Marry a female star at a bargain price

Chapters 284 and 285. Ending the Mad Woman's Reign, A New Direction for Career (Two Chapters Combined, 13,000 words)

three days later.

The provincial special investigation team released a follow-up report on the investigation, announcing the results of the handling of Han Haijun and Liu Liyun.

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Because this announcement involves three main figures, it has caused a huge stir.

The outcome was as follows: Han Haijun received a severe warning, Liu Liyun was not punished, and Lin Xiao was officially promoted to the rank of section chief according to the existing promotion procedures, pending further appointment by the organization.

The three people correspond to the three outcomes: bad, medium, and good.

Of course, this is only on the surface.

In fact, Han Haijun was supposed to be dismissed due to work reasons, but because of Lin Xiao's "do-or-die" stance at the press conference, he successfully negotiated terms with the organization.

Therefore, the dismissal was changed to a serious warning.

Netizens were unaware of the term "dismissal," so what they saw was that Han Haijun was given a severe warning for taking his daughter shopping at a luxury store (even though he paid for it himself), arranging for his son-in-law, who was sent to the countryside, to work in his jurisdiction, and failing to take the necessary precautions regarding his son-in-law's provincial-level advanced award.

To be honest, this punishment is very severe.

Based on the above facts, the organization originally did not intend to take any action against him, but only to announce the decision to remove him from the post of mayor of Yizhou City in order to silence public opinion.

It is clear that although the above-mentioned facts are in violation of regulations, they do not violate fundamental principles.

But netizens don't care about any of that.

In the past two weeks, the matter concerning their family has caused a great uproar. No matter what punishment the organization gives, everyone will feel that it is too lenient.

There is certainly some antagonism between officials and the people involved.

However, just as the province initially planned, only the decision to "remove Han Haijun from his post as mayor of Yizhou City" can quell public anger and make the people feel that "the matter has been handled properly" and "the organization has shown courage and responsibility."

Of course, the organization will not be easily swayed by public opinion.

But this incident has blown up so much that it has reached the level of widespread attention and heated discussion across the internet.

Even if Nanzhou Province respects the facts, it has no choice but to severely punish Lin Xiao and his wife Han Haijun in order to quell public opinion.

This explains why the provincial special investigation team released its investigation results in just five days after launching the investigation, and why it directly stated in the results that Han Haijun and Liu Liyun would be dealt with.

This is actually not in accordance with the procedure.

Even if something really needs to be done, it's a matter for the discipline inspection department; the investigation team has no right or qualification to decide whether or not to take action against the officials.

They only have the duty and authority to investigate.

This shows how significant this matter is and how much pressure the authorities are under to respond to public concerns.

The official disciplinary decision has now been released.

Regarding the South Korean Navy's position, some netizens are still not convinced.

However, most netizens felt it was enough, and some even thought the punishment was too harsh.

The turning point in public sentiment came at Lin Xiao's press conference.

Resigning from the entertainment industry and leaving the industry with half a song – this series of moves stunned netizens, instantly shifting their sentiment from "this whole family is despicable and no good" to "after investigating for so long, they found nothing; it seems they really are innocent."

Furthermore, the press conference successfully diverted netizens' attention.

The focus of the matter shifted from how the Han Navy couple gave Lin Xiao preferential treatment to the gimmick of Lin Xiao writing lyrics and composing music and singing it himself.

The first part concerns matters within the system, while the second part concerns matters within the entertainment industry.

Their influence is incomparable.

Given all of the above, netizens can generally accept the South Korean Navy's decision to handle the situation.

The same applies to Liu Liyun.

However, her problem is that the investigation results a few days ago clearly stated that she should be dealt with, but now she is not being punished.

It's like contradicting yourself.

Fortunately, this matter can be explained in a plausible way.

The reason Liu Liyun was dealt with earlier was because during Lin Xiao's promotion to deputy section chief, Liu Liyun, as his mother-in-law, failed to report their relationship to the organization in a timely manner and did not take the initiative to avoid the situation, which raised suspicions of "using public office for private gain".

However, the outcome of this investigation involved posting all the relevant meeting minutes and documents related to Lin Xiao's promotion at the street office online as supporting evidence.

This is proven by the documents.

The promotion of section-level cadres that year was planned from May to November, taking half a year, and Lin Xiao was involved throughout the entire process.

Lin Xiao and Han Xixi registered their marriage on October 8th.

These documents prove that Liu Liyun did not abuse her position as the top leader for personal gain or illegally promote her son-in-law.

After all, before the promotion process started, Lin Xiao was not her son-in-law, and he hadn't even met Han Xixi yet.

Therefore, there is no violation of regulations.

Of course, you could say that Liu Liyun had "ulterior motives" and had her eye on Lin Xiao, this outstanding and handsome young man, from the very beginning, wanting to bring him home as her son-in-law.

But judging from Lin Xiao's current achievements and the development of his relationship with Han Xixi, it is enough to prove that Liu Liyun has a discerning eye and makes a quick and accurate match.

After all, from a mother's perspective, it's perfectly normal to want to matchmake a good young man for your daughter.

Otherwise, those matchmaking corners in city parks wouldn't have a single young person; it would only be elderly men and women busy with it. What would they be after?

It's human nature!

Given all of the above, the organization has waived the punishment for Liu Liyun, and netizens are completely accepting of this decision.

The focus of this outcome is on Lin Xiao.

The reason why netizens were able to easily let Han Haijun and Liu Liyun off the hook was because Lin Xiao's part was too eye-catching.

The announcement immediately went viral across the internet.

The nationwide online frenzy that had just subsided has started again. Discussions about "Lin Xiao's new job" are booming on all major social media platforms, once again dominating the entire internet with their popularity.

