Chapter Forty-Four: The Man Surrounded by the Net

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Early the next morning, Kan Qingzi woke from a deep sleep and stared around her in confusion. Then she noticed the breakfast on the bedside table and broke into a heartfelt smile.

My husband is the best!

After washing up, she ate her breakfast while trying to recall how she had gotten back the night before.

All she remembered was that her husband had stood up for her, forcing everyone who had tried to get her drunk to drink just as much themselves. After that, she remembered nothing.

Thinking of this, she picked up her phone and sent a message on WeChat.

Before long, her assistant, Yang Tao, swiped her card and came in.

“Sister Qing, you’re awake. How are you feeling? Does your head hurt?”

Kan Qingzi shook her head slightly.

“I’m fine. How did I get back last night?”

“You drank far too much. Halfway through the dinner, you collapsed onto the table. When I saw that you were drunk, I called Wang Li and Wang Yan, and the three of us carried you back. Oh, Sister Xiaoyu came back with us too. Once we got here, we changed you into pajamas and wiped your face and hands. We stayed for a while, and when we saw that you were all right, we went to sit in the living room.”

Kan Qingzi pondered for a moment.

“What about Qianjun? When did he come back?”

At those words, Yang Tao’s mind immediately returned to the scene from the previous night.

————————

“Do you remember everything?”

“I do, but—” Little Assistant Yang Tao looked as though she wanted to say something.

Chen Xiaoyu stared intently into the young assistant’s eyes. Her voice was calm and utterly devoid of emotion.

“There are no ‘buts.’ Repeat it back to me now.”

Yang Tao felt indignant at the other woman’s attitude, but when she saw the unruffled eyes behind Chen Xiaoyu’s glasses, as well as Wang Li and Wang Yan standing behind her with equally expressionless faces, she forced all her resentment down.

These two usually seem so easygoing. Why are they so frightening today? They even said before that they were merely bodyguards, and that their daily activities would revolve around us.

Yang Tao muttered inwardly, but she did not dare reveal the slightest hint of dissatisfaction. She immediately repeated everything at Chen Xiaoyu’s instruction.

Chen Xiaoyu listened and nodded faintly. She went over it with Yang Tao twice more, and only after confirming that the young assistant had truly memorized it did a trace of a smile finally appear on her face.

“Not bad. You’re quite quick-witted. You can’t remain an assistant forever. If you ever have ideas about your career, come and see me. Solar System Film and Television will always welcome outstanding talent.”

With that, she took an envelope from her Louis Vuitton bag.

“Just a little something. Buy yourself something to eat.”

Yang Tao hurriedly waved her hands.

“No, I can’t accept this.”

Chen Xiaoyu continued smiling, but her eyes turned cold as frost.

“If I tell you to take it, then take it. Listen to me. The boss doesn’t like people refusing his goodwill.”

With that, she stuffed the envelope into Yang Tao’s arms.

Feeling its considerable weight, Yang Tao finally took it under the gaze of three pairs of eyes.

“Thank you, Sister Xiaoyu. I’ll keep in touch with you from now on.”

Chen Xiaoyu tilted her head slightly, and this time her smile was genuine.

“I knew you were a bright one. Keep up the good work.”

————————

The scenes in Yang Tao’s mind replayed one after another like episodes of a television drama.

The young assistant smiled and said to Kan Qingzi, “President Zhang didn’t come back until the middle of the night. I heard that after the first round ended, he went out for barbecue with the director and the others. Apparently someone even threw up. The smell on President Zhang’s clothes was awful when he came back.

“But he was still quite sober. When he saw Sister Xiaoyu and me, he even greeted us softly. Then he went into the bathroom, changed his clothes, handed the dirty ones to Sister Xiaoyu, and told the two of us to leave.”

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Kan Qingzi nodded.

“Oh, I see. Liu Chang and the others really have strange habits. Every time they finish a meal, they have to go out for another round of skewers. I don’t know what makes grilled meat so addictive.”

Yang Tao acted as though she had not heard Kan Qingzi’s complaint.

“Sister Qing, you don’t have any scenes today. Are you going to keep resting, or would you like to go out?”

Kan Qingzi thought for a moment.

“I’ll go take a look at the set.”

When she arrived, Director Liu Chang and Director of Photography Han Qiming were examining the monitors and checking the details. Her boyfriend, Li Kai, and two producers were in a distant corner, constantly writing and drawing on a whiteboard.

Kan Qingzi walked up to the director.

“Liu Chang, why do you all love skewers so much? Qianjun had already drunk so much yesterday, yet you still went out for a second round. You even got him drunk enough to throw up.”

Liu Chang immediately put on a wronged expression.

“Qingzi, it wasn’t my idea. You should ask Qiming. Last night, he kept saying he hadn’t had enough and wanted another round, so we went out for skewers. Qianjun threw up after he went back? I remember he seemed fine yesterday. Brother Kai was the one who drank too much—he threw up all over himself.”

Han Qiming also protested at once.

“I only said that we’d spent the whole evening drinking and hadn’t eaten enough, so we should go get some barbecue. I never suggested drinking more. But as soon as Qianjun got there, he shouted, ‘Boss, bring us two cases of Tsingtao—one iced and one at room temperature!’

“When the skewers arrived, Brother Kai started boasting, and the two of them began challenging each other to drain their bottles. Brother Kai sprayed everywhere by the third bottle. Qingzi, you really should blame your man. We couldn’t stop him once he decided to drink! Besides, he really was fine.”

