Sundering Nature

TL: ZhaoEditing: Krisaia

“Eat your yogurt first.” Sai Gao suddenly said.  

“Right.” Shao Xian sat down right next to Sai Gao, ignoring the vice-director completely, and picked up the yogurt from the table. 

“Are you Shao Xian’s manager?” The director finally realized that the one in charge in the group was Sai Gao. This made him doubt whether Shao Xian was nothing more than a tool to the mysterious group led by Sai Gao. 

“That I am. What business do you have with me?” Sai Gao answered with a scornful glance. 

“There’s wine here. Want some?” Li Yiming picked up a glass bottle and asked Sai Gao. 

“That brand’s kind of sour. I wouldn’t even try it. I am pretty happy about this resting room though.” Sai Gao said as he looked at the vice-director.  

‘This room isn’t for you!” The vice-director tried to suppress his anger to maintain his public image. 

“Well, it’s ours now.” 

“Look, I understand that you’re not happy about the room you were assigned. How about you come out and I’ll go help you find another room myself. Let’s not disrupt the scheduling just for this,” The vice-director said as he glanced at his watch. He wanted to make sure to resolve the whole fiasco before Fang Shui’er arrived. After that, he would have all the time in the world to investigate the trio’s background and take revenge. 

“Seems like we have quite the show here,” A pleasant voice was heard as Fang Shui’er appeared at the door. She seemed confused as she looked at her name the door a couple of times to make sure she was at the right place.

“Ms. Fang…” Beads of sweat rolled down the vice-director’s head as he faced the VIP guest of the festival. Should he anger her, his career in the entertainment industry would be over. 

“Did I go to the wrong room?” Fang Shui’er asked as the people who were watching moved to the side to let her pass through. 

“Yup. This is our room,” Sai Gao answered nonchalantly. 

“You…! Ms. Fang, please…” The vice-director looked at Sai Gao as if he wanted to murder him. 

“Shao Xian! What a coincidence! I’m guessing they didn’t have a room for you. How about we share our room today?” Fang Shui’er looked at Shao Xian and saluted her with a playful smile. 

“What?” Shao Xian jumped up from where she sat, spilling her drink in the process. She knew Fang Shui’er had some kind of relationship with Li Yiming, and she was undoubtedly doing it for his sake. 

“Why are you looking at me? She’s asking you.” Li Yiming shrugged his shoulders as he looked for a bottle-opener. 

“Sharing a room? Are you sure?” The vice-director could not understand why Fang Shui’er would possibly want to accommodate Shao Xian’s needs. 

“She’s not asking for your permission.” Fang Shui’er’s assistant snorted in discontent as she interposed herself between Fang Shui’er and the vice-director. 

“Would you be okay with it?” Fang Shui’er asked again. 

“Of course!” Shao Xian nodded. She was beginning to wonder what kind of relationship Li Yiming had with Fang Shui’er, especially considering his “special” connection with Sai Gao. 

“Alright then.” Fang Shui’er nodded at Sai Gao, turned in Li Yiming’s direction and bowed down slightly. 

‘I made a mistake.’ The vice-director was sharp enough to catch this detail. He knew that it was Li Yiming who influenced Fang Shui’er’s decision. ‘But this young man… who is he?’ 

“Now that this has been settled, could you please vacate the room?” Fang Shui’er’s assistant said coldly. 

“Of course, of course.” The vice-director quickly retreated along with his crew. 

“Who’s that young man?” The vice-director asked one of his helpers as they hurried away from the scene. 

“I think that he’s Shao Xian’s assistant and chauffeur,” The staff member who saw Li Yiming and Shao Xian at the parking lot answered. 

The vice-director slapped his employee on the head. ‘What an idiot. Him, a chauffeur? He almost ruined me!‘ 

“Go get a fruit basket and a good bottle of wine. Quick! I need it before the rehearsal starts!” The vice-director shouted as he tried to come up with a way to remedy to the bad impression he had created. 

On the way to Fang Shui’er’s room with the gifts, the vice-director bumped into someone he would never have thought of meeting: Pan Junwei. He was a major sponsor, having offered one hundred million to the festival for a single front row seat. 

“Mr. Pan! What pleasure…” The vice-director greeted and pulled an employee to the side to ask him what was going on. 

“He came to give flowers to Shao Xian…” The staff member whispered. 

“Are you sure? Not Fang Shui’er?” The vice-director was surprised. 

“Yes. Fang Shui’er and her manager went to the room across the hallway as soon as he got in,” The staff member answered. 

“Shit… so all that money was for Shao Xian…” 

“Not only her, Mr. Yun’s secretary came to give flowers too. She left right after putting down the flowers though.” 

“Mr. Yun? Which one?” 

“Ms. Ying, the secretary.” The staff member revealed Ying Mei’s name. 

“Yun Yiyuan?” The vice-director exclaimed in shock. 

Just as the vice-director was still absorbing the news, his cell phone rang. 

“Hello?” 

“There’s a little adjustment to be made for the order of the performances. Can you move Divine Voice Materialized to be the first show?” 

* * *

“Are we done setting up around the music festival?” The newly-arrived vice-chancellor Lin asked. 

“Yes. However, vice-chancellor Lin, I believe it to be unwise to spend that much manpower on the musical festival alone. I think we should stop the event from happening altogether.” The other vice-chancellor, who was much older than Lin Lu, said in a cold voice.  

“We need to reduce media attention at this point, not further add oil to the fire by cancelling such a renowned public event. Trust me, the musical festival is going to give answers to our questions.” Lin Lu smiled as she glanced at the photo on the table, which showed Li Yiming accompanying Shao Xian into the venue. 

“Chancellor…” The vice-chancellor turned his attention toward the chancellor, who was silent the entire time. 

“Let’s go according to her plan.” The chancellor said as he remembered the document Lin Lu had brought from the capital. It contained three blazing official seals along with a very simple instruction — obey her at all costs. 

Stargaze observed the sirens of the patrol cars as one vehicle after another rushed out of the police headquarters. She dialed a number on her phone and seemed to hesitate no longer. 

“Qian Mian, bring Tian Yan to the spot.” 

Stargaze let out a long sigh as she looked at the brown and white motif of her cappuccino. She had been observing things from afar as they unfolded for far too long, hesitating when deciding to take matters in her own hands. 

‘Many are going to die today. I could prevent this by stopping the festival from happening, but if that happens, then the Seal of Spirit and Heart… But if the Seal spreads, then our world… Is it going to be the birth of a new world order, or will it spell doom for all of us?’ Stargaze picked up her phone and dialed another number, distraught by her wandering thoughts.

“Isn’t it a bit late for a meal?” Li Huaibei laughter came from the other side of the phone. 

“You seem to be in a nice mood.” 

“Well, I’ve got some things figured out.” 

“Good for you,” Stargaze said without asking Li Huaibei further. 

“You didn’t call me just to tell me that, did you?” 

“I’d like to invite you to a musical festival.” Stargaze smiled for the first time in a while. 

“How can I refuse such a generous offer from a beautiful woman?” 

“I’ll be waiting for you in the coffee shop facing the police headquarters.” 

“I’ll be there in ten.” 

Stargaze’s smile faded away as she hung up. 

‘He knows what he seeks. What about me?’