Gao Hao, however, was a bit worried and couldn't help but ask for Qin Zhao's opinion. Qin Zhao glanced at Ji Fei and said, "Don't worry, it's fine."
Meanwhile, the onlookers were filled with various doubts.
If Ruan Jia could still be coaxed back by Sheng Wenyue, wouldn't that make them stepping stones? Now that would be truly exciting.
At this moment, the director and producer came over, sweating profusely. They were completely confused by what was real and what was fake, and could only let things develop naturally. After all, this wave of heaven-sent popularity was something they had to capitalize on.
It was time to proceed with the next step of the process, letting the two teams go on stage to announce the results.
The scoring would be divided into teacher scoring and audience voting.
Before the scoring, the two groups of guests would be allowed to speak for themselves. The large screen behind them had already turned into a real-time barrage of comments. At a glance, most of them were criticizing the Best Actor Team.
"It's bad enough to change your heart and betray someone, but to then trample them to death is simply the ultimate scumbag move."
"Compared to those who are openly scummy, this kind of jerk who thinks he's done nothing wrong is the most disgusting."
"Still talking about divorcing your wife? Sis, divorce him quickly and be beautiful on your own!"
"Why is my girlfriend frantically tagging me? I would never do such a despicable thing. If I were married and did this to my wife, I'd twist my own head off!"
However, due to the temporary damage control guidance from their agent, along with the hiring of internet trolls, the barrage of insults wasn't completely one-sided. There were still quite a few voices supporting the Best Actor Team.
"No one has any evidence, so don't spout nonsense when you don't know the whole story! I believe the Best Actor and his junior were forced into this situation."
"I think it's Ruan Jia forcing the Best Actor to love her again. Otherwise, why hasn't she shown her face? She simply can't let go."
"True love is not a crime!"
Following the procedure, it was the popular team's turn to speak.
Qin Zhao and Ji Fei both said some pleasantries absent-mindedly. In fact, Ji Fei was busy following the latest gossip, while Qin Zhao was concentrating on eavesdropping.
At this point, no one had noticed that new information was quietly appearing in the barrage of comments, gradually repeating and flooding the screen.
It was the Best Actor Team's turn.
Wang Jiani went on stage with red eyes, looking as if she had been crying from anger. Sheng Wenyue put on his cool, aloof Best Actor demeanor, as if he were a lotus rising untainted from the mud.
When the microphone was given to them, Sheng Wenyue simply said, "The innocent will prove themselves."
But when he finished speaking, there was a strange silence throughout the venue. The audience kept looking up and down, alternating between their phones and the stage.
Sheng Wenyue frowned and had to pass the microphone to Wang Jiani.
Wang Jiani immediately burst into tears, choking out, "I'm sorry for causing trouble for everyone, but I have no regrets." Then she bowed with an expression that said, 'I'm wronged, but I won't say it.'
The barrage of comments was briefly filled with support: You don't need to care too much about others' opinions when living your life.
Ji Fei: [Is it really about opinions? I think it's more like not caring too much about others' slaps.]
Qin Zhao beside her was puzzled, but before he could wonder further, he saw a figure rush onto the stage.
Before anyone could react, a slap landed directly on Wang Jiani's face. "Shameless bitch!"
Wang Jiani was struck so hard she nearly fell, but Sheng Wenyue caught her.
This could be considered a live broadcast accident, but the spectators were so stunned by the successive revelations that no one immediately moved to grab the attacker or cut the microphone.
So everyone heard Sheng Wenyue exclaim in shock to the woman who had slapped Wang Jiani: "Mom? Why are you here?"
Sheng's father also rushed up, kicking Sheng Wenyue twice before supporting his trembling wife. "Sheng Wenyue, how can you face Ruan Jia's parents like this? We're truly disappointed in you. How could you destroy your wife for this mistress? How did we raise such an immoral son! We've failed Ruan Jia's parents, we've failed Ruan Jia!"
Sheng Wenyue was dumbfounded. Why didn't his parents believe him either?
This was just a temporary measure.
Who could have imagined that the two elderly people had been on a cruise, with limited internet access, and hadn't been following the online drama? As soon as they disembarked, they were shocked by the live broadcast. Unable to contact their daughter-in-law, they rushed to the scene, hoping their son would repent.
Instead, they saw the two of them still acting even after being exposed. This angered them to the point of losing all sense of propriety and self-control.
Seeing her son still holding the crying woman, Sheng's mother's eyes turned bloodshot as she berated them: "Back then, we sent you away politely, which was already kind enough. We never imagined you'd be so incorrigible, coming back to seduce someone else's husband!"
Sheng's mother grabbed Wang Jiani's hair, yanking her up and slapping her twice violently.
Sheng Wenyue snapped back to reality and quickly tried to stop them. "Mom, Dad, please stop. Did Ruan Jia send you here?"
"You're still protecting her?! This is a disaster, you're completely bewitched. If we hadn't helped you cover things up back then, Ruan Jia would have left you long ago." Sheng's mother cried in anger. "If we had known it would come to this, if we had known you'd never change, we shouldn't have meddled."
