AVSFCBH 16

Chapter 16

She reached out, her fingertips resting on the little white cat’s paw. Her sharp fingernail hooked lightly around the red string as a sinister smile spread across her face.

“Tsk, little kitty. Your owner really does care about you. What a pity, though. She’s still far too naïve. Some things, once spoken aloud, simply hand other people the perfect leverage.”

Looking at Qiao Jingshu’s face, twisted with malicious delight, Cheng Jianian only felt colder inside.

Someone like this was actually worthy of being an artist under her company?

Li Shengran’s judgment in choosing people was getting worse and worse.

At the same time, watching the red-string bell being casually pulled away made her want to laugh.

What an idiot.

A useless fool who couldn’t even do evil properly.

Thinking about how Shen Yunmiao had quietly let these idiots proudly carry out their own foolish scheme, Xiao Cheng Zong couldn’t help feeling a strange sense of pride.

Shen Yunmiao…

She truly was meant to be the heroine favored by destiny.

Her fluffy tail swayed inside the carrier.

Xiao Cheng Zong settled down to wait for someone to come rescue her.

The real tracker was still around her neck.

Before long, Shen Yunmiao would definitely arrive.

Qiao Jingshu twirled the red-string bell around her finger several times before tossing it to her assistant.

“Go deal with this. Let our little princess spend some time looking for it.”

The assistant didn’t dare say much.

“If you need anything, just tell the driver.”

“I know. Stop wasting words.”

Qiao Jingshu frowned impatiently and waved her away.

The assistant didn’t dare linger for even a second.

Grabbing the bell, she hurried out.

To her, the thing was nothing less than a burning hot potato.

If she didn’t dispose of it quickly, everyone in the studio would end up dragged into this mess.

Their star actress fancied herself the hottest young actress around after winning the Best Television Actress award.

In reality, if someone influential hadn’t recommended her, Jian Shen would never have agreed to cast her by default.

Everything Qiao Jingshu dared do now relied solely on the fact that her childhood friend was one of President Cheng’s trusted confidants.

But if everything really blew up…

No matter how close that friendship was, no one would protect a mere assistant.

The first person sacrificed to take the blame would undoubtedly be her.

Thinking of Shen Yunmiao’s usual gentle smile, she sighed inwardly.

She was only a small assistant.

There was nothing she could do.

After riding an electric scooter for half an hour, she casually buried the red string beside the roadside.

Shen Yunmiao led the way.

Jian Shen followed behind with nearly the entire film crew.

Everyone on set was nervous, hoping the cat would be found as quickly as possible.

Of course, there were also those simply following to watch the excitement.

The young man responsible for the surveillance cameras quietly tried to slip toward the props department.

Jian Shen felt increasingly uneasy.

Unable to ask Shen Yunmiao directly, he quietly leaned toward Yuan Duan and whispered,

“Um… Yuan Duan… if I remember correctly, that bell was just a prop from the production, wasn’t it?”

Yuan Duan let out a cold laugh.

“Director Jian… Director Jian… At a time like this, just keep walking. Haven’t you figured it out yet?”

“Huh?”

Jian Shen looked at her blankly.

Yuan Duan sighed.

“Forget that for now. Did you finish what Yunmiao asked you to do earlier?”

Jian Shen nodded vigorously.

“Yes, yes. I did.”

Earlier, Shen Yunmiao had privately sent her a message on WeChat asking her to tell everyone in the props department that the bell already contained a positioning chip and could be used as a tracker.

She had also specifically instructed them to remember anyone who came asking questions about the bell.

Yuan Duan said nothing further.

Looking at the girl hurrying ahead, she noticed Shen Yunmiao hadn’t even had time to change out of her costume.

Her snow-white shoes stepped across the muddy ground without seeming stained at all.

Her robes fluttered gracefully, making her look like an immortal descending from heaven.

This girl…

She was courageous and intelligent.

Calm under pressure.

Never panicked in crisis.

Never feared hardship.

