Chu Mingjia said they could, but when Han Fengchen asked how she planned to find it, Chu Mingjia just yawned lazily and shook her head. “Just wait.”
Han Fengchen: “…”
Wait? Wait for what? For the enemy to come to them on its own?
As the group descended the mountain, Chu Mingjia walked ahead with Jiang Meng. Suddenly, she sensed a strong gaze fixed intently on her.
Chu Mingjia turned her head and met Chen Yun’s resentful stare.
She was certain Chen Yun wasn’t looking at anyone else, she was looking at Chu Mingjia.
Chu Mingjia was somewhat surprised. Chen Yun hated her? Why?
Chen Yun held Chu Mingjia’s gaze for a moment, then looked over at Chen Li, who was limping ahead of them. The murderous intent in her eyes was completely undisguised.
It sent a chill through Chu Mingjia.
Jiang Meng was the most sensitive to killing intent. With the livestream now paused, he stepped in front of Chu Mingjia, resting a hand lightly on his own waist, and said in a low, cold voice, “That girl isn’t right.”
Chu Mingjia nodded.
Jiang Meng then asked, “Is it possible she was the one who pushed Chen Li down the slope?”
Earlier, when Chen Ming had been arguing with Chen Li, he had directly asked whether Chen Li had abandoned Xiao Yun. Chen Li had denied it, but Chen Ming hadn’t believed him.
Just now, Chen Li had also cursed Chen Yun, saying she had scared away his “girlfriend.” But if their guess was correct, Chen Li’s so-called “girlfriend” was most likely the Vengeful Beauty Ghost that had already fled.
And the fact that the Vengeful Beauty Ghost had approached Chen Li repeatedly strongly suggested it was related to the fortune-borrowing scheme.
Chu Mingjia remained silent all the way down the mountain, accompanying the police.
Chen Ming had received the notification and was already waiting at the police station.
The moment he saw Chen Yun, he rushed over anxiously, checking his sister over from head to toe. He said with concern, “Xiao Yun, are you okay? Where did you go? I was so worried about you.”
Chen Yun looked at her brother, his face full of worry, and silently shook her head. Chen Ming didn’t expect her to speak. After confirming that aside from a few scratches from vegetation, his sister had no other injuries, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Out of habit, he hoisted Chen Yun onto his back and asked the police, “Officer, can I take my sister home first?”
The officer nodded. “Go ahead. Get some rest.”
After all, nothing could be gotten out of Chen Yun anyway, and this matter had nothing to do with the siblings.
Chen Ming nodded, carried his sister on his back, and walked over to say goodbye to Chu Mingjia. “Sister Chu, I really can’t thank you enough. You’ve helped me twice, and I don’t know how I could ever repay you.”
As Chen Ming said this, his expression was a bit uneasy. He truly felt very embarrassed.
Chu Mingjia smiled and glanced at Chen Yun, only to find Chen Yun staring at her expressionlessly. Chu Mingjia ignored her gaze completely and said to Chen Ming, “Don’t mention it. I told you, I helped you because we have a connection. These kinds of things shouldn’t be done with the expectation of repayment, so don’t take it too seriously.”
Chen Ming’s face turned red. He thanked her repeatedly. “Thank you so much, Sister Chu. If there’s ever anything I can help you with in the future, I definitely will!”
Even as he said this, he felt a bit guilty, because he thought that someone as wealthy, influential, and capable as Chu Mingjia would never need his help.
But if he didn’t say it, he would feel terrible inside.
Chu Mingjia looked at him, somewhat troubled, and tugged at her hair. She wasn’t very good at handling these kinds of interpersonal matters, but seeing how awkward and restrained Chen Ming was, she felt she should say something.
After hesitating for a moment, she sighed. “Well, since you insist, how about you promise me one thing?”
The moment Chu Mingjia finished speaking, she immediately sensed a cold, sinister gaze fixed on her.
Without even looking, she knew the icy stare belonged to Chen Yun.
Chu Mingjia ignored it completely.
Chen Ming’s eyes, however, lit up. Somewhat excited, he said, “Sister Chu, just say the word. I promise I’ll do it.”
