After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety
Chapter 188: Jiang Xiyu Terminates the Contract

Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Jiang Xiyu Terminates the Contract

Jiang Xiyu lay half-reclined on the bed with a cast on her left leg, showing no reaction when Jiang Yuting rushed in.

"What happened? How did you break a bone out of nowhere? Where’s Xiao Tao, where did that girl go?"

Jiang Xiyu covered her ears with her hands, a hint of irritation on her face, "Keep your voice down, I’m already annoyed."

Jiang Yuting had to lower her voice, "What did the doctor say, how long until you can move again?"

"A little over a month before I can stand and walk."

Jiang Yuting had just sat down on the chair by the bed and immediately stood up again upon hearing this, "That long? How will you continue filming?"

"I won’t film anymore."

Jiang Yuting couldn’t resist reaching out to touch her cousin’s forehead, "You’re not even running a fever, yet you’re quitting after insisting on joining this crew? Do you know what you’re doing?"

Jiang Xiyu slapped her hand away, pointing to her casted leg, "Then tell me, how am I supposed to film like this?"

"I was just asking how you fell. Was it a mistake on the crew’s part? Even if the director is Wei Xiao, we shouldn’t compromise. You rest and heal here; I’ll go reason with them!"

With that, Jiang Yuting was about to rush out, but Jiang Xiyu quickly pulled her back.

Jiang Xiyu gestured to the assistant standing nearby, signaling them to wait outside.

Once the ward door was closed, she whispered, "Don’t go. I injured myself on purpose."

Jiang Yuting’s mouth dropped open wide enough to fit an egg, and it took her a moment to recover from the shock.

"Are you crazy?"

"In any case, I can’t stay in the same crew as Jiang Lingxi anymore," she thought of the unreachable calls to her aunt and now even Xiao Tao’s phone going unanswered, gripping Jiang Yuting’s arm tighter, "If anyone from the crew comes to discuss terminating the contract, just agree to it."

Jiang Yuting winced at being pinched, "You’re serious? Does this injury have something to do with Jiang Lingxi?"

Jiang Xiyu released her hand, sealing her lips shut.

If she wanted to explain clearly, she’d have to reveal what her aunt had done.

Even though it seemed her aunt wasn’t planning to help, she didn’t dare to tell Jiang Yuting without permission.

So she remained silent.

Seeing her determination not to speak, Jiang Yuting dared not pry her mouth open. She sat by the bed sighing, until a knock came at the door.

Opening the door revealed a slightly awkward-looking Assistant Director Lin.

"I’m here on behalf of the crew to visit Miss Jiang, and there’s something we need to discuss. Miss Jiang’s manager is here too, perfect."

*

The news of Jiang Xiyu terminating her contract with "Empress of Yuanzhao" reached Jiang Lingxi through Wei Minmin.

Some of the medical test results were slow, so Shen Yunqing simply arranged a day’s hospitalization for her.

Wei Minmin had gotten first-hand information from her uncle and quickly informed Jiang Lingxi.

"Assistant Director Lin mentioned that Jiang Xiyu and her manager cousin agreed very quickly. Considering Jiang Xiyu was injured while filming, even if it was an accident, she needs to rest for several days, so they peacefully terminated the contract."

Jiang Lingxi took a sweet bite of her apple and nodded.

It seemed Jiang Xiyu’s fracture was possibly intentional.

"But now the role of Qing Yuan is vacant. My uncle was still pondering who to cast when I came over."

"Crunch!" Jiang Lingxi took another bite of her apple.

"You seem to be eating well, so you must be alright."

"There was never really an issue, it’s just..." Seeing Shen Yunqing enter, Jiang Lingxi silently swallowed her words.

Wei Minmin turned to glance at the already casually dressed but still elegant and composed Mr. Shen, then winked at Jiang Lingxi.

She had been so engrossed in the conversation earlier, she nearly forgot to ask what the relationship between Mr. Shen and Sister Xi was.

Initially, seeing the two interact quite plainly on set, she thought they were just ordinary friends.

But witnessing that swift move towards the camera to pick up the bleeding Jiang Lingxi, she suddenly realized they might not be just ordinary friends.

She had her suspicions, yet remained unsure.

Now that he was here, she was even more embarrassed to ask directly.

She had to temporarily suppress the question.

"Are you returning to the crew tomorrow morning? Not resting a few more days?"

"No need. Go back and tell Director Wei for me, I won’t delay tomorrow’s work."

Wei Minmin got up, sensibly took her leave, and left the space to Mr. Shen and Sister Xi.

"My people have already gone to the address of Master Mei. As soon as there’s any discovery, it will be sent over immediately," Shen Yunqing said, taking out a folder and handing it to Jiang Lingxi, "These are details about Master Mei gathered from online and other sources."

On the way here with the documents, he had already reviewed them.

Everything appeared normal, so normal that no one would suspect this person might have another identity.

If it weren’t for Jiang Lingxi’s selfless baiting to lure out the snake, he and Wu Jue might have struggled for much longer.

The modern world is unlike a thousand years ago, with too many people and countless pieces of truth and fiction clouding perceptions at every moment. Extracting key information is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Jiang Lingxi flipped through the thin stack of papers, "Did you look at these?" It was phrased as a question, but her tone was certain.

Shen Yunqing nodded and summarized, "Mei Shuiqing is the second wife of Jiang Xiyu’s uncle. The couple lives separately, with one abroad and the other domestic. Mei Shuiqing is reclusive, hardly interacting with outsiders, residing alone in a seaside villa in Tonghai City. She is also the mother of Jiang Xiyu’s agent, Jiang Yuting."

Jiang Lingxi pondered for a moment, glanced at the closed door, and asked softly, "Does Mr. Shen believe in people with peculiar abilities in this world? For instance, those who can cause someone to vomit blood from afar, using only items that person has worn?"

The heart hidden in his chest started pounding rapidly. Shen Yunqing resisted the urge to press his hand against his chest, nodded firmly despite the huskiness in his voice, "I do. I also know such people are called Magicians."

After uttering perhaps the greatest slip-up yet, he met Jiang Lingxi’s gaze head-on, steadfastly awaiting whatever judgment followed.

"Mr. Shen is indeed well-informed, even knowing about the existence of Magicians," Jiang Lingxi smiled faintly, "I suspect Mei Shuiqing’s other identity is that of a Magician. Mr. Shen, please instruct your people to be extra cautious!"

Shen Yunqing: "...Understood," he couldn’t tell if he felt disappointed or relieved at this point, "Is there anything else?"