"This ti the company will teach them a lesson! No matter how muddle-headed Chairman Mu is, he can’t possibly condone them in matters like this—otherwise, how can they take on assignnts in the future?"
Li Jiaqi noticed that Ye Yuwei didn’t echo her opinion and couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Yuwei, do you think Chairman Mu might still cover for them this ti?"
"I can’t say for sure, but I have a bad feeling about it."
"You’re overthinking it. If this situation isn’t punished, how can the company lead its team in the future?"
Although Ye Yuwei disagreed with Jiaqi’s point of view, she couldn’t co up with a reason to refute her and simply nodded.
Knock knock!
Upon hearing the knock on the door, Li Jiaqi and Ye Yuwei exchanged glances, both feeling a wave of nervousness.
Although they were fairly sure Lu Bingbing and the others wouldn’t resort to violence at this exact mont, humans—especially won—can sotis act unpredictably when irrational.
Li Jiaqi walked over to open the door, only to find Shen Xing standing there.
"Shen... Mr. Shen," Li Jiaqi was stunned. Although Shen Xing managed operations, it was rare for him to directly visit the dormitory of the group’s mbers, considering the differences between n and won.
"Yuwei, Chairman Mu asked to co check on you."
Seeing Shen Xing’s smiling expression, Ye Yuwei felt half her tension lt away.
"Thank you, Chairman Mu and Mr. Shen!"
"Jiaqi, I’d like to speak with Yuwei alone."
Li Jiaqi was worried about her friend but could only step out reluctantly.
"Yuwei, what you did today was very comndable. You safeguarded the company’s reputation and demonstrated the professional standards expected of a rising idol."
"Mr. Shen..."
Upon hearing Shen Xing’s affirmation, Ye Yuwei’s heart, which had been hanging in suspense all evening, finally settled, and in the rush of emotion, she almost let out tears of frustration.
"Yuwei, the company understands the grievances you’ve faced, but we also struggle with certain constraints."
"We can’t publicly discipline Lu Bingbing and the others for this incident; otherwise, it could spark a very negative reaction among fans—even leading to a mass exodus of supporters."
"You understand how crucial fan support is for a company like ours."
Shen Xing’s earnestness and transparency led Ye Yuwei to nod repeatedly in agreent.
"Yuwei, so individuals who lack the full story might attack you in various ways. I hope you won’t respond emotionally. Instead, simply reply: ’I will obey the company’s decisions.’
Ye Yuwei was montarily stunned. Isn’t this still making take the bla?
The gratitude and excitent she’d just felt dissolved instantly. In the eyes of these lofty executives, she was rely a pawn they could sacrifice at will.
"Yuwei, the company understands your frustrations. We’ve recently acquired a drama, and we’ll arrange for you to take a role as the fourth lead."
"Mr. Shen, you know that we idols rely on our fans to survive."
"If people just throw dirt on like this, even if I land a fourth-lead role, what good is it if all my fans abandon ?"
Ye Yuwei’s rare mont of clarity revealed her understanding that, as an idol, a clean, untarnished reputation was her most valuable asset.
Shen Xing was taken aback by Yuwei’s words, a slight look of surprise flashing across his eyes.
It seed Yuwei had so cunning after all—no wonder she dared negotiate with Ma Tao.
"Yuwei, the company has taken this into consideration too. During this week’s performance, we will adjust your stage positioning. You’ll exchange places with Yu Qingjia and receive two solo numbers."
Upon hearing this, Ye Yuwei didn’t feel any joy—even though such performances were perks usually reserved for TOP mbers.
"Alright, Mr. Shen, I’ll comply with your arrangents."
Ye Yuwei knew that refusal would only antagonize the company.
Shen Xing imdiately smiled, "Good, Yuwei. I always knew you were sensible."
After Shen Xing left, a host of people who rarely interacted with her ca by to "check on" her.
They were, in truth, trying to fish for information about Shen Xing’s visit.
