Chapter 4

Arrested

At 6:40 PM, Ke Siyu sent a message:

“You, I’m downstairs.”

License plate number: *******

Lin Qianyou replied: “Got it, coming down now.”

Lin Qianyou applied a light makeup, her fair and soft cheeks adorned with delicate and refined features. Her wavy, and voluminous hair cascaded loosely behind her. At this moment, her expression was calm, even carrying a hint of sorrow.

The events of the past two days continued to trouble her, like a thick fog lingering around her heart, refusing to dissipate.

“Lin Qianyou, what’s with the absent-mindedness?” Ke Siyu saw her zoning out and waved her hand in front of her face. “Are you nervous about meeting the big director? Don’t worry, I’m here with you.”

Lin Qianyou blinked, coming back to her senses. She pressed her lips together and softly replied, “It’s nothing, maybe I didn’t sleep well last night.”

Ke Siyu was skeptical. “Hmm? But didn’t you go to bed early last night?”

Lin Qianyou furrowed her brows, not sure whether she had absorbed the words. She pondered for a few seconds, glanced at the driver in the front seat, and then, feeling guilty, turned to Ke Siyu and whispered, “Siyu, do you believe in ghosts?”

Ke Siyu nearly spat out her drink upon hearing that, and the driver, who was curious, glanced at the rearview mirror.

“Ghosts?”

Lin Qianyou nodded firmly. “Mm, do you believe?”

Ke Siyu, looking at her serious expression, found herself at a loss for how to answer.

“Uh, I don’t think so. Although I like watching horror movies, those things are fake, just something made up by people. I don’t believe in them.”

Obviously unsatisfied with this answer, Lin Qianyou suddenly grabbed Ke Siyu’s arm, pressing her further. “Then what about gods? Do you think gods really exist?”

“Huh?” Ke Siyu was confused as to why Lin Qianyou was so fixated on this question. Just as she was about to ask what was going on, the driver in the front seat spoke first.

“Little lady, whether you believe in ghosts or gods, that’s really up to you. These things can only be explained by belief. You can’t make sense of them if you don’t believe, little girl.”

Lin Qianyou, feeling somewhat embarrassed after hearing this, stopped asking further questions. If she kept pushing, others might start thinking she was crazy.

More than ten minutes later, the taxi arrived at the hotel, but Lin Qianyou still looked distracted.

Another person who was equally distracted was at the Yongning Street Police Station in Yangcheng.

Qi Shanglan stared intently at his computer screen, his brow furrowed, lips pressed tightly together. His fingers, with distinct joints, repeatedly scrolled the mouse wheel up and down.

In the search box on the computer, a line of text appeared: Yangcheng Land God.

In the search history, there were several similar entries:

Is the Land God of Yangcheng male or female?

What is a temple child?

What is Ah Fu?

What is a divine messenger?

What is a godly figure?

Are there ghosts in the world?

Are there gods in the world?

—

Zhang Zhijian passed by Qi Shanglan, noticing he was seriously searching for information about the Land God Temple. He asked curiously, “Still thinking about that Land God Temple? What’s going on with you today? Team Leader Liu told me you saw a ghost there?”

As Zhang Zhijian spoke, he chuckled, “Nonsense, there’s no such thing as ghosts in the world. You young people just stay up too late, and it messes with your brains, causing hallucinations.”

“Alright, enough searching. Call up Xiao He, and let’s go to the hotel for our routine inspection.”

Zhang Zhijian rambled on, but Qi Shanglan didn’t respond at all, his mind preoccupied with that little chubby kid named Ah Fu.

It called him the “divine messenger” and said they had been separated for a thousand years. It also mentioned how that so-called godly figure didn’t recognize it and had cruelly kicked it.

Thinking about this, Qi Shanglan couldn’t help but chuckle. A round little kid being kicked should… be pretty funny, right?

He laughed softly, his eyes slightly squinting. His high nose stood out more sharply, and his usually sharp features softened with his smile.

“Why are you grinning like that? Hallucinating again?” Zhang Zhijian had changed into casual clothes, and He Chuanan had just returned to the station.

Qi Shanglan was already in casual clothes as well—simple black top and black shorts with two white stripes along the seams. His long legs were fully visible, his slim waist slightly revealed, and even his muscle lines could be faintly seen.

“Xiao He’s back? Did you drop your girlfriend off?” Zhang Zhijian picked up the three police badges, signaling Qi Shanglan to follow him.

“Shanglan, look at Xiao He, he already has a girlfriend. You’re not getting any younger, when are you going to find one?” Zhang Zhijian said. “Don’t waste that handsome face. If it comes to it, I’ll have your aunt introduce you to some girls.”

Before Zhang Zhijian could finish, He Chuanan interrupted, “Forget it, Team Leader Zhang, Brother Shanglan doesn’t lack people chasing him. If he wants, there’ll definitely be a bunch of girls breaking down the door to our station, and then you’ll regret it.”

Qi Shanglan curved his lips into a smile, casually picking up two cans of cola from the table and tossing one to He Chuanan, “At least Xiao He’s sensible, I’ll reward you with a can of cola.”

Zhang Zhijian: “…”

In a private room at X Hotel, Lin Qianyou sat upright across from Director Li Zheng.

On the coffee table were a stack of scripts and a brief synopsis. After a brief self-introduction, Lin Qianyou picked up the script and started reading.

Her phone, in her pocket, was recording. She had turned it on before entering the room, telling Ke Siyu that if she hadn’t sent her a message in half an hour, she should call the police. After all, the unspoken rules of the entertainment industry were quite frightening, and it was always safer to be more cautious.

