Several minutes later, Tang Li locked Lai Yuaner in the compartment she had been in, ignoring Lai Yuaner’s yelling and shouting, and pulled open the door of the restroom to leave.
The launching press conference for "Phoenix Concubine" had already begun.
Tang Li encountered the assistant director at the entrance of the conference hall. The assistant director greeted her and said, "I need to go find that Miss Lai Yuaner—her agent and assistant are both absent today, they’re really killing me!"
Tang Li said, "Could she be in the restroom?"
The assistant director hurried off upon hearing this.
Inside the conference hall, the female lead Tong Jing was answering questions from the reporters.
The drama version of "Phoenix Concubine" was a big production, and with the drawing power of the actors, countless reporters were present.
Tang Li’s arrival caught the attention of numerous reporters.
As today’s trending hot topic on V-Weibo, Tang Li’s newsworthiness was no less than that of the lead role.
So, when she stepped onto the stage, reporters immediately asked, "Tang Li, what do you think about the artist’s drug scandal revealed today?"
Director Zhao Lei intervened, "Today we’re only discussing the TV series, not other topics."
"As an actor in ’Phoenix Concubine’, any news related to her will affect the series. We just want to seek the truth, nothing more," one reporter stated, leading to others chiming in, "Given the current domestic clampdown on celebrities with scandals, I’m sure the producers of ’Phoenix Concubine’ would also want to know the answer."
At that moment, the assistant director brought over Lai Yuaner.
Seeing Tang Li on stage, Lai Yuaner seethed with raging hatred.
Tang Li acted as if she didn’t see her, took the microphone, and responded to the reporters’ questions: "After the conference ends, my agent will take me to the hospital for a check-up."
Suddenly, there were various murmurs around the venue.
"If you all can spare the time, you are welcome to come with us."
Tang Li said generously, "The news on the internet today has caused me a lot of distress, and I hope your reporting can help me clear my name."
Before her words had faded, several police officers in uniform entered the conference hall.
One of the officers asked, "Who is Tang Li?"
Tang Li truthfully answered, "I am."
"We received a tip-off that you are suspected of drug use. As a public figure, we hope you will cooperate with our investigation."
Just as Tang Li had claimed she was drug-free, the police arrived at her doorstep, a slap in the face moment by moment!
Lai Yuaner, watching this scene, wanted to laugh.
Feng Qi’s voice came from the entrance of the hall, "I can assure you, Tang Li has not used drugs."
"As Tang Li’s agent, I’m quite aware of her lifestyle habits," Feng Qi stated after entering, speaking on behalf of Tang Li, "If Tang Li were on drugs, there wouldn’t be any need for public condemnation; IMG would terminate her contract immediately."
Just then, a female officer rushed in, "We found drugs!"
The reporters all stood up.
"The drug-sniffing dog searched the restroom, and so far, we’ve only found a syringe that was used to inject drugs inside the toilet cistern."
As a suspect, Tang Li was "invited" to the scene.
The press conference could no longer proceed, and most people followed to witness the commotion.
In the restroom, the police were collecting evidence.
"Isn’t this—" The assistant director looked towards Lai Yuaner from within the crowd.
The place where the police found the drugs was precisely the compartment Lai Yuaner had been in before!
Realizing something, Lai Yuaner’s face turned pale.
In the underground parking lot of the hotel, Lai Sheng Xia sat in a car wearing sunglasses waiting; but as the elevator door opened, things slipped out of her control.
The person the police brought out was Lai Yuaner.
Lai Sheng Xia pushed the car door open and stepped out.
At the same time, doors of the adjacent elevator opened, and countless reporters swarmed out, chasing after Lai Yuaner!