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Huayuan Apartments
This was a high-end residential complex where nearly all the residents were celebrities or top-tier talent agents from the entertainment industry. It was often joked within the circle that one could bump into an A-list actor or actress just by taking out the trash in this neighborhood.
Given the prominence of its residents, security at the complex was exceptionally strict. Visitors underwent multiple layers of screening before being allowed entry. Yao Yao and Gu Yu were no exception; Gu Yu filled out the necessary information and sent a message to their host.
When the car came to a stop at the foot of the building, the two stepped out and immediately spotted a fashionably dressed woman in her thirties standing at the entrance of the unit. Upon seeing Gu Yu and the little girl beside him, her eyes lit up, and she quickly walked over.
"You must be Master Yao Yao!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"I'm Yang Mei, Ming Fei's manager. Thank you for coming all this way. Let's go upstairs to talk in detail."
She glanced around cautiously. While it was rare for paparazzi to sneak into such a secure compound, precautions were still necessary. If photos leaked showing that Gu Yu—the "Crown Prince" of Beijing's elite circles—had visited, who knew what kind of rumors might spread?
Yao Yao nodded without hesitation. The three entered the elevator, during which Yang Mei discreetly observed the young master sitting quietly beside her.
Initially, when she learned that the so-called "master" was only three-and-a-half years old, Yang Mei had thought her client must have gone mad. At that age, most kids still needed help eating—how could someone like this possibly be a master? Wasn't this some sort of joke?
But after watching recordings of their live streams, Yang Mei fell into a rare silence. Everything seemed too real to be scripted. She didn't believe anyone in the entertainment industry could write such compelling content, much less keep it hidden if they had.
"Please, Master, you absolutely must help my Ming Fei," Yang Mei pleaded earnestly, unable to hide her desperation. No wonder—her artist had been plagued by misfortunes lately, enough to make anyone's head spin.
Desperate times called for desperate measures. Even though countless temples had already been prayed to, there was no harm in trying one more time.
"Don't worry, pretty auntie. I'll do my best!" Yao Yao replied sincerely, her bright eyes exuding confidence.
Seeing her composed demeanor, Yang Mei felt an inexplicable sense of reassurance. Somehow, deep down, she believed this attempt would be different from the others. Her tense attitude softened slightly as a result.
Ping! The elevator arrived at their floor.
The architectural layout here differed from other complexes—one floor housed only two units, each with expansive living spaces. Yang Mei swiped her magnetic card to unlock the door. Inside, they found someone seated on the sofa. Hearing their arrival, the person stood up and turned around. In an instant, Yao Yao recognized her as the same woman from the photo on Gu Yu's phone.
"Master, please take a seat," Ming Fei said respectfully, having watched many of Yao Yao's livestreams. She scrambled to clear space for her guest.
Yao Yao smiled warmly. "Pretty big sister, you sit too!" Though this woman sought her help, respect remained paramount—it wouldn't do to embarrass Seventh Brother.
Seeing how approachable the master was, Ming Fei visibly relaxed. She'd feared the master might feel displeased about her proactive request. After all, every consultation in the livestream relied purely on luck; no one had ever used connections to secure assistance before.
Noticing her nervousness, Yao Yao paused briefly before speaking in her sweet, childish voice: "Big sister, tell me what happened?"
Ming Fei immediately understood what was required. Once the conversation shifted to the main topic, she quickly gathered herself and recounted her ordeal.
It started two months ago when she began experiencing bizarre streaks of bad luck. First, she sprained her ankle just before filming began, forcing her to take leave and recuperate. By the time she recovered and contacted the director, he hesitantly informed her that another actor had replaced her role due to production constraints—it was costing money to rent equipment and venues, after all.
Though frustrated, Ming Fei could understand the decision. However, things escalated absurdly from there. Variety shows she confirmed participation in suddenly ghosted her. Finished productions faced delays because co-stars ran into scandals, jeopardizing entire projects. Even older works that once brought her fame weren't spared.
Netizens mocked her situation mercilessly: "After chasing stardom for half her life, she's back to square one."
The frequency of these incidents scared off potential collaborators. Many production teams avoided hiring her, fearing last-minute cancellations. As a result, Ming Fei plummeted from being a top-tier actress to someone worse than an 18-line newbie. Even her agency abandoned promoting her, focusing instead on nurturing new talents.
"Master, I swear I haven't done anything deserving divine punishment," Ming Fei lamented bitterly. "I never imagined someone could suffer misfortune like this."
Her face twisted into a wry smile. Fortunately, she still had savings or she might have starved on the streets. Driven by不甘 (unwillingness) or perhaps something else, she no longer hoped for a resurgence in fame—only to prove she wasn't cursed. She refused to leave behind such a tainted legacy in the entertainment world.
"Big sister, do you remember anyone you interacted with two months ago?" Yao Yao asked thoughtfully.
Hearing the question, Ming Fei instinctively furrowed her brow, thinking hard. Finally, she answered: "Two months ago... I think I was still filming Mysterious Heart. Most of my interactions would've been with people in that crew."
It wasn't surprising she took so long to answer—before the string of misfortunes, she juggled numerous projects. Often moving straight from wrapping one project to starting another made timelines blur together.
Yao Yao pressed further: "Big sister, do you have any photos of the crew members? Not everyone—just those you frequently interacted with during that period."
This focus stemmed from the nature of fate-stealing techniques. Initially, the caster and recipient couldn't be far apart, lest the connection between them break, causing the spell to fail. Starting the investigation among close acquaintances was undoubtedly the correct approach.
Ming Fei blinked, momentarily surprised by the question. Then realization dawned—could the master have discovered something? This thought thrilled her. Previously, fortune-tellers merely mumbled vague warnings about "negative energies" before aggressively pushing talismans or amulets. Initially unsuspecting, she spent money on those items but soon realized they were useless.
Never had anyone asked questions like this master did. Having watched countless livestreams, Ming Fei sensed strongly that vindication awaited her.
"Yes, yes! Let me find it for you!" Excitedly, she rummaged through her phone and soon pulled up a group photo taken during the wrap party. Almost everyone involved in the production appeared in the picture. Thanks to the high-definition camera, even faces in the back row were clearly visible.
Yao Yao's gaze swept across the image rapidly. The room grew deathly silent—so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Neither Gu Yu nor Ming Fei and her manager dared breathe loudly, fearful of disturbing the master's concentration.
Just as tension threatened to suffocate the atmosphere, Yao Yao's eyes abruptly halted. Her gaze settled on a female figure near the front-left corner of the photo.
A sly smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She'd finally found the culprit!