Helping My Ex-Wife Find Love Every Day - Chapter 54

“No?”

Yao Xiang Yi walked toward the group, her steps deliberate, like a test before an attack.

Everyone felt she was like a ferocious wolf sharpening its claws, preparing to pounce and leave nothing but bone fragments.

Yao Xiang Yi stopped abruptly, her gaze sweeping over their timid faces. She said slowly, “Miss Bai hasn’t left yet. We might as well invite her back so she can recognize everyone, one by one.”

The crowd spoke one after another: “CEO Yao, how could we dare to lie to you? Besides, we have no relationship with Tian Ji Film and Television; we have no reason to cover for them.”

“That’s also true,” Yao Xiang Yi replied unhurriedly, her hands clasped behind her back.

Her attitude was gentle, without a hint of aggressive anger, yet the innate pride in her bones was impossible to hide.

Those familiar with her were used to it, knowing that she was kind-hearted deep down.

For example, Chi Gu Yuan constantly annoyed her and provoked her seemingly without knowing any better, but Yao Xiang Yi still cherished and protected her.

However, this kindness and care were not for everyone; toward some irrelevant people, her heart was harder than stone.

“Then I’m afraid everyone will have to stay here a little longer,” she said candidly. “I need to find one person. When I find them…”

Yao Xiang Yi stopped short, a strange curve forming on the corner of her mouth.

The surroundings fell into a deathly silence.

This gave the sisters infinite room for wild imaginings. The envisioned scenes were filled with violence and gore, making them truly afraid that Yao Xiang Yi would resort to murder.

Yao Xiang Yi raised her chin to Chi Gu Yuan and said, “Call people in to search, inside and out.”

Chi Gu Yuan hurried out the door and returned, followed by four or five servers.

The bedroom was small, and the servers scurried back and forth, searching exceptionally thoroughly and carefully. The space under the bed was searched three times in rotation.

There was not a single suspicious person.

Qiu Qing Shi was busy on the balcony. She turned on her phone’s “flashlight” and searched for clues inch by inch—the coffee table, the single sofa, the potted green radish…

Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

She knelt, bent over the lush pot of green radish, and cautiously reached her hand in. The thick green leaves rustled as she parted them.

Reaching the bottom, she felt something hard.

Qiu Qing Shi raised an eyebrow, then knitted her brow into a frown: “Boss (Bàba), come quickly.”

Yao Xiang Yi sensed that she had found something and hurried over, watching as Qiu Qing Shi pulled out a black mirrorless camera from the plant, puffed out her cheeks, and blew away the mud covering it.

Qiu Qing Shi pointed to the green radish, then to the bed in the bedroom: “The curtain wasn’t completely drawn. The camera, utilizing the gap in the curtain, was aimed directly at your bed.”

Her breath was slightly shaky toward the end.

She often dealt with paparazzi, and the most excessive secret filming she had encountered was them hiding in hotel corridors to stake her out; they had never broken into her room.

Yao Xiang Yi was truly unfortunate; the camera was aimed directly at the bed—it was too indecent!

Yao Xiang Yi helped her stand up and murmured to herself, “No wonder the sliding door was half-open. That person must have had a guilty conscience and was too rushed to close it properly.”

Qiu Qing Shi emitted a chill. She operated the mirrorless camera and checked the playback. The narrow screen displayed the recording start time: around 7:10 PM, which was about when she arrived.

The sisters at the party were momentarily distracted by her arrival.

That person must have seized the opportunity to sneak into the bedroom, hide the camera, and then left, probably intending to return for it later.

The current chaotic scene was the perfect time to come back.

Qiu Qing Shi preempted Yao Xiang Yi, asking the sisters in the room: “Which one of you is a reporter, or… a paparazzo?”

Mei Kai Xuan’s thoughts were deep, and he was cautious in his actions; he wouldn’t casually find someone to handle such an important task.

Qiu Qing Shi, unlike her usual amiable self, approached a petite, short-haired girl with an unrelenting presence: “I find you familiar.”

The girl’s eyes were bright, and she wore a particularly innocent smile: “You must have the wrong person.”

