A Slap in the Face

“You’re disgusting. Your whole family is disgusting!” Zhu Qing was furious enough to switch to a burner account and start cursing people out online.

“What’s wrong with you people? If you don’t like the style, why do you have to insult someone?”

“Are you all giant babies? What’s so terrible about a model posting photos in different styles? If it’s not your taste, why do you have to team up and attack her with online abuse?”

If she’d stayed quiet, it might have been one thing. But the moment she spoke up, the fans noticed that a dissenter had appeared in the crowd and immediately turned their fire on her.

Internet abuse was never really about the issue itself; more often than not, it was just a barrage of personal attacks aimed at Zhu Qing.

Being overwhelmed and cursed at like that only made her even angrier.

What was the difference between this kind of collective brainless behavior—using freedom of speech to recklessly attack others—and bullying?

Zhu Qing was genuinely fed up. A strong wave of disgust and resistance rose in her chest.

-

At the same time, on the way to the airport, Qian Chu had just finished reporting the situation to Li Lan.

Li Lan was visibly flustered. “What did you say? They’re attacking the photographer?”

She snatched Qian Chu’s phone and opened the comments. Sure enough, it was a one-sided assault, and the language was vicious.

“I checked the overall reaction,” Qian Chu said, unusually calm and even a little pleased. “Mostly, they’re unhappy with your style this time. After all, the reason you blew up in the domestic market back then was that ancient-costume shoot that went viral online; for fans, your first impression is still that of a classical beauty.”

“Then why are they cursing the photographer?” Li Lan asked at once.

“That’s just how it is,” Qian Chu said. “If the photos don’t look good, they curse the makeup and styling team. If they don’t like the style, they curse the photographer. If you film a drama they don’t like or take an ad they don’t like, they’ll curse the studio and the company.”

She paused, then spread her hands. “Of course, as soon as they realize I’m your agent and assistant, whatever they’re cursing, I’ll get dragged into it too.”

“But from what I can see, the trending topic’s response is pretty good. A lot of passersby like this style of yours; it counts as a decent boost in exposure.”

Li Lan frowned deeply. “Have them take the trending topic down.”

Qian Chu stared at her in surprise. “Why? The response is great. Sure, some fans aren’t happy, but you’ve brought in a wave of casual fans……”

“Don’t you see?” Li Lan cut her off, her tone growing heavier. “They’re chasing the photographer and insulting her. I can’t let them keep doing that.” Suddenly, something occurred to her, and she said anxiously, “Quickly, I need to log into my account.”

Qian Chu didn’t move. Frowning, she asked, “The photographer?”

Li Lan didn’t even look up. “The photos were taken by Zhu Qing. I don’t know whether she’s seen the trending topic yet. Tell the studio to contact them and have it removed; I’ll log in and explain it to the fans.”

Qian Chu snatched the phone back and stopped her. “What is there to explain? Listen to me, the domestic market is different from overseas. Fans are always like this……”

“You don’t understand,” Li Lan interrupted, her gaze icy. “Xiao Qing despises fandom culture very, very much.”

Her palm tightened around her knee, and the pain only made her thoughts clearer. She remembered the argument she and Zhu Qing had had not long ago.

“She doesn’t like the entertainment industry. It’s not that she has a problem with anyone, and it’s not that she thinks people in the industry are bad. She just isn’t used to that atmosphere where everything has to be managed and everything is magnified all the time.”

Qian Chu said, puzzled, “But that’s just how the entertainment industry is. She’s your partner, and you’re already in that kind of environment; she can just ignore it, can’t she?”

Li Lan shook her head. She knew Qian Chu couldn’t understand; even she hadn’t understood at the beginning.

If Zhu Qing didn’t like the entertainment industry, then she didn’t like it. Li Lan would never force her into it. But gradually, Li Lan realized that wasn’t all there was to it.

When Zhu Qing disliked an environment, she would unconsciously distance herself from the people in it.

