Shen Ximan sat on the big bed in the hotel, lost in thought for quite a while.
No matter how she had questioned Qian Li in the car just now, he had kept a straight face and remained silent. She couldn't get a single word out of him.
Moreover, after he had sent her to the hotel, bodyguards had been posted all around as instructed. It was simply impossible for her to seek outside help.
"Xiao Qi, how's An Ruo?"
She made a worried phone call, fearing that something might go wrong.
"Don't worry, Ms. Shen. Miss An is safe."
"That's good... Any news from the Bo family?"
Xue Xiaoqi sighed. "Still nothing. The video of you has been spread on the Internet with added exaggerations. A family as reputation - conscious as theirs will surely keep quiet."
"Find some reporters and media to come to the hotel for me tomorrow."
Shen Ximan made up her mind. Since she was the one who had caused the trouble, she would give a clear answer, whether to Bo Jingyu or to the Bo family.
She already owed him a great deal. Even if he loathed her to the extreme now and had even given her an order to leave, she had to step forward and take responsibility.
Xue Xiaoqi was stunned. "No! You're going to be a prominent figure in the future, Ms. Shen. You don't have to take the blame for this incident!"
"Moreover, that Lady Ronglian is so domineering. Isn't there a long list of people who have had disputes with her? Please just listen to my advice!"
Shen Ximan felt extremely heavy - hearted, as if there was an unbearable stone on her shoulders. If she didn't find a way to solve the problem soon, she would surely break down.
"I don't want to run away."
"But if you show up at this moment, won't it just prove that you did these things? The Shen family will succeed, and the Bo family will only suffer minor losses and will recover soon.
"What about you? You've planned so meticulously for all these years and finally built up your own power. Are you really going to let it be destroyed because of this incident?" Xue Xiaoqi pleaded earnestly, using all her strength.
Back then, she had just been a college - entrance - exam failure. Her family was too poor to support her further studies, and her parents and relatives had insisted that she marry an old man with graying temples just to get some betrothal money to support their destitute family.
If it hadn't been for Shen Ximan, who had seen her about to jump into the lake and rushed over to stop her in time, she wouldn't be alive now.
Nor would she have such a promising career and life.
After hearing this, Shen Ximan fell into deep thought.
She had indeed been thoughtless.
But the guilt and uneasiness in her heart made it hard for her to hold her head up in front of Bo Jingyu. The bound debt of gratitude was like a thorn stuck in her throat, deeply embedded in the flesh, impossible to swallow or cough out.
"It's my fault. We'll talk later."
With that, Shen Ximan got up and was about to go out for some fresh air.
There was a fountain and a rest area on the first floor of the hotel. She wanted to go there and sit for a while.
Just as she was standing at the elevator waiting for the door to open, a woman in a white tulle dress rushed out of it.
The two of them bumped into each other and almost fell.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to..."
When Shen Ximan saw her, she opened her mouth in surprise. "Aren't you that actress?"
Xiao Shujing had just straightened her clothes and looked up. She was so startled that she almost let out a scream.
Seeing Shen Ximan's expression, she realized that she hadn't worn her veil.
"All I'm asking you for is 5,000 yuan. You have so many commercial performances every day. Can't you spare this little bit?"
Xiao Shuyuan followed out of the elevator, chattering non - stop. When he saw Shen Ximan, he instinctively blurted out a swear word.
"Are you crazy in the middle of the night!"
"Sorry..." Shen Ximan replied timidly.
Xiao Shujing shook her head to show that she didn't mind, walked around her and hurried away. Xiao Shuyuan quickly followed behind and continued to nag.
When she reached the first floor of the elevator, Shen Ximan found that the fountain had been turned off and the red carpet on the ground was being rolled up by the staff.
"Shen Ximan?"
Su Minghan came out of the restroom, took the handkerchief from his assistant to wipe his hands, and walked over slowly.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Jingyu..."
Then he suddenly realized. "Did his grandfather kick you out?"
The assistant coughed lightly and quickly stepped forward to whisper a brief explanation in his ear.
"Sorry, I've been too busy recently to follow the news. I was also distracted by Shujing's matter just now."
Shen Ximan pointed to the elevator behind her and said calmly, "I just saw her. She should be staying on the fifth floor, the same floor as me. There was a man following her. He looked like a college student."
"Why is he here again?" Su Minghan murmured to himself. "You go with my assistant first. I'll come to find you right after I deal with her matter."
After saying that, he trotted into the elevator.
Xiao Shujing stood in front of the room door with a gloomy face. "Get out of the way."
"I won't! Hurry up and give me the money!" Xiao Shuyuan blocked the door domineeringly.
"Do you think money is that easy to earn?"
This burden was like an invisible hand around her neck. She could feel a dull pain every time she took a normal breath.
"You're a popular actress now, not a no - name! You can easily earn money from an advertisement. If not, " Xiao Shuyuan grinned wickedly. "You still have my brother - in - law."
"How many times do I have to tell you that I have nothing to do with him!"
Just then, Su Minghan arrived.
"Hey, isn't this my brother - in - law? Long time no see."
Xiao Shuyuan greeted him familiarly without any hesitation.
"Who let you in?" His tone was cold, obviously irritated.
"Hey, I told those staff that you're my brother - in - law and my sister is here for a commercial performance, so they let me in."
Su Minghan stepped forward quickly and grabbed him by the collar.
"I've warned you. Stay away from her!"
Xiao Shujing quickly grabbed his sleeve. "It's all my fault. I'll talk to him properly. Don't do this!"
Out of respect for her, he let go and stood there with a gloomy face, silent.
"Cough, cough! I won't leave until you give me the money."
Xiao Shuyuan rubbed his throat, which had been hurt just now, and refused to budge.
"I'll transfer the money to you tonight." There were tears in her eyes.
"Keep your word, or I'll come to you again tomorrow."
He looked them over with a smirk and left in a hurry.
Xiao Shujing shed a couple of tears and coldly rummaged through her bag for the key.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Su Minghan asked softly.
"It's not necessary."
"If there had been paparazzi lurking just now, how would you have dealt with it?"
She looked up at him with red - rimmed eyes. "I'll take responsibility myself."
"What can you take responsibility with? Your reputation or the company's?"
Xiao Shujing's mind was in a mess. She was extremely annoyed.
"Can you go back first? I'm tired."
"No." Su Minghan's tone was firm.
He quickly turned the key in the lock following her hand, grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the bedroom with him. He quickly closed the door. In the pitch - black room, their eyes hadn't fully adjusted yet.
Xiao Shujing was so frightened that she trembled all over. "What are you doing?"
Su Minghan really had the urge to pull her onto the bed and kiss her right away.
But at this moment, he couldn't. Absolutely not.