Over at Lu Bingbing and Yu Qingjia’s side, people were frantically pacing like ants on a hot stove.
After leaving Chairman Mu’s office, Lu Bingbing grew increasingly suspicious about the day’s events.
"Big Sis, why don’t we strike first before she does?" Dong Zixuan, who had firmly integrated herself within their group, suggested.
"The situation hasn’t deteriorated to that point yet. Let’s not create trouble for ourselves. The company might still hush this up," Lu Bingbing, now regretful about striking, replied.
The once domineering persona who always got her way seed to have disappeared.
"Big Sis, this is just to play it safe," Zhang Yu carefully observed Bingbing’s expression.
"Even if we strike first, what angle could we take?" Xu ngchen frowned.
The group collectively fell silent in thought.
"Could we use her dealings with Ma Tao as ammunition?" Lu Shanshan, usually full of ideas, ventured.
"Evidence? Without evidence, who would believe it? Besides, it affects the reputation of our N team. If Yuwei accepts being coerced, what precedent does this set for others?" Lu Bingbing, true to her role as captain, thought further ahead.
"So what do we do? How do we spread this dirt?" Growing anxious, Zhang Yu blurted out her true feelings.
"I think we should say this..." Lu Bingbing spoke with a grim expression.
"It’s precisely because she was coerced that we refuse to associate with soone like that or condone such actions, which is why we boycotted today’s performance," Lu Bingbing elaborated.
"Exactly! It’s all about how we fra the story—what do fans actually know?" Xu ngchen grinned.
"But we still lack evidence. You all know how sensitive fans are to scandals like this—without evidence, they absolutely won’t believe us," Lu Shanshan warned.
"Oh, but I *do* have evidence," Xu ngchen said with a sinister smile, waving her phone.
The group crowded around her excitedly to see.
"... Excellent, but it’s not the right ti to release it yet. We should first let shady hints circulate among hardcore fans on private forums—then gauge public sentint before formally acting," Lu Bingbing declared after inspecting Xu ngchen’s phone.
While they were busy scheming to fra Ye Yuwei and cast themselves as victims, Shen Xing suddenly notified them to return to the TV station for a rehearsal the next day.
He said absolutely nothing about resolving their grievances.
This only deepened the unease brewing in their hearts.
What they didn’t expect was that soone had anonymously posted rumors about an N team mber being coerced during a certain TV station program on so niche ssaging boards.
However, the posts garnered little attention; almost no one read them since the news of their boycott performance hadn’t yet reached larger fan forums.
"I don’t care who was behind those posts, but until we reach the final stage, *no one* is allowed to spread this further. If the boycott gets exposed, it will haunt us for life," Lu Bingbing sternly warned everyone.
The next day
The rehearsal went on as planned, more harmonious this ti.
The entire team showed no hint of drama, everyone diligently doing their part. Yet the atmosphere remained oddly tense.
"Yuwei, what’s the deal between you and Ma Tao?" During a short break, Yu Manting pulled Ye Yuwei aside to ask anxiously.
"He tried to coerce , but I refused," Ye Yuwei admitted without concealnt.
Yu Manting let out a long sigh of relief, then pulled out her phone and said, "Take a look at this."
"...It’s nonsense. Those are just more slanderous rumors cooked up by that toxic corner of fandom. Hardcore fans won’t believe this garbage," Ye Yuwei said dismissively, looking at the anonymous posts alleging her involvent with Ma Tao.
"Yuwei, you need to be vigilant. You’ve offended too many people this ti, and as the saying goes, ’Three n make a tiger.’ Many fans lack critical thinking—they’re easily led astray," Yu Manting cautioned.
"I know, but with matters like this, most mainstream fans are quite rational. They care deeply about the group’s reputation. Without actual evidence, they won’t believe any of it—and I truly didn’t do those things."
"Alright, Yuwei, but still, watch out for them," Yu Manting warned, her gaze subtly shifting toward Lu Bingbing and her clique in the distance.
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