Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 506, Page 504: The Empty House and Mysteries
January 2004, the end of the year was approaching.

A faint smell of gunpowder permeated the air beforehand, a bustling atmosphere created by countless travelers returning home and shopping for New Year's goods.

However, amidst this general hustle and bustle, a certain old apartment building in the Beijing Film Studio residential area exudes a desolation that seems out of place with the season.

A black Mercedes-Benz van quietly pulled up downstairs. The door slid open, and Fan Xiaopang, wearing a long white down jacket, sunglasses, and a beanie, stepped out briskly.

Behind her followed a female assistant carrying large bags of nutritional supplements and elegantly packaged gift boxes, as well as two vigilant and robust security personnel. The driver remained in the car, ready to respond at any moment.

This was her first private trip after finishing all her filming and promotional work for "Twilight" in the United States and fully adjusting to the time difference.

Having carefully selected gifts, and knowing that the Chinese New Year was approaching, they came to visit the parents of their boss, Wang Sheng, Wang Baoguo and Zhang Xiulan.

From a professional standpoint, this was a courtesy she would show to her boss's family as an important artist under Shengying Media; from a personal standpoint, she also felt an inexplicable sense of closeness, after all, her relationship with Wang Sheng had long surpassed that of a simple boss and employee.

By the way, I haven't seen sweet potatoes in a long time, and I really miss them.

The group walked up the dimly lit stairwell and arrived at the familiar door.

Fan Xiaopang gestured for his assistant to go up and ring the doorbell.

"Ding-dong-ding-dong-"

The crisp sound of the doorbell echoed in the quiet hallway, but there was silence inside; no one answered.

Fan Xiaopang frowned slightly. In the past, even if she didn't open the door immediately when she came, "Digua" would have been barking excitedly from inside long ago.

That little guy was very clever; he could recognize the footsteps and smells of familiar people.

She had her assistant press the button again, and listened intently, but there was still no response.

"strangeness……"

Fan Xiaopang muttered to himself, a hint of doubt rising in his heart.

She took out her phone, found Zhang Xiulan's number, and dialed it.

The phone rang a few times before being answered. Zhang Xiulan's familiar voice came from the other end, but the background sound seemed somewhat empty, with a faint noise like ocean waves, and... it sounded like a child babbling.
"Hello? Little Fatty?" Zhang Xiulan's voice was cheerful, but there seemed to be a hint of hurriedness.

"Auntie, it's me, Little Fatty." Fan Xiaopang immediately put on a sweet smile, even though the other person couldn't see him. "I just happened to be passing by the Beijing Film Studio. I thought it was almost Chinese New Year, so I came to see you and Uncle Wang and brought you some New Year's goods. Why is no one home? And why isn't Digua here?"

"Ah? You're downstairs?" Zhang Xiulan paused noticeably for a moment, then laughed, "Oh dear, look at my memory, I forgot to tell you. Your Uncle Wang and I aren't in the capital, we're... we're on vacation here in Qiongzhou! It's warm here in winter, we plan to spend the New Year here this year."

"Qiongzhou?" Fan Xiaopang was taken aback; this was something she hadn't expected.

Although Wang Sheng's parents' living conditions are much better now, they still usually stay in Beijing for the Chinese New Year.

Why would they suddenly go to the faraway Qiongzhou to celebrate the New Year?
Her mind raced, but her words flowed quickly, carrying just the right amount of enthusiasm and a hint of coquetry: "Qiongzhou is wonderful, with sunshine and beaches, perfect for winter. Auntie, you and Uncle Wang are so lucky! That's perfect, my work here has just finished, and I have some free time. I'll book a flight and fly over to visit you! I haven't had a vacation in ages."

"No! No need, no need!" Zhang Xiulan's reaction was unexpectedly urgent; she refused almost without thinking. "Little Fatty, I appreciate your kindness. You're so busy with work, and you must have a lot to do after just returning to the country. You finally have a break, don't trouble yourself for us two old folks. Just stay in Beijing, and we'll contact you again when we get back!"

The words implied a sense of evasion, and even the polite formalities seemed somewhat rushed.

