The crew of Grandma’s Journey were all staying at a hotel near the villa.
Jiang Changsheng was staying there too.
He hadn’t been with the crew all day.
During the day, Young Master Jiang had several meetings to attend, all of them related to Chu Xingxing’s business deals.
At the same time, he also had to deal with many internal issues at CBM Entertainment, compiling a complete report on the company’s internal problems to hand over to his father, Jiang Haidong.
After Jiang Haidong read the report that Jiang Changsheng had put together, which outlined a series of company issues, he was quite surprised.
Jiang Haidong really hadn’t expected his nineteen-year-old younger son to have such skills in management.
He had always treated Jiang Changsheng like a child before, and the rush to bring his younger son back for an internship was also to give him some early training.
Lately, Jiang Haidong truly hadn’t had the chance to focus on CBM Entertainment’s internal management.
Faced with the company’s survival crisis, the chaotic management seemed like a “minor issue” to Jiang Haidong.
In the afternoon, Jiang Haidong made an exception and let Jiang Changsheng attend a high-level internal meeting at CBM Entertainment.
Through this meeting, Jiang Changsheng received news that shocked the industry.
Shengshi Group had officially signed an agreement with CBM Entertainment to purchase a large stake in the company as a “White Knight,” helping the Jiang family fend off a hostile takeover from a competitor.
Starting today, Shengshi Group becomes the largest shareholder of CBM Entertainment.
This was a major move that drew a lot of attention across the entire entertainment industry.
On the surface, CBM Entertainment still bore the Jiang name.
The Sheng family, acting as the “White Knight” and becoming the largest shareholder of CBM Entertainment, had signed an agreement to retain CBM Entertainment’s management team.
The Jiang family was also confident that the “White Knight” Sheng family would abide by the agreement and not interfere with company management.
To outsiders or those in the industry who didn’t understand its depths, this looked like a powerful alliance between the Jiang family of CBM Entertainment and the Sheng family of Shengshi Group.
From now on, with Shengshi Group as its backing, CBM Entertainment would be even more dominant in the industry.
But the old foxes of the business world knew very well: the “White Knight” Sheng family only seemed gentle on the surface.
At the meeting, Jiang Haidong assigned Jiang Changsheng his first task: to be responsible for the publicity and promotion of the Grandma’s Journey variety show, giving him the title of overall person in charge.
This was to show the importance he placed on his younger son, to send a message to other factions within the company (especially Xiao Xiang’s group) reminding them not to be too arrogant, that the company still belonged to the Jiang family.
It was also a gesture of goodwill towards the Sheng family, showing that the Jiang family valued the Grandma’s Journey show.
Jiang Haidong also assigned CBM Entertainment’s strongest publicity and marketing teams, even mobilizing core personnel from the first quarter’s hit variety show, Let’s Travel Together, to join the Grandma’s Journey team.
This was very much in line with Jiang Haidong’s usual style of not acting without a guaranteed return.
Now that the agreement was signed, Grandma’s Journey had good reviews, and Chu Xingxing, personally mentored by his son Jiang Changsheng, was performing outstandingly. There was no reason not to increase investment.
Jiang Haidong even saw great potential in Chu Xingxing. The company also needed more promising young actresses; they shouldn’t just focus on promoting the few who were already famous. Resources should be allocated appropriately.
As for Let’s Travel Together, since it was CBM Entertainment’s most talked-about show for the start of the year and the Jiang family’s heir was on it, they couldn’t just completely abandon it either.
After a full day of meetings, from Jiang Changsheng’s perspective, both professionally and personally, it seemed like all good news was coming together.
After the evening meeting ended, the confident young master Jiang sent Chu Xingxing a WeChat message full of confidence.
[Longlife: Chu Xingxing, if I can’t make you famous, I’ll take your last name!]
—
Beach Villa.
Just after changing into her swimsuit, Chu Xingxing casually opened WeChat.
Reading the seemingly random message from Jiang Changsheng, she cringed so hard she felt second-hand embarrassment.
[Star Estrella: Uh, that’s really not necessary… I don’t actually want to be that famous…]
Jiang Changsheng replied instantly.
[Longlife: Why do you have so little ambition?!]
Chu Xingxing blinked and started typing.
