Chapter 111: Night of Uncertain Fates

That man, nicknamed Mr. Zhao, with a square face, big ears, and a scar, sat calmly with a displeased expression.

“Don’t worry, I won’t interrupt your discussion. Enjoy your drinks!”

Zhou Can immediately pulled out a chair and sat down.

These people were determined to get Su Qianqian so drunk that they could whisk her away.

By now, Su Qianqian was extremely intoxicated.

If Zhou Can had arrived any later, they would have gotten everything they wanted.

“What a buzzkill!”

Mr. Zhao slammed his chopsticks on the table.

Grabbing his bag, he rose and left.

Even a fool would know her boyfriend was waiting just next door—there was no chance for him to scoop up a ‘corpse’.

Most bosses started out as underdogs who worked their way up.

Their methods and abilities were naturally impressive.

Seeing Zhou Can’s lack of sense, Mr. Zhao declared he could flip the attitude in an instant.

“Mr. Zhao, Mr. Zhao, don’t be angry! Leave it to me, leave it to me!”

The refined man quickly got up and grabbed Mr. Zhao.

A woman from the other side also grabbed him, cooing, “Mr. Zhao, don’t you trust Mr. Qian’s ability? He’ll surely make everything go your way!”

She leaned so heavily against Mr. Zhao that most of her body was pressed against him.

“Hmph, what’s with this random person? Let that kid go back first. Once we’re done drinking and negotiating, just see that his girlfriend gets sent back.”

Mr. Zhao gave Zhou Can a cold glance.

Then, with a sullen face, he sat back down.

“Hey, Zhou Can, right? Little Zhou, you saw Mr. Zhao’s attitude. Let me tell you—this is a major investor. With his support, your girlfriend can not only survive, but she might even become a top-tier star. Without Mr. Zhao backing her, you’ll be forced to hustle on the streets counting coins.”

The refined man, Mr. Qian, once again tried to sway Zhou Can’s thoughts.

“Don’t worry. I’m the Vice President of Beihai Wolf Star Media Co., Ltd. My word is my bond. With me and her colleague Wu Jiali here, your girlfriend is completely safe. After the deal, we’ll send Su Qianqian back.”

“Rest assured, we’ve got this!”

The woman chimed in support.

Zhou Can naturally wasn’t buying their nonsense.

“I—I need to leave!”

A staggering Su Qianqian stood up; at least her mind was still clear.

“I’ve never heard that a legitimate deal requires a woman to play along. You guys handle your negotiations. If it goes through, that’s on you. If not, then forget about it. I’m off.”

Zhou Can stepped forward to support the wobbly Su Qianqian.

Only then did he notice how soft and incredibly light she was.

Famous actresses always obsess over their weight to keep in prime shape.

Yet, despite her 5’7″ stature, she was so light that in Zhou Can’s medical opinion, she was malnourished.

“You must consider the consequences!”

Mr. Qian’s smile vanished, replaced by an icy tone.

“The consequence is that Mr. Zhao and you two just avoided a stint in jail. Goodbye.”

Ignoring the sour looks of the three, Zhou Can carried Su Qianqian out of the private room.

Mr. Qian glared after his retreating back like he could eat him alive.

Zhou Can made his point clear—he knew exactly what schemes they were plotting.

“I didn’t expect you… to come. Thank you!”

Her voice was muddled, her words tripping over each other.

But the moment she saw Zhou Can burst into the room, she knew she was safe.

“I thought you were completely wasted!”

It was the first time Zhou Can had ever held a girl so closely.

And not just any girl—a top-tier beauty with a perfect figure.

To say there was nothing amiss would be self-deception.

Her subtle scent of perfume and the natural hair-fragrance continually teased his senses.

“If I’m not drunk, how can I leave?”

She flashed a mischievous smile.

This is the plight and heartbreak of a third-tier actress.

Invited by the vice president to a dinner party, could she really refuse? There was no way out.

And with Mr. Zhao as the investor, she dared not offend him.

She simply had no choice.

Her smartest move was to feign drunkenness so that when Zhou Can took her away, even if Mr. Qian and Mr. Zhao weren’t pleased, they wouldn’t burn any bridges.

Zhou Can flagged down a taxi, deciding to take her home.

