The Perfect Relationship

Chapter 83: The Paparazzi's Bait

Yin Chang and Shao Junling were totally unaware of the hidden currents brewing beneath them.

The next day, the two rushed to an eastern island to film the final episode of "Super Star Life".

Knowing that it could be the last episode, the production team greatly reduced the competitive elements and included more leisure activities.

On the second night, the production team arranged a bonfire party on the beach, bringing everyone together to dream about the future.

After everyone shared their dreams, the host brought out the messages they had written during the first episode and read them out loud, some were humorous, some were touching, and the atmosphere was emotional.

Three days later, the filming activities concluded successfully.

Except for Shao Junling and Xue Ziwen, everyone else had been gathered due to the program, and they didn't know when they would have a chance to see each other again. So, before parting ways, they hugged each other and exchanged good wishes, not wanting to leave each other.

Huang Han, with his sentimental nature, suggested a "ten-year vow" to meet again at the same location in ten years, and everyone agreed to it. But deep down, they all knew that the possibility of fulfilling this verbal agreement was slim, as they would all go their separate ways and who knew where they would be in ten years.

Regardless, they had became good friends through the program.

After returning home, they found that summer break was coming to an end.

The night before Shao Junling started school, the fourth episode of "Super Star Life" aired, primarily featuring their trip to the town to sell treasures and everyone preparing for Yin Chang's birthday.

While watching, Yin Chang remembered the surprise Shao Junling had given him on his birthday, as well as the emotions stirred when the host read out Shao Junling's message on the beach a few days ago. He found herself liking this child even more.

That night, Yin Chang couldn't help but hold Shao Junling like a human pillow, embracing him closely and enjoying the tender moment.

"Someone on the internet ridiculed you for still being in first grade at eleven years old. When you start school, you must work hard and not waste your intelligence. You have to be friendly to your classmates and ignore small matters. When you go outside, you must be accompanied by Uncle Driver and the bodyguard Auntie found for you. Make sure you have your cellphone with you and call me if you run into trouble, understand?" Yin Chang reminded him.

"I understand," Shao Junling replied, squirming and struggling to evade Yin Chang's restless fingers.

Yin Chang chuckled lightly. This child was really interesting. When he was busy and didn't have time for him, he clung to him like a piece of sticky candy. But as soon as he showed any affection, he couldn't stand it and wanted to run away.

"By the way, this program is now very popular, and you're considered a minor celebrity. When you start school, many of your classmates may recognize you. You have to be friendly to them and endure some things. You must…” Yin Chang continued to advise him.

After Shao Junling returned to school, Yin Chang also got his feelings together and prepared to focus on his own entertainment training and work.

For the next month, episodes three and four of "Super Star Life" were broadcasted one after the other. Shao Junling's performance in conquering Qin Jingshan in the jungle with the third "stick" and his clever discovery of the mystery guest, Mi Xiu, in the fourth episode on the boat not only made the show very popular with the audience, but also increased Shao Junling's popularity and popularity index.

This eleven-year-old boy was undoubtedly the most noteworthy child star of this summer vacation.

Lu Lingjuan revealed to Yin Chang that many potential business partners had sent inquiries and offers, and some top national products were interested in having Shao Junling as their spokesperson, such as certain probiotics for children that were claimed to "improve intelligence" and "promote physical development". The representative of the company thought that there was no child star better suited for their product endorsement than Shao Junling and was eager to win him over.

Yin Chang found it amusing, "It's one thing to say that it can improve intelligence, but 'promote physical development'…Shao Junling is obviously shorter than his peers. Won't people just laugh at him if this advertisement is aired?"

Lu Lingjuan laughed, "I've asked a similar question as a joke before, but the company representative said that they wanted to sign a five-year endorsement contract with Shao Junling. He was also confident that the ages of eleven to fifteen were the period of rapid growth and development in boys, and that in a few years when Shao Junling grows taller, it would have a better promotional effect on their product."

Yin Chang was momentarily at a loss for words in the face of this logic, "… It sounds reasonable."

"Why don't you consider it?" Lu Lingjuan asked curiously. "Their offer is quite generous."

"It's not about the money," Yin Chang smiled. "If Shao Junling accepts this advertisement, and if he doesn't grow taller in the future, then the viewers will say that I'm using him to make money, accepting all kinds of inappropriate ads - although this possibility is relatively small, because the company also said that Shao Junling is in the period of growth and development. But if he does grow taller, and people see the advertisement, they'll say that Shao Junling grew taller because of drinking that probiotic! Wouldn't that be even more outrageous? Besides, we don't need that money."

