Chapter 121 - 108: It’s Okay to Be Stupid, but Must You Be So Thorough About It?
Chapter 121: Chapter 108: It’s Okay to Be Stupid, but Must You Be So Thorough About It?
At the Imperial Hospital, inside a VIP ward.
The manager’s roars filled the room.
"Lin Zhenxiang, why couldn’t you just control yourself! I warned you time and time again. I repeatedly emphasized that you shouldn’t make any public appearances or statements before the stream starts! If you love acting so smart, why do you even need me as your manager? Why do you need a team? You might as well go solo!"
Lin Zhenxiang pressed her lips tightly together, her hands gripping a corner of the blanket.
Her face was pale, and her taut expression suggested she was desperately trying to suppress something.
Her manager continued to complain. "Now look what you’ve done. With a single post, you’ve ruined the fantastic momentum we worked so hard to build for you! Not only did we fall short at the last moment, but the tide has completely turned against us! Even if you had channels to find out exactly when the Star Network stream would restart, it’s completely useless now!"
Previously, the team had been building hype to make people believe Lin Zhenxiang was the golden girl of Star Network and the Imperial Court. It would have been enough to just plant that seed; there was no need to deliberately overhype it.
After all, trying too hard would only backfire.
But Lin Zhenxiang couldn’t wait to solidify this image. She posted on the culinary forum and even set up some kind of countdown for the Star Network stream restart!
As a result, she was nearly torn to shreds by netizens and industry peers alike, and was even personally slapped in the face by Imperial Court management!
Lin Zhenxiang’s eyes were red, looking thoroughly remorseful.
Trembling with a hoarse voice, she murmured guiltily, "Sister Ying, I didn’t know things would turn out like this..."
Having worked with Lin Zhenxiang for so long, Hua Yingying was well aware of her true nature. She kept a stern face, completely unfooled by Lin Zhenxiang’s display of vulnerability.
"Lin Zhenxiang, I know you have backing that makes you feel untouchable in the Federation! Unless the person behind you is on the level of the Federation’s First Commander or His Majesty, you’d better prepare to be investigated!" Hua Yingying said strictly.
A flash of panic crossed her pale face. Lin Zhenxiang’s fingers tightened, and her freshly pursed lips gradually lost their color.
A knock sounded at the ward door. Without waiting for a response from inside, the door was pushed open.
The Empress’s trusted aide, Lady Xin, appeared with an icy expression.
Looking like an emotionless robot, Lady Xin methodically activated her Light Brain and connected to Empress Yudola.
A second later, Yudola’s holographic projection materialized beside her.
Yudola looked at Lin Zhenxiang on the hospital bed, her gaze profound and calculating.
"Empress..." Lin Zhenxiang said, feeling a sense of unease.
Hua Yingying, however, was not surprised at all. She had already imagined the worst-case scenarios resulting from Lin Zhenxiang’s forum post.
Yudola remained noble and elegant, but completely lacked the warmth she had shown during her previous encounters with Lin Zhenxiang.
"Lin Zhenxiang," Yudola said darkly. "Not even I, the Empress, knew when the Main Brain would activate the Star Network stream, yet you knew the timing down to the exact second."
"I..." Lin Zhenxiang lowered her head, hiding the anxiety in her eyes while her mind raced, desperately trying to come up with a plausible excuse.
But Yudola did not give her enough time to think.
"How did you know exactly when the Main Brain would restart the Star Network stream? Was it His Majesty who told you, or the Commander-in-Chief?
"Or perhaps it was another fan who told you? Or—are you still in collusion with that wanted interstellar hacker?"
Yudola’s voice grew colder and colder.
Having sat on the Empress’s throne for so many years, it was impossible for her not to possess a commanding aura.
The oppressive pressure from a person of such high status threw Lin Zhenxiang into a panic.
"No!" she vehemently denied. "Please believe me, Empress! It... it really was a friend who told me! But I don’t want to cause trouble for him!"
Lin Zhenxiang looked as if she would guard her friend’s identity with her life.
Seeing her act so loyal, Yudola gave a cold, clear laugh. "Lin Zhenxiang, I truly underestimated you. To think that a mere influencer could actually get involved with the Austin family!"
Lin Zhenxiang’s face instantly turned ghastly pale.
Beside her, Hua Yingying drew a sharp breath, her terrified gaze snapping toward Lin Zhenxiang.
It was one thing to be foolish, but how could this Lin Zhenxiang be so utterly stupid!
Did she not know that the Austin family and the Empress’s family were sworn enemies?!
As a streamer signed under the Imperial Court Company and the Empress herself, how dared she get so close to someone from the Austin family!?
However, Hua Yingying finally understood where Lin Zhenxiang’s information had come from.
The Austin family had a branch specifically in charge of Main Brain engineering. They had ample opportunities to access the Main Brain and obtain firsthand intelligence.