Chapter Ninety-Eight
Ji Qinghe had returned. Although they were separated by a corridor and couldn’t sleep in each other’s arms, Shen Qianzhan still felt an immense sense of peace. It was like a lone sailboat drifting on the sea had finally found another vessel, allowing them to lean on each other and journey together across the vast ocean.
The next day, Shen Qianzhan brought Qiao Xin to visit Mrs. Chen.
This had been arranged the day before.
They would wait until Mrs. Chen had rested enough before sitting down to discuss the arrangements for Old Chen’s funeral.
The meeting went smoothly.
Mrs. Chen’s emotions were more stable compared to the first day. She expressed her difficulties and hoped the crew could offer some modest assistance by arranging a hearse from the funeral home to transport Old Chen’s remains back to his hometown.
She had come to Wuxi alone, unfamiliar with the place, and it was only reasonable for the crew to handle this matter properly.
Shen Qianzhan agreed and asked Qiao Xin to confirm the procedures and the earliest departure time.
After discussing these matters, Shen Qianzhan informed Mrs. Chen about the insurance company’s compensation process, advising her to patiently wait for the approval: “There’s one more thing.”
Shen Qianzhan smiled, carefully considering how to clearly explain the condolence payment she and Su Zan had discussed the night before, to be given in the name of Thousand Lights. As she hesitated, Mrs. Chen clasped her hands together and asked tentatively, “Producer Shen, will the crew be leaving Wuxi soon?”
Shen Qianzhan paused, temporarily setting aside the previous topic, and replied, “Yes, the filming in Wuxi is finished. We’ll be moving to another location in the next few days.”
Mrs. Chen looked uneasy, slightly uncomfortable: “I have another request.”
“Please go ahead.”
“My in-laws aren’t comfortable with me taking Old Chen back alone. They want my brother-in-law’s family to come and help with the arrangements.” Mrs. Chen lowered her eyes slightly and said softly, “My opinion doesn’t carry much weight with them. They insist on having my brother-in-law’s family come to Wuxi. I thought, rather than them arriving unannounced, it would be better if Producer Shen could arrange it.”
Shen Qianzhan remained silent.
The atmosphere unconsciously grew tense.
She crossed her legs and quietly observed Mrs. Chen for a moment.
Mrs. Chen, feeling uneasy under her gaze, averted her eyes and pretended to look at Qiao Xin, who was still communicating with the funeral home in the distance.
After a long while, Shen Qianzhan shifted her gaze and said gently, “Arrangements are, of course, no problem. This is a reasonable request. Don’t worry, I’ll have Qiao Xin contact you this afternoon to get it sorted as soon as possible. But the specifics might have to wait until the funeral home finalizes everything.”
Seeing Shen Qianzhan’s accommodating and easygoing attitude, Mrs. Chen slowly relaxed.
Shen Qianzhan stayed with her a little longer. When the time seemed right, she excused herself, citing busy work with the crew, and left with Qiao Xin.
Once they stepped out of Mrs. Chen’s room, the warmth and gentleness on Shen Qianzhan’s face vanished completely.
Her expression turned cold as she strode quickly into the elevator and returned to her room without a word.
—
During lunch, Shen Qianzhan specifically called Su Zan back to discuss the matter.
She first recounted the details of her morning meeting with Mrs. Chen but didn’t immediately share her suspicions.
When Su Zan heard that Old Chen’s brother-in-law’s family was coming, his thoughts aligned perfectly with Shen Qianzhan’s. He frowned slightly and asked doubtfully, “Didn’t Mrs. Chen have conflicts with her brother-in-law’s family?”Shen Qianzhan took a sip of coffee and said calmly, "Whether it's suitable or not is secondary. After all, the two families are relatives, and death is the most important matter. Any grudges can be set aside for now." Moreover, Mrs. Chen had invoked her in-laws as a reason, making the logic of the situation reasonable. Emotionally, she remained the helpless victim whose husband had died unexpectedly.
Su Zan suddenly remembered something. "You didn’t mention that we plan to give her compensation in the company’s name, right?"
"I was just about to bring it up," Shen Qianzhan licked her lips and said, "She cut me off."
Over the years, Shen Qianzhan had encountered all sorts of strange and sinister characters, gaining a deep understanding of the darkness in people’s hearts.
She sympathized with Mrs. Chen and felt a certain degree of guilt and reverence toward the unexpected death of Old Chen. Therefore, she wanted to do her best to support Old Chen’s family.
