She Said She Has Feelings For Someone - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Demanding Her Release — How did she lose so much weight?

The suspicion was so absurd that Lu Shuyu instinctively denied it: “Perhaps Film Queen Xu really did contract some sort of serious illness?”

“Even if she were gravely ill, it’s impossible for her not to answer the phone for three days, right?”

“Besides, Xia Ye’s tone just now didn’t sound the least bit anxious or worried.”

This was the truth. In the eyes of the public, Xia Ye and Xu Ruyue were currently considered a model couple, deeply in love.

Min Wutong’s brows furrowed. Without further hesitation, she began “calling in favors”: “Hey, I need a favor.”

…

The following day, the results of the inquiries all came back.

“I contacted a ton of people,” Min Wutong said firmly. “Managers, assistants, people at Star Universe—anyone I could reach out to indirectly, I did.”

“Xu Ruyue isn’t sick at all. She was out at a gathering with friends the day before yesterday, glowing with health and in great spirits.”

So…

Lu Shuyu still found it hard to believe: “Could it really be true?”

“From what I can see,” Min Wutong’s brow was tightly knit, “I’d say it’s an 80% certainty.”

“And did you know?” she added. “The people who released those smear campaigns and rumors against Xia Leshuang previously were Zhou Hongcai’s people.”

If it was Zhou Hongcai, then Star Universe Media couldn’t be cleared of involvement either.

Since its founding, Star Universe had always excelled at marketing. Five years ago, they even established a dedicated marketing firm. Xia Ye and Xu Ruyue’s current popularity was largely thanks to them.

Min Wutong knew Zhou Hongcai extremely well and had a clear grasp of the underlying network of relationships, so her conclusion was unlikely to be wrong.

“But…” Lu Shuyu was puzzled, “Why?”

Even if the father-daughter relationship was strained, it shouldn’t escalate to the point of spreading rumors about his own daughter or kidnapping her, right?

Suddenly, Lu Shuyu recalled what Chen Qian had said about her first meeting with Xia Leshuang, then thought of “Encounter”…

Next, she remembered ten years ago, right before Xia Leshuang left without saying goodbye, how she had appeared unannounced at the bottom of Lu Shuyu’s apartment building to wait for her.

“Actually, there were some faint rumors before,” Min Wutong said gravely. “That the reason Xia Leshuang stopped acting after winning the Best Actress award was that she had been ‘blacklisted’ by Star Universe.”

“I didn’t believe it at the time, but looking back now, it seems highly probable.”

After graduating from university, Xia Leshuang went to L City alone. She didn’t choose to act; instead, she used her real name to sign up for an obscure small-time variety show, which was how she met Chen Qian.

It wasn’t until right before the auditions for The Silent that her contract with Star Universe finally expired.

“Furthermore, the blind dates Zhou Hongcai arranged for her were all before she graduated university.”

“I heard whispers that things ended unpleasantly back then, but since nothing major happened, I didn’t pay it much mind.”

“Perhaps,” Min Wutong speculated, “that was also the reason Xia Leshuang was so determined to leave B City.”

Combined with the rumors Zhou Hongcai had spread about her “failing to marry into a wealthy family” and the “Film Queen title being a dowry for the elite”…

Lu Shuyu’s heart twinged with pain. If these things were true, she didn’t dare imagine how Xia Leshuang had endured all these years.

Seeing her look so worried, Min Wutong quickly said, “But this is just my speculation for now. I’ll keep digging for specifics.”

“The priority now is to find Xia Leshuang.”

Lu Shuyu took a deep breath and exhaled quickly. After a moment of thought, she said, “Let’s hold a celebration banquet. Invite Director Xia.”

The Silent was halfway through its broadcast, and its popularity was climbing with every episode. The data for the latest episode had even broken the platform’s all-time record.

Such an achievement was naturally enough—and appropriate—to justify a celebration banquet.

Since Xia Ye was Xia Leshuang’s father and a famous director himself, sending him an invitation was perfectly normal.

