The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 167

Li Rong finally understood what Lin Zhen had been planning all along.

He thought back to high school, when a shy, nervous boy had brought him a cup of warm milk, unwavering in his belief that Li Rong’s parents were innocent.

Li Rong had always seen Lin Zhen as a little sparrow caught in the rain, someone who needed his protection. He hadn’t realized that, without anyone noticing, Lin Zhen had grown strong enough to protect others.

Li Rong’s heart ached with a mix of tenderness and sorrow.

Why had he extended kindness to Lin Zhen back then? He couldn’t quite remember. Maybe it was because he’d experienced hardship himself and could empathize with others’ struggles.

Li Rong stood up, watching Lin Zhen on the stage, his microphone forcibly cut off. They didn’t need to say anything. Just one glance, and they understood each other.

Li Rong smiled helplessly, and for the first time since the finals began, Lin Zhen smiled back, finally at ease.

If Lin Zhen had shared his plan earlier, Li Rong would never have agreed. He couldn’t bear the thought of Lin Zhen gambling his future to break through the deadlock.

But now that things had reached this point, Li Rong wouldn’t let Lin Zhen’s efforts go to waste.

The gaps Lin Zhen hadn’t noticed—Li Rong would fill them. The actions Lin Zhen couldn’t take—Li Rong would see them through.

Fortunately, Cen Xiao had been quick to act, taking Jian Fu away early to handle the media fallout. The next battle would no longer take place on the stage.

Ji Xiaochuan gasped, “W-where are they taking Lin Zhen?”

Two burly men climbed onto the stage, ready to grab Lin Zhen by the arm. The fans in the audience erupted in chaos.

“Hands off!”

“Don’t touch him!”

“Anyone who lays a finger on Lin Zhen will have to deal with us. The show owes us an explanation right now!”

….

Thousands of fans filled the stadium, their shouts echoing thunderously. Intimidated by the sheer number of people, the men hesitated and didn’t dare lay a hand on Lin Zhen. Instead, they awkwardly motioned for him to step backstage.

The host, drenched in sweat, nervously stepped onto the stage, clutching his microphone. 

It wasn’t that he lacked ability—no one could have prepared for such a sudden and explosive situation.

If he handled it well, he’d be famous in the industry. If not, he’d be out of a job.

The host walked over with a forced smile, placing a friendly hand on Lin Zhen’s back. “Dear audience and fans, please calm down. Since there are doubts about the voting results, we will conduct a thorough verification. Please don’t shout or curse. The arena is crowded, and any accidents would be regrettable. Now, we ask everyone to leave the venue in an orderly manner, following staff instructions. Rest assured, we will give everyone a satisfactory explanation.”

The host skillfully avoided emphasizing the program’s earlier claims of fairness and impartiality.

He knew very well that rigged operations were an open secret in the industry, something no one found surprising. However, the audience remained blissfully unaware of such practices, reacting strongly due to their belief in the system’s fairness.

The real conflict stemmed from this informational gap between the industry and the audience. Yet, he couldn’t just bluntly tell them, “It’s your ignorance that’s causing this uproar.”

Lin Zhen glanced at the host, calm yet unrelenting. “I’m the only one who can quiet them down. Are you willing to hand me the microphone?”

The host dared not. He feared Lin Zhen might drop another bombshell, saying something that would make the production team want to hang themselves on the spot.

Lin Zhen sighed. “I’m not trying to make things hard for you. I’ve already said everything I needed to. I won’t say anything else.”

The host hesitated but still didn’t dare hand over the microphone. Instead, he tightly gripped his own and reluctantly held it near Lin Zhen’s lips.

True to his word, Lin Zhen didn’t make things difficult. He didn’t even lift his hand.

Speaking directly to the furious fans below, he said, “I’m worried about everyone’s safety. Please pair up and head home early. I’ll leave immediately too. Don’t worry—I won’t let them manipulate me.”

The host was visibly conflicted.

He couldn’t decide if Lin Zhen’s words were appropriate. While they seemed to soothe the fans, they also effectively cut off the production team’s chance to resolve things quietly.

Lin Zhen then jumped off the stage and headed toward his parents and friends.

He wasn’t afraid of being forcibly detained by the production team. With thousands of fans gathered both inside and outside the venue, they wouldn’t stand for anything happening to him.