In addition to the compensation, she had privately considered how to help Mrs. Chen retain as much of Old Chen’s compensation as possible.
But ultimately, this was someone else’s family matter, and her concern had already crossed the line.
If Mrs. Chen could see things clearly and accept her goodwill, of course, it would be a happy outcome for everyone. But if Mrs. Chen felt she was meddling, then she would be putting in effort without gaining favor, only inviting trouble for herself.
So when Shen Qianzhan was figuring out how to explain this compensation, she really felt like pulling her hair out.
If Mrs. Chen hadn’t interrupted her at the time, Shen Qianzhan had planned to transfer the money privately through the company’s account to Mrs. Chen under the guise of educational funds for the child.
But now, she was actually glad she had been interrupted, as it gave her room to maneuver later.
Su Zan pondered for a moment and said, "Mrs. Chen’s request isn’t unreasonable. Let Qiao Xin book the flight tickets. If something is bound to happen, hiding won’t prevent it. We might as well take things one step at a time."
Shen Qianzhan wanted to test him and asked, "What other preparations do we need to make?"
"Keep a few more crew members at the hotel tomorrow. If we can reason with them, we’ll do so. If not, we’ll have to take a firmer stance."
Shen Qianzhan agreed with his idea and nodded slightly, signaling Qiao Xin to proceed as Su Zan had suggested.
—
This sudden complication left Shen Qianzhan feeling uneasy.
Seeing that she was distracted even during a meal, Ji Qinghe placed two pieces of braised pork belly on her plate and tried to console her. "Thinking things through isn’t a bad thing. Since you and Su Zan already have a plan, just focus on eating now."
Shen Qianzhan asked him, "Am I thinking too poorly of people? Maybe Old Chen’s family is just worried that Mrs. Chen might be taken advantage of, so they asked the eldest uncle to come and help."
Ji Qinghe tapped his chopsticks against the edge of the bowl, signaling her to eat first. "I heard Old Chen had a fellow villager in the crew?"
"Yes," Shen Qianzhan frowned as she took a bite of the pork belly and muttered, "The crew director spoke with Xiao Chen to understand the situation. The Chen family’s circumstances are basically as Mrs. Chen described. The eldest and second uncles’ families are like vampires, sucking the elderly dry. Old Chen couldn’t stand it and always wanted to help his parents—quite foolishly filial."
"Also, I heard their family is quite notorious in the village. The village head once tried to advise them but ended up beaten and hospitalized. After that, no one dared to meddle in the Chen family’s affairs."
"If only the eldest uncle’s family comes, they won’t cause much trouble," Ji Qinghe said. "I see you’ve prepared quite a bit of evidence?"Shen Qianzhan replied casually, "Yes, I had Qiao Xin print them out this afternoon, and we prepared several copies. Just in case, I also had Qiao Xin contact the legal department of Thousand Lights. If needed, the lawyers can come immediately."
Seeing that she was well-prepared and only emotionally unsettled, Ji Qinghe didn’t say more. He watched her finish a bowl of rice and then gently touched the tip of her nose. "Is your cold better?"
Shen Qianzhan was taken aback for a moment before playfully kicking him. "Do you really think I’m a cat?"
Not long after Ji Qinghe left last night, he had the production assistant send her special medicine. She slept soundly through the night, and by morning, all her symptoms were gone.
Seeing her scrunch her nose in distaste, Ji Qinghe leaned back against the seat and suddenly said, "My flight is tomorrow afternoon. Once I return to Beijing, we won’t see each other for a while."
If he hadn’t mentioned it, Shen Qianzhan would have almost forgotten. According to the original plan, tomorrow was supposed to be the day the crew relocated.
She moved closer to him, sitting beside him. "Ming Jue will pick you up for me, right?"
Her words were cleverly phrased, subtly shifting the meaning to convey her own feelings.
Ji Qinghe gently tapped the tip of her nose with his finger and said softly, "Don’t make me wait too long for you in Beijing."
—
The next day.
Su Zan went to the airport to pick someone up and took the opportunity to see Ji Qinghe off.
No sooner had the business car departed than trouble came knocking.
Shen Qianzhan was in her room having a meeting with the director’s team when the hotel’s internal phone rang abruptly, startling everyone.
Still unsettled and with her eyelids twitching, she took a moment to compose herself before asking Qiao Xin to answer the phone.
The call was from the hotel front desk, informing Shen Qianzhan that she had a visitor.
