Married in a Daze - Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The names Lu Ruyun and Qin Zhenzhen had been dominating the hot search list for the past few days. The slightest stir could instantly attract onlookers, and after the punching video was exposed, all eyes were on them.
And the news of their marriage simply pulled the traffic to its peak. While everyone was focusing on what the cause of the original punching incident was, they also had to speculate on whether the marriage was true or not. Various influential bloggers on the internet jumped in personally to ride the wave and steer the narrative. Without even mentioning the marriage issue, just focusing on the punching incident, the public's attention was being pulled back and forth.
Just as netizens were about to be utterly confused, Qin Zhenzhen personally posted a Weibo to dispel the rumor, and Lu Ruyun quickly responded, causing Weibo, which had just returned to normal, to crash once again.
Many Weibo staff jokingly called this the drama of the year, as there had never been a situation where the platform crashed several times in a single day.
And the netizens who had been following this matter blew up.
—What's the key point of the Weibo Zhenzhen posted? Why does my takeaway not be about dispelling the rumor, but about 'wife'???
—Did they really get married? It's really not a publicity stunt? I don't believe it ahhhh!
—I don't believe it either, how can they just get married like that? When did they even start dating?
—No, since when is when they dated any of your business? Do they need to report to you? You're just a fan, don't boss your idol around, okay? Don't look at me, I'm just a pure bystander!
—Rational speculation: what's the probability the two fell for each other because of Time in Full Bloom?
Under this Weibo post with forty thousand comments, ninety-five percent of people rated the probability as zero.
...
But no matter how netizens speculated about the truth of the marriage, the punching incident was indeed fake. The previously outraged netizens who participated in the discussion lowered their banners and drums, casually pulling out other topics to pretend nothing happened. As for the influential bloggers who steered the narrative, they had already been targeted by Qin Zhenzhen's fans.
During this period, Qin Zhenzhen was practically blacklisted across the entire internet. These fans had long been holding their breath. They naturally believed in their idol's character, but they couldn't withstand the long spears and short cannons of so many netizens, nor the countless influential bloggers muddying the waters, writing ugly things about Qin Zhenzhen to ride the heat.
Before, they had also tried to argue back, but were labeled as brain-dead fans, and the attacks even extended to Qin Zhenzhen herself, saying the fans were like their idol.
So they endured it, even arguing cautiously.
And Qin Zhenzhen's official debunking post was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for them, instantly reviving them to full health!
But before they could even start a major fight, Qin Zhenzhen posted another Weibo.
She said she also bore responsibility for this incident. Due to personal reasons, she failed to come forward to dispel the rumors at the first opportunity, which was her mistake. The media, netizens, and various influential bloggers who got involved this time did so because they saw the misleading video and were led by the nose, hence triggering the heated discussion. Since she was at fault first, she decided that regarding this punching incident, she would only sue the person who posted the video, and would not hold anyone else accountable.
Her Weibo post left the fans who were just preparing to tear everyone apart stunned. The incident had blown up so big, and it was inextricably linked to the malicious steering by the media and various influential bloggers. But Zhenzhen was actually giving up on suing them?
Even the media and the influential bloggers were dumbfounded by this post. Some of them had already prepared to be sued, but now she directly stated she wouldn't pursue it.
After breathing a sigh of relief, they felt it would have been better if she had pursued it.
Because their faces were hurting so damn much!
Qin Zhenzhen's current magnanimous approach formed a stark contrast with the malicious speculation they had posted earlier, making it crystal clear to the melon-eating netizens.
So they deleted posts, apologized, and even media staff worked overtime to publish rumor-debunking news. Late into the night, Weibo was still bustling. Although Qin Zhenzhen said she wouldn't pursue it and her fans didn't start fights, many netizens still jumped in. They indirectly criticized these media outlets and influential bloggers for riding the wave for attention, thinking a flippant apology and rumor-debunking could whitewash everything, which was utterly laughable.
The netizens' words were sharp, everyone ascending to the rank of master satirist, making the media and influential bloggers who had participated earlier not know where to hide their faces.
As for Qin Zhenzhen, originally, she had gained considerable praise for blurring out Lu Ruyun in the complete video. Coupled with her appropriate and suitable handling of this matter, the public's favorability towards her shot straight up.
Occasionally, anti-fans mixed among the netizens saying she was putting on an act, but were immediately turned on and scolded by other netizens until they deleted their comments.
After being loudly and publicly disputed for a few days, Qin Zhenzhen's punching incident was quickly settled.
Lu Ruyun didn't log out after forwarding the Weibo. She rarely used Weibo. When she first debuted, she was busy with studies and filming, with no time to care about anything else. Her Weibo was managed by her agent.
Later, after terminating her contract with the company and parting ways amicably with her agent, she learned to manage her Weibo herself.
But she had been disconnected from Weibo for a long time and wasn't very good at managing it. Over time, her Weibo became an idle account, rarely logged into.
Tonight was an exception.
Lu Ruyun watched the video on her phone several times. The comment she forwarded had long been pushed to the top of the hot comments. Below, many netizens were posting comments: Publicity stunt! One hundred percent a publicity stunt!
—If it's not a publicity stunt, why didn't they clarify earlier?