Of course, neither a chorus of praise nor a chorus of criticism would be enough to generate such widespread attention and participation.

The reason why the whole internet is so enthusiastic is that this matter is highly controversial, with opinions varying widely, and the number of people holding opposing views is surprisingly evenly split.

Only when the two sides are evenly matched can they argue heatedly online, easily achieving nationwide attention, participation, and celebration.

Lin Xiao glanced at the comments and was startled by the level of attention.

"Wait, what happened to resigning? How did it turn into a promotion?"

"The city is full of tricks, I want to go back to the countryside!"

"This is such a slap in the face! He was so resolute in saying he would resign at the press conference, and now he's changing his mind so easily?"

"So everything they said at the press conference was just bullshit?"

"That's outrageous! You guys don't really think he can just decide whether or not to resign, do you?"

"Some people shouldn't be so righteous! You think it's great to have corrupt officials on your foreheads, but you're all hoping for this capable, talented, and ambitious young cadre to resign!"

"I don't care whether Lin Xiao resigns or not, I only care whether he continues to write songs!"

"If resigning doesn't count, then leaving the industry doesn't count either, right? (lol)"

"Ma Yao fans are ecstatic!"

"No gimmicks, let's analyze this seriously. Lin Xiao not only didn't resign but was promoted, which means he was probably summoned by his superiors and an agreement was reached. After all, he's so popular right now; even a casual use of him would be a valuable asset to Nanzhou Province, not to mention his own abilities. The organization definitely won't let him resign; in fact, they'll continue to explore his musical talents, on the condition that Han Haijun and Liu Liyun be treated leniently. So it's unlikely he'll leave the music industry, which is undoubtedly great news for us bystanders who don't care about politics and only care about romance!"

"To be honest, don't you all think Lin Xiao is too scheming? I don't deny his ability and talent, but to be promoted two levels in two years, and even then, it's an exceptional promotion. No matter how capable he is, he simply couldn't have done it without the help of his parents-in-law..."

"It's terrifying to think about! So Lin Xiao's whirlwind marriage to Han Xixi wasn't necessarily because he really loved her; it was more about leveraging his in-laws' resources to help him get promoted. Similarly, his having Han Xixi have a child so quickly was also to solidify their marital relationship and his own position within the family..."

"Oh my god, I'm sweating bullets! That was terrifying!"

"I've always thought he's very calculating! Judging from his performance at the press conference, Han Xixi was completely infatuated with him, utterly captivated and completely under his control. But Lin Xiao was completely at ease throughout, showing no fear of the camera whatsoever, which is illogical. Even if his profession gives him a talent for this, let's not forget that he previously refused to show his face as the mysterious musician 'Ma Yao,' always claiming to be introverted and afraid of the camera. His current behavior is completely different!"

"In my judgment, he is indeed talented and capable, but he is also cunning and ambitious. He's a ruthless person!"

"Oh my god, reading the comments gave me goosebumps. As a fan of Xixi, I'm really worried about our little white rabbit. Will this big bad wolf eat her up and leave not even bones?"

"There's no need for that! Without Lin Xiao writing songs, your Han Xixi would have faded into obscurity long ago. It's hard to say whether you'd even become a fan of her!"

"Exactly! Besides, Han Xixi may seem naive and innocent, but do you think her parents, who are both bosses, are pushovers? Don't forget, Lin Xiao worked under Han Xixi's mother for over four years before being brought home to be arranged for his daughter. It's like he's already been put through four years of scrutiny by his mother-in-law before he even met her. If he wasn't a good person, they wouldn't have brought him home at all!"

"You guys have watched too many brainless idol dramas. You think all the male leads are domineering CEOs, and you don't like the beautiful, tall, and equally well-off second female lead. You only like the plain, chubby, and unattractive female lead. Sorry, this isn't an idol drama. This is real life. Feelings and interests are inseparable!"

"Yes! Humans are complex creatures. If Lin Xiao didn't love Han Xixi, he would never have given up the temptation of huge sums of money to write songs just for her. You don't know, after 'Ma Yao' became famous, his bargaining power as a musician has reached the top level. If he wanted, he could sell any song for a million dollars. Don't tell me he only wants to be an official and doesn't like money. I don't believe there is such a person in the world! So, can you say that he doesn't truly love Han Xixi?"

Why can't we admit that love and the exchange of benefits can happen simultaneously?

"You guys are so boring! What does it matter to you whether someone is in love or not? It's not like they're inviting you to listen to noises under their bed!"

"Exactly, all I care about is when the official version of 'Thousands of Mountains and Rivers' will be released, please!"

"..."

The online world is noisy and chaotic.

The discussions about "Lin Xiao being proven wrong," "whether Lin Xiao and Han Xixi are truly in love," and "whether Lin Xiao is scheming" are as endless as the discussions about tangerines and spicy strips among netizens.

The value of the saying "Controversy generates traffic" is still increasing.

Lin Xiao, as the main character, also got to enjoy the gossip.

I was already pleasantly surprised to see that public opinion didn't overwhelmingly criticize me for "not keeping my word," and I didn't expect so many people to speak up for me.

From a human perspective, he was the only beneficiary of this half-month-long "online storm," receiving a promotion without any disciplinary action, marrying a beautiful and wealthy woman, and enjoying success in both his career and love life...

He got all the benefits, while his parents-in-law suffered all the injustices. He went back on his word and fooled all the netizens.

Looking back on the whole process, Lin Xiao felt that he deserved to be cyberbullied and insulted.

Unexpectedly, so many people spoke up for him.

A great Confucian scholar will surely debate the classics for me?!
Lin Xiao was pleasantly surprised, and even a little touched.

