Chapter 060

Maomao was the first to see the latest news about Qi Yuanzhou.

He was always on the front lines of gossip. As soon as Qi Yuanzhou hit the trending searches, Maomao saw it and immediately relayed the news to Lu Jianxing and Qiao Man.

“I spent ages guessing what kind of crime he committed, but I never expected it to be fraud and money laundering!” Maomao stared at the news bulletin, dumbfounded. “I knew Qi Yuanzhou came from a wealthy family and was a rich second-generation heir, he was always trending because of his money, but it turns out his family’s wealth came from illegal sources.”

Thinking back on the films and TV shows Qi Yuanzhou had done since entering the industry, every single one was famous for its massive investment. He always brought his own funding to a production; who knew how much of that was black money?

All the gossip-hungry netizens were just as stunned as Maomao, witnessing the entire process of Qi Yuanzhou’s downfall, from his reputation crumbling to being sent behind bars.

While celebrities’ reputations collapsed every year in the entertainment industry, it was truly rare to see one fall this spectacularly.

Word was that the police had been monitoring this criminal gang for a long time, and Qi Yuanzhou’s family was only one part of it. Due to the wide scope and the massive amounts of money involved, the police had investigated for a long time before finally closing the net to catch the entire gang in one fell swoop. Because of Qi Yuanzhou’s status as a celebrity, his name stayed at the top of the trending searches for days, surrounded by Qi Fans who had turned on him and were now exposing his past misdeeds.

This case had far-reaching consequences. With the male lead now behind bars and the production’s funding cut off, what was once a prestigious S+ tier project was forced to halt. Whether filming would ever resume was now a major question.

Great Misfortune. It truly was a Great Misfortune!

Master Xiao Man had predicted it perfectly!

Then there was Lu Jianxing, who had been in the middle of a heated conflict with Qi Yuanzhou recently.

Lu Jianxing was originally supposed to play the male lead, but his role was recast after he’d already signed the contract. Although he later landed a role in Director Jin’s movie, netizens couldn’t help but feel sympathetic that his lead role had been snatched away. Looking back now, however, Lu Jianxing had perfectly avoided a disaster and even freed up his schedule to score a lucky break.

Talk about incredible luck!

Lu Jianxing’s fans were overjoyed, and netizens everywhere were green with envy.

Maomao was having a blast reading the comments. “Brother Lu, Qi Yuanzhou’s career is in ruins, and you’ve gained so many followers! Everyone is reposting your stuff to catch some of your good luck.”

Lu Jianxing: “…”

Maomao scrolled down further. “And Baby Xiao Man… Wow, Xiao Man has gained a ton of fans too.”

As soon as Qi Yuanzhou hit the trending searches, netizens swarmed Qiao Man’s homepage.

Clicking on the comments, one would practically trip over all the people bowing down in respect. Every other word out of the netizens’ mouths was “Master,” and the post featuring the Wealth-Attracting Talisman was being shared like crazy.

[Master Xiao Man, please accept my humble respect!]

[Ahhh! Master Xiao Man is way too divine! Lu Jianxing, you’re amazing for having a dad like this!]

[When Master Xiao Man said it was a ‘Great Misfortune,’ those Qi Fans were cursing him so harshly. Now, not a single one of them is making a peep. They’re all busy deleting their posts. If you’re so tough, why delete them?]

[Can I just say that I won a prize on a scratch-off ticket right after reposting the Wealth-Attracting Talisman…]

Because the matter was so serious, even the actors sequestered on the film set heard about it.

Once the official bulletin was released, everyone looked at the short, round child who appeared at the set every day, rain or shine, with completely different eyes.

Meanwhile, Qiao Man, the center of all the discussion, was currently frowning over a full page of math problems.

After finally finishing a page, he put down his pencil and rubbed his frozen little hands. His breath came out in white puffs. Maomao poured a cup of hot tea from a thermos, it was goji berry and red date tea, with a hint of sweetness. Qiao Man drank half the cup in one go, and the warmth in his belly finally chased away the cold.

Maomao stuffed a freshly charged hand warmer into his hands and said sympathetically, “Baby, it’s so cold out here. Why don’t you go back inside? Look, your face is all red from the cold.”

