Chapter 48 - 45: Being Followed

Qiao Yuxian went to class as soon as the wound on her foot healed. But on the very first day of class, she was flaunted by Ji Xiaoxiao yet again. She knew that whenever Ji Xiaoxiao sat beside her, there was bound to be something to show off. Today, she boasted about the limited edition bag she had bought. "This is something that’s hard to get even if you’re rich," Ji Xiaoxiao whispered, "Of course, if you’re rich and belong to the Gu Family, you can get it." Qiao Yuxian sat in the back corner, glanced at her bag, and didn’t want to speak. Ji Xiaoxiao noticed her silence and turned her head to look at her, "Why aren’t you saying anything?" "Do we really have much to talk about?" Qiao Yuxian replied without even looking at her. Ji Xiaoxiao: "......you..." "Don’t disturb my studying." Qiao Yuxian interrupted. Ji Xiaoxiao pouted, stayed quiet for a while, then took out a mirror from her bag to touch up her makeup, and suddenly asked, "Qiao Yuxian, do you think Xi Mei Media or Lin Entertainment is better?" Qiao Yuxian glanced at her, "Why? Want to mix into the entertainment industry?" "Yeah, my original college application was for drama school, but my dad changed it secretly," Ji Xiaoxiao looked at Qiao Yuxian, "I heard you scored over 730 in the college entrance exam." Qiao Yuxian stayed silent. "With those scores, wouldn’t several majors at Jing University be fighting to have you? Why did you come here instead?" Ji Xiaoxiao asked curiously. "Why? You look down on the English major?" Qiao Yuxian said flatly. "Not really, just doesn’t sound as prestigious as those other majors. Those majors train people who are at a national treasure level," Ji Xiaoxiao said. Qiao Yuxian still said nothing. Ji continued, "Originally my dad applied for finance for me, but I was reallocated here. I finally got through to graduation, and now I can finally do my own thing." Qiao Yuxian gave her another look. Ji Xiaoxiao said, "You still haven’t told me which is better, Xi Mei Media or Lin Entertainment?" The two major entertainment companies in the country. Lin Entertainment, run by Lin Huai Shu, backed by the Lin Family, was the largest entertainment company before Xi Mei Media appeared. Xi Mei Media appeared in the Capital City four years ago. When Lin Entertainment almost monopolized the entertainment industry, it quickly grew and made its mark in a short time, later rivaling Lin Entertainment. In the past two years, these two have nearly become rivals. Competition for resources, performance comparisons, even their artists are compared. Compared to Lin Huai Shu’s flamboyance, the boss of Xi Mei Media is very mysterious. No one knows who the boss is, whether male or female, only that the last name is Xi. But everyone knows in their hearts that someone who can compete with the Lin Family is definitely not simple. Without thinking, Qiao Yuxian said directly, "Xi Mei Media." But she immediately added, "Though, I don’t recommend you to go." "Why?" Ji Xiaoxiao asked. "The boss is a very emotional person, and I’m afraid if you go, you won’t get any resources," Qiao Yuxian said. Ji Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes, "With my status, wouldn’t they dare not give me resources?" Qiao Yuxian: "......" "Besides, how do you know the boss is emotional?" Ji Xiaoxiao asked again. Qiao Yuxian ignored her, as her dorm group was discussing where to go during the October holiday, so she opened the group chat and fully ignored the person beside her. After a day of classes, Qiao Yuxian borrowed two books from the library and left the school, Shang Chen was already waiting outside. Shang Chen had noticeably not been himself the past few days. Previously, Shang Chen kept a cold face, carrying an aura of faint menace, but now he was wilted, forcing himself, and even his cold face lacked the imposing nature it once had. Qiao Yuxian got in the car, looked at him, and then tentatively asked, "Are you okay?" Shang Chen started the car, and after a while, he said, "When are you going to talk to Mr. Gu?" "I don’t dare," Qiao Yuxian said. "Is there anything you don’t dare to do?" Shang Chen said. "I am indeed quite brave, but your Mr. Gu is indeed quite intimidating," Qiao