Qiao Xin had been practically inseparable from Shen Qianzhan lately. If it weren’t for Mr. Ji, they would have been eating and sleeping together. Naturally, she was fully aware of Shen Qianzhan’s schedule. Hearing this, she glanced back at Shen Qianzhan, who remained unfazed and continued the meeting with the director’s team, then confirmed with the hotel, "The crew hasn’t scheduled any visitors recently. Are you sure they’re looking for our room?"
The front desk had recently received instructions from the crew to register all visitors, so they didn’t allow the guest to go upstairs directly. Instead, they kept the visitor in the hotel lobby and notified the resident first.
Hearing Qiao Xin’s response, the front desk staff softly said, "One moment, please," and then verified the room number and the visitor’s personal information.
"The visitor is a journalist who says they’re looking for Producer Shen in room 8088."
As soon as Qiao Xin heard the word "journalist," her head started to ache.
Over the past few days, there had been journalists lingering outside the hotel, trying to find out what had happened with the crew. Passersby were vague, hotel staff remained tight-lipped, and the crew itself was as tight as a drum.
Journalists eager to uncover news and gossip only knew superficial details and didn’t fully understand what had happened. As a result, the online space had remained calm during this period. Apart from a few blurry photos of police cars parked outside the hotel, there hadn’t been any widespread discussion.
A journalist who came directly to the hotel and even knew Shen Qianzhan’s exact room number was a first.
Unable to decide, Qiao Xin partially covered the receiver and asked Shen Qianzhan for her opinion.
Shen Qianzhan, however, was more focused on how the journalist had obtained her exact room number. "He knows I’m staying in 8088?"
Surprised, Shen Qianzhan felt her eyelids twitch again, sensing a crisis quietly approaching.
She stood up, took the receiver herself, and asked the hotel to hand the phone to the visitor.After the other party took the phone, she first introduced herself: "Hello, I'm Jiang Mengxin, a reporter from Xinyu Express. May I ask if this is Producer Shen?"
Shen Qianzhan narrowed her eyes and asked, "May I ask how you obtained our room number?"
Jiang Mengxin chuckled and said, "Producer Shen, I not only know your room number, but I've also learned that the 'Time' crew has encountered a homicide. I wonder if you have time to meet and discuss this with me?"
This was the first time Shen Qianzhan had encountered such a confident threat.
She nearly let out a cold laugh. After holding the phone and considering for two minutes, she said, "Wait a moment, I'll have my assistant come to get you." After hanging up, she seemed still immersed in the conversation with Jiang Mengxin, her expression particularly grim.
Qiao Xin remained silent, waiting for her instructions.
The room was dead silent, as if a storm was brewing, the atmosphere thick with tension.
After a long while, Shen Qianzhan waved her hand: "Let's end here for today. Everyone is dismissed."
Sensing her bad mood, no one from the director's team dared to speak up. They packed their things in an orderly manner and left one by one.
Shao Chouxi was the last to leave.
He wanted to comfort Shen Qianzhan, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he felt his words were empty, pale, and powerless.
Regarding the sudden death of the crew member, the entire production team had kept a tight lid on it, strictly prohibiting private discussions. Shao Chouxi had only learned the full details of the incident from Shen Qianzhan. From the occurrence to the aftermath, he greatly admired Shen Qianzhan's efficient and decisive handling of the situation.
The more he understood, the more he could feel her personal charm.
This wasn't just the aura brought by her profession and expertise. Shao Chouxi's collaboration with Shen Qianzhan was built on "coming because of her reputation." He admired Shen Qianzhan's abilities, and Shen Qianzhan appreciated his artistic standards.
Since the start of their collaboration, Shao Chouxi had always felt that Shen Qianzhan lived up to the title of "golden producer." She handled matters thoroughly, thought meticulously, had high emotional intelligence, and was not only efficient and reliable but also exceptionally dependable.
Although what moved him the most was Shen Qianzhan's generosity with money... for any director whose inspiration was constantly bursting, this was an irresistible advantage and temptation.
Thinking of this, Shao Chouxi couldn't help but clear his throat and said, "Producer Shen, those not in your position can never truly understand. But when the crew faces difficulties, it's not just your problem alone. Our entire crew should bear it together. If you need anything, all of us are willing to go through fire and water."
Seeing that he hadn't left, Shen Qianzhan was about to ask if he had anything else when she suddenly heard such an impassioned speech. She was surprised and even felt a hint of comfort.
