I have a persona specifically for acting.

No wall cannot be broken through in this world.

If there is, it must be because the previous hammering wasn’t forceful enough.

And this time, “Heartless Tribulation” is so hot that the curiosity of netizens about its sole protagonist, Tong Zhao, is like a giant iron hammer, constantly pounding away with “Eighty!” “Eighty!” until it finally breaks through the wall.

Just how popular is “Heartless Tribulation”?

On its opening day, it raked in 183 million yuan, contributing nearly ninety percent of the total box office for that day. Other films released around the same time were pitifully compared to it, and the entire industry knew that Shi Qianqiu was about to produce another phenomenal work.

It’s infuriating how people can make you feel inadequate!

New directors fear nothing more than investors losing faith in them.

Shi, coming from a wealthy background, had plenty of opportunities to try and fail, and his innate talent helped him soar once he got going.

So while his peers were envious of him, they wouldn’t lose their composure; they could only sigh at how lucky he was.

“Heartless Tribulation” took years to finally start filming, and it truly allowed him to meet Tong Zhao, who delivered an unparalleled and outstanding performance, creating an unforgettable Mu Yingchen for the audience. It’s hard to say whether it was his keen eye for talent or just pure luck. With the year-end Best Instinct Film Awards approaching, nominations were guaranteed, and one could anticipate wins for Best Modeling and Best Actress—just thinking about it made one envious.

As for the Best Modeling Award…

There’s no helping it; the budget is what it is.

The modeling rental fees for many grand scenes in “Heartless Tribulation” weren’t cheap, let alone original constructions—all the funding was going up in flames.

Shi Qianqiu was particularly generous with his spending.

Meanwhile, films with similar themes have seen a slight uptick in box office earnings due to its influence—

Although most new reviews criticize them for being far inferior to “Heartless Tribulation,” it’s still enjoyable to eat alongside the big brother.

Making money isn’t embarrassing.

…

“Recent Major Film’s Female Lead Background Revealed”

“Wait, are the two actresses in ‘Countdown 72 Hours’ actually good friends? They don’t look like it!”

“TZ and XZ have been good friends from middle school to high school, and there are solid photos to prove it.”

…

Among the trending topics on Weibo is a high school photo of Tong Zhao and Xu Zhu.

In the photo, the two girls are not wearing any makeup and have innocent looks on their faces.

Even without makeup, it’s clear that the girl on the right with flowing long hair is Tong Zhao. She has prominent features; her three-dimensional facial structure has already blossomed into a beauty that could withstand the test of the big screen. Her bright, curved eyes and radiant smile make her look carefree.

In comparison, Xu Zhu, standing to her left, appears somewhat indistinct.

The backdrop of the photo features a well-manicured lawn, and the source claims this is a corner of an expensive private school.

Xu Zhu and Tong Zhao are both female, so even if they were old acquaintances, it wouldn’t be big news.

The issue arises from their past collaboration.

During the filming of “Countdown 72 Hours,” the relationship they portrayed on and off-screen was very cold, with zero interaction during promotional events. In the movie, Xu Zhu’s character, Feng Sisi, also treats her older sister Feng Yanqi poorly.

However, the newly revealed photo shows the two holding hands, looking like a pair of good friends.

The informant also stated that Tong Zhao and Xu Zhu were inseparable good sisters.

They even took the same private car to and from school.

Tong Zhao is from a wealthy family, but there’s no information about Xu Zhu’s family; she hasn’t mentioned it.

With the photo as proof, the credibility of this anonymous tip has greatly increased. Riding on the film’s success and Tong Zhao’s own popularity, discussions among netizens began to surge.

Excited fans of Xu Zhu jumped in:

[Little sister is indeed a princess raised with love.]

[Wow, this school is obviously expensive; she’s definitely a child who can go home to inherit the family business if she doesn’t work hard on her dancing.]

[The beautiful sister’s friend is a fairy sister; I’m in awe.]

