Eldest Senior Sister Became a Sensation After Being Blacklisted Online - Chapter 19

The commotion in the courtyard naturally startled Song Tianfu and Wu Guifang. They hurried outside, still dressing, and opened the door to find their son carrying Song Cheng.

Wu Guifang’s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn’t comprehend how Song Cheng, who had been perfectly fine during the day, could suddenly be so weak. She immediately wanted to ask what had happened.

“Mom, I’ll take her back to rest first. I’ll explain everything later,” Song Yu said quickly. Each time his peripheral vision caught Song Cheng’s pale face, his guilt deepened.

She could have refused, but she had still done it, even at the cost of her own health.

Wu Guifang hastily stepped aside and followed Song Yu as they carried Song Cheng to her bed. To ensure her comfort, Wu Guifang turned on the air conditioner and adjusted the temperature to a comfortable level before leaving, glancing back every few steps.

Once downstairs, she couldn’t resist slapping Song Yu’s arm. “What exactly happened? She was perfectly fine during the day!”

Recalling what he had witnessed in the backyard, Song Yu’s hand trembled on his lap. “She said those with short lifespans must be punished, and that my sister’s next life would be even more miserable. I… I begged her to help my sister.”

Song Tianfu and Wu Guifang gaped, struggling to find their voices. Wu Guifang slapped her thigh. “This… this is fate! Your sister’s fate! Why didn’t you use your brain? Do you think fate can be changed so easily?”

Song Tianfu pushed forward. “But did it work in the end? Your sister…?”

Song Yu nodded stiffly. “I think it worked. I saw her being taken through a massive gate.” He instinctively crossed his arms, shaking his head. “It was terrifying. So many ghosts, and they were all so ugly.”

Wu Guifang didn’t know how to respond, her gaze toward Song Yu now tinged with exasperation. She looked upstairs. “This whole affair means we owe her. You all need to treat her with more respect from now on. No more acting out of line.”

For once, Song Yu didn’t protest, nodding obediently.

Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare defy someone who could summon spirits and open pathways to the Underworld. What difference would it make compared to an egg challenging a rock?

Song Cheng slept straight through until the third day, just in time for the show’s filming to resume.

As Song Cheng opened her eyes, she saw Wu Guifang sitting by her bedside, gazing at her with deep concern. “You’re awake. Do you feel any better?”

Song Cheng pushed herself up to a sitting position, her face still pale but much improved compared to when she had fainted. The lingering weakness from her depleted true q had also largely subsided. “I’m fine,” she said.

No sooner had the words left her lips than her stomach growled in protest, betraying her.

“Song Yu said you told him not to wake you,” Wu Guifang said, lowering her head and clenching her hands on her lap. “I… I could only moisten your lips.”

Song Cheng’s heart warmed, and a faint smile touched her lips. “Thank you. I’m fine.” With that, she threw back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

Wu Guifang had been worried, but seeing that Song Cheng seemed otherwise normal except for her pallor, she relaxed slightly and stood up. “I asked Sister Feng to make some congee. Come downstairs and have a bowl.”

Song Cheng nodded slightly and quickly changed into fresh clothes. As she passed the vanity, she glanced at her reflection and noticed her poor complexion. She immediately pulled open a drawer, intending to apply some makeup.

Wu Guifang saw through her intention and stepped forward to help.

Wu Guifang’s skillful hands quickly applied a light layer of makeup to Song Cheng’s face. The makeup enhanced her features, giving them a more defined and refined appearance. While still not striking, her face became remarkably pleasing to the eye.

After finishing the fragrant rice porridge, Song Cheng stood up and walked straight toward the door.

“Cheng, Chengz, you’re a big star now. I asked your brother to get you a car, and the driver should be here soon.” Wu Guifang glanced at Song Cheng from head to toe. “Wait for me a moment.”

When she returned, she held a hat and mask, which she carefully placed on Song Cheng. “Those reporters and fans not only make things up but also love to stalk people. You need to be extra careful when you go out.” She paused. “If you don’t like the entertainment industry, just come home. We can afford to take care of you.”