[Star Estrella: Life is short, enjoying it is what matters most~ Working yourself to the bone to make too much money while neglecting your health… you might end up with no life to enjoy all that money /dog face]
Jiang Changsheng almost choked on his own blood in anger. Just as he was about to lecture this unmotivated, lazy little star, he suddenly thought of his mother’s illness.
The doctor had told him several times that thankfully, the cancer was detected early, her post-surgery recovery was excellent, and with regular annual checkups, she could live a life basically the same as any healthy person.
He had once asked the doctor, what would have happened if they had discovered his mother’s illness two years later?
The doctor’s answer was blunt: “Two years is very dangerous and hard to say. If it had spread, surgery wouldn’t have been an option; we’d basically be looking at palliative care.”
Jiang Changsheng, who was solely focused on turning Chu Xingxing into an overachiever, hesitated for a moment.
She doesn’t want to be pushed so hard. As her agent, should I not be so demanding? After all, not everyone in this world wants to be a workaholic.
He also couldn’t hold others to the same standards he held himself…
Just as Jiang Changsheng was starting to have second thoughts, Chu Xingxing sent two more messages.
[Star Estrella: Agent Jiang, your dark circles are still so deep. You need to get basic sleep; lack of sleep really can lead to sudden death~]
[Star Estrella: If you kick the bucket, your dog will be really sad. You’re their whole world!]
Chu Xingxing happened to click into Jiang Changsheng’s Moments.
Seeing the new video of his little Golden Retriever puppy, she silently gave it a like.
Even though Agent Jiang had a bit of a temper, his little Golden Retriever was just too well-behaved. Its personality seemed completely different from its owner’s!
The little puppy was so soft and adorable, looking like it had a great temperament. It walked with that wobbly puppy strut, its little bottom wiggling side to side, its little tail wagging. It was literally hundreds of times cuter than Jiang Changsheng…
No, thousands of times!
She thought, if Jiang Changsheng did kick the bucket, and no one at his home was willing to take care of the puppy, would it be okay for her to be the little Golden Retriever’s mom?
So, Chu Xingxing silently deleted the remaining half of the sentence in the chat box – [So as the owner, Agent Jiang, you really must take care of yourself!]
Chu Xingxing: Young Master Jiang should just keep staying up late. That little Golden Retriever might just become mine!
Jiang Changsheng looked at the like Chu Xingxing had given for no apparent reason, combined with the not-so-sincere “concern” he’d just received, and slowly typed a question mark?
Damn!
Was Chu Xingxing wishing for his death??? He knew it, she was just waiting for him to die so she could inherit his dog!
[Longlife: Stop dreaming. Tank only has one dad, and that’s me!]
Jiang Changsheng’s slender fingers froze over the chat box: [If you want to be Tank’s mom, I guess I could reluctantly accept…]
In the end, he didn’t send the second half.
He threw his phone aside, flipped over onto the sofa, and covered his eyes with his hand.
After lying there for a while, he swore under his breath.
Young Master Jiang felt pathetic.
He had never been so afraid of rejection in his entire life.
—
This time on the island, Chu Xingxing had brought two swimsuits.
One was a pearlescent white bikini, the other a black strappy one-piece with a cutout at the waist.
She had simply pulled both swimsuits out of her closet; they were from her previous appearance on a friend variety show, Bestie Staycation.
Bestie Staycation once had a “famous scene” where they arranged for “Chu Xingxing” and Tian Mengtong to go to an indoor water park.
Tian Mengtong wore a conservative pink swimsuit she had prepared herself, covering her arms completely, with bubbly shorts on the bottom with cute little lace edges – a pure and innocent look.
The production team, having received favors from Tian Mengtong’s agent, prepared two alternative swimsuits for “Chu Xingxing” that fit her “scheming persona” perfectly.
The white bikini looked innocent yet alluring, while the black strappy cutout swimsuit was sexy and hot, really accentuating her figure.
With no other clothes to choose from, the introverted and conservative “Chu Xingxing” hesitated for a long time before reluctantly choosing the black strappy cutout swimsuit.
Because “Chu Xingxing” had developed early as a child, boys at school always made jokes. Her parents would often scold her, saying things like “At such a young age, with big breasts and a big butt, swaying around all slutty like a chicken,” which made her live with deep body shame.
On Bestie Staycation, after changing into the swimsuit, “Chu Xingxing” awkwardly put on a large bathrobe over it, not even daring to take it off to get in the water.