However, at this moment, he certainly won't make any further response.

After all, they had achieved their goal, and the trending topic had lasted for half a month; it was time for it to cool down and subside.

His public response will only make this online frenzy even more unstoppable.

Therefore, the best approach is to remain silent and wait for the hype to cool down.

Besides, Lin Xiao didn't have time to care about trending topics.

He has more important things to do—the storm has subsided, it's time to settle scores!

……

June 2nd marks 5 days until the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao).

Lin Xiao, as a member of the Yizhou City investment promotion delegation, accompanied Han Haijun, who is the mayor during working hours and his father-in-law during non-working hours, to Haicheng to attend an investment promotion meeting.

In today's era of vigorous economic development, such investment promotion conferences are very frequent.

As the national financial and economic center, Haicheng is naturally the place where investment promotion work is most frequent and intensive.

There are so many investment promotion meetings every day that it's impossible to count them all.

Most people believe that the reason why large enterprises and capital markets are concentrated in first-tier cities like Haicheng and Jingzhou is because large cities have concentrated resources, thriving industries, and making money is as easy as breathing.

Large corporations simply don't bother investing in remote areas; they look down on such paltry sums.

However, it is not.

In today's society, involution is not only present among ordinary people, but also in the capital market.

All industries are already very crowded. While opportunities in first-tier cities may seem prosperous, the development opportunities in emerging markets are actually quite limited. On the contrary, there is still a wealth of investment and development potential in third- and fourth-tier remote cities.

This explains why investment promotion conferences are frequently held in major cities.

On one hand, grassroots development lacks funds, technology, and direction; on the other hand, capital lacks investment channels and markets.

The establishment of such a platform benefits both the government and investors, making it a true win-win situation.

but.

No matter how natural the investment promotion conference may seem, Lin Xiao's presence in Yizhou's investment promotion team appeared somewhat out of place.

In terms of fame, he is a well-known celebrity across the internet, a highly talented musician who receives much attention, and a pillar of cultural and tourism development that provincial leaders regard as a treasure.

But in terms of position, I'm sorry, you're only a section chief.

And he hasn't even taken office yet.

Therefore, Lin Xiao's appearance in the investment promotion team was completely illegitimate.

But since the mayor had spoken, no one dared to say "no."

At most, they might mutter to themselves: "This famous mayor and his son-in-law, who used to be so secretive about their relationship, are now openly dating and no longer pretending, huh? They're just brazenly bringing them around to gain experience and become familiar faces... Oh, no, you're already familiar enough!"
Although outrageous.

But when the mayor gives the order, his subordinates naturally do a great job.

It's very easy to do this in accordance with the rules; it can be summed up in two words: temporary transfer!

Lin Xiao was temporarily transferred to the city the day before, and the next day he packed his bags and went to Haicheng with the investment promotion delegation.

That evening, we checked into the hotel.

Lin Xiao met with Liang Dazuo, the new director of Fei Hong Entertainment's music department, in his room. Liang Dazuo had come to Haicheng not to join the investment promotion team and gain experience points, but for a different purpose.

The decision he made regarding his relationship with his parents-in-law is currently trending on major online platforms as one of the dozen or so trending search terms.

The level of popularity remains high.

But no matter how popular it is, it will eventually fade away.

Lin Xiao himself, his parents-in-law, and leaders at all levels in the province and city have all prepared for the hype to cool down.

It's time to clean up the mess.

The first step in cleaning up the battlefield—Lin Xiao still owes the province a complete version of "Thousands of Mountains and Rivers".

With the college entrance examination just around the corner and summer vacation approaching, the situation is very different.

The next three months will be the busiest and most prosperous period for the cultural and tourism market, excluding the National Day and May Day holidays.

The cultural and tourism market consumption in the next few months will far exceed that of the National Day and May Day holidays.

This is a fiercely contested area in the cultural tourism market!
Cultural and tourism departments across the country are putting in their best efforts, ready to compete against each other.

Nanzhou Province has abundant cultural and tourism resources, but in terms of online popularity, it is nowhere near the top of some popular cities and provinces.

I didn't have the chance before; I couldn't compete with them.

Now that the heavens have sent a Ziwei star with great fanfare, how could they not seize the opportunity? They urged Lin Xiao to release the complete version of "Thousands of Mountains and Rivers" before the summer vacation arrived and before this wave of popularity cooled down.

Lin Xiao, on the other hand, prioritizes a sense of contractual responsibility.

After all, the provincial leaders had fulfilled all the requests they had made, rescinding the decision to dismiss Han Haijun and exempting Liu Liyun from punishment, showing their sincerity.

Now he naturally has to cooperate with the provincial cultural and tourism bureau's requirements and quickly hand over the complete version.

They didn't even mention finding another singer to perform!

Because he knew that last time, he had given a passionate performance at a press conference, which made this half of the song incredibly popular and made all netizens eager to hear it.

If someone else were to sing it now...

Not only will it fail to capitalize on the hype, it will actually have the opposite effect.

Therefore, even though Lin Xiao's determination not to "debut" remains unwavering, he has no choice but to temporarily step into the music industry to record "Thousands of Mountains and Rivers" before returning to the industry.

Simply put: I'll just go in for a bit and come out right away!
It's just recording a song, it shouldn't be that complicated.

However, as an underdeveloped province in central China, Nanzhou simply lacks resources related to popular music—this is not something that can be solved by simply finding a recording studio.

Lin Xiao sang the half of the song, accompanied by guitar, without any arrangement.

The popularity was solely due to the situation.

Now that we're recording the official version, which will also be used as a promotional song for the province's cultural and tourism industry, we must ensure it's of the highest quality.

