(3)
Translator: _Min_
He arrived in the modern world, 1500 years later, a decade ago, waking up in the Yu family.
His situation was somewhat similar to the past.
A vast family with endless internal strife, where even siblings turned against each other.
After years of conflict, the wars had now subsided. This era was not the time of the Great Xia Dynasty, and he had no interest in seeking power anymore, merely gathering some followers.
âZeroâ was also created afterwards to help him keep a handle on international intelligence.
Even without being an emperor, Yu Xiheng habitually kept the situation under his control.
He had always been indifferent to the entertainment industry but had heard of Yun Lanâs fame.
There were many international award winners, but when it came to acting skills, Yun Lan was the unrivaled number one.
In a major Glenn movie, several top actors and actresses had failed more than a dozen times while acting with her, nearly failing to finish their scenes.
Her retirement was a regret for countless fans.
âHmm,â Yu Xiheng nodded slightly, âThen letâs look into it.â
âYes,â the chief investigator replied respectfully, âWe will, but weâll inevitably run into those from T18 again. I think they are the real terrorists! Sir, we must train our people more rigorously to deal with them eventually!â
Itâs said that the subordinates reflect their leader, which might explain why T18, from top to bottom, were all violence enthusiasts.
Yu Xiheng, propping his chin, smiled, âT18 probably thinks the same about us.â
The chief investigator choked, âThen letâs maintain a peaceful coexistence for now. Itâs late, I wonât disturb you further.â He ended the call and continued his work.
The next day, at nine in the morning.
Jiang Changning left the hotel.
Si Fuqing hadnât returned all night.
She pondered over the identity of Si Fuqingâs boss, who allowed a young girl, not long past adulthood, to stay out all night.
âChangning, why are you alone? Didnât Fuqing come?â Cen Xiaosiâs companion tried to smile, âYou two are so close, why arenât you together? Or did she not come home last night?â
Jiang Changning, always cold and uninterested, didnât bother to reply, simply walking past.
The girlâs attempt to provoke her failed, and her smile faltered.
âDonât bother with that pauper,â Cen Xiaosi took out her lipstick, âYou tried to get along with her, but she didnât appreciate it. I donât know what sheâs so arrogant about, whether itâs because her family is rich or powerful.â
Another girl sneered, âSister Feng wanted to groom her, but she didnât show any ambition. Pretentiously laid-back. â
In the entertainment industry, who didnât have ambition?
Jiang Changning was indeed an outlier.
Since it was a group appearance, Tianle Media had arranged a van and several assistants.
Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the location.
There were many quadrangle courtyards around.
As the main city of the Central Plains, MO City preserved many buildings from the Great Xia Dynasty era, attracting many tourists for photography.
âPlease get ready, teachers, weâll start shooting the behind-the-scenes footage at 9:10 AM, â a staff member approached, âHere are the earpieces. The behind-the-scenes will be live-streamed, and weâre setting up the camera equipment now.â
âWhy do we have to shoot behind-the-scenes footage?â Cen Xiaosi frowned, âIt wasnât mentioned in our schedule. If itâs a live broadcast, you should have informed us beforehand.â
If it was recorded, she could still use editing to cover her flaws.
What if a live broadcast exposed something?
âAh, this is because Teacher Si is here,â the staff member was excited, âTeacher Si is very popular now, so we need to shoot more behind-the-scenes footage to boost viewership. Ah, I wonât talk more, Iâm going to ask Teacher Si for an autograph!ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
He muttered excitedly as he walked away, âTeacher Si is so nice, bringing so many autographed photos. I have to hurry.â
Cen Xiaosi then noticed a crowd around someone in front.
It was Si Fuqing.
Her dress and makeup were simple, with just eyeshadow and light lipstick for color.
Cen Xiaosi clenched her fists.
Si Fuqing, always Si Fuqing!
She wished that Si Fuqing would always keep her flamboyant, heavily made-up goth look.
âWhere is D6?â Cen Xiaosi controlled her emotions and called another staff member, smiling, âArenât we supposed to collaborate with them?â
Following the idol trend, many talent agencies were forming various boy and girl groups, with many returning from abroad.
D6 was a popular boy group at the time, comprising six members.
âThey should be arriving after 10 AM,â the staff member glanced at the time, âBut the captain and vice captain might not come, after allâ¦â
He paused, not elaborating further.
Presumably because Meng Xue, the leader of the Starry Star Girls, wasnât there either.
âThatâs fine,â Cen Xiaosi understood, âWeâll meet up with them after shooting the behind-the-scenes.â
She was already plotting how to link herself with any member of D6 during this short two-day schedule, then stir up a scandal to boost her popularity, surpassing Si Fuqingâs.
At 9:10 AM, the equipment was set.
The photographer scanned through the lens and was puzzled, âWhereâs
Teacher Si?â
âThere!â An assistant spotted her, somewhat uncertain, âShe seems to be watching some old men playing Chinese chess?â
The photographer was completely lost.
He led the crew over and found, indeed, Si Fuqing was intently watching two elderly men play chess.
Cen Xiaosi wouldnât miss any chance to be on camera.
She approached, âFuqing, you understand Chinese chess? You look so serious.â
âIâm alright,â Si Fuqing, arms crossed, looked down, âYou learn by watching.â
She often watched her first and eighth senior brothers play chess. From Chinese chess to Go, even checkers and Ludo werenât spared.
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Two such young men living life like the old men in a park.
Even ants passing by would shake their heads in disbelief.
âLearn by watching?â Cen Xiaosi smiled, insinuating, âI didnât know you played chess. Fuqing, weâre in the same group, letâs not make such false claims.â
Fans had already started pouring into the live stream.
[Xiaosiâs frank persona, love it.]
[Honestly, celebrities spend all day thinking about maintaining their figure
and torturing fans, where do they find time for music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?]
[LOL, pretending in front of a group member, and now sheâs going to crash and burn.]
[What? If Fuqing says she knows, she knows. Why are you all blabbering?]
[If she knows Chinese chess, Iâll twist my head off.]
âOh, so Fuqing is really amazing, learning just by watching,â Cen Xiaosi smiled again, âThen you must know the next move, right?â
Si Fuqing looked up.
âOld sir, it seems youâve been troubled for a long time,â Cen Xiaosi stepped forward and spoke cheerfully, âMy friend here is great at Chinese chess, why donât you let her give it a try?â
The old man, who had been pondering how to break through the game, paused..