Chapter 414: 414, the whole city is in turmoil
Therefore, for a moment, the scene was in chaos. All the reporters flocked to the stage, talking all at once, with countless questions:
“Who is the biological father of the child?”
“Where is the child now?”
“Was that child at the premiere in Nancheng yours?”
“Miss Lu…”
“Miss Lu…”
Sounds of “Miss Lu” in all different volumes echoed in her ears, and LuZixi’s face turned ghastly pale. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Eventually, she didn’t even know how she managed to get back backstage.
With a clang,
Lu Zixi snapped back to the present.
She looked up and saw her agent standing in front of her, staring at her furiously, “Zixi, what on earth is going on with all those news online!”
“The rumours have spread all over the city now! They are saying that you gave birth but didn’t raise the child, and that you’d do anything for money!”
“You brought up such a scandal when the movie was just released, do you not want to survive in this industry anymore?”
“Out of all the artists I’ve managed over the years, you’re the first one who has capsized in the ditch!”
“The TV station and newspaper just called and asked me to respond immediately, what am I supposed to say?”
“All the manufacturers and advertisers are asking me if these rumours are true. If they are, they will accuse you of breach of contract and demand compensation!”
“Zixi, oh Zixi. How could you disgrace yourself like this!”
“Did you offend someone?”
“Zixi, at least say something…”
Lu Zixi’s face was pale.
She had no idea how to explain.
Because the news wasn’t baseless, it was…the truth.
**
Monday morning.
No sooner had Su Wanwan sat down in the classroom than she heard several girls gossiping at the front:
“Lu Zixi is disgusting!”
“Exactly, I can’t believe I voted for her as the most popular female star on Weibo!”
“I just saw her movie a few days ago! My boyfriend even said she looks pure!” “Pure, my ass, she’s just pretending, right?”
“During her last interview, she said she had never been in love, what an actress!”
Su Wanwan quickly took out her phone.
When she opened Weibo, she saw all sorts of shocking headlines:
[Nation’s sweetheart’s image collapses, underage pregnancy shocks society!]
[21-year-old innocent starlet already a mother!]
[Shock! Unmasking the true face of the popular young actress!]
[Another scandal from Huanyu Media, leading actress’s reputation in tatters!]
Su Wanwan’s first reaction was that Lu Zixi must have offended someone. How else could all these things have been exposed?
Because when Lu Zixi came to seek her help, she only ambiguously revealed a part of it.
But now, apart from the part she knew – that she had a surrogate pregnancy for money and abandoned the child in an orphanage, every detail, including the monthly remittances to the orphanage, has all been leaked.
It couldn’t have been so thoroughly investigated without professional involvement.
When she clicked on Lu Zixi’s Weibo, the comments section under her latest explanatory post was full of curses.
[Die, bitch!]
[You deceived my feelings! Liar! Master of lies!]
[Apure lady? You’re bullshit!]
[You’ll get your retribution! I curse you to die soon!]
It was absolutely appalling!
“Wanwan, what are you looking at?” Mo Weiyi entered the classroom, put down her bag, and leaned over to take a look.
As soon as she saw the news, she immediately said, “Since when are you interested in gossip news? Hurry up, help me figure out why I got this question wrong last night!”
Su Wanwan put down her phone, and helped her friend with the question.
In the end…
“Isn’t this a first year’s question?”
Mo Weiyi sulked, “Could you not say it out loud?”
Does the little princess not have any shame?
Su Wanwan:”…”
**
The two English lessons ended, and as they were about to go for lunch, they heard their homeroom teacher calling from behind.
“Su Wanwan, Su Wanwan, please come over.”
Su Wanwan frowned, having an inexplicable sense of unease.
Mo Weiyi also scrunched up her cute little face, “Why is your homeroom teacher looking for you again? Does he have feelings for you?”
Su Wanwan gave her a glare, “I’ll go see what’s going on first, you head to the canteen and wait for me.”
“Okay.”
