Chapter 13: An Uninvited Guest

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There were visitors at the farmhouse today—a man and a woman, both strangers. They didn’t resemble anyone from the film crews at the nearby studio, and Chu Xiaoyu could tell at a glance.

“What would you two like to eat?” he asked.

“Boss, what specialties does your place offer? Why don’t you tell us about them?” Bai Feng replied, all the while scrutinizing Chu Xiaoyu with interest.

He was young, his complexion tanned, yet his lean and athletic frame, standing at nearly 1.78 meters, gave him a striking presence.

“We serve all kinds of homestyle dishes—quick fry, steamed, braised,” Chu Xiaoyu explained. “For example, pork stew with fresh abalone, rustic three-vegetable medley, farmhouse-style smoked pork, evergreen baked chicken, gypsum pot lamb chops, and spicy sour fiddlehead ferns.”

He gave a detailed account of the menu. Yet, he soon noticed something odd: the two peculiar guests weren’t really listening to his recommendations. Instead, their eyes were discreetly scanning every corner of the place.

A chill ran through Chu Xiaoyu’s heart. It had been days since he last checked the information the Divine Domain Space pulled from every corner of the world. Automatic retrieval, automatic shutdown—ever since the space had been activated, he’d slowly figured out the rules at play within it.

He himself was like a chip, orchestrating the branching networks of information. With a thought, information began to probe on its own.

A faint smile curved Chu Xiaoyu’s lips. From the capital, were they? From the Esoteric Society? Was it a department dedicated to metaphysics?

A game of cat and mouse, with a mantis stalking the cicada, oblivious to the oriole behind—how intriguing.

“Boss, we heard there’s a massive, mighty monkey here on your farm that can talk like a human. The rumors are everywhere—is it true?” Bai Feng’s professional curiosity got the better of her.

Chu Xiaoyu replied with a cool smile, “A talking monkey? Do you really think that’s possible?”

He was clearly not an ordinary young man.

Kunbu followed up, “But if it isn’t true, how could the rumor spread from a few to dozens, from dozens to hundreds, even thousands? Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”

“There’s nothing to it. It was just a joke by a cosplayer—a harmless prank. Are you here to eat or not?” Chu Xiaoyu’s patience was running thin. He’d answered enough. If these two couldn’t take the hint, he’d have to show them the door. He wasn’t about to serve such guests.

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Trouble rarely comes uninvited, and those who arrive are rarely well-intentioned.

The Esoteric Society? That couldn’t mean anything good.

Chu Xiaoyu was content with his current, uneventful life and had no desire to see it disrupted, especially by matters best left unknown to outsiders.

He wished these visitors would take their business as far away as possible.

Bai Feng and Kunbu were sharp enough to pick up on his attitude. Their questions had been far too pointed, their intentions too urgent.

Bai Feng smiled. “Boss, we were just a bit curious, nothing more. We’re here for the food—why don’t you bring us one of each of your specialties?”

“Very well. Please enjoy some tea; your dishes will be ready soon,” Chu Xiaoyu replied, heading to the kitchen.

Kunbu spoke in a low voice, “Sister Bai, do you sense it? There’s something odd about this farmhouse, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

“I feel the same—a strong sense that this place is anything but ordinary. Kunbu, we’ll have to stay and observe for a few days.”

“Agreed. It’s settled.”

Kunbu then struck up a casual conversation. “Boss, do you manage this whole place by yourself? It’s quite big for just one person.”

As he cooked, Chu Xiaoyu replied, “It looks big, but it’s not really. Sometimes it gets busy, but not overwhelmingly so. When it does, I get help—extras from the film crews. They have little to do between gigs, so they’re always happy to lend a hand and earn a little extra.”

“Oh, that makes sense. They can work here when they’re not acting, help you out, and earn some pocket money,” Kunbu said, then asked, “Boss, I’ve started a livestream, so you might be on camera. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Not at all. I’m no celebrity, just an ordinary guy. Do as you like.”

Comments poured in on the stream:

“Wow, this is the farmhouse in Phoenix Village, right? I’ve been there a few times—the boss is kind of cute.”

“I can only say his build is really MANly. Even as a guy, I’m a bit envious.”

“He looks like my ex-boyfriend. Next time, I’ll get a photo with him for sure.”

“You’re shameless! Thinking about your ex while holding your current, and now you want to flirt with the boss? Get lost!”

“Exactly! You think you can be a player with that attitude?”

“You’re no better! Get outta here!”

“I like this ultra-MAN boss—the tight backside, the broad chest. Come at me, you jealous lot…”

Never would Chu Xiaoyu have imagined that the moment he appeared on camera, the chat would erupt in heated discussion about him—his looks, build, height, nothing was off limits.

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“Have you heard? Recently, the head of the Su family in East City, Su Qingsheng, was reportedly at death’s door in the hospital, but a mysterious figure saved him. Now he’s alive and well.”

“No craniotomy was needed—the bullet was extracted bare-handed, an act both terrifying and miraculous.”

Kunbu spoke loudly, angling the camera toward Chu Xiaoyu as he cooked.

There it was—another probe! Just what were they after? Did they suspect that he, Chu Xiaoyu, was the mysterious savior?

Yet, even the rescued Su family had no idea who he was; all they had was a vague address, nothing more.

“Who knew a man could look so handsome while cooking? I’m in love!” commented one viewer.

“Streamer, ask the boss if he’s married—or what kind of girls he likes.”

“I’m totally smitten—I want to have a bunch of little monkeys with him!”

If Chu Xiaoyu had been watching the chat at that moment, he might have coughed up blood in shock. How could a humble farmhouse owner warrant so much adoration from so many women?

Kunbu adjusted the camera. “Boss, my fans want to know: are you married? What kind of girls do you like?”

Chu Xiaoyu was at a loss for words. What kind of girls did he like? Beautiful, fair-skinned, long-legged, and…

“Women are too much trouble. I’ve never thought about it,” he replied simply.

The chat exploded with laughter.

Not even the most oblivious bachelor could be so blunt!

Chu Xiaoyu had shut the conversation down instantly.

Even a sewer pipe has a bend in it—why was he so straight-laced? It was enough to break a girl’s heart.

Ironclad bachelor, come to big sister’s bowl!

Love, love.

P.S. Many thanks to all the dear book friends for your monthly votes! Thank you!!