The sudden change in the live broadcast caused all the danmu comments to turn into exclamation marks.
"What's going on? I was waiting to see the Imperial Consort Group perform first, then watch the top-tier group put them to shame with their stage play. After all, their 'bosom friend' theme seemed rather cliché no matter how you looked at it."
"Teacher Zong is unwell? Is that true? What a coincidence. Could there be some conspiracy targeting the top-tier group?"
"They don't think we won't compare the plots and shame them just because they're going on later, do they?"
"As expected, problematic celebrities are all afraid of the top-tier group. They're so scared they're deserting at the last minute."
"Maybe the vixen saw the negative buzz online, got scared, and didn't dare to go on stage. So she asked the nice guy Teacher Zong to help make excuses."
"Even if they're scared, they still have to go on! Otherwise, are they going to sit around and chat for the rest of the show?"
"Waiting to see what kind of mess the Imperial Consort Group can cook up."
"Never mind, let's enjoy the top-tier group's performance first. I'm so curious to see what tricks they'll pull this time."
"'Beauty brings disaster' - just hearing this theme name sounds troublesome. I bet they're going to harshly criticize those bad women who use their bodies to get ahead and harm others!"
Meanwhile, due to a delay, a different scene was unfolding on Weibo.
A short video drama suddenly topped the trending list, also using the theme name 'Bosom Friend'. However, since the Imperial Consort Group hadn't started performing yet, this trending topic didn't cause much of a stir beyond piggybacking on the name.
Internet users are naturally rebellious. Subtle guidance of public opinion can easily succeed, but blatant smear campaigns, especially mindless ones, will make netizens feel it's gone too far. They become very resentful and instead, some might wake up and view the issue from a fair perspective.
What's even more amusing is that because the video trended, at the same time, members of the Ladies' Club jointly posted the same message on Weibo:
"Only those who earn roles based on their abilities deserve respect. Those using underhanded means, please leave the entertainment industry. You're not welcome here!"
Although they didn't tag anyone, everyone knew who they had blacklisted before, so the target was obvious.
If the Imperial Consort Group were performing now, their Weibo posts would have been quite timely. Netizens would have loved to see them stir up trouble and fight, for the sake of gossip.
But now that the group hadn't even performed yet, their posts just seemed incredibly awkward.
The Ladies' Club members were also quite bewildered. Being their usual proud selves, they certainly wouldn't have treated this as a job to be done carefully. They just casually mentioned it in their group chat and everyone posted a Weibo message.
After posting, they looked at the comments and saw netizens mocking them to watch the live broadcast before speaking, saying they posted at the wrong time!
They were suddenly dumbfounded and went to the group chat to find Madam Zong.
However, neither the video nor the Weibo posts could be deleted, as netizens had probably already saved them. They could only wait for the Imperial Consort Group to perform later for their posts to take effect.
Madam Zong was also confused, but she was more worried about her husband's condition. She quickly called Zong Siqi. Although she couldn't go there herself, she told Zong Siqi to keep a close eye on them.
"I'm not sure either. Uncle said he wasn't feeling well, but didn't need to go to the hospital. He's just resting backstage and will probably go on stage once he feels better. I can only wait for news now. However, Yu Rouyin seems very anxious. Although they've changed the performance order, she's still frantically contacting people to come and save the situation urgently."
"What! As expected, she's just a selfish bitch! My husband is in this state, and she's only thinking about her own stage performance, not even willing to wait for my husband and just wanting to replace him immediately. Indeed, whores are heartless and actors are ungrateful. She's the embodiment of both!"
Although Madam Zong had just been hospitalized due to her heartless husband's actions, when something happened, her first reaction was still to feel sorry for him. Sick, and then cast aside so coldly - she couldn't stand it.
"Who is she trying to contact? I'll have a word with them. I don't believe industry insiders won't give me face and still help her!" Madam Zong raged.
"That's not necessary. I overheard two phone calls, and neither was willing to help her. Not only is everyone afraid of her current scandal-ridden state, but also, who would dare to perform on such short notice without any preparation? It could ruin their reputation. Only she's still dreaming that she can find someone to replace Uncle on stage."
Madam Zong thought about it and agreed, "Hmph, evil deeds will be repaid. Maybe your uncle has finally listened to me and decided not to help her anymore."
On the other end of the phone, Zong Siqi didn't think so. Although he didn't know what had happened, he felt that his uncle's sudden problem was very suspicious.
After hanging up, it wasn't long before he saw Yu Rouyin approach him, her face pale and her expression fragile and helpless, as if she had nowhere to turn. She said, "Can you... can you replace your uncle on stage? You should know how to act out the plot. Don't worry, even if it's not perfect, it's okay. I'll find a way to make it work. I..."
"If I replace my uncle, how do you plan to repay me?" Suddenly, Zong Siqi smiled, his gaze scanning her up and down. "You hit me hard last time. Now you're counting on me to help you?"
Yu Rouyin's face grew even paler. One night when rehearsal ran late, Zong Siqi had tried to take advantage of her, but she had taught him a harsh lesson.
Zong Siqi looked at Yu Rouyin's face, which exuded a kind of fragility, seeming to need a man's protection no matter how you looked at it. Hmph! She's seducing men again.
Unable to resist his body's restlessness, his eyes flashed as he leaned close to Yu Rouyin's ear and said, "Help you? Sure... come with me to the bathroom. As long as you satisfy me..."
This bitch dared to reject him. After she serves him well, if he doesn't go on stage, what can she do about it?
He raised his hand, ready to grab Yu Rouyin's arm, but she dodged him.
Zong Siqi's face darkened, and he coldly snorted, "Ungrateful. Keep looking for someone else then!" With that, he turned and left.
Yu Rouyin leaned weakly against the corridor wall, her eyes gradually becoming vacant. It was already difficult to find someone to fill in under normal circumstances, let alone for an artist with her kind of reputation.
The top-tier group had worked hard to buy her some time, but... it seemed she was going to let them down.
She couldn't help but wonder if she should stop being naive. Maybe she should compromise.
Otherwise, if her career was ruined, what would happen to her grandmother?
Just as she was on the verge of breakdown, she heard a commotion from backstage.
Yu Rouyin looked over blankly, and as she saw one figure after another, her pupils began to tremble.
Stage props were being prepared anew, and all the staff were bustling about.
Pei Mingxuan was cursing while quickly arranging for all the supporting performers to enter the backstage area and prepare to perform.
The staff members still backstage were plunged into deep self-doubt when they saw the sudden appearance of the large group of supporting performers.
Tonight's unexpected events had come one after another, each more intense than the last.
They had seen performers refuse to go on due to illness.
They had seen the performance order adjusted.
But having supporting performers appear just before going on stage, keeping even the show's staff completely in the dark, was a first.
Unless the supporting performers were famous, people usually didn't pay much attention to who they were.
But as familiar and unfamiliar actresses passed by one after another, everyone was dumbfounded.
Gradually, everyone realized that these people seemed to have one thing in common.
Like Yu Rouyin, they had all been embroiled in romantic scandals before.