Qiao Man looked at Lu Jianxing on the set and shook his head. “No.”

Having tried to persuade him many times before, Maomao didn’t push it. He checked that Qiao Man’s hat and earmuffs were on properly, then pulled the boy into his arms. The two of them huddled together like shivering quails, waiting for the filming session to end.

Today they were filming on location. Winter came early to this small northern city. Since the start of the season, the ground had been covered in white snow, and the weather grew colder by the day. It was especially brutal in the outskirts where there was no cover. A piercing wind blew from all directions, and even thick down jackets couldn’t keep out the chill. Everyone was freezing.

If they felt cold, it was even worse for the actors. For the sake of the scene, they had been rolling around in the snow all morning. Their exposed skin was frozen bright red. The moment Director Jin shouted “Cut!”, all the assistants rushed forward clutching blankets.

After reviewing the footage, the frown on Director Jin’s face eased slightly. “That’s a wrap for this scene.”

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

Maomao wrapped Lu Jianxing in a large blanket. Qiao Man handed over his hand warmer, then unscrewed the thermos lid and poured a cup of hot water for him. “Xingxing, for you.”

“Thanks, Xiao Man,” Lu Jianxing said, his teeth chattering.

Staff members passing by greeted him. “Xiao Man, out for another walk?”

“You’ve come at just the right time. Come here, come here, have some beef jerky. I brought it from my hometown, it’s delicious.”

“The location shoot is so far out today, and you followed us all the way here?”

Qiao Man replied, “Of course!”

Xingxing was out here working. As his dad, how could he just lie in the hotel and sleep the day away?

He was the dad, so of course he had to take care of Xingxing!

Qiao Man greeted everyone one by one. He collected quite a few snacks along the way and shared them out again, facilitating a steady circulation of treats.

As he passed Shao Jingqiu’s RV, Xiao Xia weighed his water bottle and filled it up for him. Qiao Man peeked inside. “Is Auntie Shao sleeping?”

“Yeah, she had to get up at two this morning,” Xiao Xia said in a low voice. “Sweetie, do you have any more Sleep-Aid Talismans? Could you sell me a few more? My mom hasn’t been sleeping well lately.”

Shao Jingqiu’s sleep issues were a long-standing problem that wouldn’t vanish just because she had found her daughter. With the heavy filming schedule lately, the lack of rest was taking a toll on her body. Xiao Xia was worried. With the help of Qiao Man’s Sleep-Aid Talismans, she could finally get a good night’s sleep.

“No problem, I’ll draw some for you when I get back.”

Because it was so cold, the Cinnabar tended to freeze, so Qiao Man didn’t draw talismans outside anymore.

Xiao Xia was delighted. “Thank you, sweetie.”

She stuffed more snacks into Qiao Man’s pockets, filling every single one. In this cold weather, everyone kept plenty of food on hand to keep their energy up.

Xiao Xia didn’t forget to warn him. “We’re out in the countryside. Aside from where the crew is filming, there is still deep snow further out. Don’t wander too far.”

“I know!”

Xiao Man had experience falling into pits on the mountain. He knew that some places looked flat but were actually just covered by a layer of snow; you would fall right through if you stepped on them. Moreover, the snow here was much heavier than on the mountain. In some deep spots, it was taller than he was. If he fell in, he wouldn’t be able to climb out.

Carrying his little water bottle, he strolled along.

Having followed the crew to this filming location, none of his vehicles, neither his bike nor his toy car, could be used. He had to rely on his own two feet for his walks.

A few young actors were sitting together chatting. When they saw his tiny figure waddling past like a little penguin, one of them brightened up and waved. “Xiao Man, Xiao Man!”

Qiao Man stopped, tilted his head to look at them, and walked over. “What’s up?”

“Xiao Man, is what it says on the trending search true?” The actor held up his phone. “Can you really predict anything?”

Qiao Man nodded. “Yep.”

“Then… then…” The actor in the middle said bashfully, “Do you still do fortune-telling? Can you do one for me?”

“For you?”

The actor lowered his head shyly. “I want to ask about my marriage prospects.”

“Ooh,” the two beside him started jeering, nudging him suggestively with their elbows.

The actor feigned anger and swiped at his teasing friends. When he turned back and met the child’s big, dark eyes, he suddenly felt very self-conscious.

