Rapid Collapse (GL) - Chapter 44

The doorbell kept ringing urgently and nonstop. Through the peephole, she saw a tall, beautiful woman with a graceful figure. She was wearing a black round hat, and the face beneath the brim was one she knew all too well.

How did Nie Lan find this place?

Could it be that she was the one who left the comment on the website just now?

Shen Xi’s mind raced as she forced herself to stay calm. Her hand rested on the door handle, hesitating whether to open it or not. At that moment, her phone rang in her pocket.

She picked it up and saw the caller ID. Her eyes instantly welled up—it was Han Ning. She answered, and Han Ning’s voice brought her an indescribable sense of relief.

“Baby, I just finished filming. I’m wrapping up now and heading to your place. Wait for me, okay? Let’s go eat hotpot together.”

“Han Ning…” Shen Xi choked up. Han Ning immediately noticed something was wrong and hurriedly walked toward the parking garage, asking, “What’s wrong? What happened? Are you crying?”

Shen Xi shook her head, covering the phone’s microphone. She took a deep breath and was about to speak when Nie Lan’s patience outside wore thin. She ordered someone to bring Shen Fengmei from the car. Holding onto Shen Fengmei, she knocked on Shen Xi’s door and shouted, “Shen Xi, stop pretending you’re not home. I brought your mother to see you!

Aren’t you going to let your dear mother come in and sit down?”

Nie Lan’s voice was loud, and since the room was quiet, Shen Xi could hear every word clearly. She stood by the door, her heart filled with anxiety. Han Ning, who was still on the phone, also heard Nie Lan’s shouting and instantly understood why Shen Xi was upset.

“No wonder…” Han Ning got into the car, slamming the door. Anger surged in her heart. Shen Xi had still ended up inviting trouble upon herself.

“Don’t pay attention to her. Nie Lan wouldn’t dare do anything to your mother. Call the police and report that someone is blackmailing you. I’ll be there right away.” Han Ning hung up and sped out of the parking garage onto the main road.

Shen Xi did as Han Ning suggested, but instead of calling the police, she contacted the property management. By the time the staff arrived, Han Ning had not yet reached her. They tried to persuade Nie Lan and her people to leave, but she ignored them completely.

She casually picked at her nails and glanced sideways at the property staff. “This is a personal matter between Miss Shen and me. Shouldn’t be any of your business, right?”

Nie Lan placed her hand on Shen Fengmei’s shoulder, smiling insincerely. “Auntie, I brought you to see your daughter. You came willingly and happily, didn’t you?”

Shen Fengmei hesitated before nodding timidly. “…Yes, I wanted to see my daughter, but I didn’t know where she lived, so I asked Miss Nie for help.”

The property staff were speechless. They exchanged glances, realizing there was nothing they could do. From an outsider’s perspective, it just looked like a mother visiting her daughter—completely normal.

Shen Xi watched the scene from inside, sighing helplessly. She knew that even if she called the police, there wouldn’t be much they could do. After all, Shen Fengmei was her biological mother, and the police wouldn’t interfere in family matters. She might even be labeled an unfilial daughter.

She gripped the door handle and decided to confront them head-on. Just as she opened the door, she saw Han Ning rushing out of the elevator, breathing heavily as she strode toward them.

“Han Ning…” Shen Xi murmured. The despair in her heart was instantly replaced with warmth.

To her, Han Ning was like a beam of light.

Han Ning reached them and politely smiled at the property staff. “Thank you for your help.

You can go now. I’ll take care of this.” The staff, who had been struggling with the situation, took the chance to leave immediately.

“I’m here, Shen Xi. Let’s go. I’m taking you to eat.” Han Ning ignored Nie Lan and her group completely, walking straight to Shen Xi and grabbing her hand to leave.

Nie Lan chuckled, eyes filled with amusement. “No one is leaving today.”

“What do you want?” Han Ning’s eyes darkened with anger, her fists clenching as she spoke through gritted teeth.

Han Ning looked like a lioness on the verge of attack, her gaze locked onto Nie Lan, as if ready to tear her apart.

“Shen Xi had that A Tian investigate me. Don’t tell me you didn’t know about it?” Nie Lan crossed her arms and took a step forward. She tilted her head at Shen Xi, then glanced down at the hands the two were holding. A sneer formed on her lips. “Tsk tsk, you two look like a pair of star-crossed lovers…”

“How can you prove that I had A Tian investigate you?” Shen Xi stepped forward and questioned her directly.

“A Tian confessed everything… Don’t even think about denying it!” Nie Lan pulled a few sheets of paper from her bag and held them out. Shen Xi, however, didn’t even look at them and simply chuckled. “Why should I believe that’s really from A Tian?”

Nie Lan hesitated. “Uh…”

“Besides, if you think your privacy has been violated, you can sue me. But remember, all the dirt A Tian dug up about your family will also become public. Have you thought that through?” Shen Xi had regained her composure, her rational mind once again taking control.

Nie Lan bit her lip in silence. The Nie family had a lot of skeletons in their closet.

They had spent years doing charity work to clean up their reputation. If this mess came to light, her father would strangle her.

Plus, whether or not Shen Xi had really ordered A Tian’s investigation was still up for debate. If she let it slide, A Tian’s so-called revelations would remain mere gossip. But if she made a big deal out of it, she would only end up proving it true.

“A Tian has been missing for half a month. Miss Nie, do you know where he is? Or should I call the police? A missing person case is no small matter.” Han Ning pretended to dial the emergency number.

“Hmph!” Nie Lan snorted, looking at Shen Fengmei with disdain before turning to Shen Xi with a smirk. “Fine… you got me.”

Shen Xi shrugged innocently. “I didn’t get anything on you, Miss Nie. I just thought you brought my long-lost mother to see me. As for the rest, I couldn’t care less.”

Hearing this, Nie Lan’s expression relaxed slightly. She turned and walked toward the elevator. Just before stepping in, she looked back at Shen Xi, her lips curving into a confident smile—like a hunter certain of capturing its prey.

As the elevator doors closed, Han Ning let out a deep breath. She turned to Shen Fengmei with a complicated expression. “Should I… step out for a bit? You two should talk.”

“No need,” Shen Xi said. “Let’s go inside.”

Shen Fengmei kept her head down, following them into the apartment. She sat uneasily on the sofa, her eyes filled with guilt. Shen Xi looked at her and asked, “Did Nie Lan do anything to you?”

“She said that if I didn’t come with her today, I would have to pay her back the money I owe.” Shen Fengmei answered in a small voice.

Han Ning and Shen Xi exchanged glances. Shen Xi frowned. “What money? Do you owe her money?”