22
The Noble and Righteous Heroine: In Fact, She is a Drama Queen
Wang Xiao’s adrenaline instantly spiked, transporting her back to the moment she first defined her persona while starting her Mou Shu account.
No matter how much Gen Z glorified authenticity, for influencers whose core business was personal branding, so-called “genuine personalities” were merely for show. To gain popularity and reap traffic rewards, one had to precisely grasp the audience’s preferences and solidify a persona.
Could Xiao Xiao—a top influencer who could drain an entire province’s retirees’ pensions in one PK session—be short on money? Of course not. Yet she persistently wore Pin Duoduo outfits costing mere dozens of yuan during livestreams, precisely because her audience needed an image that felt within reach.
Grasping this, Wang Xiao immediately hatched a plan.
Unlike thirty years later, where influencer audiences had eclectic, often baffling tastes, the current single-channel media landscape meant public preferences were homogenized.
Audiences raised on heroic narratives didn’t care about a hero’s true feelings—they needed paragons of virtue.
And idols, like chivalrous heroes in martial arts novels, couldn’t eat, drink, or have personal emotions. They had to be selfless and morally impeccable.
Thus, Wang Xiao feigned weakness and murmured, “They tried to steal my bag. I’m a researcher at the Chemical Institute. The bag contained imported raw materials for improving soap production. I’m currently providing technical guidance at Xin County Soap Factory.”
Perfect!
Why was she traveling between Xin County and the provincial capital?
Because she’d encountered technical issues at the factory, gathered materials, returned to consult senior colleagues at the institute, and was now heading back to guide production improvements.
This was a textbook case of science serving frontline industry.
Fortunately, the factory director and office head had gone to pay hospitalization fees, so no one was present to expose her act.
As for witnessing attempted assault against female passengers and reacting with fury—she wouldn’t breathe a word.
Society’s dark undercurrents and patriarchal gaze would instantly distort narratives about female victims fighting back.
If she dared mention it, there was an 80% chance the story would morph into a gang rape involving every woman on the bus.
Sexual sensationalism always overshadowed even the most brutal robber takedowns.
Hadn’t rumors about a certain tycoon’s dance troupe beauties dominated headlines while his trillion-yuan debts went ignored?
Wang Xiao whispered hoarsely, “The imported materials are invaluable. I couldn’t let momentary cowardice delay production. Hundreds of soap factory workers are counting on these process improvements to get their products back on shelves. Their families depend on the factory’s new line succeeding so wages can be paid.”
She’d run out of fabricated lines and weakly closed her eyes again.
Fortunately, the reporter didn’t press further, instead holding up Wang Xiao’s coat to the camera: “This blood-soaked garment is riddled with holes. The sheer damage shows how fiercely Comrade Wang Xiao resisted.”
Wang Xiao: …
What could she do but lie there playing dead?
The blood wasn’t even hers—it belonged to the robbers. The grandma seated in front of her had snapped to her senses and smashed a canned food jar into one assailant’s face, leaving him drenched in blood.
You see, resistance needs someone to take the lead—multiple leaders emerging simultaneously—so that the oppressed and humiliated can gather the courage to rise up and fight back.
There is strength in numbers. The victims and bystanders far outnumber the perpetrators. If everyone rises up to counterattack, not only could a mere bus robbery be thwarted, but even large-scale atrocities in history could be overturned.
It wasn’t until some high-ranking official—whether from the municipal or provincial government—personally came to visit the heroic do-gooder that Wang Xiao reluctantly opened her eyes again, striving to shape her public image for the second wave.
This time, the official was particularly supportive, repeatedly asking Wang Xiao if she had any difficulties that needed resolving.
Wang Xiao was inwardly exasperated. Sir, is pulling strings for someone so openly acceptable these days?
Why not just say it straight to the cameras?
Where’s the fairness and justice in that?
Unfortunately, whether it was finding a job or getting into school, she had managed everything on her own. As for transferring from rural to urban residency—sorry, but she didn’t need that either.
If you really want to pull strings, just arrange a promotion behind the scenes.
But she wasn’t interested anyway.
She didn’t need him to do anything for her—just play his part as a useful tool.
Wang Xiao earnestly replied, “Personally, I don’t have any difficulties that require the organization’s assistance. If I encounter any challenges, I can overcome them myself. What I’m concerned about is the work at Xin County Soap Factory. The factory has recently produced a type of Scented Soap specifically for hotel use, and we are actively expanding our sales channels…”
Hearing this, the soap factory director, who had stepped forward, was moved to tears, as if he might grab Wang Xiao’s hands at any moment, weeping with gratitude.
And he had every reason to thank her.
She was being considerate, wasn’t she? Her three percent commission was well-deserved. She had even reserved this golden opportunity to gain exposure in front of the entire province for the soap they were trying to sell.
