Rebirth: My Home Has Become a Gathering Place for Young Women with a "Crazy" Spirit

At 2 p.m., lawyer Zhang Chengdong called.

Zhang Chengdong: "Xiao Qin, I've found the identity information of 'Entertainment Industry Zhou Bapi'. The account registrant is Zhou Qiang, a local from Taipei, living in the Development Zone. This person has registered three companies under his name, all of which are engaged in online marketing, to put it bluntly, they are online troll companies."

Qin Lang: "Brother Zhang, send him a lawyer's letter. Tell him that if he cooperates by deleting the video, issuing a public apology, and identifying the person behind it, I can let him off the hook. If not, then let him prepare to go to jail."

Zhang Chengdong: "Okay, then I'll send him a lawyer's letter. He should cooperate, because people who do this kind of gray industry are most afraid of going through legal procedures."

After hanging up the phone, Qin Lang leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling for a while. His opponent wasn't Zhou Bapi, but Zhao Zhiheng, and even the entire Zhao family.

After waiting for about half an hour, Brother Zhang called again.

Zhang Chengdong: "The lawyer's letter was sent out, and the other party called me back after receiving it."

Qin Lang: "What did he say?"

"At first, the man was very tough, saying that he was reporting normally and had freedom of speech. I analyzed the illegality of the content in the video with him point by point, and told him the approximate range of compensation and the possible punishment, and then he softened." Zhang Chengdong's tone was smug. "He said that he was also instructed by someone, and that he did not dig up those materials himself, but that someone provided them to him."

Qin Lang: "He's definitely talking about Zhao Zhiheng. Did you ask him if he'd be willing to come forward and expose the person behind it all?"

Zhang Chengdong: Not yet. I'm thinking of taking it step by step and talking to him again tonight. But I can't guarantee he'll cooperate, after all, offending the Zhao family is a big risk for him.

Qin Lang: "Brother Zhang, just explain it to him and let him choose for himself."

After hanging up the phone, Qin Lang stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the city outside.

The sky over Liaobei remained as hazy as ever. This city is small, with a population of just over six million. Its GDP ranks in the middle to lower tier of the province. It is neither the provincial capital nor a special economic zone; it is just an ordinary prefecture-level city in northern China.

But even in this ordinary city, the struggle between power and capital unfolds daily. Some collude over drinks, some transfer assets in secret, some indulge in nightly revelry, and some scramble to climb the social ladder...

Qin Lang was having dinner at home when his phone rang. It was Zhou Ruoyun calling.

Qin Lang answered the call but didn't speak, waiting for the other person to speak first.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Zhou Ruoyun's voice came through, sounding somewhat tired.

"Qin Lang, I've verified what you said."

Qin Lang put down his chopsticks. "And the result?"

"It's true." Zhou Ruoyun's voice was a little hoarse. "The bidding documents for that plot of land in Dongcheng New District did have targeted clauses. Two of the three companies that registered to bid were affiliated with the Zhao family. This is a typical case of bid rigging."

Qin Lang remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"And about the agenda for the executive meeting next Tuesday, I've also inquired about it." Zhou Ruoyun's voice was very low. "The heads of five departments in the Chengdong Development Zone will be reassigned. I asked the people in the Municipal Government Office about this, and they said that the agenda has indeed been drafted, but it hasn't been formally submitted to the meeting yet, although the documents have already been printed."

She paused for a few seconds before continuing, "...The names of the five people you mentioned are all on there."

Qin Lang's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, and he asked calmly, "Sister Zhou, what role did your father, Vice Mayor Zhou Mingyu, play in this reshuffle?"

There was no response from Zhou Ruoyun for a long time; only faint breathing could be heard on the other end of the phone. After nearly half a minute, she finally spoke, her voice even more hoarse than before: "He wasn't the one who proposed the adjustment. But at the Standing Committee meeting, he needs to vote on it."

Clearly, everything is following the same trajectory as in his previous life; Zhou Mingyu has been dragged into the Zhao family's mess.

Zhou Ruoyun was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Qin Lang, who exactly are you?"

Before Qin Lang could answer, she continued, "Of course, you don't have to answer..."

Qin Lang paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Hehe, who I am is not important. What's important is the choice made by your Zhou family."

After hanging up the phone, Qin Lang returned to his desk, turned on his computer, and glanced at Bilibili. He discovered that all the videos on the "Entertainment Industry Scoundrel" homepage were gone. The account displayed: This user has been deactivated.

Qin Lang paused for a moment, then picked up his phone and called Zhang Chengdong.

"Brother Zhang, 'Zhou the Skinflint' has deleted his account. He deleted all the videos, is he trying to destroy the evidence?"

Zhang Chengdong's tone carried a hint of self-righteousness, "He realized his mistake and deleted the video because he was afraid it would continue to escalate. Even if he wanted to delete the evidence, it wouldn't have mattered. I have archived all the videos he posted, including screenshots, screen recordings, and original webpage archives. I have everything."

Qin Lang: "Brother Zhang is a professional. By the way, what about the apology statement? Has he issued it?"

Zhang Chengdong: "Not yet, but he called me back and said he's willing to cooperate. He wants to talk to you in person and hand over the investor's information on the condition that you don't pursue legal action against him."

Qin Lang thought for a moment and said, "Okay. Brother Zhang, could you help me make the arrangements?"

Zhang Chengdong: "No problem. I'll make the arrangements and get back to you tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, Qin Lang leaned back in his chair, a slight smile playing on his lips.

The next morning, while Qin Lang was still asleep, Su Yue suddenly burst into the room.

"Brother Lang! Check Bilibili! 'Entertainment Industry Skinflint' has posted an apology video to you using a fake account!"

Qin Lang rubbed his eyes. "You woke me up so early in the morning just for this?"

Su Yue looked at Qin Lang with a sly smile on her face and said, "There's something even more important."

"What is it?" Qin Lang shook his head to clear his mind.

"Hehe... Xiaohan's period is here, so she can't come to your room this week."

As she spoke, Su Yue sat down on the bed, her tone full of concern, "Brother Lang, look at this weather, it must be so cold for you to sleep alone at night. How about I come over and bring you something warm..."

"Damn it! It's June, and the temperature outside is 36 degrees Celsius. Do you think I'm cold?" Qin Lang said irritably.

"The air conditioning is on! Look, your bed is chilly, not warm at all." As she spoke, Su Yue reached into Qin Lang's bed and thoughtfully felt the temperature.

Suddenly, Qin Lang jolted, almost jumping out of bed. "Su Yue! Where are you touching?! Get out of here!"

Su Yue calmly withdrew her hand, pursed her lips, and gave a "you really don't appreciate kindness" look on her face. "Tch, Brother Lang, I only came to check on you because I felt sorry for you, all alone..."