During a film shoot, not all costumes and accessories are bought brand new, nor are all of them brought along by the makeup team some are rented.
That phone call just now was to inform us that a batch of rented costumes and accessories had arrived.
As it happened, everyone was busy at the moment, and Director Luo was the only one with free time, so he decided to go out and collect the items himself.
The film and television studio complex was quite large. Riding his small electric scooter, Director Luo traveled from the production bases on the east side all the way to the hotel located on the west side. Just as he was about to step off the sidewalk and cross the road, a sudden burning heat spread across his palm. He flinched in surprise, and when he looked up, he found that the traffic light facing him had unexpectedly turned red.
He could have sworn it had been green just a moment ago.
Though confused, Director Luo simply assumed his eyes were playing tricks on him after all, he was getting on in years.
He planted both feet firmly on the ground, ready to wait for the light to change, when his legs suddenly went weak. At the same time, a strong force shoved him from behind. Caught completely off guard and unable to support his weight, he, along with his scooter, slid right out into the middle of the road.
But the light was red!
A surge of anger rose within him. “Which bastard pushed me?!”
Just then, his palm grew hot once more. His scooter abruptly came to a halt, as if something had jammed its wheels, and strength instantly returned to his legs. Director Luo quickly steadied himself with his feet on the ground and in that exact moment, a car zoomed past less than ten centimeters from the front of his scooter.
It was moving at breakneck speed.
The speed limit for this area was supposed to be 60 kilometers per hour, but this vehicle must have been traveling at least 100 kilometers per hour.
If he hadn’t stopped just in time, he would have been hit straight on.
Cold sweat broke out all over Director Luo’s back, and he felt deeply grateful to have escaped unharmed.
Yet even so, his anger flared again at the thought that whoever had pushed him had just tried to take his life. He spun around immediately, ready to yell, “What the hell ”
But there was no one there.
A breeze blew past, and despite the sweltering heat of the day, Director Luo suddenly felt a chill run through his entire body.
Yin Kairui only had three scenes to film, and none of them were long. With his acting skills, as long as his co-stars held up their end of the performance, he would wrap up in roughly two hours.
Fortunately, during the filming of the later two scenes, Zhuang Qinqin did not come over to where Shan Shan was sitting. Resting her chin in her hands, Shan Shan watched Yin Kairui act and thought he looked quite different from how he usually did.
Even more handsome, it seemed!
As soon as Yin Kairui finished his final scene, he changed out of his costume and removed his stage makeup, finally feeling some relief from the heat.
He had nearly walked straight out of the set when he realized something felt off it seemed as though someone was missing. To be clear, he wasn’t referring to Shan Shan, but to Xiao Liu, his assistant.
When he finally spotted Xiao Liu, he also saw Shan Shan, and a wave of embarrassment washed over him as he realized he had completely forgotten about the little girl.
Well, no one else knew, so it didn’t really matter anyway.
“Brother!” Shan Shan waved excitedly and trotted over to him with quick, small steps.
“Hmm,” Yin Kairui replied. Looking down at the tiny three-year-old, he asked, “Are you hungry?”
“No,” Shan Shan shook her head instinctively.
“Are you sure you’re not hungry?” Yin Kairui asked doubtfully.
His three scenes had not been filmed back-to-back, so more than four hours had passed since they started, and it was now one o’clock in the afternoon. If Shan Shan wasn’t hungry, he certainly was.
Shan Shan patted her little tummy gently and said softly, “Maybe just a little bit hungry.”
Yin Kairui sighed. “It’s not like I’d ever let you go without enough to eat.”
He just had no intention of taking on the responsibility of raising a child, that was all.
Shan Shan’s eyes lit up instantly. “Then I want to eat lots and lots of food!”
“Alright,” Yin Kairui said, turning to Xiao Liu. “Could you carry her?”
“Sure,” Xiao Liu said, looking quite comfortable and experienced holding a small child.
Just as the three of them were about to leave, they saw Director Luo hurrying toward them. His face lit up the moment he caught sight of them. Yin Kairui stepped forward to greet him. “Director Luo, I’ve finished all my scenes, so I’ll be heading off now ”
Before he could finish his sentence, Director Luo brushed past him and crouched down right in front of Shan Shan. “Shan Shan, little one, Uncle owes you a big thank you today!”
Director Luo had already checked everything thoroughly. His electric scooter was in perfect working order, and his physical health was fine as well. He had also been the only person waiting at that crossing, and he had even gone through the trouble of reviewing the surveillance footage from the area.
After conducting multiple checks and weighing all possibilities, Director Luo had come to the conclusion that he had encountered something inexplicable and supernatural.
