"What are we here for? Of course, to denounce this shameless woman!" the chubby female fan shouted angrily.
"Yes, we're here to denounce her!"
"We represent all of Owen's fans, and we demand that you disappear from our Owen's life immediately!" An Ruo Xi, acting as the spokesperson, commanded Zuri.
The surrounding onlookers, hearing this, all turned their attention to Zuri in unison.
Previously, many people had been skeptical about the rumors on the school's online forum. But now that Owen's fan club had shown up in person, it seemed like the rumors were true.
Zuri looked at these people, her expression calm as she spat out two words, "How boring."
"So, you refuse? Are you choosing to go against us? We're civilized people, trying to talk to you nicely, but don't mistake our kindness for something you can take advantage of," An Ruo Xi warned.
"Ruo Xi is right. Don't push us into doing something irrational."
Zuri frowned.
Are these people out of their minds?!
She couldn't fathom their way of thinking.
To put it bluntly, even if she were Owen's girlfriend, what business was it of theirs?!
These people were overstepping their bounds.
Yes, Owen was a celebrity, but he was also a person. Did they expect him to remain single forever?
Their bizarre sense of possessiveness left Zuri speechless and disgusted.
"Irrational?" Zuri sneered, her sharp gaze sweeping over them as a powerful aura began to rise, "What, are you planning to get physical?"
An Ruo Xi exchanged a glance with the others, then shouted, "Smash it!"
The fans all pulled out pre-prepared items and began hurling them at Zuri.
Meanwhile, Owen and his entourage were racing to the scene, speeding all the way, even at the cost of getting three speeding tickets, before finally reaching the campus.
Isaac had already arranged everything in advance, so their car drove straight into the campus, heading for the design department.
As soon as they arrived, they saw a crowd gathered in front of the teaching building, surrounded three or four layers deep. The moment the car stopped, Owen jumped out and sprinted toward the center of the commotion.
Everyone's attention was focused on the center, so no one noticed Owen charging in from behind.
As Owen approached, he heard An Ruo Xi shout, "Smash it!"
Owen plowed through the crowd, shoving people aside as he rushed into the center.
He arrived just in time to see eggs flying toward Zuri. Without hesitation, Owen darted forward, using his body as a shield, his arms raised to protect her head.
The eggs landed hard on Owen's back, hands, and head, the golden yolk oozing out.
Owen moved so quickly that no one saw it clearly. They only noticed a blur before he appeared in front of Zuri, shielding her with his body.
When all the eggs and rotten vegetables were finally thrown, Owen was a complete mess.
An Ruo Xi and the others finally realized something was wrong. The figure before them, that familiar back—it was Owen.
Owen released his protective stance, lowering his head to look at Zuri. His voice, rich and full of guilt, said softly, "I'm sorry."
An Ruo Xi, hearing her idol apologize so humbly, retorted indignantly, "Owen, you don't need to apologize to her. She's not worth it."
Owen turned, his cold gaze sweeping over the so-called fans before him. These were the fans who claimed to love and support him, yet they were the ones hurting the person he cared about most.
"My affairs are none of your business."
Even though he was covered in filth, his cold and commanding presence drew everyone's attention to him.
The fans were stunned to hear their beloved idol speak to them like this for the sake of a woman.
Whether it was out of resentment or jealousy, one fan snapped, "Owen, we're doing this for your own good, but you're treating us like this over someone who doesn't matter. Are you still the Owen who loves us?"
Owen was genuinely furious now.
"For my own good?" Owen let out a cold laugh. "Is that really for my own good? You're not doing this for me; you're doing it for your selfish possessiveness, your ridiculous delusions."
This was the first time the fans, or even the surrounding onlookers, had seen Owen lose his temper in public. Anger radiated from him like a raging lion as he roared at the fans.
Isaac and the assistant Rhett finally managed to squeeze into the center. Seeing how things were spiraling out of control, Isaac quickly tried to intervene.
"Everyone, calm down. This is all a big misunderstanding," Isaac said, stepping forward to address the heartbroken fans.
"Zuri is actually—"
"Shut up!" Owen snapped, cutting him off before he could reveal more.
