At the time, amidst all the various exposes, there were indeed pictures showing that the safety ropes had been partially cut. These photos served to prove that the program team hadn’t failed to provide adequate safety measures—it was someone deliberately sabotaging them.

Back then, Su Ning was painted as the malicious mastermind. But now, with the tables turned, there seemed to be a bit of reasoning to his side of the story.

A mini-game on a talent show wasn’t inherently dangerous, especially since it was a competitive, head-to-head format. The trainees pushing each other on an inflatable platform was just part of the usual fun. If the ropes hadn’t snapped, Sang Le wouldn’t have fallen at all.

Previously, some people had noticed this inconsistency, but their concerns were drowned out by overwhelming outrage. Even those who brought it up were shouted down. But now that Su Ning had promised to withdraw from the competition during the live broadcast, his explanation didn’t convince everyone, but at least some were willing to listen.

At this point, Su Ning made his position on the matter clear.

“For Sang Le, I acknowledge that I caused him harm. Therefore, according to the rules, withdrawing from the competition and apologizing to him, as well as providing compensation, is what I should do. Guang Ying Entertainment will work with the program team to ensure that he can participate in the competition in the best condition possible and to ensure the finals proceed smoothly. I ask everyone to supervise this process.”

Reporters crowded in, their microphones almost poking into his face, and their questions grew bolder: “Does Guang Ying Entertainment agree with this decision? We’ve heard conflicting reports.”

“My family has indeed struggled with this issue, even deliberating right up until this live broadcast,” Su Ning said. “But Guang Ying Entertainment is a company with principles, and Idol Star Map is a show that respects dreams and all its trainees. I believe this press conference was arranged by the company to give me a chance to properly apologize to everyone. My personal mistake has implicated both the company and the program team, and for that, I feel deeply sorry.”

While speaking these words, he maintained a calm command over the scene, handling it all with practiced ease.

“The principle that character comes before talent is something the senior members of Guang Ying Entertainment and the show’s directors, being of the older generation, have always adhered to. They reminded me of this, preventing me from continuing down the wrong path. This misstep of mine needed to be corrected under public scrutiny to guide me back to the right path.”

“My personal mistakes will be borne by me alone. The show will proceed as planned. Regarding my withdrawal and the adjustments to the competition format due to my absence, as well as Sang Le’s injury, the program team will issue a relevant statement soon to minimize the impact.”

“I wish the other trainees a bright future and hope that everyone can learn from my example—don’t make one mistake after another.”

He shouldered all the blame squarely and even bowed deeply toward the cameras.

As he straightened up, Su Ning’s gaze swept past the many cameras and reporters, landing on Shen Mingzheng standing in the back of the crowd, silently watching him.

He’s still here?

From Shen Mingzheng’s detached demeanor in the meeting room earlier, Su Ning had assumed the young Shen was indifferent to his fate and had only come to this press conference reluctantly under the program’s insistence. But now, Shen Mingzheng’s gaze was different, intense in a way Su Ning hadn’t noticed before.

However, the swarming media quickly blocked his view, leaving him no chance to approach Shen Mingzheng directly.

Once the live broadcast ended, the assistant director of Idol Star Map was left dumbfounded backstage. Turning to Su Hongda, he asked, “Wait a minute. Adjustments to the finals’ format? Did we discuss this before?”

“How would I know?” Su Hongda was equally stunned. “And you wouldn’t let me yank the microphone! Now look what’s happened!”

In truth, Su Ning’s performance had tripled the live stream’s viewer count, which continued to climb steadily. No one dared pull the microphone away now, and certainly, no one tried to stop the press.

Naturally, the public wasn’t ready to forgive him so easily. He continued to face scorn on trending searches, with accusations like “just excuses,” “all talk, no action,” and “apology not accepted” flooding in.

But Su Ning’s decision to retreat had an air of calculation. Some started to notice something amiss. Even marketing accounts that had confidently declared Su Ning’s attempts to feign innocence now quietly deleted their previous posts, retreating into silence.

This also placed Shen Huai in an awkward position.

“Oh, so Guang Ying Entertainment hasn’t done anything to Shen Huai, the Film Emperor? Then why were they saying he was being coerced before?”

“Right? Yesterday, Shen Huai even trended because people were worried about him. But looking at it now, it seems strange. First, he pinned the blame for the fall on Su Ning without knowing the facts, then presumptuously advocated for giving him a chance. The situation clearly required Su Ning to withdraw and face consequences. What exactly was he protecting?”

“I think he just has a bit of a martyr complex. Yesterday, everyone was pitying him on the trending searches. I don’t get it. What’s there to pity about a big star? Why not pity yourselves instead?”

Even a national idol like Shen Huai wasn’t universally loved, and public criticism often turned into collective outbursts.

After the live broadcast, the flood of blind vitriol gradually shifted into more measured discussions. Some trending comments became surprisingly reasonable.

“Am I the only one curious about how the Idol Star Map finals will proceed now? Su Ning’s withdrawal leaves a gap, doesn’t it?”

