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Huo Junya's behavior completely subverted Susu's understanding. She never imagined someone could be so ungrateful. "You used Sister Nanyan's popularity to gain followers for yourself, yet behind her back, you mocked her and wouldn't even pour her a glass of water. Huo Junya, are you a white-eyed wolf?"

"Enough!" Huo Junya impatiently cut Susu off. "Are you done yet? If you want to be a slave and grovel at Gu Nanyan's feet, go ahead, but don't drag me into it. We're all just acting here. What 'little disciple'? It's just a persona. You're the only one taking it seriously.

The entertainment industry is full of personas—foodie personas, genius personas—you don’t actually believe any of it, do you?"

"Sister Nanyan is real," Susu insisted stubbornly. "She genuinely wants to help students learn, teaching calligraphy and health exercises."

Huo Junya scoffed, looking down with an air of superiority. "Do you even know how complicated the entertainment industry is? Everything you see is fake, just what others want you to see.

You say Gu Nanyan is sincere? Where’s your proof?

There’s no such thing as a truly selfless person. If Gu Nanyan didn’t care about fame or popularity, why would she livestream? She could’ve just taught Chairman Tian and the others the health exercises and let the government handle it.

Why didn’t she? Because she wants attention, wants everyone to adore her."

"A warrior with flaws is still a warrior, while a fly, no matter how perfect, remains a fly."

A calm voice drifted over.

Huo Junya and Susu turned in unison to see Gu Nanyan standing not far away. It was unclear how long she had been there or how much she had heard.

Huo Junya’s lips pressed into a tight line, her face paling.

No matter how shrewd she acted, she was still just a 16-year-old girl.

Being caught badmouthing someone left her at a loss.

Her lips trembled as she tried to explain, but before she could speak, Gu Nanyan began walking toward her.

Huo Junya’s hands shook, fists clenched so tightly her knuckles whitened.

She was sure Gu Nanyan was furious—might even hit her.

What could she do? How could she salvage this? Apologize?

No. She wouldn’t.

She wasn’t wrong. Why should she apologize? She was just stating facts. Gu Nanyan loved the spotlight.

Defiant, Huo Junya lifted her chin, staring straight at Gu Nanyan like a warrior ready to fight back.

But Gu Nanyan didn’t even glance at her. Instead, she walked right past her and stopped in front of Susu.

"Were you crying?" She gently touched the corner of Susu’s eye.

Susu lowered her head, embarrassed. "Sister Nanyan, I’m sorry."

Gu Nanyan raised a brow. "Why apologize?"

Susu’s eyes reddened. "I didn’t defend your reputation."

Hearing this, Gu Nanyan smiled faintly and sighed. "Silly girl, what is reputation? Just the general public’s opinion of someone. Not only do I not care about this so-called reputation, but even if I did, one or two bad comments wouldn’t matter.

Susu, you have more important things to do. Don’t waste time on trivial matters like this."

With that, she took Susu’s hand and turned toward the classroom.

From start to finish, Gu Nanyan never acknowledged Huo Junya.

Huo Junya had imagined how Gu Nanyan might react—anger, scolding, maybe even hitting her. She’d even considered the possibility of Gu Nanyan swallowing her pride and pretending to be magnanimous.

But she never expected Gu Nanyan to ignore her completely, treating her like air.

It was blatant disdain.

Huo Junya had never been humiliated like this. Her emotions erupted, and she rushed forward, blocking Gu Nanyan’s path. "Stop! How dare you ignore me? How dare you look down on me? Was I wrong? You’re just a fame-seeking hypocrite! You’re putting on an act!"

"Huo Junya, you’ve gone too far! You—" Susu’s chest heaved with anger.

Gu Nanyan patted Susu reassuringly, telling her not to be upset.

Susu glanced at Gu Nanyan beside her, instantly feeling a surge of safety, her anger dissipating quickly.

She obeyed, standing quietly by Gu Nanyan’s side.

Gu Nanyan lifted her gaze slightly, looking at Huo Junya with indifference. "So what if I’m putting on an act? So what if I seek fame and attention? You could do the same. You could livestream studying, teach calligraphy, teach health exercises."

Her words left Huo Junya flushed with shame.

How could she? She couldn’t even sit still long enough for a simple study livestream, let alone master calligraphy or health exercises.

Especially the health exercises—many experts believed they might be the long-lost Tongtian Health Exercises.

Where would she find something even more impressive than that?

It was impossible.

Ignoring Huo Junya’s discomfort, Gu Nanyan turned back to Susu. "Susu, do you remember what I once told you?

'A warrior with flaws is still a warrior, while a fly, no matter how perfect, remains a fly.'"

"Why bother arguing over such meaningless things? So what if I'm chasing fame? So what if I'm putting on an act? Even if I genuinely wanted popularity, what’s wrong with that?

Is there anything unacceptable about it?

I’ve genuinely taught people calligraphy and wellness exercises.

Don’t ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍I deserve everyone’s admiration?"

"You do, Sister Nanyan, you absolutely do!" Susu quickly nodded in agreement.

Hearing this, Gu Nanyan chuckled softly. "Then that settles it. I’ve done real, tangible things. As for how others choose to interpret it, that’s their business—no need to pay them any mind."

"Mm." Susu nodded.

Seeing how obedient the young girl was, Gu Nanyan smiled and asked, "Why didn’t you join the livestream today?"

Susu lowered her head, slightly embarrassed. "The viewers all like Huo Junya, not me."

"Oh, so you only joined my livestreams to win the audience’s favor."

"No, no, that’s not it at all!" Susu shook her head frantically, nearly on the verge of tears, afraid Gu Nanyan might misunderstand. She had only accompanied her livestreams out of affection for Sister Nanyan and a desire to support her.

Gu Nanyan’s voice remained gentle. "If that’s not the case, then why care whether the audience likes you or not?"

Susu froze for a moment before realization dawned on her.

That’s right. From the very beginning, she’d never sought the viewers’ approval—she’d simply wanted to be there for Sister Nanyan.

Gaining their affection had been nothing more than a happy accident.

So why had she lost sight of her original intent, obsessing over whether they liked her now?

Susu hung her head, her expression clouded with confusion.

Gu Nanyan stayed silent, offering no further guidance. Some lessons had to be learned through personal reflection.

Standing nearby, Huo Junya finally saw the truth—Gu Nanyan didn’t care about her at all. She had only used her as a tool to teach Susu a lesson.

Huo Junya bit her lip hard, shooting a resentful glare at Susu, her heart seething with bitterness.

Why did Gu Nanyan shield Susu so fiercely? What was so special about her?

She was just some unsophisticated country bumpkin!