The Supporting Male Characters Who Died Alone All Those Years Later

He Dongchen followed the host onto the stage. The group walked to the center of the stage, and the recording resumed.

During the break, the staff came out to explain, saying it was for the program’s effect. However, the audience remained suspicious. What kind of program effect would require not allowing He Dongchen to speak?

Everyone took their positions. The director wiped the sweat from his forehead, took a deep breath, and shouted, “Action!”

Thirty-six cameras started filming from all angles.

The host maintained an elegant and poised smile and was just about to speak when He Dongchen suddenly stepped down from the small platform and walked toward him. He pointed at his hair and whispered, “Something’s not right.”

The host’s heart skipped a beat. Could my wig be messed up!? He reached up to check, but He Dongchen smoothly took the microphone from his hand, his smile considerate. “Let me hold this for you.”

The host instinctively felt something was off, but the thought of embarrassing himself was even more troubling, so he let go of the microphone and raised his hand to fix his hair. After all, this could be edited out later.

Backstage, the director was furious.

“You idiot! Get the microphone back!”

The host was startled by the roar in his earpiece and, without thinking, immediately snatched the microphone back.

He Dongchen didn’t resist.

The host, caught up in the moment, was completely unaware, but everyone else saw it clearly!

He Dongchen had swapped the microphone!

But why!?

The audience was puzzled and widened their eyes, waiting for an answer.

The unaware host smiled warmly, raised the microphone, and slowly began, “He Dongchen, please return to your seat.”

However, the sound didn’t carry through. The host frowned—Was the microphone broken?

Just as he was about to ask the staff to replace it with a working one, He Dongchen suddenly spoke in frustration, “I accidentally took the wrong one earlier. The one I’m holding is yours. I’m really sorry about that. But no worries, I’m sure the backstage crew will fix it quickly. They wouldn’t give me a completely broken microphone that can’t produce sound, would they?”

Before he finished speaking, the audience erupted in shock.

“Oh my god, they were about to mute He Dongchen earlier, and now they’ve given him one that doesn’t even work?”

“Let’s wait and see, maybe the crew will fix it.”

“Maybe it’s for the show’s effect.”

“Do they think we’re fools? Show effect? Who are they trying to fool?”

The audience was in chaos; they were here to be spectators, not to be made fools of.

It was now obvious; the show’s crew didn’t want He Dongchen, the wronged party, to speak!

What a heartless show!

He Dongchen’s words directly placed the show’s crew on the spot. The host was caught in a dilemma. Insisting on changing the microphone would be indirectly admitting they were deliberately making things difficult for He Dongchen. But if he didn’t change it, the director had already told him that the microphone was just a prop and couldn’t produce any sound.

The host was sweating profusely, bitterness welling up inside. If he had known, he wouldn’t have taken this job.

***

As the situation reached a stalemate, He Dongchen smoothly took the cue cards from the host’s hand and began speaking before anyone could react.

“Since the host’s microphone is malfunctioning, I’ll step in temporarily.”

He glanced at the cue cards, then flashed a meaningful smile and turned to the stern-faced He Zhenglan beside him. “Mr. He, you’re worth billions. Who do you plan to make your heir; your adopted daughter or your biological son?”

He Zhenglan refused to answer and warned, “This is a recording, don’t mess around.”

He Dongchen acted as if he hadn’t heard and continued asking, “What are your thoughts on the unfortunate passing of He Gou a few months ago?”

“For 10 years, He Gou violently beat your biological son. How did you manage to stay so magnanimous, without holding a grudge, and continue to lavish love on He Gou’s biological daughter? Isn’t it fair to call you a saint?”

“You’re leaving your fortune to He Sijia. Have you considered what it will be like to face He Gou in the afterlife?”

He Dongchen fired off one question after another, like a fierce storm, bombarding He Zhenglan relentlessly, not giving him any chance to fight back.

He Zhenglan felt suffocated, as if he had been publicly slapped over and over again! He didn’t want to answer a single one of those questions!

The audience, enjoying the drama, cheered wildly from their seats.

“Shut off the microphone! Don’t let him speak anymore!” the director screamed in a panic. The entire show had fallen apart.

A guest taking control of the show was an utter humiliation!

The staff hurried to turn off the microphone that originally belonged to the host, but after fumbling with it for a moment, they cried out, “Director, it won’t turn off!”

“What nonsense are you talking about!?” The director pushed them aside to try it himself, only to discover that it really wouldn’t turn off!

“Damn it, this is insane! I don’t believe this,” the director cursed angrily backstage.

***

On stage, He Dongchen had already moved on from He Zhenglan. He suddenly turned around and directed his attention toward the cowering He Juan. “Ms. He, what are your plans for the future? Do you intend to continue living in the He family’s home?”

He Juan, who was rather timid, was startled when her name was called and instinctively replied, “I-I plan to move out and visit the kids on weekends.”

He Dongchen was surprised by her response. “Ms. He, why would you think that? Staying with the He family is much better. You don’t have to worry about food or drink, you live in a mansion, drive luxury cars, and have a son you raised right by your side. You’ve even gained a new loving daughter. Life couldn’t be better, so why would you want to move out? Mr. He and Mrs. He have plenty of money; taking care of an extra person wouldn’t be an issue.”

He Juan was stunned by this barrage of words, stammering for a long time without being able to form a coherent sentence. If she had the choice, she wouldn’t want to leave the He family either.

He Juan, already looking miserable, now appeared even more pitiful as she waved her hands helplessly, not knowing what to do.

