Huayu: This celebrity doesn't follow the rules.

Chapter 92 The Director's Collapse, and the Fight Starts Again

The hotel corridor in London was so quiet that she could hear her own footsteps. Lin Wei, holding Meng Ziyi's thermos, found a corner in the fire escape and stood there.

"That idiot Xiaoya, does she really think that competing to serve tea and water will make her successful?"

When she came out, her stand-in assistant, Xiaoya, was fawning over Meng Ziyi, massaging her shoulders in a way that was nauseatingly obsequious.

She dismissed it dismissively.

Lin Wei's fingertips traced across the phone screen, her eyes filled with certainty.

She was personally assigned by President Jiang, and her mission here was never just to take care of the artists.

The screen lit up, and she quickly opened the anonymous phone number she had just registered and began composing a text message.

President Jiang had a special talk with her before they set off.

"Keep an eye on Meng Ziyi and Zheng Shuang. If things get out of hand, find a way to take some photos of Zheng Shuang being taken advantage of, and then send them to the designated person."

Lin Wei took a deep breath and pressed the send button.

It's dusk in London outside the window, while it's already late at night back home; the time difference is exactly seven hours.

She put away her phone, feeling both admiration for President Jiang and a vague sense of apprehension.

The intricacies of the entertainment industry were more like a battlefield without gunpowder than she had imagined.

But when she thought about the promotion and three-month bonus that would follow, she calmed herself down.

She recalled the script that General Manager Jiang had given her and began to work diligently.

At the same time, late at night in Shanghai, Zhang Han had just finished a video conference at his company and was sitting on his sofa at home, swirling a glass of red wine.

As a domineering CEO, he always pays attention to his image and taste.

My phone pinged; it was a text message from an unknown number, sent to "Zheng Shuang's Assistant".

He frowned and clicked on it; he and Zheng Shuang hadn't been in contact for a long time.

Because he and Nazar were photographed by paparazzi and the story was published last time, Zheng Shuang had another argument with him and eventually blocked him.

Before he could think about it, the other party sent another message, followed by a photo.

A disheveled girl had an ice pack on her face, which was swollen like a steamed bun, and there was a shiny liquid, which looked like snot, stuck to the corner of her mouth.

Zhang Han nearly spat out his red wine: "Who is this?"

"It's Sister Shuang! [crying]"

"She was bullied today and hasn't eaten or drunk anything."

Zhang Han's finger hovered above the screen.

It had been almost half a year since the breakup, and he should have been indifferent by now, but when he saw the familiar red string on her wrist in the photo...

That was the safety rope they had prayed for in Phuket years ago; my heart still ached a little.

"We've broken up," he finally replied.

The other party responded instantly.

"I know it's inappropriate, but Sister Shuang's phone wallpaper is still a photo of us together from your birthday [image]"

The photo shows a blurry old picture of the two of them on the set of "Meteor Shower" on Zheng Shuang's phone.

Zhang Han's breath hitched.

It's true that when a man is too outstanding, his ex can't forget him.

"She's alone in London now, and she's been assaulted by a fellow actress but doesn't dare to say a word..."

Zhang Han called back, and the call was quickly answered. A woman's voice, deliberately lowered, came from the other end: "Brother Zhang, have you seen the photos?"

"what is going on?"

“Sister Shuang got into a conflict with someone while recording the show,” the other person said, their voice trembling with tears. “She’s locked herself in her room now, not eating or drinking, and she’s in so much pain.”

He paused for a moment, then asked in a complicated tone, "Something happened to her, why didn't she contact me herself?"

“As you know, Sister Shuang is very proud, so she didn’t tell anyone and just kept it to herself,” the other person sighed, her voice becoming more earnest. “But I know that you are the one she can’t let go of.”

"Brother Zhang, I know I shouldn't be saying this, but I really feel sorry for her. Sister Shuang treats me like her own sister!"

"It's so pitiful to see someone all alone in a foreign country, being bullied and having no one to rely on. Could you... could you come and see her? No matter what, you've been together for so many years, there must be feelings between you."

Zhang Han held his phone, his fingertips tracing the edge of the screen.

The years they'd spent together were real, and he knew Zheng Shuang's pride and stubbornness all too well.

And she's always acting crazy...

"Who did she get into a conflict with? How badly was she injured?"

"I can't say the specifics... the production team doesn't allow it to be shared." The other person hesitated, "But you can see from the photos that her eyes are swollen from crying, and she won't even eat now. No matter how I try to persuade her, it's no use."

