Chapter Thirty-Three: The True Tactic, The Decisive Strike

Thus, the intensity of the storm only grew fiercer. Xinghui personally entered the fray, and many artists indirectly came forward to testify against Bai Ling’s supposed lack of filial piety.

Some questioned the authenticity and reliability of the recording. Others recounted Bai Ling’s “childhood,” claiming that in a family where sons and daughters were treated equally, Bai Ling had lived well—far better than her younger brother. Her parents had poured most of their love into Bai Ling, which led to her becoming utterly spoiled and audacious.

Yet, despite all this, Bai Ling despised her rural origins, yearned for the big city, and aspired to rise above others. Thus, with her lofty ambition, she deliberately severed contact with her parents, ultimately cutting off all ties.

Layer upon layer, these statements accumulated.

It seemed as though the truth was becoming clearer, as if they could further demonstrate that Bai Ling was an ungrateful, heartless person.

When chaotic information mixes together, it inevitably leads to misjudgment. As a result, another wave of people fell into the trap, continuing their attacks on Bai Ling and flooding her comment section.

Even if Bai Ling were to retaliate in time, the impact would linger.

This was precisely the effect Wang Tianhai desired.

But Wang Tianhai and his cohorts would not live to celebrate with champagne.

Ge Fenfen, being an experienced manager, would never rely on a single countermeasure.

That same night, as the rumors fermented for nearly a day, the official account of Chunqiu Company released a new update.

This time, it wasn’t an audio recording—it was a video.

The moment Wang Tianhai learned of this, he was startled.

“Could Chunqiu have already found Bai Ling’s parents and convinced them?”

But as soon as he thought this, he slapped himself.

“What nonsense am I spouting?”

After deciding to suppress Bai Ling, they had settled her parents elsewhere, promising them a generous reward if things went as planned.

Not much—just half a million.

For that half a million, the two of them were willing to sell their own daughter without hesitation.

Thinking of this, Wang Tianhai couldn’t help but sneer.

What a pair of bizarre parents.

But this was merely Bai Ling’s parents' own fantasy. Once the matter was done, Wang Tianhai wouldn’t give them a single cent.

Give money to people like that? Disgusting!

As for them turning against him, Wang Tianhai didn’t care. Judging by the current situation, few would believe anything Bai Zhengyi and Lin Fenfang said.

“Focus, don’t let your mind wander,” Wang Tianhai muttered, clicking on Chunqiu’s official video.

The person in the video was a rural woman, unfamiliar to him—not Bai Ling’s mother.

“Who is this? What’s going on now?” He continued watching.

“I’m Bai Ling’s neighbor. My name is XXX. We live in XXX village. Here’s my ID information, which can prove…”

“I only learned today that Bai Ling became a celebrity. It’s surprising, but I’m happy for her. She suffered so much.”

“Bai Zhengyi and Lin Fenfang—those two are notorious in our village. Not only do they not have proper jobs, they gamble every day and have lost a lot of money. People in the village avoid them like the plague…”

“To get back on track, Bai Ling was smart, diligent, and hardworking from a young age. All of us neighbors saw it with our own eyes.”

“Her parents were often at home, but Bai Ling and her brother Zihao went days without food. We were the ones who helped them out. Without us, those irresponsible parents would have let them starve.”

“What? Her mother asked Bai Ling for a million? Lin Fenfang must be crazy! She’s a disgrace as a mother—how dare she ask Bai Ling for money?”

“When Bai Ling wanted to go to college and asked for money, her mother threatened to break Bai Ling’s legs with a broomstick. If we hadn’t intervened, Bai Ling would have ended up in the hospital.”

“Right, those two often beat their children, and they were savage about it.”

“They say children are their parents’ flesh and blood, but to that couple, it’s more like a tumor. They hit so hard—when Bai Ling and Zihao were little, they ended up in the hospital several times, and it was us who pooled money to save them.”

“To grow up so well and blossom into someone so beautiful—it’s no small feat.”

“Oh dear, listen to me—talking about someone else’s business, and yet I’m crying. Sorry…”

The scene shifted to a rugged man working in the fields.

“Bai Ling? I remember that girl—she’s a good kid. If only she were my daughter. Her parents? They’re worthless…”

The scene changed again, this time to an old man in the village, a cigarette holder in his mouth.

“Bai… Bai Ling? No impression… Is she from our village?”

“Bai Zhengyi? I know him. That old scoundrel is rotten to the core—beats his wife every day. He’s not a man. His children? Hmph, he doesn’t deserve them.”

…

The longer Wang Tianhai watched, the paler his face became.

He was so furious he trembled.

“What is this?”

“What the hell is this?”

“Damn it, damn it!”

“How did Bai Zhengyi and Lin Fenfang manage to offend so many people?”

“Isn't there a single person in the village who will speak up for them?”

Wang Tianhai was so angry he nearly leaped up.

He soon realized he couldn’t jump. But his body was now quivering with rage.

He couldn’t believe it—after all his calculations, all his plotting, this was what he got?

He thought both sides were evenly matched, that Bai Ling would surely fall from grace.

But now…

He felt like a clown, jumping around but unable to threaten the other side in the slightest.

He might even end up helping Bai Ling.

Even though Wang Tianhai wasn’t particularly clever, he could see the consequences once this hard evidence was released.

All the scandals! All the stains! They would vanish.

There might even be a wave of sympathy and recognition for Bai Ling.

Knock, knock, knock!

The door was rapped at that moment.

Wang Tianhai hadn’t even reacted or given permission for anyone to enter.

The next second, the door swung open, and two people walked in.

One, though already middle-aged, still retained a hint of handsomeness and wore a simple, unadorned jacket.

This was Bai Ling’s father, Bai Zhengyi.

Beside him was a rural woman, dressed somewhat finely but utterly lacking in grace, her face sharp and shrewish.

This was Lin Fenfang, Bai Ling’s mother.

“Mr. Wang, we’ve done everything you asked.”

“I even appeared myself. When will you transfer the half a million?”

Wang Tianhai was already furious.

“Half a million? To hell with your half a million!”

…