"impossible."

The assistant director waved his hand, denying the idea with absolute certainty:

"We simply don't have the money to rent lighting equipment."

For a moment, everyone fell silent. Ji Qian hesitated for a long time before carefully asking, "Then... what about Boss Xie?"

The assistant director's eyes lit up upon hearing this. He immediately pressed the shutter button and whispered mysteriously to Ji Qian:

"The two of them had a fight. It is said that Chairman Xie originally wanted to provide filming funds, but Brother Liu righteously refused, saying that he would not accept charity."

The funding for this filming was obtained personally by Brother Liu from the embassy after he received news of the collaboration.

"want?"

Ji Qian hadn't expected Director Liu to be so assertive. Just as she was about to praise him, she saw the assistant director clasp his hands together above his head, making a pleading gesture.

"Yes, that's how we got it!"

The last time Ji Qian saw this posture was when she was praying for rain. The words she was about to say caught in her throat, and she could only force herself to praise it:

"Director Liu... he's quite adaptable, isn't he?"

"Who can argue with that? Sometimes I think the reason I haven't been able to get a permanent position for so many years is because I'm too principled..."

The assistant director's words of reflection came to an abrupt halt the moment he saw the microphone on Ji Qian's collar. He had only blocked the camera, forgetting that there was also audio recording equipment on set.

"...Fracture! Yes, I fracture fractures too easily! I'm always taking leave, which is why I haven't been able to get a permanent position."

The assistant director finished speaking in a cold sweat, then quickly retreated to a corner and remained silent.

After receiving this unexpected gossip, Ji Qian felt much calmer. She picked up the human and ghost beside her again, turned to Han Mengyao, and said:

"Well, since we're already here, let's just go up."

As she spoke, Ji Qian used her free hand to lift her shirt and, to everyone's surprise, pulled out a pistol from her lower back.

Before coming down, Ji Qian made sure to carry all the unclaimed guns on her person for safety. Besides the one she had given to Mi Yesi, she had at least three guns on her person.

As they approached the exit, the scene outside was finally revealed to them.

"Is this...outside?!"

Mi Yesi exclaimed in surprise. Looking at the lush green grass and blooming white flowers outside the door, and recalling everything she had experienced underground, she suddenly felt as if she had been in another world.

Han Mengyao, however, still retained her rationality, and she shattered Mi Yesi's illusions without hesitation:

"No, I've calculated the distance; we should still be within the manor's boundaries, but..."

Han Mengyao looked up at her surroundings, her big eyes filled with confusion:

"Is there such a place in the manor?"

"This is...cough cough...the back mountain of the manor...cough cough cough cough cough."

A hoarse voice suddenly rang out from behind. Ji Qian subconsciously gripped her pistol and looked back, only to find everyone staring at her in surprise.

Ji Qian felt a chill run down her spine, realizing that the voice had been very close, as if it were right next to her back.

Without thinking, Ji Qian raised her elbow and slammed it backward without turning her head. Then she heard a scream. Although the voice was still unfamiliar, the words spoken were all too familiar:

"Ouch, Ji Qian, why did you hit me again?!"

Completely unaware that his voice had become hoarse, Xu Qi cried out in surprise. He tried to reach out to cover his injured area, but was unable to move because of the ropes binding him.

"You've tied it too tightly this time."

Ji Qian walked over to Han Mengyao and, with her help, untied the ropes while responding to Xu Qi's complaints:

"It's all for your safety. Last time I ran two miles, and if my foot hadn't been tripped by the rope, I probably wouldn't have found you..."

Ji Qian suddenly realized something was wrong halfway through her sentence. Looking at Xu Qi's face, which was emitting black smoke, she cautiously asked:

"What, didn't Sister Xia tell you?"

Xu Qi, who had been unconscious the entire time and had no idea that such a thing had happened, pursed his lips and asked with a solemn expression:

"You're not talking about that time when I was being followed by a stalker and that's why I hired you as my bodyguard for a lot of money, are you?"

Ji Qian guiltily looked away.

Seeing Ji Qian's reaction, Xu Qi felt a chill in his heart. He stammered, "I...I won't be..."

"No!"

Ji Qian reacted quickly and immediately understood the meaning behind Xu Qi's words:

"Don't worry, that guy was running away at the time and didn't have time to look back. When I got back, you were lying on the street talking in your sleep."

Xu Qi's expression softened slightly upon hearing this, but he warned in a low voice, "There absolutely cannot be a next time, or I'll give you a bad review!"

"...This isn't like ordering takeout."

Ji Qian muttered softly, making sure Xu Qi didn't hear her.

Although she has always been honest and straightforward, no one will turn down money.

Besides, if she really retires from the entertainment industry, she might actually become Xu Qi's bodyguard.

It's pretty exciting to think that unpaid labor can suddenly become a high-paying job!

"By the way, Xu Qi, you just said this is the back mountain of the manor?"

Han Mengyao tore off the last rope, rolled it up, and put it in her bag, while simultaneously steering the conversation back on track.

"Oh right, I specifically checked the satellite map before I came. We should be on the mountain behind the manor now."

Xu Qi straightened his clothes and suddenly realized, "Right, how did we get here?"

His last memory was of reciting the Golden Light Evil-Dispelling Spell. When he woke up, all he saw was this meadow. He had no idea how he got there.

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