Chapter 26: The Rightful Goddess of Wealth
Xi Yun made time in her busy schedule to meet with Lu Qingfei for two reasons: her calligraphy and her live streaming.
“Thank you for your offer, Ms. Xi, but that won’t be necessary,” Lu Qingfei replied, her tone polite yet firm.
Xi Yun was not surprised. “May I ask why?”
“I don’t have any relevant work experience, and I seldom watch variety shows,” Lu Qingfei met Xi Yun’s eyes squarely, her tone calm and even. “Each position requires the right fit. I’d rather not take up resources better used elsewhere. The opportunity should go to someone truly suited for it.”
Xi Yun’s young assistant could barely contain her excitement.
Social resources, of all things.
Xi Yun smiled faintly, not pressing further. “We have each other’s contact information. If you ever change your mind, you’re welcome to reach out to me at any time.”
Lu Qingfei smiled in return. “Thank you.”
The assistant reminded Xi Yun that her next appointment was approaching.
Outside the café, in the parking lot, a black Mercedes awaited.
The assistant fastened her seatbelt, then turned to ask Xi Yun, who sat in the back, “Ms. Xi, her calligraphy could ease your headaches. Why not just tell her that directly?”
Xi Yun had started suffering from headaches a year ago. She’d gone to the hospital, but no cause could be found. The doctors said she was overworked and simply needed rest. Yet a year later, her headaches had only grown worse.
Her assistant had informed her that Liu Zhanyan was attempting to contact Lu Qingfei, so she had gone to look at Lu Qingfei’s calligraphy herself.
To her astonishment, the splitting pain in her head vanished as she viewed the calligraphy.
It was as if a gentle spring breeze swept over a wilting flower, bringing it back to life.
“I haven’t figured things out yet, so I can’t reveal too much,” Xi Yun said, bowing her head, her eyes following the strokes of ink across the rice paper, not looking up. “In a negotiation, the last thing you do is reveal your weakness first.”
**
No sooner had Xi Yun left than Wei Ze came bustling over.
“Wasn’t that Xi Yun?” Wei Ze pulled out a chair and sat down with a flurry. “You know her?”
“We’re not close.”
Lu Qingfei propped her chin on one hand, her eyelids drooping lazily, a look of ease on her face.
“You know Xi Yun?”
Wei Ze replied, “Everyone in Yuncheng knows her.”
Lu Qingfei looked interested, inviting him to elaborate.
“Xi Yun, real name Liu Yun, is the fake heiress of the Liu family.”
“Nine years ago, Yuncheng was the stage for a huge scandal. It turned out the heiress of the distinguished Liu family wasn’t their real daughter!”
“The real heiress was brought home, and the fake one—Xi Yun—was thrown out, left destitute. Her biological parents only doted on the real heiress they’d raised for eighteen years.”
“Penniless and homeless, Xi Yun disappeared a month later. Everyone thought she was dead.”
“Three years ago, though, LN Entertainment burst onto the scene, producing hit shows like ‘Chinese Treasures,’ ‘Survival in the Wild,’ and ‘The Marvelous Bamboo Slips.’ Its founder gradually stepped into the spotlight.”
“That’s when everyone realized—Xi Yun was Liu Yun, the former fake heiress turned real CEO! The Liu family must have regretted it bitterly!”
Wei Ze told the story with dramatic flair, pausing to gulp down his coffee before continuing:
“You know the Liu family, right? Remember Liu Zhanyan, whom you did a live call with? And the old man of the Liu family? He was the one who drove Xi Yun out back then.”
Lu Qingfei listened with keen interest, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her cup.
“That’s it?”
Wei Ze grabbed a few biscuits from the table and stuffed them into his mouth. “That’s all. What else could you want?”
“Face-slapping, revenge, burning bridges,” Wei Ze shrugged. “None of that happened.”
Lu Qingfei’s interest waned.
Suddenly, Wei Ze remembered something and leaned in with a conspiratorial air. “But there’s another, more bizarre version I’ve heard.”
Lu Qingfei perked up. “A bizarre version?”
“It’s said that after the real heiress, Liu Yien, was born, the Liu family could hear her thoughts. They thought she was possessed and sent her away, taking in Xi Yun instead. It wasn’t until Liu Yien made a name for herself in the calligraphy world at eighteen that they brought her home.”
Wei Ze lowered his voice. “Isn’t that the most outrageous rumor you’ve ever heard?”
He might not know the main facts, but he never lacked for gossip.
Lu Qingfei pondered for a moment, then replied calmly, “It’s not that strange.”
