Chapter 42 — Dominating Weibo

As everyone knows, in the world of CEO romance novels, one of the most popular trends in recent years is “dominating through Weibo”—using Weibo to bring down a domineering CEO.

The formula generally goes like this:

Someone—either the protagonist or a cannon-fodder character—exposes a CEO's scandal on Weibo → the CEO gets cursed into the trending topics → the company's stock price immediately plummets → the all-powerful billionaire CEO, who can supposedly move heaven and earth with a flick of his finger, ends up overwhelmed because strangers on the internet are insulting him, angrily crushing a wine glass in his hand.

In novel worlds, no wealthy family or corporate empire can withstand the power of public opinion. A top corporation can go bankrupt overnight because netizens roast it online. In other words, internet users can kill you with their criticism, but they can also bring you back to life with their support.

It doesn't matter what the protagonist does for a living—start a livestream once, and boom, hundreds of billions in orders. No wonder CEOs chase internet traffic too. As a result, CEOs, rich wives, socialites, scientists, and even interstellar generals spend their days fighting on trending topics like celebrities, battling fans and haters alike for the spotlight. In a strange way, it all makes perfect sense.

After being smeared several times despite being nothing more than an office worker, Yan Dun had finally had enough. He wanted revenge.

So he decided to let Hua Daimao experience what it felt like to be “dominated by Weibo.”

The recording of Hua Daimao's villainous confession was released online. With the assistance of the An Corporation, it quickly shot to the top of the trending list.

#HuaDaimaoFramedYanDun became one of the hottest topics on the internet.

Combined with the previous scandals, netizens were completely confused.

⤷ Wasn't Yan Dun supposed to be a corporate spy?

『 Then only a few days later, Yan Dun had appeared at the wine-tasting event under An Chi's protection. An Chi had shielded him like a mother hen protecting her chick and loudly berated Hua Daimao:

"You damn gay, don't think I don't know what you're planning! If you want to play around, go find a male escort. Stay away from my Xiao Yan!"

Everyone had assumed An Chi and Hua Daimao were fighting over a love interest.

Now another recording surfaced, featuring Hua Daimao telling Yan Dun:

"As long as you give in and come to my side, I'll clear your name immediately."』

The public's imagination ran wild.

⤷ Could it be that Hua Daimao wanted to sleep with Yan Dun, and when Yan Dun refused, Hua Daimao framed him to force him into submission? And An Chi, having seen through Hua Daimao's scheme, stepped in to protect him?

When Bai Lisu saw public opinion shifting, she immediately dragged An Chi aside and persuaded him:

"Now is the perfect chance to clear yourself of the 'closeted gay' rumors!"

Secretary Zhou chimed in to support her.

Thus An Chi fulfilled his role as the simple-minded male lead and allowed himself to be led around by the villainess. He released an official statement:

『 Yan Dun was merely his subordinate, and any special care he had shown came from a sense of responsibility. He was currently dating Bai Lisu, and media outlets should stop spreading false rumors about his personal life, or legal action would follow. 』

After working so hard for so long, Bai Lisu had finally secured recognition as An Chi's girlfriend.

She breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Another major step toward completing her mission.

The internet, meanwhile, couldn't keep up with the drama.

⤷ Wait, wasn't Bai Lisu cheating on An Chi with Young Master Xu?

⤷ Then people said An Chi was gay.

⤷ And now An Chi officially acknowledges Bai Lisu as his girlfriend?

Everyone was bewildered.

Nobody knew what was going on.

Hua Daimao, having been outmaneuvered, was furious.

But he wasn't about to let An Chi off easily.

He hired internet trolls to push the narrative that An Chi was definitely gay, that he and Yan Dun were secretly involved, and that acknowledging Bai Lisu was merely a cover-up.

Compared to:

"An Chi and Bai Lisu are dating normally, and Yan Dun is just a valued employee,"

people found this version much more entertaining:

"The domineering CEO and his pretty secretary. A closeted CEO hires a minor actress as a fake girlfriend to conceal his relationship."

Naturally, the latter spread much faster.

After all, people love dramatic stories.

Thus the most popular version of events became:

An Chi, the domineering CEO, fell for his attractive secretary Yan Dun.

He created a reality show for him.

He paid him a million-yuan annual salary.

The two were photographed feeding each other cake on a date.

To conceal the relationship, An Chi hired Bai Lisu as a fake girlfriend.

Then Yan Dun joined the reality show and attracted even more attention.

Playboy Hua Daimao also became interested in him.

When Yan Dun refused his advances, Hua Daimao resorted to schemes and coercion.

An Chi, enraged on behalf of his beloved, confronted Hua Daimao publicly at the wine-tasting event...

──── ୨୧ ────

After reading this version, Yan Dun was dumbfounded.

How had netizens managed to invent such a melodramatic plot?

Customer Service appeared helpfully:

Actually, this is the original plot of the novel. The netizens aren't wrong.

