I Have Amnesia, Don't Be Noisy! Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Counterattack

"Uncle Zhou knew about it from the start. He got Wu Wan to sound it out as confirmation," Bai Cheng saw that the atmosphere wasn't right and made a reasonable statement.

Father Zhou knew about the matter right from the start. The reason he spoke to Wu Wan was just a way of confirming the authenticity of the news. Zhong Yibin understood how this happened - it was probably the Su family who leaked the secret.

"Er Bing, do you really have amnesia?" Bai Cheng felt that it was inconceivable. Those amnesiacs in television dramas were equivalent to fools. Not only was this Zhong Er Bing not a fool, he even became more clever! Moreover, within this period of interaction, they had failed to realize any abnormalities. They had been friends for more than twenty years, yet they weren't able to perceive this.

"En," Zhong Yibin pursed his lips. "I remember bits of the past but also don't remember some parts. The reason why I sought you guys out is to verify the matter about the Nanshan school flower…"

"Er Bing, you should have told us earlier. We're the clearest about the things you went through from young," Ji Yao looked at Zhong Yibin fixedly. These days, they could feel that Zhong Yibin was deliberately distancing himself from them. Of course, it was also because they felt that they didn't have the face to meet Zhong Yibin. Zhou Zimeng's matter caused a huge chasm to form between them; it was tough to return to their former state.

"I'm slowly recovering my memories. I will ask you guys if I can't recall something," Zhong Yibin smiled faintly. Saying this was also a warning to them not to attempt to lie to him. Since there were things he could and could not remember, if one attempted to lie to him about something he coincidentally recalled, it would be rather embarra.s.sing.

It was unknown if Bai Cheng and the rest didn't comprehend this or didn't care but the atmosphere improved vastly. Everyone smiled and toasted each other as if they had returned to the times when there was no estrangement. Bai Cheng brightened up the atmosphere as he spoke of their childhood. Stealing biscuits together during kindergarten, fighting together during elementary school, the disrespectful younglings ridiculing their elder brothers and sisters… Zhong Yibin drank a few cups of wine before getting up and bidding farewell. There were still many things he had to settle.

After Zhong Yibin left, the lively atmosphere in the room immediately dissipated. Bai Cheng raised a fist at Wu Wan. "Are you an idiot! Why are you still involved with the Zhou family!"

"Uncle Zhou invited me out for tea, it's not like I could have not turned up," Wu Wan lowered his head and reb.u.t.ted. Even if Zhou Zimeng was the one in the wrong, Uncle Zhou had always treated them well; he felt that he couldn't be so heartless.

Bai Cheng couldn't resist once again giving him a fist; this temper was truly hateful.

Ji Yao was silent for a while. She placed the cup on the table heavily. "We need to do something. If not, we really won't be friends with Er Bing in the future…"

The current Zhong Yibin's speech and capabilities had already matured significantly. He was gradually progressing in the direction of the Zhong family's elders; he was no longer on the same path as them. On the other hand, not only were they not able to help out, they even constantly brought Zhong Yibin trouble.

Zhong Yibin's top priority was resolving the matter of the people making a fuss outside of the television station. As for how these few princes intended to mend their relations, it was not at all within his range of attention.

The police advised Zhong Yibin to spend a bit of money to de-escalate the situation; They had seen countless such of hoodlums who not afraid to get their feet rough and make a fuss the entire day. Who could tolerate such a thing? Yet, Zhong Yibin didn't take their advice. After verifying that he had not knocked into anyone, he directly sent out an indictment and sued the other party.

That day, Shengs.h.i.+ Entertainment made a statement to declare that the matter of their director knocking into someone was untrue and that they had already invited a professional lawyer to sue these people for slander. In addition, they requested for the rumors to stop before going too far.

However, this statement did not receive the support of the public. On the contrary, it attracted even more sunspots[1].

A Weibo account called 'It's difficult for poor people to obtain salary' released a lengthy essay, meticulously breaking down the whole story. His every sentence was aimed at the rich second-generation refusing to admit to knocking down someone.

[It has been so many years, the relevant evidence was destroyed long ago. Since he settled privately during the year he knocked into the person, he definitely didn't lodge a report. There is nothing to investigate. The unfortunate Li family didn't know how to use the internet and could only cry out their grievances outside Shengs.h.i.+'s doors with a calico curtain. The Heavens are watching what men do!]

Following that was a water army who spread the rumor that Zhong Yibin had bought off Old Waves and was deleting their comments everywhere. Netizens were extremely easy to lead around and continuously created a ruckus, asking for Zhong Yibin to apologize and compensate them monetarily, as well as for Shengs.h.i.+ Entertainment to be driven out of the entertainment industry.

"You aren't helping him out?" Song Xiao leaned against the bedhead as he scrolled through Weibo. He frowned slightly as he looked through the dispute.

Yu Tang calmly lay his head on Song Xiao's leg. A cigarette-shaped lollipop danged from his mouth as he crunched on it vigorously. "Locusts after autumn, let it hop about for a few more days[2]."

Zhong Yibin no longer responded, instead handing everything to the police to investigate. Zhong Jiabin, who had been watching over the company during the past few days, realized that someone was targeting Shengs.h.i.+ Entertainment in a conspiracy to usurp power.

"The Su family recently cooperated with the Zhou family on a project. Using the news of Yibin's amnesia in exchange for some benefits is very normal," With a suspect in mind, Father Zhong very quickly had a rough idea of things after getting someone to investigate. Mother Zhong was angered to death and invited the Su family's mother and daughter to her house as guests. The Su family's mother and daughter had a guilty conscience and didn't dare to keep their appointment, saying that Su Ruiying had fallen ill.