Mr. and Mrs. Lin were in complete shock. 

Mother Lin was so convinced her son had been gravely wronged that she couldn’t speak, tears silently streaming down her face.

Lin Zhen hugged his mother gently, coaxing her as if she were a child. “Come on, let’s go. See? I’m fine.”

Looking around, Lin Zhen couldn’t spot Jian Fu or Cen Xiao, so he asked Li Rong, “Class monitor, where did those two go?”

Li Rong stared at Lin Zhen for a few moments before finally replying succinctly, “Handling public opinion.”

Lin Zhen suddenly understood.

He had naively thought that revealing the truth in front of everyone would be enough to bring down Suhe Biotech.

But his lack of life experience had blinded him to the reality: public opinion was a weapon, one that could be manipulated. For a well-funded company, orchestrating a narrative reversal was hardly a challenge.

Cen Xiao and Jian Fu must have gone to do damage control.

The situation outside was as unpredictable as A City’s spring weather. Ten minutes earlier, the night had been dry and calm. Now, lightning suddenly ripped through the sky, leaving jagged cracks in its wake. Thunder followed from ten kilometers away, shaking the air.

In the banquet hall far from the chaos, lightning illuminated the room just as Zheng Zhupan was about to sign a contract. The door burst open, and a flustered man rushed in, throwing caution to the wind and whispering urgently into Zheng’s ear.

The man, drenched in sweat and out of breath, looked anxiously at Zheng Zhupan. Zheng’s facial muscles twitched as his expression darkened.

“What’s wrong, President Zheng?” Zhou Hong asked nervously.

Zhai Ning, too, froze, her eyes wide with anticipation. 

Her heart pounded in her chest, and for the first time in ages, she felt a spark of hope. Whatever was happening, it had to be connected to what Li Rong and the others had done.

Zheng Zhupan cursed under his breath, “That useless idiot Song Yanyi!”

Although furious, Zheng Zhupan kept his composure. After years of weathering storms, he was no stranger to handling crises. Managing public backlash was just another day at the office—or so he thought. He couldn’t have known that this particular storm would spiral out of control.

Zhai Ning stood up abruptly and pushed the contract aside. “Is Suhe Biotech in trouble?”

Zheng Zhupan forced a smile. “Don’t worry, Director Zhai. It’s nothing major—just some minor issues with a small company we’ve invested in.”

Zhai Ning seized the opportunity, her tone frosty. “President Zheng, I value the reputation of my partners. I can’t sign this contract today. Once you’ve resolved these negative issues, we can discuss this further.”

Zheng Zhupan’s tone hardened. “Director Zhai!”

Zhai Ning held her ground. “I represent a hospital. If anything goes wrong, it’s the hospital’s reputation on the line, and I can’t afford that risk.”

Caught in the middle, Zhou Hong was at a loss. 

He had been hoping for a swift partnership between Zhai Ning and Zheng Zhupan, as it would solidify their mutual interests. 

But he also understood her concerns—any scandal involving Suhe Biotech could spell disaster for them all.

Working at the hospital is his fallback. He wouldn’t cut off his safety net unless absolutely necessary.

Zhai Ning glanced at Zhou Hong and pressed her advantage: “How about this, Zhou Hong? Check online and see what’s going on with Suhe Biotech.”

Zhou Hong quickly pulled out his phone, now more inclined to follow Zhai Ning’s lead. Deep down, he knew Zhai Ning had stronger principles and was far more reliable than Zheng Zhupan.

Meanwhile, the online uproar was moving even faster than the program team could react.

Before the team could devise an appropriate response, the show’s official social media account had already been taken over by enraged fans:

“Care to explain why contestants were asked to drink with VIPs during the competition?”

“If Lin Zhen didn’t go, someone else must have. Who was it? Did they make it to the finals because they went?”

“Speechless, disgusted. Can you just give us a straight answer? Is keeping everyone guessing really appropriate?”

“How many votes were tampered with? Who got cheated out of their spot? Does the program think we can’t tell just because the other artists are too scared to speak up?”

“Apologize to Lin Zhen! Give him justice! Publish the real vote counts!”

“Wajing Entertainment and Suhe Biotech are threatening artists, exploiting fans, and have zero bottom line!”

“Wajing Entertainment, get out of the entertainment industry!”

