Chapter 26 Part 2

Li Yunkai was actually a bit shocked. He’d frolicked through flowers for so long, yet this was his first encounter with such a bold and straightforward girl. He tried hard to recall Wei Xiaoxiao’s appearance—a petite, obedient little thing. Hard to imagine her chasing alone to a bar…

Li Yunkai then asked about Chu Yi. After all, he was his lifesaver, and Mu Jiajun and Ouyang Yuyuan spoke of him with utmost admiration. How could Li Yunkai not be curious?

Mentioning Chu Yi, Mu Jiajun and Ouyang Yuyuan had plenty to say: the great battle the night before, reading Ouyang Yuyuan’s fortune to avert disaster accurately, Divination to locate lost items, capturing the Little Ghosts for the Film Crew… In their words, Chu Yi was omnipotent!

“…So you’re saying a guy like that is filming with the crew? What role? Don’t tell me a street fortune-teller?”

Because of Master Zhang, Li Yunkai’s mind conjured an image of a mustachioed, middle-aged man with a flowing beard, banner in hand proclaiming “Half-Immortal So-and-So”… Real masters playing fakes—what odd hobby?

Mu Jiajun and Ouyang Yuyuan exchanged glances and unanimously decided to tease him, withholding that Chu Yi was a young, handsome guy.

They’d let him be shocked upon meeting later!

Contrary to Li Yunkai’s imaginings, Chu Yi had already changed into costume: long hair flowing, posture erect. He elegantly swept aside the hem of his robe and mounted the horse in a single stride of his long legs.

Director Mo had known Chu Yi could ride, but he hadn’t expected such rapid progress. A simple mount fused the noble air of a aristocratic young master with a scholar’s elegance into his very bones.

On the other side, Zhuo Zhenyit, playing the imperial envoy, performed well too. Slightly shorter than Chu Yi, his mount was more refined.

Zhuo Zhenyit turned back to Chu Yi. “Young Master Bai, Jian’an City lies ahead. Shall we bet? First to Shili Pavilion, loser grants winner one condition.”

Chu Yi agreed readily. “Sure.”

This was scripted dialogue. Later, when Bai Yanming’s intrigue was exposed and his subordinates slain, Zhuo Zhenyit emerged from behind the encirclement, his demanded condition that Bai Yanming surrender alive for the capital’s triple ministry trial—a minor foreshadowing.

Here, Chu Yi needed to display superb horsemanship: capable of easily winning, yet subtly losing to conceal his identity.

Chu Yi filmed this scene smoothly. After all, most of his life had been spent wandering; riding horses or donkeys was as natural as eating or drinking. Zhuo Zhenyit did well too, evidently well-practiced. Though not as effortless as Chu Yi, his skills sufficed.

With the two leads performing admirably, it was Liu Shengqing, the supporting actor, who ran into trouble.

Earlier, out of a desire to guide toward goodness, Chu Yi had spoken extra words to him. Before returning, Liu Shengqing had regained composure, even smiling as he told Chu Yi he’d figured it out: he’d rise by his own strength henceforth, no more petty tricks.

He framed his actions as petty tricks—a bit of evasion—but Chu Yi merely nodded without further comment.

The issue arose with Liu Shengqing himself. Perhaps influenced by prior events, he overthought. During the horse run, he mistakenly pulled the wrong rein, sending horse and rider charging down a slope into soft grassland below.

Everyone knew horses couldn’t stop on such terrain, especially hurtling downhill—they’d only accelerate.

As Liu Shengqing’s foot slipped from the stirrup and he teetered to fall, Chu Yi galloped up in time, grabbing his collar and hauling him onto his own mount.

“Yi Ge…” Liu Shengqing, still shaken, watched Chu Yi expertly urge the horse back, yet he voiced concern for him. For some reason, tears welled inexplicably.

Seeing him safe, Chu Yi frowned. “Didn’t you say you’d take filming seriously? What were you daydreaming about?”

“I…” Liu Shengqing’s surge of gratitude stuck in his throat. His Yi Ge’s rescue was so heroic, his riding so dashing—why couldn’t he show a bit more care, let the emotion linger?

Before Liu Shengqing could lean closer to calm his racing heart, Chu Yi had leaped the horse back up the slope. The entire Film Crew awaited them; that moment had been too perilous, many holding their breath… Seeing them return safely, cheers erupted.

“Whoa, you’re okay—great!”

“Chu Yi’s riding is insane! Like the wind—so fast he caught up! Awesome!”

Liu Shengqing’s limbs still tingled, his emotions surging with the crowd’s cheers, as if tasting the spotlight for the first time.

He sneaked a glance back at Chu Yi, only to be disappointed: he’d already dismounted ahead, directing Xu Xing and others to retrieve the other horse.

Director Mo breathed a sigh of relief. Another incident, and he’d suspect the crew cursed. Come to think, he hadn’t used pomelo leaves or burned incense to dispel bad luck when the Little Ghosts haunted… Whatever, he’d ask Young Master Chu later.

Chu Yi had stayed with the crew two days when President Yu called: the lab was ready, quicker than expected. Chu Yi requested leave from Director Mo, planning to head out and sign the contract at Xingyao Building en route.

“Yi Ge, where are you going?” Liu Shengqing chased out of the hotel.

Chu Yi nearly facepalmed. Ever since their heart-to-heart, Liu Shengqing trailed him like a duckling after its mother. He truly hadn’t planned to babysit!

“I have business today. Arrange yourself.” Chu Yi said no more.

But Liu Shengqing had spotted Ouyang Yuyuan arriving to pick him up. His bright eyes dimmed instantly; he knew Yi Ge was off to see Yu Qingxian.

“Yi Ge.” As Chu Yi boarded the car, Ouyang Yuyuan greeted, then grumbled upon seeing distant Liu Shengqing. “Him again?”

Ouyang Yuyuan saw himself as Chu Yi’s little fanboy. But with work keeping him away, he felt rivalry toward Liu Shengqing, the frequent “Number Two Little Bro,”—natural jealousy for favor.

Chu Yi raised a brow. “What’s with him? He offend you?”

Ouyang Yuyuan, unable to hide feelings, looked aggrieved. “Yi Ge, don’t let him steal you away. We met first, and our bond’s deeper, right?”

Chu Yi: “…”

One after another—what was this!

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