Chapter 44#
Playboy (14)#
The internet’s memory is short. Although Li Tang worked hard to smear Lu Yi, Lu Yi wasn’t a celebrity or idol, so no matter how much he was dragged, at most it would just invite public censure.
His real-life friends understood Lu Yi and wouldn’t easily believe those inflammatory words. Those who weren’t close to Lu Yi and had no stake in it wouldn’t be foolish enough to play moral crusaders either.
To put it bluntly, even a wealthy and powerful scumbag still attracts plenty of people hanging around him. Li Tang himself was no different—he deceived others’ affections, drove someone to suicide, and felt not a shred of guilt, yet still countless people flocked to him like moths to a flame.
A fragile person might be crushed by online rumors and abuse, but Lu Yi clearly had a very strong heart. He directly hired a lawyer, citing infringement of reputation rights, and sent cease-and-desist letters to several marketing accounts that had been paid by Li Tang to repost defamatory content.
Relevant screenshots and evidence had been preserved. Lu Yi wasn’t just bluffing.
These marketing accounts could stir up storms online, sometimes even inciting cyberbullying, without ever thinking they were doing anything wrong. But in real life, they were obviously cowardly. After the police kindly invited them for tea, they deleted their previous posts and issued clarifications.
Because Lu Yi’s side was very assertive—not the type to back down after a few words—they begged for a private settlement, offered apologies, and compensated Lu Yi for emotional distress.
With those influential big accounts no longer reposting, people quickly forgot about the whole incident.
Although it’s easy to spread rumors but hard to dispel them, Lu Yi didn’t rely on fame to make a living. The people who had previously cursed him might not even recognize him if they met him on the street.
Besides, the keyboard warriors screaming online were mostly frustrated losers in real life. Lu Yi hadn’t done anything monstrous—would they really keep obsessing over an ordinary person’s story?
The impact of public opinion soon faded. It seemed that Rong Huan’s father had exerted some influence, but as long as Rong Huan continued to trust Lu Yi, stayed by his side, and didn’t let the disturbances drive a wedge between them, the impact on daily life wasn’t too severe.
As for the Lu family, Lu Yi naturally wouldn’t go there himself to cause trouble. He simply turned the tables and used the same methods, hiring some gossips to spread the word about the things his stepmother Gao Xue had done in the past.
Lu Yi didn’t care about his reputation, but Gao Xue did.
Once they stirred up trouble, people started saying that Gao Xue, as a stepmother, had abused her stepson. Lu Yi even called specifically to warn her: “You do me wrong, I’ll do you worse—and it’ll be a far heavier retaliation.”
“All your fussing is just about money, trying to live a good life. Since my mother is already dead, don’t expect me to show any mercy after the things you’ve done to me. You’re not young anymore. Can you watch over Lu Bao forever? If you keep this up, I can’t guarantee your little Bao won’t end up on the wrong path.”
Hearing her child dragged into it, Gao Xue’s voice turned shrill: “He’s your brother!”
Lu Yi said: “My mother only gave birth to me. I don’t have any brother.”
He lowered his voice: “You two weigh your options carefully.”
With that, he hung up.
Rong Huan, who had been playing a mobile game nearby, looked up and asked: “Wasn’t that a bit harsh? And your brother—he’s innocent, after all.”
Lu Yi laughed helplessly and explained: “It’s just empty threats. I haven’t gone that crazy. With someone like my stepmother, you have to be tougher and more shameless than her.”
People like her don’t reason with you. If you try to talk sense, she’ll climb all over you. But if you throw a punch and knock her down, she’ll behave.
Reason is for reasonable people. If she can make money by hurting him, what wouldn’t she do?
“So, will she guess you’re bluffing and think you’re all bark and no bite?”
“She might gamble on other things, but she won’t gamble on her son.” Of course, he’d have to do something small to warn them; otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair given the harassment they’d endured these past few days.
Those marketing accounts had even released his phone number, causing his SIM card to be bombarded by random calls until one number was completely destroyed.
Rong Huan said: “If it really doesn’t work out, we could settle abroad instead.”
They had been abroad for so long before anyway. They had the means to go anywhere they wanted.
Lu Yi ruffled his hair: “If anyone’s going to leave, it’s not us. Just wait—things will calm down in a while.”
Rong Huan nodded. Sure enough, after Lu Yi made that call, the harassment aimed at them decreased significantly.
But half a month later, Rong Huan’s stepbrother, who rarely contacted him, suddenly called: “Rong Huan, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you in person. For the sake of our years of brotherhood.”
