Chapter 70: Zhang Zifeng Cheng Xiao and Ye Family

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Zhang Zifeng was waiting for her scene to be shot on the bustling streets of Tokyo. She is now in Japan shooting Detective Chinatown 3.

It's been 2 months since they started shooting the film, and now she's watching Liu Haoran's scene where their group, including Cheng Xiao, Chen Zheyuan, Victor Ma, Li Mingxuan, and Cui Yuxin, is helping him.

The scene is a little chaotic because there is an upcoming fight scene after.

As she watched intently, Zhang Zifeng felt a tap on her shoulder, and she turned to see her assistant, Liu Ying, offering her a water bottle to quench her thirst. Zhang Zifeng nodded to her, "What's the news about Li Ming? What is he asking you to do?"

"Manager Li said to keep a close eye on you," Liu Ying said to Zifeng.

Zifeng frowned at what she heard, "What does Li Ming want? Does he want to repeat what he did before?" Zifeng replied angrily.

Liu Ying just bowed her head as she was also partly at fault for Zifeng's anger.

There was a time when Zhang Zifeng secretly visited Ye Bai in the hospital. Liu Ying gave this news to Li Ming. Because of this, Manager Li called a paparazzi to take some photos of Zifeng and Ye Bai in the hospital.

Wu Qian was really angry seeing her son's face in the news and being used for hype.

Because of this, Zhang Zifeng and Ye Bai's mother had a serious misunderstanding. While Wu Qian wanted to understand Zhang Zifeng, her concern for her son prevailed.

Wu Qian complained to the paparazzi who spread the photo, and they already deleted the photo and issued an apology.

But because the picture had already spread, some black-hearted people used Ye Bai's photo as content, even though they blurred it.

Then Wu Qian made a decision; she called Zifeng and explained that she was not welcome at the hospital.

Wu Qian knew that it was hard for Zhang Zifeng, but she didn't want to make another mistake and have her son be used as content again.

Zhang Zifeng begged for a chance, but Wu Qian's decision was final. This led to a conflict between Zhang Zifeng and Manager Li Ming, and she wanted to change her manager as soon as possible because of this.

If it weren't for Zifeng's mother talking to her daughter and calming her anger, Zifeng would have remained upset. After the scandal, Zifeng took on the Detective Chinatown 3 shooting schedule to distance herself from the problem.

...

"Good!" Director Chen's voice boomed across the set. "Thirty-minute break for now," he announced before turning his attention to reviewing the footage they had just captured.

Cheng Xiao walked to Zhang Zifeng's side. Despite being almost an extra in this film, they were included because of their roles in the Detective Chinatown Webseries, where they were the leads, aimed at gaining exposure and promoting the upcoming web series.

Zhang Zifeng stole a glance at the beautiful girl seated nearby.

Cheng Xiao was a Chinese singer and dancer, and now she was entering acting. She gained prominence as a member of the South Korean-Chinese girl group Cosmic Girls (also known as WJSN), she was known for her remarkable dance skills and her lively performances, both onstage and on various entertainment platforms.

With a warm smile, Cheng Xiao greeted Zhang Zifeng. "Hello, Teacher Zifeng," she said respectfully, acknowledging Zifeng's seniority in the industry.

"Just call me Zifeng; we're not that far apart in age," Zifeng replied with a friendly tone.

Other actors also walked over to them to make friends, especially with Zhang Zifeng, who was famous. Zhang Zifeng also tried to entertain them, especially since they were working together on the film.

As they chatted during the break, Zhang Zifeng found herself enjoying Cheng Xiao's company. Because of Cheng Xiao's positive attitude and friendly demeanor make her approachable and well-liked. Zhang Zifeng slightly forgot the problem she was carrying.

As the break drew to a close, Director Chen called for everyone to gather for the next scene.

...

As they stepped out onto the bustling streets of Tokyo, Cheng Xiao led the way, navigating through the crowds with ease. Zhang Zifeng followed closely behind, grateful for the distraction from the tensions on the set.

Cheng Xiao seemed to know exactly where to go, leading them to a quaint little food stall tucked away in a side alley.

