Ou Yunchen parked the car and walked into the hospital with the cake and gift.
A Ming: "Brother Yunchen, you're here."
Ou Yunchen: "How is the child?"
A Ming had become so thin that he looked gaunt, clearly worn down by the child over the past year.
A Ming: "Where is the luck? Every day we hope to find a suitable spinal cord donor."
Ou Yunchen patted A Ming's shoulder. It was on this day last year that they were celebrating the child's birthday together.
Apple took the cake from Ou Yunchen. The moment the box was opened, the couple thanked him tearfully.
On the soft cake, a small doll, identical to A Ming's child, was molded with fondant. Even the clothes they wore were the same style that Mo Qingyun had given them back then.
At that moment, beautiful memories seemed to unfold before everyone's eyes.
After making prior arrangements with the hospital, where only two family members were allowed to visit the ward, the hospital today permitted Ou Yunchen to join them in celebrating the child's birthday.
A Ming carried the cake, Apple stood behind him, and Ou Yunchen was last. They clapped their hands and sang "Happy Birthday."
However, the poor little one lay weakly on the large hospital bed, his face terrifyingly pale. Even in the hot summer, the child needed to be bundled up due to his intolerance to cold.
Apple and A Ming playfully doted on the child, who only managed a faint expression of happiness upon seeing his parents. She was simply too frail.
A Ming: "Daddy's little princess, look, your godfather is here to see you. Do you remember Uncle Yunchen? The Uncle Yunchen who bought you lots of delicious food."
Apple: "Little darling, look what Daddy has in his hand. A big cake, do you like it? Daddy bought it for you last year, and Uncle bought it for you this year..."
Ou Yunchen considered himself strong, not easily moved by emotions. But seeing the child, who was so thin that only his head seemed large, he couldn't help but blush with sympathy.
Several times he tried to interact with the child, but he couldn't bear the lump in his throat and dared not look at the poor child.
Visiting hours ended. A Ming and Apple reluctantly left the ward, repeatedly assuring the child they would return at the next visiting time.
Stepping out of the VIP ward, Ou Yunchen took the tissues offered by A Ming.
Ou Yunchen: "Every time I asked about your child, you said they were fine. I never imagined... the situation was this dire."
A Ming: "Apple and I have done our best. We've cried all our tears dry. All that's left is to wait..."
Ou Yunchen: "Bai Mingyu he..."
A Ming shook his head.
A Ming: "I don't know who leaked it. Even though it was revealed he has an illegitimate child, there's nothing we can do if he denies it."
Ou Yunchen: "Why didn't you seize this opportunity..."
A Ming: "Bai Mingyu hurt Apple. Now that he's lost many endorsements and is being cyberbullied, it's already a punishment."
"Apple and I both know clearly that Apple concealed her pregnancy and insisted on giving birth. There's no marital relationship in the eyes of the law. If Bai Mingyu doesn't acknowledge the child, we can't force him."
Ou Yunchen sighed. He wanted to help that poor child, but his compassion was stirred. Everyone wished for that child to live.
But as A Ming said, it was a consensual encounter at the time, and Apple unilaterally gave birth to the child. Even if Bai Mingyu didn't support the child, there was no legal recourse.
And so, Ou Yunchen chatted with A Ming for a while longer. He secretly tucked ten thousand yuan into Apple's bag before leaving.
Back in the car, Ou Yunchen remained dejected. Every time he thought of the child's frail appearance, his heart ached.
- Ou Yunchen on the phone -
Fan Zhijie: "Mr. Ou? Hello, hello. Mr. Ou is back in the country? I was just about to call and send my regards."
Ou Yunchen: "Say what you need to say now."
Ou Yunchen knew Fan Zhijie's concern was insincere; it was merely an attempt to ingratiate himself with Ou Yunchen.
Fan Zhijie: "Mr. Ou is joking with me again. As long as Mr. Ou calls me, I'm very happy. It's my great fortune to know Mr. Ou!"