The one who's wrong is you, Customer.

Yan Dun: "..."

──── ୨୧ ────

Yan Dun wasn't the original novel's irresistible, everyone-loves-him protagonist.

Naturally, he chose his own path.

Yet the power of the plot was overwhelming.

Despite everything, he somehow still became the center of every scandal.

The protagonist of the "Domineering CEO and Pretty Secretary" story.

He couldn't help sighing toward the heavens.

This is too hard! Why do I have to be the irresistible heartthrob?

As the novel's beloved protagonist, Yan Dun naturally enjoyed endless affection.

Countless enthusiastic netizens passionately insulted Hua Daimao on his behalf.

Although public opinion overwhelmingly accepted that Hua Daimao had framed him, legal proof was another matter.

Because of the plot's protection, no trace could be found regarding the mysterious 500,000-yuan transfer or the hacking of Yan Dun's email account.

According to the world's setting, Gu Gu remained the greatest hacker alive—even the police couldn't do anything.

Therefore Hua Daimao simply denied everything.

No one could successfully prosecute him.

Standing before cameras, Hua Daimao calmly declared:

"I can confidently say I never did it. Otherwise, why haven't the police arrested me?"

An outlaw remained confident.

However, this was still a world where Weibo ruled all.

Netizens attacked Hua Daimao online.

The Hua Corporation's stock price fell.

Hua Daimao developed a massive headache and no longer had the energy to keep targeting Yan Dun.

With his innocence restored, Yan Dun returned to work at the An Corporation.

Unfortunately, at least ninety percent of the employees had already seen the internet rumors about the "Domineering CEO and Pretty Secretary."

Whenever they looked at him, there was a certain suggestiveness in their eyes.

They all seemed convinced he really was the CEO's pretty secretary.

Because Yan Dun possessed the protagonist's halo effects, most people didn't look down on him.

Instead they praised him:

"He's really cute. If I were a CEO, I'd want to keep him too."

Meanwhile, every time Bai Lisu appeared publicly to reinforce her position as the official girlfriend, she received endless sympathetic looks.

“Such a young and beautiful actress…”

“How did she end up as a scapegoat?”

Yan Dun still wasn't used to being talked about.

People were adults and wouldn't gossip directly to his face, but being discussed behind his back remained uncomfortable.

He could only force himself to adapt.

Customer Service had already told him:

Since you're the protagonist, you're destined to be the center of attention, Dear Customer.

Yan Dun sighed.

He honestly preferred being an unnoticed secretary.

A hardworking nobody.

Compared to being a Mary Sue protagonist, he'd rather be a disposable background character.

Back at work, he remembered Xiao Qi—the colleague who had constantly opposed him—and felt another wave of exhaustion.

At the same time, Xiao Qi was also exhausted.

"Wait, what?"

"I thought Yan Dun was Young Master Chi's secretary."

"Turns out he's Young Master Chi's mistress?"

Xiao Qi couldn't make sense of it.

So he hurried off to gather intelligence from Secretary Zhou.

Secretary Zhou wasn't entirely sure what was going on either.

But he very much wanted to believe Yan Dun had risen through the ranks by sleeping with powerful men.

So he subtly encouraged Xiao Qi's suspicions.

"Think about it," Secretary Zhou said.

"Why would Young Master Zao arrange so many blind dates for Young Master Chi?"

"Why would Young Master Chi bring Yan Dun to those dates?"

"Why was Yan Dun transferred to the chairman's office after the rumors surfaced?"

"Why was management's first reaction to protect him when he was accused of leaking secrets?"

"Why?"

Xiao Qi was stunned.

Now that he thought about it, both An Zao and An Chi really did treat Yan Dun differently.

Far differently than an ordinary employee.

Seeing Xiao Qi's expression change, Secretary Zhou smirked.

"See? Isn't Yan Dun amazing?"

"Amazing?" Xiao Qi shook his head.

"That's not amazing."

"That's legendary."

After all, An Chi had been unattainable for years.

People either thought he was gay or completely uninterested in romance.

Then suddenly a little secretary appeared and stole his heart.

Wasn't that incredible?

Xiao Qi suddenly realized his mistake.

He had assumed Yan Dun wanted to become An Zao's secretary.

But after seeing that Yan Dun earned a million yuan a year under An Chi, Xiao Qi finally understood.

Why would someone making a million yuan annually want my position?

He's not stupid!

He wasn't trying to become the secretary.

He was trying to become family.

Xiao Qi's legs nearly gave out.

Damn it...

Did I offend the future Young Madam?

When Yan Dun returned from leave and entered the chairman's office, he immediately saw Xiao Qi and prepared himself for battle.

Instead, Xiao Qi greeted him with an enthusiastic smile.

"It's raining outside. Was the wind strong? Are you cold?"

Yan Dun wasn't cold before.

After seeing Xiao Qi's fake smile, he immediately shivered.

