Chapter Fifteen: Summoning Hundreds at a Moment’s Notice

“The door wasn’t closed, and the bodyguards outside were quietly watching. Miss Qing’s words and actions showed great concern for that lady.”

Lin Youfu forced himself to answer, feeling as if cold sweat was soaking his back in the 21-degree air-conditioned room.

Shang Jiuxu crossed his long legs under the thin blanket, arms folded, leaning against the headboard with his eyes closed, signaling for him to continue.

“We checked who was inside before Miss Qing entered and, after sorting through the relationships, it seems she went to rescue someone.”

Lin Youfu named a few bullies and briefly introduced them. Shang Jiuxu listened calmly as he continued: “The lady Miss Qing helped is named Zhao Ruolan. She once served as the assistant violinist at the Milan International Music Association…”

Hearing the name, Shang Jiuxu frowned, his dark eyes fixed intently on Lin Youfu. “Which characters make up her name?”

“‘Ruò’ as in female ‘ruo,’ and ‘lán’ as in waves.”

“No need to be overly guarded; leave them some room.”

Shang Jiuxu rose and walked to the balcony. The humid, sultry night breeze from the harbor carried the salty scent of the bay, like grains of salt sprinkling on his throat. He loosened his collar and said, “Open a bottle of Patrus.”

Lin Chu and Lin Youfu were both stunned. Everyone knew the Shang family head’s obsessive possessiveness over Miss Qing. Who could possibly make him so relaxed as to leisurely drink?

Lin Youfu respectfully responded, then added, “Master, there’s one more thing. Miss Xu Wanjun has booked a flight to Hong Kong on the 31st of this month.”

Shang Jiuxu smirked, tapping the iron railing intermittently with his long fingers, growing somewhat impatient. “Why are you telling me this?”

He was so idle, yet Su Mian was right in front of him, visible but unreachable, making him seem in good spirits and with spare energy?

His tone was indifferent, but Lin Youfu, having served him for years, sensed his irritation and hurriedly added: “It seems Miss Xu wants to meet Miss Qing.”

The tapping stopped.

---

Backstage at the Grand Auditorium, in the makeup room.

Su Mian hurried to Zhao Ruolan and crouched down to embrace her, brows furrowed with worry, gently asking, “Are you alright?”

Her gaze fell on the purple bruises outside the woman’s qipao. Her jade-like fingers trembled helplessly as she brushed aside the hair hiding Zhao Ruolan’s face.

The cold, noble countenance appeared before her eyes, the finger marks on the right cheek weighing heavily on Su Mian’s heart.

Zhao Ruolan was conscious but did not want to engage with this absurd world. Seeing Su Mian’s face, her pupils contracted; she instinctively covered her face with her hand, only to slump back and bite her lip tightly, tears filling her eyes.

The word “Second Sister-in-law” hovered on her lips but was swallowed. Su Mian felt as if her heart was stabbed, leaving a bloody hole. Flustered, she pulled out a tissue: “Ruolan, it’s okay now. I’ll take you home.”

A young, promising violinist, a Berklee graduate who paid her tuition through hard work.

She rose from the rural grassroots to Italy and was recruited by the Milan International Music Association before graduating.

At nineteen, she fell in love with Shang Biehan; at twenty, despite great reluctance, she had to terminate her pregnancy.

Four years on, why would fate still refuse to spare Zhao Ruolan?

Su Mian could neither understand nor wished to.

Though injustice exists in the world, it should not torment a single person so relentlessly.

“Xiao Qing… I’m fine, don’t worry,” Zhao Ruolan said hoarsely as Su Mian helped her up. Su Mian almost cried.

Her family affectionately called her Qingqing; only Shang Biehan liked to call her Su Xiaoqing.

Zhao Ruolan had carried the nephew she never got to meet; she was almost her second sister-in-law.

Things have changed, people have changed, and that bastard Shang Biehan still roams free abroad.

The girl who cried even watching idol dramas could hardly bear it but insisted calmly, “Ruolan, I didn’t see you on stage just now. Did I miss something?”

She did not want to hurt Zhao Ruolan further, but if they didn’t deal with these bullies while they were still around, she feared they would be even more ruthless later.

“I really didn’t perform,” Zhao Ruolan said calmly as she was helped to sit on a soft stool. “I stopped performing for two years due to certain reasons. Major concerts wouldn’t hire me, so I returned home to take small commercial performances at hotels and restaurants. Five months ago, I finally got a chance to return to the concert hall.”

“Stopping performances for two years but still performing at the Grand Auditorium? Impressive, Ruolan. Your skills must be solid,” Su Mian sincerely praised, hoping to ease her mood. Seeing Zhao Ruolan smile faintly, she encouraged her with a look, signaling her to continue.

“The leader, Li Xin, is also a violinist. Two months after I joined, I took her original position. She was unwilling to step back, so she teamed up with others to spread malicious rumors about me, accusing me of harassing her boyfriend… I was supposed to perform today, but they locked me in the makeup room and took my place.”

Zhao Ruolan spoke lightly, but Su Mian’s anger surged.

That small makeup room had no windows. The performance lasted three hours, not to mention the time Zhao Ruolan had arrived early to prepare. The oxygen in that room was barely enough. Were they plotting murder?

---

Princess cut—Li Xin avoided eye contact with Su Mian. Su Mian cast a slow, cold glance at them, frightening the four into retreating hastily. A weak man tried to reach for the door handle to climb out but was halted by Su Mian’s casual “Hmm?”

“Harassing your boyfriend?” Su Mian laughed angrily, standing and facing Li Xin. “Why would he be harassed by her? Is he handsome? Is he rich? No matter how handsome or wealthy he is, can he compare to Shang Biehan?”

Shang Biehan was a notorious playboy heir in the first tier. He loved attending concerts; otherwise, he wouldn’t have met Zhao Ruolan backstage at the Milan Concert Hall all those years ago.

He often took a liking to young girls during performances, sometimes even those ten years his senior. Each time, his lavish tipping and flirtatious reputation won over countless young women.

Though he was fickle and quickly bored, no one in the music world was unaware of Shang Biehan as a major patron. Li Xin and her group were stunned.

Li Xin, unwilling to accept defeat, snorted coldly. “So she’s slept with Shang Biehan? I advise you not to meddle. You can protect her for a moment, but not always. My uncle is a senior official at the Port City Music Association. If you offend me on her behalf, she’ll suffer the consequences. Do you think you’re tough with a few skills? I can call a hundred people to beat you up anytime, let’s see if you’re still so arrogant!”

The few beside Li Xin tugged at her sleeves, signaling her to stop. Who would make such threats after just being knocked down?

But Li Xin was high on her own fire, convinced Su Mian would be scared and back down. She even hoped Zhao Ruolan would help persuade this young woman to kneel and beg for mercy.

She looked at Zhao Ruolan expectantly. Zhao Ruolan was also looking at her, pityingly, as if staring at a flea.

What? She dared to look down on her? A dough she could knead and shape at will, usually as bland as a bird, yet now had the audacity to pity and sympathize with her?!

Li Xin’s face twisted in disbelief.

Suddenly, a light laugh was heard.

Su Mian laughed sincerely. She had guessed Li Xin must have some backing; otherwise, she wouldn’t control the backstage area of the Grand Auditorium, even if it was just a small makeup room.

When she first came in, she noticed the room’s surveillance had been destroyed—clearly planned to avoid leaving evidence.

No matter if it was just a small Port City Music Association leader or an even bigger protector, today she would expose a hole in their shield.

When it came to comparing with others, she might hesitate.

But when it came to comparing protectors? She wouldn’t hold back.