Page 48

Probably not even the renovations.

Lu Hengzhi shrugged. "Why overthink it when there's a bargain to be had? Besides, the house looks nice, but if you really think about it, who would decorate their home like this for no reason? And these days, not just anyone can come up with five hundred thousand. Their family needed money urgently, so selling the house at a time like this, they were definitely planning to let it go cheap. My mom said they originally only wanted to offer them four hundred thousand. They only raised it to five hundred thousand because of all this furniture. And think about it... how many people who can afford a place in this neighborhood are short on money? If they aren't short on money, how many would be willing to buy a secondhand house? They might as well buy a new place and decorate it themselves. That way, if they dislike something, they won't have to go through the hassle of tearing it out later."

Tang Shi thought it over and felt that Lu Hengzhi made sense. He put those speculations aside and followed Lu Hengzhi back to the dining room to eat.

After dinner, the family sat in the living room chatting for a long time. Mainly, the adults surrounded Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi, bombarding them with questions about the competition. The two of them recounted the entire process. They even called Cui Yujin and had him send the footage he had filmed in Apple City to their email for the adults to watch.

Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi had not thought much of it while they were going through it, but when the adults watched them rushing about, unable to eat or sleep properly, getting hurt while practicing dance with no one there to fuss over them, and even having to cook for themselves, their eyes filled with tears. They pulled the two troublesome kids into their arms and said repeatedly, "My precious grandson—my son—suffered so much. If I'd known it would be this hard, I never should have let you go..."

They chatted until well past midnight before heading upstairs to sleep. Since it was so late, Tang Shi's mother did not ask the Lu family to leave. The house was large now, with plenty of rooms, so accommodating a few guests was no trouble.

Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu, however, simply could not stand the Tang Family's decor. The elderly couple still went out and returned to their own home to sleep.

The next day was Sunday. Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi got up early, washed up, and quietly slipped out of the house to go for a morning run. They had just gone downstairs when they saw someone pacing around below, looking furtive enough to make them both frown.

When that person saw Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi, he froze as well. After standing there blankly for a moment, he took the initiative to approach them. "You're the kid from the family that just moved in, right? I saw you on TV. I heard you're incredibly lucky and even won five million?"

Tang Shi silently studied the man opposite him. He looked to be around thirty-five or thirty-six. The suit he wore was a designer brand, but it was creased and wrinkled, as though it had not been cleaned in a long time.

He looked haggard, with messy hair and bloodshot eyes. He stared blankly at Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi, speaking in a strange tone. "Isn't the world strange? Some people work so hard, trying desperately to earn money... only to go bankrupt, rack up enormous debts overnight, and have their wives run off with the children. But others stumble into dumb luck and casually win five million. Not only do they become rich in an instant, but they easily take over the houses that other people worked so hard to earn. Don't you think heaven is unfair?"

Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi exchanged a look. Without drawing attention to it, Lu Hengzhi slipped a hand into his pocket and asked the man, "Were you the previous owner of that house?"

Seeing how guarded the two boys were, the man gave a mocking laugh. Instead of answering Lu Hengzhi, he carefully smiled at Tang Shi, took out a fruit knife and a disposable paper cup, and slowly said, "Don't be afraid. I'm not a bad person. I just came to borrow some of your luck... I've been waiting here for you for a long time. Come shake my hand, then give me a little of your blood. I already had my fortune told. The fortune teller said you were born with wealth in your fate. As long as you give me some blood and let me drink it, I can borrow your fortune... I'm going to Gate Island next week. If I'm lucky, maybe I can get rich overnight too. Then my wife and child will come back to me!"

Watching the man's crazed appearance, Tang Shi felt a chill crawl down his spine. Frightened, he took two steps back.

Seeing this, the man hurried forward two steps as well. He spread his arms, waved the fruit knife in his hand, and said to Tang Shi, "Don't hide. Let me borrow some of your luck. Just think of it as helping me."

Tang Shi's hair stood on end. He grabbed Lu Hengzhi and darted backward like a rabbit, then turned and ran. The man followed behind them and started running too, shouting as he chased them, "Don't run! Stop and let me hug you! Let me borrow some of your luck!"

Tang Shi grew more frightened the more he heard. Dragging Lu Hengzhi along, he sprinted forward with all his strength. Just as they reached the guardroom at the main entrance, the security guards standing there saw their expressions and rushed over. They then spotted the crazed man chasing after them. Several guards' faces changed, and they quickly stepped forward to restrain him.

Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi stood off to one side, pale and breathless as they watched the man struggle and scream himself hoarse. The more they watched, the more terrified they became after the fact. Seeing this, the guards said apologetically, "Mr. Liang used to be an owner in this neighborhood. Even after moving away, he came back from time to time, saying he missed the environment here and his old neighbors. When Mr. Liang lived here, he treated us guards quite well. And since it didn't seem like a big deal, we let him in..."

The more the guards spoke, the more uneasy they became. Looking at the silent Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi, they could not help appearing embarrassed. The residents of this neighborhood were no ordinary people. What they valued most was safety and privacy. What had happened today was undoubtedly a serious dereliction of duty by their security department.

