Chapter Twenty-Five: Aftermath! Public Opinion Surges Once More!

Ge Finfen listened to Bai Ling and her expression grew more solemn. It seemed things were just as she had suspected. Many artists encountered such problems: parents with whom they had poor relationships would shamelessly come asking for money as soon as they learned their child was earning well. They treated their own children like ATMs. Aside from those with powerful backgrounds—sons and daughters who could charge into the entertainment industry recklessly—the majority of struggling children from ordinary backgrounds faced this fate.

Having worked in the industry for many years, Ge Finfen had seen it all. Thus, she didn’t ask much, only assured Bai Ling, “No problem, leave it to me.” As for how much to give Lin Fenfang, she would have to weigh carefully. Bai Ling might not have thought of it, but as a top agent, Ge Finfen had to be mindful. Such parents often became furious if their outrageous demands were rejected and could even go public, accusing their children of being “unfilial” to stir up public opinion. Regardless of the truth, such storms could deal a devastating blow to the artist involved. There had been cases where a promising artist’s career plummeted for this very reason.

Since she had signed Bai Ling, Ge Finfen was determined to prevent such things from happening. Moreover, this was a crucial period when Bai Ling’s career had just started to show promise—there could be no carelessness now. She planned to send someone personally to handle the matter.

After changing her phone number, Bai Ling no longer received calls from Lin Fenfang, which brought her considerable relief. Still, she knew that the calm before a storm was always deceptively peaceful. Knowing Lin Fenfang and Bai Zhengyi as she did, she doubted they would give up so easily. She expected that in the future, they would present her with serious challenges. Nevertheless, Bai Ling remained firm in her principles. Giving them sixty thousand yuan was already more than generous.

She’d heard that when Lin Fenfang and Bai Zhengyi learned their first child would be a girl, they even considered an abortion. Compared to them, Bai Ling was already being incredibly generous. In the following days, Bai Ling continued to carry out the company’s arrangements as usual. Within three days, all she had to do was set aside some time to record a song.

Bai Ling had no objections. During this period, she used her Performance Enhancement Card. This time, the card didn’t just boost her emotional expression, but comprehensively strengthened her “technique.” To be honest, this worked out well for the recording process, saving the sound engineer and tuner a great deal of work. Both teachers were very grateful. As for the final result, there was no problem at all. Perfect technique could still enhance emotional impact and was indeed helpful.

Moreover, venting her frustrations about Lin Fenfang and Bai Zhengyi during recording actually allowed Bai Ling to achieve even better results than during her live broadcast. The company was also very satisfied. They planned to release the single while the iron was hot, after the episode of “Girl Group Assembly Order” aired.

But just as Bai Ling was about to relax, Ge Finfen informed her of the next step: starting next week, Bai Ling would take on new projects. The timing made sense to Bai Ling—over the weekend, “Girl Group Assembly Order” would air, and the boost in her popularity would reflect her true value. At that point, Spring and Autumn Company would decide how many resources to invest in her. Though Spring and Autumn Entertainment was known for its humane management, profit was still the bottom line. Bai Ling had no complaints—she only hoped it wouldn’t be too exhausting.

As the weekend drew nearer, more and more previews and behind-the-scenes clips of “Girl Group Assembly Order” were released. Bai Ling’s social media accounts were soon flooded with comments.

“Have you seen it? Have you seen it yet?”

“It’s confirmed! The mystery guest performing this time is really Sister Bai Ling!”

“Looks like we’ll finally get to hear the live version of ‘Under the Sea.’”

“Bai Ling just posted—her song is called ‘Under the Sea’ and it’ll be available on all music platforms after the show airs. I’m so excited for the weekend I could die of happiness.”

“It’s finally happening! I’ve been waiting anxiously, looping the live replay over and over. Watching Bai Ling sing breaks my heart.”

“Sis, you feel the same way? Kindred spirit!”

“Isn’t everyone’s focus a bit off? Shouldn’t we be talking about Bai Ling’s performance on the show?”

“Exactly! But this time, Bai Ling might not be singing. There’s a photo of her in costume among the teasers—she’s in period dress!”

“Period dress? Seriously?”

“Isn’t this a girl group variety show? Why the period costume? That’s such a weird mix of styles.”

“I love period costumes, but still…”

“Wait, everyone, this is amazing! Bai Ling looks stunning in period dress—I’m in love.”

“Gorgeous? With Bai Ling’s looks, she’s beautiful in anything!”

“Wow, absolutely breathtaking.”

“I’m definitely watching this episode!”

“You people are unbelievable. This was supposed to be Lin Yubai’s performance, but Bai Ling just grabbed the spotlight with her connections and you’re actually praising her?”

“Where are the Little Universes? Let’s set the record straight!”

“We don’t know what Bai Ling was like before, but now it’s obvious she has backing. Snatching resources openly like this, tsk.”

“Boycott Bai Ling! She’s not even really famous yet and already acting arrogant. What’s she going to be like later?”

“You mindless fans are so shallow, just here to worship her looks!”

“Exactly…”

The comment section was lively, with Bai Ling’s fans enthusiastically discussing every detail. But suddenly, a group calling themselves “Little Universes” barged in and started hurling insults. Bai Ling’s fans wouldn’t stand for it and immediately began arguing back and forth. Bai Ling’s latest post quickly amassed tens of thousands more comments. The intensity of the debate was staggering.

Of course, upon learning of the situation, Spring and Autumn immediately notified Lin Yubai’s agency. The response was quite interesting: Lin Yubai’s fan group was as quiet as ever—there was almost no reaction. So, they weren’t involved at all.

After understanding the situation, both Bai Ling and Ge Finfen were left speechless. Either Lin Yubai was lying, or Starlight Company, having regained some strength, was mounting a counterattack—masquerading as fans to manipulate public opinion.