Due to Liu Zhixi's status, her fan base of over a hundred million, and the fireworks explosion incident, the event immediately dominated trending searches across the internet. Condemnations poured in from all sides, with many calling for the production to be shut down.
However, before Liu Zhixi could even be sent to the hospital, Xiao Dong's video was released. In an instant, public opinion took a sharp turn. No one expected that Liu Zhixi, with her perfect persona, whose influence could rival half of the entertainment industry, and who had just been crowned Best Actress last year, would be so vicious.
Xiao Dong's video spread like wildfire online, with the topic's view count exceeding ten billion in mere minutes. Liu Zhixi's fan club went into a frenzy, with tens of thousands of local fans alone gathering outside the Tianhua Entertainment building to protest, demanding a reasonable explanation from the agency.
Faced with the fans' pressure and the nationwide outcry, Tianhua Entertainment's upper management was in a state of panic, especially as they watched the company's stock plummet.
"Could it be that the great Tianhua is destined to become the next Heilv?" someone in the Tianhua conference room posed the grave question.
It could be said that Tianhua's rise and fall were both tied to Liu Zhixi. In this situation, with Liu Zhixi's downfall, Tianhua was effectively crippled.
Now, with Heilv as a cautionary tale, Tianhua's management and employees were steeped in despair.
"Mr. Lei, our stocks are being heavily sold off. What should we do?" the financial director asked, scratching his head in agitation as he looked at the internal system data.
Lei Tianming's brow furrowed into a deep crease. "How much?"
The financial director stared at the continuously selling numbers and estimated, "At the current price, it's at least fifteen billion."
Fifteen billion. Such a colossal sum. Even if he were to liquidate his entire fortune, he couldn't possibly buy all the shares.
At this point, if a company with ulterior motives were to make a move, Tianhua...
"Mr. Lei..." the financial director's face suddenly turned grim. "Someone just... purchased all the stocks currently being sold off."
"What?" Lei Tianming was so shocked he forgot to breathe. "Who?"
The financial director sighed softly, "Chu Group."
Lei Tianming stared blankly, as if he had lost his soul, and murmured, "Now, what percentage of shares does Chu Group hold?"
"Fifty-one percent."
Lei Tianming felt as though he had been struck by lightning, his face contorting with extreme distress. Before he could recover, the receptionist pushed the door open, looking embarrassed. "Mr. Lei, someone from Tianyu is here."
Lei Tianming sat stunned for a long time before slowly rising and heading to the reception area.
Chu Rong appeared composed and leisurely. "Mr. Lei, it's been a while. I trust you are well."
Lei Tianming's face was etched with bitterness. "Mr. Chu, one Tianyu isn't enough for you? You want to swallow Tianhua as well? That's rather ungentlemanly."
Chu Rong chuckled softly. "Mr. Lei, you're quite humorous to speak of gentlemanly conduct in the business world."
Lei Tianming remained silent for a long time, then sighed heavily. The situation was already decided. Because of Liu Zhixi, the company was now on the brink of a cliff; it would either collapse or be acquired. He knew this better than anyone.
Chu Rong gestured to Wang Xiao.
Wang Xiao handed over a contract. "Mr. Lei, this is the acquisition contract."
Lei Tianming had no desire to even look at it. He couldn't produce fifteen billion, nor could he salvage the current situation. The contract was no longer important.
He signed it decisively, then turned his anger towards Liu Zhixi. Even though the company was now being acquired, the accounts between the company and Liu Zhixi could not be left unsettled.
...
Liu Zhixi woke up to the smell of disinfectant and the sight of cold white walls. She knew without a doubt she was in a hospital.
As if deliberately avoiding it, she didn't rush to sit up or look in a mirror. She simply stared blankly at the ceiling, her mind a complete blank.
"Xixi, you're finally awake," a worried voice came from beside the bed.
Liu Zhixi turned her head and tears immediately streamed down her face. Her voice hoarse, she called out, "Second Brother."
Quan Tianxi was filled with concern. "Xixi, don't worry. I've already contacted the best plastic surgeons abroad. We'll be flying out this afternoon, and all these burns and scalds on your body will heal."
