Chapter 2: Distorting the Truth and Casting Slurs; A Double-Cross from the Virtuous and Renowned

"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"

As Chen Mo was contemplating his next move, the doorbell rang. He stood up and walked over to open the door.

The person standing there gave him a complex smile upon seeing his current state. It was his manager, Zhao Ming. In the memories he had inherited, this Zhao Ming had actually treated him reasonably well.

"Come in," Chen Mo said, casting a glance at him.

Once inside, they sat down on the living room sofa.

"Have you thought it through?" Zhao Ming asked, crossing his legs and looking at Chen Mo.

Chen Mo replied with a playful tone, "I've thought it through."

Hearing this, Zhao Ming let out a sigh of relief. "Good, that’s all it takes. Just an apology. Besides, can you honestly say you’re completely blameless in this?"

"Oh? What exactly did I do wrong?" Chen Mo asked, feeling a spark of curiosity.

"If you were going to reject Director Yu, why did you agree to the meeting in the first place? And after going, to back out at the last minute—that’s what offended him," Zhao Ming explained.

"So, refusing to submit to 'hidden rules' is my fault now? Anything else?" Chen Mo retorted with a touch of sarcasm.

"Furthermore, don't feel aggrieved. It’s a fact that you pushed her, isn't it? This industry is like this; if people want to take you down, it’s far too easy. Take Du Chun, for example. Do you really think he spoke up for Fang Xiaoxiao out of genuine concern?" Zhao Ming asked.

Chen Mo nodded. He had to admit, Zhao Ming had a point. Even though he didn't want to acknowledge it, this was the entertainment industry. He understood what Zhao Ming left unsaid. Things like this didn't just happen by coincidence, and the idea that Du Chun and Fang Xiaoxiao were close friends? Absolute nonsense. People who called each other "brother" would stab you in the back without hesitation, let alone a woman.

"If you've made up your mind, let's go. The press conference is just about ready," Zhao Ming said, standing up.

Chen Mo remained composed, though he sneered inwardly. As he suspected, whether he was willing to apologize didn't actually matter. Zhao Ming had already prepared the press conference; regardless of whether he showed up or not, the outcome would be the same. If Chen Mo refused to apologize, Zhao Ming would "apologize for him" as his manager. Naturally, the effect would be better if he did it himself.

Soon, Chen Mo followed Zhao Ming downstairs to the venue. The incident had become quite a spectacle, full of twists and turns, which meant a large crowd of media personnel had gathered.

As soon as Chen Mo arrived, reporters swarmed him:

"Chen Mo, what do you have to say about the assault incident?"

"Chen Mo, Fang Xiaoxiao insists that you hit her. Do you admit it?"

"Chen Mo, can you respond to the comments made by Du Chun and other celebrities?"

"Everyone, please settle down! Chen Mo will answer your questions shortly. He has something to say first," Zhao Ming said, blocking the reporters.

Only then did Chen Mo manage to reach the makeshift stage. Soon, the crowd quieted, and cameras focused on him. Zhao Ming nodded at him.

Chen Mo looked at the expectant reporters below and grinned.

"Regarding the recent uproar surrounding me, I know exactly what everyone wants to know," Chen Mo began. "As for the assault, I believe the surveillance footage and the crew members have already made everything clear."

Zhao Ming kept shooting him warning glances, but Chen Mo ignored him entirely. He looked up at the sky, then back at the reporters. "Men do, and heaven watches. If you don't believe it, just look up—who has heaven ever spared? While time can wash away many things, some stains can never be erased. Here, I would like to present a couplet to Fang Xiaoxiao, Du Chun, Li Chen, and the others."

The reporters realized he was about to drop a bombshell and grew as excited as if they’d been injected with adrenaline. Zhao Ming, however, stared at him in utter disbelief.

"Chen Mo!" Zhao Ming shouted suddenly.

Ignoring Zhao Ming’s horrified expression, Chen Mo continued loudly: "Upending black and white to splash filth, posing as virtuous while stabbing friends in the back. The horizontal scroll: The Cult of Backstabbers! Thank you!"

As his voice faded, the media reporters went into a frenzy. This was a massive scoop! The couplet, the direct naming of names—he was single-handedly declaring war on the industry elite! This story was going to be huge. They had expected a standard apology; they hadn't expected Chen Mo to go nuclear.

Zhao Ming felt his brain go numb; he nearly fainted. The only thought in his head was, *How could he dare? How could he possibly dare?*

The reporters, eyes bloodshot like enraged bulls, surged toward the stage. Microphones and recorders were thrust toward Chen Mo’s face, their intensity startling him.

Zhao Ming, his face dark, grabbed the microphone from Chen Mo and shouted, "The press conference is over!"

The reporters weren't about to leave, but as soon as the announcement was made, Chen Mo made his escape. Seeing he was gone, the reporters turned their attention to Zhao Ming, but he only replied with a grim, "No comment," before leaving the stage.

Left behind were confused staff and a fuming Zhao Ming. Before he could even chase after Chen Mo, his phone rang urgently. It was his superior, the artist manager at Star Entertainment. Based on the tone, he was clearly being berated. Zhao Ming could only offer forced smiles and explanations, but it was futile.

Chen Mo knew that doing this was essentially career suicide, but he didn't care. Especially when he saw the look on Zhao Ming’s face, he felt an immense sense of satisfaction. Even the lingering side effects of his memory fusion seemed to dissipate; he suspected that the original owner's residual resentment had been cleared by this outburst.

"You..." Zhao Ming looked at Chen Mo’s smiling face, his anger so great he couldn't even finish his sentence. A moment later, he let out a long sigh and asked with a complex look, "Do you have any idea what the consequences of this will be?"

"Of course I do! Brother Zhao, I'm sorry for dragging you into this," Chen Mo nodded, sounding genuinely apologetic. He knew he had implicated Zhao Ming. In truth, when the incident first happened, Zhao Ming hadn't even known it involved Director Yu; it was Zhao Ming who had gone out of his way to find the surveillance footage.

"Forget it. It's too late for that now. What are your plans? Going back to inherit the family business?" Zhao Ming, hearing the long-unused address, felt a strange sense of resignation and sat down, offering a wry joke.

"Brother Zhao, let's talk about you. After this, things won't be easy for you either. What are your plans?" Chen Mo asked.

"Me?" Zhao Ming offered a bitter smile. "What plans could I have? Just taking it one step at a time. You really did a number on me this time!"

The press conference had been Zhao Ming’s arrangement, authorized by Star Entertainment. With such a massive disaster, Zhao Ming would inevitably be the scapegoat. Chen Mo’s acting career was certainly over, but Zhao Ming’s future at Star Entertainment looked equally bleak.