Translator: _Min
âMy apologies,â the doctor continued to be evasive. âIâll contact her as soon as possible.â
âAlright, thank you,â Zuo Xianyu didnât press further.
She didnât have much affection for the fourth uncle of the Zuo family and was rather repulsed by his behavior.
Whether his health could be restored had little to do with her.
Zuo Xianyu made another call, instructing, âContact Miss Lin Qingyan. Weâll offer compensation.â
At this moment, Lin Qingyan couldnât possibly show her face in class.
She had already arranged a dance routine for the trainees to practice on their own.
Upon learning what had happened, her agent rushed over, just in time to receive the call from the Zuo family.
They sternly requested an immediate appearance at the police station.
âAre you insane?â The agent exploded. âYou dare to take legal action against the Zuo family? Do you know their standing in Lin? You still have two months of shows to record here!â
The Zuo family might not be an aristocratic family or a wealthy family in the city of Sijiu, but in Lin, they were the leading force with expansive connections.
Lin Qingyanâs years of savings, though substantial, in the tens of millions range, couldnât compare to the Zuo familyâs resources.
The Zuo family could easily make someone disappear in Lin.
âIt wasnât me!â Lin Qingyan was equally furious, her eyes tinged with red. âIt was Si Fuqing! She called the police before I could even explain!â
Her initial intention had never been to make a big deal out of the situation with
Zuo Qingya.
But Si Fuqing had pushed her into direct conflict with the Zuo family.
âSi Fuqing!â The agentâs expression turned cold. âWhat does she gain from bullying you? Sheâs at the very bottom of the entertainment industry.â
âBut I guess this is to be expected. With both you being idols, the fact your popularity is miles ahead means that she should be jealous of you.
âThatâs true,â Lin Qingyan felt somewhat better hearing this. âLetâs go to the police station first.â
At the station, thanks to the Zuo familyâs influence, Lin Qingyan was quickly ushered in. âMiss Qingya, 1ââ
Before she could finish her sentence, her face was met with a hard slap.
Staggering in her high heels, Lin Qingyan twisted her ankle and fell to the ground.
Both her ankle and face swelled instantly, leaving her in a daze.
âMiss Zuo!â The agent rushed to help her up. âLin Qingyanâs face is insured!â
âInsured?â Zuo Qingya sneered. âHow much could it be worth? You think youâre Yun Lan, where your face is worth a billion? Name a price, Iâll write you a check. â
Zuo Zonghe was one that always enjoyed his affairs with irrelevant celebrities.
Zuo Qingya had long been familiar with the workings of the entertainment industry.
The entertainment industry today was dictated by the capital like them.
âMiss Qingya, please donât insult me,â Lin Qingyanâs eyes reddened.
âInsult? You didnât think of that when you had me arrested, did you?â Zuo Qingya retorted. âI suggest we settle this privately. If you want to go public, letâs see if you can even afford a lawyer.â
Constrained and humiliated, Lin Qingyan could only acquiesce. âWhatever you say, Miss Qingya.â
âGood,â Zuo Qingya said arrogantly, leaving without another glance.
The agent could only try to console Lin Qingyan, who bit her lip, tears pooling in her eyes. âIâm fine.â
âBe cautious,â the agent sighed. âCompete with Si Fuqing if you must, but donât get entangled with the Zuo family. We canât afford to mess with them.â
âIt wasnât my intention to involve the Zuo family!â For the first time, Lin Qingyanâs expression twisted in frustration. âSi! Fu! Qing!â
Ifit werenât for her meddling and calling the police, how could I have suffered such humiliation?
âActually, about her,â the manager seemed contemplative. âIâve heard some rumors from Tianle Media. Si Fuqing is going to have a tough time in the first public performance.â
Lin Qingyan was taken aback. âWhat do you mean?â
âIâm not sure yet,â the manager shook his head. âJust focus on healing for now, and avoid the paparazzi.â
Lin Qingyan nodded, her heart filled with stifled resentment and impotence.
She bowed her head, concealing the hatred in her eyes.
The dayâs training came to a swift conclusion.
