Chapter 10: My Former Desk-mate, Now a Silver Screen Queen.

Chapter 10: The Former Desk-mate, Now a Movie Queen.

In a villa in Beijiang, an old man sat cross-legged in meditation. Before him stood a plump, pale man, sweating profusely. The old man was so gaunt he looked like skin stretched over bones, as if a gust of wind could blow him away, yet the man stood in such awe that he didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Suddenly, a tattoo on the old man’s arm flashed with a spark of fire and vanished.

The old man opened his eyes and said in a sinister tone, "There is still such a master in Beijiang, to actually destroy my Scarlet Spirit."

The man shuddered and hurriedly asked, "Master Liu, does this mean that old fool Qin Yuan has been saved?"

If Qin Yu were here, she would certainly recognize this man. He was Qin Tian, the manager of the Longtai Group and her own uncle. The old man, meanwhile, was a master named Liu Ning, whom Qin Tian had hired at a great cost. Qin Tian had spent so much money to bring Liu Ning here specifically to deal with Qin Yuan. If there was anyone in the world who wished for Qin Yuan’s death more than anyone else, it was undoubtedly Qin Tian, for only with Qin Yuan’s death could the Longtai Group become his own.

As for Qin Yu, Qin Tian had never looked at his niece with anything but disdain; he believed that a mere woman could never be his match. The "Red-Clad Ghost" on Qin Yuan had indeed been planted by Liu Ning, who was truly a formidable practitioner.

Hearing Qin Tian’s words, Liu Ning let out a grating, cackling laugh. "Do not worry. Even if Qin Yuan has been saved by some expert, I do not fear them. Once I obtain that item at the auction in two days, there will be no one left in this world who can stand against me!"

Qin Tian quickly showered him with flattery. After spending these days together, Qin Tian had come to worship Liu Ning like a god. "Master Liu, is that item really so powerful?"

Liu Ning replied indifferently, "Do you really think that for the pittance you pay, I would stay here in Beijiang this long to do your bidding?"

"Yes, yes, of course!" Qin Tian nodded and bowed repeatedly.

A look of excitement appeared on Liu Ning’s face. "You mortals are actually putting such a treasure up for auction? If I didn't know who currently holds it, I wouldn't have bothered waiting for this so-called auction!"

"And what about Qin Yuan…?"

"Once I obtain that item, killing him will be as easy as flipping my hand!"

"But…" Qin Tian looked troubled.

Liu Ning sneered, "Rest assured. By then, my cultivation will have advanced greatly. I will ensure he dies without a whisper, and no one will ever suspect you."

Qin Tian was overjoyed. "Thank you, Master!"

***

Xue Xiang and Xue Nian were both asleep. The two little girls had been exhausted these past few days.

Xue An, seeing that they were asleep, got up to tidy the house. He pushed open the bedroom he had once shared with An Yan. The room had not changed much since he left four years ago; many things remained exactly as they were, covered only by a thin layer of dust. Only a framed photo on the nightstand remained clean and vibrant.

Xue An picked up the photo. In it, An Yan was snuggled up to him, smiling brilliantly. A sharp pang of pain pierced Xue An’s heart. *An Yan, wait for me! I will definitely bring you back to my side in glory! Those who once looked down on us and stood in our way, I will trample them all underfoot this time!*

Wait. Xue An suddenly noticed that someone had clearly been wiping this photo often—especially his side of the frame, which had been worn smooth and pale from touch.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Xue An put the photo down and opened the door. Tang Xuan'er stood there, carrying a bag of vegetables.

"You're back!" Xue An smiled and let her in.

"Where are Xiangxiang and Niannian?"

"They’re both asleep!"

Tang Xuan'er smiled. "As expected, they’re closest to their daddy. They wouldn't even sleep without me before!"

Noticing the bedroom door was open, Tang Xuan'er said nonchalantly, "I’ve come in to clean over the years, but I never moved anything. I just felt that you would definitely come back."

"Hmm."

"Have you eaten?"

"I have."

"Do you want to eat more?"

"I do," Xue An said, smiling as he looked at this woman who possessed the grace of a mountain orchid.

Tang Xuan'er began to wash vegetables and cook with nimble hands. Soon, a sumptuous meal was prepared. As Xue An sat down to eat, Tang Xuan'er suddenly said, "Tomorrow… our high school classmates are having a reunion."

"Oh."

"Are you going?"

Xue An shook his head. "I don't even remember who my high school classmates are. Why go?"

"You really are still the same. But this reunion is different. Our old classmate—your high school desk-mate—Fan Mengxue has returned to Beijiang. This gathering is to welcome her home!"

Fan Mengxue? Xue An frowned, then finally remembered who she was.

"She returned, so she returned. Does that require such a grand welcome?"

Tang Xuan'er looked at Xue An with a strange expression. "You couldn't possibly not know, could you?"

"Know what?"

"Fan Mengxue is the pride of our class now! She is the hottest actress of the moment; she just won the Golden Globe for Best Actress last month. She is a true Movie Queen!"

"Oh, and what does that have to do with me?" Xue An said calmly.

Tang Xuan'er sighed. "Have you forgotten? When we were in school, Fan Mengxue liked you the most!"

Xue An felt a slight jolt. In his mind, he saw the image of a girl with a ponytail and two deep dimples when she smiled. *How could that be?*

Noticing Xue An’s surprise, Tang Xuan'er laughed in spite of herself. "Everyone in the class knew it at the time. Did you really not feel anything?"

Xue An shook his head.

Tang Xuan'er paused for a moment, then whispered, "I’m going tomorrow. You should come with me!"

Xue An thought for a moment and nodded. "Fine. But I’ll have to bring Xiangxiang and Niannian!"

"Alright, I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow at noon!"

After Tang Xuan'er left, Xue An sat in the living room and turned on the television. An interview happened to be playing, and the person being interviewed was his former desk-mate, the big star Fan Mengxue.

"Miss Fan, it is rumored that Yue Xiaotian, one of the Four Young Masters of Zhongdu, is pursuing you. Is there any truth to this?"

Under the flashing lights, Fan Mengxue looked breathtaking. She only smiled faintly at the reporter’s question. "Mr. Yue and I are just friends. I have always thought of him as an older brother."

The reporters stirred.

"Then is there no man who has moved your heart? Or what are your standards for a partner?" the reporter pressed.

Fan Mengxue paused for a moment, tears glistening in her eyes. "I have long had someone in my heart."

The reporters were nearly ecstatic. This was huge news!

"Can you reveal who it is?"

Fan Mengxue smiled. "He was my classmate, but he has been missing for four years. However, I believe we will definitely meet again!"

The interview ended there. Although the reporters wanted to keep asking, Fan Mengxue had already left.

In a luxurious villa in Beijiang, a man with handsome features but sinister eyes threw his remote control in a fit of rage. It smashed into the seventy-inch LCD TV, which cracked upon impact.

The man said hatefully, "Fan Mengxue, you still haven't forgotten that brat after all this time? Fine. At the reunion tomorrow, if he dares to show his face, I will trample him underfoot right in front of you!"