Chapter 36: 036 part 1
Zhu Ran first logged into the Starbuy app’s backend and discovered that the number of messages left for his shop had reached 999+. However, after clicking into the specific comments, many messages displayed the notification: [This message has been deleted by the user].
The top comments in the shop’s review section were as follows:
[I apologize for my impulsive insults toward the shop owner and for cursing the shop to close.]
[I’m sorry, shop owner.]
[I’m sorry, I beg for the shop owner’s forgiveness.]
…
Zhu Ran then did a quick search on Starnet. Combining what he saw with the messages Yan You had sent, he finally understood the cause and effect of the situation.
In short, during the time he was asleep, someone on Starnet had splashed dirty water on his shop and manipulated public opinion. Fortunately, Starbuy’s official team handled it rapidly. By the time he woke up, everything had already settled.
Not only was his shop unaffected, but it had also received a wave of free publicity due to the incident.
At this moment, there were also many unread private messages in Zhu Ran’s Starbuy inbox.
Qin Ke is Very Reliable: [Those trash experts are just full of hot air, identifying fakes out of thin air. Anyone who has bought your plants knows they couldn’t be more real.]
Ye Chaochaochaochao: [This clearly looks like the typical public relations tactics used in the entertainment industry. Shop owner, do you need me to hire some internet water forces to bash them back? I’m very familiar with the entertainment circle.]
Hamster Munch Munch Munch: [Shop owner, I believe in you! My dad has been sleeping peacefully for several nights thanks to your lavender. I’ll go find people to help you flame them back right now.]
…
Looking at the messages from customers who supported him unconditionally, the corners of Zhu Ran’s mouth curled up, and his gaze softened.
Among those supporting him were not only people he had communicated with before but also customers he had never spoken to. This caused a wave of warmth to flow through his heart.
He was grateful for their trust and affirmation.
Zhu Ran naturally knew that so-called “expert opinions” would be deeply believed by the uninformed public. Under the pressure of a massive shift in public opinion, some people would inevitably fail to stand their ground and be led astray.
Fortunately, however, Zhu Ran had a group of friends who believed in him and a collection of lovely customers.
Zhu Ran first used Star-link to reply to Mu Qingzhou and the other two, stating that he was fine and thanking them for their concern.
Then, he replied to the supportive customers on the Starbuy app.
After a moment of thought, Zhu Ran edited a shop announcement.
Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance: [Regarding the false reports online, I will be pursuing legal action against Li XX, Ai XX, Fang XX, and others.
I demand that the aforementioned individuals publicly apologize to me and pin the apology announcement on their homepages for one month.
I demand that the aforementioned individuals compensate me for my losses according to the law and take responsibility for their actions.
All products in Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance can withstand any testing; there is no fraud involved.
At the same time, the IDs of everyone who insulted Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance and its owner will be added to the shop’s blacklist. They are prohibited from entering the shop and prohibited from purchasing any products.
The internet is not a lawless place; everyone must be responsible for their own words.
Zhu January 9, 3025]
As soon as this message from Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance was posted, those who cared about the shop clapped and cheered.
The shop’s attitude was truly firm. This was exactly how one should strike back after being treated unfairly. Well done, shop owner!
The farce that had caused such a stir was quelled in just three hours.
The ending resulted in a victory for Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance and the Starbuy app.
It was somewhat unexpected, yet it made perfect sense.
After all, the items from Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance could withstand any scrutiny. True gold fears no fire.
Old Zou from the marketing department had originally wanted to pull the promotion for Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance. He had already submitted half of the application, but then Starbuy’s official statement indirectly proved that the items in the shop were genuine.
Old Zou felt a bit awkward. “The higher-ups reacted so quickly, hahaha.”
Zhang Jun felt vindicated. “Teacher Zou, you should keep your eyes peeled in the future. Don’t believe just any bit of hearsay.”
“I’m going to coordinate the promotional activities for Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance now. This incident effectively served as an advertisement for the shop, saving us a lot of promotion costs.”
“I might even have to thank the other side for gifting us this much traffic~”
With that, Zhang Jun left the office with a brisk step.
By catching this tailwind, the data for Zhu’s Lingering Fragrance’s activity tomorrow would certainly not be bad.
Those old conservative fogies—just wait to be surprised!
After replying to the wave of netizens, Zhu Ran put down his optical computer.
He poured a cup of chamomile tea for Z, a faint smile on his face. “About the matter online… thank you.”
Zephyr took the tea Zhu Ran handed him and took a sip.
