Shen Xiaoyu's brain momentarily crashed, unsure if she had heard the information correctly.
[Corruption value -5? Are you sure?]
The system remained silent for a while before speaking again. [Verification complete. Villain corruption value -5. Remaining corruption value: 95]
So sudden?
Shen Xiaoyu was puzzled: [Why did it decrease?]
[The system can only detect numerical changes and cannot provide solutions to the host.] The system started playing dead at this moment. [The specific method needs to be explored by the host herself.]
Shen Xiaoyu: ...
After the system finished speaking, it chuckled: [Oh host, a change in corruption value means you're getting closer and closer to going home. Isn't this a good start?]
[Work a little harder, strike while the iron is hot, eliminate all remaining corruption value, and we can leave this world!]
[Think about your career! The sooner we finish, the sooner we go home, okay.]
The system disappeared after speaking.
[Damn system.]
Shen Xiaoyu's expression grew increasingly dark as she cursed it in anger.
"Sister?"
Seeing her lack of response, Shi Qiubai behind her asked cautiously: "What's wrong with you?"
Shen Xiaoyu had her back to her, so Shi Qiubai couldn't see her expression. Connecting it to what just happened, she thought she was angry at Su Huan, and her mood couldn't help but improve again.
The system popped up again: [Villain corruption value -2. Current corruption value: 93]
Shen Xiaoyu: ???
She turned to look at the person behind her, full of suspicion.
Getting hit and still being this happy? Could it be that Shi Qiubai was actually a masochist?
Shen Xiaoyu pulled the person to sit on the room's sofa with mixed emotions, then took an ice-cold drink from the refrigerator and placed it on her face to apply cold compress. Looking at the handprint on Shi Qiubai's beautiful face, anger couldn't help but rise again.
Such a heavy hand!
Her face was swollen. If this doesn't go down by tomorrow, Fang Jiong will kill her. There's an event the day after tomorrow!
Seeing her worry, Shi Qiubai comforted: "It's okay, sister. Even if the swelling doesn't go down, it won't show once I put on makeup. It's just—"
Her mood dropped as she tentatively asked: "I made Sister worry. It's all my fault. If I hadn't opened the door, Su Huan must have misunderstood us. Should I go explain to her?"
"What are you going to explain? Go get beaten up again?"
Shen Xiaoyu rolled her eyes and said angrily: "Qiubai, you can't let people bully you like this. You need to stand up for yourself."
Shi Qiubai's lips moved twice: "I'm afraid Sister will be unhappy. After all, sister used to like Su Huan so much. How can I compare to her..." Her voice grew weaker and weaker, almost inaudible.
Shen Xiaoyu sighed inwardly. Shi Qiubai was good in every way, just too soft and sensitive, especially when facing Su Huan—like dough that could be kneaded at will.
Since she was her redemption target, she had to protect her. So she said righteously: "Rest assured! I stopped liking that scumbag woman long ago. You don't need to humble yourself for my sake. If you're unhappy in the future, just confront her! Confront her to death!"
"Does Sister really mean that?" Shi Qiubai's eyes lit up.
Shen Xiaoyu nodded solemnly: "Of course it's true, truer than pearls."
[Corruption value -5. Current corruption value: 88]
Hearing that the corruption value had dropped again, Shen Xiaoyu's mouth almost stretched to her ears.
Could it be that badmouthing Su Huan could reduce Qiubai's corruption value? She couldn't help but speculate, so she said a few more bad things about Su Huan, but strangely, the corruption value stopped dropping.
She couldn't help but scratch her head in distress. So difficult to figure out.
On the other side, in Su Huan's room.
Shen Nian'an was still immersed in the beautiful imagination of Mommy and Mama making up, where the family of three could go out and play together, going wherever they wanted.
But after waiting for a long time, she only saw Su Huan return with a gloomy face.
The little one panicked immediately: "Mommy? What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Su Huan's tone was somewhat cold.
She was taking deep breaths, seemingly trying hard to hide her emotions in front of Shen Nian'an, but the effect was poor. Shen Nian'an immediately understood—Mommy was angry, and the only person who could make Mommy look this bad was Mama.
