Eldest Senior Sister Became a Sensation After Being Blacklisted Online - Chapter 22

Liu Zimang picked up her phone, glanced at it, and set it back down on the table. “Don’t worry about it. No matter how hard the media tries, they won’t be able to fabricate any credible reason to smear her.”

Zhang Yux chuckled softly. “It’s not that the media can’t fabricate reasons—it’s simply that Xu We and that charlatan are incomparable.” She leaned closer, bending slightly to try to read Liu Zimang’s expression. “Admit it! When the paparazz caught Song Cheng letting Xu We into her car, you didn’t hesitate for a second before ordering the Public Relations Team to suppress the story immediately. It wasn’t for any other reason—you were just jealous.”

Liu Zimang’s secret thoughts had been exposed. Her hand, resting on her lap, began to fidget, her thumb tapping nervously. She turned her head slightly, avoiding Zhang Yux’s gaze. “It’s different. She entered the industry because of Xu We. If this gets out, all her previous efforts will be for nothing.”

“Efforts? Those netizens are right—when it comes to laziness, no one in the entertainment industry can compare to her,” Zhang Yux scoffed.

Liu Zimang opened her mouth to argue, but remembering Song Cheng’s performance on the show, she simply pressed her lips together and remained silent.

At the Song Family home, Song Tianfu and Wu Guifang were sitting on the sofa, engrossed in watching videos of Song Cheng’s performances. Hearing the door open, they both stood up simultaneously. “Chengz’s back?”

Their smiles faltered slightly when they saw Shen Gu following Song Cheng. “And this is…?” Wu Guifang asked, glancing at Song Tianfu to convey her confusion about why Song Cheng had brought home a fortune-teller.

Song Tianfu shook his head slightly, indicating he was just as clueless.

After changing her shoes, Song Cheng waved her hand dismissively. “I thought he could help Sister Feng, so I reluctantly brought him back.” Remembering something, she added, “No need to pay him a salary.”

Before she could finish, Shen Gu introduced himself with unwarranted familiarity. “I’m Shen Gu. I’m not good at much, but I’m decent at fortune-telling. If you have any feng shu issues or other mysteries you want solved, feel free to ask.” He raised his hand, crossed his thumb and index finger, and rubbed them together several times. “Logically, I shouldn’t charge, but ancestral rules dictate that only when payment is exchanged can karmic consequences be avoided.”

Wu Guifang: “……”

Song Cheng: “……”

In contrast to their speechless reactions, Song Tianfu’s eyes lit up at Shen Gu’s words. He eagerly pulled Shen Gu aside to sit down and began peppering him with questions about divination.

Shen Gu, eager to stay, answered every question Song Tianfu threw at him. Their back-and-forth naturally warmed their conversation.

Seeing the grin on Song Tianfu’s face nearly split his cheeks, Wu Guifang approached Song Cheng with a grave expression. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Chengz, can we trust this man?”

Song Cheng replied honestly, “I don’t know if he’s trustworthy, but he does have some skill. Don’t worry, even if he has ulterior motives, he won’t be able to cause any trouble.” And I won’t let him.

Meanwhile, at the Liu Family residence…

An hour earlier, Liu Tianhong had run into Xu We’s grandfather, Xu Jinrong, who had been boasting about Xu We having mastered a long-lost internal martial art.

What kind of person is Xu We? Liu Tianhong thought. He’s just like my rebellious, useless granddaughter—completely devoid of martial talent.

How could such a useless person master a long-lost internal martial art in just a few days? What a joke!

But when Xu Jinrong showed him videos of Xu We melting ice with his bare hands and heating a cup of water, Liu Tianhong had to believe it.

He immediately tried to pry information from Xu Jinrong about where Xu We had learned this skill.

But that old fox dodged the question, refusing to reveal the identity of the master who had taught Xu We.

How could he possibly accept this? As soon as he returned home, he ordered his younger relatives to investigate. They eventually uncovered a video clip that revealed the truth.

The moment Song Cheng demonstrated her inner strength, Xu We had latched onto his own useless granddaughter. But his granddaughter was too foolish to ask Song Cheng for lessons, allowing the Xu Clan’s good-for-nothing to benefit instead.

The thought made him want to summon Liu Zimang back and give her a severe scolding.

