Zhou Jinbai’s expression tensed, and he followed Shi Zhesheng.
Zhou Jinbai followed Shi Zhesheng all the way to the floor of the Star-Gazing Tower that provided accommodation.
Until Shi Zhesheng entered a room.
Zhou Jinbai couldn’t enter the room, but he couldn’t help but be curious about who was inside.
Zhou Jinbai sent messages to both Xuan Yin and Xuan Zhu, asking them to investigate the information of the person inside the room.
Only then did he turn and leave.
As for Shi Zhesheng, who had walked into the room, his expression was no longer as panicked as before.
He glanced at the door that had already closed. From the moment he left the banquet, he knew that Zhou Jinbai was following him.
And the reason he deliberately did this was to confuse Zhou Jinbai.
After all, Zhou Jinbai had been watching him closely during this period, and Shi Zhesheng found it unbearable.
He wasn’t worried that his past actions would be discovered by Zhou Jinbai. After all, Zhou Jinbai hadn’t found anything in the past half month, so why would he now?
He was just distressed by Zhou Jinbai’s commercial suppression, which had brought his years of hard work to ruin in an instant.
He was unwilling!
Even though he was already in the room, Shi Zhesheng still looked around sneakily. Finally, he walked to a wall lamp and gave it a twist. The wall that originally held a wardrobe instantly opened to both sides.
Shi Zhesheng walked into the wall, and the wardrobe slowly closed again.
Soon, Shi Zhesheng entered another hidden room.
This room was the most ingeniously designed hidden chamber in the Star-Gazing Tower.
Whether it was from the external structure or other aspects, one would never discover this room, because it was designed by a uniquely ingenious designer of the Star-Gazing Tower hundreds of years ago.
By reserving a section of space from each surrounding room and then reassembling them, this new room was created.
When Shi Zhesheng reached this room, he saw a woman with her back to him, sitting in a chair and fiddling with something.
“Have you gotten rid of that brat from the Dongfang family?” Even though the woman had been staying in this room, she was still fully aware of what was happening outside.
Shi Zhesheng replied, “He tracked me all the way here. Even if he investigates, he’ll only find out that this is an empty room.”
Shi Zhesheng’s face was filled with a proud smile.
“How is the investigation you were tasked with?” the woman asked again.
“It’s certain that Lin Xingwan is the child of the woman you’re looking for. However, that woman is dead, and Lin Xingwan also died half a month ago.”
As soon as Shi Zhesheng thought of what happened half a month ago, he felt immense sorrow.
“Dead? Did you find Lin Xingwan’s body?” The woman’s tone was devoid of any emotion, yet it inexplicably carried a mocking disdain.
“We… we haven’t found the body yet, but after jumping from such a dangerous place, even if she didn’t die, she’d be crippled. And even if crippled, she’d eventually die.” Shi Zhesheng felt a chill down his spine and sweat beading on his forehead after just a few words with the woman.
“Idiot. Since you haven’t found the body, then she’s not definitively dead. When I sent you to deal with Helian Lingruo back then, you told me the same thing. And what happened? Not only did she not die, but she even gave birth to a child. If this child’s body isn’t found, I won’t have peace of mind for a single day. I’ll give you one month. You must find the girl’s body.”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Shi Zhesheng nodded repeatedly. After speaking, he seemed reluctant to leave.
“What? Is there something else?”
The woman turned to look at Shi Zhesheng. Upon seeing her exquisite face, Shi Zhesheng even felt his breath catch, his mind going blank.
He stammered for a long time before finally managing to say, “It’s… it’s just that I’d like to ask you… to help me… That brat from the Dongfang family has been targeting me lately. I… I’m at my wit’s end now.”
His former friends, upon learning that he was being targeted by Dongfang Junze, had all shunned him as if he were a plague.
“Idiot, these are the messes you’ve created, and you want me to clean them up for you? Do you think Zhou Jinbai won’t become suspicious if I help you now? Do you really think Zhou Jinbai hasn’t figured it out until now because you’re smart? If I weren’t cleaning up your messes behind the scenes, you all would have died in Qingxi Town!” The woman’s voice suddenly became extremely angry. After speaking, she even threw a teacup violently towards Shi Zhesheng’s head.
