Shao Lin clenched her fists, glaring hatefully at Su Ding.
Since Su Ding said she couldn't harm her bastard child, what if Madam Jin made a move?
"Su Ding, don't get ahead of yourself. We'll see."
With that, she turned around, slammed the door shut, and left.
Su Ding stared coldly at the closed door, her heart trembling with hatred.
She had not forgotten a single humiliation she had suffered.
Time slipped by quietly. The sleepless nights were difficult to bear. Just as the sky began to lighten, she finally fell asleep.
In the early morning, a phone call startled Su Ding, who had just dozed off.
Reaching for her phone and answering, Xiao Yuan's excited voice boomed from the receiver, "Ding Ding, quick, check the Weibo trending topics!"
Su Ding, groggy-headed, asked in a hoarse voice, "What's wrong?"
What Weibo?
As she asked, she opened Weibo. Her name was on the trending list.
#ActorsPleasePrepareSuDing#
She rubbed her eyes, confirming it was her name, and couldn't help but click. It was a short video posted by a marketing account, from the acting variety show she had participated in right after returning to the country!
"You're trending! Didn't you see? You're fifth too! Click it and see!" Xiao Yuan was still shouting excitedly on the other end.
Su Ding quickly turned down the phone volume and clicked on the fifth trending topic.
#FeelingsAfterBreakingUpWithAScumbag#
Upon clicking, the same video was displayed, with hundreds of thousands of likes and comments.
She was completely stunned and asked blankly, "Did you buy me trending topics?"
"Where would I get the money to buy you trending topics? Look at the comments below. They're not bots; they're all positive reviews from ordinary people!" Xiao Yuan said, exasperated and amused.
Su Ding scrolled to the comments section and indeed, they weren't bots.
What was going on?
Xiao Yuan said on the other end, "Actors Please Prepare premiered last night. It must be the show's producers who bought the trending topics. But you're really trending and it's still there this morning!"
Su Ding was still a bit dazed, and her sleepiness made her yawn uncontrollably.
She wiped her eyes and continued browsing Weibo. Only then did she belatedly realize that she had gained fifty thousand followers overnight!
This Weibo account was registered by Xiao Yuan when she first returned to the country. Xiao Yuan usually helped her post beautiful photos and pictures from film sets.
Gradually, she had accumulated over ten thousand followers.
But now, she had five thousand!
As a "newcomer" who had just returned from abroad and entered the domestic entertainment industry, this follower growth rate was a bit too fast.
Xiao Yuan was still chattering on the other end, "I told you your acting is good. After all, you've won awards abroad. It's just that they don't know. I'm going to contact a public relations team to help you create some buzz..."
Su Ding nodded with a smile, "Okay, okay, thank you for your trouble."
If she could become famous, Xiao Yuan would also be able to hold her head high in the industry.
Moreover, she needed a lot of money right now to accomplish that one thing...
After the initial excitement, she gradually calmed down. Thinking of her daughter, she asked, "Is Xiao Rui behaving herself at your place?"
"Yes, my mother-in-law is taking care of her. Don't worry."
Xiao Yuan had her own son, so her mother-in-law had moved in to help. This also allowed her to look after Su Xiao Rui.
Su Ding smiled, "Thank you for the trouble."
Xiao Yuan replied exasperatedly, "You're my artist, of course I have to help you handle things. Alright, alright, I have to go and get busy. I'll come to see you again tonight."
Su Ding smiled and agreed, then hung up the phone.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
Su Ding glanced at the door. "Come in!"
Jin Ye and Jin Xiao Xi walked in, carrying food containers. "Haven't you eaten yet?"
"Mmm, I'm just hungry," Su Ding said with a smile.
Jin Xiao Xi pounced to the bedside and saw Su Ding's heavily bandaged knee. He looked both distressed and angry, clenching his small fists. "Who did this!"
As he spoke, tears welled up.
Su Ding's heart softened. "Auntie is fine. Xiao Xi, don't worry. The doctor said you'll be better in two days."
Jin Xiao Xi held back his tears and nodded.
Jin Ye, on the other side, set up a small table for her and poured the fragrant, hot porridge. He didn't say anything.
Su Ding looked at the father and son, whose appearances were similar, and felt an unprecedented warmth.
But then she thought of what Madam Jin had said yesterday...
Her heart ached.
If Xiao Xi was really Shao Lin's child, how would she face him in the future?
"It'll be ready to drink after it cools a bit. Does it still hurt?" Jin Ye placed a pillow behind her waist, making her lean more comfortably.
"Mmm, it doesn't hurt anymore," Su Ding took a deep breath and forced a smile.
Jin Ye nodded in silence.
Jin Xiao Xi sat close to the bed and took Su Ding's hand. "Auntie..."
Su Ding gently stroked his head, but her mood was heavy.
"I have something to do and need to go out for a bit. Xiao Xi can stay here," Jin Ye said in a deep voice.
Su Ding looked up at him in confusion. "Uh, okay, you go ahead."
Jin Ye's expression was restrained, making it difficult to discern his emotions, but it still gave off a sense of unease.
Jin Xiao Xi pouted unhappily.