Chapter 34 Just Miscarried Not Long Ago, Still Wounded
In the Bentley, while William was questioning Isabella, elsewhere.
As the hashtag #YesterdayOnceMoreLiveAudioQuality gained traction, at Isabella's marketing team's office.
Carl frowned at the tag, hesitating.
Then he messaged Isabella to inform her of the situation.
He said: "Initially we used reporting to get them silenced, but they're clearly experienced - they got someone else to quickly boost the heat, making it visible to many people instantly. Reporting and silencing them now would be too obvious a cover-up. Vivi, what do you think would be better? Below are several options I've listed..."
Their team always worked this way - they'd give Isabella some options, and she'd make the final call.
Soon enough, Isabella selected one of the plans.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
That audience member was satisfied watching the #YesterdayOnceMoreLiveAudioQuality hashtag's heat rise.
Silencing worked when only a few people were talking, but what if suddenly there were many people?
Seeing netizens already engaged in heated discussion, that audience member waited to be vindicated.
But just then, different voices appeared—
"Said so much, but still no real evidence."
"Right, to prove something you need evidence first. The cost of making false accusations is really low these days."
"Exactly, this is obviously a Lika fan competing with 'Slight Love,' determined to make 'Yesterday Once More' overshadow 'Slight Love.' Disgusting."
"Does Lika even know you're doing this?"
"Maybe this is Lika's marketing team's doing. Didn't you notice the guided manipulation under this hashtag?"
"Exactly, Isabella doesn't compete or fight, she only joined the music show to give strength to more people suffering from illness, and now she's being attacked with planted stories without doing anything."
"The people doing this have no heart. Isabella isn't even a contestant, and she still has to be treated like this. Too awful!"
...
'Voice of Heaven' already had high viewership, plus Isabella's own death countdown buzz - instantly many people flooded in.
And due to the sympathy for Isabella, plus the positive nature of her behavior marketing, and indeed no live video had leaked out, most people stood with Isabella.
By this point, things had completely deviated from that audience member's original intent.
Originally, that audience member hadn't even mentioned Isabella at all.
He just thought it was strange why the broadcast clips didn't have the same effect as the live show. Now he'd become a Lika fan scheming to suppress Isabella.
As more people flooded into the hashtag, it was completely taken over.
That audience member was furious. He wanted to say he didn't even know who Lika was.
The person was wearing a mask.
How did he suddenly become a Lika fan?
And he actually had a very good impression of Isabella too! He never thought about suppressing Isabella!
"No way, I can't swallow this!"
"They want evidence? I don't believe it - there were so many people at the venue, not one or two secretly recorded?"
That audience member was naturally a very action-oriented person. Plus he knew people he'd met at the venue. He was determined to produce evidence!
With that thought, he immediately made phone calls.
First, he contacted friends who'd gone to the venue with him that day.
He tentatively asked them their opinion of the stage.
He got the answer: "I thought 'Yesterday Once More' had great live effects, but somehow the online clips just don't look as exciting."
Confirming they were on his side, that audience member told them about his online experiences.
"You know me, I can't swallow this. What I said was the truth, but being smeared like this, I can't stand it."
"I got the entry pass through you, I know you have connections, right?"
"If there's no real video from the venue, do you have any chat groups or something? Those would work too."
Finally, his friend pulled him into a group.
His friend warned: "This is my group for reselling entry tickets. All kinds of people are in there. Be careful, don't talk in the group, or if you get it shut down you'll be in trouble."
"Okay, thanks." That audience member said, then began his plan.
...
On the other side, in the Bentley, Isabella, hearing William's question, was slightly stunned.
"I don't understand." Isabella frowned.
William looked at her without speaking, just calmly watching, which was already enough to make one not dare to meet his eyes.
Isabella lowered her head, thinking briefly.
She said: "I don't know what you mean, William. I did talk to her."
Isabella raised her head, looking very vulnerable.
She said: "I learned she'd just had a miscarriage not long ago and still had injuries. I was worried about her physical condition, so I specifically went to find her and asked if she needed any help."
Isabella looked at William uncertainly, appearing somewhat anxious.
"Did she misunderstand something?"
She seemed to be thinking anxiously, as if recalling.
"I mentioned her injuries and her miscarriage... William, did she misunderstand that I leaked her miscarriage secret?"
"That's not what I meant," Isabella covered her face, looking very guilty. "I only mentioned this to you, William. I didn't tell anyone else."
William kept watching Isabella.
Observing her expression.
Her words were flawless.
She looked very remorseful, immediately pulling out her phone to message Lika to explain.
Perhaps it really was a misunderstanding?
Thinking this, he said: "It's fine."
"I was just asking." He said.
One was Isabella, to whom he felt guilty, the other was Jeffrey's woman. He could tell the difference clearly - no need to press further.
The car continued traveling smoothly through the city. The heavy rain brought humid air, making the whole city damp.
The car drove for who knows how long.
Suddenly, Isabella spoke softly.
She said: "William, today, do you think I sang well?"
Sang well, but not as well as Lika.
This was the first thought that surfaced in William's mind.
But he didn't say that. Instead, he gave a simple response.
"Good."
Getting William's answer, Isabella nodded with satisfaction.
Then she frowned slightly, eyes reddening as she said: "With this word from you, William, I can die without regrets."
William's brow furrowed.
Finally, he let out a long sigh.
"Don't say that." He said, "Isabella, you're very good."
Isabella reached out and grasped William's hand.
She didn't speak, just smiled.
Soon they arrived at Floral Haven. After William sent Isabella back to the studio, he returned to the car.
"Mr. Brown, where to now?" Rhys asked.
William frowned, watching Isabella busy in Floral Haven, his index finger tapping lightly.
After thinking for a moment, he said: "Message them to bring Louis over."
"Yes." Rhys nodded and immediately sent the message.
The car restarted, heading toward the Brown Group.
Suddenly, Rhys said in panic: "Mr. Brown, this is bad - Louis is missing!"
William frowned: "When did this happen?"
Rhys's face was full of alarm: "Just reported now. They said he disappeared a month ago, but the people below covered it up. They only found out when they couldn't produce him just now!"
"That previous incident made Louis deeply hate us. He didn't have it easy after going home either. If..."