Chapter 48
Just two days after the buzz surrounding the magazine cover had settled, a Weibo topic targeting Gu Ningyan trended again. This time, it caught Gu Ningyan completely off guard.
#Gu Ningyan’s Father, Plagiarism#
The incident from five years ago, which had caused quite a stir online, resurfaced once more. And this time, it was linked to the currently popular trainee, Gu Ningyan, escalating the situation even further.
[Can you believe it? Gu Ningyan is actually the son of that notorious plagiarist. What if he starts plagiarizing songs and dances once he debuts?]
[Why do people always assume the worst? Even if it’s true, it’s his father’s actions, not his own. Does being the child of a criminal mean he’s automatically a criminal too?]
[Growing up in such an environment, who can guarantee he hasn’t been influenced?]
[Oh my, Gu Ningyan is the son of the person who plagiarized Chen Haotian’s script. I loved the dramas adapted from Chen Haotian’s scripts. From now on, I’m blocking Gu Ningyan!]
Amidst this situation, Chen Haotian acted as if he knew nothing. He posted a remarkably magnanimous Weibo message:
[Chen Haotianv: “The past is behind us, and everyone has already stood up for justice on my behalf. I’m grateful for that. However, @Cheer Up, Idol-Gu Ningyan is not directly involved in this matter. So, I kindly request that you don’t create unnecessary drama on his Weibo. Let’s not hinder his future performances. He’s a talented junior, and I believe he’ll find his own path.]
Unfortunately, this Weibo post didn’t improve Gu Ningyan’s situation. Instead, it fueled a group of self-righteous netizens who defended their “too kind and broad-minded” idol even more fervently:
[Big Chen, you’re just too kind, which is why your work got plagiarized. People think they can take advantage of you!]
[It’s because our country’s legal supervision isn’t strict enough, and those plagiarists have no conscience. But don’t worry, Big Chen, we’ll consciously boycott pirated works!]
As the comments poured in, Chen Haotian smirked. Clearly, as long as he played his cards right, these fans would willingly become his weapons against Gu Ningyan. So, Gu Ningyan, how would you respond this time?
________________________
This situation was even bigger than the previous one. When Gu Ningyan learned about it, he felt like he was sinking into an icy abyss. His heart, like a stone, plummeted to the depths.
Why was this happening? He had lived peacefully for the past five years. Why did it suddenly erupt now? Could it be that someone had noticed him, realized he was Gu Mingnan’s son, and sought justice?
But amidst all this, Gu Ningyan’s first concern wasn’t his plummeting popularity. It was the fear of how Ling Rong would perceive him.
Would Ling Rong also see him as the child of a plagiarist and distance herself?
With these thoughts racing through her mind, Gu Ningyan turned to Ling Rong, who had been by his side all along. He grasped Ling Rong’s hand, his eyes reddening as he explained, “It’s not true, Ling Rong. He didn’t plagiarize. Someone is falsely accusing him. Please don’t believe it.”
Anxiety and desperation filled Gu Ningyan’s trembling form. He held Ling Rong’s hand tightly, hoping against hope that Ling Rong would understand and stand by her side.
It’s as if this person before him is his last lifeline. He can endure how others perceive him, but he can never bear to see disgust and aversion in Ling Rong’s eyes. If that happens… he might lose his sanity.
But Ling Rong, who knows the whole truth, would never look down on him. Watching the usually composed and steady man nearly break down in front of her once again, Ling Rong felt a pang of sympathy.
“Men don’t easily shed tears,” they say, yet this man has teared up twice, both times because of her.
“Gu Ningyan, don’t panic. I never doubted you.” Ling Rong repeated his name several times, her youthful voice calming Gu Ningyan slightly.
“Listen, Gu Ningyan, I believe you. And as your father, Uncle would never do such a thing.”
“Do you truly believe that?” Gu Ningyan unexpectedly revealed his vulnerability. At this moment, Ling Rong’s belief was the only thing keeping him going.
“Then let me ask you this: Do you believe that I didn’t use any connections to get here?” Ling Rong abruptly changed the topic.
Gu Ningyan blinked, then nodded firmly. “I believe you.”
Despite the world viewing this as a flaw or criticism against Ling Rong, Gu Ningyan had always believed in her strength. In just a couple of months, she had risen to the top through her own hard work and talent.
Ling Rong smiled and squeezed his hand. “See, so many people doubt me out there, yet you believe in me. Why shouldn’t I believe in you?”
Quietly, Ling Rong apologized in her heart for accepting special treatment. But given the circumstances, she had to adapt. Her subsequent rankings were undoubtedly earned through her own effort and ability.
Understanding Ling Rong’s intention, Gu Ningyan finally felt a bit relieved. As long as Ling Rong continued to trust him, he need not fear anything else.
In Gu Ningyan’s eyes, Ling Rong likely remained unaware of the full story. So, Ling Rong led him to their dorm room, pretending ignorance as she asked, “Would you like to share the whole story with me? I’ll be your confidante.”
