Chapter 14: Victory and Defeat

"Madam, oh madam, resembling a box, with scissors like a unicorn, eight hairpins." Reciting the riddle aloud, the person smirked in self-satisfaction as they revealed the answer, "It's a crab!"

After saying this, they glanced towards Liang Luo nearby, seeing her face turn pale with anger, which pleased them greatly.

"Don't bother looking, just hurry up and finish guessing to avoid embarrassing yourself!"

"Yes."

As the eldest among them and holding superior status, especially in terms of power and influence, when she spoke, Liang Luo had nothing to say in response. She immediately bent down to solve the riddle.

On the other side, Feng Jinyao received the riddle 'A lonely star gazes south as the moon rises.'

This was a bit difficult for her as she didn't have much expertise in solving riddles. She furrowed her brows, pondered for a moment, and then quickly wrote down the word 'Village.'

Xu Mingyue quickly guessed three riddles, and after finishing writing down the answers, she glanced down and saw the riddle and answer in Feng Jinyao's hands.

Her eyes lit up with pleasant surprise as she turned to Feng Jinyao and said, "Younger sister is so knowledgeable, I wouldn't even have thought of this answer myself."

"Miss Xu is too kind. You've guessed four, while I could only think of one. Clearly, you're more talented." Feng Jinyao replied modestly.

"Alright, let's save the compliments for later. Hurry up and guess, the others are almost finished." Bai Siruo urged, then quickly handed them the remaining riddles.

On the other side, the speed at which Wei Lanxuan and Bai Sihan guessed the riddles was neck and neck. When they both reached for the last riddle at the same time, Bai Sihan pretended to stumble as if she couldn't stand steady, and then Wei Lianxuan grabbed the riddle from her hand.

"Short spring day, one person far away, near the heart of the lake, the moon is close."

Wei Lanxuan finished reading the riddle, but couldn't come up with the answer. What could it be?

She looked towards Wen Liang, but they shook their heads together, unable to guess.

Seeing that Xu Mingyue had already finished writing down the final answer, Liang Luo became anxious. Could it be that they were going to lose?

Just then, Bai Sihan whispered in Wei Lianxuan's ear, "It's the erhu."

"Yes! Why didn't I think of that?" Wei Lanxuan's eyes lit up, immediately picking up the pen. However, she was just a bit too late. Xu Mingyue had already put down her pen and everyone present could attest to that fact.

The eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhengguo quickly compared the answers with the riddle master list, and soon the winner was determined.

"White and purple teams both guessed all ten riddles correctly, while the red team guessed nine, and the yellow team guessed seven. However, the white team finished first, so the winner of this riddle competition is the white team."

The results were announced, and no one disputed them. After all, Xu Mingyue's reputation as a talented woman was well known throughout the Great Jin Dynasty, and losing to her was not shameful.

Wei Lanxuan felt a little embarrassed, but quickly adjusted herself and stepped forward to congratulate them.

"I've heard my grandfather praise Elder Xu for her remarkable talent, but I didn't expect Miss Xu to be so capable as well.  Wei Lanxuan admires you and I admit defeat with sincerity and respect."

She admitted graciously, which improved Bai Siruo's impression of her somewhat.

Unlike Wen Yuwei and Liang Luo beside her, one staring at her like a crow, the other glaring at Feng Jinyao like a venomous beast, as if they held some deep-seated resentment.

Xu Mingyue didn't decline their praise and nodded with a smile.

As for Bai Siruo, she couldn't help but add a playful comment, handing over a treasure to Xu Mingyue.

"Although I don't like your future sister-in-law, I've heard that Young Master Liang is quite decent. So, I offer this gift to congratulate you on your future marriage and wish you both a lifetime of happiness."

Her eyes were full of teasing, and Xu Mingyue chuckled, instantly dispelling the tension and seriousness that had prevailed just moments before.

"Decent? Indeed."

Indeed, the Liang family had put in a lot of effort into their reputation, as even Siruo, who rarely went out knew that he had a good reputation.

But Feng Jinyao couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

With such a sister and father, how could Liang Gongzi be a good person?

If he was truly a good person, how could he have caused the scandal of breaking off an engagement and remarrying? It had brought great shame to the Xu family.

Xu Mingyue was a genuine friend, so she naturally had to protect her from being harmed by that scoundrel. Breaking off the engagement was one thing, but it had to be the Xu family's decision.

