Chapter 38

Around 10 p.m., it was still Shen Min driving. The two of them left Guosheng Hutong.

Zhao Pingjin got into the car and remained silent.

Over the years, they had developed a familiar understanding—whenever he didn’t want to speak, Shen Min never asked any questions and simply drove quietly.

The car was a bit stuck when they passed Andingmen West Street. The neon lights outside the window flickered in a dazzling array of colors, and the streetlights blurred into red dots. The brilliant night of Beijing continued to flash into their eyes.

The car entered the second ring road, then onto the third ring, driving straight to the P1 garage of the Park Hyatt. Shen Min smoothly parked the car, set the handbrake, and glanced at the rearview mirror.

Zhao Pingjin was still sitting motionless in the back seat.

Shen Min sensed something was wrong, so she unbuckled her seatbelt. Just as she was about to speak, Zhao Pingjin’s hoarse voice came from the back seat. “Xiao Min, get me my medicine.”

Shen Min’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly turned around to look.

He was still sitting in the back seat, but his face had turned pale, and his voice trembled slightly.

The Zhao family had strict family rules, and everything they did was calm and measured.

Shen Min lowered her head to look for his medicine bag.

Zhao Pingjin took a breath. “The one on top.”

He had left the bottle of medicine in the most easily accessible compartment. Shen Min handed it to him. Zhao Pingjin unscrewed the bottle, poured out a few pills into his palm, and swallowed them directly.

Shen Min instinctively asked, “Is it your stomach?”

Zhao Pingjin furrowed his brow but didn’t respond.

Shen Min took his thermos cup from beside the driver’s seat and shook it. It was empty.

She immediately opened the car door. “I’ll get you a glass of warm water.”

Shen Min ran downstairs to the first floor. While running, she silently scolded herself. She had been too careless. Recently, the entire company had been busy with the energy bidding project, with everyone running around. Although Zhao Pingjin appeared fine on the outside, Shen Min knew that the pressure he bore was the greatest. The most obvious sign of this pressure was his poor appetite. His female secretary had quietly reported that Zhao didn’t touch the lunch orders she made for him.

Zhao Pingjin’s health had been alright over the years. His elderly relatives cared for his daily life, and he never neglected himself. When he got too tired, he would stay in the hospital to rest for a while. Shen Min didn’t think too much of it, assuming his health would improve once the bidding was over. She never expected his stomach problem to resurface. He worked closely with her every day, yet he had managed to hide it from her.

Shen Min poured a glass of water on the first floor and quickly returned. She opened the back door, bent down to stand in front of the back seat, her body blocking the outside, and saw Zhao Pingjin still sitting there, clearly enduring extreme pain. His face was pale, his body slightly curled, his lips tightly clenched, and his hand pressed against his stomach.

Shen Min helped him drink half a glass of water, then closed the car door. She returned to the driver’s seat and turned up the heater. “You rest for a while.”

Zhao Pingjin finally closed his eyes, leaned back in his seat, and pressed his hand more firmly against his stomach.

Shen Min was anxious inside but could only sit still and wait. After a while, the pain seemed to subside a little. Zhao Pingjin’s voice was hoarse, exhausted as he said, “Xiao Min, you can go back now. I’ll go upstairs and rest for a while.”

Shen Min didn’t dare relax. She quietly said, “I’ll call the doctor tonight and arrange for you to get checked tomorrow.”

Zhao Pingjin frowned. “I’ll take a break in a few days, but not now.”

Shen Min didn’t insist. The company situation was complicated, and he wouldn’t leave now.

Shen Min, still worried, said, “Let me take you upstairs.”

Around 4 p.m., the gray walls had faint sunlight on them. After more than a week of heavy snow, it was slowly melting. The streets were damp, and the tree branches cast sparse, dim shadows.

At this time, there weren’t many pedestrians on the road, with only a few passing by, wrapped in thick scarves and gloves, riding bicycles quickly.

Xiao Ning was supporting Xitang’s arm as they walked slowly along the side of the road.

Xitang was completely weak, dragging her steps as she walked forward. She was wearing a loose, blue cotton-padded costume, a black down jacket on top, wrapped in a scarf, and wearing sunglasses.

