After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH34

Chapter 34

Qin Wen leaned against the wall of the detention center, his expression cold.

He had been like this since the first day he arrived.

From the beginning, Qin Wen knew how difficult the path he had chosen would be. But he wanted to avenge his sister, and this was the only way.

When he was caught, he had thought that maybe it would have been better if he had just killed Zhang Ming and the others. Perhaps that way, he would have already had his revenge.

But every time he thought that, he would remember his parents’ teachings.

His parents had always been kind and forgiving with him and his sister, but they had one bottom line: to be a person of integrity and never break the law.

Even his sister, in her farewell letter, had said she hoped he would live well, not grieve for her, and avoid doing anything foolish.

Qin Wen was filled with resentment.

Their family had been honest and hardworking, so why had they ended up like this, while scum like Zhang Ming lived freely?

He couldn’t let go of his hatred.

So, he chose to seek revenge in his own way.

But he never expected that everything would go smoothly until he was just one step away from success, only to fail.

He knew that Lin Laosan’s family, with their deep-rooted connections in Baishan City, would stop at nothing to protect themselves—just as they had when they suppressed his sister’s case. Now that he was in custody, he was sure they wouldn’t let him go.

Qin Wen didn’t care about his own life, but he regretted not succeeding in his revenge.

What puzzled him was that, since he was detained, no one had come to pressure him about the evidence he’d hidden against Lin Laosan and his people, aside from a few routine interrogations.

At that moment, the door opened.

“Qin Wen, you have a visitor.”

Qin Wen was taken aback, then grew suspicious.

Who would visit him at a time like this?

Could it be that Lin Laosan’s people had thought of a new tactic?

His face turned icy.

No matter who it was, he would never give in.

But as he walked into the visitation room, he saw two unfamiliar faces.

The young man leading the pair had a warm, approachable smile, making it easy for others to let down their guard.

He wore a simple hoodie and jeans, his hands in his pockets. Most people would feel uneasy in a police facility, but his relaxed posture suggested he was either very accustomed to this environment or had nerves of steel.

Qin Wen, who had spent a long time observing people in order to play various roles, could usually identify a person’s profession with high accuracy after just a glance.

For instance, he noted that the man following the young man had a calm, composed stride, leading Qin Wen to immediately deduce that he was a lawyer—and a top one at that.

Yet the young man himself was a mystery.

He was neither a lawyer nor a related professional, yet he exuded the same confidence as the lawyer. Who exactly was he?

While Qin Wen was puzzled over it, the young man introduced himself. “Hello, my name is Gu Xingshi, and I’m a talent agent.”

A… talent agent??

Even Qin Wen, who had remained calm when he was arrested, was momentarily stunned.

The lawyer beside him adjusted his glasses and handed over his business card, saying, “Mr. Qin, I’m Li Yuanzhou, a lawyer from Tang Li Law Firm. I’ll be defending you from now on.”

Qin Wen was stunned again.

He knew of this lawyer—one of the most famous in Lunan Province.

And he was going to defend him?

Qin Wen looked at the two with suspicion.

Gu Xingshi understood that Qin Wen had been navigating dangerous situations alone for so long, so some wariness was only natural.

So he explained, “Do you remember saving a boy in Gaoqing City thirteen years ago?”

Qin Wen frowned, vaguely recalling the incident.

At the time, he had injured his leg in the process and needed over a dozen stitches, leaving a scar.

But what did that have to do with this?

Gu Xingshi continued, “The boy you saved is my client. We came here specifically to help you.”

Qin Wen’s first reaction was disbelief.

Since his parents had passed away, he and his sister had endured the harshness of the world, losing faith in concepts like justice and gratitude.

But Gu Xingshi’s expression was so sincere.

Moreover, he was already trapped in prison with nothing to gain, so what benefit would there be in deceiving him?

After Gu Xingshi finished speaking, he let Lawyer Li step forward.

