Entertainment Gossip, the core team behind the rumors about Shen Yan and Su Youli’s relationship, exchanged nervous glances, their faces beaded with cold sweat.
“What do we do? Shen Minyan has gotten involved.” The Shen Group’s legal team was no joke.
“What’s there to panic about? This isn’t the first time we’ve received a cease-and-desist letter.” The man speaking was named Liu Yang, the company’s marketing director.
The letter explicitly demanded that they take down the videos and articles and issue an apology video. Otherwise, they should prepare for a lawsuit.
Liu Yang wiped his glasses and narrowed his eyes. “No matter what happened with Shen Yan before, Shen Minyan never got involved. But now, so soon after, he’s rushing to send us a legal letter…”
The others said nothing, thinking, Of course—because this involves a scandal about Shen Yan’s personal morals. If Shen Minyan didn’t step in, the Shen Group’s stock might even be affected. The more anxious the other side seemed, the more it proved their speculation was correct. A media person needed sharp instincts. Though they hadn’t confirmed that Su Youli was Shen Yan’s illegitimate child, judging by Shen Minyan’s reaction, it was almost certainly true.
“Hold the line. Don’t take down the articles.” Liu Yan slammed his hand on the table.
“Have everyone keep a close watch on Shen Yan. Try to get some substantial photos.”
The late-night emergency meeting ended. After everyone left, Liu Yang stared at the legal letter, his eyes burning with excitement.
Shen Yan, the eldest son of the Shen Group, a newly crowned Best Actor. If the illegitimate child scandal is true, our company is about to soar.
If Shen Minyan wanted them to take down the articles and videos, he would have to offer enough sincerity—money, wealth, or status. Thinking this, Liu Yang smiled greedily, his oily face full of calculation. The legal boundaries for this kind of media crime were already very blurry. Even if it were false, Liu Yang was confident he could walk away unscathed.
—
Shen Family Villa.
After handing the matter over to his legal team, Shen Minyan carried Youyou upstairs to sleep. The little one’s biggest tasks each day were to eat well and sleep well. Staying up late would stunt his growth. On the third floor, in the somberly decorated room, more and more of Su Youli’s belongings were accumulating. These cute, colorful little items added a lot of warmth to the otherwise dull, uninteresting space. Shen Minyan carefully placed the little one from his arms onto the bed, took his pajamas from the closet, and walked to the bedside, changing while watching the little one’s sleeping face.
Even while brushing his teeth, he would occasionally stick his head out of the bathroom to check that the little one was sleeping soundly. Su Youli had truly been exhausted yesterday. He usually woke up at 7:30, but today, he didn’t slowly open his eyes until the sun was high in the sky. The little one lay on the smooth silk sheets, rolling around. The big bed was empty—just him.
Su Youli rubbed his eyes and sat up. Where had Shen Dad gone?
Creak. The door opened. Tang Dou pushed it open and, seeing that he was awake, walked over with a smile. “Oh, our little warrior is awake.”
“Brother Xiao Tang.” Even though he didn’t see his father, the little one was very happy to see Brother Xiao Tang.
Tang Dou placed the clothes he was to wear on the bed. The little one didn’t dawdle; he quickly grabbed them and put them on. After dressing, he ran to the bathroom, got his little stool, and obediently stood in front of the sink to brush his teeth and wash his face. Tang Dou made the bed, then helped him dry his face and apply children’s face cream, leading the little one downstairs by the hand to eat.
“The brothers aren’t home?” Su Youli asked the butler.
The butler smiled at him, the crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes prominent. “No, the eldest young master and second young master have both gone out.”
When Brother Xiao Tang told him the time, the little one realized he had woken up late today and hadn’t been able to see his brothers and father off. Shen Yan actually didn’t have any work today. He had gotten up early and gone to the company with Shen Minyan. The legal letter sent yesterday had little effect. The account named ‘Entertainment Gossip’ had not only failed to take down the edited videos and articles but had also created several alternate accounts, acting as if they feared nothing.
Shen Minyan sneered, raised his hand, and someone handed him the company information behind the ‘Entertainment Gossip’ account. This account belonged to an entertainment company called Maibo Media, which had a long history of scandals and had offended many people in the industry. In Shen Minyan’s view, these were just a bunch of rabble trying to profit from public opinion. They would have to face the consequences.
So far, the Shen Group and Shen Yan’s studio had both issued statements that Shen Yan and Su Youli were biological brothers and that the so-called exposés online were rumors. Fans naturally believed in Shen Yan’s character, but most netizens had been swayed by public opinion and ignored these statements. Shen Yan had never seen such shameless marketing accounts, so unafraid of death. Shen Minyan, however, had a faint smile and even calmly handled work.
“When is the next filming?”
Shen Yan realized he was asking about the kids’ show. “Next week. We’re going to Xiancheng.”
The impeccably dressed Chairman Shen nodded, telling him to go pack, since it was already Saturday. Shen Yan hesitated, wanting to say something. His father was a man of his word; if he said not to get involved with the online matter, then he shouldn’t.
“You coming forward to clarify will only make them think you’re making excuses.” Shen Minyan’s gaze fell on his eldest son’s worried face, and he smiled. “Don’t you trust me?”
Shen Yan was speechless. Shen Minyan was a very traditional father. His broad shoulders were strong enough to support the whole family. He spoke and acted in a rigid manner, brooking no disobedience. He had been extremely strict with his two sons since childhood, not attentive to his wife, and only knew how to make money. That was the father Shen Yan remembered. A father who did more than he said.
Shen Yan swallowed the bitterness, nodding. “Of course I trust you.”
Receiving this answer, Shen Minyan raised his hand slightly and waved, signaling him to leave. But Shen Yan turned around, took long strides, and stood in front of the desk.
“Dad, you don’t have to work so hard. Xiao Lin and I are grown up now. We can share the burden.”
Shen Minyan lowered his head, his movements pausing. From Shen Yan’s angle, he could see his father’s graying hair carefully hidden beneath the black.
“You’re still young,” Shen Minyan said simply.
“I have my own career. I can take care of myself and Mom. How am I still young?”
At twenty, young and brash, Shen Yan had turned the household upside down when he decided to enter the entertainment industry. The entertainment world was deep water, and even with his status as the Shen Group’s eldest son, Shen Yan had still faced many hardships. People grew through experience. It was only in the last two years that Shen Yan’s personality had gradually settled.
“Someday, I’ll prove to you with my actions that I make no less money than you.”
Shen Minyan looked up, a glimmer of light shining in his dark eyes. Like a beast admiring its young, he watched with pride as the cub he had once sheltered learned to hunt.
“I believe that day will come.” Shen Minyan curved his lips slightly, looking seriously into Shen Yan’s eyes.
Sue!Sue!Sue!
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