More than twenty minutes had passed, and Director Li Zheng still hadn’t said anything. He just sat there, quietly staring at Lin Qianyou.

Lin Qianyou felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze. She shrugged and, with a smile in her eyes, said, “Director Li, I’ve read most of the script, and I feel like I’m a good fit for the role. What do you think?”

Director Li Zheng still had the same evaluating expression. He furrowed his brows, pretending to be puzzled, and asked, “What traits do you think you have that are similar to this character?”

Lin Qianyou sighed in relief, feeling that the conversation was finally on track. She closed the script and started reciting the lines she had memorized in preparation, not noticing her phone vibrating continuously in her pocket.

Ke Siyu: Lin Qianyou, it’s been almost half an hour, how are you doing? What did Director Li say?

Ke Siyu: Half an hour, why haven’t you replied yet?

Ke Siyu: Don’t tell me something happened?

Ke Siyu: Damn, should I go knock on the door now? Or kick it down? Should I call the police?

Ke Siyu: Answer me, sister, don’t let him take advantage of you!

A few minutes later, Ke Siyu sent several more messages:

You don’t need to call the police, the cops are already here.

They’re doing their routine inspection, they even asked me what I was doing.

They’re about to knock on your door.

—

Lin Qianyou was still speaking non-stop when she suddenly heard a knock on the door.

Director Li signaled for her to stop and said, “It might be another actor. He’s after the male third role, and he’ll be paired with the female third role you’re playing. Go ahead and open the door for him, so you two can get familiar with each other and see how well you work together.”

“Okay, Director.” Lin Qianyou obediently replied and stood up to open the door.

But when she opened the door, she froze. In front of her were three men—two younger ones and one older one. One of them was emitting a red glow, the same man she had encountered at the Land God Temple this morning.

Three men fighting for the male third role? Is it that competitive?

“Hello, I’m Lin Qianyou,” she greeted them with a smile.

The three men looked completely confused: “Self-introduction? Walking right into the trap?”

“Hello, we’re the police, conducting a routine room check,” Captain Zhang said straightforwardly.

“Police? Room check?” Lin Qianyou was momentarily unable to process what was happening.

“Please provide the check-in time and number of people, and also take out your ID card.”

Hearing the noise at the door, Director Li leaned forward and asked, “What’s going on, Qianyou?”

The three police officers outside the door simultaneously frowned when they heard his voice. Captain Zhang asked, “Are there other people in the room?”

Lin Qianyou nodded lightly. Her gaze unintentionally brushed past Qi Shanglan, and the man’s face was a masterpiece of nature—his features were perfect, and his figure was flawless. Even compared to the hottest young stars in today’s entertainment industry, he would still be equally or even more striking.

It was just the strange red glow emanating from him.

Qi Shanglan also recognized Lin Qianyou. Unlike this morning when she had been flustered, now she was wearing makeup, with a fair and slightly flushed face, delicate features, soft and moist lips with a hint of cherry pink, and her eyes exuded an almost imperceptible charm.

Tch, why do something like this when you could do anything else?

Qi Shanglan inwardly sighed for her.

The three men entered the room. Director Li looked at them curiously, and when his gaze landed on Qi Shanglan, he paused for a moment, then quickly reacted.

“You must be Zhou Ziqing, right? Come, come, sit down,” Director Li said to Qi Shanglan.

“Me?” Qi Shanglan pointed at himself and asked, “Zhou who? Police, are you here to arrest me?”

“Huh?” Director Li was taken aback by his words, “Aren’t you Zhou Ziqing, here to ask me for a role? How… are you police…?” Director Li’s voice gradually weakened, losing its confidence.

He had only glanced at Zhou Ziqing’s photo and remembered it was of a handsome young man. He had thought that Qi Shanglan was Zhou Ziqing, but to his surprise, the one who came was actually the police.

Captain Zhang nudged Qi Shanglan, reminding him to be mindful of his words.

Qi Shanglan lazily responded with a grunt and took Lin Qianyou’s ID card to look at it.

In the ID, Lin Qianyou was smiling slightly. She didn’t seem to have makeup on; her eyes curved when she smiled. She wasn’t as captivating as she looked now, but she had a purity to her that made her even more beautiful—she was a natural beauty.

“Lin Qianyou?” Qi Shanglan asked.

“Mm.” Lin Qianyou kept her gaze fixed on Qi Shanglan, distractedly nodding in response.

Qi Shanglan felt awkward under her direct gaze. He cleared his throat to hide his discomfort and then asked, “But the name registered at the front desk is Ye Shuwan.”

Lin Qianyou let out a soft “Ah” and was equally unsure about what was happening. She turned to look at Director Li, who at this moment had an embarrassed expression, lowering his head to avoid the gazes of the others.

“Explain. What’s going on!” Captain Zhang threw Director Li’s ID card at him, sternly commanding.

Director Li stammered, unable to explain. Lin Qianyou didn’t know what was happening either. She tried explaining that she was there to audition, but none of the three believed her.

“Let’s go to the station for an explanation,” Captain Zhang said coldly.

He gave Qi Shanglan and He Chuanan a look, signaling them to gather evidence on-site.

After a series of procedures, the three officers escorted Lin Qianyou and Director Li out of the room, just as they encountered Ke Siyu, who had been peeking inside from the door.

Ke Siyu tried explaining to the police, but they decided to take her back to the station as well.