Chapter 218: Smashing the Jade

“This… how could this be? How is this possible?” Uncle Sheng Cheng was the most shocked. “Are you saying that Shenghuang’s success is all because it’s been siphoning your good luck??”

“Who could be so evil as to harm my son!” Bo Xing’s mother, Jiang Yi, widened her beautiful eyes, her anger and heartbreak causing her to slam the table with a loud bang.

“Xiao Xing, this isn’t something to joke about. Are you sure?” Sheng Yaofeng asked gravely.

“Whether it’s true or not, you’ll know once you feel it,” Bo Xing said, extending the pendant in his hand. The closest person was his aunt, Sheng Ru, who instinctively took it. “Huh? Why is it warm?”

“It’s warm because it’s resonating with the other half of the pendant. The closer it gets, the hotter it becomes,” Bo Xing explained. “Auntie, take it closer to the Pixiu.”

Sheng Ru, in her thirties, was a painter who owned an art gallery. She loved traveling across the country, capturing interesting landscapes and people in her paintings. Before marrying, she was a free spirit, believing life should be lived freely. After meeting her husband, Qi Nuo, a pianist, she settled down and rarely traveled anymore.

Curious and always drawn to the new and interesting, Sheng Ru, despite knowing the pendant might be strange, took it with a hint of excitement and followed Bo Xing’s instructions.

“It’s really hot!” she exclaimed.

In the next moment, everyone in the room gasped as Bo Xing picked up the Pixiu, aimed its left leg at the marble table, and smashed it down with force.

Crack!

A crisp sound echoed as the Pixiu’s leg broke, and a piece of jade fell to the ground.

Everyone felt a pang of regret. This Pixiu had been hand-carved by a master craftsman, taking months to complete. Its value was immeasurable, easily worth over a hundred million if sold.

But money was secondary. Since this Pixiu had been placed in Shenghuang, the company’s fortunes had soared. Once incomparable to giants like Tangming, Shenghuang now stood shoulder-to-shoulder with them.

This Pixiu was Shenghuang’s mascot!

However, when they saw what was inside, all regret vanished, replaced by shock.

“Oh my god, there’s really something inside!” Sheng Ru, who was closest, clearly saw a small black object fall out when the Pixiu’s leg shattered. She quickly picked it up. “They’re exactly the same!”

In her left hand was the pendant Bo Xing had worn, and in her right was the one she’d just picked up. She brought her hands together, palms up, showing the objects to everyone, even Grandfather and Grandmother Sheng, who were further away.

“So, what’s going on here?” Bo Xing asked, putting down the now-damaged Pixiu. He took the two pendants from Sheng Ru, his gaze sweeping over the shocked faces before finally settling on one person.

“Can you tell me, Grandma?”

Grandmother Sheng remained silent. Unlike the others, who were stunned and confused, she looked calm, almost as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

“It was me,” she said.

“Darling, how could it be you? Isn’t this something from that Master Mu? It must be that guy with ulterior motives. What does this have to do with you?” Grandfather Sheng was baffled.

“It really was me. Master Mu acted on my instructions,” Grandmother Sheng sighed, looking at Bo Xing with regret. “Xiao Xing, I’m sorry. I’m the reason you’ve had no peace for twenty years.”

“Grandma, why?” Bo Xing asked, heartbroken. “Is it because I’m not your biological grandson?”

Grandmother Li Mingjuan was Grandfather Sheng’s second wife. His first wife had passed away a year after giving birth to Bo Xing’s father. Li Mingjuan came from a scholarly family, and Grandfather Sheng had observed her carefully before deciding she was kind-hearted enough to marry.

She had married into the Sheng family six years after the first wife’s death, treating her two stepsons as her own. In her thirties, she gave birth to her only daughter, Sheng Ru. The family had always been harmonious, a model for other wealthy families.

Bo Xing had always known she wasn’t his biological grandmother, but she had been kind and loving, treating him like her own. She would hug him, kiss him, buy him snacks and toys, take him out to play, and often give him pocket money.

Even when he discovered the pendant and Pixiu were cursed, he never suspected her—until he met her gaze just now.

“No, Xiao Xing, I’ve always treated you as my own grandson,” Grandmother Sheng shook her head.

Seeing the disbelief in everyone’s eyes, even her daughter Sheng Ru was stunned, she smiled bitterly and began to explain.

“I’ve always loved Xiao Xing. He wasn’t like other boys—he was well-behaved and polite, as beautiful as a jade doll from a New Year’s painting. His parents were busy with work, so I took care of him when he was young, taking him to amusement parks, parks, and shopping malls… until one day, I met someone.”

Grandmother Sheng fell into reminiscence. “It was in a park. A disheveled young man was sitting on a bench with a child. When he saw Xiao Xing, his eyes lit up, and he ran over, saying this child was a person of great fortune, his aura so strong it was almost blinding…”

The man was so excited he seemed almost insane. He first marveled at Bo Xing’s immense fortune but then sighed and said—

“Good fortune is a blessing, but too much of it can be a curse. Such strong luck could benefit an entire family or business, but confined to one person, it’s hard to say whether it’s a blessing or a curse…”

The man rambled on, his logic unclear, but Grandmother Sheng understood the gist.

However, she found him dirty and mentally unstable, like a vagrant, so after listening for a while, she tried to leave with Bo Xing. But he stopped her.