Sheng Wenyue was stunned. Suddenly feeling extremely panicked, he even forgot they were live streaming and that they had fabricated public opinion. He blurted out, "She won't leave me. I'll explain everything to her later, you don't need to—"
"It's too late, son. Far too late. Just look behind you!" Sheng's father said, grief-stricken.
Sheng Wenyue was taken aback. Only then did he turn to look at the flood of comments on the screen, which had completely changed tone.
Their agent, who had just received the news, was about to handle the situation with his phone, but upon seeing the state of affairs, his hand trembled, and the phone shattered on the ground.
His mind was filled with one thought: It's over.
"Ruan Jia has posted photos using a photographer's account from years ago, everyone go look!"
"Photos of childhood sweethearts, this is the evidence! What unrequited love? It was clearly the man pursuing the woman!"
"Work photos of Ruan Jia as a general manager, and photos of her participating in various investment project events. The evidence is irrefutable!"
"I'm a former employee of the company. My comments were always deleted before, but now I finally have a chance to speak. I have to say, if it weren't for Sister Ruan Jia holding down the fort for the Best Actor, he would never have achieved his current success. Now he's just burning the bridge after crossing it, completely twisting right and wrong."
"Has sister finally decided to go all out? Who said earlier that sister was feeling guilty, couldn't let go, and was using the popular team to force the Best Actor to come back? Haha, laughable."
"I see sister has thrown out so much evidence at once, so decisively. I love it! She should have done this earlier!"
"Looks like we don't need to help persuade anymore. This is clearly heading towards a complete severance of ties."
Wang Jiani, disregarding the live broadcast and the pain on her face, incredulously took out her phone to check the online exposé. Seeing that it was true, she was completely stunned.
After all, deep down, she had been able to bully Ruan Jia so smoothly because she relied on Sheng Wenyue's importance to Ruan Jia, knowing that Ruan Jia wouldn't bear to destroy Sheng Wenyue.
But now... it seemed that was no longer the case.
Meanwhile, Sheng Wenyue, looking at the evidence that could completely destroy him, initially thought it couldn't possibly be Ruan Jia who leaked it.
"Haha, everyone, Ruan Jia has released the complete medical report that the Best Actor's studio published earlier. It turns out to be from a year ago. What a clever use of timing, taking things out of context!"
"I just want to ask the current Best Actor, does it hurt to have your lies exposed? Is it fun to fool your trusting fans like this? Are they brain-dead fans? Do they still support you?"
That report was only in Ruan Jia's possession, so... it could only have been released by Ruan Jia.
Sheng Wenyue's face instantly turned deathly pale. All the uncertain factors in his heart came crashing down. Compared to his previous uncertain guesses, now it was Ruan Jia truly stabbing a knife into his heart.
He felt no resentment, only a fleeting moment of fear, especially when the screen was filled with comments like "Support sister in divorcing him, leave the scumbag! Love yourself!"
Divorce... fake divorce... wait!
Sheng Wenyue seemed to realize something was about to slip away. He quickly called Ruan Jia, but there was no answer.
"We can't reach her either, she must be hiding. What should we do?" Sheng's father lamented.
Sheng Wenyue immediately dialed another number, that of the lawyer.
But before Sheng Wenyue could speak, the lawyer spoke first: "Congratulations, Mr. Sheng. Ms. Ruan has already signed the divorce papers."
These words were transmitted through the microphone, instantly silencing the entire venue. Even the barrage of comments paused for a moment.
"No, no, that was fake, we weren't really divorcing. Did you tell her that?" Sheng Wenyue lost all composure, his words slurring as he almost shouted in panic.
Lawyer: "I have fulfilled Mr. Sheng's instructions, but Miss Ruan doesn't see it that way. She has already entrusted us to handle the division of her property entirely."
Sheng Wenyue's face suddenly changed. "No, we're not divorced. Destroy the agreement, we..."
"I'm sorry, sir, but due to Miss Ruan's urging, legal proceedings have already begun and cannot be withdrawn," the lawyer said.
Sheng Wenyue's lips trembled. Fear and regret gnawed at his heart like a million ants, leaving him feeling as if his soul had been ripped away. He desperately tried to salvage the situation, constantly telling himself that it surely wasn't too late.
"She's misunderstood me. I'll explain everything to her properly. Give her the phone."
The lawyer replied, "I'm very sorry, sir, but Miss Ruan has just entered the operating room and will be unreachable for the next ten hours. When Miss Ruan comes out, you two will be in a divorced state. Also, due to the high risk of the surgery, Miss Ruan has also arranged for the handling of her estate. If it's convenient, Mr. Sheng, you can cooperate with the property division as soon as possible."
Sheng Wenyue froze, his pupils constricting and his hand holding the phone beginning to shake. His voice turned hoarse: "What? What are you saying?"
"Oh? Sir, didn't you know Miss Ruan was ill? She's been hospitalized for several months now."
At this point, the silence in the room wasn't from people enjoying the drama, but from shock. It turned out that Ji Fei and Qin Zhao's performance wasn't exaggerated at all.
Was she really that seriously ill?
The barrage of comments exploded again.
"Oh my God, what am I seeing? The diagnosis certificate and surgery consent form from XX Hospital, signed by the sister herself? It's today, she's having surgery today."
