The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 201

Chapter 201: There’s a Fox Here (Entertainment Circle) Part 14

The trending topics, which had been dominated by Yu Shuangjiang’s live stream that afternoon, were now replaced by a new development.

Her related topic was still lingering at the bottom of the list, and now this.

Connecting the dots, they initially thought Ji Ruoyi was being shady, but now it seemed Yu Shuangjiang was also involved, having planned this since a few days ago.

Humans were good at connecting the dots.

[Those who called Ji Ruoyi shady should think again, her fans created that video to promote her, but Yu is even worse, using her health for publicity, claiming to be in a coma, making everyone think she was dying.]

This seemingly logical argument convinced many people.

Between the speculation about her coma and the live stream, Yu Shuangjiang gained over two hundred thousand followers.

A significant increase for a celebrity with her already large fanbase, it was usually more difficult to gain followers the more popular you were.

This shifted the blame for the leaked video and photos back to Yu Shuangjiang herself.

[My social media feed has been filled with Yu Shuangjiang (cracking up), who is she? Is she that popular?]

[You don’t know Yu Shuangjiang? You should know Zhou Chengcheng from Homecoming, but that’s her only decent role.]

[Her fans kept saying she was fine, that it was all rumors, that they would sue the haters, so it was all a planned publicity stunt.]

Yu Shuangjiang’s fans, who had done nothing: “???”

Wait, us again?

Not hunting down those who claimed our idol was dead was already being merciful, and now we can’t even defend her?

After a heated online battle, the newly acquired anti-fans and curious onlookers flocked to Yu Shuangjiang’s Weibo, then to her fan accounts.

They finally found a post from a fan account, which had forgotten to set its privacy settings, a post unlike the usual organized counter-attack.

XiaoYuBubblesV: [Someone tell me I’m wrong, Xiao Yu wasn’t having dinner with her.]

Below, a chorus of replies from other fans: [You’re not wrong (crying)]

Onlookers: “…?”

Why are the fans so dejected?

Over the years, Tao Ning had criticized so many artists, enough to form a soccer team, and Yu Shuangjiang, having shed her “flower vase” image, no one remembered it anymore.

After being reminded, however, the onlookers were even more intrigued.

Yu Shuangjiang, criticized daily by various fan groups, supposedly blacklisted by Tao Ning, was actually having dinner with her.

Other netizens, however, offered a different perspective.

It was indeed a publicity stunt, but not for The Legend of Wen Ying, but for Tao Ning’s new script, which Qingying Entertainment had already announced would start filming before the end of the year.

Tao Ning’s involvement in The Legend of Wen Ying was just a rumor.

It was well-known that she only wrote her own scripts, never collaborating, she was too proud.

[Seriously, someone actually used Tao Ning for publicity, even a twenty-year-old idiot wouldn’t do that.]

[Is Yu Shuangjiang being manipulated? Her fans hate Tao Ning.]

[Gaining popularity and claiming to be a victim, her fans are so funny.]

[I told you, she’s just a fame-hungry schemer.]

[Those who say it’s not a publicity stunt, just wait, Tao Ning will deny it, how embarrassing would it be for Yu Shuangjiang to be publicly rejected?]

[Having won a TV award last year, she definitely wants to transition back to film.]

[Let’s guess, when will the internet-savvy Tao Ning post a denial?]

Other screenwriters might not do that, but Tao Ning, with her unconventional thinking, was likely to.

It was Friday night, the beginning of the weekend, everyone had time to browse the internet, eagerly awaiting the outcome.

Yu Shuangjiang, finally back at the hospital, opened her phone and felt her world darken.

A fame-hungry schemer, staging a car accident and coma for publicity, wanting to return to the big screen, her fans protesting her collaboration with Tao Ning…

After reading all this, Yu Shuangjiang: “…”

Seriously, I didn’t do any of that.

Qi Xiaojia and the others had gone home, and Yu Shuangjiang was staying in the hospital for further observation, to prevent any complications.

The nurse checking on her saw her suddenly sit up, startled by her agility.

“Sorry,” Yu Shuangjiang apologized quickly, scrolling through her contacts and making a call.

The nurses, puzzled, shook their heads and left with their charts.

The call was immediately answered, and Yu Shuangjiang said quickly, “I didn’t buy that trending topic! But don’t worry, I’ll have the company deal with it.”

Tao Ning, on the other end, didn’t ask why, just saying, “Trending topic? Hold on.”

The sound of typing, then a chuckle: “Free publicity, why not? Consider it a thank you for dinner.”

Yu Shuangjiang, however, felt it wasn’t right: “I haven’t even repaid you for finding me a doctor, and now this, I’ll be indebted to you.”

Tao Ning almost burst out laughing, imagining Yu Shuangjiang meticulously calculating her debts in a small notebook.