 

 

Chapter 219: Thirty Years Old

“Madam, this child might bring misfortune in the future. If you can divert some of his fortune, it would be good for everyone. Here’s my card. Call me if you need anything.”

The card he handed over was crumpled, with only the character “Mu” (木) and a phone number on it, nothing else.

Grandmother Sheng, eager to get rid of him, took the card and later forgot about it while playing with the child.

It wasn’t until Shenghuang faced a crisis that she remembered.

“At that time, Shenghuang was in trouble. Several of our top artists were poached by competitors, who then banded together to slander us. The competitors wanted to crush Shenghuang completely… The entire family was worried, and so was I. But then, Xiao Xing ran up to me, saying he had found a necklace.”

Bo Xing’s luck as a child was indeed remarkable. Perhaps because he was young and mostly stayed at home, he didn’t have many opportunities for grand strokes of luck, but small ones were frequent.

For example, every time he went out, he would find something—ranging from money to valuable items. He had collected enough jewelry and diamonds to fill a drawer.

“I hadn’t thought much about it before, but when I saw Xiao Xing, I suddenly remembered what that young man surnamed Mu had said. So, I called him to discuss it. He proposed a method of ‘borrowing luck’—diverting Xiao Xing’s great fortune to benefit Shenghuang or Tangming. He said it would work quickly.”

Bo Xing’s father couldn’t hold back. “Mom, how could you do this? Trading Xiao Xing’s happiness for Shenghuang’s prosperity—don’t you feel guilty?”

“What did my Xiao Xing do wrong? Why should he suffer like this?” Bo Xing’s mother, Jiang Yi, was already in tears. She had always respected her mother-in-law, even though she wasn’t her husband’s biological mother. Their relationship had been good, but now, knowing the truth, she was furious. “What right did you have to make this decision without consulting Yao Feng or Dad?”

Grandmother Sheng opened her mouth but remained silent.

“Wait…” Grandfather Sheng suddenly remembered something.

He tried to recall events from twenty years ago. “I remember that Master Mu was introduced to me by Father. Did he… know about this too?”

Grandmother Sheng nodded after a moment of silence. “Yes, he knew.”

Not only did he know, but he was also the one who ultimately made the decision.

“Darling, what’s going on?” Grandfather Sheng, usually mild-mannered and slow to anger, couldn’t help but feel furious. “I’m your husband. Why didn’t you tell me? Instead, you went to Father. Did you think I didn’t have the right to know and make a decision?”

“No, it wasn’t me who told Father,” Li Mingjuan explained anxiously. “At that time, I often went to see Master Mu to discuss the fortune transfer. Father thought I was… having an affair, so he called me in to question me. I had no choice but to tell him the truth.”

As the daughter-in-law of the Sheng family, Li Mingjuan’s behavior was closely watched. Her sudden, unexplained meetings with a man naturally raised suspicions.

“I wanted to tell you, but Father stopped me. He said you would never agree to such a thing, so he decided to handle it himself.”

Grandfather Sheng was a kind and gentle man. Although he had founded Shenghuang with the family’s resources, his personality limited its growth. He had no ambition to take it to the top and stepped down as soon as his son could take over.

Sheng Cheng, however, was a capable businessman. Under his leadership, Shenghuang began to thrive. But when the crisis hit, it came swiftly and fiercely, leaving no time to react.

“I admit, I had my own selfish reasons,” Grandmother Sheng sighed, seeing Grandfather Sheng’s grim expression. “Since I married into the Sheng family, I’ve considered myself part of it. I couldn’t just stand by and watch it fall. If there had been no solution, I would have accepted it. But since there was a way, I wanted to try.”

“So, you decided to sacrifice my son?” Jiang Yi asked coldly.

“Yiyi, I know you’re angry. I struggled with the decision at the time, but Master Mu’s words made sense. He said Xiao Xing had extraordinary fortune, but it was beyond the normal range, which wasn’t necessarily a good thing.”

“Think about it. He always ranked first in school, won the top prize in every lottery, found jewelry just by walking, was liked by everyone, and always excelled at work… Wouldn’t that make people jealous? One or two people might not be able to overcome his aura, but what if everyone banded together to suppress him? What would happen then?”

“If Shenghuang remained prosperous, we might have been able to protect him. But at that time, we were on the verge of bankruptcy. In such a situation, was his good fortune really a blessing?”

As Grandmother Sheng spoke, the room fell into silence.

Even Bo Xing’s parents, who were furious, couldn’t help but consider the possibility. If the Sheng family were just an ordinary family, and Bo Xing had such extraordinary luck… what would happen? Even if Bo Xing could use his luck to overcome disasters, what about his family?

Would someone threaten them to exploit Bo Xing’s fortune?

For example—

“Bo Xing, I’ve captured your parents. If you want them to live, go buy lottery tickets and win billions for us!”

Thinking of this possibility, no one knew what to say.

In the silence, someone suddenly chuckled.

Bo Xing felt a pang of pain in his heart. He had always been skeptical of heroism—sacrificing his happiness for others’ benefit? It might be a great deal for them, but what about him?

What had he done wrong?

He might have been willing to make sacrifices, but only if he had agreed to it, not when he was kept in the dark.