Arrangement, production, and performance—nothing can be taken lightly.

In Ninghai, apart from the guaranteed performance, none of the other requirements could be met.

Lin Xiao was too lazy to make things difficult for his superiors. He focused on providing excellent service and proactively contacted Fei Hong Entertainment for production. The provincial government didn't need to worry about anything in between; they just needed to wait for the official version of the music to be received before promoting it.

The Provincial Bureau of Culture and Tourism was naturally pleased with the outcome, and the director personally called Lin Xiao to express his gratitude.

Lin Xiao made one request: to join the Yizhou City investment promotion delegation and travel to Haicheng through official channels.

The Culture and Tourism Bureau doesn't really understand his demands.

After all, Feihong Entertainment is his personal relationship, and he can handle this privately without involving the official level.

Moreover, he went with the inspection team. Could the inspection team possibly go to an entertainment company to give him face?
Obviously impossible!
However, although the bureau chief didn't understand, he still contacted him.

After all, it's just a matter of a single sentence.

Moreover, Mayor Lin is now a hot commodity at the Provincial Bureau of Culture and Tourism; he's like a lucky star fallen from the sky.

He wanted to go to the moon, and the bureau had to find a way to make it happen, let alone just going to a mere Haicheng.

So a phone call came to the city—not from the Bureau of Culture and Tourism, of course, but from a higher authority and a higher-ranking leader.

The South Korean navy was baffled when they answered the phone.

After all, if Lin Xiao wanted to go, he could have just told me directly.

What kind of relationship do we have?

But this kid went through all that trouble, wasn't that just pointless and unnecessary?

But the South Korean Navy quickly understood Lin Xiao's intentions.

After all, they are still online and their popularity has not yet cooled down.

As the saying goes, "Once bitten by a snake, twice shy of a well rope."

Han Haijun is definitely not like that. On the contrary, after this ups and downs, he has become more open-minded and no longer hesitates when it comes to his career. He has a kind of attitude of "making the most of every day after being reborn".

But clearly, Lin Xiao, who was once a hothead, is now starting to develop in the direction of "shrewdness and cunning".

He knows he's still trending on social media, and that many netizens recognize him.

If he were to contact his father-in-law privately and ask him to take him to Haicheng, his father-in-law would certainly not refuse.

But what if someone takes a picture of you on the street and posts it online?

Inevitably, another round of rumors and gossip will circulate.

This completely contradicts their goal of "letting the heat cool down naturally".

Therefore, in order to ensure procedural justice.

Lin Xiao could only go through such a long and complicated process to gain a "legitimate" right to join the investment promotion delegation.

After hanging up the phone, Han Haijun immediately understood his son-in-law's intention.

Can't help but shake his head and smile bitterly.

He felt that the world was truly wondrous, and that life seemed to be a cycle.

Having served as an official for over twenty years, he had always been cautious and prudent, never expecting to suffer such a major setback at the age of fifty. However, thanks to his son-in-law's unconventional and "strange" tactics, he managed to turn the tide and win back some ground.

After this incident, Han Haijun became more open-minded and stopped focusing on rank and influence.

There's a strong sense of "rolling up our sleeves and working hard" now.

However, Lin Xiao was completely the opposite.

You should know that when he signed up for the "Young Seedling Program" to go to the countryside, he was very casual about it and submitted the application form without even discussing it with his parents-in-law.

That was a scholarly spirit that the South Korean Navy missed dearly.

But after experiencing many things in the past two years, this kid has learned to think things through carefully and proceed cautiously, making sure everything is done flawlessly.

The South Korean Navy saw a reflection of its past self once again.

He didn't know whether this change in his son-in-law was good or bad, and he wanted to call him to ask what he was thinking.

But he gave up before the call could be made.

After hesitating for a long time while sitting at his desk, Comrade Han suddenly realized what was going on.

"Sigh... Why did he have to try to hang out with the investment promotion team when he went to Haicheng to record a song?"

The South Korean Navy was caught off guard and quite surprised.

However, after a brief moment of thought, he made a guess, and his expression turned serious.

……

My first night in Haicheng.

Lin Xiao was still in his room, finalizing the recording schedule for the day after tomorrow with the people from Fei Hong Entertainment.

Just after he hung up the phone, his father-in-law called and asked him to come to the room.

Lin Xiao agreed and went.

Knocking on the door and entering, one finds that Han Haijun's room contains not only himself, but also a middle-aged man in a white shirt with thick, black eyebrows like Zhang Fei, shaped as if he were flying.

Even with a smile on his face, the man's appearance still exuded a sense of authority.

"Old Zhang, let me introduce you. This is my son-in-law, Lin Xiao."

Han Haijun smiled amiably, relying on their private relationship.

The middle-aged man surnamed Zhang laughed heartily: "No need for introductions, you two, father-in-law and son-in-law, are famous all over the internet now, even I, who rarely goes online, know about you..."

As he spoke, he looked Lin Xiao up and down, his eyes full of admiration.

"Old Han, your son-in-law is handsome and capable; you've really struck gold!"

"Hahaha……"

Han Haijun laughed loudly, his expression arrogant. "What, are you envious? Envy is useless. He's already our son-in-law. Let your daughter find someone else!"

Old Zhang was so angry he gasped, "You're such a pain! You know perfectly well that my daughter is my biggest worry, and you're still trying to upset me. I came here to catch up, not to get angry with you..."

The two started joking around.

Lin Xiao could tell from the way the two middle-aged men were bickering that they had a good personal relationship.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. If they didn't have a good personal relationship, they wouldn't have chosen to come to my room at night to catch up and chat during such a sensitive time when they were on a business trip.

