Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Xia Sheng tried hard to recall the events of last night, but she simply couldn’t remember what had happened. She decided to stop dwelling on it and planned to ask Shen Yanchen directly later.
After she finished washing up and getting ready, Nanny Wang led her downstairs.
In the living room, Shen Yanchen sat on the sofa with his long legs crossed, his fingers sliding across a tablet as he read the day’s news.
Seeing her come down, he put the tablet aside and stood up. “Come eat breakfast.”
Xia Sheng nodded and followed him into the dining room to sit down.
To make it easier to absorb the Baleful Qi from his body, Xia Sheng intentionally chose the seat closest to him.
“Uncle Nine, why was I at your place last night?”
Shen Yanchen glanced at her. “You don’t remember?”
“I don’t.”
Shen Yanchen remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly. “Shen Ze is a man; it would inevitably cause gossip if he brought you home. So, I had someone bring you here instead.”
Xia Sheng understood.
Last time, when Shen Yanchen had sent her over in the middle of the night, he hadn’t cared about such reputations. It was likely because it was so late that he had allowed her to stay at Shen Ze’s house.
Suddenly, she noticed a faint scar on the corner of Shen Yanchen’s lip.
She pointed to the same spot on her own lip and asked, “Uncle Nine, what happened there?”
Shen Yanchen’s hand holding the chopsticks paused. “A cat bit me.”
Xia Sheng asked curiously, “You have a cat? How come I haven’t seen it?”
“I don’t. It was a stray cat that wandered in from outside.”
“That cat must be quite fierce to bite so hard.”
Shen Yanchen chuckled. “It is indeed quite fierce.”
Xia Sheng felt his reaction was a bit strange but didn’t look into it further. “Remember to go to the hospital for a vaccine.”
“Mhm, I’ll go after breakfast.”
After they finished eating, Shen Yanchen said, “I’ll drive you home. The hospital is on the way.”
“I’m not going home. I have plans with Shen Ze today.”
Shen Yanchen’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What plans?”
Xia Sheng answered frankly, “He got a role in a production you invested in. Someone in the crew has been targeted by a ghost or some entity, so I’m going over to take a look today.”
Shen Yanchen’s expression softened slightly. “Alright, stay safe.”
Xia Sheng nodded, and after a few more brief words, she headed over to Shen Ze’s villa across the way.
Shen Ze had been keeping watch by the window all night, wanting to see if his Uncle Nine had actually sent the Little Celestial Master home. In the end, he had waited until the middle of the night without seeing her emerge from the villa opposite, and he had eventually fallen asleep on the carpet by the window.
Hearing the doorbell ring downstairs, Shen Ze yawned as he scrambled up from the floor and went down to open the door.
Upon seeing Xia Sheng’s face, Shen Ze shuddered, instantly wide awake.
Why was the Little Celestial Master here so early in the morning?
Did she not go back last night?
His Uncle Nine hadn’t done anything beastly to the Little Celestial Master, had he?
Shen Ze noticed that Xia Sheng’s lips seemed unnaturally red, as if they had been kissed hard.
He felt like he had failed Xia Sheng. If only he had been a bit more firm last night, the Little Celestial Master wouldn’t have walked right into the tiger’s mouth.
Shen Ze sniffled, grabbed Xia Sheng’s hand, and said solemnly, “Little Celestial Master, don’t worry. Even though Shen Yanchen is my Uncle Nine, since he bullied you, I will definitely get justice for you!”
Xia Sheng: “?”
“Are you still dreaming?”
Why was this kid talking such nonsense?
Sensing her attitude was off, Shen Ze asked, “Little Celestial Master, did you sleep alone last night?”
Xia Sheng replied, “Could I have slept while hugging a ghost?”
Hearing this, Shen Ze secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed Uncle Nine hadn’t made a move on the Little Celestial Master after all.
Maybe the Little Celestial Master’s lips were like that because of the alcohol.