Seeing her in such a drunken state, he couldn’t risk leaving her alone.

“Driver, to Baying Lake Xiangshan Garden Phase 1, please.”

“Got it!”

The driver, worried by her disheveled state, was afraid she might throw up in the car.

“There’s a plastic bag in the seat pocket. In case she feels sick, please catch it with the bag.”

“Sure thing!”

Zhou Can pulled out a plastic bag.

Her body swayed uncontrollably before finally collapsing against his shoulder.

“Can I rest on your shoulder for a bit… I’m really exhausted…”

No sooner had she spoken than she drifted off to sleep.

Luckily, she didn’t vomit during the ride.

Zhou Can kept one arm around her to prevent her from falling.

After about half an hour, the taxi pulled over.

“We’ve arrived at Baying Lake Xiangshan Garden Phase 1!”

After paying the fare, Zhou Can tried to rouse Su Qianqian, but she just wouldn’t wake up.

There was nothing he could do.

He could only smile wryly as he carried her out of the car.

“Hey kid, tell your girlfriend to drink less! With looks like hers, there are plenty of bad guys out there.”

“I’ll be more careful next time! Thank you!”

Zhou Can looked at Su Qianqian in his arms and smiled bitterly.

Besides her undeniable beauty, she was never really his girlfriend.

With her looks, talent, and skills, no one would settle for an ordinary doctor like Zhou Can.

Famous actresses only dream of marrying rich tycoons and aristocrats.

Carrying her in his arms with considerable effort, he finally made it into her rented apartment.

He switched on the light and closed the entrance door.

Then, Zhou Can carried her straight into the bedroom.

Judging by her condition, she wouldn’t wake up until tomorrow.

The bedroom was decorated in a sweet, girlish style.

Dominated by shades of pink.

He laid her on the bed, removed her high heels, and tucked her in.

Zhou Can admired her stunning, ethereal beauty for several seconds before leaving the room, only to return shortly after.

He placed a glass of water on the bedside table.

“Ugh…”

Suddenly, she began vomiting violently.

Zhou Can quickly fetched a plastic basin, helped her sit up, and patted her back gently.

“Ugh… wah… splatter…”

A torrent of sour, foul matter spewed out, thankfully caught by the basin.

Once she finished, Zhou Can used a tissue to wipe her mouth.

He then gave her a few sips of water.

After tending to her, he quickly took the soiled materials to the bathroom to dispose of them.

Returning to the room, he opened the window to let in some fresh air.

Vomiting in an intoxicated state is extremely dangerous.

It can easily block the airway or cause the vomitus to be inhaled, leading to suffocation.

Zhou Can stayed by her bedside for over an hour to ensure she wouldn’t vomit again before leaving.

Before departing, he closed the window and locked the door.

Lying on the bed, Su Qianqian heard the door latch from outside. As she glanced at the glass of water on the bedside table, a faint smile curved her lips.

“A true gentleman never cheats in the dark.”

Despite being alone with such a stunning beauty, Zhou Can had made no lecherous move.

That was probably why she was so pleased.

At the very least, it showed she had a good eye for people.

Moreover, Zhou Can had been exceptionally tender in caring for her.

He was the very picture of a caring gentleman!

If that late-night door-opening was merely the start of their growing bond and mutual trust, then tonight their relationship was unquestionably more than that of a tenant and a landlord.

Human connections are wonderfully mysterious.

From the moment they meet, to getting to know one another, and gradually forming a bond.

Every stage unfolds at its own pace.

Love at first sight is common in dramas, but in real life, it’s exceedingly rare.

Especially in today’s materialistic world, men and women tread very cautiously in relationships.

Those who are careless end up scammed in love, money, lust, and emotions… Societal hardships eventually teach them to be wary.

…

The next day, as Zhou Can was about to head to work, his phone buzzed with a message from Su Qianqian.

“Thanks for your thoughtful care! Thanks for your respect!”

Reading the message, Zhou Can smiled knowingly.

Do stars even send such unique thank-you texts?

Recalling last night’s intimate moments—with warm embraces and private closeness, he had managed to suppress his own desires. Not many men could hold back like that.

Zhou Can had no intention of replying.

He was very clear-headed; yesterday was merely about saving the day.

