Salted Fish is a Rebellious Person – Chapter 50

The trending topic of Yan Feng scolding an obsessed fan was still circulating when news of his sudden nosebleed and fainting quickly followed, skyrocketing to the top of the hot searches with a bold red “explosive” label.

Netizens clicked on the video and discovered that the incident took place in a scenic mountain area in City Z. It was reported that Yan Feng had suddenly suffered a nosebleed before collapsing into unconsciousness, with his current condition unknown.

Some speculated that it might be related to a previous fainting episode, raising concerns that he could have leukemia.

Initially, fans were busy fighting against the obsessive fans, but the moment they saw the trending news, they panicked. They kept refreshing the search entry, desperate for updates. Many passersby also became curious, fueling further discussions.

Various theories soon emerged:

The first theory suggested that Yan Feng was seriously ill and had known about his condition for a long time but had hidden it from the public.

The second theory blamed the obsessed fans, as the previous viral video clearly showed the chaotic scene. Yan Feng had been trapped on the mountain path with a steep drop behind him, leading some to speculate that he might have hit his head during the commotion.

The third theory came from a tourist at the scenic area, who mentioned that Yan Feng had fallen into the water while rafting the day before. Some wondered if this could be connected.

The fourth theory suggested that he had been emotionally triggered. The video showed that just before fainting, he had been talking to someone. However, the camera angle only captured Yan Feng’s back, making it impossible to tell what was being said.

Online sleuths analyzed the footage frame by frame.

In the video, two people stood in front of a tree, with a temple wall behind them.

Yan Feng’s face was turned away from the camera, making it difficult to discern his expression. The man opposite him was fiddling with a prayer ribbon. The first few words he spoke were obscured by the red ribbons and his hands, but his final sentence was visible:

“Don’t be impulsive when dealing with obsessed fans. Don’t take this matter to heart.”

Netizens quickly concluded: There’s nothing wrong with what he said. What a good person!

Moreover, the man had a gentle demeanor and refined features. Standing under the tree adorned with red prayer ribbons, he seemed elegant and distinguished. There’s no way he had anything to do with Yan Feng’s collapse!

But wait… who was this person?

How come there was such an attractive, well-mannered man in the entertainment industry, yet no one knew his name?

Some people recalled hearing about Yu Shu before and found him familiar.

However, all old videos had long since disappeared. Posts that had previously attempted to dig into information about this wealthy second generation had been completely scrubbed from the internet. It was even said that lawyers had sent cease-and-desist letters to those who had spread rumors, with some even facing lawsuits. Now, there was no trace of him online.

Left with no alternative, netizens could only speculate that he must have an extraordinary background.

The PR teams from the Fu family and June Culture were monitoring online discussions. Seeing the speculation, they released a simple statement:

“He is a senior executive at June Culture. It’s normal for him to have a conversation with Yan Feng following the previous incident. Right now, Yan Feng’s safety is the priority.”

With that, public attention shifted back to Yan Feng. Most people leaned toward the first three theories, reigniting their anger against obsessed fans.

Meanwhile, the situation also caught the attention of other hosts.

The long-silent system chat group suddenly became active again.

You Are All Concubines: [@Later, is your host in trouble?]

Gong Xi Fa Cai: [How is he? Is he okay?]

Mung Bean Soup: [Could Fu Xiuning have done this? That’s terrifying. 😨]

Gong Xi Fa Cai: [Probably not.]

You Are All Concubines: [If a system separates from its host, their cause of death is usually sudden, with no external injuries. Besides, all he did was curse at some fans. There’s no way Fu Xiuning would go that far.]

Mung Bean Soup: [Oh right, I almost forgot.]

You Are All Concubines: [@Later, if you don’t answer, we’ll assume your host really is Yan Feng.]

The systems waited for a while, but there was no response.

Mung Bean Soup: [So… it’s true?]

Gong Xi Fa Cai: [Uh… how do I put this…]

You Are All Concubines: [Ask @Shang Shang Qian. It once admitted to having a host before, but that person died. Yet it’s still here.]

Mung Bean Soup: [You guys are so mean. 😂]

Gong Xi Fa Cai: [@Later, are you going to say something or not?]

The system “Later” had already entered a state of disorder from the explosion and had gone into forced hibernation. It had no idea it had been relocated.

Both Shang Shang Qian and 99 could see the messages and relayed them to Xing Shi.

