Chapter 28

The entertainment industry is extremely realistic. By that afternoon, Wen Tang had lost several endorsements. The new movie she had been scheduled to sign with Director Xu was also postponed with the excuse of a change in plans.

Everyone understood that this meant the deal was effectively off.

After hanging up, Liu Meifen was fuming, pacing around Wen Tang’s apartment while clutching her phone. What do they mean? It’s just a small matter, and it became a hot topic. They all want to cancel the contracts without even considering how hard we worked to get those deals! They came begging us to sign, acting so humble! What’s the big deal about trending? Do they think we can’t handle it? Hah, ridiculous! We’ve been in this industry for so long, and seen countless storms. They can forget about working with us again!”

After the hot search at noon today, Liu Meifen was called back to the company for an emergency meeting with the boss and PR team. The media had taken the news out of context. In reality, only the child’s father was still in a coma, while the mother had woken up and was out of immediate danger. She was in the ICU but would soon be moved to a regular ward.

Although this was the case, the company knew that as long as one person remained unconscious, they could not publicly address the issue. Everyone understood that a human life was a human life, and there was no difference between one life and two!

If Wen Tang dared to speak out or refute at this moment, she would face an even fiercer storm of public opinion. The team could only hope that the male victim would wake up soon and that no lives would be lost.

The company’s PR team immediately sprang into action, trying to steer public opinion in Wen Tang’s favor. They emphasized that Wen Tang was raised solely by Liu Meifen, with little interaction with her father, and that Wen Anle’s actions were his own and unrelated to Wen Tang. However, this had minimal effect.

Currently, public opinion was in a ferment and explosion phase, making it impossible to suppress. The family of three, with the hardworking parents and their child, represented the struggle of many ordinary people. They had just bought a house and car, with a bright future ahead, only to have everything taken away in a collision.

The issues of unlicensed driving, drunk driving, and hit-and-run were all deeply reprehensible, and Wen Anle had committed them all! The fact that the family’s pillar was in critical condition while their five-year-old child was left without parents struck a chord with many people’s soft and empathetic sides. The tragic outcome of their hard work was deeply lamentable.

Wen Anle was naturally the most vilified, but being detained at the police station, he was unaware of what was happening outside. Criticism was futile! When public anger could not be vented on Wen Anle, it naturally spread to others, with Wen Tang being the prime target.

Losing endorsements and movie roles was secondary. Everyone knew what could be touched and what could not. Wen Tang’s past trending topics were trivial, but this time it involved lives, which was a matter of a completely different magnitude.

If not handled properly, Wen Tang’s acting career might come to an end.

The entertainment industry was that harsh and cruel.

“Wen Tang, don’t worry. We’ll handle this matter. You should stay at home for now and try not to look at your phone,” Liu Meifen said after scolding the brands. She then received another call from the company, asking her to return for an urgent meeting. The situation was dire, and before leaving, she needed to calm Wen Tang to prevent her from overthinking.

“I’ve arranged a leave of absence for you from the set. Once this matter is resolved, you can go back to filming. Losing a few endorsements isn’t a big deal. New ones will come along. Just consider this a break for yourself. You’ve been so busy these years without much free time. Take this opportunity to rest!”

Liu Meifen managed to arrange a break for Wen Tang, though it was somewhat forced. After speaking, Liu Meifen quickly left, spending less than half an hour at Wen Tang’s apartment.

The situation was far from as simple as Liu Meifen suggested.

At eight o’clock in the evening, when online traffic was at its peak, various marketing accounts released another video. In this video, Liu Meifen was shown visiting the police station late at night and then going to the hospital to meet with the victim’s family. Wen Haifeng, Wen Anle’s father, displayed an arrogant attitude, showing no sign of remorse. He spoke aggressively, implying that the family was demanding money, and his manner was just as dismissive as when Wen Anle was arrested.

“You’re blocking us at the police station, refusing to let Anle go, and insisting on sentencing him. In the end, you just want more money, right? How much do you want? Just say it!” He spat out, “What a stroke of bad luck!”

Liu Meifen stood beside him. Although she didn’t speak, her cold and aloof demeanor spoke volumes.

She had been woken up in the middle of the night by Wen Haifeng’s call to deal with these matters and was naturally very impatient. Wen Haifeng wanted her to use money to silence people, but Liu Meifen was indifferent to Wen Anle’s potential imprisonment. Her main concern was always Wen Tang’s reputation and future.