Seeing that, Xiao Qi hurriedly said:

"See? You're cold! Here, have some hot coffee."

Yan Dun stared suspiciously at the black coffee being offered.

Did he poison it?

Then he shook his head.

This isn't a palace intrigue novel.

Why would someone randomly poison me?

He cautiously took a sip.

"Secretary Qi..."

Xiao Qi waved him off.

"Oh, come on! No need to be formal. Just call me Xiao Qi like everyone else!"

Yan Dun was alarmed.

Maybe the coffee really is poisoned.

Xiao Qi adopted an extremely sincere expression.

"I owe you an apology."

"I thought you were betraying the company, which is why I said those things."

"But I never genuinely wanted to hurt you."

"Now that I know you were framed, my conscience has been tormenting me."

"I keep wondering whether I was too harsh. Too excessive."

"I hope you can forgive me."

Yan Dun was stunned by the sudden apology.

Still, as the saying goes:

You don't hit a smiling face.

When he had been accused, plenty of people had treated him coldly.

Xiao Qi was the first—and so far the only—person to apologize.

That was surprisingly touching.

So Yan Dun smiled.

"Secretary Qi, you're being too serious."

"At the time, the evidence pointed at me. It was reasonable to suspect me."

"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, let's continue being good colleagues."

Xiao Qi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Whether Yan Dun truly forgave him or not, at least the surface relationship had been repaired.

The rest could be fixed gradually.

Since the entire internet knew about Yan Dun's rumors, Madam An naturally heard them too.

She had once disguised herself as a janitor to test Yan Dun's character and had formed a favorable impression of him.

After hearing the gossip, she approached An Chi.

"Are you and Yan Dun really together?"

"If you are, stop hiding it."

"It's unfair to both Yan Dun and Bai Lisu."

An Chi looked deeply offended.

"Grandma! Even you think I'm gay?"

"Fine, fine." Madam An spoke as though soothing a child.

"You're not a dead gay. You're a living gay."

"Grandma is very open-minded."

"The world is different now."

"Same-sex couples can be very happy."

An Chi's head hurt.

"No, really... it's not like that."

"Yan Dun and I aren't together."

Madam An looked unconvinced.

"Then why are you so good to him?"

"I..."

An Chi froze.

"I... don't know."

Madam An sighed.

"You were always good at studying."

"But you've never been especially emotionally perceptive."

"Maybe you've fallen for him and simply haven't realized it yet."

An Chi froze.

She continued:

"You need to figure out your feelings soon."

"Love can't survive endless hesitation."

"Yan Dun likes you now, but if you don't treat him properly, one day he may stop."

"When that happens, don't regret it."

An Chi became thoughtful.

He believed Yan Dun liked him.

But did he like Yan Dun?

Originally, he had wanted to fire Yan Dun because he believed Yan Dun secretly had a crush on him.

Yet when Yan Dun was about to leave, he was deeply unhappy.

Was that... love?

For the first time, An Chi felt truly confused.

Yan Dun, meanwhile, had no idea that even An Chi had misunderstood and believed Yan Dun liked him.

At work, Yan Dun adopted a policy of "the innocent need not explain."

If he loudly announced,

"An Chi and I have no improper relationship!"

nobody would believe him anyway.

It would only fuel the rumors further.

Better to let the matter cool down naturally.

Besides, Yan Dun had another idea.

If he successfully won An Zao's heart and officially got together with him, and if Mary Sue worked harder to spend time with An Chi, the rumors would eventually collapse on their own.

Speaking of pursuing An Zao...

Yan Dun's gaze drifted nervously toward An Zao's face.

An Zao noticed and smiled.

"What's wrong, Little Honest One?"

Yan Dun swallowed and gathered his courage.

"Um... I'm really grateful for everything you've done to clear my name."

"So I was wondering..."

"Could I treat you to dinner next Saturday night?"

He deliberately said "next Saturday night."

But in reality, he had an ulterior motive.

Next Saturday was Christmas Eve.

If he directly invited An Zao to dinner on Christmas Eve, it would sound far too suggestive.

Calling it "next Saturday" felt safer.

That was Bai Lisu's advice.

Trying to hide neither his nervousness nor his hope, Yan Dun carefully watched An Zao's reaction.

An Zao thought for a moment.

"I'm happy to, and I'd love to."

"But I already have plans next Saturday."

"How about another day?"

As An Zao's secretary, Yan Dun would know if there were official business arrangements on Christmas Eve.

That was exactly why he'd dared to ask.

But An Zao said he already had plans.

And Yan Dun, his secretary, knew nothing about them.

That meant it was a private engagement.

Yan Dun's heart shattered instantly.

Boss Zao already made plans for Christmas Eve?

With who?

A man? A woman?

A date? A meeting?

His heart felt like a stone dropped into water.

It kept sinking.

And sinking.

And sinking still further, with no end in sight.