“So, for the sake of Shenghuang’s development, you could ruthlessly take away my fortune and curse me with a lifetime of misfortune?” he murmured.

“No, no, not a lifetime of misfortune. Master Mu said that once you turned thirty, everything would return to normal,” Grandmother Sheng quickly explained. “He also said that after thirty, your fortune would return, though it would be slightly weaker than before, making it safer.”

Bo Xing was stunned.

“What did you say? Thirty?”

 

Chapter 220: Consequences

“Yes, Master Mu said the pendant would only be effective until you turned thirty. After that, it would lose its power, and your fortune would return,” Grandmother Sheng nodded. “If it truly required sacrificing your entire life, not even your great-grandfather would have agreed to it!”

This… didn’t add up.

Jiang Xiaobai hadn’t mentioned anything about thirty years. She had implied that the effects were permanent. So why was Grandmother Sheng saying this?

While Bo Xing was still processing this, Grandmother Sheng continued, “But there’s one thing that doesn’t match what Master Mu said. He only mentioned that borrowing luck might have some side effects, but he didn’t specify what they were. I never expected the side effects to be so severe—not only did you lose your good fortune, but you also became plagued by bad luck. Afterward, your great-grandfather tried to call him, but his number had changed, and he disappeared.”

She added, “If Shenghuang hadn’t actually improved, I would have thought he was a fraud!”

“No, that’s not right…” Bo Xing’s expression turned strange. “My friend said this thing continuously emits bad luck. Even if we destroy both items, my body will still suffer damage, and it will take a long time for my fortune to return to what it was.”

His words shocked everyone in the room.

“What’s going on?” Grandfather Sheng suddenly turned to Grandmother Sheng. “Are you lying?”

“No, I’m not!” Grandmother Sheng quickly denied, her face filled with anxiety. “These were Master Mu’s exact words. I swear I didn’t add or omit anything! How could this be? He clearly said the effects would end when you turned thirty!”

Grandmother Sheng was also confused.

Bo Xing looked at her, his mind racing.

Who was lying? Grandmother Sheng didn’t seem to be deceiving him, and Jiang Xiaobai had no reason to lie. So, was it Master Mu?

Bo Xing’s expression darkened.

“That damn fraud! When we find him, he’ll pay for this!”

The others quickly realized they had been tricked.

“He must have seen how lucky Xiao Xing was and tampered with the items to benefit himself.”

“Poor Xiao Xing, our Sheng family has wronged you.”

Bo Xing shook his head. “Let’s investigate this thoroughly first. I need to show these items to my friend. Once they’re destroyed, Shenghuang’s business will be affected. Be prepared for that.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve been working hard all these years. No matter what happens, I’ll handle it,” Sheng Cheng said, patting Bo Xing on the shoulder. “This has been hard on you. Shenghuang’s success is all thanks to you. Tomorrow, I’ll transfer some shares to you…”

“Uncle, no need. I’m not interested in managing the company,” Bo Xing refused. “It’s true that my luck was borrowed, but your hard work is also real. You’re the one who deserves the credit for Shenghuang’s success.”

“Xiao Xing, I’m sorry. I’ve always wanted to make it up to you, but I know some things can’t be compensated,” Grandmother Sheng said, her voice filled with regret. “Thank goodness you met that friend of yours. If your entire life had been filled with bad luck, I would never have forgiven myself.”

She had nearly broken into a cold sweat when she heard Bo Xing’s words.

She had seen how difficult Bo Xing’s life had been over the years and knew exactly why. The other person who knew the truth had passed away ten years ago, so she had no one to confide in and had been tormented by guilt.

If the effects were only supposed to last until thirty, and they were already this severe, what if they had been permanent?

She couldn’t even imagine it!

“Grandma, let’s not talk about this anymore.”

Bo Xing shook his head, avoiding her gaze.

His heart had grown cold. While he could understand Grandmother Sheng and Great-Grandfather’s intentions, understanding didn’t make it easier to accept when it happened to him. His feelings were incredibly complicated.

But after all, they were family, and she was an elderly woman. What could he do?

Hating her was unnecessary, but forgiveness felt hollow. He couldn’t control his own emotions.

Since that was the case, he decided not to dwell on it. Besides, he had been living away from home for years and rarely visited. His interactions with her would only decrease.

Let’s leave it at that.

“Xiao Xing, since you’re back, let’s go out as a family and have a good time.”

Jiang Yi picked up her bag and walked over, linking her arm with Bo Xing’s. She was petite and stylish, standing next to Bo Xing like a delicate bird.

She then glanced at Sheng Yaofeng, who was still sitting on the sofa, and narrowed her eyes, pressuring him.

Sheng Yaofeng and his wife rarely returned to the Sheng residence, only visiting occasionally to fulfill their filial duties. They had their own property outside.

Jiang Yi was furious. The feeling of her son being used as a pawn was unbearable. For years, she had thought it was just bad luck, but now she knew it was man-made.

Before, she could remain calm, but now, how could she face her mother-in-law?

Her son had endured silently, and as a mother, she couldn’t argue with an elderly woman. She had to save face for her father-in-law, but she felt that their family of three would rarely visit this house in the future.

She looked at Sheng Yaofeng, waiting for him to take a stand.

Would he side with them or his parents?

