Chapter 134: The Father Who Exploited His Child Star 27

Before clicking the link, Xie Chu had already mentally prepared himself. He figured it was probably another attempt to smear him—and if the fabrication was at least creative, he might even joke about it with his dad.

But the moment the page loaded, his expression darkened.

The attacks weren’t aimed at him—they were all targeting his father.

Someone had snapped a photo of his dad purchasing a pricey antique, and from there, baseless rumors spiraled. They accused his father of being a freeloader, living off the money Xie Chu earned through acting.

Some of the public, unaware of the truth, responded with vague sympathy. Others, more aggressive, hurled outright insults at his father.

Xie Chu hadn’t even finished scrolling through the comments before a message from his manager popped up. The company had already tracked the source of the rumors—Xia Li. They had obtained evidence of him hiring online trolls and had issued a public clarification through the manager’s official account.

[Bro, I want to do a livestream to clear things up.]

His message was met with an almost instant reply.

[Go for it. The company was planning to arrange one too.]

Strictly speaking, this incident wasn’t really a scandal for Xie Chu. If anything, the public outcry had sparked some sympathy for him, and his follower count had gone up.

But the real reason the livestream was greenlit was because the company knew how close Xie Chu was to his father. They understood that he’d never stand by while someone slandered him.

Rather than risk Xie Chu losing his temper and handling things poorly, it was better to get ahead of it, take control, and manage it properly.

The manager suspected Xia Li’s goal had been to provoke Xie Chu into losing his composure. The director who had cast him in his next lead role was known for being particular about an actor’s character and behavior.

While the manager began coordinating a response with PR and support from their own water army, Xie Chu went to his room and gathered stacks of evidence—so many that they couldn’t all fit on the coffee table and had to be moved to the sofa.

Once everything was sorted, the manager arrived, set up the stream preview, and prepped the gear.

Then, the livestream began.

Xie Chu faced the camera and spoke calmly.

“Regarding the recent rumors circulating online—I believe this needs to be clarified. Without permission, someone uploaded photos of my father, attached false information, and used it to smear his name. This matter has been turned over to my lawyer, and we will be pursuing legal action.”

Had it just been about himself, Xie Chu might have let it go with a warning. But since his father was involved, he was determined to respond thoroughly—and legally.

His father had taught him to be kind, but never without boundaries.

“The photo being circulated was taken at a charity auction some time ago. All proceeds from that auction were donated to charity. If you don’t believe it, you’re welcome to look it up.”

“As for the antique in question—it’s already been donated to a museum. The certificate from that auction is the best birthday gift my father ever gave me.”

He held the document up to the camera, placing it where the audience could see it clearly.

“My father has never used a single cent of my money. In fact, most of the income I earned as a child actor was carefully saved by him. A portion of it was used to build schools in remote mountain areas. My manager will be sharing the detailed data shortly.”

This act wasn’t just about clearing up rumors. Ever since his father’s recent birthday, Xie Chu had become more aware of his aging, and wanted to do more good in his name—to earn blessings, to wish him a long, healthy life.

“My father is an incredible person. He’s far wealthier than I am. I hope everyone watching can approach this with a bit of rationality.”

Xie Hui, standing off-screen, picked up the camera and panned across the items laid out on the table and sofa.

“These are all gifts my father has given me over the years,” Xie Chu said. “There are many more back home I haven’t brought out.”

Some were expensive, others simple—like a flower woven from leaves—but each one carried his father’s thoughtfulness and care.

After debunking the rumors, Xie Chu made a few calls. Once he confirmed Xia Li’s location, he didn’t even wait to rest. As soon as the livestream ended, he got in his car and drove straight there.

Xia Li, under pressure from work, often boxed to let off steam. Sure enough, Xie Chu found him at a gym.

These days, Xia Li’s fortunes had fallen. He couldn’t even afford a private room—he was training in the main lobby.

Xie Chu laced up his gloves, strode straight over, and shoved his shoulder.

“Come on,” he said coldly. “Let’s have a proper fight.”

When Xia Li saw that it was Xie Chu, a flicker of panic crossed his face. Instinctively, he turned to avoid him.

“I’ve got important things to take care of today. Who has time to mess around with you?”

Xie Chu gave a slight smile, tightened the Velcro on his gloves, and nodded calmly.

“Then guard your important thing well. If you don’t have time, make time.”