Encouraged by her gaze, Gu Ningyan finally poured out the pain he’d kept hidden for five years. Ling Rong, the perfect confidante, held his hand throughout, as if transferring her strength to him.
Listening to his low voice recount the events, Ling Rong calmly analyzed, “So, we can reasonably guess that your recent surge in popularity attracted attention. The other party feared your influence might lead fans to retaliate, so they struck preemptively, tarnishing your reputation.”
Gu Ningyan nodded. It seemed they were on the right track.
But Ling Rong’s thoughts went further. In the plot, Chen Haotian wouldn’t stop at merely defaming him. That person had lost all reason and conscience, determined to push him into a corner.
This time is different from the previous world. In the previous campus world, Qin Chaomu was still too inexperienced, and Chen Yanyan hadn’t fully set everything up before her plans were disrupted. Moreover, Qin Zhaoyang had the support of the Huo family, making it relatively easy for him to avoid a dead end and turn the tables. However, this time, Gu Ningyan has no significant background. He’s up against a team with a massive fan base and formidable strength. Apart from relying on the Ling family’s influence, he has no other options.
In this situation, Ling Rong is extremely grateful for the convenient identity the system provided her. Without it, toppling Chen Haotian as an ordinary individual would be quite challenging.
However, they are currently still within the training facility. When they participated in the program, everyone signed a closed training agreement. Unless it’s necessary for the show, they can’t easily leave. Additionally, their phones are still in the possession of the production team. To leverage the Ling family’s power, Ling Rong needs to find a way to get out.
After all, Chen Haotian holds a significant position in the entertainment industry, and the Ling family can’t casually make a move. To gain public trust and prevent further criticism of Gu Ningyan, they need concrete evidence.
“Ling Rong?” Gu Ningyan gently called out when the other person remained silent. He waved his hand in front of her, trying to bring her back from her thoughts.
“What are you thinking about?”
How to get out and find support, Ling Rong thought. Chen Haotian enjoys using his influence to suppress others. But even if he’s powerful, can he really overpower Shengyue, who dominates half the entertainment industry, and the Ling family?
Gu Ningyan is someone she’s protecting. If he wants to challenge her, he should at least ask for her consent first.
Since he enjoys using his authority to suppress others, let him experience being suppressed by authority.
“Okay, Ningyan. Don’t overthink it. The performance is coming up soon. Get in the right mindset and focus on training. Trust me, everything will improve soon.” Ling Rong consoled him with a sweet smile that could win hearts.
“Hmm.” Despite his lack of optimism, Gu Ningyan didn’t want to burden Ling Rong with negative emotions. After this incident, he’ll likely lose many fans, and perhaps he won’t have another chance to debut alongside her. But fortunately, there won’t be any personnel changes after this performance. He can still accompany her for the final stretch.
Finally back in their respective training rooms, Gu Ningyan, even though not in high spirits, forced himself to give his best performance in front of Ling Rong. Ling Rong, also in her training room, danced while discussing strategies with the system.
Ling Rong: 'How can I go out and find my brother? I need to ask for his help.'
The system quickly proposed a cunning plan: 【Pretend to be sick. You can visit Shengyue when you go to the hospital.】
Ling Rong: 'But I’m not good at acting. I can sing and dance, but acting isn’t my strong suit.'
System: 【No worries. I’m here, right?】
In the original story, the protagonist had an undisclosed illness. She needed to be raised as a boy to alleviate it. Although the exact mechanism remains unexplained, this world already includes time travel and rebirth, so it’s not surprising. However, when she decided to revert to her female appearance, the old ailment resurfaced, ultimately leading to her demise.
And after Ling Rong arrived, she gradually healed the hidden ailment within her body using the system’s power. This led to her current healthy state, sparing her from the original protagonist’s inevitable demise.
Ling Ron: 'What can I do?'
The system eagerly demonstrated its usefulness: 【I can temporarily restore you to the original protagonist’s condition, causing a brief illness. Once you’re outside, I’ll revert you back to a healthy appearance, so you won’t have to worry about not looking convincing.】
Ling Rong: 'That’s quite a cunning plan. If my parents and brother get scared and forbid me from coming back, I’ll hold you accountable.' Ling Rong didn’t mince words with the system.
This time, their agreement to let Ling Rong come was naturally confirmed by doctors who ensured she was fit for high-intensity training. Otherwise, given the original protagonist’s previous physical state, they wouldn’t have released her.
System: 【Don’t worry. System-made solutions are always top-notch! I guarantee the doctors will only detect excessive fatigue. You’ll be fine.】
Ling Rong: Alright, I’ll trust you this time. Let’s do it now. The sooner we resolve this, the better for Gu Ningyan.
Having discussed the strategy with the system, it didn’t take long. Ling Rong suddenly felt a sharp pain in her heart, followed by darkness, and she lost consciousness.
“Ling Rong?!” Her sudden collapse startled the fellow trainees in her group. They rushed over, but she remained unresponsive. They quickly contacted the instructors and directors.
“Hurry, call an ambulance! Everyone, step back and allow proper airflow.” The director, equally shaken, struggled to keep steady. As the director, he had to manage the situation.
