Chapter 97

Media planning and PR publicity are one of Shang Media's main businesses.

Hiring internet commentators to set the rhythm, hyping topics, establishing personas for its signed artists and expanding their social fame—these are things Shang Media often does, familiar as riding a bike.

Now Ye Jiaying is using this set of operations on the "parent‑child incident".

Less than 24 hours.

An article titled "Shang Media's heir is not biological; his birth mother is a high‑official's mistress!" spread like wildfire across the country and overseas with a sensationalist stance.

In just one night.

The names of Shang Weiliang, Shang Keqing, Ding Yuxia, and Xiao Yunce.

Were promptly pushed to the forefront of public opinion.

His wife had been sleeping with a superior for decades, while he himself was sidelined in officialdom; after being forced to start from scratch, the business he painstakingly built turned out to be a dowry for the superior's son!

This is the life summary netizens have crafted for Shang Keqing.

Netizens who love a good spectacle and aren't afraid of big trouble even created a "21st Century Big Sucker Ranking"; Shang Media's Shang Keqing, with the bearing of a king, sits at the top.

Netizens jokingly dubbed him the "cuckold king of the 21st century".

In Florida, far across the Atlantic Ocean, there is a seaside estate regarded by the world as a recuperation sanctuary; Shang Keqing has already bought a villa there.

During this period.

Shang Keqing spends his days basking in the sun, gazing at the sea, or going online to read the news, or meeting a few friends for drinks, chatting about domestic film‑and‑TV investments and plans to nurture new talent.

This vacation‑style recuperation makes Shang Keqing feel that being alive is truly wonderful.

But……

This happy and fulfilling life experience soon vanished like foam in a harsh winter wind, blown away to nothing.

On this otherwise peaceful morning, when he had provoked no one and offended no one.

Shang Keqing never imagined that the son he had raised for over twenty years would turn out to be someone else's offspring.

Without the slightest psychological preparation.

The "big sucker" label's cuckold hat came crashing down on his head with a clang.

It left Shang Keqing seeing stars.

Shang Keqing asked his life assistant in disbelief, "Is the 'big sucker' being talked about online me? Or could it really be some other person with the same name and surname?"

The assistant, nervous, bowed and replied, "Boss Shang, there are fewer than 1.5 million people with the surname Shang in the country, so the chance of a namesake is truly low."

"Even with 1.5 million there's a chance of a duplicate—hurry up and check."

Shang Keqing kept telling himself: "It's not me! The 'century's big sucker' voted by domestic netizens can't possibly be me! This must be a case of mistaken identity……"

The life assistant looked speechless.

At that moment, investment partner Old Zhou called: "Old Shang, you've gone viral—quickly get online and have a look."

Just a short sentence.

In an instant it blasted Shang Keqing out of his fantasy world and back into harsh reality.

Shang Keqing, like a frenzied marmot, held the phone to his ear without hanging up and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Ding Yuxia! You shameless hussy who climbed to power by taking off your pants—I won't let this rest!!!"

That afternoon.

Shang Keqing hastily wrapped up his vacation‑style recuperation and boarded a flight back home.

At the same time.

Acting Mayor Xiao Yunce, occupying a high position, also raged like a berserk beast in his office.

"Bang!"

Xiao Yunce slapped the desk with a palm, making the pens on it jump.

He was no longer in the mood to sign documents.

He glared angrily at the secretary standing before him, Bai Wentao: "What are you even good for? Why didn't you clean up the net in time? How did you let this news blaze across the entire internet!!!"

Bai Wentao, head down and shoulders slumped, put on the look of a wronged baby.

The gossip topic was stirred up at night; in those late‑night hours when you, Mayor Xiao, were sleep‑walking with someone of the opposite sex, I, Bai Wentao, was doing the same.

The matter came too suddenly.

This is clearly someone operating behind the scenes, deliberately avoiding the eyes of the relevant authorities.

