After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 315: Zhang Nachuan Meets Xu Ling’an

Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Zhang Nachuan Meets Xu Ling’an

"Jing Huai, are you crazy?" The assistant took advantage of the chaos to snatch back the phone, hung up directly, shut it off, and stuffed it into his own pocket, looking at the artist in front of him who dared to threaten Xu Qingmei with disbelief. He gritted his teeth and lowered his voice to remind him, "Do you know what level Xu Qingmei is at, compared to us? She has many connections internationally. Even if she can’t make it in the country, she can still go abroad and remain a big star. But what about you?"

He took a deep breath, "Even if you’ve secretly hidden some evidence, I don’t know what will happen over there if it gets exposed, but I can be sure you’ll come to an end way before she does! Think about all you’ve sacrificed before this. Do you really want a fight to the death?"

Jing Huai wiped his face in disarray.

The courtyard was filled with greenery, and without the sun, it was quite cool.

Yet upon realizing what he had impulsively said, he broke out into a cold sweat.

"Alright, stop talking. Let’s go back."

The assistant heard the trembling in his voice, but seeing his expression barely calm down, he too breathed a sigh of relief.

If Jing Huai really did something irreversible today, he as the personal assistant wouldn’t be in a good place either.

"Sorry, I was a bit harsh earlier."

The main point was that he was afraid that if he was too gentle, it wouldn’t wake him up.

Jing Huai pulled a forced smile, "It’s nothing, you’re just looking out for me. Oh, find a makeup artist for me soon to touch up my makeup."

"You haven’t eaten yet. Why don’t you eat first, and I’ll find someone."

"I have no appetite. Just go find someone quickly."

Having waited for the voices in the pavilion next door to disappear, Lu Zhengzheng and Xu Ling’an quickly finished the remaining packed lunches, made sure not to leave any trash, and took a detour on their way back to the exhibition hall.

Once they stood in a corner of the exhibition hall, Xu Ling’an looked around to ensure no one was nearby before asking quietly, "Zhengzheng, should we tell Xixi about this?"

Lu Zhengzheng’s face was a bit pale, not from fear but from pure disgust.

She pressed her hand against her chest to suppress the queasy feeling, "We have to tell her. I noticed today he picked the same painting to copy as Xixi did, it felt deliberate. Since he has such a relationship with Xu Qingmei, Xixi should know."

Right now, Lu Zhengzheng didn’t even want to mention Jing Huai’s name.

At first, she thought the man was just like the character he portrayed on screen, a gentleman with refined manners.

After all, his appearances were quite deceiving, and many fell for it just like she did.

But now, the voice she heard with her own ears couldn’t lie. This man shared none of the excellent qualities she imagined him to have.

Hearing that earlier almost made her vomit!

For all she once liked, she now harbored equal revulsion.

Xu Ling’an could see Lu Zhengzheng was genuinely unwell. He knew she was once a passing fan of Jing Huai, but now she was obviously disgusted, "Zhengzheng, don’t think about it. The exhibition hall is open for everyone to move around, let’s relax by looking at the paintings while waiting for my sister to come back."

Lu Zhengzheng nodded, "Okay, I’ll listen to you."

Jiang Lingxi returned to the front of the exhibition hall from the backyard and immediately saw Lu Zhengzheng and Xu Ling’an leisurely strolling and admiring the paintings. She walked over to them.

"Have you had lunch?"

The two of them turned around simultaneously at her voice.

"Yes, we did. Did you eat well too?"

"Mm, why didn’t you find a place to rest?"

"We were planning to." They had picked a wooden corridor to eat their packed lunches, clean and spacious with good ventilation and a floral scent. They intended to take a nap there after lunch, but before they could finish eating, they accidentally overheard something they shouldn’t have. How could they stay any longer? Xu Ling’an wrinkled his nose, "Nowhere seems peaceful enough."

Jiang Lingxi affectionately ruffled his hair, "Today’s recording went smoothly, so we should get to leave early and you two can take a good rest when we get back."

Xu Ling’an looked inquisitively at Lu Zhengzheng: Should we talk now?