—What's wrong with the person above? What do you want Cloud Fairy to clarify earlier? That video clearly showed a wardrobe malfunction. You want a female star to use her own wardrobe malfunction video to verify a baseless rumor? Are you crazy?
—Right, if people hadn't believed the fake video, Cloud Fairy and Zhenzhen wouldn't have had to debunk the rumors!
—You all fight, I'll just feel bad for Cloud Fairy!
—But, have you all forgotten about Duan Qiuhan? Wasn't he always with Lu Ruyun? I heard they were together for six years? What is Lu Ruyun doing? Playing around and cheating? Qin Zhenzhen intervening as the other woman?
—What cheating? What other woman? Did Lu Ruyun ever say on Weibo that Duan Qiuhan was her boyfriend? Did she ever say she was dating Duan Qiuhan? It's all the fans' and gossip reporters' wishful thinking, and you actually believe it!
Lu Ruyun's fingertip rested on the screen. Looking at this comment, she pressed her lips together, lowering her eyelashes.
Her phone kept making notification sounds, messages scrolling one after another. Nestled on the sofa, she was just about to put down her phone when she saw Qin Zhenzhen post another Weibo.
@TrulyZhen: I am very sorry. Due to personal reasons, I failed to come forward to dispel the rumors at the first opportunity. It was my lack of consideration. The media friends and netizens who participated this time did so after seeing someone's ill-intentioned video excerpt, which triggered the heated discussion. I myself am also responsible for this matter. Therefore, I have decided that regarding this rumor-mongering incident, I will only sue the person who posted the video, and will not hold anyone else accountable.
When Lu Ruyun saw 'will not hold anyone else accountable,' she was momentarily stunned, her bright eyes turning deep. Several seconds later, she realized Qin Zhenzhen's intention.
The incident had blown up so big; she wouldn't be in the wrong to sue everyone involved. But she specifically didn't do that, instead magnanimously letting them off. Ultimately, it was because Qin Zhenzhen was still in the industry. Being in the industry meant she would inevitably cross paths with the media and netizens. Suing them now would offend them completely. It was better to do them a favor. Not only would it earn her a good reputation, but these media outlets would also be extra careful with their wording when reporting news about her in the future. It was indeed a good strategy of retreating to advance.
Sure enough, after her Weibo was posted, it attracted much praise from netizens. The influential bloggers who had followed the trend earlier quickly changed their tune, deleting posts and apologizing. The media even worked overnight to publish rumor-debunking news.
Lu Ruyun's gaze stayed fixed on the screen. Before logging out, she hesitated for a few seconds, then still gave Qin Zhenzhen's post a like.
Not long after, a new hot search appeared.
#Official Debunking Part Two Lu Ruyun Likes Qin Zhenzhen#
Qin Zhenzhen was awakened by her phone ringing. With dark circles under her eyes, she answered the phone weakly: "Hello?"
On the other end, Ji Lu sounded quite energetic: "Zhenzhen, not awake yet?"
Qin Zhenzhen held the phone to her ear, eyes closed, letting out an unclear "Mhm."
She had been battling on Weibo until past four in the morning last night before dozing off. It was perfectly normal not to be awake at this hour.
Ji Lu also knew about last night's events. Feeling somewhat sorry for her, she said, "Zhenzhen, why don't you sleep a bit more? I'll come over in two hours."
Qin Zhenzhen was momentarily confused: "Come over for what? Didn't Sister Meng give you time off?"
Ji Lu chuckled and explained: "Zhenzhen, haven't you seen the message Sister Meng sent yet? She just contacted me, said the break is cancelled. You have an audition this afternoon."
Message? Break cancelled? Audition?
Qin Zhenzhen, mid-yawn, paused, moved the phone away a bit, and tapped open WeChat. Sure enough, there were two new messages, both sent by Meng Xin a little after six in the morning.
—Zhenzhen, your break is cancelled.
—Audition with Director Hu at 2 PM, don't forget. I'll have Ji Lu pick you up.
Although she knew full well that after last night's debunking post was issued, her break would soon be stripped away and she'd be back to work, she didn't expect it to be this fast. In just a few short hours, she had gone from being temporarily 'out of favor' back to her original position.
Qin Zhenzhen's mood was somewhat complicated, and she woke up a bit more. The call wasn't disconnected yet; Ji Lu's voice came from the phone: "Zhenzhen? Zhenzhen, are you still there?"
Qin Zhenzhen collected herself: "I'm here. Come over in an hour."
Ji Lu: "Huh? Don't you need to rest a bit more?"
A deep light flashed in Qin Zhenzhen's bright eyes: "No need."
Now was not the time to rest.
After hanging up, Qin Zhenzhen sat on the bed hugging the blanket. Sunlight streamed in through the gap in the curtains, brightening the room considerably. She tilted her head, enjoying the rare moment of tranquility, when the ringtone abruptly sounded again.
Qin Zhenzhen answered the phone without thinking, and an angry voice immediately erupted from the other end: "Qin Zhenzhen! Where are you?"
"Come home this instant!"
Qin Zhenzhen's previously lazy mood instantly dissipated. She blinked, moving the phone away a bit to see the caller on the screen.
Mom.
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