IDEI CH38

Qi Yanning’s Xingbo post stirred up immense waves, like a stone cast into still water. It looked as if he intended to wash away every single scandal attached to his name in one clean sweep!

The melon-eating netizens combed through the evidence provided by Qi Yanning bit by bit.

First was the video. The surveillance footage was not exceptionally clear, but Qi Yanning’s figure was entirely recognizable. He wore a crisp tracksuit, identical to what he had worn in the two photos that had dragged him into endless scandal.

Looking closely at the timestamp in the upper-right corner, from the moment he entered the director’s room to when he exited, no more than two minutes had passed in total. How could this possibly be a casting couch transaction?

Some tried to question whether this was from that exact day, but the footage also captured another trainee. That trainee was an experienced survival-show veteran who wore a different-colored headband every day specifically to prevent malicious editing. The color of the headband worn by that trainee in the video matched the photo posted by his fansite on the very day the rumor claimed Qi Yanning had visited the director!

This conclusively proved that the photos had been maliciously taken out of context.

Since the casting couch scandal never happened and Qi Yanning had no improper relationship with the director, the claims that he was an industry “crown prince” abusing privileges through the director completely collapsed.

The biggest stain on Qi Yanning vanished into thin air.

@ResilientSurvivalFan: Ah, who hated Qi Yanning so much that they wanted to ruin him right when his momentum was at its peak? That is genuinely terrifying.

@PassingMelonEater: Who else could it be? When Qi Yanning suddenly rose, whose spotlight did he steal? And when Qi Yanning disappeared, who benefited?

@AlluringMonkey: His “good friend” Luo Heng, of course! Qi Yanning didn’t even acknowledge their friendship, so who else could it be!

@HengIsTheLight: Can you stop bringing up our peerless gentleman Luo Heng? Even if Qi Yanning was framed, Luo Heng has always treated him well, unlike others who avoided him like the plague.

@PassingMelonEater: Ah, right, right, right! Your Luo Heng treats him so well, stepping on Qi Yanning every single day to build up his own loyal and devoted persona!

Next was the matter regarding the stylist. Qi Yanning’s Xingbo post was an undeniable admission that “Qi-ge” was him! Although many onlookers had already suspected this fact, having it confirmed still felt surreal.

@ChargingForward: Qi Yanning really is Qi-ge! He never showed any talent in this area before, did he?

@MelonTopBadger: Wait, ge, what were you thinking? You have god-tier skills like this and didn’t work as a stylist, but instead insisted on braving a survival show with tone-deaf singing and freshly attached limbs? I truly cannot comprehend a master’s thought process…

@LinYiyiyi: Maybe it was for fieldwork? As they say, art stems from life. Perhaps only by experiencing life as a trainee could he better… Sorry, I can’t keep making stuff up, I don’t get it either. Maybe that is just how geniuses indulge themselves.

When the melon-eaters clicked on the design sketches Lin He had submitted in the evidence, a burst of laughter erupted.

@MelonTopBadger: No, seriously, what kind of logic did Lin He have, using his own work to frame Qi Yanning for poor skills? If the framing succeeded and everyone believed him, was he feeling accomplished or defeated? After all, that hideous look convinced everyone that Qi Yanning lacked talent… Hahahahahaha, what was he thinking!

@ZhenIsEmo: Hahahahaha, to be fair, maybe he never intended to use that photo to frame Qi Yanning, but only wanted to prove he had worked with Qi Yanning in the past…

@EatingFriedChickenWithKnifeAndFork: Oh man, wouldn’t that be even funnier? He didn’t mean it that way, yet every netizen assumed it was an ugly styling job and believed he was throwing shade. He must be having a total breakdown right now, hhhhhh.

@LinLinLing: Hahaha, did you watch that video? Not even TV dramas dare to script things like this! Qi Yanning said the original look he copied was flawed and unremarkable, and he lost his temper on the spot, screaming, “What do you know about masters?” Then came an instant reversal: Qi Yanning was the very master who created the original look he copied! Outstanding, this slap in the face was so satisfying!

@SugarRoastedChestnuts: The video even has dynamic camera movement, incredible. If it weren’t for the single shaky camera angle, I would have thought it was a face-slapping scene from a drama. A top-tier face-slapping revenge story of the year, truly.

@BananaNoNana: Hahahahaha, is this Lin He just here for comic relief? He is filthy himself, yet jumped out to insinuate against Qi Yanning, only to get hammered to death by the thunderbolt evidence in Qi Yanning’s hands!