Then he remembered the accidental intimate encounter between Liu Zimang and Song Cheng. He immediately waved at Liu Zitong, who was practicing martial arts in the courtyard. “Call that useless girl and tell her to come home at once.”

Though puzzled, Liu Zitong obeyed.

To her surprise, the call was immediately rejected. She tried several more times, but the result was the same. It finally dawned on her: Liu Zimang had blocked her.

Fury surged through her. She gripped her phone tightly. “I can’t get through.”

Liu Tianhong slammed his fist on the table, rising to his feet. “This is outrageous!” He pointed outside. “Then call Zhong Yuan and tell him to bring his sister back with him.”

Liu Zitong made several more calls, shaking her head. “No answer.”

This time, Liu Tianhong stood up and strode toward the door. “Find your third aunt and get her address. I’ll go wait for her myself.”

After finishing her promotional appearance, Liu Zimang returned to her nanny van under Zhao Q’s protection. She rubbed her tired temples, then lowered her hand, picked up her phone, and checked the day’s trending searches.

Unsurprisingly, Song Cheng once again dominated the top spots.

#SongChengAbandonedHerStudiesToDebutAsASharlatan #RumorsLinkSongCheng’sDebutToASharlatan #SongChengBroughtASharlatanHome #SongCheng’sCompanyChangesOwnership #SongCheng’sFameAboutToFade #SongChengDrivenMadByMoney,AcceptingAny Opportunity

Scoffing at the absurd claims, she tossed her phone aside and asked Zhao Q, who was driving, “Where’s Yu X? I haven’t seen her.”

“Sister X said she was helping Phoenix Sky’s artists find new agencies,” Zhao Q replied truthfully.

Liu Zimang murmured an acknowledgment, leaned back against the seat, and closed her slightly aching eyes.

By the time they reached her apartment, twenty minutes had passed.

As usual, Zhao Q accompanied her upstairs. As the elevator doors opened on their floor, she immediately sensed something was off. She glanced at Zhao Q, who was already in a defensive stance.

“I’ll check the situation first. Stay here until I clear the danger,” Zhao Q said, stepping out of the elevator.

Liu Zimang, believing that trouble was inevitable, disobeyed Zhao Q’s instructions. She cautiously peeked out of the elevator and saw Liu Zitong and Liu Tianhong waiting. Her brow furrowed instantly.

Realizing Zhao Q was no match for Liu Zitong, Liu Zimang immediately called out, “Zhao Q, come back.”

Her voice startled the two figures waiting at her door. Liu Zitong was the first to turn around. “So you finally decided to come home?”

Liu Zimang withdrew her hand and straightened her back. “I came back as soon as I finished work.”

“Hurry up and open the door. Grandpa’s been standing here for half an hour,” Liu Zitong urged.

Sensing Zhao Q’s unease, Liu Zimang gave him a reassuring glance before walking to the door and opening it, allowing Liu Tianhong and Liu Zitong to enter first.

Her intuition told her that the pair’s visit today boded no good. Whether to maintain her dignity or avoid trouble for Zhao Q, she knew he shouldn’t stay.

She stepped back. “You should go. Everything’s fine here.”

Zhao Q frowned, opening his mouth to protest, but seeing the resolute expression on Liu Zimang’s face, he swallowed his words.

With Zhao Q gone, Liu Zimang no longer needed to hold back. She went inside, poured two glasses of water, placed them before her guests, and calmly sat down on the sofa.

Seeing this, both Liu Tianhong and the standing Liu Zitong’s expressions darkened.

She had braced herself for Liu Tianhong’s fury, but to her surprise, he suppressed his anger.

“Call Song Cheng and ask her to come over. I want to talk to her,” Liu Tianhong said, as if anticipating her objection. He added, “Don’t tell me you’re not close to Song Cheng. After what happened between you two, she’ll definitely come if you call.”

Liu Zimang frowned slightly. “You overestimate me.”

“Liu Zimang, you’re still being stubborn at this point? Do you even realize what you missed out on that day? Xu We has already mastered internal energy. What have you gained?” Liu Zitong said, her voice laced with disappointment.

Liu Zimang remained unmoved. Liu Zitong strode over, snatched her bag, and pulled out her phone. She pointed the screen at Liu Zimang, and the phone immediately unlocked.

Liu Zimang lunged to grab it back, but Liu Zitong held it out of reach. She could only watch helplessly as Liu Zitong dialed Song Cheng’s number.

