The late March spring sun was dazzling. Xi Tang sat holding an umbrella, her qipao narrow-fitted, making it uncomfortable to sit on the small stool. The stylist came over to fix her hair, which she had permed for this role into a curly pompadour style.

During her break, Assistant Kuan brought over a stack of packages delivered from the company.

Starting this year, besides Assistant Kuan and the cameraman, Xi Tang hired a new assistant in Shanghai to handle some of her film contracts and financial matters. Kuan remained her assistant, traveling with her, and Xi Tang paid her a salary that nearly matched what second-tier celebrities in the crew earned.

When Ni Kailun visited Hengdian, she teased Kuan: “Kuan, if I give you time off, will you go back home to pick cotton?” Kuan was from Nantong, where her parents grew cotton. She had originally come to Hengdian to be Xi Tang’s assistant for just two months, planning to return home for the cotton harvest.

Kuan laughed shyly, covering her mouth: “Oh, Sister Kailun, stop teasing me.” Kuan opened the document envelope, and Xi Tang looked through it to find the company’s contract renewal.

Seeing this, Kuan shared in her excitement: “After all this delay, the Boss finally agreed.” Xi Tang smiled and signed the papers. The lawyer had told her yesterday that negotiations were complete, and the company had moved quickly, delivering the contract today.

That night, good news came from Ni Kailun: “Paris has set a date for the endorsement signing. I’ve already informed your assistant.”

Still filming on set, Xi Tang kept a low profile about this success, only celebrating with a meal with Kuan after finishing her scenes. Kuan invited Xi Tang’s driver to join them. This man had been with Xi Tang for almost a year, silent and loyal, like a shadow that never disappeared. Artists lived irregular schedules, and Hengdian was full of all sorts of people. Sometimes when Xi Tang asked Kuan to buy something in the middle of the night, having him along gave Xi Tang peace of mind. He shared Xi Tang’s surname, Huang Shiwu, and she usually called him Brother Huang.

Since her mother’s passing, Xi Tang had been struggling with depression, and with the company contract issues weighing on her, it had been a long time since she felt this relaxed. After dinner, it was almost midnight. Xi Tang and Kuan had a few drinks, and they walked arm-in-arm down the street, swaying slightly.

Driver Huang carried two large backpacks for Kuan, following closely behind the two women.

The next day, Xi Tang went to work on set. It was raining, and Xi Tang wandered around wearing a transparent pink raincoat. Wang Yiren, who played her superior in the drama, suddenly stood in front of her, lifted her raincoat hood, stared at her face for a moment, then said ominously: “Xi Ye, your eyebrows are turning dark. Be careful of financial loss.” Xi Tang kicked the track that the crew had just laid out, nearly taking a big fall.

It was normal for a TV drama to take two or three months to film, and crew members had various ways to pass the time—clubbing, playing cards were common, while raising spirit dolls and fortune-telling weren’t unusual either. Last time, Yiren had read Xi Tang’s fortune through bone divination, saying she wouldn’t marry until age forty-two, which made Xi Tang burst into tears.

Wang Yiren hugged her with a smile: “Don’t be afraid, big sister is here.”

Xi Tang quickly covered her face with the script, pitifully begging: “Sister, could your spirits wish me some good fortune?”

Xi Tang met Ni Kailun on Wednesday night.

The filming of “Shanghai Spy Shadows” was nearing its end, and Xi Tang had almost completed her scenes. Ni Kailun arranged for her to return to Shanghai to prepare for the brand signing and press conference. That evening after she returned home, Ni Kailun came from the company and knocked on her door.

Ni Kailun stood at the doorway saying: “The Greater China CEO will accompany Phoebe to Shanghai tomorrow. There’s a banquet in the evening. Come to the company tomorrow to prepare in advance.”

Attending the brand’s dinner before signing was a good way to deepen the partnership. Everything was proceeding according to protocol, but Ni Kailun’s face was grim.

Xi Tang stood motionless in her room, looking at her.

