Chapter 43
On Flower Street, national heartthrob Bai Yu opened the show with a performance wearing an earpiece. His melodious voice was like clear spring water, soothing and refreshing.
The two large banquet halls hosted a live holographic broadcast. The older guests sat calmly in their seats to watch, while the younger guests crowded into the flower street to watch the live event.
At this moment, Chi Xia and Ye Feng were in the banquet hall, with Ye Feng's men and the Cheng family's servants checking the guests. The two stood in the corner at the front of the banquet hall, looking at each table one by one. Their men and servants took the opportunity of serving tea and dishes to check the guests one by one.
Ye Feng dialed Chi Xia's number, "How is it?"
Chi Xia: "Nothing was found."
Ye Feng: "What do you think?"
Chi Xia: "I now suspect that this insect-man is different from the insects that the previous five people used, so the symptoms are different, and we can't find it using the previous methods."
Ye Feng: "Then what should we do?"
Chi Xia thought of asking Tong Yue for help, but this matter could not be known to anyone, including Ye Feng. For safety reasons, no one could know about Tong Yue's talent.
Just as Chi Xia was about to make an excuse, she saw Feng Xu walking towards her. Chi Xia said, "I have to go now, I have something to do."
Feng Xu, hands in his pockets, leaned slightly against the windowsill, standing side by side with Chi Xia, looking as if they were watching Bai Yu live. "Dressed like that, you're here to be a bodyguard for the Cheng family? I saw you wearing a beautiful dress and getting very close to Cheng Yang before, and you were very wary throughout the entire party. What were you doing?"
Chi Xia was somewhat surprised. Did the Feng family have some kind of inherited talent for clairvoyance or insight?
After interrogating the man, she simply removed her hat and mask, washed the bloodstains off her hands in the bathroom, and stood in the banquet hall in a suit. Despite the large crowd, Feng Xu recognized her at a glance.
Chi Xia: "Are you full?" Why are you observing me if you have nothing better to do? I didn't ask.
Feng Xu turned to look at her. "You haven't answered my question yet."
Chi Xia turned around. "Come with me."
Seeing Chi Xia head towards the inner corridor, Feng Xu paused for a moment and followed. Chi Xia led him to the empty room. The five insectoids had already been taken away by Ye Feng's people. Chi Xia briefly told Feng Xu about the current situation.
Feng Xu frowned slightly after hearing this. "So, you want Tong Yue to help you find the last insectoid? Do you remember what you said? You said you wouldn't hurt Tong Yue. With so many people around, you want him to use his talent?"
Feng Xu is very tall, and Chi Xia has to look up. "So, I need your help. You can take advantage of the opportunity to introduce Tong Yue to people while he's toasting, and let him observe so that it won't be too obvious."
Feng Xu put his hands back into his pockets. "I disagree. This way, Tong Yue might come into contact with the insect people, which is too dangerous."
Chi Xia: "We won't force you. You can ask Tong Yue for his opinion. If he's unwilling, we'll investigate ourselves, but that would put us in a very passive position. There are so many people in the banquet hall; who knows if your name, the famous CEO Feng, is on their list? You work in biotechnology; I don't need to explain how serious the threat of the insectoids is. They're just tools used by the controllers to achieve their goals without bloodshed."
Chi Xia's tone was calm, but with each word she spoke, Feng Xu wavered a little more. He stared at Chi Xia, thinking about what she said about the insect people mixed in with the banquet. That was indeed very dangerous. If he was also on the list of those insect people tasked with infecting insects, he really wouldn't be able to protect himself. That would be even more irresponsible to his family.
Feng Xu: "I need to increase my bargaining power in protecting Tong Yue."
Chi Xia: "Okay, I'll stay at a suitable distance from you. I'll handle any danger."
Feng Xu thought of Tong Yue's painting, in which Chi Xia was like a sharp blade that would sting at the mere sight of it. If that was Chi Xia's true appearance, then her words now would be highly credible.