Wu Guifang tapped her head and pulled a bank card from her purse, pressing it into Song Cheng’s hand. “The PIN is six sixes.”

Song Cheng lowered her gaze to the bank card in her palm. An unfamiliar warmth flooded her, tempting her to indulge in it. But reason told her this warmth wasn’t hers to claim. “There’s no need for this. I only acted because I was borrowing this body.”

Wu Guifang grasped Song Cheng’s hand, shaking her head. “I want to be good to you because you deserve it,” she said hesitantly. “If you don’t mind, you can still call me Mom.”

Over the past two days, Wu Guifang had checked on Song Cheng every two hours. The rest of her time was spent watching Song Cheng’s performances on the show. It was heartbreaking to see such a capable person lying unconscious in bed for two days, all to help her daughter. She had considered taking Song Cheng to the hospital, but Song Cheng was no ordinary person, and Wu Guifang feared that her well-intentioned actions might harm her.

Whenever she saw Song Cheng’s pale, bloodless face, her heartache outweighed her gratitude. As for blame, she had long since cast it to the winds.

Song Cheng’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. Regardless of Wu Guifang’s reasons for wanting to deepen their bond, Song Cheng, who had never experienced maternal love, felt her heart stir at the tenderness in Wu Guifang’s eyes. “Okay,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Mom.”

“Aiya!” Wu Guifang’s face lit up with a radiant smile, though her eyes brimmed with tears.

She wiped away her tears and took Song Cheng’s hand, leading her to the door. After confirming there were no unfamiliar faces outside, she let Song Cheng step out. “I’ve already told Zhu Ke to go straight to the production team. If you’re still asleep, she’ll request a leave of absence for you. You… you won’t mind me taking the initiative, will you?”

Song Cheng shook her head. “No, I know you’re worried about my health.” Reluctantly, she released Wu Guifang’s hand. “Mom, you go back inside. No one here can harm me.”

Even without her true q, she still possessed the martial arts skills she had learned in the mortal realm—more than enough for self-defense and combat.

Wu Guifang didn’t immediately return inside. She watched Song Cheng enter the building before turning back.

The driver, having been instructed by Wu Guifang to avoid reporters at all costs, had carefully planned a route early that morning. He dropped Song Cheng off at the production team’s back entrance. Fearing reporters might be lying in wait, he first got out to scout the area. Only after confirming there were no reporters did he allow Song Cheng to exit the car.

Song Cheng had never liked causing trouble. This wasn’t the cultivation world where she could simply use force. Moreover, since this arrangement had been made by Wu Guifang, she had no intention of refusing.

Song Cheng entered the production area smoothly and immediately looked toward the mentors’ seats. Seeing that Liu Zimang had already arrived, she was about to step onto the stage when Zhu Ke grabbed her arm. “Sister Song, have you been alright these past few days?”

Song Cheng shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“What about the house?” Zhu Ke asked cautiously.

“No need to look for a house anymore,” Song Cheng replied, stepping onto the stage. Just as her foot touched the platform, Xu We excitedly ran over. “You’re finally here! I transferred the money a few days ago. Check your phone.”

Hearing the word “money,” Song Cheng immediately shifted her gaze from Liu Zimang, pulled out her phone, and checked. There was indeed a transfer record.

“You can’t back out now,” Xu We said anxiously, fearing she might change her mind at the last minute.

His grandfather had praised him repeatedly for securing internal martial arts training for only 500,000 yuan, urging him to cultivate a good relationship with Song Cheng and get closer to her.

He would have rejected such requests from anyone else, but with Song Cheng, he didn’t mind.

Having no natural talent for martial arts since childhood, he deeply envied those who were skilled in combat, especially those with extraordinary martial prowess. After living for so many years, he believed Song Cheng was the most formidable martial artist he had ever encountered.

Not only were her sword techniques astonishing, but she also possessed a long-lost internal energy cultivation method. How many people in the world today could achieve such a feat?

Song Cheng would never refuse money that fell into her lap. She immediately agreed, “Don’t worry, I won’t. I’ll teach you after we’re done here. It’s very simple.”