As for that Liang Gongzi, he was surely waiting for his 'good reputation' to catch up with him!

Having devised a plan in her mind, Feng Jinyao didn't show it on her face, instead suggesting, "Why don't we go over there as well? Let's not make it difficult for our aunts if they need more help."

Bai Siruo nodded, as she hadn't forgotten that today was her grandmother's birthday. She would deal with her issues with others later.

Inside the warm pavilion, the banquet was in full swing.

The news of Madam Bai's sixtieth birthday was known even to His Majesty, who had specially sent a eunuch to deliver a congratulatory gift—a white jade ruyi left behind by the late emperor, along with a title of 'Madam Wisdom Ming' for Madam Bai, adding the word 'Wisdom' to her original title.

Thus, everyone congratulated the Bai family, feeling honored by the imperial favor and adding to their joy.

Only Feng Jinyao knew that this was just pouring oil on the fire.

Today was all about grandeur, but tomorrow would bring desolation.

Thinking of what the Emperor had done to the Bai family in her previous life, she couldn't help but feel disgusted as she looked at the white jade ruyi, it was glaringly ostentatious.

Suddenly, a burst of lively cheers caught Feng Jinyao's attention, causing her to furrow her brows.

Nextk Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 166: Chu Jin's Reflection

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 Chapter 165: Awakening or Departure

Next Chapter ▶▶

Chapter 621: The Righteous Path of the Mortal World Shall Not Allow You Evil Spirits to Cause Chaos

Director Liu mentioned Kang Dong, who is the male teacher who left before.

Wei Xishi frowned, and his calm eyes showed a deep color. "You should tell me if there have been any strange events within a month after the school started."

Director Liu looked thoughtful and shook his head after a moment. "Nothing, except for some occasional fights among the children, there haven't been any major incidents apart from Cheng Xuelan."

Wei Xishi chuckled lightly, a hint of sarcasm in his laughter.

But how can six lives simply vanish without a trace?

Audri School was not founded by the East, but rather by a foreign company, and half of the teachers here were from other lands.

Wei Xishi was not exclusive or discriminatory, but he didn't have much confidence in this school.

The atmosphere here was too heavy, and the environment was extremely harsh.

At night, pale moonlight enveloped the school, awakening the malevolent spirits, who freely spread fear within the campus.

Everything seemed so unusual.

While Wei Xishi was silent, Director Liu remembered something else. "In the past few days, some kids have mentioned that someone knocks on their doors at night, but they're scared, so they don't open."

"Mhm, anything else?"

"Also, some daring students form teams for night adventures. They don't believe in the supernatural and are just seeking excitement."

Wei Xishi's expression disapproved, "It's best not to let them wander outside at night; it could lead to fatalities."

His tone was solemn, without a hint of jest.

Director Liu looked bitter, "I know, I've already assigned someone to keep an eye on those kids. Hopefully, they'll behave and give us some peace of mind."

"Let's hope so."

Just as Wei Xishi finished speaking, a bright light flashed in from the window and quickly disappeared.

He held the copper coin sword and walked to the window, gazing down.

Not far from the first floor, several figures caught his eye.

They were a group of boys, varying in height, holding flashlights, wandering outside.

Wei Xishi frowned, guessing that these were the teenagers going on the adventure.

Suddenly, he looked up and stared at the teaching building across from him.

A pair of crimson eyes were locked on him.

The intense malevolence and malice in those red eyes sent shivers down his spine.

Wei Xishi spoke sternly, "Director Liu, there are some students outside. Make sure they all go back to their dorms!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he wielded the copper coin sword and stepped onto the windowsill on the second floor.

With a graceful leap, he landed on the ground.

Director Liu and his assistant, Liu Liu, were left stunned by his swift actions.

Liu Liu, being Wei Xishi's assistant, could sense that something wasn't right.

He immediately pushed Director Liu, who was still standing in place, and urged him, "The boss wants you to send the students back to their dorms, go quickly! Otherwise, there might be trouble!"

Of course, he exaggerated a bit with his words.

Wei Xishi couldn't afford any disturbances during his work.

If those students caused trouble, it might lead to errors on Wei Xishi's part.

"I'm going!" Director Liu turned around and rushed out of the room, heading straight downstairs.

He was only concerned about the group of children downstairs; he didn't have time to worry about any malevolent spirits that might harm him.

