After the Top Idol Omega and I Started Living Together - Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The broken branches stirred the dense leaves. The dappled sunlight trembled among them.

Sheng Jingyu never expected such a thing to happen. The smooth scenery passed her gaze. She looked up as the sea breeze hit her face.

She thought she disliked such close contact with people. But the moment she saw Lu Zhao fall, she instinctively reached out her hand.

The scent of lychee filled her embrace. In the chaos, a breath landed on Sheng Jingyu’s neck.

The summer burned fiercely. Even without change, a person’s breath seemed heated, unconsciously scorching the sensitive nerves of her neck.

Sheng Jingyu’s gaze suddenly paused.

She seemed to freeze. Yet her heartbeat kept accelerating.

A heavy pounding struck her chest. It felt like she might lose control.

This feeling was strange and abnormal. Sheng Jingyu lowered her eyes. She even wondered if her glands had developed some new problem.

How else could she explain her heartbeat’s abnormal rhythm?

“Great, the flower is fine!”

Sheng Jingyu’s heart wavered with uncertainty. Lu Zhao’s slightly joyful voice came from her arms.

This person focused entirely on the flower she protected. She noticed none of Sheng Jingyu’s changes.

The long, slender branch rested in Lu Zhao’s hand. The pure white flower above swayed gently in the breeze.

The layered petals clustered without crowding. Each uncrushed petal seemed perfect.

Lu Zhao admired her perfectly protected flower. Sheng Jingyu’s gaze also fell on the flower. But her focus centered on the person standing behind it.

“Are you okay?” Sheng Jingyu released Lu Zhao’s waist. She gestured with her hand.

“I’m fine.” Lu Zhao waved her hand. “I loved climbing this tree since I was a kid. This time was a mistake. I didn’t step steady. Next time, it won’t happen.”

Her tone carried nonchalance. Sheng Jingyu faintly frowned.

Her peripheral vision caught the cracked branch on the ground, full of jagged splits. Her expression turned displeased. “Don’t let there be a next time. It’s too dangerous.”

The camellia tree wasn’t that tall. Lu Zhao never found it dangerous.

She saw Sheng Jingyu’s words to her. She felt a bit surprised.

But it wasn’t just that.

Under the sunlight, nothing could stay hidden.

Lu Zhao saw worry on Sheng Jingyu’s face.

A person like her teacher actually cautioned someone out of concern.

And that person was her…

Feeling cared for, Lu Zhao, who usually disliked being disciplined, rarely argued back.

She nodded, agreeing readily. “Alright, I listen to Teacher. Next time, I’ll find a ladder first.”

Sheng Jingyu nodded, satisfied with Lu Zhao’s quick learning.

The breeze blew toward her standing direction. Lu Zhao held her desired flower at the upwind spot.

The lush tree shadows swayed with the sunlight. Somehow, Sheng Jingyu found this moment very comforting.

But such comfort could only exist in a fleeting instant. Chenchen cautiously poked half her head from the porch, interrupting their moment. “Um, sorry to interrupt. The porridge is ready. Shall we eat?”

The group moved from the backyard to the dining room. The cooked porridge adorned the sunlight here with a savory aroma.

Chenchen served porridge with Lu Zhao. She reported to Lu Zhao, “Ah Zhao, I’m leaving after eating.”

“Where to?” Lu Zhao asked, puzzled.

“Did you forget what you told me this morning?” Chenchen reminded her. “I just contacted Miss Chen. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it today.”

Lu Zhao felt surprised. She teased, “Wow, such efficiency. Looks like this Miss Chen Annie gave you plenty of motivation.”

Though Lu Zhao meant nothing special, Chenchen suddenly lowered her head. She spoke lightly, “What? I’m just riding Miss Chen’s coattails. She has connections, knows big shots, so things get done fast.”

The white porcelain bowl hit the dining table, making a crisp clink.

Sheng Jingyu sat aside, her thin lips lightly sipping the fragrant porridge. She listened to their conversation quietly.

