Cannon Fodder in an Era Drama — I Survive with Acting-Chapter 51: Mind the Boundaries

"It seems there’s a problem at the coal mine, in an area that happens to be managed by my uncle. Someone wants to use this to pressure him and cause trouble. Left with no other choice, he thought of you. He hopes you can come personally and help him out."

"What problem?"

"Well... I’m just a girl, how would I know all the details? You can just ask my uncle directly when you see him tomorrow."

Wen Xiuxiu’s only goal was to lead him to the guest house.

As for everything else, she figured she could just make up some lies to handle it.

She and Sun Yaoguang had rehearsed this story countless times beforehand.

However, she hadn’t expected that her smooth, natural answer would actually make him suspicious.

"Where’s a phone booth? I’m going to call my uncle."

"No! You can’t make that call!"

Wen Xiuxiu shut him down almost instantly.

"All the workers at the mine have gone home for the night. No one will be there to answer the phone. We shouldn’t disturb them. Let’s just wait until tomorrow morning."

Fei Jin clutched the letter in his hand, his brow tightly furrowed.

To determine its authenticity, he would have to go to the well-lit guest house and examine it carefully.

Wen Xiuxiu continued to coax him.

"Brother Fei, it’s getting so late. We should hurry and get checked in. Any later and the guest house staff will be asleep. It wouldn’t be right to disturb them." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

But no matter what she said, Fei Jin wouldn’t listen to her suggestions. He insisted on finding a state-owned hotel to stay at.

"It’s not like my dad specified which hotel I have to go to, did he? It doesn’t say so in the letter."

"...Fine. We’ll do it your way, Brother Fei."

Wen Xiuxiu sighed in resignation.

’It’s no use saying anything more,’ Wen Xiuxiu realized.

Although the guest house near the mine would have made it easier for them to be discovered, switching locations at the last minute wasn’t out of the question.

’It just means I’ll have to rely on Sun Yaoguang’s people to be a little more competent.’

’They’ll just have to contact three or four more hotels to spread the word about the two of us.’

’For now, as long as Fei Jin agrees to check into a hotel, half the battle is won.’

After looking around, Fei Jin chose a brightly lit, well-located state-owned hotel.

Once they arrived, Wen Xiuxiu rushed forward and called out to the front desk clerk.

"Just one room for him is fine. I’m helping him check in. I’ll leave right after I show him to his room."

She did this to establish her position from the start, giving her a plausible story for later.

That way, if something happened, she could claim it wasn’t her intention and still preserve her reputation.

Seeing the pair checking in, the clerk initially assumed they were a married couple.

But after seeing the man’s cold demeanor, the clerk grew suspicious.

’What kind of married couple is that cold to each other?’

’The woman beside him is practically clinging to him, yet the man is like a block of ice, completely still.’

The clerk glanced at Fei Jin in surprise and asked,

"So, you just need the one room, sir?"

"That’s right, one will be enough."

"Alright, your room is on the third floor, fourth door on the left. Enjoy your stay."

Once inside the room, Fei Jin took everything from Wen Xiuxiu’s hands and said coldly, "You can go now."

With tears welling in her red-rimmed eyes, Wen Xiuxiu sobbed.

"Brother Fei, do you dislike me that much? You won’t even let me stay and talk for a little while?"

"I’m a married man, and you’re an unmarried woman. We need to respect boundaries."

"But Brother Fei, surely you know how I feel about you? When I lie in bed at night, your face is all I see in my mind."

"Enough."

Fei Jin cut her off.

He couldn’t bear to listen to any more of it.

"Please leave this place at once," he said coldly.

"Brother Fei..."

Wen Xiuxiu’s voice began to tremble as tears welled in her eyes.

"Otherwise, I will have the staff escort you out immediately."

Fei Jin’s expression grew colder, his tone more severe.

Seeing the thunderous look on his face, Wen Xiuxiu became afraid that he would actually have her thrown out.

She immediately backed down, her voice catching in a sob. "I was too impulsive. I’m sorry, I lost control of my emotions. Brother Fei, this might be the last time we ever see each other... could I just ask for one small thing?"

Her eyes were full of pleading.

"What is it?" Fei Jin said, his face devoid of expression, his voice cold and firm.

"I’d like to..." Her voice was so low it was almost inaudible.

"What is it you want to say?"

Fei Jin frowned, straining to hear what she was saying.

But her voice was simply too faint.

By now, he was filled with impatience.

She spoke again in a low voice, barely a whisper.

Fei Jin couldn’t make out a single word she was saying.

His irritation finally boiled over.

Just as Fei Jin prepared to stand up and physically push her out the door, he suddenly noticed a faint wisp of smoke drifting from between Wen Xiuxiu’s fingers.

It was the smoke of the seductive fragrance.

Fei Jin felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, and his body began to sway uncontrollably.

He quickly realized that whatever Wen Xiuxiu was holding was no simple matter.

"What did you use?" he asked, fighting against the discomfort.

"Brother Fei, I’m being completely sincere with you," Wen Xiuxiu’s tears finally streamed down her face. "Please, don’t push me away anymore, okay? Give me a chance. Just let me be a little closer to you."

Seeing that the fragrance was already taking effect, Wen Xiuxiu was secretly overjoyed.

She slowly pulled down her zipper, revealing a pale, smooth shoulder.

Then, she quickly bolted the door from the inside.

Veins bulged on Fei Jin’s forehead.

His forehead was covered in beads of sweat as he desperately fought the drug’s effects on his body.

He wasn’t completely immobilized yet.

At that moment, he was filled with fury.

Just as Wen Xiuxiu lunged forward to press herself against him, Fei Jin used every last ounce of his strength to shove her away.

The force was enough to make the unprepared Wen Xiuxiu lose her balance.

Caught off guard, Wen Xiuxiu was thrown to the ground.

She landed hard, a dull ache spreading across her back.

She collapsed onto the cold floor, a sharp pain shooting through her body.

She bit her lip, trying hard to hold back her tears.

"Brother Fei, you..." she whispered, her voice choked with sobs. But when she looked up and saw the look in Fei Jin’s eyes, she jumped in fright.

"Give me the antidote."

Wen Xiuxiu had never seen him so forceful.

She couldn’t help but shudder.

Wen Xiuxiu had never seen such a ruthless look in his eyes.

That gentle, steady man was truly terrifying when angered.

She knew that this Fei Jin was no longer the kind and considerate Brother Fei she was used to.

Wen Xiuxiu understood this, but her heart still ached with sorrow.

Tears welled in her eyes again.

"Brother Fei, you’ve never been this harsh with Song Qingya. What does she have that I don’t?"

Wen Xiuxiu’s voice was choked with sobs.

Forget shoving her, she had never even seen Brother Fei give Qingya a cold look.

On the contrary, no matter how much of a scene Qingya made or how childishly she acted, Brother Fei would just smile and pamper her, never showing the slightest hint of impatience.