Xi Tang pushed the door open and got out of the car.

Zhao Pingjin didn’t give her any chance, immediately reaching out to grab her, and then forcefully pulling her backward. Xi Tang suddenly fell back onto the seat, and Zhao Pingjin supported her head with one hand while his cold, angry lips quickly and fiercely captured her lips.

Xi Tang’s mind spun with dizziness. Zhao Pingjin’s cheeks were somewhat cool, causing her to shudder all over. He immediately noticed and carefully embraced her. The hand pressing against her back was steady and strong, but the kiss on her lips was gentle and lingering. He softly sucked on her lips and tongue, bringing warm moisture through their intertwined lips and teeth. After a moment, Xi Tang finally came to her senses. She pushed him with all her might and pounded on his shoulders. Zhao Pingjin didn’t budge at all but increased his strength, passionately entangling her. Xi Tang arched her body to get up and tried to kick him, but Zhao Pingjin effortlessly lifted her. She fell into his arms and angrily kicked around inside his car.

Zhao Pingjin quickly secured the handbrake: “Alright, stop it.”

He held her tightly in his arms, breathing heavily.

After venting chaotically, with her hair now disheveled, Xi Tang had no strength left and lay motionless in his arms like a little wooden doll.

Zhao Pingjin took a deep breath, suppressing his desire, and calmly looked at the person in his arms.

Xi Tang’s eyes were wide open, still motionless.

Zhao Pingjin reached out and stroked her hair again and again, patiently reasoning with her: “You think Lu Xiaojiang is a good person? You see me as a bastard who deserves to be sliced to pieces, right? You think Lu Xiaojiang is a good person?”

Zhao Pingjin’s voice was hoarse and deep, carrying an unfathomable melancholy: “I’m openly bad, but him? There’s much you don’t know about what he does in secret. Xi Tang, people like us—you’d better not trust any of us too much.”

Xi Tang remained silent, thinking for quite a while: “I understand.”

Zhao Pingjin released her: “I won’t take you over. My grandparents are in Beijing, so I have to go home.”

Xi Tang tidied her clothes and gathered her hair: “The wedding date is near, isn’t it?”

Zhao Pingjin made an affirmative sound.

Xi Tang said, “Then I’ll go back.”

Zhao Pingjin said, “Mmm, don’t run. Be careful of the slippery ground.”

The next day, Xi Tang received the investigation results from Lu Xiaojiang.

Lu Xiaojiang said on the phone, “Xi Tang, had I known you wanted to check this bank account, I shouldn’t have agreed to help you.”

Xi Tang sat at the hotel bedside, flipping through the documents he had sent over today once more: “Lu Xiaojiang, thank you.”

Lu Xiaojiang chatted with her casually for a few sentences, and finally subtly said, “That day’s situation… you saw it. Zhou’er…”

Xi Tang looked through those few thin papers, her expression cool and calm: “I know, he’s getting married.”

Lu Xiaojiang said in a low voice, “I’m concerned about you. Take care of yourself.”

Xi Tang looked up at the window. From the hotel window on the tenth-plus floor, she could see that Beijing’s temperature was extremely low today, but the weather was clear. The sky had rare blue skies and white clouds. Holding the phone, she softly replied, “Mmm, thank you. It’s alright. Everything—is almost over.”

The wrap party and media press conference for “The Last Princess” was held at the Jin Mao Beijing.

Xi Tang followed Ni Kailun into the hotel and saw a huge Christmas tree in the lobby, with small bulbs twinkling with colorful lights. Only then did she realize Christmas was approaching.

The media press conference was set up in the fifth-floor banquet hall.

This was the first formal press conference for the entire drama. More than a hundred media outlets from all over the country came, along with fans of the various stars to support them. The press conference was quite grand. Earlier, Ni Kailun had sent her to the restroom and then directed Xiao Ning and the publicity team to busily take care of things. When Xi Tang took her seat, she glanced around. Not many of her fans had come, but they occupied a good position, just behind the main interview area, next to Yin Nan’s powerful fan club. When she appeared on stage following Yin Nan, they screamed with particular enthusiasm.

Even the reporters got excited, with cameras following them in a burst of shooting.

This was how popularity was created.

Ni Kailun’s workability was naturally first-class.

After the host enthusiastically praised the production team, Xi Tang and Yin Nan went on stage with all the main creators. First, there were interviews with the director and main actors one by one. The first theme song had already been released, and the singer came to perform two songs. Then the finale was the showing of the first trailer. After the formal media conference ended, Xi Tang had a separate interview.

After the media interviews was a private reception. There were no more reporters at this reception, but several executives from the production and distribution companies had come.

Xi Tang was led by Ni Kailun to greet several investors and producers. The necessary appearances and relationships that needed to be maintained still had to be properly taken care of.

At the last table they toasted, Xi Tang saw Gao Jiyi in his seat, looking at her with an ambiguous smile. No wonder all the executives had to curry favor with him—he was in charge of publicity, and various TV dramas and film project approvals probably couldn’t avoid going through this channel.

Xi Tang respectfully called him Director Gao and drained her glass.

It wasn’t until after ten that Ni Kailun took her from the reception. In the elevator, they happened to meet Gao Jiyi. Gao Jiyi had his arm linked with someone—the host from the media conference earlier, a beautiful female presenter from the StarSky Satellite TV drama channel named Jiang Songxue.

