Chapter 1 (The World Four Begins) The Three-Man Locked Room Case

(The author anticipated your predictions and pre-set the plot holes.) (It's okay for readers to read this while it's still ongoing, just don't get so engrossed in other stories that you forget there's still me here... *biting handkerchief*) (Remember to come back to me, Yanza!) (The main text begins below)

"Mingyuan, are you alright? Mingyuan, what happened? Don't scare me, Mingyuan, hang in there..."

A soft, sweet female voice, like a vine, crept into Ling Wei's hazy consciousness.

Immediately following was the system's urgent call: "Weiwei, Weiwei, are you alright?"

Ling Wei felt weak all over and couldn't muster any strength, but her strong willpower still forced her to open her eyes.

There was no other reason than the woman who was shouting "Mingyuan, hang in there!" Her voice was getting more and more seductive, and if she added some ambiguous panting, it would be no different from the sounds in some Japanese adult films.

She didn't want to be some sleeping passerby.

As her gaze gradually focused, she realized that she was in a very stylish room.

This is no ordinary hotel; it's more like a suite in a high-end mountain resort. The heavy solid wood furniture and soft brocade carpet exude understated luxury, while the lush mountain scenery outside the window further enhances the eerie atmosphere inside.

Her gaze fell on the corner near the floor-to-ceiling window.

A man was sitting on a large single sofa.

His eyes were tightly closed, his brows furrowed, and the warm yellow light outlined his tightly pursed thin lips. His slender fingers dug deeply into the armrests of the sofa as he tried to control himself, and the veins on the back of his hands were visible. His whole body looked like a bow stretched to its limit.

However, even in such a wretched and painful state, his back did not completely collapse, maintaining a dignified posture ingrained in his bones.

Oh wow.

Ling Wei blinked slowly, dispelling the last trace of dizziness, and carefully examined the face. After a moment, she suddenly realized that this was the person who often appeared on the provincial news channel...

However, now, a few strands of his black hair were soaked with sweat, and instead of being neatly combed back as seen in television news, they fell down, highlighting the refined and handsome features of his face.

The girl squatting in front of him had a pure and innocent appearance. At this moment, her delicate eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her eyes were full of worry, which made people feel sorry for her.

"I'm fine..." Qu Mingyuan tried to keep his voice steady, but the medication made his originally clear voice sound hoarse and suppressed. "You should... stay away from me."

Bai Wanqing didn't back down; instead, she leaned forward even more, almost pressing herself against him, her voice trembling with tears: "I won't leave! How can I leave you alone! Mingyuan, what should I do? What can I do to help you..."

"Didn't he tell you to stay away from him?" Ling Wei sprang up from the bed.

The two people by the window looked at her at the same time, their faces showing surprise and disbelief, as if they had just realized that there was a third person in the room.

In that brief moment, the system quickly provided an explanation, and combined with her own memories, she instantly understood her current situation.

Qu Mingyuan, the newly promoted director, pushed forward a large-scale cultural project against all odds, aiming to create a phenomenal cultural and tourism extravaganza by integrating idol group competitions with local tourism promotion, thereby boosting the regional economy.

The project held open auditions, open to all, directly impacting the profits of major entertainment companies. Coupled with the presence of political rivals lurking in the shadows, some people wanted to use the most despicable means to kill the project before it even began.

Nothing is more devastating than a sex scandal involving a prospective idol.

Ling Wei propped herself up on her arms and got out of bed, her steps a little unsteady.

The door was locked from the outside, and a faint, sweet, exotic fragrance lingered in the air. She had inhaled quite a bit of it, and now she felt not only dizzy but also a strange heat rising within her body.

Looking at Bai Wanqing again, her eyes were filled with tears, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, clearly indicating that she had also fallen for the trick.

Qu Mingyuan, who was on the sofa, was in the worst situation, probably because he had been ambushed before them.

His forehead was soaked with cold sweat, his breathing was heavy and rapid, and the muscles in his body were taut to the extreme, as if he was using all his willpower to fight against his instincts.

Even though he was enduring the greatest pain, his eyes, which were looking over, remained clear and lucid, as if an absolutely rational soul was trapped in a body on the verge of losing control, calmly assessing everything around him.

When Bai Wanqing saw Ling Wei approaching, a flash of displeasure at being disturbed crossed her eyes, but she quickly asked in surprise, "Miss Ling? Are you alright? What are you doing here?"

Ling Wei was brought here simply because the person who did it felt that a relationship between a man and a woman might still have room for maneuver, but a scandal involving a man and two women with a chaotic relationship would be more likely to nail Qu Mingyuan to the pillar of shame.

So they set their sights on Ling Wei, who had come to register as the team leader.

The entertainment industry in Xia Kingdom (a completely fictional country) where Ling Wei lives is highly developed. In the early years, it sparked a craze for idol talent shows. When Ling Wei was a freshman in college, she participated in a talent show called "Idol Training Camp" without really understanding what was going on. She eventually ranked fifth and became a member of the limited-time girl group "Dream Girl 108".

The group's name alone is full of knock-off vibes. It tried to ride the coattails of "Produce 101" while also trying to create its own unique style, but ended up being a hodgepodge that doesn't quite fit the bill.

The group once had so many members that even their own fans couldn't recognize them all, and the management was chaotic. Apart from getting a few gigs at a variety show to ride the wave of popularity when they debuted, they received almost no resources afterward.

Before they could even make a splash in the entertainment industry, the idol craze that swept the market quickly subsided. To make matters worse, the small company owner, seeing no profit to be made, absconded with the last payment, leaving these members who had signed long-term contracts effectively frozen out and unable to move.

In order to support herself and complete her studies, she had to juggle various part-time jobs.

This year, the contract, which was practically worthless, finally expired. She happened to see the audition announcement for this large-scale cultural and tourism integration project, which rekindled her hope. She then led her few equally down-on-their-luck members to register as an amateur group.

Bai Wanqing, a moderately famous internet celebrity known as the "campus belle" of Ocean University of China by her fans, also signed up.

She and Qu Mingyuan seemed very familiar with each other, but in fact, it was because she was the daughter of the Qu family's steward. Most of the elders of the Qu family had passed away, and Qu Mingyuan was in charge of the family. He also left behind a nephew named Qu Chen, who had a withdrawn personality.

Her father was also a recently appointed housekeeper. At that time, Qu Chen was withdrawn and unwilling to go to school, so the housekeeper suggested to Qu Mingyuan that his daughter tutor Qu Chen.

Bai Wanqing's gaze swept over Ling Wei seemingly unintentionally, and she asked with concern, "Aren't you cold wearing so little?"

Ling Wei glanced down at herself. She was wearing a light pink floral sundress. The soft fabric clung to her body curves, subtly outlining her shapely figure.

The room's air conditioning is working perfectly; it's definitely not cold.

Instead of asking if she was uncomfortable, Ling Wei asked if she was cold. She sneered inwardly, "So this is the first time they've set a trap for her?"

Bai Wanqing appeared to be familiar with Qu Mingyuan and was so concerned that she seemed flustered. In contrast, her motives for appearing there inexplicably while dressed so lightly became very intriguing.

She was wearing a berry pink denim jacket over her sundress today, but it seems someone took it off.

Ling Wei doesn't have the habit of following other people's ideas.

She completely ignored Bai Wanqing's question and pointed her slender finger directly at Qu Mingyuan, who was still struggling to hold on:

"Um... he seems to be feeling very unwell right now."

Your hand is still on his bear, and you always talk to his ear...

Is this really a good idea? What if he gets carried away and pounces on you?