97: Chapter 97 Breakfast: Hot Pot Broth

Minister Xu Jianguo stood up straight, nodding repeatedly at the empty air.

"Yes, yes."

"Understood. I'll take the first flight tomorrow morning to meet up."

"Goodbye, Chief."

Click. He replaced the receiver on the landline.

Minister Xu Jianguo raised his hand and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. There was no sweat, but his skin felt hot.

He paced back and forth behind his large office desk.

"Li Li, that kid..." He drew out his tone, slapping his hand onto the proposal for Brave Blue Friends. "His blessings are still to come."

He pressed the intercom on his desk.

"Xiao Zhou, book the earliest flight to Chengdu tomorrow morning. Yes, I'm going personally."

He cut the connection.

Minister Xu Jianguo walked to the window and looked at the continuous streetlights of the Imperial Capital outside.

With the higher-ups intervening directly, the nature of the situation had completely changed. This time, Hengtai Construction hadn't stepped on an ant; they had stepped on an anti-tank mine.

The Imperial Capital, headquarters of Shenghui Entertainment.

The top-floor conference room was brightly lit.

Four people sat around the long conference table.

Zhou Hui held a cigar, the ash falling in clumps onto the expensive wool carpet.

Su Wantang sat opposite him, her eye makeup half-ruined, clutching a crumpled tissue in her hand.

To her left was her agent, Sun Kezheng, and to her right was her assistant, Wen Di.

The big screen projected the TikTok teaser that Li Li had just posted.

"Three o'clock tomorrow afternoon, don't miss the livestream."

Zhou Hui exhaled a puff of smoke, his fingers tapping heavily on the table.

"He specifically named you for a livestream link-up. Su Wantang, did you leave anything incriminating in his hands?"

Su Wantang raised her head, gripping the tissue tightly.

"No. Absolutely not. We were together for four years; he was dirt poor, where would he get the money to buy a voice recorder or a camera? I knew his phone password, and it was squeaky clean."

Sun Kezheng opened the tablet in his hand, his fingertips swiping quickly across the screen.

"Lu Cheng has resigned, so we need to find someone else to cover publicity. The current public opinion online is in our favor; Hengtai Construction has thrown money into buying hot searches, and Li Li is now like a rat crossing the street, hated by everyone."

Sun Kezheng pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses.

"But this guy Li Li, his performance in the Middle East was too bizarre. We can't let our guard down. Su Wantang, think carefully—is there any written record? Chat screenshots?"

Su Wantang shook her head repeatedly.

"Really, there isn't. The day I proposed the breakup was during a livestream, in front of hundreds of thousands of people. He didn't say a word and just left. He hasn't contacted me since."

Wen Di leaned over and handed her a cup of warm water.

"Sister Tangtang, drink some water. Li Li is just bluffing. As an orphan with no background, what does he have to fight the Company with? He's being attacked by the whole internet right now; he's probably just trying to drag you down with him."

Zhou Hui stubbed out his cigar in the crystal ashtray.

"It's been two hours. Let's finalize the strategy."

He stood up, supporting himself with both hands on the table.

"Tomorrow at 3 PM, he'll livestream, and you will too. Initiate the link-up to make yourself look stronger. For things that can't be proven, bite down hard. If he can't produce evidence, you just cry. Netizens sympathize with the weak, especially beautiful women who have been victims of domestic violence. As long as you insist he abused you, he won't be able to shake off the accusation of embezzling Qingcheng Orphanage assets. Once his character is ruined, no one will believe anything he says."

Su Wantang nodded.

"I understand. I've prepared eye drops."

The meeting ended.

Zhou Hui and Wen Di left first.

Sun Kezheng gathered the documents, his movements pausing.

"Su Wantang."

Su Wantang turned her head.

"Everything you said in the livestream today—domestic violence, threats..." Sun Kezheng stared at her. "It's all true, right?"

Su Wantang's breath hitched for a moment.

Half a second.

She nodded vigorously.

"Of course it's true. Director Sun, even you don't believe me?"

Sun Kezheng withdrew his gaze; his eyes had felt uncomfortable, so he had closed them for half a second, which just happened to cover up that split-second of stiffness.

"I believe you. Go back and apply a face mask so you look better on camera tomorrow."

Sun Kezheng picked up the files and walked out of the conference room.

The door closed.

Su Wantang slumped in her chair and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.

No evidence, absolutely no evidence.

She repeated in her heart.

7:00 AM the next morning.

A thin layer of mist rose at the foot of Mount Qingcheng.

Outside the large iron gate of Qingcheng Orphanage, the mist was dispersed by the body heat of dozens of people.

Long lenses and short cannons, phone stands, fill lights.

Colorful hair, bizarre outfits.

They were all internet celebrities here to leech off the traffic.

"Family! Look here! This is the orphanage that Li Li forcibly swallowed!" A yellow-haired man roared at the camera, spit flying everywhere.

A woman in a camisole next to him twisted her waist.