Lawyer Li, as expected from a top attorney, was exceptionally professional. His words convinced Qin Wen, even making him feel a faint sense of hope.

The visitation time was limited.

The guard soon urged them to wrap up.

As Qin Wen stood up, Gu Xingshi suddenly said, “Qin Wen, be careful in the next few days.”

Qin Wen paused, but seeing the look on Gu Xingshi’s face, he suddenly realized something.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but Gu Xingshi and Lawyer Li had already left.

*

As Gu Xingshi left the visitation room, he happened to pass by a police officer.

The officer had a square face and looked to be in his early thirties, with a deep frown that gave him a very serious appearance.

Gu Xingshi paused slightly.

Besides seeing Qin Wen, his second reason for coming was to meet this officer, Lin Zi’an.

The system had informed him that Lin Zi’an was the son of Lin Lao Da. Years ago, Lin Lao San had used underhanded means to take the shares from his elder brother, Lin Lao Da, and seized full control of Tongfu Electronics.

The younger brother became a big boss, while the elder brother, Lin Lao Da, repeatedly failed in his own ventures, ultimately passing away early.

By then, Lin Zi’an was already old enough to remember things.

His father’s death, clouded with frustration, and his mother’s struggles to earn a living were sights that deeply scarred him.

As a result, from a young age, he decided that when he grew up, he would seek revenge against Lin Laosan.

He struggled through college and eventually joined the police force in Baishan City.

He forced himself to stay close to Lin Laosan to gather evidence of his crimes, but unfortunately, Lin Laosan was highly suspicious of him and had kept him suppressed for years.

When he heard about Qin Wen’s case, he did everything possible to get it under his control.

But his power was limited, and all he could do was endure the pressure and protect Qin Wen.

However, Gu Xingshi wanted to see how far he could go.

This request for visitation was a test.

Qin Wen’s arrest could be handled in various ways.

If the visitation request was denied, it would indicate that they had classified Qin Wen’s case as a criminal detention. Either Lin Zi’an was intimidated by Lin Laosan, or Lin Zi’an simply didn’t have enough power, in which case Gu Xingshi would have to find another solution.

But if visitation was permitted…

Gu Xingshi looked up at Lin Zi’an.

Lin Zi’an turned and gestured toward a nearby hallway.

Gu Xingshi followed him down the corridor.

Once they stopped, Gu Xingshi spoke, “Officer Lin, thank you for ensuring that Qin Wen hasn’t been treated unfairly.”

Lin Zi’an looked at him in surprise, clearly not expecting Gu Xingshi to know about these matters.

After a moment of silence, he replied, “Whether Qin Wen is guilty should be determined by the law. As a police officer, I’m just doing my duty.”

Gu Xingshi noticed his worn, faded collar.

The words the system had told him surfaced in his mind again.

[Though Lin Zi’an is bent on revenge, he’s also a good officer. For years, he’s diligently pursued justice amidst the murky environment of Baishan City. It’s precisely his integrity that has prevented Lin Laosan from fully trusting him. This has held him back, both in his career and in his quest for revenge.]

Seeing Lin Zi’an now, it was as if those words had come to life.

Gu Xingshi felt a mix of emotions and said softly, “Officer Lin, rest assured, good people will be vindicated, and bad people will face the punishment they deserve.”

His words were quiet, not particularly forceful, yet they seemed to soothe the agitation in Lin Zi’an’s heart like a warm spring.

Lin Zi’an had heard similar sentiments countless times growing up, yet the reality he witnessed was often quite different.

At times, he even questioned whether this stubborn adherence to principles was worth it.

When revenge seemed hopeless, he’d entertained dark thoughts—believing that, to defeat evil, he might need to become worse than them.

But in the end, he couldn’t cross that line in his heart. It all weighed heavily on him.

Now, hearing Gu Xingshi’s words, he recalled past cases where he uncovered the truth, brought criminals to justice, and saw the victims’ families cry in relief and gratitude.

He suddenly felt grateful that he hadn’t strayed from his path. He was worthy of the badge he wore.

