NMBJ2 - 33

Assistant Ah Kuan remembered it was Friday morning when the incident occurred. 

At 7 a.m., she woke up on schedule. Her artist had an important job that day, so she started by boiling a pot of ginger black tea to bring to the company later to help reduce swelling. While waiting for the water to boil, she reviewed the recent interview and promotional photo schedules on her phone. Around 8:30, her phone rang abruptly. A colleague from the publicity department called, their voice filled with panic and unease. After hanging up, Ah Kuan immediately opened the entertainment news app, her soul nearly scattering from shock. Fumbling with her phone, she tried calling repeatedly, but no one answered. Pacing anxiously in her room, she burst into Xitang’s bedroom moments later, still in her pajamas, hastily throwing on a tracksuit before rushing downstairs. 

Ah Kuan knocked loudly on the door. Xitang was still asleep, but the housekeeper opened the door. Ah Kuan rushed in, waking Xitang up, and immediately turned off her phone. 

During the taxi ride, she kept staring at her phone, her heart pounding wildly, her mind blank. The story spread rapidly; by the time she reached her destination, several major entertainment accounts had reposted the shocking and horrifying news. 

Xitang usually kept her phone on silent while sleeping. When Ah Kuan turned it off, she noticed over a hundred missed calls. 

Afraid to check her own phone, Ah Kuan stared at Xitang, momentarily speechless. On her screen was the image of a man, his neck gruesomely mutilated, flesh torn open in a horrifying sight.

Xitang woke up as if she had been expecting it all along. She took Ah Kuan’s phone and scrolled through the news for a while. Sitting on the couch in the living room, she still felt drowsy, though sleep was out of the question now, and there was nothing else to do.

Not long after, Ni Kailun arrived upstairs with her son strapped to her waist. 

The night before, both she and Xitang had drunk too much at the banquet. Around the same time Ah Kuan received the call from the company, Ni Kailun was also woken up. The housekeeper hadn’t returned yet that morning, so she had to get up to prepare formula and soothe the baby. 

Ni Kailun entered the apartment, handed the child over to Ah Kuan, and sneered, “So it wasn’t about money after all.” 

She immediately called her assistant and instructed, “Get me detailed files on all the female celebrities who have been in contact with the brand Huang Xitang is supposed to sign with in China.” 

After hanging up, Ni Kailun sat down and glanced at Xitang on the couch. Her tone remained calm: “The lawyers and PR team will be here shortly.” 

Huang Xitang wasn’t calm—she had already seen the news and understood that this situation was beyond repair. For a female artist, reputation was everything. Ni Kailun knew this well—it was all over. 

Around 9 a.m., Xitang’s lawyer arrived. By then, Ni Kailun was too preoccupied to focus solely on Xitang’s case. Due to the scandal, many of the TV shows, movies, variety programs, and endorsements Xitang had signed were at risk of being canceled. Some payments had already been made in advance, and now production companies were scrambling to replace her. Calls poured in nonstop—some inquiring about the situation, others probing for information, some outright cursing. Several advertisers also bombarded Ni Kailun’s phone, demanding answers. That morning alone, she was overwhelmed with calls. 

By 11 a.m., reporters had bribed building residents to sneak into the elevator lobby to investigate. Bolder ones even rang the doorbell. Ni Kailun called the property management to complain. The entire neighborhood was on high alert, with vehicles entering and exiting subjected to stricter inspections. 

Around noon, Li Shu’an called. 

Ni Kailun’s phone had been ringing nonstop. It took Li Shu’an’s secretary ten minutes to finally get through. 

Ni Kailun put the call on speakerphone. On the other end, Li Shu’an said, “I’ve arranged for a lawyer to come over. Xitang, why didn’t you call me? I apologize—I don’t usually follow entertainment news, so I’m late to respond.” 

“I’m in Fujian right now, but I’m rushing back to Shanghai.” 

About half an hour after Li Shu’an’s lawyer arrived, Li Shu’an himself appeared in Shanghai, looking travel-worn, accompanied only by a secretary. The secretary handed him a briefcase and discreetly excused himself. 

