Chapter 1: The Hotel Deal
The corridor of the hotel was dimly lit.
Ran Xing, dressed in a gray athletic casual set, stood before room 1108. She lifted her chin slightly, confirmed that no one was around, lowered the brim of her black cap, swiped her card, and pushed the door open.
Inside, a man and a woman were about to take things further.
Startled by the interruption, the woman ignored her disheveled hair and let out a sharp cry, shrinking beneath the covers.
The man quickly threw on his bathrobe, cursing, “Who the hell are you, daring to ruin my business?”
Ran Xing locked the door, leaned against it without hurry, took out her phone, and snapped a few photos with crisp efficiency.
Then she looked toward the girl on the bed and gave a soft smile.
“I have very important matters to discuss with Mr. Yang. Are you not leaving?”
After the embarrassed pair finally fled, Ran Xing removed her mask and cap, folded her arms, and let the corner of her mouth lift.
“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Yang. I’m Ran Xing.”
The few words were courteous enough, yet her eyes curved faintly, carrying the chill of contempt.
The man, however, sat by the bed, coughed once, and casually picked at a loose thread on his bathrobe, showing no sign of fear at all.
He had heard of Ran Xing’s reputation, at least to some extent.
Her temper was notorious for being cold, and she liked to act like a prima donna. There had been several incidents in which she lost her temper on set, smashing things and even shouting at or beating staff.
Her reputation in the industry was hardly good.
Though she had firmly established herself as one of the top actresses in film and television, she had never landed a role in an international production.
Taking those photos now could only mean she wanted resources from him.
At that thought, Yang Likang actually laughed instead of getting angry.
His gaze began to roam over the woman’s striking figure.
It was the look of a starving wolf fixed on prey that had walked right into his hands.
“People like you, I’ve seen plenty of,” he said. “You just want to use these photos to threaten me into giving you resources, don’t you?”
Ran Xing, unhurried, put her phone away, her eyes betraying her disdain for the man before her.
Resources from him?
How laughable.
She, Ran Xing, had the highest ratings, a fan base at the forefront of the industry, and a string of luxury endorsements in her hands.
Why would she need to stoop to such tricks to seize opportunities?
Besides, being a celebrity had never been what she truly wanted.
Seeing that she did not answer, the man rose and closed in on her.
His rough hands idly toyed with a strand of her hair.
A lewd smile spread across his face, and even the flesh of his cheeks quivered with it.
“Ran Xing, those photos of yours can’t threaten me at all. How about this: if you keep me happy tonight, isn’t it just resources you want? I’ll give them to you.”
Ran Xing glanced over the man in his forties, especially the blackened yellow teeth he revealed when he smiled.
She felt sick.
A man like him was not even fit to be her driver.
She had no patience to waste on him and went straight to the point.
In a cool, detached voice, she said, “Is that so? How coincidental. Yesterday, I happened to run into Mr. Yang’s wife at the hospital. We chatted pleasantly, and I added her on WeChat. Tell me, if your wife were to see these intimate photos, what do you think she would do?”
The hand that had been stroking her hair froze at once.
Taking advantage of his daze, Ran Xing reached out and easily pushed his hand away.
“Almost forgot. I’ve already backed up the photos. If anything happens to me, I guarantee that you, Mr. Yang, will leave with nothing. After all, your identity as a live-in son-in-law is right there for everyone to see.”
She deliberately stressed the last four words.
These photos alone were not enough to threaten Yang Likang.
But she had already done her homework: Yang Likang feared his wife above all else, and he feared most of all being thrown out with nothing.
As for his wife, she had zero tolerance for infidelity.
Yang Likang was stunned, glaring viciously at the woman before him, who still smiled with effortless calm.
“You dare investigate me?”
Ran Xing offered no explanation. Her smile faded, and her voice turned cold.
“I came here to ask you for information about one person. Tell me what I want to know, and I’ll delete the photos.”
Though Yang Likang was burning with anger, he could only force it back down and say, very unwillingly, “Speak.”
Ran Xing’s gaze darkened with sorrow. It was as if her heart had been torn open, and suddenly she could hardly breathe.
Only after steadying herself did she softly utter two words:
“Xu Ting.”
Hearing that name, Yang Likang clearly panicked. His eyes darted about unconsciously.
He stammered, “Why bring up a dead man all of a sudden? What, do you know him?”
Ran Xing clenched her fists, hatred seeming ready to burst from her eyes.
She pretended to be calm and forced out a smile.
“You should not ask what you ought not to ask, Mr. Yang. As far as I know, Xu Ting was a department manager at your company while he was alive. He never made a mistake at work. Why did you fire him?”
Yang Likang said guiltily, “I... that was three years ago. Besides, he was just a nobody. Why would I remember him? And who knew he’d be burned to death that very night after going home? That’s just fate!”
Ran Xing’s hand trembled faintly. Her voice was restrained with effort.
“How did you know he died that night?”
“I... I heard it somewhere. You and Xu Ting, you...” Yang Likang’s voice faded at the end.
“Hm?” Ran Xing shot him a glance.
Having been stumped, he fell silent at once.
“Listen, I don’t have time to hear your nonsense. Tell me who made you fire him.”
Yang Likang lowered his head, hesitating.
“Why? Don’t want your wife’s property anymore? If I remember correctly, your wife doesn’t have much longer to live. If she sees these photos, she’ll certainly kick you out. So choose for yourself: fame and profit, or total disgrace.”
After struggling with himself for a while, Yang Likang gritted his teeth.
“Fine. It really was someone who wanted me to fire Xu Ting. That person was the international film director Zhang Tong.”
Zhang Tong?
Ran Xing frowned. “What else did he make you do?”
Yang Likang shook his head.
“He only told me to fire the man. The rest has nothing to do with me.”
“Listen carefully. I know you have connections and resources. I want you to help me enter the film industry within one month.”
Yang Likang gave a low laugh. So his guess had been right after all.
She really did want to break into the international scene.
“Fine, I agree. And the photos...”
Ran Xing left without looking back.
“Don’t worry. Get me to meet Zhang Tong within one month, and I’ll delete them.”
As she stepped out, the door across the hall happened to open.
A man in a white shirt, his face flushed and tipsy, staggered straight into her.
Ran Xing lost her balance and nearly fell.
It was only when the scent of alcohol mingled with perfume reached her nose that she pushed him away.
Yet he clung to her desperately, burying his face in her shoulder and nuzzling lightly.
With the soft drunkenness of his voice, he called out, “Sister.”
Then he pressed his head against her shoulder again.
That single word made her waist tremble slightly, her whole body tingling as if struck by electricity.
Since Xu Ting’s death, she had not heard anyone call her that for three years.
Ran Xing’s eyes grew moist. Without thinking, she lifted a hand, wanting to touch the man’s hair.
But a man’s voice pulled her back to reality.
She jerked away and stepped back.
A man of similar age emerged from the opposite room, also wearing a bathrobe, his hair still wet.
With an apologetic expression, he pulled the drunk man away.
Ran Xing stood frozen, her gaze fixed tightly on every movement of the intoxicated stranger.
Only after the door shut did she dare let her mind go blank, her body going weak as she leaned against the wall.
In disbelief, she whispered, “How can there be someone in this world who looks and acts so much like him?”