Feng Xu: "It's settled then."
Chi Xia: "Thank you."
Feng Xu turned to leave, then stopped and turned back, asking, "What's your identity today?"
Chi Xia: "I received 500,000 yuan from Cheng Yang to play his girlfriend. Now that I know there is danger, I am helping to investigate the insect people."
Feng Xu's lips seemed to twitch slightly to one side. He tilted his head and looked Chi Xia up and down before nodding and walking out.
Chi Xia didn't translate his micro-expressions and followed him out. Feng Xu dialed Tong Yue's number in the corridor and asked Tong Yue to come to this corridor to find him.
In the corridor, Feng Xu couldn't help but turn to look at Chi Xia, "I think you can ask Cheng Yang for more money afterward. 500,000 is far from enough for what you did tonight."
Chi Xia didn't look at him directly. "Thank you for your suggestion. I'll consider it."
Feng Xu: "You—"
"Brother?" Tong Yue arrived quickly, interrupting Feng Xu's words.
Feng Xu looked at him and said, "The banquet tonight is not peaceful. You should have felt it. Now I allow you to use your talent to find that pest."
Tong Yue's face instantly lit up, like the sun peeking out from behind the clouds, brightening the whole world. He excitedly grabbed Feng Xu's hand, "Brother? Really? You'll let me help?"
Feng Xu nodded, and Tong Yue looked at Chi Xia again. Seeing that Chi Xia also blinked in affirmation, Tong Yue laughed and said, "Thank you, brother."
Feng Xu sighed, "Don't be happy, it's very dangerous."
Tong Yue: "I'm not afraid, don't I have my brother to protect me?"
Feng Xu subconsciously clenched his fingers as he wanted to touch Tong Yue, but in the end he let go, raised his hand and stroked Tong Yue's soft hair. "I'll stay with you. Just do your best. I won't force you."
Tong Yue rubbed against his brother's palm and nodded obediently.
The three stood in the corridor just before entering the banquet hall, listening to a burst of enthusiastic applause from inside. Bai Yu's performance had just ended, and the holographic projection had faded, allowing everyone to enjoy the wonderful evening.
The banquet hall immediately became noisy, with guests rising in small groups to toast and chat. Feng Xu put his arm around Tong Yue and walked in. Wherever Feng Xu appeared, people would strike up a conversation with him.
Chi Xia followed at a distance from the wall, seemingly keeping an eye on the order of the meeting. She watched Feng Xu socialize, while Tong Yue, introduced by his brother, greeted people while discreetly observing everyone. The two brothers worked together seamlessly.
Every time Feng Xu stopped, Tong Yue could clearly see the true faces of everyone at more than five tables around him. Feng Xu had a high alcohol tolerance, and after he finished talking, he would walk inside. Tong Yue reminded him of the area.
Cheng Yang called midway through the meal, saying that there was nothing unusual in the banquet hall and that Cheng Mo, Feng Xiao, and several alumni had already sat down to eat. He invited Chi Xia to sit with him, but Chi Xia declined, saying that she was still investigating. Cheng Yang seemed to want to say something more, but in the end, he told her to be careful.
Ye Feng sat at the same table with them. The seats they chose were very conspicuous, and the absence of the three noble young men during the meal could easily arouse the suspicion of those behind the scenes.
An hour later, Feng Xu was so drunk that he was staggering as he walked, while Tong Yue still shook his head.
Chi Xia and Tong Yue each took one side of Feng Xu and helped him to the guest room prepared by the Cheng family for the guests to rest. Tong Yue brought warm water and carefully wiped his brother's face and hands.
Feng Xu's eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Chi Xia and slowly said, "My brother's safety is in your hands."
It was clear he was very drunk; he lay motionless on the bed, but his words were still clear and coherent.
Chi Xia: "Don't worry."
"Mmm." After replying, Feng Xu fell into a deep sleep.