……

Finally, the evidence regarding Luo Heng was admittedly not airtight, but anyone who saw it could naturally make up their own minds.

Many onlookers felt a chill down their spines. Luo Heng had acted like a close friend right up until days before Qi Yanning’s downfall, only to stab him viciously in the back. After driving Qi Yanning out of the competition, he continued milking their supposed friendship to squeeze out every drop of value from him.

He was truly a terrifying sort of friend.

@FiveGorillas: Luo Heng is too terrifying. He is the exact kind of backstabber I fear most: smiling to your face and playing nice with everyone, while pulling dirty tricks behind the scenes.

@SphericalMeteor: Absolutely. Qi Yanning treated him very well back then, pulling him into every camera shot he could. And this is how he repaid Qi Yanning? Even after sabotaging him, he could still smile at the camera and talk about their friendship. Utterly despicable!

Just as netizens were buzzing with discussion, Director Lin became the first to publish a supporting post on Xingbo:

@LinXiong: Xiao Qi’s professional competence is beyond doubt, repeatedly delivering stunning creations on our production team. Over our time working together, his moral character has likewise been flawless. I trust my judgment of people and admire Xiao Qi’s skills. Therefore, I am exceedingly furious about all the false rumors circulating online. This is a severe insult to an outstanding young man of noble character!

Furthermore, some people have speculated that the Your Star production team and I were accomplices in Xiao Qi stealing others’ work. That is an insult to our professional ethics! Below are unreleased behind-the-scenes clips of Xiao Qi working, some of his original makeup design manuscripts, and styling team meeting logs. I hope the public will cease spreading false rumors and clear Qi Yanning’s name!

[Video * 3]

[Photos * 4]

@FirstEmperorOfQin001: Wow, even Director Lin stepped into the arena to speak up for Qi Yanning!

@XiaoGeMyLove: Ah, it’s behind-the-scenes clips of Qi Yanning applying makeup to Xiao-ge! What a treasure! Xiao-ge sitting obediently while getting his makeup done is so handsome… Good grief, why is Qi Yanning so handsome too? He isn’t overshadowed in the slightest.

@AnZaiSeniorMommy: How many good things did the production team hide away? I could watch these makeup clips all day! A gorgeous guy styling another gorgeous guy to make him even more handsome, this is such a treat for my eyes!

@YourStarForever: Wow, these makeup design sketches are breathtaking! Clearly, the designs are standard idol makeup, but they somehow carry a trace of classical elegance…?

@PaintingFlowersBirdsAndHunks: Probably because he used traditional classical painting techniques. I kneel before the master. Having such drafting skills and using them to sketch makeup charts is pure indulgence. If I had this drawing ability, the dean of our fine arts department would take me as his final disciple!

……

Following that, the members of TND stepped in one after another, reposting Director Lin’s post.

@XiaoYingyi: Qi-ge is a very good person. // @LinXiong: …

@WeiMingzhe: Qi-ge, what color should I dye my hair next? // @LinXiong: …

@ItIsAnZi’aiAnZaiAh: Protect our Great Demon King! // @LinXiong: …

……

The nine members posting simultaneously sent an immediate shockwave through the fandom.

Originally, their fans had not paid much attention to the drama surrounding Qi Yanning. Some extreme fans even felt Qi Yanning had dragged TND into the controversy, developing a terrible impression of him and planning to message Morning Star Entertainment demanding his replacement.

They firmly believed their idols could not tolerate having such a troublemaker around them either.

Unexpectedly, their idols stepped up personally at a time like this. This proved intolerable for that small faction of extreme fans, who began declaring they would un-stan.

However, they were only a tiny minority. Guided by prominent fan leaders, the rest of the fandom aligned with their idols’ stances and began voicing strong support for Qi Yanning.

Once the nine fandoms joined the fray, public opinion tilted decisively in an instant. The lingering antis stubbornly resisting the evidence were swept away beneath the roaring tide of fans.

Next, Morning Star Entertainment issued an official statement:

@MorningStarEntertainment: All evidence regarding the recent online defamation against our contracted stylist has been cataloged and submitted to our legal team. Our stylist has committed no ethical breaches in his professional work. We urge everyone to speak and act with caution.

[Video * 2]

These two videos showed Qi Yanning styling the girl group Huanmeng and styling Xiaorou and A-Ling, respectively.

The audio during the wardrobe selection and makeup design phases had been specifically amplified, making Qi Yanning’s voice crystal clear.

Very soon, Huanmeng, Xiaorou, and A-Ling posted on Xingbo to support Qi Yanning as well.

