Chu Yi often took walks nearby for exercise when he lived in the villa. He had previously spotted a fresh mountain spring on the back hill, so he fetched some water and soaked the Purple Flower Bamboo in it.
The thing was too dry and needed to be soaked for seven days and seven nights until the bamboo core was thoroughly moistened before it could be processed.
After handling the Purple Flower Bamboo, he received a call from Liu Shengqing. “Yi Ge, I was just outside the Film Crew earlier and ran into a group of college students visiting Film City. One of them knew I was from the Da Qing crew and asked about you, saying you might be his runaway cousin…”
“Oh, what did you tell him?” Chu Yi asked calmly.
“I told him not to make up relations. Wouldn’t he recognize his own cousin? There are plenty of people claiming to be relatives of someone to sneak into the crew—we don’t need another one!” Liu Shengqing said with a hint of pride in his tone. “I didn’t keep my voice down while talking to him, so his classmates probably overheard. One female classmate seemed close to him, and he lost face, so he didn’t dare ask more.”
Chu Yi understood by then. Liu Shengqing was sharp—how could he not tell if Chu Dazhi was telling the truth? He had said it on purpose to help chase the guy away.
Sure enough, he had guessed that the person looking for him was Chu Dazhi. It was probably from Ying Lin’s Weibo fuss earlier that Chu Dazhi had seen him, but since his appearance had changed so much, Chu Dazhi wasn’t certain.
With his classmates out playing, he had intentionally drifted toward the Film City crew.
“Him—I mean, that college student—is he called Chu Dazhi?”
Liu Shengqing hadn’t expected him to admit it and paused. “Yeah, seems like it. His classmates called him that.”
Chu Yi replied, “Then he really is my cousin, but we’re not on good terms. You were right to chase him off. Thanks.”
Liu Shengqing pursed his lips and smiled faintly. “Don’t be so polite with me, Yi Ge.”
He thought for a moment and added, “But he said some bad things about you out there. You might want to watch out. I believe you, of course, but others might misunderstand if they hear.”
Chu Yi said, “Got it.”
It seemed Chu Dazhi hadn’t taken his warning to heart. He had only behaved for a couple of days, but upon realizing Chu Yi might soar to fame—especially in the fame-obsessed entertainment industry—he felt he had leverage to threaten him again and started scheming.
“By the way.” Chu Yi suddenly remembered something else. “What did that female classmate who’s close to him look like?”
He wondered if Yao Ke, freshly rescued from the fire pit by him, had been sweet-talked back by Chu Dazhi. That would be too brainless.
“Tall and slim, pretty, decked out in designer brands head to toe…” Liu Shengqing described her appearance roughly, and Chu Yi knew right away it wasn’t Yao Ke.
Yao Ke’s family was just well-off—far from covered in luxury brands. It looked like Chu Dazhi had latched onto another rich girl?
This brought up the Chu Family’s looks again. Chu Yi aside—ever since going white, he drew eyes everywhere—Chu Dazhi shared seven parts resemblance with him and was also a handsome guy who could pass for a model. Otherwise, with his previous conditions, how had he lured Yao Ke to that backwater Chu Village?
Chu Yi hung up, intending to call President Yu at first, but he hesitated and dialed someone else instead.
He seemed too dependent on President Yu lately, and that wasn’t good. Chu Yi knew his own Fate Pattern well—he wasn’t suited to get too close to anyone, or he’d bring harm to them.
And who did he call? Naturally, Mu Jiajun, Ouyang Yuyuan’s good buddy. The guy still owed him a favor, so Chu Yi felt no qualms using it.
“Yi Ge, you looking for me?” Mu Jiajun answered Chu Yi’s call, a bit nervous at first. No helping it—Yi Ge’s mouth was too accurate. But after hearing the request, he puffed up and promised, “Don’t worry, Yi Ge. This is small stuff. I’ll have it for you by tomorrow at latest!”
Mu Jiajun hung up, and another person in his office set down a desk ornament and turned to him. “Was that the Master from before? What’d he have you investigate? Why are you so thrilled?”
Mu Jiajun waved it off. “You wouldn’t get it. Yi Ge asking me to look into something means he thinks highly of me! I was just fretting over how to get closer to him—this is perfect!”
The man thought and suggested, “Why not hand it to me? I owe him a favor too. This can be my introduction gift.”
Seeing Mu Jiajun’s troubled face, he laughed in exasperation. “Why do you look like I stole your side piece? Not happy I’m helping? Yuanzi’s the same—’Yi Ge’ this, ‘Yi Ge’ that. I barely recognize you two anymore!”
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Mu Jiajun paled and glanced around. “I like guys, sure, but Yi Ge’s not for me to fantasize about. What I feel for him is reverence—reverence, got it?”
“Fine, fine, reverence. Spare me the fancy words. Just say if you’re agreeing or not?”
“I… I’ll ask Yi Ge.” Mu Jiajun hemmed and hawed.
Li Yunkai rolled his eyes. “Then hurry up and ask!”
