Chapter 18: I, Ling Qiong, Send Money! (18)
Jiang Xu did not want to call the police, but someone had done so in secret, and the authorities came anyway.
The person Jiang Xu had found became frightened and fled. Ironically, his escape only drew the police’s attention. After being caught and brought back, he quickly confessed out of fear.
He admitted that, under Jiang Xu’s instructions, he had delivered that bottle of water to Lu Wenci’s room. However, he had no idea why it had ended up on Jiang Xu’s own desk in the end. Jiang Xu’s seat was just out of the security camera’s range, and no one had noticed who had placed the bottle there.
But ultimately, Jiang Xu had brought this upon himself. No one felt any sympathy for him.
With such an incident, Jiang Xu could no longer continue filming and had to be replaced.
…
Because of Jiang Xu’s situation, the crew halted work for a day. After Lu Wenci finished giving his statement, he stayed at the hotel.
“That bottle of water…” Lu Wenci pondered for a long time before finally asking Ling Qiong, “Did you put it there?”
Her abrupt question at the time had seemed odd.
Ling Qiong, curled up on the sofa playing a game, lifted her chin when she heard Lu Wenci’s question, but her eyes remained on the screen.
“Didn’t I say I’d look out for you from now on?” She had already spent money on her precious child; how could she let someone else bully him? If anyone was going to bully him, it would only be her!
Hmph!
Lu Wenci: “…”
So it was you?
Lu Wenci pressed on, “What if there was something deadly in it? That would be murder. Aren’t you afraid?”
Ling Qiong made a nonchalant sound. “I checked. There was no surveillance there.”
Lu Wenci: “…” And what about the murder issue?
Ling Qiong added proudly, “I wiped my fingerprints clean too. I’m very professional.”
Lu Wenci: “…”
He could do without that sort of professionalism.
…
Chen Fangchuan came by in the evening, bringing along an assistant who would now accompany Lu Wenci.
Recently, one of Chen Fangchuan’s artists had caused trouble, so he had been stretched thin and hadn’t managed to make proper arrangements for Lu Wenci.
But Lu Wenci was always so sensible and easy to take care of.
Lu Wenci took the opportunity to ask about Ling Qiong serving as his assistant agent.
Chen Fangchuan looked utterly confused. “What assistant agent?”
Lu Wenci felt sure Ling Qiong was making things up.
Hearing Chen Fangchuan’s question, he wasn’t surprised at all, just resigned, as if to say, “I thought so.”
Chen Fangchuan had connections and soon found out that Ling Qiong had received her pass thanks to the investors’ intervention.
“You should keep your distance from her,” Chen Fangchuan advised. “When you become famous, even the smallest issue could become a scandal.”
He knew that Lu Wenci’s contract with Yueying Entertainment was mainly thanks to the young woman convincing the company. She had played a crucial role in helping Lu Wenci escape his previous predicament, and her background was not simple. So, it wasn’t realistic to keep them apart, but he could at least warn Lu Wenci to be careful.
Lu Wenci: “…”
She was currently occupying the bed that was originally his—how was he supposed to keep his distance?
Ling Qiong had a perfectly reasonable excuse: without an ID, she couldn’t book a separate room.
After discussing a few more matters, Chen Fangchuan glanced at the time and prepared to leave.
“All right, focus on your work. If you have any problems, contact me directly. Our company treats its artists well. Don’t let things get out of hand like last time.”
“Okay. Thank you, Brother Chen.”
…
Ling Qiong was lying on the bed, browsing through her card collection.
The content on card Twenty-Eight had changed. The young man was now sitting sideways on a chair, his gaze slightly gloomy, one leg bent over the edge of the chair, the other resting on a nearby seat.
He was barefoot, his fair ankles exposed—even his toes seemed enticing.
Clutching her chest, Ling Qiong’s girlish heart pounded wildly.
What kind of celestial being was this…
She wanted it!
The “Blazing Sun” card hadn’t changed yet; it likely would only after “A Flourishing World” finished filming or started airing.
Thinking of Lu Wenci’s appearance in costume, Ling Qiong couldn’t help but smile indulgently and roll around on the bed.
[Isn’t this exciting?] Sparkle popped up. [You can draw even more thrilling cards.]
Ling Qiong’s expression changed instantly, and she coldly closed the collection.
“Get lost!”
Always trying to trick her into spending—was there no justice left in this world?
Did she look like someone who lacked self-control?
…Well, maybe she did.
Ling Qiong, feeling aggrieved, prepared to top up her account, only to discover she was out of money.
Wonderful. Poverty had restored her self-control.
[…]
Ling Qiong sighed. “Drawing cards is just too expensive.”
Sparkle couldn’t take it anymore. [Be honest—how much have you actually spent on cards for your target character?]
Sparkle refused to shoulder the blame. Compared to what she spent on drawing cards, it was hardly anything at all.
Who was really the extravagant one here?
“Moderation is key. Don’t get addicted to spending on games.” Ling Qiong clenched her little fist. “I must be a positive, upstanding young person.”
[…As long as you’re happy.]
…
Lu Wenci was memorizing his lines outside when he saw Ling Qiong come out, preparing to leave. He couldn’t help asking, “Where are you going?”
“To make money,” the girl replied, cheeks puffed in frustration.
“…”
Lu Wenci watched her leave.
In the days that followed, Ling Qiong seemed very busy. Sometimes, even when he returned from late-night shoots, there was no sign of her.
Lu Wenci began to suspect she was involved in something illegal.
When he finally caught her at home one day, he asked, “What have you been busy with lately?”
“Just making some money through investments,” she said. “Drawing your cards is so expensive. What else can I do?”
Ah.
She had chosen him, so of course she had to spend for him.
[…] All her spending went on herself…
Lu Wenci cut straight to the heart of the matter. “Do you have any money?”
Her current bank card and phone number were both registered under his identity, so he knew exactly how much money was in the account.
“No,” Ling Qiong tapped her head, “but I’m clever. It’s easy to make money as a middleman.”
“…”
Investing as a middleman?
Later, Lu Wenci realized that what she meant was that she talked up projects to potential investors. If the deal went through, she got a commission.
A true middleman, profiting from the difference.
…
At a certain five-star hotel.
Shen Qinchuan attended a banquet alone. A friend sidled up to him, teasing, “Has your runaway fiancée still not come home?”
Shen Qinchuan’s expression darkened at the mention. Ever since she’d visited the old matriarch, he’d been scolded every time he showed his face. Now, he didn’t even dare return to the old lady’s house.
“I heard someone’s seen her,” his friend said, clearly amused. “Guess what she’s up to?”
“Who cares what she’s doing,” Shen Qinchuan replied coldly.
But his friend was determined to share the news, regardless of Shen Qinchuan’s attitude.
“I heard she’s out negotiating investments. Even the Su family isn’t trying to bring her back. Isn’t that interesting?”
Shen Qinchuan shot his friend a dangerous look. “Are you finished?”
“All right, all right… Hey, speak of the devil—look over there.” The friend nudged him, gesturing for him to look.
Following his friend’s gaze, Shen Qinchuan looked over.