People in their line of work might not be superstitious, but they still tended to treat such matters with a healthy amount of caution and respect.
He also recalled the things Shan Shan had said earlier, as well as the strange warmth he had felt in his palms something he now realized was likely the result of the “protective charm” Shan Shan had drawn for him. Though he could not understand how such a small child could possess such abilities, this was the only explanation that made sense.
Shan Shan looked at Director Luo with wide, curious eyes. “Uncle,” she said in her soft, childish voice, “why did you bring that uncle along with you?”
A chill shot down Director Luo’s spine. He spun around immediately and saw his production assistant standing behind him. Letting out a long breath of relief, he said, “That’s Uncle the production assistant. He’s here to help me carry things.”
“But he’s not carrying anything,” Shan Shan said, tilting her head as she stared at the dark, shadowy figure hovering nearby. “And he’s clinging to your back… umph ”
Before she could finish her sentence, Yin Kairui quickly covered her mouth with his hand.
Yin Kairui forced a nervous laugh and tried to brush off the comment lightly. “She doesn’t know what she’s saying, Director Luo. She’s just a little kid who watches all sorts of silly TV dramas at home, so she makes up all kinds of nonsense. Please don’t take her words seriously.”
Director Luo’s expression turned grim, and it looked as though he was about to lose his temper. But just as Yin Kairui was trying to think of a way to smooth things over, Director Luo leaned in toward Shan Shan and asked earnestly, “Is there anything you can do about it?”
Yin Kairui stared at him in shock.
Director Luo, have you really been possessed?
If you have, just say so clearly!
Why on earth would you ask a three-year-old child if she can help you with this kind of thing?
Shan Shan was very fond of Director Luo, so when she heard him asking for help, she nodded firmly and clenched her small fists. “Shan Shan can help you chase it away and give it a good beating!”
The moment she spoke those words, combined with the determined look on her face, the ghost clinging to Director Luo’s back grew instantly alert. As Shan Shan began to gather spiritual energy around her tiny fist, the spirit did not even wait for her to strike it fled in terror immediately.
“Aww, it ran away,” Shan Shan said, sounding quite disappointed.
“Does that mean I’m safe now?” Director Luo asked quickly.
“Not quite,” Shan Shan replied, tilting her head again with an innocent expression. “It left a special mark on you. No matter where you go from now on, it will always be able to find you and come visit you again!”
Director Luo fell silent.
No matter how sweet and cute her tone was, there was no way he could find those words comforting or amusing.
Cold sweat began to form on his forehead once more.
He didn’t have time to think about anything else, because the moment Shan Shan said the spirit had left, he had felt a sudden lightness spread through his whole body.
Had he really been carrying that unseen weight around with him all this time without even knowing it?
Shuddering at the thought, Director Luo asked immediately, “Shan Shan, is there anything else you can do to help me? If you can, I’ll pay you a proper reward!”
“Reward?” Shan Shan repeated, clearly unfamiliar with the meaning of the word.
“It means money,” Director Luo explained eagerly. “With money, you can buy all kinds of delicious snacks and treats!”
Shan Shan’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Then I ”
She was cut off mid-sentence as Yin Kairui once again clamped his hand over her mouth.
Yin Kairui’s expression had turned serious and sharp. “Didn’t you promise me you would talk things over with me first before getting involved in this kind of matter?” he said through gritted teeth.
Shan Shan looked at him with pure innocence in her eyes, trying to speak but only managing to make muffled sounds behind his hand. She reached up and pulled his hand away. “But that’s not what I was going to say…”
She mouthed the words spiritual energy silently so only he could understand.
A visible vein pulsed angrily on Yin Kairui’s forehead.
Without saying another word, he covered her mouth again and warned her sternly, “Don’t you dare pull my hand away again, or I’ll leave you here and won’t take care of you anymore.”
Shan Shan immediately fell silent and obediently nestled back into Xiao Liu’s arms.
Only then did Yin Kairui turn back to Director Luo, his expression softening into one of apology. “Director Luo, Shan Shan is still very young. It’s true that she has learned a little bit about such things, but she may not have the ability to solve every problem. I would suggest you try consulting other professionals first. Besides, it’s still broad daylight surely nothing bad can happen right now?”
As he spoke, he glanced down at Shan Shan.
Not daring to speak aloud, Shan Shan simply stretched out her small hand and made a few simple gestures. Understanding what she meant, Director Luo leaned forward and held out his hand toward her.
Shan Shan then drew the pattern of a sealing charm on his palm with her finger and nodded confidently.
“Does this mean… I’ll be safe during the day from now on?” Director Luo asked tentatively.
Shan Shan beamed and nodded firmly in confirmation.