Sheng Yaofeng met her gaze and smiled as he stood up. “I know a restaurant with great barbecue. Let’s go have some beer and skewers.”

“Second Brother…”

Sheng Ru stood up, looking at him anxiously.

“Yaofeng,” Grandmother Sheng also stood, her gaze calm. “I know you’re angry. I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I made the mistake, so I’ll go stay at the villa for a while.”

“Mom, what’s the point of saying this now?”

Jiang Yi was about to speak, but Sheng Yaofeng cut her off. “You’re the elder, and we can’t be unfilial. But we also have emotions, and sometimes they override reason. Yiyi and I both feel for our son. Staying here will only remind us of what happened. You don’t want to force us, do you?”

Grandmother Sheng opened her mouth but said nothing.

“Besides, when you make certain decisions, you have to be prepared for the consequences,” Sheng Yaofeng said with a faint smile. “When you went back to Master Mu, didn’t you think this day might come?”

Grandmother Sheng’s face turned ashen as she watched them, finally falling silent.

“Your intention was to save Shenghuang, and I can’t fault you for that. But your biggest mistake was not telling Yiyi and me! As Xiao Xing’s parents, we had no idea our child was suffering. That feeling…”

He took a deep breath. “Moreover, if it had been Xiao Ru instead of Xiao Xing, would you have made the same choice?”

With that, Sheng Yaofeng didn’t linger. He left with his wife and son, and soon, the three of them were gone.

The room fell into a heavy silence, the atmosphere thick with tension.

 

 

Chapter 221: Chen Yurou

Jiang Xiaobai was unaware of what happened afterward. After leaving Shenghuang, she returned to Sky City, reviewed the script for a while, and went to bed early. The next day, she was scheduled to shoot promotional stills for The King of E-Sports. The series featured many intricate gaming-inspired costumes, so it was clear that the photo shoot would be time-consuming and wouldn’t wrap up quickly. Dong Ran, worried that Jiang Xiaobai might be too tired the next day, urged her to rest early.

The following day, Jiang Xiaobai arrived at the set with her entourage—well, not exactly a battlefield, but it felt like one. Everyone was there except for her stylist, Ji Wen. She had brought along two bodyguards, Ming Zhu, Linglong, and Sister Ran. Ji Wen didn’t come because her expertise wasn’t needed for the series’ costumes; her primary role was managing Jiang Xiaobai’s everyday outfits and styling for promotional events. The costumes for the series were handled by the production’s professional team.

The two bodyguards stayed in the car, ready to be called if needed. Though they were technically bodyguards, they mostly served as drivers and helpers these days.

“Who’s that tall guy over there?” Ming Zhu asked, spotting a strikingly tall figure walking ahead of them. He seemed to have arrived just moments before them.

“That must be Bai Chen,” Dong Ran said after a glance. “He’s the male lead of this series.”

Jiang Xiaobai hadn’t asked about the other cast members, and the production team hadn’t officially announced them yet. They were likely waiting to reveal the cast alongside the promotional stills for maximum impact.

Bai Chen was a handsome actor who had started his career as a male model. His physique was impeccable, and he carried himself with a commanding presence. Though not quite a top-tier star, he was close to it.

“What about the other actors?” Ming Zhu asked curiously.

“The actors for the second male and female leads haven’t been revealed yet,” Dong Ran replied, shaking her head.

When they arrived, they saw Director Zhang Weiguo standing there, chatting with a few people. Bai Chen was the most noticeable among them, standing at 186 cm tall. He wore a black trench coat and sunglasses, looking effortlessly cool. At first glance, Jiang Xiaobai mistook him for… a bodyguard.

Ahem. Aside from him, there were two other men Jiang Xiaobai recognized. One was Gao Hao, a gentle-mannered third-tier actor with a scholarly aura. He nodded gracefully at Jiang Xiaobai, exuding the charm of a refined gentleman.

The other was a stunning young man who looked about seventeen or eighteen. He had a clean, youthful appearance, with delicate features that seemed straight out of a painting. His lips were red, and his teeth were white, making him incredibly striking. His hair was a messy yet stylish shade of flaxen, with bangs that reached his eyebrows, revealing his clear, black-crystal-like eyes.

“Ah, Prince, Prince…” Ming Zhu whispered, covering her mouth as she called out the name of his character from his last movie.

The boy’s name was Lu Baobei. Two years ago, he had starred in a live-action fairy tale movie as the second male lead, Prince Cons, the king’s youngest son. In the film, his beauty overshadowed even the lead actors, and his name quickly became famous across the country.

“Sister Xiaobai,” he called softly, noticing Jiang Xiaobai’s gaze.

“Jiang Xiaobai’s here. Perfect timing—let’s all chat. This is Luo Tian, this is Su Chen, and this is your younger brother, Yun Bao,” Director Zhang said, pointing to the three male actors in turn. Finally, he introduced Jiang Xiaobai, “This is Yun Xuan.”

Bai Chen, of course, played the male lead, Luo Tian. Gao Hao was the second male lead, Su Chen, and Lu Baobei played Jiang Xiaobai’s younger brother, Yun Bao.

“Hello,” Bai Chen said, extending his hand toward Jiang Xiaobai’s side.

His voice was deep and magnetic, like a bass speaker, as captivating as his appearance. Jiang Xiaobai hesitated for a moment before tentatively reaching out to shake his hand. He let go quickly but asked, “Why the hesitation?”

