Chapter 121: When It Comes to Talent, Who Can Beat Me?
Chi Qian bundled the lot of them together and dropped them at the safehouse.
“I’ll generously give you the final reward. No need to thank me.”
“Enjoy yourselves, everyone.”
With that, she flew off in the helicopter, cool as ever.
The chief director and Gu Hua’s crew stared at each other, tears streaming down their faces.
Which idiot had left that helicopter for Chi Qian to find?!
Next episode, they swore, they’d make her pay!!
Meanwhile, in another part of the desert, a girl was waiting for her father’s helicopter to pick her up. Suddenly she sneezed.
She looked down at the eagle feather sealed in its glass tube.
That Argentine giant eagle hadn’t gone extinct. Something must have changed in its genes.
Too bad they didn’t get a blood sample.
A bodyguard handed her a bottle of water. “Young master, if not for that young lady you mentioned, you wouldn’t have made it out this time. The master said we must thank her properly. Do you know her name?”
The girl—no, boy—shook his head.
“That’ll be troublesome,” the guard sighed. “Please bear with it a little longer. The chopper will arrive soon.”
The boy nodded, gazing up at the sky with confusion.
Where had that other helicopter gone?
Could this sand… actually swallow things whole?
—
The culprit, Chi Qian, was already eating barbecue.
Every staff member, without exception, was bustling around her—grilling meat, pouring water, bringing snacks.
All but worshipping her like an empress.
Just praying she wouldn’t remember to come after them next.
[Last time the crew acted this bootlicking was… last time.]
[Hours of barbecue prep, all ending up in Qian’s belly—Top Ten Most Inspiring People of the Year better have the director on it!]
[Director: Don’t @ me. Never in my life have I suffered like this.]
[Food on the left, drinks on the right, someone peeling fruit… Is this royal treatment??]
Chi Fengxiao nearly burst a vein. “She’s got one mouth. How much can she eat? Why are you all feeding her? Move aside!”
Shen Jiashu, holding a drink, looked innocent. “The barbecue’s dry. I don’t want the princess to choke.”
Luo Zichuan, plating an orange he’d peeled: “Only eating barbecue isn’t balanced. Fruit adds vitamin C.”
Chi Fengxiao: “…That’s not what I meant. I meant let her eat by herself. She’s not crippled!”
What, did they think she was born without hands?!
Shen Jiashu stood firm. “The princess flew a helicopter all day. She’s exhausted! Saving her strength is for greater deeds. We can handle these little things.”
Luo Zichuan nodded in agreement. “That whole ‘the capable should do more’ thing is a scam. Don’t believe it.”
Chi Fengxiao ground his teeth.
Listen to these clowns! Each one full of twisted logic!
He ought to drag the old man here to see firsthand exactly who was spoiling Chi Qian rotten!
“Uncle, this skewer’s undercooked. Needs more heat,” Chi Qian piped up.
“…Wait there!”
He snatched up the brush, glazed the pork belly with oil, flipped it at just the right time, sprinkled seasoning…
“Try this one.” He set it aside to cool before handing it over.
Chi Qian slid the whole skewer into her mouth, chewed, then gave a big thumbs-up.
“Very good!”
“What else do you want?”
“Grilled gluten, bread slices, chives, and this lamb skewer too. Oh, oh—make me a desert burger!”
“That’s a great idea.” Chi Fengxiao dove back into his grilling duties, fully dedicated.
Luo Fan: “…Bro, do you even remember what you just said?”
By dusk, the chief director’s group finally staggered back to the guesthouse.
Half a day felt like a lifetime of torment—they looked drained, like demons had sucked them dry.
Then they saw Chi Qian’s crew lounging under parasols, barbecue and fruit at hand, like they were on vacation.
And the staff? Performing on stage for entertainment.
Chi Qian sat dead center, female staffers on either side, even peeling oranges and feeding her slices.
The very picture of an indulgent, decadent monarch!
The chief director’s brain slowly filled with one giant question mark: ?
After just a few hours, had everyone collectively betrayed him?
Did they not see him as the chief director anymore?!
The assistant said, “Director, we’re sorry, it’s not like we wanted to, but Shallow-Baby is just giving out too much.”
The chief director clutched his heart in pain. “She gave you just a few small favors, and that’s enough to buy you off? Where’s your backbone?!”
“It’s not just some small favor, Director. Tonight’s talent show winner will get a sapphire.”
And it wasn’t just any sapphire—it was the size of a fist.
Who wouldn’t be tempted?
Didn’t he see how all those female staff members were leaning on their gender advantage, taking turns trying to charm the ‘ruler’?
If the assistant weren’t a man, he would’ve wanted to try too!
The chief director fell silent for a moment. Then, in one leap, he rushed onto the stage. “Get down, all of you! Useless fools! Who among you can beat me when it comes to talent?!”
In the end, that sapphire went to a beautiful staff member who performed a peacock dance.
Chi Fengxiao remembered hearing about her from his agent and casually gossiped: “Her parents borrowed from loan sharks. When they couldn’t pay it back, they forced her to drop out of school and earn money to pay the debt. When they still couldn’t, the loan shark boss demanded her parents marry her off to him…”
Chi Qian’s ears perked up. “Sounds like the classic ‘toad lusting after a swan’ plotline?”
“It was. But now, with this sapphire, she can sell it, pay off the debt easily, and start a new life.” Chi Fengxiao rubbed Chi Qian’s head with a light smile. “You didn’t happen to already know about her situation and deliberately help her, did you?”
Chi Qian: “Uncle, overthinking is a disease, you know.”
What she didn’t realize was that the beautiful staff member herself had thought the same thing.
Her parents had already caused a scene at the show before, so her debt problem was no secret. It wasn’t strange that Chi Qian knew.
And among so many talented staff, Chi Qian had chosen her.
It wasn’t just recognition—it was a kind of invisible help.
Jian Xu clutched the sapphire tightly, overwhelmed by gratitude she couldn’t put into words, and decided to go thank Chi Qian in person.
But Gu Hua blocked her, greeting warmly: “Sister Jian.”
Jian Xu: “Miss Gu, do you need something?”
“Sister Jian, this is for you.” Gu Hua slipped a bank card into her hand, her voice soft and gentle. “I heard about your family’s situation. I see my own shadow in you. I just wanted to do something for you, so please accept it.”
Jian Xu was shocked, then quickly pushed the card back. “I can’t. I can’t take your money.”
Gu Hua looked utterly sincere. “Just treat it as a loan. When you earn enough later, you can pay me back.”
“Please don’t be polite with me. I truly admire you, Sister Jian. I don’t want to see you struggling in the mud. You deserve a better future!”