The weight in his heart seemed to lift, and he relaxed, saying, “Thank you.”

Gu Xingshi was puzzled. “Thank me for what? I should be the one thanking you for being the kind of officer you are.”

Lin Zi’an smiled, choosing not to explain further, and asked, “What are your plans now, Mr. Gu?”

Gu Xingshi thought for a moment before answering, “This situation has already drawn a lot of attention. The higher-ups will certainly investigate it. I’ll find a way to amplify it even more so that no one can cover it up.”

Lin Zi’an was startled but quickly understood. “What do you need me to do?”

Gu Xingshi looked him in the eye. “Officer Lin, I only have one request—protect Qin Wen.”

Lin Zi’an replied firmly, “Rest assured, that is our duty as police officers.”

*

Gu Xingshi dropped Lawyer Li off at the hotel before returning to his own room.

Meng Yuansheng had been anxiously waiting. As soon as he saw Gu Xingshi return, he hurried over. “How did it go?”

Gu Xingshi then explained everything to him.

Meng Yuansheng hadn’t expected there to be so much going on behind the scenes. He furrowed his brows tightly. “I…”

“Stop!”

Gu Xingshi immediately interrupted him, knowing exactly what he was about to say. “I’m not just helping you here. As a citizen with a sense of justice, wanting to help Qin Wen after hearing about his situation is perfectly normal, right? Besides, I have my own reasons for helping him.”

Meng Yuansheng asked in confusion, “What reasons?”

“I’m not telling you yet.” Gu Xingshi patted him on the shoulder. “Your three days are up. As the team leader, you can’t keep hanging around here. You have your own responsibilities. Go back and join the others. Leave this to me.”

Unable to argue, Meng Yuansheng finally left, though filled with worry. Before leaving, he kept reminding Gu Xingshi, “Please stay safe. Don’t do anything dangerous, and contact me if anything comes up!”

“Got it, got it,” Gu Xingshi responded dismissively, nudging him into the car. “Just go already.”

Once the car was completely out of sight, Gu Xingshi took a deep breath and rolled up his sleeves. Finally, he could take action without any constraints.

That night, “The Gossip System #10086” account posted another tweet.

This time, he didn’t focus on Tongfu Electronics. Instead, he started calling out officials by name.

These officials’ names were ones he had carefully analyzed and identified from the information he gathered through Qin Wen. All were close associates of Lin Laosan.

He didn’t specify what these officials had done, but that only made them more afraid.

The tweet was targeted at Lin Laosan and his circle, but the internet’s amateur detectives thrilled Gu Xingshi.

[I looked up these names, and guess what? They’re all officials in Baishan City! #10086 never posts extra info, so I dare to guess—could they all be connected to Tongfu Electronics?]

[Their positions aren’t minor either. They’re in significant roles, and for an ordinary electronics factory owner to have such connections? Baishan City must have deep, murky waters!]

[Holy crap, the deputy director of the Baishan City Public Security Bureau is on this list! Zhang Ming committed those horrific acts against Qin Wen’s sister, yet he’s still free. Is this why?]

[The head of Baishan City’s Development and Reform Commission is from my area. He’s loaded—lives in a five-story mansion, and over New Year’s, luxury cars lined his driveway. Folks say he’s incredibly corrupt!]

*

Without Gu Xingshi needing to do much more to boost the topic, netizens were already furious and pushed it to the top of the trending searches.

He stretched his sore neck, having kept a close watch on the situation, and finally felt he could relax a bit.

Now, he just had to wait for news from Officer Lin (Lin Zi’an).

Officer Lin didn’t disappoint him.

Two days later, Officer Lin called him, sounding both exhausted and excited. He informed him that the deputy director and his associates, panicked and thought Qin Wen had leaked the information, tried to destroy the evidence. When that failed, they attempted to secretly harm Qin Wen. However, Officer Lin had anticipated this, and not only did they fail, but they were caught red-handed by a prosecutor who had come to investigate the case.

