The Villain in the Quick Travel is My Wife

Chapter 124

Chapter 124.5.13
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"Nearly 100,000 yuan can almost buy half a house in your area, and you think it's just a small amount of money?" The host's voice was sharp, challenging.

"So can I assume that you believe you are responsible for the emotional value of the relationship, while your boyfriend is responsible for the financial value?" he continued, pressing further. "You think money transactions can be dismissed as irrelevant when it comes to love?"

An Shuting almost couldn't help but laugh at this. "Do you really think that, as a host, you can just ask anything without understanding the situation? Just because you call yourself righteous doesn't mean you're above accountability. Can you stand behind every question you ask so definitively?"

He paused for a moment, meeting the host's gaze directly. "You're a public figure, right? You must understand how public opinion works. Do you ensure that every show you make actually addresses real issues and troubles the people? Or do you just follow the script, using people as pawns in your drama?"

An Shuting looked up at the large words on the backdrop, his voice steady. "Host Xiao, I've seen your show. I'm willing to bet you've never revisited any of the families you've profiled. Or maybe the people you visit are just actors in your little performance."

Xiao Xinping's eyes flickered behind his glasses, betraying a moment of surprise. He glanced at the director in the audience, his discomfort evident. The director, who was typically polite and cooperative, was now sitting motionless. If Xiao couldn't recognize the shift now, he didn't deserve to be working in the studio after all these years.

An Shuting could see that someone was trying to manipulate the situation, but he knew how to handle it. He didn't flinch. "You don't need to be so malicious towards me," he said, his tone calm but pointed.

"Fans who know me understand that I started out as a journalist. I've seen all kinds of intimidation and manipulation, but I've never forgotten the original purpose of this program," he added, now turning to address Mother An and the others.

"I understand your frustration. As long as you don't agree with his choices, he sees the world as an enemy. You've raised him to be too self-centered."

Mr. and Mrs. An nodded in agreement, as though they had finally found someone who understood their feelings.

By this time, the barrage of comments on the live stream had been enabled, and the screen was flooded with comments pouring in.

"Mom, I saw the top love brain."
"A young and promising college student falls in love with an unemployed, sick old man. Even if he was trying to save him, so what? This is a hell of a situation. Why not just run away?"
"What else can we do? His parents raised him too well. He needs to suffer some of society's beatings before he'll understand."
"Right? For a man, this is just too disappointing. It's like his love is everything. If you try to stop him, he forgets all the good things his parents have done and only remembers the bad. Isn't that the very definition of being ungrateful?"

An Shuting, oblivious to the barrage of criticism from Xiao Xinping's fans, continued to focus on his own message, unaffected by the noise around him.

An Shuting just smiled at Xiao Xinping's attempt to evade and divert attention, saying, "So it turns out that Reporter Xiao only allows himself to ask questions to others, while everyone else is expected to dodge the important ones."

The speed of the barrage increased rapidly, with a flood of comments suddenly pouring in, changing the tone of the entire live broadcast room.

"Help me, I've seen people swear without using any curse words, but this is the first time I've seen someone swear so gently. He's really handsome."

"What's going on? I'm speechless."

"The host has double standards. He only allowed speculation about his brother being kept by someone. He didn't answer the question his brother asked, but he called his brother 'against the world.' How can he claim to represent the world? He's shameless."

"With that face, body, and voice, I kinda envy that old man. He's eating so well."

"Brother, don't worry about gender. I have plenty of money, I'll support you."

"Sister, I'm the younger brother. Can I?"

"What's wrong with society now? Don't you have any morals?"

"Three views follow the five senses."

"I came here from the trending search. A famous host has fallen from grace? What happened? What's going on..."

Yu Bai scrolled through the increasingly lively comments on his phone, curled his lips in amusement, pulled his navy blue sweater closer around him, then stood up and walked toward An Shuting.

"Everyone has the right to choose their own life. Parents are always right, and the justice you speak of is real justice," Yu Bai's voice was calm but firm. "You should ask Su Hongmei, who finally escaped from the mountains but was sent back by your so-called mediation and endured domestic violence every day. Or Li Xue, who gave birth to a posthumous child but got trapped in a quagmire by her in-laws... Do they recognize your justice?"

An Shuting turned to Yu Bai, his eyes widening in surprise. "Why are you here?"

Yu Bai took An Shuting's hand in front of the audience. His lips were still a little pale, but there was a spark in his eyes.

"We agreed to work together, so of course, I'll accompany you to uphold justice."

Yu Bai reached into his pocket and pulled out a USB flash drive, handing it to the director in the audience. On the big screen, the faces of Li Xue and Su Hongmei appeared. Li Xue looked frail, her eyes sunken, her back hunched as she washed a large basin of clothes with a child on her back.

Next, the camera cut to Su Hongmei, even more scarred, her temples graying despite being in her early thirties.

The audience gasped in shock. Many of them were loyal viewers who had seen these two women on the show before. If they hadn't known in advance, they would hardly have recognized them now, given how drastically they had changed.

Xiao Xinping's face twisted with anger. "I don't know what you think you're doing by making up these so-called truths. Do you think that by making things difficult for me and ostracizing me, you will somehow make your actions just?"

He paused, his voice tense. "This world isn't just about money and power. There are other, more precious things."

The barrage exploded with question marks.

"What do you mean? Are these two guests framing the host to clear themselves?"

"Why is it a false accusation? I sensed something was wrong earlier. Don't you understand other people's lives? Do you need him to mediate?"

"That's right. Li Xue's story is heartbreaking. And as for Su Hongmei, she was abducted by human traffickers and sent back home to serve the whole family. It's disgusting. They don't treat her as a human being at all."

"I'm from the same village as Li Xue. She's really suffering. Her husband is gone, and she's left carrying the entire family. She has elderly parents, young children, and she's only in her twenties."