Chapter 111: The Battlefield of Carnage (Part II)

Zhang Kai hesitated, clearly trying to change the subject.

“What do you mean, what happened? You know Grandma Mu Yun is acquainted with Chen Xi. The moment she heard Chen Xi got injured, she rushed over in a panic and dragged Mu Yun along,” he explained.

Wang Ling scoffed coldly, “Rushed over in the middle of recording a show, you say?”

Zhang Kai slapped his thigh. “Exactly! Grandma said she couldn’t wait and threatened to come herself if we didn’t go immediately. How could we let that happen? Mu Yun had no choice but to drop the show and come straight away.”

His tone was filled with regret and helplessness, as if coming here was the last thing he wanted.

Wang Ling watched him silently, as if daring him to keep spinning his story.

Zhang Kai had been through many women, but Wang Ling was different from the others—he was utterly powerless against her.

Just as Zhang Kai was about to crack under the pressure, an unexpected visitor appeared.

“Zhang Kai?” A young woman’s voice rang out, tinged with surprise and suspicion.

Hearing his name, Zhang Kai brightened. Anything to divert the conversation was welcome. He quickly smiled at the woman in front of him. She returned the smile, surprised, but then her expression darkened as she spoke.

“Hello! Is there something you need?” Her tone was polite yet distant; it seemed he didn’t even remember her.

She glanced at Wang Ling beside him and sneered sarcastically, “I thought your taste in picking people had improved over the years, but it seems nothing’s changed.”

Her mocking gaze landed squarely on Wang Ling without any attempt to hide it.

Zhang Kai frowned. “Li Xinyi, we still have matters to discuss. We don’t mean to disturb you and the gentleman with you.”

At once, Wang Ling laughed openly, unrestrained.

The woman’s face turned a deep shade of iron, and even the man beside her glanced at her strangely, as if trying to suppress a laugh.

Zhang Kai was puzzled. He had only suggested she leave if she had nothing to do, especially since her boyfriend was right there!

Gritting her teeth, the woman said, “My surname is Ren.”

“Oh!” Zhang Kai responded carelessly; it was hard to remember names when they all sounded so similar.

Wang Ling sighed inwardly. What kind of doomed entanglement was this? She had only invited Zhang Kai to two Western restaurants—once Ren Xinyi had stood him up. The second time was today, and unexpectedly, not only did Zhang Kai show up, but an old acquaintance appeared too.

She had thought Zou Ying was her hurdle, but it seemed Ren Xinyi was just as troublesome.

Ren Xinyi turned to the man beside her, her voice dripping with feigned sweetness, “Darling, let me introduce you—these two are my university classmates. They’re both now agents. Chu Mu Yun and Bai Chen Xi are their clients.”

The man raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. Seeing his interest, Ren Xinyi deliberately added, “You probably don’t know—they’ve been together since college, inseparable. Zhang Kai’s girlfriend is always jealous because of that.”

“Ren Xinyi, do you have something else to say?” Zhang Kai cut her off sharply, clearly eager to get rid of her. What savior? She was more like a nightmare.

Seeing him flustered, Ren Xinyi said spitefully, “Of course. Next month, we’re hosting an alumni reunion in Long City. You’ll be coming, right?”

“Of course,” Wang Ling replied without hesitation. How could she back down from such a provocation now?

Zhang Kai stared in disbelief at Wang Ling’s quick agreement. “You’re brave to go; I’m not. Thinking of those ex-girlfriends gives me a headache.”

“Good! I’ll be waiting for you. Don’t chicken out then!” Ren Xinyi shot them a meaningful look.

With that, she linked arms with the man and sauntered away.

As they left, the man glanced at Zhang Kai thoughtfully. “Mu Yun has such an agent, yet he hasn’t been led astray. Always pure and detached—such a wasted talent.”

Ren Xinyi caught the look and imagined he was jealous of her. She couldn’t help but feel a thrill: if she could win him over, marrying into a wealthy family would be within reach.

Her grip on the man’s arm tightened slightly.

Watching them go, Zhang Kai exhaled in relief. At least for now, the ordeal was over.

Tentatively, he asked Wang Ling, “Are you really going?”

“Why not? Aren’t you afraid your exes will tear you apart?” Wang Ling teased.

Zhang Kai gave a weary smile. It wasn’t fear—it was worry they might say something inappropriate, like Ren Xinyi, and upset little Ling.

Wang Ling and Zhang Kai had known each other since they entered university. They were inseparable, in a way few couples could understand.

Who could tolerate their boyfriend having such a close female friend?

Though Zhang Kai was never the faithful type, many of his breakups were due to Wang Ling. Some were initiated by him, some by the girls, but the name Wang Ling was always involved.

He thought the girls overreacted; they thought he was fickle.

One exception was Zou Ying—they got along well, though she and her sister Zou Tang didn’t get along.

Usually, after a breakup, they disappeared, and it never reached Wang Ling’s ears. Now with this alumni meeting coming up, he hoped no old grudges would be stirred.

Wang Ling, unaware of Zhang Kai’s worries, found her expression darkened further by the presence of Ren Xinyi.

She wore a solemn expression and said, “Let’s continue where we left off.”

Zhang Kai hadn’t even figured out the first question when another one was thrown at him.

“I really don’t know the details, only that they’re close,” he said, his words carrying no credibility.

Wang Ling didn’t press further, just said, “Chen Xi wants to focus on acting, not relationships. If your Chu Mu Yun... then we’re not done.”

Zhang Kai tried to soothe her, “That depends on the two of them. Talking here won’t help.”

Wang Ling thought of going back to have a serious talk with Bai Chen Xi.

Mu Yun, I can only help you so far.

Chu Mu Yun seemed unusually free these days, staying around diligently. When Bai Chen Xi asked, he said his grandmother was worried and insisted he stay, or she’d come herself.

In that respect, Chu Mu Yun and Zhang Kai were quite in sync.

Xia Yan also came by several times, but Chu Mu Yun rebuffed him with an impassive expression each time.

Bai Chen Xi felt helpless, caught in the middle of their silent battle.

She wondered when they had become rivals—such hostility suggested a serious matter.

Lying here every day was boring enough, but it was worse that Chu Mu Yun had confiscated her phone to ensure she focused on recovery.

After telling Wang Ling, she gave Chu Mu Yun a complicated glance and surprisingly agreed.

“Rest well; don’t get caught up in nonsense.”

Bai Chen Xi vaguely suspected negative rumors about her online.

She couldn’t understand how she, a genuine victim this time, could become the subject of bad gossip.

Judging by their expressions, it seemed serious. But for now, she dared not openly defy Chu Mu Yun’s orders. Negative comments or not, she’d just ignore them.

Her obedient demeanor in front of Chu Mu Yun was so pronounced that even Wang Ling disapproved. “Why aren’t you this well-behaved with me?”

Another dull day passed. Bai Chen Xi lay there, chatting idly with Chu Mu Yun.

Suddenly, two people pushed open the door. Startled, Bai Chen Xi asked, “Why are you here?”

Or rather, “Why did you come together?”