Chi Xia watched as Tong Yue slipped his brother slippers and covered him with a blanket. "You stay here to take care of your brother. I'll go out and keep an eye on things."
Seeing that his brother was unharmed, Tong Yue turned to look at Chi Xia and said, "I'll go with the teacher. We can have the Cheng family's servants come over here."
Chi Xia thought about it and agreed. Without Tong Yue, she might not have been able to figure anything out. So she sent a message to Ye Feng, who sent two people to guard Feng Xu.
Chi Xia changed into her formal attire and led Tong Yue to the prominent table next to the main stage. Cheng Yang and Cheng Mo, as the hosts, went to offer toasts, while Ye Feng and Feng Xiao "guarded the area."
Seeing Chi Xia and Tong Yue approach, Ye Feng pulled out the chair next to him and invited Chi Xia to sit down.
Feng Xiao snapped his fingers to signal the servants to bring out the dishes again. He poured Tong Yue a drink and said, "You brat, so your brother is Feng Xu. If you had told us earlier, we could have brought you along. You're the apple of your brother's eye, aren't you? I saw him taking you around to meet people. That means he's officially acknowledging your identity as a member of the Feng family. He's here to congratulate you."
Everyone in the circle knew that President Feng had three illegitimate children, but only Tong Yue was brought to public by Feng Xu. Feng Xiao was the most "innocent" person in the group; he didn't notice anything unusual at the banquet, only seeing Tong Yue following Feng Xu around toasting people.
Tong Yue smiled faintly, raised her glass to clink with his, and said, "Thank you."
Several familiar faces appeared on the table. Li Yao carefully looked Chi Xia over and praised her generously, "Teacher, you look so beautiful today!"
Chi Xia: "You're pretty too."
He Ying scratched the back of her head and secretly glanced at Chi Xia, "I didn't even recognize the teacher if she hadn't said anything."
Li Yao said smugly, "You boys don't even look at the details of a girl's face, so it's normal that you can't recognize her."
Ai Sheng from Class 4, the one Xin Ran calls Xiao Ai, is also at this table. "It's really something else. The country bumpkin homeroom teacher from Class 3 has actually managed to make it look presentable after some tidying up."
Li Yao: "You're the bumpkin, your whole family are bumpkins!"
Ai Sheng was about to retort when Ye Feng looked at him and said, "If you can't speak properly, then shut up."
Ai Sheng moved his lips twice, then turned his gaze away. Actually, he didn't mean to say anything offensive. He didn't dislike this female teacher. The time he went to Xin Ran's house for a home visit, the dinner table was very harmonious. He just wanted to pop in and say hello.
Qin Zhan, also from Class 4, took a sip of juice and looked at Chi Xia, "Isn't our homeroom teacher usually with you? Why isn't he here today?"
Chi Xia: "Yeah, she didn't come."
Qin Zhan frowned; the answer was ambiguous, as if he had said nothing at all. "You were invited by Cheng Mo?"
Chi Xia: "His uncle."
Qin Zhan frowned, about to ask again, when Feng Xiao pulled him close and whispered in his ear. The group of friends often played basketball together and were quite familiar with each other. Even though they weren't in the same class, they always liked to sit together at any gatherings.
Chi Xia sat down and responded a few words, then served herself rice and vegetables, eating in silence. Ye Feng watched her and used serving chopsticks to put food on her plate, saying, "Eat slowly."
As Ye Feng approached, Chi Xia whispered, "Are all the guests here?"
Ye Feng: "Old Madam Cheng and several noble ladies have booked a private room upstairs. My people have been replaced in serving them. They will be arrested immediately if anything unusual happens."
While eating, Chi Xia surveyed the banquet hall. "Bai Yu doesn't seem to be here either. Did he leave right after his performance?"
Ye Feng raised his bracelet. "I'm not quite sure about this. Let me ask."