"Just this one? Could you send a few more close-up photos?"

"Okay, okay!" the other party immediately agreed, and a few seconds later, several more photos popped up on the phone.

There is a profile of Zheng Shuang sitting on the edge of the bed, his hair messy.

Another picture shows her staring blankly at the mirror, looking very uncomfortable.

"Brother Zhang, you saw it, right? She's really upset." The other person's voice became more urgent. "Actually... Sister Shuang was secretly looking through your WeChat Moments last night. She didn't say anything, but she's been thinking about you the whole time. If you could suddenly appear in front of her and give her a surprise, she'll definitely feel better!"

"Surprise?" Zhang Han raised an eyebrow.

“Yes!” the other person said urgently. “Think about it, she’s all alone in London. How touched she would be if you showed up like this? Maybe the misunderstanding would be cleared up. Besides, you didn’t tell anyone before you came. You just said you were on a business trip and stopped by to see her. You didn’t lose face.”

"let me think again."

He didn't reply immediately. After hanging up the phone, he stared at those photos for a long time.

In the end, I opened my contacts, found a number with the nickname "Mango Brother Li" and dialed it.

"Hey, Brother Li, are you asleep?" Zhang Han cut to the chase. "I have a question for you. Was the second season of 'Divas Hit the Road' filmed in London? Was the hotel they stayed at called Tower Bridge Hill?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Brother Li's voice carried a hint of wariness: "Yeah, what's wrong? Why are you asking this?"

"Was Zheng Shuang on that show? Did something happen to her?" Zhang Han pressed.

Brother Li's voice suddenly became muffled: "Uh... well... it's not easy to say much about what happened during the recording of the show, anyway... there was a little friction, but I can't reveal the specifics, you know what I mean."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Han stared at the pitiful photo on his phone, his fingers tapping lightly on the sofa armrest. Neon lights from outside shone through the gap in the curtains, casting a blurry shadow on his face, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

He couldn't help but recall the happy times they spent filming the meteor shower together...

That was his youth!
The London winds eventually blew into the deep night of Shanghai.

At the same time, Hu Yanbin, who was recording a song, also received a text message.

His girlfriend got into trouble!
……

The air in the conference room of the London hotel was like frozen ice.

Zheng Shuang and Meng Ziyi sat facing each other at opposite ends of the long table, surrounded by members of the production team, each with an increasingly grim expression.

Zheng Shuang wore heavy makeup today, and the foundation covered the puffiness on her face, but when she started cursing, the corners of her mouth would still twitch involuntarily, and her expression would be slightly distorted by pain.

"I'm telling you, Meng Ziyi, this isn't over!" Zheng Shuang slammed her hand on the table, her voice shrill. "To hit someone in public and still dare to say you did nothing wrong? If you don't apologize today, nobody's going to be recording this show!"

Director Liao Ke quickly tried to smooth things over: "Xiao Zheng, calm down. We're all colleagues, let's talk it out. Ziyi is young, she might have acted impulsively..."

"Impulsive?" Zheng Shuang sneered, completely unconvinced. "Impulsiveness justifies taking action? Sister Mao, tell me, in all the time we've been recording this show, when have we ever seen such an arrogant newcomer?"

Mao Amin sighed and said gently, "Xiao Zheng, I saw what happened yesterday too. It was just a misunderstanding. Ziyi definitely didn't do it on purpose. You see, she's quite upset right now. How about... we each take a step back?"

Before she could finish speaking, Zheng Shuang turned her face away, not even giving her face as a senior: "Take a step back? My face is already swollen, how can I back down?"

In the corner, Jing Boran and Yang Yang shrank back, not daring to utter a sound. Yang Yang secretly tugged at Jing Boran's sleeve, and their eyes met, both revealing a helpless resignation that they couldn't afford to offend him.

Meng Ziyi sat in the chair, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, without saying a word from beginning to end.

She really didn't think she was wrong. Zheng Shuang struck first, so why couldn't she fight back?
But looking at the anxious eyes of the staff around him, and thinking about how he had caused the entire crew to stop filming, the pressure in his heart felt as heavy as a stone.

What she was more worried about was whether this matter would cause trouble for the company if it reached Jiang Ye.
"Alright, it's no big deal." Ning Jing suddenly spoke up, his tone filled with undisguised sarcasm. "You can't beat them, yet you're making such a fuss. You should use that energy to practice your reflexes so you don't get hurt again next time."