Cherry Media’s network and resources were significantly stronger than Star Universe, which only focused on film and marketing. If Zhou Hongcai hadn’t been a man, Cherry and Star Universe might have collaborated long ago.

“Alright,” Min Wutong nodded, “I’ll arrange it.”

“We can make this banquet a big one. I’ll invite several industry titans to attend—including the ‘tough nuts’ that Star Universe has been trying to crack lately.”

“If Xia Ye still doesn’t show up after that…”

Lu Shuyu pursed her lips: “Then we’ll just have to go to his door and demand her back.”

As if it were a prophecy, the day after the invitations were sent, Xia Ye delivered the termination contract for Xia Leshuang and Cherry Media.

After reading the contents, Min Wutong laughed out of pure anger: “How generous. One would think I’d become a kidnapper demanding a ransom.”

She tore it up and threw it aside: “Let’s go. Time to get her back.”

…

For the past two years, the couple Xia Ye and Xu Ruyue had lived in a villa district in the outskirts, claiming it was for “frugality,” “seclusion,” and “a love of peace.”

The management of the villa district was strict, but fortunately, Min Wutong had a friend living there, so getting past the gate wasn’t an issue.

Following the house number to Xia Ye’s home, Lu Shuyu rang the doorbell.

A moment later, a voice came through the intercom: “Who is it, please?”

It was a middle-aged woman’s voice, likely the domestic helper.

Min Wutong got straight to the point: “Please tell Director Xia that I am Min Wutong from Cherry Media. I’m here to discuss a partnership. If Director Xia isn’t interested in talking now, I’ll find another way to talk.”

The intercom cut off. A few minutes later, the front door opened with a “click.”

The two entered and saw Xia Ye descending the stairs.

He was wearing a wash-ink style Daoist robe, fiddling with walnuts in his hand—fitting the image of the “secluded artist” he marketed to the public perfectly.

“President Min, I didn’t expect a small-time director like me would merit a personal visit from you.”

Though the words were polite, there wasn’t a hint of genuine courtesy in his manner.

This was the first time Lu Shuyu had met Xia Ye in person. With just one look, she felt that Xia Ye was not as gentle and warm as his marketing suggested.

When it came to being blunt, no one could beat Min Wutong.

She let out a cold laugh: “Indeed. After all, Director Xia has a hostage in hand. I had no choice but to condescend to come here.”

Xia Ye’s brow furrowed, his gaze instantly turning cold. He didn’t explode, however, only letting out two dry chuckles: “President Min, please, have a seat.”

The three sat on the sofa. Xia Ye instructed the helper: “Pour two cups of tea.”

“No need,” Min Wutong said loudly. “We aren’t here for tea.”

She was unyieldingly blunt, making Lu Shuyu’s heart tremble.

But Lu Shuyu also knew that Min Wutong could act this way because she had the backing to do so, and because against someone like Xia Ye, being anything less than forceful would yield no results.

Xia Ye’s smile vanished: “I’ve heard Hongcai mention President Min before. Seeing you today, you certainly live up to your reputation.”

Zhou Hongcai mentioned her? It couldn’t have been anything good.

Min Wutong raised an eyebrow and smiled: “Director Xia flatters me. I’m even more arrogant than whatever Zhou Hongcai said.”

“So, let’s stop beating around the bush. Where is Xia Leshuang?”

Xia Ye’s expression remained unchanged, but the sudden “creak” of the walnuts being crushed in his hand betrayed him.

“Xia Leshuang is my daughter,” he said, setting the walnuts down. “Why should President Min interfere in a family matter?”

“Director Xia, Xia Leshuang is a signed artist of Cherry Media. Her current momentum is excellent, and she has many work commitments waiting for her. She must return to complete them.”

“I recall that the termination contract has already been sent over. The compensation amount was left blank, meaning you can fill it in as you please.”

“President Min is young after all,” Xia Ye smiled enigmatically. “I didn’t think this was something that required someone else to teach you.”

Hearing this, Lu Shuyu looked at Min Wutong, who wasn’t provoked. She only let out a soft sigh.