By the time everyone noticed this topic,

it had already gone viral beyond its original circle.

Bai Wentao steeled himself to explain: "I've already ordered it; the net‑cleaning operation has been launched. Because the posts have been shared widely, it will take a little time."

"Investigate!"

Xiao Yunce furiously ordered: "Just which bastard is spreading these rumors to smear me? Dig three feet deep and drag him out!"

"I've already had the cyber‑security office look into it."

"Who?!"

"We still don't know; this sharp report was first posted on an overseas social platform, and domestic entertainment reporters are merely forwarding it, so tracking down the person behind it is likely to be difficult,"

"Damn it, you're all useless—get lost!"

Xiao Yunce snatched the documents from the desk and flung them at Bai Wentao's face; after so many years as a leader, this was his most unbecoming outburst—and also his angriest.

Only a little over two months remain until the People's Congress election.

At this critical juncture, the sudden exposure of such a scandal is tantamount to a sword thrust into Xiao Yunce's heart, making his spine break out in a cold sweat.

Not even a few minutes later.

He then received a call from Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and Municipal Party Committee Secretary Gao Peng.

Gao Peng rebuked him on the phone: "Yunce, what's going on?! At this crucial moment you've actually stirred up such a huge mess."

"Secretary Gao, please hear me out—this is someone deliberately framing me!"

Although Gao Peng was not there, Xiao Yunce remained bowed when he answered the phone.

Gao Peng reminded over the phone: "Just now the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission called to inquire about the situation; later they might come to talk to you, so figure out how to wipe your ass clean."

"Thank you, Secretary Gao, I'll think of a way right away."

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Yunce took a tissue and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

What he first thought of now was Shang Keqing, who is overseas.

He suspected that Shang Keqing was taking revenge.

But he had no evidence at hand, couldn't send people to arrest Shang Keqing, and might even end up being bitten back by Shang Keqing, which would be a loss not worth the gain.

Xiao Yunce grabbed his coat, and while walking called Ding Yuxia of the Changming District Education Bureau: "Come out for a bit, wait for me at the underground parking lot!"

Fifteen minutes later.

Xiao Yunce drove to the underground parking lot of the district government, and from afar saw Ding Yuxia waiting there; although Ding Yuxia is already fifty, her figure is still well maintained, her charm remains.

As soon as the car stopped steadily, Ding Yuxia naturally got into the car.

Xiao Yunce turned off the headlights and immediately snapped: "Shang Keqing is stirring up trouble overseas, and you still have the mood to go to work! Now things have blown up this big—what do you suggest we do?!"

"Now my son has been arrested; I just want to know how to handle this—are you going to take charge or not?" Ding Yuxia retorted, questioning Xiao Yunce.

Xiao Yunce was already full of suppressed anger.

He glared angrily: "Have you got shit in your brain? Your ex-husband is messing with me! If we can't suppress this, we're both doomed—don't you know which is more serious?!"

"I don't know where Shang Keqing is; I can't find him." Ding Yuxia said with a resentful face.

Xiao Yunce pressed coldly: "Tell me the truth, old man—is Shang Weiliang really my son, or Shang Keqing's son?"

"How can you ask that—do you have any conscience? What did you say back then, have you forgotten?" Ding Yuxia repeated Xiao Yunce's words from back then: "From today on, I forbid your husband from touching you! Is that what you said?"

"Could it be that Shang Keqing really didn't touch you? You're just trying to fool ghosts!"

"For a period of time I really didn't let him touch me—I'm not an iron robot; after serving you I still have to serve him, I don't have that energy."

"According to what you're saying, Shang Weiliang really is my son?"

Seeing Ding Yuxia suppress her anger and stay silent, the answer goes without saying.

Upon reaching middle age and suddenly gaining a son, Xiao Yunce not only failed to feel happy, but instead showed a look of panic on his face, as if he wanted to strangle Ding Yuxia.

But reason told him again: impulsiveness is the devil!