It was a bit embarrassing to talk about romance with such a small child.

“I’m just asking casually…” the actor muttered. “Do you think I have a chance with Yu Li?”

Yu Li was an actress in the crew, and the actor asking for the fortune was Jiang Xiao. In this movie, they played a couple. On screen, they were lovers; off screen, Jiang Xiao had developed feelings for his co-star.

Having been handpicked by Director Jin, his acting skills were naturally up to par. He had spent years playing supporting roles in various films. He wasn’t an idol actor, so dating wouldn’t hurt his career. Having met a girl he liked, he decided to take the initiative.

Qiao Man instinctively looked around for her. Jiang Xiao quickly said, “She doesn’t have any scenes today, so she’s not here.”

He gave a sheepish laugh and pulled up a group photo they had taken a couple of days ago on his phone. Pointing at the girl in the picture, he said, “That’s her.”

Qiao Man widened his eyes and looked curiously.

The girl in the photo wasn’t exceptionally beautiful by entertainment industry standards, but she had a face that immediately inspired likability. Standing next to her, Jiang Xiao looked rather plain.

Qiao Man looked up, meeting the man’s expectant yet nervous gaze, and slowly shook his head.

Jiang Xiao’s heart sank. “Is there no chance at all?”

Qiao Man said with full conviction, “You haven’t paid!”

Jiang Xiao paused. “…Huh?”

“Ten yuan per reading.” A small, gloved hand clumsily fished a payment QR code out of a pocket, one Maomao had made for him. Qiao Man said solemnly, “I don’t work for free.”

Jiang Xiao was speechless.

He promptly scanned the code.

Qiao Man tucked the laminated QR code back into his pocket before saying, “If you two get together, you’ll support each other. It’s a very good match. If you want to pursue her, your chances of success are very high.”

“R-really?” Jiang Xiao was overjoyed.

Qiao Man tilted his head up and said confidently, “I’ve never been wrong.”

But Jiang Xiao soon hesitated. “But will she think I’m ugly? I… I’m not that good-looking, and my eyes are small.”

With his single eyelids and small eyes, he really couldn’t be considered handsome in a circle full of good-looking men. Especially with a true heartthrob like Lu Jianxing on the same set, the contrast was devastating.

“She won’t,” Qiao Man said. “She happens to like small eyes like yours.”

“Really?!”

Jiang Xiao was elated, secretly rejoicing over the small eyes he was born with while feeling utterly amazed. “You can even calculate something like that?”

To be able to divine such specific details, that was incredible!

“I heard her say it herself before,” Qiao Man said, his round eyes wide and innocent.

He spent every day strolling around the set. His cute appearance made him very popular with the women, and he had known Yu Li for a while. He had even heard her praise Jiang Xiao for being a reliable person.

Jiang Xiao: “…”

…

After finishing the discussion about the afternoon’s shoot with the producer and screenwriter, Director Jin finally closed his script and stepped out of the temporary shed.

The lunch boxes from noon were already cold. The grease had cooled and solidified, and the rice had frozen into a solid block. He pulled out a cup of instant noodles and lifted his thermos, but the water inside was cold as well.

Director Jin grabbed his water bottle and prepared to go borrow some hot water. He hadn’t walked far when he saw a group of actors huddled together. As he drew closer, he could hear a childish voice coming from the center: “…This hexagram of yours doesn’t look very good.”

Director Jin: “…”

The crowd broke into a stir, and another anxious voice rang out: “How can it be unlucky! Master Xiao Man, please look again. You gave Jiang Xiao such a good reading, saying he would definitely catch his sweetheart. Why is it bad for me and my girlfriend?”

Director Jin stopped to watch. The person asking was a staff member from the crew, and the person surrounded by the crowd was a small child bundled up like a little ball.

He had some memory of the boy; he seemed to have been brought along by Lu Jianxing, and his name was Xiao Man.

Director Jin didn’t generally approve of actors bringing children to the set, but this child was very well-behaved. Every day, he sat quietly to the side doing his homework, never making a fuss or causing trouble. He also had a good relationship with Shao Jingqiu, so Director Jin turned a blind eye and acted as if he hadn’t seen him.

What was going on now?

