My Paranoid Girlfriend Asks Me to Be Her Kept Woman (Rebirth) - Chapter 26

Monday was bright and sunny, with clear skies stretching for miles—a perfect day for eating melons.

Zhou Jing was someone who loved surfing the internet. As usual, she opened the trending searches that day.

Rows and rows of trending gossip were waiting for this little “melon-eating” netizen to feast on.

“Jianming Exploits Employees?” “Hm?”

Zhou Jing knew of the entertainment company Jianming. After all, in recent years, it had ranked No. 1 on the gossip-output leaderboard for artists in the melon-eating circle. It kept making a little gossip-lover like her jump up and down.

“Zhalang Entertainment reports: Artists under Jianming have reported the company for exploiting employees, taking artists to drink with clients and [censored], and engaging in improper transactions. Zhalang has already contacted Jianming, but Jianming said it is inconvenient to respond to this matter…”

“WOOW!!” Zhou Jing continued scrolling through Weibo, hoping more big revelations would come out.

Unfortunately, Zhou Jing was disappointed. The comments below were all fans controlling the reviews: “Taking xx away, no involvement,” “Company matters shouldn’t be blamed on the artist,” and so on.

Anti-fans also took the chance to fish in muddy waters, mocking that Jianming’s artists had all slept their way up. In an instant, the fan-and-anti-fan war began. Zhou Jing clicked out of the trending topic in boredom.

A trending topic titled “Jianming Criminal Record” rose very quickly and appeared in Zhou Jing’s eyes again.

She rubbed her hands and clicked in. “Zhalang Entertainment reports: A former Jianming artist has sued Jianming for more than a dozen charges, including engaging in improper transactions, signing dual contracts, and inciting artists under the company to take drugs. Xinmin Court has now accepted the case for trial.”

“The plaintiff, former Jianming artist Lin Yi, has entrusted Shanhai International to fully handle this matter. We are now interviewing the plaintiff’s representative.”

Fan Texi made his flamboyant appearance, standing under the camera in a suit and leather shoes, elegant and graceful.

“Thank you for the interview. Entrusted by Miss Lin Yi, I will now fully represent Lin Yi in matters related to Jianming’s infringement, fraud, and other related issues.”

“Miss Lin Yi spent a very unpleasant period of her life at Jianming. Jianming’s upper levels set a bad example for the lower levels, burying talent.”

“As for Young Master Li Junhao’s matter, if everyone goes and looks up the court judgment, you’ll know exactly what kind of thing Jianming is!”

“Miss Lin Yi could no longer endure the oppression, and finally asked me to speak fully on her behalf about Jianming’s filth!”

“I advise all young people with dreams of entering the entertainment industry: do not easily step into Jianming! Don’t let Jianming ruin your lives!”

When Zhou Jing clicked into the comments, enthusiastic melon-eating netizens had already dug up the court judgment for Li Junhao’s group [censored], plus inciting drug use and attempted [censored].

“Wow!” Zhou Jing exclaimed. “This person is seriously super brave!”

This was practically dancing on the edge of the law’s blade. And this person was Jianming’s crown prince? If the crown prince was already like this, one could imagine what Jianming’s atmosphere was like!

She scrolled down further and saw netizens discussing “Lin Yi,” who dared to publicly confront such a huge entertainment company. She could not help searching for information related to Lin Yi.

Lin Yi had already registered a Weibo account. At this moment, there were only two lonely posts on it.

“I opened a Weibo account~ Welcome, everyone…”

The next post was the song Independence, uploaded just after midnight.

The song caption read: Celebrating my rebirth.

Zhou Jing could not resist clicking in to listen.

After listening, tears were already streaming down her face.

It was as if she had followed the person in the song through a short lifetime, facing all those dissatisfactions toward women, all those filthy words aimed at women. It was as if she herself had become that person. Because of fear, she could only turn her head away and hurry past.