Shi Zhesheng was inwardly furious, but he knew he couldn’t afford to offend the woman in front of him. He could only quickly apologize, “I’m sorry, I didn’t think it through. Do you have any other instructions for me?”
In front of this woman, Shi Zhesheng’s role was worse than that of a dog.
“Get out.” The woman said, and Shi Zhesheng quickly turned and left.
At the same time, Zhou Jinbai, who had left, ascended to the highest floor of the Star-Gazing Tower.
Hundreds of years ago, the existence of the Star-Gazing Tower was a symbol of power and wealth.
Even ancient emperors chose to hold sacrifices at the Star-Gazing Tower.
Because the Star-Gazing Tower was the closest place to the gods at that time.
Now, as Zhou Jinbai stood on the highest floor of the Star-Gazing Tower and looked up at the sky, the starry expanse made him feel a sense of profound stillness.
It was as if he had suddenly moved from the bustling city to a quiet ancient tower.
Zhou Jinbai’s expression appeared extremely melancholic.
Even after so many days, there was still no news of Xingwan.
It was as if she had suddenly vanished into thin air…
In such a dangerous place, let alone Xingwan, even someone skilled in swimming would perish if they fell in.
But he refused to accept this fact. As long as her body wasn’t found, he would believe that his wife was not dead!
Zhou Jinbai didn’t know how long he had stayed on the top floor until he felt a chill from head to toe, realizing that it was getting late.
Just as Zhou Jinbai was about to go downstairs, he happened to see the figure of a strange woman enter his field of vision.
Due to the distance, the figure of this strange woman looked remarkably similar to the person he missed dearly.
Zhou Jinbai couldn’t even control his body and ran towards the figure.
Lin Xingwan, who was going upstairs, hadn’t even realized what was happening before she was tightly embraced by a powerful force.
Immediately after, her nostrils were filled with the strong smell of alcohol.
She had only come up for some air because she couldn’t sleep.
Who would have thought she would encounter a pervert!
Who grabbed her without a word.
Just as Lin Xingwan was about to push the pervert away, the man spoke.
“Wife…”
The man’s voice was as familiar and gentle as ever. To Lin Xingwan, she felt as if she had been frozen by magic, completely stunned.
This voice… it was Zhou Jinbai’s!
Why was he here so late?
And calling her wife?
Had this man recognized her?
Thinking of this, Lin Xingwan became extremely nervous. But then she thought that Zhou Jinbai must be drunk to have mistaken her, and her voice had also changed due to the medicine Duan Muxing had given her.
He absolutely couldn’t have recognized her!
With this thought, Lin Xingwan struggled and even said with anger in her voice, “Mr. Dongfang, you’re drunk. I am Xu Qingdai, Duan Muxing’s fiancée, not your wife!”
Xu Qingdai’s unfamiliar voice made Zhou Jinbai immediately let go of her.
When Zhou Jinbai clearly saw Xu Qingdai’s appearance, his expression was undeniably awkward. “I’m sorry, I mistook you for someone else.” Zhou Jinbai rubbed his forehead, looking extremely vexed.
Lin Xingwan took a step back, lowered her head, and said nothing.
This was what Duan Muxing had taught her: when encountering someone or something she didn’t want to answer, she should just lower her head and remain silent.
Clearly, Zhou Jinbai didn’t focus too much on Xu Qingdai. After speaking, he left.
After the man had been gone for several minutes, Lin Xingwan, who had been frozen in place, finally took a breath and returned the way she came.
She had almost been scared to death just now.
Fortunately, that man Zhou Jinbai didn’t think too much of it, otherwise, she didn’t know if her plan with Duan Muxing could still proceed.
After going downstairs, Lin Xingwan walked along the corridor towards her room. However, before she reached her door, she saw Yun Qingqing’s figure appear opposite her room.
Yun Qingqing’s face was flushed. Standing at the door, she gently and cautiously knocked and said, “Mr. Dongfang… are you… are you alright? I saw you seemed to have drunk a lot of alcohol just now.”
Yun Qingqing’s attention was focused on Zhou Jinbai behind that door, so she naturally didn’t see Lin Xingwan standing behind her.
No!
To Yun Qingqing, it was Duan Muxing’s fiancée, Xu Qingdai!
Lin Xingwan, however, found Yun Qingqing’s behavior somewhat disgusting.