Lu Lingjuan stared at Yin Chang and felt that something had changed in him since the end of the program. He seemed more confident and attractive than ever before.

After finishing the day's notice, Yin Chang heard from Lu Lingjuan that manager Yao wanted to meet with him.

"What can't be said over the phone that we need to meet for?" Yin Chang remembered the topics that Lu Lingjuan had been talking to him about for the past few days and laughed, "Is it to personally persuade me to let Shao Junling take the advertisement?"

Yin Chang thought to himself that Yao Manhuai might be wasting her efforts. He had already thought it through - they had exceeded their expectations in participating in the variety show, and no matter how popular Shao Junling was now, Yin Chang had decided to let him return to a normal life. At least until he was an adult, Yin Chang would do his best to protect him from outside interference.

"I'm not sure what it is, but manager Yao instructed that you 'must' go to New Star Entertainment to see her after filming is over," Lu Lingjuan said.

When he arrived at Yao Manhuai's office, Yin Chang felt the heavy atmosphere immediately upon entering.

"What's wrong?" Yin Chang's relaxed mood was also put away.

"It was hard to see you in such a good state lately, and I didn't plan on telling you about this. I was afraid it would affect your mood. But a month ago, you asked me not to keep anything related to you a secret, so..." Yao Manhuai sighed. Her expression was quite serious.

"Aunt Yao, just tell me," Yin Chang was getting nervous.

"You'd better prepare yourself. It's related to Shao Junling's background," Yao Manhuai turned and took a few sheets of paper from her desk and handed them to Yin Chang, "You can take a look at this first."

Yin Chang glanced at it and suddenly turned pale.

The information above stated that Shao Junling's real name was Shao Jun, born in Shixi Village, Zhang County, Hu City, Z Province. His mother was named Shi Yunxia and his father was named Shao Rong.

Seven years ago, Shi Yunxia suspected that Shao Rong was having an affair and brutally killed him with a fruit knife. She then committed suicide in front of her four-year-old son. The case was sensational in the local area and widely known. Since then, Shao Jun had disappeared.

"This information..." Yin Chang looked up at Yao Manhuai, shocked. "Did you find it?"

"No," Yao Manhuai told Yin Chang about a leaked post that appeared online a month ago. "We suppressed the post, and I had someone contact the poster, but couldn't reach them. These materials were sent to me by someone else yesterday."

Then Yao Manhuai played several recordings on her phone, which were a few oral interviews with local villagers conducted by a stranger. The interviewer mostly asked the same question - probably showing them a picture of Shao Junling or a clip of him participating in the variety show - and the villagers declared confidently that the person in the picture was Shao Jun, who had disappeared from Shixi Village years ago.

"His mother had a mental illness, and his father was not a good person!" 

"We all thought his mother went mad because of Shao Rong's beatings!"

"This kid always had a scary look in his eyes. After his parents died, no one dared to adopt him..."

"All his relatives have died, and he's an orphan."

"The son of a murderer, who knows if he will have the same tendencies when he grows up!"

"Who sent you all of this?" Yin Chang's face turned green.

"Paparazzi," Yao Manhuai said coldly after a pause, "They claimed that they already had more conclusive evidence that Shao Junling was Shao Jun, but I received only this - clearly, it's a bait, to blackmail us."

"Blackmail?" Yin Chang's temples throbbed. "Isn't this illegal?"

Yao Manhuai explained, "They sent these things over, without making clear what they want. They just want to see our attitude first. If you fear that it will affect him after it's exposed, you can take the initiative to talk with him and pay for his privacy. If the other party doesn't ask for a specific amount, it's a deal that we agree to, and we'll sign a contract afterward. This is a routine tactic for paparazzi. It's hardly illegal. If you don't take the initiative, they may well expose this - it all depends on whether you're willing to take the risk."

"If they expose it... what will happen?" Yin Chang asked in a trembling voice.

"If the information is truthful, it would be a hundred percent reputational damage for Shao Junling. It would not only affect his current life but also his future development... overall, it would be very detrimental," Yao Manhuai said.

Yin Chang couldn't help but clench his fists, his tone was frighteningly calm: "Arrange a meeting with them at any cost. We must not let them make this public."

Yao Manhuai was taken aback, "Don't be impulsive. We haven't personally investigated this yet. It could be a scam. After all, oral evidence can be faked."

Yin Chang looked up and said faintly, "I found an envelope in my father's study with a picture of Shao Junling as a child. On the back of the photo was the name 'Shao Jun'."

So when Yin Chang saw this information, he was convinced of its authenticity.

"When did this happen?" Yao Manhuai asked.