"Oh, she's sick. It can't possibly be because she was scared stiff right? I know a shaman. We can go to your house someday to exorcise devils," Mother Zhong spoke into the phone in a peculiar manner.

Mother Su was angered till her face turned pale. Yet, she didn't dare to say much and suppressed her anger. "It's just the flu. We're concerned that it'll spread to you."

"Oh, is that so. I originally wanted to invite you two to partic.i.p.ate in tomorrow night's summit meeting," Mother Zhong said in a frigid tone. "Let me have the piece of diamond jewelry I gifted you the other time. I need to let the First Madam see it tomorrow night."

The so-called summit meeting was an unofficial meeting organized by the country. Celebrities from all walks of life were invited. The main attendees were plutocrats, rich and powerful families, as well as their family members. For Su Ruiying, who was not yet married, such an occasion was extremely advantageous. Hearing these words, Mother Su's eyes instantly lit up. Just as she wanted to change her words and state that they could attend, she heard the latter statement and simultaneously turned mute.

That piece of diamond jewelry was gifted to her by Mother Zhong as compensation for the matter of the fake fiancée failing to go through and even resulting in humiliation. At the same time, it was also hush money for them not to speak about Zhong Yibin's amnesia. The fact that it was brought up today was a clear indication that Mother Zhong already knew that they had leaked the secret and would surely put them in their place.

After several days of hubbub, the court officially received Zhong Yibin's case and prepared to begin a court hearing. At the same time, the capital's traffic police released the details of their investigation on their official Weibo. This article had no biases and was a strictly business-like elaboration on the results of their investigation.

[Upon investigation, the elderly person Zhang Moumou was knocked down by a pickup truck in the suburbs of the capital on the 7th of September. This caused his upper body to be paralyzed. The driver of the van has already given himself up to the authorities. As the driver's financial situation is poor, he was unable to foot compensation and the court has yet to determine the compensation amount. Upon verification, the person whom Zhang Moumou's son, Li Mou, insists is the culprit, Zhong Yibin, has no vehicle records of knocking into someone.]

An uproar was caused when this piece of news was released. What was originally a matter of a rich second-generation taking advantage of his position to bully people was actually an issue of cheating?

Without waiting for a response from the netizens, a Weibo account named 'Old Waves Exposing Cottage Industries' released the exploits previously committed by 'It's difficult for poor people to obtain salary'. This person appeared to be a web expert; he was able to follow the comments below this post, find those accounts' IP addresses and list them. The countless comments and forwards of the post unexpectedly only amounted to five IP addresses. It was clearly a water army.

These water army accounts that had been listed made the most clamor over Zhong Yibin and swayed public opinion in a direction that was disadvantageous for Zhong Yibin.

The ma.s.ses, who felt that they had been made a fool of, blew up.

[I say - our little director Zhong is so meng. How can he do such a thing!]

[Even inviting the water army as sunspots, is there a need to be so vicious.]

"Who is so impressive, even able to track down the IP addresses of Old Wave's users?" Chu Qin scrolled through the internet and was very surprised.

"The administration center of Old Wave's user base," Zhong Yibin curled his lip. He had requested for Yu Tang's aid right at the beginning, but that guy insisted on 'oppressing before praising'[3]. How childis.h.!.+

The corner of Chu Qin's mouth twitched. He wanted to say something but upon turning around, noticed that an email notification had popped up on his computer. Clicking it open, his eyes widened slightly. He was silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "Er Bing, do you want to film a week's program with me?"

"En?" Zhong Yibin raised his head while immersed in the animated film, blinking vacantly.

The Zhong family's big brother called today, stating that Father Zhou took such actions to not only take revenge against Zhong Yibin, but also for the sake of his business. They were told not to worry and that the issue now was regaining Zhong Yibin's reputation. Chu Qin pondered over it; why not let Zhong Yibin do an interview one week?

The program hosted by Chu Qin, 'The Lollipop Now and Then', was originally a talk show. As long as there was a topic, it was fine to randomly talk about it at that point in time.

Therefore, during this point at which the winds and waves were at its fiercest, Shengs.h.i.+ TV released a piece of news - next week's 'The Lollipop Now and Then' has invited its own director as the guest. The topic would be 'The hedonistic son of rich parents, from then till now'.

Everyone suffered a huge shock; they admired Shengs.h.i.+'s guts in creativity and was also immensely curious about this week's program. Of course, a portion of the interest was never on the usual things.

[Zhong Qin are going to appear together again? Aoaoao!]

[Director daren was frightened and needs Qin Qin's kiss before he can get up!]

[The higher-ups are going to release candy once again. I'll go buy a packet of dog food to eat while watching.]

The author has something to say:

Small theater:

Audience member A: Little director Zhong definitely didn't knock a girl up

Reporter: Why do you think so?

Audience member A: Because he is in true love with Qin Qin

Reporter: ……

Audience member B: Little director Zhong definitely won't knock someone down and not compensate them

Reporter: Why do you believe so?

Audience member B: He's so handsome, I can tell he's not a bad guy just from a glance

Reporter: ……

[1] Internet slang referencing netizens who vilify a celebrity on the internet.

[2] This saying refers to the eventual comeuppance that the 'locusts' will receive i.e. Judgement Day. After autumn comes winter, and the cold weather will freeze locusts to death. YT is saying that the bad guys will receive their just deserts soon.

[3] This is referencing a style of writing. The author has the intention of praising a character but instead of starting from that, the author chooses to first disparage the character. By doing this, the story reaches multiple climaxes in succession. The clear contrast that results from this leaves a deeper impression on the reader.