Hui Yin and Lu Shen made their preparations.
After dressing his wound, the two of them ate canned food for breakfast and left the cottage. While they were walking, Hui Yin checked her post.
Unsurprisingly, it was at the top of the most searched list online. Not only the Lus, most media agencies would probably swamp this village by tomorrow. There was no way the culprit could act by then. Hui Yin made sure that if he wanted to act, he could only act today. That way, she would know that he was coming rather than tire herself out by worrying when he would attack.
Lu Shen's arm was thrown over her shoulders as Hui Yin supported him.
"Remember, pretend to be heavily wounded. Put more of your weight on me, or it wouldn't be believable."
"We're not even out of the forest yet. I'll pretend later."
Lu Shen didn't want her to support him at all, but why let go of this excellent opportunity? He snuggled even closer.
In her mind, Hui Yin silently reviewed her plan. First step, seek shelter. But she must draw as much attention towards Lu Shen as possible.
When the two of them got out of the forest, Hui Yin used the route nearest to the village's wet market. It was a crowded place as usual, with loud voices shouting out product prices and women busy haggling over the vendors.
She and Lu Shen didn't change out of their old clothes deliberately. Hui Yin even told Lu Shen to wear the shirt that was heavily stained with blood. With their haggled appearance and Lu Shen's wound, they easily attracted the gossipy old ladies buying in the market.
"Ah!" Sure enough, two women in their mid-thirties hurried over to them. "Poor children, what happened to the two of you?"
Hui Yin's eyes leaked tears. "Aunt, someone attacked us. Wu~wu~"
Since he wasn't an actor, Lu Shen tried to look sufficiently victimized. He also widened his eyes and followed Hui Yin's lead, his eyes becoming watery.
Hui Yin was stumped when she saw this. Why the heck are you also crying for? Are you a maiden in distress? You should be trying your best to look weak, but acting as if you wanted to be strong!
Despite Hui Yin's inner criticism, the old ladies were charmed by Lu Shen's wilting flower boy appearance.
More and more people flocked towards them, Hui Yin narrating their harrowing escape with a trembling voice.
"...at first, I didn't know why the police were chasing us. It wasn't as we've done anything wrong. I only wanted to report a missing person. But when I posted a photo earlier this morning, I didn't realize his identity was this great! That was when I realized the police must have been bribed."
Hui Yin gave them her phone, and each of the women took turns to look at her post and swallow their saliva. Although some of them haven't heard of the Lu Corporation and its big boss, one netizen had posted Lu Shen's net worth in the comments.
The people who lived in the village were simple folks. They saved their money and lived frugally, so when they saw the staggering figure of 140 billion US dollars, they have to struggle to comprehend that kind of dizzying amount of wealth.
The whole crowd stared at Lu Shen with heightened interest—some of them even licked their lips. Lu Shen looked lost.
"I'm worth that much?"
Hui Yin patted his chest.
"Don't worry, I still think you're worthless."
She was only half-joking when she said that.
"Well, that's enough motivation." A sturdy man carrying a butcher knife nodded his head. "Don't know which of them would take the bribe though. Probably Biming, he's always patting a horse's ass."
"Someone should report this to the village council."
"Ai, what's going on through their heads nowadays. Actually shooting a gun at someone..."
Hui Yin watched the chattering people and felt relieved. She knew most people in a tight-knit community like this have a closer tie with each other than with strangers. Fortunately, they sided with them.
"Why don't you come into my tea shop?" A kind elder asked them. "You could wait there until this whole matter blows over. Probably won't take more than half a day. The rest of you can come too."
She waved over the other people surrounding them.
They rarely see strangers enter their village, especially a good-looking pair like this. Hui Yin and Lu Shen's appearance, especially their story that could breed thousands of gossip, was a source of endless fascination to them.
Lu Shen reluctantly accepted help from the sturdy butcher and staggered towards the old lady's tea shop. Hui Yin, on the other hand, were bombarded with questions about Lu Shen. When she told them that they weren't in a relationship, the eyes of the mothers there practically shone.
"Aiyo, that daughter of mine, sneaking over to watch the filming set again when there's a pot of gold here..." One of the women clicked her tongue and hastily rushed out.
Who knew how the information quickly spread, but the filming cast found out about Lu Shen too. Unlike the villagers, these actors and actresses came from big cities. Naturally, they knew about the Great Dragon King.
"Hui Yin, why didn't you tell us?" An actress that used to ignore Hui Yin before was now tugging at her arm, her expression sour. But she was still forcing a smile and acting close to her. "Are you trying to monopolize CEO Lu on purpose?"
Monopolize, your sister. Hui Yin's eyeballs rolled back. If he wasn't shot, I would have already left!
As they say, talk about caocao and caocao will come. Hui Yin's eyeballs barely completed a 360 degrees rotation when Lu Shen made his way over to her. He looked upset and panicky.
"You left me," he said accusingly. "Where did you go? We were supposed to stay together. Why didn't you stay by my side?"
The tea house was now packed with people, and because many of them wanted to get close to Lu Shen, Hui Yin was gradually pushed out of the circle. Not wanting to make a fuss and liking the peace and quiet, she sat on an empty corner and leisurely drank her tea.
"I didn't go anywhere," Hui Yin explained. "I just wanted to drink a cup of tea peacefully. Look, I could watch you from over here."
