The assistant was stunned.
He hadn't expected Qiao Xi to show so much concern for Zhu Feng, and he was immediately touched and wanted to explain.
But before he could, Qiao Xi asked, "There's no need to pay for a share of the funeral, right? It's just so unfortunate that he passed away, and I'm a bit strapped for cash right now…"
Qiao Xi pulled out her phone and started checking her balance. She scrolled through her accounts, but between WeChat and Alipay, she couldn't come up with even 50 yuan.
Assistant: "…"
Before the assistant could respond, Zhu Feng's voice came from inside, filled with fury.
"Qiao Xi! Get in here right now!"
Qiao Xi turned and dashed inside.
The moment she saw Zhu Feng lying on the hospital bed, she burst into laughter. "Oh, you're not dead! You scared me for a second there."
Zhu Feng was trembling with anger. "This is a patient's gown! Can you even speak properly?! And why are you out of money again? Didn't the advertisement payment just come in last month? A full 100,000, and you've spent it all in a month?"
What?
Qiao Xi immediately demanded of Xiao 6, "Where's my money? Did you take it?"
Xiao 6: "…Master, did you even glance at the plot?"
Xiao 6 provided the information, and Qiao Xi learned that the original character, due to her love-struck mentality, had been ruthlessly deceived by a celebrity in the entertainment industry over five years, leading her into debt.
So not only was she broke, but she also owed 5 million in online loans.
Qiao Xi: "…"
Life is hard; it's all crap.
"Forget it, I don't want to know. Don't make me lose my temper." Zhu Feng shook his head, tossing his phone at Qiao Xi. "Just look for yourself!"
Qiao Xi caught the phone and saw a glamorous face on the screen.
Zhu Feng said, "Your sister may be a country girl, but she's got looks and talent. Now the most renowned agent at Tianhua Entertainment has her in their sights. And here you are, stuck in the countryside assisting pigs with childbirth? Qiao Xi, have you lost your mind?"
After a long pause, Zhu Feng looked up and saw Qiao Xi squatting on the floor, practically drooling over the screen.
"Wow, she looks great. I should quickly get 200 signed photos from her before she becomes famous, stockpile them for a month and resell them. Absolutely profitable."
Zhu Feng: "?"
"Qiao Xi!"
"Calm down, calm down. Am I the kind of person who would hoard it all for myself?" Qiao Xi got up and reassured him, "I'll get two signed photos for you too."
The plot had mentioned that Qiao Yuyi, the real daughter, would become a sensation in the future. Each signed photo could sell for 50,000. If she got 200 photos now, at 50,000 each, that would be 10 million—debt cleared and 5 million left over!
Xiao 6 reminded, "Master, your debt is due next month…"
Qiao Yuyi wouldn't become famous for another six months.
Qiao Xi: "…"
Heartbroken in an instant.
In the end, Zhu Feng kicked Qiao Xi out.
He threw the advertisement contract at her, telling her to go sign it at the company. He also warned her that the next season of "Celebrity Transformation" was going to be significantly harder, advising her to keep her mouth shut.
As soon as Qiao Xi stepped out, she received a 5,000 yuan transfer from Zhu Feng.
"Good people live long lives!" She immediately sent Zhu Feng a 60-second thank-you video.
But as soon as she sent it, a red exclamation mark appeared.
— Zhu Feng had blocked her.
The assistant messaged her: "Sister Xi, Brother Zhu asked me to tell you that he sent you the money to get lost. Contact him using a bottle message from now on."
Qiao Xi wasn't bothered. She cheerfully accepted the money, putting it away, and headed back to the Yu family.
Her plan was to let Qiao Yuyi develop quietly for a while and then return to the Qiao family to reap the benefits.
For now, she needed to keep an eye on Yu Siyan, who was like a ticking time bomb, considering his budding exhibitionist tendencies.
However, as soon as she stepped through the door, she heard Aunt Zhao's panicked screams.
"Quick, get an inflatable mattress in the garden! If someone falls, it'll be terrible!"
Aunt Zhao was holding a stone stool and rushing forward.
Qiao Xi: ?
In the garden, a huge hot air balloon was slowly rising into the sky. Yu Siyan was sitting inside, drinking tea and enjoying wine, and even waved to Yu Zheng, who was in his study on the second floor.
"Hi, Father."
Yu Zheng: !!!
"You! Get down here!" he roared from the stairs.
Yu Siyan slowly replied, "No, it's going to rain soon. I'm helping Aunt Zhao bring in the clothes."
As he spoke, a clothes hanger poked out of the hot air balloon and jostled above Yu Zheng's head.
"Bang!"
A red thermal underwear fell directly onto Yu Zheng's head.
Cheng Xi couldn't hold back and laughed out loud, then tried to suppress it, making a pig-like noise.
Yu Zheng threw the underwear off his head, his face turning purple with anger. Just as he was about to blow up, someone called out, "The young madam is back!"
Cheng Xi's expression changed drastically. "Young Master…"
"Why are you afraid?" Yu Siyan glanced sideways, leisurely sipping his tea. "She's back; she won't eat me, will she?"
"Not that, Young Master…" Cheng Xi said awkwardly, "The thermal underwear that fell on your father's head is the young madam's!"
"Pfft—"
Yu Siyan spat out his hot tea and sprang up.
"Why didn't you say so earlier? Quickly go pick it up!"
Everyone scrambled into action.
"Year, what are you picking up?"
— A chilling voice came from the small western-style building across the way.
Yu Siyan stiffened and turned around.
He saw Qiao Xi standing at the top of the small western-style building, holding a toy gun and pointing it at him, smiling.
"Are you having fun? I hope I didn't interrupt."
The whole family: !!!
"This, put it down!" Cheng Xi stood in front of Yu Siyan, "Let's talk it out, Young Madam, don't be impulsive!"
Yu Siyan's face showed through, gritting his teeth, "You're just upset about a piece of sleepwear? You want to kill me?"
"A piece of sleepwear?" Qiao Xi sneered, "It's pure cotton, lined with fleece, and blessed by a master from Lingyin Temple. And you used it to wipe your father's face? Does your father even deserve that?"
Yu Zheng: ?
The whole family: ?!
Yu Siyan was momentarily stunned, his arrogance shrinking.
"Is that so? Indeed, it's not worthy." He said, "Then I'll have Cheng Xi wash it by hand for you. Will that work?"
Qiao Xi shot him a sideways glance and decided not to press the issue, agreeing to this solution.
After she left, Yu Zheng stood on the second floor, watching the light rain fall from the sky, lost in thought.
In the room, He Xuefang was delighted. "Haha! Yu Siyan finally got his comeuppance! He's met his match today!"
Yu Siyan always turned the house upside down whenever he came home, so this was a rare moment of harmony.
She called her confidante, Wang Ma. "Did you get everything?"
Wang Ma: "Got it!"
"Arrange for Qiao Xi to meet me by the rock garden."
When Qiao Xi arrived, she was chewing on a freshly cooked pig trotter.
"What's up?" she asked.
He Xuefang smiled. "Xi Xi, I know you're in need of money."
Qiao Xi: ?
"Not that, there's no need to mock me." Qiao Xi replied.
He Xuefang: "…"
The attempt to cozy up having failed, He Xuefang got straight to the point and handed Qiao Xi a bank card.
Qiao Xi's anger dissipated immediately as she stared at the card, her eyes darting. "What's this about?"