SWNOVELXO Chapter 39 - Retribution
“Takeout? Sure, I can recommend a few good places; they also do takeout.”
Jiang Zi clicked her tongue. “I thought you’d tell me to cook for myself.”
“Your hand’s not in good shape, right? For now, you’ll have to make do with takeout.”
Jiang Zi replied with a muffled grunt.
“Oh, speaking of your hand, you shouldn’t be lifting heavy stuff. I put medicine on it for you today, and it looks like it’s healing well. Try not to hurt it again, okay?” The girl’s expression turned serious at this, making it clear she wasn’t one to be brushed off.
“I know. No need for the bandages next time—you already told me that this morning.” Jiang Zi’s tone was as flat as a calm lake as if she hadn’t just been contemplating self-harm for sympathy.
“Right. Okay, I won’t keep you any longer—talk later.”
Tang Yuan hung up the phone. As Jiang Zi stared at the now-dark screen, she found that her mood had lightened a bit.
Soon, she saw a message from Tang Yuan with links to several restaurant apps, all offering delivery services. Jiang Zi casually clicked on one and placed an order.
She stood up, stretching her slightly stiff shoulders, and turned to glance at the round, pink-and-white bed behind her.
Just bear with it a little longer—it won’t be lonely for much longer.
Dragging her chair back to her desk, she turned on her computer.
Once seated, she began sifting through the barrage of group messages.
Shi Shu: Jiang Zi, Sister Jiang, the show you’re on is trying to buy negative trending searches to trash you. Our people blocked it. Do you need us to take any action?
Jiang Zi: Let it go.
Shi Shu: Got it!
In her past life, Jiang Zi’s involvement with Tang Yuan had led to countless setbacks in the industry. She struggled, unable to secure any good opportunities.
This time, Jiang Zi was born with memories of her past life’s helplessness. The moment she sensed the plot controlling her again, she knew she had to find a way to save herself.
So, before encountering the male lead, she fought tooth and nail to climb up, strengthening her wings. Her progress was smooth—maybe because of some halo of a female lead—whatever she did seemed to work out effortlessly.
But once she met the male lead, the plot’s grip tightened, and she couldn’t resist anymore, forced to watch herself get tangled in a nauseating relationship with Chu Yu.
Back then, whenever she faced injustice at school or work, she didn’t fight back but sought comfort from the male lead instead!
Shi Shu found it baffling, too. For someone like Jiang Zi, it would only take a word to avoid those humiliations, yet each time they asked how to handle the situation, she always said to let it go.
They always assumed Jiang Zi had a plan—like she was playing the long game.
Jiang Zi wanted to puke to death. She had thought that with her abilities, she could break free from the world’s plot, but nothing changed. It was all the same—she couldn’t change anything.
At that time, she truly had no will to live.
So when Tang Yuan held her down and drowned her in the water, Jiang Zi didn’t resist. She even welcomed the idea of dying. Otherwise, with Tang Yuan’s strength, she couldn’t have possibly held down a struggling Jiang Zi.
But fortunately, Tang Yuan appeared.
Now, Jiang Zi, though still sometimes moved by the plot, could finally do some things according to her own will.
Shi Shu acted quickly, taking down anyone who dared to cross Jiang Zi.
By nightfall, the show “I Must Shine” had really blown up.
“I Must Shine” Contestants’ Advancement Predetermined
“I Must Shine” Judges Criticize Based on Scripted Lines
“I Must Shine” Director Caught Cheating on his wife and exploiting Newcomers
“I Must Shine” Assistant Director Evades Arrest for Tax Evasion, Finally Apprehended
The show indeed went viral but for all the wrong reasons.
【Read the first trending topic, confused. Second one, shocked. Third, furious. Fourth, numb.】
【What else are you hiding from us?!】
【Really, these trending topics are killing my enthusiasm. Are the audience’s feelings worth nothing?】
【And every scandal comes with solid evidence, no less.】
【Can I please unsee that director’s nude photos? I’m dying.】
【This show is backed by QiaoChu Entertainment, and with today’s incidents, it reeks of a corporate battle.】
【Even if it’s a corporate battle, the exposed facts are still facts.】
【I just feel sorry for the four mentors—how unlucky to be associated with this show. It’s a stain on their careers.】
【 I’m worried about my girl; I hope she doesn’t get dragged into this.】
【Lol, we JiangTang fans are having fun here. Serves them right!】
Tang Yuan learned about the chaos from a small group chat with Hou YuanZhan’s dance crew before she even got a chance to check the trending topics herself. By then, the group chat had already exploded.
Initially, the plan was for two out of the four groups to be eliminated and two to advance, but with Tang Yuan and Jiang Zi being forced to withdraw, only one group remained to move on—Gao QiaoMan’s group.
People already had mixed feelings about Jiang Tang being forced to leave, and now this scandal has erupted.
The show faced a complete boycott from the entire internet, and the broadcasting authority directly shut it down. All the footage has been sealed, and with the situation being this serious, it’s clear there won’t be any follow-up.
Most of the participants on the show were rookies, while those like Jiang Zi and Tang Yuan, who had contracts with companies, were in the minority. Many of them had seen the show as their way to break through, but now, that path had become a dead end, shattering their debut dreams.
Hou YuanZhan didn’t expect things to escalate this much either. The dinner he had planned with Tang Yuan was called off—who could have the mood for dinner now?
Tang Yuan did.
She ate her meal, holding her phone in one hand, scrolling through the updates with great interest.
However, the juicy news about the director had been taken down early on. She’d learned about it a bit late, so she missed seeing the video. It seemed her eyes had been spared.
Playing so dirty.
Tang Gu glanced at her and said, “Eat properly.”
With a smile in her eyes, Tang Yuan asked, “Bro, did you do this to that Chu dog?”
“Hmm?”
Tang Yuan handed her phone to him. Tang Gu glanced at it, frowned, and shook his head. “He has a lot of enemies, not just us.”
“Oh, then he really got what he deserved, hahaha.”
Tang Gu’s expression remained stern as he tapped her bowl with his chopsticks. “Eat.”
She kept laughing while eating, not worrying about choking on her food.
[Hidden mission completed, successfully turned Dong Ling. Male protagonist’s halo -10, remaining 73. Please keep up the good work, host.]
Dong Ling?
Tang Yuan wanted to check what had happened on her phone, but under Tang Gu’s intimidating presence, she had no choice but to finish her meal obediently. After she put down her chopsticks, “I’m full!”
With that, she dashed upstairs, leaving only a hurried silhouette behind.
Watching her rush off, Tang Gu shook his head, speechless, and looked away.
Recalling what Tang Yuan had mentioned, he pondered. That live broadcast show was backed by QiaoChu Entertainment—a known giant. Everyone knew that QiaoChu Entertainment was owned by the Chu family, and not many people would dare to offend someone like Chu Yu openly. It shouldn’t be too hard to find out who was behind this.
While it might not have caused a significant impact on the Chu family, it was certainly enough to disgust Chu Yu. He’s an arrogant and proud person, unable to tolerate anyone challenging him.
Tang Gu put down his chopsticks, a thought forming in his mind.
This was a good opportunity—he should join in and kick them while they’re down.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend, after all.
Tang Yuan, however, had no idea what her brother had in mind, nor did she concern herself with it. As soon as she returned to her room, she immediately dialed Jiang Zi’s number—this time, making a voice call.
Jiang Zi picked up quickly, and before she could say anything, Tang Yuan’s excited voice burst through.
“Sister, have you eaten yet?”