The Entertainment Industry's Famous Fraud Couple - Chapter 27

Right outside the police station, Shen Guai grabbed Song Ci, refusing to let her leave.

“Auntie, aren’t you supposed to be in Northern Myanmar? When did you come back to the country?”

Song Ci pulled her hand away from Shen Guai’s grip and said helplessly, “Last week.”

Shen Guai smiled like a sycophant. She held out her hand and said in a soft, pleading voice, “I’m out of money. Can you lend me some?”

“How much?” Song Ci didn’t bother asking why.

“Two million,” Shen Guai blurted out.

“I’ve heard,” Song Ci scrutinized Shen Guai. “You’re in a relationship.”

She put her phone away, fished a bank card out of her pocket, and handed it to Shen Guai. “This is all I have left.”

“Thanks, Auntie!” Shen Guai cheered. She turned the card over in her hands, inspecting it with curiosity. “So, how much is actually in here?”

“Twenty-eight thousand, three hundred and twenty-one yuan, five mao, and six fen.” Song Ci paused. “I just checked yesterday. Including interest, it should be about twenty-eight thousand, three hundred and twenty-one yuan and eighty-eight fen now.”

“…”

Shen Guai looked at the young, makeup-free, beautiful girl in front of her in shock. She opened her mouth and asked, “Song Ci, you are the successor to Antelope Jewelry, and you only have twenty-odd thousand yuan in your card?”

Song Ci shook her head and said solemnly, “Now, I have zero.”

With that, Song Ci turned to leave. Shen Guai cried out, refusing to let her go, muttering about how they were best friends and how Song Ci couldn’t just leave her to die…

As the two were wrestling, a loud shout suddenly came from behind them: “Shen Guai!”

The voice was incredibly familiar. Shen Guai turned around only to see a woman’s silhouette sprinting toward her.

Almost by instinct, Shen Guai ducked, avoiding the incoming attack.

Song Ci took a full-force slap to the face.

“How… is it you?” Chen Qinghe was stunned.

Song Ci clutched her left cheek, silently bending down to pick up her fallen baseball cap and placing it back on her head.

“Shen Guai! You scum! Not only did you cheat, but you also ruined Qin Chaomu’s TV project, and now you’re harassing a minor? Bah! Have you no shame?!”

This was the first time Chen Qinghe had ever lost her temper like this. Her fingers were trembling from the sheer intensity of her emotions.

Shen Guai looked at Song Ci in fear, not because of Chen Qinghe’s sudden “berserk mode,” but because of Song Ci herself.

In all her years growing up, she had never seen Song Ci get hit.

Song Ci was Shen Guai’s other adoptive mother, Fei Qian’s cousin. This young aunt had grown up alongside Shen Guai, they were born in the same year, yet their fates were worlds apart.

Since childhood, Song Ci had followed Fei Qian through the various countries of Southeast Asia, responsible for transporting raw jade.

When Shen Guai was five and still watching cartoons at home, Song Ci was already diving into the sea to catch fish.

“The water in the Strait of Malacca is red.”

That was the first thing Song Ci said to Shen Guai when she woke up after lying in a hospital bed for three days and nights after being shot in the abdomen at age seven.

Fearing what Song Ci might do to Chen Qinghe, Shen Guai hurried to whisper in her ear, “Auntie! We’re in front of the police station! Don’t do anything impulsive!”

Song Ci’s gaze remained fixed on Chen Qinghe. Whether her brain had stalled from the sudden slap or Shen Guai’s words actually carried weight, Song Ci didn’t speak or move.

Chen Qinghe also shifted her gaze to Song Ci, frowning. “I’m sorry, I hit the wrong person.”

“But you, kid.” Chen Qinghe cleared her throat, adopting the posture of an elder lecturing a wayward girl. “You’re pretty now, and you can live off others for quick money. But when you get older, will anyone still want to support you?”

“Study hard and stay on the right path, okay?”

Song Ci nodded blankly.

Seeing Shen Guai stifling a laugh as if she didn’t care, Chen Qinghe got even angrier and raised her hand to hit Shen Guai again.

Shen Guai begged for mercy while hiding behind Song Ci, yelling for help. The two of them circled Song Ci several times.

“Save me, Song Ci!” Shen Guai cried out.

To her surprise, Song Ci took half a step aside, directly serving Shen Guai up to Chen Qinghe as a living target.

“Song Ci, you!” Seeing she couldn’t hide, Shen Guai finally came clean. “Qin Chaomu and I… we’re a fake couple!”

Chen Qinghe was stunned.

The three of them found a quiet BBQ restaurant. Shen Guai specifically chose a private room and patted Song Ci on the shoulder. “Eat as much as you want. Today, my aunt is treating us.”

“Cough, cough…” Chen Qinghe choked on her lemon water. “You’re this jerk’s aunt?”

“Cousin,” Song Ci interrupted. “We aren’t close.”

“Song Ci, you!” Shen Guai gnashed her teeth in frustration.

“Did this jerk…” Song Ci looked at Chen Qinghe, “…do something to wrong you?”

“Not me, but a friend of mine.” Chen Qinghe spread her hands, looking at Shen Guai with pity. She said slowly, “Qin Chaomu is currently looking for you all over the world.”

“Huh? Just because I beat her rumored boyfriend?” Speaking of Yi Feng, who was currently in the hospital, Shen Guai was a bit smug. “Is it because I exposed her ‘boyfriend’ as a complete coward and waste of space, and now she’s furious?”

