Chapter 47: The Rumors Continue to Spread (3)
Based on the information provided by Nan Yun, Fu Yu'ang investigated the three families.
"These are the detailed records of the three families. Individually, they're nothing special. They're not even half of what your Nan family is. But together, they're a force that can't be ignored. Although some members hold relatively low-ranking positions, take a look at these."
Fu Yu'ang pointed at several photos, as well as the names and positions beneath them.
Nan Yun nodded.
"Mm. They look like minor figures, but it's actually rare for someone to sit securely in those positions. They definitely have some means. But what I asked you to investigate wasn't this. I wanted to know what kind of character the people in these families have. If our little brother goes over there to help and they cling to him endlessly afterward, that'll be troublesome too."
Fu Yu'ang opened another file.
"This information mostly covers the development histories and methods used by these three families. Overall, they're alright. After all, on the Capital Star, nobody can claim to be completely clean. Even your Nan family can't confidently say you've never used some special methods behind the scenes, right?"
Nan Yun didn't answer. Instead, he carefully read through the file before finally letting out a sigh of relief.
"It's acceptable. Most of the time, they follow the principle of not provoking others unless provoked. Many of the people they dealt with had only themselves to blame. Alright, thanks, brother. I'll treat you to a meal another day."
Fu Yu'ang nodded.
"Sure. Just let me know."
Only then did Nan Yun remember what Fu Yu'ang had wanted to tell him earlier when he first arrived.
"Right, what were you trying to tell me before? You can say it now."
Nan Yun was actually quite curious. This was the first time he'd seen Fu Yu'ang so interested in gossip.
"Oh right, I almost forgot."
As he spoke, Fu Yu'ang opened numerous forums and discussion boards on the star network.
"Take a look at these."
Nan Yun leaned over to look, but after reading the contents, his eyes widened.
"Huh? What's going on? Didn't Old Master Bai suppress all this news? Why are so many people still discussing it?"
And now, even people living on planets at the edge of the Empire's territory, far from the Capital Star, had learned that there was an extremely talented and promising Mid-Tier Mental Power User named Nan Yu on the Capital Star.
And that he was engaged to Bai Zhouyun, a useless Ability User who lacked ambition.
Not only did this useless Ability User fail to cherish, care about, or properly protect his fiancé, but he also went fooling around in filthy places.
And he did so openly.
That was one thing, but this Ability User was actually the one on the receiving end.
It was simply disgusting.
Nan Yun stared at all the curses directed at Bai Zhouyun and looked dumbfoundedly at Fu Yu'ang.
"Th-This... when did this start? How come we didn't hear anything at all?"
"And such an important matter, couldn't you have told me earlier? I..."
Fu Yu'ang rolled his eyes.
"Who was it that said his little brother's business came first? I figured it wasn't anything major, so I could tell you later. And now you know, don't you?"
Nan Yun wanted to say something else, but he wasn't in the mood anymore. He immediately opened his communicator, checked the star network, searched through numerous forums and discussion boards, and found that out of every ten posts, at least two or three were discussing the engagement between Bai Zhouyun and Nan Yu.
As he read, Nan Yun suddenly realized this was his little brother's opportunity.
If Nan Yu displayed his true strength as the number one Mid-Tier Mental Power User during this period, then the netizens across the star network would all stand on his side.
Fu Yu'ang smiled.
"That's what I thought too."
Huh?
Nan Yun paused.
"Did I say that out loud?"
Fu Yu'ang shook his head.
"No need. I could tell from your expression."
Nan Yun patted his shoulder.
"Anyway, thanks this time. I'm heading back first. Oh right!"
He turned around before leaving and looked at Fu Yu'ang.
"Good classmate, can I leave the job of finding Ability Users with severe mental contamination for little brother to you in the future?"
Upon hearing that it was for Nan Yu, Fu Yu'ang immediately puffed out his chest.
"No problem! Leave it to me!"
Nan Yun gave him a deadpan stare.
"Brother, I treat you as a brother. Don't you dare try to steal our little brother."
Fu Yu'ang scratched his head.
"Hehe, I know, I know. I simply treat him like my own little brother too. Don't worry. Isn't it good to have one more older brother doting on him in the future?"
It sounded pretty good, but...
Nan Yun somehow felt that something wasn't quite right.
"Fine, I'm leaving."
After seeing Nan Yun off, Fu Yu'ang returned to his studio.
The room was filled with countless translucent screens.
The simple and honest expression on his face had disappeared, replaced by something slightly cold.
Looking at the discussion thread currently open and talking about Bai Zhouyun and Nan Yu, he moved his fingers a few times, and several accounts immediately entered the discussion and began spreading information.
And upon closer inspection, those accounts had rather high levels within those forums.
Moreover, there wasn't just one or two such windows.
It turned out that a large portion of those so-called insiders who had been spreading information were actually him.
Fu Yu'ang snorted.
"Hmph! I practically watched Xiao Yu grow up. Since when does that piece of trash Bai Zhouyun get to humiliate him? Since he doesn't know how to cherish him, then get the hell out. Xiao Yu can definitely find an Ability User a hundred times, ten thousand times better than you!"
Since childhood, Fu Yu'ang had always played together with Nan Yun and Nan Zhen.
Under the subtle influence of those two hopeless little-brother fanatics, he had also become extremely doting toward Nan Yu.
Unlike Nan Yun and Nan Zhen, whose protectiveness was open and obvious, Fu Yu'ang preferred silently giving and protecting from behind the scenes, like a reliable older brother.
Nan Yu already had two proper older brothers protecting him in public.
As for Fu Yu'ang, he positioned himself behind the scenes.
And since he specialized in hacking and intelligence gathering, he could help perfectly.
After returning home, Nan Yun impatiently shared everything he had learned from Fu Yu'ang with his second brother and little brother.
First, he confirmed that there were no problems with the three families. The first person to come to them would be arranged for a visit the day after tomorrow, and they'd make an appointment with the other party.
One by one, slowly.
Only then did he tell them about the rumors concerning Bai Zhouyun.
Nan Yu was shocked.
"Really? Didn't they remove the news? There's still this much discussion?"
Refusing to believe it, he opened the star network and searched.
He was stunned.
The level of discussion was really this high?
Nan Yun explained,
"Everyone's discussing it privately. The activity is high, but not high enough to attract the attention of the star network itself, so there aren't any official recommendations or promotions."
Nan Yu read through the posts.
Almost all of them praised him, saying how powerful he was and lamenting how unfortunate it was that someone like him had such a useless fiancé.
Even more posts were filled with curses and insults directed at Bai Zhouyun.
As Nan Yu continued reading, he gradually became dazed.
It reminded him of his previous life.
Before his death, when Bai Zhouyun had used schemes and tricks to ruin his reputation, the atmosphere on the star network had been exactly like this.
Only back then, the one being insulted and cursed had been himself.
This time, it had become Bai Zhouyun.
And Bai Zhouyun had brought it all upon himself.
It had nothing to do with anyone else.
Nan Yun and Nan Zhen looked at the serious expression on Nan Yu's face as he stared at the star network interface and silently waited.
Only after Nan Yu came back to his senses and closed the page did he realize that both of them had been staring at him.
"W-Why are you both looking at me?"
Nan Yun asked carefully,
"Little brother, aren't you angry?"
Nan Yu blinked.
"Angry about what?"
Nan Yun hesitated.
"Everyone on the star network is cursing Bai Zhouyun. Even the most vulgar insults are coming out. Aren't you angry?"
Nan Yu fell silent.
So even now, his two older brothers still hadn't truly believed that he had completely given up on Bai Zhouyun?