Before Lu Xiao Jiang could finish speaking, Zhao Ping Jin’s fist smashed into his face.
Lu Xiao Jiang staggered, nearly falling to the ground.
Fang Lang Ge and Gao Ji Yi jumped to their feet.
Zhao Ping Jin’s face was as cold as frost: “Lu Xiao Jiang, stay away from me.”
Lu Xiao Jiang’s mouth corner hurt so much he sucked in air through his teeth, mumbling with his tongue in his mouth: “I know you’re angry with me…”
Zhao Ping Jin kicked him, and Lu Xiao Jiang clutched his stomach as he fell to his knees.
Fang Lang Ge and Gao Ji Yi were stunned at how violent Zhao Ping Jin had become so quickly. They immediately surrounded them, with Gao Ji Yi stepping forward to pull Lu Xiao Jiang up: “Are you alright?”
Fang Lang Ge couldn’t bear to watch: “Zhou Zi, don’t go too far.”
Lu Xiao Jiang said with a miserable face: “I’ve wronged my Third Brother.”
Hearing this, Zhao Ping Jin’s eyes flashed with fury, his face ashen. Another fist flew as he roared: “Who the fuck is your Third Brother!”
Lu Xiao Jiang hung his head motionless. Fang Lang Ge forcefully pulled at the enraged Zhao Ping Jin. A waiter opened the door after hearing the commotion, but Gao Ji Yi shouted: “Get out!”
In an instant, Lu Xiao Jiang was punched several more times viciously. He didn’t fight back, just howled in pain, his voice changing: “Zhou Zhou! Just hit me! I’ve wronged you, go ahead and hit me!”
The veins on Zhao Ping Jin’s forehead bulged, the frost on his face completely burned away by anger, his eyes bloodshot: “Fuck you, you’re just asking for a beating!”
Lu Xiao Jiang wailed and whimpered, his voice rising involuntarily: “You’re the only one with a grudge? I’m the only one who wronged you? Who wronged whom first? When I was with Ling Dang, what were you doing butting in? How did you treat me back then? Zhao Ping Jin, neither of us should pretend to be innocent!”
Hearing his words, Zhao Ping Jin suddenly froze for several seconds, looking at Lu Xiao Jiang repeatedly in disbelief, finally understanding his meaning. His lips trembled slightly, and then he laughed a desolate laugh toward the ceiling, forcing back tears that flashed in his eyes: “Lu Xiao Jiang, you bullied her because you hate me? Yes, I was wrong in that matter, but did you fucking understand what happened? I never told anyone about the Ling Dang incident, wasn’t that because I still cared about how you were willing to die for her back then? And now you—!”
Zhao Ping Jin was so angry his face turned white. Unable to catch his breath, he almost staggered.
Fang Lang Ge anxiously interjected: “Xiao Jiang, Zhou Zi didn’t…”
Lu Xiao Jiang had no chance to hear clearly.
The next second, Zhao Ping Jin grabbed him and slammed him violently to the ground, all restraint gone. Lu Xiao Jiang was thrown onto the tea table, his body crashing down with cups and tea splashing everywhere. Zhao Ping Jin stepped forward, his foot pressing on Lu Xiao Jiang’s arm, his face showing uncontrollable rage, his voice low and cruel: “Just hit you? I wouldn’t be wrong to fucking kill you!”
Lu Xiao Jiang fell backward onto the floor, crying out in pain.
Gao Ji Yi heard his scream: “Hey, Zhou Zi! Stop! Something serious will happen if you keep going!”
Lu Xiao Jiang was completely sprawled on the ground.
Zhao Ping Jin picked up his suit jacket, full of murderous intent, kicked open the door, and walked out.
Shen Min had been standing aside with folded arms throughout, not attempting to intervene once. Seeing Zhao Ping Jin leave, she followed.
Fang Lang Ge was quite stunned. Zhao Ping Jin’s violence had left even him shocked. He had thought Zhao Ping Jin and Lu Xiao Jiang were just having a minor quarrel, but judging from this scene, it was a deep hatred. Fang Lang Ge first pulled up Lu Xiao Jiang, who had fallen to the ground, and anxiously asked: “Xiao Jiang, are you alright?”
Seeing that Shen Min was about to leave, Gao Ji Yi, who had been standing nearby, suddenly sprang up and jumped to the door to pull Shen Min back: “What exactly happened?”
Shen Min stood to the side while Lu Xiao Jiang remained sitting on the ground. He didn’t go to help him, but asked: “On the morning of his wedding day, was it you who called him?”
Fang Lang Ge recalled the situation on Zhao Ping Jin’s wedding day, and his expression also changed slightly.
Lu Xiao Jiang’s face was contorted with pain, large beads of sweat falling, and his face wretched as he dared not speak.
Fang Lang Ge urged: “Xiao Jiang, what exactly did you tell him?”
Lu Xiao Jiang dared not speak.
Gao Ji Yi nudged Shen Min: “Xiao Min?”
Shen Min shook her head: “I don’t know either.”
Shen Min whispered to Fang Lang Ge: “I’m going down. He probably can’t drive.”
In November’s award season, the Beijing Television Art Festival held its award ceremony in Beijing.
Huang Xi Tang met with Director Feng and colleagues from the production team in the hotel lobby.
