Chapter Thirty-Three: Because You Are Here

“How did it go? Did you put it in?” someone asked from the shadows near the surveillance monitors.

“I did, but when I got there, Miss Shangguan had already taken the red wine.”

“So she didn’t drink the wine you handed her?”

“That’s right, but everyone else did. Both Miss Xia and Miss Zhen, I put it in their drinks.”

“Good. The remaining payment will be transferred to you after the banquet.”

“Thank you, Miss Shangguan.”

—

“Um, I… I need to use the restroom,” Zhen Mi hurriedly rose to her feet, her body feverish and hot. She suspected something was wrong with the wine. Staggering, she rushed toward the bathroom.

“Ranran, I… I feel so… uncomfortable, why am I… why am I so hot?” Xia Wanqing’s heart burned like wildfire, her body collapsing helplessly onto the sofa.

“This is bad. Muya, hurry, follow Zhen Mi!”

They actually dared to drug them?

She had underestimated their ruthlessness. Shangguan Rannan looked at Ye Zuo.

Their eyes met; Ye Zuo immediately understood what Shangguan Rannan intended. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over Xia Wanqing.

“Take Wanqing to the hospital; I’ll wait for Ye Xin,” she said.

Ye Zuo looked at her, concern filling his eyes.

“Hurry, Ye Zuo, Wanqing can’t wait,” she urged.

“Alright.” Wrapping Xia Wanqing securely, Ye Zuo picked her up and hurried toward the hospital.

Huangpu Shenqing and the others came over. “Has something happened?”

“Miss, I recorded their conversation,” someone said.

Ye Xin also hurried over. “They said they put drugs in Miss Xia and Miss Zhen’s wine. Did something happen?”

They had taken every precaution, yet still underestimated the depths of their depravity.

“This is bad, Rannan, Miss Zhen is missing!”

Ouyang Muya ran back. She had searched both restrooms, but found nothing.

“Shangguan Miaomiao, how dare you?”

She wanted to stir up entertainment news, ruin Zhen Mi, and then replace her with Bai Xi, her collaborator? She’d have to see if they were worthy.

“Muya, get all the hotel staff under control, and make sure the surveillance footage is preserved.”

—

“Ye Xin, come with me to find Zhen Mi.”

They were all indirectly involved because of her; she had to see it through.

“How will you search like this?” Huangpu Shenqing stopped her.

Evening gowns and high heels—how could they possibly search properly?

“Mufeng, call for people. I want everyone found within five minutes. From now on, no one in the hotel is allowed to move.”

“Understood. Please be assured, Miss Shangguan, I’ll find her,” Ouyang Mufeng replied, then went to gather people. Ouyang Muya started checking the surveillance footage, Gong Yi searched the hotel rooms, and Ye Xin went to find Shangguan Miaomiao.

Shangguan Rannan shook off the hand holding her. “Mr. Huangpu, why haven’t you left yet?”

“Because you’re here,” Huangpu Shenqing said, gazing earnestly into her eyes.

“Mr. Huangpu, you do have a way with words,” she replied, feeling the atmosphere grow awkward—especially with the ambiguous looks from those around them.

“I’m not joking, Rannan. Have you considered what I asked last time?” Huangpu Shenqing lowered his head.

Shangguan Rannan grew uncomfortable, shifting her gaze. “What are you talking about, Mr. Huangpu?”

“You know. That night…”

“Ye Xin is back,” Shangguan Rannan quickly interrupted him.

“Miss,” Ye Xin said, bringing Shangguan Miaomiao over by force. Bai Xi followed behind.

“Minister, I don’t know why you called me…”

A sharp slap rang out; everyone around stopped what they were doing.

Shangguan Rannan stepped forward and slapped Shangguan Miaomiao across the face.

“How dare you hit me, Shangguan Rannan! Do you know who I am…” Shangguan Miaomiao covered her face, furious.

“And what of it? You’ve grown too comfortable in this world, forgotten who your master is?” Shangguan Rannan’s coldness was chilling, her formidable presence intimidating.

“You meddled with the company—I spared you for the sake of appearances. But what you absolutely should not have done is lay a hand on my people.”

“What are you talking about, Minister? I don’t understand. Don’t blame everything on me!” Shangguan Miaomiao was livid, seething.

What she hated most was Shangguan Rannan’s arrogance, as if her charity was the only reason Miaomiao existed.

“It’s fine if you don’t understand. Ye Xin, go find that waiter.”

Gong Yi returned, having found nothing in the hotel rooms. Ouyang Muya had also asked the manager to review the surveillance footage.

—

She instructed the hotel security to lock down the entire banquet hall, not allowing a single person to leave.

“Yes, Miss.”

Ye Xin had seen the waiter who handed out the wine; as long as he was still inside, she would find him.

“Rannan, here’s footage of the drugging,” Ouyang Muya said, having clipped the video for evidence.

“How could there be surveillance? Wasn’t it…” Bai Xi’s face turned pale with fear. They had been so careful, using their knowledge as hotel staff to avoid cameras. How could they have been caught?

Their scheme had already been uncovered. Where was that person now? Had Zhen Mi been kidnapped?

“Miss Bai, did you forget? This is the Ouyang family’s hotel. Installing discreet cameras is hardly difficult,” Ouyang Muya replied.

What? Hidden cameras? Pinhole cameras? Shangguan Miaomiao’s steps faltered—what else had she done?

Bai Xi nearly lost her footing as well. Thankfully, Shangguan Miaomiao had been the one to handle things; otherwise, she would have offended the Ouyang family herself—and…

Bai Xi glanced at the woman sitting on the sofa, wild and untamed, sharp-eyed and fiercely independent, her aura impossible to ignore.

“Yes, I was ignorant,” Bai Xi replied softly.

Among the crowd, Huangpu Qing’an sneered. Without the skill to carry out their plan, they had risked everything. The ones he wanted drugged had escaped, and the ones he didn’t want had fallen victim. Now they had trapped themselves—fools, all of them. It seemed he would have to take matters into his own hands.

Huangpu Qing’an walked toward the passageway.

“Sorry, sir, our Miss has ordered that no one may leave,” the security guard said dutifully.

“What did you say? I am the young master of the Huangpu family—how dare you stop me? Do you want to lose your job?”

“Sorry, sir, please…”

“Qing’an? What’s going on?” Huangpu Qingyin came up the stairs from the first floor. She had gone home to gather money, only to find it wasn’t enough. She had begged her grandparents for help; they gave her the funds, but cut off all her future allowance.

Arriving at the hotel, she sensed something was wrong—she almost couldn’t get in.

“Sister, you’re just in time. Go check on them; they’re hopeless.”

“What happened? Has something changed?”

“The plan failed.”