The Martial Artist Turned Movie Mogul
Chapter 995 - 994. The Entertainment Reporter on Stakeout (Third Update)

Chapter 995: 994. The Entertainment Reporter on Stakeout (Third Update)

"That’s right. Are we sure the tea we drank today is really for dispelling the miasma? It seems we’ll only be able to investigate further after everyone goes to sleep."

"Yes, I’m certain. The tea contains a type of medicinal herb that can indeed dispel miasma."

To avoid arousing suspicion among the villagers, Tang Shu gave out different pills to the two groups when they separated. Song’s team received detoxification pills for dispelling miasma, while Wen Nuan’s group received pills to suppress the toxicity instead.

"Did you see this Miss Ah Cui the last time you were here?"

"I did, but we didn’t interact face to face. Last time, we stayed here as well, and Miss Ah Cui brought us tea then."

Tea again? It seems Miss Ah Cui has a particular fondness for brewing detoxification tea against miasma.

Wen Nuan yawned. "If we can’t see anything obvious on the surface, then let’s not overthink it. It’s still early—let’s rest for now, so we’re ready to move once everyone else has fallen asleep."

Tang Shu nodded and, following her suggestion, lay down by her side. He soon drifted off into a light sleep.

When the two opened their eyes again, it was the faint disturbance from the miniature transmitter in their ears that had woken them.

"Song, any discoveries?"

"We’ve been staking out the area for two hours, and everything in the village seems normal. The villagers’ lives are... very orderly."

Orderly to the point of being unnatural.

For a team like Song’s, accustomed to navigating danger, this was the most concerning issue.

Wen Nuan sat upright, slipping on the thin down jacket she had just taken off. "Has the communications team detected any nearby signals? What about the surveillance equipment?"

"No, there’s nothing—no signals, no devices. Be cautious when you investigate later. I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right here."

"Got it."

Months earlier, Wen Nuan had indeed brought a team to this village, though they’d had little interaction with the villagers. At that time, they had stumbled upon the village while pursuing a criminal, accidentally intruding.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the intrusion wasn’t accidental. The man they were tracking and the two villagers who’d hosted him had all fallen prey to Gu Insects.

Yes, those unfortunate victims that had been assassinated.

Wen Nuan and Tang Shu exchanged a glance, then silently left the village chief’s house with two others, disappearing into the cold night without a sound. They left Shang Xiaoyan behind as a contingency measure.

***

While Tang Shu and Wen Nuan showcased their skills in Xiangnan’s darkness, Xu Qianyu was having a far tougher time far outside the Imperial Capital.

Since Tang Shu’s family background had been exposed a few days earlier, the Xu Corporation had become the entertainment reporters’ favorite haunt, with journalists camping outside its office building almost eight hours a day.

Their goal, of course, was to corner her and extract first-hand gossip!

This was all thanks to Xu Qianyu’s earlier disdain for Tang Shu during a press conference. Once the video clip of that moment surfaced, public opinion turned sour against the lofty Eldest Miss Xu.

"I just want to know what makes General Manager Xu think she has the right to look down on Tang Shu."

"Exactly! What’s her basis—her reliance on the Xu Corporation?"

"Even if her feelings about her stepmother aren’t great, she should at least show Tang Shu some respect. Such a terrible attitude!"

"She probably didn’t know Tang Shu is General Tang’s granddaughter. Otherwise, how could she have looked down on her to such an extent? Even someone as dim-witted as me knows she disdains people in the entertainment industry."

"Arrogance and aloofness—those are the only things I see in her from that video."

"If President Xu feels like she should show courtesy to her younger sister, then whatever Tang Shu does is justified—our Tang Shu is stunning!"

Days of online chatter had rallied netizens into a frenzy. In the comments section of Xu Corporation’s official social media account, Xu Qianyu was bombarded with insults, and her lack of perceptiveness became a frequent target of ridicule.

The reaction of the netizens was straightforward and hostile. There are always those who enjoy standing on moral high ground to judge others, and Xu Qianyu became the perfect target for their scorn.

The entertainment reporters, hungry for drama, naturally wanted to nab an interview with Eldest Miss Xu, who was legally tied to Tang Shu. They relentlessly hounded her, determined not to leave empty-handed.

Although the Xu Corporation was a large enterprise in the Imperial Capital, it couldn’t quite measure up to the Xu family’s influence. Tang Shu’s background, steeped in military achievements, brought a whole different kind of pressure that money couldn’t easily offset.

For three consecutive days, Xu Corporation’s stock value plummeted under the weight of public opinion. The atmosphere within the company became so oppressive that employees could barely breathe, walking on eggshells around every task.

"Bang—!"

Inside the General Manager’s office, Xu Qianyu slapped her hand forcefully on the desk. Her crimson-painted nails dug into a stack of documents, tearing a hole clean through a fragile A4 sheet.

"Are there still reporters downstairs?"

"Yes, they’re refusing to leave and are even trying to come in for an interview."

"Call the police! What are the security staff downstairs even doing?!"

"But..."

Her assistant shot her a cautious glance. "They’re standing just outside the area covered by our security’s jurisdiction."

The entertainment reporters clearly understood how unwelcome they were and had mastered the art of toeing the line—skills honed over years of experience.

"..."

Xu Qianyu felt her temper, already frayed in recent days, nearing its breaking point. She’d been stunned when she discovered the truth online, initially believing that remaining silent would allow the storm to pass. But she’d underestimated the entertainment reporters’ persistence.

Like stubborn leeches!

"Tell the PR department to handle it. Just pay them off to make them leave."

Did they really expect her to issue a statement? A statement about what?!

"Understood, President Xu."

Xu Qianyu let out a disdainful snort, grabbed her car keys, and got up. Her high heels clicked sharply as she entered the elevator, leaving the office behind. The employees outside her office let out collective sighs of relief as soon as she was out of sight.

Whispers soon followed.

"So, what’s going on here? Does President Xu really not get along with Tang Shu? Is it because her stepmother treated her poorly?"

"No way. I’ve met Madam Xu before—she’s incredibly kind and good-natured."

"Then why is President Xu so cold toward Tang Shu? The Xu Corporation is strong, but surely it’s not worth offending the Tang family heirs over!"

"At face value, none of the Tang family members currently hold high-ranking positions, but General Tang’s reputation and connections are no laughing matter. The pros and cons should be obvious. As the head of Xu Corporation, she ought to know better."

Even Xu Corporation employees struggled to understand why their boss looked down on Tang Shu. Just how deep did the grudge run to blind her to the Tang family’s influence?

Unbothered by their musings, Xu Qianyu drove out of the underground parking lot and headed for the Xu family home.

Three in the afternoon. Quite obviously, not the end of the workday.