Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The young man on the stairs curved his lips into a malicious smile, then abruptly turned and hurled a vase taller than himself from the second floor.

The vase shattered on impact, fragments scattering everywhere, startling the exquisitely groomed woman nearby so badly that her face went ashen, and she nearly screamed.

......

Once the surveillance footage emerged, netizens who had previously vilified the False Young Master, swayed by Patriarch Su’s inflammatory social media posts, quickly shifted their stance.

"Turns out the True Young Master is no angel either. He just got home and is already smashing vases, bowls, and pots. Arrogant and violent, he’s not one to suffer in silence. Who knows who’d truly come out on top between him and that scheming False Young Master?"

"I always thought the True Young Master was innocent, but it seems these two are just a dog-eat-dog fight. Scheming can’t beat brute force; if the False Young Master keeps provoking him, he might end up worse off. No amount of manipulation can stand up to a ruffian’s iron fists."

"Are you guys serious? No matter how bad the True Young Master is, can he really be worse than the False Young Master? If this continues, the Su family will only grow more biased toward the ‘bullied’ False Young Master. The True Young Master has no deep emotional ties to them, and now, with his uncontrollable temper and arrogance, anyone would favor the well-behaved child they raised. The more he loses control, the more alienated he’ll become from his family. Just wait and see who truly loses in the end!"

"Why take sides so seriously? It’s just dogs fighting dogs—let’s grab some popcorn. Do we really have to pick between the True and False Young Masters?"

The surveillance video had no sound, but just from the visuals, netizens concluded that the True Young Master in the footage was excessively arrogant and overbearing—nothing like the poor, bullied child they had imagined, but rather akin to a thug who would bully others at the slightest provocation.

Once people began associating him with delinquent behavior, their sympathy and pity for the True Young Master vanished.

Public opinion shifted rapidly—from the False Young Master being the sole schemer who sowed discord, to the narrative that Patriarch Su had been deceived, and that the True Young Master had betrayed the expectations and sympathy of the elderly man and netizens alike. It now seemed the True Young Master was morally corrupt and unworthy of their support.

Before long, self-proclaimed insiders from elite circles emerged to debunk the rumors, presenting donation records and academic transcripts to clear the False Young Master, Su Shengli. They painted a picture of him as kind, pure, innocent, and harmless—a pampered child who couldn’t possibly possess such a manipulative mind or resort to such sordid tactics as sowing discord.

"I agree. In the video, the False Young Master was clearly being bullied. He seemed to have been pushed to the ground and didn’t dare get up until the vase nearly hit his mother. Only then did he stand up and shield Mrs. Su. But he’s too weak; even after being bullied like that, he didn’t dare confront the True Young Master directly. With that mouse-like timidity, he’s definitely being terribly bullied by the thuggish True Young Master."

"Exactly! Before, everyone blindly believed the False Young Master was a master manipulator who bullied the True Young Master. Even then, I felt something was off—how could the narrative be so uniform? Now I realize it must have been the True Young Master’s doing, trying to drive the False Young Master out of the Su family."

"Damn, no wonder the True Young Master, having grown up struggling at the bottom, is so cunning. He can even manipulate us netizens. I always thought the False Young Master, raised in luxury, couldn’t possibly be that scheming. Turns out the True Young Master just couldn’t stand the False Young Master staying in the Su family and wanted him gone."

"Of course! The True Young Master is the truly twisted one here. A sheltered rich kid like the False Young Master would never have encountered such tactics—no wonder he’s terrified."

The Su family’s True and False Young Master drama had already faded from public attention for several days, with little online buzz.

However, after the video’s release, netizens, feeling deceived by the True Young Master, quickly propelled a new trending topic to the top of the hot search list, amplified by online trolls:

"#TrueYoungMasterApologize! Gu Yihong’s moral bankruptcy doesn’t deserve sympathy!"

-----

Was Gu Yihong the type to apologize?

Absolutely not!

At that very moment, he was at home, fuming and pointing at online comments as he vented to Gu Yubai.

"What did I do? If the Su family hadn’t first suggested passing me and that False Young Master off as twins, damaging your... my interests, would I have been so angry as to smash their vase?"

