Xiao Dong thought no one would suspect her, so she didn't hide her tracks when buying fireworks. She never dreamed that Guo Wen had already discovered her.
Terrified, she knelt on the ground, unable to utter a word, only sobbing incessantly.
Guo Wen suppressed his anger, took out his phone, and turned on the recording function. He said sternly, "The only thing you can do now is confess. This matter has nothing to do with the crew. If you don't clear the crew's name, I don't mind exposing your and Liu Zhi Xi's true intentions to the public media. I know that you and Liu Zhi Xi have been secretly harming Quan Jiu. The wire, the iron frame, those were your doing. Don't ask me how I know; if I say it, it means I have sufficient evidence."
Xiao Dong stared at Guo Wen in shock, her fear reaching its peak. Everything she had done was being watched, but...
"Since you know, why didn't you expose me?" Xiao Dong questioned, not out of suspicion, but because she found it ridiculous, feeling like a joke.
Guo Wen said with disappointment, "You are still young, with plenty of time ahead, yet you choose to dig your own grave. I originally wanted to give you a chance, as the first two times caused no real harm. But this time, you've reaped what you sowed, and it's a fatal blow to the entire crew. What pity can I still have for you? Liu Zhi Xi is already in that state. I'm giving you one last chance. You can claim the intentional incident was an accident. I'm not exposing you, but you also cannot implicate my crew."
Xiao Dong, however, gave a bitter smile. "Even if I clarify for you, I won't survive. Let me tell you the truth. Do you think Liu Zhi Xi would have me do these murderous things? Because in her heart, there is no social morality or order. New District, have you heard of Director Guo?"
Guo Wen's face showed surprise. "You, you are from New District?"
Xiao Dong chuckled and stood up. "As expected of Director Guo, not many know about people from New District. That's right, we are from New District. Liu Zhi Xi's status in New District is the most noble princess because she is the third young lady of the Quan family, the Quan family, the head of the four great families in New District."
After speaking, she looked at Guo Wen despairingly. "I have served Liu Zhi Xi since I was young. Her status in New District is incredibly noble, and she is doted on by her entire family. If she is disfigured and burned, I, her maid, will also have no good end. The other members of the Quan family are reasonable and won't take my life, but Liu Zhi Xi, she will make my life worse than death."
Guo Wen frowned and thought for a moment. "If I can save your life and help you escape Liu Zhi Xi, are you willing to record a video explaining the cause and effect of this incident?"
Xiao Dong was stunned for a moment, disbelieving. She shook her head. "Impossible. New District's influence is powerful, especially the Quan family. As long as Liu Zhi Xi... Quan Zhi Xi is determined to find me, she will be able to."
"As long as one is alive, one should hold onto hope. I have lived for over sixty years and have accumulated considerable connections and relationships in this industry. Hiding someone with no biometric information is not difficult."
Xiao Dong instinctively looked at her hands. Her fingerprints were burned off by Liu Zhi Xi with fire when she was five years old. Now, only ten deformed fingertips remained.
Thinking of this, her hatred for Liu Zhi Xi gradually erupted.
Xiao Dong couldn't help but feel pathetic for herself. She took off her jacket and pants, revealing her scarred body. Hatred flowed down with her tears.
"That's right, as long as there's a sliver of hope, I'll fight for it. Rather than live a life worse than death at Liu Zhi Xi's hands, I'll bite her like a vicious dog. Perhaps I can gain a chance at survival."
Guo Wen was shocked by Xiao Dong's miserable state beneath her clothes. Her legs, her arms, were still bleeding, flesh and skin torn apart, a horrifying sight.
He was so shocked that he was speechless for a long time. Such abuse, even after living most of his life, still made him tremble with fear.
"Were these injuries inflicted by Liu Zhi Xi?" he asked.
Xiao Dong, however, looked at the phone camera. "Is it recording yet?"
Guo Wen paused for a moment, then quickly turned on the camera.
Xiao Dong faced the camera, displaying all the wounds on her body from front to back and side to side. Then, with a blank expression, she said, "Hello everyone, my name is Xiao Dong. You might know me; I am actress Liu Zhi Xi's assistant. Now, I am reporting Liu Zhi Xi by name. Liu Zhi Xi is not as flawless as you think; she is hypocritical, cruel, and even malicious. These injuries on my body were inflicted by her after I followed her, either with a whip, an iron, or a knife. Her methods are endless, and the new and old wounds on my body are countless. Regarding the incident of Liu Zhi Xi being burned by fireworks, you must have many guesses, but there is only one truth. Liu Zhi Xi was jealous of the beauty of Miss Quan, the second female lead in the crew. From her joining the crew to today, a total of three days, she has had me harm Miss Quan. The first time was to tamper with Miss Quan's wire, intending to make her fall to her death; the second time was to push over an iron frame, intending to crush Miss Quan to death; the third time, with these fireworks, she wanted to disfigure Miss Quan using the fireworks explosion. However, what goes around comes around. I bought the fireworks and temporarily placed them in her dressing room, but somehow, the fireworks exploded, causing her to be injured this time. She has now been sent to the hospital, but the news has certainly come out. I don't know how the news is reported, but what I'm saying is the whole truth. The fact is, the cruel Liu Zhi Xi has reaped what she sowed..."
In the ten-minute video, Xiao Dong clearly explained her hatred for Liu Zhi Xi and Liu Zhi Xi's malicious methods.
She silently put on her clothes, feeling a great sense of relief. She said to Guo Wen, "Director Guo, I deserve what I get. Even if I was forced, I am an accomplice. I have thought of a good place to go. Hand me over to the police. I want to go to Changde Prison, as that is the only place New District cannot reach." Rather than hiding in darkness for a lifetime, she would rather go to reform school. She had lost her passion for life, and reform school would allow her to settle down and live peacefully.
After hearing Xiao Dong's confession, Guo Wen felt a mix of emotions. He wanted to help Xiao Dong, but since Xiao Dong was willing to accept legal punishment, he respected her wishes.
"Don't worry, I will ensure you go to Changde Prison as you wish."
Xiao Dong smiled with relief. "I'll go apologize to Miss Quan."
...
After the explosion accident, the crew members were all in a panic. Producer Xia Wei went to the hospital, while the assistant director stayed to appease the actors and staff, telling everyone to return to their hotels to rest for the night and that work arrangements would be announced in the group chat.
The actors left one by one, still shaken, but only Quan Jiu lingered, wanting to see how Guo Wen would handle the situation. She didn't have to wait long before Xiao Dong arrived.
Xiao Dong looked guilty and knelt down to kowtow to Quan Jiu. "Miss Quan, the previous two accidents were my doing. I don't want to make excuses for myself, nor do I expect your forgiveness. Rest assured, I will accept my punishment."
Quan Jiu's face was still stunned and bewildered. It wasn't until Xiao Dong left that she went to find Guo Wen.
"Director Guo, the fireworks were prepared for me by Liu Zhi Xi, right? I'm sorry, I implicated the crew because of me," Quan Jiu said apologetically.
Guo Wen sighed. "It has nothing to do with you. Liu Zhi Xi is fundamentally bad."
After showing Quan Jiu Xiao Dong's confession video, he said, "I have already sent the video to the media. Regardless of Liu Zhi Xi's background, in the entertainment industry, she is finished."