“Song Cheng? This is Liu Zimang’s cousin. I have something I’d like to ask you about. Do you have a moment?” Liu Zitong’s tone softened, losing the harshness she’d used with Liu Zimang.

Liu Zimang, now back on the sofa, unconsciously clenched her hands at her sides. Part of her desperately wanted Song Cheng to agree, while another part feared it.

Once Song Cheng agreed, she would immediately realize Liu Zimang’s embarrassing predicament.

How would Song Cheng see me then?

“Alright, I’ll send you the address.”

Liu Zitong hung up with a smile, which vanished instantly as she turned to Liu Zimang. She handed back the phone. “Here you go.”

The wait was agonizing, but thankfully, Liu Tianhong didn’t confront her during that time.

Ding-dong…

Hearing the doorbell, Liu Zimang glanced at her watch. Only half an hour had passed since Liu Zitong’s call. Given the distance between their locations, Song Cheng couldn’t possibly have arrived so quickly.

Assuming it was someone else, she rose before Liu Zitong and walked calmly toward the door. Even though she knew it wasn’t Song Cheng, her hand froze on the doorknob, lacking the courage to open it.

Impatient with her slowness, Liu Zitong strode over and yanked the handle down. The door swung open, revealing Song Cheng’s slender yet resilient figure.

Sensing Song Cheng’s gaze, Liu Zimang instinctively turned her head away and retreated two steps.

Seeing this, Song Cheng’s eyes narrowed slightly. Forty minutes earlier, she had received a call from Zhao Q, informing her that Liu Zimang was in trouble and needed her help.

The moment she heard the news, she didn’t hesitate. She rushed downstairs and sped over.

Since the driver had already gone home, she conscripted Song Yu to drive her.

Just minutes later, she received another call from Liu Zimang. Before she could offer any reassurance, an unfamiliar voice answered, claiming to be Liu Zimang’s cousin and asking for her advice on something.

Immediately, she suspected that the “trouble” Zhao Q had mentioned was related to Liu Zimang’s family.

Without further hesitation, she agreed to help.

Now, seeing the unconscious vulnerability in Liu Zimang’s expression, she felt her suspicions confirmed. She stopped beside Liu Zimang and naturally took her hand. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Those simple words completely shattered the pent-up emotions Liu Zimang had been suppressing. Her nose stung, and her eyes involuntarily welled up.

She turned her head away, unwilling to let Song Cheng see her like this.

Unbeknownst to her, Song Cheng had noticed every subtle movement. Fury surged through her. She released Liu Zimang’s hand and strode directly to Liu Tianhong, sitting down opposite him. “Who are you? And what do you want from me?”

Her defiant attitude made Liu Tianhong frown slightly. He clenched his fist and swung a punch at her.

She effortlessly caught the blow, chuckled softly, and increased her grip.

In less than five seconds, Liu Tianhong’s stern expression began to crack. A crushing, tearing pain surged through his body. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain silent.

Song Cheng had no intention of letting him off easy. Those who wronged her would pay the price. She increased the pressure slightly. Sweat poured from Liu Tianhong’s face like rain, his features contorting in agony.

Seeing this, Liu Zitong rushed forward, attempting to attack Song Cheng from behind. But Liu Tianhong let out a muffled groan: “Show some respect!”

These four words served both as a warning to Liu Zitong not to antagonize Song Cheng and as a subtle admission of defeat.

But Song Cheng remained unmoved. “I’m fiercely protective of my own,” she said casually. “Anyone who harms my people, no matter who they are, will pay the price.”

Liu Tianhong’s regret gnawed at him. He should never have approached Song Cheng through Liu Zimang, let alone tested the depth of her martial prowess.

He could sense that Song Cheng was using only forty percent of her strength. Even at that level, he was powerless to retaliate. If she unleashed her full power, would he be crushed into dust?

What stung most was Song Cheng’s words. Liu Zimang was his own granddaughter, yet he had allowed an outsider to defend her. The irony was bitter: he himself had been the one oppressing her.

Standing beside Song Cheng, Liu Zimang’s lowered eyelashes trembled slightly, her body faintly shaking, and her lips pressed tightly together.

From childhood, she had endlessly longed for someone to stand unconditionally by her side, protecting her without questioning her faults. Someone who would stand up for her whenever anyone bullied her.

She had once believed that person was her mother, but after her mother was scolded by her father, she never defended Ziman again, even privately criticizing her.