Now, the case has officially been filed for investigation.

After hearing this, Gu Xingshi felt both happy and slightly pained.

If he had known they’d be caught this quickly, he wouldn’t have spent so much money hiring bodyguards!

The incident gained a lot of attention online, and the authorities responded swiftly.

Soon, Lin Laosan and his associates were also apprehended, and their years of criminal activity were uncovered one by one.

The netizens, who had been closely following the case, were ecstatic.

[Well done! These scumbags should’ve been arrested long ago!]

[The death penalty is too merciful for these animals. Actually, calling them animals is an insult to animals! They deserve to be quartered!]

[Don’t blame Officer Lin Zi’an! Even though he’s the nephew of that scum Lin Laosan, he’s a good cop. We all know that in Baishan City!]

[Usually, when we follow cases like this, they either end up getting twisted around or dragged out until they fade away. I thought it’d be the same this time, but it was resolved so quickly! I’m thrilled!]

[#10086, I bow to you! Boss #10086 has never gone wrong!]

[At last, these criminals are brought to justice, and the sister can finally rest in peace. I wonder how her brother is doing now.]

*

Once Lin Laosan and his associates were formally investigated, Gu Xingshi turned his full attention to Qin Wen’s case.

Qin Wen had been falsely accused from the start.

With Lawyer Li’s defense, he was quickly released.

When Qin Wen walked out of the detention center holding his belongings, he was still a bit dazed.

He had prepared himself to be wrongfully imprisoned or even to lose his life, yet in just half a month, everything had been turned upside down.

Lin Laosan and his associates were arrested, while he was freed.

Seeing the blue sky and white clouds outside the detention center, he felt as though he had been transported to another world.

Just then, he noticed Gu Xingshi waving at him.

The young man’s smile was brighter than the sunshine itself, washing away the last traces of darkness from Qin Wen’s heart.

Qin Wen quickly walked over but then looked at his dirty hands and the faintly sour-smelling clothes he wore.

He suddenly stopped, feeling a wave of self-consciousness he had never experienced before.

But in the next moment, Gu Xingshi hooked his arm around Qin Wen’s shoulders. “Come on! Get in the car!”

And before he knew it, Qin Wen was bundled into the car.

Half an hour later, they stood in front of a bathhouse, staring at each other.

Gu Xingshi cleared his throat. “Well, after coming out of detention, it’s only natural to wash up and clear away the bad luck, right?”

Qin Wen pressed his lips together and nodded, following Gu Xingshi into the bathhouse.

Gu Xingshi, familiar with the process, collected their tokens and handed one to Qin Wen before going to change.

Qin Wen was a bit bewildered.

He knew that Lawyer Li had been hired by Gu Xingshi, and he also knew that the online uproar was orchestrated by Gu Xingshi.

He couldn’t begin to imagine how much money and effort had been poured into all of this. Silently, he vowed that he would repay Gu Xingshi; as long as it wasn’t illegal, he would agree to anything Gu Xingshi wanted to do.

However, after preparing himself for anything… it turned out they were really just here to soak in a bath?!

Qin Wen’s emotions instantly became complicated.

But Gu Xingshi was already off, changing and showering.

With his years of experience living on the road, Qin Wen was used to adapting to various situations, so he soon calmed down and began washing up.

His hair had grown a bit long, so he carefully washed it several times, then casually slicked the wet strands back.

He picked up a razor and slowly shaved off his stubble.

Before long, a handsome yet somewhat pale face appeared in the mirror.

Qin Wen’s face had smooth lines, clear skin, sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a high nose bridge, but the slightly thin lips gave him an indescribable hint of mischief.

Aside from his looks, though, it was his aura that was truly memorable.

Years of turmoil and hardship had given him a maturity and a sense of story beyond his age.

Even as he leaned against the mirror with his gaze lowered, one could imagine a thousand stories just by looking at him.