Sheng Jingyu tried to fade into the background. But Lu Zhao turned the topic to her. “You’re riding Teacher’s coattails. If not for Teacher knowing her, could you meet her?”

“Seems like that’s true.” Chenchen recalled last night’s events. She looked at Sheng Jingyu curiously. “I didn’t expect Miss Sheng to know Chen Annie. It feels like a dimensional wall broke.”

The hand holding the spoon paused slightly.

Sheng Jingyu calmly set down her bowl. She looked up at the two curious pairs of eyes across. “I worked with Chen Annie long-term, so we know each other.”

“I see.” Chenchen didn’t doubt. She sighed, “That saying is true. Capable people always know each other.”

Lu Zhao laughed at this. “Are you praising yourself?”

Chenchen lacked her usual nervous deference. She seemed inspired, speaking ambitiously. “I’ll definitely become a top agent like Miss Chen!”

Lu Zhao felt slightly surprised but happy to see Chenchen like this. “Ambitious.”

Then Lu Zhao shifted the topic to Jing Yuan. “Chenchen, when you make it big, don’t forget me. With our friendship, you’ve got to take me to meet Jing Yuan.”

“Of course!” Chenchen grew more excited, patting her chest to assure Lu Zhao. “Forget meeting, I’ll order Jing Yuan to make a comeback and work with you!”

Fantasy and dreams seemed similar, but Lu Zhao knew the difference clearly.

Seeing Chenchen like this, she smiled and teased in Cantonese, “Silly girl.”

Memories fluttered. Lu Zhao’s mind recalled Jing Yuan wearing a veiled hat, looking divine.

Dreamily, Lu Zhao propped her head, speaking thoughtfully. “Jing Yuan is the moon in the southern sky. Meeting her once would satisfy me. How dare I ask for collaboration?”

Her words held a girl’s whimsy. Her admiring fantasy brimmed with worship.

She gazed cautiously, as if beholding a sacred image.

Sheng Jingyu stayed silent.

She only watched Lu Zhao eat the fine porridge she cooked for her that morning.

The noon sun didn’t burn like days before. A few clouds clustered in the sky, blocking the sunlight.

The air carried damp moisture. Lu Zhao noticed a heavy rain warning on her phone.

The temperature felt rare and pleasant. Lu Zhao lounged leisurely on the sofa.

She swiped away the weather alert. Another notification popped up.

Not a weather forecast.

But a Weibo hot search.

The notification bar crowded with two dense lines of text. The headline boldly read #Si Liaoliao Plagiarism#.

“So fast?”

Chenchen and Chen Annie’s speed exceeded Lu Zhao’s expectations. She held a watermelon piece near her mouth and clicked into the Weibo hot search.

Si Liaoliao’s last ghostwriting incident didn’t face much backlash. Tomorrow Star quickly suppressed it, leaving little impression.

But this time, she involved illegal plagiarism of others’ work. The matter was far more serious than ghostwriting. The onlookers doubled compared to last time.

Perhaps because it happened suddenly, no major fans controlled the comments. The square buzzed lively, even chaotic.

Chenchen’s group didn’t leak to just one source. Many marketing accounts got the exclusive scoop.

Si Liaoliao’s limited group was about to disband. They needed buzz too. Several joined forces, pushing #Si Liaoliao Plagiarism# to the top ranks.

[No way, wasn’t it ghostwriting? How’s it plagiarism now?]

[Interesting. You guys found the traffic password, huh? Last time you framed Liaoliao for ghostwriting, now plagiarism. Why’s the beauty in so much trouble lately? Who’s targeting her?]

[Don’t think we have no memory. Last time’s ghostwriting was proven, okay? Just because it didn’t blow up doesn’t mean you can lie. Passersby have seen all kinds of drama.]

[Plagiarism, huh… Isn’t that serious enough to get summoned?]

[Congrats to Ms. Si Liaoliao for winning the first jailed female star title in domestic entertainment.]

[Don’t spread rumors, don’t believe rumors. Wait for Liaoliao’s response.]

[Eating this fake drama? Better listen to Liaoliao’s new song, fully written and composed by her! Just a genius singer, right?]

