NMBJ2 - 36

That evening, when Xitang returned from Beijing, Ni Kailun called Liu Qianping.

As Ni Kailun made the call, Xitang sat beside her, her red-rimmed eyes wide open. Liu Qianping’s assistant answered the phone, nervously laughing and claiming it was all a misunderstanding on Ni Kailun’s part.

Ni Kailun sneered, “Let Brother Qian take the call. I’m not cursing anyone. Why is he so guilty?”

After a few words, Ni Kailun coldly added before hanging up, “Tell Liu Suixin that our Xitang has been her fan for many years.”

The voice of the Hong Kong woman on the other end was resolute. This feud was now firmly established.

Liu Qianping sat on the nearby sofa, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot.

This time, he had suffered a significant setback. Sun Kehu and that Wang fellow had duped him, selling him a heavily edited version of the video at an exorbitant price, claiming Huang Xitang had fled after committing murder, which explained her years of silence in the entertainment industry. He had no idea there was more to the story.

After Ni Kailun finished the call, Huang Xitang remained seated on the sofa, lost in thought. Many years ago, she had first seen Liu Suixin backstage at an awards ceremony in Beijing. At that time, Liu Suixin was still young but had already been nominated for the Golden Palm. Xitang adored her performances but hadn’t dared to approach her. Never would she have imagined that one day, she would clash with her childhood idol over real-world interests.

One by one, the lights dimmed before her eyes. Stars were merely puppets manipulated by others. Behind the glitz of the entertainment industry lay the brutal and terrifying battles of various interest groups.

She was the brand’s jewelry and watch ambassador, a darling of Paris’s fashionable social circles. Early on, people had predicted she would succeed the Korean star as the first mainland Chinese actress to become the full-line ambassador for the Asia-Pacific region. No one expected Phoebe to suddenly take an interest in Huang Xitang.

Ni Kailun had lost this battle. She and Su Yan harbored deep resentment over the matter. Su Yan was a devoted follower of the Parisian brand, and losing the endorsement hit them harder than it did Xitang. The press conference was canceled, and Phoebe left Shanghai that night. For ten minutes, they vented in English in Ni Kailun’s living room. Xitang, covering Jaden’s ears, closed the nursery door, unaware of what they did afterward. A week later, the brand held a multi-dimensional experience event for its new watch line in Shanghai, attended by numerous big-name stars. During the joint interview session, a reporter grabbed the microphone and asked Liu Suixin, dressed elegantly for the occasion, “Miss Liu Suixin, is it true that you leaked the news about Huang Xitang stabbing someone because she was set to become the brand’s Greater China full-line ambassador?”

The media area erupted in commotion. The uproar inside the venue overwhelmed the emergency host, who stood frozen for two full minutes.

The curtain call of fame was not hers to control. In an instant, the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry once again felt distant from her.

After returning from Beijing, since Sun Kehu had left the country and did not file a lawsuit, and Huang Xitang’s side preferred to avoid further trouble, this tumultuous episode ultimately did not result in a police investigation. News cycles have their peaks and troughs, and five days later, Zheng Youtong made a high-profile announcement of his marriage to the famous actress and beauty Wu Meici, who was three years older than him. The couple’s immense popularity, combined with the romantic details of the proposal that were heavily publicized, quickly overshadowed Huang Xitang’s news.

At home, Xitang called Zheng Youtong. Before she could say anything, he said, “Xitang, thank me.”

Xitang replied, “Thank you.”

Zheng Youtong said, “Come to Bali for the wedding banquet. Don’t worry; I’ll arrange a table full of bodyguards to protect you.”

Knowing that he had been following her news closely, Xitang simply said, “Get out of here.”

More than a month after the incident, Xitang dismissed her new assistant. She had hardly left the house recently and barely needed a driver. With no income, it was becoming difficult to justify paying the driver’s salary. Driver Huang told her, “Miss Huang, I shouldn’t be receiving your salary. Mr. Zhao has already paid me more than enough.”

Xitang knew that the salary she had been paying Huang was just that of a regular celebrity assistant—less than what Ah Kuan received. It was far too modest given his skills and dedication.

He handled every task meticulously and devotedly, but this loyalty wasn’t truly directed at her.

Xitang loaned Assistant Ah Kuan to He Lu Fei.

Ah Kuan had been with her for over two years. The young man had a good temper and always wore a smile, easily befriending staff on various film sets. In truth, the bigger the star, the harder they are to please—not because they are particularly demanding, but because actors at the top of their game often suffer deeply from the psychological toll of their roles. Xitang herself had several times become extremely moody during shoots, withdrawing into silence after filming and ignoring everyone. During such times, even her agent avoided her. What made Ah Kuan exceptional was his unwavering companionship. No matter how her mood fluctuated, he never pried or complained, continuing to prepare nourishing soups and porridges for her daily.

