Shen Lin frowned.
Because her daughter was in the entertainment industry, she was extremely knowledgeable about all matters within it. She had gathered firsthand information on every actor in the crew, down to the smallest extra, let alone a popular young actress like Nan Nan.
When Nan Nan debuted, she was crowned with the title of "sweetheart," deeply loved by netizens.
But some had also revealed that before her debut, Nan Nan was a bit of a delinquent, with a very poor reputation at school.
Had she brought this habit of bullying others into the film crew as well?
Shen Lin glanced at Nan Nan without changing her expression.
She saw that Nan Nan had completely shed her previous vicious demeanor and was now sitting next to Yan Ting with a sweet smile.
Yan Ting was reading the script, looking impatient. He stood up and left.
Yet, Nan Nan continued to stare at Yan Ting's retreating figure.
Seeing this, Shen Lin understood everything.
So, it was because of the news from a few days ago at the airport, where Yaoyao and Yan Ting appeared together in the same frame, that had made certain people jealous.
Originally, she had just wanted to borrow Yan Ting's fame to pave the way for Yaoyao. How could she have anticipated it would lead to such consequences?
"Mom, I can't keep filming."
Rong Ruoyao's tears simply wouldn't stop.
She thought that joining this major production meant waiting for her star to rise.
She never dreamed in her wildest dreams that she would encounter such a thing. Complaining to the director was useless; the director would definitely think Nan Nan was professional and accuse her, Ruoyao, of being a minor star with a major attitude.
"Keep filming," Shen Lin said in a low voice. "You need to understand one thing: suffering a loss can be a blessing. All the grievances you endure now will become flowers blooming on your path to progress."
Having been mother and daughter for so many years, Rong Ruoyao understood immediately upon hearing this.
She returned to the set and continued filming. Nan Nan, probably having grown tired of the game, didn't trouble Rong Ruoyao further, also likely fearing it would slow down the progress.
But Rong Ruoyao seemed to have suddenly lost her composure.
One moment she was suddenly plunging headfirst into a water vat, the next she was inexplicably falling to the ground...
Shen Lin silently recorded these scenes, processed the videos to make them slightly blurry—as if taken from a distance—and then sent them to a marketing account she had collaborated with before.
Half an hour later.
Rong Ruoyao and Nan Nan were trending together.
#OnSetBullying#
#NanNanPersonaCollapse#
#RongRuoyaoTrulyPitiful#
Comments began to surface digging into Nan Nan's past.
"When she was in high school, she liked forming cliques and bullying others. I can finally say it now; fans, wake up."
"Rong Ruoyao is truly pitiful, bullied to the point she doesn't even dare cry. My heart aches for her."
"Are you all blind? Clearly, Rong Ruoyao is deliberately framing Nan Nan, pretending to be weak to win netizens' sympathy."
"My Nan Nan's acting is great, but she's being held back by Rong Ruoyao."
"There have been crew extras who spoke out before, saying Nan Nan likes to bully newcomers..."
"It's all just hearsay and rumors..."
Netizens held their own opinions, arguing endlessly.
Shen Lin watched as Rong Ruoyao's popularity kept rising, her Weibo followers increasing by tens of thousands, and she smiled slightly.
As long as it increased her popularity, what did a moment of grievance matter?
The airplane soared through the clouds.
While the capital was still in the midst of heavy snowfall, Haicheng was bathed in bright sunshine.
Rong Yu had just disembarked when she received Tang Che's reply: "Haicheng probably won't have snow this year. I was very happy to enjoy the capital's first snow with you."
Rong Yu frowned.
The video of enjoying the snow was something she had sent out yesterday in the early hours. It had been over a day before Tang Che replied.
It was impossible for him to reply to her message so late.
She looked up and instructed the driver, "To the Tang residence."
The car drove halfway up the mountainside. Rong Yu and Old Master Ji appeared at the entrance of the Tang family home and were respectfully ushered inside by a servant.
Seeing them, Tang Youyi looked displeased.
But he also knew that his uncle valued Ji Shunying and was also very fond of this young lady, Rong Yu.
He paused before speaking, "Uncle has been unconscious for two days and is currently undergoing physical examinations. Please wait a few minutes."
Rong Yu didn't have to wait anxiously for long before being led inside.
The room was filled with the lingering smell of medicine. Tang Che, lying in bed, seemed to have aged further. His eyelids slowly opened, and seeing it was Rong Yu, he managed a difficult smile. "A-Yu, you... how did you get here? Cough, cough, cough..."
He broke into a violent coughing fit.
Rong Yu quickly sat by the bedside, gently patting his back.
Seeing him so ill, her heart ached, and she didn't know what to say. She forced a smile and said, "Rest well and get better, you must recover..."
Tang Che leaned against the headboard. "Don't worry, I won't die for now. A-Yu, a few days ago, I had people clean out the storeroom and found something good."
The butler immediately went to the cabinet and retrieved a small box.
Opening the box revealed several photographs—letters she had sent to Tang Che some seventy or eighty years ago.
Back then, she had gone abroad, while Tang Che remained in the country.
They had maintained correspondence.
Her first speech at the overseas university.
Her first participation in a major scientific research project.
Her acceptance of Ji Zheng's marriage proposal.
Her and Ji Zheng walking into the marriage hall...
These moments, captured by her classmates, were ones she had selected and mailed to Tang Che, asking him to forward them to her parents and family.
But.
In the second year after she went abroad.
Her parents and brothers had successively gone to the battlefield, all sacrificing their lives.
These photographs had all been kept by Tang Che.
"Take them back," Tang Che said with a smile. "There probably aren't many photos he left behind. Consider these... something for you to remember him by."
Rong Yu was deeply moved. "Thank you, Tang Che."
Tang Che's health was too poor; after chatting for a while, he was struggling to stay awake.
Rong Yu, accompanied by the old man's son, stood up to leave.
As the two passed through the living room on their way out, Madam Tang was sitting there. She caught sight of the box in Rong Yu's hand, and her expression instantly cooled. She said with a slight sneer, "What has Uncle given to this little star now?"
Tang Youyi frowned. "They're just a few ordinary photographs. What are you thinking now?"
"A few days ago, the old master arranged for dozens of people to clean out the storeroom. Many valuable items have mysteriously disappeared," Madam Tang said with a stern face. "I've asked Tang Jiaquan to investigate, to see what exactly is going on."
Tang Jiaquan was the eldest grandson of the Tang family's current generation.
As soon as his name was mentioned, he walked in, followed by a large group of people. "Grandfather, Grandmother, I've looked into it. The old master has sold off some precious antiques from the storeroom, converted them into cash, and deposited it all into a separate anonymous account. It's unclear what he intends to do. As juniors, it's not appropriate for us to question the old master directly. Therefore, I've specially brought the elders of the Tang clan here to seek clarification."
The Tang family was a large clan, with seven or eight elders alone. One was of the same generation as Tang Che, though slightly younger, also over ninety years old.
Tang Youyi's brow furrowed deeply. "Uncle just fell asleep. The doctor said he must rest quietly. With so many of you, it's not suitable for a visit."
Madam Tang smiled. "They're all members of the Tang family themselves. How can they not be allowed to visit? Please, everyone, have a seat for a while. You can go in once the old master wakes up."
Tang Che's health was poor, and his sleep was light; a nap lasted only twenty or thirty minutes. The group could afford to wait.
Not long after, the butler came to the front. "The old master has heard that the clan elders have arrived. He invites everyone over for tea."