[Check out the beauty’s stage documentary! Can heartless media bear to bully such a good girl?]

Gradually, as Lu Zhao refreshed the real-time square, the hot search’s direction turned subtle.

Though the negative tag caught them off guard, Si Liaoliao’s anti-black station reacted fast. Within half an hour of the hot search, a few big fans used side accounts to rally her fans, quickly controlling the chaotic situation.

The black hot search filled with bot comments. Si Liaoliao’s videos and pictures flooded the real-time square. The tag nearly became her free promo space.

Lu Zhao faintly frowned.

She knew how much money the agency invested in Si Liaoliao. Such response speed rivaled top celebrities.

Would this just get brushed off again?

The evidence she thought could hit Si Liaoliao hard—could it not cause real damage or teach them a lesson?

She felt unwilling.

But she couldn’t pin hopes on Chen Annie, could she?

Lu Zhao only met her once.

Such a big shot—why would she stoop to help her vent?

Lu Zhao thought she should contact her own connections. She tapped to exit the tag.

But as she habitually refreshed the square, among the promo comments, a new Weibo post stood out, starkly different.

It came from one of the singers whose song Si Liaoliao plagiarized.

This person wasn’t famous, which was why Si Liaoliao dared to steal her work. She posted her songwriting date, audio track comparison, and chat records with Si Liaoliao on her Weibo.

The text and evidence aligned clearly, easy to understand.

And it pinned at the top of the square, visible to anyone entering!

Lu Zhao’s eyes widened slightly.

She didn’t believe one person could strike so precisely in such a short time. This was clearly prepared long ago, waiting for Si Liaoliao’s side to deny and escalate, then hammering them.

This wasn’t Chenchen’s work.

Having known Chenchen for years, Lu Zhao knew her cunning didn’t run that deep.

So it could only be Chen Annie’s doing, mentioned by Chenchen since morning.

Worthy of a top agent dominating for over twenty years—her strategies outshone them all.

Lu Zhao’s evidence lacked the victim. Yet Chen Annie, in just one morning, found the victim and convinced her to compile years-old information.

Before this hot search broke, Chen Annie had laid a massive trap.

She waited for the public opinion to ferment, then dropped a king bomb.

A king bomb couldn’t act alone. More than one person came forward to hammer Si Liaoliao.

Lu Zhao watched the silenced promo comments in the square. Her eyes filled with laughter. This slap landed beautifully.

But as she looked, her laughter suddenly paused.

Then she exited the real-time square, returning to click the first singer’s audio comparison.

The detailed comparison landed clearly on the screen, analyzed logically.

This wasn’t something done in one morning!

If one singer prepared and waited for justice, that could explain it.

But two, three—how to explain that?

Each victim’s post hammering Si Liaoliao differed, but their core was similar.

They seemed to have received a tip long ago, preparing together under someone’s cue.

Prepared long ago…

How could that be?

Could someone predict this day?

Predict Si Liaoliao would get hit soon?

Lu Zhao slightly frowned, finding her thought both real and absurd.

But before she could unravel it, her phone vibrated.

It was Chen Ruozhi’s call.

Lu Zhao’s frown didn’t ease; it deepened.

She didn’t expect this person to call her now. She answered lazily, “What?”

“Is it you?!”

Chen Ruozhi lacked Lu Zhao’s ease. His voice boomed like firecrackers, furious. “Did you leak Liaoliao’s stuff?!”

Lu Zhao expected no good from him. She moved the phone farther from her ear, retorting, “What evidence proves I did it?”

“Don’t deny it.” Chen Ruozhi was convinced it was Lu Zhao. He believed nothing else. “You got upset yesterday, so you’re getting revenge today, right? That’s just who you are, isn’t it?”

The noon sun blazed. Such an event made Chen Ruozhi’s head spin. “Lu Zhao, you didn’t lose anything, did you? Li Qinqin didn’t do anything to you, right? What are you stirring up?!”

Hearing this, the suppressed anger in Lu Zhao’s heart surged uncontrollably.