Compared to the excitement of Xu Zhu’s fans, Tong Zhao’s fans focused more on seeing old photos of their idol.

[The only good thing about this photo leak is that it proves Tong Zhao’s natural beauty; she hasn’t had any plastic surgery.]

[Friendships from school days don’t mean much; let’s just wait patiently for Sister Zhao to speak up.]

Since Xu Zhu debuted in “Star Selection Girls,” she hasn’t made much of a splash aside from a poorly received apocalyptic film. Under Tong Zhenming’s connections, she managed to land the leading role in a drama, but unfortunately, it received a lukewarm response after airing. In contrast, whatever Tong Zhao stars in becomes a hit, and “Heartless Tribulation” catapulted her, albeit temporarily, to the status of box office goddess; she just needs one more movie to maintain her position.

In terms of status, popularity, and the allure of subconscious charm, the two are not on the same level.

Unless the main person initiates interaction, Tong Zhao’s fans would definitely not like to see their idol being overshadowed by a talent show contestant trying to ride the wave of popularity.

Xu Zhu’s fans, on the other hand, saw it differently.

They believed that as long as they remained polite, it would definitely be a positive interaction since their sister wouldn’t lose anything.

Meanwhile, those who truly understood the relationship between the two, particularly in the second-generation circle, especially the WeChat group of Zeshan Company—

Second Generation C: [Weibo Link]

Second Generation A: [Ah, this]

Second Generation B: [Ah, this 1]

Second Generation D: [Where’s Tong Zhao? Quickly @ Tong Zhao, we can’t let this white lotus ride the wave of popularity!]

Since Tong Zhao hadn’t shown up, they were muttering among themselves, waiting to understand her stance before publicly expressing their support. Clearly, the old man from the Tong family was in the wrong; this was not handled properly. They were professional rich kids, often getting into trouble and having one or two cards cut off by their families, relying only on their five-figure “meager” allowances and friends to survive until their elders cooled down.

That was called getting lectured by their parents.

But what about Tong Zhao’s family?

It was clearly bullying their sister Zhao to death, wanting to elevate the mistress’s pair of children.

Just after finishing a grueling body practice and covered in sweat, Tong Zhao walked out of the bathroom and received a call from her agent: “You and Xu Zhu are good sisters? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“……”

That term “good sisters” was a shock.

Tong Zhao took a big sip of mineral water: “Good thing I hadn’t eaten; otherwise, I’d be sick.”

“What’s going on?”

Tong Zhao didn’t like to talk about her family matters. It was impossible for her to voluntarily share her sob story; knowing her current self was enough, and there was no need to be overly curious about her past. However, since Sister Chu asked, there had to be a reason behind it, so she briefly explained her background as concisely as possible: “She’s my half-sister.”

Sister Chu: “!!!”

Tong Zhao: “Xu Zhu’s mom used to be my mom’s subordinate and close friend. My mom considered her a true friend. During her pregnancy, she secretly climbed into my dad’s bed and ended up pregnant with Xu Zhu. So, we’re very close in age, essentially blooming from both ends. My mom thought she was tricked by a scumbag and got pregnant out of wedlock, so she took care of her in various ways and even later moved in with us.”

Sister Chu: “???”

Tong Zhao: “Later, my mom passed away. The mistress successfully gave birth to a son and fulfilled my dad’s dream of continuing the family line. After she moved in, I had a fight with him and severed our father-daughter relationship, then moved out. The subsequent events fast-forwarded to me acting in ‘The Legend of Ming Emperor.’”

The amount of information was overwhelming, and Sister Chu felt a bit dizzy.

Tong Zhao’s tone was so calm, as if she were talking about someone else.

But upon reflection, it was indeed a tumultuous tale of love and hate that shattered one’s worldview.

“Then why did you take on ‘Countdown 72 Hours’…”

It must have been difficult to perform alongside her enemy’s daughter. Sister Chu felt a sympathetic affection for the girl.

