Chapter 35: The Turtle Immortal Is Still an Immortal
Chi Fengxiao raised his brows and asked Chi Qian, “Do you want to give it a try?”
“Will I get paid?” Chi Qian asked sincerely.
Working for free? Impossible. Not in this lifetime.
The director quickly assured her, “Of course! I’ll give you a big red envelope!”
Chi Qian agreed on the spot.
He added that the role wasn’t difficult—just needed her to be “immortal enough,” the rest was up to her.
Chi Qian nodded firmly. “Got it! Being immortal is all that matters!”
Fifteen minutes later, Chi Qian appeared in front of everyone in full costume.
Collective silence. Stunned faces.
She wore a pale green gauzy dress, layers of light silk floating gracefully.
And then—
On her back was strapped a gigantic turtle shell.
Chi Fengxiao’s eye twitched. “Chi Qian… what the hell is that on your back?”
“A turtle shell,” she answered matter-of-factly.
“You do realize your role is a fairy? Since when do fairies wear turtle shells?!”
“I didn’t forget,” Chi Qian said righteously as she shuffled forward with the shell. “A Turtle Immortal is still an immortal! And turtles live long lives!”
Chi Fengxiao covered his face. Turtle Immortal?! This was supposed to be a delicate little fairy, not a comedy act!
But the director’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Brilliant idea! Let’s change the role to Little Turtle Fairy!”
The assistant director nodded enthusiastically. “It’ll be a huge highlight in the ad!”
“…”
Chi Fengxiao could only endure and finish the shoot.
Chi Qian, meanwhile, happily pocketed her promised red envelope.
As she counted the thick stack of bills over and over, grinning ear to ear, Chi Fengxiao gave her a look. “What, the old man at home doesn’t give you allowance?”
So happy over just a few thousand?
“He does, but it’s not the same as money I earn myself.” Chi Qian was over the moon.
The bigger her private stash, the larger the paradise of beautiful men she’d be able to build for her retirement.
Even if the Chi family really went bankrupt one day, she’d have her own backup plan!
After all, protagonists always get plot armor. Villains, not so much.
Opportunities—you had to grab them for yourself!
Seeing her miserly delight, Chi Fengxiao suddenly transferred her some “pocket money.”
Very generous. “Here, spend it however you want!”
Chi Qian opened it up. “…A hundred bucks?”
Chi Fengxiao was dead serious. “You’re still young. Too much money will corrupt you. Save it carefully—this is your uncle’s week’s wages.”
“You mean you’re already doing commercials, and you only make a hundred a week?!”
“Hey, a career just starting out costs a lot. Saving wherever I can,” he said solemnly.
No wonder he was Best Actor—once he picked a role, he never broke character.
Thinking about how he’d struggled as an extra before, Chi Qian felt sympathetic and sent him a red envelope in return.
Chi Fengxiao clicked it open. “Only 8.88?!”
Chi Qian patted his shoulder, mimicking his earlier tone. “Save it carefully. It wasn’t easy for me to earn this.”
“…”
The driver, Manager Zhao, nearly burst out laughing.
A top actor who earned tens of millions per commercial, and the Chi family’s most pampered granddaughter—pretending to be broke together? Seriously?
Later, after dinner, while Chi Qian waited at the roadside for the car to be brought around, another vehicle stopped in front of her.
“Chi Qian, get in,” the man inside said succinctly. “I’m your second uncle.”
What a handsome face!
With looks like that, how could he possibly be a bad guy?
Chi Qian thought guiltily, but still hesitated for two seconds. “No. I can’t go with you.”
Chi Chaoshen: “Why?”
“Third Uncle said… you eat children.”
“…I don’t eat children. Just get in the car first—this isn’t a place we can park.”
Chi Qian was convinced in an instant and climbed into the car without hesitation.
Inside, she sat in the passenger seat, curiously studying the man driving.
The Chi family really didn’t have a single one with bad looks.
Each had their own unique charm.
The man before her looked like some cold, untouchable beauty—so pretty it was hard to tell male or female—radiating an aura that made people wary of getting too close.
Like a block of solid ice.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Chi Chaoshen’s voice was cool. “Afraid I’ll eat you?”
Who knew what strange nonsense Chi Fengxiao had filled her head with.
Chi Qian shook her head. “Second Uncle, you’re really good-looking!”
If he went into showbiz…
Wait, no—even with Third Uncle’s god-tier looks, in the entertainment industry he’d barely count as an extra.
Second Uncle… might at least make it as cannon fodder.
Chi Chaoshen showed no special reaction to her compliment. “You’ll stay at my place for a few days. I’ll send you back later.”
“You’re so handsome—whatever you say goes!”
Chi Chaoshen gave her another glance and then took out his phone, dialing a number.
“What is it?” Chi Lisen’s authoritative voice came through.
“Dad,” said Chi Chaoshen, “I have Chi Qian with me.”
“…Hm?”
“I think you should understand what I mean.” His tone was tactful.
Chi Qian: “?”
So Third Uncle hadn’t lied—Second Uncle, drowning in debt, had actually kidnapped her to demand ransom from Grandpa??
This was a black-market abduction!
“She’s with you?” Chi Lisen sounded exasperated. “Put her on the phone.”
“I’ll hand it to her now.” Chi Chaoshen passed the phone to Chi Qian, signaling her to speak.
But Chi Qian, stuffed full and still a little shaken, opened her mouth—and let out a thunderously loud burp that spiraled like a rollercoaster.
Chi Chaoshen: “…”
“Chi Qian?” Chi Lisen called.
Releasing that burp, Chi Qian heard her grandpa’s voice and, with her earlier “kidnap” theory fresh in her mind, blurted out:
“Grandpa, save me! I don’t want to die!”
Chi Lisen: !
Chi Chaoshen: ?
And then—the phone died. Screen went black.
Chi Qian looked at Chi Chaoshen.
Chi Chaoshen looked at her.
“I didn’t kidnap you. You got in the car on your own, right?” he confirmed.
Chi Qian tried to reassure him. “Don’t worry, Second Uncle. Grandpa will definitely pay the ransom to save me. Then you can use that money to pay off your debts.”
If he wasn’t desperate, who would do such a risky, knife’s-edge job?
Second Uncle was too pitiful.
A question mark practically hovered over Chi Chaoshen’s head. “What…”
Chi Qian’s mental abacus clattered away: “How about this—consider this money I’m lending you. Pay me back when you earn more in the future.”
“You’re overthinking—”
“Second Uncle, really, no need to be polite. We’re family. I understand how tough adulthood is.” Her face was earnest.
Chi Chaoshen: “…” He had never been this speechless in his life.
“So you’re saying you’ll help me swindle money from your grandpa?”
“How can it be called swindling between family?” Chi Qian blinked innocently. “It’s a well-meaning lie!”
Chi Chaoshen was utterly silent.
If this wasn’t their first time meeting, he would have thought they’d been close buddies for years.
Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, unable to find Chi Qian, Chi Fengxiao quickly called Chi Lisen.
“Dad! Something terrible happened! Qian Qian seems to have run into the ultimate rich-family cliché—”
“She’s been kidnapped!!”
