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Shen Tang stood barefoot in the icy snow. The onlookers assumed she had twisted her ankle and removed her shoes out of sheer pain.
Even though her demeanor was fierce, no one gave it much thought.
As public figures, celebrities are expected to be cautious with their words and actions while maintaining a pristine image at all times. Once that image crumbles, their careers are essentially over.
Chu Ran believed the same. She wasn’t afraid that Shen Tang would do anything outrageous in front of so many people.
With so many eyes on Shen Tang, even if she knew Chu Ran had pushed her, she could only swallow her grievances silently.
No matter how bitter, she had to endure.
“Tangtang, your feet will freeze like this,” the assistant said, tears blurring her vision. Panicked, she felt helpless, like an ant on a hot pan, unsure of what to do.
She placed her bag flat on the ground, ignoring the phone inside. “Tangtang, step on my bag.”
In just a few seconds, Shen Tang’s bodyguard had already deduced what had happened. He also understood Shen Tang’s intentions from her stance.
He let go of the suitcase and rushed toward Chu Ran’s bodyguard.
Before Chu Ran’s bodyguard realized what was happening, his umbrella was knocked to the ground, and he was dragged aside.
“Don’t move. If we start fighting, the nature of tonight’s incident will change,” Shen Tang’s bodyguard warned as he restrained the man.
After only a few moves, it was clear who was better trained.
This bodyguard wasn’t assigned by the company or hired by Shen Tang herself—he was one of Jiang Chengyu’s personal bodyguards.
For the past few years, he had been by Shen Tang’s side.
The bodyguard looked around with hawk-like eyes, scanning everyone present. “Put away your phones, thank you.”
His gaze sent chills down their spines.
Seeing the bodyguard act so decisively snapped the assistant back to reality. After three years of working with him, she knew he wouldn’t resort to physical action unless it was urgent.
She wiped her tears with her sleeve and kept a sharp eye on the others, fearing they might take photos of Shen Tang’s disheveled state.
From the moment Shen Tang took off her shoes to now, barely twenty or thirty seconds had passed.
But to her, it felt like decades of walking through ice and fire.
Her feet were no longer her own.
Her eyes hardened with frost.
Chu Ran had lost her earlier composure. “Teacher Shen, what kind of look is that?”
Even barefoot, Shen Tang was nearly 170 cm tall, towering over Chu Ran.
She took a few steps forward. “What do you think?”
“How would I know?”
“Then let me tell you.” She enunciated each word: “It’s the look of someone about to beat you up.”
“...” Chu Ran swallowed nervously, her forced smile more painful than crying. “What do you mean? No one laughed at you for falling. Is this really necessary...?”
Before she could finish, she screamed: “Ah! My hair! What are you doing, Shen Tang!”
At that moment, a car entered the parking lot, its headlights shining directly at them.
Like a spotlight illuminating a stage, Shen Tang and Chu Ran were caught in the glare.
Shen Tang grabbed Chu Ran by her long hair with one hand and yanked her arm with the other, slamming her into the snow.
The car stopped, and the headlights turned off.
Just like that, the performance ended.
The scene was over too quickly. Before the three celebrities and their assistants could react, Shen Tang had already dealt with Chu Ran, who had no strength to fight back.
Chu Ran’s little assistant was stunned.
Only then did Shen Tang’s bodyguard release the person he’d been restraining. In a few quick strides, he reached Shen Tang’s side. Now that Shen Tang had taken matters into her own hands, his job was to ensure her safety.
The person stepping out of the car was Zhao Chiyi.
The assistant pulled Chu Ran up. Her hands trembled, and she instinctively feared for her job.
Chu Ran initially wanted to fight back against Shen Tang but changed her mind upon seeing Zhao Chiyi.
She intended to use this opportunity to drive a wedge between Shen Tang and Zhao Chiyi, ensuring they became irreconcilable enemies.
If Shen Tang signed with Evergreen Entertainment, Chu Ran’s life would become unbearable.
Though her acting skills weren’t great, the pain from Shen Tang pulling her hair and the embarrassment of being watched by so many people brought tears streaming down her face.
“Do you have the nerve to cry?” Shen Tang didn’t care about her tears. “If you try any dirty tricks behind my back again, I’ll slap you. Behave yourself. If I go to hell, I’ll drag you down with me.”
Chu Ran shuddered. “Shen Tang, have you gone mad? You hit me and still act like you’re in the right?”
Zhao Chiyi approached.
The other three artists, all under Evergreen Entertainment, reined in their curiosity and greeted their boss promptly.
Zhao Chiyi’s voice was cold. “Gathering warmth in a group, huh?”
