Chapter 4

Shixia was also startled by Tang Guo’s sudden curse.

Ever since they met, her little assistant had always been gentle. This was the first time she had seen such a violent outburst of emotion.

Tang Guo couldn’t care less about decorum anymore. She simply shoved her phone in front of Shixia, motioning for her to look.

She didn’t even bother to send the link on WeChat.

Jiang Wan leaned in to look at her screen and read it clearly.

It was an official announcement released by the police account, informing the public that yesterday’s fire in Zhenghua District, Beijing, was indeed an act of arson. However, following a preliminary investigation, the police confirmed that the suspect was the assistant of a certain director surnamed Li. Due to long-term physical and psychological abuse inflicted by the director, the assistant had a mental breakdown and committed the extreme act.

The announcement also stated that the director surnamed Li was now under police summons on suspicion of intentional harm.

As soon as this announcement came out, the internet exploded.

Because it was Director Li’s team that had been holding auditions at that location yesterday, and since the director mentioned in the police report was surnamed Li, the entire internet overwhelmingly pointed fingers at Director Li.

Still, a few rational voices spoke up: “Director Li isn’t like that. Yes, he was there yesterday, but he’s not the only director with the surname Li.”

But in the midst of such overwhelming public outcry, those voices seemed minuscule and insignificant—barely making a ripple.

Shixia thought Tang Guo was shocked by the news about Director Li, so she paused for a couple of seconds and carefully said, “Things aren’t clear yet. We’re part of this industry—we need to be especially cautious with what we say and do.”

It wasn’t that she completely trusted Director Li—after all, she hadn’t worked with him before, and who knew what kind of person he was in private.

She just didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire while things were still unclear.

But Tang Guo was way too excited. “No, no, Xiaxia—don’t you realize how lucky you are?! Look! We didn’t do a thing, and now all the public’s attention has shifted!”

Shixia: “……”

That… did seem to be the case.

Tang Guo continued, “And this came from the official police account of Beijing’s Zhenghua District! Now no one’s going to believe we pulled strings behind the scenes to get the trending topic removed!”

She was getting more and more convinced that Shixia was really blessed with good fortune. “Look! We didn’t even lift a finger, and your scandal was basically cleared! How awesome is that?!”

Shixia: “…Just stop. If I were really that lucky, would I still be stuck playing extras in this industry?”

Tang Guo was momentarily choked speechless. True, after all these years, the child Shixia secretly gave birth to—Shi Yan—was already old enough to be playing extras himself, and yet she still wasn’t famous.

“…Maybe this is the turning point!” Tang Guo tried to be optimistic. “Oh right—Brother Qi said once you’ve recovered, he wants you to take on a variety show!”

Shixia: “Weren’t we filming Director Li’s drama?”

Tang Guo: “That’s not a conflict. His project doesn’t start for another three months. You’ll have time to recover and shoot the show.”

The two exchanged a knowing look—saying it would start in three months only made sense if Director Li wasn’t the one at the center of the current scandal.

That night, Tang Guo stayed with her. Seeing that Shixia wasn’t sleepy, she chatted with her, and naturally, they circled back to the police announcement:

“…Xiaxia, don’t you think the timing is way too coincidental? We were totally panicking, and then suddenly—bam—they released that announcement. Without it, I’m telling you, you would’ve lost all your endorsement deals. Even if Brother Qi tried to protect you, it wouldn’t have worked.”

That’s just how the entertainment industry worked nowadays. Capital investors were risk-averse—at the first sign of trouble, regardless of whether the artist was innocent or not, they’d drop them like a hot potato. They believed that flies only gather around cracked eggs. To protect their money, Shixia would’ve undoubtedly been sacrificed.

A strange feeling stirred in Shixia’s heart—almost like she was expecting something.

But she quickly forced herself to squash that unrealistic thought.

He was a firefighter. He wasn’t even in the police department. Why would he do something like arrange for the police to release a statement for her?

Besides… he…

He wouldn’t do something like that for her.

It just didn’t make sense.

—

The next day, Qi Lang came to visit her and handed her the contract for Director Li’s new drama.

Shixia couldn’t resist gossiping. “So, who exactly was the director mentioned in the police announcement yesterday?”

The statement clearly said “a certain Director Li.” Was Director Li really so well-connected that he came out of this completely unscathed?

Shixia believed the arsonist was definitely a victim—after all, that’s what the police report said. If it turned out that Director Li was truly the one responsible and still walked away clean, then she needed to seriously reconsider taking this role.

No—she didn’t need to reconsider. She wouldn’t work with a director like that.

Even if this was a rare opportunity to finally break through and gain some fame, she would refuse.

Having worked with her for years, Qi Lang could instantly tell what she was thinking. “It wasn’t Director Li.”

Shixia picked up her phone.

Qi Lang tensed. “What are you doing?”

After all, she had just been dragged into a hot mess on the trending topics the day before. Honestly, he was terrified this heiress might start lashing out online again.

But the hype had already died down, and public attention had moved on. There was no point in stirring the pot again.

Shixia: “Ordering a cake to celebrate. I landed the second female lead in Director Li’s drama—doesn’t that deserve some cake?”

Qi Lang quietly let out a sigh of relief. “Fine. But you’re only allowed one bite. Director Li is strict about actors’ body shape—you’d better be careful.”

Shixia’s initial excitement instantly plummeted, but she still ordered the cake.

One bite was better than none.

Qi Lang shook his head. Sometimes he really felt she wasn’t cut out for the entertainment industry.

“I got you a variety show. Filming starts in ten days. I already checked with the doctor—you’re being discharged tomorrow. Use this time to recover and get in shape.”

Shixia: “What show?”

Qi Lang: “Charge Ahead! Heroes!”

The moment she heard the title, Shixia instinctively sensed something was off. “What kind of heroes?”

Qi Lang: “It’s a show commissioned by the higher-ups, in collaboration with the fire department. It’s a public safety education program on fire prevention. Our company got a slot—and you’re going.”

Shixia froze, dumbfounded.

Tang Guo had been listening in from the side and couldn’t help chiming in, “Wait, if it’s mandated from the top and every company sends someone, wouldn’t that mean a ton of guests on the show?”

Qi Lang: “There are only twelve guests total. Not every company was selected—it was done by lottery.”

He looked at Shixia. “You don’t want to go?”

Shixia frowned slightly. “It’s not that… Qi-ge, this sounds like a real grind. I mean, look at me—I’m still injured. Can’t we send someone else instead?”

Qi Lang gave her a knowing smirk.

“The list was submitted two months ago. It can’t be changed. Even if you were bedridden and paralyzed, you’d still have to go. Just play the role of an injured victim in need of rescue.”

Shixia: “…”

Was that really necessary?

But she had no energy left to complain.

A show in collaboration with the fire department…

Qin Lie… would he be there?