Chapter 023: Second Watch

Flower Yu pointed at Tang Su’s social media post, looking at Song Wan in astonishment. “Did someone cast a spell on Tang Su? What does this have to do with her?”

Recalling the news the Gossip Detective Agency had given her, a sharp, piercing light flashed in Song Wan’s eyes.

Flower Yu was startled. “Song Wan?”

Song Wan replied, “It’s nothing. Let’s get back to filming. Director Zhou will handle this matter.”

The main storyline of “Dream of Splendor” centered on the emotional entanglement between the male and female leads. Yet beyond the romance, the drama was laced with the shifting tides of a dying dynasty. To seize power, all factions schemed and plotted, planting spies in each other’s ranks, giving the plot a suspenseful and exhilarating edge.

In essence, it was a pure commercial drama.

Today, they were supposed to shoot the scene where, after the female lead’s identity changes dramatically, she witnesses her beloved foster father slay her birth mother before her very eyes. The trauma leaves her broken, and she’s dragged home by Liu Ya, where she unexpectedly meets her biological father.

This pivotal scene made Liu Ya realize her status in her father’s heart was not the same as Liu Wan’s—she was merely a pawn for political gain; Liu Wan was the true daughter.

Thus, Liu Ya seized the moment, killed her own father, inherited his power, and committed herself to turning the world upside down, becoming a formidable adversary to the main couple.

...

Gu Yi scrolled through the flood of hateful comments about Song Wan online, feeling utterly lost.

She’d finally found an actress who embodied her vision of Miao Yu, yet the show hadn’t even aired, and she hadn’t seen Miao Yu brought to life on screen. Was this newcomer really going to be ruined before she even began? And was it really true she’d gotten the role by sleeping with the director?

Not only was she in disbelief, but even the fans who, upon her recommendation, had instantly fallen in love with Song Wan as Miao Yu, were now left in stunned silence.

The turn of events had been too abrupt; just as they were about to celebrate, a bucket of ice water quenched their joy, leaving them chilled to the bone.

After a long silence, someone finally spoke up in the group chat.

“Miao Miao Loves Yu Yu”: So, did this newcomer really get the role by sleeping with the director?

A minute later, another person hesitated before replying—

“Author Drop Dead”: …I don’t want to believe it, but a lot of people were after the role of Miao Yu, right? Several of them are hugely popular actresses with massive fan bases. Song Wan is clearly a newcomer. Normally, a role this important and high-profile wouldn’t go to someone like her.

Gu Yi read the message in silence, feeling even worse.

“Author Drop Dead” was a die-hard Miao Yu fan who, after selling the adaptation rights, had become a notorious anti-fan of the author. At the same time, they worked in the entertainment industry, had been on several sets, and were well-informed.

So their words carried almost absolute credibility.

Sure enough, after the message, people began to pop up in the chat, asking if the rumors online were true.

“Author Drop Dead”: I’m not sure either.

“Author Drop Dead”: I do know that a lot of people wanted the role of Miao Yu, but I also know that at first, Director Zhou Qi turned down every actress who tried for the part—no one could sway him. Then everyone found out the role had been left unfilled for months.

“Author Drop Dead”: Apparently, Director Zhou Qi has a powerful background—no ordinary person can pressure him.

“Author Drop Dead”: But as for how Song Wan ended up getting cast as Miao Yu, I have no clue, so honestly, I’m conflicted too.

The group chat fell silent again.

They were all true Miao Yu fans, and those two character posters Song Wan had shot were the living image of Miao Yu in their hearts. Their affection for Song Wan was real, albeit brief, which made the scandal all the harder to take.

After a long time, Gu Yi could no longer hold back and typed a line in the chat.

“Miao Yu Self-Inflicted”: I believe that an actress who resembles Miao Yu so much would never do such a thing!

As Gu Yi expected, her message was quickly met with rebuttals.

“Miao Miao Loves Yu Yu”: Are you out of your mind? Where’s your logic?

“Love Miao Yu Most”: Yeah, even if she acts just like Miao Yu, she’s not actually Miao Yu. You’re delusional, Boss. I have medicine for that—take some!

...

Their banter was lighthearted, and Gu Yi knew they’d accepted her reasoning.

Or rather, their love for Miao Yu made them unwilling to believe that the only actress who could bring Miao Yu to life was the sort of person described online.

They just needed a reason to guiltlessly support “Miao Yu” Song Wan.

In the end, even “Author Drop Dead” chimed in in agreement.

“Author Drop Dead”: I mean, if Zhou Qi turned down so many popular actresses, there’s no way he’d give the role to Song Wan just because she slept with him, right? And the online backlash is way too over-the-top—the timing of the leaked photos is too coincidental. I bet Song Wan got in someone’s way, so they tried to smear her.