If he thought Su Qianqian had feelings for him, he was mistaken.

He went to work at the hospital, his mindset completely unaffected.

However, when he finished work, he discovered a new WeChat friend request.

He opened it.

“Dr. Zhou, please accept. I am Su Qianqian!”

The request had been waiting for a while.

But he was busy at work and hadn’t noticed it sooner.

After accepting her request,

she immediately sent an emoticon with a look of distress.

“I thought you were too lazy to pay attention to me!”

“I was at work, not on my phone! Have you sobered up?”

If he delayed his reply any further, Su Qianqian might really think he was aloof.

“I see… (chuckles)”

“I’ve been awake all along! But I’m thinking of getting wasted again!”

Now, speaking to Zhou Can, she seemed to have finally let her guard down.

Perhaps Zhou Can’s twin rescues and his integrity cast him in a different light in her eyes.

“?”

Zhou Can replied with a puzzled emoticon.

In a chat, emoticons carry more warmth than mere punctuation.

“Come over and have a couple of drinks with me, and I’ll tell you everything!”

She sent a photo of what looked like a living room coffee table.

It was covered with a large spread of bottled beers.

Clearly, she was troubled by something.

Her recent situation had indeed been rather unfortunate.

“Chatting over drinks isn’t something a real estate agent offers!”

Zhou Can was politely declining.

“I have no true friends in this city; I just need someone to vent to. I might be leaving this city soon.”

Was she playing the victim?

“So, just the two of us in your rental place to drink?”

Zhou Can asked.

“Are you in?”

Her response was almost a silent agreement.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll get emboldened by the alcohol and do something to you?” He noticed a remarkable change in Su Qianqian’s attitude.

“If you were that kind of person, would you have waited until today?”

Her words carried deeper meaning.

“……”

Zhou Can was momentarily speechless.

“Is what I’m saying wrong?” she asked.

“……!” Zhou Can didn’t feel like answering such a silly question.

“Are you trying to lay eggs or something?”

Her tone was becoming increasingly brazen.

Zhou Can could almost see a black line forming on his forehead.

“I’ll come over, but let me make one thing clear—aside from temptation, I can hold back from anything else.”

“This isn’t fun at all! If you’re going to do it, do it quickly!”

Since she said so, Zhou Can had no second thoughts.

After all, who wouldn’t be happy to be alone with a stunning actress?

Moreover, given her condition, if something foolish happened at the rental, he’d be the one to blame.

He hurriedly hailed a cab and rushed over.

Nearly fifty minutes later, he arrived at Su Qianqian’s apartment.

He still found the whole situation a bit unbelievable.

She had actually invited him—a grown man—to come over and drink at her place.

It was all highly irregular.

Though Zhou Can was well-versed in street smarts, he wasn’t worried about any trap.

Besides, she didn’t look like the type to bait someone.

He rang the doorbell.

After a moment, the security door opened.

Su Qianqian, in her slippers with a flushed, slightly tipsy face, greeted him.

Tears—remnants of earlier crying—still marked her cheeks.

What on earth had happened to her?

“I thought you wouldn’t dare come! Please, come in!”

Zhou Can lifted the food he was holding and smiled.

“Drinking alone is harmful; I bought a duck with sauce, some marinated snacks, and peanuts.”

Upon entering, Su Qianqian proactively closed the front door.

She was truly letting down her guard with him.

Scanning the living room, he saw no one else around. Several empty canned beers lay scattered on the coffee table, just as she had shown him in the photo.

There was nothing but alcohol.

“Please, have a seat!”

She invited Zhou Can to sit on the sofa while she took a small stool on the coffee table.

“Do you think I’m despicable? Inviting a man over to drink at my place…”

Her smile carried a tinge of sorrow.

“Not at all. When you first rented this place, you were so guarded around me. Now that we’ve built trust, you dare call me. Of course, it might also be because I’m too handsome and you’ve fallen for me.”

Zhou Can tried to lighten the mood with a joke.

The living room curtains were drawn, and the dim lighting cast a somber glow.

It reflected her inner state—a desire to be confined within a safe space, away from hurt and intrusion.

Most likely, she had suffered severe blows in her career.

Psychologically, this was a sign of withdrawal.

