But on second thought, wasn't Sang Ning able to appear on the show only because the Chu Family poured a load of money into it? Doesn't that mean there's big capital backing her?
When the time comes, they'll arrange for an insider to leak some dirt online and stir up the narrative, turning all the blame towards Sang Ning. The production team can even gain some attention by playing the pity card.
After all, Sang Ning has strong connections. If any negative news surfaces, the Chu Family will definitely find a way to cover it up for her.
*
After hanging up the phone, Sang Ning hailed a car on the roadside.
Even though it wasn't rush hour, the road was jammed completely. Five minutes passed, and the cab was still stuck where it was.
Her agent called again to urge her: "Sis, have you left yet? Where are you now? How much longer until you get here?"
"I'm already in the car." Gazing at the congested traffic ahead, Sang Ning said unhurriedly, "It's gridlocked. I'd say it'll take about two hours to get home."
"What? Two hours!"
The agent's voice nearly pierced her eardrum.
"Two hours? The dishes will be cold by then! Sis, I'm begging you, figure something out and save the day, please!"
Sang Ning pinched the bridge of her nose and signaled the driver to stop: "Driver, pull over please. I'm in a hurry; I can't wait."
After exiting the taxi, Sang Ning flagged down a motorcycle taxi. Over her phone, she told her agent, "I got a motorbike taxi. I should be home in half an hour."
"And could you stop fretting and squealing all the time? Sis's eardrums are fragile; they can't handle the drama."
"Understood, sis. I'll pay attention next time."
The motorbike driver was a cautious and steady middle-aged uncle. Faced with the insane traffic, he crept along at a snail's pace for safety.
Sang Ning couldn't take it anymore and ordered the uncle to switch seats: "Uncle, I'm pressed for time. Let me take over!"
Her attitude was firm, her aura overpowering, leaving the uncle no choice but to stammer: "Young lady, please be careful! Unsafe driving leads to loved ones crying two streams of tears!"
His cautionary words entered her left ear and immediately exited her right.
Sang Ning revved up with lightning speed, slicing through the traffic like a whirlwind.
The poor uncle's face twisted into agony as he clung desperately to the handlebars with both hands.
Sang Ning couldn't bear to listen to her agent's whiny complaints any longer—they were utterly grating. She figured it was best to make it home before the production crew arrived.
As she sped down the road, the system inconveniently popped up: "Host, aren't you a bit too desperate for followers? Pinning your family's livestream vlog to the official page for 30 days is too forced. With this approach, the followers you're gaining are likely just haters."
Sang Ning, undeterred and still driving at full throttle, replied impatiently: "They're not haters—they're lifeline deities keeping me alive. Who cares if they're haters or true fans? As long as Weibo follower count goes up, that's all that matters. You never specified they had to be true fans or casual passersby."
...
System: "Wait—what kind of reverse-strategy follower growth is this? Help! My intent was never for you to become the entertainment industry's top blacklisted celebrity!"
Sang Ning's lips curled into a devilish smile: "What's wrong with being the top blacklisted celebrity? Getting cursed a few times could save my life. I insist on being an undefined top star. Trust me—I can use my charisma to turn everything around."
The system: dead…
*
Simultaneously—
The filming crew standing at the entrance to the inner-city village carried out the livestream as the director instructed.
The PD started off with an introduction: "Hello, viewers. We are the expedition team from the 'Encounter in Countryside' recording crew. As our other guests couldn't reschedule their itineraries today, we are fortunate to invite Mr. Sang's family to collaborate with us for the pre-filming promo session.
We'll be following the address provided by Mr. Sang to visit her home and conduct a live interview. Now, please join us as our camera leads you to explore the most authentic Sang Family compound!"
As the camera moved forward, the audience saw a chaotic, dirty alleyway. It was summer vacation, and a group of dark-skinned, young elementary school kids blocked the crew's path, giggling as they stretched out their hands to ask for money to buy candy.
The crew refused, but these cheeky rascals clung to them persistently, refusing to let them pass. Finally, the cameraman handed over his only two hundred yuan in cash to get rid of them.
The livestream chat exploded.
[WTF WTF WTF!!! These brats are basically juvenile delinquents—they're taking advantage of their age to break the law. What'll happen when they're grown-ups?]
[No offense, but this area is West Factory Street. People living here are either drunks or troublemakers. What kind of kids could spawn from these families with that upbringing?]
[I'm enlightened now. No wonder Sang Ning is so uncivilized—it makes sense if she grew up in West Factory Street.]
[Hey, maybe Sang Ning's the boss of this place, and these kids are her minions.]
#SangNingFactoryBoss# and #SangNingKidMinions# skyrocketed to the top ten trending topics.
When the agent saw the trending list, his vision went dark, and he immediately dialed Sang Ning to ask what was going on.
Though he didn't know much about Sang Ning's family background, her usual demeanor screamed rich lady. Surely her home should be in some high-class community, not this run-down area?
Yet when he called, no one picked up.
The agent, unwilling to give up, tried several more times—still no answer!
Oh no, oh no! What the hell is sis up to now?
Driven to his wit's end, the agent clutched his head and squatted on the ground, overcome with despair and helplessness.
Sang Ning was completely oblivious to this. Even while speeding on the motorbike, she reached with one hand to pull out her phone, curious about the livestream's current status.
She patted her left pocket, then her right pocket.
WTF! Where's her phone?
Damn system—did it start bringing bad luck to her already?
With the wind whipping past at high speed, all she could hear was the rushing gusts. Sang Ning shouted at the top of her lungs: "Uncle, lend me your phone for a second!"
The uncle, clinging to the handlebars with his left hand, shakily pulled a phone from his shirt pocket with his right hand, nervously handing it to her.
With a sideways glance, Sang Ning noticed it was a primitive elderly phone, capable only of making calls and sending texts—and fell silent...
"Forget it… Seems like it's not such a critical need right now…"
It took Sang Ning just ten minutes to rocket from her company to the entrance of the inner-city village. She had planned to ride the motorbike directly through the alleys.
But the moment the bike stopped at the entrance, the uncle began retching uncontrollably. Sang Ning quickly jumped off and helped him by patting his back: "Uncle, are you alright? Feeling better?"
A strange glint flickered in the uncle's eyes. Seizing the distracted moment, he grabbed the handlebar again.
Always one to prioritize caution, the uncle started his motorbike with unprecedented speed, executing a sharp turn with car-like agility.
"Miss, don't worry about the fare. I'm too old to keep tempting fate with you!"
Sang Ning: …
Meanwhile, the production crew had already reached the gate of the Sang Family compound…