She sneered, her voice low. “By your logic, should I go to the company today, kowtow to you, and thank you and Si Liaoliao for not sending me straight to Li Qinqin or some other boss or director’s bed?!”

“You!” Chen Ruozhi, caught in his guilt, couldn’t retort. He only stammered “you, you, you,” pointing at Lu Zhao through the phone.

Hearing no response, Lu Zhao continued, “Chen Ruozhi, I didn’t get hurt because I was lucky and met good people. You think that counts as your merit? Don’t put gold on your ugly face. Look in the mirror and see if you’re worthy!”

“Lu Zhao!” Chen Ruozhi raged helplessly, as always when he couldn’t control her. He warned, “Lu Zhao, I’m telling you, you’re only tough today. Just wait, you’ll pay for this.”

This hot search’s success gave Lu Zhao confidence. This time, she refused to swallow her anger.

When she took this step that morning, she prepared for it, even if it meant being shelved for two months.

“Fine, I’ll wait.” Lu Zhao replied.

She wasn’t without leverage; she just hadn’t used it before.

But this time, she wanted to.

Lu Zhao nodded, adding, “Go ask Si Liaoliao if she has the guts to let the higher-ups blacklist me.”

Her eyes gleamed sharply and darkly. She reminded him word by word, “If this Deer family princess doesn’t want certain things exposed, she’d better not push me to mutual destruction.”

Her words fell, and the phone went silent.

Chen Ruozhi was speechless.

As Si Liaoliao’s lackey, he roughly knew some things between Si Liaoliao and Lu Zhao. After all, Lu Zhao was surnamed Deer, and Si Liaoliao’s mother owned Deer Pursuit.

Lu Zhao, this little lunatic, could act recklessly. They couldn’t.

A bastard daughter’s identity would harm Si Liaoliao’s public image with no benefit.

Impatient to wait, Lu Zhao heard Chen Ruozhi’s silence. Disgusted by his breathing, she said, “So stop wasting time with me. Go soothe your princess’s emotions. Think about how to keep her from firing you.”

With that, Lu Zhao hung up Chen Ruozhi’s call without hesitation.

Though she never lost a clash with Chen Ruozhi before, this time felt uniquely satisfying. Even the watermelon tasted extra sweet.

Such quarrels never weighed on Lu Zhao’s mind. She exited the call log, lounged back on the sofa, legs crossed, scrolling the hot search, and ate several chilled watermelon pieces leisurely.

Si Liaoliao’s fans’ controlled comments in the square lost effect, feeling like stubborn denial.

Their unified line was [Don’t spread rumors, don’t believe rumors, wait for Liaoliao’s explanation]. But against solid evidence and onlookers, it seemed weak and powerless.

Lu Zhao also noticed Chen Annie’s work left almost no trace linking to her. She picked scattered marketing accounts and big Vs, making it impossible to guess who was behind it.

Lu Zhao thought after this passed, she must thank Chen Annie properly.

This person not only saved her yesterday but went all out on this matter—a true savior.

As Lu Zhao thanked Chen Annie in her heart, her quiet phone vibrated again.

This time, it wasn’t Chen Ruozhi.

It was Lu Xu.

Lu Zhao’s actions paused.

She truly didn’t expect this matter to bring Lu Xu into the fray.

But come what may, Lu Zhao dared to act and face it. “What?”

“I want to ask you, what do you want?”

Another accusation.

Though Lu Xu’s voice was much calmer than Chen Ruozhi’s, it still hid anger.

Lu Zhao loathed this person, loathed her tone even more. She coldly retorted, “What did I do to deserve this tone from you?”

Lu Xu cut straight. “Liaoliao’s matter—is it you?”

“She went to you?” Lu Zhao sneered, neither admitting nor denying. “If she says it’s me, then it is. Don’t you always believe her and her mother?”

Lu Xu frowned tightly, commanding, “Lu Zhao, don’t vent your emotions on me here.”

Her words fell, and the cold smile on Lu Zhao’s face vanished.

Since Lu Xu wanted to reason, she reasoned back. “Fine, Mother. Who did wrong in this? Did you investigate? Why is the plagiarist not the sinner, but the one eating melons at home becomes the sinner?”