“In that case, we’ll just have to find another way to talk.”

Xia Ye chuckled, his eyes filled with obvious contempt: “My daughter is in her own home. President Min, even if you call the police, it will be to no avail.”

“Ah~” Min Wutong waved her hand dismissively with a sarcastic smile: “Director Xia, you really are getting old.”

“We young people, of course, have better and more direct ways to solve things.”

Xia Ye paused, momentarily speechless.

Min Wutong’s expression relaxed: “China’s youngest Film Queen, Xia Leshuang, suddenly goes missing—only to be discovered imprisoned at home by her father, the famous Director Xia—”

“Director Xia, do you think that headline is eye-catching enough?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she frowned and pondered for a moment, waving her hand exaggeratedly: “No, no, no, still not enough—”

She raised her voice, her tone almost theatrical: “Breaking News! The director who publicly dotes on his daughter actually blacklisted his Film Queen daughter in secret and even imprisoned her—”

“Enough!” Xia Ye roared, cutting her off. His chest was heaving; he was clearly livid.

Min Wutong smiled: “Take it easy, Director Xia. You’re getting on in years; your health should be your priority.”

“Even if you spread those things, who do you think will believe you?!”

Lu Shuyu finally couldn’t hold back: “Director Xia, the management contract was signed between Cherry and Xia Leshuang personally. The termination, however, was done unilaterally by you.”

“Even with a parent-child relationship, Xia Leshuang is a competent adult. You cannot act on her behalf.”

“As long as Cherry does not agree to the termination, Xia Leshuang is an artist of Cherry. Cherry has the obligation to protect and ensure her personal safety.”

“And, Cherry has both the time and the resources to do so.”

Xia Ye looked over, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt and loathing: “You are Lu Shuyu?”

This surge of emotion was so sudden that Lu Shuyu found it inexplicable.

Min Wutong’s brow furrowed. She tapped her finger on the coffee table and said loudly: “Director Xia, since you say this is a family matter, I assume you agree that one shouldn’t wash their dirty laundry in public.”

“The choice is still in your hands, Director Xia. You’d better hurry. Once things get ugly, it’ll be too late to go back.”

“Are you threatening me?” Xia Ye hissed through gritted teeth.

Min Wutong scoffed twice and spread her hands: “You’ve taken a hostage, and I’m threatening you. Doesn’t that make us even?”

She was truly audacious. Xia Ye was shaking with rage. After a long silence, he finally relented and said to the helper: “Take them upstairs.”

Min Wutong smiled: “Shuyu, you go up. I’ll stay here and keep Director Xia company. After all, he’s getting older; it’s best if someone keeps an eye on him.”

Regardless of how Xia Ye felt at that moment, Lu Shuyu immediately stood up and followed the helper upstairs.

When she saw the helper pull out a key to unlock a door, her heart sank.

As the door opened and the hallway light spilled into the darkness, it felt as though a giant hand had seized her heart. She was so choked up it took a long while before she could make a sound: “Xia Leshuang!”

She had never imagined that in this day and age, in a villa district in the prosperous capital, there would be a dark, windowless room used to imprison someone with their hands and feet shackled.

“You,” she spoke with difficulty, “this is a crime!”

The helper looked nervous, her face full of unspoken grievances: “I… I… the Master felt the Young Mistress wasn’t being obedient, so… this… it really has nothing to do with me!”

Lu Shuyu didn’t want to hear it. She immediately reached out: “Where are the keys?”

The helper hurriedly produced the keys and unlocked the restraints on Xia Leshuang’s hands and feet.

By now, her eyes had adjusted to the dimness of the room. Lu Shuyu knelt down and moved close to the nearly unconscious Xia Leshuang.

The red marks and bruises on her wrists, her pale and gaunt face, her lips so dry they were peeling.

Anger, heartache, and fear surged through her all at once. Unable to hold back any longer, Lu Shuyu began to sob.

“Xia Leshuang…”

“How did you lose so much weight…?”