Within the light floral aroma of the tea was a hint of sweetness, much like the feeling Zhu Ran gave off—gentle and wonderful.
Zephyr’s expression remained unreadable, his tone indifferent. “You’re welcome. As your assistant, it was only right.”
No matter how dismissively Z spoke, Zhu Ran understood that it wasn’t easy for Starbuy’s official team to contact the relevant departments in such a short amount of time.
Z must have done a lot of work behind the scenes.
At the same time, Zhu Ran felt that while a great storm had been brewing outside and a group of people had been busy on his behalf, he had slept quite soundly.
Though he felt a warmth from being protected, he also felt a slight sense of guilt.
Zhu Ran then reached out, placed his hands on Z’s shoulders, and gave them a squeeze.
“You’ve worked hard. Thank you.”
As he said this, Zhu Ran leaned close to the back of Z’s ear. His gentle voice, accompanied by a slight heat and that unique fragrance, felt like a warm tide brushing against the back of Z’s neck.
It was… unintentionally provocative.
Zephyr’s hand gripping the cup tightened, his fingertips turning slightly white.
The surface of the tea, where chamomile flowers floated, reflected his face. His expression remained calm, yet his eyes darkened significantly.
“Let me massage your shoulders for a bit! How about it?”
“Mm.”
Zephyr had no reason to refuse Zhu Ran’s request, nor did he want to.
Thus, Zephyr obediently lay prone on the sofa.
Zhu Ran sat beside him, leaning over with his somewhat slender hands resting upon those broad shoulders.
Before starting, Zhu Ran asked in a low voice, “Are your injuries all healed? I’m afraid of hurting you.”
“They’re healed.”
The external injuries from the electric torture on Zephyr’s body were mostly healed, so they wouldn’t interfere with Zhu Ran’s movements.
“Then I’ll begin.”
With that, Zhu Ran began to knead from the top of the neck downward.
His soft thumb pads touched the fair skin of the neck, and his fingertips pressed firmly into the acupoints.
The areas being massaged grew warm and felt a bit sore.
It felt a bit strange, but not unpleasant.
Zephyr silently endured the movements, his hands at his sides clenching slightly.
He pursed his lips, his breathing momentarily becoming disorganized.
After a few kneads, Zhu Ran’s fingers stopped at the middle of the neck.
Z’s neatly buttoned shirt collar and the metal limiter he wore prevented Zhu Ran from moving further down.
“Can you undo two of your shirt buttons? And take off the limiter. It’s a bit inconvenient.”
Zephyr was dazed for a moment. “I can.”
He was about to lift his hand, but Zhu Ran stopped him.
“Don’t move, I’ll do it.”
As he spoke, Zhu Ran’s hands reached from behind to the front of Z’s neck to unbutton the collar and remove the limiter.
The buttons were a bit tight, so Zhu Ran had to put in some effort to undo them.
As he worked, his hands inevitably brushed against Z’s cheek, the skin of his neck, and… his protruding Adam’s apple. He felt that Z’s body temperature seemed to be higher than his own.
Once the buttons were undone, Zhu Ran entered the password. With a faint “click,” the cold metal limiter was removed.
Because the neck had been shackled by the metal for so long, a circular mark remained.
Zhu Ran touched the mark on the neck with his finger and asked, “Does it hurt?”
A part of his body that he normally never allowed anyone else to touch was now being gently touched by Zhu Ran. Zephyr’s body tensed, and a scorching heat spread from the point of contact.
It was a bit itchy, and so hot…
His fair skin gradually flushed with a beautiful crimson, staining the cold-toned Zephyr with a layer of warm, light pink.
Zephyr opened his mouth, his voice turning deep. “It doesn’t hurt.”
After unfastening Z’s collar and limiter, Zhu Ran continued the massage.
The back of the neck, the shoulder blades, and the spine were all kneaded by Zhu Ran with moderate pressure. The meridians that were usually blocked, along with the soreness caused by always sitting upright, were relieved under the effects of the massage.
If the person massaging him weren’t Zhu Ran, Zephyr might have felt more comfortable.
However, precisely because it was Zhu Ran, all of Zephyr’s attention was focused on the touch of Zhu Ran’s hands, his temperature, and the breath coming from behind him.
His consciousness was dazed and tangled.
Z’s shirt was very thin. Thus, while Z could feel the temperature of Zhu Ran’s hands, Zhu Ran could also feel the body beneath his touch—the full, powerful muscles.
Massaging him felt quite nice.
“Is it too heavy? Do you want it lighter?”
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