novelraw Chapter 402 - 243: Proving Identity, Livestreamed Nationwide (Part 5)
Chapter 402 - 243: Proving Identity, Livestreamed Nationwide (Part 5)
[Remember the post saying to Isabella Hart that she was ’not qualified,’ it’s probably true. No matter how unqualified Isabella might be, she’s got to be more capable than her, right? LOL, she’s so addicted to acting she actually thinks she’s Zero now?]
[When Nora Scott put on the same style bracelet, she definitely didn’t expect her moment of answering questions at the comic convention to be filmed, did she?! Tsk tsk tsk, karma is real.]
[Hahaha, this is killing me. Just moments ago, Fans on Weibo were implying that Nora Scott is Zero, and then they instantly got proven wrong!]
...
That night, news broke repeatedly.
Without a doubt, Zero and Nora Scott steadily soared to the top of trending topics.
#NoraScottComicConVideo#
#NoraScottCloutChasingZero#
#NoraScottShameless#
#ZeroPleaseRespondOfficially#
...
For a moment, Nora Scott became a target of online ridicule.
Even the photos posted by Fans weren’t spared.
Furious netizens traced all of Eleanor Taylor’s information from Fans’ selfies, bombarding her with harassing and threatening calls, scaring Eleanor into turning off her phone.
*
Kieran Shawn learned of the news in the middle of the night.
After parting with Nora Scott, Kieran returned to the hotel and continued discussing the animation adaptation of "Base No. 9".
After finishing a call, he realized that his phone, WeChat, and QQ were all bombarded with messages that made him break into a cold sweat.
After spending nearly half an hour going through everything, Kieran was stunned by the causes and effects, drenched in cold sweat—
Everything turned out to be true.
Zero’s identity was really no longer a secret.
The time was 11:30 PM.
Kieran glanced at Zero’s Weibo and didn’t see any updates, likely indicating that Nora Scott was still unaware of the online situation.
He let out a sigh, not daring to contact Nora Scott, instead instructing the official CC Comics account to clarify— Fans are not Nora Scott, please do not harass them.
As for Nora Scott’s situation, he dared not make any decisions and decided to contact her the next day.
*
Last night, after hanging out at the Tofu Shop with Henry Chapman, Miguel Smith, and Pedro Langley until late, Nora Scott went home, washed up, and went straight to bed.
It was so late that not even Pedro Langley noticed the buzz online.
The next day, Nora Scott was woken up by the vibration of her phone.
"Buzz buzz buzz—"
"Buzz buzz buzz—"
"Buzz buzz buzz—"
Nora turned over, pulling the blanket over her head to block out the annoying noise.
Pedro Langley chuckled as he watched her struggle, then took the constantly vibrating phone and leaned over to her ear, "Not going to answer?"
"Who is it?"
She mumbled grumpily.
"Eleanor Taylor."
"..." After a brief hesitation, she simply said, "You take it."
Eleanor knew Pedro Langley, so it wouldn’t make a difference who she talked to.
Patting Nora on the head, Pedro sat up and answered the call.
"Nora!"
On the other end, Eleanor Taylor’s voice was urgent and anxious.
Pedro paused, his voice lowered slightly, "She’s still sleeping."
"..."
Eleanor Taylor fell silent.
Oh... This...
She suddenly felt a bit awkward.
Seeing her suddenly go quiet, Pedro Langley glanced at Nora and asked, "What’s up?"
"It’s just, well..." Eleanor Taylor stammered for a moment, then took a deep breath and cautiously asked, "Nora, is she Zero?"
Holding her breath for an answer, Eleanor waited nervously.
She hadn’t slept all night.
Between enduring internet bullying and contemplating whether "Nora is Zero,"
From her perspective, it was absolutely impossible for Nora to clout chase Zero.
Having interacted with Nora multiple times, Eleanor had a good grasp of Nora’s character.