However, the sympathy lasted no more than three seconds before the young girl countered, “What’s there to not take on? At that time, it was a great resource for me, and besides, it should be her who can’t face me; I have nothing to hide from her.”

She had thought it through too clearly.

Only Xu Zhu has always wanted to compete with her.

Competing for the title of “daughter of Tong Zhenming,” competing for the image of a “rich beauty,” and competing for the public’s affection.

Sister Chu thought about it and realized this was indeed the case.

So she summarized what had happened online: “I’m here to clarify your stance; as good as it sounds, the company doesn’t want you to get involved with her. It’s best to distance yourself a bit; otherwise, you’ll lose your prestige.”

Tong Zhao put the phone on speaker and opened her WeChat page, where she saw messages of concern from her friends.

Wei Zekai exploded in the group chat.

Boss Kai: [I want to confront her! @Tong Zhao]

Boss Kai: [@Tong Zhao, come out, I can’t hold it in anymore, I really want to curse that girl]

Boss Kai: [@Tong Zhao, we have group photos too, can I post two?]

Wei Zekai was so angry.

His relationship with Tong Zhao was so solid.

Then he woke up to see that, well, Xu Zhu had become Tong Zhao’s best friend.

This was more than just the house collapsing; it was like being robbed!

Tong Zhao couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. Did he not understand the situation? He was even jealous of Xu Zhu: [Go ahead and post.]

She thought for a moment: [Let them curse; I’m not planning to give her any face.]

After telling her friends, she expressed to Sister Chu: “I don’t want everyone to pay too much attention to my private affairs. Xu Zhu shouldn’t want to stir up sisterhood for attention either; she’s more anxious than I am, afraid I’ll expose her dirty laundry.”

Sister Chu thought about it too.

Xu Zhu had created an image of a rich and beautiful princess for herself. If her fans found out her mom was a mistress, her persona would collapse, and her fans would scatter: “But dealing with this kind of rich family matter… it’s not very appropriate for either the company or you to bring it up; it feels a bit low-class.”

“No,”

Tong Zhao smirked slightly: “I’ll just go along with it; someone wants to vent for me.”

“Who?” After asking, Sister Chu recalled a name: “Wei Zekai? Or Shi Qianqiu?”

“Not just Wei Zekai, but some other friends too.”

Tong Zhao casually mentioned a list of flashy second-generation names that exuded a “smell of copper”: “Why bring up Director Shi? I’m not familiar with him. Don’t be fooled by him praising me everywhere; in private, he doesn’t even like my posts in our social circles. It’s the purest colleague relationship.”

“As long as it’s not him, but you still have your CP super topic with Director Shi,” her manager teased her. “With that tone you just used, I thought Xu Zhu was going to cut off a couple of her arms.”

…

Time was precious, and they stopped chatting about personal matters. Sister Chu hung up the phone to align the company’s public relations stance, while Tong Zhao dried her hair, played with her phone, and scrolled through Weibo and WeChat to observe the situation.

Meanwhile, Xu Zhu was also feeling anxious.

Tong Zhao had previously blacklisted her, and she had cut ties with any mutual friends who kept in touch with Xu Zhu; it was quite definitive. Xu Zhu really didn’t dare to rely on her fame; it was just that once someone becomes famous, their past is bound to be dug up, catching her off guard.

Xu Zhu had a lot she wanted to say to Tong Zhao.

— You’re in a rising phase now; exposing this kind of information, even if you’re the victim, will affect your image.

— Is it really good to drag family into this? Your mother just passed away not long ago; if this gets out, many people will definitely talk about her.

— Tong Zhao, your movie has been successful again. You’ve already achieved everything; can we just pretend we never knew each other?

It was useless; Tong Zhao simply didn’t answer calls from unfamiliar numbers.

Xu Zhu now just wanted to find out who leaked the information and give them a good beating.

Xu Zhu opened Weibo.