Everything she did was effortless.

She was outstanding in every way.

Except…

Yuan Duan always felt Shen Yunmiao shouldn’t have been living this kind of life.

Compared to being an actress…

That cool, restrained aura, as pure as newly fallen snow…

Made her seem much more like a researcher working in some laboratory.

Suppressing the strange and ill-timed thought, Yuan Duan hurried forward several steps.

“It probably isn’t a cat thief.”

Shen Yunmiao turned toward her and gave her a pale smile.

“Sister Yuan… thank you.”

“Even if I stop acting someday, I’ll always remember your kindness.”

Yuan Duan’s heart trembled.

She didn’t know what to say.

In truth, Shen Yunmiao had recognized the location on her phone long ago.

Of course she knew it wasn’t a cat thief.

Because that location was exactly where Qiao Jingshu usually parked her trailer.

Shen Yunmiao paid more attention to her surroundings than most people.

Because of that, she also noticed many tiny details others overlooked.

But what did knowing accomplish?

It was better to pretend she knew nothing.

Many years ago…

Shen Yunmiao had already learned something.

When an injustice wasn’t even carefully concealed…

It only meant one thing.

The perpetrator had nothing to fear.

They weren’t afraid of being exposed.

Because…

The victim had no power to seek justice.

She lowered her eyes.

Her long eyelashes trembled gently in the breeze.

Shen Yunmiao thought to herself that it had been the right decision not to ride a bicycle today.

The road here was far too uneven.

Cycling probably wouldn’t have been much faster anyway.

Besides…

If she’d come alone on a bicycle, Jian Shen and the others wouldn’t have been able to keep up.

And if she had come alone…

She might not have been able to bring Sweetheart back safely.

The next time Sweetheart came to film…

She would never leave her side again.

Very soon, they reached the location indicated by the tracker.

The film set itself was already in the suburbs.

Very few people lived nearby.

Qiao Jingshu disliked resting too close to the production crew, so every time, she had her driver pick her up before parking her trailer in this secluded place.

The area around the trailer was completely quiet.

There wasn’t another person in sight.

A single vehicle stood beside the woods.

It looked terribly out of place.

Even Jian Shen, who hadn’t wanted to suspect anything, immediately recognized whose vehicle it was.

His expression darkened.

It wasn’t just him.

Qiao Jingshu was so ostentatious that everyone in the production recognized her trailer.

No one simply dared say anything.

Shen Yunmiao looked genuinely startled.

She turned toward Jian Shen for help.

“Director Jian… this vehicle…”

“But the tracker really does point here.”

Her dark eyes were bright yet fragile, shimmering with moisture.

Like clouds wrapped around the sky.

Beautiful…

And so delicate that they seemed ready to dissolve at the slightest touch.

Jian Shen’s protective instincts surged immediately.

He stepped forward and knocked on the door.

“Jingshu, are you there?”

Inside the trailer, Qiao Jingshu had been trying every possible way to provoke the white cat without success.

The little white cat, half-curled inside the carrier, wouldn’t even spare her a glance.

Her violent urges were reaching their limit.

Then she heard the knock.

Jian Shen’s voice was unmistakable.

Qiao Jingshu roughly shoved the cat back inside, zipped up the carrier, and irritably stuffed it beneath the bed.

In an instant…

Cheng Jianian was plunged into complete darkness.

She couldn’t see even her own paw.

Not a single ray of light remained.

An overwhelming wave of panic swept through her.

Unable to control herself, she cried out loudly.

Qiao Jingshu kicked the carrier.

“Shut your mouth.”

“Or I’ll pull out every one of your teeth.”

She didn’t care in the slightest.

Pulling open the trailer door, she stepped outside and casually shut it behind her.

An innocent smile appeared on her face.

“Director Jian?”

“Oh? Why is everyone here?”

Chapter 16

My Wife Came to Save Me!

Seeing Qiao Jingshu’s innocent expression, Jian Shen couldn’t immediately be certain of anything.