Ni Kailun lowered her voice slightly: “I’ve heard some news.”

Xi Tang felt a slight tremor inside, then heard what seemed like a small cracking sound.

That silence before disaster strikes, like standing alone on a vast, empty lake after snowfall, suddenly hearing the faint sound of cracking, as the ice layer in front of you begins to break.

She had experienced such moments too many times in her life—waking from a night of drinking to find Zhao Pingjin standing at her hotel room door, her mother’s final night in the hospital, Fang Langhao putting his arm around her shoulder and helping her into the car as heavy snow fell on Chang’an Street all night.

Ni Kailun only asked one question: “It was you, wasn’t it?” Xi Tang, pale-faced, couldn’t help but nod.

She had once naively hoped to escape it, but in the end, understood how difficult that would be.

After Ni Kailun left, the room fell into silence.

Who knows how long passed? Xi Tang sat on the sofa, her vision blurry. She hadn’t noticed what Ni Kailun said afterward or when she left the room.

The next afternoon, Ni Kailun came to pick her up at the company to go to the hotel. They looked at each other, both feeling anxious but unable to show it, fortunately, hidden by their heavy makeup. After finishing a drama, Huang Xi Tang recovered from her condition. With her naturally good complexion, fair and translucent, long eyebrows, velvet coral-red eye shadow, and tender red lips, she embodied the bright color that the partnering brand was promoting for their early spring makeup line. As they got out of the car, Ni Kailun squeezed Xi Tang’s palm hard. Xi Tang gave her a reassuring smile, and the two walked out of the car in elegant attire, smiling graciously as the media’s flashbulbs exploded around them. Adam came to greet them.

Xi Tang smiled as she hugged and cheek-kissed several foreigners, smelling their cologne. The entire Greater China executive team had turned out to welcome the big bosses from Paris headquarters. Ni Kailun had been working with them to prepare for tomorrow’s signing ceremony and press conference. The artist would be closely associated with the brand image, and both sides were about to become long-term friends and partners.

During the event, an assistant accompanied Xi Tang to the restroom to touch up her makeup.

In the cool, dim restroom of the five-star hotel, a woman at the sink looked at her several times: “Miss Huang Xi Tang?” Xi Tang hesitated, then nodded. But the woman said nothing more and walked away.

After the banquet, back in the car, Ni Kailun said resignedly: “If we can sign this contract, we’ll figure out the rest later.”

Xi Tang glanced at Kailun without speaking, thinking about the woman’s face in the restroom.

He Luofei had first heard Huang Xi Tang’s name a day earlier at Siheqian Restaurant outside the East Huamen Gate in Beijing.

She had been staying at her home in Beijing for half a year, not receiving any roles she particularly liked. She wasn’t filming anything, and the company had arranged two variety shows for her, generally recording only one or two days a week, spending the rest of her time at home resting. A month ago, Zhang Zhiyin had introduced her to a boyfriend named Wang Hao, who worked in forensic technology at Chaoyang District Police Station and lived on East Chang’an Street. He Luofei had lived in Beijing for many years and had seen too many privileged sons from established families—wealthy and playful, with a common interest in female celebrities. He Luofei found him relatively generous and had some affection for him, softening her stance and playing a game of feigned resistance while engaging in a small romance with him.

That day, Zhang Zhiyin called to invite her out for dinner.

Wang Hao was with He Luofei when she received Zhang Zhiyin’s call. He was particularly clingy at this stage of their relationship, so he tagged along.

Upon entering the private dining room, He Luofei was surprised to discover that today’s host was an industry bigwig surnamed Liu, known as Brother Qian in the circle, a high-level executive at a major Beijing PR firm. He Luofei had only seen him once or twice at events, never even speaking to him. Zhang Zhiyin and her agency were based in Shanghai, and she wasn’t particularly close with him either. It was unclear why they suddenly received an invitation, but this was a face they couldn’t refuse, so she brought her fellow company artist He Luofei along as company. In recent years, Zhang Zhiyin has firmly held her position as a first-tier TV drama lead actress in China. He Luofei was no match for her in acting, and while they weren’t close, they maintained a cordial relationship and often hung out together.