Lin Xiao stood obediently to the side without saying a word.

After the two leaders finished joking around, Han Haijun said, "Lin Xiao, this Uncle Zhang is an old friend of mine who has worked in Nanzhou for many years. He was transferred to Haicheng a few years ago and now works in the tax bureau."

Lin Xiao was quite calm until the word "tax bureau" popped up, and he immediately became alert.

However, this emotion was quickly masked.

"Hello, Uncle Zhang!" Lin Xiao greeted him respectfully.

"Uncle Zhang, I'm three months younger than your father-in-law, and this old rascal is already trying to take advantage of me!"

Zhang Jian, with his imposing face, yet a very approachable demeanor, stood up and shook hands with Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao caught it with both hands and said with a smile, "Hello, Uncle Zhang!"

His tone was more intimate than before.

Zhang Jian laughed even harder, patting Lin Xiao on the shoulder but looking at Han Haijun: "Old Han, your son-in-law is much more likable than you, hahaha..."

The room was filled with joy.

Although Han Haijun specifically called Lin Xiao over, he only had him and Zhang Jian introduce themselves briefly and didn't say much more. Lin Xiao stayed in the room for half an hour.

It was mostly the two leaders catching up and chatting, while Lin Xiao didn't compete or fight for anything, and just stood obediently to the side.

This composure made Zhang Jian look at him with even greater admiration.

After all, in such situations, young people always can't help but want to show off and stand out, eager to say a few more words so that their older, more senior leaders will remember them. In order to achieve this goal, they might even forcefully interrupt, making everyone feel awkward.

But Lin Xiao didn't at all.

He stood by with a smile throughout, only refilling their tea once in the middle.

Zhang Jian was surprised, and his gaze lingered on him for longer and longer.

Admittedly, he admired Lin Xiao from the beginning, but this admiration stemmed partly from his relationship with his old friend Han Haijun and partly from the trending topics online. He felt that this young man was very "capable".

This "ability" is neutral, acknowledging his courage and boldness while also warning against his scheming and manipulative tactics.

Putting aside his relationship with the South Korean Navy, his impression of this young man who has become a sensation online is actually not positive.

Only now has he completely changed his opinion of Lin Xiao, and his favorability towards him has skyrocketed.

Shortly after, Han Haijun sent Lin Xiao back to his room.

Lin Xiao nodded, smiled, politely said goodbye to Zhang Jian, and left the room.

He had some guesses about his father-in-law's intentions, but he wasn't sure and thought it might be a coincidence.

It turned out not to be.

The next day, the topic "Zhong Jiawen's studio is under tax investigation" became a trending topic.

When Lin Xiao saw the trending topic, he was accompanying his father-in-law to an investment promotion meeting.

Because of his unexpected internet celebrity status, Han Haijun's appearance attracted the attention of the entire audience, even more so than some investment promotion teams from major cities.

This can be considered a blessing in disguise.

While the father-in-law was speaking eloquently on stage.

Lin Xiao, a member with connections, was sitting below, idly scrolling through his phone, when he suddenly saw Zhong Jiawen, that crazy woman, trending on social media.

He immediately realized that last night's reminiscing and introductions were by no means an accident.

Lin Xiao was, to be honest, shocked.

He had no doubt that his father-in-law had a way to kill Zhong Jiawen.

However, Han Haijun is stationed in Namju Province, while Zhong Jiawen's studio is registered in Haecheng, which is hundreds of kilometers away.

Even if my father-in-law has a lot of influence, it would be difficult for him to reach out that far.

Lin Xiao hadn't expected it to be so simple.

In fact, during last night's reunion, he didn't hear his father-in-law and Uncle Zhang discuss this matter at all.

Then, just twelve hours later...

Chung Ka-man was investigated for tax issues, and the news quickly became a trending topic.

This kind of thing has happened many times in the entertainment industry, and without exception, they have all been thoroughly exposed.

Therefore, in the minds of netizens...

Once this kind of news comes out, no matter how much the investigated celebrity speaks out, it's useless; the only outcome is certain death.

Lin Xiao believed this without any surprise.

But he still felt it wasn't enough.

After all, Chung Ka-man almost ruined her entire family. Now, merely cutting off her future and career is far from enough.

Lin Xiao ignored her before because he felt it was unnecessary.

After all, she had done so much behind the scenes, all she wanted was to get a song from Ma Yao to solidify her position in the music industry.

From a certain perspective, her idea wasn't anything special.

After all, given Ma Yao's prestige, it's not unreasonable for any singer to want to ask him for a song.

Lin Xiao simply ignored it.

Unexpectedly, this woman first tried to ride on the coattails of her wife Han Xixi's popularity, then set up a scam to swindle her good friend Cao Yuanzhi. After all that failed, she still didn't give up and came to Anyang County to play all sorts of tricks on Lin Xiao.

Earlier, Xixi was used to gain attention but was fine, and although Cao Yuanzhi was tricked, Lin Xiao took the opportunity to promote him to stardom.

Lin Xiao could disregard it.

Later, Zhong Jiawen got involved in things in Anyang County, while Lin Xiao went home with his wife to prepare for childbirth, and the two didn't even see each other.

Lin Xiao was too lazy to bother with or have time to deal with this crazy woman's various tricks.

Later, she caused Cao Yuanzhi, who had just become popular, to fall from grace, in order to challenge Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao had already decided to teach her a lesson back then.

However, due to the surge in family conflicts after the birth of his daughter, he was unable to spare the time and could only resort to Zhong Jiawen's sugar daddy to forcefully suppress this crazy woman.

I didn't expect this guy to be so dishonest.

