Chapter 5: Dewdrop Rose – She’s Nothing but Trouble

The gray-black Maybach departed from Red Harbor Club, cruising unimpeded along the road.

The B+ round of financing for Xinyu Biotech, which our headquarters led, has been completed. General Zheng scheduled a video conference for 4 p.m. regarding the Space AI-3 product launch… The chief assistant finished reporting on work and schedules, then paused briefly, his tone hesitant. Also, take a look at this—

Light filtered through the car window, glancing off Ye Yansheng’s brow and eyes—distant and aloof, yet concealing a hint of wildness and authority.

He took the tablet handed by the chief assistant, his gaze settling on the chat log, his movements faltering slightly.

In the chat box was a picture:

A thin blanket lay slightly askew, a tasseled earring nestled in the folds of the sheets, its gleam captured within the frame of the photo.

The housekeeper found it while tidying the bedroom. It must have been left behind by last night’s… guest, the chief assistant weighed his words, probing cautiously, Should we have it returned to her, or…?

Truth be told, the earring wasn’t high jewelry, nor was it adorned with any precious stones—just a seasonal accessory, worth a few thousand at most. Given the brand’s release of six collections a year, such items were merely fleeting novelties.

But the housekeeper didn’t dare dispose of it on her own, and neither did the chief assistant.

Ye Yansheng visited Hong Kong once a year to pay respects at a grave.

He never allowed anyone to accompany him.

Yet last night, when the car returned to Barker Road, Ye Yansheng had brought back a sleeping woman, carrying her upstairs in his arms.

The chief assistant had coincidentally witnessed the scene when he went to deliver documents.

He had no idea who the woman was or where she’d come from, but a princess carry in the rainy night and time spent alone together were enough to fuel speculation.

Ye Yansheng’s eyes darkened, revealing no trace of thought or emotion, his tone even casual. Handle it as you see fit.

Judging by his attitude, it seemed… he wasn’t particularly concerned?

But having worked by his side for so long, the chief assistant knew better than to overstep without clear instructions:

He struck a middle ground, having the earring carefully stored and left in the bedroom of the Barker Road villa.

The summer sun blazed, casting dappled shadows on the dark-tinted car windows, faintly reflecting the bustling traffic on the main road.

Ye Yansheng leaned against the backseat, his expression weary and cold, his mind clearly elsewhere.

He tugged at his tie, loosening it slightly, his slender fingers and distinct knuckles inadvertently brushing against the Snake Bone Chain, pausing almost imperceptibly.

In those few seconds of stalled thought, Pei Ze’s call came through.

Where are you? I headed straight to Barker Road after landing and have been waiting for ages without a glimpse of you.

He chuckled mischievously, Half an hour ago, though, I did see a little beauty coming downstairs. What’s the story there?

You came all this way just to gossip? Ye Yansheng remained unruffled, his tone exceptionally cool.

Speaking of which, you’re out here enjoying yourself while setting me up for disaster, aren’t you? Pei Ze was nearly at his wit’s end. The moves in South China are too bold. Those old foxes can’t reach you—they’ve been calling me a dozen times a day fishing for information. They’re practically at my doorstep now.

Since when are you afraid of them? Ye Yansheng scoffed softly, his voice deep and composed, though a chill tinged his mood, and his smile didn’t reach his eyes. Aunt Su sent you, didn’t she?

Silence lingered for a few seconds on the other end before an awkward laugh followed:

Ah, Aunt Su is just worried about you. It’s been months since you last came home. Surely, you could…

Pei Ze ultimately didn’t dare voice the words not suitable, adding, But I’d rather not say more, since you wouldn’t want to hear it anyway.

Good that you know.

There weren’t many scenes filmed in Central, so the shooting wrapped up quickly.

Xie Qingman didn’t stay long in Hong Kong. After leaving the city and returning to Shanghai, that minor episode from late summer was sealed away in Hong Kong.

Her second meeting with Ye Yansheng wouldn’t occur until several months later.

The early winter in Shanghai wasn’t extremely cold, but the damp chill seeped into the bones. Rows of skyscrapers had been soaked in cold rain for days, leaving the entire city washed clean yet icy and sharply defined. Under the gloomy gray sky, neon lights glittered against massive billboards and glass-curtained skyscrapers, reflecting peculiar hues.

Xie Qingman had been busy with specialized courses these past months.

That supporting female role with limited screen time earlier was actually a pre-semester practical assignment for her acting class.

Unexpected circumstances had left her stretched too thin at the time, making it impossible to attend the missed lead role audition, so she’d gone with the flow.

Originally, the renowned director’s film offered a white moonlight archetype role—minimal screen time but high prestige. If she became famous later, digging it up wouldn’t harm her image.

Unexpectedly, the film’s secondary female lead got embroiled in scandal, burying the entire project.

I just saw the trending topics—that casting director must be blind! You’re way prettier than her.

During a break in their acting and dialogue training class, her roommate Xi Jin scrolled through Weibo and sighed, Our domestic entertainment industry really loves promoting unattractive people.

No response came.

Manman?

Xi Jin leaned over and glanced at Xie Qingman’s laptop screen, which displayed an article from a finance public account:

Jun’gang Group’s subsidiary intends to promote in-depth cooperation with Noke’s PD-1 Monoclonal Antibody Drug project…

Jun’gang Group was an enterprise of the Huo Family from Hong Kong.

The Huo Family had built their fortune through real estate, shipping, and overseas trade, later engaging in mainland distribution deals that capitalized on era-specific advantages before shifting to self-operated businesses and venture capital over the past two decades. Recently, they’d acquired assets including hundreds of aircraft from overseas aviation leasing companies, along with real estate and ports… Overall, the Huo Family’s core industries were actually overseas.

Biopharmaceuticals wasn’t Jun’gang’s main focus.

Such an aggressive expansion into new territory naturally drew attention from financial media.

Why are you reading financial news? Xi Jin asked, surprised.

Just killing time. Xie Qingman subtly switched screens. What were you saying earlier?

I was going to ask if you wanted to go out for a change of scenery. Xi Jin slid over an admission ticket. A newly opened theater—supposedly quite interesting. I can’t make it, and it’d be a waste otherwise.

She rested her chin in her hands and sighed. But you seem perfectly fine, like you don’t really care.

Xie Qingman truly didn’t care about such minor roles.

She’d experienced too many upheavals over the past two years—the only thing that could trouble her was the mess back in Hong Kong.

This current matter didn’t even rank.

Still, wanting some quiet, she didn’t refuse. A 20,000-yuan admission ticket just to change my mood?

To thank you for covering my attendance last time. Xi Jin clasped her hands prayerfully above her head. I might be busy for the next two weeks, so…

I knew it. Xie Qingman curved her lips slightly, not standing on ceremony.

The so-called theater was actually a gimmick.

Xie Qingman only realized upon arrival that it was a private club..
The design somewhat imitates the Palais Garnier, with the core theater divided into two levels. The tiered seating on the first floor surrounds the stage, while the second floor features batik-inlaid screens creating semi-enclosed compartments. The periphery follows a club layout with Versace flooring and Tiffany stained glass wall lamps—an unabashedly opulent style.

It reeked of some uneducated young master’s handiwork, with style bought by money and taste laid bare for all to see.

Devoid of substance, it was purely a den of extravagance.

Freshly completed, it attracted many patrons, including industry insiders. On stage was the Royal Ballet, hired at great expense by the behind-the-scenes owner, performing the romantic ballet Giselle—elegant yet tragic in its choreography.

Xie Qingman was merely a student at this point, unknown to most in the mainland.

With no need for social pleasantries, she sat quietly in the audience, watching the performance.

During the intermission, her phone vibrated.

A preview window showed an email with no text, only an untitled attachment—a draft contract from Junport for the PD-1 Monoclonal Antibody Drug project received by Nuoke.

Xie Qingman impassively turned off the screen.

Feeling slightly relieved, she leaned back lazily against the seat, closed her eyes, and gradually grew drowsy.

—

Miss Xie…

Miss Xie?

Xie Qingman opened her eyes to see a staff member placing tea and snacks beside her, whispering:

There’s a gentleman upstairs who claims to be an acquaintance. He invites you to a private room.

Who?

He only said he knows you. The staff member looked somewhat uneasy.

Xie Qingman raised an eyebrow, her gaze coolly sweeping downward.

Even the lowest-grade tea in this club cost mid-four figures—pure indulgence where no one questioned its worth.

The other party, likely trying to cater to her tastes, had ordered Iceland tea renowned for its sweetness, pure material from a single mother tree.

How stereotypical.

Among Pu’er teas, she preferred Ban Zhang—more intense and domineering in aroma, with a lasting sweetness.

Imposed favors were truly ridiculous.

Pretentious mystery, Xie Qingman thought. Nowadays, someone actually expected to summon people with a cup of tea. Even attending a ballet couldn’t be peaceful—her luck was truly sour.

But grumbling aside, it would be awkward if it really was an acquaintance.

Please lead the way.

The staff escorted her to the second floor, where some unknown incense hung in the air, intensified by the heating until it felt dizzying.

That drowsiness was creeping back.

Xie Qingman smoothed her long hair, feeling unenthusiastic and somewhat irritable as she followed the staff’s direction.

