Chapter 301: WE KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE

The call ended, and Moying lowered his phone with a smile still lingering on his lips. Limo was sitting behind his desk, reviewing reports on Xue Peng’s suspension. Although he had only caught bits of the conversation, he had heard enough to understand that Guiying had just given Moying something to pass along.

"What did Guiying say?"

Moying leaned against the edge of the desk and looked at him with a grin. "He wants you to reverse Xue Peng’s suspension. Actually, that’s not quite enough. He wants you to promote him even more."

Limo raised an eyebrow, but the reason behind the request became obvious almost immediately. Xue Peng was already at the center of public attention, and hiding him now would only make Yang Entertainment look as though it was trying to distance itself from the scandal. If they put him back in front of the cameras and let the attention continue to build around him, the company could control his exposure while Guiying waited for the moment he wanted.

"He wants the pedestal higher," Limo said.

"Exactly." Moying’s grin widened. "And he sounded very serious about it."

Limo leaned back in his chair, considering the request for another moment before giving a small nod. "If Guiying is asking me to do it, I’ll do it."

Moying’s expression immediately turned into a playful pout. "You agreed awfully quickly."

"He’s my friend, and he needs my help."

Moying pushed away from the desk and walked over, catching Limo by the chin and tilting his face towards him. "Your friend gets treated this well?"

Limo laughed softly when he recognized the jealousy in his boyfriend’s eyes. "Are you jealous?"

"Maybe." Moying’s thumb brushed along his jaw as he looked down at him, amusement slowly returning to his face. "You’re my boyfriend, and somehow you’re treating Guiying this well."

"You’re my boyfriend," Limo reminded him with a smile. "You own my ass."

Moying’s eyes narrowed with satisfaction. "Is that all I own?"

Limo’s smile deepened as Moying leaned closer.

"You’re mine, Yang Limo. From top to bottom."

"Sure, Liu Moying." Limo held his gaze, completely unbothered by the possessiveness in his voice. "I’m all yours."

Moying pulled him into a kiss, and Limo responded without hesitation. When they finally separated, Limo reached for the tablet on his desk and glanced over the suspension report again.

"I’ll have the suspension reversed. I’ll tell the management team to increase his exposure instead."

Moying smiled. "Guiying will be pleased."

"I’m sure he will."

---

Back at the Yang Entertainment dormitory, the three alphas had already made their way upstairs. The anonymous post about their earlier confrontation had spread quickly, and reading the reactions had only strengthened their conviction that Xue Peng was hiding something. What had begun as curiosity had turned into anger, and now they wanted another confrontation.

The lead alpha stopped outside Xue Peng’s room and looked at the closed door. "He’s still in there."

One of the others glanced towards him before stepping closer. "Let’s get him out."

Inside the room, Xue Peng sat on the edge of his bed with his phone beside him. Notifications continued appearing across the screen, but he had stopped opening them because he already knew what they contained. The post had spread far beyond the dormitory, and his name was now being discussed by thousands of strangers who knew nothing about him. Every attempt he had made to defend himself seemed to give people another reason to question him, and the humiliation had settled heavily in his chest.

A knock struck the door.

Xue Peng’s entire body stiffened.

"Xue Peng."

He recognized the voice immediately and remained silent.

The handle rattled.

"We know you’re in there."

Xue Peng stared at the door, his breathing becoming uneven as the lead alpha struck the wood with his palm. "Open the door."

He backed away instinctively. Those men hadn’t returned to have another conversation, and something in the weight of their voices told him that much before they even said another word.

The handle rattled again, harder this time.

"He thinks hiding is going to save him?"

Another blow landed against the door.

"Open it."

Xue Peng’s face went white. His eyes darted around the room before settling on the window, and as the men outside struck the door again, he slowly moved towards it.

He had no idea whether Yang Entertainment would intervene if things turned violent.

He wasn’t willing to find out.

Xue Peng’s fingers closed around the window latch, but before he could lift it, a violent crash came from behind him. He spun around as the door shook in its frame, the lock already beginning to give beneath another heavy impact.

"Open the fucking door!"

Xue Peng stumbled away from the window, his heart pounding against his ribs. "I already told you the truth!"

The men outside answered with laughter, and another blow struck the door hard enough to make the entire frame tremble. "Then come out and say it to our faces. You were very convincing earlier."

Xue Peng looked towards the window again, but the height made his stomach twist. There was nowhere to run, and when he tried to call dormitory security, the call failed before it connected.

The door suddenly burst open.

Xue Peng recoiled as the three alphas entered, their expressions carrying none of the uncertainty they had shown earlier.

Whatever sympathy they might have had was gone, replaced by the ugly certainty that he had lied to them.

"You’ve got some nerve," the lead alpha said as he shut the broken door behind him. "You tell everyone you’re the victim, run away when we ask questions, and now you think hiding in your room is going to make this disappear?"

"I didn’t lie." Xue Peng backed away until his legs struck the edge of his bed. "I told you exactly what happened."

"Your version."

The lead alpha walked towards him while the other two spread out, blocking the remaining space in the room. Xue Peng’s fingers tightened around his phone as his eyes moved between them, but none of them looked remotely interested in listening anymore.

"I said I was the victim."

"And we heard you." The alpha grabbed him by the collar and pulled him forward. "But you’re still hiding something."

Xue Peng’s breath caught as he struggled against the man’s grip. "Let go of me."

"Why? Afraid someone might hear what we want to ask you?"

The alpha shoved him backward, and Xue Peng stumbled against the bed. One of the other men caught his shoulder and forced him down before he could regain his balance.

"Get off me!"

His shout was met with a harsh laugh.

"You had plenty to say when you were defending yourself online."

Xue Peng struggled beneath the hand pressing against his shoulder, but the alpha only tightened his grip. The lead alpha stared down at him with growing anger before grabbing his collar again.

"I have nothing else to say!" Xue Peng’s voice cracked as he tried to pull himself free, but the next moment, a fist slammed into his face and snapped his head to the side.

The sharp impact left his ears ringing, and when he slowly raised his eyes, he saw the three men still standing over him.

Blood gathered at the corner of his mouth.

The lead alpha flexed his hand before grabbing Xue Peng by the collar again. "Still want to lie?" His voice was cold, and Xue Peng could only stare at him, his eyes frightened and trembling.

The second punch came before Xue Peng could answer.