Even though he had never seen such a thing happen before.
But that had to be it.
Otherwise, it couldn’t really have been his Uncle Nine’s doing, right?
Xia Sheng didn’t chat with him any further and got straight to business. “Hurry up and get ready. We need to go to the film set soon.”
Shen Ze nodded and went upstairs to wash up and pack.
An hour later, the two arrived at the film studio.
In addition to the lead creators from both in front of and behind the scenes, the production team had invited several mainstream media outlets to observe and report, promoting and building hype for the film.
The venue was prepared with a table covered in red velvet, along with offerings of food and fruit. The lead creators were required to burn incense in turn before finally announcing the start of filming.
By the time Xia Sheng and Shen Ze arrived, most of the crew and the pre-invited media had already gathered.
Shen Ze greeted those around him and, while he was at it, had Xia Sheng take a look at everyone. He then whispered, “Little Celestial Master, do you see anything wrong?”
Xia Sheng shook her head. “No. These people have normal complexions. A few even have very strong yang energy. None of them look like they’ve been targeted by Fierce Ghosts.”
Shen Ze frowned and scanned the surroundings, suddenly remembering something.
“Right, the director still hasn’t shown up today. For an important occasion like the opening ceremony, the director should have arrived early to preside over the situation, but the assistant director has been the one busy this whole time.”
Just as he finished speaking, the film’s third female lead and the director walked around the corner together.
A smug, triumphant smile was plastered across the director’s face. In contrast, the third female lead’s fair, clean face was expressionless, and she seemed to be in a daze.
The moment Xia Sheng saw the director, her expression changed.
Noticing the shift, Shen Ze asked, “Little Celestial Master, take a look. Is the director the one being targeted by the Female Ghost? Though, looking at how radiant he is, he doesn’t exactly look like he’s being haunted.”
When Shen Ze’s own essence had been drained by the Female Ghost before, his lethargy had been visible to the naked eye.
Xia Sheng’s expression was uncharacteristically cold, her eyes seemingly glazed with a layer of ice.
“I’ll tell you after the crew is done with their work.”
Shen Ze didn’t understand what she meant, but seeing how serious she was, he didn’t press further and went to attend to his own business.
Since Han Yanran, the third female lead, had arrived with the director, Shen Ze glanced at her a few more times, finding the woman somewhat strange.
Despite the thirty-degree heat, Han Yanran was wearing a high-collared long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Although the fabric was thin, it still looked stiflingly hot.
Occasionally, when Han Yanran’s eyes met the director’s, she would shrink back as if startled and then hurriedly walk to the furthest point away from him.
Shen Ze knit his brows, sensing something odd. He asked the female lead standing nearby, “Is Han Yanran on bad terms with the director?”
The female lead hesitated, eventually giving a perfunctory reply. “Maybe.”
After speaking, her gaze toward Han Yanran held a hint of pity.
People like them, who had spent their lives struggling in the industry, had long been aware of the injustices hidden in the shadows. But for a newcomer like Han Yanran, reality was still far too cruel.
The opening ceremony was attended only by core crew members and reporters. Xia Sheng did not have a staff badge, but since Shen Ze had brought her in, no one said anything.
After all, Ninth Master of the Shen Family was the film’s largest investor. Even if Shen Ze brought a whole class of classmates over for a visit, no one would dare say anything.
Xia Sheng stood to the side and watched as the ceremony took place.
Once the opening ceremony concluded, everyone began tidying up.
Taking advantage of the bustle, the director walked over to Han Yanran’s side. He slapped her buttocks with his palm and brought his thick, greasy lips close to her ear. “Go wait for me in the car. I’ll come find you in a bit.”
Han Yanran trembled all over but said nothing.
Seeing her lack of response, the director’s face darkened, and he squeezed her flesh hard with the hand resting on her rear.
“Don’t forget that I have something of yours. If you dare to be disobedient, I’ll make sure the whole internet knows exactly what kind of slut you are.”