She patted Shao Chouxi's shoulder and escorted him out: "It's nothing major, you don't need to worry. If there's a problem, I can handle it."
Hearing the familiar "I'll handle it if there's a problem," Shao Chouxi smiled and said, "You might not know this, but all of us directors want to work with you. Besides your generosity with money, it's this phrase 'I'll handle it if there's a problem' that makes people feel secure and reliable." Reaching the door, he stopped and gestured to Shen Qianzhan: "If you have things to attend to, go ahead."
Shen Qianzhan nodded, watching him walk away before waving her hand to signal Qiao Xin to go to the hotel lobby and bring the reporter Jiang Mengxin to the meeting room on the same floor: "If she talks to you, be careful not to be tricked into revealing information."Qiao Xin was sharp; she didn't need Shen Qianzhan to spell things out explicitly to know what she should do. Before leaving, she suddenly remembered something and reminded, "This reporter's name sounds a bit familiar. I'm not sure where I've heard it before—I don't have a strong impression—but I'm certain it must have been something recent."
Shen Qianzhan frowned. As she made her way alone to the reception room, she called Su Zan to ask if he had any recollection of Jiang Mengxin.
Su Zan was nearing the airport, passing through the toll station on the airport expressway. After a moment of thought, he replied, "I think I've heard the name somewhere. Let me check and get back to you."
After hanging up, Shen Qianzhan sat on the sofa for a while, her expression somber and thoughtful.
Perhaps waiting idly made it easy for emotions to take hold. The moment a flicker of anxiety ignited in her chest, she stood up and went to the pantry to make two cups of instant coffee.
Three minutes later.
As Shen Qianzhan emerged with the coffee, Qiao Xin was just leading Jiang Mengxin inside.
Their footsteps were absorbed by the thick carpet, leaving only the faint sound of the glass door turning as it closed.
Shen Qianzhan acted as though she had completely forgotten the tense exchange from their earlier phone call. She smiled amiably and gestured for Jiang Mengxin to take a seat. "I made you a cup of coffee. The hotel environment is a bit simple—I hope you don't mind."
Of course, she didn't actually care whether Jiang Mengxin minded or not.
Without giving Jiang Mengxin a chance to respond, Shen Qianzhan signaled for Qiao Xin to take the coffee and place it on the table in front of her.
This subtle display of authority made Jiang Mengxin's smile fade slightly, and she grew more cautious in Shen Qianzhan's presence.
She thanked her and took a small sip of the coffee.
Shen Qianzhan seized the opportunity to size her up.
Unlike the image of a reporter she had imagined, Jiang Mengxin was tall and slender, with gentle features. Her appearance was far from the aggressive, confrontational type she had sounded like on the phone.
She wore a camera around her neck and carried a bulging waist bag, making her already slim figure appear even more fragile.
Perhaps due to preconceived notions, Shen Qianzhan's impression of her was not favorable.
Though she smiled, the warmth didn't reach her eyes—it was a shallow, perfunctory expression, as if she were merely going through the motions.
Jiang Mengxin smiled and got straight to the point. "I apologize for using such an unfriendly method to get your attention just to meet you."
Shen Qianzhan responded with a low hum, accepting the apology. "I'm curious, Ms. Jiang—how did you find out our room number?"
This was an unavoidable question. If Jiang Mengxin didn't answer, there would be no need to continue the conversation.
She clearly understood this and replied calmly, "The crew's confidentiality measures aren't tight enough. I just asked around a bit and found out. The confidentiality agreement didn't specify that the producer's room number couldn't be disclosed."
Shen Qianzhan wasn't provoked by her remarks. She smiled generously and quipped, "Thank you for the reminder. We'll definitely strengthen the confidentiality agreement in the future."
Knowing she was no match for Shen Qianzhan, Jiang Mengxin refrained from further provocation. She pulled a voice recorder from her waist bag, openly pressed the record button, and began. "I've received information that the Time crew's poor scheduling led to a crew member's sudden death on duty. Producer Shen, is this information accurate?"Qiao Xin nearly jumped up, her eyes wide with anger as she glared fiercely at Jiang Mengxin, her tone hostile: "Ms. Jiang, as a journalist, we fully respect your profession. But when we haven't agreed to your interview, is it not a violation of our rights for you to openly record like this?"
Shen Qianzhan was also extremely displeased.
Watching Jiang Mengxin's smug, even brazen face, she pulled Qiao Xin back, signaling her to calm down.
Her fingers holding the phone subtly tapped twice, sending a coded message to Qiao Xin.
