From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

I took a deep breath and answered the call again.

"Brother Ye, bad news! Even worse news!"

Luo Peng's voice turned completely somber. "I just checked with Qing'er, and now the entire outdoor community, all outdoor clubs, including some well-known outdoor bloggers, have all received a ban notice!"

My eyes narrowed: "What notification?"

Luo Peng gritted his teeth and said, "Anyone who dares to share your videos, anyone who dares to speak up for you, will be immediately banned from the entire internet and completely kicked out of the outdoor entertainment circle!"

"Now, all those big-name outdoor bloggers who were originally going to speak up for you and support you are too scared to move. Nobody dares to get involved with you anymore!"

The last shred of hope in my heart was completely shattered.

It really was Fang Heng.

He can't afford to play this game.

In the public discourse, my real videos have already put the online trolls at bay, and the rumors are about to be debunked on their own.

So he directly tore off the mask of civility, used his capital, connections, and power to overturn the table.

"Damn it, who on earth is targeting you behind your back? Their methods are disgusting!" Luo Peng roared in frustration and anger.

He was unaware of Fang Heng's existence, and even less aware of the ins and outs of this class-based feud.

But I know.

I understand better than anyone that Fang Heng's ruthlessness goes far beyond this.

This is just the first step he took to suppress me. He wanted to completely block all my options, leaving me with nowhere to go and ultimately forcing me to admit defeat and leave the stage.

I suppressed the anger surging within me and said to him, "Don't worry. I'll handle this; you don't need to worry about it."

After saying that, I hung up the phone immediately.

Su Qing's face turned completely cold as she said, word by word, "Fang Heng has gone mad. He can't win in terms of public opinion, so he resorts to using force to create a censorship. How despicable!"

I took a deep breath and looked up at the newly brightening sky outside the window.

There was no outburst of rage, only a deep, cold light.

That was a ruthless move.

The previous online smear campaigns, manipulation of public opinion, and private industry warnings were all open confrontations.

But now, he is directly coordinating with platforms to remove all videos, monopolizing the discourse power of the entire industry.

He wanted to silently erase all my efforts, wipe away all my evidence, and leave me speechless.

At that moment, I truly felt the urge to kill.

I can accept failure, I can accept suppression, I can accept the harshness of reality.

But I cannot accept that the truth I risked my life for can be completely erased by a mere dismissive statement of violation from capital.

Su Qing and I, along with so many others, poured countless hours of effort into this, only to have it trampled upon by those who abuse their power.

Seeing my solemn and cold face, Su Qing quickly reached out and gently took my hand, softly comforting me:

"Don't panic, leave this to me. I'll use my resources to help you appeal..."

I raised my hand and gently pressed it against hers, saying, "No need."

I turned to look at her: "I've said it before, this is a grudge between him and me, and I'll bear it myself. You're not allowed to interfere or use any resources."

Su Qing stared at me blankly for two seconds, her eyes filled with heartache and worry.

I looked away, picked up my phone from the table, and started planning rapidly in my mind.

Fang Heng wants to use his capital power to completely crush me within his rules.

Then I'll leave the capital market he controls.

If you want to block my path, then I'll forge a completely new one.

My fingers tapped rhythmically on the computer screen, my mind racing, trying to figure out the key to breaking the current deadlock.

I know very well that I can no longer follow Fang Heng's lead.

From public smear campaigns and industry boycotts to finally taking down all documentary videos.

He held the power of capital at every step, always leading me by the nose.

If I dare to retaliate passively, he has a hundred ways to restrain me.

So no matter what I do, I can't escape his grasp.

The only way to break the deadlock is to break his rules and disrupt his rhythm.

This transformed him from a superior controller into someone who passively takes on challenges.

Those videos that were maliciously taken down are a testament to my near-death experience, the result of countless sleepless nights that Su Qing and I spent working on. I cannot simply give up and swallow my anger.

Fang Heng is trying to make me panic and lose my composure, so I'll take that move and give him a good slap in return.

Su Qing, who was beside me, looked at me silently for a long time, and the anger surging in her eyes slowly subsided.

She understood my temperament, so she stopped arguing and stopped insisting on intervening to help me resolve the situation.

After working through two consecutive nights editing footage at high intensity, her nerves were already stretched to the limit.

The tension suddenly eased, leaving only exhaustion.

She raised her hand and gently rubbed her temples, saying, "It's too stuffy in here. I'm going out for a walk to get some fresh air."

"Do you want me to come with you?" I looked up at her and asked softly.

She shook her head gently, managing a faint smile: "No need, I'll just take a stroll around the riverbank and be right back."

I know in my heart that she is under just as much pressure as I am.

She could have stayed out of it and lived her carefree life as the eldest daughter of the Su family.

Yet she insisted on standing by me, enduring the online abuse and family prejudice.

The evidence we've painstakingly gathered is being dismissed with a mere report and a simple "violation."

Anyone would feel suffocated and unable to breathe if they were in that situation.

I fully understand this frustration, and I nodded solemnly, saying gently:

"Come back soon, don't overthink things, and don't worry. I already have a plan in mind, and I can handle it."

She obediently responded with an "Mmm," stepped forward, gently hugged my back, and then turned and walked out of the courtyard gate.

I originally thought she was just going to the riverbank to relax and relieve her depression.

I ultimately underestimated her stubbornness and her desire to protect me.

Su Qing was never the kind of girl who would just passively wait and do nothing.

As soon as she stepped out of the courtyard gate, the weariness on her face vanished instantly.

She immediately took out her phone, gritted her teeth, edited a message, and sent it to Fang Heng, frankly stating that she was willing to meet and negotiate alone.

The moment the message was successfully sent, Fang Heng replied almost instantly, sending the detailed address of a private club.

I later learned that it was a private suite that Fang Heng had booked for a long time, located in the most bustling business district in the city center.

On the way to the club by taxi, Su Qing still clung to the last shred of unrealistic fantasy.

She naively believed that all of Fang Heng's targeting and suppression stemmed from his anger towards me.

If she is willing to back down and take the initiative, she might be able to resolve this deadlock.

She even secretly devised a plan in her mind, intending to put aside all pride and persuade Fang Heng to stop, so that they wouldn't have to fight to the death.

But the moment she raised her hand, pushed open the door, and stepped into the room...

All illusions were shattered.

The room was dimly lit and oppressively dark, with a faint smell of tobacco in the air, as most of the blackout curtains were drawn.

Fang Heng leaned back lazily on the leather sofa, his posture both relaxed and dignified.

Upon seeing Su Qing enter, he immediately put on that gentle and refined fake smile.

But in those deep eyes, there was no kindness, only naked possessiveness.

"Qingqing, I knew you would come looking for me sooner or later."