This short stretch of melody was like a cat’s paw scratching at her heart—every time Xia Xiyao tried to grasp it, it would teasingly pull away again.

Even by evening, long after Gu Xingyi had left, she still hadn’t finished the song.

So close—just one more step!

In frustration, Xia Xiyao had messed up her once-smooth hair into a bird’s nest.

At last, in the quiet of the night, with Xiao Nainai already asleep, she finally set down the half-finished music sheet and lyrics and lay down on the bed with a sigh.

Sometimes inspiration just couldn’t be forced. One tiny misstep and the whole piece could fall apart. All she could do now was wait for that flash of clarity—like cool water to the soul.

Not everyone had cheat codes like Gu Xingyi did.

—

The next morning.

Xia Xiyao had just woken up and hadn’t even washed her face yet when she saw that another post involving Gu Xingyi had climbed to the top of the trending list.

These past few days, it felt like the hot searches involving her and Gu Xingyi never stopped!

At first, she didn’t think much of it—but the moment her eyes landed on the post’s title, her pupils shrank.

Her heart immediately fell into chaos.

Online, netizens were almost desensitized by now.

Ever since the name “Xingyao” entered the public eye, not a day went by without him trending.

Today was no different. When the gossip-hungry crowd saw another headline involving Gu Xingyi, they didn’t bat an eye. They just clicked it without hesitation.

At this point, they were pros at this.

If they didn’t see Xingyao’s name for a day, it felt wrong.

But this time… was different.

As soon as they opened the post, they froze.

They rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

Xingyao? A domestic abuser?!

Please.

Just yesterday, everyone had been calling him the “wife-doting maniac.” And now they were saying he hits women?

If you’re going to make something up, at least make it believable!

Still laughing in disbelief, netizens eagerly clicked the embedded video—wanting to see just how absurd this would get.

In the video, two men appeared, both with serious expressions.

Some people recognized them—former members of the same boy group Gu Xingyi had been in.

One was named Gao Cheng, the other, Xu Bin.

Seeing them, many netizens just rolled their eyes. Oh, here we go—trying to stay relevant, huh? Can’t stand someone else doing better?

Then Gao Cheng spoke.

    “Hello everyone, I’m Gao Cheng from the boy group ‘Huayang’. Some of you may know me. That’s right—I used to be friends with Xingyao, or rather, Gu Xingyi. Used to be—because now I find him shameful to associate with.

    “You might not believe me, since he’s so popular right now. So why do I hate him so much?

    “Let me explain. After he got married, he kept calling members of our group—he wanted back in.

    “At first, we were considering it. We were friends, after all. But then he said something that made us reject him on the spot.

    “That is—Gu Xingyi is a domestic abuser.

    “I even have the phone recording to prove it. Funny thing is, I recorded that call by coincidence, and now it’s the very thing that exposes him.

    “I don’t know how he’s managed to keep Xia Xiyao quiet, or how he’s made it this far. But I swear, everything I say is true.

    “I, Gao Cheng, am showing my face—I’m not afraid to confront him directly.”

At this point, the viewers fell silent.

They wanted to believe Gu Xingyi. They trusted Xingyao’s character.

But Gao Cheng spoke with such certainty—real name, “proof”—that even the most loyal fans began to waver.

Then Xu Bin joined in, holding up a phone for the camera.

    “Hi everyone, I’m Xu Bin. I can confirm everything Gao Cheng just said. This is Gao Cheng’s phone. Let’s listen to the recording.”

He unlocked the phone, and a recording began to play.

Everyone leaned in.

    “Hello? Gao-ge? It’s me, Gu Xingyi. Got time tonight? Let me buy you a drink!”

It was Gu Xingyi’s voice.

The viewers lost it. They kept listening.

    Gao Cheng replied coldly: “Xiao Gu? Forget the drink. Just say what you need.”

    “Alright… I thought you might be free. I just wanted to ask—do you think I can go back to the company?”

    “Xiao Gu, you married a top star. Why are you still worrying about this stuff?”

    “Hehe, Gao-ge… Women are like clothes, you know? I figured it out—career matters more.”

    “You want to come back? What about Xia Xiyao? Didn’t you two just have a kid?”

    “Gao-ge, truth be told… In my house, what I say goes. If she doesn’t agree, I’ll just beat her. Women—gotta keep them in line.”

At that moment, everyone stopped listening.

What the actual hell?

Sweet on the outside, violent at home?

Disgusting.

Infuriating.

Female netizens were livid—turning into warriors in the comments. Even the men were pissed.

That’s not a man.

The audio ended. Gao Cheng looked furious on screen as he continued:

    “You all heard it, right? That’s the so-called ‘wife-doting maniac’ Gu Xingyi! I don’t believe anyone can change that much in so little time. Don’t be fooled by his two-faced act!

    “One last thing—I, Gao Cheng, will never stand with a domestic abuser!”

The video cut off there.

But the internet exploded.

Comment after comment poured in:

    “I must’ve been blind to ever like that guy!”

    “I literally puked hearing that recording. Just how disgusting is he behind the scenes?”

    “Girls! Let’s storm his Douyin! He owes us an explanation!”

    “I used to love him. Now? I’m disgusted. Only cowards lay hands on family!”

    “I’m angry too—but what if… what if that wasn’t him?”

    “It was him. I’d recognize his voice even with my eyes closed. Ugh, I need to wash my ears—so gross.”

    “Where’s Xia Xiyao? Why hasn’t she spoken up? Why let this scum walk free?!”

—

The outrage was overwhelming.

This had crossed a line no one could ignore.

Just as that old saying goes—the more they loved you before, the more they hate you now.

No one could believe the idol they admired was this kind of person.

Gu Xingyi’s Douyin account was flooded with furious comments. People demanded he come out and explain himself.

As the internet seethed with anger, Gu Xingyi sat silently, watching the Weibo post.

He listened quietly to the recording in the video.

After a moment, that familiar, nauseating feeling welled up again.

He rushed to the bathroom—and threw up.

In that moment, it felt like he had been dragged back into that suffocating past.