[ABO] The Despised One Becomes an Internet Sensation After Marriage - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In the year 2020 of the Star Calendar, a netizen exposed a video online. Shot from a high-angle overhead view, the footage initially showed only a black Rolls-Royce; as the frame zoomed in, two figures entered the shot.

The camera captured the profiles of the two kissing.

The Alpha’s kiss was exceptionally dominant, his fingers threaded through the Omega’s soft hair. With a firm grip, the Omega was forced to tilt his head back, his soulful eyes rimmed with a breathtaking flush of red.

It was the popular star, Xu Zhimian.

As if sensing something, Xu Zhimian suddenly turned his head. This time, his full face and most of his upper body appeared clearly in the frame.

The video cut off abruptly.

Celebrity scandals are not rare, but the disaster lay in the fact that the clothes Xu Zhimian wore in the video featured a school badge on the chest. Meticulous netizens followed the digital trail to a university forum.

Speculations of him being a “sugar baby” from years ago began to spread across the internet with terrifying speed.

The hashtag #InnerCircleMelancholyIconXuZhimianUniversitySugarBaby# instantly shot to the top of the trending searches. For three days and nights, the discussion was staggering, and a war between fans and anti-fans was triggered. The comment section under Xu Zhimian’s Weibo was a chaotic battlefield, shocking any passerby who opened the app.

“So young, yet so devious. All he thinks about is climbing into beds! Just a vase with nothing but a face!”

“His acting is atrocious; I was wondering how he landed that big director’s role. Turns out there was a gold master behind him all along.”

“He looked about 20 back then, a sophomore. So calculating at that age. Who knows how many gold masters he’s crawled over to get his current resources? [covering mouth laugh emoji]”

Over those three days, clips of Xu Zhimian’s performances and variety shows were picked up and mocked—called out for awkward acting, poor variety sense, and a total lack of professional skill. He was branded as someone useless except for a face that could “bring ruin to a nation.”

Now, he was also labeled a “Tainted Artist.”

Xu Zhimian received a termination notice from his fifth brand partner. His hands trembled as he deleted his Weibo, the weight on his chest making it impossible to breathe.

He was being blacklisted.

A month ago, an executive at his talent agency tried to “unspoken rule” (sexually harass) him. Xu Zhimian was furious, splashed wine in the executive’s face, and blocked his manager.

Since then, he hadn’t received a single script, his endorsements had been snatched away, and he had just received a demand from his agency to pay an exorbitant contract termination fee.

What should he do…?

“Ring ring ring…”

His phone rang. The caller ID showed his friend, Xu Jianan.

Xu Zhimian pressed the answer. “Hello, Nanan.”

Xu Jianan’s anxious, worried voice came through the receiver: “Mianmian! Where are you? There are so many reporters at your apartment, don’t come back yet!”

“I’m at a hotel.”

“Good!” Xu Jianan’s breathing was heavy, as if he had just stopped running. “What is wrong with the company? Such a huge scandal and they aren’t doing any PR for you!”

How could the company do PR? They were the ones who leaked the dirt to ruin him!

Xu Zhimian gave a bitter smile and recounted everything to Xu Jianan: the massive penalty fee, the blacklisting, and the company’s smear campaign.

Xu Jianan was indignant: “They tried to harass you? Why didn’t you tell me something this big? Damn it! Sky Entertainment is corrupt from top to bottom. I’ll get justice for you; I’ll sue them until they’re bankrupt!”

Xu Jianan was just a small-time game streamer; he was no match for Sky Entertainment. Xu Zhimian frowned and shook his head: “Nanan, don’t get involved in this. The priority is to deal with the trending search.”

“Right… the search. Damn it, is it illegal to date in college? A bunch of people just talking nonsense about ‘sugar babies.’ Let’s find the other person involved to clarify things…”

“No, Nanan,” Xu Zhimian closed his eyes, his head throbbing. “I was kept. The person in the video really was my benefactor.”

Three years ago, Xu Zhimian’s only relative, his grandmother, was diagnosed with cancer and needed a large sum of money. Consequently, he signed a one-year “sponsorship” contract with the CEO of Glory Group, Fu Shiyan.

He never thought someone would film them, and he never expected his company to use it as a lethal blow.

“…” There was silence on the other end. After a long pause, Xu Jianan said fiercely: “Then I believe you had your reasons! What do they know? In all these years, have you ever had a scandal? Your private life is spotless—you live like an old man.”

“Let’s not talk about that for now,” his voice shifted. “The priority is to get that video off the search. What does your family say?”

Xu Zhimian had been recognized by the Xu family last year. Although he was an illegitimate son, the Xu family was still a powerful elite household in A-City.

Just as the words left Jianan’s mouth, Xu Zhimian received a call from his father, Xu Congfang. A flicker of hope rose in his heart: “I don’t know, but Xu Congfang is calling me.”

“Pick it up first.”

“Xu Zhimian? What have you done? The Fu family has come to break off the engagement!” Xu Congfang’s voice, thick with rage, blasted through the receiver. “Who is that Alpha in the video?! We finally got you an alliance with the Fu family, and what are you doing? Has the Xu family mistreated you this past year?! I am so disappointed! Don’t even think about coming back to this house; I don’t want to see you!”

“But, I…” Before he could finish, the line went dead with a beep.

The last shred of hope was crushed bit by bit. Xu Zhimian bit his lip and hung up, his eyes clouding with mist.

He shouldn’t have… he shouldn’t have held even a sliver of hope for this Xu family that had abandoned him for twenty years!

Tears fell one by one. Xu Zhimian closed his eyes. The wind howled, and he felt cold from head to toe, yet his heart remained frozen.

What was he supposed to do?