Chapter 112: Another Wave of Turmoil
After their last two close calls with being caught, Wu Yifan was jumpy—he didn't dare get too intimate with Ye Xiwen. What if they were interrupted mid-act? The shock might scar him for life. He didn't want to end up a 21st-century eunuch. So he settled for a quick kiss, a few teasing touches to her sensitive spots, and let her go.
Watching Ye Xiwen's slender figure vanish down the hall, he sighed. A woman like her—beautiful, successful, with a body to match—would make any man happy. He found himself daydreaming about their future.
But as long as Qian Baoqing lingered in Beitian, trouble would follow.
Once, Wu Yifan had been carefree, living paycheck to paycheck with no plans. His 2,000-yuan monthly salary was enough for beer and games; saving felt pointless. But now? He couldn't afford that laziness. He didn't care what others thought, but for Ye Xiwen, he needed to step up. He couldn't let her follow him blindly—living in a rented apartment, no stability to offer.
He could've moved into her luxury condo, but that felt wrong. A real man didn't leech off a woman, sponging off her money and home. That was for spoiled brats, not someone with a shred of pride.
Wu Yifan stroked his chin, deep in thought, then fired up his computer.
Headlines blared:
*"Beitian in Chaos: Eastern Coast Accused of Forcing Prostitution—Is It Systematic Corruption, or Official Apathy?"*
*"Forced Prostitution: A Step Back for Society?"*
*"Who's Pulling Strings at Eastern Coast? How Does Its Owner Wield Such Power?"*
Wu Yifan spit out his tea, nearly drenching his year-old laptop. He'd asked Song Mingjie, that chubby loudmouth, to stir up trouble—nibble at Qian Baoqing from all angles, keep him busy while Wu Yifan dug up dirt to crush him for good. It was a slow, boring plan, but solid.
He hadn't expected Song Mingjie to go nuclear. In just a few days, the rumors were wild enough to make Qian Baoqing keel over.
Scrolling further, the stories grew more outlandish—fact and fiction tangled beyond recognition. Even Wu Yifan struggled to tell what was real.
*"Insider: Eastern Coast's Qian Baoqing Is a 'Beishan'—a Man Who Prefers Men. He Built the Club to Groom Young Men in Their 20s for His Pleasure…"*
*"Source: Qian Baoqing Pops 20+ Viagra Pills Daily to Keep Up with Eastern Coast's Women. Every Female Patron Has Slept with Him—Rumor or Reality?"*
*"Whistleblower: Eastern Coast Is a Drug Den, Moving 1,000 Kilograms Daily. Why Is Beitian Turning a Blind Eye? Could a Small-Time Club Owner Really Cover This Up Alone?"*
Wu Yifan saw the power of public opinion firsthand. In 24 hours, comments flooded in like a blizzard. Once a popular nightclub, Eastern Coast was now painted as a den of filth—crimes, depravity, and shame. Women who'd stepped foot there were branded as Qian Baoqing's victims; men, as his playthings. Reputations shattered.
The chaos spilled into real life: Beitian saw a surge in family fights, even violence. Husbands and wives accused each other of lingering too long at Eastern Coast, their explanations falling on deaf ears.
Who'd dare go there now? Even saints would be accused of "bedroom games" with Qian Baoqing.
Logically, most should see these as baseless rumors. But with malicious hands stoking the fire, clicks skyrocketed by the tens of thousands. Fake accounts piled on, sharing "firsthand" stories of Eastern Coast's ugliness. Someone even leaked "nude photos" of Qian Baoqing—gaunt, skeletal, but with a "surprisingly impressive" crotch, as bored netizens crudely noted.
*Three rumors make a truth*—the old saying held. Even if half was lies, people thought, *there's no smoke without fire*. Eastern Coast became a no-go zone.
Wu Yifan skimmed further, pausing at one headline: *"Eastern Coast Scandal: Anti-Corruption Bureau Chief Liu Qingyang Speaks Out!"*
The article quoted Liu: *"How could this happen in Beitian? What are we officials for? Find the truth, and I'll make the guilty pay!"*
Wu Yifan laughed. Liu was good—his words sounded tough, but left room for doubt. *Find the truth?* By whom? *Guilty of what?* The online gossip, or Eastern Coast's real sins?
He'd met Beitian's bigwigs: Liu Qingyang and Court President Song Longteng. Liu seemed mild-mannered, but his eyes held depths no one could read—calculating, patient. Song was brash, outmatched by Liu's subtlety.
What was Liu really up to?
Was he backing Qian Baoqing, or opposing him?
Wu Yifan rubbed his temples, sipping water. Qian Baoqing's words echoed: *"I do things all the way, no loose ends."* How deep was his web in Beitian? How did he dare claim such control?
If he'd bribed a deputy chief like Zhou Penglin, who else was in his pocket? In a few months, could he own the whole city?
Was Liu Qingyang part of that web?
That was the crux. Even a tenuous link could spell disaster. If Liu stood with Qian Baoqing, Wu Yifan's plans were doomed.
*Ring… ring…*
His phone jolted him from his thoughts. The caller ID read "Li Mu"—that feisty girl. He answered, and her crisp, singsong voice shot through the line, rising higher and higher, as if she were climbing a ladder to the sky:
"Wu Yifan—are you *really* that good? Hm?"
She sounded ready to tear him down, to make him regret ever crossing her.
Wu Yifan grinned. This was about to get interesting.