There was a hint of displeasure in his tone.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure if you were talking to me,” Jiang Xiaobai replied quickly.

“Who else would I be talking to?” he said, even more annoyed.

Jiang Xiaobai paused before saying, “Could you take off your sunglasses when you speak?”

His sunglasses completely obscured his face, and the reflective lenses made it impossible to tell who he was looking at. Moreover, his hand wasn’t extended directly in front of Jiang Xiaobai but slightly to her side, where Dong Ran was standing. That’s why she had hesitated before reaching out.

After Jiang Xiaobai’s request, Bai Chen was momentarily stunned before removing his sunglasses. The move was so cool that Jiang Xiaobai thought he only needed long hair to complete the dramatic effect.

“Woman, you’ve successfully caught my attention,” he said after taking off the sunglasses.

“Ahem…” Linglong seemed to choke on air, turning her head to cough softly.

Jiang Xiaobai: …

She was momentarily stunned as she looked at Bai Chen, meeting his intense, domineering gaze. His expression was stoic, his eyes deep, and his lips slightly pursed, exuding an air of rebellion as he looked down at her. The others were trying hard not to laugh, and Lu Baobei’s fair skin was turning red from holding it in.

Director Zhang Weiguo also found it amusing. Just as he was about to say something, he noticed someone approaching in the distance. “Look, Yurou’s here,” he said.

Chen Yurou wasn’t the actress’s name but the name of the second female lead in the series. The King of E-Sports had a relatively simple plot and a small cast, and most of the main characters were already here. Chen Yurou was likely the last to arrive.

Jiang Xiaobai looked up curiously, wondering who would play the role. But as the graceful figure approached, her expression darkened. Dong Ran beside her bit her lip, her expression complicated, while Ming Zhu glared at the newcomer.

“Sorry, am I late?” the woman asked.

She had a classical beauty about her. Though her features weren’t particularly striking, they came together harmoniously, giving her a serene, understated charm. As she spoke, her gaze swept over the group, nodding and smiling at each person. When her eyes landed on Jiang Xiaobai, they lingered for a moment, and something seemed to flicker in her gaze.

“Zhao Chenyu, since you’re late, how about you dance as an apology? I still remember your dance from Fireworks and Roses,” Director Zhang teased.

 

Chapter 222: Costume Fitting

Mentioning Fireworks and Roses made Dong Ran’s expression darken even more. She gave Zhao Chenyu a cold glance, her eyes flashing with mockery. Zhao Chenyu had once been an artist under her management but had turned against her after climbing the social ladder. While Zhao Chenyu  had walked away unscathed and found a new agency, Dong Ran had been demoted from her position as a top-tier agent and became the laughingstock of her colleagues. It was rare to see an artist bite the hand that fed them, and Dong Ran couldn’t help but blame herself for misjudging Zhao’s character. How could she have personally helped such an ungrateful person rise to fame?

“Dancing isn’t a problem, but it might not be the right time now. How about I dance after the promotional shoot if there’s time?” Zhao Chenyu said with a soft smile, addressing Director Zhang.

“Sure. Xiao Tao, are all the supporting actors here?” Director Zhang asked his assistant.

“Yes, everyone’s here.”

“Alright, let’s start the costume fitting.”

Jiang Xiaobai headed to her private dressing room, where the makeup artist was already waiting. As the female lead of the series, she enjoyed the privilege of a dedicated dressing room. Though the space was small and cramped, with only a wardrobe and a changing area, it was still more comfortable than sharing a room with others. Even the makeup artist was exclusively assigned to her.

“Miss Jiang, Director Zhang mentioned that your character has two looks, a modern outfit and a traditional gaming-inspired costume. The process might be a bit complicated and time-consuming,” the makeup artist explained. He was a man in his forties, thin and petite, with a ponytail at the back of his head. His appearance could be described as… well, “shifty-eyed” might not be the most flattering term, but it was fitting.

“Got it,” Jiang Xiaobai replied. She had already prepared for this, and it aligned with what she and Dong Ran had anticipated.

“Alright, let’s start with the modern look.”

After handing Jiang Xiaobai the outfit to change into, the makeup artist, surnamed Ma, began chatting with Dong Ran and the others. “You’re the agent, and you two are her assistants, right? Honestly, you don’t need this many people for a costume fitting. You’ll just be waiting around…”

Brother Ma seemed to be a talker, continuing without waiting for a response. When Jiang Xiaobai emerged in her outfit, he finally stopped talking and began assessing her appearance to plan the makeup.

The character “Yun Xuan” was a cool, domineering woman with a sharp tongue. Her modern outfit consisted of a black jacket zipped up to her chin, a black mini skirt, and black leather boots that showcased her long legs. Her hairstyle was simple—a high ponytail.

In her previous series, Heaven and Earth, Jiang Xiaobai’s hair had been styled differently to match her role as a pure dance goddess. Her hair had been dyed black and straightened, which coincidentally worked perfectly for this series. Aside from some minor adjustments to her bangs by Brother Ma, no major changes were needed.

After finalizing the outfit and hairstyle, the makeup process began. Although Linglong was Jiang Xiaobai’s new makeup artist, she was still getting the hang of things. She wasn’t ready to handle something as important as the promotional shoot or even the daily makeup for the series. She stood by Brother Ma’s side, observing his every move.