They used the ambassadorship for the Anyang County Chaoshuihe Cultural Festival to morally blackmail Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao was truly hesitant to act rashly and couldn't do anything about her for the time being.

Later, when I was transferred, I forgot about him.

Unexpectedly, when the news of the transfer came out, Zhong Jiawen knew that her last hope had been dashed, so she took a drastic measure and exposed all the evidence she had gathered online.

They seemed to have an attitude of "if I can't have it, I'll destroy it".

The entire internet was in an uproar, and Lin Xiao was caught in a vortex of public opinion from which he could not extricate himself.

While busy trying to save themselves.

He had made up his mind that this crazy woman could not be allowed to live.

If you don't lower yourself to the level of an ant, the ant will think you're afraid of it and will start showing off in front of you.

According to Lin Xiao's plan, there was no tax inspection involved.

He didn't expect his father-in-law to intervene.

But on second thought, the person most harmed by Zhong Jiawen's crazy revelations was not actually herself, nor her mother-in-law Liu Liyun, but Han Haijun, the mayor.

After all, the initial investigation by the provincial investigation team concluded that Lin Xiao would not be punished.

Liu Liyun has already stepped down from her leadership position, so disciplining her is not very meaningful; it's just a matter of saving face.

Han Haijun, already disheartened by his dismissal, suddenly became an internet sensation at the lowest point in his life, facing criticism and abuse from netizens.

This was something he, who was always proud and arrogant, could not tolerate.

Although Comrade Han has now been reinstated, he has benefited from this trending topic.

But this blessing came from his son-in-law, not from this crazy woman who made the revelation.

Even if the South Korean Navy is now in a magnanimous state of mind, it is for himself and his family, not for his enemies.

He had this idea for a long time.

A while ago, the province made a final decision but the timing wasn't right.

The whole thing is now behind us, only the last bit of online buzz remains.

At this critical juncture, let's divert public attention by having Chung Chia-wen trend on social media, and let her experience the "superstar" treatment one last time.

The operation was swift and precise, surprising even Lin Xiao.

One has to admit: your uncle is still your uncle, and your father-in-law is still your father-in-law!
……

The news that Chung Chia-wen was being investigated by the tax authorities was trending online for a whole day.

The topic emerged in the morning, and by the afternoon, the tax bureau had already issued a statement confirming that Zhong Jiawen's studio had engaged in tax evasion, without even giving the studio time to respond.

Such speed is extremely rare in the entertainment industry, where reversals and developments are commonplace.

Netizens commented: As expected of a first-tier city, the efficiency is really high!
That evening, Lin Xiao invited Cao Yuanzhi out—this guy went from an ordinary person to an overnight sensation, then quickly collapsed from that fame, and has now disappeared from the entire internet for three months.

Three months may not seem like a long time, but it's enough for netizens to completely forget about someone.

Even so, this person had already secured a top-tier status in the music scene before the Lunar New Year with two songs, "Love Like a Tide" and "Confession Balloon".

This is the information age; forgetting someone is faster than falling in love with someone.

The main focus is efficiency.

Upon receiving Lin Xiao's call, Cao Yuanzhi came out without hesitation.

The two met in Lin Xiao's room.

"Old Cao, it's been a long time!"

"It's not that it's been a long time. It's just that my scandal broke and you exposed it, so things and people have changed, which is why it seems like a long time has passed!"

Cao Yuanzhi chuckled and said in a relaxed tone.

This situation surprised Lin Xiao somewhat.

After all, when this guy was first scammed out of money and sex by Chung Ka-man, he was so depressed that he felt like he had no will to live.

This is the second time I've been framed by a crazy woman.

Theoretically speaking, the feeling of falling from a high point to a high point and the actual losses are far greater than the last time, from a meteoric rise to a dramatic fall.

But compared to last time, Lao Cao is in much better condition now, which can be seen from his expression and tone.

So... you get used to it after it keeps falling?

"Not bad! I thought you'd be half-dead and utterly hopeless after this building collapse, but you seem to be in pretty good shape!"

"Hi!"

Old Cao waved his hand casually and plopped down on the sofa. "People grow up, right? Can it always be like this? Although I haven't been in the industry for long, I've always been a behind-the-scenes person in the entertainment industry. I've seen too many ups and downs in this business. It's just a house collapse, it won't kill anyone. Besides, I've earned enough money in the past few months to live comfortably for the rest of my life. What's there to be upset about!"

Lin Xiao noticed that he looked calm and composed, not like he was just pretending to be nonchalant.

I feel relieved.

"What do you want, Lin, the big star?" Old Cao teased him.

Lin Xiao rolled his eyes in annoyance.

After chatting with him for a while, I finally got back to the point: "It's been more than three months since your last incident. Have you found out who caused it?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Yuanzhi's expression darkened.

He nodded.

Lin Xiao figured he should have figured it out by now; if he didn't, Fei Hong Entertainment would have.

After all, taking away someone's livelihood is like killing their entire family.

Cao Yuanzhi could have been a new cash cow for Feihong's music division, but he was wiped out completely. How could Feihong's CEO swallow this insult?

This circle looks big, but it's actually just a few people.

Although the online world is virtual, there are always traces left behind when information is leaked, so it's not that hard to investigate.

"So, you knew about this too?" Old Cao was quite interested in this matter.

"Of course, we're united against a common enemy!"

"???"

Cao Yuanzhi was stunned for a moment before he realized what his brother meant, and his eyes widened like copper bells.

"This...how...Holy crap!!"

He instantly flew into a rage, his eyes glaring as if he wanted to devour someone.

This subconscious reaction actually touched Lin Xiao a little, after all, he had seen how infatuated this guy was with Zhong Jiawen the whole time.

