Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Walked In On

Cloud City

Bzz. Bzz. Bzz.

Bzz. Bzz. Bzz.

A slender hand reached from beneath the quilt, slapped the vibrating phone flat, powered it off, and tossed it under the bed in one smooth motion.

Every movement was practiced—too practiced.

Cloud City’s climate wasn’t as scorching as the Capital’s. When Qiao Qing Yan returned, it was morning rush hour. She’d sat in traffic for more than an hour before she finally got home.

She had barely fallen asleep when the phone dragged her back out of it.

She opened her eyes.

Irritation—sharp and dangerous—filled them so completely it seemed like the words don’t mess with me were stamped across her brow.

The system knew Master hated being disturbed while sleeping, so it played dead, silent as dust.

*

“Sister Lan, how is it? Did Qing Yan come back?”

Even with the so-called hotel casting couch incident shifting and the entire internet turning its eyes on Qiao Qing Yan, Xu Shu Jing still wasn’t satisfied.

If she didn’t stomp Qiao Qing Yan down for good, she was terrified the situation would reverse again.

And now, with someone backing her, she felt even less afraid.

Early that morning, she’d received news that Qiao Qing Yan had already left the Capital and returned to Cloud City. She immediately contacted Wu Lan.

Qiao Qing Yan might have announced she was quitting, but her contract wasn’t up yet. She was still an artist under Wu Lan’s management.

Announcing a quit without permission was already a contract violation. There was plenty to exploit.

Of course, Xu Shu Jing hid those thoughts perfectly and kept her face full of concern.

“Sister Lan, I’m just worried Qing Yan might be stuck at the airport. And with such a huge mess online, I’m worried she might do something stupid.”

She sighed, as if she couldn’t bear it. “It’s not that easy to marry into the Capital’s wealthy families.”

Wu Lan watched her—so considerate, so seemingly selfless—and sincerely thought the girl was too kind.

“You, you.” Wu Lan shook her head as if exasperated. “When are you going to think more for yourself? If not for Qiao Qing Yan, you wouldn’t be like this right now…”

Wu Lan sighed and called an assistant.

Fifteen minutes later, someone hammered on the door of Qiao Qing Yan’s home.

“Miss Qiao… are you home?”

No answer.

Three minutes after that, the bedroom door was pushed open.

The young assistant had his phone in hand. The moment he saw someone in the room, his whole body jolted. Before he could retreat, the furious roar blasting from the phone speaker nearly tore his eardrum.

“Is she home or not? Tell her to get her ass to the company. If she doesn’t come, then tell her to get out!”

The assistant had just graduated college. He hadn’t expected anyone to be in the bedroom.

He’d assumed the apartment was empty—that was the only reason he’d dared to open doors. And with Sister Lan giving him the passcode, he’d believed it was safe.

He was still panicking when a pale, slender hand reached over and took the phone from him.

“As you wish.”

Four words.

Calm. Gentle.

And somehow wrapped around ice blades, cutting straight to the bone.

The person on the other end heard that voice and immediately lost control.

“Qiao Qing Yan, when did you come back to Cloud City? Why didn’t you report to the company? Do you know who you offended? Do you still want to survive in this industry?”

“Perfect timing to go home and inherit the family estate…”

“You—”

“Get to the company. Right now. Immediately. This instant!”

The call ended.

Qiao Qing Yan let out a light laugh and handed the phone back.

The assistant’s hands closed around it on instinct, still warm from her palm, but his brain hadn’t caught up with his body.

He didn’t dare meet her eyes.

The impact of the scene was too strong.