“Brother Ma, isn’t the eyebrow a bit too long here?” Linglong couldn’t help but comment at one point.

“Not at all. We’re trying to emphasize the character’s sharp, cool demeanor. The eyebrow needs to be elongated to capture the essence of a classic heroine,” Brother Ma replied matter-of-factly. “Besides, didn’t Miss Jiang have a similar look in that music video Beyond the Illusions? It suits her well.”

He was referring to the popular music video where Jiang Xiaobai had played a red-clad heroine alongside Chao Nan.

“But that was a traditional costume. Bold makeup worked there, but this is a modern look…” Linglong murmured.

Brother Ma frowned slightly at the criticism but, considering Jiang Xiaobai’s status as the female lead and her potential connections, he didn’t argue. Instead, he adjusted the eyebrow slightly, making it look more natural.

Linglong breathed a sigh of relief but shook her head internally. The downside of experienced makeup artists in the industry was their tendency to stick to templates. They often relied on familiar techniques, resulting in repetitive looks—identical eyebrows, foundation, and eye makeup. Linglong was determined to learn quickly so she could take charge and create more tailored looks.

While Brother Ma was undoubtedly skilled and qualified to handle the female lead’s makeup, Jiang Xiaobai felt his modern look wasn’t as good as Linglong’s. It was the difference between an eight and a nine out of ten. Linglong’s advantage wasn’t her technical skill but her ability to tailor the makeup to Jiang Xiaobai’s features and personality, like a custom-made outfit. Brother  Ma’s work, in contrast, felt more like off-the-rack clothing.

Once the makeup was done, Jiang Xiaobai checked herself in the mirror and headed out for the photoshoot. The look was decent, with only minor flaws that could be fixed during post-production. After all, the photos would undergo further editing, essentially a second round of makeup.

The modern shoot was straightforward, requiring only a few poses to convey the character’s cool demeanor. It wrapped up quickly, and Jiang Xiaobai changed into the traditional gaming-inspired costume.

In modern games, female characters were almost always dressed in skirts—long, short, or even ultra-short. However, for the series, overly short skirts were out of the question. While games didn’t have to worry about wardrobe malfunctions, filming action scenes with such outfits would be a disaster. Even with safety shorts, exposing them on screen wouldn’t look good.

In the game, “Yun Xuan” was a mage-assassin, a character who moved swiftly and gracefully. Her weapon was a small fan with sharp tips. Her outfit was a smoky lavender dress with long, sheer sleeves, a skirt that reached just below the knees, and a lightly cinched waist. The neckline was slightly low, but Jiang Xiaobai checked and felt it was appropriate. The look also included a matching veil, which added a touch of mystery without obscuring her face.

 

 

 

Chapter 223: The Overbearing CEO

Of course, the clarity of Yun Xuan’s face was only for the audience. In the script, other game players couldn’t see her real face clearly—they could only sense that she must be a beauty.

After changing into her costume, the makeup process began. When it came to classical makeup, Linglong wasn’t as skilled as Brother Ma, so she stayed quiet this time, observing and learning.

“You did a great job,” Jiang Xiaobai praised Brother Ma after he finished.

Compared to his modern makeup, Ma’s skills in classical makeup were clearly a notch or two higher. The person in the mirror had a radiant complexion, cherry-like lips, ink-painted eyebrows, and eyes as clear as a pool of water. Since Yun Xuan’s personality was cool and aloof, the makeup also had a cold tone, using cool color palettes. It was very refined.

Flattered by the compliment, Brother Ma puffed up with pride. “Of course! Did you know I was the lead makeup artist for Deep Within the Palace Walls? I did the makeup for the Empress and the Virtuous Consort!”

Deep Within the Palace Walls was a wildly popular palace drama from a couple of years ago. The plot revolved around a group of concubines vying for the Emperor’s favor, using their wits, courage, and family backgrounds. The story was intricate, the logic was sharp, and the actors’ performances were all on point. What made it even more remarkable was the perfect set design, costumes, and makeup. These details combined to make it a hit, and several actresses from the drama became overnight sensations.

Jiang Xiaobai hadn’t known that Brother Ma was the makeup artist for that drama. No wonder he was so skilled in classical makeup.

After praising him a few more times, Jiang Xiaobai didn’t delay and quickly headed out for the photoshoot.

When she arrived, the male lead, Bai Chen, was in the middle of his shoot. He also had two looks, and the one he was wearing now was his game character. Dressed in flowing white robes with his long hair tied up in a crown, he held a prop sword and struck a cool pose. His shoot was nearing the end, and after the photographer gave a signal, he stepped down from the platform, making way for Jiang Xiaobai.

Just as Jiang Xiaobai steadied herself, she heard a faint “Ouch!” from nearby. She looked up and saw Jiang Yi, who had just finished her makeup, bump into Bai Chen as he was leaving. She seemed to have hurt her forehead and took a step back, clutching her head as she looked up at Bai Chen.

Jiang Yi played a supporting role as Tuan Tuan, Yun Xuan’s friend in the game, essentially the third female lead.

Bai Chen looked down at her with a smirk. “Woman, you’ve successfully caught my attention.”

Jiang Xiaobai: “…”

She took a deep breath to keep her expression from faltering.