Yin Nan, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time, wearing a black formal dress, smiled as he took her hand, opening the car door for her. Ni Kai Lun stood nearby, watching Yin Nan and her get into the car arranged by the organizers. Yin Nan would walk the red carpet with her shortly.
Yin Nan sat beside her in the back seat, relaxed against the seat back, smiling calmly: “Nervous?”
Xi Tang sat upright, her hands pressing down on the heavy formal dress skirt, turning her head with a smile at his words: “A little.”
Yin Nan was almost certain to win Best Actor tonight. In October, at the first television award given by Galaxy Media this year, he had already won Most Popular Male Actor. Xi Tang hadn’t won at that ceremony. The company had been notified in advance, and Ni Kai Lun had arranged for her to attend the award ceremony, but it was just a formality. She had returned to the film set that very night. But tonight was different. The Beijing Television Art Festival was the largest television award ceremony in the country, and the Golden Camellia Award was considered the most prestigious of the three major television awards. Over the years, it has been the focus of attention in the entertainment circle. The awards were announced on the spot and were considered by the industry to be the fairest ceremony. This year, “The Last Hesuo Princess” was the most acclaimed by the industry and unanimously favored by the media.
The Camellia Theater had appeared on the right side of the road, its towering top layered like a blooming white camellia flower, shimmering in the night.
The flashing of magnesium lights and the screams of fans were getting closer.
Yesterday, Beijing had experienced a sharp drop in temperature. The assistant had attached a row of heat packs under her formal dress. Xi Tang looked beautiful tonight. Yin Nan gentlemanly extended his arm. Xi Tang’s high heels stepped onto the red carpet as she elegantly emerged from the car at an angle, her hand holding Yin Nan’s arm. The two stood side by side at one end of the red carpet.
The screams of fans pierced the sky.
Xi Tang wore a pure white satin strapless formal dress. The makeup for female stars at award ceremonies was traditionally thick and heavy, but this time her makeup artist had used matte brown for her eye makeup, which appeared almost imperceptible under the camera, like a natural skin tone, with only a touch of bold red lipstick, making her look delicately fresh. Xi Tang stood gracefully on the red carpet, holding Yin Nan’s arm, forming the most matching and eye-catching screen couple at tonight’s award ceremony. Song Jia Hua, the military officer from North Peace Hospital in “The Last Hesuo Princess,” was escorting his wife the drama, the Grand Princess with her graceful figure, slender white neck, and gentle smile on her face.
After entering the theater and taking their seats, amid music, dancing, and lively conversation, the two-hour award ceremony continued, with Xi Tang sitting until the end, feeling numbness in her back and soreness in her shoulders.
At midnight, as they walked out, the assistant immediately wrapped a down jacket around her shoulders.
Ni Kai Lun sat in the back seat of the car. The assistant opened the door, and Xi Tang saw that her face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
Xi Tang got into the car, her face falling: “I’m sorry.”
Ni Kai Lun replied expressionlessly: “It’s not your fault.”
The company’s driver was about to close the car door when suddenly a figure hurried past at the exit of the theater. Seeing their car, he immediately stopped: “Is that Miss Ni?”
Xi Tang looked up to see a man in a black sequined feather suit, smiling as he approached. This gentleman was Chang Wei Hong, the agent of Zhang Zhi Yin.
Chang Wei Hong was just turning off his phone, his face wrinkled with a smile: “Miss Ni, sorry, we won this time.”
Zhang Zhi Yin won this year’s Golden Camellia Award for Best Actress with “Pear Blossom Street Case Files,” a role that Xi Tang had turned down to film “The Last Hesuo Princess.” She was still holding the trophy, taking photos, and being interviewed inside.
Ni Kai Lun’s mouth twitched: “Mr. Chang, congratulations.”
He was a veteran agent and producer in the industry. Xi Tang had to greet him: “Brother Hong.”
“Oh, I also heard that your artist’s application to audition for ‘Spring Late’ was rejected?” Chang Wei Hong said, glancing at Xi Tang. “Zhi Yin got in. Oh, Kai Lun, is Zhen Zhen going to act again? I’ve been missing her.”
Ni Kai Lun didn’t even want to exchange pleasantries, saying coldly: “Drive.”
The car drove away from the theater and onto the road. Ni Kai Lun gesticulated angrily: “Insidious villain! Shameless pervert! No, I’m so angry I’m going to have a stroke!”
Xi Tang held her hand; she had been quite irritable lately.
The car stopped in front of the hotel. The assistant got out to help Xi Tang, while Ni Kai Lun, pale-faced, angrily twisted open the car door.
From behind, they heard the driver exclaim: “Miss Ni!”
Xi Tang turned to look and was startled to see Ni Kai Lun, pale as a sheet, collapsed on the ground.
Xi Tang immediately ran to the other side of the car. Ni Kai Lun, sitting on the ground, tightly gripped her arm, her lips trembling slightly: “Xi Tang, I feel a bit unwell.”
Xi Tang called loudly for the driver to come and help: “Quick, to the hospital!”
The driver hoisted Ni Kai Lun toward the car.
Xi Tang quickly stopped him with her arm: “Be gentle! Be gentle!”
The driver anxiously asked: “What’s wrong?”
Xi Tang protected her chest with one hand, pulling up the cumbersome strapless formal dress, while supporting Ni Kai Lun’s body with the other: “Don’t press on her stomach! She’s pregnant.”