Chu Zhishui had long grown accustomed to his mercurial moods. She couldn't help but roll her eyes as she patiently explained, "Let's be reasonable here. They're actors after all - they make a living with their faces, so of course they're good-looking."
She didn't feel particularly drawn to the TV drama's male lead, but she couldn't find any flaws in his features either. At least he could withstand the scrutiny of high-definition cameras.
After hearing this, Xin Yunmao's face grew even darker with storm clouds, entering his daily routine of getting angry.
Chu Zhishui couldn't understand why he had so much anger to vent. Perhaps because bamboo was hollow inside, he was filled with hot air and needed to find excuses to let it out. She sighed helplessly, "I feel like I should study botany in my spare time."
Jin Yu, who had been startled by Xin Yunmao's sudden appearance, perked up with curiosity at this comment: "Is it because you just finished watching the drama? Wen Che was a botany professor."
Chu Zhishui replied nonchalantly, "No, I want to study plant disease and pest control, especially how to treat bamboo diseases."
Xin Yunmao: "?"
"Alright, enough chitchat," Chu Zhishui checked the time on her phone. "I need to go pick up the newcomer later."
Jin Yu asked in confusion: "Newcomer?"
"That's right," Chu Zhishui emphasized, "a human newcomer."
Moments later, Chen Zhuhui, dressed simply, arrived at the entrance of the Huaijiang Observation Bureau on her bicycle.
The young girl, fresh from her college entrance exams, had a clean face and had traded her monotonous school uniform for bright-colored clothes. With a backpack on her shoulder, she spotted Chu Zhishui from afar and politely greeted her while pushing her bike: "Hello, Sister Zhishui."
"You're here early," Chu Zhishui exchanged pleasantries, "How did your college entrance exam go?"
"It was okay, but the results aren't out yet."
Chu Zhishui led Chen Zhuhui into the bureau, having her park her bicycle in the courtyard.
Chen Zhuhui locked her bike and looked around curiously. She saw a large tree and an office building covered in ivy, with a row of low buildings in the distance that appeared to be the staff cafeteria and warehouse.
"Old White... Elder Xu isn't here, he's working at the tea garden," Chu Zhishui said, seeing through her thoughts. "I didn't expect you to come so soon. You could have relaxed and had some fun after your exams."
"It's fine, it doesn't matter if Elder Xu isn't here," Chen Zhuhui quickly waved her hands and replied softly, "I mainly came because I promised to intern after the exams."
Chu Zhishui had previously given her a red envelope for her studies, and Chen Zhuhui had felt indebted ever since. She contacted them immediately after her exams, wanting to intern at the Observation Bureau.
Chu Zhishui had informed Bureau Chief Hu and Director Hong, who had no objections, only reminding her that humans couldn't see demon aura. Upon learning that Chen Zhuhui was born with the ability to see, they raised no further concerns.
Chen Zhuhui wasn't officially employed at the bureau; she was just working during summer vacation, eating at the cafeteria and commuting by bicycle. Once school started, she would return to classes without any conflicts.
In the Economic Development Department, Chu Zhishui brought Chen Zhuhui inside and introduced her while looking at the two demons: "This is Chen Zhuhui, she'll be interning in our department for the next two months."
"And this is Jin Yu, and this is Xin Yunmao, whom you've met before."
"Hello, Sister Jin Yu." Chen Zhuhui bowed respectfully, then turned to Xin Yunmao and bowed again, "Hello, sir."
Chu Zhishui watched from the side and, noting Chen Zhuhui's attitude, remarked with surprise: "Zhuhui, you're not calling him by name either."
Chen Zhuhui was polite and courteous to Jin Yu, but showed clear reverence and timidity toward Xin Yunmao, appearing quite nervous.
Chen Zhuhui anxiously pressed her lips together, seeming embarrassed and unsure what to do. After a long moment, she stole a glance at Xin Yunmao and mumbled, "Well... it's just..."
Although she was born with the ability to see demons, this was her first time seeing Xin Yunmao wrapped in black mist, clearly different from other demons. It inexplicably made her feel distant and afraid to call him by name casually.
Jin Yu realized something: "It seems her ability to see is very strong; she can already tell the differences between us."
"Oh, is that how it works?" Chu Zhishui questioned, "I feel like you all look similar when you take human form."
Xin Yunmao let out a cold snort and retorted, "There's a huge difference."
Chu Zhishui responded placatingly: "Yes, yes, you're always making a fuss about everything."
"..."
