Chapter 147: Will the New Character Bring New Plot Developments?

“If only Du Bin were here.”

Jiang Zao thought so, Zhou Lichuan thought so, and even Li Baixiu had started to think the same.

It wasn’t really their fault.

Ever since Du Bin and Zhou Jiayan left abroad together, the work within the company was handed over to Zhou Lichuan and other colleagues, while the external affairs became Li Baixiu’s responsibility.

What puzzled him greatly was that nearly everyone, including himself, took this as something natural and inevitable.

Once again, in the dead of night, he collapsed in his hotel room.

Li Baixiu’s mind was filled with the deafening music from the private room. Each heavy drumbeat imprinted on his eardrums, lingering long after the sound faded.

Even the sudden knock at the door went unnoticed...

Jiang Zao had arranged for him to leverage the hotel’s and film city’s cooperative connections, allowing him to appear at the fringes of the entertainment industry as a representative of the capital side.

The Li family knew of his ambitions in the entertainment world and welcomed the diversification of their family business. Rather than opposing it, his father, Li Changqiu, even allocated extra funds to support him. Upon learning that he was collaborating with the Zhou family, the company’s investment department was mobilized to back him with full force.

Money cleared the path effectively; within days, he began receiving numerous invitations, with endless gatherings and events.

Poor little Baixiu, so young, found himself immersed in smoky, alcohol-filled venues half the night.

Thinking this, Li Baixiu, aided by the alcohol, drifted into a shallow sleep.

He awoke again after more than two hours had passed; dawn was breaking, painting the sky with a pale, milky light.

He turned over, feeling the constriction of his formal suit. Relying on his now clearer mind, he rose to strip off the jacket.

As the sleeves fluttered, he caught the scent of himself and found it hard to accept.

“Why do people start to smell bad after drinking...”

Glancing at his watch, he realized he had time to take a shower before meeting the professor in the afternoon to review his thesis. A bath would surely help him rest better.

The hotel’s bathing facilities were excellent. Standing under the hot water, the weariness slowly ebbed away.

Amid the sound of running water, he thought he heard a noise outside the door.

“At this hour, no one should be here.”

After finishing his shower and donning the hotel-provided robe, he was about to return to bed for some more rest when a clear, rhythmic knock echoed again from the hallway.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

Li Baixiu didn’t turn on the lights. Except for the bathroom light, only a dim night lamp glowed in the bedroom.

The entire suite, bathed in the morning light, took on a gloomy, ambiguous aura, tinged with a hint of eeriness.

Indeed, unfamiliar surroundings offered no sense of security.

Summoning his courage, Li Baixiu approached the door and asked, “Is someone out there? Who is it?”

The voice outside seemed startled, then trembled slightly as it responded.

“Is this... President Li? Hello, I’m Liang Qingxuan. Teacher Ma saw you were overcome by the wine and asked me to come take care of you.”

The voice belonged to a young woman, her tone and pitch suggesting she was about Li Baixiu’s age.

Li Baixiu sneered inwardly. He had seen this sort of act too many times before, and it no longer amused him.

When he first entered the entertainment industry, young girls would mysteriously appear in his room.

After refusing several times, a pale and delicate young boy even showed up once.

That boy lay naked on deep red silk sheets, eyes shimmering with unshed tears—a male version of a fox spirit.

That encounter had terrified him; his skin broke out in goosebumps from head to toe. He immediately cut off investment for that variety show and redirected funds to a more discreet web drama project.

Jiang Zao often teased him about this incident, leaving Li Baixiu feeling embarrassed every time.

Now, looking at the outside, the small screen of the video doorbell revealed the girl’s face.

He appreciated Teacher Ma’s caution in having her knock instead of barging in directly.

“I’m fine now. You can go back. I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”

He said this and was about to hang up the video doorbell and return to bed.

“Wait!” Liang Qingxuan called out loudly from outside. “President Li, please wait! I won’t do anything, I beg you to let me in. I truly have no other choice. Please, if… if I can’t complete the task given by President Ma, I… I don’t want to be sent to Liaoting Manor.”

The mention of “Liaoting Manor” stopped Li Baixiu in his tracks. He returned to the door.

The girl on the screen looked extremely nervous, her expression almost pleading.

He had taken on hotel management to trouble Tan Wenyi and had often heard the name “Liaoting Manor” during his familiarization with the internal affairs.

It was said to be a private, membership-only club offering numerous entertainment activities.

Not only were there cuisines from around the world, but also a shooting range, equestrian grounds, wellness centers, and more.

All staff were carefully selected, with strict standards for appearance and demeanor, undergoing unified training before being allowed to work.

Not for any other reason, but because of the low-level erotic transactions that could not be disclosed to outsiders.

The dealings inside skirted the boundaries of the law, relying on the high-profile nature of its members to act with impunity.

The authorities had been monitoring it for some time. After the Lin Rui incident, Shen Mushi recognized Li Baixiu’s investigative skills and introduced him to a police officer in charge of the Liaoting Manor case.

He was now a semi-informant for the police, assisting Jiang Zao and Zhou Lichuan while trying to establish connections with the manor.

He hadn’t expected a pillow to be delivered just as he was about to doze off.

Li Baixiu opened the door. Liang Qingxuan, surprised at how easily she had gained entry, instantly lit up with joy.

“President Li! Thank you so much! I really won’t touch anything. I just need to stand here in the foyer. I absolutely won’t disturb your rest.”

Li Baixiu’s robe was loosely tied, the deep neckline revealing a large expanse of skin.

In the dim light, it drew even more attention.

He didn’t reply, merely snorted and raised his chin, signaling for Liang Qingxuan to enter.

She stepped inside and stood in the foyer. Her eyes inadvertently flicked to Li Baixiu’s exposed chest muscles before lowering her head.

Li Baixiu took a towel and sat down in the living room. Looking up, he saw Liang Qingxuan still standing motionless and invited her to come in.

“Come here, sit down.”

Liang Qingxuan was startled; she had never encountered anyone like Li Baixiu before. He seemed to see right through her without her doing anything. She felt completely transparent before him, unable to hide any secrets.

As soon as he sat, Li Baixiu asked, “How long have you been waiting outside?”

It was no surprise he asked. Liang Qingxuan’s delicate, clean face was pale, clearly showing signs of fatigue and cold.

He recalled hearing some noise at the door before he fell asleep and guessed she had been outside most of the night.

Without hesitation, Liang Qingxuan answered, “I arrived at your door about ten minutes after you entered the room.”