There was no doubt that Zhu Qing liked her, but as time went on and Li Lan’s career kept developing, Zhu Qing also started avoiding many things she didn’t approve of.

Li Lan did not want to go back to those awkward days with Zhu Qing, and she wanted even less to see that guarded, questioning look on her face.

Some time ago, someone had photographed Li Lan making a phone call on set. Perhaps her expression at the time had been too gentle, because someone had even deciphered her lip movements and confirmed that she was talking to her lover.

Li Lan had never hidden the fact that she was married. When she was abroad, she had even publicly stated that her partner was a woman, and she had endorsed brands that leaned toward LGBT audiences.

Even so, the partner she had never exposed to the public still suffered countless malicious speculations and attacks.

On top of that, with the investor faction pulling strings, Li Lan couldn’t use retaliatory methods to vent Zhu Qing’s anger for her, and instead had to keep smiling and dealing with those people.

Zhu Qing had had a fierce argument with her, and their relationship had fallen off a cliff.

Li Lan let out a breath. She hadn’t expected that merely letting Zhu Qing take a few photos would push her into the public eye.

Suddenly, her phone rang. Li Lan didn’t react at all, so Qian Chu had no choice but to take it out for her.

“Miss Zhu’s call,” Qian Chu said.

Only then did Li Lan move, turning her head to look at the phone.

Qian Chu answered the call. A bright female voice came through.

“Li Lan? Is your Weibo account managed by the studio?” Zhu Qing asked quickly.

Li Lan was silent for a second. “Yes.”

“Then can I log in?” Zhu Qing asked.

Qian Chu wanted to stop her, but Li Lan raised a hand to quiet her and asked, “What do you want to do?”

Zhu Qing laughed awkwardly, then said viciously, “I’m going to reply to the fans’ comments.”

Qian Chu nearly lost it. She immediately tried to stop her. “Miss Zhu, you can’t use Manager Lan’s……”

“You can,” Li Lan said, her tone so calm it was as if she were commenting on the weather. “I’ll send you the account and password shortly.”

After hanging up, Qian Chu said anxiously, “Manager Lan, how can you just let her use your account to reply however she wants? She’s definitely going to end up arguing with the fans!”

Li Lan shook her head calmly. “She won’t. She won’t trample anyone who disagrees with her just because she likes someone or something. Her personality is very easygoing; she doesn’t argue with people in black and white terms.”

Qian Chu was utterly stunned. She didn’t believe Zhu Qing would say anything nice at all. At that moment, the way she looked at Li Lan was like she was looking at a monarch bewitched by a seductive concubine.

In ancient times, there was King You of Zhou lighting the beacon towers just to make his nobles panic; now there was Li Lan handing over her Weibo account just to make Zhu Qing smile.

This world had gone mad.

Qian Chu messaged Zhu Qing on WeChat, repeatedly telling her not to say anything rash. Zhu Qing didn’t reply. Anxious beyond belief, Qian Chu suddenly had an idea and turned to Qian Cancan for help.

Qian Cancan replied quickly, though it was obvious she was just watching the drama unfold.

【I’ll ask around for you. What’s the backend of a big star’s Weibo account like? Are there tens of thousands of messages? If “Li Lan” defends the photographer, wouldn’t that be slapping the fans’ faces hard, hahaha】

Qian Chu shut off her phone in exasperation.

She was practically like an official of old, kowtowing and begging in protest, while Li Lan completely ignored everyone’s attempts to stop her and directly sent Zhu Qing the account and password.

Very soon, a fresh reply from “Li Lan” appeared at the very top of the comments.

“Li Lan” had replied to “Li Lan’s appendicitis: [photo] Who took this picture? Where is the camera pointed? Why are they so close? The photographer’s male gaze is a little too obvious; disgusting.”

【Li Lan: I took it myself.】

Qian Chu: !!!!!

The continuously scrolling fandom plaza fell into a dead, silent stillness.