Chapter 34: The Fall and the Darkness

Mermaid A31 didn’t need much of a marketing budget; it reached the top of the trending charts solely through word-of-mouth. Its box office performance was in a league of its own. In the entertainment industry, you might go ten years without a break, but success can also happen in an instant.

— I’m begging netizens to stop this—A31 hurt my soul. Shen Xun’s acting is unparalleled. Director Zhao is truly the GOAT; I’ll never doubt him again! — Exactly. Honestly, the novel wasn’t even that tragic, but Shen Xun’s performance was so outstanding. And Zhao Xue! I really thought she loved the mermaid until I saw her eyes when she looked at her real lover. Then I realized how fake “Li” was! — Epic tragedy. Also, let’s be honest, the intimate scenes were intense! Director Zhao, you’re powerful!

Scripts of all sizes flooded Shen Xun’s desk. The boss of her small, struggling company finally assigned her a dedicated manager. Even stars who used to walk the other way when they saw her began to gather around.

But from start to finish, Shen Xun remained refined and polite. She was the same person with fame as she was without it—approachable on the surface, but few could truly reach her heart. With the film’s massive success, the company provided her with a professional van and assistants. Her lifestyle was finally catching up to her status.

Qin Chen asked if she wanted to join his company, but Shen Xun coldly refused. She wanted no further entanglement with him.

As her fame grew, so did the number of anti-fans. — Don’t you guys remember Shen Xun was a homewrecker? And she dropped out of high school because of school violence. One movie and you guys change your tune?

However, the anti-fans soon discovered their comments were being deleted instantly, and they were receiving cease-and-desist letters via private message. For a time, the haters went quiet, and Shen Xun’s reputation continued to soar.

Unlike the overwhelmingly positive reviews for Shen Xun, Zhao Xue’s comment section was a battlefield. — Zhao Xue, I know you’re acting, but I really want to hit you! — Ever since the movie, every time I see her smile, it feels fake. — She’s always been calculating. Remember when she came back from abroad and “accidentally” leaked her relationship with Qin Chen?

Watching this, Zhao Xue threw her phone in rage. “It’s all Shen Xun’s fault!” While Shen Xun’s popularity rose and people pitied her character, Zhao Xue was treated like a villain. Even her original fans were turning away.

Her manager, Lin Fang, was speechless. How is this Shen Xun’s fault? You chose this role. Lin Fang only visited for business now. “Shen Xun has an interview coming up. Are you going?”

Zhao Xue didn’t hesitate. “Of course!”

At the corporate headquarters, Lin Fang was called into the CEO’s office. Qin Chen was sitting there, looking pale but sharp.

“Lin Fang,” Qin Chen said, closing a file. “You don’t need to manage Zhao Xue anymore. The company will assign you new artists. Whatever happens to her from now on, do not interfere. If necessary, I expect you to testify to the truth.”

Lin Fang’s heart skipped a beat. She understood immediately: Qin Chen was going to destroy Zhao Xue. She felt no pity; her goodwill had long been worn away by Zhao Xue’s temperament. “Understood.”

On the way to the interview, Shen Xun received a message from Qin Chen. She was going to ignore it until she saw the word “drugged.”

Qin Chen: Shen Xun, I investigated. On the night of July 20th, you were drugged. Qin Chen: It was an aphrodisiac given to you by Zhao Xue. Her goal was to put you in Zhang Chenggong’s bed. I have the surveillance and her chat logs. If she had actually succeeded, I would have gone insane. Qin Chen: Tomorrow, I am exposing everything she did. I know with your current power it’s only a matter of time before you find out, but I want to make amends. Please don’t refuse.

Shen Xun’s expression turned terrifyingly cold. She knew she had been drugged, but she had ended up with Zhao Xue, not a man. The thought of Zhang Chenggong—a man notorious for predatory behavior and “breaking” young starlets—sent a wave of darkness through her eyes.

She didn’t reply. She simply looked out the window with a heavy, suffocating gloom.

At the studio, Shen Xun masked her emotions. She spotted Zhao Xue waiting at the entrance, looking anxious. When Zhao Xue saw her, her eyes widened, and she looked like she wanted to approach but felt conflicted.

For the first time in front of cameras, Shen Xun didn’t smile at her. She walked up to Zhao Xue and looked down at her with eyes like stagnant water.

“Shen Xun…” Zhao Xue stammered, fiddling with her fingers.