Zheng Shuang immediately exploded: "Ning Jing, what kind of talk is that? I'm the victim!"

"The victim shouldn't be so unforgiving," Xu Qing added slowly. "Ziyi is usually quite well-behaved; she must have been provoked to act like this. When we're out and about, can't we all be a little more tolerant of each other?"

She was clearly defending Meng Ziyi in her words, which made Zheng Shuang so angry that her face turned pale.

Several guests nearby offered various advice, some saying it was a minor matter, others saying not to affect the filming schedule; their scattered voices were hardly enough to calm the situation. Seeing that the scene was about to get out of control, Liao Ke gave Meng Ziyi a wink, got up and walked outside: "Xiao Meng, come out with me for a moment."

In the corridor, Liao Ke said earnestly, "Xiao Meng, I know you're feeling wronged, but look at the situation now."

"Dozens of staff are waiting to start work, and the sponsors are also urging us... Can't you just lower your head, apologize, and consider the bigger picture?"

The moral blackmail in his words was all too obvious: "After the show is finished, we'll help you coordinate the follow-up matters."

Meng Ziyi bit her lip, feeling a pang of grievance in her heart. But looking at Liao Ke's earnest eyes and thinking about the losses from a day's work stoppage, she finally nodded. Just as she was about to agree, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

"I disagree!"

The four words exploded like thunder in the quiet corridor, startling Meng Ziyi, who turned around abruptly.

The emergency exit door at the end of the corridor had been pushed open at some point, and Jiang Ye stood in the middle of the door frame, his black coat casually draped over his arm, and the collar of his white shirt slightly open.

The afternoon sun streamed in from behind him, gilding him with a golden edge, and even his shadow on the ground exuded an undeniable aura.

Meng Ziyi was completely stunned. Her mouth was slightly open, and a surge of surprise coursed through her body like an electric current. She even wondered if she was hallucinating.

Why is he here?

Filming in Suzhou wasn't finished yet, so why did he suddenly fly to London?
Jiang Ye walked to her side and pulled her behind him to protect her.

His gaze swept over Liao Ke: "Director Liao, there's no room for discussion on this."

"You know how the guest slots for this show are obtained! Last time we made a concession to give Hunan TV face."

"She started it and then accused us first. Why should Ziyi apologize?"

His tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation: "Either she leaves the group, or we leave. There is no other possibility."

Liao Ke's face turned green as she looked at Jiang Ye, who was exuding an aura of dominance, and she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Why are young people these days so impulsive?

He lost his temper too: "Jiang Ye, you'd better think carefully about the consequences!"

"Zheng Shuang is a member of Mango TV. If things really escalate to the end, Xiao Meng will definitely leave the group, which will benefit no one!"

Jiang Ye curled the corners of his lips, his eyes conveying a meaningful look: "Not necessarily. Director Liao, why don't you take another look?"

He turned to look at Meng Ziyi, his eyes softening. "Don't be afraid, the sky won't fall."

The argument in the meeting room hadn't stopped. Zheng Shuang was covering her mouth and cursing excitedly, "What the hell! A whole bunch of people ganged up on me, do they really think I'm easy to mess with?"

When she's not making a move, she's fearless!
No sooner had she finished speaking than her assistant, Xiaolin, rushed in, panting and pale: "Sister Shuang! Zhang... Brother Zhang Han is here! He's in the hotel lobby!"

"Who?" Zheng Shuang abruptly stopped speaking, his eyes widening instantly, as if he hadn't heard clearly. "Who did you say came?"

“Brother Zhang Han! He’s at the conference room door, saying he wants to see you!” Xiaolin repeated, her voice trembling.

Zheng Shuang's heart pounded wildly, and his anger was instantly dispelled by a huge surge of joy.

She didn't even bother to fix her disheveled hair, and rushed out in her slippers, not even noticing her skirt brushing against the chair.

She rushed out of the conference room. Zhang Han stood there, wearing a black trench coat, looking travel-worn, with the familiar concern in his eyes.

"How did you come?"

Zheng Shuang's voice trembled, and his eyes instantly reddened.

These past few days, she had been overwhelmed by grievances and pressure, and when she saw Zhang Han, the taut string suddenly snapped.

Zhang Han took two steps forward, took off his trench coat and draped it over her shoulders, his voice low and gentle: "I know you've been bullied."

This one sentence completely shattered Zheng Shuang's defenses.

She couldn't hold back any longer, throwing herself into Zhang Han's arms, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably, "They all bully me...nobody believes me...I'm so heartbroken..."