It was only after Tian Mengtong’s repeated persuasion that “Chu Xingxing” finally took off the bathrobe and got into the water.
Even then, “Chu Xingxing” kept her hand over her chest, not daring to make any big movements, looking very stiff. She could only look at Tian Mengtong with envy and shyly compliment her friend’s cute swimsuit.
“Come on, Xingxing! Go down the waterslide with me!”
Tian Mengtong, regardless, dragged “Chu Xingxing” along, deliberately choosing several very physically demanding water activities.
Tian Mengtong’s swimsuit made it easy for her to play.
“Chu Xingxing’s” swimsuit was fine for normal swimming, but it couldn’t handle the strain of activities like the banana boat, indoor surfing, and the super-high waterslide. She almost had several wardrobe malfunctions.
Furthermore, because “Chu Xingxing” was so afraid of being exposed, she couldn’t perform the moves correctly during the water activities. While playing with Tian Mengtong, she nearly got into danger. Tian Mengtong got annoyed, saying she couldn’t let loose and wasn’t having fun even though she came.
Over a year ago, live streaming plus recorded broadcast wasn’t yet popular for variety shows; everything was edited before airing.
After that episode of Bestie Staycation aired, “Chu Xingxing” was heavily criticized by netizens and Tian Mengtong’s fans, being called a “fake” or “basic b*tch.”
[I hate fake b*tches who clearly know they have a good body but pretend not to, while throwing shade at their bestie! Wtf those movements were so awkward, so fake!]
[Tongtong is really stuck with a toxic friend. Not only does she have to liven up the atmosphere for Chu Xingxing, but she also has to tolerate Xingxing’s awkward personality. Wasn’t Chu Xingxing pretty outgoing before? What’s with this sudden innocent act while dressed like that?]
[If I knew my bestie wasn’t as fit as me, I definitely wouldn’t deliberately wear something more eye-catching than hers when going out /eye roll]
[Chu Xingxing is so shameless, wearing something so sexy to a water park with her bestie and then fake-saying Tian Mengtong’s swimsuit is cute?! That’s just playing the victim and being a hypocrite!]
[I’ve never seen a bestie like this. They’re both girls, good friends, why would she wear something so revealing just to show off her body on camera?]
[It is for the camera and going out with a friend. Tongtong knows her limits. What the hell was Chu Xingxing wearing?! And she pretended to be shy about taking off her bathrobe. If you’re really shy, don’t wear that kind of swimsuit!]
After the show ended, the frugal “Chu Xingxing” washed both swimsuits, brought them home, and hid them deep in her closet.
The poor girl Chu Xingxing was loath to spend money on new swimsuits. Since she had old ones, why waste the money?
In her mind, swimsuits were just functional clothing, like workout gear.
As for whether a swimsuit is “revealing” or accentuates the figure?
Chu Xingxing simply didn’t give a damn.
So what if it makes her chest look big, so what if it shows her waist? These are all parts of her body.
She has a slim waist, long legs, and a big chest. She’s confident. Is she supposed to cut off her breasts or legs to be “virtuous”?
Twenty years living in the apocalypse taught Chu Xingxing one thing.
Love yourself, like yourself, accept everything about yourself.
No one loves you more than you do.
No matter what your body type, if you’re confident, you’re beautiful.
If the whole internet can handle countless greasy, out-of-shape men confidently showing off their bodies (and they’re not even doing softcore porn), why should a girl be afraid to show some skin?
To make swimming easier, Chu Xingxing tied her slightly wavy long hair into a messy bun. To keep stray hairs off her forehead, she put on a dark green velvet headband, revealing a delicate, clean face.
Ready now, without wrapping herself in a towel, she simply grabbed a large bath towel and a long T-shirt, opened her door, and walked out confidently.
A few seconds before Chu Xingxing came out, Wen Han’s door also opened.
Both cameramen raised their cameras, focusing on the “porter” who appeared first.
Chu Xingxing turned her head.
Wow…
The first thing she saw was a expanse of pale…
Big pectoral muscles and a row of abs that looked like an ice cube tray.
His lean waist and abdomen were covered with only a thin layer of skin, showing that Wen Han had a very low body fat percentage.
Wen Han had fair skin, so she could see faint blue veins pulsing just beneath the surface.
[Ahhhhhhh! Those abs, that chest! I’m deceased /nosebleed]
[I used to think I had a hand fetish or a glasses fetish, but then I realized it’s not a fetish for anything specific. I’m just a pure, unapologetic pervert!]
