Chapter 46: Sleeping Peacefully at Home, Trouble Falls from the Sky

When You Si first entered the industry, although her temper was far from gentle, at least she was a pure young girl. After drifting for years on the fringes of showbiz, lingering as a minor celebrity, she finally abandoned her principles and climbed into the beds of higher-ups in exchange for better opportunities. She was good at ingratiating herself, and for the past two years, that executive had kept her in his favor, so much so that she became increasingly arrogant and domineering. She thought her powerful connections meant she was untouchable, but when trouble truly struck, the first to abandon her was the very backer she relied on.

When You Si heard the news that she was being frozen out, she was momentarily stunned, sitting blankly on the sofa, unable to figure out how things had come to this.

Back when she first started trending online, so many people praised her—why had those who once flattered her become her harshest critics? All she’d done was employ paid commenters to manage public opinion; she hadn’t gone out of her way to target some minor web celebrity. So why had the situation escalated out of control?

Unable to make sense of it, You Si simply blamed everything on Shallowwater Fish. If that meddlesome influencer hadn’t commented on her performance, the trolls wouldn’t have attacked; if she hadn’t posted that video to ride the wave, things wouldn’t have blown up. The more You Si thought about it, the more convinced she became that the little web celebrity was to blame, and she swore to teach her a lesson.

Yet this fool never considered: Yu Qianruo was just an ordinary influencer—why would the people from Yunbo protect her? Why would her fans support her so fiercely?

It’s one thing to be foolish, but it’s another to parade your ignorance for all to see. Unfortunately, You Si never thought of herself as the fool.

You Si’s post read: “Just got home after a busy day to find all this mess. I never told anyone to attack you, nor did I want to trend for these reasons. I really don’t understand why netizens and @ShallowwaterFishV are targeting me like this. Still, I want to apologize for my fans’ words; they just like me too much. I hope you can forgive them.”

After posting, You Si stared at the comments with anticipation.

For several minutes, there was only silence.

Then, suddenly, her notifications exploded.

The Sweetest Gossip: “Let’s sum this up: 1. I didn’t hire the trolls; 2. You’re all using me for clout; 3. My fans insulted people but didn’t do anything wrong; 4. Even though I did nothing wrong, I’m apologizing to play the victim.”

Rolling in Mud: “Wow, she’s dumped all the blame on the little princess and the fans.”

Nan-Nan-Nan-Nan: “Never have I seen someone with such shamelessness. [fist salute]”

Longing – Ran: “You Si, you’re unbelievable. We treated you like a treasure and now you’re blaming us? Unfollowed, I’m out!”

Longing – Meng: “Count me in for the unfollow. I must have been blind to like such trash! [smile]”

Lanruo: “Playing the victim while backstabbing—does she think fans and netizens are fools? [laughing]”

Lelele: “If you want to unfollow, go ahead! Sisi said it’s not her fault, and she even apologized. What more do you want?”

...

You Si thought she could smooth things over with her usual pitiful act, but this time it only made her fans desert her faster. Only a tiny handful of diehard supporters remained, desperately holding on.

“Shallowwater Fish!” she hissed through gritted teeth, once again pinning all the blame on Yu Qianruo. “You’d better pray I never learn who you are, or I’ll make you pay!”

Meanwhile, Yu Qianruo, deep in the midst of her sweet dreams, had no inkling that her casual post that night had earned her an enemy.

She was just sleeping peacefully at home when trouble fell from the sky.

But even if Yu Qianruo knew, what difference would it make? She’d simply brush it off as usual. With her parents, Xiuxiu, Zhou Jingchen, and even the countless beings of the Six Realms watching her back—what was there to worry about?