Xitang was reluctant to part with him.

He Lu Fei officially signed with Ni Kailun. That day, in Xitang’s study, He Lu Fei accepted a brand-new Kelly bag from Huang Xitang and took on two of her projects. Her contract with Guoshi TV was set to expire mid-year, and the company had allocated all its best resources to Zhang Zhiyin, leaving He Lu Fei dissatisfied for years. She didn’t want to renew and requested to sign with Ni Kailun instead.

As He Lu Fei visited more frequently, she and Xitang gradually became acquainted.

One day, Ni Kailun teased her, “What happened to that boyfriend of yours in Beijing?”

He Lu Fei pouted, “It’s over.”

Ni Kailun smirked mischievously, “Did he know how much you used him?”

He Lu Fei placed her hands on her hips, “He got mugged by a group of thugs while driving on the Fifth Ring Road. They stole his bag, which contained important documents. How is that my fault?”

Ni Kailun continued, “I heard that early in your career, you were about to get married, but Zhang Zhiyin stole your boyfriend and made you have an abortion. Is that true?”

Even when angry, He Lu Fei was still a striking beauty. “Why do you care so much about others’ affairs? Why don’t you tell me first who the father of your child is?”

Xitang burst into laughter on the side.

By mid-May, it was the birthday of Gao Ji Yi’s father. 

In recent years, officials in Beijing had been living rather low-key lives. The banquet ended by 8 p.m., and Gao Ji Yi saw off the few remaining guests. He arranged for his wife to take the children and accompany his parents back home. Then, he strolled from the entrance of the quadrangle courtyard back to the private dining room. Only a few childhood friends remained in the room. Fang Langmei had come alone that evening; Qingqing had taken the kids on a vacation to Tianjin with her parents. Gao Ji Yi checked his watch and casually informed Zhao Pingjin: “Xiaojiang landed half an hour ago and is on his way. Let’s have some late-night snacks when he arrives.” 

Zhao Pingjin’s expression remained calm. He drank half a cup of tea, set it down, and said, “I’m leaving first.” 

Gao Ji Yi immediately stood up, placing his hand on Zhao Pingjin’s shoulder. “What’s wrong? Xiaojiang messed up, but you’ve been upset about it for over two years now. Isn’t it time to let it go?” 

Qian Donglin chuckled. “Zhouzi, what exactly did my brother-in-law do to offend you? Calm down. I think tomorrow we should make him kowtow to you and call you ‘Big Brother.’“ 

Hearing this, Zhao Pingjin’s lips curled into a cold smirk, but he didn’t respond. He grabbed his car keys, bypassed Gao Ji Yi, and left without another word. 

Not long after Zhao Pingjin departed, Gao Ji Yi’s phone rang. It was his father’s secretary, who informed him that just as his father was leaving, they noticed several black cars with fake license plates parked outside the hutong. Their origins were unknown, so the younger generation was advised to disperse early and return home. 

Gao Ji Yi turned to ask, “Is there an inspection by some leaders today?” 

Qian Donglin frowned. “I haven’t heard anything.” 

Fang Langmei asked, “How did Zhouzi leave?” 

Gao Ji Yi replied offhandedly, “I don’t know.” 

But both men suddenly felt uneasy. Gao Ji Yi looked at Fang Langmei, their eyes meeting for a brief second. They both realized something was amiss. Gao Ji Yi immediately called Zhao Pingjin, who answered. 

As soon as Gao Ji Yi heard his voice, he directly asked, “Did something happen?” 

Zhao Pingjin’s tone remained flat. “Yes, I’ve been blocked at the entrance of Fangjia Hutong.” 

Gao Ji Yi immediately called out to others to rush out. “Turn on your location. Langmei and I are coming. Don’t get out of the car.” 

Lu Xiaojiang happened to arrive at the entrance of the quadrangle courtyard. Gao Ji Yi rushed forward, pushing Lu Xiaojiang’s driver back into the driver’s seat, then jumped into the backseat with Fang Langmei. “Something happened to Zhouzi. Let’s go.” 

The car immediately turned around and sped off. 

Fang Langmei rolled down the window and shouted to Qian Donglin, who was following behind: “Donglin, bring another car!” 

When Zhao Pingjin left Gao Ji Yi’s banquet, he was feeling somewhat weary. He wasn’t driving fast. This area consisted of standalone courtyards, and the tall locust trees obscured the streetlights, casting dim shadows on the road. He hadn’t driven far when, just as he exited Fangjia Hutong, deep in thought, a white car suddenly appeared, speeding straight toward him. Startled, Zhao Pingjin instinctively turned the steering wheel, narrowly avoiding the oncoming vehicle and veering into a side alley. He slowed down, intending to find a way out, but discovered it was a narrow dead-end leading to a dark, unlit villa. As he attempted to reverse, the white car quickly turned and blocked the entrance. 