He prayed in his heart, hoping that nothing else would happen.

Every child here was innocent.

Meanwhile, Wei Xishi leaped from the second floor and alarmed the group of boys who were exploring outside.

As soon as they heard the sound, the boys huddled together, shining their flashlights toward the source.

"Who's there?!"

One brave boy asked loudly, although his trembling voice betrayed his fear. Wei Xishi might even admire his courage if he ignored the quiver in his voice.

Despite the appearance of the menacing spirit, these boys dared to be so bold.

Wei Xishi didn't have time to argue with them. When the beam of the flashlight swept over him, he stepped forward and rushed toward the teaching building.

He moved quickly like the wind.

In just a few seconds, he vanished from the sight of the boys.

"Woah!"

"Isn't that a ghost?"

"Jackpot! Did anyone get it on their phone?"

"Tomorrow, we'll show those jerks and shut them up!"

"Boss, I'm scared, let's go back."

The six boys exchanged words. Some were excited by the encounter, while others were terrified and wanted to return.

The tall boy, who seemed to be their leader, wasn't pleased with his roommate's fear.

"Why go back? I saw that ghost going into the teaching building. Let's follow it and maybe get some more footage. If we post it online, we might even go viral."

The fifth boy was terrified, "Boss, I'm scared!"

"Slap!"

The boss smacked his roommate's shoulder with some excitement, "What are you afraid of? Let's go, we'll follow it."

"I want to go too."

The boy standing next to the tall one had his hands in his pockets, his voice filled with anticipation.

The boss laughed and patted his shoulder, embracing him, "You're brave, Third."

All six boys lived in the same dormitory. After a majority vote, they decided to go to the teaching building.

"Little rascals, what are you doing?"

They had just walked a few steps when a roar resounded.

Familiar, chilling malevolence filled the air as six boys' faces turned pale.

The boy referred to as the boss acted quickly, "Run!"

If they were caught, they would lose points, and Wei Xishi wouldn't tolerate any interference during his work.

If those students caused trouble, it could lead to Wei Xishi making mistakes.

The six boys ran frantically towards their dormitory, with Director Liu chasing after them from behind.

Just as he was about to catch up with them near the dormitory, he stopped, panting heavily.

"You little rascals, if I catch you again, you'll all be severely punished!"

One of the boys, running in panic, tripped and fell. Director Liu hurriedly took a few steps forward.

The boy got up from the ground and, seeing Director Liu catching up, ran even faster, as if his feet were oiled.

Director Liu urged them, "Slow down, and I'll let you off this time! Slow down!"

In a blink of an eye, the six boys rushed into the dormitory.

Seeing them all enter the dormitory, Director Liu felt relieved.

His forehead was covered in sweat, and the chilly night breeze made his sweaty forehead feel cool.

Director Liu felt as if something was staring at him.

His legs began to tremble, and his feet went weak as he nervously surveyed the surroundings.

After looking around, he didn't see anything frightening.

But that feeling of being watched sent shivers down his spine.

Suddenly, a slight rustling sound came from the silent space.

Director Liu heard it, and his body hair stood on end.

He followed the sound and saw a wildcat.

The cat walked lightly through the campus, appearing calm and comfortable.

The green eyes of the wildcat stared at Director Liu, showing no fear.

Director Liu recognized the cat; it was a stray cat that had been fed by people in the school for three years.

He patted his chest, relieved that it was just the familiar stray cat.

He felt it was quite nice to have some company on his way back to the dormitory.

He turned around and headed back, saying to the cat, "Come with me. There's some food in the dormitory."

The stray cat had been around the school for three years.

Director Liu occasionally fed it, so they were old acquaintances.

The cat "meowed" as if understanding him and followed him closely.

Having the cat's company, Director Liu felt less afraid as he returned to the dormitory.

When he climbed the stairs, he turned around to see that the cat had disappeared.

...

Teaching building.

Wei Xishi stood on the silent third floor.

The pair of blood-red eyes that had been locked on him was in one of the classrooms on the third floor.

Wei Xishi counted the classrooms one by one and quickly came to the one that corresponded to his current residence.

The door of the classroom was wide open.

Along the way, every classroom door was tightly closed, except for this one.

It was as if they already knew that there would be a visitor.

Wei Xishi's face showed a cautious expression, and he held the copper coin sword as he cautiously entered the classroom.