When Cheng Mo went to toast at a nearby table, he saw that Chi Xia had already sat down. He whispered a few words to Cheng Yang, then went to his parents' table first, said a few words to them, and the two elders got up and followed him over.
Cheng Mo: "Dad, Mom, this is my homeroom teacher, Chi Xia. She's my uncle's guest tonight."
Chi Xia stood up. Cheng Mo's father looked seven-tenths like Cheng Yang. Both of them had a sunny and cheerful appearance. He smiled and raised his glass, "Teacher Chi, I apologize for the poor hospitality."
These two are the second-in-commands of the New Territories. Chi Ha clinked glasses with the two elders.
Cheng Mo's mother had delicate eyebrows and bright eyes, and a refined and elegant appearance. Cheng Mo resembled his mother more. She looked at Chi Xia gently and said, "I heard that Cheng Yang brought a girlfriend. Is that you?"
Cheng Mo was extremely embarrassed. He hugged his mother and said, "Mom, I'll tell you about this later."
Cheng Mo's mother smiled and said, "You silly child, what's wrong with that? Your current homeroom teacher is your future aunt. Isn't that a double blessing? Xia, come with me. I'll introduce you to Xiao Mo's second uncle and aunt. From now on, we'll all be family and visit each other often."
Chi Xia followed Cheng Yang to another table and introduced herself to Cheng Yang's family. Afterwards, Cheng Mo's parents returned to their seats, and Cheng Mo accompanied Chi Xia back to her table.
"Teacher, have you noticed anything unusual?"
When Cheng Mo noticed that his maid was unfamiliar, he sensed something was wrong and messaged Ye Feng. Ye Feng briefly explained the situation to him, and Cheng Mo remained calm. He sent away Tong Yue, with whom he wasn't very close, and inspected both banquet halls with Feng Xiao. As the organizer, he maintained order at the banquet while keeping an eye on every corner of the event, but he found nothing unusual.
Chi Xia: "Not for now. Have your uncle come over, we'll go up and toast Grandma Cheng."
Cheng Mo seemed to want to say something, but then nodded, "Mm."
Cheng Yang put his arm around Chi Xia, nodded and greeted the people around them, and headed towards the inner corridor.
Very few people know about the insect people.
Even the rest of the Cheng family were completely unaware of the situation. Cheng Yang's eldest brother and sister-in-law, as well as his second brother and sister-in-law, were very pleased to see the young couple going in and out together.
Watching Cheng Yang and Chi Xia walk a little further away, Tong Yue got up and said she needed to go to the restroom. Ye Feng also got up, saying, "I'll go with you."
Once outside the corridor, Cheng Yang paused. "I'm so sorry, Xia. I originally brought you here for dinner, but it turned out like this, and I even put you in such a dangerous situation. But what kind of work did you do before? It seems like you have a high tolerance for danger?"
Chi Xia smiled faintly and gestured for Cheng Yang to follow. "It's not appropriate to talk about my previous job today, but since you asked, I'll tell you the truth. I used to work as an embalmer at a funeral home. People with awakened talents are prone to resurrection after death, and there are countless risks when dealing with the deceased who have been infected with biochemical viruses. So I learned some emergency response methods and I also know a little bit of martial arts."
Cheng Yang didn't actually have any friends who did this kind of job, but teachers always have a broader range of knowledge than others. He nodded after hearing this, "I see. Thanks to you and Xiao Feng tonight, otherwise a bookworm like me would have been completely lost."
The two walked and talked, and soon arrived upstairs. Chi Xia said, "Don't be so polite. We are colleagues, and Cheng Mo is my student. It's only right and proper that I help you with this."
Cheng Yang: "After the dinner, I will transfer the money to you. 500,000 is far from enough for what you have done for us tonight."
Chi Xia stopped in the corridor and looked at Cheng Yang, "Are you really going to give it to me?"
Cheng Yang: "Absolutely."
