109. Ji Fanxing: A Tragic Beauty in the Entertainment Circle

Song Qing, like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, turned to flee.

"What are you running for?" Ji Fanxing chuckled, blocking her path.

Cornered with nowhere to run, Song Qing’s eyes were wide with terror, like a small beast driven to a dead end.

"Ji Fanxing, what... what do you want?" Song Qing’s voice trembled, her bravado failing as she thought of Tang Song being hauled away in a police car.

Ji Fanxing didn't speak. She simply watched her, her gaze gradually turning cold, a mocking curve playing on her lips. It was the look one might give a ridiculous, posturing clown.

Under that gaze, Song Qing felt a chill creep into her heart. Fear and hatred intertwined, pushing her to the brink of losing her sanity.

"Ji Fanxing, what do you have to be so smug about? You won the championship, but so what?" she shrieked hysterically. "You’re nothing but an ugly duckling under Ji Shengxue’s shadow! Xu Mo will never like you!"

Song Qing thought she had struck a nerve and could slip away while Ji Fanxing was distracted, but to her horror, Ji Fanxing remained unmoved and actually smiled even more broadly. The smile chilled her to the bone, sparking a fear of Ji Fanxing that momentarily eclipsed even her fear of the police outside.

"Song Qing, you truly are someone who won't shed a tear until you see the coffin," Ji Fanxing said, her voice icy and emotionless. She had come to settle all debts today, and she had no intention of being kind.

Song Qing stepped back, cowed by the frost in Ji Fanxing’s eyes, yet she still bit back, "Isn't what I said the truth? You went to such lengths to enter the competition—wasn't it just because you like Xu Mo and wanted his attention?"

"Song Qing, I didn't come here to argue about that." Ji Fanxing stepped closer, her gaze sharpening. "I’ll ask you one thing: why did you fabricate that video to slander me and Ning Ze?"

With her misdeeds exposed, Song Qing felt a sharp pang of guilt and dared not meet Ji Fanxing’s eyes.

"What? Too afraid to answer?" Ji Fanxing pressed on, her tone frigid. "Then let me say it for you. You like Xu Mo, but you’re too cowardly to compete with Ji Shengxue. You deliberately faked that video, claiming I conspired with Ning Ze to hurt her, simply because your love is unspoken and you had to vent it somewhere else. At the end of the day, you’re just a wretched person—a bully who fears the strong and preys on the weak."

Song Qing’s face turned pale; Ji Fanxing’s words were like a thorn, piercing deep into her heart.

"You’re lying!" Song Qing retorted shrilly, though she couldn't hide her insecurity. "Don't you like him? Do you dare say you’ve never liked Xu Mo!? If you like him, you’re my rival. What’s wrong with creating a video to take down a rival?"

Ji Fanxing said nothing. She only watched her quietly, her eyes as calm and ripple-less as an unfathomable ancient well, revealing not a hint of emotion.

***

Song Qing, as if grasping at a life-saving straw, suddenly burst into wild laughter. The sound was sharp and grating, echoing through the empty corridor with a touch of madness.

"Hahaha... I knew it! You like him too! You like him too!" Song Qing looked deranged, pointing at Ji Fanxing as if to pour out all her resentment. "But he likes Ji Shengxue! He won't even spare you a glance!"

Just then, a faint noise came from the corner. A tall figure slowly emerged, his expression complex—it was Xu Mo.

Song Qing’s laughter cut off abruptly. She stared at the man in disbelief, as if witnessing something impossible. How was Xu Mo here? When did he arrive? How much had he heard? A flurry of questions exploded in her mind, leaving her unable to process the situation.

Ji Fanxing merely glanced at him indifferently before looking away. She hadn't wasted her breath on Song Qing for Xu Mo’s sake, but for the two people behind him—more specifically, the one holding a camera for a live stream.

"Song Qing, what are you doing here?" Xu Mo’s voice was low and hoarse, betraying no clear emotion.

Song Qing finally snapped back to reality. Grasping for a lifeline, she pointed at Ji Fanxing and stammered, "Xu Mo, it’s her! She set me up! You have to believe me!"

Xu Mo ignored her, casting a complicated look at Ji Fanxing before averting his gaze. He didn't know what to say or do.

Just then, Zhang Fan, who had been following Xu Mo, stepped forward and immediately restrained Song Qing. "Song Qing, you are under arrest for suspected drug trafficking and organizing gambling. Come with us!"

Song Qing struggled desperately, but it was futile. She could only watch helplessly as she was led away by the police. Before she left, she cast a venomous look at Ji Fanxing, her eyes filled with malice and insanity.

The other officer, Officer Xiao Zhang, who held the camera, greeted them awkwardly. "Uh... well... sorry to bother you... ahahaha, I’ll get back to work!"

*Oh my god, this is insane,* he thought. *I just came to handle a call and ended up witnessing a massive entertainment industry scandal—and it was live-streamed!*

As Xiao Zhang scurried off after Zhang Fan, the internet erupted. The comments section was flooded like a snowstorm.

[Holy crap! The plot twist! So Song Qing was the one who set Ji Fanxing up!]

[I knew it! How could Ji Fanxing do something like that? And that video was so obviously fake. She was framed!]

[Sob, sob, for how long has our Goddess Ji suffered through this injustice? The truth is finally out. My Goddess is truly the epitome of beauty, strength, and tragedy.]

[Wait, so what was Ji Shengxue acting so pitiful for in front of the cameras? "My sister didn't mean it"—I’m honestly going to puke. What a disgusting green tea bitch!]

[Xu Mo’s expression is so complicated. Does he know something?]

[It’s complicated because he probably realized the woman he likes is a green tea bitch, or maybe he realized there was some dark, crawling maggot secretly obsessed with him. Hahaha, it’s definitely not because of Goddess Ji.]

[Oh my god! What is that lunatic Song Qing saying? My Goddess would absolutely never like Xu Mo! NEVER!]

[Even though Xu Mo is handsome, I object to this match!]

"Quick, get in." Seeing Song Qing about to be loaded into the police car just like Tang Song, she looked completely hollow, as if her soul had been drained.

"I’m getting arrested, why aren't you helping me... Xu Mo...!"

The dose of the drug Tang Song had put in her water was too high. Before long, Song Qing began to hallucinate, her behavior becoming increasingly frantic until she blurted out a secret buried deep in her heart.

"Hahaha... so what if you have a soft spot for Ji Fanxing? The little angel isn't with you anyway. Now... she doesn't even like you anymore! Haha, she looks at you like a stranger! I won! I won!!! Haha!"

The camera was still rolling, and her words were broadcast live once more.

"Why is that thing still on! Turn it off! Turn it off!!" Zhang Fan shouted frantically as the stream cut.

The viewers were left speechless.

[This person has lost her mind.]

[Yeah, I think so too...]

[What a lunatic. Why believe anything she says? Let’s go, let’s go...]

With the wail of sirens, the police cars drove away, and the residential area returned to silence. After a long pause, Xu Mo finally spoke.

"Fanxing... you..."