Chu Zhishui arranged a desk for Chen Zhuhui and briefly introduced her to the Economic Development Department before assigning her the task of formatting product information. Neither Jin Yu nor Xin Yunmao were good with computers, and with the influx of livestreaming tasks, dealing with electronic devices would be frequent, so it was perfect to have Chen Zhuhui handle these matters.
Chen Zhuhui was clearly a well-behaved child. Once seated, she worked diligently, rarely getting distracted. She would only respond with a few words when Jin Yu occasionally made conversation.
"Are you cycling home later?" Jin Yu asked, "Won't your family worry?"
"I live alone now," Chen Zhuhui lowered her head and said reluctantly, "I do have some relatives, but I don't want to live with them."
Chen Zhuhui was already eighteen and had lived alone since her grandfather passed away, unwilling to associate with other relatives. She had lived in school dormitories while studying, and now after the college entrance exam, her home was empty, so she preferred staying at the bureau.
Chu Zhishui said gently, "It's okay, just send me a message when you get home, and you can leave early when you're free."
It was getting dark very late these days, and the bureau closed at five, so there weren't any safety concerns about Chen Zhuhui cycling alone.
Afterward, the Economic Development Department focused on their work, with Chu Zhishui contemplating the livestreaming sales business. She felt the bureau couldn't sell products like tea farmers, who had to face cameras for long periods and talk until their throats were dry. Moreover, to be honest, having staff images spread online wouldn't look good.
The Huaijiang Observation Bureau wasn't primarily about selling products; economic development would always be a secondary business and should never obstruct their main duties.
It would be better to find outside help for promotion, but choosing who became another issue, and it would incur additional expenses.
The sky was azure, with mountains stretching endlessly.
In the suburbs of Huaijiang, a straight road connected the Observation Bureau to Chen Zhuhui's home, with endless wild grass on both sides and occasional patches of fields. This road had no public transportation, truly in the middle of nowhere, and could only be traversed by car or bicycle.
Chu Zhishui drove to and from the city daily, while Chen Zhuhui cycled to and from the village, going in opposite directions, rarely encountering other travelers.
On the quiet road, a man completely covered from head to toe was frantically pedaling his bicycle as if being chased by some terrible monster.
He wore a black mask and a baseball cap, with not an inch of skin exposed, pedaling with all his might. He was in such a hurry that he couldn't even check his navigation map, yet still couldn't shake off the nightmare that followed him like a shadow.
A mysterious fragrance permeated the air, reminiscent of intense flowers, penetrating through his mask and striking directly at his human neural pathways.
"Why are you running?" a coquettish female voice rang out, like a seductive ghost, somewhere between complaint and laughter.
The cycling man felt chills down his spine and pedaled even more desperately.
The next day, Chen Zhuhui arrived at the bureau with her bag, right on time for her internship. She specifically asked, "Sister Zhishui, are we the only two people here?"
"Yes, are you uncomfortable with that?" Chu Zhishui looked up, "Are you having any difficulties with work?"
"No, no, it's not about the demons, I'm used to them already," Chen Zhuhui said puzzledly, "But I saw a bicycle at the entrance today and thought someone else had come."
Chen Zhuhui had been cycling to work recently and always parked her bike inside the bureau, but she noticed another bike outside.
The demons at the Huaijiang Bureau seemed to not use transportation; Chu Zhishui had only ever seen Du Zigui drive, and had never seen any Huaijiang colleagues drive or cycle. She didn't think much of it, assuming it belonged to a villager from nearby who had temporarily parked it there.
At noon, Chu Zhishui took Chen Zhuhui to eat at the cafeteria. The staff meals were quite sumptuous now - while not reaching the luxurious buffet standards of the Yinhai Bureau, they were presentable standard set meals, far better than the simple fare from the beginning.
After lunch, during some free time, she noticed Chen Zhuhui seemed distracted and suggested they visit the tea garden together to bring some food and drinks to the three demons - Black, Yellow, and White - essentially delivering "prison meals."
They couldn't cycle to the tea garden, so Chu Zhishui decided to drive. As she was driving with Chen Zhuhui, just as they were leaving the bureau gates, they suddenly saw someone lying across the road. Startled, she slammed on the brakes and quickly steered to the side.
"What do you mean?" Chu Zhishui was bewildered, "Are people now trying to scam from two meters away?"
Chen Zhuhui was equally confused, but she put on a serious face and said, "Should we take photos as evidence?"
"No need, I have a dashcam in the car. Let me go check."
Chu Zhishui told Chen Zhuhui to stay in the car while she went to check the situation herself. Holding a bottle of amnesia bubble water, she observed from a moderate distance, not approaching the man in the middle of the road, and called out tentatively, "Hello? Hello? Are you alright?"
