"Mayor Shao said he hired the most professional people to do this, and he will absolutely not let any accidents happen."
Hearing the reply from the other end of the phone, Shao Qile realized that she had unknowingly asked the question that had been on her mind. After hanging up, Shao Qile looked out the window at the dark clouds covering the sky; a storm was about to break.
She hesitated, wondering if she should take the same step she had taken with Zhang Mengxin. Zhang Mengxin had figured things out and let go on her own, so would the same plan work on Hong Xinran? Perhaps, whether it would be useful or not, she should let Hong Xinran know some of the intricacies involved.
When Hong Xinran woke up in her hospital bed, she was still a little numb and dazed, not knowing whether it was because the effects of the anesthesia had not completely worn off or because the shock of the moment when the two cars collided and she narrowly escaped death still lingered in her mind.
She gradually recovered and was able to move around on her own. Every day she saw only doctors, nurses, and her agent. She clearly remembered the extensive media coverage of her car accident in the first few days after she received it from the hospital, making her the talk of the town. But these days, it was as if that news had been deliberately suppressed. It was quickly drowned out by news of another celebrity couple showing affection or another seemingly perfect couple suddenly getting a divorce.
She recalled that when she first woke up, due to her pride, stubbornness, and a somewhat tentative mindset, she hadn't called Shao Qibin immediately, waiting for him to hear the news from the media and come over. But in the end, it wasn't even Secretary He who arrived; it was just a junior assistant who usually helped He Shengming. Reason told Hong Xinran that at this critical juncture, if Shao Qibin came, it would undoubtedly send an exciting signal to the reporters and media. Shao Qibin's actions were driven by numerous concerns.
But if people can't come over, is it really that difficult to even make a phone call?
She couldn't help but speculate whether Shao Qibin had been having an affair with Zhang Yue behind her back, which was why he was so cold and indifferent even after her car accident.
She called several times, but the phone was always on standby. When she finally got through, the person on the other end seemed too busy to talk for long. All of this made Hong Xinran increasingly anxious and her emotions became more and more out of control!
At this time, she suddenly received an anonymous package. Inside the package, it was revealed that her car accident was not an accident but a deliberate act, and that the mastermind behind the farce was none other than Shao Qibin!
My first reaction was, of course, disbelief!
They were once so close and devoted to each other, they were once so passionately in love, how could Shao Qibin treat himself like that?
However, when people are alone, they are always more prone to overthinking. Gradually, they begin to think uncontrollably about things that they don't want to happen. The deeper they think, the more frantic and insane they become, yet they also become calmer.
At this moment, Hong Xinran displayed excellent acting skills. Even when Zhang Yue came to visit her with a face full of concern and worry, looking haggard, she did not show any unusual emotions. Every move she made was the same as usual, showing intimacy and care.
Soon, Hong Xinran recovered and was discharged from the hospital.
Because of her injury, all her planned activities were cancelled. After she recovered, she didn't visit Shao Qibin, nor did she call to say she wanted to break up. Instead, she devoted herself to her career.
Shao Qile naturally received all the information about Hong Xinran. When he saw Hong Xinran's calm demeanor and the fact that her love and trust in Shao Qibin had not yet fallen into negative territory, but still retained at least half of her affection and intimacy, he suddenly felt that perhaps among all the people, Hong Xinran's love for Shao Qibin was the most ardent and stubborn.
However, this suppressed affection and passionate love, once it erupts, could trigger a series of butterfly effects.
In fact, Shao Qile didn't have to wait long. For a month, she was busy attending her own film release conferences. Hong Xinran, who even broke her previous principle of not participating in variety shows, frequently appeared on various local television programs, instantly becoming the focus of attention across all media outlets and the most popular and talked-about star recently.
Amidst this high level of exposure, Hong Xinran unexpectedly raised a topic that caught everyone off guard at a press conference.
This press conference was the premiere of an art-house romance film starring Hong Xinran. When asked by a reporter about her experience filming the movie, Hong Xinran said, "While filming this movie, I was also experiencing a very romantic love affair, just like the female lead in the film. I felt that every day was colorful. The first thing I did when I woke up in the morning was to text my partner. Just a simple reply was enough to keep me happy all day. The last thing I did before going to sleep was to say goodnight to my partner so that I could fall asleep peacefully. In this movie, I poured all my experiences of love into it. I hope that everyone who watches this movie can feel my happiness and my love."
The sudden news of her romance naturally attracted the attention of the media, who bombarded her with questions about her boyfriend. However, Hong Xinran remained calm and collected, refusing to answer any questions related to her boyfriend.
The more she acted this way, the more attention and curiosity she attracted from others.
Thanks to the in-depth investigation by netizens and media reporters, photos of Hong Xinran and Shao Qibin's secret relationship began to surface continuously.
"The rising star is the youngest girlfriend of the mayor," "Hong Xinran announces her mayor boyfriend in a high-profile manner, and it is suspected that good things are coming soon," "Love and career are both successful"... Articles about the romance between Hong Xinran and Shao Qibin, a high-ranking official and a star, began to flutter like paper, attracting countless curious attention and gossip.
Just as Hung Yan-ran's fans were sending their blessings and expressing their joy at finding her happiness, things took an unexpected turn.
