for themselves.

“It’s renovation. Didn’t Young Master want to do a piano challenge on the live stream? Young Master instructed us to set up a piano room. We’ve already set up the room, and the customized piano that just arrived from abroad is also there. Would Young Master like to take a look now? The building materials and piano were personally selected by Young Master.”

It was not easy for Young Master to find someone he liked, so they had to assist in the process. Otherwise, when would they get to see the little Young Master?

“He personally selected them…”

Fang Ziyang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. He was definitely happy because it felt good to be cared for. However, he and Xie Zheng were destined to be people from two different worlds. The better Xie Zheng treated him now, the more disappointed he would be when he found out Fang Ziyang’s true identity in the future. Fang Ziyang couldn’t simply enjoy these good things; he really didn’t want Xie Zheng to dislike him in the future. But Xie Zheng was clearly developing feelings for the person Fang Ziyang was pretending to be.

It seemed that he had to find a way to handle Xie Zheng’s feelings for him. Otherwise, if this continued, it wouldn’t be good for either of them.

Taking a deep breath, Fang Ziyang looked at Aunt Fen and smiled sweetly. “Brother Xie has great taste, so I’m sure I’ll like what he chose. Aunt Fen, are you busy right now? If you’re not, could you help me buy some beef? My brother and Rick are coming back today, and I’ll cook tonight.”

“Not busy at all. Aunt Fen will go buy it right away. I didn’t expect Young Master Ziyang to be able to cook. That’s really great. Young Master Ziyang, do you know how to cook anything else? Our young master loves eating lamb. Would you like to cook some?” Aunt Fen happily ignored Fang Ziyang’s mention of other people and interpreted it as Young Master Ziyang wanting to personally cook for their young master.

Good-looking, excellent at studying, and even able to cook. His domestic skills weren’t bad either. They were a perfect match, and their young master had really good taste!

“…Aunt Fen, you can decide. I know how to cook ordinary home-cooked dishes.”

Fang Ziyang couldn’t bear to refuse the old lady and nodded with a dry smile.

With Aunt Fen’s assurance, she happily went to prepare the ingredients for the evening meal.

Uncle Wang, with a smiling face, arranged for the servants to clean the newly renovated piano room while taking out his phone and walking to a corner to call his young master.

“Hello, has he returned?”

On the other end, Xie Zheng answered the call quickly and immediately asked, clearly waiting for this report for a long time.

Uncle Wang was also very happy. “Young Master Ziyang has returned and really likes the arrangements made by Young Master. Just now, Young Master Ziyang even said he would cook for you himself. Young Master, please come back early today…”

Xie Zheng was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then couldn’t help sitting up straight. “He really wants to cook for me himself?”

“Of course, it’s true. Young Master has excellent taste.”

Uncle Wang was pleased and continued, “But I don’t think Young Master Ziyang has experienced much hardship before. If the food doesn’t suit your taste later, Young Master, please don’t show it, or it will affect Young Master Ziyang’s confidence.”

“Mhm.”

On the other end of the phone, Xie Zheng’s voice was filled with indescribable happiness.

Uncle Wang hung up the phone, his face beaming with a smile.

Fang Ziyang, who hadn’t returned to his room yet, watched Uncle Wang’s actions and felt even more uncomfortable.

After a long silence, he made a decision.

He went back to his room and took out his diary, starting to write…

It’s better not to give anyone any hope when there’s no result.

He really didn’t want to become worse. He didn’t want to.

…

Meanwhile, Fang Ziyang wasn’t too worried about the upcoming live stream battle; he had time to think about other things.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

However, outside, the internet buzzed with excitement because of his Weibo post.

In the past half year, Fang Ziyang’s name had constantly been in the spotlight. Every time he appeared, it would inevitably trigger a major online event. It had almost become a law of nature.

And this time was no exception.

Fang Ziyang’s Weibo post, “I dare you to challenge me,” was undeniably arrogant. Just by looking at it, one could tell that he was up to something. This familiar format, this familiar formula, wasn’t it the same declaration he used in the past to challenge his critics?

Looking at the accompanying image and recalling the recent rumors and doubts circulating online, it was clear to anyone that Fang Ziyang was responding to the controversy surrounding the performance lineup at Qing University.

Although people were unsure about Fang Ziyang’s piano skills, his strong attitude left them momentarily stunned.

The netizens who had previously expressed doubts couldn’t help but waver.