There was no response.
The fully covered man was curled up on the ground, appearing to be in poor mental condition.
"Zhuhui, go back and call for help. Ask Jin Yu to bring Niu Shi here," Chu Zhishui sensed the person was human, but seeing him blocking the bureau entrance, she wasn't sure how to handle it, especially since the Huaijiang Bureau area was sparsely populated and didn't have security guards like the Yinhai Bureau to remove people.
"Okay!" Chen Zhuhui quickly responded and hurried back to the department.
"What's going on?" Xin Yunmao, who usually enjoyed strolling and sunbathing in the courtyard, appeared silently behind Chu Zhishui after hearing the commotion.
"Someone's blocking the road," Chu Zhishui relaxed upon seeing him and added, "He looks rather strange."
Xin Yunmao raised his eyebrows slightly and walked over unhurriedly. He casually pulled up the man from the ground, startling him. There was a noticeable height difference between them, with Xin Yunmao being considerably taller, and he lifted the man effortlessly.
Chu Zhishui worried, "Is it okay to just pull him up like that? Could he be sick?"
She was concerned the stranger might have collapsed due to illness, thinking it would be better to call an ambulance rather than moving him carelessly.
Xin Yunmao held the man with one hand while removing his mask with the other. After a moment's thought, he calmly replied, "He's not sick, seems like he just made himself faint from lack of air."
Chu Zhishui: "?"
In this weather, being wrapped up so tightly, wearing a mask and hat, curled up like a turtle – anyone would have trouble breathing, even more covered up than Director He.
When the stranger's black mask was removed, it revealed a familiar handsome face. He was gasping for air, seemingly finally coming to his senses, and looked anxiously at the human and supernatural being before stammering, "...Did you... recognize me?"
Xin Yunmao looked at Chu Zhishui in confusion.
She returned his puzzled look.
Neither of them understood what the man was talking about.
Nearby, Jin Yu and Niu Shi had already rushed down with Chen Zhuhui, hurrying to the bureau entrance. Jin Yu recognized the man immediately through the gate, her eyes widening in shock: "He... he's Wen Che!"
Chu Zhishui turned to Chen Zhuhui and asked, "Who's Wen Che?"
Chen Zhuhui shook her head in confusion.
Chu Zhishui muttered to herself, "If even a top high school senior doesn't know him, he can't be that important."
Jin Yu was jumping with excitement like a fish leaping out of water, exclaiming, "Wen Che! It's Wen Che, the botany professor!"
"From which university?" Chu Zhishui was surprised, not expecting her young colleague to have such extensive knowledge.
"What university?" Jin Yu, who had recently been obsessed with TV dramas, explained with sparkling eyes, "Didn't we watch the drama together? Wen Che is the male lead, and you said it was good!"
Wen Che was the male protagonist in a modern fantasy romance drama, who had a passionate love story with a supernatural female lead, which had been generating considerable buzz online recently.
Chu Zhishui looked dazed as she tried to recognize him, mainly because the actor looked quite different in casual clothes compared to his character's appearance.
The handsome man laughed awkwardly: "Wen Che is just my character's name... I'm Fu Chengzhuo..."
Xin Yunmao frowned: "You played him?"
"Yes."
Without another word, Xin Yunmao put the mask back on Fu Chengzhuo's face, matter-of-factly returned him to the middle of the road, and carefully arranged him back into his turtle-like curled position, displaying a meticulous attitude toward returning things to their original state, then stood up and casually dusted off his hands.
Fu Chengzhuo, having been restored to his original position: "??"
Shortly after, Fu Chengzhuo, who had suddenly appeared at the Observation Bureau entrance, was invited inside. His facial features were distinct, with dark circles under his eyes, wearing no makeup, and even his lips were cracked from nervousness. He appeared shaken and disheveled. Nevertheless, the actor still maintained his looks advantage – even in such a dejected state, his appearance remained outstanding.
While Niu Shi went to the cafeteria for water, Chu Zhishui and Chen Zhuhui, being humans completely unfamiliar with celebrities, stood aside as Jin Yu excitedly circled around, clearly experiencing her first close-up star encounter.
Jin Yu kept sneaking glances at Fu Chengzhuo while spinning around excitedly. After a moment, she tilted her head slightly and whispered, "Why does he seem shorter than in the drama? He looks a bit frail?"
In the drama, Wen Che's character was perfectly portrayed – gentle, refined, and extraordinarily handsome, but Fu Chengzhuo appeared slightly shorter and generally thinner.