"Ding—"

As soon as the copper coin sword touched the air inside the classroom, it made a sound.

Wei Xishi's face, which was already solemn, became even more cautious.

The response from the copper coin sword indicated the presence of malevolent spirits inside.

He moved his foot forward, but before his shoe touched the solid ground, a blast of malevolent wind came at him.

"Bang!"

Wei Xishi was pushed back by the sudden gust of wind, and his body hit the corridor railing.

He held the copper coin sword in his right hand, and his left hand pressed against his chest.

"Cough, cough..."

His chest felt stuffy, and he coughed, and a faint smell of blood followed.

Wei Xishi hadn't expected that he would be injured in just one exchange. He already suffered internal injuries from the malevolent spirit in the room.

He wiped the corner of his mouth, his face showing a cold smile, and quickly stood up.

He pointed the copper coin sword in the direction of the doorway and shouted sternly, "What are you? You have already caused six lives to be lost. What more do you want to do?!"

"I advise you not to meddle in this."

A low, hoarse voice, neither male nor female, filled with sinister and chilling aura, echoed from inside the classroom.

Wei Xishi squinted his eyes, his elegant appearance transforming in an instant.

His eyes showed a strong intent to kill.

"The righteous path of the mortal world does not tolerate your evil spirits causing chaos. You have already taken six lives. I advise you to stop now. If you cause greater disaster, the netherworld will not stand idly by."

"Hahaha..."

A harsh, maniacal laughter rang out from inside the room.

At the entrance of the classroom, a thick black mist appeared within Wei Xishi's line of sight.

He clearly saw that the black mist gradually took on the form of a person.

No, it was not a person but a skeleton.

A decayed, skeletal figure emitted a dense aura of malevolence under the moonlight.

The strong resentment made it hard to breathe.

Wei Xishi saw the mouth of the skeleton open and close, and a harsh, hoarse voice sounded in the silent space.

"I will kill them all! I will kill them all!"

"Nobody can stop me. If you dare to stop me, then you can go down and accompany them!"

The strong Yin energy and resentment overwhelmed Wei Xishi.

In an instant, he lost consciousness.

His body went limp, and he fell to the ground, half of his body leaning against the corridor railing.

Chapter 620: A Pair of Blood-Red Eyes Filled with Malice, Sending Shivers Down One's Spine

Wei Xishi stopped in his tracks, his dark eyes looking towards a small grove not far away.

He halted his steps, and his assistant, Liu Liu, also stopped.

Neither of them moved any further, attracting the attention of Principal Liu and the two other teachers with them.

When they entered the school campus, Principal Liu introduced the two teachers by Wei Xishi's side.

They were the teachers of the six murder victims in the past month.

Those six victims were all their students.

Seeing that Wei Xishi had stopped, Principal Liu approached him with a worried expression. "Master Wei, what's wrong?"

Wei Xishi's eyes showed a profound look, and he pointed to the small grove nearby. "Is that one of the crime scenes?"

Principal Liu followed his gaze and his face changed instantly, revealing fear and apprehension.

His eyes trembled slightly, and even his breath became heavier.

He nodded, "Yes, one of our students named Wang had an incident there."

Getting the answer he wanted, Wei Xishi nodded lightly, "It's nothing, let's continue."

However, Principal Liu didn't think so.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and caught up to Wei Xishi, asking in a trembling voice, "Master Wei, did you find something?"

Wei Xishi's voice was indifferent, "Not yet, I just have a feeling that something must have happened there. For routine crimes, the environment in the small grove is advantageous."

"...," Principal Liu's face looked aggrieved.

He thought Wei Xishi had discovered something, which made him so nervous and inexplicably frightened.

The group continued walking.

The small grove behind them became more distant.

In the pitch-black and gloomy night, silence enveloped the area, making it eerily quiet.

A cold wind blew, and the rustling of leaves in the grove filled the air, shrouding it in a chilling atmosphere.

It was now midnight.

Suddenly, a dark figure flashed by the edge of the grove.

As the wind subsided, the grove fell into an eerie silence, so quiet that it became somewhat terrifying.

Even though it was visible under the streetlights before, now it seemed to have been engulfed by darkness, becoming blurry and losing its sense of presence.

At the edge of the grove, a pair of blood-red, eerie, and sinister eyes stared fixedly at Principal Liu, Wei Xishi, and their group.

