TRYMBPIETM 19: The Ancient Tree’s Deep Shade(13)

The live chat was flooded with barrage comments, filled with the excited messages of Chi Qingning’s fans.

When the hardcore fan of Song Yuzhi’s fan club raised doubts, they were quickly drowned by other messages, not causing any stir at all.

A few hardcore fans had dark expressions, and they repeated their questions in the live chat, but again, they were soon overwhelmed by other comments.

“What is this?!” One hardcore fan picked up their phone and switched to a small group, typing furiously.

[Sisters, that comment from Song just now, wasn’t it from Lai Ge’s review from six years ago?]

[Do we even need to say? “A Real Me” was never released, the only people who saw the completed film early were the crew, the director, the editor, and us fans who got special access. When Lai Ge saw the finished film, he directly wrote the review, no one could have seen it earlier than him!]

[We all saw Lai Ge writing the review, there’s no mistake.]

[So how did CQN get the review? Lai Ge never made it public!]

[Is he trying to deceive Song? He’s putting so much effort into getting close to him—he must have ulterior motives, we can’t let him succeed!!]

[Maybe someone sold it to CQN for money? It’s disgusting, stepping on the deceased for personal gain, does CQN not have nightmares at night!]

[He even has the nerve to say he just had some random insights? What a white lotus, how shameless is he!]

[This is not the time to talk about that, the most important thing now is to let Song know. We can investigate how CQN got the review, but if we wait too long, Song Ge will keep being deceived.]

[Yes, yes, we need to let him know as soon as possible, what if CQN wants to harm Song Ge?]

[Isn’t the most disgusting thing that he stole Lai Ge’s work? Lai Ge is already gone, and he only left this small trace, and he dares to replace him, isn’t he ashamed!]

As this message was sent, the major fans fell silent for a moment, but soon they made up their minds—they had to expose Chi Qingning.

In the Dragon Country, it’s a big deal when someone dies, and taking or replacing the deceased’s belongings is despicable. The fans’ reference to Lai Ge, who had an excellent relationship with many of them, only made them more determined. Even now, many long-time fans still reminisce about the older brother who helped them organize the fan club.

Additionally, they were suspicious of Chi Qingning’s true intentions, so they couldn’t just let it slide.

After discussing it, they realized that since Song Yuzhi couldn’t check his phone during the live stream and their barrage messages wouldn’t have much effect, it was better to contact his agent directly.

This required enough evidence.

Each fan split up and gathered evidence: the list of fans invited to see the movie, a short video of Lai Ge writing his review, a group photo from after the screening, and other pieces of evidence. Together, they wrote a report and sent it to Song Yuzhi’s manager.

The manager was completely stunned by this move from the fans.

To be honest, he didn’t really care how Chi Qingning got the review, but after working with Song Yuzhi for so many years, he had been subtly instructed by Song Yuzhi’s sister to always be cautious of anyone who might have ulterior motives.

If Chi Qingning truly became close to Song Yuzhi due to personal insights, the manager wouldn’t care. But if the review was stolen, that was a big problem!

If he was going through such efforts to approach Song Yuzhi and even stole something from a deceased person, the manager couldn’t believe that Chi Qingning didn’t have ulterior motives.

Having worked hard to protect Song Yuzhi for so long, it was alarming to realize such a big mistake had slipped through the cracks, and the manager shuddered just thinking about the power and methods of the head of the Song family.

He thanked the fans profusely and promised, “I’ll contact Yuzhi tonight at the latest. Tomorrow—no, tonight I’ll book a flight and go to see him as soon as possible!”

The fans were delighted by the manager’s response and playfully sent a heart emoji, feeling reassured before ending the call.

After putting down the phone, the manager looked at the ongoing live stream and sneered, summoning an assistant.

“Help me investigate something. If it’s hard to find, go to Mr. Wang.”

He wrote down a few lines on a paper and handed it to the assistant.

“If Mr. Wang asks why, just show him this.”