She really wanted to say: Buddy, it’s only been a day, and you’ve already had two women catch your attention. Is your attention that easy to get?

Jiang Yi hadn’t been by Director Zhang’s side earlier when Bai Chen had spoken to Jiang Xiaobai, so she hadn’t heard his earlier remarks. Now, hearing his words, she was utterly bewildered—Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

“I’ve caught your attention, so what?” she asked almost instinctively, like the naive female lead in a cliché overbearing CEO novel. “Are you going to chase after me?”

Jiang Yi was a girl with a baby face, around twenty-one or twenty-two years old, and very cute. Her question made her even more adorable.

Several crew members nearby were shaking with laughter. If it weren’t for the fact that Bai Chen was the male lead and not someone to offend, they would’ve burst out laughing without holding back.

“Woman, you’re playing with fire,” Bai Chen said with a light scoff, his expression both arrogant and seductive.

Jiang Yi was completely thrown off and couldn’t help but shiver. “And then? ‘I started the fire, so I’ll have to put it out myself’?”

Bai Chen stiffened at her words and shot her a cold glance.

“Uh, Bai Chen, your overbearing CEO drama has already wrapped up. It’s time to step out of the role, okay?” Director Zhang, who had been talking to the photographer, couldn’t take it anymore and chimed in. “Talking like this in real life is just… cringy.”

Bai Chen twitched his lips and sighed after a moment. “Got it, Director Zhang. I don’t want to either.”

What could he do? He was desperate!

His last drama was adapted from a web novel titled The Runaway Wife with a Secret Baby. The drama version was renamed Sunny Days with You, and it told the story of a naive female lead who ran away after getting pregnant with the overbearing CEO’s child, leading to a series of comedic and bittersweet events. Bai Chen played the overbearing CEO, whose IQ and EQ were both laughably low. His lines were so cringeworthy that they made people want to punch him in the face.

But what could he do? Some young girls just loved this kind of trope!

Back in the day, Bai Chen had been a cool, composed guy, as manly as his appearance suggested. He had a commanding presence wherever he went. But after joining that absurd drama and playing that absurd character, he himself had started to become absurd. At first, he felt embarrassed and ashamed when delivering certain lines, but after saying them so many times, they just rolled off his tongue.

It had been a month since he left the Sunny Days with You set, and he had tried to return to his normal self, but he realized how difficult it was…

Hearing Director Zhang’s words, Jiang Xiaobai finally understood why Bai Chen’s behavior was so off. He was still stuck in his character. Poor guy—he must’ve been seen as an idiot more than once…

Jiang Xiaobai’s shoot began, and as it was nearing the end, she noticed someone approaching. Director Zhang, who had been watching the camera, walked over to greet her.

Someone Director Zhang personally welcomed? Who could it be?

Jiang Xiaobai glanced at the person during a break in the shoot. She couldn’t see their face clearly, as Director Zhang blocked most of it, but the person seemed elegant, wearing a knitted sweater, a ponytail, and round black-framed glasses.

The two talked for a while, then walked over to watch Jiang Xiaobai’s shoot. As she posed, they whispered to each other, with the girl occasionally glancing at Jiang Xiaobai and nodding or shaking her head as she spoke to Director Zhang.

Could she be someone from the investor’s side? But that didn’t make sense—the main investor for this drama should be Zhao Xiulun, and he hadn’t shown up today.

The thought briefly crossed Jiang Xiaobai’s mind, but she didn’t dwell on it. By the time her shoot ended, the girl had already left.

“Great, today’s shoot went smoothly. The photos will be released after editing, probably tomorrow afternoon. Make sure to interact when you see the official blog post,” Director Zhang told Jiang Xiaobai. “We start filming the day after tomorrow—don’t be late.”

“Got it,” Jiang Xiaobai nodded in agreement, bid farewell to Director Zhang, and left.

Just as she got into the car, she received a call from Bo Xing.

“You’ve already got the other pendant? Perfect, I’m free tomorrow… See you then.”

Bo Xing said he had both pendants but hadn’t smashed them. Instead, he decided to hand them over to Jiang Xiaobai for her to handle. She agreed without hesitation.

 

 

 

Chapter 224: The Evil Insect

After finishing the photoshoot today, Jiang Xiaobai would officially join the film crew the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow was a rare day off, and it was the perfect time to resolve the issue with Bo Xing’s pendants.

After agreeing on a meeting time, Jiang Xiaobai hung up the phone.

“That Bai Chen really cracks me up. My goodness, he keeps saying things like ‘woman’ this and ‘woman’ that. How could anyone like such an overbearing CEO?” Linglong and the others were still discussing Bai Chen. Ming Zhu searched on her phone and found information about his last drama. When she read out the synopsis of The Runaway Wife with a Secret Baby, the laughter in the car grew even louder, and even the two bodyguards couldn’t help but chuckle.

“When it airs, it’ll just be another ridiculous, over-the-top drama,” Linglong concluded.

Listening to their conversation, Jiang Xiaobai couldn’t help but smile slightly before closing her eyes to rest in the car.

Jiang Xiaobai and Bo Xing didn’t meet at the company but at one of Bo Xing’s private properties.

“This thing is too strange. I was worried something might happen if we met elsewhere, so I took the liberty of inviting you here. I hope you don’t mind,” Bo Xing said apologetically.

