Wangquan Entertainment Company, in the innermost room of its standalone villa.
He Zihan and her manager, Chen Huan, sat side by side at the southern end of the room. A square table stood before them, set with an expensive tea service.
At the northern end, a burly-looking middle-aged man in a long robe sat cross-legged on the floor. Beside him sat a woman in her twenties, her features as delicate as a porcelain doll.
"Miss He, Ms. Chen, it's already been ten minutes. Has your friend still not arrived?" Wang Lengbo lifted his teacup, took a sip, and asked with an ambiguous smile.
He Zihan glanced at the time on her phone, her delicate brows creasing.
Five minutes ago, Jun Wangchen had said he was already at the entrance to Wangquan Entertainment Company's standalone villa. It only took a minute to reach their room from the corridor. Had he gotten lost?
She was about to call Jun Wangchen again when the woman beside Wang Lengbo glanced out the window and gave a mocking smile. "Don't bother calling. If he still isn't here, he's probably dead."
"What do you mean by that?" He Zihan's expression changed. Her heart lurched as a terrible premonition washed over her.
"My father set up an array outside in the corridor. The moment anyone steps into it, it activates and releases poisonous gas. Even the slightest breath of it means certain death." The woman toyed with a strand of her long, fine hair and smiled flippantly.
"Since your friend still hasn't appeared after all this time, he's probably already died out there in the corridor, without so much as a body left."
At those words, both He Zihan and Chen Huan paled. They rose together, intending to check the corridor.
But the instant they stood, a