These eyes were filled with intense malice, sending shivers down one's spine.

Principal Liu brought Wei Xishi and Liu Liu to the teachers' accommodation area in the school.

Second floor.

Principal Liu stood in front of a certain room, pushing open the door.

"Master Wei, I'll trouble you and your assistant to stay in this room today."

Wei Xishi entered the room and looked around with a very picky gaze.

The room was clean and spotless, with not a speck of dust to be seen.

He thanked Principal Liu politely, appreciative of the accommodation that didn't trigger strong repulsion in his mind and body. If he were placed in a messy room, he would find it difficult to sleep tonight.

He knew very well that he wasn't here to sleep; something might happen tonight.

However, having a clean and tidy room to stay in would still make him feel better and wouldn't affect his investigation of the campus murder case tonight.

Seeing that Wei Xishi was satisfied, Principal Liu smiled and said, "You're welcome, this is what we should do."

Principal Liu was someone familiar to Wei Xishi at the school.

If it weren't for the slight acquaintance between them, Wei Xishi wouldn't have come to Otty School this time at all.

The connection between them was just a favor owed.

They met not because of metaphysics.

Many years ago, when Wei Xishi first arrived in the capital, he had no money.

Principal Liu invited him to have a bowl of noodles.

A bowl of noodles at that time was like a lifeline to him.

This was the cause and effect between them.

Otty School's incident was resolved, and the cause and effect between them would also be gone.

Principal Liu looked like he still had something to tell Wei Xishi, and he waved to the two teachers behind him, "You two should go back first."

The female teacher with glasses worriedly spoke up, "Principal Liu, can you handle it alone?"

Principal Liu was bold at this moment, "It's okay, it's just a few steps away. You two should go."

The male teacher beside her stepped forward, "Alright, then we'll leave first. Principal Liu, call us if you need anything."

"Understood."

Principal Liu waved to the two teachers and personally saw them off outside the door.

Wei Xishi took the leather case from Liu Liu and placed it on the table in the room. He unlocked it by pressing both sides.

The case contained many things: yellow paper talismans, a copper coin sword, a peach wood sword, an old book, and some small objects.

Principal Liu closed the door and walked to Wei Xishi's side.

"I didn't explain everything clearly on the phone. Let me tell you some details, so you'll have an idea."

"Go ahead." Wei Xishi didn't even raise his head.

He took out the copper coin sword from the case and flicked the tip with his fair fingers.

With a crisp sound, the echo reverberated.

Unfortunately, only Wei Xishi could hear it.

The copper coin sword was his main tool tonight, and it could be used in conjunction with his Nine Revolutions Heaven and Earth Scripture, capable of dispelling evil and exorcising malevolent spirits.

Wei Xishi held the copper coin sword and picked up the peach wood sword from the case, directly tossing it into Liu Liu's arms.

The latter clutched the peach wood sword tightly, looking extremely pleased. "Understood, thank you, boss!"

Principal Liu was just about to speak when he saw Wei Xishi's recent actions.

His earnest gaze fell on the box, showing a longing expression.

Wei Xishi didn't hesitate to take out three talismans and handed them to him.

"Principal Liu, with these three talismans, you and the two teachers will be able to sleep peacefully tonight."

"Good, thank you, thank you." Principal Liu didn't refuse at all. He put the talismans directly into his pocket, patting it with his hand, afraid that they might reveal themselves and fall out.

After storing the talismans, his face turned serious, "Master Wei, there have been six murder cases in the past month. All six victims were well-behaved. I suspect that their deaths were related to conflicts in their daily interactions."

Wei Xishi frowned, his refined face showing a hint of disgust, "Are you saying that the victims may have had disputes with others before their deaths?"

He hoped it wasn't what he was thinking.

Tragic events arising from bullying and conflicts were always the most heartbreaking.

They were all immature children. If they really did something irreparable, it would be too sad.

These children in school had unstable mentalities, they were childish and naive.

Limited to the school environment, they couldn't release their passion and vitality, always fantasizing about unrealistic things, and even doing irreparable things to satisfy

their psychological needs.

When they truly stepped into society, they would understand that the school accounted for less than one-third of their lives.

Once they stepped out of the school gate and entered the diverse circles of society, they would truly understand this world.

If the children in the school were eagles, only when they entered society could they truly grow into golden eagles, and their perspectives would change.