Xu We was puzzled. Books and his grandfather had always said that mastering internal energy cultivation took at least several years, and often decades. How could Song Cheng claim it was “very simple”?

Seizing the opportunity while Xu We was still stunned, Song Cheng lifted her leg to walk toward Liu Zimang. But after only two steps, Zeng Jiong’s voice rang out: “Mentor Xu, Teacher Song, please return to your positions.”

Reluctantly, she retreated and headed back to the waiting area. She habitually lay down on the rope, turning slightly to look at Liu Zimang.

Sensing her gaze, Liu Zimang shifted slightly, her hand clenching tightly at her side.

She had waited for two whole days. During that time, Song Cheng hadn’t called, texted, or even replied to her messages on Weibo.

She could no longer deceive herself. Song Cheng simply didn’t like her.

The realization pierced her heart like a needle. She couldn’t muster the energy for anything, forcing herself to carry on.

If she doesn’t like me, why does she keep looking at me?

It was that very look in her eyes that had led Song Cheng to mistakenly believe she liked her, making her the laughingstock of the entire internet.

That night, Zhang Yux had urged her to issue a statement claiming it was a misclick, but Song Cheng refused. She wanted to use this opportunity to gauge Zhang Yux’s true feelings for her.

But what happened? Zhang Yux pursed her lips and turned her head away, refusing to meet her gaze.

Sensing her rejection, Song Cheng reluctantly averted her eyes, resolving to speak to Zhang Yux privately after the show.

“Today is an exhilarating day, as we will witness the crowning of the champion, runner-up, and third-place winner of this competition! Not only are all of you eagerly anticipating this moment, but I’m equally thrilled! Without further ado, let’s reveal the competition format. To ensure fairness, each guest will freely choose a talent they excel in to showcase. The five mentors will score each performance based on their specific merits. As in the previous rounds, the guest with the lowest score will be eliminated.” Zeng Jiong’s announcement was met with thunderous applause.

Unlike previous rounds, a significant number of audience members were now cheering for Song Cheng.

This sparked envy in Song Shu and Xu Meng.

Song Cheng chose to ignore them.

As before, the order of performances was determined by a lottery draw. True to form, Song Cheng once again chose to perform last.

First to perform was Song Shu, who chose to play the violin. Her selection was a piece of ninth-grade difficulty, which she executed with seamless fluidity and expressive precision, earning a high score of 9.5.

Next was Meng Jie, who opted for a solo vocal performance. Like Song Shu, she selected a challenging song, her high notes ringing out with both clarity and accuracy, earning her an even higher score of 9.7.

The exceptional performances of the first two contestants put considerable pressure on Xu Meng. Nervous as she took the stage, she wisely avoided competing with their instrumental and vocal prowess, instead choosing to dance. Her movements were graceful and fluid, earning her a 9.7 from Liu Zimang alone. Inspired by Liu Zimang’s high score, the other mentors followed suit, awarding similarly high marks, resulting in a composite average score of 9.6.

Before Zeng Jiong could even invite her, the audience erupted in unison: “Song Cheng! Song Cheng!”

Amidst the sustained cheers, Song Cheng walked onto the stage empty-handed. “I don’t have many talents,” she said. “How about another sword dance?”

Zeng Jiong instinctively tightened his collar. “Teacher Song, you’ve already taken the only real sword. The production team doesn’t have a second one. How about playing the flute instead?” He signaled to a staff member, who swiftly presented her with a flute.

Song Cheng didn’t refuse. She picked up the flute, ready to play, when Xu We suddenly stood up. “I learned a few dance routines recently,” he said. “Teacher Song, would you mind if I danced along to your music?”

Liu Zimang’s eyes widened slightly. She and Xu We had grown up together, and she knew he was socially awkward—borderline reclusive, even. What had gotten into him today? Not only had he greeted Song Cheng so familiarly, but he was now volunteering to dance with her?

Remembering that Xu We had helped her earn money, Song Cheng gestured with the flute, indicating her agreement.

The audience’s gasps grew louder, and even viewers watching from home were buzzing with excitement.