He sat next to her and tugged at her clothes. "Don't leave me again. Please."
His voice had a hint of terror in it.
Hui Yin sighed. He was really like a baby chick.
Beside her, the mouth of the actress had dropped to the floor. This was CEO Lu? Why did he seem...almost cute?
Where was the famous iceberg aura that could act as a temporary AC in hot weather?
I'll be free in a few days, so I'll try to make up for the missing updates~ (⌐▨_▨) ━☆゚.*・。゚
There were loudspeaker systems mounted on telephone poles in the village. They come to life in the morning and just before sunset, with village announcements, national news and Communist slogans.
At this moment, the chatter in the tea shop was interrupted by a loud burst of static.
"Calling a certain Miss Hui and Mr. Lu, please come over to the community center. Calling a certain Miss Hui and Mr. Lu, please come over to the community center..."
The message repeated over and over again until another burst of static ended the announcement. Hui Yin and Lu Shen exchanged skeptical glances.
The old lady who invited them to the tea shop approached their table.
"See, I told you it wouldn't take half a day for them to settle the matter. Why don't I come with you and guide you there?"
"I'll come with you too!"
"En, I want to come!"
Hui Yin knew where the community center was located, but she was suspicious about the directive. It wouldn't hurt to bring several meat shields. Surely they wouldn't hurt their own people?
Once again, the sturdy butler supported Lu Shen. The latter's face turned dark like burnt wood, tears mentally rolling down his cheeks. Originally it was a beauty carrying him, how did it turn into a muscular brute?
The long procession finally arrived at the community center. Just as their group of old ladies, gossipy mothers, vendors, and actors marched towards the doorway, a guard stopped them.
"Only Miss Hui and Mr. Lu are allowed to come in."
How could Hui Yin accept him taking away her meat shields? She opened her mouth and said disdainly, "Earlier before when we sought help from the police, my companion got shot. If we come inside unaccompanied, will we be coming out with our ashes packed inside cremation urns?"
The guard's expression turned ugly. But Hui Yin wasn't finished yet.
"We don't have anything to hide. Most people already know Lu Shen's identity and that he's temporarily living here. I don't mind if a few people come with us."
A broad hand clapped the guard's shoulder, preventing him from retorting against her words.
"This young lady speaks well."
A man shorter than the guard with a stocky build stepped forward, a smile on his face. He was almost bald, his scalp shining under the sunlight.
"Party Secretary Lee!"
"That's the Party Secretary!"
Some people exclaimed from behind Hui Yin. She scrutinized the short man from head to toe. She was aware that while the village chief seems to be the head honcho, real power lies with the Party Secretary, who is selected every three years during a closed-door session by local Communist Party members.
If the township official gives a speech praising every thing the existing party secretary has done, the local members echo these sentiments in their speeches and the Party Secretary is re-elected. If it turns out that this man was also on the culprit's side, it would make things very difficult for both Hui Yin and Lu Shen.
"Party Secretary, this junior didn't mean to cause offense with her words," Hui Yin said in a neutral tone. "My companion and I just didn't want to suffer any injuries again. He still hasn't been treated in a hospital and he's very weak right now. Please forgive my rudeness. I'm only concerned for his health."
Just to be safe, Hui Yin particularly emphasized how harmless Lu Shen was.
"Miss Hui is too polite." The man gestured with his hand. "Of course all of you can come in. Come, come! We'll be discussing the matter of debt in the utility bills as well."
Most of the villagers following them groaned.
"I shouldn't have come, I still haven't paid the 35 yuan I owe for the electricity..."
"Can we leave? Hehe, this old lady still needs to cook lunch for her family."
"My son working in Chengdu hadn't sent me any money...how am I supposed to pay my utility bill?"
Hui Yin gave the Party Secretary another once-over. How eloquent. On one hand seemingly inviting the villagers inside, on the other driving them away.
She wasn't the only one who noticed this. Lu Shen's eyes had also dimmed. He glanced over at Hui Yin, whose hair had been re-tied into a neat bun. She looked determined and confident.
Hesitatingly, he reached over and gave her hand a quick squeeze. Afraid that she'll pull away, he immediately retracted his hand.
But Hui Yin merely glanced at him, an inquiry in her gaze. She didn't seem the least bit affected by his touch.
Lu Shen smiled at her to hide his disappointment. Was she not aware of him at all?
"It'll be alright," he reassured her.
"Mmm."
The Party Secretary led them inside the community center. The building was small and shabby, but also clean and organized. There was a door to their left that opened to a small room with a wide rectangular table and wooden chairs.
"I'm afraid we can't all fit in here," Party Secretary Lee told them, regret in his voice. "Some have to wait outside."
Those who were anxious about their utility bills quickly left in a whirlwind of dust, leaving only eight of them inside the small room. There was the butcher, the elder who owned the tea shop, another woman in her forties, and three actresses shooting flirty looks at Lu Shen. The room that had been packed to bursting before became desolately spacious.
Party Secretary Lee chuckled.
"I knew that would get rid of most of them."
He pulled up a chair and sat, motioning for the rest of them to do the same.
Lu Shen sat next to Hui Yin, traces of his trademark frigidity surfacing in the depths of his eyes. Party Secretary Lee seemed to sense his cold stare and the back of his neck prickled.
"No need to be so tense, Mr. Lu. I only wanted to talk to the two of you."
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