ASPWL Ch20: Complete Failure

The newly arrived assistant director and cameraman didn’t notice the situation inside the villa. Seeing Feng Ziqi appear, the cameraman pushed the camera close to his face, trying to capture every detail of his pores.

The assistant director beamed: “Is this the legendary telepathy? As soon as we arrived, Ziqi opened the door. What a coincidence! Ziqi, smile and greet the camera!”

Ye Leyao pinched his arm hard to keep himself from laughing out loud.

[Look at Feng Ziqi sweating profusely. Do you think he can smile right now?]

Papa Huo specially zoomed in on the door surveillance. On the screen, Feng Ziqi’s micro-expressions were clearly visible—

Feng Ziqi’s eyes were bloodshot, and his gaze was dazed. Hearing the assistant director’s words, he forced a smile, but just as his lips curled up, they quickly dropped as if pulled down by something, forming a smile more hideous than a cry!

After several attempts, Feng Ziqi’s face became somewhat distorted.

Papa Huo and Mama Huo couldn’t help but laugh out loud in front of the monitor.

And this scene was naturally also being broadcasted live in the livestream room.

The program’s camera captured a clearer image than the surveillance, showing not just micro-expressions but even the tiny hairs in his pores.

Feng Ziqi was the most popular of all the regular guests on “Let’s Go on an Adventure.” As soon as the livestream started, a large number of fans flooded in.

However, unlike the usual “kisses” and “hugs,” this time the comments were full of disappointment and ridicule:

—”I finally understand what ‘changing faces like Sichuan opera’ means.”

—”Just thinking about how I was genuinely shipping Feng Ziqi and President Huo makes me feel sick now.”

—”Who gave you the courage to do this? Stirring up drama is one thing, but tricking your fans?”

—”Spreading rumors, invading private property, refusing to apologize after being exposed, and speaking ill of your own brother… I can’t believe I only now see what kind of person you really are.”

—”Feng Ziqi, I am so disappointed in you.”

The production team took this live broadcast very seriously, so each guest’s filming crew had a large LED screen to view the live comments in real-time.

Because Huo Jing had notified them in advance, Ye Leyao’s team did not bring the screen.

But Feng Ziqi’s filming crew was different. Feng Ziqi enjoyed interacting with his fans during live broadcasts, so he specifically instructed his manager to place the comment screen in a prominent position for this shoot.

So the moment Feng Ziqi opened the door, not only was the camera pointed directly at him, but the large comment screen was also right in front of him.

Seeing one after another comment like “Get out,” “You make me sick,” and “Unfollowing,” Feng Ziqi’s expression grew more twisted. He tried hard to suppress his inner turmoil and dismiss these words from his mind.

But thinking about how the persona he worked so hard to maintain had collapsed, and how more and more netizens would learn about this, and even his competitors would mock him, made him feel a blockage in his chest. His eyes reddened, and his breathing became rapid.

No, he couldn’t go on like this; he had to think of a solution…

Feng Ziqi turned to find Assistant Feng, but the moment he met Assistant Feng’s gaze, Assistant Feng immediately looked away.

Feng Ziqi’s heart sank.

Could it be that Assistant Feng had given up on him too?

Feng Ziqi shook his head in disbelief.

No, impossible.

Assistant Feng would definitely help him. Ever since they were kids, whenever he asked for help, Assistant Feng always managed to take care of things.

Feng Ziqi took a step forward.

Then he clearly saw Assistant Feng take a big step back.

The last bit of hope in his heart was cut off mercilessly. Feng Ziqi felt his vision darken, his mind buzzing, and his body about to collapse.

[Why does this scene seem familiar?]

[Wasn’t it the same when Su Rui abandoned his second brother?]

Almost as soon as Ye Leyao finished speaking, and before Huo Jing could retort, there was a “bang,” and Feng Ziqi actually fainted!

The scene descended into chaos, and both live streams were simultaneously cut off.

The live broadcast might have been cut, but the internet wasn’t.

From the start to the end of Ye Leyao’s live broadcast, it was only forty minutes.

Apart from the first ten minutes of interviews, the following half hour was filled with non-stop high energy, capturing every moment of Feng Ziqi’s downfall.

Netizens were in a frenzy.

—”Ahhh, this is the juiciest gossip I’ve ever had!”

—”I just want to ask, is there any other scandal in the industry where the main person involved personally organizes it? Feng Ziqi, you’re my only brother! I’ll call you the self-destructive king!”

—”Stop it, stop it; it’s too satisfying! This video: there’s plot twists, face-slapping, and the pace is clear. Isn’t this the perfect modern drama?”

—”Hahahaha, yes! I was there live, I couldn’t type comments fast enough to keep up with the face-slapping, it was so satisfying!”

The video gained over a million views within an hour of being uploaded.

Major marketing accounts went crazy sharing it, and even a short video platform made a novel adaptation using Feng Ziqi as the model.

Netizens laughed and commented under the video:

—”Your internet speed is fast, other bloggers and I are just pretending, but you’re the real deal~”

—”Don’t think I won’t recognize you just because you changed Feng Ziqi’s name!”

Ye Leyao was delighted when he saw this “real-person adaptation” novel and couldn’t help but read it aloud dramatically:

[I made a mistake, but you’re my brother. What’s wrong with covering for me?!]

[“Brothers should help each other, right?!]

[You just lost a job, but I lost a chance to show off!]

Downstairs, Papa and Mama Huo sighed simultaneously.

When will Ye Leyao learn to control his volume?

But the novel was indeed well-adapted, with a smooth plot and amplified highlights. The couple listened with great interest.

