Chapter 110: Matryoshka Dolls

 

“What nonsense! Does Zhizhi need to steal a porcelain vase? Can’t she earn enough on her own?”

Suddenly, a clear and spirited female voice broke through the silence as everyone focused their suspicions on Xu Zhizhi.

A tall figure stepped out from the crowd, her face full of anger.

The speaker was Li Wanwan, someone who knew Xu Zhizhi well. Those in the entertainment industry knew her even better.

The onlookers turned their attention to Li Wanwan, acknowledging her point, since Xu Zhizhi had no financial need to steal the vase.

If she were caught stealing, the fallout would far outweigh any potential benefit.

Given Xu Zhizhi’s status in the entertainment world, she would have no interest in a porcelain vase, even if it was worth 50 million Yuan.

“Xu Zhizhi could earn that back by starring in two films or taking on a couple of endorsements,” someone muttered.

“Her character has been tested over time. She wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“Maybe the real thief put the backpack in her dressing room!”

Voices of support rose from both inside and outside the room.

For anyone else, the suspicion might have stuck, but Xu Zhizhi was different.

Li Feng, observing this, turned to the security captain and spoke respectfully, “I think everyone has a point. Zhizhi isn’t someone who would do such a thing, nor does she need to.”

“It’s probably a misunderstanding. Earlier, I watched Zhizhi-jie fully immersed in her role during filming. Maybe she unconsciously brought the backpack with her. I don’t think it’s a case of theft,” a calm young voice said from the crowd.

The onlookers parted to reveal a middle-aged woman pushing a pale, delicate, and handsome teenager into view.

The teenager resembled Li Feng but had inherited his mother’s refined eyes and nose. His slender figure and persuasive tone made the crowd momentarily dazed, nodding along unconsciously.

Even Li Wanwan, who had previously defended Xu Zhizhi, found herself agreeing. “Everyone on set knows not to touch such things, let alone steal them. I think this is just a misunderstanding.”

“Yes, a misunderstanding,” Li Feng echoed.

Li Jiahang, the teenager, exchanged a knowing glance with his father. Both had a flicker of satisfaction in their eyes.

Their goal wasn’t to outright frame Xu Zhizhi but to plant a seed of doubt in everyone’s minds about her character.

Li Jiahang lifted his head, his deep gaze scanning the crowd before settling on Xu Zhizhi. A faint hint of mockery flickered in his eyes as he looked at her.

Though he appeared to be defending her, his words subtly pinned the blame on her.

If Xu Zhizhi accepted the explanation, she would tacitly admit to having taken the backpack, which would solidify her reputation as a thief.

If she denied it, she would need to prove her innocence.

That, however, was no easy task. Xu Zhizhi had no evidence to clear her name.

Qin Su’s expression darkened and he was about to speak when Xu Zhizhi gently pressed his hand, signaling him to stay silent.

Her gaze swept across the room, finally landing on Li Feng and Li Jiahang, who had been pushed to his side.

Such an absurd explanation was accepted so easily. Xu Zhizhi didn’t need any verification to realize that someone was using hypnotic abilities to subtly influence the people at the scene.

“Whether intentional or not, I would never take that backpack. The best way to resolve this theft is to call the police and get to the bottom of it. Whoever framed me will pay the price!” Xu Zhizhi’s voice carried a sharp, penetrating tone. Her special vocal resonance broke through the fog clouding everyone’s minds, snapping them back to clarity, whether they realized it or not.

It confirmed her suspicion. Li Jiahang must have received assistance from the system. Judging by the circumstances, it had granted him the ability to use hypnosis.

Qin Su, standing beside Xu Zhizhi, took out his phone with a cold smile. “I’m a police officer, but since this involves my girlfriend, I won’t intervene directly. However, there’s no issue with me filing a report right now. Let’s see what the investigation uncovers.”

Modern technology offers numerous forensic tools, including fingerprint analysis. Accusing only Xu Zhizhi wouldn’t hold up, since the police could easily examine the prints on the backpack. If others’ fingerprints were also present, the truth would eventually surface.

