Chapter 34

The villa of Lin Zhenghong, chairman of Xingyao Media, located halfway up the mountain, is less a residence and more a meticulously crafted feng shui fortress.

Outside the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows stretches a long city skyline, while inside, the ambiance is entirely classically Chinese. The rosewood furniture is solid and substantial, and the display shelves showcase priceless antiques. The air is filled with the refreshing scent of agarwood. Every detail, from the angle of the screen to the shape of the potted plants, exudes an understated sophistication.

Today's family banquet was of extremely high standard, but only Zhuohua and Lu Xiao were invited.

Lin Zhenghong, dressed in a well-tailored Tang suit, personally greeted him at the door with an unprecedentedly sincere smile, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible reverence. The bloody, bizarre, and mind-blowing scene in the private collection room a few days earlier had completely reshaped the worldview of this business tycoon.

"Professor Zhuohua, Lu Xiao, please come in! My humble abode is simple and unassuming, please accept my humble offerings!"

Lin Zhenghong warmly yet respectfully led the two into the spacious living room. When his gaze swept over Zhuohua, it was filled with deep gratitude and lingering fear; when it swept over Lu Xiao, it held a more scrutinizing and approving look—this young man, in such a situation, was able to stand steadily beside Zhuohua; his character was far from ordinary.

"Mr. Lin, you're too kind."

Zhuohua nodded slightly, her expression still aloof, as if she were attending an ordinary dinner party. Her gaze casually swept over the living room furnishings, her eyes not admiring the mansion, but rather inspecting something.

Lu Xiao lagged half a step behind, his posture upright, the suit accentuating his broad shoulders and long legs. He wore a polite smile, his eyes calm, having long since shed the naivety and awkwardness he had when he first joined Xingyao.

Having experienced a series of extraordinary events, especially witnessing his girlfriend flick her finger and spin an ice lotus to remotely kill the evil cultivators in Southeast Asia, Lu Xiao's state of mind underwent a dramatic change after he solidified his goals.

Those "metaphysical" events that once made him nervous or even afraid are now, in his eyes, nothing more than part of the powerful force of Zhuohua.

He was no longer afraid; instead, he felt a heavy sense of responsibility—he needed to become stronger so that he could stand by her side, even if it was just to shield her from some unnecessary troubles.

"Master! Goddess! You've finally arrived!"

An exaggerated voice broke the silence of the living room. Lin Yang's neck was still wrapped in thick gauze, and his face was slightly pale, but his energy was as strong as a fully charged loudspeaker.

Dressed in a flashy, brightly colored casual outfit, he rushed down the spiral staircase like a butterfly, holding a brand-new leather notebook and a pen in his hands with an air of importance, his eyes shining as he headed straight for Zhuohua.

"Young Master Lin, is your injury better?"

Lu Xiao took a half step forward without making a sound, blocking Lin Yang's overly enthusiastic path. His tone was gentle but carried an undeniable sense of distance. He casually took the notebook and pen that Lin Yang was trying to "offer" to Zhuo Hua and placed them naturally on the small table next to him. "Hua Hua doesn't like people getting too close."

Lin Yang was blocked, but he wasn't annoyed. Instead, he grinned and scratched his head, winking at Lu Xiao: "Brother Xiao! From now on, we're on the same side! You're my master's disciple, and you're my master's... hehe, so we're practically brothers!"

He automatically and consciously placed himself under the tutelage of "Zhuohua," looking as if he were honored to be a part of it.

Zhuohua ignored Lin Yang's chatter and focused her gaze on a huge Podocarpus macrophyllus bonsai by the window in the living room.

The bonsai pine, with its ancient and vigorous shape, was originally an auspicious object to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune, but now it showed signs of decay. Its branches and leaves were sparse and dull in color, especially the section of the main trunk near the roots, where the bark was dry and cracked, exuding a heavy, lifeless aura.

Lin Zhenghong noticed Zhuohua's gaze and followed it, a hint of helplessness and regret on his face: "Alas, this 'Welcoming Pine' was carefully cultivated by a master and has been with me for over ten years. It was fine for the first two years, but for some reason, it started to decline last year. We've changed several gardeners and used the best nutrient solution, but there's been no improvement. It's about to..." He shook his head, his tone carrying the special concern a businessman has for "omens."

A potted tree may not be worth much, but the symbolic meaning of "decay" is, in his view, unlucky, as he firmly believes in feng shui.

Zhuohua walked slowly over and stopped in front of the Podocarpus macrophyllus. She did not reach out to touch the withered branches, but simply extended her slender, fair index finger and lightly traced a line in the air about an inch above the dead trunk.

The movements were light and effortless, as if parting an invisible veil.

However, the instant her fingertips brushed across the surface, both Lu Xiao and Lin Zhenghong clearly felt a momentary, extremely subtle stagnation in the surrounding air. Lin Yang even shuddered dramatically, feeling a chill creep up his spine.

"Blocking the watercourses will cause the accumulation of negative energy and the dissipation of wealth."

Zhuo Hua's clear, cold voice rang out, like ice beads falling onto a jade plate, explaining clearly, "The earth's energy here flows downwards, originally nourished by water veins, but the source was cut off by the later expansion of the underground wine cellar. When the water dries up, the trees wither, and the yin energy gathers and lingers, eventually encroaching on life. Not only this tree, but in the past two years, have you often felt a damp and cold feeling in your home? Your financial path seems stable, but in reality, there are hidden obstacles. You have a lot of income, but there are always unexpected expenses to fill the gaps?" Her gaze turned to Lin Zhenghong.