The latter understood instantly, immediately turning on her phone's recording function to prevent Jiang Mengxin from using the recording against them later.
"I don't know where Ms. Jiang got this information from, or why you consider it reliable. But one thing is certain—there are elements of subjective speculation and even fabrication in the information. I suggest Ms. Jiang carefully consider every word you say from now on. Given your current behavior of forcing an interview and recording, if you engage in any actions that harm the production team's rights, I will definitely sue to protect our interests."
Compared to Qiao Xin's instantly explosive reaction, Shen Qianzhan's calm, reasoned, and legally grounded response immediately showed the difference in their levels.
Jiang Mengxin, having repeatedly suffered losses at her hands, bit her lip and reluctantly corrected herself: "Then may I ask, Producer Shen, is it true that the Time production team had a crew member die accidentally two days ago?"
Shen Qianzhan met her gaze directly, her voice cool, and admitted: "Yes."
Jiang Mengxin raised an eyebrow slightly and pressed further: "Did the crew member's sudden death during work hours occur due to unreasonable scheduling by the production team?"
"No," Shen Qianzhan replied calmly. "After the crew member's accidental death, the production team immediately reported it to the police and filed a case. The police have determined that the deceased died of natural causes unrelated to the production team."
Jiang Mengxin: "I heard that the Time production team rented an expensive antique clock for filming. And this crew member was responsible for guarding the antique clock, requiring night shifts and staying up late?"
Shen Qianzhan mocked: "As a journalist, you repeatedly use the phrase 'I heard.' Are you sure your interview will be credible and authoritative?"
Jiang Mengxin was silenced again, her face instantly turning cold: "Is Producer Shen avoiding the question because of a guilty conscience?"
"I'm merely raising a reasonable doubt. If you can't even handle that, how will you face public scrutiny once the news is published?" Shen Qianzhan smiled, leisurely sipped her coffee, and invited her: "Don't just focus on talking. Have some coffee to soothe your throat."
Shen Qianzhan had probably handled more crisis PR situations than this young reporter had crossed bridges. Trying to trap her? She was still too young.
After several rounds of back-and-forth, with Shen Qianzhan's overwhelming advantage, Qiao Xin had already calmed down, even feeling somewhat sympathetic toward the reporter.
Their Producer Shen, when provoked, would even confront the client. In verbal sparring, aside from losing to Mr. Ji, she had never been defeated.
How desperate must one be to come looking for trouble in front of Shen Qianzhan?
As Shen Qianzhan forcibly interrupted and invited Jiang Mengxin to taste the coffee, the atmosphere in the reception room froze, the pressure dropping sharply.
Just as the stalemate continued, Shen Qianzhan's phone vibrated—a message from Su Zan:
Jiang Mengxin once reported on a fight in the Spring River production team. Later, after the company's PR efforts, she publicly apologized to Xiao Sheng.
Besides this message, Su Zan had also attached screenshots of Jiang Mengxin's "impressive" career highlights from the internet.As an entertainment reporter, Jiang Mengxin was jokingly called the moral benchmark of the entertainment industry by netizens due to her bold and sharp exposé style. To attract attention, she had repeatedly published false reports and faced lawsuits. However, backed by capital, the name "Jiang Mengxin" had even become a significant IP account with its own public relations team.
Shen Qianzhan lowered her gaze, quickly scanning the information, and when she looked at Jiang Mengxin again, her expression subtly shifted, growing increasingly grave.
But mindful of the recording device, she refrained from acting rashly or asking inappropriate questions that could leave evidence.
It was not the right time to engage further with the other party; she needed to extricate herself as soon as possible.
While she was deep in thought, hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor, and a crew member pushed the door open. His face was anxious, sweat beading on his forehead—clearly, something urgent had happened.
Just as he was about to speak without regard, Shen Qianzhan’s expression tightened, and she snapped softly, "Can’t you see I have a guest here? So reckless." After reprimanding him, she watched as the crew member swallowed his words, his eyes red with urgency. Then, with an elegant posture, she stood up and smiled at Jiang Mengxin. "I have an urgent matter to attend to, Ms. Jiang. Please rest here for a moment. I’ll be back soon."
With that, she glanced at Qiao Xin, giving her a warning look. "Keep Ms. Jiang company for me in the meantime."
Jiang Mengxin naturally refused to stay put. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she was about to follow, but Shen Qianzhan, walking ahead, suddenly turned around and shot her a sharp, piercing glare.
