Cheng Yanze stopped and turned his head to look at the hospital room door. Upon seeing the masked man, he released his grip on Lin Xingwan.
"Mr. Dongfang—" Cheng Yanze's tone was respectful. This man was at the very top of the pyramid, and he dared not act presumptuously in front of him.
The man who walked in saw Lin Xingwan on the hospital bed, her eyes red and her entire demeanor one of pitiable helplessness. If he had arrived any later, he couldn't imagine what might have happened.
Zhou Jinbai's gaze was overtly murderous. He used his other hand, which was heavily bandaged, to forcefully grab Cheng Yanze's collar. "What did you just do to her?"
These words were spat out coldly from between the man's teeth. Even with the mask, Cheng Yanze could clearly see the intense danger radiating from his sharp, handsome face.
"Young Master—" Chen Yuchu, who was following Zhou Jinbai, immediately rushed to the two men. She was too worried that her young master would reveal his feelings for the young madam.
"Tell me, what did you just do to her." Zhou Jinbai's voice grew increasingly frigid, his entire being like a swarm of sharp icicles. Cheng Yanze felt an overwhelming sense of deterrence surrounding him.
"I... I didn't... I didn't do anything." Cheng Yanze considered himself a proud son of heaven. While he had encountered difficult people over the years, never before had he felt every bone in his body tremble with fear.
It was as if the Dongfang Junze before him was a born king, and no matter how much he advocated for equality, his innate submissiveness would be awakened upon encountering Dongfang Junze.
This was a complete dimensional reduction attack!
Zhou Jinbai looked at the terrified Cheng Yanze. This was the man who had been with his wife for over ten years?
Seeing his pathetic state, he lacked any significant masculinity.
Who gave him the confidence to take advantage of a rift between him and his wife?
"Mr. Dongfang—" Lin Xingwan couldn't help but speak.
Zhou Jinbai's enraged expression slowly calmed down. He narrowed his cold eyes dangerously, looking at Cheng Yanze with the disdain of a defeated opponent. His thin lips moved coldly, "Get out—"
With that, he released the hand gripping Cheng Yanze's collar.
The immense pressure that had been on him suddenly vanished. Cheng Yanze hadn't done anything, yet he felt as if all his strength had been drained, leaving him weak and gasping for air.
If anyone else had dared to do this to him, Cheng Yanze would have already lost his temper.
He suppressed a surge of anger but dared not vent it on Dongfang Junze. His expression was even one of fawning appeasement. "Since Mr. Dongfang is here to see Xingwan, I shall not disturb you."
With that, he turned and left.
"Yuchu—" Zhou Jinbai said.
"Young Master, I'll do it right away." Chen Yuchu had followed Zhou Jinbai for so many years that she understood very well what her young master wanted her to do.
"Miss Lin, I need to attend to some matters first."
"Okay."
Chen Yuchu turned and left, closing the hospital room door behind her.
Now, only Dongfang Junze and Lin Xingwan remained in the hospital room.
Lin Xingwan looked at Dongfang Junze's arm in a cast and the thick bandages on the back of his other hand. The scene of the car accident replayed in her mind, how this man could have avoided the disaster but chose to save her.
"Mr. Dongfang, thank you so much for the other night. Without you, I would have been a cold corpse by now. I will never forget your great kindness. I know you lack nothing, but from now on, no matter what happens, if there's anything I, Lin Xingwan, can do to help, please don't hesitate to command me. I will gladly serve you like a horse or a cow, without reservation."
Her words were beautifully spoken, yet filled with a sense of distance.
"If we were to truly investigate the events of the other night, it was entirely my fault. If I hadn't let you into my car, you wouldn't have been in an accident. Furthermore, I have already investigated and found out that the large truck that crashed into you was arranged by my enemies." Zhou Jinbai looked at the pale woman before him, countless voices urging him to embrace her and cherish her.
Never before had he so desperately wanted to reveal his identity to this woman.
"Enemies?" Lin Xingwan heard the word for the first time.
"Yes." The man nodded affirmatively. "I am the executive officer of the Dongfang Corporation, and I am Dongfang Junze, a rare talent appearing once every generation in the Dongfang family. If all goes well, I will be the next patriarch of the Dongfang family. My existence benefits many, but on the other hand, it infringes upon the interests of some. Over the years, I have experienced countless kidnappings and assassinations, and even my father died because of the pursuit of my enemies."
Lin Xingwan listened to the man's almost dejected voice and felt that the man, who was usually so high and mighty, looked desolate, like a trapped beast.
So even a god-like man had his troubles.
He lived in constant danger every day. Lin Xingwan increasingly understood why Dongfang Junze wore a mask.
Everyone yearned for the heights, but the heights were also... unbearably cold!
"Have the enemies who assassinated your father been found?" For some reason, Lin Xingwan felt a pang of sympathy for this man.
"They have been found. He is now living happily with my mother, and my mother has had two children with him."
Oh, this...
Lin Xingwan was momentarily speechless and didn't know how to comfort the man before her.
