CEO's Sweetheart is a Super Idol-Chapter 425 - 417: Gradually Gaining Control

Ring! Ring!

"Who is it?" A man’s voice rang out from inside the house.

"Property management. The people downstairs said there’s a water leak near your bathroom."

"A water leak?" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The man inside seemed unsure but still opened the door.

In an instant, the blade sank into the body of the man opening the door.

He emitted a reflexive scream, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Du Jinyu’s strike was swift and precise, plunging straight into the man’s lungs.

Du frequented shooting ranges, playgrounds for the rich.

The blade was pulled out, and blood gushed forth.

The man trembled, standing there, refusing to collapse, but he was utterly immobile.

Du Jinyu realized it wasn’t Lan Yening and felt a surge of doubt, but now was not the time to dwell on it.

The blood splattered on his face had already triggered his complete transformation into a beast.

"Ah!" A sharp scream pierced the air.

A young woman stood quivering, clutching her face, her tight pants already soaked in urine from fright.

Du Jinyu closed the door and approached, slicing through her kneecap with a swift stroke.

Then, the hard sole of his leather shoe stomped brutally on her face.

Crack!

The scream was abruptly cut short. A white bone jutted out from her fractured hand, and one of her front teeth flew out from the kick.

She was teetering on the edge of unconsciousness from the pain, jolted back into clarity by the sharp agony.

Looking around the house with predatory ferocity, Du Jinyu confirmed there was no one else inside.

"Speak. Where is Li Jiaqi?" He gripped the woman’s blood-soaked, sticky hair tightly.

"Uh...uh!" The woman had already lost her mind, gibbering incoherently, her face twisted in agony.

Du Jinyu considered for a moment and then rummaged through the house, eventually finding the woman’s phone.

Using facial recognition, he unlocked WeChat and figured it out.

The woman was a nanny hired by Li Jiaqi.

Their last phone conversation was a week ago, just a brief inquiry about the house’s condition.

It seemed the man was either the woman’s husband or her boyfriend.

Making themselves comfortable in the house while the owner was away.

Du Jinyu realized he’d been deceived by Gu Nan.

But he couldn’t understand why Gu Nan would trick him.

"Bastard!"

In his fury, Du Jinyu killed the woman in an instant and cleaned up briefly in the bathroom before leaving the premises.

Rain was still falling from the sky, accompanied by relentless thunder and lightning.

Eyes bloodshot, he decided to head to the hotel where the film crew was staying to find Li Jiaqi.

However, before he could reach the underground parking lot, a speeding car collided with him, sending him flying.

The last sound he heard in this world was the crunching noise of his bones shattering.

...

"Xiao Ma, have you finished processing the scene?"

"Report, Captain Sheng, the work is complete."

Sheng Haitao, clad in a black jacket, took the investigative report and reviewed it. The case appeared both ordinary and suspicious.

"Xiao Ma, what did the traffic division say?"

"They reviewed the surveillance footage and investigated the scene. It’s confirmed to be a traffic accident."

"What about the driver?"

"He’s been temporarily detained. After the accident, he immediately called the police and summoned an ambulance."

Sheng Haitao nodded. Based on the existing evidence, the case seemed seamless.

But wasn’t it too much of a coincidence? This Du Jinyu had just committed murder, only to die in a car crash.

"Has Li Jiaqi been contacted?"

"Yes, she’s currently with the film crew."

"Xiao Ma, let’s go check it out together."

"Understood."

Xiao Ma responded promptly before adding, "Captain Sheng, have a look at today’s entertainment headlines!"

Sheng Haitao felt a twinge of unease upon hearing this. He knew Li Jiaqi was a minor celebrity.

If this case made the headlines, it would bring immense pressure to the investigative team because it would evolve from a criminal investigation into a public sensation.

However, when he opened his phone and skimmed the news, his brows furrowed. "Looks like this Du Jinyu really had a deep connection with Li Jiaqi."

Galaxy

The small idols and fans across the Galaxy were caught up in gossip.

Someone had posted undeniable evidence of Li Jiaqi’s private relationships on a backyard forum and Weibo.

As one of the most famous members in Hanoi, Li Jiaqi’s hardcore fans immediately guessed the culprit.

Private relationships involving idols weren’t new. Everyone was aware but chose not to expose it.

This time, Li Jiaqi was directly dragged through the mud, and the masses naturally reacted with "righteous indignation."

Within half an hour, Li Jiaqi’s Weibo became a war zone.

"Sister Qingjia, they’ve decided how to handle Li Jiaqi’s situation."

Wang Yiran looked at the company’s decision, feeling as if she were hallucinating.

Normally, the company would stay quiet for a long time, only issuing public statements when things got out of control.

If the affected member had value, their punishment was usually limited to being relegated to trainee status as a performative measure.

But this time, the decision came so swiftly.

"Jiaqi’s matter isn’t a minor one," Yu Qingjia frowned slightly.

Wang Yiran reflected for a moment and nodded. "You’re right. Who knows what twists this will take next."

"Sister Qingjia, do you think there’s really that kind of relationship between Du Jinyu and Li Jiaqi?"

"I’m not sure myself. When it comes to private relationships, everyone knows but doesn’t talk openly."

Wang Yiran and Yu Qingjia shared a moment of silence. They both had their own secrets.

But rules were rules. If fans were expected to pour money into them, idols had to distinguish themselves from typical social dynamics. The bottom line, though, was never selling out completely.

"Li Jiaqi’s apology statement is out now," Wang Yiran said after spotting a message on the backyard forum.

Yu Qingjia grew increasingly anxious. The speed of the announcement was unprecedented for Galaxy.

Still, she was somewhat comforted by the fact that Galaxy had only asked Li Jiaqi to leave the group, not the company.

This implied Li Jiaqi’s transgressions hadn’t reached an irreparable level.

Li Jiaqi’s apology was concise: she admitted her private relationships and announced her withdrawal from the group.

"Well, looks like she won’t be competing in this year’s General Election," Wang Yiran sneered.

"That doesn’t matter to her anymore. She’s no longer part of the Galaxy," Yu Qingjia said, her tone calm but tinged with melancholy.

"Sister Qingjia, we need to focus on participating in the upcoming girl group auditions. That’s our best chance."

"You’re right. It’s the fastest path forward," Yu Qingjia’s spirits seemed to lift.

Wang Yiran looked over at Yu Qingjia and asked, "Sister Qingjia, will you call Li Jiaqi?"

"...Don’t worry. I understand the stakes. I won’t risk my future."

"Good. If you leave the group, your career’s as good as dead."

Yu Qingjia didn’t appreciate Wang Yiran’s bluntness, though she admitted it was true.

Before the situation clarified, she couldn’t afford to have any contact with Li Jiaqi.

While the young idols debated among themselves, Shen Xing, who originally had high blood pressure from anxiety, finally felt relieved.

The Galaxy’s current biggest star was Little Juzi, while Li Jiaqi and Lu Bingbing were up-and-coming talents.

Li Jiaqi had recently landed two promising acting roles, earning significant attention from Galaxy.

The higher-ups were preparing to invest heavily in her career, securing major acting opportunities and making deals for prominent variety show appearances.

No one expected this scandal to erupt.

If the controversy spiraled out of control, the most lucrative prospect for Galaxy might end up ruined.

But after speaking with Sheng Haitao, who had come to investigate Li Jiaqi, Shen Xing finally relaxed a little.

Sheng Haitao’s team also didn’t want this matter to escalate and interfere with their investigation.

The greatest reassurance to Shen Xing was the major investors behind the drama expressing no intent to withdraw or replace the lead.