Eldest Senior Sister Became a Sensation After Being Blacklisted Online - Chapter 18

Song Cheng, who wasn’t particularly tech-savvy, was currently sprawled on her bed at home.

Ring… ring… ring…

She groped for her phone and glanced at the screen. Seeing it was Hu Tianyu calling, she immediately hung up.

But Hu Tianyu didn’t give up. He called repeatedly. Guessing it couldn’t be anything good, she simply turned off her phone and shoved it into the bedside table.

That evening, after dinner, she went for a walk and returned home. As she passed Wu Guifang and Song Tianfu’s room, she overheard their conversation.

“The more I think about it, the stranger it seems. Xiao Cheng has never eaten spicy food before, but she suddenly started eating it the other day. And her personality has become so… fierce lately. It’s like she’s a completely different person.”

“I’ve noticed that too, but… but she’s still our daughter!”

“No, something’s wrong. The person is still the same, but the core inside is different. What if our daughter’s soul has been swapped?”

“How could that be possible? That’s just stuff from TV dramas and books. There are no ghosts in real life! Even if ghosts did exist, they’d be afraid of light and sunlight, just like in the stories. Look at Xiao Cheng—is she afraid?”

“Something’s definitely wrong,” her father said. “Do you think something might have really happened to Xiao Cheng?”

“呸呸呸! Heaven forbid! She’s just talking nonsense, nonsense!”

Hearing this, Song Cheng stopped listening and returned to her room.

Knock, knock, knock…

At the sound of the knocking, Song Cheng frowned slightly as she rolled out of bed and opened the door. Wu Guifang stood there, holding a steaming bowl of silver ear soup. “Sister Feng simmered this for two hours until it became gelatinous. Try it.”

Song Cheng took the soup, and remembering what she had just overheard, she glanced up to see Wu Guifang hesitating, as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t bring herself to.

Wu Guifang awkwardly rubbed her hands together, forcing a smile. “Drink this first. There’s more in the pot,” she gestured to the right. “I’ll bring a bowl to your father too.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Watching her mother’s dejected figure, Song Cheng’s heart trembled slightly. She lifted the bowl of silver ear soup, took a sip, and turned back into her room.

Only after finishing the entire bowl did she rise from her chair, walk to the window, and draw back the curtains. Channeling her true q, she attempted to summon the original owner of this body—Xiao Cheng’s soul—back from wherever it had gone.

Soon, movement stirred outside the window. As the curtains swayed, a nearly transparent soul materialized in mid-air—the original owner of this body, Song Cheng.

Song Cheng appeared dazed, her eyes gradually regaining clarity only after Song Cheng channeled a wisp of true q into her.

“Say a proper goodbye to your parents,” Song Cheng said, turning her head away to endure the discomfort. “They… miss you terribly.”

The now-conscious Song Cheng murmured a “thank you” before eagerly drifting toward Wu Guifang and Song Tianfu’s room.

The moment the soul departed, Song Cheng stumbled, leaning weakly against the wall with a bitter laugh. “Heavenly Dao, you couldn’t be any more cunning, could you? It’s just summoning a soul—was that really necessary?”

In the room ten meters away, Wu Guifang thought she was seeing things. She swore she saw her daughter floating in the air.

She quickly rubbed her eyes, but Xiao Cheng remained suspended. Realizing what was happening, tears streamed down her face. “Xiao Cheng, what happened to you?” she cried, clutching her chest. “Tell Mom who did this to you. I’ll avenge you.”

Hearing her voice, Song Tianfu, who had been lying down, sat up on the bed and gazed at his daughter’s faint, ethereal form. His voice was hoarse as he spoke, “Xiao Cheng, you…”

“Song Cheng” forced a smile. “Dad, Mom, I’m sorry for letting you down. I brought this upon myself.” She pressed her lips together and shook her head, glancing toward her room. “Don’t blame her either. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have been able to see you again.”

At this, Wu Guifang’s tears flowed uncontrollably, like a faucet with a broken seal. She turned and embraced Song Tianfu, sobbing bitterly.

Song Tianfu’s heart ached as he gently patted his wife’s shoulder, asking his daughter, “Then… what about you now?”

“Dad, you can see my condition. I’m just a soul. I’ve been wandering aimlessly these past few days, wanting to come home but unable to find my way back.”