Those shrieking words sliced her stubborn self-respect apart inch by inch. She could only curl up inside a safe zone, hearing nothing, saying nothing, pretending nothing had happened.

But those people still refused to let her go. The safe zone shrank inch by inch, until she was once again exposed beneath those words, covered in wounds.

The low hum at the end sounded like crying, but also like it was telling her to fight for every inch of ground and hold fast to her true heart.

Zhou Jing instantly fell in love with “Lin Yi.” The classmate beside her looked at her in surprise. “Why are you crying like that?”

Zhou Jing cried and laughed at the same time. “I heard a really good song. Do you want to listen?”

Her classmate looked at her with disdain, took the earphones, and now there were two people crying like dogs.

Because they were all her. They had all suffered these sharp and bitter grievances before.

Zhou Jing aggressively left a comment under Lin Yi’s Weibo: Fight them! Miss, I support you!

At the same time, many people felt the same as Zhou Jing.

They were all women who had been oppressed because of fear. There were also many men who watched Lin Yi’s MV and were moved. They were all silhouettes of this era!

This song was about “her,” but it was also about her and all of them.

On the first day the song went online, its plays broke one million, and the number continued to climb.

Inside Shanhai’s production studio, everyone cheered and celebrated.

Although Lin Yi was happy, she had not forgotten one thing: constantly keeping an eye on Lin Xiaolu’s side.

As her popularity rose, the hidden thread she had buried with Lin Xiaolu would be detonated sooner or later. She just did not know when the backup move would be dug out.

Liu Chang had the same release schedule, but he had crashed straight into the company scandal. Under the comments for his song, anti-fans were all asking whether he had risen by sleeping with rich older women, or by sleeping with men.

The comments were unbearable to look at. Only a small portion praised his new song as good.

Liu Chang was so angry he smashed his phone!

Lin Xiaolu was also anxiously pacing at the side. Her eyes red, she refreshed comment after comment: “Brother Chang is amazing!” “Company matters should not be extended to artists!” Gradually, fans like her began controlling the comments, washing away the filthy language.

“Brother Chang released a new song today, and the company has a scandal on the same day! Trash Jianming!”

“Trash Jianming! Taking our Brother Chang away, no involvement!”

“Everyone, why not listen to our Brother Chang’s new song? Seductive male voice, online soul-snatching!”

“So good! Brother Chang is amazing. Let’s make an appointment for the tenth anniversary too!”

The professional comment-control group came online, and comments about the tenth anniversary kept appearing.

Lin Xiaolu carefully held up the phone and brought it to Liu Chang. “Look, your fans are all saying they’ll be with you for the tenth anniversary too. The company’s matters have nothing to do with you. You still have all of us.”

Liu Chang could not smile no matter what, but he also could not lose his temper at Lin Xiaolu.

If the company’s image collapsed, then rising actors and singers like them would have many of their resources divided up by others. Things would only become harder in the future! Especially at Jianming!

Liu Chang hurriedly took the phone. “I can’t stay with you. I have to go to the company!”

The contract he had signed was actually basically the same as those heavily oppressed eighteenth-tier artists. The difference was that he had climbed up! No matter how he had climbed up, he could not lose these things!

Lin Xiaolu watched Liu Chang in disappointment. He had promised to spend the whole day with her.

She opened her phone and saw the trending topic “Lin Yi’s Independence Sounds Good” continuously rising on the hot search rankings. It quickly surpassed the Jianming scandal in popularity. She gritted her teeth. “Lin Yi!”

No wonder she could not hand over a song! She had actually been preparing her own song!

Her head rumbled, and scene after scene suddenly appeared before Lin Xiaolu’s eyes.

—“Her? Why would I save her?” “Let her die.” “I don’t need her anymore now.”

Together with the trending topic “Lin Yi’s Independence Sounds Good” swaying chaotically in front of Lin Xiaolu, she let out a sound and held her head, wailing.