They settled down at a small table, surrounded by the sounds of the city. Cheng Xiao ordered a variety of dishes, eager to introduce Zhang Zifeng to some of her favorite Japanese cuisine.

As they ate, they talked about everything and nothing, their conversation flowing effortlessly.

"I didn't know you could speak Japanese," Zifeng remarked.

Cheng Xiao just smiled. "It's one of the things we need to learn. As an idol group, we're required to be proficient in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese. We need to capture the hearts of fans across different regions."

Zifeng's eyes widened in awe. "That sounds incredibly challenging. Being an idol must be tough."

Cheng Xiao nodded, her expression reflecting a mix of determination and nostalgia. "It is. When I was 13 years old, I ran away from home to pursue my dream of becoming an idol. When I received the recommendation letter, I was so excited and told myself, 'I can't let this opportunity pass me by.'"

Zifeng chuckled, recalling her initial impression of Cheng Xiao. "I never imagined you had that kind of personality. My first impression of you was that of a delicate, charming, and alluring individual. I never imagined you had such inner strength and a hint of rebelliousness."

Taking a sip of her tea, Cheng Xiao's eyes twinkled with reminiscence. "I surprised myself too. When my parents discovered my plans I was already in Korea, they had no choice but to support me." She laughed with a tinge of mischief in her tone.

Curiosity gleamed in Zifeng's eyes. "What happened after you arrived in Korea?"

Cheng Xiao's demeanor shifted, her expression becoming more solemn. "It wasn't easy. The language barrier made communication difficult, and there was a strict hierarchy in the training camp." Her voice softened as she recounted the hardships she endured. "The seniors often made life difficult for us, especially those who were old but hadn't yet debuted. And of course simply because of... this, well, you know," she gestured toward her chest.

Zifeng awkwardly laughed, noticing the significant difference between herself and Cheng Xiao, a BIG difference.

"Oops, sorry," Cheng Xiao apologized, worried she might have offended Zifeng.

Zifeng shook her head. "It's alright. I've accepted the fact that I'm... not well-endowed. You can continue."

Apologizing with a sheepish smile, Cheng Xiao continued her tale. "We were often treated as servants with my friend Mei Qi, because we were younger. There were nights when you would just cry yourself to sleep, only to wake up in the morning and start training again." Cheng Xiao's expression reflected the hardship she endured as she recounted the experience. "There were times when I said to myself, 'I quit.' But I endured it. I didn't want the hardships I endured to go to waste." She chuckled.

Zifeng nodded in understanding. "Yes, good thing you endured it, and now you're a successful idol."

Cheng Xiao smiled. "That's true, but as you can see, our group hasn't released any new work, and we're on hiatus." She smiled bitterly. "Normally, girl groups last about 5 years, but look at us, it's only been 2 years. That's why I'm exploring acting opportunities – to leverage my popularity and ensure my longevity in the industry." She explained.

Zhang Zifeng nodded, understanding Cheng Xiao's perspective. Many singers in the industry transition to acting to leverage their popularity and ensure longevity. If you can't produce new music, you risk being forgotten by the public.

"So what's your plan after this?" Zifeng asked curiously.

Cheng Xiao pondered for a moment before responding. "I'll wrap up filming for the remaining scenes of the Detective Chinatown Webseries and await my company's decision. They're considering an upcoming idol training program, although it's still in the planning stages and may not be finalized until next year. They've mentioned the possibility of me becoming a coach." She paused, realizing she'd dominated the conversation. "By the way, I've been doing all the talking. Why don't you share your story?"

Zhang Zifeng smiled awkwardly as she looked at Cheng Xiao. "As you can see, you know how I started."

Cheng Xiao nodded, understanding that Zifeng's life had been quite public due to her childhood stardom. "Then, how are you handling your current situation?"

"I don't even know how I'm handling it," Zifeng answered honestly. "Because when my relationship with my boyfriend was exposed, my life was in danger, and he got into an accident. Now, his mother won't let me see him because of the photo leak from the hospital."

Cheng Xiao felt sympathy for her friend. "I know you'll get through this."