She asked in her sweet voice: "Mommy, is Mama angry at you again?"
Su Huan sighed and didn't speak.
Shen Nian'an struggled for a while and said: "I'll go see if Mama is still angry. Mommy, don't be angry anymore."
Shen Nian'an hugged her doll, jumped off the bed, ran back to Shen Xiaoyu's room, and knocked on the door.
"Open the door, I'm back." She shouted at the entrance.
Shen Xiaoyu heard the voice and told Shi Qiubai to hold the drink and apply it to her face while she went to open the door.
She stood at the entrance without letting the little one in, deliberately saying: "Your mommy came, do you still want to sleep with Mama tonight?"
Without any surprise, she had guessed where Shen Nian'an went when she came out of the bathroom and didn't see her. Later seeing Su Huan confirmed her thoughts.
This little devil still hadn't given up.
Shen Nian'an smiled cheekily: "I just went to see Mommy, I didn't say I wasn't coming back..."
As she spoke, she squeezed past Shen Xiaoyu into the room. The smile on her face disappeared when she saw Shi Qiubai, leaving only shock.
"Why are you here?"
No, that's not right.
"When did you come?"
Shi Qiubai blinked: "I've been here for a while."
She said meaningfully: "And it was before your mommy came."
"Then you... then Mommy..."
Shen Nian'an was confused. She suddenly understood why Mommy looked unhappy. She had originally wanted to create an opportunity for Mommy, but didn't expect this bad auntie to get there first again!
Shen Nian'an angrily clenched her teeth, gripping the doll in her arms tightly. Ahhh! So annoying!
Why was this bad auntie everywhere? Every time she appeared, Mama and Mommy would definitely fight!
Shen Xiaoyu closed the door, ignoring Shen Nian'an's puffed-up little face, picked her up and headed toward the room: "Alright, since you want to stay, now be good and go to sleep."
She placed Shen Nian'an on the bed and also placed the doll in her arms beside her, covering them both with a blanket.
"What about you?" Shen Nian'an grabbed her and asked: "Are you going to accompany that bad auntie?"
"Nian'an, don't call Aunt Shi that in the future. You can't be impolite." Shen Xiaoyu smoothed her soft hair with a gentle tone, but her words weren't so polite.
"Nian'an, today's incident is the last time. If there's a next time, I'll send you back to your mommy."
Shen Nian'an's heart sank: "Don't you want me anymore?"
"Of course not. I'm your mother, and this fact will never change." She said: "But Nian'an, aside from being a mother, I'm still myself, and I have to consider my own feelings. Your mommy and I separated because she made me unhappy, so don't interfere in matters between your mommy and me anymore, understand?"
Six-year-old Shen Nian'an couldn't process too much of this information, but Shen Xiaoyu spoke in very simple terms, allowing her to quickly understand the meaning—
If Shen Xiaoyu was unhappy, she wouldn't be her mother anymore.
Shen Nian'an didn't speak, staring at her blankly, unconsciously hugging the doll in her arms tighter, forgetting the questions she originally wanted to ask, leaving only panic and unease.
Shen Xiaoyu noticed her fear and couldn't help but regret a little. Perhaps she was too hasty—after all, she was still a child who wanted a family.
She sighed, touched her hair, leaned down and kissed her forehead: "Alright Nian'an, go to sleep."
Shen Nian'an closed her eyes but wasn't very sleepy. Shen Xiaoyu's words kept echoing in her head, and her eyes couldn't help but redden. She didn't want Mama to leave!
After an unknown amount of time, the room lights were turned off, and Shen Xiaoyu quietly left, closing the room door.
Click—the little girl who had been "fast asleep" on the bed moved. She quietly put her head under the covers and curled up her body.
Outside the room, Shi Qiubai had already changed to another drink. The redness on her face had mostly faded, and she was holding her phone with one hand, looking at something seriously, seemingly attracted by some content.
"What are you looking at so intently?"
Shen Xiaoyu asked curiously as she walked over and sat beside her. Shi Qiubai had already pulled a long face and handed over her phone with a strange expression.