It was during this dinner that Liu Qianping mentioned Huang Xi Tang. He Luofei’s heart immediately began to race. Huang Xi Tang had become famous, but her foundation wasn’t yet stable. Brother Qian’s company had produced the most famous actress, who had trophies from all three major film festivals at home and had walked the Cannes red carpet several times. Huang Xi Tang couldn’t compare at all—how had she suddenly caught his eye?

Zhang Zhiyin smiled and said: “She’s pretty good,” then touched He Luofei’s hand and added with a smile, “Our Feifei even worked with her.”

He Luofei was wary of Zhang Zhiyin trying to push her into offending someone, so she just smiled coquettishly: “Back then, she hadn’t filmed Director Tang’s movie yet, she was just a clever little girl.”

Liu Qianping had his chopsticks poised over a piece of lamb when he casually asked: “I heard she has several knife scars on her body?”

Zhang Zhiyin exclaimed in surprise: “Really?” He Luofei suddenly understood—that Huang Xi Tang was in trouble.

Liu Qianping suddenly smiled and looked up at Zhang Zhiyin: “I won’t beat around the bush. This person is in someone’s way. Huang Xi Tang has been in the industry for almost ten years but only became famous in the last year or two. A female artist who’s been in this business for so many years—your company must have had some dealings with her agency. Don’t you have any leverage on her? I’m not often in Shanghai, and you two are my friends, so I’m specifically coming to ask for advice.”

Zhang Zhiyin almost couldn’t hold back her smile. Huang Xi Tang had risen too quickly. Take the spy drama that started filming early this year—famous director, big production—just the opening press conference had dominated entertainment headlines for almost a week, completely overshadowing her for a time. It seemed she wasn’t the only one who was jealous.

Zhang Zhiyin answered shyly: “I only have reason to envy her. What could she possibly have? She graduated from the Film Academy, has proper credentials, and won Best Actress. Those trivial celebrity romances, what do they matter?”

Liu Qianping smiled without humor, narrowing his eyes: “Let me put it this way, Miss Zhang. Our company has two major productions next year, including a historical costume drama with a female lead, at least fifty episodes, with an investment of one billion yuan. My assistant is currently finalizing the female artist’s schedule.”

Zhang Zhiyin’s eyes lit up instantly.

Liu Qianping said: “Miss Zhang, think again. Are you sure there’s no information at all?”

Zhang Zhiyin was truly anxious now, racking her brains, but after a while, she reluctantly shook her head.

Wang Hao, who had been listening for a while, suddenly leaned close to He Luofei’s face and asked: “Babe, who are we talking about?”

He Luofei answered: “Huang Xi Tang.”

Wang Hao searched his memory: “That name sounds familiar.” Liu Qianping’s attention was drawn to him.

Wang Hao slapped his forehead as he remembered: “Isn’t she the one who studied in Beijing years ago and was close with the Zhao family and Gao family?” Wang Hao recalled something and smiled meaningfully: “This girl is impressive.”

He Luofei immediately pressed firmly on his leg.

Wang Hao looked puzzledly at He Luofei’s warning glance, not yet understanding, but Liu Qianping had already spoken: “Miss He, please rest assured. If Brother Qian owes you a favor, I won’t disappoint you.”

He Luofei released her hand from Wang Hao’s thigh.

Officer Wang continued with a grin: “What if I told you she’s suspected of murder, a fugitive criminal in Beijing police records?”

The entire table fell silent.

Zhang Zhiyin was so shocked her eyes went wide, momentarily dumbfounded. He Luofei pinched her thigh, feeling the pain and silently gasping. Only Liu Qianping’s face flashed with delight before he eagerly came over to pour a drink: “Mr. Wang, you can drink more, but when speaking, one needs evidence.”