Fan Xiaopang's smile faded slightly, and his eyes behind his sunglasses sharpened.

Zhang Xiulan's tone was far more than just polite.

There was a kind of panic in there... a desperate attempt to cover something up?

Although it was only a trace, Fan Xiaopang had been in the entertainment industry for so many years that his ability to read people and situations was already superb, especially when it came to people and things that might affect his future.

"Auntie, why are you being so polite with me? I..." Fan Xiaopang wanted to probe further.

"Hey, Fatty, the signal's not very good here, I'll hang up now! You go ahead with your work, take care of yourself, we'll talk later!" Zhang Xiulan interrupted without waiting for a reply and hurriedly hung up the phone.

Hearing the busy tone from his phone, Fan Xiaopang stood there, holding the phone, motionless for a long time. The chill in the hallway seemed to seep in through his down jacket.

Her assistant and security personnel stood quietly behind her, not daring to disturb her.

Not right.

Something is very wrong.

Zhang Xiulan's attitude was very unusual.

Even if she really didn't want to trouble her to make the trip, given the familiarity between the two families and Zhang Xiulan's usual fondness for her, she would never have reacted in such a hasty and almost impolite manner.

Qiongzhou... vacation... Chinese New Year...

Also, what about that faint child's voice on the phone just now?

A thought that she had deliberately ignored, or rather, dared not think about deeply, suddenly popped into her mind—Gao Yuanyuan!

Yes, it's been a long time since I've seen Gao Yuanyuan!

Since 02, Gao Yuanyuan seems to have disappeared from the public eye and her small circle.

The company's official statement has always been that she is "on vacation" or "in contact with a new script and preparing in seclusion." Even those of them who are also known as the "Three Beauties of Shengying" and are often compared by the media have rarely heard any concrete news about her since.

Fan Xiaopang was busy with work and language training before, and then busy with the overseas filming of "Twilight". He had no time for anything else. When asked occasionally, Li Tingting would give him similar excuses.

At the time, I just thought it was information control before the company went public, or that Gao Yuanyuan had taken on a special project that needed to be kept confidential.

But now, considering Wang Sheng's parents' unusual trip to Qiongzhou for a "holiday during the Spring Festival," and the panic in Zhang Xiulan's tone...

Fan Xiaopang's heart sank little by little, as if it were being tightly gripped by something.

Gao Yuanyuan's "disappearance" is definitely not that simple!
Could it be... that she is in Qiongzhou?

With Wang Sheng's parents?
The child's voice...

A startling conjecture gradually took shape in her mind, making her feel a strange chill and... a strong sense of crisis.

She turned abruptly and said to her assistant and security guards, "Let's go."

"Sister Fan, these gifts..." The assistant looked at the valuable gifts in her hands, somewhat embarrassed.

"Put it back in the car first." Fan Xiaopang's tone was decisive, without the slightest hesitation. She quickly walked down the stairs and got back into the nanny van.

The car was heated up, but her fingers felt a little cold.

She needs to calm down and think things through.

If her guess is true, what does that mean? Gao Yuanyuan not only has a deeper entanglement with Wang Sheng, but may even... have gone that far? Has she gained the approval of Wang Sheng's parents, and even...?
This far exceeded her expectations.

She knew that her relationship with Wang Sheng was complicated, and she also knew that Wang Sheng had more than one woman in his life: Li Xiaoran, Zhang Bozhi, and that Korean woman Kim Hee-sun... Everyone seemed to be maintaining a delicate balance, each getting what they needed.

With her ambition, shrewdness, and growing international reputation, she was confident that she could secure a place in Wang Sheng's empire.

But what if Gao Yuanyuan... what if she has a child...?

That completely changes the nature of the matter! It's no longer a simple physical relationship or a close female friend; it could involve heirs and the distribution of huge future profits!
Fan Xiaopang leaned back in the comfortable leather seat, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

The sound of Zhang Xiulan hastily hanging up the phone flashed through her mind, as did the silent, empty doorway and the faint, heart-wrenching babbling of a child.

No, you can't sit still.

(End of this chapter)