So far, no one had mentioned her background. She had a strong sense of pride; her old classmates didn’t know what her family did, and since they saw her lifestyle was high-end, they thought she was from the same social class. Weibo was calm, with Tong Zhao’s fans not particularly liking her, but they hadn’t escalated the situation, as if it were the calm before a storm.

She clicked on the group photo.

After a moment of thought, Xu Zhu remembered what they had been doing back then.

Right, at that time, Tong Zhao had been taking tennis lessons with her, and afterward, they asked a passing classmate to help them take a hand-holding photo on the lawn… Tong Zhao looked better than her, so she didn’t particularly like to be in the same frame with her, but on that day, perhaps because the weather was too nice, the dopamine released from intense exercise influenced her, making her inexplicably want a photo together.

In the picture, the two of them really looked like they were very close.

Xu Zhu irritably put down her phone.

The gossip about “good sisters” wasn’t that interesting; just as netizens were about to lose interest, a major influencer suddenly compiled a collection of posts by the second-generation rich, with Wei Zekai leading the way—

Wei Zekai: [@Star Selection Girl Xu Zhu, stay away from my brother.]

Second-Gen A: [Ordinary good sisters share food, jewelry, and daily life, but sister Zhu’s good sisters share about her dad.]

Second-Gen B: [sister Zhu really knows how to play the role of the rich beauty; her mother can charm a man into kicking his eldest daughter out and cutting off her financial support. The mistress who climbs to the top is forever a goddess!]

Second-Gen C: [The three-year period is up; as for the Tong family, it’s fine to let them go! Let us at Zeshan Company welcome Boss Zhao back to her rightful place—]

The rich second-generation crowd didn’t engage in the entertainment industry’s superficial politeness; they were sarcastic and even tagged people directly, not afraid of escalating the situation, which kept netizens’ minds busy as they realized it had turned into a wealthy family feud!

Xu Zhu’s fans were confused.

What did it mean for a mistress to rise to power and for a bird to take over another’s nest?

Some younger fans were upset and questioned them in the comments, but the second-generation crowd didn’t care; the more they fought back, the more dirt came to light.

Since much of the information emerged from nested comments, it was somewhat disorganized. By the end of the afternoon, a representative had compiled a timeline that clarified the relationship between Xu Zhu and Tong Zhao, even uncovering the company and connections behind the Tong family—

Goodness, they were actually one of the main investors in “Star Selection Girl.”

Many viewers who followed this season’s talent show were fans of other contestants and had their own suspicions about who seemed pre-determined to debut; Xu Zhu was one of those “chosen ones,” but her singing and dancing skills were merely acceptable and hadn’t been scrutinized deeply.

Once this was uncovered…

The dirt had been dug up, causing some upper-ranking contestants who didn’t qualify for debut to feel indignant.

If this information had been revealed earlier, it might have opened up a spot for their younger sister.

Unfortunately, there were no “what ifs” in this world.

The only way to vent their frustration was to lash out at Xu Zhu.

The audience of “Star Selection Girl” began to recount the details Xu Zhu had previously crafted for her “rich princess” persona, realizing it had all been a façade.

Some fans didn’t believe it.

After all, Xu Zhu seemed very at ease and natural when using expensive skincare products and designer handbags; she didn’t seem like a nouveau riche.

A rich second-generation individual responded to this argument from fans: [Of course she seems natural because Tong Zhao’s mother treated her like the daughter of a good friend, buying double of everything so they could use it together. She’s gotten used to leeching off that, sucking blood like a vampire, and she continues to do so.]

[Hahaha, you can tell they’re a seasoned player with that comment.]

[Uh, actually, Tong Zhao’s mom seems a bit foolish, right? Didn’t she notice the signs? It’s quite remarkable that a dumpling could raise someone like Tong Zhao with such subconscious traits.]

…

Tong Zhao had never brought this up on her own, as she didn’t want people discussing her mother.

In her dark, single apartment, she curled up on the soft couch, with only the light from her phone illuminating the space.

Her WeChat group was discussing her situation.