Wang Hao naturally looked down on him, his eyes only seeing He Luofei’s fluttering big eyes. To please his girlfriend, he shrugged: “I’ll go make a call.” Wang Hao stepped away to make a phone call and returned in less than a minute.

Wang Hao reached out to hold He Luofei’s hand, still wearing that casual smile: “Well, you’re in luck. I was the one who took that call. The evidence and records of the incident all exist. Later, for some reason, the case was withdrawn. My childhood friend was the victim, and we’ve been holding this in for years, never finding anyone brave enough to move against her.”

He Luofei inwardly rejoiced, pretending to lower her head and secretly pressing her lips together.

Zhang Zhiyin nearly burst with jealous hatred—this young upstart she looked down on was the one she had introduced to He Luofei!

Only Liu Qianping felt this dinner was extremely worthwhile.

Assistant Kuan remembered it happened on a Friday morning.

She woke up at seven o’clock as usual. Her artist had important work today, so she first brewed a pot of ginger red tea to bring to the company to help reduce her artist’s morning puffiness. While waiting for the water to boil in the kitchen, she checked the artist’s recent interview and promotional photo shoot arrangements. Around eight o’clock, her phone suddenly rang. It was a colleague from the company’s publicity department, their voice panicked and strange. Kuan hung up and immediately checked the entertainment news, instantly terrified to the point of losing her soul. She frantically pressed her phone several times, but no one answered on the other end. She anxiously paced around the house for a few circles, then rushed into her room, not even changing out of her pajamas, just throwing on a sports jacket before dashing downstairs.

Kuan knocked on the door loudly. Xi Tang hadn’t woken up yet. The housekeeper opened the door, and Kuan rushed in, woke her up, and immediately turned off her phone.

Earlier in the taxi, she had been constantly checking her phone, her heart pounding with fear, her mind blank. The news was spreading rapidly—in the time it took her to take a taxi, several major entertainment accounts had reposted that sensationalist, terrifying news.

Xi Tang usually sets her phone to silence while sleeping. When Kuan turned it off, she glanced at it and saw there were already over a hundred missed calls. Kuan didn’t dare look at her phone again. On the screen, the man’s face wasn’t visible, only a bloody, gaping hole in his neck, flesh turned outward, hideous and frightening. Kuan looked at Xi Tang, stunned and momentarily speechless. Xi Tang awoke and, as if already expecting it, took Kuan’s phone and looked for a while, then sat on the living room sofa, strangely still feeling sleepy. She couldn’t fall back asleep but had nothing to do.

Shortly after, Ni Kailun came upstairs with her son on her hip.

Last night, both she and Xi Tang had drunk too much at the event. She was awakened by the company’s call around the same time as Kuan. The housekeeper had gone home last night and hadn’t returned yet, so she had to get up first to make formula and comfort her child.

Ni Kailun entered, handed her little boy to Kuan, and said with a cold laugh: “So they weren’t after money.”

Ni Kailun immediately called her assistant: “Get me detailed profiles of all the female celebrities that brand Xi Tang was going to sign with has worked with in China.”

Ni Kailun hung up and sat down, glancing at Xi Tang on the sofa, speaking unhurriedly: “The lawyers and PR will be here soon.”

Huang Xi Tang wasn’t calm at all. She had seen the news and understood that this matter was basically beyond remedy. A female artist’s most important asset is her reputation. Ni Kailun knew that everything was now ruined.

Around nine in the morning, Xi Tang’s lawyer arrived. Ni Kailun couldn’t even attend to her matter now because of all the TV shows, movies, variety shows, and endorsements Xi Tang had signed, some with advance payments already made. With this news breaking, she would inevitably be replaced. Production companies suddenly face huge losses called one after another—some inquiring about the situation, some probing, some cursing angrily. Several advertising brand media departments kept calling her phone. Ni Kailun spent the entire morning just answering calls.

Around ten o’clock, reporters bribed property managers to come up in the elevator to investigate. Some were even bolder, ringing the doorbell. Ni Kailun called property management to complain. The entire complex was in a state of high alert, with vehicles entering and exiting subjected to stricter checks. At noon, Li Shu’an called.