What could she do? She had no choice but to swallow her grievances.

But as the grievances piled up, a rebellious spirit began to fester within her. She refused to be controlled by them, refused to be labeled a “useless failure” just because she lacked martial arts talent. So what if she wasn’t gifted in martial arts? She could still shine brightly in other areas.

Until now, only her younger brother and her best friend, Zhang Yux, had supported this conviction.

Now, Song Cheng had joined their ranks.

This man had dared to boldly declare his intentions before her intimidating grandfather, instilling fear and leaving him speechless.

With those words, what did her previous grievances matter?

Glancing sideways, she noticed Liu Tianhong’s face gradually paling. Her rationality swiftly returned, and she reached out to pat Song Cheng’s shoulder. “He’s still an elder. We should at least save him some face.”

Hearing this, a faint flush returned to Liu Tianhong’s pale face. He wanted to retort, but his hand was still trapped in Song Cheng’s grip.

This time, he had lost all face, both publicly and privately.

Song Cheng hummed in acknowledgment, released Liu Tianhong’s hand, and leaned back against the sofa with her arms spread wide, as if nothing had happened. “If you didn’t come to see me about something, then what is it?”

Liu Zitong’s lips twitched slightly. With how fiercely you protect Liu Zimang, who would dare bring it up again?

Liu Tianhong gasped for breath, collapsing weakly against the sofa. After recovering somewhat, he forced a fawning smile. “I heard you taught Xu We internal cultivation. I was wondering if you could teach the younger generation of the Liu Family as well.” Glancing at Liu Zimang, he quickly added, “Teaching Ziman would be fine too. We’re all family, after all.”

Song Cheng tilted her head to look at Liu Zimang, who was still standing. She patted the space beside her. “Why are you standing? Come sit!”

Liu Zimang didn’t refuse, circling around the sofa to sit beside her.

Song Cheng leaned forward to grab a bottle of mineral water from the coffee table. After twisting open the cap, she handed it to Liu Zimang before speaking slowly, “Who told you that was internal cultivation? This kind of ‘cabbage’ still needs several months to mature!”

“Then what about your ‘handheld microwave’?” Liu Zitong asked anxiously.

Liu Zimang, also curious, turned to look at Song Cheng, waiting for her answer.

Song Cheng picked up another bottle of mineral water, twisted off the cap, and wisps of steam began to rise from the opening.

What impact could a screen possibly convey compared to witnessing such a spectacle in person? The sight left Liu Zitong and Liu Tianhong stunned, while even Liu Zimang’s face was etched with curiosity.

Song Cheng set the bottle down on the table with conviction. “This isn’t internal energy.”

It was the result of her merging internal energy with the Sword Sect’s cultivation methods.

Liu Tianhong’s eyes burned with excitement, casting aside his earlier embarrassment. “Then what is it?”

“It’s a bit like the magic tricks you mentioned,” Song Cheng replied candidly. “Besides heating up meals or roasting sweet potatoes, it doesn’t have much practical use.”

Liu Zimang: “……”

Liu Zitong: “……”

Liu Tianhong: “……”

Sensing their gazes, Liu Zimang desperately wanted to ignore them, but the thought of Song Cheng teaching Xu We privately stirred a flicker of resentment. “We often miss meal times when filming.”

Song Cheng blinked, understanding her unspoken meaning. “When would you like to learn?”

Liu Zimang hadn’t expected such a swift agreement. The sweetness of the offer quickly smothered her resentment, but she maintained her composure. “I’ll let you know when I’m free.”

She had no intention of letting Liu Tianhong and Liu Zitong off easily.

Song Cheng nodded. “Alright.” She stood up from the sofa, glanced at the darkening sky through the window, and turned back to Liu Tianhong. “It’s getting late. Are you staying for dinner?”

Liu Tianhong clearly understood she was being dismissed. He struggled to his feet, bracing himself against the sofa with one hand, and, supported by Liu Zitong, shuffled toward the door.

Noticing Liu Zimang’s reluctance to let her leave, Song Cheng waved her off. “I’ve already eaten. Call me anytime if you need anything. Goodbye.”

Liu Zimang wanted to thank her, but Song Cheng had already closed the door.

As she settled back onto the sofa, her phone rang. She picked it up and saw Zhang Yux’s name on the screen.

