Chapter 1023: Chapter 1023: Greeting Gift, Odile (2)

The advancement in film technology ironically led to a decline in the quality of contemporary domestic dramas, especially when compared to martial arts series from two decades ago.

While special effects could now be added during post-production, the action sequences performed by actors had noticeably deteriorated.

Among the younger generation of actors, only Si Fuqing genuinely possessed the ability to perform intense fight scenes.

“She’s dedicated, so we must be even more committed,” Director Lu said with a smile. “We must help her win the grand slam for Best Actress in TV.”

The assistant director nodded in agreement. “Teacher Si’s scenes are scheduled for next week. I’m looking forward to her performance.”

In the lounge, Si Fuqing had just finished instructing the young actor playing the childhood version of JIANG Zhaoyue. She was now seated on a sofa, sipping tea.

Her phone chimed with an incoming message.

Si Fuqing glanced down.

[Odile ]: It’s so desolate here. Are you really at this place… filming? If you’re down on your luck, I can still help you out.

[Si Fuqing]: You’ve arrived?

[Odile]: Just got here. I’m in town, but I can’t get in.

Odile, ever sharp, sensed the presence of several powerful evolved beings in the vicinity and wisely decided not to make any rash moves.

The Evolved Alliance had an agreement with the Supernatural Management Bureau to maintain peace within the Five States of the Great Xia.

She had changed into casual travel attire and found a café in the small town.

[Si Fuqing]: Send me your location. I’ll come find you.

Odile sent her location.

Si Fuqing glanced at it, grabbed her coat, and slipped it on.

Feng San, who had come to deliver something on Yu Xiheng’s behalf, happened to see Si Fuqing as she was heading out. He hesitated for a moment before asking, “Miss Si, are you going out?”

Si Fuqing nodded. “Meeting an online friend.”

Feng San instinctively asked, “A guy or a girl?”

“A pretty girl, very pretty.” Si Fuqing rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “I should bring a gift for our first meeting. Let me see.”

She rummaged through her belongings before casually picking up a sachet she had made herself. “It’s a bit shabby, but I’ll make it up next time.”

Feng San’s eyebrow twitched slightly upon hearing the word “shabby.”

The sachet contained herbs that Si Fuqing had personally concocted, each one sourced from the center of Ghost Valley. Only she and the Master of Ghost Valley had access to the center, making the herbs priceless and unavailable in the market.

Wearing the sachet long-term could extend the life of an ordinary person and even stabilize the volatile genes of an evolved being. For a Class S evolved being, it was a significant tonic.

Yu Xiheng himself had a more advanced version of this sachet.

Shabby?!@@novelbin@@

Feng San realized that his concept of “shabby” was vastly different from Miss Si’s.

“Sansan, I’m off.” Si Fuqing waved her hand. “Take good care of Brother Nine. Don’t let him work too late.”

Feng San snapped back to reality, blurting out, “Miss Si, you’re truly a model employee!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized what he had said and wished he could slap himself.

“Of course.” Si Fuqing slipped on her coat and snapped her fingers. “Dedicated and loves her boss.”

Feng San hurried to correct himself. “No, no, Miss Si, what I meant was—”

But Si Fuqing was already gone.

Feng San sighed in frustration, feeling the urge to bang his head against the wall.

Xi Jiang shot him a disdainful look.

He’s no better, yet he dares to mock me.

**

At that moment, the evolved beings dispatched by the Shen family arrived at the northern border of North State.

Leading them was a middle-aged man, a Class B evolved being, accompanied by seven Class C evolved beings.

He glanced at the information he had found online and frowned. “We can’t approach the film crew directly. We’ll have to wait until they come out to buy supplies before making a move. For now, we’ll settle down in town.”

There were too many people in the crew, and they didn’t intend to target anyone else.

Just then, one of the evolved beings suddenly spoke up, “Sir, look, is that Si Fuqing?”

The middle-aged man followed his gaze.

In the distance, a girl with long, slender legs was walking toward them, draped in a coat.

Her face was bare of makeup, yet she was stunning in a way that took one’s breath away.

There were few passersby, but those who did see her couldn’t resist taking out their phones to snap a picture.

“It’s her,” the middle-aged man confirmed, glancing at the photo in his hand, astonished. “No wonder the young master took a liking to her. She’s truly beautiful, even more so than the eldest daughter of the In family.”

“This is a great opportunity, sir!” the evolved being behind him urged. “She’s alone right now; we should take her back directly.”

Even if Si Fuqing was a famous star, the Shen family could easily make her disappear from the entertainment industry without a trace.

The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes and made a swift decision. “Let’s move.”

Si Fuqing had just reached the town and was about to send a message to Odile when shadows suddenly blocked the sunlight in front of her.

She slowly raised her head, her gaze landing on the middle-aged man, and raised an eyebrow with interest.

“First, let me introduce myself. My surname is Shen, and I’m the young master’s bodyguard,” the man said coolly. “The Ye family should have informed you that you’re to marry into the Shen family, but since you’re unwilling, we have no choice but to take you with us.”

Si Fuqing showed no sign of fear. “You’re making a move on me in North State. Aren’t you afraid the Evolved Alliance will come after you? I heard that recently, an evolved family was massacred, and the Evolved Alliance even sent out the captain of their enforcement team.”

“It seems Ye Junci has indeed told you a few things. You know quite a bit,” the middle-aged man said, shaking his head. “But you haven’t thought it through. We’re not here to kill you, just to bring you back and offer you wealth and honor. The Evolved Alliance won’t bother with something like this.”

Would the captain of the enforcement team, Odile herself, be so free as to come all the way to the Great Xia Empire for such a trivial matter?

This small affair wouldn’t even reach her ears.

“You’re a delicate celebrity; we don’t want to be rough with you,” the man continued, hands behind his back. “Be sensible and come with us willingly, or we’ll have to bind you.”

“Hold on a moment,” Si Fuqing said calmly. “Let me make a phone call first.”

She took out her phone and, right in front of the man, dialed Odile’s number.