“From what he said, it sounds like the schedule might be adjusted? Anyway, Su Ning is out of the picture. I don’t care about him anymore. I just hope my precious baby can compete properly without any more delays. Why hasn’t Idol Star Map 4 released a statement yet? I’m so anxious! I’m the King of Anxiety!”

The live broadcast had already gone on much longer than planned. When Su Ning finally stepped down from the stage, many reporters were still craning their necks, holding up microphones to ask more questions.

Backstage, however, his troubles were far from over.

The first to confront him was Shen Huai. His temper seemed to have slipped out of control, shattering his usual composed facade despite his best efforts to maintain it.

“Who told you to say those things?!” Shen Huai grabbed him, demanding, “Su Ning, do you even understand how much damage this has caused the program and the company? You’ve gone too far this time. A press conference is no place for this kind of recklessness!”

His righteous indignation might have intimidated a younger person, but Su Ning remained unfazed.

Shrugging, he replied, “But Teacher Shen, didn’t you just say you’d never get angry at me? Why are you breaking your promise?”

Shen Huai: “…”

He was at a loss for words.

Su Ning showed no sign of regret for what had transpired. This was the result of his careful deliberation.

Choosing to leave the industry outright wasn’t just about taking responsibility for the original owner’s mistakes—it was also a calculated move. From a seasoned manager’s perspective, Su Ning’s current body had little talent in the arts. Apart from a good-looking face, everything else was a liability. His singing and dancing were mediocre, and acting was out of the question. With his public reputation in ruins, forcing a career in the industry would only make him a reviled pretty face.

Besides, Su Ning had never aspired to be a front-facing star. He preferred to operate behind the scenes, where he could control everything. That was his comfort zone.

Standing here now, Su Ning knew he had to provide an explanation and a reasonable resolution for this incident.

Shen Huai hadn’t lied about the company’s challenges, which aligned with Su Ning’s inherited memories. Guang Ying Entertainment’s internal affairs were easy to uncover, and lies would be easily exposed. However, the details Shen Huai hadn’t mentioned were more critical.

For instance, if Su Ning were to debut, while it might help the talent management division, it would distance him further from Guang Ying Entertainment’s actual management. This would benefit Su Hongda greatly.

Managing a company and being an idol star were two completely separate paths. No one could balance both. Even if Su Ning became a top-tier celebrity, he would merely be a tool for Su Hongda. The true art of company management required years of accumulated experience. Owning shares wouldn’t change who truly called the shots at Guang Ying Entertainment.

Even Shen Huai himself was in a similar predicament.

Fans of Shen Huai often joked that if he failed as a star, he’d have to inherit the family business. But Su Ning knew that Shen Huai was far from the core of Shen Shi Media’s management.

A large portion of Shen Shi Media’s shares was controlled by the Shen family. Even Shen Huai’s father, Shen Ting, couldn’t act unilaterally. For example, Shen Mingzheng had been parachuted into the company, and no one dared object.

Though Shen Huai was Shen Ting’s only son, within the vast Shen family, he was just one of many descendants. His celebrity status meant little in the grand scheme of the Shen family, and even with his current stature, he hadn’t acquired substantial shares in Shen Shi Media.

Su Ning could tell Shen Huai disliked him, yet he still acted caring and gentle. In fact, Shen Huai valued and needed their engagement more than Su Ning did.

Perhaps Shen Huai had additional schemes in mind. The board member who suggested vote-buying might have been Shen Huai’s pawn. The way Shen Huai interrupted Su Ning’s objections earlier seemed calculated.

These deeper power struggles were buried beneath public opinion and emotional entanglements. Shen Huai hid them with warmth, but no one could see through them as clearly as Su Ning.

By stepping back from the spotlight, Su Ning not only provided the public with closure but also ensured that all matters related to the show remained under his control.

As for reputation? It didn’t matter to Su Ning.

“I really don’t want to be a celebrity anymore, Teacher Shen,” Su Ning said with a shake of his head, even sighing as though lamenting a lost opportunity. “After thinking it over, I realized it’s better to go back to being an heir.”

“Teacher Shen, unlike me, you don’t have any shares, so maybe you wouldn’t understand. But don’t worry, I don’t blame you.”

Shen Huai’s composed facade cracked again, his frustration nearly boiling over.

Su Ning spoke loudly enough for Shen Mingzheng to hear him clearly as he approached.

Shen Mingzheng’s expression shifted, and he scrutinized Su Ning from head to toe as if seeing him for the first time.

Meanwhile, the assistant director of Idol Star Map stormed in, looking flustered. He shouted, “Su Ning, about the competition schedule—”

Before he could finish, Su Ning, already prepared, cut him off. “Regarding the schedule, Guang Ying Entertainment has some thoughts. Could you please call Idol Star Map’s Chief Director, Chen Yuan? She wasn’t here today, but I assume she’ll hear about this soon.”

He knew the assistant director didn’t have the authority to make such decisions—it had to be Chen Yuan.

The assistant director’s gaze toward Su Ning had shifted. He nodded and moved aside to make the call but was stopped by Shen Mingzheng.

“No need to call,” Shen Mingzheng said, handing his phone to Su Ning. “I’ve already spoken to her.”

Their seamless coordination left Su Hongda, who was ready to explode, with no chance to intervene.