"This..."
Tang Xiaomin frowned, not knowing what to say.
"What exactly is going on?"
After laughing enough, Tang Ye finally explained to Tang Xiaomin.
"I heard Sheng Mo released a representative work, but after recording it, he was blackmailed online. Sheng Mo is the first and only person in the entire internet history to trend for being blackmailed. It's unprecedented and unrepeatable."
"Not only that, but netizens also made a big deal out of his dancing videos, with all sorts of edited versions. Look..."
As Tang Ye spoke, he flipped out a few more meme videos for Tang Xiaomin.
Netizens' creativity ran wild, and they had really outdone themselves.
...
"I wonder who the talented person is who wrote such a song for Sheng Mo. I'm almost impressed by that original author."
Tang Xiaomin remained silent, trying to keep a low profile.
The reason Tang Xiaomin had initially asked Sheng Mo not to mention her name was twofold: first, she was worried about Tang Ye's nagging; second, she didn't have much time to earn extra money.
Now that Sheng Mo was in this predicament, she would never admit it was her song, even if she were to die for it.
She had been watching Sheng Mo's videos and found that he was being blackmailed to an excessive degree this time.
Were there really so many bored people online?
After all, it was a song she had written. Tang Xiaomin couldn't help but use her own computer to investigate those accounts that were spamming relentlessly.
She actually found some clues.
In the beginning, it was just a group of trolls setting the narrative.
Later, it seemed that someone deliberately pushed Sheng Mo to the trending list, which then led to a wave of netizens following suit, turning it into a full-blown online assault that spiraled out of control.
As for who deliberately pushed him to the trending list, their methods were so covert that Tang Xiaomin couldn't find any trace of them.
Taking out the IOUs for 100,000 yuan that Sheng Mo had given her from her bag, Tang Xiaomin had no desire for the money.
After all, Sheng Mo was just a young man who worked hard. Although he was sometimes arrogant, he didn't deserve this.
Tang Xiaomin never expected that one of her songs would lead Sheng Mo to such a dire situation.
Just then, Sheng Mo called.
His voice on the other end of the line was dejected and weak.
"Miss Tang, as per our agreement. Once this song is released, I'll give you the remaining balance."
"After tonight, go to Heaven Entertainment and find Sister Lan. She'll give you the money."
Sheng Mo's promise to pay made Tang Xiaomin feel a pang of sympathy.
"Uh... I'm sorry, I didn't expect this song would get you blackmailed like this. You've suffered a huge loss this time, and it must be tough for you. I don't need the remaining balance anymore."
Sheng Mo on the other end of the line fell silent. Tang Xiaomin waited for a long time and vaguely heard a choked sob.
Could he be unable to bear the blow and be crying from sadness?
"Sheng Mo, are you alright?"
After waiting for a long time again, this time Tang Xiaomin heard clearly. Sheng Mo was indeed crying.
He was just a young man in his early twenties, in other words, a boy who had just grown up.
If he couldn't handle this and decided to end it all, Tang Xiaomin would feel guilty.
"Sheng Mo, don't pay too much attention to the online comments. Netizens will forget about it in a few days. There's no need to let it affect your mood. Just carry on with what you're doing, okay?"
"Sob... sob sob..."
Tang Xiaomin's comfort broke through Sheng Mo's defenses, and he collapsed into tears.
"I worked so hard, practicing for over a thousand days and nights. I don't know what I did wrong to be ridiculed like that..."
"Tell me, why are those people targeting me maliciously?"
This was a heavy topic, and Tang Xiaomin didn't know the answer either.
"Don't overthink it."
Sheng Mo choked out, "I'm really tired. Maybe I'm not suited for the entertainment industry at all. I've already arranged for the final payment. I'll hang up now."
Beep, beep, beep...
"Sheng Mo."
"Sheng Mo?"
...
The call was suddenly hung up. Tang Xiaomin had a bad premonition. When she called again, his phone was turned off.
Could he not bear the pressure and decide to end it all?
The more Tang Xiaomin thought about it, the more uneasy she became.
If something happened to Sheng Mo, it would be terrible.
Tang Xiaomin rushed to knock on Tang Ye's door.
"Tang Ye, come out! Quickly, quickly!"
After a while, Tang Ye, yawning, came to open the door.
"What's the matter? I was recording a show all night and I'm exhausted."
"Do you know where Sheng Mo lives?"
"Why are you asking?"
"He just called me crying, I have a bad feeling he's in trouble!"
Hearing this, Tang Ye's sleepiness vanished.
"What did you say?"
"There's no time to explain. Hurry and take me to him, saving him is the priority!"
Tang Ye hurried to his car, and they ran through countless red lights before finally arriving at a residential complex.
He led Tang Xiaomin into the elevator with familiarity and pressed the button for the sixteenth floor.
After exiting the elevator, he went to a door and knocked forcefully.
The knocking sounded like an earthquake.
But no one answered.
Tang Xiaomin asked with a solemn expression, "Are you sure he really lives here?"
"This is the accommodation the company specially arranged for him. I remember it clearly."
Tang Xiaomin pushed Tang Ye aside.
Then, she kicked the door down with a clean, decisive move.
Bang!
The door gave way, and they finally managed to get inside.
In the bathtub in the bathroom, Sheng Mo was lying on the edge of the tub, barely alive. One of his wrists was submerged in the tub, and the bright red water was extremely striking.
Tang Xiaomin quickly pulled Sheng Mo's hand out of the tub. It's common knowledge that submerging a wound in water prevents blood from clotting, thus losing its hemostatic effect.
Sheng Mo's condition clearly indicated he was prepared to die.
Tang Xiaomin quickly pressed down on Sheng Mo's wound and checked for his breathing.
"He's still breathing. Quickly, find a cloth to stop the bleeding!"
"Oh..."
Tang Ye was stunned and frantically looked for a towel, tearing it in half.
Watching Tang Xiaomin stop Sheng Mo's bleeding, Tang Ye said, "I'll call an ambulance right away."
"There's no time. Hurry and take him to the nearest hospital for a blood transfusion."
With lives at stake, Tang Xiaomin didn't have time to think and scooped up Sheng Mo, rushing out.
Tang Ye wanted to carry him, but then he thought that he didn't have Tang Xiaomin's strength, so he gave up.
Rushing to the hospital, doctors performed emergency treatment, and Sheng Mo's life was finally saved.
During this time, Tang Ye contacted Sheng Mo's agent, Sister Lan.
By the time Sister Lan arrived, Sheng Mo had already been transferred to a regular ward.
"Sheng Mo, what's wrong with you? It's just netizens making jokes, do you have to do this?"
Sister Lan said with an impatient tone.
"If I had known you were this fragile internally, I wouldn't have taken you on."
Sheng Mo, pale and lying on the hospital bed, apologized weakly to Sister Lan.
"Sister Lan, I've failed your expectations. I'm sorry."
"What's the use of saying sorry? Do you know how much effort I put into promoting you? You're truly a disappointment. All my efforts have been in vain. All in vain!"