Volume One, Chapter 25: Secretary-General Dai Requests Assistance

“You really can’t recognize a good intention,” Chu Fangfei muttered as she sat in the farmhouse restaurant, her mouth full of food. Jin Feng, however, seemed unconcerned. He’d been in this line of work longer than Chu Fangfei and had often been mistaken for a charlatan or a fraud; he’d long since stopped caring.

“Junior Sister, let it go. We’re not saints. Let them suffer the consequences,” Jin Feng advised.

But Chu Fangfei was still indignant. She swallowed her food, about to launch into a tirade, when she caught sight of a group entering the restaurant. She quickly signaled to Chi Xingwan, “Big Boss, it’s them.”

Chi Xingwan glanced up and accidentally locked eyes with Chi Qianyu.

Unfortunate.

Chi Xingwan intended to feign ignorance, and Chi Qianyu had the same thought, but their brief exchange did not escape Li Luoqi, who noticed and followed Chi Qianyu’s gaze to Chi Xingwan. His eyes immediately lit up.

Even in the entertainment industry, it was rare to see such natural beauty, untouched by artifice. She wasn’t even wearing makeup; he couldn’t imagine how stunning she would be if she did.

“Qianyu, do you know her?” Li Luoqi asked.

Chi Qianyu was just about to deny it when Zhang Qunying interjected, “Qianyu, I watched your livestream. Is that your cousin?”

“…Yes,” Chi Qianyu had to answer, gritting her teeth.

“So it’s your cousin! We should go say hello,” Li Luoqi said, already striding over. The others had no choice but to follow.

As they approached, they recognized the people with Chi Xingwan as the two who had earlier come to the inn and caused a disturbance.

Li Luoqi stopped, convinced they were his obsessive fans, and suddenly unsure whether to greet them.

Chu Fangfei spoke up first, “What’s this? Have you decided to believe us and come looking for us?”

“As if!” Guan He retorted angrily.

“Tsk,” Chu Fangfei turned away, ignoring them.

Chi Qianyu looked troubled as she stepped forward and addressed Chi Xingwan. “Cousin, how did you know we were filming here? Are those two your friends?”

Guan He, struck by the question, remembered how, at the Chi family house during the pilot episode, Chi Xingwan had been unfriendly and had even tried to shut down the show. The memory annoyed him, and his tone grew sharp. “Miss Chi Xingwan, I don’t care why you’re following us here, but I’m warning you—if you interfere with our filming, we’ll hold you responsible.”

Chi Qianyu pleaded, “Director Guan, I don’t know why my cousin is here, but I’m sure she wouldn’t try to sabotage anything. What she said during the livestream was probably just a joke. I’ll apologize on her behalf. Please, Director Guan, forgive her.”

Guan He’s expression shifted.

Chi Xingwan only smiled, though the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Chi Qianyu, I haven’t even said a word yet, and you’re already acting out an apology for me. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you hated me and couldn’t wait to pin some crime on me.”

Chi Qianyu looked wounded. “Cousin, during the livestream you told Director Guan not to make this show, that there’d be trouble. Today your friends showed up and made a scene. I know you don’t like me, but this is my first show since my debut. I put a lot of effort into this. I beg you, don’t ruin it.”

Guan He was incensed. “This show is the result of hard work from all our staff and guests. I absolutely won’t allow anyone to sabotage it.”

The guests, naturally, echoed his outrage. Some, quick to catch the mood, started to recount their own sacrifices for the show, and the atmosphere grew increasingly dramatic.

Chi Xingwan quickly cut in, “Enough. If you want to put on a show, do it behind closed doors. You’re blocking the servers.”

The tension evaporated, leaving only a group of servers awkwardly holding dishes behind them. “Excuse us, please let us through,” one of them said.

Guan He, now embarrassed, hurriedly led everyone to their seats. There were no private rooms in the farmhouse restaurant, so everyone had to eat in the main dining hall.

They found a corner and sat down, staff surrounding the guests and keeping their distance from Chi Xingwan and her two companions.

Chu Fangfei, who had wanted to retort earlier but had been silenced by Jin Feng’s warning glare, whispered, “Big Boss, Senior Brother, are we just going to swallow this?”

Jin Feng clicked his tongue. “What else? Start a brawl and end up in the police station together?”

Unable to vent her frustration at Guan He’s group, Chu Fangfei turned her sharp tongue on her senior brother instead. The two began to bicker quietly, their barbs evident even in hushed tones.

Chi Xingwan was enjoying the exchange when she suddenly felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She checked the message, her expression turning serious.

“Secretary Dai is requesting backup. We need to go immediately.”

Chu Fangfei and Jin Feng fell silent at once, wolfing down the rest of their food and preparing to leave.

Before departing, Chi Xingwan glanced at the production crew. The dark aura around them wasn’t very strong, nor did it carry a murderous intent, so it could be left alone for now. She stopped paying attention and left with Jin Feng and Chu Fangfei.

Dai Luming’s mission was at an underground river. When Chi Xingwan arrived, she found the area already sealed off with a spiritual barrier, blocking the aura of the fallen jade.

Dai Luming and her two assistants emerged from the cave by the river, all looking rather disheveled.

“The situation here is complicated. I had no choice but to ask for your help,” Dai Luming told Chi Xingwan.

Chi Xingwan was intrigued. Dai Luming was a Grade A spiritual master, her spiritual power said to be close to 10,000, and she was still young, with the potential to break through to Super Grade A in the future.

Yet Dai Luming claimed she couldn’t resolve this alone and needed help.

Dai Luming led Chi Xingwan and her companions into the cave. The underground river was a tourist attraction, with steps and lights installed, so walking wasn’t difficult.

“When I first arrived, I found no sign of evil spirits, which was odd. But the jade had to be retrieved, so my assistants and I went down anyway. We hadn’t even reached the jade when we were attacked.”

After a while, Dai Luming stopped and gazed at the pitch-black opening ahead. “This is where we were attacked. The farther in you go, the stronger the assault.”

Chi Xingwan picked up a stone and tossed it inside. As expected, an evil wind suddenly materialized, pulverizing the stone to dust.

The familiar aura made Chi Xingwan’s heart skip a beat.

Jin Feng and Chu Fangfei were affected, covering their mouths and nearly retching.

Dai Luming’s tone was calm. “Sorry, I forgot to mention—spiritual masters of lower rank are easily affected. It would be best for you two to stay back.”

Jin Feng and Chu Fangfei exchanged a look, feeling the silent disdain from Secretary Dai.

“You two stay outside. I’ll go in alone,” Chi Xingwan said suddenly.

Dai Luming frowned. “Consultant Chi, it’s too dangerous for you to go alone. Let me accompany you.”

Chi Xingwan shook her head. “No need. I can handle it myself.”