Chapter 38

Chapter 38: 038 – Another Chance Encounter

Outside, the casting-couch scandal flipped again.

Overnight, Qiao Qing Yan became the kind of name people threw stones at without thinking, and plenty in the industry waited eagerly to watch her fall.

Especially at the banquet—those who had seen Old Madam Qian personally take Qiao Qing Yan away were already restless, eyes searching, waiting for her to come back out so they could enjoy the spectacle up close.

But the person at the center of it all acted as if nothing had happened.

In the private room, Qiao Qing Yan spoke calmly, listened attentively, smiled when it was appropriate. She looked like someone sitting in a warm, peaceful world—untouched by the internet’s frenzy, as if the outside could collapse and she would still be fine.

The atmosphere stayed gentle, and the three elders clearly didn’t want to end the conversation too soon.

Before they finally separated, Old Madam Qian held Qiao Qing Yan’s hand and asked in a low, serious voice, “Xiao Qing Yan, tell us honestly. Were you forced to leave the industry by your company?”

All night, no one had asked directly. They’d been watching her first, measuring her calm.

But she was too steady. She gave nothing away.

It only made Old Madam Qian more suspicious of the agency behind her.

Old Ji spoke up as well, voice heavier than usual. “Then come to Xiao Qian’s studio.”

He didn’t trust handing her to anyone else. Leaving her under his disciple’s care felt safer.

For some reason, at those words, Xie Yu Qian found himself waiting for her answer, as if the shape of it mattered more than it should.

“Starlight is fine too,” Old Madam Qian added, unwilling to be outdone. “I can help you contact their boss.”

Grandpa Qu nodded along. “Little Fu is pretty good too. You won’t lose out by following him.”

Qiao Qing Yan curved her lips into a smile. Her peach-blossom eyes held a soft laugh, glittering like gemstones.

“I just want to rest for a while,” she said. “It has nothing to do with the company.”

The three elders exchanged looks, all of them surprised.

“The industry is too restless,” Xie Yu Qian said as he stood, his voice steady. “Junior Sister entered it so young. Resting for a few years is not a bad thing.”

His bright eyes stayed on her, watching as if afraid to miss a single shift in expression.

But Qiao Qing Yan’s face was natural, her movements easy, as if everything about her confirmed the same message: she was simply tired and wanted to breathe.

It might fool Grandpa Qu.

But Old Madam Qian and Old Ji didn’t completely believe it.

Back then, Qiao Qing Yan had fought too hard just to enter that circle. People saw her youth and the trophies stacked in only four years, but they didn’t see the price she paid behind the scenes.

Thinking of it made the two elders’ chests tighten with heartache and tenderness in equal measure.

So when she suddenly quit, they worried the most.

They were afraid she’d run into something she couldn’t handle alone.

“I believe Junior Sister has her own plan,” Xie Yu Qian said, smoothly cutting in before the elders could push further. “I’ll see you out.”

He guided them toward the door. “Junior Sister, come with us?”

Qiao Qing Yan shook her head. “I’ll pass. I still need to stay a bit.”

At a moment like this, she didn’t want to stir up more trouble. She could already imagine the internet tearing her apart.

After walking them to the elevator and waving them off, Qiao Qing Yan turned toward the stairwell on the other side.

The moment she opened the door, she saw a flickering ember by the window at the turn of the stairs below.

A summer breeze slipped in, carrying the faint smell of smoke.

The person leaning by the window clearly hadn’t expected anyone to come.

“Cough… cough, cough…”

The choking sound repeated, rough and involuntary.

The man turned his face.

Moonlight poured in, illuminating sharp lines and an outrageously handsome profile.