"Sister, we're trending."
"What?" Shen Xiaoyu sat up in shock and quickly took the phone to look.
The message was sent by Fang Jiong, along with six ellipses.
Shen Xiaoyu could imagine Fang Jiong's eye roll when he saw the trending topic, but she didn't have the mood to think about that now. She clicked the link and jumped directly to Weibo.
The viral post was published at eight o'clock in the evening. It started when a passerby was playing at the amusement park, saw people who looked like Shi Qiubai and Su Huan, secretly took photos and posted them online, asking netizens to identify them.
Su Huan and Shi Qiubai's fans followed the names and looked at the photos countless times, confirming that the people in the pictures were indeed them, while also speculating that the little girl Shi Qiubai was holding was Su Huan's daughter.
This caused a huge stir.
Both of their fan bases exploded.
#SuHuanShiQiubaiHaveChild#
The hashtag also emerged.
Both had substantial fan bases who looked left and right, pushing the trending topic up, quickly generating considerable heat.
Marketing accounts smelled the opportunity and arrived, screenshotting the post and creating new Weibos with ambiguous commentary. After several hours of fermentation, it attracted countless netizens to watch and comment.
Combined with Shi Qiubai's recent post of solo photos under fireworks with the caption "Looking forward to the next trip together."
Layer by layer, hashtags like #SuHuanShiQiubaiSecretMarriage# and #SuHuanShiQiubaiHaveDaughter# exploded.
Shen Xiaoyu was completely dumbfounded.
What the hell was this?
CP could be down-to-earth, but it couldn't be down to the underworld! Su Huan and Shi Qiubai fought every time they met, yet their CP could still be shipped. This was absolutely crazy!
Shi Qiubai was equally dumbfounded.
Were this generation of netizens' eyes not working properly?
She and Su Huan were obviously not the same type of people. Were their eyes broken to think she would have a child with Su Huan!
If Fang Jiong hadn't forbidden her from speaking carelessly online, she would have wanted to throw photos in their faces.
The more Shi Qiubai thought about it, the angrier she became. After taking back her phone, she frantically messaged Fang Jiong, telling him to definitely get the trending topic taken down, no matter how much money it cost.
She didn't want her name to appear alongside that annoying person's! Su Huan in another room was also paying to remove the trending topic.
"No matter how much money it costs, get that trending topic taken down!"
Along with this ridiculous trending topic, another person quickly shot up the trending list—
Shen Xiaoyu.
In the passerby's fireworks photos, Shen Xiaoyu's blurry image was picked out by people who dug into her gossip. Soon Shen Xiaoyu also jumped onto trending topics, with old stories being dug up.
As Su Huan's former manager, she had always been portrayed online as a controlling and domineering figure who repeatedly obstructed Su Huan and Tang Tang's relationship, even being cyberbullied together by Su Huan and Tang Tang's fans, ultimately having to resign and disappear from public view.
Now, six years later, she appeared in public view again, still with Su Huan and Shi Qiubai. Keen netizens had already smelled the gossip and speculated endlessly.
Involving Shen Xiaoyu, Shi Qiubai also became anxious, saying she would go communicate with Fang Jiong, taking her phone back to her room. Before leaving, she told Shen Xiaoyu to rest first.
But how could Shen Xiaoyu sleep? She just wanted to see how far the trending topic about herself had developed, and what kind of love-hate relationship the original had with Su Huan.
Logically, the original wasn't from the industry and wouldn't have such high popularity. How did she manage to get herself cyberbullied to the point of having to quit and resign six years ago!
It wasn't until she dug up old trending topics and searched online bit by bit for traces left by the original and Su Huan that she finally understood. After reading everything, her vision went black.
The original could only be described with two words:
Tragic and stupid.
What was the original thinking? Acting like she was under a spell, being love-brained to the point where even without status or recognition, enduring all kinds of difficulties, she still humbled herself to stay by Su Huan's side?
Shen Xiaoyu couldn't understand it and didn't sleep well all night.
