After being universally criticized online, I went viral on military-themed variety shows.

Chapter 578 Statement Controversy: Adding Insults Only to Be Resisted

"Taki, when did you get here?"

The wheelchair rolled over the plain carpet on the floor. Duanmu Long pressed down on her great-aunt's hand that was wiping away her tears, sniffed, and choked out, "When you said that Dad went astray..."

That means it's been a while since I arrived.

"What exactly did Dad do? And what did he do to Chengxiao..."

"I was planning to tell you about these things in a couple of days."

"Tell me, I can handle it."

Duanmu Rongrong touched the dampness under her palm, closed her eyes, and turned to look at Li Chengxiao, "Chengxiao..."

At his second brother's signal, Xiao Wu closed the box and picked it up. Li Chengxiao picked up the tea beside him and drank it in one gulp. As he put down the teacup, he stood up and said, "I need to take the box with me. I'll head back now."

“Alright, I will announce the arrangements for the Duanmu family today. Chengxiao, you are the junior that Xiaosen valued most during his lifetime. The people under you will be more accepting of handing over the power of the Duanmu family, and the other families should not object. But what Xiaosen did, let him remain hidden from the public eye from now on, is that alright?”

“A man dies like a lamp going out.”

Li Chengxiao nodded slightly to Duanmu Rongrong, then turned and walked out of the hall with Xiao Wu.

Through her teary eyes, Duanmu Long watched his departing figure, a strange premonition creeping into her heart.

With Chengxiao leaving, it's likely he'll never set foot in the Duanmu family again.

She pursed her lips tightly to avoid the impulse to call out to stop them.

And even if she spoke up, that person probably wouldn't turn back.

Before noon, a statement from the Duanmu family shook the entire capital city.

The family group chat was flooded with messages, and people even forgot to eat lunch.

"WTF! The Duanmu family has handed over all their business from the past few years to Li Chengxiao?"

"Is the Li family planning to form a marriage alliance with the Duanmu family?"

"Then the Gao family's schemes have all come to naught!"

"Didn't they say Li Chengxiao already has a girlfriend, a minor celebrity?"

"How can a minor celebrity compare to the power of the Duanmu family? Even a fool would know which one to choose. Besides, she's just a minor celebrity with no background; they can just keep her on the side. Would they make a scene if they found out?"

"But I don't see any mention of a marriage alliance between the two families in this statement."

"Are you stupid? The Duanmu family isn't without people. Although Duanmu Rongrong and Duanmu Long are an old man and a young woman, the Duanmu family still has its foundation. It's not like they can't hold on for a while. At worst, they can find someone suitable to cultivate from a collateral branch. There's no need to give the entire Duanmu family away to an outsider. What else could it be but a marriage alliance?"

“Li Chengxiao isn’t exactly an outsider, is he? We all thought Duanmu Sen was grooming Li Chengxiao as his son-in-law. The people under the Duanmu family all respect him, so he should be the one who can take control most smoothly.”

"But the Li family, including Li Chengxiao, didn't attend Duanmu Sen's memorial service the other day. What's the explanation for that?"

"I have a feeling that there's something more to this than we know."

"All I know is that regardless of whether the two families will unite through marriage or for other reasons, since Duanmu Rongrong has chosen to entrust the power of the Duanmu family to Li Chengxiao, we don't need to think about eating meat and drinking soup anymore. Let's just wash up and go to sleep."

"We're alright, but the Gao family is probably the one whose defenses have been breached now."

"Rumor has it that Gao Songchen, upon learning of Li Chengxiao's return to the capital, was so anxious that he attempted to forcibly take Miss Duanmu away, but ended up getting a concussion from her outburst."

"Wow, is this melon authentic?"

“My family owns a villa in the Anhu Villa District. A servant witnessed Gao Songchen being carried to the hospital for emergency treatment by his bodyguard. Afterwards, Duanmu Rongrong and Li Chengxiao personally came to pick up Duanmu Long. If you don’t believe me, you can invite Gao Songchen out for a get-together, and I guarantee he will refuse.”