"Cameras make people look bigger and stronger," Chu Zhishui said curiously, "But why isn't he with his team? I heard he's really popular online lately."
Though Chu Zhishui and Chen Zhuhui knew nothing about celebrities, they had researched Fu Chengzhuo's online presence like diligent students and concluded he was indeed a hugely popular male celebrity. Their ignorance was purely due to lack of interest – Chu Zhishui simply didn't care, while Chen Zhuhui had disconnected from the internet during her senior year.
Ever since Fu Chengzhuo entered the yard, Xin Yunmao had maintained an icy expression, emanating cold fury, and frowned as he said, "Why let him in? This isn't a public place where any random person can enter. Hu Chenrui and that cat are really neglecting their duties!"
Chu Zhishui looked at the supernatural being who was always hanging around the bureau: "?" But aren't you always wandering around here too?
Chu Zhishui remarked sarcastically, "Well, I'm surprised you care so much about the bureau, quick to criticize everything."
Just then, Niu Shi returned with water and some snacks. Fu Chengzhuo politely accepted them with thanks and began drinking to soothe his parched throat.
"Mr. Fu, you should call your manager. In your current state, you shouldn't be riding a bike back," Chu Zhishui glanced at the time, realizing their tea garden trip was completely ruined due to Fu Chengzhuo's appearance.
Fu Chengzhuo, who had been carrying himself elegantly, showed panic at these words and shook his head vigorously like a rattle drum: "No, no, no, I'm not going back, I'm staying right here!"
Xin Yunmao's face darkened.
Chu Zhishui asked in surprise, "What do you plan to do here?"
Fu Chengzhuo's eyes revealed deep fear: "I haven't had a good night's sleep in ages. Last night was the most normal sleep I've had. This place is clearly safe, with no supernatural occurrences!"
Chu Zhishui's eyes wandered: "...You might be speaking too soon."
Chen Zhuhui asked in shock: "Did this person sleep on the road last night?"
Fu Chengzhuo gripped his chair firmly, determined not to leave. He seemed terrified, his soul barely intact, clearly unaware of what he had encountered.
Chu Zhishui had no choice but to ask about the situation, learning that Fu Chengzhuo had been experiencing strange occurrences lately.
Fu Chengzhuo had starred in a human-supernatural romance drama that became a huge hit after airing, significantly increasing his commercial value. Just when his career should have been taking off, he started being harassed by unknown entities. First, he would wake up to find love poems with pressed flowers mysteriously appearing on his five-star hotel bedside table, though security cameras showed no one had entered the room.
Then, an intoxicating fragrance began pervading every aspect of his life. No matter where he went, he could smell this scent, leading him to doubt his sense of smell or physical health. He even went to the hospital for examinations, but nothing was found wrong.
As time passed, his nights became filled with nightmares of overwhelming flowers, countless blooms pressing down on him until he could barely breathe, leaving him tossing and turning. Mixed in were strange, clear female laughs that made him increasingly nervous and terrified.
His management team initially suspected mental health issues, but gradually they too noticed the fragrance on various items and became equally frightened. They investigated extensively and even considered contacting the police to look for obsessed fans who might be stalking him, but found nothing.
Unable to endure this bizarre situation any longer, Fu Chengzhuo took advantage of his out-of-town activities to slip away from his team, hiding here and there to avoid being tracked, hoping to shake off his mysterious follower, but to no avail. Finally, it was an encounter with an elderly person who directed him to ride his bike to the remote Huaijiang Observation Bureau!
After hearing the whole story, Chu Zhishui seemed to have an epiphany and said admiringly, "It seems your popularity is truly remarkable, with fans now spanning across different species."
Fu Chengzhuo's face changed slightly in shock.
Chen Zhuhui, having experienced similar situations, had been bothered by supernatural beings since childhood. She consoled him, "Don't worry, they'll probably get bored after a while and stop bothering you."
She had encountered both kindly spirits like Grandpa Su and mischievous ones who tried various ways to tease her, but they never persisted for too long.
"This must be a supernatural being?" Chu Zhishui turned around to ask for advice. "Is there any solution?"
Xin Yunmao coldly replied, "No hope left, better prepare for the worst."
Fu Chengzhuo: "???"
Fortunately, Jin Yu and Niu Shi were more reliable, offering more sensible answers.
Jin Yu pondered, "Supernatural beings from outside usually don't dare to enter the bureau, so you must have slept peacefully last night."
Niu Shi added, "However, this situation is difficult to handle, mainly because they haven't done anything concrete."