He Sijia, unable to bear it any longer, suddenly spoke up, “Stop pressuring her! Mom He isn’t happy at all in this house! She’s always on edge, too scared to even have an extra bowl of rice.”

“Are you saying the He family has been deliberately making things difficult for her?” He Dongchen asked, unhurried.

He Sijia was at a loss for words. She instinctively glanced at the stern-faced He Zhenglan and Lin Xiumei, then quickly shook her head. “No! Mom and Dad are great, and Mom He is great too. It’s just that our living habits don’t align. Forcing ourselves to live together makes no one happy.”

“How could that be? We have 18-years of living in different situations, yet we live under the same roof and are very happy. Our two families living together is joyful and harmonious, isn’t it?”

He Sijia blurted out what was on her mind, “It’s not like that at all! Every day I stay at home, I feel like I can’t breathe!”

He Dongchen pressed her further, “So who should leave; me or you?”

“I…” He Sijia was speechless. Exactly; if Mom He felt uncomfortable living at home, she could leave. But if she didn’t get along with He Dongchen, who would leave? Was He Dongchen supposed to leave?

In the end, it was clear that she was the one who was unwelcomed.

He Sijia looked around in confusion, casting a glance at Sima Yongqing in the audience.

Sima Yongqing gave her a reassuring smile, quickly sliding his fingers across his phone to send a message.

Backstage, the director received the message, closed his eyes, and ordered someone to bring a microphone directly to the host.

The show was already ruined, so it didn’t matter anymore.

No matter how much the audience caused a fuss, it didn’t matter. Without their phones, they couldn’t keep any evidence. Once the show aired, they could just buy another round of online supporters, and five hundred voices would drown out any dissent.

At the front of the stage, the audience, who had been waiting for He Sijia to continue, erupted when they saw someone rush up to hand the host a microphone. Now everything was clear! The heartless production team had indeed given He Dongchen a microphone that couldn’t produce any sound!

Suppressing the real wealthy son, He Dongchen, was clearly a move to whitewash the fake wealthy young lady, He Sijia.

The audience was furious.

He Sijia had already won by default, so why did she need to step on the already pitiful He Dongchen?

Had the show’s conscience been eaten by dogs!?

***

There was a commotion in the audience, while on stage, He Dongchen remained calm and unflustered, exuding an air of unshakeable confidence, as if he could face anything.

The host, now holding the microphone, forced herself to speak according to the director’s instructions, “Everyone has their own choices. He Juan has worked hard for half her life, and now she wants to leave the He family to start a new life. He Dongchen, don’t you think it’s selfish to hold her back for your own desires?”

Guan Xianshi, now having firmly secured his wig, regrouped and chimed in, “That’s right. The mix-up was just an accident. Although He Juan couldn’t provide you with a wealthy life, she’s never wronged you. She’s innocent too.”

The two of them coordinated their efforts, shifting the conflict between He Dongchen and He Juan.

He Juan, with her naturally sorrowful appearance, was at a disadvantage but had the upper hand due to her role in raising He Dongchen.

After this combination of blows, the audience had already been swayed.

Still, He Dongchen remained unperturbed. Under the perplexed and anxious gazes of the crowd, he stepped forward, gently grasped He Juan’s frail hand, knelt down, and looked up at her with earnest sincerity.

“You’re right. My Mother is innocent. How innocent she is; a woman who had to support the family and endure years of domestic violence, refusing to divorce just to give me a home. I was truly moved. Every time my Mother was beaten, I would rush to protect her. When I was 6 years old, He Gou kicked me in the stomach, and the pain lasted 3 days. When I was 10, on my birthday, He Gou hit me on the head with a wine bottle, and blood was everywhere. We didn’t have money for the hospital, so we just applied some ointment, and now I have a scar on my head…”

He Dongchen recounted in detail the injuries he had suffered over the years. Finally, he even took off his shirt, revealing a back covered in scars, dense and horrifying to look at.

The entire room fell silent. Even the host and director were rendered speechless.

He Juan began to tremble all over, several times trying to flee the stage, but He Dongchen held her tightly.

“Mom, I really love you. Every scar on my body is a testament to my deep love for you.”

“I’m sorry, my child. I’m so sorry,” He Juan wept uncontrollably, trying to kneel before He Dongchen.

He Dongchen firmly gripped her wrist, still smiling gently, and spoke in a soft tone, “But why, my great and innocent Mother, on my birthday each year, would you knit a beautiful hat and put it away, 18 years, exactly eighteen hats?”

He Juan’s sobs suddenly halted, her pupils constricting.

He Zhenglan, who had been planning to give up on his son, suddenly stood up, his breath coming in short gasps as his entire body trembled.

The others were confused, but those quick enough to understand had already guessed the truth. In that instant, it felt as if Mount Tai had crashed down upon them, leaving them struggling to breathe under the weight.

If the truth was indeed as suspected, it would be utterly malicious.

He Dongchen smiled and, under everyone’s gaze, slowly began to speak, “And why, my great Mother, after learning that I was in the same class as He Sijia, did you resign without hesitation from your newly promoted position as team leader at the factory to work as a cafeteria server at the school? You always gave He Sijia the fullest portions, yet turned around and told me you had to avoid suspicion and served me less.”

“I didn’t!” He Juan shrieked, her piercing voice amplified by the microphone, stabbing into everyone’s minds.

He Dongchen chuckled softly and let go of her hand, causing He Juan to fall to her knees.

With a loud thud, her knees hit the tiled stage floor.

He Dongchen straightened up and looked down at her from above.