Chapter 8: I Know You?

"So that's how it is. That's such a pity!"

Hearing the keeper's words, Lu Chengshen nodded thoughtfully.

It was indeed so.

This was truly the first time he had seen someone so popular with the animals.

If...

Lin Xiao had no idea what he was thinking.

Behind the backs of the two men, Lin Xiao quietly let out a breath of relief. Fortunately, she had managed to bluff her way through.

Fearing they might catch her and press for details, Lin Xiao spoke up quickly, cutting off the staff member's footsteps.

"Xuegao's emotions have just stabilized. You should go back and take care of her first."

"But..."

The keeper was feeling conflicted; the lady had helped out so much, would it be too perfunctory of him to act this way?

"Go back!" Lu Chengshen patted him on the shoulder.

"I can't leave this side for the time being. Don't worry, I will certainly ensure your great benefactor is sent home safely."

Since Lu Chengshen had spoken, the keeper could only nod.

"Then I'll trouble you, Director Lu."

As they walked out of the Wildlife Protection Center, Lin Xiao was just about to get into the car when she heard someone calling her name from behind.

Lin Xiao instinctively turned around, only to see the staff member who had initially welcomed them in, standing there somewhat hesitantly.

His face was flushed, looking extremely embarrassed.

Lin Xiao looked puzzled.

What was going on?

Lu Chengshen's eyebrows rose slightly, a flash of understanding crossing his eyes.

He silently took a few steps back, leaving them space to converse.

Just as Lin Xiao was about to ask what was wrong, before she could even speak, she saw the staff member walk up to her in a few strides and suddenly perform a standard ninety-degree bow.

Lin Xiao was stunned, completely unable to react.

"No, no, what are you doing?"

She hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, only to see him smiling sheepishly with a red face.

"I'm sorry! I judged you by your appearance and made reckless comments just now! I apologize to you."

"From this day forward, you are our benefactor!"

After speaking hurriedly, whether out of shame or some other reason, he didn't even wait for Lin Xiao's reaction before rushing back.

Lin Xiao opened her mouth, but before she could make a sound, the person had already vanished from sight.

She sighed helplessly and turned to sit in the passenger seat, still unable to figure it out.

Why would he suddenly apologize to her?

Lu Chengshen started the car and reversed away as if nothing had happened.

His calm voice echoed in the car.

"He should apologize to you. Judging by appearance, making reckless comments. It's a good thing it was only here; if it were outside, there's no telling what kind of trouble could have been caused."

Lin Xiao looked up in surprise, understanding the situation in her heart.

So that was it.

No wonder; most people working on the front lines of animal protection were male.

Even if they were female, they wouldn't have skin as delicate as hers.

It was understandable.

Before long, the car stopped at the entrance of the hotel where the production crew was staying.

"Director Lu, thank you for driving me back. I'll head in first!"

Just as Lin Xiao pushed the door open to get out of the car, she heard Lu Chengshen's deep voice.

She turned back in confusion, only to see Lu Chengshen holding out a business card toward her.

"I wonder if Miss Lin has any interest in animal protection? If you are interested, you might consider contacting me."

Lin Xiao took the business card, her eyebrows rising slightly. She didn't say whether she would or wouldn't, only gave a faint smile.

"Sure!"

With that, she pushed the door open and stepped out of the car without looking back.

The Minister of the Resource Protection Department...

Lin Xiao rubbed the business card in her hand, the smile in her eyes becoming more pronounced.

Watching the girl walk into the hotel entrance like a fluttering butterfly, Lu Chengshen leaned back in the driver's seat and curled his lips into a helpless smile.

Having finally encountered such a talent, he had to find a way to keep her.

After much deliberation, Lu Chengshen dialed his superior's number without hesitation.

...

On the other side, as soon as Lin Xiao entered the main door, she walked straight toward the director's room.

Knock, knock, knock...

The door was opened from the inside. When Xie Feng saw Lin Xiao standing outside, his eyes instantly lit up.

"Lin Xiao, you're finally back! How was it? Did something happen?"

Lin Xiao shook her head and took the initiative to say, "Director Xie, I came here today to get my phone."

"Once I've handled the matters at hand, I will definitely send it to you."

Lin Xiao's rapid-fire words left Xie Feng dazed for a moment.

What?

Send it back?

Xie Feng stared blankly at the woman before him, his face full of astonishment.

"You... you want to keep filming?"

After such a major incident, combined with the fact that actors were usually delicate and timid, they had already prepared for the possibility that Lin Xiao would quit and leave.

As it turned out...

Lin Xiao looked confused.

"Of course I'm continuing to film. I haven't done anything wrong, so why wouldn't I?"

Of course, what Lin Xiao didn't say was that ever since Xu Chengfei had tried to introduce a "benefactor" to her last time, she had been blacklisted by her company.

To pay off her contract termination fee, she had tapped into so many connections just to pull in this resource.

Why on earth would she give it up?!

The smile on Xie Feng's face instantly became much more genuine.

Xie Feng wanted to say something but hesitated, repeatedly starting and stopping, until his assistant handed him the phone. He didn't manage to say a single word.

Lin Xiao took the phone, thanked Xie Feng, and turned to leave.

Xie Feng watched Lin Xiao's retreating figure, remaining silent for a long time before finally unable to help but letting out a long sigh.

Lin Xiao was beyond reproach.

But... thinking of the noisy public opinion on the internet, he couldn't help but sigh deeply.

*Sigh!*

How could this child be so unlucky to run into a bastard like Xu Chengfei?

Xie Feng shook his head and turned to walk back into his room.

His footsteps suddenly stopped.

His gaze froze, and he slapped his forehead with a look of intense regret.

It's over!

Xu Chengfei said he was coming over today!

How could he have forgotten?!

...

Lin Xiao was completely unaware of this.

She took the phone, and as soon as she turned it on, a string of messages popped up.

They were all from Xu Chengfei.

"Lin Xiao, do you really think your wings have grown strong enough to turn the world upside down?"

"Just you wait, there will come a day when you come begging me."

"Have you seen the news online? This is just an appetizer. If you're so capable, keep arguing with me."

"Fine, fine, fine... ignoring me, are you? Alright, then don't blame me for playing dirty!"

There were many more messages below.

Lin Xiao swiped through them with an annoyed expression and quickly exited the chat interface.

To be able to talk to oneself for so long, Xu Chengfei really was something.

But regarding the online news he mentioned...

Lin Xiao frowned and opened the Weibo interface.

Almost the moment she opened it, countless messages jumped out at once.

Lin Xiao held the phone frozen for nearly a minute before she finally clicked into her personal profile.

Unread messages: 99+.

Looking at this level of discussion heat, Lin Xiao felt a pang of envy.

Back in the day, their protection center's Weibo had been operated for three or five years and barely managed to get a few tens of thousands of followers.

And those followers were usually silent, never saying a word.

How wonderful would it be if the animal protection work they did could ever achieve this kind of popularity?

Lin Xiao let out a long sigh. Just as she was about to walk forward, *bang!* She unexpectedly collided with someone rushing toward her.

*Hiss*, who is this?

Don't they know how to look where they're walking?

Before she could speak, she heard the angry voice of the person in front of her.

"Fine! Lin Xiao, I've finally found you!"

Lin Xiao looked at the strange, bald, middle-aged man in a suit and glasses before her, squinting her eyes in utter confusion.

"Uncle, do I know you?"

(End of Chapter)