The Top Star Fell for Me at First Sight After I Transmigrated as a Dog-Like Streamer - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Spreading Rumors

“What? Fooled me?” Bai Xun timely adopted a look of perfectly calibrated confusion.

“Alas, I’ve watched Congyue grow up. Do you think I don’t know what kind of person he is?” Seeing Bai Xun’s expression waver, Yu Shengguang added a layer of feigned concern and helplessness to his face. “You probably don’t know this, but originally, the Yu Group’s entertainment sector didn’t belong to him alone.”

“He monopolized family resources, poached top artists from other agencies, and once he was firmly established, he turned his back on everyone. He even threatened to send anyone who dared to eye the entertainment sector to prison.”

Yu Shengguang sighed, playing the part of an oppressed relative forced to resist. “I understand why you burst into that meeting. He must hold a high place in your heart, and you’re a grateful child. I truly can’t bear to see you kept in the dark.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Hearing him beat around the bush without hitting the point, Bai Xun’s internal irritation grew exponentially. Resistance was written all over his face.

“I imagine he told you that the person who leaked the quotes is connected to me.” Yu Shengguang rubbed his temples wearily. “After all, he just personally sent my only son—his own cousin—behind bars.”

Bai Xun hadn’t expected Yu Shengguang to bring this up so directly.

In truth, he didn’t know much about the specifics of yesterday’s leak, let alone the family connection. He had been expecting some sophisticated scheme, but the man started with a total “self-exposure.”

“I know you’ll be biased toward him. You youngsters are easily blinded by things like ‘love.’ You won’t believe me.” You Shengguang took a file from his bodyguard, stood up, and personally handed it to Bai Xun. “My son once went against everyone’s advice, braving immense pressure to expand the overseas market for him. Now that he simply wanted to return home for a bit of peace, he was discarded like a pawn. If he can treat his own blood like this, what about you?”

Quite well-prepared, Bai Xun thought, flipping through the documents with feigned doubt.

There were partial performance reports of overseas branches, authorization letters signed by Yu Congyue, and some older expense receipts.

Bai Xun felt something was off just from the first page. The first-year market share reached 16%. Referencing data from his original world, if this were trade data for the entertainment sector, it would be an incredibly high standard.

However, he searched in vain for acquisition costs or channel commission ratios. The file was full of complex-looking but hollow data records. Rather than a standard market expansion report, it looked like a brochure designed to exaggerate facts.

Flipping further, he saw a mess of “Business Entertainment Receipts.” Even the smallest amount was 110,000. More absurdly, the “clients” were all different companies, many of which had names that sounded like fly-by-night operations. It was hard to imagine achieving such high data purely through these tiny, obscure firms.

“This 110,000 is…” As a graduate in directing and editing, Bai Xun’s character was supposed to “not understand” high finance, so he expressed confusion over the amounts.

“Sigh, my son was a bit too eager for success. After all, the overseas market is unfamiliar; you have to cast a wide net to find opportunities. He paid for many of those business dinners out of his own pocket. Only when the pressure became too much did he submit some smaller amounts for reimbursement. Yet, these very things became the handle Yu Congyue used to attack him.” As if waiting for this question, Yu Shengguang gestured for him to turn the page, his tone pained.

“This is… a confession letter?” Bai Xun looked at the photocopy of the last page. it looked like a handwritten note.

“His cousin was too ambitious, and some operations weren’t ‘standard’—I admit that. But the results were plain to see. In the face of a stable market, the sacrifices made during the early stages are necessary. But Yu Congyue? To save his own face, he heartlessly sacrificed the ‘chariot’ to keep the ‘general.’ It’s truly chilling…”

Describing illegal acts as ‘non-standard’ and embezzlement as ‘necessary sacrifice’—Yu Shengguang really is a master of linguistic manipulation, Bai Xun marveled.

“But Brother Yu treats me very well. Even if he’s using me like you say, there’s nothing on me worth utilizing?” He gathered the materials together, his attitude clearly softening as he looked up at Yu Shengguang.

“Your talent and ability are outstanding. By binding you to his side and creating rumors of you ‘climbing the social ladder’ or ‘using him to get ahead,’ he can make you devote yourself to him wholeheartedly. Once you have no value left, he’ll kick you out, leaving you with nothing.” Yu Shengguang checked his watch, exchanged a look with his bodyguard, and stood up. He straightened his clothes and handed the work phone back to Bai Xun.

“I don’t want to see a truly capable young man buried. If you are willing to cooperate with me, I will give you absolute creative freedom and a smooth path to the top. It’s late; if you change your mind, contact me anytime.”