“...”
Shen Tang didn’t even glance at Zhao Chiyi. She bent down to put her shoes back on.
Underneath her dress, she wore leggings. With mud and water on her feet, she simply wiped them off on her pants before slipping into her high heels.
Zhao Chiyi scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering on Shen Tang. He had witnessed the moment she yanked Chu Ran’s hair from inside the car.
Then, his gaze returned to Chu Ran. “We heard your screams from so far away. Were you really acting?”
Chu Ran feigned grievance. “Shen Tang hit me. I screamed because I couldn’t bear the pain.”
Tears streamed down her chin.
Her nose was red, her long hair disheveled, and her dress stained. She looked utterly pitiful.
As for Shen Tang, she didn’t bother explaining a single word.
It was unbearably cold outside. Zhao Chiyi gestured with his chin. “Let’s go inside.”
After taking a few steps, he turned back. “All of you come with me. If you’re late, forget about walking the red carpet.”
The secretary immediately relayed the instructions.
A group of over ten people followed Zhao Chiyi silently into the hotel. Shen Tang walked last.
Lijie finally arrived, still unaware of what had happened. But she felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
“Why are you still not inside?”
The assistant hesitated, glancing at Shen Tang.
Shen Tang shrugged indifferently. “I beat Chu Ran up.”
“What?” Lijie’s voice cracked. She clutched her chest. “Why did you hit her? Shen Tang, what’s gotten into you today? How could you hit someone in front of so many people? Do you know how hard we’ve worked to get here?”
Her eyes reddened with anger.
The assistant pinched her fingertips, head bowed, recounting everything that had happened to Lijie.
Several times, Lijie opened her mouth but couldn’t squeeze out a single word.
Her frustration boiled over.
“Miss…”
She was on the verge of tears.
“Do you realize,” Lijie suppressed her rage, “that you’re ruining yourself?”
Shen Tang replied calmly, “I know.”
In her anger, Lijie spoke without thinking. “Shen Tang, look at your attitude. You caused such trouble and still act like nothing happened! Do you think the entertainment industry belongs to you?”
The assistant interjected softly, “Teacher Shen only retaliated because she was in pain from the fall—”
Lijie cut her off impatiently. “Enough! Don’t say another word!”
The assistant closed her mouth, feeling sorry for Shen Tang.
Lijie’s mind was a mess, like mush. Suddenly, she didn’t know how to explain this to the company.
This time, Shen Tang had offended both Zhao Chiyi and the Chu family.
“You know what kind of person Chu Ran is and what kind of background her family has. Haven’t I always reminded you to stay away from her? We can’t afford to offend her. Arguing online is one thing, but confronting her face-to-face is another!”
Her heart ached more with every word.
Lijie laid out the worst possible consequences for Shen Tang. “Shen Tang, you may feel satisfied now, but have you thought about us? You might drag down the entire team.”
Shen Tang understood why Lijie was so upset. “Even if I can’t stay in this industry, I’ll use all my resources to ensure everyone’s future remains bright. I won’t cause any trouble for you.”
Lijie’s scolding felt like punching cotton.
Resources?
What resources did she have?
She came from a small fishing village with no connections or background.
Relying on her looks?
Even she had said that Jiang Chengyu wouldn’t marry her even if he decided to settle down.
Jiang Chengyu was a businessman. Spending money on her and offending powerful people for her sake were two entirely different things.
She waved her hand dismissively. “You all go ahead. I need some fresh air.”
Everyone waited for Shen Tang at the elevator.
Chu Ran was still sniffling, her makeup ruined. She didn’t plan to attend the charity gala anymore. No matter what, she would make Shen Tang pay.
Shen Tang’s coat was dirty with mud and water. She took it off and handed it to her assistant.
Over ten people squeezed into the elevator together. Zhao Chiyi instructed the elevator operator to press the button for the 18th floor.
The 18th floor housed the hotel’s conference rooms and recreational facilities. The elevator went straight there.
Even the usually lively actress remained silent.
The elevator was as quiet as if the end of the world had arrived.
Shen Tang frowned slightly. Her feet stung painfully.
When the elevator reached the 18th floor, she stood by the door, supported by her bodyguard as she stepped out.
Despite the burning pain in her feet, she still walked gracefully.
Her slender waist, wrapped in her ethereal gown, swayed elegantly.
Unconsciously, Zhao Chiyi found himself unable to look away, mesmerized for two seconds.
The back door of the meeting room was adjacent to the elevator. The staff had already lined up at the entrance, waiting.
The secretary announced, “Turn off your phones.”