"The first time I came home, they didn’t offer kind words or comfort. They didn’t ask how I’d lived all these years, if I’d been bullied, suffered grievances, or endured hardships. Their first move was to use my return to solidify the False Young Master’s status as a Su family son, ensuring his position!"

"Could I just take that? I had to let them know I wasn’t someone to be trifled with! That’s why I made a scene at the Su family home. But look closely, Big Bro, aside from smashing some worthless kitchen items, did I hurt anyone? No! I just wanted to scare them."

Gu Yihong gave Gu Yubai puppy-dog eyes.

"Big Bro, don’t listen to the nonsense online. I haven’t gone anywhere these days—I’ve been staying home. If the Su family really cared, they would have come to find me by now. They’re just biased toward that False Young Master. Big Bro, I’m clearly the one being bullied here; they’re truly blind!"

A hint of grievance appeared on the young man’s defiant, handsome face, his eyes slightly red, seemingly glistening with tears as he looked pitifully at Gu Yubai.

Gu Yubai, whom he was looking at, lay on the sofa holding his phone, letting Gu Yihong rant on the carpet before sitting down and clinging to his own leg, whining.

Gu Yubai’s face remained impassive, revealing no hint of concern or indifference in his eyes.

Gu Yihong cautiously glanced at Gu Yubai again, then, after racking his brain, sighed lightly and shrugged, finally speaking honestly.

"Alright, I’ll be straight with you. After your warning, I actually guessed the Su family would use the surveillance footage. I also knew Su Shengli’s reputation, which had been maliciously speculated about online, would definitely be cleared. The reason I haven’t done anything yet is... because college entrance exam results are coming out soon."

"Plus, I have a trump card. Even if I’m going to refute them, I need to pick a time with high traffic, otherwise, wouldn’t that be too easy for the Su family?"

Gu Yubai finally turned to look at him, a fleeting smile in his eyes.

"You’re that confident you’ll get into a good school? Everyone online says you’re a good-for-nothing thug. Some even say you bullied classmates, extorted protection money, and scaled walls to skip class and go to internet cafes."

He pointed at a particularly assertive post, a hint of amusement on his face.

"Let me see, let me see! When did I ever bully classmates? What kind of monsters are coming out of the woodwork? I’m a good person!"

Gu Yihong squeezed next to Gu Yubai to look at his phone, his expression gradually turning to one of exasperation.

"Why is it all bad things about me? Isn’t anyone defending me?"

Of course, some people did speak up for Gu Yihong, but their voices were too faint in the torrent of online trolls, and no one paid serious attention to their explanations.

College entrance exam results were indeed approaching, and the class group chat was buzzing daily.

"I’m truly fed up! Those people online are so sure that our handsome Yihong is out there acting like a thug—it infuriates me! Which eye of theirs saw Gu Yihong from our school bullying anyone? Back in school, when actual troublemakers came looking for trouble, he was the one who helped classmates chase them away. He’s a good person!"

"Exactly! Do those people online even know what they’re talking about? Sure, our handsome Yihong has a bit of a temper, but he doesn’t just hit people for no reason. He only acts when facing bad guys! Who knows if the Su family didn’t provoke our Gu Yihong first?"

"I think so too. Look at that video—our Hongzi clearly showed restraint; he didn’t hurt anyone! It’s like a Husky trashing the house. If the Su family hadn’t wronged Hongzi, he wouldn’t have been so angry."

"A Husky... are you calling our Brother Hong a dog? Even if he is, he only listens to his Big Brother Gu Yubai. He’s super well-behaved around the top student, but wild and arrogant around others. Hmm, he really is like a Husky."

"So what should our Brother Husky do now? Just let those people online slander him? What kind of things are they saying? Do they know Brother Husky’s character better than us, his own classmates?!"

Undercurrents swirled, and the public narrative completely turned against the True Young Master. The False Young Master was quietly rehabilitated and faded into the background, while the True Young Master, Gu Yihong, was thrust into the spotlight.

Gu Yihong’s continued silence only fueled the netizens’ anger at feeling manipulated.

----

Just then, the Su Group’s official website released an announcement.

"We apologize for occupying public resources at this time. Recent discussions regarding the backgrounds of the Su family’s two young masters have garnered widespread attention and much debate. On behalf of the involved parties, Su Group thanks everyone for their concern for both young masters.

The Su family has always been a harmonious and loving family, and it will continue to be so.