Ou Yunchen: "Enough! You've used the information I gave you well."
Fan Zhijie: "Yes, thanks to Mr. Ou. Mr. Ou is truly my savior. Now that Bai Mingyu is becoming infamous. The moment news of a popular star having an illegitimate child broke, the entire internet exploded!"
Ou Yunchen snorted coldly.
Fan Zhijie: "I wonder why Mr. Ou suddenly called me. Are there any new tasks to assign?"
Ou Yunchen: "Assign? You've been given exclusive news from me, I assume no one can command you anymore?"
Fan Zhijie: "Oh dear, Mr. Ou, please don't say that. My current position is all thanks to Mr. Ou's great kindness. I wouldn't dare delay anything Mr. Ou asks me to do!"
Ou Yunchen: "Alright, then I'll ask you to help Bai Mingyu clear his name. Will you do it?"
Fan Zhijie: "This... forgive my ignorance, Mr. Ou, why would you want to clear Bai Mingyu's name? Could it be that the evidence..."
Ou Yunchen: "He does have an illegitimate child, but I need to save someone."
Fan Zhijie: "I still don't quite understand."
Ou Yunchen told Fan Zhijie about the illegitimate child's hospitalization. Whether Fan Zhijie was genuinely sympathetic or just putting on a show for Ou Yunchen, he immediately cursed Bai Mingyu as scum without hesitation.
Fan Zhijie: "Although I truly sympathize with the child, we were paid by Yan Shizong. I can't go back on my word. You know, small paparazzi agencies like ours would never dare offend Boss Yan."
Ou Yunchen: "Dare not, or don't want to? If you can clear Bai Mingyu's name, I'll offer you double the price."
Fan Zhijie hesitated for a long time before saying, "Mr. Ou, this offer is very tempting, but I also have principles. Since I've already agreed to Yan Shizong, I cannot break my promise. If I go back on my word now, it will be very difficult for me to operate in the future..."
Ou Yunchen: "You have principles? You can betray your own disciple, and you haven't gone back on your word many times before?"
"Don't forget, I have evidence of you framing me. I could go viral again, but I fear your higher-ups might silence you forever!"
Fan Zhijie shivered.
If it were in the past, he might have considered it. But recently, Xi Ou had signed Zhou Man. How powerful must Ou Yunchen's background be to dare confront Boss Yan?
These two men were not individuals that a small figure like Fan Zhijie could afford to offend. He could only blame himself for being blind in the past and being deceived by Ou Yunchen's fabricated false information!
Ou Yunchen was already making waves in the industry. Perhaps he would become a formidable figure like Boss Yan!
Fine, Fan Zhijie had no choice but to take a gamble! Compared to Boss Yan, after interacting with them recently, he found he preferred Ou Yunchen a little more.
Fan Zhijie: "Mr. Ou, if I can clear Bai Mingyu's name, then what about Boss Yan..."
Ou Yunchen: "Don't worry, I have a more important plan for you. If you help me win this, you'll naturally be well rewarded!"
Fan Zhijie: "With Mr. Ou's words, I'll go through fire and water without hesitation!"
- Ou Yunchen ends the call -
After hanging up, Ou Yunchen glanced at the hospital building again. He had a plan that could make Bai Mingyu voluntarily save the child and simultaneously strike a blow against Yan Shizong.
However, it was understandable that Fan Zhijie was surprised. Ou Yunchen was the one who had made it impossible for Bai Mingyu to recover, so why was he now pulling him out of the abyss?
It could only be said that it was thanks to Yan Shizong, because soon Bai Mingyu's entertainment company would align with Ou Yunchen. That would be the enemy of my enemy is my friend!
Therefore, he only needed to extend an olive branch to Bai Mingyu's entertainment company, rescue them from their predicament, and then direct their combined efforts outwards.
It was time to stir up some waves in this already murky entertainment industry. After all, with Ou Yunchen, the prevailing winds here should change!