Chà Chà Novel

The director stepped forward into the raging storm.

He admitted that he had done all of it without his superiors’ knowledge.

He offered a long list of explanations, even putting together a presentation overnight detailing the motives, sequence of events, and outcome.

The bored netizens following the drama perked up at the sight of a presentation. Cross-referencing it with past incidents, they unearthed quite a few unfortunate people who had been caught in the abuse.

Those people had spoken up for Ji Shileng, only for Imperial Capital News to secretly target them with online harassment as well.

The condemnation did not subside after the director’s “confession.” Instead, it grew fiercer, the outrage loud enough to tear the sky apart.

Mr. Chang looked at the director before him. Though he stood straight with his cane, he somehow seemed on the verge of sinking to the ground.

“Zhang Shu, we won’t let you suffer for nothing. If Imperial Capital News makes it through this…”

He choked up, unable to finish.

Make it through?

Could they survive?

Was survival even possible?

Leaving the imperial government aside, the Ji family alone had nearly destroyed them.

Countless shady engagement-farming accounts and minor outlets were also spreading the story, apparently afraid Imperial Capital News might escape its demise.

They had been suppressed by it for too long. Given a chance to fight back, of course they would rush in and stamp on it.

There was no one left behind Imperial Capital News.

The director’s name was Zhang Shu. He was a classic small-town academic striver, someone who had studied his way out of an obscure background.

Born in a town on a remote planet, he had studied day and night until he managed to establish himself in the Empire.

A powerful patron had recognized his potential, helping him climb step by step to his present position.

Faced with power, his impeccably pressed suit had become a “wolf’s skin” he could no longer shed. He had forgotten his original ideals.

Zhang Shu bowed deeply. His hair fell forward, revealing silver-white roots underneath.

With one crisis after another striking Imperial Capital News, he had aged rapidly.

He said in a low voice:

“Mr. Chang, I would never have reached this position without your support. I’ve earned enough money by now. With my name dragged through the mud, I can simply leave the Empire”

For all his apparent optimism, he felt anything but at peace.

To abandon so many years of effort just like that made life itself seem less meaningful.

But what he had been doing was wrong. This was merely a return to the right path.

At university, as a budding journalist, he had raised his right fist and sworn aloud: the media’s duty was to shoulder moral responsibility and write with skill and integrity. He would strive to become “a chronicler of the times, a force for social progress, and a guardian of fairness and justice.”

Looking back, what had he done all these years?

Mr. Chang closed his eyes and clapped Zhang Shu firmly on the shoulder. A night spent in fear and anxiety had left his voice terribly hoarse.

“We’ve done our duty all these years”

“You, me, Ji Shileng, even the public—we’re merely pawns of those at the top”

All of them were pawns. No one could escape it.

The Ji family’s involvement had introduced a number of unexpected variables.

Zhang Shu sighed silently.

“Mr. Chang, we’re as insignificant as mayflies in this world. If we aren’t one person’s pawns, we’re someone else’s”

“It’s hard for life ever to feel complete”

The year he graduated, he had said he wanted to go out and make his way in the world. By the time he returned, he had become an entirely different man.

For something like taking the fall, Mr. Chang would never choose someone who was there purely for personal gain.

Only someone loyal to Imperial Capital News could be trusted.

Zhang Shu was a veteran of the company. His loyalty was beyond question.

As someone headed for prison, he knew what he could say and what he must keep to himself.

Mr. Chang lowered his bloodshot eyes and promised:

“If we get through this and rebuild, we’ll be waiting for you when you get out”

Zhang Shu shook his head, his eyes wet and red.

“With my reputation like this, I’ll be content to live quietly for the rest of my days once I’m released”

There was no need to hope for more.

“Try pleading with Admiral Shang and the Ministry of Publicity again. Even if they won’t acknowledge our achievements, surely all those years of hard work count for something”

He truly was thinking of Imperial Capital News and Mr. Chang.

“All right”

Mr. Chang wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. He could no longer persuade Shang Jianli, but he could still place his hopes in Shang Cheng.

Their web of connections was tangled, after all, and he had some history with Shang Cheng.

Outside the Imperial Capital News building, police sirens shrieked, the sound piercing the ears and sending a tremor through the heart.

At nine that morning, thick mist hung over the Empire. Dark clouds gathered together, their weight almost suffocating.

Shang Jianli emerged from the government offices. After a sleepless night, exhaustion marked his brow.

The public backlash was fiercer than either he or the Ministry of Publicity’s staff had expected.

The staff were grateful that Imperial Capital News was the main target. The Ji family was only striking at them in passing, while the engagement-farming accounts and minor outlets did not dare discuss them.

The higher-ups had come by with a few questions, their words carrying the same warning throughout:

“Do whatever else you like, but your reputation must not be damaged”

“The Empire has no use for a disgraced admiral”

Mockery filled Shang Jianli’s eyes, though his face revealed none of it.

Back then, he had had so many paths to choose from. They had hinted that he should take the one that hurt the person beside him, promising endless “prosperity” along the way.

And they had been right. His rise through the ranks was unprecedented in the Empire’s history.

Those hollow, ornamental leaders indulged themselves night after night, praising his ruthlessness and predicting a brilliant future. Behind his back, they called him a cold-blooded monster unworthy of being human.

Now that he had fallen into the same position as “the admiral’s spouse,” all he received was a single cold warning.

He should have known. No house was more heartless than the imperial house.

Seeing his eyes swollen and red from staying up, Minister Zhou immediately sent him home to rest and remained behind to monitor the situation himself.

He and Shang Jianli were now in the same boat.

He was old enough that his own fate mattered less. Shang Jianli, however, was still young.

He could not watch him reach a dead end so early in life.

The driver stared straight ahead, not even daring to glance at Shang Jianli.

“Admiral, which residence would you like to return to?”

“The apartment in the city center”

Shang Jianli let his body go slack. That dense, persistent ache once again traveled through his veins, spreading throughout him.

He turned to look out the window.

Now, inevitably, he could finally put himself in Ji Shileng’s place and truly understand how he had felt.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

His lips curved in self-mockery. The words “too late for regret” seemed made for him.

He had once believed Ji Shileng was softhearted, believed he still had a chance, because there was no one else by Ji Shileng’s side.

He had felt entirely secure.

Qin Si’s arrival was a powerful blow.

It shattered the glass bottle holding his negative emotions. Panic, fear, heartache—all of them burst free at once.