By that time, some negative events or complaints about studies in school would be trivial.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 62: Can't Hide It Anymore

Jiang Chenchen was taken to the hospital. The wound on her forehead was not too severe; it was cleaned, medicated, and bandaged. There were scratches on her arm, and her twisted ankle was quite serious, swollen considerably. Fortunately, X-rays confirmed no fractures.

Given the current situation, walking was difficult for her, and the subsequent program recording could not proceed. The production team had to temporarily stop work due to this sudden incident.

Lu Su felt a deep sense of guilt. It was his fan's sudden madness that led to Jiang Chenchen getting injured while trying to save him.

"I'm sorry, if it weren't for me..."

He kept apologizing, sitting by her bedside with a face still in shock.

Jiang Chenchen felt that this incident was influenced by the high heels affecting her performance; otherwise, it wouldn't have happened. She had never stumbled like this while kicking someone.

Seeing him continuously apologizing, she said, "It's not your fault, it's that person's fault."

The one who harmed her was the crazed fan, and Lu Su was also a victim.

However, she didn't understand what the man meant by calling idols a failure. Was hatred enough to drive someone to stab others with a knife?

Lu Su, as a male idol, knew when to cry and when to laugh. But this time, the person who took the knife for him, risking her life in such a dangerous situation, was now injured. She didn't complain when getting treated, and now, she didn't blame him at all!

His eyes couldn't help but become a little moist. He tried hard to suppress his emotions, but his trembling hands betrayed him.

Clutching the edge of the bed, his eyes turned red. "You saved my life today. Whatever you need in the future, I will do my best to help you."

"Now? Can I ask for something now?" Jiang Chenchen inquired.

Lu Su quickly replied, "Tell me, whatever you want to do, I promise!"

"Water."

Lu Su immediately went to fetch water.

Jiang Chenchen drank the water and then put the cup down. "Okay."

Her face remained calm, but Lu Su was stunned by her response.

"Is that it? I mean..." Lu Su tried to say more.

"Just like this," Jiang Chenchen said.

Lu Su was touched by her magnanimity. He felt that repaying someone who saved his life with just a cup of water seemed too casual, something he wouldn't accept himself.

However, he didn't say much; he silently made a big commitment in his heart, vowing to repay this great favor in the future.

On the internet, a wave of hot searches erupted. Lu Su's fans were worried about the injury to their idol, but videos captured by onlookers showed a brave girl saving Lu Su. The attention shifted to Jiang Chenchen.

Online discussions varied, starting with a crazy and psychotic guy to worrying about the idol's injury. Eventually, everyone's attention was focused on Jiang Chenchen.

[Wow, come and see this goddess! The leg movement is so cool! Her face is so calm, not scared at all. Is she a fairy?]

[Although this scene is beautiful, it's kind of like a hero saving a hero, really like a drama!]

[Did you notice? It's the high heels that restricted the beauty's speed. When the crazy guy rushed forward, she almost tripped when stepping back!]

[Digressing a bit, she looks so beautiful! Has she acted in any dramas?]

[No, she's just an ordinary person. This time it's a reality show about dating between ordinary people and celebrities. The on-site security was not well managed, leading to this accident.]

[In three minutes, I want to know everything about this fairy!]

The online discussions were in full swing, and Jiang Chenchen lying in the hospital bed had no idea.

Lu Su, as he needed to visit the police station, had his assistant stay with her. However, since her manager, Lu Fang, was present, he felt she could handle things and didn't need to be overly anxious.

Lu Fang sat on the side, looking at Jiang Chenchen. A mixture of worry and satisfaction appeared on her face. "Although you're injured, I shouldn't say this, but you know, your discussion volume online is higher than that of Lu Su, the person involved!"

Jiang Chenchen appeared indifferent as she listened.

Lu Fang didn't expect her to remain so expressionless even at this time. Wasn't she scared at all back then?

"Do you know that, although you were injured due to an accident, you have gained attention because of it? Once this episode airs, having these trending topics will make it easier for you if you want to step into the entertainment industry."

Jiang Chenchen shook her head. "I'm just doing this temporarily to earn money."

At that moment, she seemed to have suddenly figured out what she wanted to do.

Lu Fang knew that her thoughts were different from others, but still said, "Celebrities earn much more than ordinary people. If you want to make money, standing on the stage will make it much easier for you. Moreover, at your age, it's a golden period. If you miss it, you may not have such an opportunity again."