A sister betrayed her: “She’s a reporter for Watermelon Channel (Xīguā Tái).”

The short-haired girl was shocked.

That makes sense. Qiu Qing Shi sneered a few times, looking at the short-haired girl as if she were about to devour her alive.

The short-haired girl immediately felt a chill and visibly trembled.

Yao Xiang Yi whispered behind Qiu Qing Shi’s ear: “Control yourself. The Number One Socialite’s crown must not fall.”

Qiu Qing Shi pressed the throbbing vein in her temple and silently chanted a Heart-Cleansing Mantra.

As she chanted, a rebellious thought jumped into her mind: My makeup is running anyway, so why care about the socialite’s crown? I must avenge my Boss (Bàba)!

Yao Xiang Yi saw her expression suddenly change, recalling the terrifying scene a few months ago when Qiu Qing Shi shoved Bai Meng Zhao into the Jingwu Yabo stand at the night market.

“Darling, calm your anger. Go outside and wait for me first.”

“No,” Qiu Qing Shi said, rolling up her sleeves in a ready-to-fight stance.

Just as she exerted force, Yao Xiang Yi, quick as lightning, wrapped her arms around Qiu Qing Shi’s waist from behind and led her toward the door.

With so many people around, Qiu Qing Shi couldn’t openly defy Yao Xiang Yi. She sullenly complied, but her words were firm: “Let go! I want to teach her a lesson.”

“Save your energy for the car vibration.”

“At a time like this, are you still thinking about that nonsense?”

Yao Xiang Yi released her hold and instead took her hand as they descended the stairs.

Qiu Qing Shi wanted to turn into a mischievous cat and scratch her. She pulled her hand away, tucking her hands into her arms, refusing to be touched.

Chi Gu Yuan called out to them, skipping down the stairs, and stood before them, asking, “Boss (Bàba), I’m too stupid. Can you tell me what exactly happened? I’m confused. Besides, Bai Meng Zhao had an incident at my house, and I should be responsible.”

Yao Xiang Yi then told her about Mei Kai Xuan’s malicious intentions.

Chi Gu Yuan wanted to punch someone after hearing the story. She cursed a few times under her breath, then asked, “How do you want to handle that Watermelon Channel reporter?”

Qiu Qing Shi put her hands on her hips, her voice fiercely petulant: “Slicing them into ten thousand pieces!”

Yao Xiang Yi covered her mouth, forcefully silencing her.

Qiu Qing Shi’s little pink fists made a comeback, their force leveled out to a mere tickle.

Yao Xiang Yi quite enjoyed it: “Gu Yuan, send the person to the Public Security Bureau. Don’t make too big a fuss. After all, the incident happened at your Chi family’s place; if it spreads, it might attract unwanted criticism.”

It would be even worse if entertainment media exaggerated the story.

Chi Gu Yuan couldn’t help but panic. Losing face for the Old Chi family was one thing; if Yao Xiang Yi truly slept with another woman at her house, it would be another. She would feel guilty for life, and their friendship might not survive.

Her limbs felt weak. She slapped her face hard: “I’ll go handle it right now.”

“Take this.” Yao Xiang Yi handed her the mirrorless camera.

With the matter nearing its end, Yao Xiang Yi believed Chi Gu Yuan was not so useless as to mess up the cleanup work.

After soothing Qiu Qing Shi, she led her to find Tang Si Li.

Tang Si Li was a ruthless character in the entertainment industry. Though born ordinary, she managed to become a top-tier star. Besides luck and Yao Xiang Yi’s protection, she was capable in her own right.

While negotiating with Ji Ping Han might not be effortless, Tang Si Li was unlikely to suffer a crushing defeat.

Just moments ago, Tang Si Li had helped Bai Meng Zhao sit in the passenger seat. As soon as the car started, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter sped up from a distance and swung its rear end, blocking her car.

Tang Si Li honked her horn, reminding the other driver that they were blocking the way.

However, the driver, ignoring the obstruction, jumped out of the car, respectfully and humbly opened the passenger door, and helped a woman out.