Li Shu’an entered the apartment. 

This was his first time in Xitang’s home. 

However, his eyes didn’t wander to take in the surroundings. He focused directly on the lawyer he had sent, his tone serious: “Old Xiu, what’s the situation?” 

The two lawyers occupied the single sofas, while Ni Kailun and Xitang sat together. Ah Kuan quickly brought over a chair for Li Shu’an. The group gathered in the living room to discuss the matter. 

Xitang began recounting the details of the case to the lawyers. Years ago, she and Ni Kailun had anticipated that Sun Kehu would file a police report. At the time, Xitang thought he might have died. If he had, she planned to turn herself in. She had been rushed directly from the emergency room to surgery, and when she woke up, Ni Kailun’s first words to her were, “It seems he didn’t die.” 

But Xitang didn’t dare stay in Beijing for a moment longer. When Ni Kailun returned to the apartment where Xitang and Zhao Pingjin once lived to retrieve some hospital clothes, she heard that unidentified individuals had inquired about Xitang’s whereabouts with the security guards. Two days later, Xitang signed an agreement with the ambulance service, and Ni Kailun hired a nurse to escort her out of Beijing overnight. Afterward, Ni Kailun discreetly arranged for people in Beijing to investigate. They reported that Sun Kehu seemed to have left the country. Still cautious, Xitang remained in hiding, receiving treatment under a pseudonym at a local hospital in her hometown. 

Midway through the meeting, Li Shu’an stepped out to take a call. Upon returning, he handed his phone to Xitang and said, “It’s your father.” 

Xitang hesitated. 

Li Shu’an’s voice, always steady, now carried a touch of warmth: “Family cares about you. It’s fine. Just let them know you’re safe.” 

Xitang took the phone and walked out onto the balcony. 

She returned shortly. The two lawyers scribbled notes furiously: “It’s been six or seven years. Unless the surveillance footage was copied and preserved, it’s unlikely to exist anymore.” 

Lawyer Xiu asked, “Miss Huang, did you attend the wedding banquet with friends, or did you mention it to anyone beforehand?” 

“I went alone. The newlyweds knew—I promised the bride I’d attend. No friends knew. I didn’t have many friends in Beijing at the time.” 

By then, her relationship with Zhao Pingjin had already ended. She spent a long time in the hospital, and Zhong Qiao’er had left the country with Gao Ji Yi. When she was discharged and returned home, she was completely alone. 

“What floor?” 

“Thirtieth.” 

“Do you remember which room?” 

Xitang shook her head. 

Lawyer Xiu glanced at Li Shu’an and cautiously deduced, “It doesn’t seem like the perpetrator was prepared in advance. This was likely an opportunistic crime. Installing cameras in a five-star hotel suite is unlikely. Based on the released video, it appears the footage came from the hallway surveillance.” 

Li Shu’an remained perfectly composed throughout, treating the matter as a challenging work issue that needed resolution: “Who has these files now?” 

Ni Kailun checked her phone and replied, “Wait a moment. I have someone else coming.” 

At exactly 4 p.m., He Lu Fei’s car arrived at the underground garage of Xitang’s building. As she parked and walked toward the elevator, she noticed a black luxury car in the closest parking spot to the elevator. Its prominent Beijing license plate caught her attention, and she couldn’t help but glance at it as she passed. 

Xitang’s plump, cheerful assistant opened the door for her. Now, however, the girl’s smile had vanished. She ushered He Lu Fei inside. The spacious and tidy living room was occupied by several men seated around the coffee table. 

Ni Kailun gave a brief introduction: “Lawyers.” 

Then she led He Lu Fei to the study. 

Inside, Huang Xitang sat expressionless but managed a faint smile. Though somewhat vacant, it was relatively calm. He Lu Fei was inwardly surprised. 

He Lu Fei removed her sunglasses and grinned, revealing her teeth: “Oh, the entrance to the compound is swarming with reporters.” 

Ni Kailun gestured for her to sit: “Well, you got in, which is good enough.” 

