Chapter 23: The Leaked Video
After the dark loli logged off, Lin Tai switched to another QQ account. The profile picture was a small flower, and the name was: “I Will Work Hard!”
This account was entirely different from the loli’s. It belonged to a poor girl Lin Tai had sponsored.
About ten years ago, he’d met a ragged little girl on the street. She was around eight or nine, telling him her home had been burned down by bad people. Her parents were dead, and she’d escaped alone. With no relatives willing to take her in—and her refusing their help—she had an older brother working in the capital.
Relying on scavenging, she’d made her way to the capital, only to lose track of her brother, who crossed paths with Lin Tai instead.
Pitying her, Lin Tai gave her a meal. He even helped search for her brother’s whereabouts. The result? Her brother had vanished the second year in the capital, likely smuggling himself to the Middle East.
No news since—probably dead.
The Middle East was a warzone; no contact was as good as gone.
Lin Tai broke the news to the girl, who cried bitterly before deciding to return to her rural hometown.
He didn’t force her to stay—her stubbornness was obvious—so he sent someone to escort her home, repairing her house and arranging local schooling.
Grateful, the girl often vowed to repay him when she grew up.
Lin Tai didn’t take it seriously; his help stemmed from compassion.
[Big brother, I’m coming to the capital. Will you welcome me?]
The girl sent a question mark emoji.
[Of course I will! I’ll treat you to a feast when you’re here. But aren’t you still in your senior year? Why so soon?]
Lin Tai recalled she should be in her final year, planning to come after next year’s exams.
[I got early admission to Huaqing University.]
She sent an acceptance letter.
[Keep it up! Big brother will wait for you in the capital and treat you to a big meal when you arrive.]
Lin Tai had insisted on giving her a smartphone years ago, and their decade-long chats felt like sibling bonds.
[I’m looking forward to it!]
She sent a “big meal” emoji.
After some casual chatter, they logged off for their respective tasks.
Post-shower, Lin Tai went to bed.
Meanwhile, a video of a beating, uploaded online, spread like wildfire across platforms. By morning, it had racked up an astonishing ten million views.
The content was simple: Lin Tai and Ling Weifeng leading thugs to attack at the Longteng Hotel. Professionally edited, it omitted Ye Bai’s beating, focusing only on his heroic takedowns—two thugs felled with a punch and a kick.
Ye Bai looked like a divine warrior in the footage. Though short, the online reaction was explosive. Comments overwhelmingly praised Ye Bai’s skills.
“Is this real or a movie scene? If real, this guy’s got legit moves!”
“So handsome—those punches are pure testosterone!”
“Is he a new artist from some company?”
“No, just a guest at the Longteng Hotel.”
“Did you notice the two rich kids behind the thugs? One’s Lin Tai, the Lin family heir, and the other seems to be Ling Weifeng, the hotel’s young master!”
“Isn’t Lin Tai that infamous capital wastrel?”
“Yeah, him. Only a wastrel like that would orchestrate a group beating.”
Lin Tai’s notoriety wasn’t limited to elite circles—many in the capital knew him, and their impressions were overwhelmingly negative.
With this video, his reputation hit rock bottom overnight, becoming a laughingstock again.
Meanwhile, Ye Bai’s fame soared.