Even if that didn’t suffice, the crew could be questioned one by one and the culprit would undoubtedly emerge. They could also investigate any traces left in Xu Zhizhi’s dressing room, making it straightforward to uncover the truth.

Qin Su remained calm. The one who should be panicking was the real schemer behind the setup.

Hearing Qin Su’s declaration, the middle-aged woman behind Li Jiahang, who was gripping the wheelchair’s handles, visibly tensed. A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes.

The rest of the crowd agreed that calling the police was a good idea.

Li Feng, however, walked over to Qin Su and placed a hand on his shoulder, speaking earnestly, “Let’s not blow this out of proportion. If the crew reports this, the waiting paparazzi and gossip bloggers will have a field day. It’s best to handle this matter internally. Since nothing was truly stolen, there’s no need to escalate.”

Xu Zhizhi raised her eyebrows, her tone skeptical. “Someone set that bag as a trap in my dressing room and had a key to my private space. Shouldn’t we get to the bottom of this?” She paused, then added, “Let’s contact Director Chu. I suspect someone is framing me. If it’s a porcelain vase this time, who knows what it might be next time? Only by uncovering the truth can we proceed with filming. Otherwise, I think production should be delayed.”

She continued calmly, though her gaze was sharp as a blade aimed directly at Li Feng. “If you refuse to call the police, I have every reason to suspect you as the mastermind behind all this. You’ve never liked me, have you? You think I got the leading role through connections and that it doesn’t align with your standards. And now, this incident of pinning the blame on me is your way of pushing me out of the cast, isn’t it?”

Her words struck like thunder, tearing down any pretense between the two.

The onlookers didn’t speak aloud, but in their hearts, they silently agreed with Xu Zhizhi. Their gazes toward Li Feng shifted, filled with suspicion. Perhaps the incident was a petty act of revenge after all.

Li Feng frowned, his voice defensive. “I did no such thing. I treat all actors equally.”

Xu Zhizhi met his gaze coldly. “Then what evidence do you have to support your suspicion of me? If you call the police, I won’t think you’re behind this.”

She wanted to see how he planned to extricate himself from the mess he had created.

The system’s tasks likely didn’t specify how long it needed for success, so Xu Zhizhi decided she could drag this out. Li Feng, desperate to drain her of Malice Points and heal his son, was the one running out of time.

With just a few pointed remarks, Xu Zhizhi had turned the situation around completely.

Li Wanwan, standing nearby, looked at her uncle with disbelief in her eyes. “Uncle… you wouldn’t frame Zhizhi, would you?”

“Stop making baseless accusations,” Li Feng snapped, his brows furrowing as he looked at Xu Zhizhi. “Xu Zhizhi, I’m not that kind of person. Everyone in the crew knows that. I admit I was dissatisfied with you before, but your performance has proven you deserve this role. I have no reason to sabotage you intentionally.”

At that moment, the previously silent Li Jiahang spoke. “Zhizhi-jie, I’m a fan of yours and your works. I know you wouldn’t do something like this. But as for calling the police, that depends on the security company’s decision, doesn’t it? After all, it’s their negligence that almost caused the loss.”

Xu Zhizhi turned her gaze to the head of security, who was holding the backpack.

The head of security bowed deeply to her, his expression sincere. “I’m sorry, Xu Zhizhi. It was my mistake to suspect you earlier. If we report this, our entire team might lose our jobs. So I’m begging everyone, please, let’s pretend this never happened.”

After bowing to Xu Zhizhi, the head of security also bowed to the rest of the crew, humbling himself thoroughly.

If Xu Zhizhi continued to press the matter, it would make her seem unreasonable.

Xu Zhizhi frowned but eventually nodded. “Fine, let’s end this matter here.”

Feng Jie, standing nearby, wanted to speak up, but Xu Zhizhi shot her a warning glance, silencing her.

