The Movie Queen And Her Rival Just Went Public! - Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Just after reading that blog post, Su Cancan felt it was utterly absurd and laughable.

She was a witness to the event, a participant, and even more so, a victim. Thus, she could not fathom how Viky’s fans could defend her without any bottom line before the truth had even been made public.

However, as her thumb pressed against the screen and the emotionally charged words filtered into her eyes, she had a sudden epiphany.

Everyone has a different vantage point. She was projecting herself into the situation, feeling deeply indignant, whereas Viky’s fans were technically “innocent” at this stage. They had simply chosen an idol based on their personal aesthetics; before knowing the truth, it was only natural for them to offer total protection.

Su Cancan blinked her dry eyes. She chose not to click into the comment section, instead letting her fingers slide aimlessly across the screen.

The real-time updates within the hashtag were rolling fast. Marketing accounts scenting blood, her own fans, Shen Luoyan’s fans, Viky’s fans, and curious onlookers—the air was thick with noise.

A Tally of the Men Behind Sexy Goddess Viky This Little Influencer is Crazy for the Spotlight People who Frame Others and Spread Rumors Should Go to Hell

Small black characters flickered by; Su Cancan’s gaze was unfocused, forgetting what she saw the moment she scanned it. It wasn’t until a notification popped up at the top of the screen that her scattered thoughts pulled back together.

19970615: My god, Cancan was injured while filming.

The soft, warm glow of the screen hit Su Cancan’s face. The corners of her mouth curled up, revealing a few white teeth.

The little fan who hasn’t appeared in a while?

It had been more than four hours since the incident occurred. It seemed the fan’s love for her had faded quite a bit, considering the delay.

Dormant Little Volcano: Yeah, yeah, but looking at the on-site leaks, it seems Shen Luoyan’s injury is more serious.

Su Cancan typed out the line and sent it. Since the text mentioned Shen Luoyan, her gaze followed, drifting toward the woman sitting across the aisle.

Shen Luoyan’s call with her manager hadn’t ended yet. She and Liu Yimin were actively discussing the response plan for this storm. Shen Luoyan, holding her phone, wasn’t participating in their conversation. Instead, her fingers were moving constantly as if she were chatting with someone. A faint smile rippled on her lips, like the surface of a calm lake in spring.

“Hey.”

Su Cancan called out to her across the aisle.

Shen Luoyan was so focused that she was startled by the sudden call. Her whole body visibly jolted. Following that shiver, she hurriedly tapped her screen, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the phone.

Su Cancan’s phone buzzed twice. Suspecting it was the little fan’s reply, she planned to check it after talking to Shen Luoyan.

Wary of interrupting the managers, she lowered her voice: “Are you busy?”

“No, not busy.” Shen Luoyan twisted her upper body slightly stiffly, her hand clenching into a fist then relaxing. “Is something wrong?”

Su Cancan waved it off with a smile. “Nothing much. I just forgot to ask about your exam results. How are they? No scarring, right? Should we contact the production team tonight to pause the shoot until you’ve recovered?”

At the mention of the production team, Shen Luoyan’s soft eyes suddenly turned sharp, and she exuded an unreadable aura.

“Okay, fine. Both artists are with me. I’ll convey the results of the communication to them first, then contact the team. Please have your side draft the copy for both artists. PR, please put some effort into handling negative comments and false rumors.”

Liu Yimin reached a consensus with Shen Luoyan’s manager. Hanging up, she turned to the back row: “Cancan, Teacher Shen.”

Liu Yimin was so focused on solving the problem that she hadn’t noticed the interaction between the two. Turning back abruptly, she found the atmosphere between them somewhat awkward. Assuming their relationship just wasn’t “there” yet and knowing it couldn’t be fixed instantly, she cut to the chase.

“Teacher Shen, Cancan. The internet is currently having a heated discussion about your injuries. The attention is high, and fans are waiting for a response. Our consensus is that we shouldn’t let relations get too tense before the broadcast, or it will affect the ratings when it launches next week.”

“In a moment, we will release response Weibo posts under the names of your respective studios. You should check the fan comments appropriately and find time today to reassure people in your fan groups.”

Su Cancan smacked her lips. She was dissatisfied, but there was no better plan.

“Mm.”

Shen Luoyan lowered her eyes to hide the displeasure within them, not taking a stance.

Liu Yimin understood the power structure of Shen Luoyan’s company. Shen Luoyan was the boss; if she didn’t nod, no one could force her. She could only use her eyes to signal Su Cancan to help persuade her.

Su Cancan: Buy me dinner later.

With a ping, Su Cancan’s opportunistic message was sent. After checking it, Liu Yimin had no choice but to nod helplessly.

“At this stage, less trouble is better than more,” Su Cancan said, poking Shen Luoyan’s elbow with her index finger. “What do you think?”

Shen Luoyan gripped her phone tightly, the side button being pressed for a long time. Her silence was broken by a sudden mechanical female voice.

She canceled the prompt, having formed her own plan. “Okay. Do as you’ve discussed.”

Liu Yimin had expected Shen Luoyan to be a “tough nut to crack,” preparing for a long battle of persuasion. To her shock, Su Cancan solved it in two sentences. Amidst her surprise, she began to piece together a certain logic.

When they signed the contract, Su Cancan provoked her, yet Shen Luoyan wasn’t annoyed. Not long ago, Su Cancan got drunk and caused trouble, yet Shen Luoyan wasn’t angry. During the show, Su Cancan was difficult, yet Shen Luoyan was exceptionally patient.

