Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Father-Son RelationshipChapter 62: Father-Son Relationship

    This storm initially started rippling through the anonymous forum, and then was taken to Weibo by some troublemakers, instantly sparking widespread discussion.

    After posting on the anonymous forum, Yi Ran bought internet trolls to stir up the drama, then kept his eyes glued to the computer, watching the developments unfold. When he realized the topic had come to a halt on Weibo for further fermentation, the sinister smile on his lips hadn’t faded for a second. His gaze was as malicious as it was certain of Lin Qin’s impending downfall.

    However, reality turned out to be far beyond Yi Ran’s expectations. The hottest topic on Weibo wasn’t about Lin Qin being kept by a benefactor—it was whether Lin Qin’s acting in "Dual Feelings" was worthy of a Cannes Best Actor award.

    This question led to heated discussions on Weibo, with the majority ultimately agreeing that he was, indeed, deserving. Many who hadn’t watched "Dual Feelings" were drawn in by the debate, hurriedly downloading the movie and subsequently being captivated by Lin Qing’s exceptional performance—several of them even becoming Lin Qin’s film fans.

    That night, Lin Qin’s fan base surged dramatically. Before, he had only over three million fans, but by the next morning, that number had increased by more than two million. Though mixed with trolls and hired detractors, the majority of comments about Lin Qin were overwhelmingly positive.

    Yi Ran spent the entire night glued to developments. When he saw how things turned out, he nearly smashed his computer in frustration.

    Yi Ran, a fresh-faced young actor who banks on his youthful looks, likely could never fathom the loyalty of fans won over by Lin Qin’s genuine talent. Lin Qin’s strengths justified everything he had achieved, a fact that anyone with common sense couldn’t deny.

    And as one comment on the anonymous forum aptly put it: Lin Qin’s resources weren’t actually that great; the two directors he worked with were virtually unknown before they won awards. Lin Qin likely chose these projects not for the directors’ clout but for the script’s merit itself.

    The synchronization of a great script, a strong team, and an outstanding actor naturally created a magical chemistry. Lin Qin’s Best Actor recognition wasn’t due to industry connections but rather his distinct vision and masterful acting skills.

    What initially might have seemed like mediocre resources only became excellent in retrospect after the recognition came. Without the awards, Lin Qin’s name, like the films, might have been buried in the market of obscure art-house cinema—hidden gems overlooked.

    And besides, if Lin Qin truly needed backing to rise, after claiming the Cannes Best Actor title, he could’ve easily leveraged it for further fame. After all, that achievement was solid proof of his capabilities.

    But Lin Qin didn’t even bother to collect his award, and went further off the grid. If it weren’t for his reality show collaboration with Meng, people may never have discovered him.

    Thus, the post on that anonymous forum claiming Lin Qin achieved his success through being kept is purely a false narrative.

    Moreover, those photos of Lin Qin hugging Chutian Entertainment’s CEO aren’t solid evidence of anything. A hug—between friends, relatives, or even strangers—can happen for any number of reasons.

    A hug isn’t exclusive to couples or lovers. Basing an accusation as serious as Lin Qin being kept merely on a hugging photo? That logic simply doesn’t hold up.

    And then, under the comments section of the trending post on Weibo, a single remark shot to the top:

    "If I remember correctly, Chutian Entertainment’s CEO’s name is Lin Chengdu, who’s also the chairman of Lin Group. But that’s not the main point—the key here is that Lin Chengdu’s surname is Lin, and Lin Qin’s surname is also Lin. And their age gap fits the typical range of a father-son relationship. So... could this be what I’m thinking? If true, Lin Xiaotu isn’t just Lin Xiaotu; he’d be Lin. The Wealthy. Crown Prince. Xiaotu!!"

    Beneath that comment, replies poured in:

    "Holy shit!!! This could actually be true. Does anyone else remember when Jin Feiyun tried sneaking into Meng’s room late at night and Chutian Entertainment released a statement saying they were blacklisting Jin Feiyun? At the time, I thought it was because Meng was involved, but now... hmmm."

    "Looks more like Chutian Entertainment sticking up for its Crown Prince, doesn’t it!!!"

    "If this really is Lin Xiaotu’s background, he’s ridiculously low-profile. Honestly, if I had his connections, I’d already have my dad send my future husband straight to my bed. Just dreaming about it feels amazing!"

    "Snap out of it, upstairs." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Where’s the fire truck? Quickly splash some cold water on the person above to wake them up!"

    ...

    The comments spiraled off-topic, but the speculation took root deeply in people’s minds.

    Yi Ran also saw that trending comment. As he considered the possible truth of it, an inexplicable tightness gripped his chest. If Lin Qin truly were Chutian Entertainment’s Crown Prince, wouldn’t that mean he’d offended the entire company?

    No way! No way! If Lin Qin really had such a solid background, then he wouldn’t only just now be making waves. He would’ve been famous long ago.

    Yi Ran’s self-soothing thoughts shattered quickly, because Chutian Entertainment released a Weibo post—a public statement to clear the air.

    The statement read:

    "In recent days, certain individuals have spread rumors based on stolen photographs, fabricating narratives to cast a negative light on the relationship between our company chairman, Lin Chengdu, and our artist, Lin Qin. We reserve the right to seek legal recourse."

    Once the statement was posted, it quickly garnered tens of thousands of shares. Naturally, observant users caught its most critical detail:

    "Highlight this: the relationship between Lin Chengdu and Lin Qin... Father! Son! Relationship! You see that? Lin Xiaotu really evolved into Lin. The Wealthy. Crown Prince. Xiaotu!!"

    "LOL, you all thought Lin Xiaotu was some harmless bunny, but the reality is, Lin Xiaotu’s practically Aixinjueluo Xiaotu!"

    "Come out, haters. Tell me again about those improper relationships? When did father-son relationships become inappropriate??"

    Another face-slapping moment.

    After seeing the statement, Yi Ran slumped back into his chair in defeat.

    Sure, there are many people with the surname Lin, but who could’ve imagined Lin Qin and Lin Chengdu were actually family?

    ...

    The next morning, Lin Qin opened Weibo to find that "Aixinjueluo Xiaotu" had climbed into the trending topics. He thought it might be something novel but was utterly dumbfounded when he clicked into the trend.

    Aixinjueluo Xiaotu? Was it referring to him?

    Meng Chao walked in just as Lin Qin sat there in a daze. He paused beside Lin Qin and asked, "What’s going on?"

    Lin Qin glanced at Meng Chao, suddenly grinning, "I, Aixinjueluo Xiaotu—send me money!"

    Meng Chao had also seen the joke circulating online and understood instantly. "Impressive, my Crown Prince Xiaotu."

    Lin Qin and Meng Chao dismissed the matter as a funny joke, laughing it off. But as they were finishing breakfast, Lin Qin’s phone buzzed with a text message.

    It was from the bank. When Lin Qin opened it, he found his account had an additional 1 followed by an innumerable count of zeroes.

    Lin Qin’s initial thought was that the bank had made an error. Then as realization struck, he quickly turned to Meng Chao, "Brother Chao, you..."