Whenever she wanted, she could join the discussion and accept her friends’ comfort.

They all felt indignant on her behalf and were heartbroken for her… Compared to her past life, she truly had so much more in this one.

After watching for a while, she still chose to speak to the persona in her mind: [My mom is indeed a bit foolish.]

Concubine Chen: [She doesn’t have an eye for people.]

Han Zhi: 【But that doesn’t justify her friend’s husband betraying her.】

They all shared Tong Zhao’s perspective and saw some of the “self-inflicted” comments.

This victim-blaming theory was just a small portion of the voices.

[I was also quite foolish back then,]

Tong Zhao’s tone was restrained and detached, as if she were talking about someone else, but it gradually lowered: [I won’t be foolish anymore. I won’t be foolish again.]

Tong Zhao saw a netizen saying that her mother’s foolishness harmed her and chuckled lightly: [According to the logic of “mother’s debt is repaid by the daughter,” I won’t let go of anyone who has hurt her. She is responsible for being foolish and falling for tricks; I am responsible for slapping faces and taking revenge. Sounds good.]

…

As the once-dirty secrets were laid bare in the sunlight, the beautifully packaged little princess revealed her true form.

Countless netizens and disappointed fans bombarded the phone lines of the entertainment company that Xu Zhu was signed to. She had truly become “famous,” but it was a kind of fame akin to being burned by fire. The company tried to contact Tong Zhao’s manager, but all they said was that the artist clearly refused to communicate. Xu Zhu also stated that everything they said was true.

With deep-seated grievances, how could there be any communication?

@Tong Zhao v:

Everything is true.

With these four words posted, all possibilities for private negotiation from Xu Zhu’s side were completely blocked.

The situation Xu Zhu faced was even more serious than that of Chen Zhuzhi.

Chen Zhuzhi had a solid foundation and works, and when domestic violence erupted, it drove away a large number of fans while awakening a batch of confused minds. Xu Zhu, on the other hand, was a shallow-rooted contestant; if it weren’t for her wealthy background and connections, she would have been just a quickly-fading commodity from the moment she debuted. Now, with her carefully crafted persona collapsing, all the air she had been holding onto was gone.

That day, Xu Zhu returned home from the dormitory, unable to face the questions of the other members of “Star Selection Girl.”

But that place couldn’t even be considered her home.

When the incident made headlines in entertainment news, Tong Zhenming returned, enraged after being met with strange looks from the company’s shareholders. He forbade her from dreaming of being a star again: “If you still want to acknowledge me as your father, then stay out of the spotlight and behave yourself at home! After wasting so much time and acting like a demon for so long, you should know that you’re not cut out for this.”

Xu Zhu lowered her head and remained silent.

Her silence was a sign of her unwillingness to admit guilt; Tong Zhenming wanted her to apologize.

“…I know I was wrong; I’m sorry.”

Xu Zhu’s eyes turned red.

Tong Zhenming wouldn’t let her leave, pressing down on her shoulder: “What did you do wrong?”

In that moment, immense grievance exploded from Xu Zhu’s chest. She looked up and glared at her biological father with hatred: “I was wrong for competing with Tong Zhao. I can’t compete with her for what I want, and everything I’ve fought for is worthless!”

She shrank her shoulders, rushed back to her room, and slammed the door shut, ignoring her father’s attempts to pound on it.

The Tong family was still wealthy, and the door was solidly built.

Just when things were going wrong, Xu Zhu felt even more humiliated. Ning Zhiyi suggested they take a break from each other to cool off.

She felt numb.

The dream of becoming a star that she wanted to snatch away from Tong Zhao was never hers to take.

The two men she had managed to win over didn’t love her; they loved themselves and their interests.

Xu Zhu buried her face in the pillow and cried for a while. Once she calmed down, she gradually accepted the reality that she had to give up her dream of stardom. If she couldn’t surpass her stepsister, she might as well return to being a wealthy young lady. Netizens wouldn’t be able to do anything to her.