So, ruling out all other impossibilities, the only terrifying possibility was...
"Yes."
Pedro Langley paused slightly and then provided Eleanor Taylor with the exact answer.
"..."
Over the phone, Eleanor gasped.
Pedro Langley keenly sensed something was wrong and squinted slightly, calmly asking, "Did something happen?"
"Yes, sort of..."
Eleanor felt a bit intimidated by Pedro Langley.
Though Pedro had never been harsh to her, she always found his aura intimidating each time she saw him. Even over the phone, Eleanor felt a bit uneasy.
She summarized the key points and recounted the events to Pedro Langley, omitting the part about being doxxed.
— This was indeed her oversight, a reckless mistake.
No matter what, she should have discussed it with the editor first before posting a clarifying Weibo.
Her explanations only made things more complicated, almost solidifying the narrative that she "instigated the rumor that ’Nora is Zero’." Having already caused trouble for Nora, Eleanor decided to bear the consequences of being doxxed herself.
"I see."
After Eleanor finished speaking, Pedro Langley calmly replied.
Expecting to be scolded, Eleanor felt relieved hearing such a composed response.
How reassuring...
Pedro Langley suddenly asked, "Has anyone been harassing you?"
"You know?"
Eleanor asked in surprise.
Of course, Pedro Langley didn’t know.
However, hearing Eleanor mention the selfie as evidence, he could guess the outcome.
In such a massive internet storm, it’s almost a certainty that Eleanor would be doxxed if she didn’t protect her privacy online.
"Stay at home and don’t go out," Pedro Langley instructed, "We’ll handle the situation."
Instead of being scolded, she was reassured, making Eleanor feel even more guilty. Nervously, she responded, "Okay. I’m sorry for causing trouble..."
"It’s fine."
Pedro Langley said briefly before hanging up.
He turned off the vibration on Nora’s phone and planned to leave with it, but Nora suddenly awoke, grabbing his wrist.
She lay on her stomach, her head slightly tilted, eyes squinted in a sleepy daze.
She asked, "What’s up?"
Looking drowsy and half-awake.
Pedro was momentarily distracted by her, unable to resist leaning down to kiss her forehead before saying, "Your cover’s blown."
"Oh." Nora buried her face in the pillow, waved it off, and said calmly, "Ever since you began messing around with my Weibo, this day was bound to come."
She had mentally prepared for this.
It’s just...
She didn’t expect this day to come so quickly.
"How do you want to handle it?" Pedro Langley asked.
"Just post a Weibo," Nora nonchalantly suggested.
"Nobody will believe it," Pedro Langley sighed. "Online, they’re saying you bribed Zero with money just to buy the account."
Surprised by the speculation, Nora couldn’t help but lift her head and open her eyes, "What a wild imagination."
Pedro Langley said nonchalantly, "There are also predictions that if Zero posts a clarification, it’s a sign that someone else is now behind the account."
"..."
Nora was speechless.
Fully awake now.
Turning over, she sat up and reached for her phone.
Logging into Weibo, Nora asked Pedro Langley, "How much do you think the Zero account is worth?"
After a brief moment of thought, Pedro seriously replied, "Considering your current influence, not even an eight-figure sum would cover it."
Nora chuckled, "So, are they out of their minds?"
Who would spend eight figures on buying an account?
Chances of recouping that much aren’t even guaranteed.
"Are you going to snap back at the netizens?"
Pedro had no intention of stopping her.
Eyeing him sideways, Nora clicked her tongue, "Do I look like that kind of person?"
Pedro earnestly said, "You hitting back at the world and the netizens is nothing new."
Logging into the account, Nora glanced at the countless messages backstage, her lips twitching, "At this rate, I can’t even keep up with the backlash."
It wasn’t even possible to read all the messages, let alone retort.
Under Pedro’s supervision, Nora posted a Weibo—
[Zero]: 8 PM, live on Cool Ridge.