Seeing this, Li Feng waved his hand to dismiss everyone, telling them it was late and time to go home.

Once the security team left with the vase, Qin Su also stood up and helped Xu Zhizhi leave.

As most people dispersed, Li Jiahang, still in his wheelchair, prepared to leave as well.

When Xu Zhizhi walked past him, she stopped. Leaning in until there were only four or five centimeters between them, she spoke softly enough for only the two of them to hear, “Next time, be less obvious. Even with skill enhancements, your execution is so crude. Is it because of your disability?”

Her voice was casual, but the words were piercing, designed to strike where it hurt the most.

For someone like Li Jiahang, who prided himself on his intelligence, being called crude was infuriating. Worse still, being reminded of the disability caused by his own arrogance was an unspoken taboo.

Xu Zhizhi guessed that in his home, whether by his parents or the house staff, words like ‘disabled’ or ‘inconvenienced’ were likely forbidden.

After delivering her verbal blow, she walked away. But she hadn’t gone more than two steps before she heard a furious, animalistic roar from behind.

There was also the sound of something heavy striking something, followed by the soft cries of the woman beside him, filled with pain and concern.

But she didn’t dare to scold Xu Zhizhi. The earlier confrontation had just ended and she feared Xu Zhizhi might pursue the matter further.

All she could do was crouch down, tears streaming, and softly comfort her son.

Li Jiahang, however, shoved her violently, causing her to fall hard to the ground. “Get lost! Get out of my sight, you useless woman!”

The woman hit her head against the chair leg, a sharp pain radiating from the back of her head. Yet, she didn’t complain. She immediately got up to console her son again.

By now, everyone else had left. Even Li Feng was gone, preoccupied with smoothing things over with the head of security.

Only Li Jiahang and the woman pushing his wheelchair remained, waiting for the area to clear before leaving.

Xu Zhizhi glanced back at them, her brows furrowed, but she turned and left with the others.

In the car, Feng Jie, carrying the backpack, finally broke the silence after they left the film set. “Zhizhi, why didn’t you go after those two? They framed you!”

Her indignation was evident and she clenched her fists as if itching to teach them a lesson. The baseless accusations against her beloved Zhizhi left her fuming.

Xu Zhizhi exchanged a glance with Qin Su and sighed.

Qin Su spoke on her behalf, “And if she did pursue it?”

“Then, of course…” Feng Jie started, but the words caught in her throat.

She thought it over and then pouted, letting out a frustrated sigh.

She finally understood why Xu Zhizhi hadn’t pursued the matter. Even if she had, there would likely be no real apology. Li Feng had a well-known reputation and as the director of the production, replacing an actor was common, but replacing a director? That was nearly unheard of.

As for Li Jiahang, he could always claim he was just awkward with his words. Even if they called the police, the only outcome would be an apology from the head of security, something he had already offered, sincerely enough to deflect further accusations.

Even if Xu Zhizhi pursued the matter further, it wouldn’t lead anywhere.

The security company had no intention of reporting the theft to the police. Since the item had been ‘recovered,’ they refused to escalate it. If Xu Zhizhi kept pressing, she still wouldn’t have achieved any meaningful outcome.

Furthermore, the police wouldn’t dedicate much effort to the investigation, as in everyone’s eyes, the issue was already resolved.

“What terrible luck to deal with people like this. If the penalty for breaking the contract wasn’t so high, I’d suggest dropping this project,” Feng Jie grumbled.

Xu Zhizhi smiled faintly. “It’s fine. Let’s just finish the shoot.”

Qin Su glanced at her. “I’ll look into this. It won’t end unresolved.”

Their thoughts aligned.

Sometimes, fate forces one to act recklessly. Xu Zhizhi was also waiting for the right moment for a decisive strike.

Meanwhile, she hadn’t yet successfully created a program to capture the system. Without resolving that, incidents like this would keep happening.

The system wouldn’t disappear until it accumulated 100,000 Malice Points, and during that time, it had countless opportunities to cause trouble.