However, Shao Qibin issued a public statement clarifying that his contact with Hong Xinran was solely due to her being from T City, and the city government having hired her as a spokesperson. Regarding the photos circulating online, he stated that other people were actually present, but they weren't captured in the images. Furthermore, Shao Qibin revealed that his fiancée is someone else entirely, Zhang Yue, also from T City and an internationally renowned designer. He added that Zhang Yue and Hong Xinran are childhood friends. Therefore, it's understandable that Hong Xinran was accidentally photographed accompanying Shao Qibin and Zhang Yue on their date.
Just as Hong Xinran's phone was about to be ringing off the hook, and the internet and various media outlets were buzzing with excitement over Shao Qibin's statement, one of Hong Xinran's private phones rang. The name on the caller ID was none other than the heartless man who had coldly denied their relationship just moments before.
“Xinran, I’m sorry. I had no choice but to do this. Secretary Yao, Director Deng, Secretary Gu, and others who have been in contact with you have all been investigated by the authorities recently. There are rumors that you colluded with these officials and acted as a pimp for them. I know you haven’t done these things, but sometimes, from my position, I have to be careful. You should also be careful lately.”
Shao Qibin hung up the phone, pressed his temples; the situation was far more complicated than he had described to Hong Xinran. It was as if someone had cast an invisible net, attempting to capture him entirely.
If Lele hadn't noticed something amiss in Beijing, how could he have imagined that someone would target Hong Xinran, orchestrating such a grand scheme to drag him down? He thought that having Hong Xinran injured and confined to the hospital would shield her from some trouble. But who knew she would cause all this trouble, only making things more complicated?
Hong Xinran had no idea of Shao Qibin's current predicament; all she knew was that she was completely stunned. She naturally recognized the names Shao Qibin had mentioned, and was even quite familiar with them. It could be said that Hong Xinran's current status was largely due to the behind-the-scenes assistance of these people.
But what does it mean that she was acting as a pimp?
These are completely fabricated charges!
Suddenly, Hong Xinran felt genuinely panicked, and vaguely felt that she might have done something stupid!
56. Transmigrated female protagonist who clears levels
Chapter 55: The Transmigrated Female Lead Clears the Level
Hong Xinran hung up the phone with a mocking expression. After her initial shock, she had instinctively become suspicious of Shao Qibin's words. While she couldn't fully trust the people Shao Qibin mentioned, they weren't hypocrites either; how could they possibly be involved in those scandalous and corrupt news stories? As it turned out, after making several calls, all of them were perfectly fine. The situation was nowhere near as serious as Shao Qibin had described.
On the contrary, she learned from these people a piece of news that chilled her to the bone.
Shao Qibin and Zhang Yue are actually preparing to go back to Beijing to meet each other's parents!
When exactly did these two start having an affair behind her back? Do they really think she, Hong Xinran, is a fool who can be so easily fooled? So what if they want to break up? Do they think she'll cling to Shao Qibin shamelessly?
Shao Qibin, Zhang Yue, and Shao Qile, you all forced me into this situation!
"Ding! The transmigrated female lead's love turned to hate, and her impression of the mission target has completely darkened. Congratulations, host, for successfully destroying the relationship between the transmigrated female lead and the mission target. You have successfully defeated the transmigrated female lead, bringing you one step closer to success!"
"Friendly reminder: The female protagonist currently harbors extremely high hatred towards the host. Please be careful to avoid accidentally falling into a trap."
"To celebrate that you are one step closer to completing your mission and returning home, I am rewarding you with a set of advanced lightness techniques and one teleportation opportunity. I hope you will make good use of this reward and seize every opportunity to complete your mission."
Shao Qile was about to leave for the airport to pick up Shao Qibin and Zhang Yue when she heard the system notification. She couldn't help but smile, suppressing the joy that welled up inside her. Almost there, almost there, another step closer. If only she could make Shao Qibin place her in the most important position, and genuinely and unreservedly desire her, even for just a moment, she could successfully complete this damn game and leave this dungeon world.
It's been too long. The longer she stays in this world, the less she can recall the faces of her family and loved ones. Even now, many of her calculations are merely mechanical instincts. Shao Qile even wonders if, after returning to her original world, someone as ruthless as herself could still gain the forgiveness and care of those who love her.
Shaking off her wavering thoughts that had inadvertently begun to falter again, Shao Qile drove to the airport. She didn't have to wait long before she saw Shao Qibin and Zhang Yue getting off the plane.
The conspiracy surrounding Shao Qibin could easily lead to disaster if not handled carefully. The political arena in China is inherently like this; exceptional talent alone doesn't guarantee a stable position or a long career. On the contrary, consider the feudal era under monarchical rule: so many brilliant individuals submitted to those less powerful. Interpersonal skills and personal charisma are crucial. Otherwise, comparing Liu Bang and Xiang Yu in terms of youth, strength, talent, and character would clearly show who was stronger. Yet, despite Liu Bang's despicable act of abandoning his own children during his escape, he was still surrounded by a group of geniuses. Most importantly, it was this Liu Bang, who wasn't exceptionally brilliant and was even considered a late bloomer in ancient times, who ultimately triumphed in history.
A smart person always knows when to be assertive and when to show weakness, when to seek allies, and when to make good use of the cards they have.