…

The outrage didn’t just come from Hazelnut Pastry fans. Even fans of previously eliminated contestants began questioning the integrity of the show.

The program team, unsure of how to respond, opted for silence, but Lin Zhen’s fan club had other plans.

Soon, the fan club president dropped a bombshell via the official account:

[As an experienced programmer, I wrote a small script to tally votes from fans. Below is the real vote count for Hazelnut Pastry fans along with screenshots of the voting interface. These have been authenticated. The vote count is shown as 970,021, and this likely excludes many votes we couldn’t track. Based on Lin Zhen’s performance and metrics throughout the competition, his vote count should be at least 1.5 million. But even at 970,021, it far exceeds Cheng Ze Rui’s votes. All screenshots are verifiable, and this proves the program tampered with votes!]

The post quickly went viral under the show’s related hashtags, drawing massive attention: “Wow! Hazelnut Pastry fans have geniuses in their ranks. This is incredible!”

“How did fans manage to coordinate this so well? Getting nearly a million people to submit screenshots? Even if each person submitted votes for their whole family, that’s still over 200,000 people!”

“I’m in awe. Fans outsmarted the program team. They tampered with half the votes—how bold!”

“Where are the Fu Rui fans now? Hazelnut Pastry fans promised evidence and delivered.”

“Wajing Entertainment is so overbearing. Refuse to sign, and they’ll deny you first place while saying they’ll ruin you.”

“If this doesn’t get resolved, there’ll be no future for individual contestants—it’ll all be a game of capital!”

…

Jian Fu, monitoring the backstage data, couldn’t help but praise: “That president is really something, managing to compile this so quickly. She’s more efficient than most professionals in District One.”

Cen Xiao replied calmly, “She’s doing it out of love. It’s not the same as working for money.”

Jian Fu, while urging the platform to boost the post’s visibility, muttered, “I used to think she was wasting her time, but now I see she was preparing for a rainy day. She’s way more suited to be president than I am.”

Cen Xiao remarked, “It shows how common vote tampering has become in these competitions. This president has plenty of experience.”

Jian Fu snorted, “Yeah, it’s routine for them, but deceiving people will backfire sooner or later.”

He was still seething, clenching his teeth in anger. What kind of garbage people dare to say they’ll ruin Lin Zhen?

The president’s tally sparked a huge uproar, but it also prompted some high-traffic accounts to start slinging mud at her in retaliation:

“Is a program you wrote yourself really credible? Who’s going to verify tens of thousands of screenshots? Faking them would be too easy.”

“Let’s all calm down and wait for the program team’s explanation. Don’t jump to conclusions based on one side of the story.”

“Also, Lin Zhen secretly recorded a conversation while negotiating with someone. Isn’t that too underhanded…. Is this really his personality?”

“Come on, haven’t you ever said something in anger? There’s no way someone actually meant it when they said, ‘I’ll ruin you.’ Song Yanyi just has a domineering tone.”

“From what I know, Suhe Biotech is a reputable pharmaceutical company. How could they be involved in this entertainment mess? It’s probably a misunderstanding.”

“There have been so many twists in the news lately. Don’t pick sides too soon, and don’t let your emotions be manipulated.”

…

These accounts didn’t dare openly defend Wajing Entertainment or Suhe Biotech, but they subtly tried to provoke the fan club president, hoping to trap her in endless self-justification and focus all the outrage on the vote tampering.

This was a classic damage-control strategy: sacrifice the program to protect the bigger player—Suhe Biotech.

Just as some people began questioning whether Lin Zhen’s recording reflected poorly on his character, Hazelnut Pastry fans released rehearsal photos.

[We originally planned to share these later. Before the finals, the venue’s ventilation system broke down, and Lin Zhen caught a severe cold. Look at his throat—he had to get an injection. Everyone knows how harmful a cortisone shot is, but he took it for the sake of delivering the best performance for his fans, even knowing he might be cheated out of the competition. He respects his stage and his fans deeply.]

The photos were clear, showing a red needle mark on Lin Zhen’s throat, freshly scabbed. The sight was jarring, hinting at the pain he had endured.

“Zhen baby, you fool. This breaks my heart.”

“So the cold was real! No wonder the frontline fans were crying. How harmful is a cortisone shot?”

“How can they do this to someone who respects his craft and his fans so much?! Why must they destroy his hard work?!”