"Li Li, get out of Mount Qingcheng! Give the children back their home! Thanks for the Sky-Piercing Arrow, Big Brother!"

A bald, burly man held up a selfie stick, jamming the lens into the gap of the iron fence.

"Old buddies, see that? It's quiet inside; I bet the kids have all been kicked out! What a black-hearted capitalist!"

The security guard, wearing a red armband, held the iron gate tightly.

"Back off! Everyone back off! There are still children inside!"

The old man's voice was completely hoarse, and the walkie-talkie in his hand crackled.

"Teacher Wang! Did you call the police? I can't hold them off much longer!"

The crowd outside the iron gate began to shove.

"Li Li, come out!"

"Li Li, you coward! You have the guts to embezzle assets but no guts to face people?"

"Break the door open! We want to go in and see what kind of pig slop the children are eating!"

Several burly men began to ram the door with their shoulders.

The iron gate emitted an unbearable creaking sound.

The chains were pulled taut.

Inside the courtyard.

The children, carrying their schoolbags, hid behind the pillars of the main building, afraid to come out.

Jiajia grabbed Li Hong's hem and wailed.

"Sister Li Hong, they are bad people!"

Li Hong shielded Jiajia behind her, gripping a broom tightly in her hand.

"Don't be afraid. Sister is here."

Where was Li Li?

On the third floor of the main building, in the small room at the very end.

The curtains were drawn tight.

Li Li lay sprawled on the single bed.

The quilt was kicked onto the floor.

Last night, he had drawn hotel layout plans on scratch paper and calculated accounts until 4 AM.

Steel bars, cement, labor, landscaping.

The future of 350 children was all pressed onto that tattered notebook.

A loud crashing sound came from downstairs as the door was rammed.

Li Li turned over.

He pulled the pillow over his ears.

One second. Two seconds.

The yellow-haired man downstairs took out a megaphone.

"Li Li! You conscience-less beast—"

It was extremely piercing.

Li Li lifted the pillow.

He sat up.

He scratched his bird's nest of hair.

He habitually rotated his left wrist half a turn.

His bones made a crisp click.

He threw off the quilt and got out of bed.

He walked to the window.

He pulled it open a crack.

Downstairs, it was a swarming mass of people, a dance of demons.

He turned and walked into the bathroom.

He turned on the faucet, cupped cold water, and splashed it on his face.

Water droplets dripped down his chin into the collar of his frayed T-shirt.

He rubbed his face roughly with a towel.

He grabbed the phone from the table.

The battery was at 100%.

He pushed open the bedroom door and went downstairs.

The insults from outside echoed in the stairwell.

Teacher Wang was pacing around anxiously, holding her phone.

"The police said the road is blocked and the cars can't get in; it will take another twenty minutes!"

Seeing Li Li come down, Teacher Wang grabbed him.

"You absolutely cannot go out! This group of people is crazy!"

Li Li brushed her hand away.

"Have the children eaten breakfast?"

"They ate, but they are afraid to go to school. They are all stuck in the cafeteria."

Li Li nodded.

"Where is Zhang Qiang?"

"He's in the backyard chopping wood."

"Call him here."

A minute later, Zhang Qiang came running over, carrying an axe.

"Brother Li! Who are we chopping?"

Li Li slapped the back of his head.

"Put the axe down. It's a society ruled by law; do you want to end up in jail?"

Zhang Qiang aggrievedly threw the axe on the ground.

"Go to the kitchen and bring out the leftover Hotpot base from yesterday."

Zhang Qiang was stunned.

"Why bring that out?"

"Go."

Zhang Qiang ran off.

Li Li walked to the main gate.

The old man was still holding the gate tightly.

Outside the iron fence, the yellow-haired man's megaphone was almost pressed against the old man's face.

"Get lost, you old thing! Harboring a criminal is the same crime!"

Li Li stepped forward.

He pressed down on the old man's shoulder.

"Uncle, take a break."

The old man stepped back.

Li Li stood behind the iron gate.

Through the fence, he looked at the dozens of people outside.

The crowd went quiet for a second.

Then, an even crazier roar erupted.

"Li Li is out!"

"Film it! Get a close-up!"

Dozens of phones were aimed straight at him.

Flashes lit up in a continuous streak.

The yellow-haired man raised the megaphone.

"Li Li! You finally dared to come out! Do you have any conscience toward the orphanage that raised you!"

Li Li ignored him.

He turned to look at Zhang Qiang, who was running over.

Zhang Qiang was holding a large stainless steel basin.

Inside was the Hotpot base from yesterday, boiled to a bright red, floating with a thick layer of beef tallow.

Having cooled overnight, it had solidified into a dark red slab.

Li Li took the large basin.

He held it with one hand.

"Open the gate."

The old man's hands trembled as he took out the key.

Click.

The lock opened.

Li Li raised his foot and kicked the iron gate open.

The gate swung wide open.

The crowd outside took half a step back.

The yellow-haired man swallowed, forcing himself not to retreat.

