But when you think about it, Sang Ning originally got on the show thanks to the Chu Family's financial support, which means there's big capital backing her.
Later, they'll arrange for an insider to reveal things online, directing all criticism at Sang Ning, while the show can play the sympathy card to gain attention.
Anyway, Sang Ning has backing. If any negative news comes up, the Chu Family will find a way to manage her public relations.
*
After hanging up the phone, Sang Ning hailed a cab on the roadside.
Even though it wasn't rush hour, the road was completely gridlocked. After five minutes, the taxi hadn't moved an inch.
The agent called again to urge her: "Sis, have you left yet? Where are you now? How long until you get there?"
"I'm already in the car." Sang Ning glanced at the traffic jam ahead, and said in a calm manner, "It's jammed now; I guess it'll take two hours to get home."
"What? Two hours!"
The agent's voice almost pierced her eardrum.
"Two hours, the vegetables will be cold by then, sis, I'm begging you, think of a way to save us."
Sang Ning pinched her brow and told the driver to stop: "Driver, please pull over, I'm in a hurry and can't wait."
After getting off the taxi, Sang Ning hailed a motorcycle taxi and told the agent on the phone: "I got a motorcycle taxi, should be home in half an hour."
"Also, can you please stop making such a fuss? My eardrums are fragile. I can't handle the drama."
"Okay, sis, I'll be careful next time when I speak."
The motorcycle driver was a steady and cautious middle-aged man, and with the flooded traffic, he maintained a crawl-like speed for safety.
Sang Ning couldn't wait anymore and pushed the man to the back seat: "Uncle, I'm in a hurry, let me take over!"
Sang Ning's attitude was firm, and her presence powerful, leaving the man unable to refuse. He stammered: "Young lady, be careful! Unsafe driving, loved ones will shed tears!"
The man's words went in one ear and out the other for Sang Ning.
She launched at extreme speed, weaving through the traffic like a whirlwind.
The man adopted a pained expression, clutching the back rail tightly.
Sang Ning didn't want to continue hearing the agent's whimpering; his loudness was too much, and it was best she got home before the show's crew arrived.
As she raced down the road, the System inconveniently popped up: "Host, you're in a rush to gain followers, huh? Pinning your live vlog to the top of the official blog for 30 days is too forward. By now, the followers you're gaining are probably just trolls!"
Sang Ning didn't reduce her driving speed and replied impatiently to the System: "These aren't trolls. They're all lifesaving saints. Whether they're trolls or true fans, as long as Weibo gains followers, it doesn't matter. You haven't stipulated that gained Weibo followers have to be true fans or casual ones."
...
System: "No way, how can you have such a reverse-follow method? Help, my intention wasn't to make you a top blacklisted celebrity in the entertainment industry!"
Sang Ning's lips curled into a devilish smile: "So what if I'm blacklisted at the top? A few insults can save my life. I insist on being an undefined top diva. Trust me, I'll rely on my charisma to successfully redeem myself."
System died…
*
Meanwhile.
The film crew at the entrance of the urban village followed the director's instructions to continue the live stream.
The PD first gave an intro: "Hello, viewers, we're the 'Encounter in Countryside' recording team. Since the other guests couldn't fit today's schedule, we're fortunate to have Mr. Sang and his family cooperate with us for a promotional segment before the official program.
We're going to the address provided by Mr. Sang to do a live interview at her home, so please follow our cameras and explore the real Sang Family!"
As the camera moved in, dirty and chaotic alleys came into view. It was currently summer vacation, and a gang of dark-skinned lower-grade elementary students blocked the crew's way, laughing and reaching out for money to buy candy.
The film crew didn't give them money, so these kids wouldn't let them pass. Finally, the cameraman had to part with his only two hundred bucks in cash to send them away.
The live stream's comment section exploded.
[Damn! These are a bunch of little punks, exploiting their young age to misbehave. What will they become when they grow up?]
[I'm really not trying to discriminate here, but this place is called West Factory Street. The people who live here are either drunkards or hooligans. What kind of qualities can kids born here have?]
[I get it now, no wonder Sang Ning lacks manners. Turns out she's from West Factory Street, makes sense.]
[The commenter above might be right; Sang Ning probably is the factory boss here, and these elementary school kids are her minions.]
#SangNingFactoryBoss# and #SangNingMinions# quickly shot up to the top ten trending searches.
When the agent saw the trending posts, he nearly blacked out, frantically dialing Sang Ning's number to find out what was happening.
Although he wasn't familiar with Sang Ning's family background, judging by her usual behavior, she's definitely a lady of status. Her home should be in a high-end community, not this shabby place, right?
But when he called, no one picked up on the other end.
Not giving up, he made several more attempts to call, but still no answer!
It's over, it's over! What's she doing fooling around like this?
The agent held his head, squatted to the ground in despair and helplessness.
Blissfully unaware, Sang Ning even while speeding on the motorcycle tried to free a hand to open her phone and check the progress of the live stream.
But after fumbling in the left pocket, she continued feeling around the right pocket.
Damn it! Where's the phone?
Did the doggone System start making her unlucky right now?
With the wind howling, only gusts blew past her ears. Sang Ning shouted loudly: "Uncle, lend me your phone for a sec!"
The uncle held the handlebar with his left hand, retrieved the phone from his jacket pocket with the right hand, and handed it over shaking.
Looking out of the corner of her eyes, Sang Ning couldn't help but pause in silence as she saw the primitive phone, only capable of calls and texts, in the uncle's hand...
"Never mind… seems like it's not that urgent now…"
It took Sang Ning only 10 minutes to rush from the company to the urban village entrance. She initially intended to keep riding the motorcycle into the alley.
But the motorcycle had barely stopped at the entrance when the uncle started dry heaving. Sang Ning quickly got off and patted his back to calm him down: "Uncle, are you okay? Feeling better?"
A strange light flashed in the uncle's eyes, and taking advantage of Sang Ning's distraction, he reclaimed the motorcycle's handlebars.
The uncle, usually adhering to his principle of safety, started at the fastest speed in his career, turning with sports car-like drift speed.
"Miss, no need to pay the fare; I'm getting too old to risk my neck with you!"
Sang Ning: …
And at that moment, the show's crew had already arrived at Sang Family's doorstep…