Chapter 116

The entertainment industry is a strange place. It can make you famous overnight, the center of everyone's attention, or bring you crashing down in an instant, despised by all.

Shan Cheng and Ding Siyuan were perfect examples.

Both were artists under He Wei's studio. They had collaborated shortly after their debuts but later went their separate ways. Everyone knew they were friends, but no one ever imagined they'd be privately dating.

Calling it a private date rather than a romance was because Shan Cheng also had a girlfriend within the industry.

Before the scandal broke, he had even posted on Weibo showing off his love.

Now, seeing that post again, his fans expressed feeling like they'd eaten something vile, truly nauseating.

The angriest was Shan Cheng's girlfriend. In a fit of fury, she exposed evidence of Shan Cheng cheating countless times during their relationship. She had put up with it all because she loved him, but she never expected that the man she'd chosen would not only do drugs but also have relations with another man!

This was something she could no longer tolerate.

And with her exposé, Shan Cheng's image in the industry kept crumbling.

Drug use, infidelity, and messy love triangles—these pieces of evidence piled up like a mountain of iron pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.

Shan Cheng was detained that very night, along with Ding Siyuan.

Ding Siyuan's expression was no better than his. He let out a sigh and asked, "Will He Wei come?"

Shan Cheng sneered.

He Wei had rarely shown up at the studio since the press conference. If that weren't the case, the seniors in the studio wouldn't each be looking for new opportunities. Naturally, Shan Cheng had started preparing to jump ship too, but then what others said came true.

You never know whether the accident or tomorrow will come first.

He was unlucky.

The accident came first.

His silence left Ding Siyuan somewhat dazed. "I'll call her."

Shan Cheng turned his head to look at him. "Don't waste your effort. If she truly intended to get us out, she'd have sent a lawyer by now."

Ding Siyuan slumped to the ground, looking ahead in near despair.

Meanwhile, He Wei, who was on their minds, sat in a private room at a restaurant. Across from her sat a woman, heavily made up, returning her gaze coldly.

He Wei lowered her head and called out, "Xiaoying."

"Can't you help me?"

Guan Xiaoying's gaze was icy, her voice cold. "Help you?"

"Do you know what Shan Cheng and Ding Siyuan have done?"

"How do you expect me to help?"

He Wei's face turned pale at Guan Xiaoying's words. During this crisis, she had repeatedly called contacts, but every time she called someone, they were either busy or had turned off their phones, and some had even blocked her. In her heart, she knew washing Shan Cheng and Ding Siyuan clean this time was too difficult.

But she refused to accept it!

How could she accept it!

Finally, Chai Yin's return had shifted the public's attention; finally, people were no longer focused on her and Kong Xiyan. While she couldn't say things had improved, over these past two weeks her studio had at least started receiving some resources.

She thought she just needed to wait a little longer.

Wait a little, and those forgetful netizens would forget the matter entirely. She could rely on her studio to make a comeback. Perhaps Kong Xiyan's fame was only temporary, and she'd find another chance to knock her down.

But just at that moment, news broke that her studio's artists had been caught using drugs.

Not just one, but two artists.

Countless scandals hit her so suddenly she had no way to remedy them, leaving her with no choice but to turn to Guan Xiaoying for help.

He Wei's silence made Guan Xiaoying sigh. She spoke up and said, "Weiwei, it's not that I don't want to help you. It's just that I can do nothing. This case has been caught red-handed. There's no way to clear it up."

"I know you've been having a hard time. Haven't I?"

He Wei lowered her head and bit her lip. "No, you haven't."

"Xiaoying, you're still the proud wife of the CEO. That matter didn't affect you in the slightest. All the blame was borne by Wei Yan and me. Xiaoying, you can't be so cruel now."

"You have to help me..."

Guan Xiaoying let go of her hand, her expression gradually cooling. "Help you?"

"How do you know I haven't helped?"

"The moment Shan Cheng's and Ding Siyuan's situation came to light, I immediately reached out to my connections. They all refused once they learned it was about drugs. Haven't I helped? Weiwei, you need to have a conscience. Think over these past three years—how much thought I've given you, how many resources I've provided your studio."

Hearing the cold note in Guan Xiaoying's voice, He Wei said anxiously, "I'm sorry, Xiaoying. I didn't mean to say that."

"It's just..."

"I'm just scared."

Guan Xiaoying turned to look at her. "What are you afraid of? There's only one solution now for Shan Cheng and Ding Siyuan."

"Terminate their contracts."

"If you can't find a lawyer, I can help you."

He Wei looked up at Guan Xiaoying's cold profile, clasping her hands together. "Terminate the contracts?" she gritted out.

Her studio now had few artists left, barely fit to hold up the stage. With this current scandal, it'd be hard to sign any new talent. Now even the studio's survival was in question.

Seeing He Wei silent, Guan Xiaoying spoke up. "Yes, terminate the contracts. That's the best solution for you at the moment."

He Wei asked, "Then what about my studio?"

Guan Xiaoying sneered. "Weiwei, you shouldn't be too greedy."

