Such words of feigned weakness, coming from Xia Xiange, made it hard to tell whether they were genuine or not. However, Ling Yan also knew that this was a bargaining chip exchange for the matter that had just been mentioned.
If his own schemes and plans are exposed, Li will surely turn against him, and dealing with him won't be too difficult. However, it's hard to guarantee that the things Gu Zhong was involved in in his earlier years won't be brought up again.
"Then we'll have to ask President Xia to retire gracefully."
Lingyan made a concession; she only needed Xia Xiange to have no more bargaining chips, and there was no need to put her to death completely.
She harbored complex feelings towards this woman. There was hatred, resentment, gratitude, and also pity.
Why did things turn out that way back then?
"Thank you. But Mr. Ling, I haven't admitted defeat to you. After all, no one can surpass your cheating techniques."
A faint smile appeared on Xia Xiange's lips, but her eyes held a hint of doubt.
"Really? Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Xia."
Pretending not to understand Xia Xiange's implied meaning, Ling Yan changed the subject.
Deep down, however, she was certain that Xia Xiange's appearance was no coincidence, and that she, too, should not have originally existed in this world. Only someone with similar circumstances could possess such keen perception.
So, in the original ending she foresaw, was it because of Xia Xiange's existence that Gu Zhong's tragic fate was caused?
She doesn't remember Gu Zhong, so why is she targeting him?
It is obvious that Lingyan was destined never to get an answer to this question.
Everything was moving in a positive direction. With this masterpiece, Gu Zhong's reputation resounded internationally, making him the first among the new generation of actors to truly go global.
Even if she didn't win the Best Actress award this time, she was at least nominated, and she'll likely get plenty of international film offers in the future.
After attending the awards ceremony at the international film festival, Gu Zhong's reputation in China reached its peak.
As soon as the plane carrying the passenger returned to China from Country M landed, paparazzi and enthusiastic fans, who had somehow gotten wind of the news, had already surrounded the airport.
Ling Yan, who had just disembarked from the plane, received the news and immediately contacted the airport manager to arrange for Gu Zhong to leave through the internal staff emergency exit.
Judging from this situation, if Gu Zhong were to be present in the airport terminal, it could trigger a terrible reaction, potentially leading to a stampede, which would be difficult to handle.
The group walked through the nearly deserted underground passage. The airport staff member leading the way gave a warm introduction, his eyes occasionally glancing at Gu Zhong with barely suppressed excitement, clearly another fan.
Amidst the chaotic footsteps, the dull yet rapid clatter of leather shoes suddenly broke the silence, hurrying up from behind them.
Lingyan turned around alertly and saw a man in a black trench coat walking quickly behind them. His wide fisherman's hat covered his face, making it impossible to identify him at first glance.
He gave a wink to the bodyguard beside him, and instantly everyone went into a defensive stance. But the man in the trench coat didn't seem to be coming for Gu Zhong; he walked straight past them without pausing for a moment.
"Other VIPs will still use this passage. Especially given the unusual situation at the airport today."
Seeing the tense atmosphere around them, the staff member couldn't help but explain in a low voice.
"We were being too tense, but Gu Zhong's safety is more important."
Ling Yan smiled and explained in a friendly manner.
After this brief interlude, the light from the exit came from not far away, suddenly changing from the dim incandescent bulbs on the ground to bright and dazzling sunlight, causing everyone to feel dizzy and disoriented.
In the blur of vision, a dark figure rushed straight towards them. In an instant, Ling Yan quickly and skillfully shielded Gu Zhong behind her.
A sharp pain shot through her abdomen. Ling Yan looked down at the dagger embedded in her stomach and couldn't help but laugh at herself—who would have thought that in this modern world, she would be taking another knife for Gu Zhong.
Before collapsing and losing consciousness, all she heard was Gu Zhong's panicked, tearful screams and a chaotic scene.
"elder sister!"
"Hold him down!"
"Sister Ling!"
"Pay attention! Pay attention!"
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Author's Note:
I confess, I am guilty; I was infatuated with beauty and unable to extricate myself.
//Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2021-05-20 22:06:40 and 2021-05-23 23:09:49!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Yu Liu Zhi 9 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 47 Agent and Movie Queen (19)
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I opened my eyes to a blindingly white wall, the smell of disinfectant filled the air, and the beeping of medical equipment came from nearby.
Ling Yan moved her fingers and touched a warm body. She turned her head slightly and saw Gu Zhong sleeping soundly by the bedside.