Zhang Han held her tightly, gently patting her back with his palm, feeling both sour and tender inside.

The barriers of separation and the distance of time seemed to vanish at this moment.

He looked down at her red, tear-filled eyes, his heart aching terribly. He couldn't help but reach out and wipe away her tears, then leaned down and kissed her.

Zheng Shuang was stunned for a moment, then responded passionately, all her grievances, longing, and dependence melting into that kiss.

The staff and guests in the corridor were stunned, staring blankly at the scene. Several stagehands instinctively gathered around, wanting to persuade them but not daring to move.

"What are you doing?!"

A furious shout rang out as Hu Yanbin stood at the end of the corridor, carrying his suitcase, his face ashen as he stared at the two embracing and kissing.

Zhang Han suddenly looked up and released Zheng Shuang.

When Zheng Shuang saw Hu Yanbin, he turned pale with fright and instinctively hid behind Zhang Han.

The surrounding staff tensed up instantly. Some whispered about what was going on, while others tried to step in to smooth things over, but were frightened into stopping in their tracks by the tense atmosphere.

"Hu Yanbin? What brings you here?" Zhang Han frowned and instinctively shielded Zheng Shuang behind him.

"If I hadn't come, how could I have witnessed such a spectacular scene?"

Hu Yanbin slammed his suitcase on the ground, rushed over, pointed at Zhang Han's nose, and yelled, "Who do you think you are? Trying to seduce my girlfriend while I was away?"

Zhang Han felt guilty and didn't know how to respond.

The atmosphere was just right...

Jiang Ye looked at the scene before him and felt somewhat disappointed in Binbin.

At this point, what else is there to say?

Not manly at all...

He stepped forward and said, "Garlic bird, garlic bird, everyone has their own difficulties!"

"Brother Bin, calm down. Brother Han just heard that Sister Shuang was wronged, so he came to check on her."

"Look how much Sister Shuang is crying, it's normal for Brother Han to feel sorry for her, after all, they've been together for so many years!"

Hu Yanbin's fists clenched so tightly they cracked: "What were they doing just now? Did they think I was blind?"

"Oh, well, actors are actors," Jiang Ye said with a smile, waving his hand. "Filming kissing scenes is just work, let alone such genuine emotions..."

"Brother Bin, you're a magnanimous person. Don't hold a grudge against them over such old feelings. It would make you seem petty."

"Me, petty?" Hu Yanbin's eyes were red with anger. "Zhang Han, you dared to kiss her in front of me, and you still say I'm petty?!"

Before he could finish speaking, he punched Zhang Han in the face: "I'll fucking teach you to pretend to be so sentimental!"

With a muffled thud, Zhang Han was knocked back a step, his lip instantly bleeding.

The surrounding staff erupted in a commotion. Some cried out, "Stop fighting!" Others tried to intervene, but were pushed and shoved aside by the two men.

"Keep your mouth clean!"

Zhang Han also got really angry, and grabbed Hu Yanbin's collar and punched him back.

The two instantly started fighting, their trench coats were ripped off and thrown to the ground, and their fists swung fast and hard, making the nearby trash can clang loudly.

Zheng Shuang screamed and tried to break up the fight, "Stop fighting! Stop fighting!"

But he was pushed back by the chaotic crowd, tears streaming down his face.

More and more staff members gathered around, some shouting "Quickly pull them apart!" and others rushing to find the director. The scene completely spiraled out of control.

Jiang Ye stood on the periphery of the crowd, arms crossed, watching coldly, a faint smile even playing on his lips.

Meng Ziyi tugged at his arm and whispered, "Aye, should we try to stop them? Why are they fighting?"

"You've wasted your breath trying to persuade me!"

Jiang Ye: "..."

"Let them settle their personal grievances properly, so that no one always feels wronged."

Jiang Ye turned around and glanced at Zheng Shuang with a frightening look in his eyes.

Zheng Shuang was jumping up and down in frustration, but there was nothing he could do; he felt like fainting...

Liao Ke was dragged and pulled over by staff. Seeing the chaotic scene before her, her temples throbbed with anger. She yelled into the microphone, "Stop it! Isn't it chaotic enough already?!"

But his voice was drowned out by screams, curses, and tugging sounds. The corridor was left with only a chaotic mess. Sunlight shone through the windows, but it couldn't illuminate the anger and absurdity on everyone's faces.

There were also surreptitious cameras hidden in the corners...

(P.S.: Still 9000 words!)
(End of this chapter)