The next day, as dawn was just breaking and the little girl in her arms was still sleeping, there was knocking at the door.
Shen Xiaoyu yawned and got up to open the door: "Who is it?"
When she opened the door, she saw Su Huan standing at the entrance with full makeup and hair done.
Apart from online, Shen Xiaoyu had never seen Su Huan like this. Perfect makeup made her face even more delicate and beautiful. The black and white business outfit was simple and capable, yet elegant.
Shen Xiaoyu pressed her lips together, forcibly swallowing back a "wow."
"So early, is there something wrong?"
"You need to go back." As soon as Su Huan finished speaking, the door across opened.
Through the door, one could see busy makeup artists inside and Qiu Ye packing things.
Shi Qiubai hurried out. She was wearing full makeup, the handprint on her face completely covered, not visible at all.
She said anxiously: "Sister, Brother Fang came and said there are too many paparazzi outside the hotel waiting for us."
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Su Huan standing nearby.
The two made eye contact, and in an instant, it was like sparks flying and swords clashing.
But now wasn't the time for arguing.
Shi Qiubai quickly looked away: "Brother Fang and I discussed it. I'll go down first to draw their attention, then have Qiu Ye take you and An'an back through the back door."
Shen Xiaoyu had guessed this.
With such high popularity on Weibo, Fang Jiong couldn't possibly let them continue staying here.
However...
Shen Xiaoyu frowned: "Can't we leave together?"
Getting out of a pile of paparazzi would be hell even if you didn't die.
"I've already arranged it. I called bodyguards over yesterday, so there are temporarily no paparazzi inside the hotel." Su Huan beside them spoke: "You take An'an back first, I'll handle things here. Don't go out for a while recently, wait until things settle down. If..."
She seemed to want to say something but ultimately didn't, turning and putting on sunglasses as she walked toward the elevator.
At the end of the corridor, bodyguards in black suits came out and followed behind her.
Shi Qiubai sneered: "Broad daylight, what's with the act?"
After saying this, she also put on sunglasses and smiled at Shen Xiaoyu: "Brother Fang's people are already downstairs. I'm leaving too. See you at home!"
Shi Qiubai blew her a kiss and turned to leave.
This left Shen Xiaoyu and Qiu Ye looking at each other.
The two packed their things, carried Shen Nian'an, and quietly slipped toward the hotel's back kitchen.
Passing by the lobby, Shen Xiaoyu heard the commotion outside. She casually glanced and saw Su Huan and Shi Qiubai surrounded by paparazzi at the hotel entrance. Despite having bodyguards, they could barely move through the crowd.
Without thinking about anything else, Shen Xiaoyu carried Shen Nian'an and quickly slipped through the small door of the back kitchen into a car.
As soon as she got in the car, Shen Xiaoyu saw a man lazily smoking in the passenger seat.
Her expression paused: "Brother Fang?"
She thought Fang Jiong would be with Shi Qiubai.
Fang Jiong looked back at her, then at Shen Nian'an in her arms, and spoke indifferently, not knowing if he was talking to Shen Xiaoyu or Shen Nian'an.
"Really don't let people worry."
"Qiu Ye, drive."
The car seemed to respond with a hum, then sped away.
Qiu Ye followed the amusement park's vehicle path, heading out all the way, soon leaving the amusement park.
The car was quiet, with no one speaking.
Fang Jiong picked at his cigarette and, considering there was a small child in the car, simply put it away.
He looked at the sky outside and said lazily: "With your talent for attracting hate, have you really not considered debuting?"
Shen Xiaoyu was still lost in thought. Hearing this, she snapped back: "Are you talking to me?"
"Otherwise? Is there a second person in the car who's playing multiple boats?"
Shen Xiaoyu: "...I'm not playing multiple boats!"
Fang Jiong raised an eyebrow: "Aren't both Shi Qiubai and Su Huan related to you?"
"...Although there's some relationship, but—"
"Then isn't that still playing multiple boats?"
Shen Xiaoyu: ...
There was no need to describe her like some scumbag player.