…

A few minutes after they left the ward, Matt arrived late, carrying two bags of Doufuhua. After Matt cheerfully set up the over-bed table, Bai Xun finally dared to pull the phone out from under his pillow.

He unlocked the screen, confirmed the call had been active the whole time, and let out a long breath of relief. He quickly sent a message to Yu Congji.

Bai: Hang up first. I need to check the room. Tell your brother, but don’t alert the enemy yet. Yu Congji: OK.

Yu Shengguang’s bodyguards had checked the room earlier. Based on Bai Xun’s years of watching thrillers, there had to be a catch.

He looked at Matt. Recalling their time together and how Matt had saved his life yesterday—combined with the strict non-disclosure agreements Tracy had mentioned regarding the secretarial pool—he decided to take a gamble.

“Matt, can you help me prop up the head of the bed? Lying down is a bit tiring.” He called Matt over while showing him the text in his notes app:

[Yu Congyue’s grand-uncle was just here. I suspect there’s a listening device in the room. Act natural.]

Matt’s expression shifted drastically. His eyes swept over Bai Xun to ensure there were no new injuries before he pulled a device the size of a USB drive from his pocket. He turned it on and began scanning the corners of the room.

“If I’d known, I would’ve left earlier. I was stuck in traffic for over half an hour. At least the Doufuhua is still hot; try some.” Matt stopped by the guest bed on the left. The device in his hand was flashing a steady red. He searched the inner frame of the bed and found a small, round object about 4cm in diameter. He took a photo, sent it to someone, and then returned to Bai Xun. He showed him the photo and nodded.

As expected.

Bai Xun picked up the bowl and took a sip. The savory flavor of the seaweed and dried shrimp, steeped for half an hour, was rich and delicious. He let out a satisfied sigh, his mood improving instantly.

“The savory one is really good. Matt, sure you don’t want any?”

Matt waved his hand. “I’m a die-hard ‘Sweet Party’ member. Savory is for things with meat, like wontons. I can’t even imagine what salty tofu tastes like.”

Just then, a message from Yu Congji popped up—an audio file. Bai Xun saved it and replied with “Great job.”

Yu Congji: Obviously. If I couldn’t understand a hint that big, I’d have to go to the ENT department to get my hearing checked. Yu Congji: But he actually dared to slander Second Brother like that. He’s a pro at twisting black and white. [Angry emoji] Xiaobai: It’s not a bad thing. Since he delivered himself to my door, there’s no reason for me not to take the bait, right?

The other side typed for a long time. Bai Xun had finished his first bowl by the time the reply arrived.

Yu Congji: I still think you should let Second Brother handle this. That old fox is hard to deal with. Xiaobai: One step at a time. Brother Yu’s recent anxiety is probably because of these things, right? Yu Congji: Wait, I never told you that? Xiaobai: You just did. [Shrug emoji] Yu Congji: You played me. Trust is gone. Xiaobai: Heehee ^ ^

Actually, on the day the Eldest Brother’s family left, Bai Xun—perhaps thanks to his canine instincts—had sensed a clear anxiety in Yu Congyue. It wasn’t there before dinner, so it must have come from the conversation between the two brothers afterward.

Knowing Yu Congyue, if he asked directly, he’d likely get a response like “It’s nothing, don’t worry.”

So Bai Xun chose to feign ignorance. As expected, the answer delivered itself to his door.

Seeing him finish, Matt quickly cleared the table and sat on the guest chair, chin in hand, looking at his phone. He chatted idly with Bai Xun, but his typing speed never slowed.

Matt: Boss is still in a meeting, but Little President Yu has already gone over. Don’t worry. Xiaobai: I’m not worried about that. Congji is reliable when it counts. Matt: True. Plus, he is keeping an eye on him. Just focus on your recovery; we’ll handle the rest.

Bai Xun gave Matt an “OK” sign and opened a short-video app. He scrolled idly, not taking in a single word.

Everyone was telling him to stay out of it. But since it involved Yu Congyue, anyone in his position would find it hard to ignore the slander and schemes directed at someone they cared about.

From beginning to end, he had never doubted Yu Congyue’s devotion. Because of that, even if there were some “other purpose,” he didn’t care.

At least for now, he had an independent, stable income, no worries about food or clothes, a car, and free time. He was doing what he excelled at and even had the energy to do more meaningful content. What more could he want?

While Matt was out taking a call, Bai Xun took out Yu Shengguang’s business card, saved the number, and tore it into shreds before throwing it in the trash.

Just as he was brainstorming his next move, a notification popped up on his phone.

Director Shi: Xiaobai, are you busy lately? I see you’re doing very well; the teachers and children at the orphanage are all happy for you. I wanted to ask if it’s convenient for you to visit recently?