[Wang Ruihan here, and I officially love watching this /heart eyes, licking tongue, heart eyes, licking tongue, heart eyes, licking tongue]
[Me stumbling into this live stream must be the will of heaven! Nosebleed…]
[I confess I’m shameless. I hope all male celebrities step up to Wen Han the Academy Award winner’s physique standards!]
[Ahhh! Who doesn’t love a ‘double-door refrigerator’ with big pecs, broad shoulders, and an inverted triangle figure!]
[Honestly, I want to turn into a mosquito on Pearl Island and just bite all over Wen Han’s flat stomach /dog face]
The sudden appearance of this 1.9-meter-tall “double-door refrigerator” wearing only board shorts was quite a sight even for Chu Xingxing, who had spent the last six years surrounded by tough, muscular guys from the suicide squad.
She’d seen plenty of men with broad shoulders, big pecs, abs, and slim waists.
But someone like Wen Han, who had all of that and was so fair it was almost dazzling? She hadn’t really seen that before.
Being pale made everything look bigger.
It also made his seemingly fit muscles look a tiny bit… unnatural.
“You…” Chu Xingxing looked at Wen Han’s chest, which was bigger than her own, and asked sincerely: “Dude, did you use tech?”
Wen Han burst out laughing, shaking his head helplessly. “Who taught you that? You’re pretty good…”
In the fitness world, the most sincere way to compliment someone’s physique is to ask, “Did you use tech?”
It doesn’t literally mean asking if they’re using steroids or unnatural methods. It’s actually the highest level of “humblebrag” compliment.
Chu Xingxing: Huh?
No, nobody taught me anything, what am I good at?
I was seriously asking if you used technological assistance…
“That green headband really brings out your skin tone and eyes.”
Wen Han looked down at her, politely keeping his eyes level with hers. “The way you tied it is also very unique. Very cute.”
The cameraman following Chu Xingxing zoomed in on her.
The green velvet headband made her already fair face glow with a pearl-like radiance. She had tied a cute bow at the back of her head, with two long ribbons trailing down her back.
The simple black one-shoulder swimsuit, with its cutout design, perfectly highlighted her already slim waist.
From this angle, her waist-to-hip ratio was simply explosive!
Plus, the unique waist design of the swimsuit made her legs look incredibly long, like ivory chopsticks.
Standing sideways to the camera, her tied-up hair left her back completely bare, showing off large swathes of smooth, fair skin. It was strikingly beautiful.
The comment section exploded instantly—
[Star daughter’s back isn’t a back! It’s the spring water of Lake Geneva!!!]
[Ah! I really love seeing a beautiful woman confidently showing off her beauty! How did I overlook Chu Xingxing, this beauty powerhouse, before?!]
[Wen Han is so good at complimenting. I think Xingxing’s hairstyle is super cute too. That green velvet headband really suits her skin!!!]
[I’m so tired of the pale, thin, and young beauty standard. How does Xingxing manage to look thin but have beautiful muscle definition and such a generous figure? I’m crying!]
[I’m telling you, all my good luck saved up just to stumble into this livestream. Star daughter is too beautiful, too beautiful!]
[Such a beautiful figure should be shown off! Wife! Wife! Wife! /licking tongue, licking tongue, licking tongue]
[Compared to this, a handsome guy still isn’t as heartwarming as a beautiful girl. When Xingxing smiles, my soul leaves my body!]
[Setting aside everything else, Xingbao’s back looks really suitable for cupping?]
[Hahahaha you’re so mean! You ruined the mood.]
Most of the initial audience hanging out in the Grandma’s Journey live stream were lovely, high-quality girls.
The comments were very harmonious. Occasionally, a discordant voice would appear, but it was quickly kicked out.
It just so happened that at this moment, the evening live stream of the neighboring show Let’s Travel Together had ended in chaos.
A large number of viewers from Let’s Travel Together, feeling unsatisfied, started wandering into other CBM Entertainment live streams. Among them were quite a few male fans who had nothing better to do after dinner than sit at home picking their toes.
When these people barged into the Grandma’s Journey live stream, some unpleasant comments started appearing.
[Chu Xingxing isn’t even 21 yet and she’s this slutty? That little lady’s chest must feel pretty good.]
