131 Bottom Line

After Su Jing's call, Hui Yin retired to her bedroom and thought about the teenager asking for her autograph with a smile.

Satisfaction made her eyes curve at the sense of accomplishment this small gesture brought her, and Hui Yin rolled to her stomach on the bed as her legs swung up and down in excitement. She picked up her phone, intending to see the public account her manager had created. But Hui Yin had barely typed her own username when an incoming call flashed across the screen.

She blinked in confusion, not expecting a call to come from her.

"Luo Lan?"

"Campus Beauty Hui Yin." Luo Lan's voice made Hui Yin frown in concern. It was choked and raspy, as if she had been severely crying only a few moments before. "I need your help."

"Of course. What can I do?" Hui Yin didn't hesitate. Luo Lan had been a great help in breaking her engagement with Lu Shen, so she naturally would spare no effort in helping her.

"I...they managed to trace the source of the second photo to me. They want to sue me and make me become a persona non grata on all the media companies across the country." Luo Lan sobbed. "I'll essentially lose my job forever, Hui Yin."

Hui Yin stiffened. She had instructed Luo Lan to give the second photo to an anonymous hacker so that this type of problem won't occur, but Hui Yin had apparently underestimated the extent of what wealth and power could do. They had even managed to trace the photo back to Luo Lan! Hui Yin felt her heart sink.

"'They'? Luo Lan, who found out that it was you? Was it Lu Shen?"

"No, it wasn't him. Or maybe it was him. I don't know. But the Nians and the Lus are suing me for misdemeanor, violation of privacy, and blackmail. Hui Yin, what do I do? I don't want to go to jail!"

Luo Lan's voice rose in pitch as she spoke, until the last word became a shrill cry.

Hui Yin squeezed her eyes shut, her shoulders bowed. All of her previous happiness had disappeared like smoke in the air, as an undercurrent of restrained fury filled her whole body.

The Lus! The Nians!

She had merely pursued her own freedom, and along the way made them have a taste of their own medicine. Although Luo Lan had posted a libellous photo because of her instructions, was it not her prerogative to do so? Nian Zhen had shared a kiss with her fiancé; by all rights Hui Yin should have been the victim in that situation. By posting the photo, she only exposed the truth.

And yet they dared to move against Luo Lan? Their faces were even thick enough to accuse Luo Lan of misdemeanor, forgetting whose daughter and whose son made an unpardonable criminal offense that caused the whole nation to despise their affair. Violation of privacy? Blackmail?

"I let them off easily, but it seems to have been a mistake on my part." An iciness covered Hui Yin's heart, making it become as hard as crystal. "Nian Zhen, Lu Shen, you should have just offended me. Whether intentionally or otherwise, you two have stepped on my bottom line..."

So please don't blame me for what will happen next.

"Luo Lan, leave it to me. I'll take care of this."

After comforting Luo Lan and cheering her up, Hui Yin dialled a new number. The digits were pressed one after another on the screen without pause, since it was long memorized by her brain.

After the first ring, it quickly connected.

Hui Yin took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around the phone.

"Lu Shen? We need to talk."