Chapter 56

At half past four in the afternoon, Mai Xiaoyu took a taxi back to the hotel.

He didn't get out at the hotel entrance but chose a spot 500 meters away at a crossroads. He wore a new pair of sunglasses and carried a large plastic bag, casually strolling closer to the hotel on the opposite side of the road.

After circling around twice and confirming that all the reporters near the hotel had disappeared, Mai Xiaoyu was about to enter the hotel when a brand new BMW minivan stopped in front of him.

The door opened, and a middle-aged, chubby man with a beaming smile waved him over, "Pretty cautious, huh? Get in!"

The car's interior was luxuriously decorated. The cold air conditioning blew on his body, dispelling the scorching heat, making every pore feel incredibly comfortable.

The chubby man snapped his fingers, and a young man who looked like an assistant handed over a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses.

The chubby man personally poured two glasses of red wine and handed one to Mai Xiaoyu, "Try this, it's 1982 Lafite."

Mai Xiaoyu didn't doubt the chubby man was showing off.

The new T-shirt was a limited edition from Armani, the watch was a limited edition from Vacheron Constantin, and the car was the latest model of the BMW minivan. Would he use fake red wine to pretend it was 1982 Lafite?

Moreover, his posture, the way he held the wine glass, his smile, his tone, and the confidence and aura of a leader were not something he could fake. Where was the previous sleazy appearance?

The chubby man slowly swirled the wine glass, allowing the wine to mix with the air, releasing a fragrant aroma. He then brought the glass to his nose, took a gentle sniff, and smiled in approval. He sipped the wine gently, letting it swirl in his mouth, savoring the rich and complex flavors...

How tiring!

Mai Xiaoyu casually swirled the wine glass and drank it all in one go.

The chubby man swallowed the red wine and asked with a smile, "How does it taste?"

"Not refreshing."

"Ha ha! Xiao Zheng, bring me that bottle of Mumm!"

Mumm champagne, founded in 1827 in Germany, now produced in France, is one of the world's best champagnes, a symbol of exquisite quality, and known as the "Champagne of Kings."

"No need for that trouble, just get to the point."

"Alright, you're a straightforward guy, I appreciate that. Thanks to you today, please accept this small token of appreciation." The chubby man handed over a check.

The amount was 500,000, signed by Chen Xiangxi.

It was not just a reward but also a way to keep him quiet.

Earlier, when Mai Xiaoyu fought off the reporters, the person on the stretcher he escorted away was not Jun Ji-hyun but the actress Liu Qianqian.

The recent hit movie "The Last Love" had made Liu Qianqian a star. She arrived in Beijing last night to attend an event and was taken to the hotel by Chen Xiangxi after the event to spend the night.

Unexpectedly, they were followed by paparazzi who took photos and tipped off the media, leading to a large number of entertainment reporters staking out the hotel.

Chen Xiangxi truly loved Liu Qianqian and did not leave her. He tried to contact people and find ways to secretly escort Liu Qianqian out of the hotel, but all attempts failed, and a few times they almost got caught by disguised paparazzi.

Until his assistant reported that someone in the hotel had called 120, and an ambulance had arrived. He had a sudden idea and followed the medical staff to find Mai Xiaoyu.

At that moment, he earnestly asked Mai Xiaoyu to cooperate with him in a diversionary tactic.

Using Mai Xiaoyu to take Jun Ji-hyun to the hospital to draw the attention of the reporters. As long as Mai Xiaoyu prevented the reporters from checking, it would raise their suspicions. The more determined he was to stop them, the more they would believe the person on the stretcher was Liu Qianqian.

When the reporters outside the hotel were drawn away, he could secretly escort Liu Qianqian out, and Mai Xiaoyu and Jun Ji-hyun would not be affected. They were just ordinary people, and the reporters had no interest in them.

After some thought, Mai Xiaoyu decided to help them. Not only because Chen Xiangxi was very sincere, but also because Liu Qianqian was a popular actress, and because of the dinner with Su Youpeng last night, he truly realized the importance of connections in the entertainment industry.

You sing well?

You act well?

The script is great?

The director is skilled?

Without connections, you can't get anywhere!

China is so vast, with so many people, and the entertainment industry is full of all sorts of people. Why do some become famous while others remain unknown? Is it really just because of their acting skills?

For example, last night, if he hadn't set up a plan to win Su Youpeng's friendship, would Liu Tao have had the chance to audition for "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber"? Would she have been able to join the audition for "The Story of the Concubine" halfway through?

This applies to individuals and companies alike.

If Mengren Film & TV wanted to enter the television industry, they had to start building connections now!

However, Mai Xiaoyu thought Chen Xiangxi's diversionary tactic was not appropriate.

Reporters and stars have been in a love-hate relationship for years, and they are very familiar with each other's tactics. If the reporters used a counter-tactic, Chen Xiangxi and Liu Qianqian could be caught, and Mai Xiaoyu would have wasted his efforts.

As it turned out, his suspicions were correct.

When he followed the medical staff out of the hotel, he did attract many reporters, but not all of them. Many reporters were still guarding other exits, wary of a diversionary tactic!

So, Mai Xiaoyu set up a plan within a plan, a false diversionary tactic that concealed a real escape plan.

The person on the stretcher was Liu Qianqian, and he personally escorted her, armed with two rubber sticks in case of a violent confrontation.

He also arranged for Chen Xiangxi to find a girl with a similar build to Liu Qianqian to leave the hotel through the staff entrance at the right moment. He dispatched several cars to create minor accidents at key intersections to block the reporters' vehicles, ensuring the ambulance could leave smoothly.

As for the hospital, with Chen Xiangxi's influence, it was not a problem.

Due to a fortunate coincidence, Mai Xiaoyu's backup plan was not needed. Now, Chen Xiangxi needed to deal with Mai Xiaoyu, who had orchestrated and participated in the entire plan.

Mai Xiaoyu put away the check, "Anything else?"

"Interested in working for me?"

Chen Xiangxi admired Mai Xiaoyu.

He was skilled in combat, ruthless, quick-witted, and could handle emergencies calmly. He was cautious and knew his limits, making him the ideal bodyguard for a wealthy person!

A bodyguard?

Me?

Mai Xiaoyu laughed.

Chen Xiangxi genuinely wanted to recruit him to help with situations like today's. Thinking he might refuse, he tried both soft and hard approaches.

"Kid, don't think it's embarrassing for a college student to be a bodyguard. It depends on who you're working for."

"Don't worry about the pay. I never shortchange those who work for me."

"I saw you fight the reporters. You have a fiery temper. That can be good and bad. If those reporters report you for assault, you'll end up in jail. But if you work for me, they can't do anything."

"What do you think? Consider it, and contact Xiao Zheng when you decide. Xiao Zheng, give him your card."

"No need." Mai Xiaoyu pushed away the card Xiao Zheng offered, "Mr. Chen, since you truly love her, I'll give you a heads-up."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you think the reporters were acting strangely today?"

Whoosh—

A sudden realization!

Surprise, enlightenment, shock, anger, and seriousness flashed across the chubby man's face.

Blinded by the situation, now that Mai Xiaoyu, the observer, had pointed it out, Chen Xiangxi instantly recalled the many unusual details.

Damn!

He grabbed Mai Xiaoyu, who was about to get out of the car, and handed him a shiny metal business card, "Brother, thanks for the warning. This is my card, keep it. I'll handle the reporters. If you have any trouble in the future, call me. As long as it's not a serious legal issue, I can help you."

The title on the card was long:

—Director of the Securities Department, China Union Cinema Line Co., Ltd., China Union Group.

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