After clearing his throat awkwardly, he said,

“Jingshu, here’s the situation.”

“Yunmiao brought her pet cat to the set today.”

“But just now, while no one was paying attention, the cat disappeared.”

“Now…”

Jian Shen looked embarrassed.

“Well… according to the tracker Yunmiao put on the cat… it’s showing that the cat is here.”

“So… have you happened to see a little white cat with heterochromia around here?”

Qiao Jingshu inwardly cursed her assistant for being an idiot.

She hadn’t even recognized such a simple diversion tactic and had been completely played.

She still hadn’t even returned.

Outwardly, however, her smile remained innocent.

“I see.”

“But Director Jian, I’ve been inside my trailer the whole time.”

“I haven’t seen any little cat.”

Standing outside, Shen Yunmiao slowly lifted her gaze.

Her eyes passed over Jian Shen and settled directly on Qiao Jingshu.

Her voice was clear and calm.

“Sister Jingshu, I’m truly sorry.”

“But this tracker only has a range of five meters.”

“Perhaps my kitten wandered in by accident while playing.”

“Would you mind letting us come inside and take a look?”

Anyone with eyes could tell that Shen Yunmiao was already giving Qiao Jingshu every possible opportunity to save face.

If the cat was found inside the trailer…

Neither side would have to suffer complete embarrassment.

But Qiao Jingshu didn’t respond.

She lowered her head and slowly rubbed her fingers together.

The atmosphere instantly froze.

After a long silence, she smiled gently.

“Yunmiao, I’m really sorry.”

“There are some personal belongings inside my trailer.”

“With so many people coming in… it really isn’t very convenient.”

Shen Yunmiao clenched her fists tightly.

Yet her expression remained unchanged.

The warmth usually found in her dark eyes had been replaced by unmistakable coldness.

Yuan Duan quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

“Jingshu, please understand.”

“Yunmiao is just anxious to find her cat.”

“I have cats myself, so I know exactly how they are.”

“The moment you stop watching them, they run off somewhere.”

“Aren’t you afraid of cats?”

“What if it really is hiding inside?”

“How about just Yunmiao and me go in to take a look?”

“We promise we won’t touch any of your belongings.”

Although Yuan Duan owned her own studio, nearly every artist in the entertainment industry had some connection to Mercury Entertainment.

Technically, she could also be considered half a Mercury artist.

Given Qiao Jingshu’s status, she shouldn’t have refused even Yuan Duan’s request.

Still…

Yuan Duan wasn’t entirely confident.

She knew a little more than Shen Yunmiao about what was happening behind the scenes.

Since President Cheng had disappeared from public view, company affairs had been managed jointly by Zuo Ying and Li Shengran.

Everyone knew Qiao Jingshu and Li Shengran had grown up together as childhood friends.

Qiao Jingshu’s fanbase was also infamous for being fanatically aggressive.

If things truly escalated…

No one could predict the outcome.

Qiao Jingshu rubbed her temples, looking exhausted.

“Since even Sister Yuan has asked…”

“I suppose I can’t really refuse.”

She pulled open the trailer door.

Her expression became one of helpless bitterness.

“After all, this is partly my fault.”

“Ever since I was scratched by a cat a few days ago, I’ve been frightened of them…”

“Sigh…”

“I’ve really troubled both you and Director Jian these past few days.”

By bringing up the earlier incident, she was obviously trying to redirect the conflict and make the situation even bigger.

Jian Shen was practically speechless.

What on earth did changing the script have to do with a missing cat?

At that very moment, Qiao Jingshu’s assistant suddenly appeared behind the crowd.

Speaking anxiously, she said,

“Sister Jingshu, you haven’t even been sleeping well these past few days.”

“Why are you pushing yourself like this again?”

Qiao Jingshu gave a pale smile.

“It’s nothing.”

“I used to keep cats too.”

“Yunmiao must be terribly worried right now.”

“It’s only letting them come in to look for a cat.”

“Nothing will happen.”