Chapter 143: So, I Am Going to Stay Away From You All

The controversy surrounding Shen Xian continued to escalate, and his former rivals began to exert their influence in earnest.

The first to make a move was Chen Feng. He spent one million from his own pocket to hire online trolls to spread rumors about Shen Xian.

"Shen Xian has terrible character; he'll do anything for money!"
"I heard he cheated money from many women in the past and even got one of them pregnant!"
"Shen Xian's goal in filming this video was to extort Ye Yuning, but when she refused, he posted it online."

Shen Xian had become a target of universal condemnation.

The second to act was Yu Tianshu, Ning Cai’s uncle. Not only did he donate to the Capital Media, but he also demanded that they follow the matter closely. The Capital Media even created a special segment: "In two days, we will conduct a live interview with Ye Yuning; please look forward to it."

Qi Zhengqing, Su Rulong, and even Meng Yanzhou began making moves behind the scenes, contacting influencers, high-profile accounts, and even some state-run media. The attention of more than half the country was drawn to this, making the buzz unprecedented. Anyone who went online was scrolling through this trending video.

The news had three main explosive points. The first was the narrative that someone had kindly invited him to dinner, only for him to film a video and threaten them for money. This point easily triggered the emotions of the public, causing blood pressure to spike at the mere sight of it. It was easy for people to identify with, much like the infamous "Fat Cat" incident on Earth, where a boyfriend spent all his money on his girlfriend, only to be dumped and driven to suicide.

The second point was the public’s curiosity regarding specialized animal husbandry. The third point was that the protagonist of this affair was already the infamous Shen Xian. The combination of these three factors created the current frenzy.

"Ye Yuning, you'd better be ready to catch this massive wave of traffic." Seeing the insults directed at him, Shen Xian felt not the slightest bit of unhappiness; rather, he felt a flicker of excitement. He wondered if, when the moment of reversal arrived, Chen Feng, Yu Tianshu, and all those who had kicked him while he was down would regret it so deeply that they would slap their own thighs in despair.

There was one day left until Ye Yuning’s live interview. Shen Xian had finally found a house—a three-story detached building on the outskirts of the city. The surroundings were average, but it was quiet. The owner was a gambling addict who, upon seeing Shen Xian wave a check for 1.7 million, signed the contract immediately and fled to parts unknown.

Shen Xian wasn't in a hurry to transfer the title. Given the influence of those vultures, a transfer would mean registration under his real name, and with their vast resources, they would find ways to track him down. He anonymously hired a renovation crew to build a high-end recording studio. He also adopted a solid-black East German Shepherd, so he didn't feel lonely.

Ye Yuning had begun setting up the room for the interview inside the office of the breeding base. The entrance was already packed with vehicles, and many influencers had arrived early to check in, though the gates were closed and they couldn't get in. Several smaller state media outlets had also arrived to report on the scene.

Zhou Wan had arrived early to console Ye Yuning, saying, "It will be fine." Meng Yanzhou arrived as well, confidently stating, "Yuning, trust me, I have a way to resolve this."

Back at the company, Ning Cai went straight to her office and pulled out the documents Shen Xian had left behind. The file contained a stack of insignificant papers; she frowned, feeling that something was wrong. She called for Chen Rumeng: "Did Shen Xian say anything when he dropped these off?"

Chen Rumeng, flustered, replied, "He didn't say anything."

Flipping through the file, Ning Cai found a termination agreement—just a single sheet of paper. She had promised Shen Xian that if he returned to the capital with her and appeased her parents, she would terminate his contract with the studio and grant him his freedom.

Was he really that impatient to end things? Weren't they talking about him buying a stake in Yu'an Media? Was he now stingy with the money? Did he care about money that much?

With a face cold as frost, Ning Cai called Shen Xian: "Are you in such a hurry to terminate your contract?"

Shen Xian was stunned when he picked up the phone: "What do you mean?"

"You sent the termination papers over, and you're asking me what I mean?" Ning Cai countered.

Shen Xian prepared to explain: *Didn't you say you were ready to terminate it and give me my freedom? I was planning to use that as my next step to buy into the company.* But before he could speak, Ning Cai cut him off: "Shen Xian, why do you care about money so much?"

*So, I really am the target of everyone’s scorn,* he thought. *Is everyone allowed to point fingers at me now?*

Shen Xian’s expression turned indifferent: "Then what do you intend to do?"

"I don't agree to the termination," Ning Cai said. "Just stay here peacefully and don't go anywhere." Her words were meant to convey that he should stay where Yu'an Media could look after him, but because of her cold tone, it sounded like something else entirely to Shen Xian.

"What if I insist on terminating it?" Shen Xian’s tone grew equally cold.

*Is he threatening me?*

Ning Cai felt a surge of irritation: "Then pay the breach-of-contract penalty." She had been dealing with many headaches lately; Ning Zheng kept calling to tell her to stay away from Shen Xian, and Ye Yuning was a nervous wreck who needed constant reassurance. Most importantly, Shen Xian hadn't offered a single explanation or apology.

"Fine," Shen Xian said. "Give me ten minutes."

The revenue from his songs had come through; after splitting it with Wang Tianqi, he still had over 80 million in his account. Within fifteen minutes, Shen Xian arrived at Ning Cai's office.

Ning Cai looked at him with an expression very similar to the one Zhou Wan had used earlier—a look of disappointment, as if he were a lost cause.

He quickly signed the termination papers and transferred 80 million to the company’s account. "That should do it."

Ning Cai’s eyes welled up as she stared at him in a daze. Seeing Shen Xian head for the door, she stood up abruptly: "Shen Xian, what exactly are you trying to do!"

Shen Xian turned back, waved at her, and smiled brightly: "I want to get far away from all of you!"

With that, he walked out of the company without looking back.

Once outside, Shen Xian let out a long breath. He was exhausted. He could have told Ning Cai, Zhou Wan, or even Ye Yuning about his plan in advance. He never expected things to spiral this far. But then again, he didn't regret it, and he was even glad he hadn't told them.

He hadn't told them back then because he wanted to test if they would trust him unconditionally. When a person is at their lowest, they can see many things clearly, such as Ning Cai and Zhou Wan's true attitudes toward him. If they had been willing to trust him, none of this would be a problem today.

"People are truly pathetic; they insist on seeking proof for things, and the more you seek it, the more it consumes you from within."

"I don't regret any of my decisions. If things go against my wishes and this fails, it only proves I wasn't capable enough."

"Whether it’s Ning Cai or Zhou Wan, they always say I’m indecisive or that I weigh pros and cons. But looking at it from another angle, weren't they also lacking conviction in their love for me?"

"A person like me, I want someone who loves me without hesitation, not someone who follows the opinions of others, stands in their shoes, is swayed by appearances, and forms judgments about me based on that."

"So, I’m getting far away from you all."

Shen Xian walked down the main road, his stride light and free.