Old Cao was happy to be scammed for the first time.

Although he realized what had happened after the second victimization, he didn't seem to intend to pursue the matter further.

But now, because his brother has also suffered at the hands of this woman, he is immediately filled with rage and utters a classic Chinese phrase with heartfelt emotion.

"You slut, I'll fucking kill her!"

Old Cao jumped up and was about to rush out the door.

Lin Xiao called him back.

He wasn't doubting Lao Cao's abilities, but rather that it didn't need to go through all that trouble, since that scoundrel was right next door.

"Old Cao!"

Lin Xiao remained silent for a moment before saying, "I'm fine, my wife, my parents-in-law are all fine! You saw the trending topics today, right? I've already gotten my revenge, and I don't plan to do anything more. But that woman should be punished, and we shouldn't dirty our hands..."

As he spoke, he opened a drawer and took out a room key.

"She's in the penthouse suite. You can go see her if you want, but if you don't see her today, you might never see her again..."

Lin Xiao's eyes were cold, and he didn't say anything more.

Cao Yuanzhi was both surprised and shocked. He hesitated for a long time looking at the room key before finally picking it up and leaving.

Half an hour later, Lao Cao returned.

His expression was different from before; his calm eyes held a hint of relief and liberation, but also a touch of regret and bewilderment.

"So fast?" Lin Xiao asked in surprise.

"Half an hour is considered fast? That's actually quite a long time!!"

"..."

Lin Xiao was speechless.

He was still in the mood to joke after seeing his old flame, so it seems that Lao Cao has really moved on this time.

"How was it? Did you feel better?" Lin Xiao asked.

"Hmm...that felt pretty satisfying!"

Cao Yuanzhi slumped into a chair, exhaling a long breath and saying with a bitter smile, "She beat me so badly that my skin was torn and bleeding all over. I was chained up and crawled on the ground like a dog. I was no longer the glamorous female star I once was..."

Lin Xiao frowned upon hearing this, not expecting that this President Zhang would be so ruthless.

He came to Haicheng with the South Korean Navy's investment delegation, his purpose being to meet the CEO of the Golden Eagle Group, who was also the former sugar daddy of Zhong Jiawen, this crazy woman, Zhang Rufeng.

Lin Xiao saw the introduction of the investment and inspection intention document on his father-in-law's coffee table, which included the Golden Eagle Group.

That's when I first came up with the idea.

Although he had come, he hadn't actually figured out how to find this Mr. Zhang and get him to teach the crazy woman a lesson.

As a result, the opportunity came knocking on his door without him even having to think about it.

Zhang Rufeng's Golden Eagle Group has a large part of its business in tourism investment. Recently, seeing the booming cultural tourism industry in Nanzhou Province, he had been interested in investing there.

I came to this investment promotion conference specifically because of the South Korean Navy.

Before he could even speak with Mayor Han at the meeting, he unexpectedly spotted the popular Lin Xiao in a corner.

This made Mr. Zhang's eyes light up with joy.

He knew all too well that the cultural and tourism industry in Nanzhou Province was showing signs of explosive growth, and he knew who should be credited for this achievement.

Zhang Rufeng took the initiative to come over and greet Lin Xiao, which completely surprised Lin Xiao.

What's even more bewildering is...

Because of the South Korean Navy's casual action last night, Chung Chia-wen underwent a tax investigation this morning; celebrities with bad records can't escape their fate.

This guy was desperate and thought that his former benefactor, Zhang Rufeng, was powerful and influential. He believed that only by remembering their past relationship could he still hope to save his life.

And so it all happened in a muddle.

Lin Xiao and Zhong Jiawen, former enemies, unexpectedly met again at Lao Zhang's place.

Lin Xiao couldn't help but sigh at how strange life was; he and the crazy woman were indeed destined to be together.

At this point, his hatred for the madwoman had actually dissipated.

After all, she has become a disgraced celebrity whose career has collapsed, and there is no possibility of her making a comeback in this lifetime. The breach of contract fees for those endorsements alone are enough to make her suffer.

Lin Xiao had no intention of kicking someone when they were down.

But when he thought of his brother Lao Cao, he asked President Zhang to stay and relay some things truthfully.

Then came the scene that Cao Yuanzhi had just witnessed in the suite upstairs.

Lin Xiao had no idea that President Zhang was playing such a trick; it was a bit mind-blowing, but overall he remained an observer.

"Feeling sorry for him?" he teased Lao Cao.

"Feeling sorry? What's there to feel sorry for? I'm having a great time!" Cao Yuanzhi said with a satisfied expression.

"Did you confront her? Or did you beat her up?" Lin Xiao asked suspiciously.

"No, not so much..."

Cao Yuanzhi laughed with relief, "I originally wanted to go up and beat her up, or at least curse her out a bit, to vent my anger. But when I saw the awful state she was in, I felt it wasn't necessary. It wasn't that I felt sorry for her; she even crawled over and hugged my leg, but I didn't feel anything. I just felt... well, I let it go!"

Old Cao was deeply moved.

Lin Xiao understood his emotions, but felt nothing, only indifference.

Everyone must pay the price for their actions.

Marrying rich people, riding the wave of popularity, and resorting to underhanded tactics are all trivial matters.

After all, everyone looks out for themselves, and it's understandable that people would do anything for fame.

Zhong Jiawen didn't harm herself in the slightest. Even though she caused so much trouble, the final result was nothing more than exposing herself and her parents-in-law to the entire internet.

My parents-in-law don't care; they are honest and upright people, and these things will soon be forgotten.

Lin Xiao himself didn't care at all.

There was no concern about exposure before; there was simply no need to actively reveal Ma Yao's identity.