“Baby, does it hurt? Why are you so hard on yourself? Nothing is more important than your health!”

[If we’re sharing, here’s a video I bought from a paparazzi. It’s Lin Zhen leaving Yan Pan’s studio. Everyone knows Yan Pan is closely tied to Wajing Entertainment. Look at Lin Zhen’s tears—how much did he have to endure!]

In the video, Lin Zhen walked out of Yan Pan’s building, his mask pulled down to his chin. His eyes were red, and tears lingered in his gaze. 

His posture was low, his steps aimless, and his slender figure looked desolate under the streetlights.

“Was he bullied? Was this the day he negotiated with Song Yanyi?”

“I’m livid. There’s not a single decent person on this program team!”

“I know Yan Pan. She always cheers for Cheng Zerui and posts his exclusive behind-the-scenes photos. Turns out she’s connected to Wajing Entertainment!”

“Yan Pan and Song Yanyi, come out and apologize!”

…

The posts questioning Lin Zhen’s character were quickly drowned out by an overwhelming wave of sympathy. Fans, filled with fury, lashed out at the marketing accounts, forcing them to delete their posts in defeat.

Jian Fu, monitoring the public sentiment, felt an almost suffocating ache upon seeing the evidence.

Even though he now understood that Lin Zhen was preparing for this “eastern wind” strategy, watching how he had pushed himself so hard left Jian Fu restless and distressed.

“Where’s my knife? I want to kill Zheng Zhupan!” 

This grudge, in his view, needed to be laid squarely at Suhe Biotech’s feet.

However, Suhe Biotech was clearly not backing down from the media battlefield. Not long after, medical bloggers and children’s health influencers started voicing their support for the company.

“Let the disputes in the entertainment industry stay within the entertainment industry. A person’s personal character doesn’t represent the company as a whole. As far as I know, Suhe Biotech has made great contributions to the medical field over the years—Jiaketing is their product.”

“I can’t speak to anything else, but many parents of sick children have privately messaged me, expressing their gratitude to Suhe Biotech for Jiaketing. A company that brings hope to children can’t possibly be all bad.”

“Let’s stop dragging Suhe Biotech into this. They’re just an investor in Wajing Entertainment. That doesn’t mean they understand all the twists and turns of the entertainment world.”

…

These bloggers had good reputations and significant credibility among their followers, creating a new narrative urging people to separate Suhe Biotech from the controversy.

For an unfamiliar pharmaceutical company that had seemingly produced tangible results, even with minor faults, the public began to find it more acceptable.

Just as the storm seemed to be calming, a new and unexpected development reignited the controversy.

A former contestant named Jiang Zui, who had exited the show early, stepped forward with a bold accusation against Suhe Biotech.

[@Jiang Zui: I planned to take this to my grave, but I can’t stay silent any longer. I must speak up. Lin Zhen has been telling the truth. Almost all the contestants and staff witnessed it back then. Zheng Zhupan from Suhe Biotech did come to the show demanding company, specifically targeting the more delicate-looking male contestants—myself included!

Zheng Zhupan wasn’t ignorant about the entertainment industry. On the contrary, he threatened me, saying I’d be blacklisted and unable to survive in this circle. As a result, I missed my performance, and the production team not only failed to mediate but outright eliminated me from the competition.

This experience caused severe psychological damage. Are small artists with no background not human? Are we just stepping stones for others?

That night, I overheard Zheng Zhupan boast about the recently investigated He Dayong of Meijiang Pharmaceuticals, mocking him as an idiot for turning himself in. Zheng Zhupan even said the fake drug scandal was an easy fix! And he claimed that if He Dayong hadn’t been involved in ‘that incident,’ Suhe Biotech wouldn’t have bothered helping him!]

Jiang Zui included photos of the evening at the Seven Stars Hotel. While blurry, the images contained enough information to validate his claims.

The post exploded online, and things escalated further when another former contestant, Fu Huan, liked the post. Jiang Zui was suddenly at the center of a whirlwind.

“Another contestant came forward with the truth! Zheng Zhupan is utterly brazen, treating it like his personal harem selection.”

“Fu Huan liked the post! Does this mean all the contestants know?”

“I looked up Zheng Zhupan’s photo—an overweight, greasy man who picks on delicate male stars. I’m disgusted!”

