Yet, looking left and right, it was just a plain thermos cup filled with goji berry tea. Su Ning even had a cup in front of him, already half-drunk.

“You smell like alcohol; did they force you to drink? Drink this and go rest. Otherwise, you’ll have a headache in the morning. It’s late, and I don’t feel comfortable sending you back like this. Tomorrow morning, I’ll arrange a car to take you back,” Su Ning explained. “Li Chu, I owe you an explanation for this incident. I’ll make it up to you.”

When he said this, his tone was resolute, as if he would genuinely follow through with his words.

Impossible. Who would ever speak up for him?

Especially Su Ning.

Li Chu’s heart jolted. He couldn’t even hide the surprise in his eyes as he looked up at Su Ning, finally noticing that what Su Ning held wasn’t a rope but a white bandage for dressing wounds. The first-aid kit lay on the coffee table.

So he took off his clothes to make it easier to bandage… wait, when did Su Ning get injured?

Looking closely, Li Chu saw that Su Ning had a thin, long wound on his arm, like it had been scraped by something.

Almost immediately, Li Chu thought of the bottle from earlier. Did Su Ning get hurt because he was trying to get him out?

Su Ning told him to go to sleep, but Li Chu didn’t move. He just sat there, holding the cup, as if he were too shocked by the injury, with his eyes wide and a hint of redness at the corners, looking even more like a startled rabbit.

Su Ning was about to remind him again to drink the tea, take the medicine, and then go to sleep, but Li Chu’s gaze shifted, and he finally spoke.

“Sorry, I was too careless; I didn’t even notice you were hurt, Young Master. Let me help you bandage it.”

I want to see if this dog is faking it, Li Chu thought viciously.

While speaking, he reached for the first-aid kit, but Su Ning stopped him, asking, “What about your injuries?”

Su Ning had seen people kicking him earlier; they must’ve given him a hard time before he arrived.

Li Chu froze before responding, “I’m fine; I dodged most of it. Just a few minor bruises.”

This part wasn’t much of a lie.

Before heading there tonight, Li Chu knew what was going to happen. He knew there were hidden cameras in the room, so he had to maintain the image of a fragile, determined white flower on the surface, all while scheming underneath.

He’d managed to avoid most of the kicks and shoves, just sustaining some bruising. The only serious hit, the one with the bottle, had been blocked by Su Ning. Compared to Su Ning, he was definitely more clear-headed now.

Su Ning replied, “Don’t lie to me. What happened to your knee?”

That kick had hit him square on the knee, where he already had old injuries. The bruise was especially obvious. Su Ning took out some ointment and carefully applied it to his knee, then placed a patch for bruises. He even double-checked to ensure there weren’t any more serious injuries before finally turning his back to let Li Chu handle his wound.

The injury was on Su Ning’s arm, making it difficult for him to treat it himself.

Li Chu stared at Su Ning’s back, going through the first-aid kit. His gaze lingered on the sharp scissors used to cut the bandage, but he ultimately picked up the disinfecting alcohol, cleaning the wound and applying medicine. He then carefully wrapped it with a bandage, his movements precise and practiced.

This guy was acting too strange tonight. He had to be cautious.

Su Ning only noticed that Li Chu’s hand trembled slightly, especially when applying the alcohol, causing Su Ning to break into a cold sweat from the sting.

Su Ning didn’t think much of it. He was just glad someone was there to help him bandage his wound; as long as it was done adequately, he didn’t mind the details.

Once Li Chu had finished treating the wound, Su Ning turned and asked, “How does a kid like you know how to do this?”

While packing up the first-aid kit, Li Chu explained softly, “I used to get hurt a lot practicing dance, so I learned to take care of myself over time. I never thought it would come in handy for you.”

“So my knee really isn’t a big deal; I don’t need to see a doctor.”

He looked a bit pale, but his face lit up naturally when he mentioned dance, giving Su Ning a shy smile.

Su Ning felt a stir in his heart and asked, “You and Zhou Chunqing…”

Li Chu’s hand froze, but he didn’t deny it. “You figured it out. We’re cousins. Our families used to be in business together and lived together. Last year, our family business went under, leaving us with a mountain of debt. The adults couldn’t handle it—some ran off, some even committed suicide. I was studying abroad, but I dropped out to come back when I heard the news.”

“My cousin got tricked by those people. To pay off the debt, she had no choice but to sign a long-term contract with Jiang Chenfeng’s studio. She’s suffered a lot, and the debt still isn’t paid. But she always told me not to follow her path.”

He said this casually, but it sounded even more tragic, especially after tonight’s events. He looked exactly like a pitiful protagonist who’d been wronged countless times in a novel.

“I will pay off the debt and free her, no matter what,” he added quietly to himself.

Su Ning, feeling a pang of sympathy, replied, “You can just call me by my name. No need to call me ‘Young Master’.”

It wasn’t like this was some feudal family where such titles were necessary.

But Li Chu blinked and asked, “Is it wrong? I heard the people at the company call you that. Can’t I call you that too?”

Su Ning was speechless for a moment. “…Whatever.”

The people at the company probably used the term mockingly, implying he only had his position because of his connections. But this kid couldn’t pick up on that.

Maybe he was too innocent. You could tell Zhou Chunqing had tried her best to protect him, so explaining it all would be pointless. Li Chu might not even understand.

“Go to sleep,” Su Ning urged. “The guest room is clean. Take whatever you need.”

Li Chu shook his head. “I don’t need anything.”

He seemed like he wanted to say more, but Su Ning didn’t give him the chance, escorting him firmly to the guest room and making sure he drank the warm goji tea meant to counteract the alcohol.

“How can you stay up so late at your age? Go to bed early.”