Ni Kailun secretly pinched her arm.

Xi Tang smiled and took the initiative to greet her: “Miss Jiang.”

Before Xi Tang came to Beijing, Ni Kailun had briefed her one by one, including some artists who couldn’t be provoked and needed to be carefully handled. This Jiang Songxue was one of them.

Sharp-tongued, with deep connections, she couldn’t be offended.

Jiang Songxue was a veteran host in Beijing with high standards. Hearing Xi Tang’s greeting, she only snorted in response.

Gao Jiyi, watching this scene, laughed heartily: “Songxue, don’t make that face. This person is no ordinary person. You’ll see something good in a moment.”

Jiang Songxue’s expression changed slightly, and she pretended to be curious: “You know Miss Huang?”

Gao Jiyi had that half-smiling expression again: “More than that, we’re old acquaintances.”

Jiang Songxue immediately smiled and said, “Xi Tang, I apologize for my rudeness.”

Such ability to adapt and read the wind—truly worthy of being in the entertainment circle.

Xi Tang quickly displayed a smile and said with utmost sincerity: “You’re too kind.”

Fortunately, the elevator door opened with a ding.

They were naturally going in the same direction. In the club room on the seventeenth floor of the hotel, Gao Jiyi, arm in arm with the female host, went straight in. Shen Min walked out from inside.

Ni Kailun saw him: “Where’s Zhao Pingjin?”

Shen Min said, “He’s playing cards.”

Ni Kailun pushed Xi Tang forward: “She’s had some drinks. I’m afraid something might happen, so I’ve brought her to you. Keep an eye on her.”

These words suggested imminent danger, but Shen Min didn’t show the slightest reaction. He took Xi Tang’s arm and supported her gently: “Can you still walk?”

Xi Tang smiled and said, “I’m fine.”

She wasn’t drunk at all. Whenever she drank, she would go to the restroom to induce vomiting, so she wouldn’t get drunk.

Xi Tang followed Shen Min inside.

The private room was lively with singing and music. A group of people gathered around the card table, with Zhao Pingjin prominently seated. Xi Tang had already noticed that both Zhao Pingjin and Shen Min were wearing formal suits, suggesting they had just finished business entertainment and started playing.

Zhao Pingjin glanced up at her.

Xi Tang wore a rose-red formal dress that displayed her graceful figure. Her skin was snow-white, her body crystal clear and delicate. Her black hair was coiled into a bun, revealing her long, white neck. Around her neck was a thin diamond necklace. Her eyes were brimming with watery light—a truly stunning rose lady.

As soon as she walked into the room, all the men raised their heads to look.

Zhao Pingjin gave her a neutral glance. In this freezing weather, she was dressed so thinly. Ni Kailun had sent her over without giving her a coat. He frowned secretly.

Fang Langqie, sitting opposite him, clapped his hands and praised: “Xi Tang, beautiful!”

Xi Tang gave him a polite smile.

Xi Tang sat down on the sofa. Most of the men were at the card table. Qingqing didn’t seem to have come. Gao Jiyi and Jiang Songxue were drinking and singing on the sofa. Two girls were already sitting on the sofa, and when they saw her come in, they just looked at her and whispered to each other but didn’t come over to greet her.

Those two girls were also dressed in Western clothes with heavy makeup, not wearing the hotel’s uniform. They should be public relations ladies or similar figures.

Since coming to Beijing, Zhao Pingjin never had her go out for business entertainment. It seemed that in his work settings, there would always be other people for social occasions.

Xi Tang sat on the sofa for a while. No one paid attention to her. She made a phone call, and a server brought in her assistant’s work bag. Xi Tang hid in the corner of the sofa, took out a small mirror, removed the false eyelashes, wiped away the overly vibrant blush she had worn for the cameras, and wrapped herself in a fluffy coat.

Having stayed up too many nights recently, working half the evening under spotlights tonight, and then continuing to smile at the dinner table for another half evening, she was exhausted. Xi Tang kicked off her high heels, quietly sat in the dark part of the lighting, curled up on the sofa, and began to feel drowsy. Shen Min came over to get a drink and reminded her as he passed by: “Xi Tang, don’t fall asleep. Be careful not to catch cold.”

Zhao Pingjin was at the card table, and hearing this, he looked over from a distance. He casually handed his cards to his assistant Gong Qi, who was standing beside him watching the game.

Seeing Zhao Pingjin coming over, the two girls on the sofa immediately stood up: “President Zhao.”

Zhao Pingjin simply nodded and walked directly to Huang Xi Tang’s side. He reached out and picked up the small figure from the sofa. Xi Tang, dozing off, was lifted by him and lay softly on his shoulder, in a daze.

Zhao Pingjin sat down on the sofa and pointed to the other end of the sofa, directing Gao Jiyi. Gao Jiyi reached over and retrieved his coat. Zhao Pingjin wrapped her in his coat and let her lean against him to sleep.

Xi Tang nestled in his arms, warm and cozy, like a little kangaroo.

The two female colleagues from the company’s public relations department, who had been entertaining clients together for work earlier—he hadn’t noticed they were here—now stared at him with expressions as if they’d seen a ghost. Zhao Pingjin had never been one to be close with subordinates. He frowned and waved his hand, sending the two away.