“Fang Ziyang is so confident. Could he really have some skill?”

“But his piano playing in the videos before was only average. Is he just bluffing, using a feigned display of strength?”

“If it’s a bluff, it’s quite risky. It’s easily exposed.”

“I find it strange. Why do you always question Fang Ziyang? Why can’t he excel in both academics and arts? You should also know about the things that happened in Fang Ziyang’s family before. If he showed exceptional talent, wouldn’t his scumbag father try to take advantage of him?”

“Exactly, why can’t people be exceptional in every aspect?”

“Why bother saying so much? If you’re dissatisfied, go challenge our young master. All you do is talk!”

Fang Ziyang had been targeted so many times online, but there were also many clever individuals who had long stopped buying into it.

As time passed, these netizens couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Fang Ziyang and became increasingly angry and resentful toward the mastermind behind all the chaos on the internet. Naturally, their hearts began to lean towards Fang Ziyang.

Moreover, now that Fang Ziyang had directly stated that he would accept challenges if anyone doubted him, didn’t that say something? It was pointless for individuals to spout off on the internet!

Of course, not everyone who doubted Fang Ziyang on the internet was simply talking nonsense. Some took practical action and prepared to challenge him in the upcoming live stream.

Among those who decided to take action was Wang Yang.

He was a senior student at the Beijing Conservatory of Music, majoring in piano. He had excellent skills and had won numerous awards in various piano competitions in China. He was also a popular figure at his school.

However, people who pursued art often faced many restrictions in their career after graduation, and it was difficult to achieve success. Without connections or resources, even with exceptional talent, it was not easy to make a breakthrough. Every year, many talented individuals graduated from their respective schools, but the number of those who truly achieved success could be counted on one’s fingers.

Therefore, with his graduation approaching next year, he was anxious about his future.

But just yesterday, he received a mysterious phone call.

The person on the other end told him that as long as he participated in the live stream and challenged Fang Ziyang, if he won, he would receive five million yuan and a scholarship for advanced studies at the Tawa Conservatory of Music. Even if he lost, he would still receive one million yuan as consolation.

Although it was somewhat strange, after careful consideration, he decided to accept the offer.

If he won the live stream challenge, he would gain both fame and fortune. Even if he lost, he would still receive one million yuan as consolation and have the opportunity to showcase his piano skills in front of a large audience. It was a win-win situation.

After hanging up the phone, he immediately ran to Fang Ziyang’s live stream to declare his challenge and send a private message.

Due to various reasons, Fang Ziyang couldn’t accept every challenge sent through private messages. So he directly posted the list of challengers and allowed the netizens to vote and choose. This avoided the accusation of him manipulating the selection process later, causing unnecessary trouble.

The netizens enjoyed watching the excitement and were highly engaged in the process.

Most of the names on the list were relatively well-known, with information readily available through searches on Baidu. Even netizens who didn’t understand piano could vote based on the information available. After all, if someone lacked skills, they wouldn’t dare to appear in the live stream.

In the end, with the active participation of netizens, the voting was completed in less than one night.

There were a total of three individuals, two of whom were talented young pianists with some online fame, while the other was Wang Yang, the school heartthrob of the music academy. They were around the same age as Fang Ziyang, which was considered fair.

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He felt that he had been completely insane back then. Even if he no longer had feelings for Fang Ziyang, this was still someone he had once passionately loved. He had almost given up his position as the heir to the family just for Fang Ziyang.

Even if they broke up, how could he have said those terrible things to Fang Ziyang, ending their engagement and relationship in such an embarrassing manner? It was like being possessed by a devil.

Fang Ziyang had never changed; he had always been confident and proud.

What changed was him. In the past, he despised Fang Ziyang’s flaws, which were actually the things he used to like about Fang Ziyang…

Xie Wenxu took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress his discomfort.

He couldn’t help but speak up, “Ziyang, it’s obvious that someone is targeting you. If you’re willing, I can help you find the mastermind behind the scenes. Their methods are so clumsy that we don’t even need to use other connections.”

As soon as he spoke, the dormitory fell silent.

Shi Liangchen had no reaction, while He Feijie couldn’t help but look between Xie Wenxu and Fang Ziyang with a gossiping gaze.

