"Yeah!"

"With all this commotion, you can't even leave your own home in peace."

"Seriously, he should just move out!"

Qian Hong's few words were enough to incite some of the tenants. Everyone knew just how shameless those reporters were. They ambushed anyone they saw, making life miserable for everyone.

But as mere onlookers, they wouldn't dare confront the aggressive media. There were too many of them; how could they possibly take them all on?

So, it was much simpler to just drive Xu Ke away.

"See?" Qian Hong was immensely satisfied that a few words had riled up the crowd. She turned to Xu Ke. "Do you still insist on staying here?"

"Search your conscience, young man," Qian Hong said, her tone dripping with false concern. But the sneer that accompanied her words was filled with contempt.

Xu Ke's face remained expressionless, betraying neither joy nor sorrow.

He looked at the crowd, all excitedly watching him, and said indifferently, "And then?"

When he finished speaking, the crowd froze. A moment later, their expressions twisted with rage.

This guy was freeloading off Wong Qifu, which was bad enough. But now he was disrupting everyone's lives, and for what? To play poor in this shabby little room? Is he nuts?

"Damn it, are you moving out or not?"

"You can go kiss Wong Qifu's ass and never work a day in your life, but we have to live normally! Can't you spare a thought for us?"

"What's the point of you living here? You already have such a powerful backer. Are you living here now just to show off your superiority?"

"I bet he wants to live here to put on a show. He's pretending to be some hardworking guy in a tiny room, probably so Wong Qifu thinks he has integrity. If she's happy, she'll spoil the damn freeloader even more."

Their anger was completely set off by Xu Ke's indifferent tone. One by one, they spoke without any restraint.

Seeing the crowd fuming, Qian Hong was incredibly pleased. She turned back to Xu Ke and smirked triumphantly. "Xu Ke, if you don't want your name plastered all over the headlines again tomorrow, I suggest you move out quickly. HAHAHA!"

Qian Hong burst into laughter. She had achieved her goal. Now she was just revealing her intentions to see if she could finally crack Xu Ke's emotionless facade and make him panic.

In truth, the person pulling the strings had told Qian Hong exactly what to do: drive Xu Ke out by inciting the anger of the other tenants. They had even laid out the method. Given Xu Ke's personality, he was sure to ignore her, making it easy to provoke everyone.

Succeed, and she would be paid five hundred thousand.

It was a choice between Xu Ke and five hundred thousand. Naturally, Qian Hong chose the money. Especially when the job was this easy.

Hearing Qian Hong's words, Xu Ke's expression didn't change, but inside, he understood everything. So it's true. She has someone backing her. I just don't know if it's the Huang Family or the Ye Family.

Their plan was simple: provoke a conflict and use the news to paint him as an arrogant jerk who disregards others. Then they could use that to attack the Wang Family. Even if the Wang Family was unaffected, it would still count as revenge against Xu Ke.

Seeing Xu Ke fall silent, Qian Hong's smile grew even more smug. "How about it? Scared now?

"You're a low-life from some backwater hovel. Do you really think you can mingle with these great families? You should take a good look at yourself and see what you're worth."

She couldn't stand the thought of someone like Xu Ke making it big someday. Even by freeloading off a woman—that was unacceptable! If these poor bastards struck it rich, who would be left to rent her apartments?

Qian Hong expected to see panic on his face. But instead…

Xu Ke simply smiled faintly. "Are you finished?

"If you are, then scram."

At his words, Qian Hong's pupils shrank. "Kid, do you know who you've offended?"

Her complexion truly changed this time. She never expected Xu Ke to remain so calm. Is this the same poor kid who came to Tianhai to struggle for a better life?

"None of your damn business," Xu Ke said coolly.

"You..." Qian Hong's eyes bulged.

But Xu Ke had no intention of letting her continue. Without looking back, he tossed a final sentence over his shoulder. "My lease is up at the end of the month. Come find me then."

He then turned and slammed the door shut.

BANG!

Qian Hong, who had been leaning forward to argue, smashed her nose right into the door.

"AHH!" Qian Hong shrieked. Staring at the cold, white door, she clutched her throbbing nose in agony.

After a moment, her previous smugness vanished, replaced by fury. "You bastard!" she shrieked.

The onlookers around her grew even more furious. "That Xu Ke is a real bully, acting all high and mighty just because he has a backer."

"Does he think he can walk all over everyone just because Wong Qifu protects him? And slamming the door on our landlord, who was only trying to help us? What a complete asshole."

"I have my own blog! I'm going to write a post trashing him right now!"

"Let's destroy his reputation! Damn it, I'm so pissed!"

"So this is what it's like to be a kept man? How impressive!"

***

Xu Ke paid no mind to how the people outside planned to slander him. The moment he entered the room, he was already thinking about how to handle the situation.

Making the headlines was a secondary concern. He had already been smeared once before the duel to the death. Xu Ke knew they wouldn't stop using the media to attack him. But getting smeared once was enough. Letting it happen a second time wasn't his style.

If they were going to play dirty, then he would have to return the favor.

However, he first needed to confirm some information.

He walked to the balcony and stuck his head out. From this angle, Xu Ke had a clear view of the situation downstairs.

Just as I thought. There were plenty of reporters lurking below. There wasn't much to his story, yet these reporters were still camping out here, even resorting to harassing tenants. Someone had to be pulling the strings from behind the scenes. Their goal was to maximize the public's animosity toward him.

Xu Ke smiled. Just as I thought.

He hadn't even finished the thought when another tenant tried to leave the building, only to be stopped and questioned about him.

They pounced on anyone they saw. These reporters operated on a simple principle: no one entering or leaving the building was to be spared. They were hell-bent on magnifying his negative image in the public's mind.

However, Xu Ke noticed that some of the tenants being interviewed were already wearing expressions of indignation…

Xu Ke listened intently.

The person being interviewed was recounting the incident with the landlord. The gist of it was that the landlord was kind-hearted, while Xu Ke was arrogant and tyrannical, and they couldn't stand by and watch.

Xu Ke smiled. They work fast.

With that, Xu Ke closed the window and walked back into his room.

If that's their game, then this will be easy. Setting a trap... Who doesn't know how to do that?

Thinking this, Xu Ke pulled out his phone and dialed a number he knew. You all came to my doorstep to put on a show. Well, tomorrow, it's my turn to put on one for you.

The call connected. "Hello, this is Xu Ke..."

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