You Owe Me, My Love novel Chapter 227

At 9 a.m., Gu Mingchen returned to the military base after much coaxing from Bai Rong.

It was still early when she arrived at the agreed-upon location, so she took out her pen and started drafting psychological tests.

Right then, her phone started to ring.

It was an unknown number. She noticed from the area code that it was coming from the United States.

She picked up the call warily and answered, “Hello. Who is this?”

“Is this the psychologist Ms. Bai? I’m Ni Er’s assistant. She has some issues and would like to consult you. You’ll be paid according to the conversation time,” explained Ni Er’s assistant.

Bai Rong had heard of the actress Ni Er. She was a controversial figure due to her attractive looks and good family background but lack of talent.

“Sure. Please pass the phone to her,” replied Bai Rong.

“Hello, doctor. It’s Ni Er here. I think I’m on the verge of breaking down, and I need your help,” said Ni Er in an upset tone.

“I’m happy to help. What’s troubling you?” Bai Rong asked politely.

“I have a new TV show that’s been out for a week, and the response has been fine. But many people are hurling insults at me in the comment section. They say that they want to stop watching the show because of me and that my acting is lousy. They even called me a home-wrecker when I’m only spending time with my co-star because of the movie. We’re not actually together.

“Although this show has topped the charts and my acting skills have been lauded by many professionals, they continue to attack me on the internet nonetheless. In fact, they want me to leave the entertainment industry, and some of them even egged my house. It’s really bothersome, and I have no idea what to do about it,” rambled Ni Er in despair.

“I remember that you once made an account just to retort the haters, but you were exposed, and your reputation suffered because of it,” replied Bai Rong good-naturedly.

“It’s because I was playing the role of a drug addict. But they started attacking me and said that I was a deplorable prostitute who was sleeping my way to fame. I was furious but couldn’t defend myself directly, so I could only create an account to vent my anger. I think I’m losing my mind. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on as I haven’t been able to sleep, and because of that, my hair has been falling out and I can’t think straight. Moreover, I’m terrified of going out and filming. I even contemplated suicide. Worried about my condition, a friend introduced you to me, saying that you could help,” said Ni Er sobbingly.

“Before I help you, let’s talk about the development of the entertainment industry. Long ago, television didn’t exist. Hence, many people learned about scripts through stage plays. The actors earned a measly living through selling tickets and tips from the audience. Moreover, only the rich could afford to buy tickets.

“However, many actors craved a luxurious lifestyle, so they offered themselves to the wealthy. In other words, they sold their bodies. Some of these wealthy men were married while others were playboys. Even so, all they needed to deal with was their own emotional turmoil as public pressure did not exist back then, and these illicit affairs went unnoticed.

“After some time, television was created, as was the newspaper. Actors became household names, and all their actions were scrutinized. If they did something wrong, such as breaking up a family or using drugs, they would be crucified by the public. After that, the phone was invented, along with the internet and social media. As a result, celebrities became headline material, and they now earn a thousand times more than they used to.

“However, if they’re seen doing anything as trivially wrong as smoking, the issue would be blown out of proportion, and they would be seen as a degenerate. If they secretly create another social media account, they’re deemed shady. If they pick their noses, they lack decorum. If they get into a relationship, they might as well have committed a crime. Do you agree with what I’ve said?” Bai Rong asked gently.

“You’re absolutely right. When I hit back at a hater, they insulted me by saying that I was shameless. They called me crazy, so I asked them to mind their manners. In the end, this exchange was posted on the internet, and it spread like wildfire, making me a public target. However, everyone sided with the haters. I was so angry that I didn’t sleep the entire night,” cried Ni Er.

“Where are these attackers of yours? How old are they? Are they aggressive people by nature? Could they be mentally ill? You don’t know anything about them. Are they really worth getting angry over?”

“I’m just angry that they’re spouting nonsense despite not knowing the truth. All they do is eschew the facts and attack me. I’m worried that it’ll affect my fans. What if no one likes me anymore? If they stop watching the show because of me, investors will start rejecting me. I’ll also feel guilty about ruining a good show,” wailed Ni Er.

“Firstly, your worries are unnecessary because there will always be opposing opinions. Remember how I said that the more famous actors are, the more pressure they feel from the public. For example, if the boss of a company chooses to give resources to a particular employee, that employee would think that the boss is great. On the other hand, the other employees who didn’t get the resources would think otherwise. “You’re in the same situation now. You have tens of millions of fans, and each of them belongs to a different milieu. When some of them suppress their negative emotions in their daily lives, they don’t have an outlet to vent their pent-up frustrations except on the internet, where they can remain anonymous. That’s why they’ll zero in on any mistake you make and start hurling verbal attacks at you.

“You can tell what kind of people they are from the way they completely disregard others. So why are you wasting your tears on these rude and ill-mannered people? It’s normal to have a few thousand haters amongst your tens of millions of fans. Most people are still clear-headed. Besides, the good viewership ratings reflect this,” comforted Bai Rong.

“I’m more worried that my fans will believe the haters,” said Ni Er anxiously.

“You don’t need to be worried. Let me put it this way, if people who are in the same situation as you overhear what I’m saying, they might find it useful. Good-natured people might also think so. However, there could be some who will start screaming insults. However, you can’t tell these people not to attack you or change who they are. All you can do is work hard on the things that are in your control. After all, most fans who are rational will be able to see your growth and effort. As for the small number of naysayers, perhaps they were sent by your rivals?” said Bai Rong with a smile.