Xing Shi sat in the waiting area outside the operating room, casually acknowledging that he had received the information.

After Yan Feng collapsed, he had been immediately rushed to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment. However, due to the severity of his condition, he was quickly transferred to a major hospital in the city.

The trainees had already been sent back to the company under the teachers’ guidance. Now, only Fu Xiuning, Xing Shi, and a life assistant remained at the hospital.

The media and June Culture representatives were on their way, but once Yan Feng’s manager and assistant arrived, they would be handing over responsibility.

Xing Shi hadn’t received any death notice. He looked at the operating room door and called the system.

“Is he going to survive?”

The system had never encountered this situation before and remained silent.

Shang Shang Qian said, “Maybe.”

Xing Shi frowned. “Didn’t the system explode inside his brain? The last time this happened, you wiped out a whole group.”

Shang Shang Qian explained, “The last explosion contained the entire soul energy of Yu Shu. This time, it was just the remaining energy. I told it to set up a barrier before the explosion. It likely calculated the blast’s power and limited the range.”

A system was already small in size. If it exploded with multiple layers of barriers, it would most likely just leave a wound in the brain.

It was highly probable that “Later” wanted Yan Feng to survive, keeping him in a vegetative state so it could absorb his soul energy little by little to sustain itself.

Of course, “Later” probably didn’t even know how to disable the external energy reserve, meaning its biological core alone wouldn’t be enough to absorb the host’s soul.

After listening to this, Xing Shi asked, “If the doctors fail to save him, will his soul energy dissipate?”

Shang Shang Qian answered, “It’s possible. But since he didn’t return to the system’s program, he can’t reconnect to the main system. That’s why Yu Yi is currently in a disconnected state.”

Xing Shi nodded. He pulled out his phone and checked the trending searches. Seeing that the blame was falling on the obsessed fans, he passed it to Fu Xiuning, who stood beside him.

Fu Xiuning glanced at it and forwarded the information to the PR department for review.

A moment later, Yan Feng’s agent and assistant arrived, sweating profusely. They greeted their boss nervously and asked, “What’s his condition now?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “Still undergoing surgery.”

The agent looked grave. “The last time he fainted, the doctor said it was just due to fatigue. How could he collapse again so soon?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “Let’s wait for the doctor’s assessment.”

But he wasn’t particularly interested in the answer. Instead, he turned to Xing Shi and asked, “Do you want to stay or leave?”

Xing Shi put on a concerned expression. “Let’s wait a little longer. Brother Feng suddenly collapsed like this—I won’t feel at ease if I leave now.”

After all, if Yan Feng really couldn’t be saved, he could still absorb a wave of energy before leaving.

Fu Xiuning studied him for a moment, then nodded and remained seated patiently.

During this time, other company personnel arrived. Some handled the media outside, while others stayed at the hospital to wait for updates.

Three hours passed unknowingly before the doors of the operating room finally opened.

Yan Feng was immediately transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). As the doctors pushed him past the waiting crowd, the lead physician delivered the verdict: “Acute cerebral hemorrhage.”

The agent pressed anxiously, “But nosebleeds aren’t a common symptom of cerebral hemorrhages. What caused this?”

The doctor frowned slightly. “His case is unusual. The bleeding points are strange, and we can’t yet determine the exact cause.”

The agent asked, “How is he now?”

The doctor replied, “It’s hard to say. We’ve done everything we can. Whether he wakes up or not depends on his condition.”

The group saw the doctor off and immediately began coordinating the next steps.

Yan Feng’s assistant was assigned to stay at the hospital, while the PR team and agent returned to the company to prepare an official statement addressing the incident.

Fu Xiuning offered some suggestions before taking Xing Shi home.

—

Back at the house, they each took a shower, changed into comfortable home clothes, and met in the living room.

At the same time, June Culture released an official statement, explaining that Yan Feng’s fainting episode was caused by an acute cerebral hemorrhage. Although the surgery had been successful, his condition remained critical, and he was still in the ICU.

Fans were in an uproar, flooding social media with prayers and well wishes. “Stay strong, Yan Feng” quickly trended, accompanied by countless messages of support.

However, some users continued analyzing the event, uncovering multiple video angles that showed Yan Feng being pushed into a tight spot during the scuffle. Although it was unclear whether he had hit his head, the footage provided enough fuel for fans to lash out at the obsessive fans involved.

Terrified by the backlash, the accused stalkers went completely silent, quickly packing their bags and fleeing the spotlight.