Lin Yi! The anomaly’s energy has gone berserk!

Lin Yi felt as if someone had attacked her chest. She clutched her chest. Listening to the cheers filling the room, she quietly slipped into the bathroom.

Wuming, Lin Yi called weakly.

The anomaly’s dark energy will disorder the Sea of Fate, alter the rules, and squeeze out your existence! Wuming’s lotus petals bloomed faintly, looking smaller than before.

Lin Yi said calmly, I know.

If we don’t take a risk, how am I supposed to achieve my goal while she’s in a chaotic state?

Wuming fell silent.

Lin Yi felt as if her heart were about to split open. The pain forced a groan from her. She tightly pinched the skin over her chest, but even the stinging pain on her skin could not suppress the sudden pain that had struck her.

Wuming sighed, and a soft light wrapped around Lin Yi.

After a wave of gentle light flashed past, Lin Yi felt much more comfortable.

She said softly, Wait a few more days for me. There will definitely be a result. I won’t gamble with my life.

Wuming’s lotus leaves swayed lightly, and the light on its body dimmed considerably. Its tone was calm. I’m going to suppress the Sea of Fate.

Lin Yi shook her head. The heart-piercing pain from just now made her fingertips shrink slightly. She turned on the faucet and washed her hands. Only then did she feel the faint taste of blood on the tip of her tongue.

Opening her mouth in front of the mirror, she realized that in her unbearable pain just now, she had bitten through the inside of her mouth. Now her mouth was full of blood.

The person in the mirror was pale. Her black hair hung messily down, and as she bared her teeth, bright red blood threads clung to her sharp little canine teeth. A faint streak of blood also trailed down from the corner of her mouth.

Lin Yi grimaced, then was amused by the person in the mirror.

She looked like a vampire.

Her bright eyes curved with laughter, and she cupped clear water to wash away the blood at the corner of her lips.

She had spoken so confidently to Wuming, but in truth, she had no certainty at all. It depended entirely on whether fate would still grant her a gift at this moment.

Lin Xiaolu held her head, unable to distinguish who she was at this moment.

Was she the successful and famous Lin Xiaolu? Or the unknown Lin Xiaolu?

Was she the Lin Xiaolu who held Lin Yi in her palm and used her however she pleased? Or the Lin Xiaolu who was instead shackled by Lin Yi?

Was she the Lin Xiaolu who died miserably beneath wheels, with no one to collect her body? Or the Lin Xiaolu who was alive now?

Her face shifted constantly in her dizziness, unable to restrain wild laughter, then shrinking back in pain.

In the end, it was the vibration of her phone that saved her.

Like a dehydrated fish, she gasped for breath.

“Lin Xiaolu, it’s me! Your Brother Tai!” The familiar sleazy male voice from the phone finally pulled Lin Xiaolu back to reality.

“Brother Tai?” Lin Xiaolu’s expression was still dazed.

Zhang Tai curled his lip, his tone turning unpleasant. “What? After spending a few days living happily with Liu Chang, you forgot about your Brother Tai?”

Lin Xiaolu came back to herself and said warily, “What do you want?”

Of course she would not forget this man—Lin Yi’s former manager.

Zhang Tai picked his teeth with a toothpick and held it in his mouth. “Last time, you were the one who told me Li Junhao liked fishing around for beauties, so I eagerly sent Lin Yi up to him. Well, look how that turned out. The one who raised geese ended up getting his eyes pecked blind by a goose. Tell me, how are you going to compensate me for my losses?”

“Madam Li of Jianming, that crazy woman, is still waiting for me.”

“What do you think would happen if I gave you up and said you were the one who instigated me?”

“Oh, no. You’re an outsider to the industry. If they wanted to deal with someone, they’d probably deal with that lover of yours first.”

At this moment, Lin Xiaolu instead became exceptionally calm. She was silent for a while, then suddenly sneered. “How can we talk over the phone? Let’s choose a place and talk in person.”