“But how did you…?” Song Tianfu couldn’t bring himself to say the final word. Even now, he couldn’t accept the reality of his daughter’s death.

“Song Cheng” drifted closer, sensing the slight trembling in Song Tianfu and Wu Guifang’s bodies, then immediately retreated to her original position, recalling the events of that day. “I was terribly anxious during the show, my breathing became labored,” she began. As she tried to delve deeper into her memories, a sharp pain erupted in her head, forcing her to clutch her skull in agony.

Hearing her muffled groan, Wu Guifang and Song Tianfu panicked. “Xiao Cheng, we won’t ask anymore! We won’t ask!”

As the pain subsided, “Song Cheng’s” consciousness began to fade again. Seizing her last moment, she bid farewell: “Dad, Mom, your daughter has been unfilial. If there’s an afterlife, I’ll repay your kindness.”

“Silly child, what nonsense are you talking about? You’re our daughter! Who else would we love if not you?” Wu Guifang choked out, tears streaming down her face.

“Song Cheng” knelt in mid-air, kowtowing three times to her parents. “Dad, Mom, take care of yourselves!” With these final words, she forced herself to turn away, suppressing her lingering reluctance. Then, as if remembering something, she paused. “Don’t blame her. My death had nothing to do with her.”

Song Tianfu and Wu Guifang frantically reached out into the air, desperate to grasp her, but their hands closed on nothing. “Xiao Cheng, Xiao Cheng…”

After bidding farewell to her parents, she returned to her room and gazed at Song Cheng, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed. She hesitated, then murmured, “Can I ask you for one thing?” Afraid of being refused, she raised a finger, emphasizing, “Just one thing.”

Song Cheng opened her eyes, enduring the true q surging wildly within her. “Speak.”

“I want to ask you to take care of my parents. They’re good people, and I’ve explained everything to them. They won’t blame you.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll take your family’s wealth?” Song Cheng asked.

“Do you need money? If you really do, just use it. If it runs out, my brother can earn more. He’s a bit of a loudmouth, but he’s good at making money.”

Song Cheng’s lips twitched slightly. She and Song Yu were truly siblings.

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as a yes. Thank you! Goodbye!” With that, “Song Cheng,” fearing rejection, drifted out the window.

Watching the direction “Song Cheng” had vanished, her eyes flickered. What a little fool. They all know I’m not you now. Why would they let me stay?

Oh well. It’ll just be a bit more troublesome later. I’ll come back to visit often.

The Liu Family estate on the outskirts of the city.

Liu Zhongyuan, his eyes gleaming with excitement, rushed to Liu Tianhong, waving his phone. “Grandpa, is this the legendary Inner Force? A microwave with bare hands! It’s so cool!”

Liu Tianhong, who had been reading, immediately snapped his eyes open, his expression electrified. “Where did you see this?”

Liu Zhongyuan tapped the screen, his voice ringing with conviction. “I’ve verified it multiple times. The bento box was cold when she took it, but in the blink of an eye, it started steaming. The internet’s calling her ‘the human microwave’!”

With trembling hands, Liu Tianhong repeatedly made Liu Zhongyuan replay the clip, his voice shaking. “Who is she? Are there any other videos?”

Liu Zhongyuan retrieved his phone and began searching for videos of Song Cheng. “Her name is Song Cheng. She’s on a show with my sister, and they seem pretty close.” His words trailed off abruptly as he stumbled upon a clip of Song Cheng kissing his sister.

Liu Tianhong, who hadn’t heard the end of his sentence, glanced up expectantly. “Continue.”

Liu Zhongyuan stared at the paused image on his phone, utterly certain: they had really kissed.

His sister’s first kiss had been with a woman.

He frantically scratched his head, muttering under his breath, “How could this happen?”

A thought struck him, and he immediately gripped his phone. “Grandpa, I’m going out to make a quick call. If you need anything, ask my eldest sister to help you.” Without waiting for a response, he dashed outside, found a secluded spot, and dialed Liu Zimang’s number.

“Sis, what exactly happened on the show today? How did you end up kissing Song Cheng?” he asked, deliberately lowering his voice to avoid being overheard.

“It was an accident.”

“An accident? That was your first kiss!”

