Chapter 4

At that moment, a phone rang from behind them. After two rings, the call was answered, and a man’s voice came from a seat not far away. It was deep and smooth, with clear and precise Mandarin, accompanied by a slight Beijing accent: “Teacher Zhou, oh, you’re free today? What made you think of calling your son?”

Xi Tang’s heart jolted. She looked up at Ni Kailun, who didn’t immediately react. Upon noticing Xi Tang’s expression, Ni Kailun froze for a moment as well.

Xi Tang’s face began to pale, and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.

Ni Kailun quickly raised half of her body to glance at the seat across from them, but then immediately sat back down, her expression darkening.

Xi Tang glanced at her face again, her eyes wide, unable to move, sitting still.

Meanwhile, the man behind them walked away to take the call, and his voice gradually faded, no longer audible.

Ni Kailun made up her mind and stood up. She carefully observed the scene in the seat behind them, then slumped back down, her voice low as she said, “It’s not him, sweetheart. It’s not.”

Xi Tang’s heart started to settle, though it continued to pound wildly. She covered her face and slowly exhaled.

The next moment, beneath the sunglasses, a small tear slid down her cheek.

Ni Kailun handed her a tissue.

Once the tear fell, others quickly followed, and she lost control of her emotions.

Ni Kailun noticed Xi Tang gripping her half-full cup of coffee tightly, her shoulders trembling. Her voice was strained, and it had drawn the attention of nearby passengers.

Frustrated, Ni Kailun stood up and sat beside Xi Tang, blocking the view from the other passengers. “Don’t cry. Do you want to be photographed?”

Hearing her words, Xi Tang clenched her teeth and sucked in a breath, trying to control herself, but it was impossible. Her throat felt tight, and the pressure made it even harder to breathe.

Ni Kailun made a call to have the assistant come back.

The young assistant, Ah Kuan, had a plump back. Xi Tang hid behind her, covering her face and sobbing uncontrollably.

The ground crew was at the gate guiding passengers to board. Ni Kailun draped a coat over Xi Tang, put on a mask for her, and dragged her toward the boarding gate.

Xi Tang was escorted by her assistant and Ni Kailun into the plane, where she lay down in her seat, her tears flowing endlessly.

It was a flight from Beijing to Shanghai.

She cried for a full hour and a half.

She didn’t say anything, just kept her face covered and silently cried.

The first-class cabin on that flight had few passengers. The flight attendants came over, glanced quietly at Xi Tang’s seat, and bent down to ask gently, “Miss Ni, do you need help?”

Ni Kailun almost wished she could ask for more blankets to smother her, feeling like her dignity had been completely destroyed because of a heartless man.

She smiled and shook her head at the flight attendant.

Since returning from Beijing after last New Year, Ni Kailun had been worried. Without Zhao Pingjin, she thought Xi Tang might not even want to live anymore.

She was too calm. Sooner or later, something would happen.

The day after returning from Beijing, Xi Tang went back to the set to reshoot a few scenes. It was a stormy day in Shanghai, the air cool and fresh, and the leaden gray clouds rolled across the sky. After finishing her final scenes for the female lead, “Just the Right Lover” officially wrapped up.

That morning, when her assistant arrived at the set, Ni Kailun called her back to the company. When she left, the male lead, Yang Yilin, hadn’t arrived yet. It was the last day on set, and Ah Kuan looked around the set with a lost expression.

The entertainment industry moves quickly, and the atmosphere of extravagance and decadence remains ever-present. A group of men and women in a film crew spends months bound together, producing a television show, while also creating a tangled history of directors, stars, and staff members.

When staying in hotels before, Ah Kuan would sneak out in the middle of the night, likely aware that Xi Tang didn’t like Yang Yilin. But as for what the staff did for entertainment, Xi Tang never interfered.

Xi Tang would just bury her head in her script and focus on reading.

At around five in the afternoon, Xi Tang left the set, braving the heavy rain to rush back to the company for a meeting.

Ever since the news of her being nominated for Best Actress at the Beijing Television Festival broke, various negative rumors about her had started circulating.

The articles, a mix of truth and lies, contained both leaks and rumors, with claims that she had undergone plastic surgery, smoked, and other more unsavory accusations about selling her body. While major entertainment media outlets didn’t dare to report on it, the leaks spread through various forums.

