Chapter 224: The Fragile Handsome Guy
Compared to the shocking evidence in Chef Liu’s case, which even involved legal matters, the blackmail on Black Cat Fatty seemed rather ordinary.
However, what no one expected was that the more ordinary the evidence was, the more it resonated with the public.
After all, the number of law-abiding citizens in real life is few, but the number of unscrupulous bosses is far more common.
“It’s hard to imagine that a blogger with tens of millions of followers only pays her team 4-5 thousand yuan. My salary is also 4-5 thousand, and for a moment, I feel like we’re pretty much the same.”
“Your 4-5 thousand doesn’t include the cost of babysitting the princess. These college grad employees are really miserable. During the day, they have to come up with ideas and filming techniques to highlight their boss’s so-called beauty. At night, they have no time to rest and have to work on data and fake comments for their boss online.”
“Working for 4-5 thousand in a company, being on call 24/7, waking up at 2 AM to fix a PowerPoint presentation—they’re even worse off than we are.”
“I just saw a recruitment ad for Black Cat Fatty on Boss Zhi Pin. The salary is listed as 4,000 to 10,000, but anyone who’s worked there knows that what’s really offered is only 4,000, and her internship period is listed as six months. Internship salaries are usually 80% of the regular salary.”
“Black Cat Fatty has posted photos of her luxury cars and mansions, and an entire wall of Hermès items. Who would have thought that someone who’s not short on money could be so stingy behind the scenes?”
Black Cat Fatty had originally thought that with a large number of staff leaving, she’d only face one or two months of downtime. With so many college graduates in need of jobs, she believed she could find suitable replacements in no time.
She and her cousin had blown up the situation hoping that netizens would sympathize with her, wanting them to help bash Xu Youyou. But unexpectedly, this was like stabbing herself in the artery.
For an internet celebrity, losing public goodwill is a terrifying thing. Right now, Black Cat Fatty’s followers were dropping fast, even faster than Qing Yatou’s.
This was especially ironic because Black Cat Fatty had once criticized Qing Yatou for refusing to film a collaboration video with her. Now, the comment section was filled with ridicule.
“You still blame Qing Yatou for ignoring you? It looks like she had the foresight to see right through you and knew you weren’t a decent person.”
“Qing Yatou also rejected Chef Liu, but the one who collaborated with him, Zhuge Song, besides chasing Chef Liu with a spatula, seems to have no black marks on his record.”
“Chasing Chef Liu with a spatula? That’s not a black mark. That’s a hero helping the people!”
Chef Liu’s case had already been decided, and the police had reported the case. He was undeniably a law-abiding citizen. Zhuge Song, who had once opposed him, no longer needed to clear his name and naturally seemed clean.
However, there were still opposing voices: “In today’s rule-of-law society, using a spatula to hit someone on a show doesn’t seem like the behavior of a stable, normal person. Qing Yatou being so close to him, she’ll eventually suffer for it.”
Seeing this kind of comment, Zhuge Song’s assistant wasn’t happy and immediately brought up his cousin’s past achievements.
“My cousin, even though he’s a chef now, used to be a veteran soldier. He received a second-class merit award and has rescued people from disasters!”
With the red honor certificates and special medals displayed, no one dared to question him anymore. After all, on this land, they were the most beloved.
Qing Yatou allowed Zhuge Song to stay by her side for two months. One day, she said, “Your heart is restless. Go do what you need to do.”
Zhuge Song didn’t expect his emotions to be so obvious.
He didn’t try to stay and, instead, took his cousin and the filming crew abroad.
Zhuge Song had many identities, but the one he most identified with was always that of a chef.
When Xu Youyou learned of this, she simply called him and asked, “Do you think you’ll win the award?”
Zhuge Song had gone abroad to participate in the International Cooking Competition. He had always felt there was much more to learn. After spending two months with Qing Yatou, he had become more peaceful, and his understanding of cooking had deepened. That’s why he gathered the courage to enter the competition.
“I’m not very confident,” Zhuge Song said bluntly.
Xu Youyou didn’t press him and casually said, “It’s the experience that matters. You’re still young. After a few more years of honing, you might bring home the grand prize.”
Zhuge Song said, “If Qing Yatou entered, I think with her skills, she’d be almost guaranteed to win.”
Xu Youyou agreed with this view, but Qing Yatou herself didn’t think so.
She still remembered how Qing Yatou had explained it: “I am favored by this land, and that’s how I can create the best-tasting dishes. If I go abroad, the forces there will reject me.”
Xu Youyou thought she was being a little too mystical, but since Qing Yatou didn’t want to, Xu Youyou didn’t push her.
“Miss Xu, Mr. Song has arrived.”
That day, Xu Youyou was practicing calligraphy at home. When she heard the butler Zhang Jie’s announcement, she didn’t think much of it and simply said, “You can entertain him first. I’ll join him after finishing this piece of calligraphy.”
Song Zhibai had become a phenomenon-level star after starring in a historical romance drama last year and a modern drama this year. Both had become massive hits, firmly securing his position as a top-tier celebrity. To Xu Youyou, he seemed like someone made of gold, and she naturally wouldn’t neglect him.
Xu Youyou was someone who finished what she started. After completing the calligraphy, she immediately went to the small reception room without hesitation.
Song Zhibai was standing by the window, looking down, his back turned. Although it was just his silhouette, there was an undeniable air of loneliness and sadness.
Xu Youyou’s heart tightened. She remembered that Aunt Song had already changed her fate of early death, and just yesterday, Aunt Song had sent her photos of her two goddaughters.
In the photos, both Aunt Song and the two girls looked full of vitality.
For a moment, Xu Youyou couldn’t figure out what could be troubling Song Zhibai. She wasn’t the type to make random guesses, so she asked directly, “Mr. Song, have you encountered any trouble?”
Song Zhibai turned to her when he heard her voice. There was a flash of light in his eyes, but it dimmed almost immediately, as though a fragile shadow had fallen over him.
“The trouble I’m facing is indeed significant,” Song Zhibai said softly.
Xu Youyou asked, “Is it the Shen family? Have they caused you trouble again?”
Song Zhibai shook his head. “It seems the Shen family has been having some trouble recently, so they haven’t had time to bother me.”
Xu Youyou let out a sigh of relief. The Shen family had many children, and the standard script for wealthy families involved inheritance disputes. Song Zhibai and his mother would rather live in poverty than be entangled with them, which meant one less big problem.
Xu Youyou softly comforted the fragile handsome man before her, “Since it’s not the Shen family, would you like to talk to me about your trouble? You’re mine, and your problems are mine too.”