“I’m tired. I’m hanging up.”

Before Liu Zhongyuan could protest, the line went dead. After a moment’s hesitation, he sent Liu Zimang a text message:

Sis, I’ll always be your unwavering support. No matter what happens, I’ll stand behind you and have your back!

Back in the living room, Liu Zitong and Liu Tianhong were watching a video of Song Cheng’s sword dance. The sharp, precise movements of her sword filled them with excitement and awe.

As the video ended, Liu Tianhong quickly grabbed Liu Zhongyuan’s arm. “Were you about to say that Song Cheng is close to your sister? Tell her to come back right now, immediately!”

Liu Zhongyuan looked wary. “My sister’s probably asleep. Why don’t you tell me what you need, and I’ll take care of it?”

“No, we must get your sister back here,” Liu Tianhong insisted. After a moment’s thought, he amended, “If she’s asleep now, we’ll call her tomorrow.”

Liu Zhongyuan’s heart leaped into his throat. He remembered how his sister had returned that night and knelt in the ancestral hall for the entire night. Her knees were probably still bruised. He swallowed hard and asked cautiously, “Grandfather, what’s so urgent that you need to see my sister?”

“That woman is formidable,” Liu Zitong interjected, her gaze fixed on Song Cheng in the video, her eyes filled with admiration.

Liu Zhongyuan’s mind raced. He guessed that his grandfather wanted to learn more about Song Cheng through his sister, and his anxiety finally eased.

The next day, Liu Zimang received a call from Liu Zhongyuan. After much hesitation, she rushed back home.

From the moment she entered the hall, she noticed something different about Liu Tianhong. He even showed her a hint of affection.

Liu Tianhong smiled and waved her over. “Ziman, your brother tells me you’re quite close to Song Cheng. You must know her well. Tell me, what kind of person is she? And how skilled is she in martial arts?”

Last night, she had refreshed her Weibo feed countless times, but Song Cheng never responded. Even as dawn broke, she couldn’t believe Song Cheng would remain silent.

Could she be afraid I’d cling to her?

The thought ignited a surge of anger within her. Damn her, she cursed inwardly.

“Ziman?” Liu Tianhong prompted patiently, reminding her of his question.

Liu Zimang glanced up and caught the lingering impatience in Liu Tianhong’s eyes. Years of pent-up resentment erupted. “I’m not close to her and don’t know her well. If you have nothing else to ask, I’ll leave now.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “I have an event to attend in an hour.” With that, she turned to leave.

Her words infuriated Liu Tianhong. He slammed his hand on the table and rose to his feet. “What kind of attitude is that? I don’t care if you were close to Song Cheng before. From today onward, you must cultivate a close relationship with her. Fulfill her every request to the best of your ability. If you can’t, inform the family, and we’ll handle it.”

Liu Zimang’s long eyelashes trembled slightly as she tightened her grip on her bag. Why had her grandfather suddenly taken such an interest in Song Cheng? More importantly, his attitude was utterly baffling.

A flash of insight struck her, and she seized it, her eyes widening. Grandfather has recognized Song Cheng’s martial arts prowess and wants to recruit her into the family.

The thought made her chuckle softly. With Song Cheng’s temperament, it wouldn’t take a day for her to turn the Liu Family upside down.

Liu Zhongyuan, who was sitting nearby, heard her laughter and immediately coughed lightly to cover it up.

Meanwhile, at the Song Family residence, Song Yu was enjoying a rare day off. After breakfast, he leaned back on the sofa, reading the newspaper, when his phone buzzed with a notification. He slowly set down the paper and picked up his phone.

The message was from his mischievous friend Sun Xin. Assuming it was another pointless video link, Song Yu was about to dismiss it when the words “Song Cheng” caught his eye. He immediately clicked the link with lightning speed.

What he saw next shocked him so much that his phone slipped from his hand and landed on the sofa. His mouth gaped open as he swiveled his head toward the upstairs, his brow furrowed in disbelief.

His sister had kissed someone—and that someone was a woman.

No, not just any woman. It was a woman revered by countless men as a goddess.

This… Would she even be safe going outside?

Though Song Cheng had spent the entire night healing, the lack of spiritual energy meant her efforts had little effect. A closer look revealed her lips were pale, and her steps were unsteady.

