Chapter 20 Part 1

“You looking for me for something?” Chu Yi proactively brushed past the previous matter.

“No, Second Young Master Cui just wanted to come over for a look, and Cousin Xian and I happened to have some free time…” Ouyang Yuyuan subconsciously wanted to deny it, but he stopped halfway and turned a pleading gaze toward his cousin.

Yu Qingxian gave him a cold glance. He was still annoyed and didn’t want to bail him out.

But as Ouyang Yuyuan’s gaze grew more pitiful, and he secretly clasped his hands together, bowing to him repeatedly, Yu Qingxian couldn’t bear it in the end. He considered his words carefully and said, “There is something I’d like to ask for your help with, but if you don’t want to agree, that’s fine too. Consider this a personal request from me today—it won’t affect your signing with Xingyao. The contract terms we offered before remain unchanged. Xingyao is signing your potential in the entertainment industry, which has nothing to do with this matter.”

Ouyang Yuyuan’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t say a word.

He understood his cousin’s position of not wanting to offend Chu Yi. Uncle Li and his wife had entrusted him with this, and it was already very good that Cousin Xian had stepped up for him.

Chu Yi instantly understood. He raised an eyebrow. “What, is Master Zhang preparing to hold another ritual?”

He calculated the days in his mind. It hadn’t been that long yet—had Master Zhang’s Luopan Compass recovered so quickly?

Ouyang Yuyuan explained awkwardly with a flushed face, “Yeah, Uncle and Auntie are worried about Yun Kai’s condition, afraid he won’t hold out.”

He knew the couple’s personalities. They must have been urging Master Zhang openly and covertly lately. Master Zhang probably had no choice but to agree reluctantly, especially since if anything happened to Li Yunkai, his reputation would be affected too.

Though he had agreed, Li Hongming and his wife had picked up on the nuances from his attitude and weren’t reassured. So they called him, asking him to bring Chu Yi over no matter what.

Inviting Chu Yi was to back up Master Zhang. He had softened and agreed when they pleaded over the phone, but now that the moment had come, he found it hard to speak up.

Yu Qingxian said, “This time, it’s me asking you, not Li Hongming and his wife. It hardly counts as poaching a fellow practitioner’s business, right? And I can promise that whether you step in or not, I’ll pay the full fee.”

Chu Yi thought for a moment. “Then my fee will be double Master Zhang’s.”

He had a grudge against Master Zhang now. Yu Qingxian chuckled and shot him a sidelong glance. “Deal.”

Sometimes he felt that Chu Yi’s maturity didn’t match his age, and his instincts were shockingly sharp, like a fog that no one could see through. But whenever he acted like a kid or cracked some untimely little joke, he seemed stubbornly endearing.

Ouyang Yuyuan was overjoyed. “Yi Ge, you’re such a good guy!”

Chu Yi smiled reservedly. “Not bad.”

Ouyang Yuyuan was thrilled and blurted out without thinking, “Yi Ge, you really don’t mind us inviting you behind Master Zhang’s back?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he could bite off his own tongue!

Chu Yi fell silent for a moment. Just as Ouyang Yuyuan’s heart leaped into his throat, he said something brutally honest in a very straightforward manner: “I think Master Zhang would mind quite a bit.”

Anyway, he’d get paid even if he didn’t act, and if Master Zhang could handle it, he could just watch the show. Standing by idly while earning more than the one who acted—what a sweet deal. Why wouldn’t he take it?

Besides, providing backup for Master Zhang proved, in Yu Qingxian and the others’ eyes, that his skills surpassed Master Zhang’s. Otherwise, why wouldn’t it be Master Zhang backing him up… Pah pah, he wouldn’t be so useless as to need Master Zhang—who wasn’t even as good as his little apprentice—to back him up.

“You’re right…” Ouyang Yuyuan imagined Master Zhang’s face when he learned the truth. It would probably be quite a sight.

For some reason, he was a little looking forward to it.

Chu Yi said, “Forget it. Let’s not show up first when the time comes. If Master Zhang sees me and loses his composure, making a mistake, his apprentice will blame it on me again.”

That was the ultimate sarcasm!

Yu Qingxian had originally worried that bringing it up would upset Chu Yi, but the guy’s mind worked so quickly and considered everything so thoroughly—he didn’t even need a reminder.

“Do you need us to help prepare anything?” Yu Qingxian took the initiative to ask.

“Yeah, yeah.” Ouyang Yuyuan reacted. “Whatever you need, Yi Ge, just say the word—even if it’s a Tianshan Snow Lotus, we’ll pluck one fresh for you!”

“Hm, not for now.” Spiritual Items weren’t that easy to find, and besides, it wasn’t certain he’d even need to act. Chu Yi didn’t want to give the impression of sneaking in personal goods.

“Alright then.” Yu Qingxian didn’t press.

Before leaving, he showed some concern for Chu Yi. “You seem to be fitting in pretty well with Director Mo’s Crew, but if you’re getting involved with anyone, it’s best to report it to the company.”