Everyone understood the implication. The secretary’s instruction was to prevent anyone from recording audio clips that could be taken out of context.
The actress signaled her assistant to hand over her phone, and the others followed suit.
The secretary confirmed that all phones had their recordings turned off but left them untouched, placing them on the conference table.
Both Shen Tang and Chu Ran kept their phones with them, refusing to hand them over.
The secretary glanced at them. As the parties involved, it was fine if they didn’t comply. She didn’t say anything.
The meeting room door closed.
“What exactly happened?” Zhao Chiyi leaned back in his chair, directing the question at Shen Tang.
Shen Tang smiled faintly. “Mr. Zhao, why don’t you check the parking lot surveillance footage?” With a playful tone, she added, “Unless the cameras conveniently broke down today?”
Her defiant and arrogant gaze made even Chu Ran hesitate to act so brazenly in front of Zhao Chiyi.
Zhao Chiyi knew he wouldn’t get anything out of Shen Tang. He turned to signal the secretary to retrieve all surveillance footage from the parking lot.
In the meeting room, besides the actress who planned to walk the red carpet with Shen Tang, there was also a male and female actor. They exchanged glances, unsure of what would happen next.
But they understood that tonight’s outcome wouldn’t be determined by right or wrong.
They were well aware of that.
Shen Tang lightly tapped her phone screen, calm and composed.
The assistant beside her sighed inwardly, sitting on pins and needles. She thought Shen Tang would reach out to Jiang Chengyu, but so far, she hadn’t even unlocked her phone.
The assistant was sweating profusely but didn’t dare say a word.
Shen Tang’s phone vibrated. It was a message from her close friend Wen Di: [Honey, why aren’t you here yet?]
Wen Di was at the charity auction, waiting for Shen Tang to arrive. She had checked both inside and outside but couldn’t find her.
She hadn’t had time to visit Shen Tang in Hengdian these past few months due to her busy schedule. Since Shen Tang was attending tonight’s gala, Wen Di had canceled other commitments to meet her.
[Is there traffic?]
Shen Tang replied: [Something came up. I’ll explain when we meet. Not sure if I’ll make it to the red carpet.]
Wen Di was reassured: [As long as you’re coming (hugs)]
Shen Tang typed a line of text and then deleted it, exiting the chat.
The meeting room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. No one spoke, each lost in their thoughts.
The tense silence was broken by a cheerful ringtone.
Everyone instinctively turned to look—it was Chu Ran’s phone.
Seeing the caller ID, Chu Ran’s eyes welled up with委屈 once more.
She took a deep breath and answered.
“Hello, Uncle Two. No fractures, just a sprain.”
Everyone present knew who Chu Ran’s Uncle Two was—and even more so, her formidable Aunt Two, the eldest princess of the Xiao family.
Instinctively, a few sympathetic glances were cast toward Shen Tang.
Without a doubt, Chu Ran had already sent a message to her family to complain.
This time, Shen Tang had kicked a steel plate.
“Uncle, don’t worry. I’ll go to the hospital after I’m done here.” Chu Ran sniffled as she spoke.
Chu Yue Li on the other end of the line was still concerned. “I’ll arrange a doctor for you immediately. Don’t wait. A sprained foot is no small matter. If your tendons are injured, recovery takes a hundred days. If you can’t walk, it’ll delay filming.”
“As for Shen Tang, since Zhao Chiyi is already there, he’ll handle it. Don’t worry about that. Shen Tang hit someone, and she must apologize. We’ll discuss further actions after tonight’s charity event ends.”
“Thank you, Uncle. I’ll talk to you later. The surveillance footage is being retrieved now.” Chu Ran hung up.
She deliberately let her uncle know and answered the call in front of Zhao Chiyi to pressure him, making it difficult for Shen Tang to defend herself today.
Not long after she hung up, Zhao Chiyi’s phone vibrated. He opened the message—it was from Chu Yue Li, brief and simple: [Ranran has caused you trouble again.]
Those few words could be interpreted in many ways.
But regardless of interpretation, Chu Yue Li clearly sympathized with his niece being beaten and wanted to support her.
Family backing often has nothing to do with right or wrong.
Evergreen Group had collaborations with the Chu family, especially the Xiao family, across various fields.
Zhao Chiyi rubbed his temples. This situation was getting complicated.
Shen Tang’s hands were still icy cold. She absentmindedly rubbed her fingers.
Her diamond-encrusted watch sparkled brilliantly under the crystal chandelier.
Zhao Chiyi kept his eyes on the watch. How many watches did this woman own? Every time she attended an event, she wore a different style.
It was rumored that they were all part of her private collection, not borrowed from brands.