Her eyes were completely swollen.

Filming for The Last Princess was nearing its end. The Jin family had experienced many changes over time. In the old home of the Jin family in Xilou Hutong, her second brother had hanged himself. She returned home to mourn, and became so deeply immersed in the role that, even after finishing the play, she couldn’t stop crying. The director asked an assistant to help her take a walk outside.

This week, the crew moved to Changqing Liyuan, where they would shoot the second-to-last scene. The props and lighting teams had been busy for days, and the elaborate stage was almost ready. The assistant director had recruited a large group of extras to serve as audience members and also found some students from the Opera Academy to rehearse on stage.

The main actors rested for half a day.

They were finally about to shoot the most important scene—Beijing’s debut performance of high society women.

As filming for The Last Princess neared completion, it was scheduled to air on Beijing TV in March next year. Various promotional channels had already been set up, focusing on director Feng Jiasu and male lead Yin Nan. These two had always followed a route of high-quality production, and their reputation for excellent work had been well established. As the most anticipated drama of the coming year, the press conference attracted more and more journalists, with fans gathering in circles outside.

Huang Xitang’s name was frequently mentioned alongside Yin Nan’s, making headlines in the entertainment section. As her fame gradually grew, the number of sponsors increased. Ni Kailun occasionally brought her brand-name clothes, bracelets, scarves, and sunglasses, advising her to wear this today and that tomorrow.

There were so many award ceremonies, fashion galas, and promotional events in Beijing. Even Yin Nan, who was usually low-key, had been invited to two or three commercial events, one of which he attended with Huang Xitang.

The two had been old friends for many years. Perhaps it was a smile or a familiar face that was just a bit more intimate, but once the paparazzi caught a glimpse, rumors about their relationship were quickly stirred up.

It was said that Zheng Youtong’s fans were furious, with thousands of them flooding social media to bash Huang Xitang.

Xiao Ning spent every day in the crew, constantly checking her phone and reporting to her. She seemed to be enjoying it very much.

Xitang slowly recovered, letting go of Xiao Ning’s hand and taking a few steps. She turned a street corner, and the red brick walls and yellow glazed tiles of Yonghegong (Lama Temple) were now visible in the distance.

It seemed like she could still see the faint smoke rising from the temple’s rooftops.

She stopped, gazing around slowly. There were still many street vendors selling incense beneath the walls. She clearly remembered that past the Zhaotai Gate’s archway, there was a long green path paved with square bricks, with tall ginkgo trees shading the road. When the ginkgo leaves turned yellow in the fall, it was incredibly beautiful.

Zhao Pingjin had taken her to see it.

She had lived near that street for a long time, and it had been the happiest time of her life.

But she couldn’t think about it anymore.

Zhao Pingjin had remained silent, as if it had been a long time. Since the last time they had fought bitterly at Wu Zhenzhen’s wedding, Zhao Pingjin had not contacted her again.

This was only natural; if anyone angered him, he would simply ignore them.

That night, the assistant director came to find her. He said that Director Feng was in the editing room rewatching the footage and noticed a continuity error in a scene—she had worn earrings in the first part, but not in the second part. The director said a few close-up shots would need to be reshot tomorrow.

Xitang started looking for the earrings. They were a small pair of pearl earrings, one of her few personal possessions. She remembered that she hadn’t worn them for a while, so she rummaged through her suitcase and makeup bag, even having her assistant search through every corner of the hotel room, but they couldn’t find them.

Xitang sat on the hotel bed, thinking carefully. She had visited the Park Hyatt several times during that period, so the earrings were probably left there with Zhao Pingjin.

She gathered her courage and called him, but his phone was off.

With no other option, she decided to contact Shen Min.

Shen Min said that Zhao Pingjin was resting today.

Xitang explained the situation, and Shen Min smiled. “He gave you the room card, so you’re free to come and go as you wish. You can just go back and look for them.”

Xitang reluctantly agreed.

Just as she was about to hang up, Shen Min suddenly called out, “Xitang?”

“Mm?”

Shen Min clearly had something to say, but after a brief silence, she didn’t speak further. “It’s nothing. Just go look for them.”

Xitang took a taxi to Jianguomen.