Chapter 13: Gaining Followers by Stepping on Jiang Ning

Nighttime is when internet platforms witness the most active user numbers throughout the day.

Jiang Ning's retorts to the trolls were screenshotted by netizens and wildly shared on various social media applications.

Her comebacks were justified, rhymed well, and were satisfying to read, making the crowd of netizens laugh out loud, until some informed individuals educated them about Jiang Ning's character, and then everyone started to get angry.

What kind of world is this?

Jiang Ning not only harms people but also has the gall to justify it?!

Who gave her such audacity?

A bunch of netizens cursed and swore in Jiang Ning's comment section.

Huo Miao was in her room, talking on the phone with her agent.

Without outsiders around, there was no need for her to maintain her mask of gentleness and innocence.

Holding her phone, Huo Miao asked, "What's the online buzz about me?"

As this year's rising traffic-drawing starlet of the entertainment industry, no one was more vigilant than Huo Miao about negative online comments concerning her.

That afternoon, after being dragged out of the pool, Huo Miao had a strong desire to devour Jiang Ning!

She didn't need to guess to know that her unflattering photo, being dragged and kicked into the water by Jiang Ning, must have been captured.

Most of the attendees at today's celebration were well-known celebrities in the industry; to each other's faces, everyone was good friends, but behind their backs, they wished nothing more than for the others' downfall.

Huo Miao had constantly instructed her agent to monitor the internet for any buzz and to immediately deal with any negative comments about her as soon as they surfaced.

The agent, loyal to Huo Miao's instructions, had managed several times to swiftly reach out to marketing accounts that leaked the unflattering photos of Huo Miao being kicked into the water by Jiang Ning today and had them delete the pictures.

At the same time, the agent did not forget to shape the narrative that Huo Miao was the victim, and the aggressor... was naturally Jiang Ning.

"Don't worry, I've been keeping an eye on it. The online opinions about you are all positive, and even if someone occasionally brings up you being pushed into the water by Jiang Ning this afternoon, they stand on your side voicing support for you," said Liu Hong, who was sitting in front of the computer, not scrolling with the mouse, her eyes glued to the glowing screen. "However, there is something that I find quite strange."

Huo Miao instinctively asked, "What is it?"

"Before, no matter how much your fans cursed and mocked Jiang Ning on her Weibo, she would not respond. But today... she fought back." Liu Hong said while sending a screenshot of Jiang Ning's retort to the online comments: "I've sent it to you. Take a look."

Huo Miao frowned and clicked open Fetion.

Other comments were manageable, but when she saw the one from "LoveMiaomiao" praising herself as an outstanding daughter meticulously cultivated by the Huo Family with immense time, effort, and resources, while describing Jiang Ning as a poor relative just freeloading off the Huo Family, Huo Miao's complexion turned pale at Jiang Ning's reply.

How dare Jiang Ning!

She had promised before not to expose this matter to outsiders!

Huo Miao's fingers trembled slightly, and a vast panic spread in her chest. For a moment, she even forgot the screenshot was sent to her by Liu Hong.

It was only the sound of Liu Hong scoffing through the phone that brought Huo Miao back to her senses: "Jiang Ning is really amusing. As a poor relative, wouldn't it be better for her to stay obediently in the Huo Family? Why create such a fuss?"

"What did Mr. Huo and Madam Huo say about the incident this afternoon, when she tossed all of you into the pool? Did you just easily forgive her like that? Just merely kicking her out of the Huo Family?"

"Although the water in the pool wasn't deep today, watching her forcibly drag you from the living room to the edge of the pool and then kick you in, she could already be sued at the police station."

"Not to mention, besides you, she kicked your entire family in! As long as you insist that you all can't swim, it's completely possible to charge her with attempted murder."

Liu Hong said this, her tone even somewhat impatient.

If the Huo Family were really willing to sue Jiang Ning, she could completely use the incident to stir up a scandal, and then Huo Miao could use the heat from this incident to climb another rung in popularity within the entertainment industry.

Huo Miao snapped back to reality, understanding the implication in Liu Hong's words all too well.

But Jiang Ning was the Huo Family's biological daughter, let alone the fact that they hadn't incurred any harm being tossed into the pool today; even if something had happened, the Huo Family would have only gritted their teeth and swallowed it, never allowing such a scandal to be exposed.

However, such words would be lost on Liu Hong.

Because Huo Miao hadn't told her that she herself was not the Huo Family's biological daughter and that Jiang Ning was the true heiress of the Huo Family.

Huo Miao frowned and said, "Forget about it. Jiang Ning has already been thrown out by the Huo Family, and that's their resolution."

"Alright then." A hint of regret flashed in Liu Hong's eyes, "I just don't get how Jiang Ning does it. It feels like ever since she woke up from a month-long coma in the hospital, she's become a completely different person. She used to be like a pushover, anyone could step on her. Now... she's like a crocodile, biting anyone she sees."

This change was also something Huo Miao found strange.

Jiang Ning this afternoon and evening had seemed crazy to her, lashing out at anyone without a word, not giving any face at all.

But this was to her advantage.

The more Jiang Ning continued to act wildly, the deeper the Huo Family's disgust for her would become.

And her status as the Huo Family heiress would become more and more secure.

A ruthless glint crossed Huo Miao's eyes as she spoke to the agent on the other end of the phone, "Keep an eye on things and let out some hints. Just say, you've got accurate information that Jiang Ning has been kicked out by the Huo Family overnight."

"But, didn't you just get me to say that in the fan group?" Liu Hong was confused.

The moment Jiang Ning left the Huo Family carrying her luggage, Huo Miao had informed Liu Hong and had her use a secondary account to spread the news in Huo Miao's fan group.

"That was just warming up, probably a lot of people won't believe it." Huo Miao smiled, "With the current online buzz about Jiang Ning so high, it's the perfect time to spread the news that she's been kicked out by the Huo Family, letting netizens know that I'm the real victim."

In this way, Huo Miao was also capitalizing on Jiang Ning's popularity to draw in followers.

She wanted to completely separate Jiang Ning from the Huo Family, leaving no chance for Jiang Ning to return.

Liu Hong, who was unaware of the fact that Huo Miao wasn't the Huo Family's biological daughter, didn't think as deeply as Huo Miao did.

However, if Huo Miao could use Jiang Ning's popularity to gain followers, it would still be a good thing.

In the past half a year, Huo Miao had no idea how many followers she had gained using Jiang Ning, becoming adept at stepping on Jiang Ning to boost her favorable impression among netizens. Liu Hong was now quite skilled at this.

She nodded her head, "Okay, I got it."