“What’s going on?”

Xiao He had originally only overheard a snippet, but somehow, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Brother Xiao, it seems like someone has gone missing from the hotel?”

Xiao Chen also had sharp ears, vaguely catching the argument over there.

The commotion caused here was quite significant. At this hour, many people who had returned from night shoots noticed the disturbance. There were quite a few people like Xiao He and Xiao Chen who had stopped and lingered, so their actions weren’t particularly conspicuous.

“Sir, the public security management here has always been very good. It should be very difficult for a living, breathing adult male to encounter danger. Please calm down and wait a moment.”

However, the person in front of her was completely unreceptive, shaking his head directly. “I’ve already called the police. Whether you show me the surveillance footage now or not, this matter will wait until the police arrive!”

“Calling the police?” The front desk receptionist immediately felt a headache coming on. “Sir, that’s not necessary, is it? Maybe your friend will be back soon. Even if you involve the police, this might not constitute a missing person case.”

“But hasn’t it been almost 24 hours since contact was lost?” Wang Yi directly crossed his arms, his guard fully up. “I have my reasons. Let’s just wait like this.”

“Alright, please wait a moment. Our manager has already retrieved the surveillance footage and is on his way down. Within two minutes, we will definitely give you a result.”

Wang Yi knew he was being impatient, but he could only nod. “Okay.”

Just as Wang Yi was anxiously waiting, Xiao He thought for a moment, whispered a few words to Xiao Chen, and Xiao Chen nodded and left directly.

Xiao He, meanwhile, continued to stand to the side, quietly observing the commotion over there.

The front desk receptionist was right. It was indeed less than two minutes before the hotel manager hurriedly ran down.

Xiao He noticed this manager was the same one who had spoken with Luo Zesheng earlier.

“Very sorry, sir, for keeping you waiting and giving you a poor service experience. Please forgive us.”

This manager was clearly someone who knew how to handle things. He directly instructed the front desk, “Xiao Li, upgrade this gentleman’s room later.”

“Okay.”

Immediately after, the manager led Wang Yi around to the back of the front desk counter to show him the copied surveillance footage.

In the footage, Assistant Zhou indeed left the hotel a little after 1 AM. Wang Yi clearly remembered being woken up once when Assistant Zhou went out.

In the surveillance footage, Assistant Zhou didn’t seem abnormal. He walked briskly down the corridor, took the elevator, walked through the hotel lobby, and finally disappeared into the vast darkness outside the hotel entrance.

The footage then sped up continuously. Not many people entered or exited the hotel throughout the night, mostly some people finishing night shoots, but they were generally in batches. With a quick glance, it was basically clear Assistant Zhou wasn’t among them.

It wasn’t until 6 or 7 in the morning that the hotel entrance truly became lively, with people coming and going gradually increasing. Wang Yi watched extremely carefully. He even saw himself leaving in the morning.

But he just didn’t see Assistant Zhou’s figure returning to the hotel—

At this moment, Wang Yi finally confirmed that after Assistant Zhou left in the early hours of the morning, he really never came back!

That made this matter even stranger!

Just as the ominous premonition in Wang Yi’s heart grew stronger, the police he called arrived.

Unsurprisingly, it was an old acquaintance, though not Officer Zhang, but Officer Xiao Li.

“What’s going on?”

Officer Xiao Li didn’t notice Xiao He standing to the side. He went straight to the point, starting to ask for detailed information. While the police were conducting their inquiry, Xiao He had already quietly left.

By the time he returned to his room, Xiao Chen had also run over.

“Brother Xiao, I’ve already found out clearly. The missing person is named Zhou Junhao. He’s also from the ‘Cangyue Calamity’ production team, but he’s a short-term contracted extra, not a very important role. Earlier tonight, the production team already received the news and kicked this Zhou Junhao and the friend searching everywhere for him out of the team.”

Xiao He’s gaze turned slightly cold. “They just kicked them out directly? Who did it? Which idiot came up with such a stupid move? It seems they didn’t violate any team regulations, did they?”

Right now, the person is just out of contact. The police haven’t even classified this as a ‘missing person’ case yet. Yet, the ‘Cangyue Calamity’ production team acted as if they’d been tainted by a plague god, desperately wanting to sever ties immediately. This behavior was truly somewhat disgusting.

He understood they were afraid of getting entangled in these matters again, lest they be dragged into another public opinion crisis. But things having reached this point, even if they sever ties now, they still can’t escape the despicable label of ‘kicking someone when they’re down.’ And if something really happens to the person later, the entire production team might be dragged into an even deeper quagmire of public opinion.

Xiao He was simply feeling despair towards this production team.

“Reportedly, it was Producer Luo’s decision,” Xiao Chen said quietly. “Originally, the management side wanted to help delay a bit longer, to make a decision tomorrow. But Producer Luo, who knows where he heard it from, immediately blew up. Not only did he immediately kick both of them out of the team, but he also berated the manager above them.”

Xiao He’s cold sneer almost overflowed from the corner of his mouth.

“He really needs to be taught a lesson.”

“And how did he find out this time?”

Xiao Chen shook his head. “I don’t know that. Maybe other actors on set told him.”

“Is that so?”

Xiao He raised an eyebrow, thoughtful. “Then his information is really quite well-informed.”

Once again, he knew before others did.

Before others were even sure of the outcome, he was urgently trying to sever the person’s ties with the team.

Xiao He felt everything was becoming increasingly bizarre.

Especially regarding Zhou Junhao…

Worry rose in Xiao He’s heart.

Others might not know who this Zhou Junhao is, but he knew!

What on earth is that kid doing?

What happened in the early hours of this morning?

Don’t tell me he really investigated something and got himself tangled up in it?

Although Xiao He had clearly stated he wouldn’t help the other party, right now it’s a matter of a human life, and someone he knows. Xiao He simply couldn’t bring himself to stand by and do nothing.

“Go down now and continue helping me keep an eye on their movements.”

Xiao He paused, then decided to switch people. “Forget it, have Lao Qi go keep an eye. Remember—don’t draw their attention. If there’s any problem, withdraw immediately.”

If something really happened to Zhou Junhao, then having Xiao Chen pay attention might very well lead to discovery.

Lao Qi is a retired soldier, experienced, with a steadier temperament and self-preservation abilities. Xiao He felt it was safer to send him.

Xiao Chen nodded, not dwelling on the why, and directly turned to find Lao Qi.

After Xiao Chen left, Xiao He immediately opened his computer to start investigating—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep