Sky Publishing.
It was late at night when Xing Bi woke up with a start from her deep sleep.
"Huh? Huh? Where am I?" She looked left and right. "Oh, it's the office…"
She yawned and stretched her arms. "So tired…"
Since Ai couldn't come today to Sky to meet Chyou and Yating at the hospital, she stayed back to work on Ai's story and editing. She thought and said to herself, "I should meet Yating tomorrow. Even if I don't work in Dream High anymore, he was still my colleague."
Nodding her head, she decided to take a short trip to the hospital tomorrow before coming to Sky. She yawned again. "I really need to head back home."
She picked her bag and walked towards the exit, yawning for the third time. As she went on, she heard some murmuring from her left side.
She tilted her head.
Who is there so late at night in Sky? I thought I was the only one.
She peeked her head and walked along the corridor. The hushed and murmuring voice was getting louder. She recognized it coming from the Chief Editor's Sun Bai office. The door to her office was slightly ajar, and she saw her back facing her.
Xing Bi blinked.
Miss. Sun was also working until so late at night?
She shrugged and sighed.
A Chief Editor's job is tough.
She wanted to close the door when she heard her whispering. "Don't worry. He won't know. Just do it quietly."
Xing Bi widened her eyes.
Who is he? And not know what?
"Yes. Don't let any evidence slip out, or I will be in trouble. Let me know once you are done."
There was a pause and she said, "Hm."
Xing Bi felt utterly baffled by this conversation.
What is she talking about?
Xing Bi was a second too late to turn, lost in her thoughts when Sun Bai saw her. She widened her eyes and stiffened for a moment. "Xi-Xing Bi?"
She immediately straightened up. "Miss. Sun!"
She swallowed a gulp while being caught peeking.
"What are you doing here?" Sun Bai smiled, though with a faintest trace of anxiousness in it while her eyes scrutinized her expression.
"Oh, I was just working late for Ai's novel," she sheepishly grinned.
"Oh yes indeed. Zhou Ai and Sir weren't here today. By the way, how is her novel coming up?"
"Great! Ai has some good ideas. She has already started writing. I am helping her with the usual."
"I see," Sun Bai nodded. "If you need my help, don't hesitate to ask me."
"Of course."
Xing Bi then cleared her throat. "I didn't know you were working so late too hehe…"
Her gaze slightly flickered. "...I had something extra to do."
"Oh, I see."
What is this extra thing that would need her to tell somebody about doing something quietly? She wondered.
"Sorry for suddenly coming here. I didn't mean to intrude. I just thought I was all alone in the office so I was a little scared when I heard voices coming from here haha…"
Sun Bai shook her head. "No problem." She stared at her. "If you are afraid, you shouldn't try to try to look deeper into it. What if it might prove to be something dangerous for you?"
Her smile faltered. "You are right…I will take my leave."
"Yes. Good night."
"Good night."
Xing Bi bowed and quickly left wondering to herself.
I don't understand if that was a friendly suggestion or a deadly warning?
—
It was the next morning when Ai came to visit Yating as she had decided with Jun. Jun stood on the other, already showing her his watch and pointing at the time. Her brow slightly twitched.
When Yating looked up, he couldn't believe Ai coming before him. "Hey."
Ai smiled. "Hi. How are you feeling now?"
"I am fine. I was already fine yesterday, but the doctor insisted to stay for observation for twenty-four hours," he sighed.
"They are right. You blacked out and fell unconscious. How could they let you go just like that, especially after such a dreadful incident?"
"Hey, now you don't take their side…"
"What is right is right," she sternly nodded.
He accepted his defeat. "It's impossible to win against you. By the way, I just saw you on a video circulating on Weibo. See."
Ai leaned and saw that it was a clip of yesterday when Cheng Yin was scolding Ai for accidentally pouring the hot coffee on his hand. Since it was a post about the most popular and A-listed actor, naturally, it went viral everywhere.
Did Jun do this?
From reading the comments, it was quite clear that he was under attack and great scrutiny for lashing out at Ai even after she had sincerely apologized. The scene of her hanging her head low with embarrassment was zoomed in and highlighted.
Yating's expression was ugly. "Did he scold you that harshly?"
The part about him being a possible drug addict already made him wary of Cheng Yin, and now Ai was harshly rebuked.
Maybe, I should fan these flames even more, he narrowed his eyes. How dare he shout at her?
Watching Cheng Yin's reputation taking a hit made Ai extremely satisfied. It wasn't enough for what he did to Chyou in the past, but it was a good start.
She took a seat on a chair beside him. "It's good to see you aren't hurt much. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why did you black out?"
He stiffened.
Ai stared at him. "Is there something else you have been hiding from me?"
"No…No, no. It was simply because of all the smoke. You know, it got difficult to breathe."
"Chyou said you didn't look well when she was hanging from the deck. You couldn't immediately come to rescue her."
Yating shifted uncomfortably.
"It reminded me of the time during the book-signing event. You looked the same as she described to me."
"It's nothing-"
"Please tell me, Yating," she clenched her dress. "I don't want to keep any misunderstandings in my heart anymore."