The authority in that gaze was almost tangible, instantly freezing Jiang Mengxin in place.
—
Once out of the reception room, Shen Qianzhan relaxed her stiffened back slightly and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"
Finally free to speak, the crew member hurriedly replied, "A group of people claiming to be Old Chen’s family showed up at the hotel, all armed with clubs. The hotel security couldn’t stop them. They barged straight into the room where the antique clock is stored. We heard knocking but didn’t expect trouble, so we opened the door and were immediately attacked."
Shen Qianzhan’s face paled, and her steps quickened as if carried by the wind. "Is anyone hurt?"
"Aside from one of our guys who took a hit, the others managed to defend themselves once they were prepared. But there are a lot of them—about seven or eight, all fierce and aggressive, just looking for a fight. We didn’t dare fight back, so we’ve been defending passively."
Shen Qianzhan asked, "Have you called the police?"
"Yes."
Her voice turned icy cold. "What about Mrs. Chen? Has she been notified?"
"Not yet."
"And the antique clock?" she gritted her teeth.
"It’s safe for now. Everyone knows how valuable it is, so they’re protecting it with their lives."
Shen Qianzhan took a sharp breath, her temples throbbing.
She pressed her fingers hard against her forehead, using the elevator’s descent to force herself to calm down. "Go gather everyone. Call all the crew members from the photography team who are still at the hotel."
Calculating the estimated arrival time of the police, she steadied her nerves and dialed Su Zan first.
While waiting for the call to connect, she caught a glimpse of herself in the elevator mirror. As if unable to believe the disheveled person reflected was her, she instinctively looked up and stared again.
In the mirror, her face was pale, her spirit seemingly drained, her posture slightly hunched. Amid the continuous busy tone in her ear, she listened to the buzzing in her mind—like static snow or a faint hum—spreading in waves.
She pressed her trembling lips together, dug her nails into her palm, and straightened her back.
She couldn’t be afraid.
She had to stay calm.
And she couldn’t show weakness.
She was the face of the crew, the commander. Her words and actions represented the crew and Thousand Lights.
If she fell apart, the crew’s morale would crumble.
She had to act as if nothing was wrong—strong, composed, resolute, capable of handling anything.
As Shen Qianzhan gave herself this mental pep talk, the call connected. Su Zan’s voice came through, carrying a hint of impatience and a barely noticeable unease.
In the background, the mechanical announcement of arriving flights echoed from the airport arrival area.The clamor instantly overwhelmed her thoughts, leaving Shen Qianzhan's mind blank for a moment. She nearly forgot why she had called Su Zan in the first place.
She glanced up at the approaching elevator and asked rapidly, "Have you picked up the person yet?"
"No." Su Zan was highly sensitive to Shen Qianzhan's emotional shifts and immediately noticed something was off. Hesitantly, he asked, "What's wrong?"
"A group of people claiming to be Old Chen's family has shown up at the hotel and is causing trouble. Confirm it quickly."
Su Zan, who had been standing helplessly by the information desk, felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow. He cursed under his breath, "Damn those bastards."
He looked up at the flight number that had long since arrived, his chest burning with anxiety as if a fire were raging inside, consuming all his rationality. "I'm coming back right now."
His words undoubtedly confirmed that the troublemakers at the hotel were indeed Old Chen's family.
Shen Qianzhan's heart sank, feeling as if half her blood had been drained away.
She closed her eyes briefly and instructed, "Alright, be careful on the way. I can handle things here."
Su Zan grunted in acknowledgment and was about to say, "Mr. Ji left halfway back," but before he could utter the words, the sound of the elevator arriving on Shen Qianzhan's end was followed by her hanging up decisively, leaving him no chance to speak.
He stared blankly at his phone for a moment before ending the call in frustration.
—
At the same time, Shen Qianzhan and the production assistants split up.
From a distance, she could already hear the noisy, chaotic arguments echoing down the hallway, faintly accompanied by a woman's cries—sharp, hoarse, and unpleasant, like the screeching of birds in a chaotic fight.
Her brow twitched involuntarily, and her eyelids fluttered nervously.
As she quickened her pace and drew closer, Shen Qianzhan gradually made out what the woman was crying about.
"Our poor third brother, even in death you suffer. These bloodsucking demons not only refuse to give you justice but also withhold your remains..."
"What are your intentions? Are you just afraid we'll demand an autopsy and expose your lies?"
"Heartless bloodsuckers! If we hadn't come, your wife would have been deceived by them!"
