Chapter 11: Sudden Incident

The makeup artists and stylists were pulled away for an emergency meeting, leaving only the three of them in the entire makeup area.

Gu Lingyi crossed her arms, turning her face away in disdain.

Regarding the damaged designated costume, the studio’s solution was: Gu Lingyi would continue shooting, while Gu Yanyue’s shoot would be postponed. The staff returned to their posts.

Gu Lingyi’s updo was almost finished, while Gu Yanyue went upstairs to change clothes.

With everything ready, Gu Lingyi headed toward the indoor set but was stopped halfway by Huo Qi.

“What video are you filming without any reason?”

Gu Lingyi looked up lazily. “Do I need to report to Young Master Huo about this?”

Huo Qi frowned. “Isn’t the timing of the shoot a bit too coincidental?”

It was just before Gu Yanyue’s fall, as if she somehow knew what was about to happen.

Gu Lingyi narrowed her eyes. “So what?”

After overhearing Gu Yanyue’s conversation with the system, she couldn’t afford to be unguarded.

Huo Qi gritted his teeth and changed the subject again. “Then why were you filming that video?”

“Mmm…” Gu Lingyi shrugged indifferently. “I just wanted to film a video asking what shoes would go with this dress.”

It was a flimsy but plausible excuse.

Huo Qi glanced down at her feet under the skirt, only to see disposable slippers. He frowned. “Where are the shoes?”

“Oh—” Gu Lingyi stretched the word, chuckling softly. “The stylist said filming barefoot would give a different effect.”

Having said that, she bypassed Huo Qi and stepped into the shooting area.

Under the bright indoor lights, Gu Lingyi was barefoot, her eyes shimmering as she moved gracefully before the camera.

The staff around couldn’t hide their admiration.

“She’s truly born to be a star…”

“Even in a plain white indoor setting, she makes it look like a masterpiece. If she doesn’t become famous, who will?”

“Look at Old Ke’s mouth—he’s barely stopped smiling!”

“…”

All glittering on the surface!

Huo Qi sneered coldly in his heart, his gaze fixed on Gu Lingyi as if trying to see right through her.

After finishing the four-sided indoor shots, they moved to the outdoor scenes.

During the break, Gu Lingyi went to the restroom. When she came out, she caught a sharp scent of burning.

Frowning, she walked outside and saw the entire first floor shrouded in smoke, empty and chaotic. Outside the villa, someone shouted frantically, “There’s a fire on the second floor!”

Gu Lingyi strode out the door. The staff had gathered on the garden lawn, anxiously looking up. Nearby, Huo Qi was on the phone, his expression grim.

“Yueyue still hasn’t come down?” He hung up and randomly grabbed someone to ask.

The person was shocked. “I-I didn’t see her!”

Gu Lingyi, having hurried out without her phone, approached the clustered staff. “Has the fire department been called?”

“Yes! But the closest station will take more than twenty minutes to arrive!”

The second floor was full of clothes and props, and synthetic fibers burn rapidly. Even fire sprinklers couldn’t withstand the raging blaze.

In twenty minutes, there would likely be only ashes left.

As the fire spread to the windows, Huo Qi’s face darkened, and he strode toward the villa.

“Mr. Huo!” Someone hurried to stop him. “Don’t act rashly!”

“Yueyue is still inside!” His voice was cold and sharp. “If anything happens to her, your studio will go down with her!”

Gu Lingyi scanned the crowd but didn’t see Yu Xi. She found the stylist who had gone upstairs with her to change clothes and asked, “Have you seen Director Yu?”

The stylist was momentarily stunned, then widened her eyes, her voice trembling with sobs. “Teacher Gu, what should we do? Sister Yu is still upstairs!”

Others nearby overheard and were stunned. “Did Sister Yu come today?”

“Yeah…” The stylist wiped her tears, nodding shakily.

Yu Xi’s visits to the studio were irregular; often, she was nowhere to be seen.

Another staff member tried to reassure her. “Sister Yu is mostly on the third floor. We still have time to wait for the fire department.”

“But... we saw her on the second floor!”

Before the words finished, Huo Qi pushed through the crowd, his aura fierce as he approached them.

Gu Lingyi wanted to ask more about Yu Xi’s usual habits but was suddenly grabbed hard by the arm.

“Gu Lingyi!”

Everyone else tacitly fell silent.

Huo Qi’s eyes were like blades as he stated decisively, “It’s you!”

Gu Lingyi felt bewildered. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Where were you just now?”

His voice was icy and sarcastic. “Yueyue’s dress was mysteriously torn, so she had to go to the second floor. And it just so happens there was a fire on the second floor when you weren’t there. How is that such a coincidence?”

“Do you dare say this has nothing to do with you?”

He didn’t even wait for a response, sentencing her outright. “You’ve pulled small tricks before, but now you want to end Yueyue’s life!”

“Huo Qi!” Gu Lingyi snapped coldly, her eyes sharp. “Speak with evidence!”

“Evidence?” Huo Qi tightened his grip on her arm fiercely. “Your repeated attempts to sabotage Yueyue are evidence enough!”

Damn it!

Gu Lingyi nearly cursed out loud. “I’m not going to argue with you if you’re not sane right now!”

She shook off his hand and looked up to examine the structure of the second floor.

Huo Qi persisted. “Gu Lingyi!”

“Shut up!”

Glowering at him, Gu Lingyi feared he would lose control and could only force herself to remain calm. “I was in the restroom! Besides…”

She rolled her eyes. “Even if I were on the second floor, what would I use to start a fire? Fire by rubbing sticks?”

“Use your precious brain to think about how to save people instead of making baseless accusations here!”

With that, Gu Lingyi didn’t glance at Huo Qi again. She kicked off the disposable slippers that hindered her steps and strode toward the villa.

The staff tried to stop her but couldn’t catch her.

Just then, they faintly saw someone stagger out the front door.

The figure was slender and unsteady, with thick smoke behind her creating an aura of resilience as she broke through the danger.

“Look! Look! It’s Yueyue!”

“Teacher Yueyue is out!”

“Thank goodness…”

Everyone sighed in relief, except the stylist who had seen Yu Xi, still quietly worried.

Huo Qi immediately rushed forward, pulling Gu Yanyue into his arms, holding her small face with relief. “Are you hurt?”

“Brother Qi…” Gu Yanyue hugged his lean waist tightly. “I’m fine…”

“Teacher Yueyue!” The stylist remained uneasy. “Did you see anyone else on the second floor just now?”

Gu Yanyue peeked out from Huo Qi’s embrace, innocent and confused. “No... I didn’t see anyone else.”

Hearing this, the stylist’s anxious heart eased slightly. As long as Yu Xi wasn’t on the second floor, there was still hope.

Nearby, Gu Lingyi watched the two clinging to each other, ears catching a conversation no one else could hear.

System: [Why didn’t the host tell them Yu Xi was upstairs?]

Gu Yanyue: [I knew someone was there but only cared about running away myself. How would they see me?]

[So unlucky! If it weren’t for the fire spreading so fast…]

The dialogue continued.

Gu Lingyi’s expression grew colder and colder, the heat of the flames no match for this chilling feeling.

Huo Qi glanced at her suspiciously.

After a moment, Gu Lingyi finally looked away, still walking her own path past the crowd, standing at the gate against the thick smoke as if unaware of the scorching heat sweeping around her.