Free Web NovelChapter 310: Chapter 308: Xu Jiali’s Confusion
"Alright, everyone, stop arguing," the leader said, glancing at a message on his phone. "The higher-ups will take over this matter."
Shark Platform also released an announcement that Doctor Wen’s account had been hacked. After all, Doctor Wen was Shark’s biggest star.
When an issue arose with the account of someone this prominent, it was crucial to provide a clear explanation to the public.
Shortly after, the authorities and Shark Platform jointly issued a statement. It explained that foreign hackers had infiltrated Shark’s network and stolen Doctor Wen’s account. Their intent was to cause public panic and spread terrifying rhetoric. The public was advised not to be alarmed.
That was the gist of it. Reading the announcement, netizens were left sighing in dismay.
"Foreign hackers would steal an account, but instead of an official one, they go after a private citizen’s?"
"Has our Doctor Wen’s influence spread overseas already?"
"I’ve seen a few of Doctor Wen’s videos on foreign sites. They were all reposts, but the view counts were incredibly high! A lot of people overseas definitely know about Doctor Wen!"
"But there are plenty of famous people out there. Why target only Doctor Wen’s account? I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off."
"Honestly, I’ve been analyzing this whole thing, and I think the hacker wanted to use Doctor Wen’s account to promote something!"
"Promote what?"
"That so-called ’mist’! But now that we know the person was an impostor, doesn’t that mean the things that happened to those two people who called in were also fake? That’s so damn messed up, playing with our feelings like that!"
"No wonder they didn’t charge any money. I guess they didn’t understand the essence of Doctor Wen’s streams!"
"Fortune-telling... Bah! Seeing a patient is a serious business. How could there be no charge? Everyone, remember this from now on: a Doctor Wen who doesn’t charge money is definitely a fake!"
"Go check out Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan’s Weibo! They posted! It’s even trending!"
The chattering netizens quickly flocked to the trending topics list.
Song Jiayan and Xu Jiali were indeed trending, but it looked like they were trapped.
The Weibo post first addressed the impostor Doctor Wen, explaining that the real Doctor Wen was currently unable to get online.
It then went on to say that she and Song Jiayan were trapped and needed help.
It also included a photo of the two of them in a pit, looking grimy and disheveled.
On the other side of the river, the head of the operation felt his head buzz when he saw the trending topic.
They had assumed that with the area declared dangerous, any ordinary person would flee without a second thought. As a result, they hadn’t guarded it strictly. They never expected two people to sneak over, let alone... fall into a pit!
And these two were celebrities!
Director Wen, who had already set up a base in the city with his team, was left speechless when he saw Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan’s Weibo post.
Of course, he knew what those two were planning to do.
’But thinking about it, I guess I have no reason to stop them.’
’If it were someone close to me who had gone missing, I’d go too, no matter how dangerous it was.’
’I just wonder what Doctor Wen is doing right now?’
Thinking of this, Director Wen felt a little ashamed.
He had watched the stream as well. At first, he was baffled. ’Where on earth is Doctor Wen? How can she be streaming live when I can’t even reach her by phone?’
But to think that Doctor Wen was an impostor!
’What the hell do those disgusting foreigners want?’
’When Doctor Wen finds out about this, she definitely won’t let them get away with it!’
’Those people clearly don’t know how formidable Doctor Wen is. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have dared to poke the bear like this!’
Still, seeing all the public discussion, Director Wen grew truly curious. ’What exactly is this "mist"?’
’It could all be a conspiracy theory, but this theory involves the mist. Could Doctor Wen’s disappearance be related to the mist, too?’
Director Wen looked at the Red Rope Bracelet on his wrist.
Doctor Wen must have suspected something, which was why she’d given him the bracelet for protection beforehand.
Sitting in the pit, Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan were looking up at the sky.
"Song Jiayan, if you were given another chance to do it over, would you still come looking for Sister Wen Ying?"
"I would," Song Jiayan said without a moment’s hesitation.
"Me too. Even if I knew we wouldn’t be able to find Sister Wen Ying... She was so good to us. How could we just sit by and do nothing but wait for her to return?"
Song Jiayan nodded.
Maybe many people wouldn’t understand, but his thoughts were similar to Xu Jiali’s.
Wen Ying had been missing for three days!
If it had been one day, or even two, he and Xu Jiali could have waited.
But their gratitude and friendship toward Wen Ying made it impossible for them to simply wait any longer. They had to take the risk, no matter how dangerous it was.
That’s why they had come to try their luck, bringing their life-saving bracelets and peace charms.
"Song Jiayan... do you think we’re just going to be a burden to Sister Wen Ying?"
Song Jiayan looked at Xu Jiali. The light seemed to have gone out of her eyes. Still, he nodded in response to her question. "Yes. We will be."
Xu Jiali laughed, but a tear slid from the corner of her eye.
"Yeah. Sister Wen Ying is so capable, and Little White is so capable too. We don’t know how to do anything. Aren’t we just a burden? You’re right. I thought you might lie to me just to make me feel better. I’m glad you didn’t."
Song Jiayan didn’t speak. At this moment, he didn’t know what to say either.
’Are being a burden and coming to look for Sister Wen Ying a contradiction?’
’Maybe a lot of people would think so, but as long as I feel it’s worth it, that’s enough.’
"I’ve always known, really. Sister Wen Ying and us... we’re not from the same world. She didn’t need to enter this industry at all; she was already famous. Besides, she didn’t come here for fame. Our original intentions were different, so will the outcomes be different too? Sister Wen Ying is so incredible. After this show is over, what reason will we have to even be around her?"
Song Jiayan remained silent.
’Stay with Doctor Wen?’
He hadn’t thought about it.
But now that Xu Jiali had brought it up, he felt a gaping void open up inside him. He couldn’t quite explain what it was.
’After this show,’ Song Jiayan thought silently, ’I’ll have to go back to writing, singing, and recording music. So many people enjoy my songs; my future will be fine.’
’But what about Xu Jiali?’
’Xu Jiali has a sharp personality. She’s unwilling to compromise or be manipulated. The money-men don’t like people like that.’
’Once she leaves here, even with the popularity she has now, her future will be a gamble—murky and uncertain.’
’As for Doctor Wen... I’m probably overthinking things.’
’Doctor Wen’s future doesn’t need me worrying about it. Even before this show, she was already the famous Doctor Wen from Weibo. This program was just icing on the cake for her.’
’What will Xu Jiali do?’
"Jiali, do you remember what Mr. Chen Ming said?" Song Jiayan suddenly recalled. "He said Sister Wen Ying is his boss!"
"Oh, right. Sister Wen Ying is Chen Ming’s boss," Xu Jiali repeated, her voice listless.
"If Sister Wen Ying is a boss, she must have a company, right? You could keep working with her, couldn’t you?"
Xu Jiali paused for a moment before the idea registered.
’Sister Wen Ying... is a boss?’
But on their way here, Sister Wen Ying had never once mentioned having a company.
