The first rays of dawn were just peeping through.
Bai Wenxi slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to gaze blankly at Jiang Beihuai's sleeping face for a while.
I'm sorry. I can't be so selfish as to drag you into this storm.
She whispered these words countless times in her heart. A crystal - clear tear trickled down the bridge of her nose and dampened the pillow.
Getting up on tiptoe, Bai Wenxi went to the study to write a note and left it on the bedside table.
"Beihuai, I've got an urgent matter to attend to. Go back home first. We'll pay a visit to my mother next time."
Bai Wenxi gently placed the note and left quietly without daring to linger.
She originally thought it was her father who was in financial trouble and had mortgaged things for a loan. But now, Yao Chunmei was the one shrouded in the most mystery.
Bai Wenxi's grip on the steering wheel tightened gradually. The cheerful song on the car stereo couldn't ease her doubts.
Early this morning, Yao Chunmei had mass - messaged all the relatives about the premiere of the drama "Wild Grass".
Just thinking about it made Bai Wenxi grit her teeth. The plot of the drama she starred in was so familiar.
A kind and innocent woman was kept as a mistress. Then, through her own efforts and dedication, she won the admiration and favor of everyone. In the end, she got rid of the label of "mistress" and made a comeback as a respected wife.
What annoyed Bai Wenxi the most was that the original wife in the drama was portrayed as a snobbish, temperamental and brainless rich girl.
Bai Wenxi simply didn't believe that Yao Chunmei didn't do it on purpose.
Even her cousin Yu Ning thought something was wrong and had called to confirm.
The anger in Bai Wenxi's chest had reached a critical point. It only needed a single spark to explode.
The clear ringtone of her phone rang. Bai Wenxi put on her Bluetooth earphone.
"Hello?"
Yao Chunmei's smug voice came through. "Wenxi, where are you?"
Without any sense of rudeness, she said, "Tell Manager Li to close the museum today. I need to shoot some outdoor scenes there."
Bai Wenxi finally couldn't hold back and rolled her eyes. "No way. Why didn't you make an appointment in advance?"
If she had known her step - daughter would be so tough, Yao Chunmei had come prepared.
"Do you still remember the money your father owes?"
She was extremely arrogant. "The big guys were going to come after you, but I stopped them."
There was a hint of threat in Yao Chunmei's tone. "If you don't let me in, I won't cover for you. Just let those hooligans come and make a ruckus."
Bai Wenxi honked the horn hard. The ear - piercing sound startled Yao Chunmei.
"You little brat..."
"I've already paid back the money. If they come to harass me again, I can call the police!"
Bai Wenxi already suspected that Yao Chunmei was colluding with these people. After all, although it was said that the money was borrowed by her father, there was no trace of it.
Yao Chunmei maliciously threatened, "Aren't you afraid that they'll gather at the museum entrance and ruin the reputation of Starry Sky?"
"Let me take the shots, and I'll deal with these people."
Bai Wenxi stepped on the accelerator and sped towards the dock.
If she didn't find out the truth, she'd be harassed by her forever!
"No more after this." Bai Wenxi coldly compromised. "If the theater damages anything in the museum, you'll have to pay double compensation."
Yao Chunmei laughed heartily. "If you had been so reasonable earlier, I wouldn't have wasted my breath."
After hanging up the phone, Bai Wenxi dialed another number. "Mr. Min."
Min Tete was still asleep and replied groggily, "Miss Bai?"
Bai Wenxi calmly explained, "I'm on my way to the dock now. I'm going to take a boat to Moon Island."
"What?" Min Tete woke up in shock. "Who's going with you? Is there food and drink on the island?"
Bai Wenxi had a sense of going all out. "I'm going alone. Don't worry."
"There are small houses on the island. My father even arranged for the people in the lighthouse to replenish supplies regularly. But I haven't been there for a long time, so I don't know what the situation is like now."
Min Tete was even more worried. "Won't you be in danger going alone?"
Bai Wenxi quickly explained, "I'll ask the boat to wait for me at the island's dock. I won't stay overnight there. Don't worry."
"Alright, but be careful." Min Tete still wasn't completely at ease. "If it turns out to be a deserted island, tell your uncle to sue Yao Chunmei immediately!"
"That Moon Island investment company must be a shell company for money - laundering. Yao Chunmei is using your property for illegal activities."
Min Tete was silent for a while before speaking again. "You said your father would take students there for painting trips regularly. If it's really been developed without telling you..."
Bai Wenxi sighed. "I'll accept it. Many of the surrounding islands have been developed into commercial and tourist areas."
She said self - deprecatingly, "If my father sold the development rights behind my back, I have nothing to say. After all, I gave the property to him."
Then her tone changed. "But if Yao Chunmei wants to take it over and do bad things, I'll never agree!"
After a little over an hour's drive from Xuancheng, she arrived at the dock.
This was a small gathering dock. All the boats going to the islands in the sea set sail from here.
Bai Wenxi was hungry and thirsty, so she first found a small shop to take a short break.
"Miss, when will the boat to Moon Island set sail?"
She ran to the front desk and ordered an iced coffee and seafood porridge.
The girl at the front desk was a bit surprised. "What are you going there for? That island has been deserted for a long time. I heard the owner wanted to develop it himself but ended up in a mess."
Bai Wenxi took a sip of her coffee and said calmly, "Really? The tourism development of the islands here is so good. How could Moon Island end up in the red?"
"To be honest, I used to go there for painting trips. I want to experience it again."
The girl scoffed. "I know. A few years ago, there were often people going there to paint. But things are different now."
She placed the plate in front of Bai Wenxi, leaned over and whispered, "Pretty girl, since you're also an artist, I'm giving you some good advice."
"Some people doing illegal business have come to the area around that island. They often drag a lot of tourists there to gamble."
The girl pulled her coat closer. There was a tremor in her voice. "It's a real mixed - up place. There are so many beautiful islands to enjoy the scenery. Don't take the risk."
Bai Wenxi was full of doubts. She suppressed her anxious mood and was going back to the car to get some self - defense weapons.
"Miss, thanks for the reminder. I'll be more careful."
She took out a hundred - yuan bill. "This is just a little something. Could you watch my food for me while I go back to the car to get something?"
The girl took the money with a beaming smile and stuffed it into her fanny pack. "No problem. I'll definitely watch it. Don't worry."
Bai Wenxi got into the car and took out a dagger from under the seat.
After thinking for a while, she also pulled out something wrapped in a handkerchief and hid it in her handbag.
When she returned to the small restaurant, there were far fewer customers. The girl at the front desk was nowhere to be seen.
A man was sitting in her place, eating heartily.
Bai Wenxi's grip tightened. She was itching to smash the food thief with her handbag.
And that girl who took the tip and disappeared without a trace!
"Hey!" Bai Wenxi rushed over angrily. "Isn't it immoral to steal someone else's food without permission?"