An Ruo Xi stared at her idol, the man she had adored for so long, who was now completely disregarding their feelings for the sake of this woman.
As Owen's most devoted fan, she couldn't accept this reality.
"Owen, how could you treat us like this? Without us, you wouldn't be where you are today. It's us, your fans, who've made you who you are. Instead of being grateful, you treat us like this," An Ruo Xi cried, her voice shaking with pain.
"If it weren't for us, you'd be nothing!"
Her shout silenced the crowd, and all eyes turned to An Ruo Xi.
Her words echoed the thoughts of many of the fans.
Isaac inwardly cursed—this was bad!
These fans had already crossed Owen's line, and now she'd said something that would only make things worse. Owen was not someone who tolerated disrespect.
"Owen, calm down."
As Isaac tried to speak, Owen's icy gaze locked onto An Ruo Xi. "Rely on you? That's unnecessary!"
"From this moment on, I, Owen, am leaving the entertainment industry."
His words rang out, crashing into everyone's hearts like a hammer.
Azura and the paparazzi arrived just in time to hear those words, their jaws practically hitting the ground.
Latecomers couldn't help but think the same thing: Has it really come to this?
An Ruo Xi and the other fans were equally stunned.
They never expected Owen to be so resolute.
They just wanted him to back down, that's all.
Zuri stood there, staring at the figure shielding her, her mind flashing back to the first time they met when he had stood in front of her, protecting her from everything.
Her heart, long protected by high walls that kept everyone out, suddenly felt a crack forming, as if something was finally breaking through.
Zuri stepped forward, standing beside Owen, her gaze fixed on An Ruo Xi as she spoke in a voice that was cold, but clear enough for everyone to hear.
"Owen is my brother! My blood-related, legitimate brother."
Owen looked at Zuri in shock.
Zuri lifted her eyes and smiled softly at him.
He had spread his wings to protect her.
How could she let him fight alone?
The entire crowd erupted!
Apart from a few insiders, everyone else was left wide-eyed with shock.
Esme, Shen Menglai, Xu Zexi, and others stared at Zuri in stunned silence, unable to snap out of their daze.
As for An Ruo Xi and her fellow fans, they were equally dumbfounded.
"No way!" An Ruo Xi muttered under her breath.
"Sister? How could she be his sister?!"
"Wasn't she supposed to be his rumored girlfriend?"
…
Other fans turned to An Ruo Xi, questioning her, "Didn't you say she was his girlfriend?"
"What's going on?"
Faced with the barrage of questions from her group, An Ruo Xi felt a surge of panic, but quickly composed herself. "Could it be they're just trying to shut us up by claiming they're siblings?"
Owen put his arm around Zuri's shoulder, ignoring the fans and speaking directly to the reporters who had just arrived, "Allow me to formally introduce her—this is my sister, Zuri. My full-blooded, legitimate sister."
As he spoke, Owen lifted his chin proudly, his face beaming with pride, as if he were showing off a trophy rather than introducing a sibling.
The reporters frantically snapped photos of the brother and sister, their excitement palpable.
A reporter asked, "Owen, are you really quitting the entertainment industry?"
This question wasn't just on the minds of fans; even the bystanders were curious.
Before Owen could respond, Isaac jumped in, "That was just a joke, a misunderstanding—don't take it seriously."
An Ruo Xi, hearing the manager's words, felt a renewed sense of confidence. As long as Owen wanted to stay in the industry, he wouldn't be able to do so without his fans.
"What proof do you have that she's really Owen's sister? Without evidence, we won't believe it."
"Don't treat us fans like fools."
"If she's truly his sister, why didn't they clarify this from the beginning? Why keep it hidden? This is just suspicious!"
An Ruo Xi fired off a series of questions, her key point resonating with the other fans.
"An Ruo Xi is right! Why didn't they clarify from the start?"
"Yes, why didn't they clarify right away? If they had, we wouldn't have come here today, and none of this would have happened."
"Owen, we care about you, we love you, so why would you trample on our feelings? Using such a flimsy excuse to deceive us?"
"We're not as gullible as you think."
"If you want us to believe it, then show us the proof."