"This cursed ancient clock took your life, stole my third brother from us!"
"A life for a life! Get your boss out here now!"
Shen Qianzhan's footsteps halted abruptly, a bone-chilling cold shooting from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
From a distance, she watched the tangled crowd inside the room and the chaotic scene where it was impossible to distinguish one side from the other. A surge of cold fury rose in her heart.
She turned and scanned her surroundings.
Her gaze fell on the fire extinguisher in the hallway's safety and firefighting station, and a mischievous thought crossed her mind. However, after quickly considering the consequences of illegal use, she decisively abandoned the idea and instead turned her attention to a bucket of water and a mop left in the corner.
It seemed the cleaner had been preparing to mop the floor but fled after encountering the two groups in conflict, leaving the tools behind.
She picked up the bucket, her steps steady and swift. After a few strides brought her close to the brawling crowd, she gritted her teeth, lifted the bucket, and flung the water directly at them.
This indiscriminate attack caught everyone off guard, leaving them stunned and motionless.
Shen Qianzhan glanced at the long sticks in the hands of the opposing side, confirming there were no sharp blades. Her heart steadied slightly.
Clearly, this group was causing trouble to extort compensation, not to exact deadly revenge on the production crew. Once she confirmed this, Shen Qianzhan breathed a sigh of relief.
She tossed the empty bucket onto the floor with a dull thud.The sound acted like an alarm bell, jolting both sides awake.
It seemed no one had expected someone to appear out of nowhere and mediate in such a manner.
Shen Qianzhan stood at the doorway, exuding authority without a hint of anger.
Her gaze was sharp, and when she fixed it on someone, it carried the intimidating pressure of someone who had long held power.
The crowd instinctively parted to either side, clearing a path for her.
Shen Qianzhan passed by the woman sitting at the entrance, wailing and carrying on as if her husband had died, then glanced at the so-called family members of Old Chen, who were brandishing sticks with menacing expressions.
Finally, she looked at the production assistant curled up in the corner, injured while trying to protect the ancient bell.
If earlier she had felt fear and confusion in the face of this unknown threat of violence, now that she was truly standing at the scene of the conflict, she instead felt boundless courage and fury.
She turned, her eyes coldly fixed on the middle-aged man who was clearly the leader. "Are you the one in charge?"
Her presence was overwhelming, and when enraged, she seemed to possess an innate ability to command submission, pressing down on others until they could hardly lift their heads.
The middle-aged man stammered before replying, "Yes, it's me. Where's your boss? Get your boss out here."
Shen Qianzhan snorted coldly and asked, "And who are you?"
"I'm Old Chen's older brother, Chen Yan. Your film crew killed my brother, and now you want to send his wife away? Dream on. Get your boss out here."
Perhaps sensing that Shen Qianzhan wasn't as intimidating as he initially thought, Chen Yan, after a brief moment of wariness, reverted to his menacing demeanor.
Shen Qianzhan glanced at the five or six hooligans standing quietly behind him, then stepped past Chen Yan and asked directly, "Are you locals?"
Chen Yan spoke with an accent, much like Mrs. Chen, in a heavily accented Mandarin that carried the same regional flavor.
But as for the people behind him, Shen Qianzhan wasn't sure if they were locals or fellow villagers Chen Yan had brought from his hometown, so she decided to test the waters first.
Unfortunately, the answer wasn't good.
The young man who spoke had more standard Mandarin than Chen Yan, but his low, clipped accent seemed to come from the same Chen family mold: "No."
Chen Yan seemed annoyed that the young man had spoken without permission. He shot him a glare, tightened his grip on the short stick in his hand, and banged it against the TV cabinet on the wall, threatening, "Cut the nonsense. I'm just here to seek justice for my brother. Get your boss out here. You can't make the decisions."
"Who says I can't make decisions?" Shen Qianzhan shot him a cold look. After locking eyes with him for a few seconds, she shifted her gaze slightly, tilting her chin toward the young men behind him. "If you want to talk, let's talk calmly. You and your friends, put down the sticks, and we'll move somewhere else to sit down and have a proper discussion."
"Threatening and intimidating like this is just a waste of time and serves no purpose." Not wanting to escalate the conflict or provoke another confrontation, Shen Qianzhan glanced at the few people at the back of the crowd who had been drenched by the water she had thrown, softened her tone, and said, "Let them change into dry clothes, and we can go to the hotel restaurant to talk over a meal. What do you think?"