Xu Xiyun collapsed on the ground, pleading, âTeacher Si, please show some mercy and let me rest for a bit.â
âMercy? You think Iâm Buddha?â Si Fuqing gave him another kick. âIn video games, Iâm the kind who kills without batting an eye.â
âTeacher Si, maybe youâre the one who should cut back on the novels and anime,â Xu Xiyun weakly retorted.
âSuggestions to the teachers are prohibited, and even if given, will not be heeded,â Si Fuqing shrugged on her coat. âIâll be back tomorrow to check your training progress. â
She sent out a few more training schedules before leaving the base.
Since sheâd mentioned that she would go to the villa to treat Yu Xihengâs leg, Feng San had already parked the car outside and was waiting. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
There was also another person waiting: Zuo Xianyu.
Si Fuqing squinted her fox-like eyes and gestured to Feng San to hold back for now.
Feng San, having been trained in martial arts since childhood and having been with Yu Xiheng for many years, knew how to conceal his presence.
Zuo Xianyu remained completely unaware.
âI know it was you who called the police this time,â Zuo Xianyuâs gaze was icy. âI remember telling you at my grandfatherâs funeral not to meddle in things you canât handle, especially when it comes to the Zuo family.â
âI remember telling you not to mess with me,â Si Fuqing folded her arms. âOh, by the way, I have some skill in reading faces. Your countenance suggests impending misfortune. Would you like me to draw a talisman to suppress it?â
She could clearly sense that her luck was returning.
Although very weak, it was a great sign.
The more closely someone was connected to old Master Zuo, the more of Si Fuqingâs aura they carried.
She had done her research.
Zuo Xianyu had shown no business acumen as a child. It was only in the year Si Fuqing joined the Zuo family, when Zuo Xianyu was about ten, that he suddenly became perceptive in business matters.
âIâm not interested in your superstitions,â Zuo Xianyu frowned. âYou studied performing arts abroad; when did you pick up these outlandish beliefs?â
Ignoring her, Si Fuqing answered a phone call. âHello? Yes, itâs me. What is it?â
Whatever was said on the other end prompted her to chuckle. âIf youâre in a hurry to meet your maker, I can assist.â
She turned back to Zuo Xianyu and smiled, âQuite a few people in this world are in a hurry to meet their maker, donât you think?â
Zuo Xianyuâs expression turned colder. âYouâre clueless!â
Zuo Xianyu had always been precise about her social relationships. She didnât waste time forging connections with people who couldnât help her. Si Fuqing was such a person.
Realizing the futility of her efforts, Zuo Xianyu didnât want to waste more words with Si Fuqing. She picked up her bag and left.
Si Fuqing ended her call and lazily walked to the car where Feng San was waiting.
âMiss Si, about the Zuo familyâ¦â Feng San began.
âDonât worry about it,â Si Fuqing leaned back in her seat. âI have some things still with them; weâll talk when they return whatâs mine.â
Feng San looked puzzled. âWhy not just take it?â
âItâs not that simple; itâs not something that can be forcibly taken. Oh, by the way, boss,â Si Fuqing tilted her head, her eyes forming a sly curve. âWould you like some pastries? My girlfriend made them. Theyâre really tasty. Hereâs one thatâs not too sweet.â
She opened a box of pastries, took one out, and handed it over.
âGirlfriend?â Yu Xiheng raised an eyebrow, latching onto that word. âYou mean Yu Tang?â
âExactly, Ningning and Tangtang both! I canât let down their feelings for me, so theyâre both my girlfriends.â
âWhatâs wrong with that? All I want is to give each girl who likes me a home!â
Even Yu Xiheng paused at that, his casual tone shifting slightly as he took a bite of the pastry. âHmm, not bad.â
Feng San facepalmed.
As it turned out, no matter how serious the topic, Miss Si could always steer it off course.
Meanwhile, Zuo Xianyu returned to the Zuo house.
She pulled out several files and started to work. Just as she picked up her pen, the hospital returned her call.
âIâm sorry, Miss Zuo,â the voice on the other end said. âIâve asked her, and she doesnât have the time. I also mentioned your offer, and she still declined. She saidâ¦â
The implication that sheâd rather meet your maker, was left unspoken.
Upon hearing this, Zuo Xianyu frowned, clearly displeased.. âMay I know why?â