Only then did Liu Zhixi feel the burning pain all over her body, especially on her face, which hurt more than pouring strong liquor onto a raw wound.
"Second Brother, can you get me a mirror? I want to see my face," Liu Zhixi sobbed.
Quan Tianxi tried to persuade her gently. "Xixi, let's not look now. Your face is bandaged, so you won't see much. However, the doctor said it's not a serious problem. Actually, it can be treated domestically, but I don't trust them. Foreign plastic surgery is more advanced, and it will definitely make you look exactly as you did before."
Liu Zhixi's heart sank. "Second Brother, is my face completely ruined?"
Quan Tianxi opened his mouth, then his face contorted with rage. "Don't worry, Second Brother will definitely get justice for you."
Mention of seeking justice instantly ignited Liu Zhixi's fury. She gritted her teeth and asked, "Where is Xiao Dong? Why haven't I seen her?"
If it weren't for that wench buying substandard fireworks, would she have been injured? Although Quan Jiu that bitch had to die, before that, she was determined to make Xiao Dong that wench wish she were dead.
Quan Tianxi was also puzzled. "After I heard about your accident, I rushed here immediately, but I didn't see Xiao Dong. I haven't told Mom and Dad yet, I was afraid they'd worry."
Liu Zhixi frowned. "Second Brother, I'm already like this, why are you still hiding it from Mom and Dad? Are you going to hide it from them even if I die?"
Quan Tianxi quickly said, "Xixi, don't talk nonsense. If you want Mom and Dad to come, I'll notify them right away."
Liu Zhixi's expression improved slightly.
However, just as Quan Tianxi was dialing the phone and about to speak, she suddenly remembered something. What if she accidentally let her parents see Quan Jiu and caused more trouble? She quickly stopped Quan Tianxi, her voice softening. "Second Brother, forget it. Let's not tell Mom and Dad. Although I miss them dearly, I don't want to worry them. Having you here with me is enough."
Quan Tianxi nodded slightly and hung up the phone. He affectionately stroked Liu Zhixi's head. "Second Brother will go buy you something to eat."
Liu Zhixi hummed in response. After Quan Tianxi left, she opened her phone. After all, she was a big star, and with such a major accident, her fans must be frantic.
But when she logged into Weibo, she was informed that her account had been canceled.
Liu Zhixi sat up abruptly in shock, aggravating her injuries. Enduring the pain, she called her agent, Wang Chuan.
At that moment, Wang Chuan was sitting in his office, lost in thought. He had just received the news that Tianhua was gone. From now on, Tianyu would become the dominant entertainment company, and Tianhua would be renamed Tianyu. All of Tianhua's artists and agents would be reassigned.
And the culprit was the person calling him.
Wang Chuan answered the phone, his anger undisguised. "Liu Zhixi, you're something else. For so many years, I never realized you were such a vicious and hypocritical person. How dare you call me? You've ruined the company."
Liu Zhixi had expected the company to be in a frenzy over her injuries, but instead, she was berated by Wang Chuan. She retorted angrily, "Wang Chuan, how dare you speak to me like that? Do you still want to work?"
Wang Chuan let out a hollow laugh. "You've become a reviled artist across the entire internet, and everyone is calling for you to quit the entertainment industry. You still have the energy to worry about whether I want to work? Whether I work or not has nothing to do with you, but you, you can't work anymore."
Liu Zhixi was both shocked and furious. "What exactly do you mean?"
"Haven't you seen the news? It doesn't matter. You know best the crimes you committed against your assistant Xiao Dong and the female lead in the current production. Whether you read it or not is irrelevant. All you need to know is that your ugly and vicious true face has been exposed to everyone."
Wang Chuan abruptly hung up the phone.
Liu Zhixi listened to the dial tone on her phone, stunned for a long time before remembering to log into Weibo with her secondary account.
Clicking on the trending search list, she saw nothing but news about her. The top trending topic was #LiuZhixi'sPersonaCollapses, Abusing Assistant, Persecuting Female Lead!
Clicking into it, she found the self-narration video by her assistant, Xiao Dong.
Liu Zhixi watched the video from beginning to end, her rage boiling. "Ah... you wench, I'll make you wish you were dead!"