The Abused Heroine Stops Pretending [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 37.1

Tang Jing and Sun Sijia’s Secret Meeting.

This topic instantly surged to the top of the trending list, and within a short time, its popularity continued to rise, eventually claiming the number one spot.

The reason it gained traction so quickly was that Lin Fen not only posted photos of Tang Jing and Sun Sijia meeting at a restaurant but also included a picture of the two entering a hotel. The hotel photo was somewhat blurry due to the darkness, but anyone familiar with Tang Jing and Sun Sijia could immediately recognize them in the image.

At this moment, Tang Jing remained unaware, calmly sitting across from Sun Sijia.

Of course, even if she knew, she wouldn’t be in a hurry her phone was even on silent in case of emergencies.

Ying Tianhe was frantic with worry and called Meng Xue. The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered, but the lazy tone on the other end made it clear Meng Xue wasn’t in a normal state. Upon learning that she was drunk, Ying Tianhe immediately drove to Tang Jing’s villa.

“Tang Jie,” Sun Sijia called out, her eyes red as she looked at Tang Jing pitifully.

If it had been the original host, she might have softened a little at this sight. But Tang Jing remained unmoved, lowering her gaze and sipping her tea with composure.

Seeing her reaction, Sun Sijia instinctively glared, ready to throw a tantrum, but then quickly remembered that things were different now. In the past, she could have used her pitiful act to gain favors, but now she had nothing left.

Staring at Tang Jing’s indifferent expression, Sun Sijia felt a pang of sadness, her heart aching. Her eyes reddened again, this time not as an act, but out of genuine grievance.

There was no denying that Tang Jing was outstanding and had treated her well. But because Sun Sijia’s heart had long belonged to someone else, she had always turned a blind eye to Tang Jing’s kindness.

At times, she had even found it annoying, wishing Tang Jing would stay away from her.

Now that this wish had finally come true, she couldn’t bear it.

Her gaze lingered greedily on the woman before her.

Though Tang Jing appeared to be focused on her tea, her peripheral vision never left Sun Sijia. She didn’t miss the emotions flickering in the other woman’s eyes, finding them somewhat ironic.

People often say that you only realize what you’ve lost once it’s gone.

But more often than not, it’s simply because they can no longer benefit from it. Unable to accept this, some become enlightened, while others obsess over it, using all sorts of excuses to fill the void.

Did Sun Sijia truly love the original host?

No. Perhaps it was more about habit, the habit of having such a person in her life, the habit of receiving endless favors from her.

Once those were stripped away, she couldn’t handle it.

Take her so-called “love” for Meng Xue, for example. To put it nicely, she had admired this senior for years, even remaining “pure” for her and repeatedly rejecting the original host’s confessions. But in truth, it was just unwillingness.

From what Tang Jing had gathered, Meng Xue had been a goddess-like figure in high school, adored by many, an untouchable flower on a high peak.

Countless people had pursued her, only to be rejected. Sun Sijia had also wanted to confess, but she was too ordinary, too unremarkable. She didn’t dare, even feeling a sense of inferiority.

Later, by chance, she managed to add Meng Xue as a friend, occasionally chatting with her about life back home.

No one could really criticize this kind of affection.

But while stringing along the original protagonist, she was also pursuing Meng Xue. Now that Meng Xue was cold toward her and the person providing her resources was cutting ties, Sun Sijia’s first regret was actually targeting the person who gave her those resources Tang Jing, naturally.

So, Sun Sijia wasn’t truly devoted to Meng Xue at all. She was simply taking advantage of the debt Tang Jing owed her, recklessly squandering it.

Once her career hit a rough patch, all thoughts of romance flew out the window.

Sun Sijia bit her lower lip and made up her mind. “Sister Tang, can you do me one more favor? If you help me this time, we’ll consider the past debt settled.”

To be honest, the original protagonist had already repaid that debt long ago.

But Tang Jing still agreed, looking at her. “What favor?”

Sun Sijia stared at her with a desperate gamble. “Let’s collaborate on a drama.”

Over the past five years, though Tang Jing had given her many resources and they’d occasionally appeared together, the two had never collaborated in the film and television industry.

Tang Jing frowned. “What drama?”

Sun Sijia’s expression stiffened, awkwardness flashing across her face as she avoided eye contact.

At this point, Tang Jing understood. “So, you don’t actually have a new drama?”

Sun Sijia pressed her lips together, wishing she could vanish into the ground.

Tang Jing thought about the upcoming drama she was set to film with Meng Xue and realized she wouldn’t have time. After a moment’s consideration, she replied, “Have your agent come see me tomorrow.”

At those words, Sun Sijia’s face instantly paled.

Tang Jing would rather have her agent come than see her in person. Tears welled up in Sun Sijia’s eyes.

Once the negotiation was over, Tang Jing had no intention of lingering. She stood up, lifting her phone slightly. “I recorded our conversation just now. I hope you keep your word.”

Sun Sijia stared at her in disbelief, frozen for a long moment.

Tang Jing didn’t care about her reaction and simply turned to leave.

Only after she left the restaurant and got into her car did she check her phone, realizing Ying Jie had called her over a dozen times and sent seven or eight messages during the time it was on silent.

She opened the messages, and though her expression remained unchanged, her eyes were filled with cold amusement.

Especially when she saw the photos on the trending searches, a nine-grid layout where the first few were pictures of her arriving at the restaurant to meet Sun Sijia, while the last two were from two years ago, showing her sending Sun Sijia to a hotel.