There was no choice. Their relationship was too complicated. He had initially thought that if the two of them were unlucky enough to be assigned to the same dormitory, it would surely be a battlefield filled with gunpowder. But who knew that not only did they not fight, but now it seemed like Xie Wenxu even had some intention of rekindling their past relationship…

But the problem was that Xie Wenxu had just agreed to marry Yan Tong, so what kind of divine drama was this? Even TV dramas wouldn’t dare to depict such a plot!

“Thanks, but I can handle it myself.”

Fang Ziyang smiled lightly and politely declined.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

There was no deliberate denial or any hint of anger or awkwardness when facing his former fiancé. It was just a sense of distance and politeness towards a stranger. Anyone could see that he had let go of everything from the past.

This should have been the best outcome, but it made Xie Wenxu even more uncomfortable. “But…”

“No buts,” Fang Ziyang interrupted him, speaking rationally. “Xie Wenxu, you also said that the methods used by the person behind this are too clumsy, and we don’t need to involve others. So I can handle it myself, and I have enough experience in dealing with this kind of thing. I appreciate your kindness, and if I really need help, I won’t hesitate to reach out to you. Thank you.”

His voice was calm, and his choice of words was very polite, but it conveyed a sense of determination.

It was a unique linguistic art of the Chinese people, a subtle way of rejecting someone politely. Though he said he didn’t mind, anyone could hear the underlying refusal.

At that moment, Xie Wenxu suddenly had a clear understanding.

He had truly lost Fang Ziyang because he no longer cared, no longer had any emotions, and had let go of everything that had happened. That’s why Fang Ziyang remained so calm when facing him…

“Alright, if you need anything, you can find me.” Xie Wenxu’s voice was dry as he forced a smile.

Fang Ziyang nodded.

He didn’t look at him anymore.

“So, how do you plan to handle this? If this matter continues to ferment on the internet for too long, it will not only damage your reputation but also have a significant impact on your brother’s company,” Shi Liangchen, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

Indeed, in this era of advanced internet connectivity, the influence of public opinion was growing stronger.

After all the previous incidents, Fang Ziyang’s reputation had become more than just personal. Although he wasn’t an employee or shareholder of New World Technology, his image could still impact the company.

Just like many shareholders who worry about their prodigal children causing trouble, the image of a shareholder’s relative could indirectly affect the company.

Moreover, even disregarding New World Technology, Fang Ziyang himself held positions as the legal representative and director of Dongsheng Pharmaceutical. The company was about to launch a new product and couldn’t afford any mishaps.

However…

“It’s okay, a couple of days won’t make a difference. Didn’t I say I have the most experience in dealing with this kind of thing? The darker, the healthier. Don’t worry about me, thank you.”

Fang Ziyang smiled slightly, not revealing his plans.

He believed that Shi Liangchen was unaware of the situation surrounding the performance list. But he wouldn’t overact and let his guard down with Shi Liangchen, thinking of him as a friend.

As long as Shi Liangchen treated Shi Meijing like a younger sister, the information from his side wouldn’t be able to stay confidential from Yan Tong’s side.

And this time, if nothing unexpected happened, it was definitely Yan Tong’s doing.

After all, he didn’t have any other enemies, and only someone who used such clumsy methods and liked to manipulate his reputation could be filtered out, leaving only Yan Tong.

Moreover, only Yan Tong would be so “familiar” with him, absolutely confident in his “average” piano skills, and reckless enough to cause such trouble.

However, Yan Tong’s vision was limited to his background. His supposedly perfect plans and methods could only fool ordinary people. Anyone with some insight in the upper circles could see that there were hidden forces behind it.

Xie Wenxu hadn’t seen it before, but that was because he was too deeply infatuated. Now that his mind was slightly clearer, it was easy to see the problem, right?

The other party only had these low-level tactics, nothing original.

But even though there was no originality, it was still an opportunity to leverage.

He had suffered so many times from Yan Tong in his previous life, and now he was more than capable of dealing with Yan Tong’s tactics. He even had room for counterattacks.

Let them curse, the more uproar the better.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Diehard fans were born from being abused. In order to protect their company from future public opinion attacks, he had to let the vast number of internet users deeply experience the concept of “truth is fragrance”!

…

Due to the controversy sparked by the announcement of the performance list, Fang Ziyang did not immediately respond or clarify, and on the same night, Fang Ziyang made phone calls to the authorities at Qing University and Xie Zheng, asking them not to rush to handle the situation and to let it ferment.