"You... what do you want to do? Hitting people is against the law!"

Li Li held the basin and took a step forward.

"It's quite cold today."

He tossed the basin in his hand.

"Let me treat you all to breakfast."

He put strength into his arm.

He splashed the large basin forward.

The dark red beef tallow base slabs scattered in the air.

Splash!

The largest piece slapped directly onto the yellow-haired man's face.

The remaining chunks rained down onto the faces, clothes, and phone lenses of the nearby internet celebrities.

The pungent smell of chili mixed with the fishy scent of beef tallow exploded.

"Ah—"

The yellow-haired man screamed.

The spicy oil got into his eyes.

He dropped the megaphone, covered his face with both hands, and rolled on the ground.

The crowd exploded.

Screams and curses filled the air.

Li Li threw the empty basin on the ground.

Clang.

,

He clapped his hands.

"Scatter, don't block my children from going to school."

The bald, burly man wiped the beef tallow off his face, furious.

"You dare to lay a hand on us! My followers have recorded it all! Just wait to go to jail!"

Li Li pointed to the surveillance camera overhead.

"Gathering a crowd to storm a child protection institution starts at three years for the crime of picking quarrels and provoking trouble; posting the video online is perfect evidence."

The bald man followed his finger.

The dark camera lens was pointed right at them.

He choked on his words.

Several police cars with flashing lights turned in from the intersection.

The piercing siren cut through the morning air.

The internet celebrities panicked.

They scrambled to escape, clutching their phone stands.

The yellow-haired man was still rolling on the ground, but was hoisted up by two companions and dragged away.

In less than a minute.

The front gate was clean.

Only red oil and a few crushed fill lights remained on the ground.

Li Li turned and looked at the children hiding behind the pillars.

"Come out and line up. Time for school."

The children poked their heads out.

Jiajia was the first to run out, carrying her small pink schoolbag.

"Brother Li Li is so amazing!"

Li Li ruffled her hair.

"Go on, be careful on the way."

10:00 AM.

The storm on the internet not only didn't stop, but intensified.

The video of Li Li splashing the Hotpot base was edited and posted online.

Title: "Madman Li Li Violently Beats Enthusiastic Netizens!"

The comment section was filled with abuse.

[Too arrogant! Must be severely punished!]

[My heart goes out to the brothers who went to the scene and got beaten for justice!]

[Everyone go report his livestream at 3 PM to get him banned!]

Qingcheng Orphanage main building, finance office.

Li Li sat at the desk, looking through the documents Teacher Wang had copied.

Donation details, bank statements, land appraisal reports, Mother Zhang's notarized will.

Every single one was clear and distinct.

The phone vibrated.

A message from Director Pei Zhao.

[Li Li, the ByteDance executives have finished their meeting. You must produce ironclad evidence during this afternoon's livestream; otherwise, the contracts for Busy Roommates and Brave Blue Friends will be voided, and we will pursue the breach of contract damages to the end.]

Li Li finished reading and placed the phone face down on the table.

"Teacher Wang."

"Yes."

"Scan these documents and save them onto a USB drive."

Teacher Wang took the documents, her hands still shaking.

"Li Li, the people online are saying such terrible things. Maybe we should issue a statement."

"No one reads statements. Everyone just wants entertainment."

Li Li stood up and walked to the window.

"At 3 PM, I'll give them some big entertainment."

2:55 PM.

TikTok platform.

Su Wantang's livestream room opened early.

Title: [Truth and Tears, I Am Not Afraid of Capital].

One minute after starting, the number of viewers exceeded one million.

Su Wantang was wearing a simple white shirt, her hair tied loosely behind her head.

Her eyes were slightly red, and she wasn't wearing eyeliner.

She looked pitiful.

"Thank you all for your concern. I started this stream today because I want to tell everyone not to be fooled by certain people's fake personas."

The comments scrolled frantically.

[Tangtang, don't be afraid! We will protect you!]

[Boycott the domestic abuser!]

Wen Di was off-camera, holding up a cue card.

It read: "Cry. Accuse him of being a control freak."

Su Wantang pulled out a tissue and pressed it to the corner of her eye.

"For those four years, I lived in fear every day. He wouldn't let me talk to male colleagues, wouldn't let me wear short skirts..."

On the other side.

2:59 PM.

Li Li's livestream room opened.

Title: [Settling Accounts].

No fill lights, no beauty filters.

The background was the mottled red brick wall of Qingcheng Orphanage.

Li Li was wearing that same frayed old vest, sitting on a plastic bench.

The moment the stream started, the number of viewers soared to five million.

The comments were dense, filled with dirty insults.

Li Li adjusted the phone stand.

"Good afternoon."

He looked at the screen.

"Those who are cursing, take a break. Aren't your fingers tired?"

The comments became even more aggressive.

3:00 PM.

Li Li clicked the link-up request.

He entered Su Wantang's ID.

Send.

A buffering circle popped up in the center of the screen.

Connecting.