Yu Shuangjiang’s voice rose slightly: “A simple dinner isn’t enough to repay your kindness.”

Although Tao Ning didn’t know about saving her life, Yu Shuangjiang, as a cat, afraid of heights and caught in the rain, wouldn’t have survived without her.

She had a feeling that if the cat had died, she would have died too.

A three-month-old kitten, alone and without its mother, surviving the cold spring weather, was a difficult feat.

Having received such kindness, she couldn’t just ignore it, the future was more important than the past.

Tao Ning, the reflection of the computer screen in her glasses unable to hide her smile, her glasses actually non-prescription, just a habit, said, “Even with interest, you’re taking this too seriously.”

Zhi Ma Juan the cat, under the desk, was exploring the study, her tail twitching, annoyed at being removed from the electrical cords earlier.

“But,” Tao Ning’s voice was casual, “wouldn’t removing the trending topic be too much? It might attract even more attention.”

“And if we keep repaying each other’s favors, when will it end? Are we going to be entangled forever?”

Her lighthearted, teasing tone made Yu Shuangjiang’s heart skip a beat.

Not hearing clearly, she asked, “What do you mean, entangled forever?”

Tao Ning: “I said…”

Before she could repeat herself, Yu Shuangjiang realized what she had just said, her ears burning.

She quickly said, “Stop, stop talking!”

Tao Ning chuckled: “Okay, I won’t.”

If she had just teased her like Tu Xue, it would have been fine, but this…

It was strange.

To change the subject, Yu Shuangjiang asked, “It’s so late, what are you doing?”

Tao Ning looked out the window at the bright moon: “Looking at the moon, it’s almost full moon.”

Yu Shuangjiang: “Looking at the moon? So romantic, a true artist, observing the world.”

After the accident, having lost track of time, she hadn’t even noticed the moon.

Tao Ning, tilting her head slightly, the moonlight reflecting in her eyes: “You flatter me.”

Yu Shuangjiang, getting out of bed and opening the curtains, the moon visible through the trees: “You’re right, it hasn’t rained recently, the moon is beautiful tonight.”

Tao Ning’s voice came from the phone: “The moon is beautiful tonight, I’m going to watch it, want to join me?”

Yu Shuangjiang thought she had misheard: “What?”

Tao Ning’s voice was soft and inviting: “It’s a beautiful night, I’m going to the mountains to watch the moon, would you like to come with me, Miss Yu?”

Having snuck out once, there would be a second time, and after changing her clothes and putting on a mask, Yu Shuangjiang casually walked out of the hospital.

This was a private hospital, more freedom, she could leave as long as she informed them.

Leaving the hospital alone, she felt a thrill of doing something wrong, like skipping class, she had always been a good student, but now, she was sneaking out because of an invitation.

Without even telling her parents, who were resting at home.

This made her feel even more rebellious.

The night air was chilly, and even her jacket couldn’t completely block it, and she rubbed her arms.

Tao Ning was already waiting in her car, and a figure emerged from the hospital, walking towards her.

Yu Shuangjiang got into the car, buckled her seatbelt, and smiled at Tao Ning: “I’m ready, let’s go!”

Tao Ning started the engine and turned the car around, saying as she drove, “Aren’t you going to ask where we’re going? Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell you?”

Yu Shuangjiang removed her mask, warming her hands in front of the air vent: “What am I worth?”

“A famous actress, you underestimate yourself,” Tao Ning said, taking off her glasses as they waited at a red light. “Can you hold these for me? The case is in my bag.”

“Sure.” Yu Shuangjiang took the glasses, revealing Tao Ning’s captivating eyes.

Her eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, always seemed to be smiling, like a charming fox spirit.

Yu Shuangjiang felt her breath hitch, her hands holding the glasses, frozen for a moment.

Tao Ning often wore these glasses, and they still carried the warmth of her skin.

A moment of silence.

“Beep, beep!” The car behind them honked, startling them.

The light had turned green, and Tao Ning stepped on the gas pedal.

Yu Shuangjiang, as if waking up from a dream, found Tao Ning’s bag on the back seat, retrieved the glasses case, and carefully placed the glasses inside.

The rest of the journey was quiet, even the usually talkative Yu Shuangjiang didn’t know what to say, sitting quietly in the passenger seat.

Tao Ning suddenly said, “In the time I’ve known you, I don’t think I’ve ever told you, your eyes are very expressive, good at conveying emotions, different from what I imagined.”

Yu Shuangjiang, hearing such a compliment from the usually critical Tao Ning, would have been less flustered if it were before.

But their relationship was different now, the same words having a different effect.

Her tone was light, a hint of pride: “Mm-hmm, I know.”

Much later, she would finally understand Tao Ning’s true meaning, it wasn’t just a simple compliment.