In response to public pressure, the company’s legal department issued another statement:

“This matter has been reported to the authorities. We urge all parties to remain calm and await the results of the official investigation.”

As key witnesses, Fu Xiuning and Xing Shi were also questioned by the police.

Xing Shi sat beside Fu Xiuning, listening as the officers conversed with him in a familiar, almost casual manner. Occasionally, he chimed in with details about Yan Feng’s behavior at the scenic area. Once the officers left, he turned to Fu Xiuning with curiosity.

“Are all the police officers in this area familiar with you?”

Fu Xiuning replied indifferently, “Hmm.”

Xing Shi grinned. “Have they ever suspected you?”

Fu Xiuning answered calmly, “They have, but they have no evidence.”

Xing Shi felt both admiration and sympathy. His brother’s life wasn’t easy.

He had also lived a difficult life in the magic world, but strength was the ultimate rule there. If someone angered him, he could simply kill them. There was no need to orchestrate coincidences or cover his tracks.

But here, in a society governed by law, he had to abide by the rules. Every move had to appear justified. Every incident had to be the other party’s fault.

Xing Shi spoke solemnly, “Brother, I’ll be with you from now on. Every step of the way.”

Fu Xiuning had just tossed a paper cup into the trash. When he heard this, his hand paused slightly.

In truth, their partnership had already solidified this reality, but hearing Xing Shi say it out loud still stirred something inside him.

For the past five years, he had developed a reputation—one that made him an anomaly in the eyes of others.

His family worried about him. The police suspected him. His classmates whispered about him. But he had no one to confide in.

Each time he rid the world of a host, he found momentary satisfaction. But afterward, he was left alone to face endless malice.

And now, someone had stepped onto his isolated island.

Fu Xiuning looked at Xing Shi, reached out, and gently ruffled his hair.

“Yeah,” he said.

【Didi】

[Current Favorability Value: 89]

99: “!”

Shang Shang Qian: “…”

Xing Shi remained still, making no effort to lower the favorability score.

They gazed at each other in silence, instinctively wanting to move closer.

The more they restrained themselves, the stronger the urge to touch.

Fu Xiuning’s Adam’s apple moved slightly. His self-control wavered.

Xing Shi saw the emotions in his eyes and hesitated for a brief moment.

Shang Shang Qian, sensing the thickening tension, debated whether to interrupt. But before it could act, Fu Xiuning’s phone, which had been left on the dining table, suddenly rang.

The almost tangible heat in the air dissipated instantly.

Fu Xiuning averted his gaze and walked over to answer the call.

It was his mother. She had obviously seen the trending news. Although she knew this matter had nothing to do with him, she was still worried.

Instead of asking directly, she inquired gently about his well-being. She even invited him home for dinner, concealing her concerns behind casual conversation.

Fu Xiuning thought about the childhood photos Xing Shi had mentioned and replied, “I’ll come home tonight.”

His mother was delighted. “Great! What do you want to eat? I’ll cook for you.”

Fu Xiuning named two of her specialties, then hung up and turned to Xing Shi.

For a moment, he considered taking him home. But Shang Shang Qian and 99 still didn’t know much about Xing Shi’s background, and Shang Shang Qian would eventually have to return to its original place. It was best to keep things under wraps for now.

He said, “I’m going home for dinner tonight. Let Auntie cook whatever you want.”

Xing Shi nodded. “Okay.” He didn’t want the mood to revert to its previous ambiguity, so he took the initiative to change the subject.

“Your family once hired bodyguards for you, but it looks like they only stuck around for about six months. Why?”

The information he had seen mentioned that when Fu Xiuning was in high school, he frequently encountered extreme stalkers. The Fu family had hired five bodyguards to protect him daily, but they eventually disappeared from the picture.

He guessed, “Was it because it was too ostentatious? Or was there something wrong with the bodyguards?”

Fu Xiuning walked back to the sofa. “They’re still around. They just don’t follow me all the time. I only use them when necessary. I’ll introduce you to them when I get the chance.”

In reality, the bodyguards were still in service.

However, they couldn’t accompany him to school, and their presence wasn’t particularly useful there. Instead, they were most effective during holidays and outings. Whenever they intercepted a host, he could hear the frantic voices of both the host and their system.

He had once thought it amusing to watch them struggle.

But then… something changed.

One day, he returned home and saw his mother injured. And the host who had supposedly “saved her” was sitting right next to her.