There were even a few photos of her smoking on set that had been posted online.

Ni Kailun called her to the company.

Xi Tang pushed open the door to the meeting room.

The entertainment company was truly a strange place. The employees’ daily work revolved around stars, constantly seeing them strut around dressed in glamorous outfits, as if they were playing with dolls. Meanwhile, the staff’s attire was often two extremes. For example, Ah Kuan, Xi Tang’s assistant, wore the same old pair of jeans and a black T-shirt every day, while Xi Tang’s makeup artist, Xinni, used top brand products daily but never wore makeup herself. On the other hand, there was Ni Kailun, who wore luxurious brand-name clothes and always had a commanding presence, and Su Yan, the public relations manager, who sat in the middle of the room with her sparkling diamond earrings and multiple bracelets jingling on her wrist.

When Su Yan saw Xi Tang enter, she waved her over. “Darling, come in.”

Ni Kailun was interrogating her assistant, Ah Kuan. “Is she still smoking on set?”

Ah Kuan didn’t dare to answer.

Xi Tang weakly replied, “Occasionally...”

Ni Kailun turned to her assistant and said, “No more smoking in public for her.”

Ah Kuan nodded eagerly.

Ni Kailun then asked Xi Tang, “Who do you think took those photos?”

Xi Tang shook her head. Anyone on the set of The Last Princess could have snapped those pictures of her smoking.

Despite all the negative press, Ni Kailun was completely unconcerned. It seemed that both she and Su Yan were rather pleased about the situation.

Xi Tang knew that in the entertainment industry, plastic surgery was often used as a means of publicity for female stars. Su Yan pushed her laptop aside, leaned in, and smiled at Xi Tang. “Xi Tang, with the millions of clicks a day and all the fans joining in, we saved a month’s worth of advertising costs for our group.”

Xi Tang smiled modestly.

While Ni Kailun and Su Yan discussed matters, Xi Tang secretly took a sip of Ah Kuan’s bubble tea.

Ni Kailun caught a glance of her and gave her a look filled with silent warning.

Xi Tang quickly shoved the cup back into Ah Kuan’s hands.

Su Yan then asked Xi Tang, “If a reporter asks about the plastic surgery, what should we say?”

Xi Tang, savoring the bubble tea, almost choked when Su Yan asked. She barely managed to swallow the sweet drink and, with a crisp tone, responded, “None of your business.”

Su Yan clapped her hands, laughing loudly. “Nice!”

The temperature in Beijing was rising as summer approached, and the air was thick with heat by dusk.

Ni Kailun got out of the taxi and walked into a brightly lit building, looking at the directional signs in the hotel lobby.

The Fang and Ouyang families were hosting a hundred-day banquet at the Wangfujing Peninsula Hotel that day.

Ni Kailun found the banquet hall, put an envelope with a large red packet in it at the gift station, and just as she was about to greet Ouyang Qingqing, she saw the couple, Fang Langxi and his wife, welcoming guests in the hall. She walked up and greeted Qingqing.

Qingqing smiled and shook her hand. “Miss Ni, thank you for coming. How is Xi Tang?”

Ni Kailun, ever the socialite, smiled and said, “She’s doing well. Xi Tang couldn’t make it, but I told her I’d stop by since I’m on a business trip in Beijing. She specifically asked me to come.”

The two exchanged pleasantries and laughed before turning to greet other incoming guests.

Fang Langxi waved at the approaching person. “Xiao Jiang, over here.”

Ni Kailun turned and saw Lu Xiaojiang, and her smile immediately faded. She then noticed that he had his arm around a young woman wearing a blue dress and carrying a new beige Gucci handbag—presumably his wife.

Ni Kailun stepped back a little.

When Lu Xiaojiang saw her, his expression also became slightly uncomfortable, but he still politely greeted her. “Miss Ni.”

Ni Kailun nodded. “Mr. Lu.”

Lu Xiaojiang didn’t engage in any further small talk, and, still holding his wife, walked into the hotel lobby.

Ni Kailun, busy with work and unable to stay for the meal, made an excuse to bid farewell to Qingqing and turned to leave.