“Author Drop Dead”: Besides, even if she did get the role that way, as long as she does a good job, I’m still a fan. [picks nose]

Gu Yi saw the tone in the group shift, exhaled heavily, and couldn’t help but laugh.

If Song Wan knew how easily these people believed she’d never use the casting couch, she’d probably shake her head and say, “You really are young.” It’s not that she wouldn’t use such means; she just had high standards, and the sponsor she wanted wasn’t so easily seduced.

But Song Wan could never have guessed that this group, originally full of anti-fans of “Immortal in the Clouds,” would become her first and most loyal fanbase.

Gu Yi would eventually become the leader of Song Wan’s fan club and her staunchest supporter.

Of course, Gu Yi, now merely the anti-fan group chat admin, had no idea what the future held. For now, she just didn’t want to see Song Wan smeared so mercilessly.

Temporarily closing the chat, Gu Yi jumped onto Weibo and dove into the comments under “Immortal in the Clouds’” official account, instantly locking horns with Song Wan’s haters.

As the online battle raged, Gu Yi suddenly spotted several familiar usernames—some of them well-known influencers. With a tacit understanding, Gu Yi and these groups began to storm the comments, mercilessly chasing down the most vicious detractors while ignoring the more rational ones.

The people in their group were battle-hardened; without any explicit coordination, they quickly took control of the situation.

Just as things were calming down, Tang Su posted on Weibo.

Everyone was stunned. Why would Tang Su get involved in a scandal about a minor newcomer? Didn’t she have anything better to do?

Tang Su’s fans numbered in the tens of millions. She was at the peak of her career, having won two Best Actress awards. Her fans were not only numerous but fiercely united, far more so than her peers.

Within minutes, Tang Su’s fans flooded the battlefield. In the blink of an eye, the “Immortal in the Clouds” account was overwhelmed again, the screen filled with unspeakable insults.

At least, Gu Yi thought, Song Wan didn’t have her own Weibo account.

Still, she couldn’t help but wonder—how had Song Wan offended Tang Su?

She thought about it, and then asked.

“Author Drop Dead”: I wasn’t sure if Song Wan was really being targeted before, but as soon as Tang Su got involved, I’m certain.

Gu Yi’s heart skipped a beat, her nerves tightening.

“Author Drop Dead”: Song Wan is definitely being framed!!!

Gu Yi let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness—otherwise, she wouldn’t know how to face Song Wan.

“Miao Miao Loves Yu Yu”: Author, you scared me! I thought you were going to say Song Wan really slept with that fat pig!!!

(Zhou Qi: …Say that to my face if you dare!)

“Miao Yu Self-Inflicted”: Author Drop Dead, why do you say that?

“Author Drop Dead”: My guess is that the person behind this attack is Tang Su, and the reason is Song Wan’s name.

“Author Drop Dead”: Everyone in the industry knows Tang Su fell for a certain scumbag, who already had a girlfriend. To advance his career, that man dumped his girlfriend. But Tang Su, as if bewitched, not only stole someone’s boyfriend but spent over a decade suppressing that woman.

“Author Drop Dead”: We all think Tang Su’s obsessed—she just loses it when it comes to that woman.

“Author Drop Dead”: By the way, that woman is also in the industry. Her name is Song Wan.

Gu Yi’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re kidding, right? Just because of a name? Tang Su doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”

“Author Drop Dead”: It’s all just a celebrity persona. In the business, she’s an open joke.

The group chat, reading this, felt as if a weight had been lifted. They knew they couldn’t out-argue Tang Su’s fans, but at least they weren’t swayed by them.

Just then, the official “Immortal in the Clouds” Weibo posted a video.

“TV Drama Immortal in the Clouds Crew V”: No commentary, just feeling sorry for our Miao Yu [video]

Sensing something, Gu Yi clicked the video with trembling hands—

It began with a crowd surrounding Song Wan and the director as they entered a private room, then showed them ordering food, eating, drinking, Zhao Meng picking a fight and being put in her place, and finally, as the banquet ended, everyone leaving except Song Wan, the director, Zhao Meng, and her assistant.

Then, the key moment: the director called Song Wan aside, but it was obvious there was a considerable distance between them.

Zhao Meng and her assistant left first, but halfway out, they stopped—everyone saw Zhao Meng pull out her phone.

She pulled out her phone!

Song Wan and Zhou Qi were deep in conversation, oblivious to her actions.

A few seconds later, Zhao Meng, supported by her assistant, left the room. Two minutes after that, Song Wan and Zhou Qi exited one after the other.

And what was everyone so fixated on? From start to finish, there wasn’t a single moment of physical contact between Song Wan and the director!

Song Wan and the director had been framed, and the real suspect was Zhao Meng, who had suspiciously pulled out her phone midway!