Chapter 13: An Unexpected Encounter

Chapter 13: An Unexpected Encounter

There seems to be a law in the world called "enemies often cross each other's paths."

However, the "enemies" crowding Yun Zi'an's path were too many, almost covering the entire entertainment industry, making it almost impenetrable.

Upon seeing Ran Shan, Yun Zi'an was not the least bit surprised. His face remained expressionless as he pressed the elevator's close button with a ding.

"Wait—!"

Unexpectedly, Ran Shan forcibly stretched her hand through the closing elevator doors, preventing them from shutting. Her eyes, like those of a venomous snake, gleamed with a malicious intent as she coldly smiled at Yun Zi'an, "You're not scared of me, are you?"

Yun Zi'an chuckled lightly as if hearing a child's joke, "Senior, what are you talking about?"

"How come..." Ran Shan, seemingly convinced of her own assumption, scrutinized him from top to bottom, "You don't dare to ride the elevator with me?"

"It's not that I don't dare," Yun Zi'an's face still lacked any expression, not deeming Ran Shan worthy of one, "I just have a strong sense of cleanliness."

His tone was indifferent, as if flicking off a speck of dust from his body, "I generally don't get close to disgusting things."

Unexpectedly provoked by his veiled insult, Ran Shan nearly clenched her teeth to the point of breaking, her fiery red lips quivering in anger, ready to devour Yun Zi'an alive, "You—!"

.

Yun Zi'an had no intention of wasting time with Ran Shan. Just as he was about to turn and take the VIP passage, Ran Shan suddenly lunged from behind, grabbing his arm and yanking him back forcefully—

Caught off guard, Yun Zi'an managed to dig his nails into the edge of the elevator door, but couldn't overcome the inertia of falling backward. His fingernails, like fine jade, shattered instantaneously, blood gushing out.

Yun Zi'an's back hit the handrail of the panoramic elevator with a thud, causing the entire elevator to tremble and shake. Meanwhile, Ran Shan, seizing the moment, pressed the close button, and the elevator doors shut, beginning to ascend slowly.

"Oh?" Yun Zi'an gasped twice, a challenging smile appearing on his face, his half-closed eyes now fully open, "What do you mean by this, senior?"

"Nothing much." Ran Shan, hands crossed over her chest, looked down at him haughtily, her face almost crawling with hatred, "Yun Zi'an, you're nothing but a whore."

"That's right." To everyone's surprise, Yun Zi'an didn't get angry at such a comment; instead, he seemed to take it as a compliment, laughing it off.

Rising from the ground, he took a few steps forward, his tall stature of 1.83 meters imposing, "Then, senior, does that make you... even less than a whore?"

.

Ran Shan couldn't stand up to his dominating presence, retreating into a corner, her chest heaving rapidly, her face red with anger, "You... you..."

"At least a whore is desired by every man." Yun Zi'an's lips curled into a mocking smile, eyeing Ran Shan from head to toe like cheap meat in a market, "But senior, you don't even seem worthy of being on the table."

"Yun Zi'an..." Ran Shan, a popular starlet, had never faced such merciless mockery. She trembled with anger, "You dare..."

Ding! The elevator reached the top floor, and the doors slid open. Yun Zi'an was about to step out when suddenly, Ran Shan screamed and rushed forward, falling at the elevator entrance, her voice laced with pitiable tears, "It hurts—!"

Unexpectedly, the floor where the elevator stopped was hosting a press conference for the Summer Carnival Night. The hallway was packed with journalists and celebrities. Ran Shan's cry of pain drew everyone's attention.

.

Dressed in a pearl champagne-colored strapless mermaid dress, Ran Shan lay on the floor, her 36D bust looking like a deadly weapon against the ground. She clutched her slender, pale leg, tears in her eyes as she looked at Yun Zi'an, "Yun Zi'an, we have no grudges, why... why..."

"Shan Shan!" A few acquaintances of Ran Shan rushed to help her up, "What happened? Are you okay?"

The orderly press conference was suddenly disrupted by this unexpected event.

Ran Shan was helped up, but her ankle was unnaturally swollen, and her bones seemed slightly misshapen. She tried to smile bravely, not wanting to trouble others, "It's... it's nothing... I just tripped."

However, she stole glances at Yun Zi'an with tearful eyes, her tightly bitten lip hiding some unspoken secrets.

.

Immediately, a reporter sparked a question, "Miss Ran Shan, did Yun Zi'an push you down?"

"Is there any discord between you two?"

"It's said that during the filming of 'Long Wind, Fallen Flowers,' Mr. Yun, you refused to perform multiple times. Is this an act of diva behavior, or is it because Ms. Ran Shan is the female lead?"

"Last October, at the commercial performance, you left the stage early, Mr. Yun Zi'an. Was this to avoid sharing the stage with Ms. Ran Shan?"

……

The surrounding crowd seemed to transform into a group of sharp-toothed, long-tongued creatures, bombarding Yun Zi'an with one penetrating question after another, as if firing a barrage of cannonballs, accompanied by thousands of arrow-like gazes.

Under the watchful eyes, Yun Zi'an's complexion gradually turned pale.

As Ran Shan watched with concealed delight, clenching her fists—

A trail of bright red blood slowly trickled from the corner of Yun Zi'an's mouth.

.

Everything appeared in slow motion. Yun Zi'an clutched his chest, his back visibly contorted in pain. His knees slowly bent, and he knelt on the ground on one knee. The blood from his mouth stained his thin lips, adding a layer of sickly beauty to his appearance, as if he would shatter upon touch.

The crowd was suddenly abuzz, their gazes shifting to Ran Shan.

A completely taken aback Ran Shan: "???"

In a hidden corner, unseen by others, Yun Zi'an's lips curled into a sneer of disdain.

"You have a new erroneous order, please check!"

"Doctor!" Upon seeing Yun Zi'an vomiting blood, the hotel staff, who hurried over, parted the crowd of onlookers and finally couldn't hold back, "Call a doctor quickly!"

Amidst the chaos, a hand adorned with a Patek Philippe watch, defined muscles, and slender fingers, reached from behind and firmly and steadily lifted Yun Zi'an.

When Yun Zi'an turned to see who was behind him, his pupils trembled violently.