After Transmigrating, I Bent the Female Lead O - Chapter 21
Shu Minglan, at the center of the storm, suddenly realized something.
No matter how she tried to avoid it, everything seemed to be arranged by the so-called plot, leading her to an outcome she didn’t want to see.
For example, her previous encounter with Murong Feng.
And now, this reputational crisis.
Moral misconduct is a severe black mark for artists, especially being a homewrecker. Regardless of the truth, when “evidence” emerges, most online mobs will immediately jump to conclusions and hurl insults.
Unless the public relations department could provide strong evidence, her endorsements, and even the roles she had secured, would be affected.
The incident was so sudden that even her manager didn’t react in time. Of course, the manager knew it was a premeditated attack, as she was aware of Shu Minglan’s schedule and knew it was impossible for her to be involved with that person.
However, determining what methods the other party used to make it seem so real would require time to investigate.
One thing was clear: the hidden rival company genuinely wanted to destroy her company.
Her manager, Beibei, comforted Shu Minglan, telling her to continue filming without worry and that the public backlash would be handled by the public relations and legal departments.
Of course, the crew members who could access their phones during breaks also saw the online comments. Their gazes towards Shu Minglan ranged from schadenfreude to concern or disdain. While told to ignore external influences, it was impossible.
Having negative rumors spread was quite common; they were often a mix of truth and falsehood, not typically causing too much uproar in the industry. But from that afternoon onward, Shu Minglan clearly felt the increase in hostile stares.
Those malicious gazes were like pairs of eyes opening in murky waters, hidden behind damp reefs and sticky corals, concealing their forms, waiting to strike subtly with cold bites and hidden arrows.
She saw the subtle smile on Jia Ximei’s face, her gaze towards Shu Minglan like she was looking at a powerless clown about to be suffocated by a large wave, drowning in the unknown depths of the sea.
The rumors within the crew were spread by her, and most of the series of blows suffered by the company were also aimed at her. How many times had this happened? Ever since her consciousness awakened, whenever she didn’t follow the plot, either she or those around her would face retaliation.
The last-but-one act of defiance led to her assistant’s dismissal, and her younger brother fell, nearly missing an important exam. Her previous defiance was refusing Murong Feng’s temporary mark, and this time, the company was the target of retaliatory strikes.
Her heart felt heavy, like a continuously sinking stone. Shu Minglan felt a dull, splitting headache, and the idea of resigning resurfaced.
He Lingxing was not as hateful as she had imagined, but if she stayed here, the company would likely head down the path of bankruptcy, just like in the original plot.
According to the original plot’s development, the public relations department would be slow to genuinely clarify things, only striving to shift all responsibility onto her.
With most of her endorsements lost and facing the risk of several contract terminations and breach of contract penalties, Shu Minglan, desperate, had no choice but to seek out Murong Feng for help. After the issue was successfully resolved, she naturally became an artist under his agency.
This time, the public relations department acted quickly and was already collaborating with the legal department. But the continuous drama was definitely something the self-proclaimed “World Stability System” could concoct. Instead of sitting idle or sacrificing more people, it was better to strike first herself.
The first step of the counterattack was to leave this entertainment company and forge her own new path.
••••
In the private office.
Her phone was on speakerphone beside her, and the coffee on the table had gone cold, forgotten. He Lingxing rapidly typed on the keyboard with one hand, while listening with a cold expression to the “earnest” lecturing from the person on the other end of the line.
“Lingxing, Fanhui’s side is planning to collaborate with you to launch a new model girl group. You should remember such a helping hand. Also, isn’t that girl surnamed Shu exposed? I remember your collaboration time is almost up; just terminate the contract directly. Then this matter won’t involve the company at all…”
“Mom.” The unfinished words were directly cut off by the woman’s voice. He Lingxing brushed away the curled stray hairs falling by her ear, and her other hand stopped typing on the keyboard. Her lips curved, but there was no smile.
An arc was thrown across in front of her—the clatter of a small metal object falling into the trash can, its clear sound jarring the heart of the person on the other end of the phone. Just as she was about to continue, she heard He Lingxing’s laughing voice:
“Installing a wiretap without permission is illegal, whether it’s in a daughter’s company or home. Also, even if you’re parents, how I handle company matters isn’t really your concern.”
Then, without waiting for the other person to think of a reason to respond in their silence, He Lingxing directly hung up the phone and skillfully dragged the number, saved as “Mother,” into the blacklist.
Parents who went to such lengths to force their daughter into an arranged marriage, even secretly installing wiretaps to uncover secrets… she’d rather not have such perverted parents.
Feeling her growing irritability, He Lingxing rummaged through her bag for a tube of Alpha-specific inhibitor. She rolled up her sleeve and injected it into her arm. In the current ABO world, things were different from normal. With 520’s reminder, she knew her susceptible period was imminent, and she never missed an inhibitor shot when needed.
This brand of inhibitor caused the least damage to the body after use, but the drawback was that it had to be administered when no one else was around, as a very small amount of Alpha pheromones would be released.
Just as she was about to throw the empty inhibitor into the trash bin, a brief knock sounded from outside. It was a break time, and usually no one would disturb her. He Lingxing subconsciously wanted to politely refuse, but the door was pushed open, revealing Shu Minglan’s familiar, pretty face.
“CEO He, this is my resignation.”
A small amount of air freshener had been sprayed nearby. Shu Minglan, with an expressionless face, took a few steps forward in her high heels. Seeing He Lingxing unresponsive, she proactively pushed the resignation letter forward.
The moment her fingertips touched the office desk, a strange yet familiar scent, which made one momentarily dazed, suddenly wafted into her nostrils. The clear sweetness carried a captivating aggressiveness, causing her heartbeat to quicken uncontrollably.
He Lingxing clutched the Alpha-specific inhibitor tightly in her hand, having not had time to throw it away.
520 had told her that this was currently the most effective inhibitor on the market with the fewest side effects, causing no discomfort or fatigue after use. But the instant that elegant, rich scent unconsciously diffused, He Lingxing suddenly discovered a fatal side effect.
She had indeed lost interest in other Omegas, but it seemed…
She kept feeling Shu Minglan’s pheromones in the air growing stronger.
He Lingxing could no longer hear what the other person was saying. Her usually strong self-control crumbled under the allure of the pheromones.
An uncontrollable urge seized every inch of her nerves. The desire to bite grew stronger, and the sweetness of cherry blossom jelly made her inhale deeply the scattered scent in the air.
He Lingxing threw away the inhibitor in her hand and pressed the button for the humidifier next to her.
Just then, in the midst of the ambiguity and a touch of confusion, a slightly upturned female voice, like a small silver hook, echoed in her ear:
“Do you want to bite me, He Lingxing?”