"Hehe, Hong Xinran, how do you think you became my brother's girlfriend? Among so many well-bred young ladies and heiresses who like my brother, why do you think he chose you as his girlfriend? Don't forget, one of the reasons you were able to get close to my brother in the first place was that I was your fan. You only made an impression on my brother because of me. And because I didn't reject you, my brother made you his girlfriend. Do you think someone as smart as my brother wouldn't know that I like him at all?"
With each sentence Shao Qile spoke, her smile grew brighter: "Let me tell you the truth. I disappeared from T City for more than half a year because my brother sensed my feelings. But look, it's only been half a year, and when I reappeared in T City, he didn't show any other signs of rejection, disgust, or dislike. No matter what, I'm still his most beloved sister. As for you, do you really think that you, an actress, a minor star who's openly intimate with other men on the big screen and makes people point fingers at my brother, can really hold onto the position of my brother's girlfriend?"
"If you know what's good for you, put down what you're holding right now, and I can pretend nothing happened!"
54 Shocking Calculations
Chapter 53: Shocking Scheme
"I heard you used a smokescreen, deliberately having a fake relationship to make Qibin mistakenly believe you were just young and impulsive, which is why you reappeared around him as his sister." Hong Xinran's eyelashes trembled, and her expression froze for a moment, but she quickly smiled calmly. "As for whether I'm good enough for Qibin, it's the 21st century already. How can you still be so old-fashioned? Most importantly, whether Qibin and I are a good match is not for you to decide. Qibin's personality won't be swayed by others. If he doesn't like me, he naturally won't let me be his girlfriend. If he could be swayed by other things and give up our relationship, then he wouldn't be Shao Qibin."
"It seems we have nothing to talk about." Seeing that Hong Xinran was unyielding, Shao Qile didn't waste any more words. His arrogant, willful, and somewhat childish threat should have achieved its intended effect. "I'll say it one last time: put down what doesn't belong to you."
Hong Xinran looked at the photo album in her hand, her eyes half-closed in a smile as she looked at Shao Qile, as if mocking her earlier bluff. However, in the end, Hong Xinran didn't say anything more. She simply put the album down and left Shao Qile's room.
Hong Xinran knew Shao Qile wouldn't give up so easily and was waiting for her move. However, before that, she wouldn't passively wait for Shao Qile's offensive. The ambiguity between Shao Qile and Shao Qibin continuing to fester might not be a good thing. But if she were to be the one to break the ice, it would inevitably leave a rift between her and Qibin. At this point, she needed someone to do it for her. After much thought, the only person Hong Xinran could think of was Zhang Yue, who had reminded her of the situation.
“Xinran, I have no intention of getting involved in your messy relationship. I’m just offering you a well-intentioned suggestion as a friend, but it’s not appropriate for me, an outsider, to go and clarify everything with Mayor Shao.” Zhang Yue said calmly as she stirred her coffee with the stirrer.
"Yueyue, you know I would never let you do something so thankless unless it was absolutely necessary. But Shao Qile has fallen out with me, and I'm worried about what she might do."
"Xinran, I'll say it again: this is a matter between you and Shao Qibin, and you should handle it yourself."
"Yueyue, I'm begging you. We've known each other for so long, and I've never asked you for anything before. This time, I really don't want things to cause any rift between Qibin and me because of Shao Qile."
Zhang Yue sighed softly, stopped what she was doing, stared at Hong Xinran who was making a pleading gesture for a long time, and then reluctantly nodded.
"The matter of charitable investment still needs to be finalized. I will take that opportunity to talk to Mayor Shao. However, Xinran, if it is really as you say, that Mayor Shao also has some ambiguous feelings for Shao Qile, then there is no reason to stay with a man who is always looking for something better."
"Yueyue, you don't know about relationships since you've never been in one yourself. It's not that simple. If I could let go of it, I wouldn't be asking you for help."