Even with the sudden complications regarding the young masters’ backgrounds, the Su family has never abandoned either of them. Whether it is Su Shengli, who was raised in our home, or Gu Yihong, who has just returned, the Su family will treat them equally, without neglect or favoritism.

To this end, the Su family is preparing a welcome banquet for the True Young Master, and every member of the Su family will help him integrate into his new home.

Once again, we thank you all for your concern."

As soon as the announcement was released, the Su Group’s faltering stock immediately stabilized.

Netizens praised the Su family’s head for their wisdom in parenting, clearly stating that they would treat both the True and False Young Masters equally, showing no favoritism.

"This is solid proof. The Su family themselves have clarified that the problem lies with the newly returned True Young Master. If it weren’t for him, the False Young Master, Su Shengli, wouldn’t have been misunderstood by netizens before."

"What else could it be? Is the True Young Master smashing vases and breaking dishes fake? The evidence is right in front of you, yet some still think the True Young Master is innocent. It must be because there’s an issue with the True Young Master himself that the Su family responded so late."

"The Su family has been more than fair to the True Young Master. When the False Young Master was being targeted by netizens, Su Group didn’t jump out with an announcement. Now the Su family is even preparing a special welcome banquet for the True Young Master. Do they really have to fulfill the True Young Master’s wish and kick out the False Young Master they’ve raised for so many years? Even if there were no emotional ties between the False Young Master and the Su family, if they kicked him out, what would happen to the Su family’s reputation?!"

"How boring. This announcement is clearly issued by the Su family to protect the True Young Master and quell public opinion. But since they dare to make such a promise, it shows the Su family treats the False Young Master quite well too. Finally, there’s no need to worry about either child being wronged. I hope the True Young Master can be more tolerant in the future and get along peacefully with the False Young Master—that would solve everything."

"Alright, calm down. I told you not to meddle in the Su family’s affairs. Now look, you’ve ended up pleasing no one."

The Su family swiftly released this announcement to the public.

On the surface, it appeared to declare their fair treatment of both young masters, but in reality, it firmly pinned the label of 'arrogant' on Gu Yihong.

While a few saw through the deception, most were moved by the Su family’s public stance of treating both equally without favoritism.

Su Group gained immense public goodwill, and its stock price rose significantly.

------

The drama of the true and false young masters seemed to have come to an end.

Until the next day, when college entrance exam results were released, diverting online attention. The long-absent True Young Master, Gu Yihong, posted a photo of himself with his exam score report, captioned:

"This score is enough. Who cares about being some 'True Young Master'? I’m my own damn person—never part of the Su family. P.S.: Even if I’m a bit quick-tempered, I’m no thug! Don’t insult me like that!"

"Bah, what 'twins'?! They thought I was easy to bully. I wasn’t born to be a doormat!"

Following the photo and caption was a website link.

Upon clicking, users found a clear audio recording. People online quickly realized it matched the dialogue from the surveillance video that had accused Gu Yihong of being violent and unruly.

After listening a few times, they were shocked to discover the truth wasn’t as previously speculated—Gu Yihong wasn’t some ruthless thug!

On the contrary, Gu Yihong was the victim, and the surveillance footage merely captured his retaliation.

Before anyone could rally to his defense, Gu Yihong posted another statement online, practically cutting all ties with the Su family:

"I’m not the type to beg to be taken back by the Su family. If they don’t welcome me, they should say so outright—not resort to behind-the-scenes tactics and manipulate public opinion to cyberbully me. You know exactly what that Su Group announcement was about. You’re already scheming against me, and I haven’t even returned to the Su family yet. What would happen if I actually went back?!"

"I expect the Su family to give me an explanation within three days. Otherwise, heh heh..."

Gu Yihong didn’t specify the consequences, but his resolute and blunt tone stunned netizens.

That bold?!

If the Su family didn’t provide a reasonable explanation within three days, would Gu Yihong, the True Young Master, refuse to return?

Regardless of Gu Yihong’s personal stance toward the Su family, people online recalled their earlier praise for the Su family’s fair treatment of both young masters and suddenly felt deceived. Their anger flared up instantly!

Are the Su family done yet?!

Do they really think we netizens are fools?!

This time, the Su family completely face-planted, and Su Group’s recently risen stock price plummeted rapidly.