She could only sigh: This circle is truly complicated.
"You don't need to have that expression. These things are all in the past for me, and I don't need to be comforted. I'm telling you these things so that you don't feel guilty. Of course, Miss Lin, you are an excellent person. Whether it was my fault or an accident, if I had a second chance, I would save you without hesitation."
The man's words made Lin Xingwan's ears burn.
She was a very slow person when it came to emotions, but after experiencing so much, if she still couldn't sense Dongfang Junze's special regard for her, she would be deliberately playing dumb.
"Thank you, Mr. Dongfang, but your life is so precious. Please don't do such foolish things again. Getting hurt or losing your life for someone like me is not worth it, especially since we aren't even friends."
Lin Xingwan's sudden cold tone made Zhou Jinbai feel uncomfortable.
"Miss Lin, you are very special. Anyone else would be eager to befriend me, or try every means to become my woman."
Heaven knew how much willpower Zhou Jinbai needed to convince himself not to act impulsively!
Lin Xingwan smiled, but her voice was as cold as the winter wind in the twelfth lunar month. "As you said, many people are proud to associate with you, but I only wish to climb step by step with my own abilities. Perhaps I might find temporary satisfaction by taking shortcuts, but without strong capabilities, there are always people better than you, and mountains beyond mountains. I will eventually fall very hard. Mr. Dongfang is excellent, and I respect you greatly."
"Besides respect, is there nothing else?" Zhou Jinbai couldn't understand why, being the same person, this woman showed him such great distance and wariness simply by switching identities.
Lin Xingwan's voice was icy. "Mr. Dongfang, do you want me to fall in love with you like other women? Firstly, I have a husband, and I cannot do anything to betray him. Secondly, being with you is too dangerous. I merely got into your car and almost lost my life. I know I am not worthy of you. My abilities, my knowledge, my everything, are nothing compared to the women who pursue you. I would only become a burden to you, like a vase that you constantly have to protect. Such a life, let alone you getting tired of it, I would feel suffocated just thinking about it. My ending would be no better than your father's."
Lin Xingwan's last sentence was like a fatal blow.
The matter of her father's death swept through Zhou Jinbai's memories like a tornado.
He looked at Lin Xingwan with despair and panic, his expression vacant, feeling as if he had been thrown into a boundless, icy deep sea, his blood frozen.
"Then what if your husband was like me? He wasn't an ordinary person, he had a prominent family background, and a respected status. Would you still be with him? Would you still love him?" Zhou Jinbai desperately wanted to know the answer.
"Then, this would be a complete deception. All deception is unforgivable."
Lin Xingwan's words instantly froze the expression on Zhou Jinbai's face.
His ears buzzed, his mind went blank. Everything from his first meeting with this woman to the present flashed through his mind like a fast-forwarded movie.
Zhou Jinbai fled as if pursued.
He didn't want to hear anymore!
He didn't want to hear anything!
Why had things become so complicated?
Lin Xingwan watched Dongfang Junze's retreating back and finally let out a sigh of relief.
She stayed in the hospital for three days. During these three days, Lin Xingwan also received calls and text messages from Zhou Jinbai.
Lin Xingwan blocked every single one.
If he had this time to apologize, send messages, and coax her, to send flowers, gifts, and tonics to her hospital room, why couldn't he just appear before her?
Was it that other woman who wouldn't let Zhou Jinbai see her?
Lin Xingwan allowed her thoughts to control her emotions. From initial rage, she gradually calmed down day by day.
Life wasn't just about love. If love failed, she wished herself success in business.
Therefore, Lin Xingwan spent these three days searching for scripts similar to "Royal Court."
As fate would have it, Lin Xingwan found a novel called "Miracle."
She asked Liu Mengqin, who had been discharged from the hospital, to investigate "Miracle." On the fourth morning, as soon as Lin Xingwan arrived at the company, Liu Mengqin was already waiting for her.
"Sister Qin, how is your recovery?" In just four or five days, Lin Xingwan had lost a lot of weight.
However, when she wore a formal business suit, she was still the capable and shrewd female boss in the workplace.
"Apart from my romantic life being a bit troublesome, everything else is fine." Liu Mengqin replied with a smile. She had also lost weight during this hospitalization.
The once plump woman was now a size smaller, with a slender waist and a full bust, a true beauty.
Standing next to Lin Xingwan, one was cold and aloof, the other was curvaceous.
"Good." Lin Xingwan nodded. The two women walked towards the office together.
Liu Mengqin began to report the information she had gathered:
"'Miracle' was published ten years ago. The story tells of superpowered individuals from different countries saving the planet before the end of the world. 'Royal Court' was published five years ago, and its story is similar to 'Miracle.' Anyone who has read both books would know that 'Royal Court' plagiarized the story framework of 'Miracle' and even incorporated classic plot points from 'Miracle.' However, because the 'Royal Court' team was very good at marketing, despite 'Royal Court' being the plagiarist, the author of 'Miracle' was falsely accused of plagiarizing 'Royal Court.'"