She chose her words carefully and said awkwardly: "Sorry, I know this time I dragged Qiubai down..."
"Good that you know." Fang Jiong interrupted her: "Shen Xiaoyu, I don't want to pry into your business with Su Huan. But you personally handed Qiubai over to me back then. I hope you can think about her and not drag her down at this critical moment when she's competing for Best Actress. You should know better than me how much impact public opinion can have. Her journey hasn't been easy—don't ruin her."
Shen Xiaoyu looked at him in shock.
Fang Jiong continued: "Shen Xiaoyu, you're not suitable to continue staying by Qiubai's side as an assistant."
Shen Xiaoyu looked up at his back, knowing Fang Jiong only wanted to hear one definitive promise from her.
No matter how hands-off he was with Shi Qiubai, he couldn't possibly watch Shi Qiubai keep a troublemaker by her side. It was fine when her identity wasn't discovered before, but now everyone online knew.
Who knew how much more trouble she would bring Shi Qiubai in the future. If Shen Xiaoyu didn't find a way to resolve the negative information about herself, Fang Jiong would just resolve her instead.
Besides, she still had Shen Nian'an.
Shen Xiaoyu hugged the person in her arms tighter and nodded: "Alright, I agree."
[Damn system! Making me transmigrate without finding a better body. The previous pursuer also had problems with their brain, getting cursed like shit. Now I have to solve the problems too!]
All the way, Shen Xiaoyu was holding back anger, cursing in her mind, making the system too scared to show itself.
It knew the host would go crazy sooner or later, just didn't expect this day to come so quickly.
After getting Shen Xiaoyu's answer, Fang Jiong dropped them off at Shi Qiubai's house and drove away.
Qiu Ye carried big bags and small packages, helping bring things back.
Shen Nian'an hadn't slept enough and lay down on the sofa to sleep as soon as she entered.
Shen Xiaoyu was also very tired, but she was more concerned about online public opinion. Plus, she had agreed to go on that variety show and wanted to find information and prepare in advance.
Shen Xiaoyu opened Weibo and immediately saw today's new trending topics.
#SuHuanSaysChildUnrelated#
#ShiQiubaiDoesntWantSameFrame#
The two topics were up and down, looking quite harmonious.
Shen Xiaoyu looked at both. It was nothing more than the PR teams from both Shi Qiubai and Su Huan's sides speaking out together, clarifying this ridiculous trending topic.
The interview videos from this morning, because they circled two popular names, were also hanging on tonight's topics, with heat rising quite quickly.
Their respective fans were also controlling comments, with some passerby comments mixed in, but not many. Nothing more than—
[Hahaha, Su Huan's disdain for Shi Qiubai is almost overflowing from the screen]
[So if it's not Shi Qiubai's child, whose is it?]
[Since ancient times, entertainment industry clarifications = farts. Everyone understands]
[u1s1 The way they dislike each other is quite shippable, like happy enemies? Otherwise why would they go to an amusement park together if they dislike each other so much?]
[Don't say that, really don't say that! Standing together they really have that vibe. Anyone have recommendations for this kind of fic? If not, I'm going to start shipping them.]
[????? You're really hungry, eating anything! Who doesn't know these two are from the same company but never got along? For the reason, you can check #SuHuanShenXiaoyu#.]
[Hehe! As long as I ship fast enough, no one can starve me!]
...
Shen Xiaoyu's expression was indescribable as she scrolled down. Although she knew shippers could ship anything, but these two? Better forget it.
She quickly scanned through, and in the end, everyone seemed to prefer commenting on other topics, probably because there were more people there and it was livelier.
Shen Xiaoyu refreshed and didn't see any topics about Shen Nian'an, thinking they had been suppressed. After all, Shen Nian'an had never appeared on camera before, and Su Huan didn't want her exposed.
She thought this matter would just pass like this, but before Shen Xiaoyu could catch her breath, she saw another trending topic that made her vision go black.
#ShenXiaoyuHomewrecker#
An anonymous blogger revealed that Su Huan and Tang Tang had privately dated when they were artists, but because Shen Xiaoyu had an unusual possessiveness toward Su Huan, she forced Su Huan to break up. At that time, their careers were just getting started, so they had no choice but to part ways, ending in regret.