Of course, he had a longer conversation with Xie Zheng.

Dongsheng Pharmaceutical was his, so he could make decisions freely. But he had to explain his plans to Xie Zheng and obtain the approval and cooperation of the New World Technology’s board of directors.

However, the process was not difficult.

New World Technology currently had only three shareholders: Xie Zheng, Tang Xun, and Rick. Communication was very easy, and his method was indeed excellent.

After hearing his plan, Rick’s mouth fell open in the video call, looking at him with eyes filled with amazement.

“My dear Yangyang, are you really only eighteen? And have you never been involved in business before?”

Xie Zheng’s expression in the video call was full of appreciation.

Tang Xun felt proud.

The business tactics of this young man/brother were cunning and sophisticated, not inferior to those old foxes in the business world. It was truly surprising.

“Just to clarify, I’m turning nineteen soon, thank you…” Fang Ziyang smiled playfully, looking harmless.

In the video call, his smile was bright and dazzling.

Xie Zheng couldn’t help but raise the corners of his mouth, and a hint of a smile appeared on his stern and handsome face.

So adorable.

—

With the cooperation of the university and New World Technology, the online rumors were not suppressed, but rather fueled and spread at an unimaginable speed.

Regardless of how strong authoritarianism prevailed in private, in China, at least on the surface, such attitudes were highly disliked and rejected.

Therefore, the online discussions were extremely intense.

“Is it true? Is this kind of parachuting really happening so openly? I actually have a good impression of Fang Ziyang now, I really like his straightforward personality, he’s even a bit cute when he’s arrogant haha.”

“How is that possible? Although I admit that Fang Ziyang is not a useless idiot, he did achieve amazing results in the college entrance examination, but that doesn’t mean he’s equally outstanding in piano. You see, that music prince who agreed to participate in Qing University’s evening party registration comes from a musical family, and his specialty is piano. He even won national awards overseas…”

“Indeed, someone privately messaged a piano teacher who had previously taught Fang Ziyang and they tactfully expressed that Fang Ziyang’s piano skills were good but not outstanding.”

“There are some videos of Fang Ziyang from school and previous competitions still circulating on the internet, and his level is indeed average…”

“If that’s the case, I’m also disappointed in Xie Zheng and Tang Xun. Such blatant capital manipulation happening in a prestigious university like Qing University makes ordinary people lose hope in this world.”

“Fang Ziyang isn’t saying anything now, is he feeling guilty?”

“Wait a minute. Why do I feel like we’re being misled again? Have you all forgotten that this is how it started when Fang Ziyang was targeted before?”

“Actually… I wanted to say the same. My face is almost swollen from Fang Ziyang. In case you don’t know, I was one of the people he called out during the live broadcast of the bullying incident. I almost died laughing from being used as a weapon. I can’t believe I did something so foolish…”

“Me too, let’s wait and see. I don’t want to be proven wrong again.”

The situation on the internet was better than Fang Ziyang had imagined. Although there were many radical individuals who had their emotions stirred up, the language used was not as intense as before.

After all the times they were proven wrong by Fang Ziyang’s actions, a large portion of netizens started to think more critically.

Before any solid evidence or results were confirmed, the discussion remained relatively neutral.

Fang Ziyang was satisfied when he saw the online discussions. It proved that netizens weren’t easily manipulated fools; they became smarter after falling into too many traps.

He didn’t waste too much time.

Once the news about the evening party list had spread throughout the internet, he immediately updated a post on Weibo.

Troublemaker Little Lord V: Saturday night at 8 p.m., live battle for those who dare to challenge! [Accompanied by a picture of his hands on the piano.]

Netizens: …

Why does this Weibo post look so familiar?

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The freshman welcome party at Qing University was a highly anticipated event.

Since its establishment, it had gained considerable fame not only among universities but also among the general public.

The investment and liveliness of the entire event were no less than those of concerts by famous singers. Moreover, the student performers not only possessed exceptional talents but also had outstanding intellect, academic achievements, and attractive appearances, which presented a positive and vibrant image for the event. As a result, many major online platforms applied for the live broadcasting rights. Even the government’s official channel often reported on the impressive performances after the event.

The most interesting part of the party was the final segment, a highly passionate element where the university organized a “Intellectual Challenge” with students from other universities. It was a question-and-answer competition that showcased the students’ true abilities.