She slowly descended the stairs, gripping the railing with one hand. Halfway down, Song Yu rose to his feet. “Have you seen Weibo?”

She looked at him, puzzled. Weibo?

“Don’t tell me you don’t even know what Weibo is! You used to be all over it,” Song Yu said, approaching her with an outstretched hand. “Give me your phone. I’ll check for you.”

Song Cheng was about to say, “My phone’s in my room,” when Song Yu interrupted. “Never mind. I remember you logged in on my phone before. I’ll just log in directly.”

Seeing that Song Yu was indeed fine, she turned her attention to the dining table. She nodded slightly at Wu Guifang and Song Tianfu, whose faces were etched with complex emotions, before sitting down to eat.

She had barely taken two sips of her porridge when Song Yu’s startled voice rang out: “Song Cheng, you’re in trouble!”

Song Tianfu and Wu Guifang, even more anxious than Song Cheng herself, asked in unison, “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” Song Yu strode over, tapping his phone screen rapidly. “The entire internet is demanding you take responsibility for Liu Zimang! How can a girl like you take responsibility for her, huh?”

He scratched his head, pacing back and forth. “And to make matters worse, you left her hanging all night! Look at these comments—they’re all condemning you!”

Song Cheng put down her chopsticks, picked up her phone, and scrolled through the screen. She saw the headline: Song Cheng, Liu Yinghou Demands You Take Responsibility, accompanied by a screenshot she couldn’t understand.

As Song Yu had said, the comments below were filled with accusations of her being a “渣” (scumbag).

How am I a scumbag? This is ridiculous.

But… did kissing someone really mean she had to take responsibility?

She tilted her head, pondering. It seems there’s indeed such a saying in the mortal realm. So, I really should take responsibility for Liu Zimang.

Song Tianfu and Wu Guifang, bewildered, tried to squeeze past to see what was happening, but they were too intimidated by Song Cheng. Instead, they tugged at Song Yu’s sleeve. “What’s going on?”

Song Yu chuckled softly. “Your daughter has gone viral. Her Weibo followers are nearing ten million.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

Song Yu sneered. “The entire internet is tearing your daughter apart, calling her a heartless woman who seduced and abandoned Liu Zimang.” He pointed toward the front door. “Believe me, if you open that door right now, you’ll see fans swarming to confront her.”

Hearing this, Sister Feng wiped her hands on her apron and hurried to the window. After a quick glance, she ducked back and nodded to Wu Guifang. “There are indeed some unfamiliar faces out there.”

Wu Guifang immediately stood up, and she and Song Tianfu rushed to the window to see for themselves.

Song Cheng finished her bowl of congee in one gulp, stood up, and went upstairs. She retrieved her phone from the bedside table, found Zhu Ke’s number, and dialed. “Help me rent a place, ASAP.”

“Sister Song, are you moving out?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s going on? Oh, right, Sister Song,” Zhu Ke lowered her voice, “since you went viral yesterday, so many companies have been trying to get you to collaborate. General Manager Hu sent his assistant to find some tough bodyguards this morning. Do you think he might be planning something against you?”

Song Cheng’s eyes narrowed slightly as she turned to gaze out the window at the clear blue sky. Her voice was icy: “He can’t hurt me.”

“Be careful. I’ll contact you as soon as I find a place.”

After hanging up, Song Cheng immediately opened her call history and, after a moment’s recollection, found Liu Zimang’s phone number. Just as she was about to dial, a knock sounded at the door. She instinctively put down her phone and turned toward the entrance. “Come in!”

Wu Guifang entered, her face etched with hesitation as she approached cautiously. “You… you’re moving out?”

Song Cheng averted her gaze and walked to sit down. “I’m not your daughter. You know that,” she said, spreading her hands. “I trust you, and I don’t want to see me occupying your daughter’s body and wandering around under your noses.”

Wu Guifang shook her head. “No, that’s not it. Xiao Cheng told us you didn’t hurt her. She doesn’t blame you.”

“What about you? Do you blame me for occupying her body?” Song Cheng asked bluntly.

Wu Guifang pressed her lips together and paused. “It would be a lie to say I don’t blame you at all. Her father and I both understand that if it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have even had the chance to see Xiao Cheng one last time.” Her voice choked with emotion. “So, in our hearts, gratitude far outweighs any blame. Seeing you is like seeing Xiao Cheng again.”