Su Ning chided him, even thoughtfully giving him an extra thick blanket, then closed the door without disturbing him further. It genuinely seemed like he only wanted Li Chu to get a good night’s sleep without a single inappropriate move.

Li Chu: …

He felt like his entire plan for the night had gone down the drain. Maybe Su Ning just wasn’t interested in his type, so he had to let it go.

He turned off the light and sat on the bed, his eyes open. After a while, he looked at his hands, which still smelled faintly of alcohol and blood despite washing them, and muttered, “The wound was real, not just an act.”

Li Chu frowned, his eyes darkening, and murmured, “Liar.”

“In this industry, who could be trusted? They were all liars.”

He kept reminding himself, but he still couldn’t sleep.

Su Ning’s coat lay on the sofa, a silent reminder, as if staring at him. He looked at it for a long time, then turned over, pretending it wasn’t there.

In the dark, he lay awake, his mind racing with scattered thoughts, unsettled.

He thought he’d be up all night, but perhaps due to the warm goji water Su Ning had given him or the softness of the luxurious bed, he drifted off in the quiet hours.

Su Ning stayed awake, contemplating.

Since he had entered this book’s world, he needed to figure out his situation fast, especially considering his understanding of the original plot was limited. While the host’s memories were intact, they might not be entirely reliable.

There was a spare phone in the house, which he quickly found. As soon as he turned it on, he was bombarded by notifications.

The phone’s first alert showed him today’s social media hot searches. He already knew he’d been scolded to the top of the trends. But even with his years of experience in the industry, the sight of the headlines still left him slightly stunned.

Three explosive tags topped the search: “Su Ning Attacks,” “Su Ning at the Night Club,” and “Su Ning Get Out of the Entertainment Industry.” This level of trending was usually reserved for the biggest celebrities, making him one of the few who enjoyed this “privilege.”

The “Su Ning Attacks” incident referred to Sang Le’s accident with a bone fracture. Guang Ying Entertainment’s PR team could have smoothed it over with an apology, explaining it was an accident during a game, especially since there was no direct evidence. But his public reputation was in ruins.

Tonight, things escalated because he was photographed at Diao Chun Jiang.

Whether it was Jiang Chenfeng or someone at the party, a few photos of him emerged, capturing his distinctive silhouette, height, and hairstyle, making it unmistakably him. In the midst of chaos surrounding the show, with Sang Le hospitalized, Su Ning was caught drinking at a bar.

To top it off, some official accounts on social media even reposted Su Ning’s old scandals, including rumors of skipping classes and almost failing to graduate, reckless driving—all typical playboy antics.

As Su Ning scrolled, he noticed something unusual: not one mention of Li Chu.

The few blurry photos taken seemed to come from surveillance footage. Due to the dim lighting, only Su Ning’s distinctive features were clear. Li Chu, hidden in the long coat and wearing plain clothes, was mostly shielded by Su Ning, and his slender frame and silent demeanor kept his presence ambiguous. No one even clarified his gender, leading people to assume Su Ning was involved in a casual fling.

Social media posts and hired online trolls avoided mentioning Li Chu or Diao Chun Jiang altogether.

After all, if Li Chu’s name came up, Jiang Chenfeng might get dragged into the mess, and he had his own reputation to protect. Targeting Su Ning was more convenient, and right now, any criticism of Su Ning was fair game.

But the excitement wasn’t over.

At this moment, Su Ning’s fiancé, Shen Huai, had come forward with a video statement on his official account.

Shen Huai, known as the nation’s beloved mentor and newly crowned Film Emperor, exuded a mature charm that made him more appealing than many trainees. He wasn’t exceptionally handsome, especially compared to Su Ning, but his gentle features gave him a scholarly look.

In the sea of accusations, Shen Huai stood up for Su Ning.

“I failed as a mentor. Many of the issues everyone has pointed out are indeed my fault, and as the host, I apologize for not noticing safety risks,” Shen Huai said. “I have been in touch with the program regarding Sang Le’s condition. We have a complete medical team on standby, and he received prompt care. The injury isn’t as severe as imagined, and he still has a chance to compete. I also suggest psychological counseling to prevent this from affecting the contestants’ future.”

“These contestants are all young. Mistakes are part of growing up, and criticism is necessary. But as a mentor who’s watched them progress and seen the efforts of the team, it’s heartbreaking. If possible, I hope the public can give us and the contestants another chance.”

“Once again, I apologize for the impact this has had on everyone.”

Shen Huai, with his sterling reputation and recent Film Emperor win, quickly garnered widespread support. His video sparked a flood of sympathy from fans.

“Our poor mentor shouldn’t have to apologize. He’s already done so much, and Su Ning doesn’t deserve it.”

“Guang Ying Entertainment must’ve asked Shen Huai’s company to cover for them. Look how exhausted he looks; he’s probably still handling issues at the training camp and even blames himself.”

“This isn’t Shen Huai’s fault!”

As for Su Ning, he remained expressionless after watching it.

A velvet knife—perfectly designed to cut down an arrogant fool.

Shen Huai had always been kind to him, even indulgent. His gentle persona had been firmly established. Su Ning could see the caring messages Shen Huai had sent: “Don’t overthink it. Get some rest, and I’ll talk to Uncle Su about how to handle it.”

“I know you’re not that kind of person.”

“The public will forgive you.”

If the original host had seen these, he would’ve handed his heart over. But Su Ning was unaffected. He rubbed his nose, feeling as if he could smell the faint scent of tea through the screen.

It wasn’t that he wanted to think the worst of people. After years in the industry, he’d seen countless tricksters.

The result? After Shen Huai’s video, “Heartache for Shen Huai” became a trending hashtag, nestled among Su Ning’s three negative tags, filled with glowing comments about Shen Huai.

Being able to maintain a spotless image amid Su Ning’s scandals was no small feat.