“Are you alright? Did they leave? Where’s Song Cheng? Didn’t Zhao Q tell her?”

Liu Zimang lifted the still-steaming mineral water, took a sip, and replied, “She just kicked them out.” A faint smile curved her lips. “The old man called me by my name today.”

Ever since it was discovered she lacked the talent for martial arts, Liu Tianhong had stopped addressing her by name. He always used affectionate nicknames or full names for younger relatives with martial arts aptitude.

Until just now, he had never called her by name again.

What did this mean? It meant her status had changed. Liu Tianhong would no longer dare to look down on her.

And all thanks to Song Cheng’s words.

A cold laugh escaped her lips. “The strong rule supreme. He certainly lives by that to the fullest.”

“Regardless of what the old man thinks, now that you have Song Cheng, you don’t need to fear the Liu Family anymore. By the way, did Song Cheng fight your grandfather?”

“Yes, they did.”

“I knew it! Otherwise, with your grandfather’s feudal mindset, how could he have changed so drastically? I was worried you and Song Cheng wouldn’t last, but now it seems only Song Cheng could shake your family’s feudalism. Alright, I have things to handle here. Get some rest. Bye!”

Downstairs in the garden, Song Cheng and Liu Tianhong stood side by side. Seeing Song Yu start the car and drive toward them, Song Cheng turned slightly and said, “These are the rules of this world. If I see you mistreating her, I won’t hesitate to replace the head of your family.”

Earlier, while teaching Xu We, she had managed to extract some useful information from him.

In this era, five Ancient Martial Arts Clans still existed, with the Xu and Liu Families among them.

These clans deeply cherished the martial arts techniques passed down by their ancestors. Every young member, male or female, began training at the age of five. By seven, they underwent a test to weed out those lacking aptitude.

The Xu Clan was relatively lenient, not ostracizing those without martial talent. The Liu Family, however, treated such individuals with mockery and cold indifference.

Liu Zimang’s attitude toward Liu Tianhong was complex, a mixture of respect and fear. While the exact nature of their relationship remained unclear, it was evident that Liu Tianhong held a position of authority within the Liu Family.

She cared nothing for Liu Tianhong’s or the Liu Family’s status among the Ancient Martial Arts Clans. All that mattered was that no one would mistreat those she sought to protect.

“You…” Liu Zitong stepped forward, but Liu Tianhong stopped her with a warning glance.

Smiling, Liu Tianhong said, “I’ll remember your words. From now on, no one will dare give Ziman a cold shoulder when she returns home—myself included.”

Song Cheng hummed in acknowledgment, opened the car door, and got in.

Only after the car had completely disappeared from view did Liu Tianhong withdraw his gaze. Liu Zitong could no longer contain herself. “Grandfather, she’s gone too far.”

“She has the ability to go too far,” Liu Tianhong said, taking a few steps forward before turning to gaze up at the floor where Liu Zimang resided. “Whether the Liu Family rises to prominence depends entirely on her now!”

“But she…”

Liu Tianhong raised his hand, cutting off Liu Zitong’s unfinished sentence. “It doesn’t matter if her heart isn’t with the Liu Family. As long as she’s here, we won’t stand against Song Cheng. That man,” he paused, “we can’t afford to provoke him, and neither can the other families.”

A thought struck him, and he turned to Liu Zitong. “That charlatan the Chen Family is after—you said he’s staying at Song Cheng’s house?”

“Yes, Song Cheng took him back, and he hasn’t been seen since.”

“Then go straight back to the Chen Family and tell them the Liu Family is currently undergoing restructuring and has no time for this. Let them go bang their heads against a stone wall themselves.”

Song Yu, who was driving, glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed Song Cheng’s slightly weary expression. He quickly asked, “Are you alright?”

Song Cheng frowned slightly and shook her head.

Yet inwardly, she was filled with confusion. She had only used forty percent of her strength—how could she be so exhausted?

Even if she hadn’t fully recovered to her peak condition at Kang Sheng, she shouldn’t feel this drained. Could Shen Gu’s words be true? Had exhausting her true q left hidden vulnerabilities in her body?

As this thought settled, her expression grew grave. Upon returning home, she strode toward Shen Gu, ignoring Wu Guifang and Song Tianfu’s astonished gazes. With a single hand, she lifted Shen Gu and carried him to the back garden. “Tell me,” she demanded, “what’s really wrong with my body?”