Without another word, he threw a solid punch.

The gym, often used for sparring, was quiet in the corner where Xia Li had been training. No one noticed at first, but once fists began to fly, a crowd quickly gathered.

Xia Li had always been prideful. Surrounded by people and echoing taunts, he couldn’t stand the idea of losing—especially not to Xie Chu. He had trained for years in boxing; there was no way he’d allow himself to be beaten here.

So when Xie Chu landed a second hit, Xia Li swung back.

Which was exactly what Xie Chu had been waiting for.

Though they worked in the same industry, Xie Chu had taken on confidential projects even his own company wasn’t aware of. Just last month, he wrapped filming for a boxing film and had trained extensively with the stunt team beforehand.

Now, with Xia Li under him, fists pounding down, Xie Chu growled through clenched teeth:

“Don’t you have a dad? How dare you drag mine through the mud? With a heart that black, no wonder your life turned out like this.”

“You used me as a stepping stone, and I never held it against you. You think that was me giving you face?”

At first, Xie Chu had gone easy, letting Xia Li keep up. But as the taunts around them grew louder, he stopped holding back. His fists came down harder, sharper—each punch laced with fury and insult.

By the end, Xia Li lay gasping on the floor, completely spent. Xie Chu kicked him aside with contempt, then stepped away.

Even in his anger, Xie Chu didn’t lose control. Xia Li couldn’t stand—not because he was injured, but because he was too drained to move.

Despite the burning rage in his chest, Xie Chu still remembered what his father once told him: Always weigh the consequences. A person like this wasn’t worth ruining his reputation over. Let him rot in some forgotten corner—unseen, unimportant.

Afterward, gym staff came to check on Xia Li while Xie Chu calmly stripped off his gloves and left.

On the drive home, thoughts swirled in Xie Chu’s mind. The more he thought about it, the heavier he felt. Maybe it was his own ambition that had dragged his father into all this. If he hadn’t chosen the spotlight, his father wouldn’t have to endure so much at his age.

Before he realized it, the car had taken him to a quiet stretch of beach. He got out to clear his mind, letting the sea breeze brush past him.

Just then, his phone buzzed from the passenger seat.

It was his father.

“Dad?”

Xie Hui had already heard about what happened from Gu Jingtong. Knowing his son well, he could guess how guilty he was feeling—so he called.

“Where are you right now?”

“I’m at the apartment, running lines. This script’s got a ton of dialogue.”

It was the first time Xie Chu had ever lied to his father. After saying it, his voice trembled slightly.

But on the other end, Xie Hui could hear the wind—strong and unmistakably coastal. He knew his son was lying, but chose not to call him out.

“So when are you coming by? Didn’t your agent say things were quieter lately?”

“This morning, I went to the market and bought a countryside hen—free-range, really fresh. I made some nourishing chicken soup. Everything’s almost ready. When are you coming back?”

Xie Chu exhaled slowly, swallowing the lump in his throat. He forced a smile and replied,

“Dad, wait for me. I’m on my way.”

“Alright then, come quick. Don’t let the food go cold.”

Hanging up, Xie Chu got back in the car. The sea breeze could wait—it wasn’t what he needed. Right now, all he could think about was the meal waiting at home.

His father was still there, cooking his favorite soup, waiting for him to come back.

When Xie Chu arrived home, he hung his jacket by the door, washed his hands, and instinctively headed into the kitchen to help bring out the food.

Xie Hui had timed the call just right. His son walked in just as the final dish was finished.

“Perfect timing. Carry this out for me.”

They sat down to eat. Xie Chu took a spoonful of the soup, tasting it carefully.

Rich, fragrant, and full-bodied—definitely an old free-range hen. Xie Hui had skimmed the fat off the top, leaving only clear broth and deep flavor, with no trace of greasiness.

After finishing, Xie Chu helped clean up. While wiping the table, he casually asked,

“Dad, have you been online lately?”

“You know I’ve got some presbyopia. I don’t even feel like watching TV anymore, let alone checking the internet.”

Hearing that, Xie Chu finally let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

Thank god.

He’d been terrified that his father would see the flood of vitriol online. At his age, it wasn’t just upsetting—it could be devastating.

After dinner, the housekeeper handled the dishes. Xie Chu sat on the sofa, looked over at his father, and said with a smile:

“Dad, about that chicken soup from tonight…”