The room fell silent for a few seconds, the air seeming to freeze.
Ling Tingyu, still holding the ice pack, felt unexpectedly warm. She froze momentarily, the tips of her ears turning red. “Why are you so direct?”
Although Ling Tingyu usually enjoyed teasing Lu Xian, she always stopped short of going further. She never expected Lu Xian to say something so straightforward and with such sincerity.
Lu Xian frowned slightly. “Did I scare you?”
From Lu Xian’s perspective, she simply didn’t want Ling Tingyu to be disappointed, nor did she want to see her cry.
“…” Ling Tingyu’s fair neck also flushed red. “I’m going to sleep. I don’t have the energy to deal with you tonight.”
Lu Xian paused, taking a few seconds to process what Ling Tingyu meant by “deal with.”
Clearing her throat to ease the tension, Lu Xian said, “I was just talking nonsense earlier. Don’t take it seriously.”
Ling Tingyu, already half-asleep under the covers, murmured drowsily, “But I remember now… You’ll have to make it up to me next time…”
“Go to sleep,” Lu Xian whispered, carefully removing the ice pack from her hand. After confirming the swelling under Ling Tingyu’s eyes had subsided, she finally relaxed.
Lu Xian had noticed Ling Tingyu’s exhaustion from the moment they met likely due to her packed schedule in the remote area. Not wanting to disturb her, Lu Xian settled on the nearby sofa for the night.
The sofa was small, forcing Lu Xian to curl up her long legs uncomfortably.
Sleep didn’t come easily. At dawn, Lu Xian got up early, wanting to return to the training camp before anyone grew suspicious. She still needed to prepare for the live elimination round that evening.
But the moment she arrived, You Yijia confronted her. “Have you seen the trending topic on Weibo?”
Having spent the entire night with Ling Tingyu, Lu Xian hadn’t even touched her phone. “What’s going on?”
“Take a look.” You Yijia pulled up the trending list. “This shot to the top half an hour ago.”
The glaring headline at number one read: Trainee Lu Xian Suspected of Bullying Teammate.
Lu Xian knew exactly how serious the word “bullying” was. If mishandled, the label could haunt her for life.
Who hated her enough to spend money on a targeted smear campaign right before the competition?
Clicking into the topic, she saw marketing accounts sharing a video without context, blindly criticizing her.
The clip showed Lu Xian holding Ma Sha back in the cafeteria the previous day, along with footage of her and You Yijia blocking Ma Sha’s path.
The angle clearly wasn’t from the cafeteria’s surveillance cameras, and the grainy footage only captured a misleading snippet.
Most netizens didn’t care about the truth, leaving thoughtless comments:
“Lu Xian doesn’t deserve this! Quit the competition!”
“Just became a fan and already disappointed. Still, bullying is unacceptable!”
“How can a bully set an example? What right does she have to be an idol?”
“Wait, isn’t Lu Xian that extra who forcibly carried Ling Yinghou in a princess carry?”
“Lost all interest. Pretty face, terrible character.”
“But her singing is amazing…”
“It’s just an unclear clip. Everyone’s jumping to conclusions. Waiting for the truth.”
The comment section was a storm of criticism.
With ABO Idol Group being a highly popular show, the discussion propelled the topic straight to the top.
You Yijia looked worried. “What do we do now? Will this affect tonight’s competition?”
“We just need to clarify what didn’t happen,” Lu Xian clenched her fists. “But who do you think uploaded that video?”
You Yijia was certain: “Fan Yiyi and Ma Sha.”
Currently, they were the only ones who harbored strong hostility toward Lu Xian.
Lu Xian suggested, “Let’s check the surveillance footage first.”
You Yijia nodded in agreement. “That’s our only option.”
As they headed toward the monitoring room, Lin Xu caught up to them, panting. “If needed, I can help clarify. What’s trending isn’t the truth at all.”
Lin Xu said guiltily, “After all, this whole mess started because of me.”
“Don’t blame yourself. They’re the ones at fault,” Lu Xian reassured her.
Two young men were on duty in the monitoring room. Upon seeing them, they immediately waved their hands dismissively. “No one can access the footage without the director’s approval.”
You Yijia was practically pleading. “Please, we’re really in a hurry. Can’t you make an exception?”
“No exceptions. We follow the rules,” one man said, blocking the doorway. “Take it up with the director if you have any issues.”
When You Yijia tried knocking again, Lu Xian stopped her. “It’s no use. They’ve already been bribed. Fan Yiyi and Ma Sha must have arranged this in advance.”
“Have they lost their minds?” You Yijia clenched her fists, suddenly feeling powerless.
The longer the trending topic stayed up, the worse it was for Lu Xian.
Once public opinion took shape, it was hard to dispel.
Unable to handle the situation alone, Lu Xian considered asking Ling Tingyu for help.
Lin Xu quietly spoke up, “I can try asking a friend for assistance.”
You Yijia’s eyes lit up. “You have a way?”
Lu Xian had a good guess about who Lin Xu meant.
“I can’t guarantee she’ll help, but I’ll try.”
Lin Xu nervously pressed the familiar number and finally made the call.
The phone was answered almost immediately.
Lu Li’s surprised voice came through. “Lin Xu?”
“It’s me. I… I need to ask for your help with something. Is that okay?”
Before Lin Xu could finish, Lu Li readily agreed. “Go ahead.”
“Have you seen what’s trending about Lu Xian?” Lin Xu asked softly. “Could you help take it down?”
Lu Li had already seen it because Ling Tingyu had called earlier, also asking her to remove the trending topic.