Yuxian said, "I need some time to gather myself. Otherwise, poor performance might affect both of us." Shang Chen said nothing more. Qiao Yuxian opened her phone to look at the places recommended in the group chat to visit. After just over two minutes, Shang Chen suddenly said, "There’s a car following us." Qiao Yuxian’s expression stopped, looked up at Shang Chen, "Are you sure?" Shang Chen instantly perked up, and he didn’t speak immediately but drove a bit further then said, "Sure." Qiao Yuxian turned off her phone and didn’t look back, thought for a moment, and said, "Head to the pedestrian street at the exhibition hall." Shang Chen glanced at her from the rearview mirror, "Mm." The car drove to the exhibition hall and parked after finding a spot, Qiao Yuxian and Shang Chen got out together and went into the pedestrian street. In no time, the car following them also parked, first two people got out, then the driver parked the car. Qiao Yuxian and Shang Chen were calm as if nothing happened, wandering leisurely on the street. Qiao Yuxian even went into a couple of shops, randomly buying a few things. After leaving another shop, Qiao Yuxian said to Shang Chen, "The street ahead, after you enter, go to the end and turn left into a small alley, it’s secluded, there shouldn’t be anyone there." "What are you planning?" Shang Chen asked. "With you by my side, they won’t dare to come forward," Qiao Yuxian said, "If I walk straight along this street, turn at the front, I can also enter that alley." "It’s too dangerous," Shang Chen said. "Follow orders," Qiao Yuxian’s voice was bland and usual, but Shang Chen’s heart sunk a little, and he subconsciously listened to her. However, recalling Gu Yanjing had told him to protect her, he still didn’t move. Qiao Yuxian said, "I can protect myself, now go." "Yes." Shang Chen agreed, followed Qiao Yuxian for a few steps, then naturally went into the side street. Qiao Yuxian kept walking leisurely until she reached the end of the street, entered the alley, and about a minute later, the two people following her caught up. As the two entered the alley, seeing Qiao Yuxian waiting for them, they froze for a moment, then displayed a guarded attitude. Qiao Yuxian looked at them, two foreigners. She asked, "Understand Chinese?" Neither spoke, but their expressions clearly indicated they understood. Qiao Yuxian asked, "Who sent you?" They stayed silent. Qiao Yuxian didn’t ask again, threw away the things she’d bought and made the first move. By the time Shang Chen rushed over, Qiao Yuxian had already taken both of them down. He even witnessed Qiao Yuxian stepping on one of their legs, a firm press followed by a crisp crack, immediately followed by the man’s painful scream. Shang Chen watched her calmly break a man’s leg. "Still not talking?" Qiao Yuxian’s voice was warm but sent chills down the spine. "We, we don’t know." The man with the broken leg finally spoke. "Really don’t know?" Qiao Yuxian asked again. "We really don’t know. We were only told to take you to M Continent, and once there, someone would make contact. We don’t know who they are." Qiao Yuxian listened without speaking. "I’m telling the truth, he hired us, we’re just doing our job for money, don’t know who he is," the man said. Seeing there was nothing more they could learn, Shang Chen came over and stood by Qiao Yuxian, "What now?" Qiao Yuxian looked at the two on the ground, squatted, and poked with a finger at the man’s broken leg, saying, "When you return to M Continent and they contact you again, deliver a message for me." Shang Chen looked at her, feeling her gentle words yet demonic ruthlessness. The man, who had been poked, was in so much pain he broke into a sweat, his face pale, "W-what?" "Tell them, if they want something, come get it themselves, or else I’ll take them down one by one," Qiao Yuxian’s voice was floaty. Hearing this, Shang Chen frowned slightly. "Not bringing you back, they might not contact us again," the other man said. "With the state you’re in returning, they’ll definitely contact you," Qiao Yuxian said with that, got up, looked at Shang Chen, "Let’s go." Shang Chen looked at the two people on the ground, then at Qiao Yuxian, and followed her.