As soon as this post came out, former "Huan-Tang" CP fans immediately got excited, as if organized, and began cursing and attacking Shen Xiaoyu.
[Shen Xiaoyu really isn't a good person. Huan-Tang's BE was ruined by her.]
[Poor our sisters who truly loved each other but were forced to separate.]
[Please let Huan-Tang get back together. My CP can't BE!]
[Homewreckers deserve to die with their whole family!]
[Shen Xiaoyu get out of the entertainment industry!]
There were also some more rational fans in between, expressing that if the two were really together back then, whose child was Su Huan's? During the six years when Shen Xiaoyu had no news, why were Su Huan and Tang Tang's relationship cold, rarely even appearing in the same frame?
Unfortunately, these doubts were quickly drowned in the CP fans' frenzied cursing. They frantically cyberbullied Shen Xiaoyu, as if this could prove their shipped CP was true love.
Everything seemed to return to six years ago when Shen Xiaoyu was cyberbullied.
Tang Tang lay in the hospital bed, satisfied as she looked at her "masterpiece."
Shen Xiaoyu, why did you have to come back?
Originally, she thought that after awakening, she could escape that pervert Ning Yu and live well with Su Huan. But then Shen Xiaoyu appeared out of nowhere.
As soon as she appeared, everything changed. Su Huan no longer felt grateful for any small kindness from her, even began gradually distancing herself, putting all her thoughts on Shen Xiaoyu.
The plot wasn't supposed to be like this. Su Huan should have grown up wandering and dark, obediently following her every word due to childhood kindness, silently protecting her, even willing to oppose Ning Yu for her sake.
But now it was all gone!
How dare she disrupt her plans? She deserved to die!
Tang Tang stared at Shen Xiaoyu's face in her phone, showing a venomous snake-like expression, screaming madly: "Why? Why am I the only one struggling painfully in this inescapable plot?"
As she shouted, she threw everything around her, as if still not satisfied, finally even crazily pulling out the needle in her hand and throwing it out.
The machines beeped with alarms.
Soon, medical staff rushed in panic: "Miss Tang, what are you doing! Stop it, stop it now!"
Tang Tang waved her hands frantically, her eyes blood-red like a beast that had lost reason, muttering: "It's all her fault! All because of her, she caused all this! I'm going to kill her, kill her!"
The doctor immediately held her down, advising: "Miss Tang, please calm down. You just successfully conceived. Your emotions can't fluctuate so drastically—it's bad for fetal development."
Tang Tang was now completely weak, not even having the strength to move a finger, but still gripped the nurse's clothes tightly, muttering: "No, I don't want this child. Abort it! I don't want it!"
The nurse struggled greatly to press her onto the bed, shouting anxiously: "Miss Tang, please calm down first. We'll immediately notify Miss Ning!"
After speaking, the nurse quickly went out to call Ning Yu.
Hearing Ning Yu's name, Tang Tang stopped moving completely, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes, letting out a miserable laugh.
Why? Why treat her like this?
No, she wouldn't accept it!
Shen Xiaoyu, Su Huan, I want your daughter to be buried with me!
Under the manipulation of the internet trolls Tang Tang hired, the trending topic of Shen Xiaoyu being a homewrecker quickly reached the top of hot topics, with various speculations and discussions running rampant.
Shen Xiaoyu finally experienced the horror of cyberbullying firsthand. She didn't even dare go out alone, afraid of encountering extreme fans.
She could only stay home temporarily, constantly refreshing her phone until she dozed off on the sofa in a daze.
After an unknown amount of time, Shen Xiaoyu heard the sound of a door opening, followed by two deliberately lowered voices in conversation.
She drowsily opened her eyes and saw Shi Qiubai and Qiu Ye coming from the entrance together.
Seeing her, Shi Qiubai smiled apologetically: "Sorry sister, we woke you up."
She shook her head: "It's fine, I just wanted to rest my eyes for a bit. Are things settled on your end?"