How noble and self-sacrificing of her.
Tsk, tsk. With her righteous and dedicated public image firmly established, the next step was her personal life.
No one could resist curiosity about a public figure’s private side, just as no fan follows a celebrity solely for their professional skills.
How could her personal life enhance her image further?
Simple.
When the third wave of reporters came for an interview, Wang Xiao dutifully brought along Comrade Wang Tiejun and Ms. Chen Yanqiu, emphasizing how supportive her parents were of her work.
Even though she frequently traveled for business, her mother would always pack her luggage, and her father would line up before dawn at Jinning Hotel to buy buns for her to take to Xin County and share with the soap factory employees, hoping she could bond with her new colleagues.
Who wouldn’t envy an only child from the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region, blessed with her parents’ unconditional love?
Even when she had amassed tens of millions in assets through her own efforts, she would secretly envy such familial devotion—let alone ordinary people for whom winning a million in the lottery was more likely than earning it themselves.
In short, she was simply outstanding—red at the core, talented, beautiful, virtuous, and from a respectable family. Folks, feel free to follow and admire her without hesitation.
While she was busy crafting her image, she spent a week in the hospital and gave eight interviews.
Provincial TV, municipal TV, provincial and municipal newspapers, provincial and municipal radio stations—even a magazine run by the Women’s Federation featured her in an in-depth interview.
The results were remarkable. Every day, people specifically came to the hospital to visit her. Young Pioneer delegations alone visited three times, and she received several red scarves. Fresh flowers in her room were constantly replenished, creating a vibrant, bustling scene even in the depths of winter.
In contrast, Tang Yicheng seemed to have vanished into thin air, embodying the phrase “the dawn here is eerily quiet.”
Speaking of which, it was truly strange.
Since Wang Xiao woke up, she hadn’t seen Tang Yicheng in person, nor had she spotted him during the journalists’ interviews.
She assumed they were being interviewed separately, so she made no effort to cover for him.
After all, they hadn’t rehearsed their stories beforehand. If their accounts didn’t match, it would have been mortifying.
Later, the hospital specially brought a television into her room so she could watch the interview coverage. To her surprise, she discovered that Tang Yicheng had completely faded into the background—the news barely mentioned him at all.
Not that he was entirely omitted; that would have been too obvious.
She hardly looked like a “Barbie-doll Rambo.” How could anyone believe that a slender, delicate research student single-handedly took down five knife-wielding thugs?
Hah, who would dare believe that?
Today’s journalists have a conscience; they don’t dare exaggerate.
In the news, Tang Yicheng was portrayed as an ordinary passenger inspired by her fierce resistance, with everyone joining forces to subdue the five robbers.
His role was relegated to the same level as the aunt who strangled a robber with her scarf or the grandma who bashed a robber’s head with a can.
Oh, and let’s not forget the grandpa who slapped a robber with his fur-lined boots or the elderly woman who tripped one of the criminals.
Lately, riding her newfound internet fame, Wang Xiao had been solely focused on boosting her visibility to attract more traffic. Though puzzled, she hadn’t dwelled on it. Now, upon reflection, everything seemed odd.
She even let her imagination run wild, speculating whether Tang Yicheng had undertaken covert missions during his military service—like going undercover in drug busts—and thus had to maintain a low profile even after returning to civilian life, avoiding television exposure to prevent recognition and retaliation by criminals?
Chen Yanqiu immediately shushed her daughter, glaring sternly as she warned, “Don’t talk nonsense, and don’t let anything slip. Xiao Tang isn’t suitable for public exposure this time.”
Wang Xiao’s eyes lit up instantly. So it was true? Then… that was indeed a bit thrilling.
Doctor Chen was exasperated. This girl must have been influenced by bad company at university—her head filled with who-knows-what nonsense. Undercover agents? As if this were a movie.
The reason Tang Yicheng wasn’t fit to be portrayed as a hero was because there had been fatalities.
One of the robbers—the scumbag who tried to assault the girl—was struck in the neck by Tang Yicheng and collapsed, hitting the back of his head on a sharp corner. He suffered a brainstem hemorrhage and died.
Then there was the bus driver, who probably panicked. When Tang Yicheng told him to drive to the police station, he nearly plunged the vehicle into the river.
In a fit of rage, Tang Yicheng punched him aside and took over the driving.
As a result, the driver’s neck was fractured, and he remains hospitalized, immobilized.
The way things unfolded simply didn’t meet the high standards and strict requirements expected of a hero.
Especially since the robber who died was only 15 years old—a privileged status where, even if he had killed someone, he wouldn’t have faced execution.
His death sparked intense uproar within his family.