"I'll try it right away."

"Snapped!"

The phone slammed against the wall of the VIP ward and shattered into pieces when it hit the ground.

The two bodyguards standing at the door shrank back, but remembering their duties, they still turned their heads and cautiously looked into the ward.

When she saw her young master's face turn dark red with anger, and he was sitting on the hospital bed, swaying precariously, she could only muster up her courage and walk in. "Young master, the doctor said it's best if you don't get angry. Keeping calm and peaceful is good for you..." She swallowed the rest of her words when those bloodshot eyes glared at her.

"Go and find out if Li Chengxiao and Duanmu Long are getting married!"

Bodyguard: So you haven't given up yet?

“Young Master, our Gao family can’t compete with the Li family, not to mention that it was Old Madam Duanmu who personally issued the statement. This matter is already a foregone conclusion.”

The implication is that you should give up on this idea and stop bothering with it!
"Get lost! Just investigate if I tell you to!"

He knew the Gao family couldn't compete with the Li family; all he wanted to know was whether Duanmu Long would marry Li Chengxiao.

As long as Duanmu Long cannot marry into the Li family and loses the Duanmu family as a backer, he vaguely touched the wound that was still wrapped in bandages.

He will definitely avenge this incident of being smashed!
This is the first time I've ever been so badly injured in my life.

The bodyguard could only reluctantly reply "Yes," and was about to turn around and leave when he was stopped again.

"Oh, right, also check on Li Chengxiao's girlfriend who's a celebrity."

Bodyguard: "Huh?"

What are they trying to do now?

"Go quickly, and don't come back if you can't find it!"

If a naive and inexperienced minor celebrity found out that her boyfriend had secretly married a woman of equal social standing, she would surely make a scene.

Although he couldn't deal with Li Chengxiao, he could still annoy Li Chengxiao, which was quite satisfying.

Although the bodyguards haven't yet been able to find out whether the Li family and the Duanmu family intend to form a marriage alliance, investigating a minor celebrity in the entertainment industry is something they can easily do with the Gao family's reputation and money.

Not long after, the information they had found was compiled and delivered to Gao Songchen.

The accompanying brief explanation: "That minor celebrity is named Jiang Hanying. She's only a third-tier actress. She was previously heavily criticized online, but she recently cleared her name. She's currently filming in Queshan. She met Li Chengxiao on a variety show. As for her family background... well, you could say she has none. She herself mentioned this on the show."

Gao Songchen's gaze fell on the high-resolution photo printed in his hand.

Even with his extensive experience with women, he had to admit that this woman was truly stunning.

"That guy surnamed Li has a really good eye."

No wonder she's been single all these years and suddenly fell head over heels for a minor celebrity.

He changed his mind.

Why not try taking advantage of the situation again?

Once Li Chengxiao takes over the Duanmu family, he'll find himself betrayed by his girlfriend, and then he'll be the one who loses face.

Thinking about getting the bodyguard's phone, she entered the number she found in the profile and started editing a message: "Did you know your boyfriend is about to get engaged to someone else?"

After a short wait, his phone vibrated. Gao Songchen eagerly opened it, already planning how to reply to the impatient questions. There, below the message he had just sent, was a simple reply: [Idiot, get lost!]

Gao Songchen's face twitched, and he looked up at the bodyguard standing to the side with a fierce expression. "Are you sure this is Jiang Hanying's number?"

bodyguard:"……"

Can he say that he's not entirely sure himself now?

Wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, he cautiously suggested, "Why don't you send another message to confirm?"

Gao Songchen: [You're Jiang Hanying, right? I know your boyfriend, Li Chengxiao, isn't that right?]

After waiting a moment longer, a message came back: [You little bastard, get the hell out of here!]

"Snapped!"

Another phone was first mounted on the wall and then fell to the ground, rendering it unusable.

Bodyguard: That's his phone!