[Wow, that little lady’s legs and waist… I’ve got material for tonight /hehe]
[Am I the only one who thinks… hmm, it’s a bit too revealing. She’s what, twenty? So young, not married yet, how’s she going to get married in the future…]
[Dressed like that, what man would want her? That’s a stain that would bring shame to her husband’s family, right?]
[Can someone explain? How much bride price would a nobody starlet like this get? 100,000 at most?]
[Bro, I make 100,000 a year. Chu Xingxing, quit the industry, I’ll support you!]
[I enjoy watching it, but isn’t wearing so little borderline softcore porn? Should I record the screen and report it?]
[If she dares to be this exposed on a show, then in her daily life, Chu Xingxing must definitely be… no need to say more, those who get it, get it.]
—
Inside the hotel.
Jiang Changsheng, who had been watching the live stream closely, almost threw his tablet across the room when he saw the comments.
Young Master Jiang wished he could crawl through the WiFi signal to drag those people out one by one and beat them up.
As a male himself, Jiang Changsheng just thought Xingxing looked healthy and beautiful. He couldn’t even fathom what kind of foul minds came up with those disgusting comments.
Reacting quickly as an agent, Jiang Changsheng immediately called his team and demanded “data maintenance.”
At the same time, he also switched to a secondary account.
“Uh, Young Master Jiang…” the team member’s voice came through his Bluetooth earbuds, sounding hesitant. “It seems like we don’t need to control the comments…”
“Hmm?” Jiang Changsheng glanced at the comments.
“I really didn’t expect Chu Xingxing and the grannies’ fans to be so fierce!” the team member said weakly.
Jiang Changsheng: “It’s not just Chu Xingxing’s fans…”
It was also all those justice-driven girls.
Those comments filled with the “male gaze” and sexual innuendo hadn’t been up for long before they were buried under a flood of new comments.
[Oh, look, we’ve stumbled into a nest of male-babies. Clicked on the avatars, and sure enough, male-babies. Well, no surprise they’re spouting all this ‘male gaze’ crap.]
[Don’t think girls don’t know how污you guys talk in your dorms. Take your grossness back there and don’t pollute the grannies and Xingbao’s comment section!]
[Where do these male-babies get the confidence to define what a beautiful woman is? Based on your confident 8 centimeters? /heehee]
[Annual salary of 100,000 wants to marry our Xingxing? Which refugee camp did you, ‘gie gie,’ explode out of? Don’t even deserve to look at her, piss off!]
[Girls’ freedom to wear what they want is none of your business! What are you supposed to wear to a pool, a winter coat?!]
[Which dynasty did the male-baby who said wearing a swimsuit is ‘exposing’ travel here from? Where we come from, that’s called a feudal remnant, and they get their heads chopped off!]
[Hey, the one shouting ‘report it,’ don’t run! I’ve already reported you! You crafty little prick.]
[If I had a figure like Xingxing’s, not only would I wear a bikini to swim, I’d wear camisoles and short shorts every single day!]
[Protect Xingbao’s comment section! Don’t let Xingbao and the old babies see that garbage. Xingxing’s swimsuit look is stunning! She can wear whatever she wants; we support Xingbao!]
[Xingxing has a kind of authentic, healthy beauty, a confidence that comes from completely accepting herself!]
[Wear the sexiest swimsuit and make the male-babies seethe!]
In today’s online environment, although terms like “creepy guys,” “male-babies,” and “male gaze” are common, more and more netizens, both girls and boys, can tell right from wrong and speak up for girls.
Just as Jiang Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief, his phone suddenly vibrated.
An unfamiliar number, an international one, calling his private phone directly.
“Hello?” Jiang Changsheng answered.
After a few seconds of silence, a magnetic male voice came through the earpiece.
The man spoke slowly, making his tone hard to read: “Is this Jiang Changsheng, the overall person in charge of the Grandma’s Journey production team?”
“Yes, this is Jiang Changsheng, the current person in charge of the Grandma’s Journey project…” Jiang Changsheng inexplicably felt pressured.
“Pleased to meet you. This is Sheng Luzhi.”
The man’s voice was distant, with no discernible emotion on the phone. “I wanted to remind your company that the livestream platform’s comment filtering needs improvement. If your company can’t manage the necessary technical filtering, Shengshi Group can assist the platform with a technical upgrade.”
Jiang Changsheng’s scalp tingled. He barely managed to stay calm.