It just goes to show he hadn’t wreaked enough havoc in his own home first. Perhaps if he had, the world might have been more peaceful.
Wang Xiao listened with rapt attention as if hearing a story, happily munching on the apple Chen Yanqiu fed her.
This left Doctor Chen at a loss for how to react, so he could only glare at her: “He’s only 15.”
“Exactly.” Wang Xiao readily agreed. “So the age for executing scumbags should be lowered. 12 years old is already more than sufficient, hmm, 10 is about right. He’s 15, but that didn’t stop him from eagerly trying to ruin a young girl.”
A born evil seed—better off dead early.
Doctor Chen was speechless and could only lament for Tang Yicheng: “If not for this incident, he definitely would have received an honor. How impressive—taking on five opponents single-handedly. His military training wasn’t in vain.”
Wang Xiao also felt somewhat guilty. Clearly, the military honor belonged to him, but due to public pressure, it was transferred to her, making it seem like she was taking advantage.
She could understand the concerns from the publicity side.
After all, one robber died, a bus driver suffered a fracture, and the others were directly beaten down, while Tang Yicheng only sustained minor injuries—the kind that didn’t even require stitches, just a band-aid to settle the fight.
If they tried to portray it as a life-and-death struggle? Plenty of well-meaning people who’ve never faced a knife would jump out to criticize and lecture him on how to behave.
Oh well, pick the best of a bad lot. In comparison, she—weak, bookish, and knocked out by the robbers—was more suited for the image of the courageous hero who fought back against injustice.
So she had to take the advantage!
But should she give up this advantage? Of course not.
Even if she did, Tang Yicheng couldn’t claim it—it would be an ineffective transfer.
Besides, how the media publicizes it isn’t something she can decide.
Forget it, forget it. After all, he did help her. She’ll find a way to lift him up in the future—she won’t take advantage of him for nothing.
The next chapter will be updated at 11 PM on the 18th.
Recommending a friend’s upcoming novel, a Cantonese-speaking lady with absolutely authentic language.
“Getting Rich by Slacking Off and Eating Melons in 80s Hong Kong” by: Xiaoyuntun Zouqing id: 6452514
Shen Youning, frail and sickly since childhood, died and transmigrated into a brainless young lady in an 80s Hong Kong novel, and even obtained a melon-eating system. She’s busy slapping faces, tormenting scum, and building her career—having the time of her life!
When her stepsister tries to steal her wealthy fiancé:
[Host, let her take him! Your cheap fiancé is infertile and has a bunch of scandalous girlfriends. Give him to her, give him all to her!]
When her stepmother forcibly buys her property:
[Host, the ’87 stock market crash will shrink assets. Sell it to her at a high price now so she’ll go bankrupt later! Oh, and she’s already drowning in debt!]
When she’s forced to take over a rundown entertainment company:
[Host, you’re destined to strike it rich! The future three heavenly kings are under your banner! The pure jade queen will be shaped by you! What are you waiting for? Go! Make big money!]
Shen Youning obediently agreed: Okay, I’ll listen to the system.
Then she lay back and effortlessly won, counting money until her hands cramped.
One day, the system was eating melons with her again: [Host, the novel’s villain Fu Yunyi is in big trouble this time. A deal fell through, and his rivals have cornered him—he’s about to die on the streets of Mong Kok. His massive fortune is going to be snatched too…]
The next moment, Shen Youning immediately put down her milk tea: What did you say?!
…
An hour later, dozens of Porsches blocked Mong Kok, Black Hawk helicopters hovered overhead, and a grand procession of bodyguards followed Shen Youning to the scene, ready to rescue Fu Yunyi.
Only when she saw that Fu Yunyi—one of Hong Kong’s wealthiest and most influential figures—had sustained only minor injuries did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Yet the tycoon’s gaze remained sharply fixed on her, forcing Shen Youning to muster false bravado: “Is this street yours? Never seen anyone take a walk before? Can’t I just pass through here?!”
System: 【Host, you’re so bold! This big shot has literal blood on his hands—aren’t you afraid he’ll eliminate you?】
Fu Yunyi: “…Anyone would think you’re here for counterterrorism operations. Wait, since when do I have blood on my hands? And who’s speaking?”
Thus, the tycoon found himself drawn into the drama, stepping through a gateway to unforeseen adventures.
Later, Shen Youning would become his wife, amassing immeasurable wealth through her “gossip system”—enough gold and silver to last ten lifetimes.
Fu Yunyi completely overturned his original tragic fate from the book, thriving endlessly while doting on Shen Youning to extremes. They became Hong Kong’s model couple in every sense, envied by countless people 🙂
· The female lead’s rescue of the male lead was motivated by multiple reasons, elaborated in the main text
· The male lead built his fortune legitimately from scratch and has never been involved in any loss of life