He Lu Fei smiled sweetly: “You think I wanted to come here? I arranged to meet you at the office.” 

Ni Kailun didn’t want to go to the company. 

After the incident broke that morning, Ni Kailun had briefly returned to the office at noon. The renewal contract Xitang had signed and sent back from Hengdian was being held in Boss Thirteen’s office, unsigned and unstamped. Boss Thirteen made it clear that the company wouldn’t expend resources to save her. He even instructed Ni Kailun to shift focus to promoting Ouli Zu, a rising starlet within the company: “This girl is beyond saving. Who would dare cast her in anything for the next three to five years?” 

In an instant, the entertainment industry was turned upside down. With bloody fingerprints on the weapon, surveillance footage from the five-star hotel capturing the crime, and the carefully cultivated image of Huang Xitang as a pure, beautiful, and talented actress now shattered, a comeback seemed nearly impossible. 

Ni Kailun slammed the table and cursed Boss Thirteen for his heartlessness. Ma Jihong happened to walk by and smirked outside Boss Thirteen’s office. 

Ni Kailun was so furious her face twisted. 

In Xitang’s study, He Lu Fei chatted with Ni Kailun. Nearly two hours later, He Lu Fei finally pulled out her phone and presented her evidence. The moment Ni Kailun saw Liu Qianping’s photo, she understood. Smiling coldly, she said, “Lu Fei, you’ve known this person for a while, haven’t you? Why did you say you didn’t know him?” 

He Lu Fei coquettishly replied, “Oh, Sister Kailun, the tip I gave you earlier—make good use of it. It’s worth quite a bit, isn’t it?”

Xitang thought to herself, No wonder. Over the past two days, Ni Kailun had declined several variety show appearances on her behalf. Additionally, large sums of money—final payments from her recent films and endorsements—had been transferred into her account. Ni Kailun had urgently pushed the company’s finance department to process the transfers, even prompting the finance manager to ask questions.

She heard Ni Kailun continue pressing He Lu Fei for answers.

“Where did Liu Qianping get the surveillance footage and those police records?” 

“That video online—it’s not the full thing.” 

“What’s in the rest of it?” 

“You.” 

Xitang looked up, and Ni Kailun also froze. So there was more to it. Ni Kailun asked, “Where did you see it?” 

He Lu Fei fiddled with the rhinestones on her nails. “The ten-minute clip I gave to Liu Qianping was edited by a friend of mine. I was just sitting there watching.” 

Ni Kailun stared at her intently. 

Suddenly, He Lu Fei shivered slightly and stopped talking. 

Ni Kailun said coldly, “Lu Fei, we’re on the same boat now.” 

He Lu Fei sighed, gritted her teeth, and said, “His name is Wang Hao—I’m not sure if that’s his real name—but I do have his phone number.” 

Ni Kailun walked out, and soon after, Li Shu’an followed her in. Ni Kailun said, “Show this gentleman a photo of your boyfriend.” 

He Lu Fei pulled up a photo on her phone. 

Li Shu’an glanced at it and nodded to Ni Kailun. Ni Kailun said, “Good.” 

By the time He Lu Fei left, it was already evening. She knew that negotiating with Ni Kailun was never easy for anyone in this circle. However, with Huang Xitang now caught in this massive whirlpool of scandal, it was the perfect opportunity for her to make demands. Ni Kailun didn’t waste time arguing with her today; she got what she needed but was nearly exhausted from the effort. Feeling relatively pleased, she slipped off her high heels as soon as she got into the car. As she reversed, she glanced at the rearview mirror—it was already past 7 p.m., and the black luxury car was still parked in its original spot. 

Around 7:30 p.m., Xiaodi Zhu’s family arrived. Upon entering the house and seeing Li Shu’an at Xitang’s place, Xiaodi Zhu was pleasantly surprised. They exchanged a few words about Xitang’s situation. Xiaodi Zhu’s four-year-old son rolled around on the floor with Ni Kailun’s baby, filling the room with the sound of childish laughter. 