The woman’s features were not outstanding, but her demeanor was exceptional. Her long, narrow eyes conveyed a sense of distance from people.

A single glance was enough to leave a deep impression.

Tang Si Li recognized her: Ji Ping Han, the boss of Tian Ji Film and Television.

Ji Ping Han was expressionless. She knocked on Tang Si Li’s car window: “I’m here to take Miss Bai.”

She skipped the polite pleasantries and issued a command directly.

Tang Si Li was annoyed. Smelling the thick, suffocating medicinal odor on her, she raised her hand and waved it in front of her nose…

Boss Yao led her charming wife out, and their eyes met with Ji Ping Han’s from a distance.

The air pressure suddenly increased, and a strange sense of confrontation arose.

Ji Ping Han stood in the middle of the mountain road, with the pale moonlight above her head. Dressed in black clothes and a black skirt, she was exceptionally calm and low-key, like a specter lurking in the dark night.

Every time Yao Xiang Yi saw her, she felt uncomfortable deep down.

It was as if Ji Ping Han were a quiet Buddha statue—without sorrow, joy, emotion, or desire, just dark stillness.

Qiu Qing Shi wished she could burn her two sticks of incense.

An unrighteous superior leads to unrighteous subordinates. Mei Kai Xuan was no good, and Ji Ping Han wasn’t a good person either.

Unlike my Boss (Bàba), whose character is pure, who defends civilization, and who is a genuine successor to socialism.

Yao Xiang Yi greeted Ji Ping Han: “Boss Ji, long time no see.”

Ji Ping Han smiled composedly and, with a powerful demeanor, extended a hand to Yao Xiang Yi.

Yao Xiang Yi shook it: “Why the sudden visit?”

“To pick up Miss Bai.”

“We were remiss in our care; Miss Bai isn’t feeling well, and we plan to send her to the hospital.”

Ji Ping Han countered: “She is an artist under my Tian Ji, so I can send her myself.”

Yao Xiang Yi grew tired of maneuvering. A fierce look appeared in her eyes: “Boss Ji seems to know Miss Bai was going to have an accident, rushing to pick her up as soon as you arrived.”

“And what if I do?”

Yao Xiang Yi’s heart skipped a beat. She sensed something was wrong but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.

In the past, when they were in the same setting, even if they were at loggerheads, they would never show it openly. The surface would always be amicable.

For a businesswoman, showing emotion in words or on the face is a major taboo.

What is wrong with Ji Ping Han?

Does she like Bai Meng Zhao? Does she think I slept with Bai Meng Zhao?

But if she liked her, why remain silent, letting her be mocked by the entire internet and bullied by Mei Kai Xuan?

Yao Xiang Yi said mildly, “I cannot let you take her.”

Bai Meng Zhao’s drug effect hadn’t completely worn off. She leaned weakly against the passenger seat, her voice trembling slightly at the end: “…CEO Yao.”

Yao Xiang Yi leaned through the wide-open car window and asked with concern, “Are you still uncomfortable?”

Bai Meng Zhao bit her lip, like a whimpering cub: “Just a little.”

Qiu Qing Shi watched, unable to bear it: “Hold on. You’ll be fine once you reach the hospital. Don’t worry.”

Then, pointedly, she added, “An unrighteous act is bound to result in self-destruction. Whoever harmed you, the Heavens will take care of them.”

A hint of moisture was in Bai Meng Zhao’s eyes: “Yes, I understand.”

She felt strange after drinking champagne, and the champagne was handed to her by a senior artist from the same company…

There was hatred in Bai Meng Zhao’s eyes. Combining this with the day’s events, she guessed that Mei Kai Xuan had instigated the senior artist to administer the drug.

She was a person with spirit. She placed her hand on the car window edge, told Yao Xiang Yi the senior artist’s name, and, like she was filing a complaint, asked Yao Xiang Yi to deliver justice for her.

Yao Xiang Yi glanced meaningfully at Ji Ping Han: “This is Boss Ji’s artist. She should be the one to deal with it.”