Chapter 17: 017: Did Jiang i Ren get slapped in the face today?
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Jiang Zhi slowly opened his eyes.
Ah Wan continued, “Miss Zhou was photographed entering your lounge. The internet is abuzz about your relationship.”
Those photos were not very clear, but those sharp-eyed could recognize Jiang Zhi.
Xue Baoyi asked, “Which dia company is behind this?” So inconsiderate.
Ah Wan replied, “The Lu family.”
No wonder. Most dia companies wouldn’t dare provoke the Jiang family’s young master but the Lu family is different. Both are among the Four Great Families, and the Lu family isn’t far behind the Jiang family. The two families have always been at odds.
In this Imperial City, only the Lu family dared to annoy Jiang Zhi.
Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi, unsure of what he was pondering, with his delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed. Qiao Nanchu tossed him the tablet: “Those paparazzi act fast. They’ve already found the protagonist.”
On the screen was an enlarged face, which was Zhou Xufang.
Jiang Zhi took a quick glance.
A group of reporters surrounded Zhou Xufang at the entrance of the film city. She wore a baseball cap, shielding her face with her hand, eyes full of wariness.
“Who are you?”
Her tone was exceptionally cold, almost chilling.
“We are reporters from Huayu Daily.”
She continued covering her face, with tightly knitted brows indicating her vigilance and hostility, “Why are you following ?”
A reporter said, “We aren’t following you.”
She repeated, “Why are you following ?”
“We want to interview you. What’s your relationship with Director Jiang?”
She remained silent for a long ti before realizing who Director Jiang was. She pushed away the cara: “I’m not very familiar with him.”
The reporter persisted, “Then why did you co from his–”
She pulled down her hat further, covering her face, only showing a pair of sharp eyes: “Don’t follow anymore.”
The reporter tried to approach again. She snatched the cara and smashed it, walking away swiftly, leaving everyone stunned.
The video ended there.
Jiang Zhi’s peach blossom eyes were half-open, making it hard to discern their color.
He seed angry. After all, the rumors were false. Ah Wan asked for instructions: “Mr. Jiang, should we issue a statent to clarify the rumor?”
He tossed the tablet onto the coffee table, his expression indifferent and slightly annoyed: “Clarify what?” He sat up from the sofa, supporting his chin, his gaze shifting slightly, “The girl said it herself, not familiar.”
What nonsense about being attracted to his looks.
He licked his lips, his throat slightly itchy: “I want chicken soup tomorrow.”
Ah Wan was stunned, “Huh?”
How did he suddenly bring up chicken soup?
Jiang Zhi’s long lashes lifted, casting a shadow under the light: “That chicken, slaughter it.”
Not familiar?
Why didn’t she say that when she gave him the chicken?
“Oh.” Ah Wan understood, the employer was angry at Miss Zhou for her remarks, so he was taking it out on an innocent rooster.
Jiang Zhi sat up again, flipping the tablet on the coffee table, his eyes misty, joy and anger hidden within: “Slaughter it today.”
Not familiar?
Why didn’t she say that when she complinted his looks?
Only serves to annoy people!
Ah Wan: “…” He didn’t know what to say, “Alright.”
Jiang Zhi lay back on the sofa, closing his eyes, resembling a delicate beauty from ancient tis, lazy and sickly. But soon, he started coughing, and the cough grew more severe, reddening his face.
Xue Baoyi, having known him for over twenty years, couldn’t fail to see the suppressed anger in him. Quickly, he soothed him, giving a playful smile, “Sothing’s off, Brother Zhi. Your reaction seems a bit overboard.” Rare to see, this reaction, Xue Baoyi gave a mischievous smile, “What, did you fancy that girl?”
Jiang Zhi slightly furrowed his brows.
He detested won.
All these years, he never doubted his sexual orientation, but Zhou Xufang was that peculiar existence, so peculiar that she evoked a curiosity towards the opposite sex, even a desire to win, that he had never felt in over twenty years.
This realization made him incredibly irritated, extrely irritated. He thought, could it be because her eyes resembled that boy’s, making his heart so unsettled… the more he thought, the more annoyed he beca.
Jiang Zhi lifted his eyes, “I prefer n.”
After saying that, he looked at Xue Baoyi, exuding a mildly intoxicated charm without having drunk any alcohol.
There it was again, those captivating peach blossom eyes!
“Don’t look at like that.” Xue Baoyi leaned back, “I’m straight.” Don’t even think about turning him; he has a will of steel, he’d never yield!
Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes: “I’m not desperate.”
Xue Baoyi: “…”
If it weren’t for the fact that he’s a beauty, he’d have punched him long ago.
This interruption completely killed Jiang Zhi’s mood. He grabbed his coat and got up to leave. Just as he exited the private room, he stopped again.
Ah Wan quickly stepped forward, unsure of what the capricious employer would do next.
“Don’t slaughter it.” He said.
“Huh?” Ah Wan really couldn’t keep up with his employer’s rcurial thoughts.
“That chicken.”
With that, he quickened his pace, and his coughing grew louder.
The employer was so fickle. Ah Wan followed, “So, should I keep raising it?”
It was just a chicken; what exactly was he fussing about? Jiang Zhi lowered his eyes, furrowing his brows, what was wrong with him? Why did that person ignite a fire in his heart, burning with an increasing sense of dissatisfaction?