That evening, everyone gathered for dinner. Xitang sat at the table, feeling surprisingly calm. She had been rescued by Ni Kailun, and during her long hospital stay back in her hometown, Xiaodi Zhu had helped her mother run errands at the hospital. No one understood what had happened to her better than the people in this room—not even Li Shu’an, who had only learned of the matter today, seemed perturbed. Xitang was already alone in the world. She didn’t care about public opinion or fear losing anything. At worst, she could return to Hengdian to act again. No one in the room mentioned the filthy storm raging outside. Under the dim yellow lights of the dining room, a pot of chicken soup gently steamed, filling the air with warmth. 

Halfway through the meal, Ni Kailun received a call. Today, she had been selectively answering calls—some unavoidable, others ignored entirely. She refused all media calls but couldn’t hang up proactively either, so her phone lay face down, vibrating incessantly at times. Suddenly, Ni Kailun turned to Xitang and said, “Something’s come up. I’ll step out for a moment.” 

Ni Kailun went downstairs. Shen Min had been calling her every fifteen minutes all afternoon, and he was still waiting patiently. As soon as Ni Kailun stepped out of the elevator, she saw him standing by a car in the underground garage. 

After waiting so long, Shen Min showed no signs of impatience, maintaining his usual polite demeanor. “Miss Ni, sorry to disturb you.” 

Ni Kailun casually explained, “I’ve been busy. Apologies. Is there something you need?” 

Shen Min nodded politely. “I understand. If there’s anything I can do to help with Xitang’s situation, please let me know.” 

Ni Kailun shook her head. 

Shen Min had just arrived from Beijing. “Sun Kehu left the country yesterday. We’re still investigating the police report. If you need any assistance managing public opinion, feel free to contact me.” 

“Thank you, Mr. Shen.” 

“Is Xitang home?” 

Ni Kailun remained silent, shaking her head again—a clear refusal. 

Shen Min returned to his car helplessly. The backseat window rolled down, and Shen Min leaned against it briefly before stepping forward to stop Ni Kailun, who was about to walk away. He asked hesitantly, “Miss Ni, how is Xitang doing?” 

Ni Kailun glanced at the backseat of the black car and suddenly understood. Irritated, she snapped, “Is Zhao Pingjin in the car? Why doesn’t he come out and talk to me himself instead of acting like some big shot?” 

Shen Min pursed his lips awkwardly, saying nothing. 

The next moment, the backseat door opened, and a tall, handsome man emerged, steadying himself on the car door—it was Zhao Pingjin. Shen Min quickly returned to stand behind him. 

Under the harsh lighting of the garage, Zhao Pingjin’s expression looked pale and weary. Ni Kailun glared at him. “Her boyfriend is upstairs. We’ll handle this ourselves. At worst, she’ll leave the entertainment industry and get married.” 

Zhao Pingjin’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He opened his mouth as if to speak but said nothing. 

Ni Kailun glanced toward the shadows of the garage, where several suspicious cars were parked nearby. She addressed Zhao Pingjin sharply, “Stay here. The place is crawling with paparazzi. She’s already suspected of murder. If word gets out that she’s involved in someone else’s marriage as the other woman, she’ll be the most infamous person in the entertainment industry.” 

Before Ni Kailun finished speaking, Zhao Pingjin’s already pale face turned even whiter. He lowered his head and braced himself against the car. 

Ni Kailun turned and walked back to the elevator, pressing the button. From behind, she faintly heard Shen Min’s concerned voice: “Let me drive you back to the hotel.” 

Zhao Pingjin’s response was too low to hear. 

Shen Min’s tone suddenly became stern, unusually serious: “I’ve already had Secretary He reschedule your flight. You must stay in Shanghai to rest. You cannot return to Beijing tonight.” 

Ni Kailun stepped into the elevator, shaking her head involuntarily. What a mess, she thought. 

Huang Xitang opened the door for her. For some reason, her expression was anxious and uneasy. “Who’s looking for you?” 

Ni Kailun walked into the house, her face impassive. “The security guard downstairs.”