Now that it's been exposed, I can finally be open and honest with my wife, instead of having to wait until dark to go shopping like before.

It has no effect on him.

But he couldn't accept that this crazy woman had harmed his brother so badly, so everything that happened yesterday and today was to give Lao Cao a chance.

An opportunity to let go of the past and start anew.

The two men were silent for a few seconds.

"What are your plans for the future?"

Lin Xiao asked with a smile, "Shall I write another song for you to help you make a comeback?"

Old Cao's eyes lit up, but he quickly smiled nonchalantly again.

"No need..."

"No need?" Lin Xiao exclaimed in surprise, "Good heavens, you've had a complete epiphany, are you going to become a monk?"

"Hahaha!"

Cao Yuanzhi burst into laughter, “I might as well become a monk! I still have emotions and desires; I’m a completely vulgar person!”

Lin Xiao asked, puzzled, "You vulgar man, I asked you to make a comeback and you disagree? Do you not trust me, or do you think it's impossible?"

"Of course it's not that I don't believe in you! Does anyone in the entire music industry dare to question your talent, Teacher Ma Yao?"

So you think the audience won't buy it?

Lin Xiao waved his hand, "You're overthinking it! Your scandal is just a scumbag issue, frankly, it's just a relationship problem, not a legal issue. As long as you're shameless enough, you can force your way into the entertainment industry..."

Old Cao laughed heartily: "I know, I know everything. It's not that I've seen through it all, nor that I'm not thick-skinned enough, I just don't want to think about it anymore!"

Lin Xiao was somewhat curious.

Old Cao said, "I have indeed always had a dream of becoming a singer, and now that it has come true, I've enjoyed the feeling of being admired, and that's enough. No one can be famous forever, so I'll just consider myself as having only been famous for a few months, and it's not a big deal!"

He paused, then continued, "Besides, while it's easy for you to write a song for me, knowing I'm a 'scumbag,' you still want to write a song to help me make a comeback. That's not good for your reputation and public image. Before you were exposed, people could only criticize Ma Yao, not you, Lin Xiao."

“But things are different now. If you get tainted now, you’ll be judged by the entire internet, and it could even affect your job and your family. You treat me like a brother, and I treat you like a brother too. I can’t just think about becoming famous and making money without considering your difficulties.”

After Lao Cao finished speaking, he patted Lin Xiao on the shoulder.

"So bro, forget it, it's really not necessary!"

Lin Xiao felt his sincerity and his heart warmed. He nodded.

"Then what are your plans next?"

"Intend……"

Cao Yuanzhi was somewhat bewildered. "I'll find a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters, buy a house, plant some flowers, go fishing, cook some meals. Anyway, I have enough money, so I can just enjoy life!"

Lin Xiao's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he smiled maliciously.

Upon seeing this, Lao Cao's heart skipped a beat, knowing that this kid had ill intentions again.

"What are you doing? Why are you looking like that again!"

"Hehe... Old Cao, come work with me!"

Lin Xiao extended an invitation.

Cao Yuanzhi was stunned for a long time, quite surprised: "Work for you? Take the civil service exam?"

Lin Xiao rolled his eyes.

"Why bother taking the civil service exam! Besides, even if you were given the chance, could you even pass?"

"Hey!!!"

"What are you 'heh' about? I'm fair-skinned!"

Lin Xiao interrupted the spellcasting and said seriously, "It's like this. As you know, my identity has now been exposed, and I'm about to take up a new position. The Provincial Bureau of Culture and Tourism plans to make me the ambassador for promoting the cultural and tourism industry in Nanzhou Province, and at the same time, they want me to fully utilize my songwriting talent to help develop the cultural and tourism industry in Nanzhou Province."

"I also accepted this mission. I came to Haicheng this time to record 'Thousands of Mountains and Rivers'. But I think that since it is to help the development of the cultural tourism industry, using popular music to drive tourism is one aspect, and the music industry itself is another aspect."

"I've been in contact with Feihong Entertainment these past few days and we've reached a preliminary agreement—Feihong will cooperate with Nanzhou Province to establish a music development company in Ninghai. I've even thought of a name for it: 'New Rural Music Company,' which will specialize in rural music unique to Nanzhou Province."

"Although the name sounds rustic, the music isn't. Take 'Love Like a Tide' and 'Thousands of Mountains and Rivers' for example, hence the name 'New Rural Music.' Of course, both of these are a bit of a sham. In the future, I want to create music that truly promotes rural life and serves the grassroots."

"This idea is good, and it is also an important starting point for the development of the cultural and tourism industry in Nanzhou Province. At the same time, it can also develop the music industry. However, the problem now is that I have my own job, and although this music company is funded by the government, it is still a business. I can't work for a business. We still need a professional, experienced, and capable person to manage it."

“I haven’t been able to think of a suitable candidate, but now that you’ve told me you’re retiring, it suddenly dawned on me—you’ve been a music producer for so many years and also debuted as a singer. In terms of professionalism, experience, and ability, there’s no one more suitable than you!”

Lin Xiao became more and more excited as he spoke, and patted Lao Cao on the shoulder heavily.

"Old Cao! Life is short, only a few decades. We're just lying around anyway, why don't we make the most of our youth and go all out... What do you think?"

After some persuasion, Old Cao's eyes were shining and his whole body was hot.

The soul, which was thought to be incredibly old, suddenly burst forth with boundless vitality at this moment.

He trembled all over, as if he had finally found a spot to urinate after holding it in for a long time, unbuckled his belt, and relieved himself with great pleasure!
After a moment of silence, he finally made up his mind.

"No questions asked, just do it!!"

(End of this chapter)