Wang Peng was rooted to the ground in a daze.

“Brother, there’s also an issue with the program,” Assistant Ma’s voice came again. “You’re not allowed to shoot any more episodes. The sponsors have also called to cancel all advertisements. You won’t be able to participate in any activities in the future.”

Assistant Ma seemed to have reserved the deadliest blow for last when he added, “President Liufrom the club called as well. He asked me to tell you that you no longer have to come to work tomorrow. He said you’ve offended the big boss ofCity Aand he… We can’t protect you anymore.”

Wang Peng finally crumpled to the ground. His eyes stared lifelessly at the distance, and his face was devoid of color.

He lay on the cold ground with the same words repeating inside his head: ‘I’m done for, I’m done for, I’m done for…’

…

Yao Tang andLin Xinwere on their way toLu Ming’s house.Qin Jinghad separated from them earlier, saying that she had things to take care of at home.

The two were so focused on their mission that they hadn’t bothered checking their phones, and were therefore clueless about the uproar online.

The girls went up to one of the massive houses and spoke to the security guard stationed at the door. “Hello, Mister. Is this the house of a boy named Lu Ming?”

The burly man scowled at them. “Well, who knows? If you know him, then why don’t you contact him directly?”

Lin Xin took a step forward, her tone turning urgent. “Uncle Security Guard, we are his classmates. We really need to see him!”

“How do I know that you’re telling the truth? I don’t care if you’re classmates or whatever, my job is to stand guard and keep out nosy intruders like you!”

The man was practically made of stone—large and looming, and certainly unyielding.

“But we really are classmates! We don’t mean any harm.” Lin Xinhurriedly took out her Student ID and brandished it at the security guard. “It’s just that we couldn’t get in touch withhim. Please let us in. Or at the very least, please help us pass a message toLu Ming!”

The man peered at the card. It clearly stated: Lin Xin, Class 20,No. 1 High School, with a photo of her in the upper left corner. Even so, he didn’t budge.

He only deepened his scowl and waved them away.

Yao Tang tookLin Xin’s arm and tugged.

“Let’s go,” she said in a calm voice. “Since he isn’t here, let’s not bother the household and look somewhere else.”

Lin Xin wanted to protest at first, but she eventually relented and let herself be taken back to the car parked just a few feet away.

Before they got in the vehicle, however, Yao Tanglooked back and took one last glance at the house.

Once they were gone, the security guard took out his phone and made a call. “Young Master, the girls have already left. I spoke to them just as you instructed, and they didn’t insist any further.”

Lu Ming was upstairs, standing in front of a bookshelf in a dark, cold room. “All right. Carry on.”

He hung up the phone, his expression blank.

Right on cue, there came a knocking at the door.

Before he could even say a word, his guest let herself in.

A woman sauntered into the room with a wide smile on her face.

“Barging into someone else’s room uninvited is against the family’s rules of etiquette,” Lu Mingsaid coldly. “Is it not, Cousin-in-Law?”

He narrowed his eyes at the woman. They were obviously on unfriendly terms, but she was unfazed.

She only chuckled as she sidled up next to him and pulled out a book from the shelf, flipping through its pages. “You must be mistaken, Little Ming. You know, that, right? This is my home. Why would I need anyone’s permission to go anywhere I like. It’s not as if I’m an outsider, right?”

She covered her mouth with her fingers and let out a derisive laugh. “Oh, but I don’t mean to say that you are the outsider, of course. Don’t take my comments to heart. We are family, after all.”

Lu Ming ignored her snarky words. “Why did you come?”

The woman giggled again and shrugged her shoulders. “You’re leaving City Afor the capital, aren’t you?”