After Zhang Yue and Shao Qibin met and facilitated a cooperation between Zhang Yue's company and the government, Shao Qile once again left T City with a heavy heart a few days later. This truly relieved Hong Xinran. As for Shao Qile's meaningful, defiant look before he left, she didn't take it to heart.
Moreover, after Shao Qile left, she also had to go back to her own work. She had been resting for quite a while recently.
However, after returning to her studio and getting back to work, she encountered a series of unpleasant events. First, the TV series she starred in, which was about to air on a local TV station, was suddenly replaced by another TV series. What Hong Xinran found even more strange was that some media outlets were actually spreading rumors that her TV series had been suddenly banned by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television because it had some negative impact.
If this had only happened with a TV series, Hong Xinran wouldn't have thought anyone was targeting her. However, just as she was preparing to continue promoting an upcoming film, she suddenly received news that the film's release had been indefinitely postponed.
Even worse, some people in the industry secretly called her to ask if she had offended anyone. It turns out that someone in the industry was spreading rumors that if anyone asked her to act in a film or television series, they had ways to make those projects disappear without a trace, never to see the light of day.
If Hong Xinran still couldn't figure out who was behind this mess, then she'd truly wasted her time in this industry. But who would go to such lengths to blacklist her, and have the ability to do all this? Shao Qile, who had recently been sent back to Beijing, became the prime suspect. But even if Shao Qile was the daughter of the Shao family, the Shao family itself wasn't involved in this matter, so how could Shao Qile possibly have such power?
Just as Hong Xinran was struggling with her current predicament, a guest from Beijing made her feel instantly cold.
“Miss Hong, I am the Shao family's butler. I've watched Young Master Qibin grow up. He's always been very ambitious, and without relying on his family's influence, he's climbed his way up to his current position, becoming the youngest mayor of a prefecture-level city in China. Recently, the central government has even announced new job assignments. Young Master Qibin was poised to become the youngest mayor of a prefecture-level city, and with a few more years of experience, he could become the youngest and most promising second-in-command at the provincial level, eventually reaching the highest echelons. However, recently, our Shao family's political enemies learned of our young master's relationship with you, Miss Hong. They've used this to their advantage, causing his promotion plans to fall through. Miss Hong, I know you're a good girl. Becoming an international movie star at your age is no easy feat. I believe that given time, you will definitely become one of the world's most outstanding stars.”
The man who identified himself as the Shao family's butler paused for a moment before continuing with a heavy heart, "However, the path Miss Hong is going to take is not the same as the path our young master is going to take. If the two of you really want to be together, either our young master will hesitate outside the central government for your sake, or Miss Hong will give up her career for our young master. Our Shao family will also arrange suitable opportunities for Miss Hong to pursue further education."
"However, I think it would be a great pity if you, young master or Miss Hong, were to give up your promising futures just for the sake of your relationship. What do you think, Miss Hong?"
Hong Xinran forced a flawless smile, not wanting to lose her composure or composure in front of the butler who represented the Shao family: "Butler, do you mean that the small setback I've encountered in my career this time is a warning and test from the Shao family's political enemies?"
"Miss Hong, don't worry, Young Master Qibin already knows about this matter and will handle it quickly. He won't let this affect your career. However, you still need to carefully consider the matter between you and the young master. Miss Hong is so outstanding, you will definitely meet a more suitable partner in the future."
After seeing the butler off, Hong Xinran locked herself in her office for a full hour. Just as she was about to get up and go find Shao Qibin, she received a series of good news. It was the person who had previously tipped her off, asking if she had offended anyone, who called to tell her that someone had suppressed the matter. Her TV movie, which had been held back from being released, was now in talks for suitable screening opportunities.
However, this news did not bring Hong Xinran any joy or excitement.
Hong Xinran couldn't help but recall Shao Qile's confident words. Was her status truly unworthy of Shao Qibin? She shook her head, dispelling her insecurity. She had weathered so many storms together. She refused to believe she couldn't overcome this hurdle!
