Chapter 92

After several days, the gossip post comparing an online store model to Ye Chen resurfaced. Not only did it resurface, but it was also highlighted and included as one of the many “dirt” posts in an annual exposé compilation on Weibo.

Due to its outrageous content, this post with the tag #Exposing Popular Celebrities, Reality Check, Breaking the Fourth Wall!# skyrocketed to the top of the trending list within half an hour, even surpassing news of Ye Chen joining Shen Mofeng’s studio. The post’s author was an entertainment gossip account that pieced together non-original content from anti-Ye Chen threads on an entertainment forum. Since the forum allowed anonymous posts, users were not accountable for their statements, leading to rampant rumors exaggerated for effect. The gossip account curated these claims one by one, making the post highly damaging at first glance.

[Dimensional Hammer #1]: Ye Chen illegally sold unregistered fake health supplements, exploiting terminally ill patients and profiting from their desperation!

This “hammer” included a comparison of photos showing half of the online model’s face against Ye Chen’s, company registration details, the store owner’s name matching Ye Chen’s personal assistant’s real name, and various dubious-looking health products.

[Dimensional Hammer #2]: Ye Chen is involved with both the “Holy Mother” Bai Lian sect leader Bi An’an and insists on queerbaiting by pretending to be in a same-sex relationship with a multi-billionaire Film Emperor for clout!

This “hammer” showed a few paparazzi shots of Ye Chen and Bi An’an appearing “intimate” on the set of 《Shallow Picking Light》, both wearing the same high-end brand item at different times, a blurry snapshot of Bi An’an outside Ye Chen’s home, and a timeline analysis of them leaving and arriving at the set on similar schedules.

The snapshot outside Ye Chen’s home was so blurry even hardcore Bi An’an fans couldn’t recognize her, but antis insisted it was her. As for the so-called “intimacy,” it was merely because they often spoke in close quarters so others wouldn’t overhear their conversation. The matching clothes? That was just Shen Mofeng feeling bad for Bi An’an’s overuse of budget online fashion and including a set for her when buying clothes for Ye Chen. As for their arrival times…

That was actually accurate; they did go farming together once or twice…

[Dimensional Hammer #3]: Ye Chen entered showbiz for love, pretending to be an affluent young master, but his true background—parents divorced, grew up poor, dropped out of high school—is now exposed. Despite no backing, he amassed wealth in just two years!

This “hammer” had the weakest evidence. The source claimed to be Ye Chen’s high school classmate but could only provide a class photo and keyboard-slam allegations about Ye Chen’s hardships—parents divorced for years, riding an old bike for three years, working illegal jobs during breaks—without concrete proof. Yet, this weak claim led to a long analysis connecting his works’ earnings and past rumors about his supposed multi-million-dollar property, steering public opinion toward the narrative of having a wealthy sponsor.

…

In this digital era, no trace escapes the sharp eyes of netizens, and even when evidence is scarce, antis are relentless in fabricating proof. Once a bag spills open, its contents scatter everywhere.

Ye Chen’s meteoric rise encroached on the space and resources of similar little fresh meat, fueling envy from rival fans. A faction of low-age fans and “girlfriend” fans of Shen Mofeng also resented Ye Chen, sourcing much of the dirt from a well-populated anti-fan group dedicated to digging up his negative press. Anything remotely unfavorable was seized upon like flies to blood.

The annual exposé triggered a frenzy online. Longtime antis and indifferent onlookers reveled in viciously mocking someone who had never harmed them.

[LOL, is this the ‘little prince’ YC fans keep hyping? Couldn’t even afford high school, hahaha!]

[Hahaha, selling counterfeit supplements? Desperate much?! If people died from those, would he be jailed for life? (Dreamy eyes)]

[Riding on top-tier fame while clutching onto Shen Mofeng’s leg for dear life, even while tied to Bi White Lotus^[1]White lotus- term referring to a woman/girl who puts on the persona of a sweet, pure and innocent lady but is actually just pretending and actually have an evil heart.. (Smile)]

True fans of Ye Chen, known as “mama fans,” were livid and ready to fight, clashing with antis. Some rational bystanders also pointed out inconsistencies in the smear campaign.

[? Purely a bystander here, genuinely curious—how did anyone even recognize Bi An’an in that blurry shot?]

“Starting off with a group photo, and the rest of the ‘revelations’ rely entirely on keyboard warriors…”

“Looking through it all, I’m just waiting for follow-ups on the first claim. The rest of the accusations don’t hold up. [eating popcorn]”

As soon as this post went viral, Shen Mofeng’s team caught wind of it. The PR team at the studio worked tirelessly to restore order, systematically dismantling the unfavorable rumors about Ye Chen. Meanwhile, Shen Mofeng was on back-to-back calls, directing his studio’s personnel with such intensity that he kicked and slammed around the room in frustration. The cabinet doors alone suffered three kicks while he paced during phone calls.

