Best friend turned enemy? Marrying the villain, if she runs, I'll run too.

To everyone's surprise, Meng Tang smiled and curled her lips.

"Why remove the trending topic? This is popularity delivered to our doorstep. We don't even need to spend any money to make the show popular before it's even filmed. As the saying goes, even negative publicity is still publicity."

"Besides, haven't you heard the saying that the more you shout and curse, the more painful the slap in the face will be when the reversal comes? Then you'll get another wave of free publicity. No matter how you look at it, it's a sure win. How cost-effective is that?"

Tong Tong smiled somewhat reluctantly, "Sister Tang, you...you're really optimistic, but..."

Seeing that she seemed hesitant to speak, Meng Tang raised an eyebrow and said, "Just say what you want to say."

"Although most of what those netizens say, who are just parroting others and being swayed by the crowd, is false, there is one thing we have to admit: after Cheng Youjun was kicked out of the production team, none of the main characters in our show have much fame."

"I know that a drama needs three essential elements: script, director, and actors. But nowadays, dramas emphasize the fan effect. When broadcasting platforms buy dramas, the first thing they assess is whether the main actors in the drama have a certain influence."

Tong Tong tried to be tactful: "Although Li Su has acted in some dramas before, they were all supporting roles, not even the second female lead, and mostly villains. To be honest, her image in the eyes of netizens is really..."

Saying it's bad is an understatement; it's more than just bad, it's downright horrific.

The character is both evil and stupid, and her acting is so bad that she neither cries nor laughs properly. Even a three-year-old child would have a better acting ability than her.

If she weren't so indiscriminate in choosing roles, willing to take any supporting role, no matter how stupid or wicked, as long as she could act opposite Cheng Youjun, no production team would want her.

"Furthermore, Sister Tang, you had a falling out with her before, and every time you changed her character, you made her even more evil and stupid, with each ending more tragic than the last, so her image became even more..."

Meng Tang was also helpless about this, after all, these were things that the two original owners did before she and Li Su transmigrated into the book.

Because they both like the same man, rivals naturally become extremely hostile when they meet.

One couldn't direct, the other couldn't act, but they entered the entertainment industry with only a burning passion for the male lead.

One of them would naturally not allow the other to show favor to Cheng Youjun, so they would do whatever was wrong to him.

"Don't worry, I was prejudiced against Li Su before, but now that I've chosen her as the female lead, I'll teach her how to act. Who knows, maybe our two will work together to create a hit?"

Hearing Meng Tang's inexplicably confident words, Tong Tong just wanted to grab her shoulders and shake her out of her dazed mind.

Sister, wake up! Although she was talking about Li Su, your directing skills are just as bad as Li Su's acting skills, they're not even close!

Although Cheng Youjun is a scumbag who lives off a woman and refuses to admit it, he does have acting skills.

Otherwise, based on the dramas Meng Tang directed before, if it weren't for Cheng Youjun's acting skills saving the day, who knows how much criticism the audience would have leveled at them.

Now, Meng Tang has kicked Cheng Youjun out of the production team. The current main actors are either actors with questionable acting skills like Li Su, or newcomers, or some nephew who was forcibly inserted by the investors.

In short, none of them are presentable.

Let alone becoming a hit, I'd be grateful if it didn't become the worst drama of the year and just provided a bunch of content creators who love to criticize it!

But Tong Tong didn't want to undermine Meng Tang's confidence, so she could only smile and agree: "I believe in Sister Tang's abilities. You can definitely do it! But this trending topic... don't you really plan to bring it down a bit?"

"Alright, it's resolved."

Meng Tang casually tossed her phone, clapped her hands, and looked like she had finished and was done.

Tong Tong curiously picked up the phone, and when she saw Meng Tang's newly posted Weibo, she almost fainted.

"Sister Tang, you...you...why didn't you tell me before posting this? And this...this post is way too sharp. You're probably going to get attacked by Cheng Youjun's fans..."

I'm not afraid of anything else, but I'm afraid of these brainless fans who don't know how to behave.

There are just too many brainless fans on the internet these days.

Moreover, since many fans are young girls, they are also very aggressive. If anyone says anything bad about their idol, they will swarm around like flies, attacking as soon as they smell it.

Meng Tang's new Weibo post was not just sharp-tongued, it was a scathing attack on Cheng Youjun and his fans.

Director Meng Tang V: [First of all, let me correct something. I entered the industry simply because I love this profession, and it has absolutely nothing to do with pursuing someone. That's pure nonsense.]

Secondly, the films and television dramas I direct are not made specifically for any particular person. I only direct dramas that I am interested in and want to make. I hope that no one will shamelessly claim ownership of these projects.

Furthermore, from the beginning of its preparation, "The Wrongful Conspiracy" only set a general tone, which is an episodic ancient costume suspense and crime-solving drama. In addition, I personally prefer a female-led crime-solving drama and want to film a story about a woman who dares to be the first in the world.

Therefore, the final script is the one we have now, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the rumors circulating online that it was a male-centric drama tailored for someone. Please, fans of certain individuals, do not take this personally.

Finally, I welcome everyone's guidance and comments on my work at any time. However, since "The Wrongful Conviction" has only just started filming, some people are already trying to confuse the public and slander me. I will preserve the evidence and pursue criminal liability afterward.

Thank you all so much for your interest in "The Washing Away of Wrongs." I look forward to seeing you all, and I will do my best to deliver a work that I am satisfied with.

Meng Tang raised an eyebrow indifferently, "I have nothing to hide. Perfect, take screenshots of all the fans who insulted me, and use them as evidence."

"Once 'The Wrongful Conviction' is successfully broadcast and the public opinion has reversed, I will settle accounts with these trolls and make them kneel down and sing 'Conquer' for me, repenting for the consequences of being keyboard warriors online."

"Then it can be uploaded online, giving 'The Washing Away of Wrongs' a free boost in popularity. It's killing three birds with one stone, isn't that perfect?"

Tong Tong: "..."

You're really quite optimistic; you always think the best of everything.

Sure enough, Meng Tang's Weibo post caused an uproar online.

I've seen people argue online, but I've never seen someone get into a fight with netizens before the show has even started filming.

Although Meng Tang did not directly name him, the focus of the discussion in this incident was Cheng Youjun.

Meng Tang's post not only satirized Cheng Youjun for being delusional, but also mocked his fans for patting themselves on the back.

There was no script specifically made for Cheng Youjun, yet his fans are making wild and irresponsible statements online, which is utterly ridiculous.

Being indirectly insulted like this has once again pushed Cheng Youjun's fans to their breaking point.

This time, the focus was shifted to Meng Tang.

They all flocked to her Weibo account to hurl insults.

*

Song Guanting had just finished the negotiations when Assistant Zhou came to report.

"Mr. Song, a group of keyboard warriors online are chasing after your wife, insulting her and slandering her reputation. Should we take action against them?"