Several of An Ruo Xi's closest fan allies echoed her demands.
Azura, hearing these remarks, felt her anger rising to the point of boiling over.
What a bunch of nonsense!
Just as she was about to intervene, a rhythmic sound of footsteps approached from behind. A group of bodyguards in black uniforms parted the crowd, moving forward in a disciplined formation.
"When did my brother and sister ever need to prove their identities to outsiders?"
A cold, commanding voice cut through the noise from behind the crowd.
All eyes turned toward the voice, and they saw a tall, imposing figure striding toward them. With each step, a powerful aura emanated from the man, drawing everyone's attention.
Nolan, with his long strides, approached Zuri and Owen, his frosty gaze briefly sweeping over Owen's disheveled appearance before settling on Zuri.
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped the egg yolk off her hair and face.
His movements were incredibly tender, so much so that it could make anyone melt.
Some reporters recognized Nolan, their jaws dropping in disbelief.
"Oh my God! Owen's brother is Nolan? How did I never realize they were related?" an older journalist exclaimed, regretfully smacking his forehead.
From the start of his career, Owen had never relied on his family and had never publicized his background, so very few people knew about his true identity.
Unless one was deeply involved in the finance industry, it was unlikely they would know just who Nolan really was.
A rookie reporter asked, "Who's Nolan? Is he someone important?"
The seasoned journalist swallowed hard before replying, "Important doesn't even begin to describe him. He's a legendary figure in the finance world, an investment genius. He's incredibly famous in the United States. I've heard that Nolan is ruthless and decisive in his work, and very protective of his own. Seeing how he's treating his sister, I'd say someone's in for a world of trouble."
The conversation wasn't quiet, and everyone around them heard every word. Soon, Nolan's identity spread through the crowd like wildfire, and those who were curious quickly pulled out their phones to look him up. Once they found his profile, they were floored. When they looked back at Nolan, their eyes were filled with admiration and awe.
Owen watched as his brother diligently wiped Zuri's face, feeling a pang of regret that he hadn't brought a handkerchief himself. He was kicking himself for letting this chance slip through his fingers.
Azura, standing off to the side, watched as the usually cold Nolan acted so tenderly, then glanced over at Owen, who was glaring at Zuri as if he wished he could be the one cleaning her up.
She felt incredibly jealous!
She was consumed with envy!
She was a walking lemon!
Zuri was somewhat taken aback, not expecting her elder brother to be so gentle, nor did she imagine that the usually stern and stoic man could display such warmth.
"I-I can do it myself," Zuri stammered, feeling awkward, especially with everyone watching.
"Be good! It'll be over soon," Nolan's deep, rich voice rumbled softly.
Owen couldn't take it anymore, jealousy written all over his handsome face. "Big brother, that's enough!"
Nolan withdrew his hand and handed the handkerchief to Owen, who instinctively took it.
Nolan then turned to face An Ruo Xi and the others, his icy gaze sweeping over them as he spoke in a voice that brooked no argument, "It wasn't you who made Owen successful. He got here on his own. Without you, he would still be an award-winning actor, still an exceptional artist."
"Don't think so highly of yourselves. In reality, you're nothing!"
"Today, you insulted my family, you hurt them. As adults, you need to face the consequences of your actions."
Nolan raised his hand, and Grayson stepped forward, addressing An Ruo Xi and the lead fans, "Please apologize to Miss Zuri and Mr. Owen."
"Of course, you can choose not to apologize. But tomorrow, you'll receive our lawsuit, for defamation, emotional distress, and financial damages."
Grayson handed a draft of the lawsuit to An Ruo Xi, then stepped back.
An Ruo Xi and her group started to panic.
"If we apologize, will you drop the charges?" someone asked.
Nolan didn't reply, but Owen immediately said, "No."
"Then why should we apologize?"
"An apology shows that you admit you were wrong. Damages are still damages. If every harm could be wiped away with a simple 'sorry,' the cost of wrongdoing would be too low."
The fan group was left speechless.
An older reporter overheard how things were being handled and was surprised. This wasn't like Nolan at all. These girls had better back off now, or they'd really be in deep trouble.
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