Chi Xia: "Alright then, since you don't like owing favors."
Chi Xia finished speaking and left. Cheng Yang quickly followed, "No, it's not that, I—"
Chi Xia didn't give him a chance to continue, pointing to the door of a room from which lively sounds were coming from, "This one?"
Cheng Yang was looking at her, but when he saw her mouth move, he followed her finger to the door. In fact, he hadn't finished speaking and hadn't heard what Chi Xia had said in a concise and quick manner. He just nodded subconsciously.
Chi Xia opened the door, and a group of people inside were chatting and laughing. The sound of the door opening was insignificant. It was the maid who called out to report that the group looked over. As soon as Grandma Cheng saw the two of them, she smiled and waved, "Come and sit down."
Cheng Yang went all out with his act, putting his arm around Chi Xia's shoulder as they went inside. The maid closed the door, and Chi Xia saw Bai Yu inside as well. When he saw the two of them with wine glasses, he got up and walked over, looking Chi Xia up and down before winking at Cheng Yang. "Oh, so protective of her. Could it be that this charming young lady is the daughter-in-law you brought back to meet the old lady tonight?"
Cheng Yang chuckled, patted his shoulder, and led him to the table, saying, "You already know, why ask?"
Grandma Cheng reached out her hand, "Xia, come sit next to me."
The maid brought out a chair, and Chi Xia took the hand extended by the old lady and sat down, saying, "Auntie." She then turned to the ladies at the table and said, "Hello, ladies."
Grandma Cheng held her hand with satisfaction, and the ladies also praised their daughter-in-law. Cheng Yang poured wine for everyone, and Bai Yu sat down on the other side of Grandma Cheng. The atmosphere at the table was very good.
Grandma Cheng asked Chi Xia a few questions about whether the food suited her taste and if she had any dietary restrictions. Chi Xia answered them one by one, her eyes slowly sweeping over the people at the table. Everyone seemed normal.
To prevent Ye Feng from discovering his secret, Tong Yue actually went to the bathroom and waited inside until Ye Feng said he was leaving first before coming out and carefully going upstairs.
Following the sound, he found the private room, stood outside the door listening to the commotion, and when the servant came out, he used the excuse of asking for directions to look inside. When he saw a dazzling figure, he stopped in his tracks.
Just as he was about to look away and quickly hide to text Chi Xia, the person looked at him. Their eyes met, and Tong Yue felt a chill run down his spine, his hair stand on end.
He watched as the man stared at him, said something to the person next to him, and then got up and walked towards him.
The maid stood in the doorway, blocking more of the view, and called Tong Yue twice in a low voice, "Sir, sir? What's wrong?"
Tong Yue heard the last half of the sentence, staggered and turned around, "I'm fine." She hurriedly walked towards the stairwell, texting Chi Xia as she went. Her eyes were terrifying, like those of a dead person.
Tong Yue was so frightened that his steps were unsteady. He quickly went down the stairs, holding onto the wall. Just as he reached the landing, a voice called out to him, "Little boy, why are you running?"
The sound, as if the cold, damp water would cling to him at any moment, made Tong Yue shudder in fright.
"Tap! Tap! Tap!"
The leather shoes made a crisp echo as they stepped on the marble.
Tong Yue stood frozen in place as the person approached him with a strange yet alluring threat of death. Then, a hand landed on his trembling shoulder, and bright red lips came close to his ear, like a venomous snake spitting out its tongue, "What did you just see?"
Tong Yue could have run away, but he didn't want to bring this terrifying threat into the banquet hall. He was thinking of ways to temporarily stall him.
"What are you thinking in that little head of yours? Do you mind if I pry it open and take a look?" The hand on Tong Yue's shoulder moved up his neck, and sharp nails grew from his fingertips, scraping Tong Yue's scalp inch by inch.
Tong Yue heard her own heart pounding too fast and tried to control her erratic breathing. "I—"
"Let him go."
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