Chu Mingjia smiled. “I did a little calculation, and it seems you’re the reincarnation of a top scholar. You’re destined to achieve great things in academia. So how about you promise me this: study hard and become the provincial top scorer in the college entrance examination. What do you say?”
The smile on Chen Ming’s face froze.
Chen Yun’s cold, sinister gaze faltered.
Both siblings wore expressions of blank bewilderment.
Chen Ming’s face turned even redder. He nodded awkwardly and stammered, “O-okay. I promise. I’ll definitely become the provincial top… top scorer…”
Help. He was doomed. He was currently last in his entire class. Was there still hope?
Han Fengchen looked at Chen Ming’s departing back with pity. He thought to himself, thank goodness he didn’t have to become the provincial top scorer. Sister Chu herself hadn’t even gotten into a 985 university, yet she wanted someone else to become the provincial top scorer, that was just too much!
Provincial top scorer! Was that something just anyone could achieve?
Han Fengchen sincerely started to say, “This Chen Ming is really too pit—”
Then he turned his head and met Chu Mingjia’s gaze. He smoothly corrected himself: “This girl is really too pitiful. To have a father like that. She must have been taken up to the shrine by him. Otherwise, how could a little girl like her have climbed Qishan Mountain on her own?”
He, a grown man, had walked until his legs were weak!
Chu Mingjia said, “Maybe she really did walk up there by herself.”
Han Fengchen was taken aback. “What? That’s impossible, right?”
Chu Mingjia shrugged. “Who knows?”
The little girl was probably blaming her for meddling and saving that drunkard’s life. Who knew what she was planning in her mind right now?
Speaking of which, Chu Mingjia suddenly remembered that Chen Yun’s first disappearance had been several years ago. Back then, Chen Ming had said that his drunken father had taken Xiao Yun up Qishan Mountain.
Tsk. It wasn’t certain who had taken whom up the mountain.
That would also explain why everyone involved in the fortune-borrowing scheme had met with misfortune, yet Chen Ming remained safe and sound.
Perhaps every time his sister went missing, he had been saved.
But then again, maybe not. Chu Mingjia didn’t plan to dig too deeply into the Chen family’s affairs. She only wanted to know where the Vengeful Beauty Ghost had fled.
Chen Li was being interrogated by the police, but Chu Mingjia knew nothing useful would come out of a drunkard’s mouth.
After giving her statement, Chu Mingjia prepared to return to the hotel to rest.
The fortune-borrowing formation in the Chen family’s old house had been broken, the Vengeful Beauty Ghost had fled, and Chen Li probably wouldn’t be roaming the mountains in the middle of the night anymore. Chen Yun wouldn’t be “wandering off” for no reason either. As for how the three of them would live from now on, whether they would stay together or separate, that was Chen Ming’s problem.
Chen Ming’s biggest difficulty right now was probably the matter of both siblings going to school. But many viewers had already offered to support them through the livestream and the production team, so their future life should be fine.
Today’s livestream session was over. Jiang Meng was still following beside Chu Mingjia. When they were almost at the hotel, he said in a low voice, “Mountain Lord, I won’t go back to the hotel with you tonight. I’ll come again at seven tomorrow morning.”
He didn’t plan to return to the hotel; he intended to leave.
But before leaving, as long as Chu Mingjia didn’t nod in agreement, he didn’t dare go. He stood in the dark, looking down at Chu Mingjia.
Chu Mingjia yawned. She had been very tired these past few days, and she kept putting off dealing with the matter concerning Jiang Meng, thinking she would have a proper talk with him when she had the time.
But now, this guy actually wanted to slink back into his hole and hide.
Chu Mingjia shot him a glance. “Come inside with me first.”
Jiang Meng: “…”
Jiang Meng hesitated, pressing a hand to his abdomen, and stood at the hotel entrance without entering.
Jiang Meng said, “I… really have something to take care of.”
Chu Mingjia didn’t look back and didn’t say anything else. But Jiang Meng, who knew her character well, understood that the Mountain Lord was angry. If he really left now, he probably wouldn’t need to come back at all.
Jiang Meng pressed his lips together, pulled his cap lower, and followed Chu Mingjia into the hotel.
After Chu Mingjia entered her room, she didn’t lock the door. Jiang Meng was right behind her and was about to go in when Han Fengchen grabbed him halfway.