Such a segment was not necessarily beneficial for Qing University. If the students performed poorly and lost, it could tarnish the reputation of the school and contribute to the prestige of rival institutions.

However, the university president ultimately made the decision.

Although competition existed among the various universities, the ultimate goal of education was to nurture the next generation and cultivate talent for the country. If everyone remained complacent and comfortable within their own circles, how could education in Huaguo progress and develop?

Only through competition could progress be made.

The president’s decision was a risky one, but it turned out to be successful, earning praise from many scholars and ordinary people for such a high-level and profound ideology.

Other universities also agreed with this approach. Although the atmosphere during the final quiz of the welcome party was intense, in the end, everyone enjoyed themselves, indirectly promoting competition and efforts among the students, greatly improving the quality of Chinese university students in recent years.

Putting aside the lofty ideals for now.

For students in the midst of their passionate and youthful years, having such a highly anticipated stage where they could make a name for themselves ignited an unprecedented level of enthusiasm.

Many students who were confident in their talents and intellect had started preparing during their summer vacation before entering university.

During his summer break, Fang Ziyang didn’t specifically prepare for it, but it didn’t stop him from planning to participate in this event.

He wasn’t seeking fame or any other specific purpose; he simply wanted to experience the excitement. In his previous life, no matter how high his personal achievements were, he hadn’t been able to step foot on a university campus and experience the life within an ivory tower, which had always been his regret.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Since the final segment of the freshman welcome party involved a knowledge and intelligence quiz with students from other schools, besides talent, the school also focused on academic performance when selecting participants.

The selection process for the performance list after registration was extremely strict, and those without real talent wouldn’t even have their names considered.

Fang Ziyang wasn’t worried about his intelligence and knowledge reserves. As for his performance skills… speaking of which, he had to thank Fang Yandong.

In his previous life, in order to avoid arousing suspicion while pampering him, Fang Yandong had given him unlimited freedom in academic achievements but had been extremely strict in other aspects. He not only hired a dedicated etiquette teacher for him but also cultivated his skills in piano, painting, racing, and more, as long as they didn’t jeopardize the family business.

That was also the main reason why no one doubted Fang Yandong’s affection for him. If the child couldn’t perform well academically, they would cultivate other outstanding skills. This was a common path taken by wealthy families to deal with prodigal children.

Among all those skills, the one Fang Ziyang excelled at and mastered the most was playing the piano. The others were merely dabbling.

He loved computers, the feeling of tapping on the keyboard. Playing the piano gave him the illusion of composing intricate programs. Although this often led the piano teacher to say that he had rich technique but lacked emotions, the drawback of such evaluations no longer existed now.

With the experiences of his past life and his newfound understanding of life, he was capable of infusing profound emotions into a piece of music that touched people’s souls.

…

Fang Ziyang had great confidence in his abilities and made a clear assessment of himself.

So when the performance list was announced by the school, his name caused quite a stir.

With numerous students signing up for the performance, there were bound to be overlapping acts. In such cases, the school would naturally choose the ones with higher proficiency to maintain face.

Therefore, when Fang Ziyang chose the piano, he naturally encountered competition.

Among them was a male classmate from a musical family who was jokingly referred to as the “Music Prince.” He also participated in the registration.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Initially, everyone thought that if there was a piano performance, it would definitely be the Music Prince, considering his reputation. However, the final announcement of the list surprised everyone.

The fact that the school selected Fang Ziyang meant that his piano skills were even better than those of the Music Prince. This news was explosive and unexpected! Why hadn’t they heard that Fang Ziyang was so good at playing the piano before? Wasn’t it too obvious that he was parachuted onto the performance list due to sponsorship?

Even though the Music Prince openly stated that there was no problem with the list announcement and that his piano skills were indeed inferior to Fang Ziyang’s, people who loved to watch the commotion didn’t care. They liked to engage in these speculative discussions.

After all, the school kept the performers’ abilities confidential during the selection process, and everyone hadn’t witnessed Fang Ziyang’s current level. Based solely on the previous video footage, his piano skills were inferior to the Music Prince’s, so it was not surprising that people were discussing it.