She descended the stairs and walked toward the hotel entrance, when suddenly, a tall man in a suit approached her, his voice tinged with surprise. “Karen?”

The banquet hall was nearly full, with most of the guests seated.

Fang Langxi greeted a few guests and walked over to a table on the right side of the front row, glancing at the two empty seats. “They haven’t arrived yet?”

Gao Jiyi, playing with the son his wife was holding in her arms, answered, “No sign of them.”

Having been busy for most of the day, Fang Langxi, comfortable with this group of old friends, sat down at the table.

Not long after, Shen Min rushed in.

Gao Jiyi stood up. “Hurry up, we’ve been waiting for you.”

Shen Min apologized a few times before sitting in one of the empty seats.

“Hey, Xiao Min, the boss is working so hard, and you’re suffering too?” said Qian Donglin, Lu Xiaojiang’s brother-in-law.

Shen Min took a hot towel to wipe her hands. “I’m fine.”

There were a few familiar faces at the table, who greeted her with smiles. “Xiao Min, it’s been a while. Are you back from your transfer?”

Shen Min smiled and answered.

Gao Jiyi gave a quick glance at Lu Xiaojiang, who was seated at the table, and quietly asked Shen Min, “Is Zhouzi really not coming?”

In an instant, Shen Min’s smile faded, and she cautiously nodded.

Fang Langxi spoke up. “Forget it, he’s not in a good position to come.”

Gao Jiyi nodded and didn’t ask further.

The banquet ended around 9 PM, and guests began to leave one by one. The ladies made plans to go for a spa, while Gao Jiyi invited a few friends to stay at the hotel and play cards.

Around 11 PM, they all dispersed. Lu Xiaojiang leaned against the window of Shen Min’s car. “Xiao Min, can I get a ride?”

Shen Min still had that calm expression, though her tone lacked warmth. “Didn’t you drive here?”

Lu Xiaojiang replied, “I had some drinks earlier.”

Shen Min unlocked the car door.

Lu Xiaojiang thanked her and got into the passenger seat.

The car merged into the dazzling nightscape of Beijing.

Since Lu Xiaojiang had initially been cautious due to his father’s influence, he hadn’t come back often. But in the last six months, things had relaxed, and he came back more frequently. He naturally met up with a few old friends whenever he was in town. However, Zhao Pingjin never made an appearance, and Shen Min was also never present, so it had been a while since Lu Xiaojiang had seen him.

Lu Xiaojiang understood that, although Shen Min appeared gentle and polite, he was very loyal to Zhao Pingjin. Zhao Pingjin had a tough personality, and sometimes when Lu Xiaojiang couldn’t speak directly to him, he would turn to Shen Min for help. Shen Min would always find a way to ease things with Zhao Pingjin.

But Lu Xiaojiang knew that Shen Min’s feelings for Zhao Pingjin were genuine and strong. He had always treated Zhao Pingjin like an elder brother, showing him great respect. Since Zhao Pingjin didn’t get along with Lu Xiaojiang, Shen Min now also kept his distance from him.

The two were silent throughout the drive. The car was nearing Lu Xiaojiang’s in-laws’ house. After his parents had immigrated, their Beijing property had been rented out, and whenever he returned, he stayed at his in-laws’ home with his wife.

The Qian family lived in a courtyard house in Guosheng Hutong, just a wall separating them from the Zhao family. From a distance, the house looked dark, with only a few scattered lights visible.

Lu Xiaojiang broke the silence. “Where’s Zhouzhou?”

Shen Min politely responded, “When I came by in the evening, he was still at the office.”

Lu Xiaojiang hesitated for a moment, then cautiously asked, “Xiao Min, may I... see him?”

Shen Min maintained the graceful demeanor he always had when working as Zhao Pingjin’s secretary. “You’d have to ask him that.”

Lu Xiaojiang hit a small but significant obstacle, his cheeks reddening slightly.

Shen Min paused for a while, then casually said, “He went back to his hometown in the northwest a few days ago. He just came back. There’s a lot going on at home, so it’s not easy.”

Lu Xiaojiang suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

Shen Min abruptly slammed on the brakes, and the car stopped at the entrance of the alley. With a neutral expression, he said, “We’re here. You can get out now.”