Hearing this, He Wei lowered her gaze and pressed her lips tightly together. After a long pause, she said, "I'll consider your suggestion."

Guan Xiaoying stood up, flicking her long hair. "I have things to do soon, so I'll head off first."

He Wei's voice was muffled. "Okay."

Guan Xiaoying glanced at her expression briefly, then said, "If anything comes up, you can always reach out to me."

He Wei called out, "Xiaoying."

"Will Kong Xiyan be brought down again?"

Hearing that name, Guan Xiaoying narrowed her eyes, a cold smile curling at the corners of her lips, her voice carrying a chill. "Of course she will."

At that certain answer, He Wei looked up at Guan Xiaoying, catching her cold profile. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Alright. I'll contact you again."

Guan Xiaoying gave no definite reply and simply walked away.

Hardly a few minutes after the door closed, it was pushed open again. He Wei said with a headache, "Xiao Mo, I still have—"

As she spoke, she turned her head and saw someone she hadn't expected.

Standing before her was none other than Wei Yan!

The moment she saw him, He Wei couldn't help but turn pale. Biting her lip, she asked, "Why are you here?"

As she spoke, she looked around for something within reach.

Having not seen him for days, Wei Yan had grown even thinner, no longer the polished figure he used to be. Now he was skin and bones, his spirits low.

His eyes were vicious, like a venomous snake coiled around He Wei, ready to spit out danger signals, waiting only for He Wei's guard to slip before seizing the chance to strike her dead!

His gaze made He Wei's heart tremble. She called out, "Xiao Mo!"

"Don't bother shouting."

Wei Yan barked in a hoarse voice. He Wei immediately clamped her lips shut, her body shaking.

She still remembered the scene from the apartment. Although Xiaoying had played peacemaker between her and Wei Yan afterward, she had always stayed wary of him and absolutely refused to live under the same roof as him.

It was ridiculous, really.

After their remarriage, every day she thought about how to get a divorce.

But Wei Yan wouldn't let go.

He Wei stood by the table, her hand groping for the vase at its edge. Seeing Wei Yan's gaze still fixed on her, she gritted her teeth. "Are you leaving or not? If you don't, I'll scream for someone."

Hearing that, Wei Yan sneered and sat down on a stool. "Scream?"

"Go ahead."

"Miss He, don't forget you and I are still married—we're one. If you scream, do you want people to laugh?"

At his words, He Wei kept her hand on the vase, not letting go. "What exactly do you want?"

"I don't want to hear your boring talk!"

Wei Yan gave her a sidelong glance. "It's nothing much."

"Just do me a favor and pass a message to Guan Xiaoying."

"Tell her I want to get into Xinhui."

He Wei was stunned. "What?"

"You want to get into Xinhui?"

"But you—"

Wei Yan cut her off. "Yes, I signed a contract with Jingyan, and I'm embroiled in lawsuits. So what? Don't forget what you and Guan Xiaoying said three years ago!"

At that, He Wei gritted her teeth. "Then go talk to Xiaoying yourself."

Wei Yan sneered, lifting a corner of his mouth. "Talk to her myself? She's been avoiding me these past two days, not even answering my calls. If it weren't for that, why would I come to you?"

"You!"

He Wei was provoked by his attitude. She paused for a moment, then said through clenched teeth, "Fine, I can arrange a meeting for you. As for whether you can get into Xinhui..."

"It's up to you."

Wei Yan nodded and stood up, taking a step toward He Wei. She immediately retreated three or four steps back, clutching the vase tightly to her chest as if, should Wei Yan take another step forward, the vase would come crashing down on his head.

Seeing this, Wei Yan stopped in his tracks.

He said, "Weiwei, considering we were once married, I'll give you a piece of advice: disband your studio as soon as possible."

With that, he turned to leave. He Wei quickly said, "What do you mean by that!"

Wei Yan brushed off the dust that wasn't there, then continued, "Do you really think Shan Cheng and Ding Siyuan's situation was an accident?"

"So coincidental?"

"Just when it came out shortly after Kong Xiyan announced her marriage?"

He Wei swallowed hard. "You mean behind her..."

Wei Yan cut her off. "Weiwei, you're not stupid. Kong Xiyan's spouse is Chi Wanzhao. Haven't you figured it out? As long as your studio exists, you'll have to live in fear every day. Better to dissolve it sooner. It'll be a good thing for you."

Hearing his words, He Wei fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Why do you want to join Xinhui?"

Wei Yan's voice was cold. "Why? To wait for the right time to stage a comeback. Do you think Chai Yin's return this time is just a coincidence?"

"Weiwei, how is it that after such a huge ordeal, you've only gotten dumber?"

Wei Yan's merciless words left He Wei with no retort. She opened her mouth but said nothing, only watching with a grave expression as Wei Yan's figure disappeared.

The private room was utterly silent, not a sound to be heard.

He Wei thought for a long while before turning to look out the window. All she could see was pitch darkness, making it impossible to make out anything beyond.

Night always blinds people's eyes. To see the dawn again, one can only wait.

But she didn't know that some people were destined never to see the dawn.