"Not completely settled, just temporarily resolved." Shi Qiubai walked over and half-squatted by the floor mat, carefully poking Shen Nian'an's hair, lowering her voice: "Sister, don't be afraid. This kind of thing is very common in the entertainment industry. It'll be fine once the heat dies down."
Shen Xiaoyu didn't know what to say. After a long while, she spoke: "I'm sorry. If I hadn't suggested taking Nian'an to the amusement park, you wouldn't have encountered these problems. I'm the one who caused you trouble."
Shi Qiubai paused and looked up at her, bright eyes carrying some inexplicable emotion.
Shen Xiaoyu was puzzled and suddenly heard the system's voice: [Villain corruption value +1]
Shen Xiaoyu: What's going on?
The person in front of her had a slight smile on her lips: "Sister, don't say such things anymore. We're friends. It's natural for me to accompany you in doing things. Besides, I'm willing."
She said the last words very quietly, but Shen Xiaoyu, who was very close to her, still heard them. Her expression was stunned for a moment, then she smiled dryly: "Hehe, I see, thank you..."
[Host, you seem like an idiot.] the system commented.
Shen Xiaoyu pretended not to hear, turning her head to avoid her gaze and changing the subject: "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat for lunch?"
Shi Qiubai touched her chin and made a soft sound: "Let's have noodles. I want to eat Sister's cooking."
"Okay."
Shen Xiaoyu rolled up her sleeves and went to the kitchen. She said she was making noodles, but it was just cooking noodles and stir-frying tomatoes with eggs.
But just as the food was ready and served, Shi Qiubai received an angry phone call from Fang Jiong: "Shi Qiubai, are you crazy? How dare you post nonsense on your official blog without permission?"
"Brother Fang, I was telling the truth. And you know what kind of person Sister is—she couldn't possibly be a homewrecker."
Shen Xiaoyu heard this was related to her and was about to speak when she heard Fang Jiong roaring on the other end: "Get over here now, immediately!"
After hanging up, Shi Qiubai looked embarrassed.
Shi Qiubai looked at Shen Xiaoyu beside her, then at the bowls and chopsticks on the table. After hesitating for a moment, she put down her chopsticks: "Sister, I need to go back to the company. Brother Fang wants to see me about something."
Shen Xiaoyu said nothing, just silently cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks.
Shi Qiubai looked at her worriedly: "Sister, don't go out while I'm gone. I'll have Qiu Ye stay to keep you company. Call me if anything happens."
Shen Xiaoyu nodded: "Okay, I understand."
After Shi Qiubai left, Shen Xiaoyu immediately opened her official blog and saw a post: Shen Xiaoyu used to be my manager. I stake my character on it—she could never be a homewrecker. Please believe in her.
The replies below were all kinds of comments—some supportive, some abusive, and some questioning. Many CP fans even began attacking her official blog.
Shen Xiaoyu's eyes grew hot. At the critical moment, the only person who would speak up for her was indeed Shi Qiubai. She couldn't help but feel secretly grateful that her mission was to save Shi Qiubai, prevent her from turning dark, and change her tragic ending. Otherwise, she would feel even more guilty.
Thinking of Fang Jiong's temper, she couldn't help but worry.
When Shi Qiubai arrived at the company, she was indeed scolded bloody by Fang Jiong. Shi Qiubai repeatedly begged for mercy, trying to extinguish Fang Jiong's anger.
Fang Jiong looked at Shi Qiubai with a grave expression: "Qiubai, I personally brought you up. It wasn't easy to reach your current position. For Shen Xiaoyu, is it really worth it?"
The words were subtle, but both understood this wasn't just about speaking up for Shen Xiaoyu. It was about Shi Qiubai's obsession with Shen Xiaoyu that would sooner or later be photographed by paparazzi and used by competitors. Something would happen sooner or later.
Fang Jiong was subtly reminding Shi Qiubai to have boundaries. For Shen Xiaoyu's sake, it wasn't worth her taking such big risks and gambling away the star path she had worked so hard to build.
After a long time, Shi Qiubai nodded heavily: "It's worth it."
