NMBJ2 - 18

That year, when the film Spring Late returned to Beijing for shooting, the weather in Beijing during spring and summer was beautiful.

The sun was blazing, the sky was vast, and there were more clear blue skies than usual.

At the press conference for the film’s launch in Beijing, almost all of the top entertainment media outlets in the country wanted to arrange exclusive interviews with Huang Xitang. In just six months, her salary tripled.

Being the female lead in Tang Yasun’s new film brought her almost immeasurable fame and material benefits.

Her status in the industry rapidly rose.

Xitang didn’t pay much attention to these changes. In the role of Ding Fangfei, she would rush home from the kindergarten with her daughter after work, while her constantly arguing husband was nowhere to be found. Her mother was hospitalized, and Fangfei would accompany her mother in the hospital, working on design drafts for her job as she dealt with the overwhelming mid-life crisis.

There was one small thing she overheard in the makeup room. After the crew returned to Beijing, Qin Guohui’s wife often came to visit the set, and the couple appeared very affectionate.

Huang Xitang had never met Qin Guohui’s wife because, as soon as she finished her scenes, even if she only had half a day off, she would fly back to Shanghai.

When she returned to Shanghai after coming back from Qinghai, she bought a ticket straight to Shanghai, and when her colleagues picked her up at the airport, they drove her directly to the hospital. Only then did Xitang learn that her mother had been hospitalized for over a week. To avoid affecting her filming, Ni Kailun hadn’t told her.

She was anxious and scared, staying by her mother’s side in the hospital for three days without leaving, and then had to fly back to Beijing to continue filming.

Tang Yasun’s work intensity was unmatched by any other crew. Sometimes A Kuan wasn’t even accompanying her because he was too tired. Xitang had to fly alone, sometimes accompanied by Ma Jihong.

Xitang had a new manager temporarily taking care of her. When she was in Shanghai, she occasionally went back to the company and overheard Ni Kailun nervously instructing her assistants and makeup artists, “Don’t let her go anywhere other than the set and the hotel.”

Her tone was inexplicably anxious.

Xitang returned to Shanghai every three or four days. The faint traces of fatigue were becoming visible on her face. She had completely immersed herself in her role. She didn’t even need to act. As soon as she entered a scene, she became Ding Fangfei, expressing worry, anxiety, and distress vividly.

The line between acting and reality was so blurred that even Xitang herself felt afraid.

Tang Yasun hadn’t expected her to perform so well. Although she came from a formal acting background, she lacked much big-screen experience. However, after observing her performance behind the monitor, despite not being as flawless as Qin Guohui, her emotional intensity felt incredibly real. The brief and high-pressure urban life segment contrasted sharply with the later, more soothing, warm, and restorative moments between the couple in Qinghai.

Tang Yasun knew the film was going to be a success.

While in Beijing, A Kuan stuck closely to Xitang.

After filming in Beijing for a month, she hadn’t even had a chance to explore the streets. She had endured a whole month of grueling work, and now, her scenes were nearly finished.

On Saturday night, her manager Ma Jihong came to pick her up for work.

It was a sponsored event for a brand she had been endorsing since last year. Xitang represented a fresh and sweet urban girl image for a milk beverage brand, which had received positive reviews and good sales. The brand had renewed the contract for another year.

The event was held in a shopping mall’s lobby on the first floor. Xitang wore a green dress and introduced the product with the host. Afterward, she played games and conducted a raffle, making the scene lively and exciting. When the event ended around 10 p.m., there was the usual after-party with the brand’s executives and some officials. In the car, Xitang retouched her makeup, and Ma Jihong accompanied her into a small banquet hall at the hotel. Xitang held a glass of wine throughout the event, making toasts and engaging in small talk. Several men extended their hands to touch her arm, back, and even pinched her thigh through her dress. She always wore a smiling face, avoiding them discreetly while occasionally faking a coquettish attitude. Inside, she was extremely cautious and didn’t drink much.

At around 1 a.m., after the party, Ma Jihong was about to take her to the elevator when she suddenly said, “Oh, I forgot. A Kuan, can you go back and get my bag?”

A Kuan complied.

Xitang followed Ma Jihong into the elevator, feeling exhausted from standing all night. She leaned against the elevator wall, and Ma Jihong pressed the button to close the doors, then pressed another button. The elevator started to ascend.

Xitang froze for a few seconds, then straightened up and called out, “Ma Jihong?”

Ma Jihong smiled at her calmly. “It’s nothing. I have some business upstairs.”

Xitang, still tired, was in a daze. Her doubt started to surface but she didn’t have time to ask before the elevator chimed and stopped.

The door immediately opened, and a tall, unfamiliar man in black stood at the entrance.

Xitang’s heart skipped a beat, and the expression on her face vanished.

A man spoke to her, “Good evening, Miss Huang, please come this way.”

Xitang looked outside, and the entire floor of executive suites was eerily quiet, with not a single person in sight. Cameras were visible at the far end, and three men blocked the door. The elevator was held by Ma Jihong.

There was no way out.