Jiang Chenchen remained silent.

Lu Fang didn't insist on the topic any longer. "You can't continue with this episode's recording. Take a few days to rest here. When your foot swelling subsides, come back for the next recording in early next month. By then, the program will likely have been broadcasted, and we can evaluate the effect before deciding what to do."

"Rest here for a few days, and when the swelling in your foot goes down, you can return."

Jiang Chenchen nodded, holding her phone. At this moment, she really wanted to call Sheng Mingsi.

Even if she didn't say anything, just knowing he was there would make her feel much more at ease.

Although it was not a big deal, she suddenly missed him.

Lu Fang's phone rang, and she quickly went out to answer it. "President Gu..."

On the other end, Gu Ming angrily questioned, "What happened? Someone got hurt, and the program's security measures are so poor?"

Lu Fang hadn't expected President Gu to be so furious. She quickly explained, "No, President Gu, it was a sudden situation! Besides, Jiang Chenchen actively saved Lu Su..."

"Anyway, regardless of the situation, make sure to take care of her! There should be no further injuries!"

Otherwise, her brother would definitely hold her accountable! This incident had become widely known online, and there was no way to hide it!

After attending a seminar, Sheng Mingsi returned to his company. When Wu Bi hesitated while conveying the news, he was already back at his desk, handling some business matters.

Wu Bi couldn't figure out Sheng Mingsi's emotions. He kept his head down, looking at documents without saying anything. Did he not care?

However, the chilling aura surrounding him couldn't deceive anyone.

Finally, Sheng Mingsi lifted his head from the documents. His jet-black eyes became even colder, and his tone was low and devoid of fluctuations. "Go and bring her back."

"Alright!"

Wu Bi left the room.

Sheng Mingsi put down the documents and took out his phone to watch the online videos. She had risked her life to save that man.

Even her life was not spared.

He clenched his fingers around the phone, the joints turning white.

A nameless anger surged within him. Lowering his eyes, he threw the phone aside, retrieved a bottle of liquor from the cabinet, poured a glass, and downed it in one gulp.

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 Chapter 144: Catching the Thief

The windows in the kitchen are usually open for ventilation, with circular wooden frames, orderly arranged to form a fence, and no emerald green glass panes.

There's only a light-colored waterproof apron, shielding from wind, rain, and prying eyes. Even though there's a surrounding wall, people outside can't see in, but accidents are unavoidable, especially at this moment.

The window frame, already opened for ventilation, has two sneaky eyes slowly approaching from the edges.

Closer, a bit closer, and you can see the entire process of making candied chestnuts.

Squinting eyes carry the excitement of the owner, eagerly anticipating a windfall, staring to the maximum to peep.

Inside, there's the sound of a machine working, and the fragrant pot is not by the window but at the end of the stove, making it impossible to see what's inside.

You can only see a girl in an apron scooping up a sticky substance, preparing to pour it into the pot.

But suddenly, she stops.

Puts the spoon back into the bucket.

Goes to the sink, reaches into an enamel basin filled with chili peppers, and fishes out the chili peppers covering the water's surface.

Puts them into a nearby small basket, and then the girl lifts a basin of chili-soaked water and splashes it forward.

"Ah—"

"My eyes!!!"

Outside the window, there's a heart-wrenching, piercing scream, accompanied by the sound of a heavy object falling.

The water with chili peppers, not as intense as authentic chili water, doesn't blind the eyes, but it stings for a while, making it difficult to see and even harder to escape over the wall.

Bai Lu is calm enough to put down the enamel basin, casually turn off the electric stir-fry machine, and calmly go to catch the thief.

As expected, outside the kitchen, within the walls, a figure is blindly stumbling with covered eyes.

It's the plump and charming daffodil.

Now that her peeping has been exposed, she's already shouting in pain and stumbling away along the wall, taking two or three steps toward the front yard.

Bai Lu guesses she wants to escape to the vegetable garden. Across the small river in the vegetable garden, it's only five or six hundred meters to the old street.

Unfortunately, her eyes are not working well. Stumbling and tripping, she ends up falling into the trap in the front yard.

"Come, walk this way, to the left, to the left, take two steps forward, and I'll send you out."