Rong Huan felt there was no real brotherhood between them. Although Auntie hadn’t treated them badly after marrying into the family, they weren’t blood-related, and they couldn’t get too close to her.
His stepbrother didn’t even share the same surname as him. Their bond wasn’t deep. The only reason he had been close to the guy was because of his little uncle. But now that Li Tang had done those things…
He asked: “If you have something to discuss, can’t you say it over the phone?”
“It’s not convenient over the phone. If you don’t want the trouble, I can come to the area near your place and meet you.”
“Hold on a moment. Let me ask.”
He felt something was off. He temporarily cut the call and asked Lu Yi about his stepbrother’s request.
Lu Yi paused. He already guessed what the other party wanted to discuss with Rong Huan, but it didn’t matter. He said: “It’s nothing. If he wants to see you, go ahead.”
There were almost no secrets between him and Rong Huan. They got along so comfortably, rarely argued, and they usually informed each other before meeting anyone to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
Apart from “eloping” and getting the marriage certificate, there were no major ups and downs between them. It was plain but warm.
For Lu Yi, at the company, he was constantly tense, every second consumed by work. But every time he came home, seeing the lights already on and his lover’s dinner prepared, it felt like the most comfortable state.
With Lu Yi’s approval, Rong Huan replied to his stepbrother: “Let’s meet in the afternoon. I have to be home to cook before five.”
The other party seemed surprised: “You do the cooking at home?”
Rong Huan retorted: “I like cooking, he likes eating. Any problem?”
Before meeting Lu Yi, he hadn’t been especially good at cooking. Mainly, he lacked motivation when living alone. But after having someone else in the house, it felt much warmer. His piano teaching schedule was light, so he spent a lot of time experimenting with various cuisines for Lu Yi.
At first, he thought he had no talent and feared making terrible dishes, but surprisingly, everything turned out well. Especially the slightly salty pancakes—Lu Yi loved them best.
He felt that if he ever quit piano, opening a pancake shop would be just as successful.
Rong Huan’s stepbrother said: “No, nothing’s wrong.” He had originally thought this couple was just messing around—after all, even between a man and a woman, children often held things together, and there were still plenty of family conflicts.
Two men, a minority, under so much pressure, with such different family backgrounds—yet they surprisingly got along harmoniously.
If they were so harmonious, it meant Rong Huan must hold a lot of weight in Lu Yi’s heart. “Let’s meet at Margaret’s near the piano shop in half an hour.”
Half an hour later, a waiter led Rong Huan to the private room the other had reserved.
His stepbrother, who bore a sixty to seventy percent resemblance to Li Tang, stood up to greet him. Once seated, the man cut straight to the point: “Rong Huan, the person behind Huan Yan is Lu Yi, isn’t it?”
Rong Huan looked a bit bewildered, clearly not understanding what he meant: “I don’t interfere in Lu Yi’s company matters.”
Although they kept no secrets from each other, they didn’t give daily work reports. He only took care of daily life, not work—since he wouldn’t understand half of it anyway.
“You know, the resources my family can secure for me are limited. I’m in a difficult position at home. I’m not close to Lu Yi, so I’m asking you—for the sake of our past relationship—to put in a good word for me. Could you ask him to change the acquisition into a financing or merger?”
His mother had married Lu Yi’s father after her divorce, and afterwards, his own father had remarried and had another child. Because his position was awkward, he had been fighting hard to secure the best resources for his own children.
But his talent wasn’t exceptional, so his business was only mediocre. If his company were acquired, his standing in the Li family would fall even further.
However, the board was very firm—he didn’t have the final say. After learning that the buyer was his brother’s husband, he thought of a way to turn the acquisition into a partnership, which might even earn him some recognition from the old man.
Rong Huan asked him: “Did Lu Yi use any underhanded tactics to acquire your company?”
“No, he didn’t.” It was just that their company was in decline and couldn’t compete—a normal business competition.
“Then that’s that. I don’t meddle in Lu Yi’s work. If he thinks this is the right move, I fully support his decision. We’re a team.”
He looked calmly at his brother: “Just as you wouldn’t go after your own son for the harm Lu Yi suffered, I won’t hurt Lu Yi’s feelings just to curry favor with you. If this is all you want to talk about, then you’re wasting your time coming to me.”
The man was silent for a moment: “You’re still holding a grudge against Li Tang, aren’t you? If I make Li Tang apologize to you and Lu Yi—would you change your mind?”