The assistant quickly glanced at the note and was shocked. He nodded eagerly, “Understood, I’ll handle it by tonight!”

…

Song Yuzhi praised Chi Qingning for a long time, almost laying his admiration out in the open. The live stream chat was filled with CP fans gushing about their ship, and many of them were typing “He loves him so much.” Yet Chi Qingning seemed completely oblivious, repeatedly thanking Song Yuzhi for his compliments.

Song Yuzhi stared at Chi Qingning for a while, feeling a bit disheartened, before ending the review.

The program team gave Chi Qingning and Xu Xinxin food rewards, and Chi Qingning took the opportunity to glance at the props team.

His assistant was standing next to a staff member, subtly signaling that the public opinion was under control.

Chi Qingning smiled faintly, his eyes glinting with hidden amusement.

Passing by Xu Xinxin, he walked toward the kitchen with the food in his arms, and as he brushed past Chi Qingzhou, he gave his brother a slightly provocative look.

Did he really think everything would be smooth once he got back to the Chi family?

How naïve!

The Chi family only needed someone to approach Song Yuzhi and gain the Song family’s support.

That person could be Chi Qingning, or any other junior from the Chi family.

What Chi Qingzhou could do, he could do it not only just as well, but even better.

The rich aroma spread, and Chi Qingzhou tilted his head, his lips curling upward.

His eyes remained gentle and innocent, yet the misty haze in his pupils gave them an eerily alluring look.

He lowered his voice, smiling, and spoke softly: “Brother, you smell so good.”

Chi Qingning: “…??”

What smells good?

Chi Qingning was momentarily confused, instinctively looking into his brother’s eyes, a chill running through him.

He had imagined countless reactions from his brother when he provoked him, but none of them had been like this.

He instinctively felt something was wrong, but couldn’t pinpoint what.

Chi Qingning’s brother, with a faint smile, spoke even more softly.

“I mean, you smell so delicious. Like the food smells good.”

A cold chill crawled up his back as Chi Qingning’s hands tremblingly gripped the food in his arms.

In that instant, his peripheral vision caught the shadow at his brother’s feet.

Strange, huge, and spreading with numerous sharp angles that no human could have.

It seemed to sense his gaze and subtly shifted, its blood-red eyes slowly opening.

“You smell so good,” it grinned hungrily.

Chi Qingning’s heart almost stopped, and a cold breath squeezed out of his throat. He tried to scream, but no sound came out.

An overwhelming sense of unease weighed heavily on his heart. He clutched the food tightly and fled in a panic.

The main live stream chat exploded with countless [???].

Chi Qingzhou spoke too softly, the recording equipment didn’t pick it up, and the live stream camera was perfectly blocked by Chi Qingning, so the audience had no idea what had just happened.

[What’s going on??]

[Did that shameless CQZ just scare his brother?!]

[Chi Qingning has been acting so weird. I don’t think Chi Qingzhou did anything.]

[Some people are just paranoid, thinking everyone is out to get your brother. Does your brother even look like he could hurt anyone?]

[This is definitely CQN’s issue. Why else would he run when someone just walked by him?]

[CQN really is something else. He steals from others, then slanders people right under everyone’s noses. Does he think we’re all blind??]

[Isn’t it normal for the legitimate child to dislike the illegitimate child? I I suggest that CQZ reflect on why he’s still alive!]

The live stream was filled with various speculations, but Chi Qingzhou didn’t care.

He only smiled as he watched his brother’s retreating figure, happily remarking: “Brother, you’re in such a hurry to go to the kitchen, you’re really self-aware.”

Xu Xinxin walked over, just in time to hear this, and gave Chi Qingzhou a surprised look.

Something’s off with him, Xu Xinxin thought. Why does he seem so terrifying now, when he was so reliable just yesterday?

Not daring to think much about it, she smiled at Chi Qingzhou and quickly walked towards the kitchen with her food.

…

This farmhouse restaurant was known for its authentic, original flavors, and the kitchen used an old-fashioned earthen stove.