If they didn’t seize control of the system, unforeseen complications could arise. Given the level of this artificial intelligence, it could potentially wreak havoc on ordinary networks. While Xu Zhizhi and Qin Su suspected it might not yet possess that capability, they couldn’t dismiss the possibility that it might evolve over time.

It was a daunting challenge.

Xu Zhizhi sighed at the enormity of the task.

After returning home, she freshened up and went to bed. The next day, she had a break from the set and would resume filming in two days.

While Qin Su went out to investigate, Xu Zhizhi stayed in the actors’ dormitory, typing away on her keyboard as she worked on hacking programs to capture the system.

She felt it was a long shot but she comforted herself with the thought that effort often leads to results.

The two days passed quickly.

Qin Su uncovered some leads. Li Feng and the head of security had been spending time together over the past couple of days and seemed to have a close relationship.

Li Feng had even gifted the security head a membership card worth 100,000 Yuan at a private club. However, beyond that, there wasn’t much more.

Li Jiahang, on the other hand, was far more active. He frequently posted online, ranting about society and expressing hatred. He was also an avid anti-fan of Xu Zhizhi, constantly posting defamatory comments about her.

Unfortunately, no one paid attention to his posts.

None of them was helpful to Xu Zhizhi and they remained at a disadvantage.

Just as Xu Zhizhi was beginning to think they’d have to wait until everything played out, someone unexpected appeared.

That person was a former classmate of Li Jiahang’s and one of his accomplices in school bullying.

The person contacted Li Jiahang and then left stealthily.

Qin Su tracked them and discovered they met with a group of people, handing over money to a gang of thugs.

“There weren’t any obstructions nearby, so I couldn’t get close enough to hear what they were saying,” Qin Su said that evening as he returned to Xu Zhizhi’s apartment, handing her his phone.

He had recorded a video and Xu Zhizhi wondered if her system had any lip-reading functions that could help decipher it.

After reviewing the video, Xu Zhizhi realized the system lacked such a skill. She was at a loss.

She couldn’t figure out what they were planning.

For now, she decided to remember the three individuals and await further developments.

Xu Zhizhi was also curious whether the system would inform Li Jiahang about her actions.

After thinking it through, she concluded it probably would.

The system had already provided Li Jiahang with its most advanced skills. Surely it wouldn’t withhold critical intelligence.

The thought of her every move being transparent to her enemy was unsettling.

On the third day, Xu Zhizhi got up early to resume filming.

The scenes that day were minor, requiring little emotional involvement.

Chu Lu, the producer, visited the set and gathered information from both sides of the incident.

Afterward, she stopped Xu Zhizhi after her shoot. With an apologetic expression, she admitted that Li Feng had gone too far this time. How could he accuse an actress in his own crew of theft without any evidence?

However, it was difficult to remove Li Feng from the project. He held partial copyright to the film and had created much of the script. If he left, the production would likely come to a halt.

Additionally, Li Feng had a financial stake in the project, which made removing him even more complicated unless he willingly withdrew.

After some discussion, it was decided that Li Feng would apologize. That evening, Chu Lu arranged for everyone to gather for dinner, where Li Feng would offer his apology to resolve the matter.

It was actually Li Feng who suggested the dinner and Xu Zhizhi was curious to see what he was up to, so she agreed.

After filming wrapped for the day, the three brought their assistants to go to the restaurant Li Feng had booked.

When both parties arrived, their faces were adorned with fake smiles and polite greetings.

Xu Zhizhi brought Qin Su along and as they entered the private dining room, they saw Li Jiahang, who turned his wheelchair to face them.

In the lavishly decorated room, Li Jiahang’s gaze was filled with confidence as he looked at Xu Zhizhi as if silently declaring that she was a lamb in his grasp.

Xu Zhizhi lowered her eyes, glanced at him indifferently, and then casually looked away.

Realizing Xu Zhizhi’s dismissive attitude, Li Jiahang’s face darkened, and he gripped his wheelchair’s armrests tightly in anger.