Qiao Man shook his head, the bear ears on his hat swaying with the movement. “It’s not the same. You’ve never even met.”

The others were puzzled. “Never met? Then how is she your girlfriend?”

The man seeking the fortune argued his case: “It’s an online romance! Does a long-distance relationship not count as love? My girlfriend and I have known each other for a month, and our feelings are very strong. We check in with each other three times a day. Once we finish filming this show, I’m going to go meet her.”

Others tried to talk sense into him: “It’s only been a month, and you haven’t even met. You don’t even know what kind of person she is, so how do you know Master Xiao Man is wrong?”

“Impossible. My girlfriend is both filial and gentle. You don’t know, I wanted to send her money, but she refused to accept it. How could such a good girl be a bad person? Not only is she hardworking and capable, helping her family sell tea, but she’s also beautiful…”

As he spoke, the man pulled out his phone, scrolled to a photo of his girlfriend, and said proudly, “Look, this is my girlfriend. Isn’t she beautiful?”

Everyone leaned in to look. Sure enough, the girl in the photo was gentle and lovely, with a lush green tea mountain in the background.

She was beautiful and had family property. Everyone looked at the plain-looking staff member, wondering what the girl could possibly see in him.

The man admired the photo of his online girlfriend with a blissful expression. “You all think she’s great too, right? How could it be bad?”

Qiao Man said slowly, “But the person you’re chatting with is a man…”

The man replied, “What’s wrong with it being a man, I… A man?!” His eyes widened.

He looked at the gentle and lovely “girlfriend” in the photo, then back at the child in front of him.

Qiao Man asked with concern, “Is a man okay too?”

The crowd: “…”

The man: “…”

Of course it’s not okay!!!

In a fit of rage, he grabbed his phone and typed: [Are you a man?!]

There was no reply.

He sent another message.

[The other party has enabled friend verification; you are not yet his (her) friend.]

No need to ask anymore; it was definitely true.

The person next to him patted his shoulder in sympathy.

The man cried out in grief and indignation, “But I bought so much tea from her! How could he toy with my emotions!”

The crowd consoled him: “Forget it, forget it.”

“At least you know now.”

“Luckily Master Xiao Man was here, or you would have been scammed even more.”

Someone else asked, “Master Xiao Man, it’s my turn. Can you do a reading for me?”

Qiao Man shook his head. “No, I only tell three fortunes a day.”

The crowd immediately let out sighs of disappointment.

The staff member who had just discovered his online girlfriend was a fraud squeezed out of the crowd, looking soul-crushed. His colleague was comforting him by his side when they nearly collided with someone.

“Sorry… Director Jin?!”

Director Jin looked at them sternly.

He was a strict old man who commanded great authority on set, and everyone was usually terrified of him.

Now that they had been caught engaging in feudal superstition, the crowd fell silent in fear. They didn’t dare linger, and soon the people gathered there had scattered completely, leaving only the slow-moving child.

Qiao Man tucked away his payment QR code and slowly scrambled up from the ground. He was wearing so many layers that it was difficult to move.

Straightening the hat on his head and adjusting the position of his water bottle, Qiao Man looked up and saw a person still standing in front of him.

Director Jin looked down at the child. He was wearing a hat and earmuffs, with a puffy cotton coat and a circle of fluffy fur around his collar. Only a small, fair, tender face was visible, with round eyes and rosy cheeks, looking as soft as a marshmallow.

“Grandpa, do you want a fortune-telling too?” Qiao Man asked politely. “I’m finished for today, but you can come back tomorrow.”

Director Jin: “…”

He was a bit speechless. He opened his mouth, then swallowed his words.

“No,” Director Jin said. “I’m not getting a reading.”

“Gurgle-“

Hearing the sound of a stomach growling, Qiao Man instinctively looked down and clutched his own belly. It was round and full; he was still sated. The rumbling sound had come from Director Jin’s stomach.

Qiao Man looked up at his grey hair, then at his empty hands.

He reached into every one of his pockets and pulled out all his snacks. “Grandpa, here, take these. Don’t go hungry,” he said caringly.

Director Jin: “…”

He looked down at the small snacks in his hand – beef jerky, nuts, and chocolate – then at the child who was wobbling away with his water bottle on his back.

Director Jin: “…”