If not for Chi Qingzhou’s experience with such stoves, the guests might not have even managed to get a fire started.

Everyone worked together to prepare a meal, but by the time it was ready, it was already past noon, and if they waited any longer, it would be dinner time.

Fortunately, the food tasted good, and everyone’s hearts were soothed.

After the meal, they played some regular games to welcome the two special guests, and then the program team notified everyone that they could have free time.

Chi Qingzhou had no intention of stealing the spotlight. He covered the camera with his ghostly presence and asked Xing Shuangzhan about the situation. He informed him that Zhu Yantong had not moved yet in the Puluo tribe’s territory, so he decided to rest on a lounge chair.

Though not good at divination, when Song Yuzhi appeared earlier, he had sensed that the opportunity he was waiting for was about to arrive.

Maybe someone close to Song Yuzhi had a connection to Ah Lai?

As he was thinking, Lu Man avoided the others and walked over to him.

“Mr. Chi, my sister came to me in a dream last night, and I’ve already passed on your message to her.”

“Huh?” Chi Qingzhou sat up quickly. “Is she going to be friends with me?”

Lu Man: “Well… she didn’t say.”

Seeing Chi Qingzhou visibly disappointed, Lu Man hurriedly added, “My sister might have felt that passing on the message wasn’t respectful enough. I think she plans to come to Yinping Village soon. You might be able to talk to her face-to-face then.”

Chi Qingzhou was surprised. “She’s coming to Yinping Village?”

Lu Man: “Yes.”

“Did she explain why?” Chi Qingzhou frowned. “After ghosts successfully take revenge with the Fengdu order, they should have been taken back to the underworld . Hasn’t she completed her revenge?”

Lu Man explained everything in detail: “She had already returned to the underworld, but last night she discovered a new cause on the Fengdu Order and suspected her enemy might not only be Qi Ming. That’s why she decided to come here to investigate.”

A sudden flash of insight occurred to Chi Qingzhou. “Another enemy of hers is in Yinping Village?”

Lu Man nodded. “Yes.”

Then it must be Zhu Yantong.

But Chi Qingzhou still didn’t know if Zhu Yantong’s motives were to create more ghosts or something else.

After thinking for a moment, Chi Qinzhou decided to ask about Lu Yao’s birth chart.

Lu Man only knew her sister’s Gregorian birthday, and after converting it, Chi Qingzhou discovered that Lu Yao had a special fate.

“A special fate…” Chi Qingzhou murmured. “I see.”

Looking at the concerned Lu Man, Chi Qingzhou reassured him, “Don’t worry. Your sister is my friend. I’ll take care of this.”

Lu Man immediately relaxed, bowed deeply, and thanked him earnestly before leaving with a colleague.

Xing Shuangzhan appeared from his shadow and lay beside him, one hand playing with his hair, the other propping his head up.

“Friend? That little girl hasn’t agreed to be friends with you yet, Qingzhou.”

Chi Qingzhou glanced at him lightly. “She will. This kind of friend, I’ve never had before, and I’ll definitely be able to get her.”

Xing Shuangzhan chuckled softly, pulling Chi Qingzhou into his embrace.

“You’re right about everything. Alright, rest for a bit. Maybe soon you won’t have as much time to rest.”

Chi Qingzhou didn’t ask what that meant. He simply nodded and closed his eyes to rest.

…

At 9 PM, all the guests of “Scenery Along the Way” finished the live broadcast for the day and prepared to rest.

Due to changes in the recording schedule, the guests’ accommodations were moved from different old villagers’ houses to the guest rooms of the farmhouse restaurant.

Song Yuzhi had been showing Chi Qingning kindness all day, but since noon, Chi Qingning had been nervous and didn’t respond much to him.

He felt a bit discouraged. He had planned to ask his manager for advice on how to win someone over, but the manager beat him to it and called him first.

“Yuzhi, do you know there’s a longtime fan in your fan club who goes by the nickname Great Witch Lai?”