Right after that came Lin Susu’s pitiful, tearful remarks.
“Miss Xia, even without you reminding me, I know I don’t have much time left.”
“What you said is true.
Everything Huaijin gave me was fake… I’m sorry…”
The footage then cut to a scene showing her “pushing” Lin Susu into the water, along with clips where a battered-looking Lin Susu apologized to her.
The video ended with the incident from that morning: Lin Susu losing her balance, nearly stepping into the path of an oncoming car.
The comment section under this trending post erupted instantly.
“Holy hell!
Lin Susu only has half a year left to live, and she still curses her to die?”
“Slept her way into the marriage.
Disgusting!
This legal wife is so vicious.
Who knows if there’s more to Susu’s illness?”
“So this pair of star-crossed lovers was torn apart by this woman surnamed Xia?
How low can she sink?
Such a waste of that pretty face.”
“Pretty my foot!
A friend of mine who’s a plastic surgeon told me her face is all altered…”
“Lin Susu is so tragic.
Not only did this homewrecker steal her man, she almost got her killed!”
“This is attempted murder!
Everyone tag the police and lock this killer up!”
“Sobs, what cruel fate.
Susu is so beautiful and talented, why terminal illness?
Did you know she’s an incredible violinist?”
“Heard this woman Xia hasn’t worked a day since getting married, just a useless housewife.
She can’t hold a candle to Susu at all.”
As soon as this trending story went live, online abuse targeting Xia Xing flooded in, all one-sided.
Even in past scandals, people would debate “perfect victim” narratives and victim-blaming.
But for Xia Xing, there was not a single dissenting voice.
Overnight, Xia Xing became public enemy number one.
Xia Xing scrolled through some of the comments with an empty, expressionless face.
Closing the news page, she took several deep breaths, racking her brain for a way to respond.
Just then, her phone rang again.
She glanced at the caller ID.
After a few seconds, she answered.
Zhuang Yi’s arrogant voice blared through the receiver.
“Xia Xing, Susu has woken up.
Ajin says you must come to the hospital at once to repent!”
Xia Xing replied flatly, “I’m not going.”
Zhuang Yi let out a cold laugh.
“Ajin warned me — you’ll regret it if you don’t show up!”
With that, she hung up and powered off her phone.
…
By the next day, after a night of relentless online amplification, the story about Xia Xing had blown up completely.
She had become an overnight internet celebrity.
A notorious one, of course.
The next morning, Xia Xing got up on time and made breakfast for Shen Xi, seemingly unaffected by everything.
When it was time for school, she took Shen Xi downstairs.
But the moment they stepped out of the apartment building, something came flying straight at her.
“Xia Xing, you homewrecker, murderer!
How dare you still show your face in this world!”
Xia Xing instinctively tried to dodge, only to spot Shen Xi standing right beside her.
If she moved, the object would hit the boy full-on.
She did not flinch.
Instead, she gritted her teeth and pulled Shen Xi tightly into her arms to shield him.
Splat!
Runny egg oozed down her forehead, sticky and revolting.
A group of fashionable young girls charged over aggressively.
Each of them carried rotten vegetable leaves, eggs, tomatoes, plastic water bottles and the like.
At the sight of Xia Xing, they hurled everything straight at her.
“You bitch!
You nearly drowned our Susu — just die already!”
“Freaky plastic monster!
Any man who saw your real face would be terrified!”
“Murderers deserve the death penalty!”
The girls were furious, eyes blazing and faces twisted, as if they wanted to tear Xia Xing apart.
To an outsider, it would look as though Xia Xing had killed their fathers.
Watching their expressions, Xia Xing guessed these girls were Lin Susu’s fans.
She rarely browsed the internet and had no idea Lin Susu had such loyal supporters online.
Only yesterday had she learned Lin Susu had millions of fans.
Her delicate, pretty looks, her talent as a violinist, paired with her tragic terminal diagnosis and seemingly brave fight for life, had won her a massive fanbase.
In just half a year, Lin Susu’s popularity rivaled that of a second-tier celebrity.
For an ordinary person to gain such fame, there was naturally someone pulling the strings behind the scenes.
That person was none other than Gu Huaijin.
Lin Susu was signed to a media subsidiary under the Gu Group.
Gu Huaijin never clarified the romantic rumors linking him and Lin Susu.
His explanation was that he was building momentum to raise her profile.
He said Lin Susu’s final wish was to become a star.
She did not have time to slowly build popularity and followers.
Stirring up romantic gossip was the fastest way to get the public to know her.
Once Xia Xing found out, no matter how unwilling she was, she swallowed her feelings and endured it.
Faced with this mob, Xia Xing acted without hesitation and quickly handed Shen Xi over to Uncle Xu, their driver standing nearby.
“Uncle Xu, take Shen Xi and go first.”
Uncle Xu knew the crowd was targeting Xia Xing.
If they delayed any longer, the young master would also be in danger.
He nodded and lifted Shen Xi into his arms.
“Young master, we need to leave now.”
But Shen Xi struggled, refusing to go.
“No!
Aunt Xia is in danger.
I can’t leave her alone.”
Tears pricked at Xia Xing’s eyes hearing this.
Her own husband and child treated her like an enemy.
Yet this boy she had only known for two days refused to abandon her.
“Shen Xi, you go first.
I can handle this,” Xia Xing said gently.
“If you stay here, I’ll only worry about your safety.”
Worry was plain to see in Shen Xi’s eyes.
“But…”
Xia Xing urged, “Hurry.
I can manage.”
Shen Xi knew he was only a child.
He could not help Aunt Xia at all and would only be a burden.
If Aunt Xia had dodged just now, that egg would have hit him instead.
Shen Xi was carried into the car by Uncle Xu and driven away.
As soon as the car pulled off, Shen Xi pulled out his phone and called Shen Yeming.
“Dad, Aunt Xia is in trouble.
It’s your chance to play hero and save the beauty.”
…
Shortly after Shen Xi’s car departed, another plastic water bottle came hurtling through the air.
Thud!
It struck Xia Xing square on the head.
Her vision blurred, and she nearly blacked out.
Blood trickled slowly down her temple, staining her clothes red.
The previously enraged crowd fell abruptly silent, as if doused by a bucket of cold water.
These online keyboard warriors were fierce behind their screens, but seeing real blood shocked them.
At that moment, a black limited-edition luxury car slowly rolled into view from a distance.
Panic spread through the group as they spotted the approaching vehicle.
Someone shouted “Run!”, and the crowd scattered, vanishing in moments.
Xia Xing touched her forehead; her hand came away covered in blood.
The black sedan pulled up beside her.
The window rolled down, revealing a handsome, fair face.
The man’s cold, indifferent gaze settled on her blood-streaked face.
“Xia Xing, do you know you were wrong?”