It was likely the first time Sun Man had ever spoken so harshly to her mother, leaving Sun’s mother utterly stunned. She had always believed that her daughter would never abandon her.

“Why are you making such a fuss? Once your cousin makes money, he’ll naturally pay you back,” Sun’s uncle retorted, still putting up a tough front.

Sun Man let out a rare, biting laugh. “That deadbeat? You’re dreaming. He probably blew all that money already, didn’t he?”

It was as if she’d pierced a bubble, exposing the truth. Shame and anger twisted Sun’s mother’s and uncle’s faces.

“If the money’s gone, you can always earn more. There’s no need to make such a scene over it,” her uncle muttered, visibly annoyed.

“That money was mine! How can you even say that with a straight face?” Sun Man’s voice turned cold, her patience gone. “I’m done arguing. Leave, and if I don’t see the money by tomorrow, I’ll be sending the court a formal complaint.”

Seeing how resolute she was, Sun’s mother and uncle began to panic.

Sun’s mother stammered, “That won’t do, Manman. Listen, we’re broke. All the money went into your cousin’s investment. We can’t get it back. Killing him won’t change that. Please, just give us three years to pay it back!”

Suddenly, the hospital room door opened. Lang Zhe entered, clutching his arm, looking pale and unsteady.

His pupils were wide with shock, and his lips trembled as he looked at Sun Man and her relatives.

Ji Fei noticed his expression and smirked inwardly.

**"Oh, now he’s panicking. He just realized Sun Man’s money is gone, and there’s nothing left to squeeze out, no matter how many blackmail attempts he makes with those secret photos. He wasted all that time for nothing. Must feel hopeless to find out you’ve been scheming over thin air."**

Qin Zhao shared her amusement, letting out a quiet snicker as he watched Lang Zhe struggle to form words, his frustration evident in the tense veins popping out on his forehead.

Lang Zhe finally blurted, “What… what did you do to Sun Man?” His voice was strained, barely able to hide his anger.

Others thought he was acting out of concern, but Sun’s mother and uncle avoided his gaze.

Sun Man, however, looked at him coldly. “Lang Zhe, when we were together, why did you take secret photos of me? Were you the one who leaked those pictures?”

Lang Zhe’s face turned several shades, his expression shifting from shock to fear.

Everyone looked at him, realizing that there was more to Sun Man’s suicide attempt than they initially thought.

“What photos? Secret photos?” Lu Fei demanded, her expression serious.

Lang Zhe hadn’t anticipated Sun Man openly confronting him in front of everyone. He froze, dumbfounded, before forcing himself to speak. “Manman, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I lost my phone recently, so maybe that’s how those photos got out. I would never try to hide from you. I was just... I was shocked when I heard what happened.”

**"I said it before—he’s got good acting skills. This pitiful, shameless act is his best performance yet."**

Qin Zhao’s fist clenched as he watched Lang Zhe pretend to be clueless, playing the innocent victim.

Sun Man’s gaze remained sharp. “You’re avoiding my question. Why did you do it?”

“Lang Zhe, what did you do?” Lu Fei asked, her voice laced with concern.

Pei Mingxuan, starting to put the pieces together, looked horrified. “Wait, could this have something to do with those compromising photos posted by the trolls?”

Sun Man shivered and looked at Pei. “Pei-jie, are those photos… still circulating online?”

Pei Mingxuan quickly pulled out her phone and showed her, “It’s only a few suggestive photos. If they really are of you, we can handle it with some PR. There’s no need for drastic actions…”

Pei Mingxuan, who had seen her fair share of celebrity scandals, viewed this as a minor issue. This was hardly a career-ending situation.

Seeing the same photos she’d seen earlier, Sun Man was confused. Had the situation not escalated because her suicide attempt caused a stir, making them hesitate to take further action?

“Let me see.” Lu Fei took Pei Mingxuan’s phone, her face darkening as she looked over the images. Remembering Sun Man’s earlier accusation, her gaze hardened as she turned toward Lang Zhe. “Was this you?”

Although Lu Fei’s question was meant to ask if Lang Zhe had taken the photos, her accusation made Lang Zhe’s guilty conscience surface, and he nearly stumbled, unable to stand straight.

Sensing something was wrong, Sun’s mother and uncle stepped forward to take a look at the images. They both inhaled sharply.

Sun’s mother scolded, “Sun Man! What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into?”

No one had expected that Sun’s mother’s first response would be to blame her daughter.

**"Seriously? What are they made of? After everything that’s been said, they’re blaming her instead? Do some parents really just blame their children the moment something goes wrong?"**

Ji Fei couldn’t hold back. “Auntie, you really do stand up for anyone but your own daughter, don’t you? Normally, it’s your family. This time, it’s her abuser. It seems everyone else in your life matters more than Sun Man.”

Sun’s mother, slow to process the comment, looked confused, while her brother blushed in anger. “What nonsense are you talking about!”

“Am I wrong? Anyone can see those photos were taken while she was sleeping. She’s the victim here, yet instead of protecting her, you’re scolding her? Pathetic.”

Sun’s mother’s face went red and blue by turns. “As her mother, I have every right to tell her off when she makes mistakes. She should have been more careful.”

Her brother added, “She’s got no self-respect!”

“She’s an adult. Having a boyfriend and a private life is normal. Taking photos without her consent is the problem. How is that her fault?” Ji Fei stated firmly.

Lang Zhe’s face darkened.

Meanwhile, Sun Man spoke, her tone filled with resignation. “It’s my fault for trusting the wrong person. From now on, my life is none of your concern. Instead of telling me what to do, why don’t you go home and start preparing the money you owe me? Do you think I’m joking? I’ve already been through death once. There’s nothing left for me to fear.”

Sun’s mother and uncle stared at her, shocked into silence. They had assumed that after such an ordeal, Sun Man would turn to them for support, hoping they’d stay by her side. But instead, she had no intention of relying on them, leaving them speechless.

Sun Man ignored them and turned her cold, unyielding gaze to Lang Zhe.

Lang Zhe, struggling to keep his composure, stammered, “Manman, I’m sorry. I didn’t know how those photos got out. I… when we were together, I just… I liked you so much that I took a few photos. But I lost my phone recently, so maybe that’s how it happened. I would never have done this on purpose. I…”

Hearing his words, Sun Man’s face fell, a look of bitter resignation settling over her features. She closed her eyes briefly, as if coming to a final, heartbreaking realization. “It wasn’t just photos, Lang Zhe. You took videos, too. Do you know what happened? I was blackmailed. They threatened to release the rest of the photos and the videos if I didn’t pay them 60 million. They said that if I didn’t pay, they’d upload them to foreign sites, where everyone could see, leaving me humiliated, my reputation destroyed, and my life in shambles!”