Chu Lu, unaware of the subtle confrontation, allowed herself to be guided to the main seat by Li Feng.

Xu Zhizhi sat next to Chu Lu, while Li Jiahang positioned himself directly across from her, glaring at her intently. However, Xu Zhizhi remained unfazed.

During this interaction, Xu Zhizhi observed Li Feng’s smooth and sly demeanor. His ability to navigate social situations, like persuading others to drink, was that of a seasoned middle-aged man.

Even Qin Su wasn’t spared, as someone seated next to him tried to coax him into drinking. Feng Jie was also encouraged to join in.

Qin Su politely declined, citing that he was on medication for a cold.

Chu Lu, disliking such drinking culture, frowned and intervened, saying, “Enough. Let’s just enjoy a few drinks in moderation. No need to pressure anyone.”

She placed her hand on Li Feng’s arm, stopping him as he raised his glass for another toast. “Let’s settle everything here and move on,” she said softly.

Li Feng nodded solemnly and turned to Xu Zhizhi, his gaze carrying an air of elder-like affection. Putting down his glass, he looked at her with a contrite expression.

“I acted impulsively a few days ago and I’ve also held some prejudices against you. I’m sorry…” he said, bowing slightly.

However, the brief moment he lowered his head, Xu Zhizhi caught a glimpse of coldness in his eyes.

“I may have been a bit forceful myself. It’s good that we’ve cleared this up now. Director Li, you’ve worked so hard for me and dedicated yourself tirelessly,” Xu Zhizhi replied with apparent sincerity.

But to Li Feng, her words carried a thinly veiled sarcasm.

His smile stiffened as he straightened up. Both parties were aware of the underlying animosity, but they maintained a façade of friendliness in front of Chu Lu.

Chu Lu placed a reassuring hand on Xu Zhizhi’s shoulder and turned to Li Feng. “Zhizhi is an exceptional young woman. Back in my production, she fearlessly helped the police avert a major disaster, saving countless lives and families.”

Chu Lu referred to an incident during her previous project when an attempted bombing occurred. If it weren’t for Xu Zhizhi and Qin Su defusing the situation, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

In Chu Lu’s eyes, Xu Zhizhi was brave, resourceful, kind, and resilient. Li Feng’s prejudice against her deeply displeased Chu Lu, who now regretted letting him take on the role of director.

The script had been tailored for Xu Zhizhi from the start. If anyone was an outsider, it was Li Feng. His involvement might seem justified, but it wasn’t.

By praising Xu Zhizhi, Chu Lu was publicly vouching for her character, signaling to everyone that she believed in her.

In her mind, no one in the entertainment industry could compare to Xu Zhizhi in talent and integrity.

If not for Li Feng’s higher standing, Chu Lu would’ve outright criticized him for his lack of judgment.

Chu Lu’s admiration for Xu Zhizhi shone clearly in her eyes. For a moment, Li Feng’s expression tightened, but he quickly recovered, forcing a smile.

“Yes, yes, I’ve realized it too. Xu Zhizhi is truly remarkable,” he said.

Chu Lu smiled slightly at his response and cast a comforting glance at Xu Zhizhi, silently signaling her not to worry.

Xu Zhizhi’s heart felt at ease, knowing Chu Lu trusted her deeply.

Throughout her journey, she encountered many people who believed in her.

She thought to herself that she couldn’t afford to lose.

She wouldn’t lose.

Xu Zhizhi reached out and hugged Director Chu.

Chu Lu patted her head gently, her heart aching for the young woman who had been wronged. No matter how strong or brave Xu Zhizhi was, that was no excuse for her to endure such injustice.

What was meant to be a compensatory lead role had instead subjected Xu Zhizhi to unnecessary grievances, causing Chu Lu deep remorse.

Li Feng, sensing the tension, quickly said, “Let me have my son apologize as well. We were too quick to judge.”

As if rehearsed, Li Jiahang immediately picked up a glass of juice, holding it with both hands.