Oh my god, Song Cheng and Xu We performing together! I can’t wait!

Song Cheng, you heartbreaker! You dumped him after just a few days! You owe my Best Actress her first on-screen kiss back! Best Actress, don’t be sad—let’s demand justice for that stolen kiss!

The commenter above is right, Song Cheng is a total jerk. But what can I do? I’m still dying to see her performance with my darling Xu We! His dancing is so mesmerizing—both handsome and alluring!

I’m ready to screenshot! Let’s start!

Me too! Me too!

With Song Cheng’s approval, Xu We swiftly moved to her side. He was dressed in a loose-fitting, traditional white ensemble. As the flute’s melody began, his body immediately responded, launching into motion.

Unlike ordinary dances, this performance incorporated martial arts techniques. Though he couldn’t fully execute the moves, the fusion created a unique and captivating aesthetic.

Song Cheng wore a grass-green, traditional Chinese-style gown. Combined with her innate, striking presence, she commanded attention simply by standing still.

As the tempo quickened, Xu We’s movements grew increasingly rapid. By the end of the piece, he was panting slightly, his steps faltering. Seeing this, Song Cheng extended her flute to steady him, eliciting screams from the audience.

Only Liu Zimang clenched her fists at her side, involuntarily recalling the netizens’ earlier criticisms of Song Cheng: attention-seeking, just trying to get Xu We’s attention.

Watching the pair standing side-by-side, her eyes narrowed slightly. Song Cheng, you must be so smug right now. Not only have you realized your dream of performing with Xu We, but you’ve also become famous.

And what about me? What am I worth?

Struggling to control her emotions, she shakily picked up her pen to score their performance. For a fleeting moment, she considered writing a zero, but a sliver of rationality told her she couldn’t.

If she did that, the media would make a huge fuss, and her hard-earned career would be ruined.

With this thought, she gradually calmed down and ultimately gave a score of 9.9.

Since Xu We had danced with Song Cheng, Zeng Jiong was assigned to score Song Cheng’s performance. Like the other mentors, Zeng Jiong also gave a high score of 9.9.

This wasn’t favoritism; Song Cheng’s flute playing genuinely deserved it. Her music drew listeners into its world, their emotions rising and falling with the melody’s ebb and flow.

Unsurprisingly, Song Cheng won the championship.

Zeng Jiong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The sword had been the original prize for the champion, and now he wouldn’t have to worry about the hastily prepared substitute prize being inadequate.

He immediately accepted the trophy and prize from a staff member and approached Song Cheng, lowering his voice. “Teacher Song, please forgive me. About the sword…” He trailed off, confident Song Cheng would understand.

Song Cheng accepted the trophy, glanced at the prize—a substantial gold ingot—and looked away without comment, tacitly accepting it.

After the group photo, Song Cheng quickly shoved the cumbersome trophy into Zhu Ke’s arms and hurried after Liu Zimang. “Do you have time? Let’s talk.”

Liu Zimang didn’t even glance at her. “No time.”

That cold expression made it seem as if their previous interactions had been nothing more than fleeting illusions. The thought sparked a surge of frustration in Song Cheng. “Then when will you have time?”

“You can ask my assistant or agent.”

If Song Cheng had merely sensed resistance earlier, she was now certain Liu Zimang was deliberately avoiding her.

She didn’t pursue further. Instead, she awkwardly fumbled with her phone, trying to send Liu Zimang a message. The more she rushed, the more difficult it became to accurately type the pinyin.

Zhu Ke approached, immediately noticing Song Cheng’s anger. She shrank back slightly. “Sister Song, what’s wrong?”

Song Cheng, naturally unwilling to admit she couldn’t type, turned slightly away. “Nothing.”

Zhu Ke nodded, half-convinced. “General Manager Hu just called. He wants you to go to the company to discuss something.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “I don’t think it’s good news.”

After a moment’s thought, Song Cheng picked up her phone and dialed Hu Tianyu’s number. “I’m busy,” she said curtly before hanging up and heading for the back exit.

