Chapter Twenty-Three Do Not Harm Shen Li

"I won't bring up the past anymore. Let's work well together from now on."

Shen Li paused, looked back, and offered a faint smile. "Alright."

Watching Shen Li’s figure disappear through the doorway, Qiao Le let out a long, weary breath. "That feels much better to get off my chest." She returned to her bed to continue her work.

Whether or not Shen Li was indirectly responsible for Pei Wantian’s death didn't really matter to her; they were merely collaborating on a show, and she had no intention of forming a deep connection.

However, things were not as simple as she had imagined.

...

"The footage is excellent. Post it online."

"Understood, Mr. Pei."

...

A video of Shen Li crushing Lu Ziwei’s fingers began to circulate widely online, and marketing accounts mobilized in unison:

[Shocking! Shen Li is so arrogant and domineering after the show. Is she trying to kill someone else before she’s satisfied?]

[If even Lu Ziwei can be bullied, one can only imagine how powerful Shen Li’s backing is.]

[I feel so sorry for Lu Ziwei. The show must have given Shen Li a script to whitewash her reputation. I can’t imagine how much pain Lu Ziwei is in.]

The topic exploded to the top of the trending list:
#Shen Li Crushes Lu Ziwei's Hand# (Explosive)

-- Where are those lackeys defending Shen Li? Tell us how much you were paid so we can make some money too.
-- Is there really no one who can deal with Shen Li?
-- People said she was being cyberbullied because she had no backing, but I say her backing is too strong. She hasn't been banned despite all this abuse. Impressive.
-- She probably traded her body to those greasy middle-aged men to get where she is. What's so great about her? Disgusting.
-- My dear Weiwei never provoked her! Why do this to him? (Crying x3) I’m going to go tear her apart!
-- I'm in!

All of Shen Li’s social media accounts were overrun. Some even tried to doxx her virtual account, hoping to hack into the system to dig up information to sell, but they found it impossible to break through.

Hacker A: "Boss, what kind of security did this woman set on her virtual screen? We can't get in!"
Hacker D: "Didn't they say the show was all scripted? Is she actually that talented?"

Boss: "Are you asking me? What am I paying you for? Keep hacking!"
Underlings: "Yes, sir!"

But it was all in vain. Shen Li had long since set up a firewall for her virtual account that no one could breach. Even the world’s top hacker would find it difficult, as the system was programmed to trigger a self-destruct sequence the moment an intrusion was detected.

However, the world was currently searching for that top hacker, but no one could find them.

The subject of this massive online smear campaign was currently in the bathroom, humming and showering, completely oblivious to the chaos outside. "La la la, la la la, I'm taking a bath, taking a bath..."

Inside the dormitory, the sighs of Bai Qiuya and Ji Beishu echoed one after another.

"It’s a good thing Qiao Le went to take a shower, otherwise she would’ve probably charged out to berate Shen Li," Ji Beishu said, glancing at his screen before shutting it off to sleep.

If Shen Li was completely ruined by morning, he needed a backup plan. He couldn't afford to go down with her. Leaning against the headboard, he watched as bits of plaster from the dilapidated wall fell onto his head, his eyes half-closed.

Bai Qiuya worriedly scrolled through the netizens' comments. They knew the full story, but the person who leaked the video had only clipped the part where she crushed his hand. If the public could see the full version, the narrative would surely flip.

But she also knew that someone was intentionally targeting Shen Li and would never let the full video surface. The "Eye of Heaven" surveillance system had been pulled, and this time, Shen Li wouldn't be able to clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

"Do you think the production team will replace her?"

Ji Beishu didn't open his eyes. "I don't know. Don't worry so much about others; think about your own situation." For people like them at the bottom of the entertainment industry, excessive kindness was a path to self-destruction.

He had died once before, and he wouldn't make the same mistake again. To survive, he could discard his conscience.

"Sigh..." He let out a breath and opened his eyes, a faint redness tinting them. He looked toward the gray wall on his left. Beyond that wall was the bathroom; he could almost see Shen Li.

He felt sorry for her. After all, it was a pity for someone so smart and beautiful to wither away here, but that was as far as his concern went.

Suddenly, Bai Qiuya screamed, "Brother Ji, look at the trending list!"

He jerked his head around. "What is it?" His first reaction was that they, as her teammates, had been dragged into the abuse. However, when he saw the reversal of the situation, he couldn't help but be shocked.

#Full Version of Shen Li Hand-Crushing Video Reversed# (Explosive)

[Retired Industry Insider: I won't say much. Watch the video. I’m temporarily retiring from the web to save my life.
(Full version of the hand-crushing video)]

-- Uh, so Lu Ziwei was the one provoking her?
-- What a disgusting face. Just because you're not famous, does that mean you're not human? Calling someone a "stray dog" and telling them to kneel and lick his shoes? How shameless.
-- I get it now. If I were Shen Li, I wouldn't just crush his hand—I'd pin him to the floor and beat him to a pulp.
-- Shen Li was actually quite gentle. Lu Ziwei's fans should just stop; she was very polite, considering.
-- Does anyone get it? Someone I’ve always hated is suddenly exposed to everyone. Hahaha, I’ve never liked Lu Ziwei. From today on, Shen Li is my goddess! Well done!

...

Clatter!

Everything on the desk was swept away by Pei Wenxuan. He pressed his temples, his face deathly dark. "Go. Investigate. Find out who this 'retired industry insider' is and bring them to me."

"Yes." His subordinate left.

Pei Wenxuan stared at a photo of himself and his sister on the nightstand, a twisted, evil smile appearing on his face. "Don't worry, Tiantian. I will definitely make Shen Li pay. If I want her dead, she must die. She will die a miserable death. Yes, a miserable death! Hahaha!"

His angry, pathological laughter echoed through the hotel room. After a long while, he stormed out and dialed a number. It took a long time for the other end to pick up.

"Speak."

Pei Wenxuan suppressed his rage. "Come out. I'm waiting for you at the intersection." He hung up, giving the other person no chance to refuse.

About ten minutes later, a car window was tapped. The driver lowered it, and Jiang Nian stood there, lazily shoving his hands into his pockets. "I recall I already refused you."

Pei Wenxuan had approached him earlier, asking him to join his revenge plan. The task was to deal with Shen Li on the show—any way possible, just as long as she was driven to madness.

He had refused. To be precise, he wanted to tear this man limb from limb; how could he possibly agree to such an absurd collaboration?

Pei Wenxuan’s terrifying eagle-like eyes swept over Jiang Nian’s pale lips. "My invitation remains valid. You can reconsider. But today, I’m here to warn you: don't help Shen Li, or your art exhibition will never open."

As soon as he finished speaking, a low, mocking laugh broke out. Jiang Nian looked as if he had just heard a joke. "Are you threatening me?" He laughed even louder, as if he truly found it hilarious.

After a moment, he stopped abruptly. His long, narrow eyes fixed on him, an eerie aura completely overwhelming Pei Wenxuan, causing the latter to tremble.

"You!"

Jiang Nian sat casually on a stone pillar by the side of the road, lazy and pale, his skin looking as terrifying as a corpse under the night light.

"I’m also warning you: don't hurt Shen Li. Otherwise..." He tilted his head, the corners of his mouth curling up. "Everything you care about... who knows when it might just vanish."