Lu Hengzhi ignored the anxious guards and called his father directly. Within two or three minutes, the Lu family and Tang Shi's mother rushed over. Seeing Mr. Liang's deranged state, they immediately called the police. About ten minutes later, a police car arrived with sirens blaring. Father Lu spoke gravely to an officer. "I suspect Mr. Liang has mental health issues and currently poses a threat to my son and his classmate. I hope the police will take this matter seriously."

The officer looked at Father Lu, then at Mr. Liang's obviously abnormal behavior and speech, and roughly understood the situation. He guessed it was another case of an obsessive fan threatening an idol's safety, then said, "Please rest assured, Mr. Lu. It is our duty to ensure the safety of citizens. We will never allow your son or his classmate to be harmed."

After a pause, he added, "However, your son and his classmate can now be considered public figures. Similar incidents will likely happen again in the future, so I hope you will be prepared."

Working in this field, the officer had seen and heard too many bizarre cases involving fans chasing celebrities. Crowding and stampedes caused by fans greeting stars at airports, anti-fans throwing sulfuric acid at celebrities, fans threatening suicide just to meet a star, crazed fans attacking people with knives, and so on. His warning to Father Lu today was both part of his duty and a gesture of consideration for Lu Holdings, one of X City's major taxpayers.

He also did not want anything to happen to people with status, standing, and fame. That would mean a serious failure on their part, and the impact and consequences were not something they wanted to see.

Father Lu extended his right hand and shook hands with the officer, quietly offering a few words of thanks. The officer and his colleagues then escorted Mr. Liang back to the police station.

Even while being held by two officers, Mr. Liang still refused to give up. He twisted around and struggled, shouting at Tang Shi, "Don't be afraid! Let me hug you! Let me hug you..."

Only then did Tang Shi, who had been on edge the entire time, finally let out a sigh of relief. What he did not notice was that across from their neighborhood, at the street corner, a camera flash flickered ominously...

Chapter 45

A perfectly good morning had been ruined by a lunatic. Still shaken, Tang Shi had no more interest in exercising. After watching the police car drive away, he pulled Lu Hengzhi and the adults back home.

The following day was Monday, as well as the day of the second-year midterm exams at X City No. 1 High School. Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi packed their schoolbags early, and Father Lu had a driver take them to school.

A red banner hung at the school entrance, bearing the words: "Warmly Celebrating the Return of Students Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi." Students from No. 1 High School in uniforms lined both sides. Some held flowers, and uniformed security guards were present as well. There were even several reporters in the crowd carrying cameras. The moment they saw Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi, they crowded over and fired off questions at them.

"Congratulations on winning the national championship of Dance Miracle and successfully signing with Emperor Entertainment. How do you feel now?"

"At the beginning of this month, superstar Qiao Lin released her new album. In less than half a month since its release, it has already sold an impressive two hundred thousand copies. The ancient-style song The Matchmaker, written by Tang Shi, has even reached the top of the Golden Song Chart. It has been deeply loved by fans and has pioneered a new style of pop music. Tang Shi, what inspired you to write this song? We hear that many singers in the industry have been using every possible connection to ask you for songs. How are you considering that...?"

"We hear that in two months, the Dance Miracle Big Movie, jointly funded by Emperor Entertainment and Apple TV Station with an investment of five million, will begin filming. The director is the famous Dong Jiaqing, best known for youth song-and-dance productions. Yun Xiaoting, Emperor's top star, and Dance Miracle's beautiful mentor Qiao Lin will both make guest appearances in the film. As the national champions of Dance Miracle, according to the award rules, the two of you will play the male leads in this Big Movie. You will be taking on such important roles in your first film, and you will also be working with the Cloud Heavenly King and superstar Qiao Lin. Do you feel any pressure...?"

"We hear that when Emperor Entertainment signed you, they promised to provide you with opportunities to appear in one film and one television drama every year, and may also release new albums for you depending on the circumstances. Do you think such an arrangement is too packed? Will it interfere with your studies?"

"What do your family, friends, teachers, and classmates think about your sudden rise to fame?"

"We hear that X City No. 1 High School used the Sugar Juice Duo's name during this year's recruitment. As a result, not only did the admission score threshold rise considerably, but the school selection fee also doubled from last year. What are your thoughts on the school's actions...?"

"As newcomers to the entertainment industry, you have now successfully signed with Emperor Entertainment. Will you, like some other newcomers in the industry, give up your studies to focus on filming?"

"The contestants who participated in Dance Miracle with you are currently touring the country, while only the two of you had to return to school. Can you adapt to this ordinary life again? Do you feel any sense of loss?"

"We hear that you returned to X City the day before yesterday and were harassed by a crazed fan yesterday. Since your personal safety was endangered, are you disappointed in public security in X City? Will this incident affect your future careers in entertainment...?"

"..."

Questions came flying at them one after another. Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi had no desire to answer any of them. With the combined efforts of the bodyguards arranged by Father Lu, the surrounding students, and dozens of school security guards, they struggled to push through the reporters surrounding them and enter the school gates.

Even after entering the school, curious students continued crowding around them. Some even held out books for the two of them to sign. Out of habit, Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi accepted the paper and pens and began signing. They patiently answered questions from the students around them that did not overly invade their privacy. But more and more people gathered around them, and the preparatory bell for class had already rung. Growing anxious, Tang Shi could only politely decline the students who wanted signatures afterward, then slowly entered the teaching building amid the crowd.