Chapter 153: Self-Reliance

Gu Xiujin’s words caused Xie Qingtang’s hand to tremble slightly as she administered the acupuncture. Her expression cold and calm, she shook her head directly. "That won't be necessary. If I cannot even resolve such a minor trouble, then there is no point in me opposing Shao Siming. I will handle it myself."

"As you wish." Gu Xiujin cast a deep, searching glance at her, then turned his head away, gently closed his eyes, and said nothing more.

And so, the two remained in silence: one lying quietly in the medicinal bath, the other proceeding with the acupuncture in a methodical rhythm. Neither spoke again.

"Boss, I couldn't help but notice that the atmosphere between you and Mr. Gu was a bit off earlier. Did you two have another argument?" Once Gu Xiujin had finished his treatment and left, Zhou Jinfan scurried over to Xie Qingtang’s side.

Xie Qingtang shot him a look with a strange glint in her eyes, then crossed her arms over her chest and smiled. "I say, Zhou Jinfan, this is the first time I've realized you have the makings of a tabloid reporter. Why are you so gossipy?"

"Boss, don't wrong me! I don't care about just anyone. I only asked because the atmosphere between you and Mr. Gu seemed so odd," Zhou Jinfan said, waving his hands in a hurry.

Xie Qingtang smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Instead of wasting your time observing Gu Xiujin and me, you should spend more time reading the medical notes I gave you. Don't make me regret giving them to you."

After saying this, she turned and left. Zhou Jinfan, however, stood rooted to the spot like a wooden puppet, unable to move a muscle. A-Xiang, cradling her pregnant belly, walked up to him, waved a hand in front of his face, and asked curiously, "Little Doctor Zhou, what’s wrong? Why are you frozen?"

In truth, Zhou Jinfan desperately wanted to move, but when Xie Qingtang had patted his shoulder, she had inserted a silver needle into his pressure point, leaving his body stiff and immobile.

About half an hour later, Zhou Jinfan finally regained his ability to move. With his head hanging low, he no longer dared to tease Xie Qingtang and slunk off to the front hall to study his medical notes.

"Shao Siming, Wang Miao'er, since the two of you are so determined to drag me into the abyss, let’s see how I, someone who has already crawled out of the abyss, push you into it instead," Xie Qingtang said, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

Backstage at a brand fashion show, Sun Ying looked at her reflection in the mirror. Satisfied with her flawless makeup and voluminous hair, she turned to the stylists and makeup artists behind her. "I am very satisfied with tonight’s look. Are the hair extensions attached securely? They must not fall off while I’m on stage."

"Oh, my little ancestor, you’ve said that ten times already! Don't worry, I used the tightest clips to secure every single extension. Even if you run or jump, they absolutely will not fall off," the stylist assured her immediately.

Ever since the news about her hair loss issues broke, Sun Ying felt as though she had developed a psychological trauma. Every time she went on a show, she lived in fear that her extensions would fall out and make her a laughingstock to the audience and reporters present.

Once everything was ready, her manager pushed open the door to the dressing room and informed Sun Ying that it was time to go on stage.

"Right, I know. I’m coming." Sun Ying took a deep breath to steady her nerves and stepped out of the dressing room, only to bump right into Sima Wei, who was also attending the event.

Thinking of how Sima Wei had openly admitted to suffering from hair loss right after Xie Qingtang posted that Weibo update, Sun Ying couldn't help but chuckle.

"Well, if it isn't Sima Wei, the 'candid' celebrity who publicly admitted online that she’s going bald," Sun Ying said, covering her mouth as she approached to mock her.

Sima Wei turned to look at her, a faint smile on her lips. Unfazed, she replied, "Oh, it’s Sun Ying. Your hair looks quite lovely, doesn't it?"

As she spoke, she cast a meaningful glance at Sun Ying’s hair. Both women knew the truth about the other’s condition; the only difference was that one was willing to admit it, while the other was not.

Feeling somewhat guilty, Sun Ying touched her own hair, then lifted her chin slightly and said to Sima Wei, "Of course my hair is lovely. Unlike you, who lacks composure—someone says a word, and you rush to admit you’re going bald online. You might not know it, but netizens are secretly calling you the 'Bald Princess' behind your back."

At these words, those nearby stifled their laughter. Sima Wei’s expression, however, remained unchanged. She calmly stroked her own hair and said, "Going bald is going bald; what is there to be ashamed of? Besides, I wear extensions on set, but there is a world of difference between admitting it yourself and being exposed by others. It’s certainly better than those fake celebrities who don't have hair, wear extensions, and insist it’s their own real hair. If their fans find out they were lying, wouldn't that be an even greater loss? Wouldn't you agree, Sun Ying?"

Hearing this, Sun Ying could clearly tell that Sima Wei was mocking her for lying to her fans. Her face darkened instantly, but she maintained a nonchalant tone.

"You aren't wrong; deceiving fans eventually comes with a price. But I can do many things, yet deceiving fans is not one of them. This hair of mine is real."

After saying this, she tossed her hair in a boastful manner and strode forward. Watching her back, Sima Wei frowned slightly.

"That Sun Ying is truly shameless. Everyone in the industry knows her hair situation is just like yours. To think she’d have the nerve to claim those extensions are real hair in front of you—it’s absolutely disgraceful," Sima Wei’s manager muttered, spitting on the ground in disgust.

"Let it be. That is her way of doing things. Even with such deception, what good will it do? She will be exposed eventually. It’s just that her attitude earlier was a bit strange. Never mind, let’s go to the show." Sima Wei did not want to let Sun Ying’s provocation affect her mood, so she straightened her clothes and headed toward the stage to attend the event.