That very night she received a message attached with a file from Rui Feng, it contained all the information she needed to know about Li Fang.
Qianqian had only read the first page before she fully remembered who Li Fang was.
Born from a poor home,she always desired to be rich and famous so she quickly joined the entertainment industry at 16, but soon realised that it wasn't as easy as she hoped.
She managed through underhand means to keep her boat floating,meanwhile her role model had always been Xu Xiaoyu who was an accomplished actress.
Then she enters the university and crosses roads with Zhao Chen, she immediately latched on to him the moment she realised he had money,everything was smooth sailing till Zhao Chen came across Xu Qianqian.
Zhao Chen kept trying so had to win Qianqian over,but the ever quiet Qianqian refused and resorted to avoiding him as much as she could.
Li Fang grew jealous of Xu Qianqian,she didn't know how such a nobody drew the attention of Zhao Chen till one day,She finally discovered Qianqian's background.
At first she was suprised that she was related to her model,so she tried to get close to Qianqian but Qianqian kept refusing and shutting her down.
Li Fang became so angry,envious and jealous. She hated how Qianqian had everything she always wanted.
She always tried to bring down Qianqian but was somewhat fearful of her background.
As to where she got the balls to finally do so,no one knew.
Qianqian sighed as she finally came out of her memory lane,"so that's who she is,hmm,if shes such an attention seeker,let's give her some then",Qianqian couldn't help but speak to no-one in particular.
She picked up her phone and texted Rui Feng, "Your workspace,4pm,today."
And with that she focused on her other agendas while silently watching the time move by.
By 4:20,Xu Qianqian sat on the sofa,her gaze steady as she looked at Rui Feng. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his laptop open, his fingers flying over the keyboard.
"You're sure about this?" Rui Feng asked, glancing up at her. Though young, there was a hint of hesitation in his tone.
"She crossed the line first," Qianqian said calmly. "People like her only learn when they lose everything they hold dear. Release it."
Rui Feng hesitated for only a moment before nodding. A few clicks later, the file was uploaded. It wasn't long before the video began to spread.
The clip was damning—Li Fang, wrapped in thin sheets, sitting on the edge of a bed with an older, well-known director. His face was clear in the frame, hers unmistakable even in poor lighting. Their conversation revealed far more than Li Fang would have wanted.
"I'll get you that role, but remember our deal," the man said, his tone casual.
Li Fang's voice was soft, yet eager. "Of course, Director Li. You know I'll do anything for my career."
The video spread like wildfire. Within hours, her name was trending—but not for the reasons she had hoped.
Netizens were ruthless:
"This is who she really is? Disgusting."
"She always acted so pure and innocent. What a joke."
"Her career is over. No one will hire her now."
Li Fang's world crumbled in the blink of an eye. Calls from directors and sponsors turned into cancellations. Her carefully built reputation was reduced to ashes. Even Zhao Chen, the man she had silently loved, refused to pick up her calls.
Xu Qianqian leaned back in her chair, satisfied. She hadn't needed to lift a finger—Rui Feng's small intervention had been enough to let Li Fang ruin herself. Echo's voice broke the silence in her mind.
"This was cruel, you know."
"Cruelty is relative," Qianqian murmured. "She thought she could play games with me. Now, she'll realize how dangerous it is to challenge someone out of her league."
She then turned to Rui Feng,"So what's up with my request."
"Oh,right. They'll be home this Saturday, so you can come over I guess,Wait,what exactly do you want with them",he asked curiously.
Standing up Qianqian replied,"nothing much,see you this Saturday."
Rui Feng hummed in reply while watching her move out,curiosity and confusion could clearly be seen on his face.
His mind drifting to the previous day,right after his meeting with Qianqian.
Rui Feng sat on the couch pondering for some minutes before finally picking up his phone.
He opened his group chat, fingers hesitating over the keyboard. Finally, he typed:
Rui Feng: Hey, I need you guys to meet someone. It's important.
The chat pinged almost instantly.
Wei Jian: What's going on? Are you okay?
Lei Ming: Is someone bothering you? Say the word, I'll handle it.
Long Hao: Ming, let him explain first. You okay, Feng?
Rui Feng smiled despite himself. No matter how busy they were, his brothers always made time for him.
Rui Feng: I'm fine, I promise. This isn't about me. It's someone I trust. She needs your help.
Wei Jian: "She"? Interesting.
Lei Ming: Does she know what we do?
Rui Feng: Yeah, she's serious. I told her I'd ask you. Can you come by Saturday?