Chen Yan eyed her suspiciously, as if trying to determine whether Shen Qianzhan truly had the authority she claimed.
Seeing through his thoughts, Shen Qianzhan offered appropriately, "I may not be the boss, but I am their leader. Old Chen worked for the film crew, so you must have heard of the position of producer." She pursed her lips and said, "I'm the one in charge here."Chen Yan seemed uncertain whether to believe her or not. His murky eyes scrutinized her from head to toe. Though he didn’t agree to change locations, he lowered the stick in his hand, no longer poised to attack at any moment.
“Where’s my sister-in-law?” he asked.
Shen Qianzhan feigned surprise. “Haven’t you been in touch?”
Chen Yan frowned, as if reluctant to answer. “I know she lives here. Bring her over. I know everything—how you bullied a woman who knows nothing, tricking her into returning to her hometown as soon as possible.”
As he spoke, he grew agitated again, spitting on the ground. “My brother died in your crew, in this very room, and you offer no compensation? You think you can brush it off by calling it an accidental sudden death? No way!”
The more tense the situation, the calmer Shen Qianzhan became. She knew reasoning with Chen Yan was useless. Adopting a humble tone, she said, “If you want to see Mrs. Chen, I can arrange it. Old Chen’s compensation is being handled by the insurance company, so it’s not true that nothing is being paid. How about this—I’ll take you to review Old Chen’s insurance policy so you can verify the compensation yourself?”
Outside the corridor, the production assistant quietly led the photography team into the room.
She dared not look too closely, fearing she might draw Chen Yan’s attention. Just as he was about to glance back, she suddenly raised her voice, speaking steadily, “If you don’t believe me, I can arrange a video call with our boss.”
Her humble demeanor, or perhaps his inherent underestimation of women, made Chen Yan relent.
He waved his stick slightly and began to step back.
At that moment, the woman who had been sitting on the floor crying glanced back inadvertently. Upon seeing several burly men suddenly appear behind her, she let out a panicked scream.
That single scream instantly undid all the effort Shen Qianzhan had put in.
Simultaneously, the blaring sirens of approaching police cars pierced the air like sunlight tearing through dark clouds—sudden and urgent.
Chen Yan immediately realized it had all been Shen Qianzhan’s delaying tactic.
Her goal was to trap them together so they could be captured in one sweep. If not for his wife’s timely warning, he would have fallen for it.
Understanding this, Chen Yan’s eyes blazed with fury, and he erupted in rage.
His gaze toward Shen Qianzhan turned murderous as he swung his stick. “Smash it all!”
Shen Qianzhan was utterly exasperated by Chen Yan’s mindless violence.
But it was too late to stop it now. Amid the blaring sirens, chaos erupted like a spring thunderclap, ready to explode at any moment.
The production assistant beside Shen Qianzhan hurriedly shielded her, pulling her aside.
Amid the chaos, men’s angry shouts and curses mingled together. Shen Qianzhan watched, her eyes wide with fury, as the antique clock was repeatedly endangered, only to be saved each time by the production assistants desperately pushing the attackers away.
In the corridor, a series of footsteps—concentrated and synchronized—approached rapidly.
Shen Qianzhan looked up and saw the flicker of police badges and caps at the doorway. Her heart eased with relief. But the feeling of being saved lasted only a few seconds before her peripheral vision caught Chen Yan shoving aside the production assistant blocking him and raising his stick to smash the antique clock. Her heart shattered.
A burning sensation in her throat left it dry and hoarse. She couldn’t utter a sound, and her fingers went limp, weak and aching as if drained of strength.
Before her mind could issue a command, she lunged forward, throwing herself in front of the antique clock’s protective cover.The blow from the short rod struck from her shoulder to her neck. At first, Shen Qianzhan didn’t feel any pain—only a numbness that spread from the back of her neck all the way down to her waist. It was as if her body had just registered the impact, and then excruciating agony surged through her nerves like a tidal wave.
She curled up in pain, and in her peripheral vision, she saw Chen Yan raising the rod again in a frenzy. Just then, the man who should have been on a flight to Beijing seemed to descend from the sky, stepping in front of her and firmly blocking the blow for her.
The moment before Shen Qianzhan lost her balance and slid to the floor, he turned, wrapped an arm around her waist, and lifted her into his embrace with one hand.
Amid the overwhelming scent of cold fragrance, he shielded the back of her neck and head with one hand while holding her with the other, gritting his teeth as he spoke word by word, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
OpenNovel