The elevator doors opened. He paused for a mont, stepped inside, leaned against the side, eyelashes drooping, shadowed by the light, concealing his emotions. Listening closely, there was a hint of annoyance in his voice: “Let it starve for a few als first.”
“…”
How infuriating.
Jiang Zhi’s scandal stayed on the trending list for two days, then the buzz was overtaken by a shocking news story in the entertainnt industry—a famous actress attempted suicide, leaving a note exposing a major entertainnt company’s sex scandal.
Tianxing Entertainnt was also a top-tier entertainnt company in the country and a bitter rival of Xue Baoyi’s Baoguang.
Hearing the news, Xue Baoyi was gleeful: “Looks like Tianxing is in for a rough ti this ti.”
At the dining table, it was just a few old friends, speaking without any reservations.
Qiao Nanchu followed up, “Not necessarily.” He had so involvent with the Criminal Investigation Team’s affairs, “The victim had gone to the police just days before to file a case but withdrew it soon after. Soone must have intervened.”
How could a minor celebrity possibly stand up to a major company? Being stonewalled at every turn without any recourse was the harsh reality.
Xue Baoyi poured a small glass of red wine, swirling it: “These bastards, driving soone to suicide.”
The entertainnt circle was like this, using human lives to force out so morality, no one cares unless sobody dies.
Just then, Xue Baoyi’s secretary ca in, handed him a tablet, explained a few things, and left. There had been new developnts in the matter.
“Tianxing has moved quickly. Their PR strategy to shift the bla is already out.” Xue Baoyi handed the tablet to Jiang Zhi.
Cheng Feiran’s suicide attempt had failed. Tianxing Entertainnt imdiately shifted all the bla back, claiming a certain actress fabricated the story for publicity and announced they would pursue the matter to the end.
Jiang Zhi asked for a bowl of soup, sipping leisurely: “Who’s managing Tianxing?”
“The Luo family is the largest shareholder, so it should be Luo Qinghe managing it.” Qiao Nanchu leaned lazily against the back of the chair, “You want to get involved too?”
He neither confird nor denied, “Lack substantial evidence.” He only drank half the soup before getting tired of it, “Ah Wan, go check on the actress who attempted suicide at the hospital.”
“Got it.”
Since she had no work during the day, Zhou Xufang was at ho sleeping, from morning until dusk. Not having eaten all day, she got hungry, went to the fridge to find sothing to eat, and had just finished a can of milk when Shuangjiang found her.
“Xu Fang, Cheng Feiran is in trouble.”
On the computer screen, a webpage automatically opened, showing the entire Cheng Feiran incident.
Zhou Xufang finished watching, tossed the milk can into the trash: “Did they save her?”
Online information about Cheng Feiran was scarce, summarizing her situation in eight words: “Attempted suicide with unclear intent.” She was probably at the end of her rope with no support. Though she didn’t die, public opinion wasn’t on her side.
With the webpages filling the screen, Shuangjiang couldn’t type conveniently and used special speech synthesis software to send a synthesized voice over: “She is out of danger but still in the hospital.”
Zhou Xufang sat in front of the computer, took out her phone, and ordered takeout, “Today is the seventh day.” The client had said to hand over the items after seven days, “Send the recipient’s detailed information.”
After so rustling noises, a few A4 papers dropped from the printer connected to the computer. Zhou Xufang picked them up.
The synthesized voice sounded very chanical, reading aloud: “Zhou Qingrang, male, News Broadcast host, 37 years old.”
This person was Cheng Feiran’s last lifeline.
Zhou Xufang looked at the information on the paper, flipping through page by page: “Is he reliable?”
Shuangjiang didn’t answer, instead asked, “Xu Fang, are you planning sothing?”
Aside from matters within the scope of their commission, they never interfered with other related matters. She had a feeling that Zhou Xufang would make an exception this ti.
“Cheng Feiran didn’t lie. Those people are bad.” Zhou Xufang only fought, never cursed, but she had to curse this ti, “They’re beasts!”
Beasts…
Shuangjiang let her be: “Okay, I understand. I’ll help you.” She added, “I’ve already sent all the information on Zhou Qingrang to you. He should be reliable. He has a grudge against the Luo family behind Tianxing Entertainnt. He will definitely make Cheng Feiran’s evidence public.”
The commission Cheng Feiran gave them was a video of forced sexual entertainnt, substantial evidence of the incident. She probably knew she would have no way to seek justice and anticipated that Tianxing Entertainnt would not let her go, so she transferred the evidence in advance.
Zhou Xufang looked at the photo on the A4 paper: “He looks very young.”
At thirty-seven, nearing the age of not being easily swayed by desires, perhaps because of his pale complexion, he looked extrely young, with handso and elegant features, but his eyes were indifferent, lacking in warmth.
“Zhou Qingrang had been in a coma for fifteen years. He was hospitalized at fourteen due to a car accident, losing one leg and nearly disabling the other. Doctors diagnosed him as a vegetative state, and he woke up at twenty-nine.” The synthesized voice sighed, “What karma did the Luo family bring upon themselves?”
Should have been a graceful young man, but he was crippled. Fifteen years, from youth to adulthood, the best years of a boy were all buried in the hospital.
Zhou Xufang touched the brows and eyes on the photo: “He also has the surna Zhou.”
Yes, also a Zhou.
Zhou Qingrang, a na that sounded elegant and pure.
Reviews
All reviews (0)