She froze for a moment, and the dark fog from her memories instantly overwhelmed her, the same terrifying scene. Fear hadn’t even hit her yet, but in this moment, she was more aware than ever before, and Xitang knew what was coming. Her heart sank into despair.

Her nails dug into her arm, trying to suppress the tremors as she tried to save herself: “Sister Hong, we’ve worked together for many years at the same company. Please don’t do this without my consent.”

Ma Jihong remained unfazed, her smile unchanged, but with a slightly kinder tone: “Xitang, Mr. Hu has several big productions looking for leading actresses. Go in and have a chat. After that, you can choose whichever movie you want to shoot—it’s just a matter of a word.”

Xitang knew in her heart that Ma Jihong had taken countless benefits to pull this off. Now that it had come to this, she knew she wouldn’t be let go easily.

Two men stepped into the elevator, reaching out to grab her arms. Xitang was forcibly pulled forward.

The suite door opened from the inside, and Xitang saw a nightmare-like face.

Sun Kehui wore a smile, but for some reason, that smile looked especially sinister: “Oh, the big star, long time no see.”

He was wearing a black polo shirt, with the buttons undone. A gruesome scar was clearly visible on his neck.

Xitang felt her legs go weak, as if she had been struck by an electric shock. She couldn’t move, and the next moment, she was firmly pressed down.

She began to shake violently.

Sun Kehui gave her a bow: “Thank you for gracing us with your presence tonight.”

Assistant A Kuan waited at the hotel’s garage elevator, but he only saw Ma Jihong coming down alone.

A Kuan glanced behind her: “Where’s my artist?”

Ma Jihong instructed, “The driver will take you back first.”

A Kuan was puzzled: “Didn’t the work end? She needs to go back to Shanghai tonight. I should wait for her to go back together.”

Ma Jihong smiled. “I’ll wait here, and then I’ll take her back to the hotel later.”

“She’s still upstairs?”

“Yes.”

A Kuan’s small eyes widened as he stared at her smile, glancing at her again. “Sister Hong, I’ll head back now.”

Before Ma Jihong could nod, A Kuan turned and ran, out of the garage, into the dark outside. His phone slipped from his hand and fell with a loud snap. He quickly picked it up, not bothering to look, and hurriedly dialed Shanghai.

Ni Kailun hung up the call after less than a minute and immediately called the manager.

Ma Jihong wasn’t worried at all and answered the phone nonchalantly: “Oh, Kailun, why aren’t you asleep so late?”

In just a few words, Ma Jihong explained the situation, revealing that Ni Kailun was her official manager, something she couldn’t hide anymore.

Ni Kailun was furious, shouting, “Ma Jihong, go upstairs and bring her out right now!”

Ma Jihong knew she was far away and couldn’t do anything immediately, so she settled into her car, tossed her handbag aside, and casually said, “You’re in such a hurry for me to bring her out, do you know who’s taken an interest in your artist?”

Ma Jihong smiled, speaking in a deliberately mysterious whisper.

Ni Kailun froze for a moment. The name she heard had a powerful background, with connections in both politics and business. He dominated half of the entertainment industry in the mainland, controlling two-thirds of the national film distribution rights and film investment rights. Unlike other traditional entertainment moguls who slept with their male and female stars, this man was known for his high moral standards, having been a young couple with his wife from the start, and they were very affectionate. Ni Kailun had heard countless managers trying to send female stars to him, but none had succeeded.

On the other end of the phone, Ma Jihong spoke with an air of self-satisfaction: “I have to say, Kailun, I envy you. Xitang worked in Director Tang’s movie, and her temperament and figure have really changed. She’s so captivating now. I really think you’re lucky. I’ve worked with so many artists, but none of them could climb such a big tree.”

Ni Kailun realized the situation was getting serious and felt like the fire was being stoked even more: “Whoever it is, did Xitang agree? You can’t push her into a pit!”

Ma Jihong shook her head, disapprovingly: “Kailun, I know you care for her, but she’s been walking around this city for nearly half a year, still so aloof and high-class. With her fame, no one can even approach her. Doesn’t that put me in a difficult position? She’s not a saint. You’ve been in this industry long enough, you know that every female star goes through these things.”

Ni Kailun raised his head, his eyes stinging, knowing that everything was over.

But in that moment, he suddenly remembered that Xitang’s mother was in the hospital, sitting bored in her room, knitting a little red woolen vest for the child she was about to give birth to.

On the other end of the phone, Ma Jihong continued talking: “I’ll be honest with you, Kailun, this isn’t just me calling the shots. If it works out, she’ll have a smooth and prosperous future. After everything’s settled, I’ll take care of her. I’ve already made the doctor’s appointment. Everything will be kept confidential and safe. You should talk to her and make her understand—”

Before she could finish, a fat hand suddenly slapped her hard on the head.

Ma Jihong screamed, “You’re rebelling!”

A Kuan was even angrier, shouting, “Where is she? Don’t harm her!”

Ma Jihong’s face changed color: “Who’s this unruly fat girl? I’ll fire you tomorrow! Stop!”

A-kuan’s eyes were red as he desperately reached into the car window, tearing at her hair and trying to pull her out. “Get out! Get out and call her down!”