What was it about Lu Xian that made everyone care so much?
If it were just Ling Tingyu, that would be one thing. But now even Lin Xu was involved.
Lu Li’s tone cooled slightly. “You’re calling me because of her?”
Lin Xu didn’t deny it.
Lu Li let out a bitter laugh. “I see. The trending topic is already gone. Anything else?”
“It’s already down?” Lin Xu looked at Lu Xian.
Lu Xian checked Weibo, the trending topic had indeed vanished without a trace.
Lin Xu said, “No, that’s all. Thank you, Lu Li.”
Lu Li gave a quiet acknowledgment. “But the impact of this is significant. Lu Xian should clarify things, or it could negatively affect her career later.”
Lin Xu replied, “Okay. Goodbye…”
With that, she hung up.
You Yijia looked at her curiously. “Lin Xu, why is your face so red?”
Lin Xu exhaled lightly. “Is… is it?”
Lu Xian understood perfectly. If her situation had reconnected Lin Xu and Lu Li, maybe it wasn’t entirely a bad thing.
Although the trending topic was gone, the marketing accounts that posted the video continued to distort the truth.
Lu Xian needed to find solid evidence to counterattack.
With twelve hours left until the evening competition, the director suddenly notified Lu Xian that the event was being terminated early.
Lu Xian found it ridiculous: “Director, do you really believe the videos circulating online are real?”
“I don’t know what exactly happened between you, but please don’t cause trouble on my show. Do you know how much backlash the program has faced because of you?” The director had woken up to trending scandals and was furious, but between Fan Yiyi and Lu Xian, he chose to side against Lu Xian.
After all, Lu Xian wasn’t as important as the show’s reputation. Who would care about an ordinary contestant with no connections or backing?
Lu Xian stood firm: “Before I leave, I request permission to access the cafeteria surveillance footage.”
“With your level of influence, what difference would the footage even make?” The director shook his head. “Just pack your things and go home.”
The entertainment industry valued connections above all. The director believed Lu Xian’s popularity was fleeting, what good was talent without capital to sustain it?
Suppressing the anger boiling inside her, Lu Xian said, “Director, you won’t need to worry about what happens next. Just give me the surveillance footage, and I’ll leave immediately.”
“Who said you could leave?”
Lu Xian turned at the voice.
Ling Tingyu pushed the door open, followed by another person.
The director’s demeanor instantly shifted upon seeing them. “President Ye, Actress Ling, what brings you here?”
The one addressed as “President Ye” was Ye Xiangjun, the investor behind ABO Idol Group. The woman carried an air of refined elegance, yet an inexplicable aura of authority surrounded her.
Ye Xiangjun scrutinized the director. “I think you should be the one leaving.”
The director’s legs nearly gave out. “President Ye, I had no idea Lu Xian was connected to you. I was blind, please rest assured, I’ll retrieve the surveillance footage right away.”
“Too late.” Ye Xiangjun held up a sleek golden USB drive. “Pack your things and get out.”
Ye Xiangjun wielded considerable power in Jingzhou City, anyone who crossed the Ye family knew to tread carefully.
The director, who had just dismissed Lu Xian as powerless, was stunned. He had no idea what ties Lu Xian had to the Ye family, but under Ye Xiangjun’s piercing gaze, he didn’t dare utter another word. Fearing a career-ending blacklist, he could only slink away in defeat.
Lu Xian turned to Ye Xiangjun and thanked her politely. “President Ye, thank you.”
Ye Xiangjun handed her the golden USB drive. “Don’t thank me. Thank Tingyu instead.”
Lu Xian accepted the drive.
The novel hadn’t mentioned any relationship between Ye Xiangjun and Ling Tingyu. Lu Xian only knew Ye Xiangjun was Teacher Chang Yuhuan’s first love.
Ling Tingyu spoke up. “Auntie, how will you handle the trending scandal?”
Ye Xiangjun had no tolerance for rumor-mongers. “Fan Yiyi and Ma Sha have been given one hour to issue a public clarification. If they refuse, they’ll be disqualified. As for further consequences, that depends on whether Lu Xian wishes to pursue legal action.”
Lu Xian nodded. “I’ll consult a lawyer regarding next steps. Thank you, President Ye.”
“Auntie, sorry for troubling you today.” Ling Tingyu linked arms with Ye Xiangjun. “But what about the director’s position? Will you take over?”
Ye Xiangjun hummed in agreement. “I happen to be free these days.”
The novel had barely touched upon Ling Tingyu’s parents and never mentioned Ye Xiangjun’s relation to her.
Lu Xian was bewildered. So Ye Xiangjun, the head of the prestigious Ye family in Jingzhou City, was Ling Tingyu’s aunt.
At present, it seems Ye Xiangjun hasn’t yet realized her relationship with Ling Tingyu.
Lu Xian turned to Ling Tingyu: “Professor Ling, thank you for today.”
“Is that all?” Taking advantage of Ye Xiangjun’s distraction, Ling Tingyu hooked her pinky around Lu Xian’s finger and whispered: “If you want to thank me, you’ll have to perform well tonight. Don’t disappoint me.”
Ye Xiangjun was sitting in the director’s chair getting familiar with the environment, not paying attention to them.
But with her aunt nearby, Lu Xian worried about being discovered and withdrew her hand: “I’ll definitely satisfy Professor Ling.”
Ling Tingyu smiled: “I’ll be waiting in room 1209 tonight.”
“Hmm?” Lu Xian’s face warmed when she understood the implication, murmuring: “I meant the competition.”
Ling Tingyu leaned closer: “And after the competition?”!?