There are incantations that let one hear others’ thoughts, after all.
But mind-reading spells are forbidden techniques.
Her ever-understanding Third Senior Brother had looked at her with exasperation when he learned she’d studied it.
Yan Guilai, rarely angry, had scolded: “Why do you insist on learning everything? Does being a genius make you invincible?”
Zhong Qin, ever doting, immediately retorted: “Of course a genius little sister is invincible!”
Xie Yunjie said coldly, “Practicing forbidden techniques is tantamount to self-destruction.”
And the little junior sister, wide-eyed and innocent: “The mind-reading spell struck first.”
Seeing her calm as ever, Wei Ze quietly gave her a thumbs up.
As expected of a reincarnated metaphysics master with the Martial Star’s blessing—she’d truly seen it all.
Lu Qingfei had no idea that, in Young Master Wei’s mind, her image had just grown even taller.
After a while, Lu Qingfei asked quietly, “Any leads on Ling Bai or Tao Jin?”
Wei Ze pulled out a folder and handed it to her.
“Ling Bai does have a son, but he’s seventeen, not six or seven. His name is Ling Jin. As for Tao Jin, he committed suicide half a year ago.”
Lu Qingfei was momentarily surprised. “Suicide?”
Wei Ze nodded. “Tao Jin was a student at No. 1 High. He jumped from the school rooftop due to excessive stress.”
Lu Qingfei looked down at the file. It did say suicide, but the age—seventeen, not six or seven.
“My mom said the Ling family’s been haunted these past months. Ling Jin was so out of sorts he nearly got in an accident. They hired a Taoist to perform a cleansing ritual, and he’s been better since.”
Lu Qingfei lifted her gaze, her eyes catching the sunlight, dark as polished obsidian with a subtle inner gleam.
“Does Officer Wei know which Taoist the Ling family hired?”
“Master Liu.”
Liu Guanyun.
His attainment in metaphysics was indeed profound.
After all, not just anyone could spot the faint trace of evil energy that had accidentally clung to Lu Qingfei.
“Is there some big case?” Wei Ze asked, only half-joking, as if a commendation beckoned. “Another artifact theft?”
“No,” Lu Qingfei said sincerely, “With Officer Wei on duty, no criminal would dare act.”
Wei Ze flushed with embarrassment. “No need for ‘Officer Wei.’ Just call me by name.”
Lu Qingfei sent him a smile so pure and kind it could only come from a model citizen.
Wei Ze was stunned.
No one more deserving of the ‘Five Good Citizen’ title!
“So, if there’s no case, why are you looking into Ling family and Tao Jin?”
“They both went to No. 1 High,” Lu Qingfei explained. “I’m planning to interview there for a job and wanted to learn more about the students.”
Her answer was orderly and sincere.
No job is beneath another.
Young Master Wei admired people who earned their living with their own hands. He replied enthusiastically, “If there’s anything else you want to know, just ask! I’ll help however I can!”
Lu Qingfei smiled kindly. “These materials are enough. Thank you.”
Wei Ze clicked his tongue in admiration.
She mastered metaphysics and martial arts yet still sought a job nurturing the nation’s youth.
The gap between people!
He wanted to learn from her!
Energized, Young Master Wei decided to patrol the east side of the city.
Serving the people once again—salute!
**
Lu Qingfei’s live streaming schedule was five days on, two off. Today was her day off, and she wasn’t in a hurry to return to Xuantian Sect.
Xi Yun had spent a hundred thousand on her calligraphy.
A true patron of the arts.
Simply put, she had money to spare!
Her master and senior brothers were devoted to their small plots of land and had no interest in electronic devices, but without communication tablets, it was impossible to send messages at a distance.
She would have to get them phones.
Otherwise, there would be no way to keep in touch.
With the proceeds from her calligraphy, Lu Qingfei bought a pile of supplies, then contentedly entered a convenience store to buy food.
At dusk, the orange sunlight spilled into a corner of the shop.
As she browsed the shelves for bread, she caught sight, out of the corner of her eye, of a girl sitting quietly in a secluded nook.
Xu Li wore a convenience store uniform, wired earphones plugged in, head bent over an English worksheet.
There was someone at the register; she must be waiting to take over the shift.
Lu Qingfei noticed Xu Li’s canvas shoes, washed to a faded white, and paused slightly as she reached for a sandwich.
Her school uniform was clean and neat, but her eyes could not hide her exhaustion.
It reminded Lu Qingfei a little of herself back then.
Lu Qingfei’s gaze drifted from Xu Li to the window.
In the next moment, her eyes trembled ever so slightly.