“Is Suhe Biotech really this powerful? A pharmaceutical company manipulating an entertainment company?”

“A little research shows Zheng Zhupan and Song Yanyi co-own several smaller companies. It’s a family operation!”

“Suhe Biotech is revolting! Zheng Zhupan is a toxic tumor!”

“What’s most horrifying isn’t the misconduct but his comment that fake drugs are ‘no big deal.’ And what’s ‘that incident’ he mentioned?”

“This is huge—Suhe Biotech is full of skeletons! Let’s dig them all out!”

“Expose them all and make them pay!”

…

By the night of the finals, the controversy had reached fever pitch, and few had managed to get any sleep. As the situation spiraled, Fu Huan’s like and Jiang Zui’s revelations added fuel to the fire, ensuring the issue wouldn’t die down.

The production team remained silent, and even the promised champion resources for Cheng Zerui were abruptly cut off.

Holding a bowl of herbal medicine prescribed by his doctor, Lin Zhen pointed at the computer screen, pausing in surprise. “This Jiang Zui?”

He barely remembered Jiang Zui, who had been eliminated early in the competition. They had never even spoken.

Li Rong popped two stomach tablets into his mouth, washing them down with warm water. “He was with me at Zheng Zhupan’s dinner. He didn’t perform well and was just a small name, so the production team quickly brushed him off.”

Jiang Zui’s sudden outburst was undoubtedly orchestrated by Li Rong.

The photos Jiang Zui posted were taken by Li Rong himself, and the statements were words Li Rong had coached him to say.

Not all the claims stemmed from Zheng Zhupan, but that didn’t stop Li Rong from attributing them to him.

The emotional tone, full of exclamation marks and accusatory questions, made the post seem authentic. After all, who wouldn’t believe a powerless small artist was speaking out of sheer frustration against such an influential entity?

As for Fu Huan, his like wasn’t prompted by Lin Zhen but by his own sense of justice. If he could hold back, he wouldn’t have achieved his current status.

Even Fu Huan believed Jiang Zui had acted impulsively, driven by emotion. He had no recollection of what was said that night beyond a vague mention of a Director Zhai, a detail Jiang Zui conspicuously left out.

Li Rong and Lin Zhen, two ailing figures, lounged comfortably on the sofa, occasionally monitoring public sentiment and snacking on pastries with Ji Xiaochuan and Aunt Hui.

Meanwhile, Jian Fu and Cen Xiao worked tirelessly in District 1, forgoing sleep. Cen Xiao even skipped his tasks in District 9 to focus on this.

Jiang Zui’s allegations dealt a significant blow to Suhe Biotech. If rigged votes and forced company were issues of moral failings, then condoning fake drugs and backroom dealings affected the public interest.

Even the fans of various contestants stopped bickering and united in demanding accountability from Suhe Biotech.

“Before being a fan, I am first a person. And as a person, I get sick and need medicine. If a pharmaceutical company claims fake drugs are ‘no big deal,’ that’s the biggest problem of all.”

“Wait a minute, everyone. Who even knows this Jiang Zui guy? Why are so many people believing his post?”

“I’ve been a doctor for ten years. I can vouch for this with my conscience: Suhe Biotech’s Jiaketing has no issues. Let’s be rational here!”

“I think bloggers need to step up and speak out. It’s not the first time a company has been defamed and slandered. I suggest leaving this to the police to investigate. Let’s hold off on taking sides.”

“Agreed. We’re not professionals here. Since Jiang Zui has made accusations, we should at least hear Suhe Biotech’s defense.”

“Exactly. I don’t believe a major corporate executive would make such irresponsible remarks. But Jiang Zui? There’s no cost for him to lie.”

….

Ji Xiaochuan exclaimed anxiously, “Boss, they’ve deployed an army of paid commenters again to manipulate public opinion!”

Li Rong lounged on the sofa, eyes fixed on the screen, and curled his lips slightly. “People without scruples—nothing they do surprises me anymore.”

“Ugh, this is disgusting!” Lin Zhen hadn’t expected Suhe Biotech to be so resilient—or rather, to still have the gall to turn the tables and paint the victims as perpetrators.

Li Rong patted Lin Zhen’s shoulder in a comforting manner, his calm smile unwavering. “Don’t worry. I won’t let your efforts go to waste.”