Gu Zhong was only wearing a black overcoat, and with her steady breathing, the coat seemed about to slip off her back.
Lingyan couldn't help but reach out, wanting to pull the black coat up a little more.
Before her hand could reach Gu Zhong's shoulder, the fluffy head that was lurking by the bedside stirred.
The sleepy little guy opened his eyes, paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up with ecstatic joy.
"Sister! You're awake! Doctor!"
Her excited and enthusiastic calls caused chaos in the ward. Before Lingyan could even clear her head, she was bombarded with a whole host of tests.
"This is... way too big..."
"You've been unconscious for three days!"
Sensing the reluctance in her words, Gu Zhong became unusually fierce.
"It's been that long? No wonder I felt so weak."
As an unfit patient, Lingyan restlessly propped herself up on her elbows, trying to sit up in bed.
She inadvertently aggravated the stab wound on her abdomen and gasped in shock. Gu Zhong quickly moved behind her to support her.
"Don't move!"
She complained in a coquettish tone, her expression revealing unspeakable heartache, "The wound is so deep..."
Who was it that day?
Wen Shun leaned against Gu Zhong, and Ling Yan decided to break the conversation about the injury.
"...Ge Tan!"
Gu Zhong spat out those two words through gritted teeth.
As expected, Ling Yan sighed softly. People at their wits' end are capable of anything.
Ge Tan is now at his wit's end, his career ruined and he is heavily in debt.
Today was simply his own fault, and he had a grievance to settle. It doesn't make sense that he would come to Gu Zhong instead of the person who led him astray into drug use—it can only mean that he was deliberately lured in.
"Has he been criminally detained?"
After pondering for a moment, Lingyan asked the question.
"He was released on bail by his agent... He has a severe drug addiction and it's impossible for him to stay in the detention center indefinitely."
Gu Zhong was clearly very dissatisfied with this matter, but there was nothing improper about the procedure, so she had no way to intervene or stop it.
"I'm afraid this is not a good sign."
Upon hearing this result, Lingyan made a judgment: Ge Tan was probably not going to survive. There are many ways to kill an addict silently, and the mastermind behind the assassination of Gu Zhong remains unknown.
How's the company?
As if suddenly remembering something, Lingyan then slowly inquired about Xingguang's condition.
"Starlight is such a big company, what would happen if you weren't there for a few days? You weren't worried about me when I went on vacation, but you're suddenly so anxious about my injury?"
I wonder what kind of worries Gu Zhong has gone through these past few days. The sweet, soft, and adorable little angel is gone forever, and he has even learned the skill of being sarcastic.
"Oh, I have to ask that every time, otherwise it would seem like I'm an unprofessional boss."
Lingyan couldn't help but make a couple of jokes, temporarily suppressing her doubts.
She had assumed that Xia Xiange would at least get involved in this matter, and that he would try to do something underhanded while she was unconscious.
But Starlight doesn't seem to have been attacked at all. Is she wrong?
Because they used a special passage, the staff leading the way kept quiet, adhering to professional ethics. As a result, the news of Gu Zhong's attack was not leaked, and the media continued to praise Gu Zhong.
Sure enough, a few days later Ge Tan was found dead at home, but the news was buried in the flood of information. If he hadn't had a slight relationship with Gu Zhong, probably no one would have paid any attention to him anymore.
For Ge Tan, who had schemed and worked tirelessly to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry, this was truly a great irony.
Few people truly remembered him until his death.
When Lingyan learned of another unexpected event, she was preparing for this year's Starlight Awards, ready to step into the spotlight and announce the grand vision of Starlight to the world.
"Xia Xiange has left Chenxi?"
Upon hearing the news, Ling Yan was unusually lost in thought and accidentally knocked over the coffee in her hand, startling her secretary who hurriedly gathered up the documents on the table.
"Yes. She sold all her shares, and according to recent news, she seems to have gone abroad."
The public relations manager respectfully handed Ling Yan a white A4 sheet of paper, which contained a detailed record of Xia Xiange's last activities.
"Can't you find any trace of them?"
Lingyan glanced at it and couldn't help but frown.
This situation looks exactly like the mysterious disappearance of a great shaman from the last world.
"This...cannot be found."
"Okay, I understand."
Lingyan had some vague guesses in her mind that she would no longer make things difficult for her subordinates.
—Perhaps, Xia Xiange has already left this world.
All that remains is a mystery: what were her motives and purpose? Why did she lose her memory?