Ni Kailun’s phone had been constantly ringing. Li Shu’an’s secretary tried for ten minutes before getting through. Ni Kailun put it on speaker, and they heard Li Shu’an say: “I’m sending a lawyer over. Xi Tang, why didn’t you call me? I’m sorry, I don’t follow entertainment news, so I’m a bit late.”

“I’m in Fujian, heading back to Shanghai now.”

In the afternoon, Li Shu’an’s lawyer arrived. About half an hour later, Li Shu’an arrived in Shanghai, travel-worn, with only one secretary accompanying him. The secretary handed him his briefcase and discreetly took his leave.

Li Shu’an entered the house.

This was his first time in Xi Tang’s home.

Li Shu’an’s gaze didn’t wander around the house at all, focusing only on the lawyer he had sent, his tone serious: “Old Xiu, how’s the situation?” The two lawyers occupied two single sofas, while Ni Kailun and Xi Tang sat together. Kuan quickly offered Li Shu’an a chair, and the group gathered in the living room for a meeting.

Xi Tang began explaining the case to the lawyers. After all these years, both she and Ni Kailun had anticipated that Sun Kehu would report to the police. Xi Tang had once thought he was dead. She had considered that if he died, she would turn herself in. At that time, she went directly from the emergency room to the operating table. When she woke up, Ni Kailun’s first words were that the person seemed to have survived. But she didn’t dare linger in Beijing for even a moment.

Ni Kailun recalled going back to the complex where Xi Tang had lived with Zhao Pingjin to get some clothes for her hospitalization. People of unknown identity had asked the security guard about her whereabouts. Two days later, she and the hospital signed an agreement for an ambulance, and Ni Kailun hired a caregiver to take her out of Beijing overnight. After some time, Ni Kailun secretly had people in Beijing gather information, saying Sun Kehu seemed to have gone abroad. Xi Tang didn’t dare take it lightly and continued to receive treatment at a hospital in her hometown under an assumed name.

Li Shu’an went out to take a call midway, and when he returned, he handed his phone to Xi Tang, saying: “Your father.”

Xi Tang hesitated.

Li Shu’an’s voice carried its usual steadiness, now with added gentleness: “Your family is concerned about you. It’s alright, just let them know you’re safe.”

Xi Tang took the phone and walked to the balcony.

She returned shortly after, and the two lawyers were rapidly taking notes: “It’s been six or seven years. Unless the surveillance footage from that time was copied and preserved, it basically couldn’t still exist.”

Lawyer Xiu asked: “Miss Huang, did you attend that wedding banquet with friends, or did you tell anyone beforehand?”

“I went alone, except the bride knew,” Xi Tang thought for a moment. “I had promised the bride I would go. No friends knew; I didn’t have many friends in Beijing at that time.”

By then, she and Zhao Pingjin had already broken up, and she had been hospitalized for a long time. Zhong Qiao’er had gone abroad with Gao Jiyi. When she was discharged and returned home, she was all alone.

“Which floor?”

“Thirtieth floor.”

“Do you remember which room?”

Xi Tang shook her head.

Lawyer Xiu glanced at Li Shu’an, cautiously deducing: “It doesn’t seem like the other party was prepared in advance—it was probably a crime of opportunity. The chance of installing cameras in a five-star hotel suite is small. Based on the video released online, it’s hallway surveillance footage.”

Li Shu’an remained extremely calm throughout, handling it as if it were an urgent, thorny work matter that needed resolution. “Who has these records now?”

Ni Kailun checked her phone and said: “Wait, I’ve got someone else coming.”

He Luofei’s car arrived at the underground garage of Xi Tang’s home precisely at four in the afternoon. After parking, she walked to the elevator in the garage and noticed a black car with Beijing plates ending in a few digits parked in the spot closest to the elevator. She couldn’t help but take a second look as she passed.