Shen Xun leaned in, whispering into her ear: “Zhao Xue, you didn’t actually fall in love with me because of that movie, did you?”

Zhao Xue’s heart hammered in panic. “What nonsense! How… how could I—”

“Better stay that way,” Shen Xun interrupted coldly. She brushed past her shoulder. “Your affection only makes me feel disgusted and amused. And as for those videos you took? Post them if you want. I don’t care.”

Zhao Xue clenched her fists. A dull ache throbbed in her chest. This woman is so detestable! Who would love her just because of a movie? Ridiculous!

But Shen Xun was hyper-sensitive to emotions. She could see the truth in Zhao Xue’s eyes just as she had seen it in Qin Chen’s. She merely watched with cold detachment. She had been confessed to her whole life; Zhao Xue was just one more. But knowing Zhao Xue’s original intention—to sell her to a predator—made her feel physically sick.

During the interview, the host asked: “Ms. Shen, is there any chance you developed real feelings for Ms. Zhao during filming?”

Shen Xun smiled perfectly. “No. Because I like men.”

The host was stunned. Such a direct answer would usually kill a CP fan base instantly. But Shen Xun didn’t seem to care. “Acting is acting. Life is life.”

When the host turned to Zhao Xue, asking for her thoughts, Zhao Xue blinked, trying to smile but failing under Shen Xun’s cold side-eye. “Ms. Shen is a very talented actress,” she said, before going silent.

The episode was a disaster—one guest was too blunt, the other too sullen.

That night, a post began to trend: #Exposing the Dark History of Actress Z#

The post detailed the history between Zhao, Shen, and Qin Chen. It revealed that Zhao had slandered Shen as a “homewrecker” to keep her away from Qin Chen. It revealed that the “school violence” incident was actually Shen Xun protecting another girl, and that Zhao had threatened the victim to prevent her from testifying. Finally, it revealed the drugging incident.

Then, Qin Chen himself weighed in. Qin Chen V: There was never a ‘third party.’ I pursued Shen Xun and was rejected. I was never in a relationship with Zhao Xue.

Netizens were in an uproar. The water army Zhao Xue had hired even came forward to apologize. — Zhao Xue! You’re evil! Get out of the industry!

Zhao Xue woke up to the news. She called Lin Fang, only to hear: “This is President Qin’s order.” Click.

Zhao Xue wasn’t sad. In fact, she looked almost entertained. If Shen Xun were still a nobody, this wouldn’t have hurt as much. but because Shen Xun was now the nation’s tragic darling, the hatred toward Zhao Xue was magnified a hundredfold.

She checked Shen Xun’s profile. Shen Xun had already posted about her new movie, Burning Sun. Shen Xun V: Please don’t dwell on the past or attack her. It’s over. Please support my new film.

The comments were filled with fans crying for their “strong, kind sister.”

Zhao Xue decided to play the part of the desperate lover, repeatedly calling Qin Chen despite being blocked. She then went to the company headquarters, shouting at the front desk: “I want to see Qin Chen! I’m the one he loves!”

The receptionist treated her like a nuisance. Zhao Xue noticed people filming her and retreated. On her way to the supermarket, she was recognized. Someone ripped her mask off.

A crowd gathered, eyes full of loathing. “Die, you disgusting thing! How can you be so cruel?”

Someone threw an orange, hitting her arm. Then came water bottles and vegetables. Zhao Xue curled into a ball on the ground, shielding her head. “I’m filming this for the internet! I hope ‘Sister’ is happy when she sees this!”

A rock hit the back of her hand, drawing blood. The crowd, seeing the blood, panicked slightly and dispersed. Most were just fans “venting” for Shen Xun and hadn’t intended to cause a real injury.

Zhao Xue sat in the wreckage, her eyes red. She picked up her dirty mask, wiped her tears, and walked home.

In the safety of her room, her heartbroken expression vanished. “Wow, you’re crying?” she teased the System. “The big stuff hasn’t even happened yet. Save those tears, baby.”

Shen Xun watched the video of the mob attack.

She looked at Zhao Xue curled in a ball, then at the blood on her pale hand. She didn’t feel the happiness she expected. Was the revenge not enough?

“Stupid,” Shen Xun muttered, closing her phone.

Why did she still feel uneasy? Then, a dark glint flashed in her eyes. Zhao Xue liked drugging people? She liked forcing herself on others?

Let’s see how she likes it when the roles are reversed.