He still couldn’t forget the wave of hatred that surged through him in that moment.

Fu Xiuning sat back down and explained lightly, “It was inconvenient to bring them along, so I didn’t.”

Xing Shi understood exactly what “inconvenient” meant in this context.

“Oh,” he replied knowingly.

By the time they returned home, it was already afternoon. After dealing with the police, it was almost time for dinner.

Fu Xiuning knew that Xing Shi had absorbed energy again today. He studied him for a moment, reached out to check his temperature, and only after confirming that there was no fever did he leave with peace of mind.

Xing Shi obediently walked him to the door and, just as Fu Xiuning was about to turn around, handed him his phone screen.

Fu Xiuning glanced at it in confusion—only to see a photo of himself standing next to the Lazy Sheep ride.

【Didi】

[Current Favorability Value: 88]

Fu Xiuning: “…”

Shang Shang Qian: “…”

99: “Tsk.”

Xing Shi withdrew his phone, grinning brightly. “Brother, be careful on the road and come back soon~”

Fu Xiuning glanced at him, pinched his cheek, then turned and walked away.

Xing Shi closed the door, still smiling, but before he could take two steps, the system prompt sounded again.

【Didi】

[Current Favorability Value: 89]

The room fell into silence.

Only 99 spoke: “He must be savoring the touch of your hand.”

Xing Shi remained quiet.

99, despite knowing the favorability score had been fluctuating lately, couldn’t resist teasing: “The passionate collision of male college students is truly unstoppable~ The more you resist, the more intense the fire burns~ To be honest, the more your brother holds back now, the worse it’ll be for you later~”

Xing Shi: “Shut up.”

99 instantly muted itself.

Fu Xiuning sighed helplessly as he entered the elevator.

—

When he arrived home, most of the dinner had already been prepared, and his father, Fu Pengfeng, had also returned.

His mother, Bian Ran, set a dish on the table and smiled warmly. “Take a seat and rest for a while. It’ll be ready soon.”

Fu Xiuning responded softly and took a seat beside his father.

Fu Pengfeng glanced at him and asked, “Did something happen with one of your company’s artists again?”

Fu Xiuning nodded slightly.

Seeing how calm his son was, Fu Pengfeng couldn’t help but ask, “And your… partner didn’t say anything?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “No.”

He knew his father was concerned about him, so he explained further. “The one from before—he died of sudden fatigue. That was his own doing. This time, it was an accidental cerebral hemorrhage. It has nothing to do with me.”

The doctor couldn’t determine the exact cause of Yan Feng’s injury. The video evidence couldn’t fully prove that the sasaeng fans were at fault. The police would investigate, but the matter would likely remain inconclusive.

As for other artists, June Culture had only been around for just over two years, and in that time, all the hosts who had appeared had been replaced by artists one by one.

In the beginning, only Li Yu was an artist, while the other five were not—those five had been “removed” over the past two years.

Later, as hosts were gradually replaced, most of them became artists, but a few exceptions remained—like the girl who was turned into a vegetable at the start of the year, and Lin Kecheng, who was currently in prison.

Although there had once been an artist-host who was particularly self-destructive and ended up being “removed” by Fu Xiuning, that host had been a native of this world. He was swiftly blacklisted, hidden away, and his system, seeing no chance of success, voluntarily left. No one paid any attention to it.

Yu Shu and Yan Feng, on the other hand, had been part of the company from the start. They had only been “removed” more than a year after joining, making it difficult to tie their cases to the company. With June Culture actively managing its public image, there was nothing for outsiders to scrutinize.

Qi Changyi was aware of Fu Xiuning’s unique “constitution,” and they had discussed it before. However, compared to the supernatural aspects of the matter, Qi Changyi valued the strength of the Fu family and the resources it provided.

Besides, all the people Fu Xiuning dealt with had it coming. Even if public opinion stirred up trouble in the future, they could handle it. Moreover, his family had taken great care to protect his privacy over the years—there was almost nothing about him on the internet.

But now that Xing Shi was here, the remaining two artist-hosts wouldn’t last much longer. The shortened intervals between their removals would definitely raise questions.

He said, “Keep an eye out for some public relations talents for me.”

Fu Pengfeng, understanding the strength of his son’s PR team, knew they wouldn’t have trouble handling the situation. Still, he asked, “What kind of precautions do you need?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “It’s always better to be prepared.”

