Chapter 31: Terminate the Contract with Zhang Chuchu!

Understood! Everything became clear!

Why Su Yunjin’s foot was injured.
Why she wore an almost floor-length Zen robe this time.
Why her movements on stage seemed less coordinated.
So this is where all the truth lay!

Now that everyone online understood, they all felt an immense surge of sympathy for Su Yunjin.

She saved someone but didn’t speak of it, quietly left after her act of bravery, and though she herself was hurt, she refused to rest and continued to perform with dedication, dancing and jumping on stage.

Compared to the so-called pretty boys in the entertainment industry, how could anyone not adore such a Su Yunjin?

Yet, alongside their understanding, the anger of the online community grew.

First, Zhang Chuchu maligned Su Yunjin, then incited her fans to stir up trouble.

Before the video of the rescue emerged, Zhang Chuchu’s fans were still mocking Su Yunjin’s injury, even trying to paint her as a fake “white lotus” for sympathy.

Unforgivable! Completely unforgivable!

A girl who acted bravely, and was demonized like this.

For the first time, tens of thousands of netizens were furious, their anger flaring as many flocked to Zhang Chuchu’s microblog to hurl insults.

“So what if you’re in the hospital? Su Yunjin was injured saving someone!”

“I don’t believe you need to be hospitalized for a fall. Enough is enough! Even if you did, you were the ones who hurt someone else first!”

“Zhang Chuchu is cancelled, no further explanation needed!”

“Su Yunjin has someone backing her? Ha, what’s wrong with a girl like her having support?”

A thousand insults.
Five thousand insults.
Ten thousand insults.

Very quickly, Zhang Chuchu shot up to the top of the trending topics, and alongside her, the video of Su Yunjin’s rescue became the front-page headline across major news outlets.

Combined with the footage previously captured by Camera Four of the C-Position Girl Group, Zhang Chuchu instantly became the target of public outrage.

Some of her most ardent defenders were even exposed as hired trolls and fake accounts.

Facing such a situation, the official C-Position Girl Group finally released a statement:

“Given that someone maliciously provoked the incident, causing the disruption of the entire show, after careful consideration by leadership, those who stirred trouble with ill intent will be punished!”

…

“What? You want me to leave?”

“Why should I have to leave?”

“We signed a contract! If you breach it, your company will have to pay compensation!”

The next morning, the hospital corridors echoed with angry shouts from a private single room.

The one shouting was none other than Zhang Chuchu!

Early that morning, she was informed by Zhang Zhichang that her contract had been terminated, and the mentors would be reevaluated.

The news, coupled with all that had happened the night before, shattered Zhang Chuchu’s composure.

She had only tried to clear obstacles for Lu Yiqing, so why did she end up as the sacrifice?

Didn’t Lu Yiqing dislike Su Yunjin?
Wasn’t it Lu Yiqing who had people target her?

Why? Why was she the one expelled?

And now, if she was dismissed, wouldn’t that confirm the C-Position Girl Group’s official statement that someone had deliberately stirred up trouble?

If her reputation got out, how could she ever survive in the entertainment industry again?

Zhang Chuchu could not accept this—would not accept it.

“Compensation? Hmph, Mr. Zhang, you must be mistaken. You should be compensating us!”

Zhang Zhichang snorted coldly, “The actual events were recorded clearly by Camera Four. We don’t concern ourselves with what you and Luo Zizhen did to Su Yunjin in private. But your actions have affected the show itself. The contract spells it out: any conduct detrimental to the program is forbidden. I believe Mr. Lu has already given you ample face—now that things have gone this far, you must bear the consequences.”

Zhang Zhichang was well aware of everything happening online. As the producer, he had little power to speak, but working with this kind of team was bound to be exhausting in the future.

This time, Zhang Chuchu’s self-inflicted disaster directly infringed upon the team’s interests, shattering Lu Yiqing’s original plan to downplay the incident.

With the uproar online and the mounting calls for action, not removing her would never appease the public.

“I have to take responsibility? What about Luo Zizhen? Shouldn’t she be held accountable? She was the instigator!”

Even now, Zhang Chuchu was unwilling to accept it, desperate to drag Luo Zizhen down with her.

Hearing this, Zhang Zhichang laughed outright. “Ms. Zhang, you’d best worry about yourself. As for others, that’s none of your business.”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly as I said. Just mind your own affairs. I have nothing more to say about anyone else.”

With that, Zhang Zhichang hung up.

Luo Zizhen was indeed a culprit, but at least this “vase” was obedient. From last night until now, she’d said nothing, quietly enduring the insults.

While Luo Zizhen was distasteful, the team found her much easier to work with than Zhang Chuchu.

“Bastard! Bastard! Bastard, bastard, bastard!”

In the hospital room, Zhang Chuchu had already guessed that Luo Zizhen would be kept on, but she could not face this reality. After being hung up on by Zhang Zhichang, she raged on the hospital bed like a madwoman.

…

“What? Zhang Chuchu was dropped?”

“Seriously? The C-Position Girl Group actually chose to protect a newcomer?”

“Just who is this Su Yunjin, that the Lu family would stand with her?”

In the entertainment world, less than half an hour after Zhang Chuchu was dismissed, everyone knew.

For a moment, countless celebrities and artists were stunned.

Zhang Chuchu may have played dirty, but this was the entertainment industry—there were far worse.

Everyone played the game by the rules of survival—no one cared about methods.

To be honest, the video of Su Yunjin’s rescue was a major boost for her. But up to now, Zhang Chuchu’s tactics were nothing but petty sabotage.

Even with all these revelations, as long as Zhang Chuchu was willing to apologize, everything would be fine.

It couldn’t be said she had no way out, yet the C-Position Girl Group’s production team still chose Su Yunjin.

It was unbelievable!

Zhang Chuchu and Su Yunjin—one a recognizable figure in the performing arts, the other a complete unknown.

And yet, Zhang Chuchu lost!

Absurd! Incredibly absurd!

Could it be that Su Yunjin was really backed by just a producer?

Many celebrities and artists began to speculate about who was behind Su Yunjin.

Likewise, the capitalists were curious, unable to explain or comprehend the situation.

Only those at the very top, in the circles above the capitalists, understood the truth, and when they heard Zhang Chuchu had been cast out, they exchanged knowing smiles.

“As expected, for the sake of the Seven Gates, Zhang Chuchu is not worth mentioning.”

“Of course. After all, Su Yunjin is the next heir of the Seven Gates. Even if Lu Yiqing were a fool, he’d know where his priorities lie.”

“So these actors really have empty heads—unable to read the times, always eager to grandstand. Does that woman actually believe she could marry into the Lu family?”