Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  To the right of Zhou Dequan were his men, whereas Xie Wanwan’s left was the man from the film crew that pleaded with her to sit beside Zhou Dequan. Hence, no outsiders should have heard Zhou Dequan’s words with that loud music playing in the background. Coupled with their nonchalant expressions, even if anyone saw it, no one would have guessed that he, being a married man, had said some very indecent words to a single, female celebrity—


  Nevertheless, Xiang Wan, who was wearing the noise-canceling headset, had heard the entire conversation quite clearly.

  She felt goosebumps all over and was tense.

  Xie Wanwan had an indifferent expression, though. It was just that her beautiful fairy-like gown was tight fitting. Her chest was heaving a little impatiently…… as though a little out of breath.

  She was clearly angry, but she could not show her anger. On top of that, she had to put on a smile.

  Xiang Wan looked at her from the corner of her eye, feeling sympathetic for her plight.

  That sidelong glance happened to be caught by Xie Wanwan……

  Their gazes met in mid-air, making the atmosphere somewhat strange.

  Xie Wanwan pursed her lips and smiled at her stiffly. Her stiff expression could not recover for a long time.

  Maybe she could endure and put on a humble facade before Zhou Dequan, but she was unable to behave that way in front of Xiang Wan…… That would remind her of those dark and sad days in the past. Those hideous faces in the dark room, and the men who pounced on her wearing lecherous smiles……

  Xiang Wan couldn’t bear to meet her gaze and looked away.

  Nonetheless, Xie Wanwan’s strange expression caught the attention of Zhou Dequan.

  He turned and saw a young policewoman. “Little Xie, you know her?” He squinted his eyes with a half-smile.

  “Hm,” responded Xie Wanwan.

  The next second, Zhou Dequan suddenly laughed mockingly. “I seem to know her as well!”


  He had dragged the sound of the last word where there was a chilly feeling and seemed to brush through her spine, making Xiang Wan’s whole body turn cold……

  Her hair was standing on ends.

  “All esteemed leaders, distinguished guests, everyone! Welcome to the Annual Mid-Autumn Festival Gala……”


  The emcees got on stage. The Mid-Autumn Festival Gala began.

  The male and female emcee’s cheerful voices and humorous conversation quickly grabbed the attention of the audience and the atmosphere was lively.

  The opening performance was a lively song and dance item to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

  The song was filtered in Xiang Wan’s ear due to the special headset, but she did not dare to turn around to look at the stage. Prior to coming here, she had a lot of warmth and enthusiasm for the show and excitement to see so many celebrities. However, all of the enthusiasm and excitement was completely gone the moment she saw Zhou Dequan—her mind was now preoccupied with thoughts of helping Bai Muchuan take out this “big fish”.

  Same as Xiang Wan, Xie Wanwan was not interested in the programmes, either.

  She sat elegantly on her seat, wearing an appropriate smile on her face but her mind had wandered off somewhere.

  The most relaxed person was ironically, Zhou Dequan. He would occasionally talk to Xie Wanwan. Although she showed unhappiness, she still had to communicate with him in a friendly way……

  Halfway through the performance, she seemed to be unable to take it anymore. “My apologies, Brother Six,” she said apologetically, “I need to go to the ladies. Please excuse me.”


  Zhou Dequan took a glance at her and gave a friendly reminder with a smile. “Your heels are so high, be more careful.”


  “Thank you, Brother Six!”


  Xie Wanwan left with a smile. Her own female assistant who was being arranged to sit at the back row behind the main personnel of “The Grey List” film crew saw that and quickly came over to attend to her and left the hall.

  Xiang Wan turned to look at her back view as well.

  When she turned back, she suddenly met Zhou Dequan’s line of sight.

  He was looking at her, with a strange kind of half-smile that seemed offensive…… That look was as though he was looking at her not wearing anything.

  Xiang Wan felt goosebumps and furrowed her eyebrows. Her expression gradually turned cold.

  She was not Xie Wanwan. There was no need for her to give him face.

