Even resorting to the handsome-man ploy?

At a certain research base, in the highest-level office.

"Director, the fluctuations in the Taihang Mountains are abnormally intense, but the team we sent still can't get in. Should we report this to our superiors?"

The uniformed middle-aged man sitting behind the desk reached out and opened the file. A moment later, he closed it. "That variety show's livestream is still running?"

"Given how things are developing, shouldn't someone have died long ago?"

The man making the report nodded emphatically. "Usually, anomalies like this result in at least five deaths."

"Director Lu, how about..."

Before he could finish, Lu Zhendong interrupted with a frown. "Could it have something to do with that Jian Ran?"

"Very possibly." The man leaned forward and pointed to a spot in the file. "These are screenshots from the livestream. Every time, Jian Ran appears at a critical moment and stops the electromagnetic waves from spreading toward the others. Also, this one shows a talisman he drew. It's extremely professional."

"It's as if he received advanced training somewhere..."

"Could he be a top student recommended by the government? Is he doing an internship?" A trace of approval flashed through Lu Zhendong's eyes. "We really ought to recruit talent like that into our institute."

"Director, I don't think we can afford his salary." The man hesitated.

Lu Zhendong abruptly raised his head. "Money? How can you put that in the same category as ideals and ambitions?"

"For some people, ideals and ambitions are optional, but money is absolutely indispensable." The man lowered his head as if bracing for a beating.

Sure enough, Lu Zhendong immediately rose to his feet in fury. "Vulgar!"

The man said nothing.

Lu Zhendong took a moment to calm himself, pulled out his phone, and made a call.

The other end answered quickly. "Hello, get in touch with the old man for me."

"Get me Lu Yanting's phone number."

"Why all the questions?! It's for work!"

"If the old man asks about me, tell him I'm working overtime and don't have time to come over!"

After hanging up, Lu Zhendong saw the man straining his ears, utterly engrossed in eavesdropping. His frown deepened. "Xiao Gu, curious, are you?" he asked coldly.

Xiao Gu nodded reflexively, then immediately shook his head when he realized. "No, I'm not curious about your family affairs at all, Director. Whether you have family has absolutely nothing to do with me!"

Lu Zhendong: "..."

Yu Fengyi could swear that the scene before him was the most terrifying thing he had ever seen in his life. In particular, every time he couldn't help blinking, those paper figures fashioned from colored paper into Qing-dynasty eunuchs and maidservants took another step closer.

Under the cold moonlight, their deathly white faces, scarlet cheeks, and hollow eyes looked even more horrifying.

It was as if he were a dead man about to be carried into a coffin and laid to rest, and even if he was still alive, still breathing, he would be dragged away...

Terror covered his face. He opened his mouth to shout, but his throat felt as if it had been packed tightly with stones, leaving no gaps. He couldn't make a sound, and involuntary tears were forced from the corners of his eyes.

They were already within arm's reach, and Yu Fengyi couldn't help wanting to blink again.

He tried desperately to widen his eyes, but it was no use.

A sinister gust carrying sand and dirt blew toward him...

At that critical instant,

Yu Fengyi felt a sudden, powerful force at the back of his neck, accompanied by a disgusted "Idiot."

His collar was seized, and he was flung backward.

He inevitably lost his balance and landed hard on the floor.

Through his daze, he saw a slender figure dart out through the front door, and golden light instantly flared outside.

Perhaps the shock had been too much for his mind to bear. Yu Fengyi's eyes rolled back, and he passed out, knowing nothing of what happened afterward.

No one noticed that a camera was still running in the kitchen, its red light concealed in the darkness like a demon's lone eye.

[Holy shit, that's terrifying! Who put those paper figures outside the Mountain Villa?!]

[Why didn't the guest move for so long?! Why can the paper figures move?! They're suspended on wires, right?! The production crew did this on purpose?! What kind of welcoming ceremony is this?!]

[Aren't these things only burned when someone dies?! Isn't it way too unlucky for the crew to use them for a prank?!]

[I know that guest! Financial magazines interview him all the time!]

[Not just financial magazines. There's gossip about him in entertainment circles too, apparently involving Jian Ran! They said Jian Ran threw himself at him, but he still didn't want him! But judging by that merciless shoulder throw Jian Ran just gave him, it doesn't seem anything like the reports!]

[Am I the only one worried that Jian Ran went outside alone?! There's light flashing out there, and we can't see anything through the windows. Could he be in danger?!]

[Holy shit! Look who's coming downstairs! Lu Yanting! He's walking toward us! Has the hidden camera been discovered again?!]

[Do any of you remember who put that camera there?! Why don't I remember it at all?!]

[Me neither...]

The livestream cut off abruptly, and the comments froze for an instant.

The next morning, dawn light shone over everything.

Li Yuan opened his door and was just about to stretch when he saw Jian Ran standing outside with a dark expression.

"J-Jian Ran, what are you..."

"Pay me more, or I'm done filming!" Jian Ran said succinctly.

The moment Li Yuan heard "pay," he hurriedly put on an ingratiating smile. "Come on, Jian Ran, we signed a contract. How can we just raise your pay because you say so?"

"The penalty for breach of contract is all there in black and white."

Jian Ran narrowed his eyes. "The contract didn't say anything about exorcising ghosts for dumbasses, did it?"

Li Yuan: "...Which dumbass?"

"Who do you think?" Jian Ran tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Two doors obligingly opened, revealing Ji Yuanming's and Yu Fengyi's faces.

Li Yuan instinctively looked over. "Uh-"

Before he could confirm which dumbass it was,

Yu Fengyi strode over and demanded coldly, "What exactly happened last night?!"

Everything that had happened was so terrifying that his memories were hazy.

If it had been a nightmare, why did the spot where he had been kicked in the chest still ache?

And his backside, which he had landed on, felt as if it were splitting apart...

"Jian Ran, explain yourself. Were you behind all of this?!"

"You can't have me, so you're trying to force me to give in this way?!"

Frowning, he reached for that slender arm, only to grasp empty air as Jian Ran deftly dodged him.

His face full of irritation, Jian Ran continued speaking to Li Yuan. "Now you know why I want more money, right?!"

"Discuss it with the director."

"Give me an answer in half an hour."

"If you're even a second late, I'm quitting."

With that, he walked off, rolling his eyes as he went around Yu Fengyi, only for Ji Yuanming to block his path. "Why are you quitting?!"

Because you're all such assholes!

Before Jian Ran could curse aloud, someone caught his wrist with unerring precision and pulled him out of the center of the storm before he could react.

He stumbled and collided with a firm chest. Searing warmth passed through the haute couture shirt, bringing a faint flush to Jian Ran's cheeks as he looked up. "W-what are you doing?"

"If you're quitting, I'll go with you."

Lu Yanting pressed his thin lips together. Paired with his cool, strikingly beautiful face, the gesture was indescribably sexy.

Jian Ran stared at him blankly. "..."

Holy shit, this guy...

He isn't trying to skip out on the bill again, is he?!

Even resorting to the handsome-man ploy?!