Kan Qingzi spat dismissively.

“Ugh. Every one of you acts as though alcohol is more important than your life.”

Then she turned and walked toward Zhang Qianjun.

Once she was out of earshot, Liu Chang raised an eyebrow at Han Qiming, his expression clearly saying, When it comes to acting, how can an actor compare with a director?

Han Qiming shot him a sidelong glance, as if replying, A cinematographer isn’t bad either, you know.

Kan Qingzi reached Zhang Qianjun and quietly waited while he finished discussing work with the others. The two producers smiled and nodded at her before walking away.

“You’re awake?” Zhang Qianjun said. “If you can’t hold your liquor, then don’t drink. Look at the state you were in. After just a little too much, you collapsed onto the table and wouldn’t get up no matter how many times we called you.”

Kan Qingzi protested, “It’s not as though I’ve never had strong liquor before. When we were filming *The Youth*, nobody forced us to drink. But on this production, all they serve is hard liquor. I wasn’t prepared.”

Zhang Qianjun looked unimpressed.

“If you had been prepared, would you suddenly be able to drink it? From now on, you’re not allowed to drink when you go out. Yesterday it took Yang Tao, Xiaoyu, and two bodyguards—four people in all—to get you back.”

Kan Qingzi put on an obedient expression.

“I know. Normally, I never drink when you’re not around anyway.”

Then she turned to Li Kai.

“Brother Kai, I heard you embarrassed yourself last night?”

Li Kai stiffened his neck.

“That’s nonsense. They’re slandering me.”

Kan Qingzi gave him a look of utter disdain.

“You drank until you threw up all over yourself. And you still brag about being able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk?”

Li Kai looked somewhat embarrassed.

“Ah, I drank too quickly yesterday. If I’d taken my time, I would’ve been perfectly fine.”

Kan Qingzi ignored him and turned to her husband.

“Honey, I don’t have any scenes today. I’m going out for a look around.”

Zhang Qianjun nodded.

“Go ahead. Sister Zhang and Suying are free too. You can all go shopping together. Buy whatever you like when you see it.”

Kan Qingzi happily bounded over and showered him with kisses.

“Honey, you’re the best!”

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Zhang Qianjun patted her on the backside.

“All right, go have fun. Brother Kai and I need to prepare for the Anshun shoot.”

Kan Qingzi skipped away happily, called Zhang Yao and Jiang Suying, and headed to the parking lot with Yang Tao following close behind.

When they reached the parking lot, they happened to see Zhou Chongshan, her husband’s head of security, getting out of the Q7. She went over to greet him.

“Brother Zhou, where are you off to?”

Zhou Chongshan looked helpless.

“Last night, Kai threw up inside the car on the way back. You have no idea how badly it smelled. As soon as the car wash opened this morning, I took it over there. The moment the owner saw how disgusting it was, he asked for three hundred. I didn’t even haggle. I watched them scrub every crack and crevice clean, then disinfect the whole thing with a fogging treatment. There isn’t a trace of the smell left, so I drove it back.”

Kan Qingzi looked disgusted.

“Brother Kai threw up in the car? Then I’m never riding in that one again. See you.”

After saying goodbye, the four women climbed into the van, and the Mercedes followed immediately behind.

Inside the van, Jiang Suying gazed enviously at the vehicle and the two bodyguards in the front seats.

“Qingzi, your life is incredible. This is exactly the kind of life I dream about.”

Kan Qingzi wore a modest smile.

“Oh, Qianjun is just making a mountain out of a molehill. I don’t actually need all this.”

Zhang Yao snorted.

“Tell someone they’re getting fat and they start panting. Weren’t you the one who said that once we returned to the capital, you’d invite us to your place for a visit? You even said you were going to have a housewarming party. You little minx, are you showing off again?”

Kan Qingzi looked innocent.

“Not at all. I don’t have many friends either, and since we all genuinely care about one another, of course we should get together often. Li Qin from my company will be coming too. I’ll introduce you all.”

The women laughed and chatted as the van headed toward Xinjiekou.

When they arrived, everyone got out. A man immediately stepped out of the Mercedes and took over the van driver’s position, while both vehicles drove toward the parking lot.

Seeing this, Jiang Suying felt another pang of envy.

Why should she get all that?

The six women began strolling around together. Jiang Suying remarked as though casually, “Qingzi, Qianjun really treats you well. He takes care of you in every possible way.”

Kan Qingzi merely assumed that Jiang Suying was envious and jealous. She gave a smug little laugh, as though to say that this was all perfectly ordinary.

Zhang Yao, however, spoke to her solemnly.

“Qingzi, you have to stay by Qianjun’s side and treat him well. Don’t throw tantrums. A man like Qianjun is incredibly rare. He’s your most important asset.”

Hearing someone praise her boyfriend, Kan Qingzi’s eyes curved into delighted crescents.

“I know, I know. What should we eat later?”

Meanwhile, Zhang Qianjun had just finished discussing the upcoming Anshun shoot with the producers and director when his phone vibrated.

A text message came in.

It read: “My number.”

Zhang Qianjun casually replied, “Mm.”

A while later, another message arrived.

“I’m in the capital. Find me when you’re free.”

Zhang Qianjun stared at the phone in silence for a moment, then typed a few words.

“Got it.”

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