What business was it of hers that Zhou Jinbai was drunk?
In what capacity was she showing concern for Zhou Jinbai?
Lin Xingwan then thought of what Duan Muxing had said about Yun Qingqing and Jiang Wenyuan. She was now certain that Yun Qingqing was the one who had stuck to Jiang Wenyuan like a flypaper and spread rumors with him.
Lin Xingwan opened her room door and walked in.
Yun Qingqing merely glanced back, then said nothing, continuing to knock on Zhou Jinbai’s door.
Yun Qingqing didn’t even know that Lin Xingwan hadn’t locked the door completely but had left a gap, listening to all the sounds outside.
She couldn’t help but pay attention to anything related to Zhou Jinbai.
Lin Xingwan even wanted to see if Zhou Jinbai would pay any attention to Yun Qingqing.
Zhou Jinbai did not disappoint Lin Xingwan. No matter how much Yun Qingqing knocked and spoke outside, he didn’t open the door or respond to her.
However, Lin Xingwan was surprised to see Lu Shiyan appear behind Yun Qingqing.
“Stop wasting your efforts. Do you think you can seduce Zhou Jinbai? A woman like you wouldn’t even catch his eye.” Lu Shiyan’s tone was full of mockery, and Yun Qingqing turned around, her angry gaze fixed on Lu Shiyan.
“A woman like me? What kind of woman? Lu Shiyan, don’t forget that you are also a man who has been with a woman like me. Have you forgotten what happened between us?” Yun Qingqing was very angry. In the eyes of outsiders, she was already considered a very successful person these days, as she was closer to her dream.
In just half a month, she had not only signed with Top Entertainment but also attended banquets like this one and secured several supporting actress roles. For the former Yun Qingqing, this was something she couldn’t even dream of.
But what was the reality?
At Liu Mengqin’s wedding, she had deliberately gotten involved with Lu Shiyan.
Although Lu Shiyan understood Yun Qingqing’s ambition after sobering up, because Yun Qingqing held video evidence as a threat, Lu Shiyan had no choice but to help Yun Qingqing secure many resources.
It would be easy for Lu Shiyan to get rid of a woman like Yun Qingqing.
However, Lu Shiyan decided to keep such a cunning woman like Yun Qingqing.
Perhaps she had already prepared a backup plan. If the video were shown to the Lu family, he feared that his grandmother, who had heart disease, might have an episode.
Furthermore, what Yun Qingqing wanted was not something good for Lu Shiyan, so Lu Shiyan often turned a blind eye to Yun Qingqing’s actions.
“Yun Qingqing, if anyone else finds out about what happened between us, I won’t let you off lightly.” Lu Shiyan directly grabbed Yun Qingqing’s collar, his tone filled with warning.
Yun Qingqing was momentarily intimidated by Lu Shiyan’s ferocity and dared not speak further.
Lu Shiyan left first. After Yun Qingqing paused for about thirty seconds, she walked in another direction.
Lin Xingwan finally understood that Yun Qingqing’s smooth sailing for the past half month was due to this connection.
It seemed that Yun Qingqing was just a green tea bitch who only knew how to put on a show and seek shortcuts.
Lin Xingwan closed the door and finally fell asleep.
The next day, Lin Xingwan was woken up by a phone call.
The wealthy wives she had chatted with the previous night had added her to their sister group, and they had even arranged to go out and play that noon.
Lin Xingwan’s goal was to infiltrate this circle of upper-class wealthy wives, so naturally, she couldn’t refuse.
In fact, for the next few days, Lin Xingwan went on various trips and vacations with these women.
Thanks to these women, Lin Xingwan had learned many secrets of the wealthy elite circles.
For example… the most legendary and beautiful twins in Yanjing, Helian Lingruo and Helian Diejin.
They were completely women at the pinnacle of the socialite world. Although they had distanced themselves from the hustle and bustle, every woman mentioned them with envy and jealousy.
And when these sisters were mentioned, Cen Jue was naturally brought up as well.
“Qingdai, you have no idea, the love-hate entanglement between these three back then shocked all of Yanjing!” The woman who had chatted the most with Lin Xingwan these past few days was named Nie Manyu. She was already over forty years old, but due to her love for maintaining her appearance, she looked no older than thirty.