Huang Xi Tang’s chubby, smiling assistant opened the door for her, though the young girl couldn’t smile now. She led her into the house where the spacious, tidy living room had several men seated around the coffee table.

Ni Kailun introduced them simply: “Lawyers,” then led her to the study.

Huang Xi Tang sat inside, expressionless, yet still offering her a slight smile—a blank smile, but calm nonetheless. He Luofei was surprised inwardly.

He Luofei removed her glasses, showing her teeth in a smile: “Wow, the entrance to the complex is packed with reporters.”

Ni Kailun pointed to a chair for her to sit: “Well, it’s good enough that you made it in.”

He Luofei smiled sweetly: “You think I wanted to come in? I’d arranged to meet you at the office.”

Ni Kailun didn’t want to go to the company. After the incident broke out this morning, Ni Kailun returned to the company at noon. The renewal contract Huang Xi Tang had signed and sent back from Hengdian was being held in the company office by the Boss, without the company seal. The Boss had indicated the company wouldn’t spend resources to save Xi Tang, and specifically instructed Ni Kailun to quickly arrange for the company’s rising starlet Ou Lizu to take over Xi Tang’s roles in several dramas: “This girl can’t be saved. For the next three to five years, who would dare cast her?” In an instant, the entertainment circle was turned upside down—fingerprints, a bloody weapon, a five-star hotel surveillance video recording the crime.

The pure, beautiful, skilled young actress image that Huang Xi Tang’s company had carefully cultivated over several years was now shattered, making a comeback almost impossible.

Ni Kailun slapped the table, cursing the Boss for his heartlessness. Ma Jichan happened to come in to report to work and smirked at the Boss’s office door with schadenfreude.

Ni Kailun’s face contorted with anger.

He Luofei chatted with Ni Kailun in Xi Tang’s study. Two hours later, He Luofei finally took out her phone and offered her proof of loyalty. As soon as Ni Kailun saw Liu Qianping’s photo, she understood, smiling without humor: “So you knew this person all along, why did you say you didn’t?”

He Luofei pouted coquettishly: “Oh, Sister Kailun, the advance information I gave you must be worth quite a bit if you use it well.”

Xi Tang thought to herself, no wonder Ni Kailun had canceled several of her variety shows these past two days, and her bank account had received several large payments, all final installments from her recent dramas and endorsements. Ni Kailun had urgently pressed the company’s finance department to transfer money to her, even the financial manager had asked her about it.

Ni Kailun continued questioning He Luofei.

“Where did Liu Qianping get the surveillance video and police evidence?”

“That video segment is longer than what’s online.”

“What’s in the rest?”

“You are.”

Xi Tang looked up, and Ni Kailun was also stunned for a moment. So there was a second half to the video. Ni Kailun asked: “Where did you see it?”

He Luofei played with the rhinestones on her nails: “The ten-plus minutes given to Liu Qianping were edited by a friend of mine. I was right there watching.”

Ni Kailun’s piercing gaze fixed on her.

He Luofei suddenly shuddered and stopped talking.

Ni Kailun said coldly: “Luofei, we’re in the same boat now.”

He Luofei sighed, bit her lip, and said: “His name is Wang Hao, though I don’t know if that’s his real name. I only have one phone number for him.”

Ni Kailun went out and returned with Li Shu’an, saying: “Show this gentleman your boyfriend’s photo.”

He Luofei pulled up the photo on her phone.

Li Shu’an looked at it, nodded to Ni Kailun, and said: “Fine.”

By the time He Luofei left, it was evening. She knew the circle was small, and negotiating with Ni Kailun wasn’t easy for anyone. But now that Huang Xi Tang was caught in this massive whirlpool of controversy, it was the perfect opportunity to use her leverage and make demands. Ni Kailun didn’t waste time talking to her too much; on this trip, she had gotten what she wanted, though it had nearly exhausted her. Now in a good mood, she took off her high heels as soon as she got in the car. While backing up, she looked in the rearview mirror—it was past seven in the evening, and that black car was still parked in the same spot.