Han Fengchen was utterly stunned. A cameraman like Jiang Meng, outside of work hours, wanted to enter a female contestant’s room?
Was that reasonable?
Han Fengchen looked at the door, which was open a crack, then at Jiang Meng’s stern expression. Instinctively, he tightened his grip on Jiang Meng’s arm and said in a low voice, “Whoa, Mr. Jiang, where do you think you’re going?”
Jiang Meng stared at him coldly. “Let go.”
Han Fengchen felt goosebumps all over from Jiang Meng’s heterochromatic stare, but his loyalty to his father kept him standing his ground. “The person in this room is my mom. What, are you trying to put a [1]“put a green hat” (戴绿帽子) means to be cuckolded. It implies that a man’s wife or girlfriend has been unfaithful to him. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2072850_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2072850_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });green hat on my dad?”
His words only made Jiang Meng’s aura grow darker. Jiang Meng’s voice was icy. “Watch your mouth if you keep spouting nonsense.”
The Mountain Lord didn’t have such a stupid, grown son.
Han Fengchen was terrified. He slowly released Jiang Meng’s arm, not daring to hold him back any longer. But then he turned and grabbed the handle of Chu Mingjia’s door. With a click, he closed it shut.
Jiang Meng: “…”
Han Fengchen stood in front of the hotel room door and said guiltily, “I’m not sleeping tonight. I’m going to guard Sister Chu’s door!”
Jiang Meng: “…”
Jiang Meng’s fist clenched.
His expression turned cold and stern, his entire aura radiating a fierce, murderous air. Black scale patterns slowly emerged on his face, and his black pupil was gradually being overtaken by a deep blue. Under the dim yellow light, his heterochromatic eyes were unfathomably deep as they fixed a chilling stare on Han Fengchen.
Han Fengchen: “…”
Han Fengchen suddenly felt a eerie wind blowing, his neck grew cold, and his legs even went a little weak.
Just then, there was another click, and the room door opened.
Chu Mingjia stood at the doorway in loose-fitting pajamas, yawning. She said to Han Fengchen, “Fengchen, go back to your room and rest. Jiang Meng and I have something to discuss.”
Han Fengchen: “…”
Han Fengchen’s eyes were wide with shock, his face full of anguish. He frowned at Chu Mingjia and said in a pained voice, “Sis, you…”
He looked at Chu Mingjia as if she were a player or a heartbreaker, his expression a mix of shock and grievance.
Chu Mingjia was silent for two seconds, then decided to lie to him. “Your father knows.”
Han Fengchen: “…”
Han Fengchen: “???”
Chu Mingjia nodded. “Yes, he knows. If you don’t believe me, call and ask him.”
After all, it was a marriage of convenience, and they were going to divorce in a year. Even if Han Fengchen asked, Han Jinfeng would probably find a way to brush it off. Given Han Jinfeng’s status, his marital situation couldn’t be disclosed to the public.
Their marriage agreement also included an additional confidentiality clause. During the term of their marriage, whichever party revealed that it was a marriage of convenience would be in breach of contract and would have to pay a large sum of money.
Chu Mingjia couldn’t afford to pay, but she guessed that President Han probably wasn’t short of that kind of money.
Han Fengchen felt like his whole worldview was shattering.
He pointed at Jiang Meng, then at Chu Mingjia, his eyes reddening with shock. “You… you two—”
He gritted his teeth. “Does Han Jinfeng know about you two?”
Obviously, he was so furious that he called his father by his full name.
Chu Mingjia smiled and nodded. “You can call and ask. But for now, stop blocking the door. I need to talk to Jiang Meng.”
Jiang Meng, stone-faced, reached out and shoved Han Fengchen aside, then stepped inside the room.
Han Fengchen fumed, “No way! I don’t believe it! What is it you have to say that I can’t hear? I’m coming in too!”
There was no way he was going to leave a man and a woman alone together late at night with a chance to “discuss the script”!
He was about to barge in, but Jiang Meng was faster. He turned around and slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
Han Fengchen, left alone outside the door: “…”
Suddenly, he felt a bit like a clown. Boo-hoo-hoo QAQ.
Han Jinfeng was such a failure. He couldn’t even keep an eye on his own wife. What good was earning all that money?
References[+]