@Huanmeng: Qi-ge’s styling marked the beginning of Huanmeng.

PS: When will we have the chance to work together again, Qi-ge! (sobbing_loudly.jpg)

[Red Carpet Photos * 9]

Xiaorou and A-Ling said nothing, merely reposting Huanmeng’s post, their intent already unmistakably clear.

The girl group Huanmeng had officially debuted after that red carpet event. Their debut track, originally scheduled for release two weeks later, struck while the iron was hot and dropped on the third day after the event. With the buzz from the red carpet still fresh, curiosity about them was at its peak, leading their debut single to achieve stellar results.

Meanwhile, Xiaorou and A-Ling had caught the eye of a prominent director through their red carpet appearance, landing roles as twin sisters in his feature film. The sisters had a tragic backstory but remained genuinely kind, making them deeply compelling characters. The film was currently a box office hit, catapulting the two of them to overnight fame.

Their fans had not expected them to speak up for Qi Yanning, but seeing their posts, the fans finally understood.

It turned out that the red carpet styling that first brought them into the public eye had been crafted by Qi Yanning!

In that case, Qi Yanning was practically a career benefactor to these young women.

Realizing this, their fans joined the battlefield as well to speak up on Qi Yanning’s behalf.

@DreamlikeFantasy: So the metallic floral gown looks were created by Qi Yanning! He is genuinely incredible! (So when will Qi-ge collaborate with Huanmeng again?)

@SoftAndGentle: I refuse to believe Qi Yanning would steal anyone else’s hard work! He is already this brilliant, so what on earth could possibly be worth stealing? (Our Xiaorou also wants to work with Qi-ge again, please!)

@RibbonEr: Qi Yanning has had it so rough. Backstabbed by a friend as a trainee, and backstabbed by a colleague as a stylist. A life of being betrayed for being too talented, my heart aches for him. (Qi-ge, do you think a long-term collaboration with A-Ling is possible?)

TND fans were stunned to see so many new allies joining their fight.

Then they caught on quickly. Wait a minute, these people were here to snatch away their stylist!

How could they allow that? TND was extraordinarily lucky to have found a stylist of Qi Yanning’s caliber, and they absolutely could not let him be stolen away!

Protect our master stylist!

Thus, a peculiar spectacle emerged across the trending feed.

TND fans defended Qi Yanning while simultaneously bickering with Huanmeng’s fans. They argued over visuals and debated performance skills, until TND fans ended the contest with a single line: “Qi-ge has a fantastic relationship with our TND and lives in the same house with them!”

Onlookers were dazzled by the display, finding Qi Yanning’s drama suddenly pale in comparison.

After all, an already settled verdict proving Qi Yanning was innocent and insanely skilled could hardly compete with the entertainment value of boy group fans and girl group fans squaring off.

It was their first time seeing a boy group fandom and a girl group fandom clash without resorting to toxicity. They threw no insults and edited no malicious photos. Instead, one side posted an electrifying stage performance while the other retaliated with a gorgeous dance cover. One side flaunted a collection of stunning group portraits, while the other dropped a sleek costume-change fancam.

Netizens were spoiled for choice simply browsing through these high-visual, high-talent photos and videos.

Both groups were quite intriguing!

Across the trending feeds, historical drama Director Wang, Editor-in-Chief Ning of Tide, non-debuted Your Star contestants, and other crew members who had worked with Qi Yanning all stepped forward to voice their support, gradually settling the storm.

Even Li Qing, who had been fired from the show, came forward to speak for Qi Yanning.

@StylistLiQing: I am one of the two stylists dismissed by Your Star. What I want to state is that Qi Yanning never stole our work or pushed us out. I accept my dismissal wholeheartedly. Qi Yanning is one of the most brilliant stylists I have ever encountered, possessing talent I could never hope to match.

[Photo of Your Star Staff Badge * 1]

Li Qing’s post instantly stripped away the credibility of the few people who still believed Lin He. As fellow dismissed stylists, Li Qing was sincere and straightforward, whereas Lin He had posted ambiguous insinuations and secretly deleted them once the situation escalated.

Which one deserved belief was completely obvious.

With that, the storm of public opinion that had raged throughout the night and day finally settled into place.

The onlookers could at last turn their attention to other details.