It was clear this call was coming to demand an explanation…
And the fact that Sheng Luzhi, the heir apparent of Shengshi Group, called personally showed the seriousness of the situation.
“Hello, President Sheng. CBM Entertainment’s own livestream platform uses the industry’s most reliable third-party company for technical filtering. Today’s lapse was an accident. I will have the person in charge increase manual review. There won’t be a repeat. From now on, an operations team will specifically monitor Grandma’s Journey for data maintenance…”
Jiang Changsheng’s tone was neither humble nor arrogant, maintaining CBM Entertainment’s dignity while giving Shengshi Group enough face.
“I believe you have the ability, Young Master Jiang. However… you are still young, and it’s understandable that you’re not fully experienced in handling business yet. Especially now that the relationship between Shengshi Group and your company is special.”
Sheng Luzhi’s tone was light, but carried an undeniable authority: “A professional operations team will join the Grandma’s Journey project team tomorrow. Please ensure your company cooperates well with their work.”
With that, Sheng Luzhi hung up.
Jiang Changsheng frowned and saved the number of CBM Entertainment’s current “sugar daddy,” Sheng Luzhi.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt Sheng Luzhi’s call was strange.
Almost none of those disgusting comments in the live stream just now were aimed at the Sheng family’s elderly matriarch.
Since the comments didn’t affect the Sheng family, why would the heir of Shengshi Group personally call to demand an explanation?
Wait…
Jiang Changsheng’s mind raced.
Suddenly, a very bad feeling washed over him.
He grabbed his tablet and pulled up the recorded live stream from the airport departure for Grandma’s Journey.
Because he was in a hurry that day, Jiang Changsheng hadn’t watched the departure live stream carefully.
Chu Xingxing and Sheng Luzhi’s first meeting was at the airport, and it was just about Granny Sheng taking her medication.
There seemed to be nothing special… about their interaction.
Chu Xingxing was even holding the stress toy Jiang Changsheng had given her during her first audition for Sparkling Flowers.
Seeing this, Jiang Changsheng smiled fondly: “She hasn’t thrown away the caterpillar. That means she doesn’t dislike it, right?”
But in the next scene, when he saw the cold-faced Sheng Luzhi take off his gloves, a clear curve to his lips, and reach out to gently pat Chu Xingxing on the top of her head…
That intense feeling of unease returned.
Young Master Jiang thought his only competition was the gentle-tempered Wen Han.
Now, it seemed, he had another formidable opponent…
—
Beach Villa.
Chu Xingxing, carrying a folded large bath towel, went downstairs with Wen Han.
The outdoor infinity pool wasn’t heated.
To prevent muscle cramps from suddenly hitting cold water, Chu Xingxing did some basic warm-up exercises by the pool edge.
Wen Han got into the water first, swimming several laps with perfect freestyle form.
At the end of the infinity pool, near the villa’s parking area.
Wen Han got out of the water, braced his hands on the pool edge, and pushed his wet hair back, looking puzzled at the parking spaces.
“What’s wrong?” Chu Xingxing saw Wen Han frozen there and walked over to the terrace at the end of the pool.
Wen Han: “When we got back, there was an Alphard and two mini off-roaders in the garage. Now one car is missing?”
Chu Xingxing looked over. Indeed, one of the mini off-roaders she had driven today was gone.
“Did the production team temporarily take it?” Chu Xingxing asked the director following her.
The director, Xiao Mao, shook her head; she clearly didn’t know.
But Xiao Mao made a ‘wait a moment’ gesture to Chu Xingxing and made a call to the head director on the spot.
Soon, Xiao Mao hung up and mouthed to Chu Xingxing affirmatively: “The production team didn’t take it.”
“Is it possible we had a break-in?” Chu Xingxing’s expression turned serious. Although Pearl Island was a luxury resort island, security in such a tourist-dense area certainly couldn’t compare to back home.
If there really was a burglary, she couldn’t blame the staff for not noticing. Chu Xingxing remembered that all the fixed cameras in the living room were turned off.
She casually put on her long T-shirt, quickly walked through the hallway outside the pool terrace to the entrance, and pulled open a drawer.
Indeed, one set of car keys was missing.
Chu Xingxing glanced around the living room. There were no signs of it being searched. So, probably not a burglary?
Just in case, she still opened the wall cabinet at the entrance and grabbed a wooden mop handle.