“We will take full responsibility for this matter and cover all medical expenses. I only have one requirement.” Liu Meifen pulled out a contract she had prepared before leaving and handed it to the distraught relatives of the victims. “You must sign this confidentiality agreement, guaranteeing that you won’t disclose any details about today’s events. Otherwise, I won’t pay a single cent.”

With the two patients in critical condition and costs mounting, if they had no financial support, survival was unlikely.

The relatives, having just buried the last family elder and being distant relatives from years ago, couldn’t handle such a major issue but could agree to keep secrets. They signed the contract out of desperation.

After signing, Liu Meifen took a bank card from her luxury bag and handed it to Wen Haifeng.

With the money given and the silence secured, Liu Meifen considered the matter closed on her end.

She called Wen Tang afterward.

However, she didn’t anticipate that Wen Haifeng, after receiving the money, had other demands. He wanted the victims’ side to agree to a settlement and forgive Wen Anle to avoid imprisonment.

With the victims still in critical condition, who could agree to that? Moreover, as distant relatives, they were not willing to take on such a huge responsibility.

On one hand, Liu Meifen persuaded them to sign the confidentiality agreement. On the other hand, Wen Haifeng was pressing hard, treating human lives lightly.

Without money, there was no treatment, and despite the signed contract, Wen Haifeng’s arrogance led the relatives to leak the story to the media through friends.

To preserve evidence, they also secretly recorded the meeting and conversations.

In response to Wen Haifeng’s unrelenting attitude, they decided to go public, even if it meant mutual destruction.

At eight o’clock, the public saw the edited video version, showcasing Liu Meifen’s well-known face and making her the clear target of the criticism.

Liu Meifen’s public appearance undeniably confirmed the rumors that the perpetrator, Wen Anle, was Wen Tang’s younger brother.

In the video, the whistleblower, tearfully and angrily, accused the wealthy of treating lives as a game and disregarding human lives. They lamented the plight of their relatives, who were in the ICU with an uncertain future and unable to even afford medical expenses.

The reaction was one of sorrow and outrage!

The situation escalated further.

【I can’t believe Wen Tang’s brother is really the perpetrator. This family has completely shattered my worldview!】

【I’ve been a fan of Wen Tang for years, and now this happens. I’m crying my eyes out. I really can’t bring myself to support her anymore. Tang Tang, goodbye. I hope you can handle this well, and I hope everything goes well for you in the future.】

【I’m devastated. I can’t believe it! My world is collapsing, sob sob!】

【Which house has collapsed today? Oh, it’s Wen Tang’s!】

【Such extreme coldness from this family. I don’t believe such parents could raise a good daughter. The entertainment industry doesn’t need such scum! Wen Tang, get out of the entertainment industry!】

【The money in the entertainment industry is so easy to make!】

【Calling for justice for that family of three. Relevant authorities should step in immediately! Drunk driving, unlicensed driving, hit-and-run—all responsibilities should be punished severely!】

【Praying for the patients still in the ICU.】

【Expecting a middle school graduate to have decency? The entertainment industry should raise its standards!】

…

“Tang Tang, stop looking at your phone. You haven’t eaten anything tonight. Is there something you want to eat? I’ll order it for you.”

Wen Tang sat on the sofa, while Ke Xin stood by, trying to distract her and get her to put down her phone.

Wen Tang had just been watching the newly posted video online.

Now she was scrolling through comments on Weibo.

The comments were a storm of anger and criticism, attacking her indiscriminately.

Ke Xin and Yang Yang were so enraged they could barely stand it, turning off their phones after just two minutes to avoid further distress.

Even as bystanders, they found it unbearable. For Wen Tang, the target of the vitriol, it was even worse. Keyboard warriors were relentless, spewing all sorts of insults, treating her as less than human.

Ke Xin and Yang Yang were worried about Wen Tang’s ability to cope.

Wen Tang, however, was not overwhelmed. Though she was furious and upset, she remained within her limits, having been in the entertainment industry for years and accustomed to handling such pressure.

She was not one to shy away from problems. On the contrary, she was stubborn and unyielding. With so many people criticizing her, she wanted to see just what they were saying.

Compared to the large-scale online harassment faced by some industry veterans she had encountered, this was relatively mild.

Wen Tang had always left the management of her public account to the company, but she had her own account and password.

She logged into Weibo.

【Wen Tang V:

I don’t have a father. My father has long passed away.】

As if to add fuel to the fire, this single sentence ignited another massive uproar.