  Zhou Dequan saw her cold gaze and could not help chucking. His gaze went back to the stage and seemed to be enjoying the performance as his fingers tapped gently on his lap in rhythm with the music……

  In addition, he seemed to be living in comfort and with power.

  Xiang Wan was cussing and swearing inside but expressionless on the outside.

  She waited and waited for Xie Wanwan to adjust her mood and come back to the hall.

  As time passed by, Xie Wanwan’s seat was still empty.

  The media personnel from the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala came over to the Director of “The Grey List”, arching their backs so as not to obstruct anyone’s views. “It’s going to be your turn soon, please get those who are performing go to the backstage now!”


  The Director looked around. “Where’s Xie Wanwan?”


  An assistant replied, “She went to the ladies.”


  The Director mumbled, “It’s been so long already? Go search for her!”


  The assistant: “I’ll go now.”


  The assistant quickly left the hall. Same as earlier, Xiang Wan turned to look at the direction where the assistant went out. Somehow, she had a bad feeling about this……

  Sure enough, when the assistant came back, she did not look good as she came over to the Director, half-squatting. “.…… Wanwan’s not in the ladies. Her personal assistant is nowhere to be found as well.”


  The Director’s expression turned grim. “You’ve searched everywhere?”


  The female assistant of the film crew nodded her head strongly. “The ladies, backstage, I’ve searched them all. She’s nowhere to be found……”


  The Director cussed in a low tone. “What the hell is going on! The performance is going to start……”


  Several people belonging to the film crew started to whisper amongst themselves. However, as they might have already been to such large-scale performances and events, they did not seem as nervous. The young female assistant quickly dialed Xie Wanwan and her female assistant’s mobile numbers—


  Soon enough, she shook her head at the Director that she could not get them.

  The Director communicated with the people around him and he probably concluded by himself why Xie Wanwan was no longer there.

  “What is she trying to achieve? What’s there to throw a tantrum at this hour already? She comes and goes as she likes. If she doesn’t feel like picking up her phone, she won’t pick up her phone!”


  As to the “superstar” behavior that some celebrities displayed, anyone who was in this industry had experienced such treatment before. Although the Director was angry, at this critical moment, he could only communicate with the media personnel of the Gala to quickly adjust the content of their program to cut out Xie Wanwan’s portion……

  At this time, the skit performing on stage met with thunderous applause where the audience burst into laughter and cheered endlessly.

  No one had other thoughts about Xie Wanwan abrupt “disappearance”.

  Nevertheless, seeing how calm and collected Zhou Dequan was, Xiang Wan felt a little uneasy.

  Was Xie Wanwan really such an unreliable person? Even if she was unhappy with the film crew for arranging her to sit beside Zhou Dequan, she had already endured for so long. Why did she leave when her performance was about to start?

  Xiang Wan could not continue to stand and wait here anymore.

  She did not think too much. She put on a poker face as she exchanged glances with He Wencai, who was not too far away from her, and then walked out from the left exit as though nothing happened.

  She went to the ladies to take a look but did not see Xie Wanwan. Standing amidst the cool October winds, she removed the noise-canceling headset and called up Bai Muchuan.

  Dduu…… Dduu……

  He did not pick up the phone.

  Xiang Wan started to become anxious and continued to call.

  Dduu…… Dduu……

  The ringing went on for a long time before he picked up the phone. “Hello, what’s up?”


  Xiang Wan spoke softly and summarized the situation to Bai Muchuan, “I feel that this matter is strange. I’m worried that Xie Wanwan did not leave willingly by herself……”


  Bai Muchuan replied, “Hm, got it.”


  Xiang Wan thought.

  Without waiting for Xiang Wan to ask anything, Bai Muchuan immediately gave her an instruction. “You return to the hall and don’t go anywhere recklessly, understand? I’ll pick you up when the show’s over.”


  Pick her up? Xiang Wan felt her heart sank. “Where are you now?”


  Bai Muchuan paused for a moment. “I’m following Xie Wanwan.”


  Xiang Wan: “.……”


  She suddenly felt like maybe she was an idiot after all?