A familiar and cold voice rings out not far ahead. Li Shuixian, who walks with the help of the wall, shivers all over, suddenly opening her eyes.

"Ah!"

A sharp pain makes tears stream down Li Shuixian's face.

Painfully, Li Shuixian can't open her eyes at all, only covering her eyes and angrily scolding ahead: "Bai Lu! You ruthless woman! What did you splash on me?"

"Didn't you see it yourself?"

Bai Lu leisurely walks to Li Shuixian's side, not too close, not letting her claws touch, making a sympathetic sound.

"With your extraordinary weight, you definitely can't climb over my high wall. Do you have an accomplice outside? Your accomplice heard your screams, why didn't they come in to save you? Have they... already run away on their own?"

Li Shuixian's face turns red, not sure if it's from anger or panic after Bai Lu exposed her scheme.

With stinging eyes slightly open, she sees a hint of mockery on Bai Lu's face. Filled with rage, she can't help but raise her hand to give a slap.

Bai Lu hooks Li Shuixian's wrist with one hand, effortlessly flings her to the ground, causing a shock on the ground.

It's evident that this time's strength is more than ten times stronger than the previous two times, enough to knock down a fat cow.

The pain from the chili peppers clears Li Shuixian's impulsive mind. Remembering the lessons from the previous two times, her back feels cold. She crawls away, squinting her eyes, retreating.

"Don't come over!"

"Xiao Cheng has already left for a long journey. You're the only one at home. If you dare to touch a hair on me, I'll find someone to avenge me tomorrow! Your little tricks can only deal with me. Against others, you'll only end up getting beaten. You better let me go now, I'll pretend today's events never happened, otherwise, you'll regret it!"

Bai Lu is not in a hurry. Outside the kitchen, within the walls, Li Shuixian is stumbling with her eyes covered.

"What are you thinking? Let me go!"

Li Shuixian turns around and shouts, trying to shake off Bai Lu's hand. However, with all her strength, she can't break free.

"What do you want? Let me go!"

Li Shuixian can't free herself from Bai Lu's grasp. With her other hand still covering her eyes, she swings it towards Bai Lu's face. At the same time, the foot close to Bai Lu lifts, attempting a fierce kick.

Unfortunately, before her hands and feet can reach Bai Lu, Bai Lu unceremoniously throws her to the ground once again, then firmly grasps her wrist and pulls her up.

"Have you learned your lesson?"

Li Shuixian, who fell all over the place, finally realized her fear. She doesn't dare to make another move, struggling with all her strength, just wanting to break free, her eyes squinting and staring at the courtyard gate.

She wants to go out!

There are still people waiting for her outside!

It seems that Bai Lu can see through Li Shui Xian's thoughts. Holding her wrist, Bai Lu walks directly towards the courtyard gate.

"Don't be in a hurry; I'll send you out right away."

Her tone is too friendly, making Li Shui Xian shiver. She has an intuition that Bai Lu must have some sinister plan.

"What are you up to! I warn you, let me go right now. Don't try anything funny, or..."

"Creak—"

The door opens.

Although it's early in the day, there are already many neighbors on the street, buying fresh vegetables from the market. They heard the sound of the door opening, turned to look, and saw Bai Lu, wearing an apron, pushing a fat woman with one hand covering her face and head bowed, out.

She smiles and greets everyone, "Good morning, everyone. Auntie Fang and Mrs. Wu, have you bought vegetables and come back? So fast! I was thinking of waiting to see if any uncles or aunts go to the market to buy vegetables and help bring someone back to the street."

The most sincere greeting is remembering others' names, which is more intimate than a hundred greetings.

Auntie Fang and Mrs. Wu immediately stop in their tracks, smiling as they approach to respond, "You're up early too."

"Look, you're still wearing the apron. Are you busy frying chestnuts early in the morning? Xiao Cheng has gone out, and you're alone frying so many chestnuts. Take care of your health, young as you are. Money is never enough. When Xiao Cheng comes back with a lot of money, you can enjoy life. Don't overwork yourself."

"Who is this person? You said just now that you want someone to help her get back to the street. Who is she to you? She looks stable standing there. Can't she walk back on her own?"

In fact, Auntie Fang wanted to say that she doesn't look like a blind or crippled person, so why does she need someone to escort her?

Li Shuixian finally understands what Bai Lu wants to do. She must want to expose her peeping conspiracy in public.

No way!

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