Wen Han, without even using a towel to dry himself, came into the living room dripping wet and lowered his voice: “Xingxing, next time don’t rush over by yourself. If there was an intruder, you wouldn’t be able to handle it alone; it’s very dan…”
Before he could finish, Wen Han watched helplessly as Chu Xingxing, as easily as breaking a pretzel stick, snapped the 1.6-meter-long mop handle in two, casually handing him the half with the mop head attached.
Wen Han looked at the half mop handle in his hand: “…”
Okay, never mind what I said…
[Holy crap! Xingxing is so cool!]
[Husband Xingxing! I’m okay!!!]
[What kind of super-strength girl is Xingxing?! I love this unexpected cuteness!]
[That was so cool, wow. I haven’t seen any other beautiful celebrity in the entertainment industry with this kind of persona?!]
[Even Wen Han, the ‘double-door refrigerator,’ seems a bit overshadowed in terms of aura in front of Xingxing…]
Chu Xingxing skillfully gripped the stick, turned back to Wen Han, and nodded: “In case of an intruder, I’ll charge. You cover the rear. Okay?”
Wen Han was dumbfounded: ?
Not okay at all!
This little girl wants to lead the charge. She’s really something else…
The two carefully checked inside and outside the villa and indeed found no signs of forced entry.
That made the situation even more serious.
The production team hadn’t taken the car. There was no burglary.
That only left the four old babies who had gone to rest early in the house.
The thought of a little old lady in her sixties or seventies, driving alone at night in an unfamiliar place, especially on an island with poor nighttime road conditions, was quite scary.
[What! A granny is missing?]
[Oh my god, it’s so late at night. That’s really dangerous.]
[Which granny drove out by herself? Oh dear, someone needs to talk to the old baby when she gets back. The roads on the island are tricky even during the day; it’s even harder to drive at night.]
[What should we do? Should we call the police?]
[Can’t call the police. The laws on Pearl Island are like this: police won’t accept a missing person report for an adult until 24 hours have passed.]
[Oh man, that’s so frustrating. Isn’t there any other way?]
[I’m really worried. Which old baby snuck out without even leaving a message? So nerve-wracking.]
—
Wen Han turned on the main light in the villa’s living room.
Chu Xingxing knocked on each old baby’s door, one by one.
The first three rooms were answered quickly. One granny came out wrapped in a coat, sleepy-eyed.
Another granny answered verbally first, then came to the door after a moment.
When she knocked on the last room, Wen Xuelan’s, there was no answer for a long time.
Chu Xingxing covered her face: Oh, Wen Xuelan, my dear lady, why is it always you…
—
In front of Wen Xuelan’s door.
“What do we do?” Chu Xingxing didn’t dare to just barge in. She looked at Wen Han.
“Let me.” Wen Han knocked on the door, waited about ten seconds, then pushed it open. “Mom, are you asleep? If you don’t answer, I’m coming in!”
The room was empty. The bed sheets were clean and tidy, showing no signs of being used.
This proved Wen Xuelan hadn’t slept. Her small everyday bag was not in the room.
Chu Xingxing quickly called Wen Xuelan’s phone but found it on the bathroom counter by the sink.
“She forgot her phone?” Chu Xingxing was getting anxious.
“What’s wrong? Xiaolan isn’t in her room?” Granny Sheng Shuwen hurried over, worried.
Wen Han frowned and shook his head. “No. We noticed a car was missing from the garage. I think my mom drove it. Did she mention going anywhere?”
“She didn’t tell me… Let me ask if the other two know?”
Just as Granny Wen Xuelan was about to call her other old besties, Jiang Yao and Ai Mingli came running out in their pajamas.
“Sister Lan drove out by herself?! Oh my god, she really went out alone? It’s too dark at night, and the roads are bad…”
Jiang Yao covered her mouth.
That “really went out alone” seemed a bit like trying too hard to deflect.
Clearly, Jiang Yao knew something.
Worried, Chu Xingxing asked, “Does she have an international driver’s license? If we ask the police for help finding her, could she be driving without a valid license?”
“Xiaolan knows how to drive. She often drives herself in the US. She has a US license, so it wouldn’t be considered unlicensed driving in Thailand. I’ve ridden in her car; she’s very safety-conscious. So we don’t need to worry too much about that…”
Ai Mingli was much calmer, though her expression wasn’t great.