Long Hao: If you're asking, we're coming. Noon?
Wei Jian: Noon it is. Send the location.
Lei Ming: I'll bring coffee. Hao likes it black.
Rui Feng chuckled, shaking his head. They could be intense, but their support was unwavering. Typing a quick thanks, he leaned back,feeling a mixture of relief and anticipation.
Saturday,1st April 2019.
Xu Qianqian stood at the gate of a modest yet sturdy two-story house on the outskirts of the city. The structure, painted in neutral tones, was unremarkable at first glance but revealed thoughtful design upon closer inspection. Thick iron bars reinforced the windows, and the front door was solid steel, giving off the impression of a home built to withstand more than just nosy neighbors.
Rui Feng unlocked the gate, gesturing for her to follow. "They're probably in the back," he said, sounding a little more relaxed than earlier.
The backyard was surprisingly spacious, featuring a small garden and a shaded patio. Wei Jian, Long Hao, and Lei Ming were sitting at a wooden table under the canopy, their expressions varying from mild curiosity to subtle wariness.
Wei Jian, the oldest, stood as soon as he spotted her, his broad shoulders and sharp gaze immediately commanding attention. "You're the one Rui mentioned," he said, voice calm but assessing.
Qianqian nodded, meeting his gaze with quiet determination. "Xu Qianqian. Thank you for meeting me."
Lei Ming leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with an easy smile. "You've got guts for an eighteen year old."
Long Hao, quiet and watchful, said nothing but nodded politely. His sharp eyes studied her every move.
"Sit," Wei Jian said, gesturing to an empty chair. "You said this is important. Speak."
Qianqian sat down, her composure steady despite the scrutiny. "I need your help," she began. "Weapons. Access to firearms, knives, anything you can get your hands on."
Wei Jian's expression darkened slightly. "And why exactly does such a young girl need such weapons in extremely large quantities? Shouldn't you even be in School?"
"I have my reasons," she replied, keeping her tone calm but firm. "I can pay you well. I know this isn't a small request."
Lei Ming tilted his head, his smile fading slightly. "Not everyone can handle weapons. You sure you're ready for that kind of responsibility?"
"I am," she said firmly. "I know what I'm asking for, and I wouldn't be here if I wasn't prepared to follow through."
Wei Jian leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. He studied her for a long moment, as if weighing her sincerity. "Rui vouches for you," he said finally. "But I don't make decisions lightly. Give me some time to think about it."
Qianqian nodded, understanding his caution. "Take all the time you need. I'll prove I'm serious if necessary."
Breaking the tension, Rui Feng suddenly spoke up. "Come on, ge. She's not just anyone. You trust me, right?"
Wei Jian glanced at his youngest brother, his expression softening. "I do. That's why I'll consider it."
Qianqian seized the pause to shift the conversation. "You're close," she said, glancing between the brothers. "Rui Feng mentioned you raised him. That's not something I take lightly."
Wei Jian's guarded expression cracked, and Lei Ming chuckled. "Raised is one way to put it. Dragged him out of trouble is probably more accurate."
Rui Feng pouted. "I wasn't that bad."
Long Hao finally spoke, his voice quiet but firm. "We're all orphans. What we have, we built together. That's why we're careful about who we trust."
Qianqian nodded solemnly. "That makes sense. I respect that."
Wei Jian studied her again, his gaze thoughtful. Finally, he said, "I'll let you know. For now, consider us... open to discussion."
Relief flickered across Qianqian's face, but she kept her tone steady. "Thank you. That's all I ask."
After the initial meeting, Qianqian left the brothers' house with a sense of cautious optimism. Wei Jian had promised to think about her request, but she knew time was slipping away. The apocalypse was just seven months away, and every day counted.
Later that evening, at the brothers' house, Wei Jian gathered his siblings to discuss Qianqian's request.
"Weapons aren't easy to come by, especially in large quantities," Wei Jian began, his tone measured. "But she seemed serious. What do you two think?"
Lei Ming shrugged. "She has resources, that much is clear. And if Rui trusts her, I'm willing to give her a shot."
Long Hao, ever cautious, added, "We need to be careful. If this goes south, it could bring trouble to all of us. But she didn't seem reckless. I'm willing to help, but only if we handle this discreetly."
Wei Jian nodded, appreciating his brothers' input. "Then we'll start small. I'll reach out to some old contacts and see what we can secure. In the meantime, Rui, stay in touch with her. Make sure she understands the risks involved."
Rui Feng grinned. "Don't worry, ge. She's not the type to back out once she's made up her mind."