That night, while the navy was still systematically and disciplinedly launching attacks against Xia Qingtian, a screenshot from a foreign social media platform suddenly shocked the entire internet.
The legendary French fashion matriarch had posted several photos of Xia Qingtian attending an awards ceremony banquet.
Those who didn't understand French immediately spewed hate.
"Seriously! She's shamed herself completely! Now even Madame Camille is publicly criticizing Xia Qingtian. This trash should just quit the industry! What an embarrassment!"
"Exactly, I can't even bear to look. What kind of person is she!"
"Isn't it the idiot upstairs who can't bear to look? Is there nothing else to criticize? You don't even know the language and you're blindly attacking! You must have been paid a lot!"
"Is there anyone who knows French? Please translate!"
"Here I am, tcf670, here to translate: Madame Camille said: 'It seems my judgment was correct, a jewel bestowed upon beauty.' "
"Damn, is that real? Upstairs, don't just look at the picture and assume! Madame Camille gifting a jewel to Xia Qingtian?? Who does she think she is? Does she even deserve it?"
"Yeah, didn't Cheng Feiran say she didn't see Xia Qingtian? Xia Qingtian is just a clout-chaser, does she deserve that?"
"You're all blinded by hate. Here's my French student ID, proving the translator is correct. Madame Camille did say 'a jewel bestowed upon beauty'! The jewel was given by Madame Camille to Xia Qingtian!"
"Whoa... I'm stunned!"
"Ahhh! K&K has released an announcement, the new spokesperson is Xia Qingtian! Personally chosen by Madame Camille!"
"Whoa! Is that true?"
"I can't keep up, what's going on? Wasn't it said that Xia Qingtian didn't attend Madame Camille's banquet? Wasn't she called a clout-chaser?"
"You guys are seriously brainless. Cheng Feiran is from Wanqing Entertainment. How can you believe her words! Are your brains in a ditch? Wanqing Entertainment has been causing trouble for a year! How can you still believe them!"
"Don't bring up our Cheng Feiran. Cheng Feiran just said she didn't remember Xia Qingtian, she never said she wasn't there. You guys just imagined it. What's Cheng Feiran's status? How could she know an eighteen-line newcomer like Xia Qingtian? Stop trying to clout-chase with our Feiran, okay!"
"But the eighteen-line newcomer became K&K's spokesperson, personally chosen by Madame Camille as a jewel bestowed upon beauty. Are you angry?"
"I always thought Cheng Feiran was so bitchy, always being sarcastic. No one else acted up, but she was the one talking nonsense."
"Anything from Wanqing Entertainment can't be good! Just watch, they'll probably have to apologize again this time!"
"Damn! Wanqing Entertainment and Cheng Feiran apologized! The person upstairs is a prophet! Kill them, kill them!"
"Wanqing Entertainment is getting more and more practiced and timely with their apologies. I truly pity them~ Heh."
"That 'heh' from upstairs is quite witty."
"I pity my Feiran. She did nothing wrong, yet she has to apologize along with everyone else. Xia Qingtian is something else, I don't believe she doesn't have a sugar daddy behind her!"
"I was just a passerby before, but now I really think Cheng Feiran's fans are incredibly annoying, delusional fans! Even the principal has apologized, and they're still desperately trying to save face! I'm on Xia Qingtian's side!"
"Exactly, if Cheng Feiran hadn't spoken nonsense, Qingtian wouldn't have been scolded for so long! An apology is deserved!"
"It wasn't our Feiran's fault in the first place! She just said she didn't know Xia Qingtian, what's wrong with that! Really... let's just ignore our Feiran!"
Suddenly, passersby and Cheng Feiran's fans were in a heated argument, while Xia Qingtian's fans demanded an explanation. Among them were fans of other artists who joined in the chaos, fanning the flames, making it quite lively.
Meanwhile, the president's office of Wanqing Entertainment was brightly lit, with Yu Linwan sitting behind her desk with a grim expression.
She truly couldn't understand how Xia Qingtian, by herself, could possibly win Madame Camille's favor.
At the banquet that day, Madame Camille hadn't paid any attention to Xia Qingtian at all. It was only Madame Camille's adopted daughter, Amiya, who had spoken a few words to Xia Qingtian throughout the entire event!
And with that, Madame Camille had actually gifted Xia Qingtian a ruby!
How could this be? Did she deserve it?
"You sycophantic dog! You know how to butter people up!" Yu Linwan gritted her teeth and cursed.
It must be Gu Yaoyang!
It was Yaoyang who gave Xia Qingtian an opportunity, and Madame Camille must have done it to save Yaoyang face!
Thinking of this, Yu Linwan was consumed by jealousy.
If no accident had happened, if she hadn't believed the doctor's nonsense that he might never wake up, she wouldn't have turned around and married Gu Yaoqing.
Otherwise, what business would that Xia Qingtian have had here!
The more she thought about it, the angrier Yu Linwan became, as if the glory and spotlight that rightfully belonged to her had been snatched away by Xia Qingtian.
She thought she could finally crush that bitch Xia Qingtian this time, but unexpectedly, she had managed to revive herself again!
Wanqing Entertainment's timely apology, coupled with the fact that they had only skirted the issue this time, and Cheng Feiran had only briefly mentioned not knowing Xia Qingtian.
With so many people present that night, and given that Cheng Feiran and Xia Qingtian were not in the same league, it was normal for her not to recognize her.
Wanqing Entertainment had already endured quite a bit of scolding, so they weren't particularly bothered by this instance.
Moreover, the exposure this time had indeed brought some benefits to Cheng Feiran, and the company could still make money, so being scolded was worth it.
However, Yu Linwan couldn't swallow her anger.
Just let her find Xia Qingtian's current residence, and then…
A fierce glint appeared in Yu Linwan's eyes.
On the other side, Xia Qingtian shivered inexplicably, her eyes momentarily unfocused.
"What's wrong?" Mobius, sitting opposite Xia Qingtian, asked.
"Nothing, I'm just a bit tired," Xia Qingtian said, rubbing the back of her neck before smiling sheepishly. "I'm sorry for mooching off your meals again."
"It's nothing, I have to eat anyway, so it's just an extra pair of chopsticks," Mobius smiled lightly and spooned more soup for Xia Qingtian. "Feel free to come over anytime. If there's anything you want to eat, you can tell me."
"That would be too much of a bother," Xia Qingtian chuckled, then asked, "Can you make sweet and sour pork ribs and mapo tofu?"
Mobius's lips curved upward, and he vaguely replied, "I can learn."
At that moment, Xia Qingtian felt something soft bump gently against her heart, and an uncontrollable smile spread across her face.
Just then, Xia Qingtian's phone rang, pulling her back to reality. "Hello?"
"What's going on at your doorstep!" Xia Qingyu asked nervously. "Why aren't you home?"
"I've moved," Xia Qingtian said immediately. "I've been very busy these past few days, I didn't have time to tell you."
"It's good that you moved." Xia Qingyu glanced at the door and then heard a man's voice on the other end of the phone.
"Would you like me to add another bowl of soup for you?"