As expected—trouble had arrived.

Behind the screen stood a producer who had previously harassed her. Since their last encounter at an audition, he’d clung like a stubborn plaster, impossible to shake off. She’d barely escaped with an excuse last time, only to run into him again here.

Why stand so far away? The producer’s eyes wandered over her. Don’t be so distant. I had high hopes for you since the audition—pity we couldn’t collaborate.

He smiled ingratiatingly. Come, have a seat.

Truthfully, no industry lacked attractive, compliant men and women eager to advance through looks.

So anyone with a shred of decency wouldn’t force the issue—plenty of alternatives existed without making enemies.

But there are always those who refuse to maintain decorum, like the man before her now.

A single glance at him felt unlucky. In the past, she could have crushed him like an ant. What a disgrace.

My apologies, I have an urgent matter and won’t be able to attend today’s dance performance. Xie Qingman’s expression remained unreadable, her words polite but her refusal absolute. I’ll have someone refund you for the tea and snacks. I won’t disturb you further.

Hey, since when should a young lady pay? The producer signaled with his eyes, and someone discreetly blocked her path. An actor can’t just keep their head down filming all the time. With so many seniors and producers here, surely whatever urgent matter you have can wait?

I’m afraid I must decline your kind offer. Xie Qingman had no intention of making a scene. How about this—I’ll substitute tea for wine and drink a cup as forfeit?

She had offered a compromise, but the other party refused to take the way out.

You’re not showing any respect, the producer insisted, forcing a smile that carried a threat. I want to introduce you to resources, and you won’t even grant me the courtesy of sitting for a while?

Bullshit.

This producer named Jin was notorious in the industry. Leveraging his connections and resources, he had undoubtedly exploited countless stars and students. Scum like him belonged in prison.

Outnumbered and unwilling to escalate, Xie Qingman had been maneuvering politely. But if she stayed any longer, things would spiral out of control today.

Sorry.

Xie Qingman shoved the person blocking her aside and turned to leave.

What do you think you’re doing! Repeatedly rejected, the producer could no longer save face. He shot to his feet. You think you can just walk away?

He reached out to grab her. Playing hard to get has its limits. You students from Shenxi Acting Academy sure have airs. Do you know who I—

Get lost.

Xie Qingman tried to shake him off but couldn’t break free immediately. Unfazed, she grabbed the nearest object and hurled it at him.

Crash—

Her throw wasn’t particularly forceful, but being hit still stung. In the struggle, a folding screen was knocked over, tea sets swept off the table, hot tea splashed all over the producer, and porcelain shards scattered everywhere, leaving the floor in disarray.

The scene turned utterly disgraceful.

Damn it! The producer released her, scalded, his face ashen as if he were in mourning.

Now things had really blown up.

The second floor of the club’s central theater consisted of semi-private boxes where any noise traveled easily, let alone a commotion this loud.

But the people in the nearby compartments were either friends invited by the behind-the-scenes owner—all wealthy or influential—or industry insiders who knew each other. These veterans, no matter their private thoughts, maintained surface decorum and politeness.

Having watched the drama unfold, no one intervened or mediated seriously—only cold spectators remained.

Fine.

It seemed this confrontation wouldn’t end easily today.

Xie Qingman wiped the moisture from her hand, her tone slightly sharp though her expression remained calm. I said, stay away from me.

She looked at him as if he were trash.

Her attitude pushed him to the brink. You—

As the argument flared, a low, cold, and somber male voice cut through from nearby. Where did this come from? Quite the display.

The volume wasn’t high, but the surroundings fell silent instantly.

Following the sound, diagonally across behind a screen, a man lounged lazily in a blood-sandalwood carved armchair.

An posture of extreme relaxation.

Yet his tall, upright frame and sharp, brooding features created a peculiar dissonance:

As if he shouldn’t be like this.

He should be tense and lethal, like a ferocious beast lurking in the darkness of the jungle—danger concealed beneath a veneer of calm.

It was strange.

Though this was their first meeting in her memory, she felt an inexplicable familiarity with him, a sense of long time no see.

Xie Qingman was lost in thought for a few seconds.

Ye Yansheng lifted his eyelids slightly, glancing in her direction, and delivered a single word with no warmth:

Noisy.

The surroundings instantly fell silent, as if plunged into a deathly stillness steeped in ice and snow.

The man’s voice wasn’t loud, even carrying a hint of casual indifference.

But with just one word, everyone around him became as silent as cicadas in winter and as cautious as horses before a general.

Even a fool could tell that this group of people were all top-tier nobility, yet they still had to act according to his mood.

He was practically a living ancestor.

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