Shen Jiang hadn’t expected Zining to act so quickly—by afternoon, the edited video had already been sent to her.
This was what Zining had promised earlier: she wouldn’t publish the video without Shen Jiang’s approval.
Of course Shen Jiang agreed. Zining’s editing was excellent, with clear logical flow. It not only included her rational analysis but also used the chaotic scenes at Mingxintang to evoke emotion.
Unfortunately, while the video earned her appreciation, it failed to win public approval online. Because of its pro-Mingxintang bias, Zining was mercilessly criticized by netizens on the platform.
Shen Jiang felt uneasy. After all, Zining, as an outsider, had stepped forward to speak up for her, only to face controversy and insults. She wondered if Zining would be affected at school.
The thought of being rejected for loans by two banks in one day made Shen Jiang’s heart tighten. Even though Grandma owned Mingxintang, the banks still refused a mortgage loan due to her advanced age. If not for her aunt’s help with the payments, Shen Jiang would have struggled to cover Grandma’s medical bills.
It felt like she was being forced to sell Mingxintang.
These successive setbacks made it hard not to feel that the world held some deep malice toward her.
Was this the fate the novel world had arranged for her—an insignificant cannon fodder character?
Her and Grandma’s destinies seemed predetermined, difficult to alter easily. Minor adjustments here and there couldn’t change their ultimate outcome.
Shen Jiang’s eyes darkened. Though she couldn’t immediately secure money, did that mean she couldn’t overcome this hurdle without it?
She believed that where there’s a will, there’s a way.
She reached out to a classmate in public relations: “Is there any way to maximize impact without spending money? Ideally, something that draws widespread attention online.”
The reply came quickly: “If such a method exists, I’d love to know it too.”
Shen Jiang sighed silently. So it wasn’t possible after all.
The classmate added: “If you’re shameless enough, even infamy can bring fame.”
In that case, she’d have to go big—the bigger, the better. It needed to cause such an uproar that it became irreversible. Only then could she possibly deflect the world’s malice back at itself.
Shen Jiang wasn’t surprised to receive Su Qing’s call, given their relatively close relationship over the past six months. However, she wasn’t sure if this call had occurred in her dream.
“Senior, I’ve been abroad these days and only just learned about the trouble at Mingxintang. Are you and Grandma alright?”
Shen Jiang lowered her head, glancing at her toes, and got straight to the point: “My grandma hasn’t woken up yet.”
Grandma was her grandma alone, not theirs.
“The municipal hospital’s medical resources are limited. Why not transfer Grandma to Heyue Hospital? I can pull some strings to get her a VIP room—quiet and undisturbed. By the way, did you know during this trip abroad I met so many…”
Shen Jiang laughed soundlessly. “Su Qing, do you think we can afford Heyue Hospital? I heard even a cold treatment costs thousands there. Are you planning to cover the expenses for us?”
“Uh… Senior, what’s wrong? Are you in a bad mood?”
Shen Jiang sneered, “My grandmother is lying in the ICU between life and death. Do you think I should be in a good mood? I’m in no state to listen to you boast about your experiences abroad. Grandma can’t afford your so-called VIP ward—not even a regular room at Heyue Hospital is within my means. We’re simply not from the same world! Please don’t contact me again.”
The line fell silent for a few seconds before Su Qing spoke again, “Senior, are you short on money? I’ll arrange for someone to transfer funds right away. Is 100,000 enough? Anyway, my family has plenty of money, and there’s no rush to pay it back.”
Shen Jiang took a deep breath, “Enough, Su Qing.”
Su Qing remained her usual radiant self, serene and untroubled, showing none of the frantic anger from the dream nor any condescension toward the impoverished protagonist. She must have called after seeing the online news, yet she didn’t even ask whether Grandma had harmed the patient, seemingly trusting them completely.
For now, Su Qing still admired and even seemed to be currying favor with her.
When exactly did their relationship begin to sour?
“Su Qing, what kind of person do you see me as?”
Without hesitation, Su Qing replied, “You’re the senior I admire most.”
Shen Jiang froze. For a moment, she wanted to ask Su Qing why she would later come to despise her so much—even driving her out of Qingde Hall over some trivial matter. But in the end, Shen Jiang asked nothing. She simply blocked and deleted all of Su Qing’s contact information.
The Su Qing who had thrown her and Grandma out—that might have been the real Su Qing.
After hanging up, Shen Jiang stared blankly at her phone. People like Su Qing, the younger sister of the novel’s main protagonist, were best kept at a distance. Any entanglement was to be avoided at all costs.
To change her and Grandma’s cannon-fodder fate, Su Qing was the last person Shen Jiang wanted to interact with.
She only wanted to be the master of her own world.
After ending the call with Su Qing, Shen Jiang suddenly recalled a detail from her dream.
After Shan Guosheng’s verdict was announced, the Shan family would stir up another trending scandal—one that even caught the attention of the male lead, Su Xingran.
He deeply regretted buying Mingxintang for his sister because after graduation, Su Qing insisted on working there as a doctor, disregarding its notorious reputation. Her parents were furious, unable to comprehend why their proud daughter would abandon a prestigious position at their family’s major hospital to degrade herself at such an infamous traditional medicine clinic. Su Qing’s decision to work at Mingxintang even shook Nanze City’s upper-class circles. Nearly everyone was waiting to see her fall.
This scandal was courtesy of Old Mrs. Shan.
She posted online a video of herself begging Shen Jiang to spare her son, pleading for a letter of forgiveness. In exchange, she offered to cover all of Grandma’s medical expenses and even tell netizens they wouldn’t hold Shen Anlian’s prescription error against them.
Shen Jiang, of course, refused.
At the time, she didn’t know the patient’s identity, but she firmly believed in Grandma’s medical skills. Faced with Old Mrs. Shan’s alternating threats and pleas, she found it utterly absurd.
“I’m only waiting for the police to uncover the truth and clear my grandmother’s name.”
Shen Jiang’s unyielding resolve and the pitiful old woman’s groveling humility created a stark contrast. Though Shen Jiang hadn’t said anything particularly harsh, netizens’ nerves were struck, sparking a new wave of furious insults and boycotts. Her statement about waiting for the police to reveal the truth later became a sharp blade everyone would use to mock her.
“The truth is simply that your grandma prescribed the wrong formula! Doctors from the city hospital of traditional Chinese medicine have all come forward to testify for the Shan family!”
“I heard the medicine the Shan family took came from their own shop. That old lady was truly kind-hearted – she even left some dignity for that quack doctor in the end.”
“Support the Shan family’s widow and orphan! Boycott Blackheart Pharmacy!”
Shen Jiang’s eyes lit up – she seemed to have thought of a solution.
Since she had advanced the timeline by half a month, the information the police currently possessed would likely cause Old Mrs. Shan to move her plans forward as well. If she could make arrangements before Old Mrs. Shan came looking for her, then while Old Mrs. Shan’s scheme to have someone secretly film videos was only at the third level, she could be operating at the fifth level.
This was undoubtedly her best opportunity to fight a beautiful counterattack to restore her grandmother’s reputation.