But Qin Wen seemed indifferent to his own striking face. He wiped it dry with a towel, put on his clothes, and walked out.

The moment he stepped out, he saw Gu Xingshi sitting cross-legged with a bowl of cherry tomatoes in his lap, eating happily.

The instant Gu Xingshi saw Qin Wen, he was stunned.

He had known Qin Wen was good-looking, but he hadn’t expected him to look ‘this’ handsome.

No, “good-looking” was too shallow a term.

This was the kind of face that would shine on the big screen.

And to top it off, he had incredible acting skills.

He could drive every director wild with excitement.

Gu Xingshi’s eyes sparkled as he examined Qin Wen from head to toe.

Qin Wen was around 180 cm tall, with a well-proportioned physique, long limbs, and faintly visible muscles on his arms.

Moreover, his posture was upright, with no noticeable bad habits.

A perfect, cinematic lead!

Qin Wen stood still, allowing himself to be scrutinized, his expression calm and demeanor natural.

Well, aside from his flushed ears.

Finally, satisfied, Gu Xingshi withdrew his gaze and grabbed Qin Wen, pulling him toward the baths. “Come on, let’s go soak in the hot springs!”

Qin Wen: “?”

He’d mentally prepared himself again! And it was just for another bath?!

What kind of obsession do you have with baths?!

Qin Wen entered the bath a moment later. Gu Xingshi had already taken off his shirt and was lying back in the pool, letting out a contented sigh.

After a moment of hesitation, Qin Wen slowly got into the pool as well.

The steam soon turned both their skin red.

Qin Wen gradually relaxed, leaning his back against the edge, savoring the rare tranquility.

But the next second, Gu Xingshi suddenly clapped his hands. “I almost forgot!”

Qin Wen’s eyes flew open.

He saw Gu Xingshi pull out a grapefruit from the side, saying cheerfully, “So, I wanted to use grapefruit leaves to cleanse away bad luck for you, but I couldn’t find any. I figured, it’s all from the same tree, right? Grapefruit should work too, and we can eat it—very practical!”

Qin Wen: “…”

But Gu Xingshi was already eagerly peeling the grapefruit.

Watching him try to split the grapefruit in two, Qin Wen raised an eyebrow. “Let me.”

Gu Xingshi handed him the grapefruit.

With a few quick cuts, Qin Wen sliced the rind open, his slender fingers making quick work of peeling the entire fruit.

He placed his fingers along a seam, and with a flex of his hand, split the grapefruit in two, seemingly with little effort.

Without letting Gu Xingshi help, Qin Wen continued peeling and handed him a piece. “Eat.”

Gu Xingshi accepted it without hesitation. “You should eat too; it’s really sweet!”

Qin Wen sighed inwardly, peeled another segment for himself, but after he was done, he didn’t eat it. Instead, he kept peeling.

The repetitive motion gradually calmed his chaotic thoughts.

When he finished the last segment, he handed the whole plate of peeled grapefruit to Gu Xingshi and asked, “Is there anything else you need me to do?”

He figured Gu Xingshi didn’t like direct language, so he left his question open to interpretation.

However, looking at the neatly peeled grapefruit, Gu Xingshi couldn’t help but think: great acting skills, handsome, and perceptive! The perfect candidate for an artist!

With growing excitement, he asked, “Do you have any plans for the future?”

Qin Wen froze.

Since his parents’ death, he had been so preoccupied with survival and taking care of his sister that he hadn’t had time to think about the future.

And after his sister died, his sole focus was revenge, leaving no room for anything else.

So, when Gu Xingshi asked this, he felt lost. After a long silence, he replied quietly, “I don’t know.”

Perfect!!

Gu Xingshi put down the grapefruit, leaning in a bit closer in excitement. “I have an idea—would you consider it?”

The light, sweet scent of grapefruit wafted over.

Qin Wen’s heart tightened, and he instinctively straightened his back.

Then he heard Gu Xingshi say, “How about becoming an actor?”

Qin Wen: “?”