Chu Xingxing felt the atmosphere among the three grannies was off.
It seemed like they knew what was going on and were deliberately hiding something.
She was sure Wen Han felt it too.
She looked up and exchanged a glance with Wen Han.
Wen Han’s confused look confirmed Chu Xingxing’s suspicion.
Then, Chu Xingxing glanced at the camera again.
Filming further might involve someone else’s privacy and wasn’t suitable for live broadcast.
But the head director wasn’t about to let go of such ready-made drama; he probably wanted to bring in more cameras.
“Ms. Wen definitely just went to a nearby convenience store to look for tea bags. She mentioned wanting to drink English Breakfast tea during the day. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”
Chu Xingxing walked out of the room herself and calmly waved to the camera. “That’s all for today’s live stream. We’re going to rest too. Goodnight, everyone. See you tomorrow.”
[Ah! It ended so abruptly today?]
[We didn’t even get to see Xingxing swim!]
[So, was Granny Wen Xuelan found? I’m a little worried.]
[It should be fine. She probably just went out to buy something without telling anyone.]
[That’s good, that’s good. I was scared something might happen to the old baby, especially since Wen Han looked pretty nervous.]
The cameraman was in a very awkward position.
Through his earpiece, the head director strictly ordered him not to turn off the camera, to keep filming.
But according to the filming agreement, it was indeed past the live stream time at just after eight, and he should be off work.
The hesitant cameraman suddenly heard a serious voice in his earpiece: “Turn off the camera and end the stream.”
Damn, it was actually Young Master Jiang?!
The cameraman turned off the camera instantly.
—
After the camera crew and production assistants left, everyone gathered back in the living room.
“You’ve all been my mother’s best friends for decades, closer than sisters. I’ve always treated you like my own aunts. I can’t think of any reason why something would have to be hidden from me, her own son.”
Wen Han sat with his hands clasped, his expression serious.
Granny Ai Mingli habitually kept a blank expression, just glancing at the Sheng family matriarch.
The youngest, Granny Jiang Yao, looked between her two older sisters, then at Wen Han and Chu Xingxing, a bit flustered.
“I…” Chu Xingxing misinterpreted the situation and stood up. “I’m tired today too. I’ll go upstairs and rest.”
She thought the grannies found it inconvenient to speak the truth in front of her, an outsider.
Wen Han grabbed her wrist and said softly, “You’re not an outsider.”
The large hand on Chu Xingxing’s wrist was warm and slightly damp, showing no sign of letting go.
It would be awkward to struggle in front of everyone, so she stayed put.
“Sweetie, it’s not because of you that we’re not telling. It’s…”
Jiang Yao nervously tugged at Granny Sheng Shuwen’s clothes, slapped her thigh in frustration, and said, “Ugh, it’s because… Sister Lan kept telling us not to tell, to keep her secret for her…”
“What secret?” Wen Han frowned.
“I knew you couldn’t keep quiet.” Ai Mingli pinched the bridge of her nose and gave Jiang Yao a look.
Jiang Yao, who was the worst at keeping secrets, couldn’t hold it in any longer. “I’m just saying it’s a possibility; it’s not necessarily true. Is it possible that Sister Lan went to find that Xiao Nuan that sweetie met today?”
“Looking for Sister Xiao Nuan?” Chu Xingxing was confused and looked at the Sheng family matriarch.
The person with the most say in the room was Sheng Shuwen.
If Granny Sheng didn’t speak up, the other old besties still hesitated to talk.
Chu Xingxing pulled out her phone. Luckily, she had kept the email address of the “Princess on the Run,” Sister Xiao Nuan, from today.
She quickly sent an email, asking if she had seen a lady named Wen Xuelan, explaining the situation roughly, and asking Xiao Nuan to please help keep her there.
If Wen Xuelan really was with Xiao Nuan, she and Wen Han could leave immediately to pick her up.
Wen Han also looked at Granny Sheng, his tone sincere: “Auntie Sheng, I’m really worried about my mother. She’s not familiar with the roads here, and her eyesight hasn’t been as good the past two years. If something happens to her, I wouldn’t be able to face my elder and second brothers.”
Sheng Shuwen sighed. Seeing the urgency in Wen Han’s eyes, she finally relented. “Your mother probably went to find Xiao Nuan. She’s been a deep-seated concern for her for many years.”
