Chapter 25: Science, Not Mysticism

The siblings had argued over food a few days ago and still hadn’t reconciled. Today, Chu Zhuo came looking for Chu Tong; she thought he was finally ready to apologize—but that wasn’t the case.

“Suddenly got struck by a bout of missing my little sister,” Chu Zhuo said with a straight face, smiling. “Tong Tong, come here, let me introduce you: Zhong Qin, Lu Qingfei.”

Chu Tong snorted, ignoring him, but still turned to greet the others.

“Hello, I’m Chu Tong.”

As her gaze swept over Lu Qingfei, she paused, “Are you... that streamer?”

Chu Zhuo asked, “What streamer?”

Zhong Qin was equally puzzled.

Lu Qingfei nodded, her eyes sparkling with a smile as she asked, “You two are the musical duo, Desk Mates and Siblings?”

Tong and Zhuo—Desk Mates. The group name was chosen so casually.

“That’s right.” Chu Tong’s eyes lit up, like a fan meeting her idol. “I watch your streams every day. Your storytelling is superb!”

“So Qingfei is a streaming host,” Chu Zhuo realized.

Lu Qingfei didn’t correct the siblings’ assumption but turned to Zhong Qin, saying, “It’s nothing strenuous, just sitting in front of the screen and chatting.”

Zhong Qin breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”

He was busy making money to improve their lives and hadn’t interfered much in her affairs. With Second Senior Brother here, if Little Junior Sister still had to suffer, he’d be struck by lightning.

“Can I add your contact?” Chu Tong looked at Lu Qingfei with hopeful eyes.

She’d been struggling to find the right tone in her Peking opera practice, plagued by anxiety and frequent insomnia. Only listening to Lu Qingfei’s streams helped her sleep.

Lu Qingfei agreed, “Of course.”

Chu Zhuo rested his elbow on Zhong Qin’s shoulder, lightly tilting his chin. “I heard Qingfei call you Second Senior Brother. So, do you have a First Senior Brother?”

“Not just a First Senior Brother,” Zhong Qin frowned, brushing off his arm, “there’s also a Third Junior Brother.”

Chu Zhuo was surprised, “So many people in your research group?”

He thought for a moment and answered himself, “Four authors on a paper isn’t unusual, actually.”

Lu Qingfei only smiled.

Perhaps the world of cultivation was a massive wholesale market, distributing them all to the modern world.

The drama they were filming was a wuxia series. Chu Zhuo had crossed over from singing to acting, playing the third male lead. Zhong Qin, with his crisp action scenes and athletic build, had been recruited by the director as the martial arts double for the male lead.

“I think this martial arts double isn’t just great at fight scenes—he’s better looking than the male lead!”

“True, except his skin’s a bit darker than the lead’s, but he absolutely outshines him!”

“I heard he used to haul bricks at a construction site and got tanned.”

“No acting experience? Well, good looks are good, but the role should go to a seasoned actor.”

...

Zhong Qin and Chu Zhuo’s next scene was a showdown, so they went off to prepare.

Lu Qingfei and Chu Tong stood among the crowd, watching the two act.

Zhong Qin held a long sword, his back to Chu Zhuo, the wind tugging at his robes, outlining a body imbued with the strength unique to a sword cultivator.

Chu Zhuo advanced, sword raised, aiming for a vital point. Zhong Qin’s wrist twisted like a dragon, parrying with his blade.

The plot called for Chu Zhuo’s sword to sweep by, slicing a few strands of Zhong Qin’s black hair.

Lu Qingfei’s eyes flickered.

Chu Zhuo had trained for half a year in fight scenes before joining the crew, but Zhong Qin had practiced swordsmanship for over twenty years.

Their fight scene was exhilarating—one take, flawless.

The director called “Cut.”

Suddenly, Chu Zhuo switched tactics, clawing at Zhong Qin’s right shoulder.