There is only one truth… she has designs on Su Cancan!

“Great, thanks for the trouble.”

The thought was terrifying. Liu Yimin turned back and sat upright, her chat box text being deleted and edited repeatedly.

A minute later.

Liu Yimin: Think back. Has Shen Luoyan ever done anything… ‘out of line’ to you?

Su Cancan was waiting for the little fan’s reply. She hadn’t had a chance to check the previous notification, and when she clicked in now, the message had already been withdrawn.

In her boredom, she saw the message pop up at the top of the screen. Her body felt as if a pause button had been hit. The strength in her hand vanished instantly, and her phone fell to the floor, rolling twice until it landed at Shen Luoyan’s feet.

The Best Actress, always helpful, loosened her seatbelt to create a gap and leaned over to pick up Su Cancan’s face-down phone.

“Don’t!”

The pause ended. Su Cancan switched to high-speed mode, practically lunging forward to grab her phone. “Thanks, Teacher Shen, I’ve got it.”

A flash of confusion crossed Shen Luoyan’s eyes, but out of respect, she didn’t ask.

Having reclaimed her seat, Su Cancan was covered in a cold sweat. Her eyes met Liu Yimin’s in the rearview mirror, and she glared back unceremoniously.

Su Cancan: Are you busy to the point of losing your mind? Look at what you’re asking! If she laid a hand on me, would I stand for it? Did you forget my principles for surviving the entertainment industry? Wake up!

Despite being in the same car, no one spoke. Instead, several phones lit up in rotation. Receiving the message didn’t dispel Liu Yimin’s doubts.

Too suspicious… Shen Luoyan’s behavior simply cannot be defined logically.

Is she a ‘Central Air Conditioner’—good to everyone? Or is Su Cancan just too thick-headed to notice?

Liu Yimin leaned toward the latter. After all, her tirelessly hardworking artist was, in terms of romance, barely at the level of a primary schooler. A “mother-baby” single to this day, she had never tasted the sweetness of love, only the bitterness of cyberbullying.

Liu Yimin: It would be best if she didn’t have any intentions toward you. Liu Yimin: Keep an eye out. If there’s a ‘weird move,’ run.

Su Cancan felt comforted that Liu Yimin was looking out for her. However, that comfort came to a screeching halt with the next message.

Liu Yimin: That being said, go ask around—is there any other actress your age who hasn’t hit puberty yet? If she’s actually interested and you don’t mind, you could try dating.

Su Cancan: ……

Liu Yimin had to coordinate with Shen Luoyan’s staff and deal with Qian Weiyi, so when Su Cancan stopped responding, she didn’t push for more.

Su Cancan turned off her phone and leaned back.

Dating. Dating Shen Luoyan. She had never considered it.

Would someone as cold and boring as Shen Luoyan act spoiled like a young girl? Would she be clingy? Would she choose to go public?

A small crack opened in her heart, and all sorts of bizarre, outrageous questions poured out. Imagining how Shen Luoyan might behave in a relationship, she suddenly let out a “pfft” of laughter.

The sound attracted the attention of the other three in the car. Shen Luoyan turned to look at her, and Liu Yimin squinted at her from the front.

“Ha.”

The setting sun dyed half the sky red. On the coastal highway, the van sped toward the light, making Su Cancan’s face look rosy.

She gave a sheepish smile: “Finishing work early, just a bit happy.”

Liu Yimin gritted her teeth: “While you’re happy, go check the Super Topic, post a safety update in the fan groups, and reply to a few fans, okay?”

“Fine, why wouldn’t it be fine.”

Su Cancan opened her phone. The first thing she saw was the chat with Liu Yimin. She exited from the top left corner, and as her palm brushed the screen, she saw a notification on Moments with a very familiar avatar.

By the time she realized it, her finger had already uncontrollably clicked in.

The person who usually lurked in silence had updated with a picture of the coast. Judging by the light, it was likely taken during a morning workout. Giant waves rose in the distance, yellow sand underfoot, and fine, gentle white foam. Blue sea and sky, consistent with her usual photography style.

They had few mutual friends; no one had liked or commented on the post yet. Su Cancan tapped the heart icon. Her avatar instantly appeared below the post, staggered with the other.

The emotions, dampened by the seawater, felt both moist and soft.

Su Cancan looked out the window and pressed the shutter while waiting at a red light.

The Moments feed refreshed. Hers and Shen Luoyan’s posts sat one above the other, fitting together.

Remembering what Liu Yimin had tasked her with, Su Cancan planned to switch to Weibo after posting. But before the page could turn, a red “1” appeared in the notification section below.

Is it her?

Su Cancan impatiently clicked into Moments, then into the notification list without stopping.

Her breath hitched.

What? It was just Liu Yimin.

Su Cancan: …… Su Cancan: You’re being so blatant about slacking off? All that talk about ‘bleeding for me’ was a lie?

Liu Yimin tapped her reply.

Liu Yimin: Not entirely. I’m renegotiating your filming schedule with the investors. Caring about your social life is also part of my job. So, Boss, can you explain why the work you just promised me hasn’t started yet?

Su Cancan clenched her fist. When her contract with Liu Yimin expired, she would definitely add a clause: 200 yuan deducted for every instance of back-talking.

Su Cancan: Operating my Moments is also part of my job!

As the message sent successfully, another notification popped up at the top of the screen.