Sanju Apartments Lobby
Hahaha "it so cute that you think, I need to get your number from you. Ciao, I will see you tomorrow" she walked forward waving her hands over her shoulder.
Liu Qiao Qiao spent the entire drive to her apartment trying to make sense of Li Na's last statement. After minutes of deep thinking, she still couldn't come up with a possible solution.
When the car arrived at her apartment building, she got down from the car and walked into the lobby. She had already changed out of the customized clothes from the variety show, into her more comfortable casual clothes.
she walked over to the tall flower vase a few steps away from the elevator and stood, playing games on her phone while waiting for Shi Xiaotong to come back in.
When the long-awaited message came in
"Hey Qiao Qiao, let's have lunch at"
XX restaurant at 1 pm, my treat.
PS; You can now stop waiting by the
phone for my message to come in.
Good night, see you tomorrow.
The message made her chuckle. She had only met Li Na a few hours ago but could tell what kind of person she was.
While Liu Qiao Qiao was standing by the tall flower vase, going through her phone with a silly smile on her face.
Shi Xiaotong silently walked up to Liu Qiao Qiao and resting her head on Liu Qiao Qiao's shoulder, she looked over her shoulder
"
Whatcha doing?", she asked
"Reading a text"
"From who?"
"Guess"
"Since you're smiling like a fool, it must be a guy or maybe... Qinyang"
"It isn't from Yang'er"
"Then it must be a guy. Qiao Qiao you naughty girl, are you seeing someone"
"uhh no, I'm not. It's from Li Na, she just sent me the address to the restaurant."
"That was quick. You guys have gotten closer"
"Yup, We bonded over being manipulated by the system. I have to say Tong Tong contrary to popular opinion, Li Na isn't that bad", Liu Qiao Qiao said as they got into the elevator and keyed in their floor.
The elevator door was slowly rolling close when a female voice called out from a few steps away.
"Please hold the elevator"
Liu Qiao Qiao, who was much closer to the door, stretched out her hands and quickly clicked on the open button multiple times.
The door rolled open and a slender build woman draped in designer wares stepped in, carrying a brown paper box stuffed to the brim with what seemed to be decorations.
"Thanks for the save, umm could you please help me click on the sixth floor." the slender woman said smiling softly.
"no need for that, it's on our way"
"Oh thanks though," she said and raised the box higher.
Seconds later the elevator arrived on the sixth floor and the doors slid open.
"This is my stop, thanks," the woman said and gently walked out of the elevator. Liu Qiao Qiao and Shi Xiaotong walked out after her. They watched her open the apartment a few doors away and walk-in.
"I heard that someone had moved into the apartment down the hall, she must be our new neighbor."
"But I heard from the manager that it was male and not a female." Shi Xiaotong said head bent slightly.
"We could both be right and she may be the new tenant's girlfriend or wife."
"that's true, well we had better get it am famished"
"let's go" Liu Qiao Qiao unlocked the door and they both walked in.
* * *
At the private room of a hotel.
The room was brightly lit, with an assortment of dishes spread out on the table. At the center of the table sat Nathan Phelps, an executive director from FnB sport, an international sports ware company.
Liu Qinyang was seated next to her manager Qin Yantian a few chairs away from the executive director.
Liu Qinyang had been contacted by FnB sports to endorse their new sports ware line. They were having dinner to finalize the particulars of the upcoming ad campaign.
This wasn't Liu Qinyang's first collaboration with the company, she had been working with the company for a few years.
The company had also invited Xu Yanzhu, the male lead for the advert. Xu Yanzhu was her senior in the industry and a popular idol. She had only seen him twice and both times from a distance since they were both signed under Phoenix entertainment.
Xu Yanzhu had been very polite since they were introduced a few hours ago. He had also attended the dinner with his manager Tao Bai.
They were both seated opposite Liu Qinyang and Qin Yantian on the table.
A few hours later the meeting was concluded and everyone began to leave. Liu Qinyang and Qin Yantian were about to leave when Qin Yantian was called aside by Tao Bai. She left the room with Tao Bai.
A few minutes later of awkward silence, Xu Yanzhu finally broke the silence.
"Do you smoke?" he said holding out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
"No I don't, thanks"
"that's cool" he lit up a stick of cigarettes and put it in his mouth.
Some seconds later, Liu Qinyang was reading through some posts on the internet. When she felt a breath on her neck, surprised she turned around to find Xu Yanzhu seating next to her head bent to her neck.
"What do you think you are doing?" she asked shifting away slightly.
"What's wrong, I thought you were into this. I mean you have dated more men than any female musician I know."
"I think, I should get going," she said picking up her phone and purse. She pushed back her seat to leave when she was held down Xu Yanzhu.
"Where do you think you are going? I am not done with you" he said holding both of her hands in a tight grip and pushing her down on the chair.
"Let me go, you pig," Liu Qinyang said raising her legs, she kneed him in the balls.
"ouch you bitch, don't worry I will make you regret this," he said backhanding her hard.
Her brain barely registered the slap, instead, she scratches him on the face and pushes him aside with all her strength.
When she was finally free, she jumped out of the seat and ran towards the door. She had open the door halfway through when she was pulled back by her hair.
"You bitch! where do you think you are going?" Xu Yanzhu said raising his hands above her face.
Liu Qinyang was trying to shake his hands out of her hair, when she saw the door pushed wide open and a muscular hand drive into his face with force.