The Observation Department had its priorities when dealing with supernatural beings, focusing first on cases that could result in casualties, with other matters taking a back seat.
In the supernatural realm, there were no laws about privacy violation or personal information infringement, so Fu Chengzhuo's case might not even qualify for investigation at the Observation Department. Even if the department's supernatural officers drove the stalker away, they would just resume following him once he left the bureau.
The Huaijiang Observation Bureau had its jurisdictional limits, and since Fu Chengzhuo traveled everywhere for work, without a supernatural bodyguard constantly by his side, there wasn't really an effective solution.
"I'm sorry, I'm just too exhausted to think about this anymore," Fu Chengzhuo said wearily, curling up in his chair. His eyelids were getting heavy as he yawned, "I'll take a nap first, and I'll pay for any accommodation fees later."
Seeing him lie down directly on the stone bench in the courtyard, Chu Zhishui asked in surprise, "Wait, are you really going to sleep so carelessly?"
Fu Chengzhuo gave a pale smile, "Ha, what else is there to be afraid of now?"
This was clearly a defeated attitude - sleeping when facing difficulties, suggesting he had been thoroughly worn down.
Xin Yunmao, irritated by Fu Chengzhuo's presence, started complaining about the courtyard getting dirty, saying it was affecting his normal photosynthesis.
Chu Zhishui gently persuaded him, "Come on, he's just lying outside for a while. Why don't you go back to your office for sunbathing? Or I can let you have my spot, the light there is quite good too."
Only then did Xin Yunmao relent.
The lunch break passed this way, and Chu Zhishui didn't bother further with Fu Chengzhuo in the courtyard, mainly because this wasn't under the Economic Development Department's jurisdiction. She worked normally in the afternoon and prepared to head home as closing time approached.
Chu Zhishui didn't eat dinner at the bureau, but Jin Yu and Chen Zhuhui left after their evening meal. As they walked downstairs together, they noticed a figure at the bureau's entrance and all showed surprised expressions.
Chu Zhishui held her car keys in one hand while opening the driver's door with the other, wondering aloud, "There are so many visitors at the bureau today?"
Chen Zhuhui shuddered, "Sister Zhishui, I don't think that's human."
They saw a beautiful woman in ancient costume standing at the bureau's entrance, holding a small sachet and smiling sweetly. She was looking into the courtyard with a radiant smile, apparently searching for Fu Chengzhuo. She was graceful and elegant, with a floral fragrance surrounding her.
She indeed wasn't human, but rather a supernatural being in human form, presumably the one who had been pursuing Fu Chengzhuo.
Jin Yu suddenly sneezed. As a supernatural civil servant, she stepped forward to discourage the visitor, "It's not appropriate to block the bureau's entrance like this."
Typically, outside supernatural beings avoided coming to the Observation Bureau, just as ordinary people didn't loiter around police stations.
The beautiful woman gave Jin Yu a sidelong glance, rolling her eyes and saying in a coquettish voice, "If I need supernatural approval just to be a fan, I might as well be your fan instead. Don't think you're so special just because you passed the civil service exam."
Jin Yu wasn't irritated by the mockery and gently advised, "I'm also a fan of his, but I try to control myself. It's better to just appreciate his work without disturbing his personal life..."
"Can't supernatural beings be fans too? You look so pathetic!" The beautiful woman said in frustration, "Fans can stand, walk, or run while showing their support, but they shouldn't grovel. Besides, I'm different from you!"
She broke into a sweet smile and said shyly, "We're meant to be together, a perfect match between human and supernatural being."
Chen Zhuhui quietly added from the side, "Forced relationships never work out."
"I can add sugar to make it sweet," the beautiful woman said leisurely, examining her pink nails. "Besides, I just want to pursue him, and I can't help myself."
Jin Yu and Chen Zhuhui exchanged helpless glances, unable to deal with this stubborn supernatural being. Nothing they said seemed to affect her.
Chu Zhishui lazily got into her car, pulling the door shut and preparing to head home. Through the window, she casually glanced at the female spirit and said nonchalantly, "These days, what respectable supernatural being chases male celebrities? Aren't you worried about relationship scandals?"
"You'd better switch to female celebrities instead. Don't say I didn't warn you."
"..."
The beautiful woman immediately lost her composure, her face changing color as she jumped up and down in anger, "Impossible, impossible, impossible! He's different from other male celebrities. He's a pure soul in the entertainment industry. He would never be involved in scandals, even if the sky falls!"
"That's what every fan says before their idol gets caught in a scandal."
"......"