“Bullshit.” Chen Qinghe looked at Shen Guai as if she were beyond saving. “That guy is a signed artist under Qin Chaomu. The first drama she invested in was supposed to start filming next month. Because of you, that guy is now in the hospital with serious injuries.”

“If Qin Chaomu hadn’t paid for his medical bills and a one million yuan compensation fee, do you think the police would have let you out?”

“Qin Chaomu invested twenty million into the new drama, and it’s all gone down the drain. Do you know how she got the money to pay him off? She sold her Rolls-Royce. You two are truly… each more absurd than the last.”

Chen Qinghe had originally thought Qin Chaomu was blinded by love for her “little scumbag” girlfriend, allowing Shen Guai to cheat and cause trouble. It turned out they weren’t even a couple!

Shen Guai frowned and asked, “Where is she?”

“She should be at the company now, talking to her lawyers,” Chen Qinghe said with a bitter smile. “Shen Guai, you’re really not a good person.”

Song Ci nodded in agreement.

“That day at the hotel, after you left, Qin Chaomu cried.” Chen Qinghe’s expression turned serious. “Shen Guai, do you know? That was the first time I’ve ever seen her cry. Qin Chaomu is a very pure person deep down, she’s the kindest person I’ve ever met.”

“If you aren’t sincere toward her, or if you aren’t determined enough to go the distance… can you please do me a favor and stop messing with my friend?”

Song Ci nodded in agreement again.

Shen Guai nudged Song Ci with her elbow.

Though her face remained expressionless, Shen Guai’s heart was in turmoil. Qin Chaomu cried. She cried because of her.

Qin Chaomu paid the money. She paid it because of her.

“Qin Chaomu suffered a lot to get to where she is today. She is a very sensitive person, but you always seem to break her heart.”

“I know she likes you very much. It’s the first time I’ve seen her like someone this much. But I truly feel… you don’t deserve her.”

“I’m a blunt person. You don’t have to forgive me for being harsh.”

After saying her piece, Chen Qinghe bowed to Shen Guai. She left the BBQ on her plate untouched and walked out.

“Who is she?” Song Ci tilted her head and asked.

Shen Guai was fuming. She rolled her eyes. “That’s Chen Qinghe! Don’t you follow celebrities?”

Song Ci shook her head blankly.

“Song Ci, if I ask Mommy for twenty million, do you think she’ll kill me?”

Song Ci tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said slowly, “I guess when Madam Xu wakes up tomorrow morning and sees the news, she’ll probably kill you anyway.”

“Oh my God!” Shen Guai collapsed into her chair like a deflated balloon. “What should I do? How could I be so stupid? I even dragged Qin Chaomu into this…”

“Should I go ‘educate’ that kid?” Song Ci asked.

“No, no. I can’t cause any more trouble for Qin Chaomu.” Shen Guai understood that her childish, jealous behavior had already led to a massive mistake.

If she let Song Ci take action, things would truly be beyond repair.

“The priority is to get money as quickly as possible. If I ask Mommy for money now, I’ll definitely be grounded. But I still want to see Qin Chaomu…” Shen Guai hung her head weakly against the table.

“Madam Xu definitely won’t work. However, my cousin’s side shouldn’t be a problem…”

Song Ci and Shen Guai looked at each other and giggled.

“Boss Qin, the deal with Yi Feng has been settled. Three million.” The lawyer handed Qin Chaomu a contract.

“The price went up again?” Qin Chaomu raised an eyebrow.

“Yi Feng said that if we didn’t give him three million, he would make a scene and take Miss Shen down with him,” the lawyer said helplessly. “The live stream footage is very unfavorable for Miss Shen. She could easily be prosecuted for attempted murder.”

Hearing this, Qin Chaomu picked up a pen and signed her name on the contract. She dialed a number and said coldly, “Annie, transfer three million to Yi Feng’s account.”

“Is Shen Guai out yet?” Qin Chaomu looked up and asked.

“The police station said a family member already picked her up.”

“I see. You can go now.”

Leaning back in her office chair, Qin Chaomu irritably spun the ring on her thumb. She closed her eyes briefly, then sat up and made another call.

“Hello, President Ma? It’s me, Xiao Qin.”

Qin Chaomu’s voice sounded like she was smiling, but her face remained expressionless. “About the ‘Red Pearl’ project, please take another look. I know the male lead had an accident, but he’s just a newcomer. Anyone can play the part… Me? President Ma, you must be joking. I’m getting on in years; I don’t have the appeal for the younger audience…”

Five minutes later, Qin Chaomu hung up. The dim light cast a shadow over her face, shrouding her in a gloomy haze.

Knock, knock, knock…

The office door opened. Annie walked in worriedly, looking at her artist and boss.

Annie said heart-wrenchingly, “The matter with Yi Feng has been handled.”

“Good,” Qin Chaomu nodded.

“Is there a problem with the funding for ‘Red Pearl’?” Annie asked.

“The original investors withdrew. They said they need to re-evaluate the project’s feasibility.”

The motorcycle race between Shen Guai and Yi Feng the previous night had paralyzed the internet. The person who suffered the most direct attack wasn’t Yi Feng or Shen Guai.

It was Qin Chaomu.

Rumors claimed that Qin Chaomu had cheated on Shen Guai with Yi Feng, and that Shen Guai had acted out of vengeful love.

Consequently, a massive amount of “black material” regarding Qin Chaomu flooded the trending searches, mostly gossip from recent years.

Qin Chaomu originally had many scandals, if she were just an actress, this wouldn’t matter much. But now, she was a producer. Such news would turn an unreleased drama into a “high-risk” project.

It was in danger of being strangled in the crib.