On Ye Chen’s end, he was also coordinating with Bai Ze to mount a counterattack. He had anticipated a day like this would come and had prepared accordingly. After all, walls can’t block whispers, and running both a store and a company was bound to attract attention eventually. With legitimate business licenses, top-notch product quality, and some exceptionally powerful connections, Ye Chen wasn’t just unafraid of being exposed—he was even planning to ride the wave of controversy to rake in a substantial amount of divine energy.

“Damn it…” Shen Mofeng muttered through gritted teeth after hanging up another call.

“Don’t be mad, Ge,” Ye Chen cheerfully sidled up to him, trying to lighten the mood. “It’s not like we can’t handle the PR. My skin’s thick, I don’t mind them yelling at me…”

Shen Mofeng’s heart ached for the young man in the eye of the storm. Pulling Ye Chen into a hug, he wanted to comfort him, but Ye Chen calmly raised his hand, brushing Shen Mofeng’s hair with a soothing tool.

“Just a few strokes, and your anger will disappear,” Ye Chen said, reciting his “calming mantra.” “Feeling it yet? The intracranial pressure going whoosh right down?”

“…” Shen Mofeng took a deep breath, suppressing his urge to strangle the little troublemaker.

Oddly enough, it actually worked.

…………..

After the initial explosion of negative attention, the wave began to subside. Some contrasting, neutral voices emerged, primarily from customers of Chenchen Health and Wellness Shop:

[Wait, that ridiculous hair-growth device is from Ye Chen? Ye Chen?! Selling hair-growth devices?! My mom even bought something from his shop?!]

[Criticize whatever you want, but leave the hair-growth device out of it! I met my girlfriend thanks to that thing!]

[I don’t understand why a celebrity would sell something like this. Aren’t they usually hawking clothes? What made him think of health products? But hey, it’s definitely not one of those scammy supplements. My insomnia’s only manageable thanks to that pillow…]

[Please don’t drag him too hard. Don’t get the store shut down. My eye mask hasn’t shipped yet. (cry laughing)]

[Umm, my mom bought one of those jade mattresses from his store for over 80,000 yuan. At first, we thought it was a scam, but my mom insisted on getting it appraised—it’s genuine mutton-fat jade! If it weren’t cut into small pieces and devalued, I’d be tempted to sell it. I honestly think he’s losing money selling these. Rich people’s mindset is beyond me.]

While some comments were from paid PR, most were from genuine customers. Human nature leans toward conformity; when a few people speak out, others feel emboldened to follow suit.

With more bystanders joining the fray, Chenchen Health and Wellness Shop’s official account seized the moment to release a clarification:

Chenchen Health and Wellness Shop V:

[Thank you to everyone for your attention to our little shop…]

The post emphasized the shop’s legitimate operations, showcasing the factory’s work environment, production qualifications, and official certifications for each product. It transparently listed production batch numbers, which included both health products and Class II medical devices, all meticulously compliant with regulations.

As soon as the post went up, the comments section descended into chaos, with people saying all sorts of things. Some supported the shop from a customer’s perspective, others—hardcore fans of Ye Chen—wailed and demanded to know if he was really behind the account, while relentless trolls stirred the pot.

Seeing that these seemingly dubious health products were, in fact, well-received by consumers, the trolls quickly shifted tactics. They united to pin a new, far graver accusation on him:

“Forget everything else—are you seriously claiming that your cheap spray can alleviate pneumoconiosis? Aren’t you afraid of ghosts knocking on your door at midnight?”

“Stop profiting off the suffering of patients! They’ve been through enough!”

Just as the conversation was being hijacked and dragged to a new moral high ground by trolls posing as outraged citizens, the official Weibo account of the National Medical Research Institute suddenly posted a new update.

The account, which boasts over 5 million followers, usually shares research updates that garner fewer than 10 interactions. This time, however, the post’s engagement likely surpassed all previous posts combined, striking a mix of humor and irony.

National Medical Research Institute V:

[“Xingfei Decoction” is a traditional herbal compound recorded in the 1632 medical classic “Neijing Jilue”. It was historically used as a representative formula for treating diffuse pulmonary fibrosis. Unfortunately, parts of the formula were lost, rendering further research impossible. Recently, Academician Zhang Zhaoqian and his team at the National Medical Research Institute have discovered an inhalable aerosol with effects highly similar to Xingfei Decoction. This spray has proven effective in improving pneumoconiosis symptoms, marking a significant breakthrough in treatment research. For more details, see—[link].]

The comments section exploded with:

“?”

“???”

“WTF…”

Beneath the post was a more detailed explanatory article. However, the article did not delve into the aerosol’s mechanism of action or the underlying pharmacology, stating only that research was ongoing. It also mentioned that the sample for the inhalable aerosol was donated to the institute free of charge by the inheritor of the formula.

At such a critical juncture, the institute releasing this post was clearly no coincidence. Anyone with half a brain could see this was an endorsement for Ye Chen, an effort to clear his name. Everyone understood who the “formula inheritor” was without needing it spelled out.

Neutral bystanders quickly dropped out of the drama, but the trolls refused to back down…

The author has something to say:

Chen Chen: There are too many faces to hit, it makes my hands sore.

Face slapping is really tacky and comfortable.