However, how did the Shao family suddenly find out about these things? Considering that Shao Qile has already returned to Beijing, could this be Shao Qile's signal for attack? What a clever idea! Choosing between the future of the family business and her as his girlfriend is probably not an easy task for Yu Qibin.
Hong Xinran felt a vague unease about Shao Qibin's attitude. Although she reassured herself that the fact the Shao family had sent their old butler as an intermediary meant they hadn't found a breakthrough with Qibin, Hong Xinran, understanding Qibin's future business plans and ambitions, still harbored a deep sense of unease.
When she arrived at the municipal government, it was almost closing time, and Hong Xinran went straight to Shao Qibin's office. The office door wasn't fully closed, and just as Hong Xinran was about to push it open, she heard a voice that sounded incredibly familiar to her from inside.
"Qibin, Xinran seems to be in quite a bit of trouble this time. Is it really a good idea for that butler to go and see Xinran?"
"There's nothing we can do about it. The celebrities and politicians that Xinran used to associate with have all been involved in some minor corruption scandals recently, although they've all been covered up. But if someone with ulterior motives uses my relationship with Xinran to make a fuss, I'm afraid everything I've done in T City over the years will be for nothing. Right now, I can only ask Xinran to put up with this for the time being. Besides, as you know, there are too many entanglements between my position and Xinran's celebrity status, which isn't necessarily a good thing. If there's any news about Xinran, the entertainment reporters will get excited and write all sorts of nonsense. But right now, I need to keep a low profile."
"But Xinran has always been stubborn. If the housekeeper goes to talk to her, she probably won't just say she wants to break up. Besides, if she finds out about me and you, she'll probably be even angrier. Moreover, it seems that Lele is now competing with Xinran too."
"If Xinran were truly sensible and understanding, she would know what to do."
The door, which had been quietly opened, was closed again. Hong Xinran staggered away, her mind replaying the words she had just heard. Shao Qibin's cold, almost ruthless words, and the ambiguous remark from Zhang Yue, whom she considered her only confidante and best friend. What did she mean by "our affair"? Why was she angry knowing these things?
And what about Shao Qile? Was that also part of Zhang Yue and Shao Qibin's scheme?
Feeling as if she had fallen into a dense, invisible net, Hong Xinran drove away absentmindedly, only to accidentally collide with another car on the road.
55 baseless charges
Chapter 54: Unfounded Charges
"The Jade Girl and Flower Actress Hangs by a Thread," "A Thrilling Story on the Elevated Highway: The Actress in a Car Accident," "When it Rains, It Rains Again: Her Play Is Banned and She's in Danger with Murder," "A Tumultuous Time: A Thrilling Story on the Elevated Highway"...
Shao Qile closed the newspaper in his hand, made a phone call, and confirmed that although Hong Xinran had experienced a dangerous car accident, she was not in mortal danger. She only suffered some superficial injuries and internal bleeding due to the impact. After confirming that she would be fine with some rest, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Pressing his temples, Shao Qile dialed another number: "How could Hong Xinran have been in a car accident?"
After a brief silence, the person on the other end of the phone said, "It was Mayor Shao's idea. By the time I found out, it was too late."
"What is Shao Qibin doing? With Hong Xinran's proud nature, if she finds out he's cheating, she definitely won't bother him anymore."
Mayor Shao came to a completely opposite conclusion. He felt that although Hong Xinran appeared strong and decisive on the surface, she might not be so resolute in her heart. In order to avoid any obstacles, having Hong Xinran temporarily avoid the limelight due to health reasons was a precaution.
Shao Qile instinctively wanted to refute, but then she remembered the system's evaluation of Hong Xinran during their meeting. Perhaps Shao Qibin was right; he might have his own unique insights into his wife, Hong Xinran. However, hadn't Shao Qibin considered that if the car accident had gone even slightly wrong, Hong Xinran wouldn't have suffered just a minor scratch, but could very well have been left with a permanent, irreparable injury?