Lu Zhengzheng caught her glance and gently shook her head.

There were too many eyes, especially now that Xixi was the center of attention as the most prominent participant in the copying challenge earlier in the day. It wasn’t the right time to discuss the matter.

There’s no harm in waiting until they get back.

Jiang Lingxi noticed their silent exchange but didn’t press further.

That’s because she heard footsteps approaching with a light and heavy pace, accompanied by the sound of a cane hitting the ground.

Turning around, it was indeed Mr. Zhang.

Only, even though he was walking this way in quick steps with the help of a cane, his eyes were not on her, but... at her side!

"Ms. Jiang, this young lady is..."

Jiang Lingxi saw the anxious yet overjoyed expression on Mr. Zhang’s face and the bemused expression on Xu Ling’an’s face beside her, with many speculations rushing through her mind, she answered unhurriedly, "Xu Ling’an, my younger sister."

"Your sister? But your surnames..."

"My sworn sister."

"Oh, I see." Zhang Nachuan noticed the nervousness of the young lady, so he took a moment to breathe, "Xu Ling’an, Ling’an, a nice name. How old are you this year?"

Facing the elder’s direct gaze, Xu Ling’an couldn’t help but feel nervous, instinctively gripping her sister’s clothes.

Of course, she knew who this elder was.

During the morning’s program recording, even though the assistants were waiting off-camera in a corner, they could vaguely see the scene.

She had good eyesight and caught several glimpses of the host’s appearance through the crowd.

She never expected him to suddenly approach and speak so kindly to her.

The hand gripping the clothes was suddenly covered with warmth, which quickly passed to her heart. She summoned the courage to speak, her voice slightly soft, yet at least clear in tone, "Hello, Mr. Zhang, I’m eighteen."/p>

"Eighteen, is that in full years?"

Xu Ling’an felt a bit of an odd sensation but nodded honestly, "Yes."

Jiang Lingxi quietly listened to the conversation between the old and the young in front of her, then glanced at an utterly stunned Lu Zhengzheng, shaking her head slightly.

Lu Zhengzheng instantly understood, stepped back a few paces filled with curiosity.

Finally, Zhang Nachuan’s eyes shifted from the continuously glancing girl to Jiang Lingxi, standing next to her, with his gaze landing on the hand Xu Ling’an held that was enveloped in Jiang Lingxi’s grip.

"Come with me, both of you."

Even though many people had started to look their way, he paid no regard to them.

Under the watchful eyes, Jiang Lingxi held Xu Ling’an’s hand calmly and followed Mr. Zhang into a secluded exhibition room marked with ’No Entry’ signs.

The exhibit’s door closed automatically after the three entered, blocking out the many curious eyes behind them.

Lu Zhengzheng in the crowd was left surrounded by stares.

Lu Zhengzheng: Look at me all you want, I’m just as confused as you are!

The room was slightly smaller compared to the other two expansive and orderly halls, but it was detailed and cozy.

A vase on the wooden shelf in the corner even held a lotus bud with a few dewdrops on it.

The paintings on the walls were clearly works by the same artist, with a soft, distant, and fresh style.

Xu Ling’an’s eyes fell on the paintings, "Sister, why do I feel like the person who painted these was not happy inside?"

Zhang Nachuan’s steps hesitated, a trace of pain flashed in his eyes, before he stopped at a glass door at the end.

This time, after using fingerprint and facial recognition, the glass door slowly opened and the dimly lit room inside brightened up.

Jiang Lingxi looked over. It was an even smaller gallery, about 10 square meters, untouched by outsiders.

Until her eyes landed on the walls, filled with portraits of the same person at various ages.

The figure in the paintings bore a striking resemblance to Xu Ling’an, sharing seven-tenths of her features.

The elder’s loss of composure upon seeing Xu Ling’an immediately became clear!

Zhang Nachuan turned, gazing at the two standing at the entrance, and slowly spoke the first words upon entering, "These were painted by my wife, and the person in them is our youngest daughter. She went missing nineteen years ago, and she was pregnant at the time."