“Ling Rong! What happened to him?” Gu Ningyan, who arrived upon hearing the commotion, nearly had his heart stop when he saw her lying motionless. If someone hadn’t held him back, he might have rushed forward and embraced her.
“We’re not sure yet. Where’s Shengyue’s team? Pass me your phone; we need to call her manager.”
Given the urgency, it fell to Gao Jingxing, their roommate, and someone close to Ling Rong. He didn’t know which contact to use, but since they were all from the same company, his manager would likely have more information.
Through his agent, the message was relayed to Shengyue’s team. Gao Jingxing finally breathed a sigh of relief. Facing the concerned gazes of others, he calmly said, “We’ve informed them.”
Twenty minutes later, the ambulance arrived, and Ling Rong was placed on a stretcher. However, someone needed to accompany her. As the eldest in Shengyue’s group, Gao Jingxing volunteered. He stopped Hu Yue, who wanted to go too, and assumed the role of a protective big brother: “Stay here and continue training. Don’t go.”
As a brother, he understood Hu Yue’s feelings, but for his younger brother’s sake, he had to play the villain.
“I’m going too.” Gu Ningyan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke. He couldn’t stay here without knowing Ling Rong’s condition. Focusing on training was impossible.
After assessing him for a moment, Gao Jingxing nodded. Since they were roommates and Ling Rong was close to him, it made sense for him to go. There was no reason to stop him.
The appearance of the ambulance startled the fans who had been waiting outside. Someone quickly uploaded photos to Weibo, and “#LingRongCollapsesDuringTraining” instantly became a trending topic, reaching the top five
The official account of the Cheer Up, Idol program promptly responded: “Ling Rong, a trainee from Shengyue Entertainment, collapsed during training. The cause is currently unknown. He has been taken to the hospital, and we will continue to monitor his condition. We hope he is safe.”
This official post was flooded with comments praying for Ling Rong’s well-being. As the traffic grew, “#PrayForLingRong” even surpassed the previous topic about Gu Ningyan, pushing the plagiarism incident out of the spotlight.
Seeing this result, Chen Haotian was nearly beside himself. He had spent so much money to secure that trending topic, yet it was overshadowed by a trainee collapsing.
________________________
The ambulance arrived swiftly at the hospital, and Ling Rong was rushed into the emergency room. As the door closed slowly, Gu Ningyan felt as if his heart had been trapped inside.
In less than ten minutes, Gao Jingxing noticed that his manager had also arrived at the hospital, accompanied by another person.
“Hello, I’m Ling Rong’s manager, Chen Pingting. You can call me Brother Chen. May I ask where Ling Rong is now?”
Chen Pingting, a man in his thirties with gold-rimmed glasses, appeared polite and refined. Gu Ningyan greeted him first, showing respect and caution. Although he wasn’t well-versed in the upper echelons of the entertainment industry, Gao Jingxing was genuinely surprised.
Chen Pingting was the company’s top-tier manager! He was renowned throughout the industry, and insiders said that anyone he managed was destined for stardom. Unexpectedly, this legendary figure was now Ling Rong’s manager!
Indeed, he really is a prince? His background already surpassed everyone else by far.
“Ling Rong is still in the emergency room.” Gao Jingxing spoke even more respectfully and cautiously to Chen Pingting.
“Did the doctors say anything earlier?” Chen Pingting was equally anxious about their little ancestor. Everyone knew how protective the Ling family was. If anything happened to this little ancestor, he could already imagine the stern expression on their CEO’s face.
Before Gao Jingxing could reply, the emergency room door swung open. Seeing someone emerge, both Gu Ningyan and Chen Pingting rushed forward almost simultaneously.
“How is she?” they asked in unison.
The doctor lowered the medical mask slightly, revealing a neutral expression. “Are you family members? The patient had a history of heart-related issues, right? Fortunately, she seems to have recovered her health now, but even so, she shouldn’t overexert herself. Her collapse was due to intense fatigue. Her previous condition didn’t recur, and with some rest, she should be fine. Make sure to keep an eye on her and prevent her from engaging in high-intensity activities.”
Relieved that it wasn’t serious, everyone’s anxiety eased. Gu Ningyan discreetly leaned against the wall, supporting himself. No one knew that he had been standing on sheer willpower since the incident began; otherwise, he might have lost the strength to stand.
“Thank you, Doctor!” Chen Pingting sighed with relief. Their little ancestor was safe, and he could now report to the CEO without worry.
After arranging a VIP room for Ling Rong, Chen Pingting quickly called Ling Yue: “President, the Young Master is fine. He collapsed due to excessive fatigue. You can take your time coming over; just be safe on the way.”
At the time of the incident, Ling Yue was in an important meeting. Upon hearing about his sister, he immediately postponed the meeting and headed to the hospital.
Upon hearing the response, Ling Yue’s previously furrowed brow finally relaxed. He instructed, “I’ll be there in about five minutes. Arrange a clear path to avoid the reporters.”
“Understood, President.”
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