Thud~!

“Just keep admiring yourself!”

With a playful glare, she shot Zhou Can a look that, despite everything, managed to make him laugh.

“Why did you choose me to unload your troubles? You could always call your best girlfriends!”

Zhou Can quietly cleared the empty beer cans from the coffee table before spreading out the snacks.

“The entertainment industry is a filthy place. As a defenseless woman, who could possibly afford close ties with them? Some things you can’t even imagine. I remember the first time I worked at a film base—while filming a short TV drama. A close school friend of mine, after her bath that night, discreetly entered the director’s room. The next day, she landed the role of Second Supporting Actress.”

She recounted her early career struggles.

“Back then, fresh out of school, I believed that talent and hard work would guarantee success. I looked down on all the shady rules and backdoor deals in this industry. Once, a producer sitting next to me tried creeping on my leg. I immediately exploded, stood up, and doused his greasy face with a drink. Needless to say, I was then blacklisted and could hardly even land an extra role.”

Her face grew even more sorrowful as she recalled those bitter times.

Zhou Can simply listened, offering a patient ear without interrupting.

“Later, Director Xu heard about my ordeal, admired my integrity, and offered some encouragement along with occasional job referrals. But it took me three long years to understand that to get ahead, you either need capital support or must submit to the whims of directors and producers. Otherwise, it’s nearly impossible.”

“Director Xu was my savior, though he couldn’t solve everything. The only help he provided was small gigs that kept me afloat.”

Directors are also ranked.

Top directors command vast resources, proven success, and the trust of investors; they wield significant influence.

Meanwhile, lesser directors scrape by like nobody’s business, begging for investments and opportunities.

Even top directors wouldn’t lavish attention on a newcomer without reason.

Either the newcomer is exceptionally talented and just needs a boost to shine, or they’re a beneficiary of connections.

“Later, I thought singing might be less troublesome. So I signed with Beihai Wolf Star Media Co., Ltd. But once I entered the field, I realized it was just as tough as acting. Yesterday, Mr. Qian took me to drink with Mr. Zhao—you saw it too. I know they have ulterior motives. So what? If we don’t play ball, we lose face. The company will sideline you, and investors won’t fund you.”

She was literally jumping from one pit to another.

Before hearing her firsthand account, Zhou Can hadn’t realized just how grim the entertainment world really was.

“At a recent concert, I refused to sell out by compromising my integrity, which cost me a major investment. In a desperate bid, I proposed a roadshow to boost my profile. But fate struck—a stage collapse ruined everything. Beihai Wolf Star Media ended up ditching responsibility, leaving me to handle the fallout. In anger, I demanded to cancel my contract, and they agreed—on one condition. I had to buy back the promotional album for five million.”

“They said that money couldn’t just vanish into thin air.”

That shameless company truly had no shame.

When profits came in, they pocketed the cash.

But when things went wrong, all losses were borne by the contracted artist.

“I sold my house and car, compensated my fans, and still ended up in debt. I could never raise five million to buy that album back. I’ve never felt so hopeless in my life.”

She said this while opening a bottle of beer and chugging it down.

A desperate woman with nowhere to turn, trapped in despair.

Zhou Can sensed that she might even be contemplating suicide.

It seemed like the only escape she saw.

“After venting to someone, I feel a bit better. In a couple of days, come collect the apartment. I’m planning to move to another city.”

She wiped away her tears and forced a smile.

“Your lease isn’t up yet. When you move out, I’ll refund the remaining rent and deposit.”

She was already struggling so much.

Zhou Can naturally wouldn’t take advantage of her.

“Forget it. Just consider it as a thank-you for your help this time!” She shook her head lightly before picking up another can of beer.

Hearing her words, Zhou Can became even more convinced she had suicidal thoughts.

From the moment she walked in, he had sensed it.

She appeared utterly dejected, her eyes devoid of life.

It was the look of someone who had lost all hope.

“You can’t drink any more! Too much alcohol harms your liver,” he warned, reaching for the beer to stop her.

“And didn’t you say that your company required you to buy back that album before releasing you from your contract? When you move to another city, won’t you need to resolve that first?”

Zhou Can’s question was more of a test—confirming if she truly was intent on self-destruction.