"I hope so," Zhang Zifeng replied, gazing out at the bustling city outside the window.

...

After their return to the hotel, Zifeng wasted no time in heading for the shower, eager to rid herself of the dirt accumulated during their outing. With swift movements, she stripped off her clothes and stepped into the refreshing cascade of water, feeling its cleansing embrace wash away the day's tensions. Emerging from the shower, she wrapped herself in a plush towel before swiftly changing into fresh clothes.

Once settled on the bed, her damp hair clinging to her skin, Zifeng reached for her phone, scanning for any new notifications.

She noticed a message from Ye Bai's former assistant right away. Upon reading it, her face paled, and she promptly made a call.

"Hello, what happened?" Her words spilled out in a rush, the urgency evident in her tone.

"Sorry, I only found out later. When I visited the hospital, I discovered that Ye Bai was no longer there because he had been transferred to another location," came the swift response from the assistant.

Zifeng felt her heart sink at the confirmation of her fears. Swallowing hard against the lump forming in her throat, she fought to maintain her composure. "Okay, please keep me updated if you hear anything about where Ye Bai has been taken."

"Sure," the person on the other end replied before ending the call.

Zifeng quickly messaged Zhao Jinmai to inquire if she knew about Ye Bai's hospital transfer.

Jinmai promptly replied, revealing that she had only just learned about Ye Bai's relocation.

They both attempted to message Ye Bai's mother, Wu Qian, but received no response from her.

Alone in her hotel room, Zifeng sat in stunned silence, her mind reeling with unanswered questions. How could this have happened?

...

Ye Ancestral Courtyard

Four days ago, some individuals arrived at the hospital and claimed to be Ye Feng's family.

Introducing herself as Ye Meili, she asserted her identity as Ye Feng's younger sister.

Wu Qian didn't recognize them, as she hadn't met them during her time with Ye Feng. However, Ye Feng had mentioned his family before, and she knew their names.

Ye Meili expressed her desire to transfer her nephew to their residence to ensure Ye Bai's privacy while he recovered.

Given the recent leak of Ye Bai's photo from the hospital, Wu Qian agreed to the proposal.

During her stay at the Ye family's residence, Wu Qian also met Father Ye Han, Ye Feng's father. Despite his serious demeanor, he appeared kind. He stayed in the room for a while after their arrival but eventually left.

Ye Meili ensured Wu Qian's comfort during her stay in the courtyard, and all the servants treated her with respect.

Yesterday, the three of them had a meal together, and Ye Meili inquired about Wu Qian's life with Ye Feng and Ye Bai. Wu Qian shared their story, recounting how she met Ye Feng, his achievements, and his relationship with his son. She also discussed Ye Bai's situation, goals, and education, despite knowing that it had been investigated.

Father Ye nodded along as he listened, but when he learned about Ye Bai studying acting, his eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Ye Meili was already aware of her nephew's activities, so when Wu Qian mentioned Ye Bai's aspirations and studies, she couldn't help but glance at her father. She also noticed his furrowed eyebrows, though they quickly smoothed out.

Ye Meili felt a sense of relief that her father didn't have an outburst like before, especially now that her mother wasn't present due to her visit to Ye Xinyi.

Father Ye made it clear that any mention of Ye Xinyi and Ye Feng was off-limits in their household. Anyone who dared to assist them would be expelled from their residence.

For a long time, they hadn't received any news from the two relatives. However, everything changed when Ye Bai's face became known. Upon seeing his face, Ye Meili recognized the familial resemblance and promptly had Ye Bai's family investigated. Upon learning of their relation and Ye Feng's passing, she immediately confronted her father, expressing her anger, grief, and regrets. Mother Li also cried upon hearing that her son had been gone for so long without her knowledge.

Father Ye mourned silently, his sadness evident in his eyes.

Upon hearing the news, Mother Li searched for her daughter Ye Xinyi, not wanting to live with any more regrets, especially in her old age. But upon learning of Ye Bai's situation, she announced her intention to return immediately to see her grandson.

Ye Meili shook her head, pondering the fate of her family, all because of her father's stubbornness.

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