@FiveGorillas: Having followed the drama all day, I finally have time to say: Qi Yanning is ridiculously handsome! Standing beside TND in full makeup, he isn’t outshone at all. Plus, his vibe is so unique, giving off the aura of a mysterious big boss. The kind where I dare to drool over his pictures, but if he stood in front of me and glared, I would instantly drop to my knees…

@FriedNoodlesSoup: Did anyone listen to the audio from that styling meeting? His competence in that clip is absurd. Other stylists were constantly praising his concepts, and the critiques he offered on others’ designs received unanimous agreement. But that’s not even the main point. His voice sounds so attractive! I zoned out several times listening to that meeting audio, completely captivated by his voice, hhhhh.

@OnlyLookingAtHunks: Hahaha, you guys are only getting it now? Why do you think he stayed in the upper ranks of Ou Jin back then despite having zero singing or dancing ability? Because he’s handsome! Top-tier looks, top-tier build, top-tier vocal tone, paired with the absolute worst performance skills, hhhhh. I mourned back then that if he had just a bit of talent, he would have been a celestial star in the idol world. Turns out he wasn’t lacking elite ability; singing and dancing just weren’t his field.

@LinLin1: His skills are truly incredible! All the evidence presented today proves how capable he is. Handsome and immensely talented, I like him so much…

……

Beneath the trending topics, the scandals attached to Qi Yanning were thoroughly dispelled, and many people were finally willing to get to know him.

Looking closer, they found that Qi Yanning truly possessed exceptional qualities. Stunning looks, top-tier talent… and someone like this was almost ruined by malicious rumors?!

Just as netizens turned to criticize Luo Heng, several Ou Jin trainees suddenly posted on Xingbo together, accusing Luo Heng of bullying! They provided diverse evidence, including Luo Heng breaking rules to skip training sessions, forming cliques, and verbally harassing other trainees.

A post from one trainee ignited the trending list even further!

It was an audio recording capturing the full conversation between Luo Heng and an internet smear-campaign agency discussing how to blacken Qi Yanning. In the recording, his hypocrisy and volatile temper were laid completely bare. His fawning yet arrogant attitude when speaking with his agency afterward was equally contemptible.

The remaining fans of the fallen Ou Jin top rankers ground their teeth in fury. It turned out their idols’ dirty secrets had been leaked by Luo Heng all along!

Fans who remained loyal after an idol collapsed tended to be extreme. Convinced that Luo Heng was the mastermind, they unleashed a torrent of vicious vitriol directly upon him!

General onlookers were equally enraged.

The public backlash previously directed at Qi Yanning transferred entirely onto Luo Heng, surging with even greater intensity.

Luo Heng’s company abandoned him, and the followers who once backed him stepped forward to expose him.

In an instant, his reputation was thoroughly ruined.

None of what followed had much to do with Qi Yanning. He had gone to sleep right after publishing that post, and had chased all the TND members off to bed beforehand.

After all, they had variety show filming the next morning.

While the internet was in an uproar, he was with TND filming the second day of their major group variety show.

The day’s theme was an amusement park, so TND’s styling was fresh and vibrant overall, featuring overalls in various colors paired with ribbed tank tops, showing off the sleek muscle lines of their arms.

Even Mo Jinghai’s styling blended in naturally. Wearing sky-blue overalls, his chest muscles pressed firmly beneath the tank top, accompanied by a bright, sunny smile that looked both powerfully athletic and charmingly wholesome.

An Zai offered a sharp critique: “Hai-ge looks like a wealthy landlord’s farmhand who’s a bit dim-witted but incredibly strong.”

Hearing this remark, Mo Jinghai wasn’t particularly angry. He simply tucked An Zai under his arm and dragged him forward, releasing him only after An Zai begged for mercy.

Sandwiched between Mo Jinghai’s biceps and pecs, An Zai was somewhat lightheaded when let go.

Early that morning, before public opinion had completely reversed, the live chat was chaotic. The viewer count was significantly higher than the day before, swollen by people drawn in by the drama around Qi Yanning.

The boys were completely unaware, as Qin-ge strictly forbade them from viewing the comments, allowing them to remain in blissful ignorance.

After a thrilling, packed day at the amusement park, the members returned to the villa and opened Xingbo, only to discover…

A new topic had quietly climbed to the top of the trending list:

#PetitionForQiYanningToStyleMyBias#

Underneath were posts from fans across all fandoms, begging and pleading for Qi Yanning to style their idols, wishing he could become their idol’s permanent stylist!

An Zai jumped up instantly, clinging to Qi Yanning despite his dangerous glare.

“Qi-ge! You are my actual gege! You cannot abandon your faithful day-one companions, aaaaaah!”

An Zai’s fake sobbing echoed through the entire villa.

Qi Yanning’s temple throbbed as he took a deep, steadying breath.