Page 50 of Never

‘Of course. But the report has reached Li Jiankang, and naturally he wants to make the most of it, to damage me. When the minister retires – which can’t be long – Li wants his job, whereas everyone else wants me to have it.’

‘Oh, my darling, I’m so sorry!’

‘So you’re being investigated.’

‘I know who accused me. It’s Jin. He’s jealous. When this show started he was supposed to be the star. But now I’m more popular, and he hates me.’

‘Is there any basis for the accusation?’

‘Oh, who knows? You know what film people are like, they mouth off all the time, especially in the bar after we wrap. I expect someone said that China isn’t a democracy and I nodded in agreement.’

Kai sighed. It was perfectly possible. Like all security agencies, the Guoanbu firmly believed there was no smoke without fire. Malicious people could use that to make trouble for their enemies. It was like the charge of witchcraft in the olden days: once the accusation had been levelled, it was easy to find something that looked like evidence. No one was really innocent.

However, the news that Jin was probably responsible gave Kai ammunition.

There was a knock at the door and Ting called: ‘Come in.’

The floor manager, a young man wearing a Manchester United soccer shirt, looked in and said: ‘We’re ready for you, Ting.’

Neither he nor Ting seemed conscious that she was half naked. That was what it was like in the studio, Kai found: free and easy. He thought that was charming.

The floor manager left, and Kai helped Ting get back into her dress. Then he kissed her. ‘I’ll see you back at home,’ he said.

Ting went off, and Kai walked to the administration building and went to the Communist Party office.

Every enterprise in China was shadowed by a Party group that monitored its activities, and anything to do with the media got special attention. The Party read every script and vetted every actor. Producers liked historical dramas because what happened long ago had fewer political implications today, so they were less likely to suffer interference.

Kai went to the office of Wang Bowen, the secretary of the Party branch here.

The room was dominated by a large portrait of President Chen, a man with a dark suit and carefully combed black hair, looking like the portraits of a thousand other Chinese senior executives. On the desk was another picture of Chen, this one a photo in which he was shaking hands with Wang.

Wang was an unimpressive man in his thirties with grubby shirt cuffs and a receding hairline. Shadow executives tended to be smarter about politics than business. Nevertheless, they were powerful and had to be appeased, like wrathful gods. Their wrong decisions could be disastrous. Wang was haughty with actors and technicians, Ting said.

On the other hand, Kai was powerful too. He was a princeling. Communist functionaries were often bullies, but had to be subservient to their Party superiors. Wang began by fawning. ‘Come in, Chang Kai, sit down, it’s a pleasure to see you, I hope you’re well.’

‘Very well, thank you. I dropped by to see Ting and I thought I should have a word with you while I’m here. Just between ourselves, you understand.’

‘Of course,’ Wang said, looking pleased. He was flattered that Kai wanted to confide in him.

Kai’s approach would not be to defend Ting. That would be taken as an admission of guilt. He took a different line. ‘You probably don’t concern yourself with film-set tittle-tattle, Wang Bowen,’ he began. Of course tittle-tattle was exactly what Wang concerned himself with. ‘But it might help you to know that Wen Jin is insanely jealous of Ting.’

‘I had heard something to that effect,’ said Wang, unwilling to admit to ignorance.

‘You’re very well informed. So you know that when Jin took the part of emperor inLove in the Palacehe was told he would be the star of the show, but now, of course, Ting has overtaken him in popularity.’

‘Yes.’

‘I mention it because the Guoanbu’s investigation is likely to conclude that Jin’s accusations are motivated by personal rivalry, and otherwise unfounded. I thought it might help you to be forewarned.’ That was a lie. ‘Ting is fond of you.’ That was a bigger lie. ‘We don’t want this to rebound on you.’

Now Wang looked scared. ‘I was obliged to take the reports seriously,’ he protested.

‘Of course. It’s your job. We at the Guoanbu understand that. I just don’t want you to be taken by surprise. You may want to interview Jin again, and write a short addendum to your report emphasizing that animosity could be a factor.’

‘Ah. Good idea. Yes.’

‘It’s not for me to interfere, of course. ButLove in the Palaceis such a success, so beloved by the people, that it would be a tragedy if some kind of shadow fell over the show – unnecessarily.’

‘Oh, I agree.’