It was like a switch had been flipped, and the remaining individuals didn't give Jian Xiuhuan any time to react.
"Your paternal aunt got pregnant before marriage and even dropped out of school due to her pregnancy. As her nephew, what do you have to say?"
"If I may be so bold, isn't unmarried pregnancy illegal in our country?"
"So, what Ms. Xu Lan said in the video is true? And your cousin was lying?"
Each sharp question was like a honed blade aimed directly at him.
Jian Xiuhuan finally understood.
This was a trap!
A trap set for his aunt and Jian Sheng!
He himself might not be significantly affected; relatives were just relatives, after all. As long as he didn't do anything that crossed a line, it wouldn't really impact him. But with his involvement, his aunt's situation would become public knowledge. A slight misstep could lead to widespread condemnation!
Jian Xiuhuan's scalp tingled.
Who was orchestrating all of this from behind the scenes? He thought about who his aunt suspected of removing the trending topic. It couldn't be. Even a tiger wouldn't eat its cubs, so how could someone be so heartless? Jian Xiuhuan's mind raced.
But the media, lurking below with predatory eyes, gave him no room to ponder. They had abandoned all pretense of rules, eager to capitalize on the live sensation. Cameras and microphones were practically shoved into Jian Xiuhuan and Jian Sheng's faces. They barraged them with questions, as if Jian Junruo and Jian Sheng's very existence were grave offenses that deserved to be crucified on a pillar of shame!
Jian Xiuhuan regretted bringing Sheng Sheng. He had anticipated the media hounding his aunt if she appeared, but he hadn't realized they were specifically targeting Jian Junruo.
Jian Sheng had never witnessed such a frenzy. Her small face was filled with helplessness. She clutched Jian Xiuhuan's arm tightly in alarm. Her fingers trembled, forming a hand seal, and spiritual energy gathered around her. It was the nascent stage of an Earth Evasion spell. However, as she instinctively tried to meld into the ground, she forced herself to stop. Although she hadn't been here long, she knew who these people were. She absolutely could not use her powers in such a situation! Otherwise, she would end up like the elders in the cultivation world warned, captured and studied like a specimen!
"Sheng Sheng, don't be afraid."
Jian Xiuhuan protectively shielded the little girl with his hand, gently patting her back to soothe her. His cold gaze swept over the most aggressive individuals, and Jian Xiuhuan no longer wished to play along. But those people weren't letting them off the hook. A flick of Jian Xiuhuan's icy eyes directed the microphone of one reporter towards Jian Sheng. Suddenly, the little girl, huddled in Jian Xiuhuan's arms, became the center of everyone's attention. Jian Xiuhuan could feel the girl trembling even more violently.
Rage surged within him.
Screw cultivation and dignity!
"Brother Wang, call..."
But before he could finish, Jian Sheng gently placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him from calling security to forcibly remove the crowd. The little girl lifted her head from Jian Xiuhuan's shoulder, her face alarmingly pale. It was the aftermath of her forcefully dispelling the completed Earth Evasion spell, the backlash from her magic. So, this was the helplessness and despair her mother faced when she wasn't there? She could have used Earth Evasion to disappear underground, ignoring these people, but what about her mother?
"Cousin, I want to go down."
The little girl's face was a sickly white, and her voice was extremely weak, but her words carried absolute determination!
"Sheng Sheng, don't do anything rash."
Jian Xiuhuan looked at her with concern, his hatred for the media and the people behind this intensifying. Jian Sheng said nothing, her clear eyes fixed on him, full of resolve and an unshakeable will. Finally, Jian Xiuhuan relented, gently setting the little girl down. He remained tense, ready to physically confront anyone who overstepped, even if it meant sacrificing his career in the entertainment industry.
Seeing the potential for new material, the media paused their aggressive questioning, their eyes fixed on the little girl. However, looking at the pale-faced child, who stumbled slightly before regaining her balance when Jian Xiuhuan released her, the reporters felt a pang of guilt. The little girl appeared to be only four or five years old, a tiny figure. She barely reached their waists. How could anyone devise such a malicious plan against such an adorable child? Some of the reporters who had been paid felt a flicker of shame.
But not everyone possessed a conscience. The reporter who had initially cornered Jian Xiuhuan and shifted the topic to Jian Junruo unceremoniously thrust the microphone before the little girl, nearly poking her nose. Unrelenting questions spilled from her mouth.
"Little Jian Sheng, did you lie in the video? Is it true that your mother has never been married and is single?"
Jian Sheng, recalling her own words, looked bewildered. "I didn't lie? I never said Mommy was married?"
This reporter had intended to wait for Jian Sheng to confirm Jian Junruo was single, then immediately interrupt any potential explanations and label her a liar. But hearing Jian Sheng's words, the reporter paused. It was true; while the little girl had always defended Jian Junruo, she had only ever spoken about when Jian Junruo would get married and not tell Xu Lan. She had never explicitly stated that Jian Junruo was married. As for lying or deceiving, that was their own projection. This was rather awkward.
The reporter, unsure how to respond, finally huffed, "You're playing word games! You're quibbling!"
"Pfft."
Many of the reporters couldn't help but chuckle. How could someone so seriously point at a four- or five-year-old child and accuse her of quibbling? Even if the little girl was playing word games, the reporter, as an adult, was admitting to being outplayed by a child.
But soon, finding no traction on that point, they shifted their focus again.
"Then, little Jian Sheng, your mother's unmarried pregnancy, that's an indisputable fact, right?"
Jian Sheng's tiny head was filled with big question marks. "What does that have to do with you?"
The reporter was momentarily stumped but recovered quickly. "It's true it has nothing to do with me, but this matter has escalated and caused very negative social impact. Furthermore, unmarried pregnancy is illegal. You wouldn't want your mother to be looked down upon by everyone, would you, child?"
"If you don't want that, then obediently tell Auntie about your mommy's situation, and Auntie can help you find a solution."
"Otherwise, your mommy will be easily bullied in the future."
Jian Junruo was also somewhat bewildered at this point. Was unmarried pregnancy illegal? The original novel hadn't mentioned this issue! Early in the novel, there was no discussion of what to do about unmarried pregnancies, and by the later stages, she was gone, making it even less relevant. Although the reporter's words were clearly manipulative, some of what she said struck a chord with Jian Sheng. She didn't want her mother to be gossiped about in the future.
Jian Sheng hesitated. "How about I call Mommy first and then tell you?"