After seeing the list announcement of the welcome party, He Feijie rushed back to the dormitory and couldn’t help but scream, “Fang Ziyang, you actually know how to play the piano? And you made it onto the performance list? Damn, how did you manage such a crazy thing? Although I choose to believe you as my roommate, everyone outside is saying that it’s a sponsored move. Don’t you need to do something to quell the rumors before it escalates online? Otherwise, things will get out of hand…”

Although they had a conflict on the first day of their encounter, He Feijie and Fang Ziyang had a little unpleasantness between them, but He Feijie was not one to hold grudges. Such incidents were commonplace in the world of second-generation wealthy kids. Besides, he didn’t know why Shi Liangchen caught Fang Ziyang’s attention. If he went to provoke someone backed by Fang Ziyang and got slapped in the face, wasn’t it his own fault? Fang Ziyang had a stronger background, so there was nothing embarrassing about it.

During the first week of school, He Feijie found that he actually got along quite well with Fang Ziyang. As long as they didn’t talk about grades, they had plenty of common topics. After all, Fang Ziyang used to be a playboy too!

So He Feijie quickly established a one-sided good relationship with Fang Ziyang. He not only proactively brought various snacks for Fang Ziyang but also helped tidy up the beds and tables. He would come back and share any gossip he heard from outside, never tiring of it.

Fang Ziyang didn’t have any major dislike towards him either.

Although He Feijie was arrogant and domineering, he wasn’t the type to act irrationally. Moreover, He Feijie’s lively personality was somewhat similar to Zhao Jingyu’s. It wasn’t bad to have a lively and well-informed roommate in the dormitory.

So, apart from Shi Liangchen, Fang Ziyang spoke the most with He Feijie in the dormitory.

As for Xie Wenxu, he was the one who had been betrayed and abandoned by Fang Ziyang. How could he reconcile with his former fiancé? It was already good enough that they didn’t fight every day; they simply had a cold relationship!

After the announcement of the performance list, there were strong doubts and criticisms directed towards Fang Ziyang.

He Feijie considered himself to have a good relationship with Fang Ziyang, so he rushed back to the dormitory to inform him as soon as he heard the news.

Upon hearing this, Fang Ziyang pointed to his laptop and shrugged. “Thanks, but it has already spread online.”

He Feijie was surprised. “What? So fast!”

His reaction was understandable. The situation escalated quickly.

As students of Qing University, they had just learned about the performance list and started discussing it. Within a day, it had already spread to the internet, and discussions had begun.

Ordinary people might not think much of it, but for those who had grown up in the complex and top-tier circles, they could immediately sense something unusual.

If nothing unexpected happened, someone was using this opportunity to target Fang Ziyang.

He Feijie was straightforward and blurted out his thoughts, “Fang Ziyang, someone clearly wants to target you!”

“I can see that. There’s nothing I can do about it. It’s just because I’m so unlikeable…” Fang Ziyang shrugged again, laughing as if it were an ordinary and insignificant matter in life.

His relaxed smile made the hearts of everyone in the dormitory feel as if the air had been sucked out, and the atmosphere became oppressive.

How many times had he experienced such situations to develop such a nonchalant attitude?

It was hard to count; there were too many. Over the years, there had been countless negative rumors and videos about Fang Ziyang on the internet, to the point that he wasn’t a celebrity, but his online popularity exceeded that of many celebrities!

Especially during the bullying videos, Fang Ziyang was mercilessly criticized by people across the country.

It was difficult to imagine how he managed to endure such difficult circumstances at the age of only eighteen and eventually counterattack alone. If it was anyone else, they would have either committed su*cide or fallen into depression.

Because he had been blackened so many times, he no longer cared.

He Feijie couldn’t help but try to curry favor, his eyes filled with anticipation and a desire to act like a spoiled child.

“Brother, from now on, you’re my big brother! High IQ, amazing talents, good looks, strong background, and your attitude is so good… I can’t take it anymore, Young Master Fang, if you don’t let me curry favor with you, I’ll go around spreading rumors that you snore in your sleep!”

“Go ahead, and it would be even better if you say I have smelly feet. Then I can completely rely on my talents to make a living.”

Fang Ziyang waved his hand nonchalantly, laughing confidently and flamboyantly.

This scene made Xie Wenxu’s heart ache once again.

Ever since he broke off the engagement with Fang Ziyang, he had experienced this feeling countless times upon seeing Fang Ziyang again.

Especially now, after sharing a dormitory with Fang Ziyang, this feeling became even more apparent. He realized that he had never truly understood Fang Ziyang. Many of his previous judgments had been too one-sided. He deeply regretted and doubted his previous hateful attitude towards Fang Ziyang.

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