Lin Xingwan nodded in understanding. "Have you found the contact information for the author of 'Miracle'?"
Liu Mengqin nodded. "I have. He's also from Rongcheng, but I've called many times, and no one answers."
"Since we want to discuss the film and television rights with the author of 'Miracle,' we need to show sufficient sincerity. After we finish our work this morning, we'll go find him together."
Subsequently, Lin Xingwan and Liu Mengqin quickly finished the tasks they needed to handle for the day.
After lunch, the two women drove to the author of "Miracle's" residence.
They followed the navigation and finally arrived at their destination.
Liu Mengqin and Lin Xingwan stood before a very dilapidated old house. It didn't even have a door, and from the entrance, they could clearly see the crumbling walls inside.
"Is this really a place where people live?" Liu Mengqin looked at the half-collapsed tile house, covered in cobwebs everywhere. The overgrown weeds, taller than a person, gave off a terrifying feeling, as if something dangerous lurked inside.
"It's worse than the environment where Uncle Ye and Ranran used to live. If it weren't for that small vegetable patch, I'd think even lonely ghosts would shun this place."
Lin Xingwan said, pointing to a small vegetable patch not far away. Amidst the chaotic yard, this small patch of land had some vegetables growing.
"Is anyone home?" Lin Xingwan called out loudly. If it were an ordinary house, they could knock.
But in such a desolate hut, the two women, who were not strong, were also afraid.
"Is anyone home? We're looking for Huang Yanbai."
"Huang Yanbai."
"Excuse me, is Huang Yanbai here?"
...
Lin Xingwan and Liu Mengqin called until they were tired. Only then did a man with shoulder-length hair appear in the small, broken house.
He walked almost with his eyes closed, rubbing his eyes as he walked. He was wearing a coral fleece pajama set, looking like he had just woken up.
"What are you looking for Huang Yanbai for so early in the morning?" The man yawned, then slowly put on the glasses he was holding.
As soon as he put them on, the man's eyes widened.
Iceberg beauty?
Sexy mature woman?
Did he have hallucinations?
The man blinked hard. When he opened his eyes again, the two stunning beauties were still there.
"Holy cow! Wait for me for five minutes!"
The man said, quickly turning back the way he came.
Liu Mengqin and Lin Xingwan found it all very strange and could only wait in place for five minutes.
Soon, a man dressed in a fresh, youthful style appeared before them.
"Two beautiful sisters, I am Huang Yanbai. What do you need me for?"
Lin Xingwan and Liu Mengqin finally understood why people needed to dress up. This was a complete transformation from a slovenly uncle to a fresh young man.
"You're Huang Yanbai? Pen name 'A Big Cabbage'? The author of 'Miracle'?" Liu Mengqin looked at the man before her, who seemed to be only twenty-three or twenty-four years old.
"Yes, that's me." Huang Yanbai nodded.
"So you wrote 'Miracle' when you were thirteen or fourteen?"
"To be precise, I wrote it at fifteen," Huang Yanbai replied. "Of course, over the years, I haven't just written 'Miracle'; I've written many other books. Are you two beautiful sisters my fans?"
"Hello, author of 'Miracle.' My name is Lin Xingwan, and I am the boss of Top Peak Entertainment. This is my personal assistant. We are here today to discuss the film and television rights for the novel 'Miracle.'"
Lin Xingwan explained.
"You're too late. I sold the film and television rights for 'Miracle' last night." Huang Yanbai replied.
"What? Sold last night? Are you trying to trick us because you don't want to sell to us? How can there be such a coincidence in this world!" Liu Mengqin didn't believe it.
Huang Yanbai's gaze fell on Liu Mengqin's chest. Her mind was full of... well, no, her mind was full of breasts!
Such an exaggerated figure, he had only seen it in comics.
The impact on him, a shut-in, was immense.
"Why would I lie to you? 'Miracle' has a bad reputation and has been neglected for years. Last night, some fool gave me a hundred million after tax for the film and television rights to 'Miracle.' How could I miss such a windfall? So I quickly signed the contract with him, and the hundred million was credited instantly. Over the years, I spent all my savings fighting a lawsuit with the author of 'Royal Court.' Now I've become a billionaire, and I'm going to travel the world."
While speaking, Huang Yanbai also took out his phone.
"See? Last night at 9:20 PM, this much money was transferred to me. If you don't believe me, I'll go find the film and television rights contract for you." With that, Huang Yanbai turned back again. When he appeared before Lin Xingwan and Liu Mengqin for the third time, he was holding a contract.
Liu Mengqin and Lin Xingwan's expressions turned even more grim.
"Do you know the contact information of the person who bought your contract?" Lin Xingwan asked.
Huang Yanbai shook his head. "No, the contract only listed a landline number."
Just as Huang Yanbai finished speaking, Lin Xingwan's phone suddenly rang.
She took out her phone and saw that it was the number from the contract.
Why would this number call her?
Lin Xingwan hesitated for a few seconds, then finally answered the call.