“It’s fine. Let me take a look at it,” Jiang Xiaobai replied.

The two bodyguards didn’t enter the house but waited outside. Nothing would likely happen, and Jiang Xiaobai trusted Bo Xing.

Bo Xing carefully took out two pendants from a box and handed them to Jiang Xiaobai.

Jiang Xiaobai examined them closely. While they looked identical on the outside, there were subtle differences. As for what was inside…

Why did one feel sinister while the other didn’t?

“That Master Mu said this luck-borrowing item would only work until I turned thirty. After that, it would automatically lose its effect,” Bo Xing suddenly mentioned.

Jiang Xiaobai was startled and instinctively replied, “That’s impossible!”

Before opening the pendant, Jiang Xiaobai didn’t know what kind of talisman was inside, but she could feel the overwhelming sinister energy. There was no sign of it weakening.

Bo Xing had been wearing this pendant for twenty years. He was now twenty-six, and if it were truly set to expire at thirty, the sinister energy inside should have significantly diminished by now. Yet, Jiang Xiaobai could feel that it hadn’t.

“Can we open it now?” Bo Xing pointed to the pendants. “Or do you need your senior to do it?”

Jiang Xiaobai thought for a moment. “Let’s open it now.”

After seeing it clearly, she could reassure Bo Xing.

“Then I’ll do it.”

Bo Xing took out a hammer he had prepared earlier, aimed at one of the pendants, and struck it hard.

Crack—

First, there was the sound of something breaking, followed by a faint, almost imperceptible cry.

Jiang Xiaobai was momentarily stunned, then her expression changed drastically. She immediately picked up the shattered pendant.

The material had broken, revealing a yellow talisman inside. However, there was a small stain of blood on the talisman—not pure red but a dark, ominous hue. A small insect-like creature had been crushed, its body mangled beyond recognition.

“How is there a live insect inside?” Bo Xing was also stunned, beginning to question reality.

The pendant wasn’t hollow—it was completely sealed. He had worn it for years without ever taking it off, so there was no way an insect could have gotten inside…

When had it appeared, and how had it survived?

Jiang Xiaobai picked up the tightly folded talisman and examined the insect’s remains. The sinister energy emanating from it was overwhelming. She suddenly asked, “Is this the one you wore, or the other one?”

“This is mine,” Bo Xing replied. “I looked carefully—there are slight differences between the two, and this one is smoother and more polished from being worn.”

“Break the other one open,” Jiang Xiaobai said.

Bo Xing hesitated. “Could there be another insect inside?”

The faint cry of the insect had sent shivers down his spine, and he didn’t want to experience that again.

“If I’m not mistaken, there’s only one insect,” Jiang Xiaobai said, looking at the talisman.

Bo Xing sighed in relief and confidently smashed the other pendant.

Jiang Xiaobai gave him a strange look—this kid was quite obedient.

Bo Xing, busy smashing the pendant, didn’t notice Jiang Xiaobai’s affectionate and approving gaze. This time, he listened carefully, and there was no sound. Relieved, he took out the yellow talisman from inside.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaobai was carefully unfolding the talisman.

Bo Xing glanced at her a few times, noticing her intense focus on the talisman, and became curious. He slowly unfolded the one in his hand—

What kind of scribble was this??

Bo Xing stared in shock at the chaotic, irregular lines on the paper. After struggling to make sense of it for a while, he felt dizzy and had to close his eyes. When he opened them again, he didn’t dare look at the paper.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaobai felt her confusion being resolved.

The talisman was a simple luck-borrowing charm, designed to transfer someone’s fortune to another person or place, allowing others to benefit.

This method wasn’t particularly complicated, but the real challenge was finding someone with good fortune; otherwise, the talisman would hardly work.

This wasn’t a mainstream talisman but rather a shady one. Its design also differed from those in the Yaoyue Continent, but Jiang Xiaobai could still make sense of it.

As she looked away from the talisman, Bo Xing handed her the other one.

Jiang Xiaobai glanced at it and confirmed that the two were identical.

“So, can you understand it?” Bo Xing asked nervously.

“Yes, my senior taught me a lot. I can’t draw it yet, but I can understand it,” Jiang Xiaobai said, lying with a straight face. “The talisman is for borrowing luck, and as Master Mu said, it’s consumable. In a few years, it would indeed lose its effect. Oh, and this talisman array is incomplete. Prolonged exposure to it can cause minor side effects, like occasional memory lapses, but it’s not serious.”

Bo Xing was even more confused. “My memory has been declining… but didn’t you say it was long-lasting and wouldn’t weaken?”

“That was before I knew there was a Gu insect inside,” Jiang Xiaobai said softly.

“A Gu insect… you mean that bug?”

“Yes. The child insect was left with you, feeding on your fortune. It’s an evil insect—while absorbing your luck, it also brings you misfortune. The fortune it absorbs is transferred to the mother insect, and the person who possesses the mother insect also benefits from your fortune.”

Jiang Xiaobai shook her head, her voice filled with disgust. “Master Mu played this trick brilliantly. He used two things to absorb your fortune—one openly helped the Sheng family, while the other secretly benefited him. The Sheng family probably had no idea.”

No wonder the pendant’s sinister energy was so strong—it contained an evil insect!