Maybe later she could apologize to Tong Zhenming in a soft tone, she thought.

At least she would still be a young lady, able to live the affluent life she had always wanted, the life a Tong family heiress should have.

Even though “Heartless Tribulation” had become a hit, the actors didn’t receive a share of the investment profits; Tong Zhao would only get her original salary, which was definitely less than making a business profit. Thinking of this, Xu Zhu felt a slight rise in her fondness for her father.

This man held grudges, couldn’t stand being defied by juniors, and it seemed that this time, she would have to kneel and admit her mistakes to return to being his “good daughter”…

However, Tong Zhenming wasn’t angry about her behavior this time.

He had a more urgent matter to deal with—

Three companies that had been collaborating with them suddenly announced they wouldn’t work with the Tong family anymore.

A product that brought in steady profits for the Tong family faced competition, significantly affecting cash flow. The management could no longer hide the situation after seeing the reports and had to report it upward.

Wasn’t everything going well?

Forget it; if it doesn’t work, they’ll just have to change partners. China is so big; finding clients isn’t that hard, right?

Tong Zhenming was shocked to realize that this was a premeditated and organized attack from several companies with strong momentum. Some were new companies, while others, previously struggling, suddenly had best-selling new products or incredibly profitable projects…

As for other local companies, as soon as they heard it was the Tong family, they were unwilling to wade into such muddy waters.

Tong Zhenming sent gifts and treated people to meals, only then learning about half of the truth behind the scenes.

The Wei family had only one young master, Wei Zekai.

No matter how useless he might be, everything would eventually be left to him.

Wei Zekai had posted ten Weibo messages cursing the illegitimate daughter and Tong Zhenming. Even if the Wei family hadn’t said anything, everyone tacitly acknowledged that the two families had fallen out.

Why would anyone risk offending the Wei family to help Tong Zhenming get through this crisis?

They weren’t foolish.

Unless there was a higher profit to be gained!

Given the high margins involved, it wouldn’t be impossible to cooperate.

The result was that if Tong Zhenming wanted to endure this situation, he would have to give up the vast majority of the profits.

“A bunch of capitalists sucking the marrow out of bones!”

He cursed bitterly, inadvertently including himself in the insult.

Tong Zhenming blamed everything on Wei Zekai, overlooking the other half of the truth.

During the same period, the second-generation wealthy individuals who voiced support for Tong Zhao on Weibo faced reprimands at home due to their low status. Their elders felt it was embarrassing for them to be in the news for cursing online, and they quickly cut off their financial support, wanting them to reflect on their actions and not offend people recklessly. They weren’t all from families as stable and prestigious as Wei Zekai’s.

However, this time, the economic sanctions were ineffective.

Because those who had latched onto Tong Zhao, listened to her, and stirred up investment projects, the Ze Shan venture capital they had whimsically formed…

Actually made money.

Not only did they make money, but they also received dividends on the spot!

The second-generation individuals, driven purely by passion to support Tong Zhao, stared at the long string of zeros in their balances, alongside messages from their siblings on WeChat saying, “That so-called friend of yours? Now that she has no support from home, she’s just another girl hustling in the entertainment industry. Don’t let yourself be used without realizing it. Dad has frozen your card. You can borrow from other second-generations, but can you borrow from that female celebrity?”…

They truly didn’t know how to respond.

At the same time, in the Ze Shan venture capital shareholders’ WeChat group.

Second Generation A: [Wait, weren’t we losing money together while doing charity?]

Second Generation C: [How could any project that my brother Kai invests in actually make money!?]

Boss Kai: [I’ll give you all a chance to withdraw and reorganize your statements.]

When people are in extreme shock, they often speak their true feelings.

Among them, some had personally supervised the investment projects and had seen them improving, but Brother Kai’s reputation for losing money was too strong. They were internally at ease, waiting for the day the project would collapse, never expecting to make a profit.

Tong Zhao: [As long as I’m here, we won’t lose money.]