Naming Technique of the Night

Qing Yi reacted quickly; the moment Sun Chu Ci stepped forward to respond to the call of "Mister," he knew Qing Chen was concealing his identity.

He merely glanced at Sun Chu Ci curiously; he hadn't seen this person in the company of Mister before.

After thinking a bit, he said to Sun Chu Ci with a smile, "Mister, I was worried I couldn't find you."

Sun Chu Ci: "Mm-hmm..."

Sun Chu Ci did recognize Qing Yi; after all, he was the Federation's most popular Shadow Candidate, not as low-key as Li Su is now.

It was rumored that Qing Yi had already secured the support of a certain Inspector from Intelligence Department One, and it seemed likely that his patron was the boss by his side.

Now that Qing Yi was calling Qing Chen "Mister," it further confirmed the rumors.

Sun Chu Ci roughly understood that this was someone from his own side.

Being new to the camp, Qing Yi was somewhat unclear about the situation here.

To avoid having to repeat the same process as Li Su, Sun Chu Ci took the initiative to introduce the situation: "This is the film crew's temporary campsite; everyone is here waiting to film after Great Snow. This is the site worker Qing Xiaotu, and that is Li Su from the Federation Group's military."

In one sentence, he subtly introduced Qing Chen's current disguised identity, giving Qing Yi an idea of the situation.

It had to be said, Sun Chu Ci, the brilliant student from the prestigious Zheng University in the Outer World, was quite smart.

Continuing on, Sun Chu Ci introduced, "This is Song Niannian, a top-tier actress, and those two are Director Zhang and Assistant Director Wang from the film crew."

Then, pointing to Li Yu in the distance, he said, "That one is an idiot."

Li Yu: "???"

Li Yu was completely dumbfounded; he hadn't even approached them this time, so why was he being specifically introduced?!

Hadn't they had enough?!

Was it necessary to introduce him like this every time someone new arrived?!

However, Li Yu was too angry to speak, for in his mind, Sun Chu Ci had already become a mysterious big shot, someone he absolutely couldn't afford to offend.

In front of fans, he was the biggest name, but in front of financiers and major figures, he was nothing.

By then, Qing Yi had already realized that Li Yu must have offended their Mister.

His heart was certainly much smaller than Li Su's.

Qing Yi looked at Li Yu with a smile, "Noted."

...

...

"That's so satisfying," Song Niannian's agent whispered to her, "I've been so fired up arguing with Li Yu's agent these past days; now that Sun Chu Ci has snapped back, it feels so good! Hey, do you think Li Yu will be blacklisted when he goes back?"

The entertainment industry is very realistic.

You cause a scandal in the morning, and by the afternoon you have no work to do.

Now that so many major figures from the financial factions have taken note of Li Yu, who would dare to support him later?

Even those who might want to support him would have to consider whether Li Su and Li Yu would turn against them.

So, as long as the industry gets wind of what happened here upon his return,

It's very likely that Li Yu is in for a cold reception.

"Who cares," Song Niannian laughed, "Sister, you've had a tough time this trip, huh? I didn't expect to encounter someone like Li Yu after joining the production. If I'd known he was in the crew, I would've... Well, it seems I had to come anyway."

The agent thought for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "The one who invited you to join, it wasn't that Sun Chu Ci, was it?"

Song Niannian couldn't help but laugh, "No, it wasn't."

Before Song Niannian joined the crew, her agent had been advising her not to take the job.

In the end, Song Niannian didn't listen and went ahead to pull funds out from her studio.

When the agent asked, she only mentioned it was an invitation from a big shot but refused to say who.

Now, the agent's eyes swept over Sun Chu Ci, Qing Yi, and Li Su, and she asked cryptically, "So, who exactly invited you?"

"I can't say," Song Niannian shook her head.

However, she found it amusing that while everyone was treating Sun Chu Ci like a big shot, she knew full well that everything was because of Qing Chen.

To be honest, she knew Qing Chen was formidable, but she had not anticipated him being this formidable.

...

...

The sky was growing darker, but the bonfire at the campsite burned brighter and brighter.

The temperature continued to drop, yet the enthusiasm of the film crew's discussions only grew hotter.

During their discussions, they would occasionally glance at Sun Chu Ci, then continue whispering among themselves.

As Sun Chu Ci walked through the camp, everyone made way for him, greeting him with smiles.

They called him "Teacher Sun Chu Ci" one after another.

When the meal from the film crew's food truck was ready, Assistant Director Wang immediately instructed his assistant to prepare a plate and send it to Sun Chu Ci.

Even knowing that all of this was a facade, Sun Chu Ci couldn't help but feel a secret thrill...

So this is what it felt like to be a fake big shot... so smoothly satisfying...

Sun Chu Ci couldn't help but fantasize that this must count as having clung to the right thigh, and how great it would be if he could become as formidable as the other party someday.

While everyone thought he was a big shot, only Sun Chu Ci knew how shocked he was.

The best among the young generations of the Li and Qing families were students of Qing Chen; could a Time Traveler achieve this?

Bai Yue had a small number of people during the day in the Outer World, lacking the influence of networks or Red Leaves, but in the Inner World, the influence of Bai Yue might have already surpassed that of all Time Traveler Organizations.

While Assistant Director Wang's assistant was bringing the meal over, Sun Chu Ci handed his portion to Qing Chen.

