Chapter 118: Absolutely Explosive

Lan Qing felt the doorman's gaze almost immediately. A burning heat rushed to her cheeks, and she dared not look up, yet Jian Hong dragged her inside regardless. In that moment, Lan Qing felt utterly humiliated. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, but she felt no pain—only a bone-chilling cold in her heart.

"Since we’re already here, stop pulling that long face, as if someone owes you millions," Jian Hong said, displeased by Lan Qing’s dead-eyed expression. "Have a good meal tonight, and things will look up tomorrow."

"If you can land those film and television contracts, the millions in compensation won't be an issue anymore," Jian Hong reasoned, her tone not entirely insincere. "As long as you’re willing, those endorsements will be begging you to sign sooner or later."

Lan Qing nodded blankly, saying nothing. Jian Hong couldn't be bothered to continue; once the first step was taken, the second and third would become second nature. This was how all of Jian Hong’s former artists had navigated their careers. Who among them wasn't living as a wealthy socialite now? Who would still be willing to suffer on a film set?

After the group took the elevator to the designated floor, they stepped out. Just then, Qi Bin happened to emerge from a private room for some air. He caught sight of Lan Qing and his eyebrows arched slightly. Thoughts of Lu Wenchuan and that damned Wei Heng crossed his mind, and his expression darkened instantly.

Jian Hong had never met Qi Bin, but sensing the hostility, she braced herself. If Qi Bin really intended to cause trouble, she had her retort ready to make him back off. However, Qi Bin merely glanced at them and walked past without a second look.

Seeing this, Lan Qing tugged at Jian Hong’s hand and asked, "Sister Hong, who was that?"

"Not sure, but you should know that anyone who comes here isn't someone you can afford to offend." Jian Hong took one last look at the direction Qi Bin had walked, then at the room he had exited—7923. She wondered if the room numbers held any special significance.

Jian Hong led the way to a room at the back—8143, reserved by President Huang of the Dongsheng Group. As she pushed the door open, she saw the meal was nearly finished and quickly offered apologies for their late arrival.

Huang Hong, the owner of the Dongsheng Group, was fifty years old. Having already kept three university students as mistresses, he had long grown weary of standard beauties. Yet, at first glance, Lan Qing’s appearance was undeniably alluring. Huang Hong’s eyes lit up, and Jian Hong knew she had piqued his interest. Seeing his gaze fixate on the black silk stockings covering Lan Qing’s legs, she breathed a sigh of relief, fearing he wouldn't favor Lan Qing's type.

"Qingqing, go on, sit next to President Huang." Jian Hong nudged Lan Qing and glanced at the woman sitting next to Huang, who looked vaguely familiar.

Lan Qing walked over reluctantly. Huang Hong signaled to the woman beside him, and she stood up with visible annoyance.

"I really didn't expect that the former Miss Lan would be reduced to joining us bit players," the woman murmured, her lips curling into a seductive smile.

Lan Qing pulled the corners of her mouth into a half-smile that was truly enigmatic. As the woman moved further away, Jian Hong recognized her as an artist from a long-time rival agency. Their tactics, it seemed, never changed.

"Great Agent Jian, since you're here, why don't you sit and join us for a meal?" Huang Hong’s gaze shifted pointedly toward her. Jian Hong had no choice but to offer a polite smile and take a seat.

***

Out in the hallway, Qi Bin exhaled a plume of smoke. For reasons unknown, he recalled what Lu Wenchuan had said, crushed out the remaining half of his cigarette, and checked the time on his phone. He opened a group chat that had been silent for a while.

[Saw Lan Qing at the Baishan Hotel.]
[Looks like she’s here to play hostess.]

Less than a second after his message was sent, Qi Yue replied.
[Brother, are you still angry?]

*Hah.* Qi Bin sneered. He had been guarding against Lu Wenchuan, only to forget there was a wolf right in his own circle. It was laughable. After a moment of thought, his slender fingers tapped rapidly on the screen, editing and sending a message.

[Not angry anymore. But I’d be much happier if you could break up with Wei Heng.]

Qi Yue didn't reply. Then, Wei Heng popped up.
[Buddy, we all know each other inside and out, isn't that a good thing?]

Qi Bin’s smile grew colder as he read it.
[It’s precisely because we know each other inside and out that it's a bad thing.]
[Why don't we talk about why Lan Qing is at the Baishan Hotel?]

Watching the group chat seem ready to explode, Qi Yue hastily changed the subject, while simultaneously opening a private chat with Lu Wenchuan.

[Brother Lu, can you help?]
[My brother and Wei Heng are about to start a fight.]

After sending the message, Qi Yue didn't truly believe Lu Wenchuan would intervene, but she held onto a shred of hope. Her sixth sense proved accurate; Lu Wenchuan didn't speak in the group, but he did reply to the private message.

[I am not getting involved in the affairs of you three.]

Qi Yue: "..."
Something felt wrong about that statement, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Silently watching the group chat count soar past 99+, she exited the group, deciding that out of sight was out of mind.

Lu Wenchuan was on his way back. Seeing the chat logs, he instructed his secretary to investigate what was happening. Though the secretary was puzzled by the request, he complied faithfully. Within ten minutes, the information Lu Wenchuan wanted was on his phone. Looking at the data, he raised the corners of his mouth and ordered, "Find some reporters to stake out the place."

The secretary understood.

That same night, images of Lan Qing being pulled into a car by Huang Hong were captured, including a video of her being pinned against the vehicle and kissed. The reporters had been paid to stake out the location and hadn't expected such explosive footage; they were certain tomorrow’s headlines would belong to them.

However, once they captured the video, they realized several other reporters were staked out across the way. Any hope of an exclusive scoop vanished. Each reporter scrambled to send the information back to their agencies to be edited and published first, knowing that speed meant traffic, and traffic meant profit.

Neither Lan Qing nor Huang Hong noticed the reporters lurking nearby. After Huang pulled Lan Qing into the car, he drove off in a hurry. The reporters trailing behind followed after a brief pause. They never expected that instead of heading to a hotel, Huang would drive to a much more remote location.

Sensing something even more scandalous, the reporters’ faces lit up with mischievous grins. "This is getting interesting," one of them messaged his contact.

[Keep the payment for this scoop, this is a gift. Thanks, thanks, thanks.]