Fang Jiong looked at her with incomprehension and disappointment.
Shi Qiubai smiled, her eyes crinkling: "Brother Fang, I know you mean well, but I don't want to do things I'll regret. Six years ago I... I didn't have the ability to protect Sister. She handed me over to you for my own good. Now I have enough strength, and I want to try to take her hand and protect her."
"You like her."
Fang Jiong didn't use a question.
"No." Shi Qiubai's denial made Fang Jiong pause, but then he heard her say tenderly: "I love her. I've loved her since six years ago, but I was a coward then and didn't dare express my feelings. For six years, I've regretted my cowardice every day. I can't let myself regret it again."
"Fine, fine, fine."
Fang Jiong looked at her with complex emotions: "As a friend, I wish you get what you want. As a manager, you're no longer worthy of being my artist."
"Brother Fang..."
Shi Qiubai looked at Fang Jiong in disbelief, but Fang Jiong was unwilling to say more. He waved his hand: "You don't need to worry about Shen Xiaoyu's matter. There's someone more crazy than you."
"What?" She suddenly had a bad premonition: "Could it be Su Huan..."
"That's right. Su Huan is livestreaming."
As he spoke, he brought over a computer and opened Su Huan's livestream.
In the livestream, Su Huan was still stunningly beautiful. She sat calmly in a chair, watching netizens discuss below.
"Damn, Sister is so beautiful."
"Huan-Tang CP fans request reunion, request online collaboration."
"Gossip time, whose child is it really?"
"Bold guess, it's not Shen Xiaoyu's, is it? Hahaha!"
"The person above is crazy. I'd rather believe it's Tang Tang's."
Su Huan glanced over, her gaze finally settling on Shen Xiaoyu's name, then spoke: "Hello everyone, I'm Su Huan. I'm livestreaming today to clarify some things with everyone. Tang Tang and I have never had a romantic relationship. Shen Xiaoyu is not a homewrecker either. She is my lover of seven years, and we have a daughter named Shen Nian'an..."
"..."
Su Huan's words were undoubtedly a bombshell, shocking everyone speechless.
Su Huan continued: "All these years, I was greedy for my career path and worried about fan public opinion, insisting on not revealing our relationship, even allowing others to create CP hype and ignoring when my lover was misunderstood. I'm very sorry. This is all my fault and has nothing to do with Shen Xiaoyu. Please don't believe rumors anymore."
Su Huan's eyes turned cold as she said: "As for those rumor-mongering media, my company and I will pursue their related responsibilities. I also hope everyone can be responsible for their words and actions."
After saying this, all netizens fell silent.
Finally, Su Huan stood up and looked at the camera, as if looking at a certain person through the lens, slowly saying:
"Xiaoyu, I'm sorry."
She owed her years of public apology.
Watching all this on her phone, Shen Xiaoyu just felt it was ridiculous. So many years of harm, and it was over with a light "sorry"?
Su Huan's attitude was very obvious. She had known about Shen Xiaoyu's situation long ago, but she could just silently allow Shen Xiaoyu to be cyberbullied for so long, even becoming a vegetable without helping restore her reputation. Now what was she trying to achieve by directing this deep emotional drama?
Was she fantasizing that she would soften and agree to get back together?
Shen Xiaoyu wasn't the only one with this thought. Shi Qiubai, who saw Su Huan's livestream, had panicked long ago and immediately called.
Her voice trembled: "Sister, did you see Su Huan's livestream?"
Shen Xiaoyu responded calmly: "I saw it. What about it?"
Regarding her such calm reaction, Shi Qiubai was somewhat incredulous: "Sister, you..."
"What about me?" Shen Xiaoyu chuckled: "These misunderstandings were originally caused by her. Shouldn't she be the one to clarify them?"
At these words, Shi Qiubai smiled happily: "It seems Sister's love-brain is truly cured. I can finally rest assured."
Shen Xiaoyu laughed helplessly until the next system notification: [Corruption value -10. Current corruption value: 78]
Now she had really won big. She couldn't help but smile from the heart.