Zhao Pingjin stopped the car. By then, several men dressed in black had surrounded the vehicle, gesturing for him to get out. 

Zhao Pingjin first called the police, then contacted his driver and Shen Min. Moments later, Gao Ji Yi’s call came through. After finishing the call, he sat quietly in the driver’s seat. His car windows were tinted, making it impossible for outsiders to see inside. Exhausted, he simply sat there, watching as a man outside raised an iron rod and struck his car window. 

The window vibrated once, then again, but the car remained intact. 

At the moment the iron rod finally shattered a hole in the driver’s side window, Zhao Pingjin suddenly pushed hard on the door handle, knocking over the two men blocking his door. Using the momentum, he rolled to the rear of the car, opened the trunk, and pulled out a golf club, enduring a heavy blow to his back in the process. 

Sun Kehu had been taken in for investigation the previous week and was released on bail two days ago. With his reputation ruined in Beijing, his wife and children had returned to Australia. Before leaving, Sun Kehu hired people, offering a million yuan to ambush Zhao Pingjin and “teach him a lesson.” 

Suddenly, headlights flashed chaotically outside the hutong. Gao Ji Yi leaped out of the car, kicking over a lookout dressed in black near the white car, shouting, “You bastards! If you’ve got guts, don’t run! Your grandpa’s here!” 

When the three of them rushed in, they saw Zhao Pingjin leaning against the side of his black car, wielding a golf club defensively. No one could get close to him. The sound of metal clashing with sticks echoed, accompanied by sudden cries of pain. Gao Ji Yi scanned the scene and shouted, “Zhouzi, watch your back!” 

On the roof of Zhao Pingjin’s car, two men were attempting to climb up for a surprise attack, their weapons glinting coldly. But before Gao Ji Yi could react, Lu Xiaojiang swiftly leaped onto the hood of the car, grabbing one of the attackers and smashing a bottle over his head. 

A splash of warm blood erupted, filling the air with a strong metallic scent. 

In the dimly lit hutong, a group of men fought fiercely. Gao Ji Yi was exhilarated. Boys of their generation had undergone training, and since adolescence, they had often brawled together. In nearby courtyards, Gao Ji Yi and Zhao Pingjin were notorious figures. With Fang Langmei’s solid defense and Lu Xiaojiang’s sharp vigilance, such fights usually ended with minor injuries, allowing them to clean up and return home for dinner. Dealing with a few unemployed thugs from out of town was merely a chance to stretch their muscles. 

In the darkness, the dull thuds of breaking bones could be heard. 

The distant wail of police sirens began to approach. A group of thugs fled into the shadows. 

By then, Shen Min and his team had arrived. After confirming no one was seriously injured, he instructed the driver to stay behind and report the incident while he drove the rest back to Zhao Pingjin’s house in Dongcheng District. 

Gao Ji Yi cursed under his breath as he got out of the car. Shen Min turned on the lights inside the house and returned to see Gao Ji Yi standing in the driveway, scolding Lu Xiaojiang by smacking his head. “I told you to hold onto the guy! Why did you charge ahead tonight? Do you have any discipline?” 

Lu Xiaojiang winced, raising his injured arm. “Ouch, Brother, it hurts!” 

Fang Langmei opened the car door. “Zhouzi?” 

Zhao Pingjin sat in the backseat. Hearing his name, he glanced up but didn’t move. His voice was low. “Let Xiaomin come over.” 

Shen Min hurried forward, reaching out to support Zhao Pingjin’s arm. 

When Shen Min applied slight force to help him up, Zhao Pingjin’s body shifted slightly, causing him to tremble in pain. He clenched his teeth, enduring it. Fang Langmei noticed that Zhao Pingjin’s arm, previously resting across his abdomen, was now pressed firmly into his stomach. Recalling how the attackers had targeted his abdomen repeatedly, Fang Langmei realized how vindictive Sun Kehu had been. This was truly a deep-seated grudge. 

Fang Langmei called out, “Lao Gao, come help!” 

Gao Ji Yi approached, grimacing. Seeing Zhao Pingjin drenched in cold sweat, his anger flared again. “Damn those bastards! Did they hit you?” 

Dr. Zhou Ziyu lived in the same community as Zhao Pingjin. After being called in for emergency surgery late at night, he glanced at Zhao Pingjin’s house upon returning. Normally, Zhao Pingjin rarely stayed at this villa, but at 3 a.m., the lights were on. 

Just as Dr. Zhou was about to check, he received a call from Shen Min.