Lin Zhenghong was shocked, his expression instantly changing from regret to horror! Zhuohua's few words precisely struck at the heartache he had been suffering from for the past two years!

No matter how high the central air conditioning is turned on at home, there's always a lingering damp chill in some corners. Several major projects at the company, despite their excellent prospects, always seem to run into problems at the last minute—either partners suddenly change their minds, or internal processes malfunction. Although they can all be resolved eventually, the effort and extra costs involved are painfully costly!

At first, he thought it was just bad luck or a management oversight. Later, he also wondered if it was a feng shui issue. He invited several masters over and even performed a ritual to appease the heavens, but it only changed things a little bit.

It now seems that those masters were just charlatans; they didn't even find the crux of the problem!

"Professor Zhuohua! You...you're amazing!"

Lin Zhenghong's voice trembled, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his eyes were filled with awe and urgency as he looked at Zhuohua, "Then... how can we resolve this? I'll have someone fill the wine cellar right away!"

"No need."

Zhuohua withdrew her finger and turned her gaze to the entrance hall of the villa. There stood a huge floor-standing blue and white porcelain fish tank, in which several precious golden arowanas were swimming lazily. The aquatic plants were lush, and the landscaping was exquisite, clearly having been carefully arranged by someone.

"It's better to guide than to block."

She walked up to the enormous fish tank. The tank was incredibly heavy, requiring two or three strong men to move it. Lin Zhenghong was about to call for a servant when he saw Zhuohua simply extend her right hand, fingers slightly spread, palm lightly pressed against the smooth porcelain wall of the tank.

There was no force exerted, and no sound was made.

The next moment, the heavy blue-and-white porcelain fish tank, which was about half a person tall and filled with water and sand, was lifted up as if by an invisible giant hand and rotated to the left by about thirty degrees silently and steadily!

The water in the tank rippled only slightly, and a few arowanas flicked their tails in fright before quickly returning to calm. The tank made a very faint "sizzling" sound as it rubbed against the ground.

The angle has been adjusted. The fish tank, which was originally facing the front door and entryway, is now slightly angled, with one edge of the tank aligned precisely with the direction of the withered Podocarpus macrophyllus in the living room.

"Alright." Zhuohua withdrew her hand, as if she had merely adjusted the position of the vase casually.

The living room was dead silent.

Lin Zhenghong stared with his mouth slightly open, looking at the heavy fish tank that had been moved by an invisible force without spilling a single drop of water, and then at Zhuo Hua, whose expression was calm. He felt as if his worldview had been rubbed into the ground once again.

Is this... is this still a human?!

Lin Yang's eyes lit up, and he trembled with excitement. He grabbed the notebook and pen that Lu Xiao had just placed on the small table and began to frantically jot down notes, muttering to himself, "A miracle! Master has shown his divine power! The fish tank is turned to the left... angle... I estimate thirty degrees? No, Master's actions must have a deeper meaning! What is the exact degree? I have to write it down! I'll rely on this skill when I open a feng shui company in the future... Uh, Master, do you think this angle needs to be accurate to several decimal places?"

Zhuohua: "..."

Looking at Lin Yang's enthusiastic apprenticeship, Lu Xiao sighed helplessly, reached out and pressed down on the pen tip that was about to pierce the paper with excitement, and said in a steady voice: "Lin Yang, Hua Hua said that as long as it looks pleasing to the eye, it's fine."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a strange, comforting power, as if he were talking about something utterly ordinary. His gaze towards Zhuohua was one of complete trust and indulgence—whatever she did was right.

Lin Yang, held down by Lu Xiao, paused for a moment, glancing at Zhuo Hua's hopeless profile, then at Lu Xiao's calm "my wife is always right" expression, scratched his head, and muttered softly, "Oh... as long as she's pleasing to the eye? Master's level of understanding is indeed unfathomable..."

Although I was a little disappointed, I obediently crossed out the "precise degree" column and changed it to "where the master's heart is directed is the auspicious position".

Lin Zhenghong took several deep breaths to barely suppress the turmoil in his heart. His gaze towards Zhuohua had completely transformed into one of reverence.

This isn't just an entertainer; she's a living deity walking among mortals! He was incredibly grateful that he hadn't blamed them for the elevator incident, and even more grateful that his son, Lin Yang, was saved by her! This great Buddha must be firmly enshrined in Xingyao!

"Professor Zhuohua is truly a divine being! I, Lin, am deeply grateful and have no way to repay him!"

Lin Zhenghong bowed deeply to Zhuohua with utmost respect, saying, "From this day forward, Teacher Zhuohua and Lu Xiao are the most honored guests of the Lin family! Xingyao Media is your home! If you need anything, I and everyone at Xingyao will do our utmost!"

He straightened up, immediately took out his phone, and in front of Zhuo Hua and Lu Xiao, dialed the number of Su Qing, the artist director. His voice regained the authority of a business tycoon, but carried an undeniable force:

"Su Qing, listen up. From today onwards, Zhuo Hua and Lu Xiao are the company's highest priority artists! All resources are open to them! They will have priority in selecting S-level projects and top-tier teams at their disposal! Don't consider costs, don't worry about short-term returns! I want to see them stand at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry! This is an order, not a discussion!"