**
Upon entering the elevator, the homeroom teacher asked her, “Have you seen the news online?”
“What news?”
Su Wanwan nodded.
But what does that have to do with me?
The homeroom teacher said, “Zan Song and Lu Zixi came to see you, are you also involved in this?”
Su Wanwan blinked her eyes, “Teacher Wang, I don’t know anything.”
The homeroom teacher:”…”
**
When they reached the office, Lu Zixi rushed over the moment they walked in, “Miss Su, I beg you, please help me.”
Su Wanwan looked at her.
Compared to before, Lu Zixi looked extremely haggard, her face swollen, her eyes red and puffy, dark circles clearly visible, and even her skin was in a bad state, with foundation unable to hide the dullness and blemishes.
Where was the youthful beauty she used to have?
It seemed that she had been having a rough time since the scandal broke out.
“The news online, it must have been Mr. Huo who leaked it, because he was the one who hired a private investigator and found out about my past! But I’ve already promised him that I wouldn’t go see Ziyang anymore, I swear!” Lu Zixi spoke somewhat incoherently, “Miss Su, I’m finished. If Mr. Huo doesn’t help me, I’m really finished this time…”
“What are you talking about?” Su Wanwan frowned, “What does this have to do with my husband?”
She had indeed told Huo Jingshen about this, but…
She quickly responded, “My husband definitely wouldn’t do something like that, did you offend someone else?”
“Impossible! It was him! It must be him! Besides him, no one else knows about this!” Lu Zixi, in a state akin to madness, grabbed her hand, “Miss Su, I beg you, please help me. Can you ask Mr. Huo to help me?”
“Why didn’t you go find him yourself?” Su Wanwan retorted.
“He refuses to see me.” Lu Zixi bit her lip.
With the position and power of the Huo family, although she was scared, she still attempted it.
Yet, after circling around the Huo Yuan Group’s building with Zan Song for an entire morning, the receptionist informed them that without appointments, no visitors were allowed.
They couldn’t even get into the elevator, let alone see Huo Jingshen.
Having no other options, she came to the school, hoping that since Su Wanwan was Huo Jingshen’s wife, it might be more effective to approach the matter through her.
Su Wanwan, feeling pity for her, softened, “Listen, my husband is not the kind of person who would interfere in trivial matters. And since he’s already made clear that Ziyang is not your son, a misunderstanding that has been cleared up, why would he reveal your past?”
“But if it’s not him, then who else could it be? Only Zhuo Song and you knew about this, if not him, could it be you…”
“So, are you suspecting me now?” Su Wanwan’s face darkened abruptly. “MissSu…”
“I’m telling you officially that I knew nothing about this! It’s useless to come find me! If you suspect my husband, go find him yourself. Don’t bother me. I’m going to eat.” After saying that, Su Wanwan turned to leave.
“Miss Su!” Lu Zixi grabbed her hand once more, “Even if I beg you, could you please help me? Your husband is the only one who can save me now, if he helps me, I’m sure everything will be alright.”
Su Wanwan found her utterly unreasonable and was somewhat impatient, “Let go!”
“Miss Su…”
“Zixi.” Zan Song interjected at the right moment.
Lu Zixi fell silent.
“Miss Su, the reason why this matter has blown up so much is because there must be someone behind the scenes stirring things up. If Mr. Huo is willing to help, given his connections and the Huo family’s status, he can quickly suppress this.” Zan Song spoke sincerely, “Zixi is just a bit impatient, she didn’t mean to blame Mr. Huo and Miss Su.”
Lu Zixi quickly added, “I’m sorry, Miss Su, I was too anxious just now. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Su Wanwan nodded.
Finally understanding their intention.
However…
“Miss Lu, even if all the news is true, as soon as it happens, you should think about how to solve it instead of avoiding responsibility, blaming others, and even asking others to help you. My husband has no reason to help you out of the blue. He doesn’t want to meet you now, do you think he’s doing this on purpose to harm you?”