As soon as he handed it out, he was stopped by Liu Liqun who came rushing over, "No, no, no, we set workers eat last. Teacher Sun Chu Ci, you eat first."

As he spoke, he firmly pushed the lunchbox Sun Chu Ci had handed out back to him.

While pushing he also said, "We set workers are tough, going hungry for a bit is nothing! The rules of the crew are the rules!"

Sun Chu Ci almost panicked. He was trying to curry favor here, what was this guy adding chaos for!

You might be fine hungry for a while, but the boss can't go hungry!

Tuan Zi handed the meal to Qing Chen, but Liu Liqun pushed it back again…

You have to say, Liu Liqun was quite strong.

Qing Chen laughed, "You guys go ahead and eat. You're more precious, we set workers always eat after everyone else is done."

Upon hearing this, Sun Chu Ci and the others reluctantly scrambled with their own dishes in hand.

Liu Liqun finally left, reassured, and returned to wait by the food truck.

By the bonfire, only 'our own people' remained: Sun Chu Ci, Tuan Zi, Qing Yi, Li Su, and Qing Chen.

Qing Yi sat beside the bonfire, listlessly poking at the firewood.

Qing Chen asked, "How come you came out early? There's still more than ten days before the trade with Qing Mu."

Qing Yi was startled, "Wait, sir, wasn't it you who asked me to come out early?"

Qing Chen: "…It was me."

Qing Yi said, "It was you who told me to come here to find you, you even sent me the coordinates. You also said that if I came late, you'd be angry…"

Qing Chen: "Mhm, mhm…"

Hehe.

Without thinking, it must've been Shadow.

The one who had once impersonated him was now starting to do it all too smoothly.

Initially, Qing Chen thought Shadow had just impersonated him to invite Song Niannian.

Now, he couldn't help but ponder who else Shadow might have deceived by pretending to be him…

Previously, Shadow had warned him not to impersonate himself again or he would bear the consequences.

Then considering Shadow's vindictiveness, since he had impersonated Shadow to deceive six Shadow Candidates, Mr. Shadow might have impersonated him to deceive six people as well.

So, Shadow had tricked who else.

Of course, in a strict sense, his impersonation was for his own sake to come back alive from Taboo Land 065, while Shadow's impersonation of him was more like a prank at most.

Either way, he had profited.

But Qing Chen, suddenly filled with apprehension about the journey ahead…

Now even if Shadow Candidates gathered in the crew, he wouldn't be particularly surprised…

Up to now, Qing Chen still knew very little about this Shadow.

He didn't know what the other looked like, nor the level of his abilities.

The only thing he knew was that he loved to play games.

The kind that could play you to death

At this moment, Qing Yi looked to Li Su, "Brother Li Su, how come you're here too?"

Li Su explained, "I'm here to round up the wild people."

Then, snow began to flutter down from the sky.

Li Su glanced at Qing Chen and whispered, "Sir, it's snowing. According to the weather forecast, the snow will soon get heavy. If you don't need me to stay here, then I must quickly track the wild people's tracks before the Great Snow covers them. These wild people are extremely fierce, having committed many murders in the production base, and they cannot be let off."

Qing Chen nodded, "Go on, serious matters are priority."

Li Su stood up, bowed deeply to Sun Chu Ci, "Sir, take care."

Sun Chu Ci, who was in the middle of eating, almost dropped his lunchbox, "...I'm kind of scared."

Li Su said calmly, "Special times, there are others watching over the camp. You're here for the sir. Sir, though we, as disciples, haven't formally performed the duties of discipleship, in our hearts we truly regard you as our teacher. If there's anything, just say the word and we'll be there."

After saying that, he turned and strode away, along with those Federal Group soldiers who had just set up camp.

Li Yu in the camp, along with the other crew members, all sighed in relief.

The Federal Group soldiers were like a heavy stone pressing on their chests.

Especially Li Yu – he was genuinely worried that Li Su would beat him up before leaving.

Fortunately, that didn't happen.

Sun Chu Ci sat by the bonfire, too scared to continue eating for quite some time.

Qing Yi, watching Li Su's departing figure, suddenly said to Qing Chen, "Sir, ever since the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, the brothers have all gone their separate ways, everybody busy with their own things. It seems that everyone suddenly got busy."

Qing Chen knew Qing Yi was young and couldn't bear parting.

The days at the Autumn Leaf Courtyard when the brothers trained together under the stars had been so joyful.

Leaving the Autumn Leaf Courtyard, everyone had to face the reality of life again.

Qing Chen said, "There are no banquets that don't end in this world. You have things you want to do, and so do they. Tell me, what do you want to do the most now?"

Qing Yi was somewhat at a loss for a moment, "To become a Shadow, I guess."

"Why do you want to become a Shadow?" asked Qing Chen.

Qing Yi scratched at his watermelon-like head, "It's not that I have to become one, it's just everyone seems to think it's great to be a Shadow, so I wanted to try it. Sir, I don't know what your childhood was like, but ever since I was young, my parents always said, 'Qing Yi is so smart, he will definitely become a Shadow, and after that, the Family Head...'"

Qing Chen thought, it seems in Qing's Family, childhood education involves encouraging aspirations towards becoming a Shadow, just like parents in the Outer World telling their kids, "You're so smart, you'll definitely get into Tsinghua or Beijing University."

Qing Chen asked with a smile, "Do you want to become a Shadow?"