Afraid Song Cheng might misunderstand, she quickly added, “I don’t mean to treat you as a substitute for Xiao Cheng. I… could you please not leave?”

Even though she knew the person before her wasn’t her daughter, she still didn’t want Song Cheng to leave. She still wanted to see Song Cheng, to ensure her well-being.

Whether due to the original body’s memories or the familiarity of the past few days, Song Cheng had grown attached to this family. If she could stay, she naturally wouldn’t leave.

Most importantly, she could tell that Wu Guifang genuinely wanted her to remain.

Downstairs, Song Tianfu sighed and finally sought out his son to tell him about Song Cheng. He wanted to prevent his son from angering her out of ignorance.

Anyone capable of summoning his daughter’s soul back from the afterlife was clearly no ordinary person.

The safest approach with such a person was to treat her with utmost respect and care.

To everyone’s surprise, Song Yu, after learning the full story, immediately stood up and headed upstairs. “Mom, I want to talk to her alone.”

Wu Guifang glanced back repeatedly, her eyes filled with worry.

“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt him,” Song Cheng assured her.

This reassurance calmed Wu Guifang’s nerves, and she finally left, though still anxious.

As soon as she was gone, Song Yu stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Song Cheng. “Where did my sister go?”

“By my calculations, she should be reincarnating next month. Unfortunately, her next life won’t be as fortunate; she’ll have to endure some suffering,” Song Cheng replied, making no attempt to conceal the truth. She had no desire to hide anything related to the original owner of this body.

Song Yu’s brow furrowed deeply as he asked urgently, “Why?”

“It’s a rule of the Underworld. Those who die young must face punishment.”

“Is there any way to ensure she has a better next life?” Song Yu’s eyes burned with desperation. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he lowered his head. “She was always simple-minded, never speaking up even when bullied at school. She kept everything bottled up. When she finally mustered the courage to pursue her idol as an adult, it cost her her life. If her next life is even harder, I don’t know if that foolish girl will even survive to adulthood.” His expression grew increasingly grave as he spoke.

Hearing no response from Song Cheng, he knelt directly on the ground. “I know you have a way to spare her from suffering. Please, help her.”

Faced with the same pleading method from both siblings, Song Cheng rolled her eyes and turned to face Song Yu. After a long pause, she slowly spoke, “Don’t go out tonight. No matter what sounds you hear, don’t come out.”

After this, she would owe nothing more to the original owner of this body.

As for her true q, it was originally meant for emergencies. Since this world lacked powerful cultivators, whether she retained her true q or not was no longer critical. When she returned to the cultivation world, she could simply spend extra time replenishing it.

Hearing this, Song Yu knew she had agreed. He repeatedly thanked her before quickly retreating.

As soon as he left, Song Cheng swiftly drew the curtains and resumed her cross-legged meditation on the bed to continue healing.

Nightfall arrived quickly. She rose from the bed and went to the backyard, channeling her true q to summon “Song Cheng’s” soul again. This time, however, she didn’t restore the soul’s consciousness. Instead, she forced open a rift and directly sent “Song Cheng’s” soul through the Gate of Rebirth.

As long as Song Cheng didn’t enter the Samsara Path, her past life wouldn’t be revealed. At this hour, those queuing at the Gate of Rebirth were typically virtuous individuals who had accumulated good karma in their previous lives. While their next lives might not be filled with great wealth and status, they would at least be smooth and prosperous, blessed with longevity.

Once Song Cheng completed this lifetime, she would finally escape the curse of her short-lived fate.

As the rift closed, the bone-chilling wails abruptly ceased, and the souls drifting in the air vanished. Song Cheng’s body could no longer support itself, collapsing weakly to the ground.

Song Yu, who had been observing from the shadows, cast aside his fear and rushed toward Song Cheng, catching her before she hit the ground.

Staring at Song Cheng’s deathly pale face, Song Yu felt both worry and guilt. “Are… are you alright?”

“Take me back. Don’t disturb me,” Song Cheng murmured, her voice barely audible. As she closed her eyes, she added, “When the filming resumes, remember to wake me.” She needed to personally tell Liu Zimang that she would take responsibility.