Fu Pengfeng agreed. In the entertainment industry, being proactive was key, so he nodded.

—

Dinner was ready shortly after.

Bian Ran served her son some food and, recalling the “younger brother” living with him, asked, “How’s your relationship?”

The housekeeper, who worked for the Fu family, had long since mentioned the boy living at home.

Fu Xiuning replied, “Very good.”

Bian Ran was relieved. Her son had kept to himself for so many years. She smiled, “Then why don’t you bring him over for dinner sometime?”

Fu Xiuning answered, “Another day.”

He finished eating at a leisurely pace, then asked about the childhood photos.

Bian Ran retrieved the albums for him and sat beside him, flipping through the pages. “Why are you suddenly interested in these?”

Fu Xiuning answered simply, “Looking for someone.”

Bian Ran was intrigued. “Who?”

Fu Xiuning flipped through several pages but didn’t find any beach photos. So, he asked directly.

Bian Ran thought for a moment. “We took you to the beach several times. Which trip are you looking for?”

Fu Xiuning wasn’t certain either. “Maybe from when I was old enough to save someone?”

At this, Bian Ran immediately remembered. She picked up another album, flipped through it, and found a photo of a sandcastle on the beach. “This one?”

Fu Xiuning paused for a moment before taking the album and looking at the picture.

In the photo, there were three children. He was squatting on the left, a slightly chubby boy was on the right, and in the middle was a child with a bright smile and a face dusted with sand—beautiful, even as a kid.

Bian Ran pointed at the child in the middle. “That’s the one you saved. The three of you played together every day.”

Fu Xiuning asked, “Just this one photo?”

Bian Ran smiled. “There’s more.”

She chuckled, flipping through the pages. “You two looked great together. I took several pictures.”

Fu Xiuning turned the pages and saw a little Xing Shi wearing a sun hat and sunglasses, looking effortlessly cool. He instinctively reached out and ran his fingers over the image.

Bian Ran noticed the gesture and her heart skipped a beat.

She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Did you meet him again?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “He’s living in my house now.”

Bian Ran was immediately surprised and exclaimed that it must be fate.

Fu Xiuning continued looking at the photo, but no memories surfaced in his mind. Turning another page, he saw the picture of the three children again. He pointed to the chubby boy and asked, “Who is this?”

Bian Ran thought for a moment. “He seemed to be Xing Shi’s playmate. Their families were traveling together at the time.”

Fu Xiuning responded with a simple “hmm” and looked at Xing Shi’s image again.

—

At that time, Xing Shi had already finished his dinner.

Since Fu Xiuning wasn’t home, he simply sat in the living room for a while before heading back to his room.

After washing up, he lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and focused.

99 and Shang Shang Qian quickly sensed a familiar energy again. But this time, it wasn’t directed at them—it was aimed at the system that had come from behind.

Xing Shi transformed his energy into delicate strands, and regardless of whether the other party was still in hibernation, he began carefully analyzing its structure, bit by bit.

99 and Shang Shang Qian watched silently, both feeling a bit sorry for it.

Xing Shi controlled the energy, letting it flow through the system’s body three times, forcefully waking it up.

Compared to Shang Shang Qian, the injuries sustained by the latecomer were not as severe.

Although the best fortune had only mentioned adding protective barriers for the host, it had been cautious enough to reserve a little extra protection for itself.

However, the time between unloading and detonation had been too short. It had only managed to deploy two layers of barriers before the explosion, consuming the remaining energy.

Still, compared to Shang Shang Qian, who had taken a direct hit from an explosion before, its condition was much better. After being tossed around by Xing Shi, it quickly regained consciousness.

As it awoke, it examined itself while recalling the fragmented, unfamiliar scenes it had experienced in its hibernation-like state.

Its data was a bit scrambled, but it would fully recover after a short period of rest. Other than a lack of energy, everything else seemed fine.

So these high-dimensional beings really do have strong defenses… It sighed inwardly, relieved, then lifted its head—only to be met with the sight of two other systems.

The latecomer: “???”

99 greeted it cheerfully, “You’re awake! Welcome to my host. Let me introduce myself—I’m the visual enthusiast of our little group~”

The latecomer shifted its gaze between the two, then glanced beyond them.

Hovering in midair was an advanced energy core.

Its pupils trembled. “Who is your host?”

Xing Shi chuckled. “Me.”

The latecomer: “!!!???”

It must still be dreaming!