As for Feng Ziqi, his downfall was complete. Two whole days had passed since the filming, but the incident’s popularity remained high, making it the most talked-about event since Feng Ziqi’s debut. Unfortunately, this fame marked the end of his entertainment career.

Through this incident, Assistant Feng finally saw the true nature of his family.

After the live broadcast was cut, Feng Ziqi was sent to the hospital.

The doctor diagnosed him with simple anger-induced shock and said he would recover quickly with rest and a calm mind.

Assistant Feng stayed by the hospital bed for half a day before Feng Ziqi woke up.

But when he woke up, his first reaction was to tell Assistant Feng to get out, blaming him for everything that happened and accusing him of having ulterior motives.

The insults were extremely harsh, but Assistant Feng didn’t argue back; he just listened quietly.

In the end, it was the nurse who couldn’t stand it and intervened.

Given the severity of the situation, Assistant Feng’s father and stepmother naturally rushed over.

When these two people saw Assistant Feng, their first reaction was to start scolding him indiscriminately, and after they were done, they didn’t forget to ask Assistant Feng to help clear Feng Ziqi’s name.

Since Assistant Feng started working, his father and stepmother have stopped working.

All household expenses depended entirely on Assistant Feng. He selflessly dedicated everything to this family, but in the end, what did he get?

Everyone was considering their own interests, and no one cared about Assistant Feng.

Although he was somewhat prepared, hearing these things personally still made Assistant Feng feel a bit sad.

However, this also made him fully awaken, and it took him just half a day to sever ties with the Feng family.

After the incident, Huo Jing specially gave Assistant Feng a week off to deal with the matter. Unexpectedly, Assistant Feng came to work full of energy the next day and even formally entered the office to thank Huo Jing.

Without looking up, Huo Jing said, “If you want to thank someone, thank Ye Leyao, not me…”

He paused.

Assistant Feng was surprised: “Is it Young Master—”

Huo Jing looked up expressionlessly.

A slip of the tongue.

“After all, if he hadn’t agreed to participate in the filming,” Huo Jing finally sorted out the logic and breathed a sigh of relief, “we wouldn’t have coincidentally run into this.”

Assistant Feng nodded repeatedly: “You’re right, President Huo.”

So that afternoon, Assistant Feng followed Huo Jing back to the Huo family home.

The situation with Feng Ziqi was so serious that the production team of “Let’s Go on an Adventure” stopped filming. Naturally, Ye Leyao didn’t continue shooting either, but thanks to the video of Feng Ziqi’s self-destruction, Ye Leyao also gained some online fame. His newly registered Weibo account now has 500,000 followers!

Many netizens also sent private messages asking when Ye Leyao would participate in another show.

Ye Leyao’s agent, Li Li, who he hadn’t yet met, also contacted him, suggesting he occasionally manage his Weibo.

Ye Leyao naturally agreed.

Experiencing a bit of fame for the first time felt novel, and when Assistant Feng came to thank him, he was still contemplating whether to take a selfie for his fans. After hearing Assistant Feng’s purpose, he laughed: “No need, no need.”

[I just helped a bit while following the gossip; there is no need for such formal thanks.]

Papa and Mama Huo also nodded in agreement.

They had enjoyed the gossip, and Assistant Feng had solved a big problem, so it was a win-win!

But Assistant Feng was very touched, even grabbing Ye Leyao’s hand and saying that if Ye Leyao was willing, he could become Ye Leyao’s agent in the future.

Ye Leyao was a bit shocked.

[Be my agent?]

[Assistant Feng thinks too highly of me; my pocket money isn’t even enough to pay his annual salary!]

[Besides, I wasn’t intentionally helping Assistant Feng; it was mainly because in the novel it was mentioned that after Assistant Feng was transferred to Africa to grow strawberries, it did impact my big brother’s company a bit, so I was helping my brother too.]

The Huo family: “…”

Why did it turn into growing strawberries again!

However, having Assistant Feng be Ye Leyao’s agent would be too much of a waste of talent, so Papa and Mama Huo quickly persuaded him.

After much persuasion, a very emotional Assistant Feng finally agreed to continue working for Huo Jing.

Huo Jing: “…”

You don’t have to cry as if you’re being forced!

Papa and Mama Huo invited Assistant Feng to stay for lunch, and after lunch, Assistant Feng quickly went into work mode, starting to report Huo Jing’s upcoming schedule: “There is a multinational meeting in the evening, a board meeting tomorrow morning, and an art exhibition in the afternoon…”

Huo Jing frowned: “Art exhibition?”

Why was there such a random event in his schedule?

Assistant Feng glanced at Mama Huo, subtly reminding: “The artist for this exhibition is a famous foreign abstract painter, and President Huo mentioned wanting to buy a painting as a gift at the exhibition.”

Huo Jing remembered.

His mother’s birthday was approaching, and she didn’t lack anything, so every year they had to rack their brains for gift ideas. He happened to hear about a famous artist’s exhibition recently, so he planned to check it out.

But recently, Huo Jing also contacted a Chinese painting master and bought a Chinese painting, so he didn’t need to prepare another gift.

Huo Jing nodded, about to say he wouldn’t go—

[Huh? An abstract art exhibition?]

[Is it the one by the abstract painter who fell in love with both twins?]

[If I remember correctly, on the first day of the exhibition, the sister of the twins caught her brother in the act?]

Ye Leyao hurriedly took out his phone, even more shocked:

[The twin brother turned out to be my third brother’s teammate!]

The “no” that was already on the tip of Huo Jing’s tongue was forcefully swallowed under the gaze of his parents, and he gritted his teeth and changed it to: “…then let’s go as a family.”