“Since you did it, shouldn’t you prepare for the day it gets exposed?” Lu Zhao asked softly, her light tone full of mockery. “You should know this reasoning better than me, right?”

“This is your favorite daughter, not even a thousandth of you.”

“You did it so flawlessly back then. Now look at her—a bucket of water, all leaked, no contingency plan, only running to Mother.”

At this, Lu Zhao paused, as if recalling something.

A mocking smile curled her lips. Her tone turned realization. “But I think if you had gone to Grandma back then, Grandma wouldn’t just ignore you, and…”

“Lu Zhao, what nonsense are you saying!”

The words after “and” didn’t come. Lu Xu’s furious interruption cut Lu Zhao off at her core.

Lu Xu stood by the window, taking a deep breath.

She knew she was in the wrong, silently swallowing her emotions. Her questioning of Lu Zhao turned earnest. “Ah Zhao, Mother knows some things wronged you, but you shouldn’t vent personal emotions on your sister!”

“You were so obedient and well-behaved before. How did you become like this? Do you think this is right?” Lu Xu’s voice sounded pained, her words filled with sorrow over sisters turning against each other.

Saying this, she brought up Si Liaoliao, reminding Lu Zhao, “If you targeted someone else today, fine. But Liaoliao is your bl00d-related family! Do you know, when Liaoliao learned you did this, she was heartbroken, crying for hours…”

The sob story didn’t work. The crease between Lu Zhao’s brows deepened.

Before Lu Xu finished, Lu Zhao cut in, “Is that so?”

Lu Zhao’s voice dropped low. She asked again, “Do you know what I went through yesterday?”

Lu Xu, caught off guard by the question, felt impatient but played along. “What?”

“Yesterday, Si Liaoliao and Chen Ruozhi drugged me to send me to a director.” Lu Zhao said.

Her amber eyes stared out the window, calm yet brimming with emotion.

The phone by her ear gathered damp moisture, sticking to her skin, inescapable.

“So you want to ask how I am now? Want to know how I’m doing? How long should I cry over my dear sister drugging me?”

Lu Zhao questioned word by word.

Lu Xu couldn’t answer any of the three questions. She stood by the window, her slightly open lips only letting air pass.

Speechless.

At that moment, a trembling, delicate voice came from the other end.

Si Liaoliao seemed to approach, weakly looking at Lu Xu on the phone. “Mother, you’re already tired from your business trip. Don’t worry about me like this. This was my mistake, I’m sorry…”

Lu Zhao’s questioning face collapsed instantly.

She stopped waiting for Lu Xu’s reply. Her voice colder than ever, she told Lu Xu like a notice, “Go care for your princess.”

Thick clouds piled layer by layer in the sky. Though it was noon, it felt like dusk.

The weather forecast proved accurate. A big rain was coming.

This was Lu Zhao’s second time hanging up a call today. Her expression lacked the ease of the first.

She didn’t understand why, after such events, all calls blamed her.

Why didn’t anyone comfort her, ask how she was, or worry if this caused her psychological issues?

Even if not with words, just a hug?

Over the years, Lu Zhao’s hatred for Lu Xu never weakened.

She truly didn’t want Lu Xu to stir her emotions anymore.

But this second, her eyes reddened.

Useless.

Truly useless!

Lu Zhao clenched her fists tightly, her slim shoulders trembling faintly, unsure which emotion drove her.

Determined not to let this emotion bind her, Lu Zhao stood to leave.

But as she turned, she saw Sheng Jingyu at the staircase corner.

Dim light fell on that small area. The sunlight was unclear, as was her expression.

Lu Zhao didn’t know how long Sheng Jingyu had been there. She called out calmly, “Teacher.”

Sheng Jingyu showed no difference, nodding to Lu Zhao as usual.

Then she stepped toward Lu Zhao.

The surroundings were silent, no sound at all. Lu Zhao watched Sheng Jingyu walk toward her step by step.

Then Sheng Jingyu reached out.

And pulled her into an embrace.