Lin Fen had compiled these photos to create the illusion for netizens that she and Sun Sijia had gone to the hotel together after dinner.

At this point, she opened the system interface and saw the world progress had finally moved reaching 53%. A faint smile curled at the corners of her lips.

The constraints of the plot and character settings were now completely lifted. From here on out, she could act as she pleased.

She started the car and called Ying Jie back.

Ying Tianhe glanced guiltily at Meng Xue, who was sitting on the living room sofa. At this moment, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her own child had gone out to fool around while her daughter-in-law sat at home, heartbroken.

Though Meng Xue’s expression showed no change, ever since she arrived at the apartment, she had been scrolling through that trending topic without saying a word. Her slender figure looked pitiful no matter how you looked at it.

Unable to hold back any longer, Ying Tianhe was about to send a message to Tang Jing when the latter beat her to it by calling. She hurriedly answered, “Where have you been?!” she snapped, then, noticing Meng Xue’s gaze from the sofa, covered her mouth and whispered, “Hurry up and come back!”

At first, hearing Sister Ying’s furious roar, I thought I was in for a scolding. Unexpectedly, her next words were spoken in a rather sneaky tone, and their meaning made me frown. “You’re at my place?”

“Duh, when I couldn’t get through to you, I came straight here.” Ying Tianhe was genuinely unnerved by the way Meng Xue was looking at her. Clearing her throat, she took her phone to the balcony and closed the door behind her before finally relaxing. “You have no idea Meng Xue has been glued to the trending posts about you and that little green tea bitch.”

Tang Jing felt an inexplicable sense of guilt, as if she’d been caught cheating. She subconsciously touched her nose and said, “I’ll be home in ten minutes.” After a brief pause, she added, “Get someone to prepare, I’m going live later.”

“Live?” Ying Tianhe was taken aback. “You’re going to clarify things?” Then, remembering the nine-grid post Lin Fen had arranged, she raised an eyebrow. “You want to let them expose themselves?”

The “them” naturally referred to Sun Sijia and Lin Fen.

“Yeah.”

Ying Tianhe hesitated. “You never cared to clarify before, did you?”

Over the past five years, that little green tea bitch Sun Sijia had shamelessly ridden Tang Jing’s coattails countless times. Every time Ying Tianhe suggested clarifying, Tang Jing had brushed it off.

This was the first time she’d taken the initiative to set the record straight.

Tang Jing hadn’t planned to explain, but after a moment’s thought, she said, “I talked to her today. After we collaborate on one drama, we’ll be done for good.”

“What? Collaborate on a drama?!” Ying Tianhe’s voice rose in shock. Worried Meng Xue might hear from the living room, she quickly lowered it. “Wait, what’s going on? Is she seriously trying to milk this for more clout?”

Tang Jing replied indifferently, “Last time. After this, we go our separate ways.”

Ying Tianhe hesitated before finally saying, “Fine.”

After a moment of contemplation, she asked uncertainly, “How exactly are you planning to collaborate with her?”

“You’ll figure it out.” Tang Jing hung up as soon as she arrived at her apartment.

“I’ll figure it out?” Ying Tianhe raised an eyebrow at the dial tone. “Does that mean it’s just a collaboration, with no strings attached?” The thought made her smile in relief. “Well, that makes things much easier.”

She immediately called the team and had them bring over the equipment.

The company wasn’t far.

By the time Tang Jing got home, the team had arrived.

Meng Xue, realizing she was being pulled into the live stream, looked bewildered. “Am I going live too?”

Tang Jing smiled at her, eyes gleaming. “Of course.”

Ying Tianhe, however, gave Tang Jing a strange look. Ever since she’d returned, something about her seemed different, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what.

Meng Xue had done live streams before, but never with Teacher Tang. Nervous and flustered, she stammered, “S-should I prepare anything? What should I pay attention to? Maybe I should just,” She shrank back timidly.

“Don’t worry.” Tang Jing placed a reassuring hand on her back, giving it a gentle pat. “You don’t have to do anything. Just sit with me.”

Meng Xue met her gaze and finally nodded.

The internet had already exploded over the trending posts about Tang Jing and Sun Sijia. Despite Tang Jing stating on Diverse Lives that they had no relationship, they were spotted together at a hotel after the show wrapped. The backlash was fierce.

[Didn’t Tang Jing say she wouldn’t associate with Sun Sijia anymore? What’s happening now? Did she just treat her own words like fart?]

[And they even went to a hotel together. This isn’t just “associating”, it’s downright intimate.]

[Wait, did no one notice? Those last two hotel photos seem to be from two years ago.]

[Oh my god, finally someone noticed! I thought I was remembering wrong.]

[I remember it was two years ago too. Back then, Sun Sijia went to the film set, and Sister Tang dropped her off before leaving right after.]

[So, someone’s just messing with us?]

[Everyone, hurry to Sister Tang’s livestream, she just went live!]

[Where? Where?]

[Here’s the link. You’re welcome.]

Everyone quickly clicked in.

Within just a few minutes, Tang Jing’s livestream had tens of thousands of viewers, and the numbers kept skyrocketing.

The livestream platform administrators immediately had their programmers on standby, ready to fix any lag at a moment’s notice.

During the ten-minute warm-up before the livestream officially started, the viewer count had already surpassed a million.

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