Lu Qingfei cried, “Second Senior Brother!”

Zhong Qin reacted instantly, reversing the attack to seize Chu Zhuo’s hand, flipping him over his shoulder in a swift toss. Chu Zhuo cried out in pain.

Chu Tong shouted, “Pigsy!”

Chu Zhuo got up, glaring darkly at his sister.

Chu Tong quickly corrected herself, “Ah, no—I mean, brother!”

Zhong Qin reached out to help Chu Zhuo up, commenting, “Trying to steal a chicken and losing the rice instead.”

Chu Zhuo: “...”

Damn it!

He couldn’t win in the script, and couldn’t win outside it either.

After her initial worry, Chu Tong couldn’t help wanting to strangle her brother.

How shameful, resorting to a sneak attack!

Lu Qingfei lied with a straight face, “Second Senior Brother is so fragile; a slight misstep and he could break a bone. Luckily, your brother stopped in time.”

Chu Tong: “?”

Stopped in time? Are you sure he wasn’t countered?

And where, exactly, is Zhong Qin fragile?

Chu Tong was utterly baffled, but since Chu Zhuo made the first move, an apology was unavoidable.

“I’m sorry, my brother’s always been unruly.”

“No worries.” Lu Qingfei graciously forgave her.

“Junior Sister, where are you headed next?” Zhong Qin came over to ask.

“I have an appointment nearby with a lady,” Lu Qingfei’s pitch-black eyes flickered as she spoke softly, “She’s human.”

Chu Zhuo and Chu Tong were intrigued.

If not human, what else—ghost?

“Don’t walk, call a ride,” Zhong Qin said boldly. “Second Senior Brother’s got money.”

Lu Qingfei nodded, “Alright.”

Zhong Qin looked around, not seeing Tao Jin. “Where’s that little ghost from last time?”

“On Mount Lingxiao.”

Zhong Qin, worried his junior sister might be deceived, nearly messaged her daily to warn that Tao Jin was suspicious—but he couldn’t specify exactly how.

Lu Qingfei told him she knew what she was doing.

The time to meet Xi Yun was approaching, so Lu Qingfei bid him goodbye and hurried off.

In the restaurant, Xi Yun’s assistant greeted Lu Qingfei first.

When the appointment time arrived, Xi Yun appeared right on schedule, walking over calmly in a crisp suit, short hair, and pale eyes that made her seem a bit aloof, radiating an aura of efficiency.

“Miss Lu, hello.”

When Xi Yun smiled, her demeanor softened considerably, but Lu Qingfei still sensed the sharpness beneath.

“Hello, President Xi.”

She handed over her calligraphy piece. Xi Yun glanced at it, visibly pleased.

The assistant passed the prepared contract to Lu Qingfei.

Lu Qingfei read it word by word, confirming there were no issues before signing.

Xi Yun observed the girl before her: simply dressed, long pants and a coat, soft black hair cascading over her shoulders. When she lowered her head, she seemed gentle; when she glanced up with a smile, she was lively and spontaneous. When not smiling, her dark eyes hinted at a certain pressure and mystery.

An unemployed graduate? She didn’t look the part.

“Has anyone ever told you your handwriting has a kind of magic?” Xi Yun picked up her coffee, sipping slowly as she asked.

“You flatter me,” Lu Qingfei replied. “Calligraphy is a science, not mysticism.”

Xi Yun curled her lips in a smile, glancing at the calligraphy. “What kind of mental technique did you write, Miss Lu? I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Mental technique, literally, refers to principles born from the heart,” Lu Qingfei’s bright eyes carried a smile as she calmly responded. “What I wrote comes from within me, not from any formal text. Thank you for your appreciation.”

Xi Yun tapped her fingernail thoughtfully on the rim of her cup.

“Your live stream content aligns perfectly with the direction of our cultural tourism variety show launching early next year,” she said, watching Lu Qingfei closely. “Would you be interested in joining us?”