Volume One, Chapter 36: So You’re the Unlucky One

"Cut! Very good, that's a wrap for this scene."

Xiao Shangwen immediately rolled up his sleeves and, supported by his assistant, stepped off the painted barge.

Under her cousin's guidance, Guo Sihan approached Xiao Shangwen. Blushing shyly, she asked, "Wen, we've come to visit you on set. May we take a photo with you?"

Xiao Shangwen quickly neatened his sleeves and smiled, "Of course."

After the photo and signing autographs, Xiao Shangwen’s assistant stepped in at just the right moment. "I’m really sorry, but Wen has another scene coming up and he needs to hurry for makeup."

"Of course, Wen, we won’t keep you," Guo Sihan replied at once.

Once Xiao Shangwen had left, Guo Sihan’s cousin grinned, "Come on, I’ll take you aboard the barge for a look."

The three of them boarded with excitement.

"It’s so beautiful!" Xiao Jin exclaimed from the heart.

Zhao Wenqi, snapping photos nonstop, chimed in, "I thought shooting on location was already impressive, but I didn’t expect the props to be so intricate. I can’t wait to see this drama."

"Let’s take a group photo," Guo Sihan suggested, and the other two readily agreed.

They took a few group shots in the cabin, and then Xiao Jin glanced outside and said, "Let’s take one on deck too, so we can capture the lake."

"Good idea."

The three stepped out onto the deck. Guo Sihan and Zhao Wenqi quickly found the best angle. "Let’s do it here, get the pavilion in the background. Xiao Jin, come this way."

When there was no response from Xiao Jin, the other two looked up in confusion. They saw her crouched at the edge of the deck, staring intently into the water.

"Xiao Jin, come on! Let’s take the photo."

Xiao Jin slowly stood, facing the lake. Suddenly, she spread her arms and fell forward in a straight line—there was a splash, and water sprayed everywhere.

She had jumped into the lake.

"Ah—!"

"Help! Someone’s fallen in! Help!"

Guo Sihan and Zhao Wenqi screamed in shock at Xiao Jin's action. Neither of them could swim; all they could do was shout desperately for help.

The crew was not far away. Hearing the cries, several staff members immediately jumped into the water to search.

"There’s no one here! What’s going on? Are you sure someone fell in?"

The rescuers searched underwater several times, but the lake remained calm—they found nothing.

"We saw her fall in with our own eyes. Please, can you keep looking?" Guo Sihan pleaded.

Zhao Wenqi, now sobbing in fright, echoed her, "Please, please..."

The staff dived again, holding their breath, but after a full ten minutes, there was still no sign of Xiao Jin.

One crew member, just climbing out of the lake, asked, "Are you sure your friend’s not playing a prank? Like a magic trick, disappearing and reappearing?"

"How could that be..." Guo Sihan denied reflexively.

"But we’ve searched everywhere, nearly swam to the center of the lake. If she really fell in, why didn’t you see her struggle?"

Guo Sihan and Zhao Wenqi exchanged a helpless look and fell silent.

"Why not try calling her? Maybe it really is a prank."

With no other choice, Guo Sihan fumbled to call Xiao Jin’s number, but only got a busy tone—no one answered.

"No, that can’t be it. We haven’t known her for long, but Xiao Jin isn’t the type to joke like this," Zhao Wenqi cried.

Chaos spread along the lakeshore.

Xiao Jin gradually emerged from a haze. Her mind clearing, she realized she was lying flat, gazing up at shimmering ripples, while occasionally seeing people swimming above her.

Swimming, yes—Xiao Jin realized she was at the bottom of the lake. The people swimming above her looked familiar; on closer thought, they were crew members she’d just seen.

They seemed anxious, as if searching for something.

Are they looking for me?

She raised her hand and, without thinking, called out, "Hey, I’m right here."

As soon as the words left her mouth, terror prickled her scalp and she began to shake uncontrollably.

I’m clearly at the bottom of the lake. How am I able to speak? Why am I here? Why don’t I feel like I’m drowning?

Even more frightening, she found her body moving beyond her control, as if invisible threads were pulling her along.

A point of light appeared before her. Panic rose in her chest and she tried instinctively to escape, but her body only floated faster toward the light.

"No, please, someone help me…"

A hand landed on her shoulder. The suction vanished instantly, and she regained control of her body. Before she could feel relief, she quickly turned to see who it was.

Chi Xingwan glanced at her, half amused. "Well, well. I wondered who the unlucky one was—turns out it’s you."

Xiao Jin stared at Chi Xingwan, so stunned she even forgot her fear. After a long pause, she finally blurted, "What are you doing here?"

"Just passing by," Chi Xingwan replied.

As if! Xiao Jin didn’t believe that for a second.

"What’s happening to us? Are we dead? Is this the underworld?"

Chi Xingwan didn’t bother with her. "Just be quiet and follow me. Once I’m done here, I’ll take you out."

"But you have to tell me what’s going on—I’m really scared if you don’t explain—"

"If you say one more word, I’ll leave you here."

Xiao Jin instantly clamped her mouth shut, but still, worried that Chi Xingwan would abandon her, she trembled as she reached out to grab the hem of Chi Xingwan’s clothes. Chi Xingwan paid her no attention and turned toward the light.

With a raised hand, she formed a seal. The lake water swirled with the force of her gesture, forming dozens of small whirlpools around them. Xiao Jin stared wide-eyed, her lips working silently, but she dared not speak.

As the seal was completed, a waterspout formed, surging toward the light and sweeping it back in an instant.

Unable to hold back any longer, Xiao Jin asked, "What is that?"

Chi Xingwan grasped the light and handed it for her to see.

Xiao Jin peered at it closely and finally saw what it was: a jade thumb ring, ancient in appearance, yet still exquisitely crafted despite the passage of time.

"Is this what pulled me into the lake?" Xiao Jin wrung her hands together. For some reason, she felt a strong urge to snatch the jade ring away, but managed to suppress it with effort.

Chi Xingwan nodded. "That’s right. It’s because of this that you jumped into the lake."

"But how did it do that?" Xiao Jin’s mind was a mess. Everything that had happened today overturned eighteen years of understanding.

"A jade ring alone couldn’t do it. What really pulled you in was the resentment attached to it. Over the years, a little grievance grew strong enough to lure a living person."

Chi Xingwan hadn’t expected to retrieve the jade ring so easily. Pleased, she was willing to answer Xiao Jin’s questions.

At the word "resentment," Xiao Jin felt a chill and shrank behind Chi Xingwan. "That’s terrifying. Did it want to kill me?"

"No, it wanted to possess you," Chi Xingwan replied with a laugh.