But a subtle warning—I can see through you.

They drove up the mountain, stopping at a viewing platform halfway up, the road unsuitable for cars beyond this point, most people hiking to the summit.

They weren’t planning to go to the summit, just enjoying the view from the platform, the city lights twinkling below.

It was late, and there were only a few cars left, the people scattered, keeping their distance.

“I’ve never been here before,” Yu Shuangjiang said. She wasn’t a local, her life revolving around film sets and her home, not very familiar with City C.

City C, an actor’s workplace.

Tao Ning got out of the car, following behind her: “It’s quiet here, I come here occasionally to relax, not very often, I just suddenly thought of inviting you today.”

Yu Shuangjiang felt like she had been invited to a secret treasure trove, turning to look at Tao Ning.

Tao Ning asked gently, “It’s windy up here, are you cold?”

Yu Shuangjiang thought Tao Ning seemed to be glowing under the moonlight,

Like a character from a fantasy drama, and she couldn’t help but walk towards her, wanting a closer look.

Tao Ning, her glasses off, her eyes lowered, turned her head: “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Yu Shuangjiang shook her head: “Nothing…”

Strange, I saw it just now, but now it’s gone.

So she said, “Don’t move.”

She took a few steps back, standing under the moonlight, facing Tao Ning, whose features were softened by the moonlight, her gaze seemingly gentle and affectionate.

After a moment, Tao Ning asked patiently, “What do you see?”

Yu Shuangjiang couldn’t say I thought you were glowing just now, like a lightbulb, so she shook her head: “I see… acting potential.”

Tao Ning chuckled: “Are you inviting me to join the entertainment industry? No, thanks, I’m not good at acting.”

Yu Shuangjiang also smiled, then sneezed, rubbing her nose sheepishly: “I didn’t expect it to get so cold at night, even after the warm day.”

Tao Ning: “I think I have a blanket in the car, let’s use it, I hope you don’t mind.”

Yu Shuangjiang wouldn’t mind, of course, and she followed Tao Ning, who handed her a tissue before retrieving a neatly folded blanket from a bag in the trunk.

A warm yellow, fluffy blanket.

This scene seemed familiar, then she remembered having seen it countless times as Zhi Ma Juan the cat.

Tao Ning, living alone, was organized and meticulous, and Yu Shuangjiang the cat, bored, would follow her around, observing her.

Under the moonlight, Tao Ning wrapped the blanket around them, Yu Shuangjiang practically nestled in her arms.

Surrounded by the familiar scent, Yu Shuangjiang opened her mouth to speak, then swallowed her words.

This isn’t so bad, she thought.

She snuggled into the blanket, their shoulders touching, looking up at the moon, Tao Ning’s soft whispers in her ear.

It was late, not a good time to be out in the mountains, and they prepared to leave.

Yu Shuangjiang suddenly said, her voice sharp, “Someone’s taking photos, who is it? Who’s hiding there?”

“Wait,” Tao Ning grabbed her arm, “there’s a dog over there.”

Just then, the sound of barking approached, and a figure emerged from the shadows, running away.

He yelled as he ran, “Shit! Where did that dog come from?! Go away!”

The dog, ferocious, its fangs bared, bit his leg, refusing to let go.

The paparazzi, almost screaming in pain, kicked the dog and ran away.

He was, however, still clutching his camera, his livelihood, which couldn’t be damaged.

Late at night, the internet was still buzzing with activity.

[Reporting—Tao Ning is online!]

[She didn’t rant, just posted a picture of the moon.]

The onlookers, who had been waiting all night for another drama: “?”

Not criticizing anyone, just a picture of the moon?

[Reporting—another blogger claims Yu Shuangjiang snuck out at night to watch the moon with Tao Ning.]

[Pics or it didn’t happen! A secret date?]

[Original post here @ExclusiveXiaoWu]

The blogger had posted a few blurry photos with watermarks.

People complained about the quality, as if taken with a potato.

The paparazzi also felt wronged, he had been chased down the mountain by a stray dog, almost getting lost, getting a single photo was already a miracle.

And he hadn’t intended to photograph Yu Shuangjiang, he was after another celebrity, a male idol secretly dating a fan, and as he was leaving, he happened to see Yu Shuangjiang.

Thinking, might as well, he raised his camera, only to be discovered and then chased by a dog.

The details of his ordeal were best left unsaid, as a well-known paparazzi, complaining about being bitten by a dog wouldn’t garner any sympathy.

Now, everyone was truly confused.

[This frenemy dynamic is beyond my understanding.]

[They’re rivals, how could they be dating? Rivals can’t be lovers, but… rivals are lovers, do you understand now?]

Yu Shuangjiang’s fans, who had been busy all day: “…”

No, not really.