Xia Wanfu rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. She had nothing to say.
The news online was true; there was no way she could explain it.
Xia Yichen had indeed injured someone, and no matter what she said about whether he was bullying others, no one would believe her.
Her parents had indeed gone to jail, the evidence was solid, and they had done wrong.
She had indeed called to borrow money, and no matter how many reasons she gave, people wouldn't believe her.
This was the power of gossip. With her brother and parents in jail, how could anyone not doubt her character?
The two assistants exchanged glances, seeing the disappointment in each other's eyes.
What was there to understand? Following a star like this, what future could they have?
One of them tentatively asked, "Sister, why don't you ask Young Master Jiang for help? Perhaps there's still room for maneuver in this situation!"
When they joined Xia Wanfu, they had vaguely heard whispers that she might have an unusual relationship with Young Master Jiang.
Xia Wanfu knew exactly what they were thinking. But people always sought to improve their circumstances, and everything was for a living. Talking about feelings now was utterly ridiculous.
She said indifferently, "Honestly, I don't know what to do right now. My career might end here. No one will help me. You can go."
The two assistants exchanged glances again, looking lost and confused.
They couldn't comprehend what Xia Wanfu was thinking and wondered if she was testing them.
Xia Wanfu ignored them and called Sister Zou on her phone.
The call was answered quickly, and Sister Zou's voice was as calm as ever.
"The company is already doing its best with public relations. You should focus on filming and ensure your personal safety. We've already sent bodyguards for you. Also, we suspect someone deliberately leaked your news. Cooperate fully with our investigation later..."
This was another unexpected outcome.
Xia Wanfu felt her eyes grow warm. She asked, "Is... is it him who asked you to do this?"
Sister Zou was silent for a moment before replying, "Focus on your work. Don't worry about anything else."
Then, she hung up the phone.
Xia Wanfu held her phone, speechless for a moment.
"Then, Sister, please rest well. The makeup artist and stylist will be here at eight in the morning."
This call finally reassured the two assistants. With their boss handling things, this situation would pass quickly.
Silence returned to the room.
Xia Wanfu stared blankly out the window. The sky at the horizon was slowly turning pale, and darkness was gradually dissipating.
She walked to the window, phone in hand. As the first ray of sunlight fell on her, she felt an immense warmth.
Watching the city slowly become bustling and lively, she dialed a number she had memorized.
The phone rang for a long time before someone finally answered. Perhaps woken from sleep, his voice was thick with exhaustion.
"Hello, who is this?"
"It's me."
The person on the other end seemed surprised she would call. After a moment of silence, he said, "Mm, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, thank you."
"You're welcome. I should be the one apologizing. To express my regret, I will ensure your future is brilliant."
Xia Wanfu knew what he meant. Before she left, she had deliberately asked the housekeeper that question.
Previously, she had felt anger, resentment, sadness, and hurt. But now, it all turned into nothingness.
She could transform into any version he liked, but she couldn't stand him loving her as someone else.
But now, she couldn't control her longing for him at all. Without hesitation, she told him that she missed him terribly.
Hearing his voice brought tears to her eyes, and she gritted her teeth, trying not to choke back a sob.
Neither of them spoke, but the call wasn't disconnected.
Jiang Zexi lay in bed, his expression extremely complicated.
Actually, he hadn't had an easy time either.
He was accustomed to her presence when he returned home. Every corner of the room held memories of their embrace.
He realized then that he hadn't thought of Su Jinning for a long time.
Since Xia Wanfu left, all he could think about was her.
Her image would surface inexplicably at all times. When he ate, she seemed to be sitting opposite him; when he stood by the window, she would embrace him from behind.
His heart felt empty when he lay in bed. His arms lacked her warmth and softness, her presence.
The surging longing was unbearable. He couldn't help but say, "I miss you."
These words, to Xia Wanfu, were like brilliant fireworks suddenly exploding in the dark sky.
She cried and laughed, "Me too."
After this, silence fell again.
Finally, Jiang Zexi spoke, "Let's leave it at that for now..."
With that, the call ended.
Xia Wanfu took a deep breath, wiped away her tears. With no lingering worries, she would focus on her work.
She washed up, then shampooed and bathed, doing her best to be in top condition.
Soon, breakfast arrived, and after eating, the makeup artist and stylist also came.
Entertainment companies were always adept at public relations, and with Jiang Zexi investigating the entire incident, the one-sided public opinion was soon overturned.
She was portrayed as a devoted sister diligently compensating the injured person for her brother's actions.
Her brother's assault was wrong, but why did he hit someone?
Did he kick them when they were down?
Did he go to their doorstep to mock and ridicule them?
Even a cornered rabbit would bite.
As they say, money makes the world go round. With a little money, the onlookers were quite willing to hand over photos and videos from that time.
As for her parents going to jail, no one knew what had happened. But at least they had done a lot of charity work before the company went bankrupt.
...
After waking up, Jiang Zexi booked the soonest flight.
He was going to find Xia Wanfu.
With one person gone, he should cherish the person before him.
Three hours later, he arrived overseas and directly obtained Xia Wanfu's hotel information from the film crew.
He then got her room key from an assistant and smoothly entered her room.
Xia Wanfu, oblivious, was still fully focused on her work.
The workload planned for the entire day was suddenly cancelled for the afternoon when she was informed her work would resume tomorrow. She had to return to her hotel to rest.
As usual, she swiped her card and opened the door.
The moment she stepped inside, she fell into an embrace filled with the scent of wine, followed by a cascade of kisses.
They trailed from her neck down her back and shoulders.
Her body trembled, transforming from fear to joy. Her anxious heart settled upon recognizing the familiar scent.
Heavy breaths fell on her ear. The person behind her pressed close, his voice magnetic and hoarse.
"I missed you."
Xia Wanfu slowly turned around, and that familiar face appeared before her. She gazed at him, her longing no longer suppressed.