From a distance, she spotted fans waiting outside the door. As soon as they saw her, a chorus of excited gasps erupted. They surged forward, but three security guards, holding hands to form a human shield, blocked their path.

If the back exit was this crowded, the front entrance would undoubtedly be even worse.

Frowning deeply, Song Cheng muttered, “The entertainment industry is such a headache.”

She missed the days when she could come and go freely.

Zhu Ke glanced at the fans waving frantically in their direction and swallowed nervously. “Sister Song, should we take the underground parking garage?”

Song Cheng nodded slightly in agreement.

“Song Cheng, wait! You promised to teach me!” Xu We called out breathlessly, catching up to them.

Having made the promise herself, Song Cheng couldn’t refuse, even though her mind was in turmoil. She reluctantly allowed Xu We to join them in the car.

Meanwhile, Liu Zimang, already seated in the car, kept glancing at the phone in her hand.

Concerned about her state, Zhang Yux, who had accompanied her, pursed her lips. “It’s been two days already. If we don’t release a statement soon, things will only get worse for us.”

Liu Zimang glanced at her phone again but remained silent.

Recognizing her tacit agreement, Zhang Yux snatched the phone from her hand, logged into Weibo, and posted:

Thank you all for your concern. I originally planned to select a few lucky fans to receive gifts I had carefully prepared, but I accidentally triggered something during the selection process. I never imagined it would cause such a misunderstanding. I sincerely apologize! To express my remorse, I will now use a system-generated random draw to select 1,000 lucky fans!

After posting the update, Zhang Yux sighed deeply. “If you’d posted this that night, we could have minimized the damage. Now… ugh!” She shook her head, recalling Liu Zimang’s strange behavior and stubbornness these past two days. “You… you like her?”

Liu Zimang pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

The moment she kissed Song Cheng, she knew she had fallen for her. She felt no shame in loving another woman. Ever since witnessing her father’s groveling subservience to his mistress and his domineering treatment of her mother and herself, she had harbored little affection for men.

Later, after entering the entertainment industry, she endured repeated harassment from men, further solidifying her aversion.

Zhang Yux and Zhao Q, who was driving, stared wide-eyed, their jaws dropping so far they could have swallowed an egg.

“Focus on driving,” Liu Zimang reminded them.

Zhao Q and Zhang Yux finally regained their composure. Zhang Yux patted her chest, intending to offer comfort, but changed her mind at the last moment. “I saw she wanted to explain earlier. Why didn’t you listen?”

“Listen to what? To her saying she can’t overcome her own reservations? Or that she has no feelings for me?” Liu Zimang retorted.

“What if something delayed her?” Zhao Q suggested weakly.

Liu Zimang scoffed, turning to gaze out the window. “This is S City, not some remote mountain village. Even if she were sick, she’d still have internet access.”

If she had internet access and didn’t reply, wasn’t that rejection?

Why should Liu Zimang humiliate herself further?

“Making a fool of myself once is enough. I won’t do it again.”

Her words silenced Zhao Q and Zhang Yux immediately, plunging the spacious nanny van into an awkward silence.

After finishing tutoring Xu We, Song Cheng pushed open the door to find an unexpected guest in the living room.

She casually placed the trophy on a nearby table and addressed Hu Tianyu, who was sitting on the sofa, “Let’s talk outside.”

Hu Tianyu’s face immediately lit up at the sight of her. He grabbed the documents beside him and followed Song Cheng outside. “You mentioned last time you didn’t want endorsements or commercials, so I specifically found some variety shows with good reputations and high appearance fees. Take a look.”

Song Cheng leaned lazily against a pillar. “I’m not going.”

The smile on Hu Tianyu’s face stiffened slightly. “If you don’t like these, we can look at others. Now that you’re popular, resources are pouring in. We can afford to be picky.”

Song Cheng glanced at Hu Tianyu. “You really want me to choose?” She straightened up from the pillar. “Then find me some with no appearance fees.”

Hu Tianyu’s eyes darted around twice. “Alright, I’ll go back and look again. I’ll call you when I find something suitable.”

No appearance fees? That’s easy. The company keeps all the profits.