By this point, they had already made significant progress.

Suhe Biotech, once an obscure and emotionless entity in the public eye, had become a red-hot topic at the center of heated debate.

The paid bloggers trying to whitewash Suhe Biotech were left with no choice but to repeatedly tout Jiaketing as their saving grace.

Though this might cause some people to hesitate and believe them, the name “Jiaketing” had now been deeply imprinted in everyone’s mind. The moment trust was shattered, it would bring down the entire company along with it.

These bloggers seemed overly confident that Jiaketing was Suhe Biotech’s “anchor of stability”—a product that would never fail them.

The debate over whether Jiang Zui’s accusations were true dragged on for two whole days.

During this time, no further revelations surfaced, and Jiang Zui stayed silent. None of the other contestants mentioned the forced-drinking incident, and the momentum of this juicy controversy seemed to wane.

Suhe Biotech’s PR team continued working overtime, while the showrunners finally released an apology statement to distract the public.

[Due to a technical malfunction, there was an error in vote tabulation. The production team sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience caused. A revised tally and new rankings will be announced shortly. Our sponsors, including investment firms, have no influence over contestant rankings. We are committed to resolving misunderstandings with the affected contestants as soon as possible. We apologize once again.]

“Haha, as if we’ll believe that!”

“This is what they came up with after hiding for days? Whoever their PR team is, they need to quit and go home!”

“What a miraculous technical malfunction! How come the glitch didn’t give Lin Zhen more votes? Or wait—did the equipment get bribed too?”

….

Just one minute after the show’s statement was released, before fans could finish venting their anger, a newly registered account dropped a bombshell.

“…It’s impossible to allocate more funds for research. Jiaketing has reached its perfect stopping point.”

“We’ll recoup costs in five years, double profits in seven. It’s guaranteed to be lucrative for at least ten years.”

“Ten years… No—make that fifteen to twenty. Medical research is grueling work.”

“Hmm, it can’t be a cure. With lifelong medications, the more patients we treat, the fewer profits we make.”

“Just hope no one steps out of line.”

….

Accompanying the audio, the account posted this statement:

[I used to work at Suhe Biotech. My conscience won’t let me stay silent, so I kept this internal recording. Given the current controversy, it’s time for everyone to see Suhe’s true face. I’m fully aware they’ve bribed countless influencers and will try to discredit me. I’m ready for any confrontation—if Suhe Biotech dares.]

Conveniently, this post was immediately pushed to the homepages of netizens following the drama.

Li Rong smiled faintly and commented in a light tone, “Du Mingli is truly brilliant. With just one statement, he’s blocked the paths of countless influencers.”

The more prominent the blogger, the more they value their reputation. They might agree to say unethical things for money, but if they sense the “wall” is about to crumble, they’d never jeopardize their own credibility.

Sending Du Mingli to tangle with marketing accounts and influencers? It couldn’t have been more fitting. When it comes to manipulating emotions and swaying public opinion, who could rival the Ghost Eye Group’s leader?

Compared to the personal scandals of celebrities, the public is far more concerned about issues involving life-saving medications.

No one cared about the show’s apology anymore. Instead, they flocked to the anonymous account’s post.

“This is terrifying to think about. So Suhe Biotech never intended to cure the disease—they just wanted endless profits!”

“Jiaketing was created with this goal in mind? How cruel.”

“They’d rather force countless families into bankruptcy with lifelong medical expenses than develop a cure. How many lives have they ruined?”

“Do they even see people as human beings anymore? To them, we’re just cash cows!”

“Three years ago? The timestamp on that audio makes it indisputable.”

“Suhe Biotech is officially the most disgusting company I’ve ever seen.”

“Medicine has become this rotten, yet we ordinary folks can’t survive without it. Is there no decency left in this world?”

“Uh… does anyone else remember Luyinxu?”

…..

A name buried and forgotten for two years—drowned in insults and mockery—resurfaced.

Though unfamiliar, it still stirred memories of a once-joyous frenzy.

But as time passed, many could no longer recall what had sparked that frenzy to begin with.

A gust of wind swept through the window, brushing against Li Rong’s forehead and tousling his hair, leaving it messily draped over his temples.

Li Rong instinctively raised his hand to feel the touch of the breeze.

Softly, he murmured, “The wind is picking up.”