Chapter 53

Qi Yue didn't stay long before leaving, saying he had to prepare for the dissolution of his contract and inheritance of the family business.

Shen Tang was so envious that tears nearly spilled from the corners of her eyes.

She gossiped and asked, "Which Pei family was Qi Yue talking about earlier?"

Pei Kesong rubbed Shen Tang's hair, "Be good, don't ask about things you shouldn't."

Shen Tang pouted, "Nevermind if you won't say."

She'd ask Gu Huaian later.

Pei Kesong smiled gently, "You focus on recovering from your injury, and I'll tear up resources for you once you've healed."

"Actually, there's no need to work that hard..." Shen Tang didn't know whether or not to tell him about her plans to retire from the industry and live peacefully.

Clearly they were partners, yet she strangely felt as if she'd betrayed him. She didn't dare say a word.

"Don't worry, I will definitely make you a first-tier actress." Pei Kesong said earnestly.

Shen Tang opened her mouth: "Oh..."

Pei Kesong didn't stay long either. He still had a lot to deal with.

Although Shen Tang didn't know what he was busy with, after all, she was still his only artist.

The room emptied out again, and Shen Tang again felt bored.

Soon, faint footsteps sounded outside, followed by a soft knock on the door. "Shen Tang, are you there?"

Shen Tang jerked her head towards the door. That voice...

"I'm here, come in!"

A group of girls swarmed in, pushing each other. No one spoke first.

It had to be said, these girls were all very good-looking, a sight for sore eyes.

Shen Tang spoke first: "How are you all?"

"Very good!"

"We're fine, but you, how did you get injured so severely..."

"If not for us, you wouldn't have gotten hurt..." The girls began crying as they spoke.

Shen Tang hurried to comfort them, "Don't think too much, this was just an accident..."

She looked closely at the group and didn't see the bullied girl. Her heart lurched. "Is someone missing?"

"She's also hospitalized. Haven't you seen her?" The girls looked at her with large, confused eyes.

"Should I have seen her?" Shen Tang looked down at her thoroughly wrapped limbs. It was difficult just getting out of bed. "She's also being treated at this hospital." Shen Tang was angry. That damn Gu Huaian must have deliberately not told her!

She'd asked several times!

"Sit down, there's fruit here. Help yourselves, I can't get up to serve you all."

She had previously felt bored without a neighbor. Now she suddenly felt a suite to herself was quite nice, at least there was a long sofa and chairs. Otherwise with so many people, there wouldn't be enough seats.

"Oh right, I remember a few of you used to be my little antis..."

The girls' faces instantly turned red as they softly explained, "We're not antis anymore..."

"We've already joined the fan group. From now on we'll help promote you every day and scold others for you."

"Ah...there's no need for that. I have too many antis, you can't argue with them. Just pay more attention to my work."

Although it seemed she didn't have much work.

Looking at the cute, obedient faces before her, Shen Tang deeply felt that they'd probably cry after being scolded a few times.

The girls looked at each other and smiled without explaining further.

The girls also didn't stay long, afraid to disturb Shen Tang's rest.

Just as they were leaving, they happened to run into Ao Ziping and her group.

Both sides paused in surprise.

One girl timidly asked, "Are...are you Ao Ziping? Can I get an autograph?"

"Sure!"

But they realized there was no pen or paper for her to sign.

Ao Ziping said, "Go back and private message me your address on Weibo. I'll mail the autograph to you."

"Great, great! Thank you, you're so nice. Keep it up, you'll definitely shine brightly!"

Ao Ziping blushed happily, "Thank you!"

Upon seeing Shen Tang after entering the room, Huo Yingying's eyes instantly turned red.

"How did you get hurt so badly?"

Ao Ziping's focus was rather unique. "Did you really beat a wild boar to death with your bare hands?"

Shen Tang shook her head. "Didn't beat it to death, but it was nearly dead."

"Wow!"

Ao Ziping sucked in a breath and gave a thumbs up. "Awesome!"

Huo Yingying's brows furrowed as she looked at Shen Tang's injured hand, her face full of disapproval.

"What were you thinking, daring to fight a wild boar? If not for your strength, would I have ever seen you again?"

Huo Yingying was both angry and afraid, tears flowing freely down her face.

Shen Tang hurried to comfort her and raised her arm, only to find her hand wrapped like a zongzi.

"Don't...don't cry anymore. Ao Ziping, can you pass me the tissues from the table?"

"Oh..." Huo Yingying wiped her tears. "Focus on recovering. Don't move around recklessly. Oh right, do you know, you made it on the hot search!"

"Huh?" Shen Tang carefully thought about what could have put her on the hot search.

"Could it be because news broke that I'm hospitalized?"

"Yeah...more or less..." Huo Yingying had an expression like she was watching a good show. "Someone secretly took photos of you and said you were beaten and crippled by a legal wife after being discovered as the mistress."

Shen Tang: "..."

She said in disbelief: "No way people actually believed such an idiot rumor..."

"Ahem, congratulations on guessing right. Quite a lot of people online believed it."

Shen Tang frowned. "How come no one told me?"

"They were probably afraid to worry you. But don't worry, the perpetrator has been found out. It was a young nurse who got fired."

Shen Tang had a bizarre feeling of being forcibly involved.

"What was she after? Could she have been my anti?"

Huo Yingying shook her head. "I don't know. I just heard from others. I heard President Gu was very angry about it and is suing the big Vs who spread rumors online."

When you’re not on the rivers and lakes, the rivers and lakes still have legends about you.

Listening to Huo Yingying's words made Shen Tang's heart itch. She very much wanted to see what the situation online was like now.

To be honest, what she actually wanted more was to wildly boast about fighting off that wild boar with her bare hands. It was such an awesome feat she could brag about her whole life.

Thinking this, Shen Tang suddenly wondered what had happened to that wild boar. She still hadn't eaten wild boar meat!

She decided to ask Gu Huaian about it when he came by that evening.

As it neared dusk, Xu JiaoJiao also came.

Seeing so many people in the room, she didn't say much, just greeted them and sat to the side.

It wasn't until the others had left that she finally voiced her doubts: "I remember nothing like this happened in our last life."

"There are no absolutes in the world's affairs. Every choice will impact the road ahead. Don't cling to the past. You should cherish the present instead."

Shen Tang sighed, as if she had crossed into a book, she didn't always adhere to the plot either, but lived her own life instead.

Xu JiaoJiao was stunned for a moment, then revealed a bitter smile. "You're right. I was confused."

She could also clearly feel that the Shen Tang of this life was somewhat different from that of the previous life, with an indistinct feeling of estrangement.

"You...rest well, I'll come see you again tomorrow."

"No need."

Xu JiaoJiao's expression changed. "Tangtang, I..."

"You just started filming, right? Coming back and forth is too troublesome. And I'm doing fine here, don't worry."

Xu JiaoJiao smiled. "It's no trouble at all, I'm not tired."

"But you really should rest more these days. So I won't come tomorrow."

Shen Tang murmured in agreement.

After Xu JiaoJiao left, her expression collapsed.

She really has changed...