The office door opened, and the secretary strode in with the retrieved surveillance footage.
Chu Ran’s heart raced. Even with her uncle backing her, she still worried something might go wrong. Her confidence wasn’t entirely solid.
Shen Tang’s thoughts drifted far away. She didn’t bother looking at the projection screen.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had fought someone—maybe in elementary school or middle school. Without parents, she had always been her own backup.
Whenever someone bullied her, she retaliated on her own.
Even if she ended up at a disadvantage, she never regretted standing up for herself in moments of humiliation.
Eventually, no one dared to provoke her easily.
“Teacher Shen,” the assistant whispered.
“Hmm?” Shen Tang responded slowly.
The assistant gestured for her to look at the replay of the surveillance footage on the large screen.
There were two video clips, capturing the scene of Shen Tang slipping and fighting in the parking lot from two angles.
One camera was too far away, only showing a group of people gathered. Details were unclear, making this clip practically useless.
The second clip became crucial. Besides the secretary and Zhao Chiyi, everyone else held their breath.
This camera was installed at the hotel entrance, capturing Shen Tang and the others head-on.
In the footage, Chu Ran was wearing a down jacket. At first, she looked ahead, then turned to speak to her assistant.
A few seconds later, Shen Tang slipped, and both Chu Ran and her assistant looked over.
The footage showed no physical contact between Chu Ran and Shen Tang. Chu Ran was seen talking to her assistant the entire time, completely oblivious to what was happening in front.
Anyone who didn’t know the full story wouldn’t suspect Chu Ran of pushing anyone.
Shen Tang asked the secretary, “Is that all?”
The secretary pretended not to hear, seemingly focused on her laptop.
Shen Tang turned to Zhao Chiyi and stated clearly, “Mr. Zhao, I want the footage from the side cameras.”
Zhao Chiyi lightly tapped his fingers on the table, rhythmless.
He chuckled but didn’t respond.
The secretary, who had been by Zhao Chiyi’s side for years, immediately understood the meaning behind her boss’s silent laugh.
She interjected, “Miss Shen, I’ve retrieved all valid footage. A small outdoor parking lot wouldn’t have more cameras than parking spots, would it? Don’t you agree?”
“Hmph.” Shen Tang pressed her lips together, her icy gaze fixed on Zhao Chiyi.
Zhao Chiyi met her eyes. Tonight, he owed Shen Tang.
The assistant gasped sharply.
It seemed there was no way out now.
But she firmly believed Shen Tang wouldn’t hit someone without reason or falsely accuse anyone. Even with her conflict with Chu Ran, she wouldn’t resort to such a self-destructive solution.
The secretary turned off the projector. Understanding that her boss intended to side with Chu Ran, she immediately messaged the boss’s bodyguard: [Erase all content from the side cameras.]
The bodyguard, stationed in the surveillance room, complied upon receiving the message.
At this point, Chu Ran forgot about her foot pain and stood up, gripping the edge of the table.
She looked down at Shen Tang arrogantly. “Isn’t it time to apologize? Did you really think I’m that easy to bully? Did you hit me for no reason? If you slap yourself now, I’ll let it go. Delete those surveillance videos.”
Shen Tang stared at her coldly. “Are you dreaming?”
Chu Ran knew Shen Tang’s pride wouldn’t let her apologize easily. “Fine, no apology needed. I’ll post the video of you hitting me online and let netizens decide. You have one minute to decide.”
She turned up the volume on her phone, starting the timer.
“Tick-tock… tick-tock… tick-tock…” Each second passed with anxiety and tension.
The other artists exchanged uneasy glances, unsure how to break the deadlock.
With the boss having spoken, they could only remain silent.
The assistant’s heartbeat raced faster than the timer, nearly suffocating her.
Her heart pounded chaotically, her palms icy cold.
She glanced at the door from time to time. The meeting room door was tightly shut, and Lijie hadn’t arrived yet.
How could this situation be resolved? This small assistant was powerless.
The timer reached the last ten seconds: 10, 9, 8…
“Buzzzzz—” The vibration of a phone drowned out the ticking sound.
It was Zhao Chiyi’s phone. Seeing the caller’s name, he frowned slightly.
Quickly, he picked up. “Mr. Jiang, what can I do for you?”
Whatever was said on the other end made Zhao Chiyi pause momentarily. “Thank you, thank you. My apologies for not greeting you properly.”
After hanging up, he stood and headed toward the door.
The door was pushed open from the outside, and a cool, magnetic voice echoed into the meeting room: “Mr. Zhao, it’s been a while.”
Shen Tang whipped her head around—it was Jiang Chengyu’s voice.
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