“Zhizhi-jie, I’m sorry. I didn’t think before I spoke yesterday,” he said.

After Xu Zhizhi finished hugging Chu Lu, she looked calmly at the two men and said, “It’s fine, I don’t care about it as much anymore.”

The atmosphere softened as everyone shared a few glasses of red wine.

By her third glass, Xu Zhizhi started to feel lightheaded. Not having much alcohol tolerance, she leaned on Qin Su, half-closing her eyes, no longer paying attention to her surroundings.

Feng Jie, who could hold her liquor better, helped shield Xu Zhizhi from a few more drinks.

After over two hours, the gathering finally broke up.

Feng Jie was slightly tipsy as she walked to the side, while Qin Su focused on supporting Xu Zhizhi as they left.

The restaurant was also a hotel, sprawling across a large area designed like a traditional Chinese garden. There were winding corridors, decorative walls, and rock formations, making navigation quite complicated.

Chu Lu had already been escorted to her car by her assistant, leaving Qin Su to guide Xu Zhizhi out based on his memory. Fortunately, they made it outside without incident.

Feng Jie leaned against a wall near a trash can to throw up.

Their car was parked in a lot at the front of the hotel, requiring them to walk across a short distance.

At that moment, three drunken men appeared, eyeing the group of three.

The men, burly and rough-looking, began making lewd remarks as they approached.

Qin Su, hoping to avoid trouble, firmly stated, “I’m a police officer. You’d better behave yourselves.”

The three men exchanged glances and, seemingly harboring a grudge against law enforcement, became even more aggressive.

One of them stepped forward and shoved Qin Su. Xu Zhizhi, unsteady on her feet, could barely grasp what was happening.

Feng Jie, in her drunken, hyper state, directly engaged the men in a fight.

With no other choice, Qin Su left Xu Zhizhi standing against a wall and moved forward to help.

The three men appeared to have some combat training, making them difficult to deal with. Meanwhile, Feng Jie managed to call the police, dialing 110 under the cover of the chaos.

Before Xu Zhizhi could process the situation, Qin Su grabbed her and pulled her aside.

They moved into a bamboo grove, with the dense stalks towering over two meters high. Xu Zhizhi, still dazed, thought it might be safe to hide there.

Without a word, Qin Su continued leading her further into the grove.

Soon, they arrived at a long black car. Qin Su opened the door and tried to get Xu Zhizhi inside.

Though disoriented, Xu Zhizhi hesitated. She vaguely remembered that Qin Su didn’t own a car like that.

When did they call for backup? She tried to think but her head throbbed painfully with every attempt.

Using his strength, Qin Su forced Xu Zhizhi into the car.

Inside, there were already two people waiting. Before stepping in completely, Xu Zhizhi noticed something unusual. There was a tattoo on the arm of the ‘Qin Su’ who had pulled her.

Panic filled her eyes as the car door slammed shut beside her.

“Xu Zhizhi, after what happened two days ago, you really didn’t take any precautions. Should I call you naive or just plain stupid?” A sinister voice spoke from behind her.

Turning her head, Xu Zhizhi’s voice was low and hoarse as she asked, “What do you want?”

“Why, to reveal your true self, of course!” Li Jiahang’s voice answered.

Remaining composed in the face of danger, Xu Zhizhi glanced at the fake ‘Qin Su’ beside her and forced herself to stay calm. “Then let’s go,” she said.

With that, Xu Zhizhi was coerced into another location that appeared to be a secluded house.

Before she could react, a knife was shoved into her hands and she was abruptly pushed into a room.

In front of her, a woman sat on a sofa in the living room, clutching her stomach while staring at her.

A chilling voice echoed from somewhere in the house, “Xu Zhizhi, enjoy the feast I’ve prepared for you! You’ll love this scene, won’t you?”

Before she could fully grasp the situation, the woman on the sofa lunged forward, deliberately colliding with the shaking knife in Xu Zhizhi’s hands.