This man was none other than Monk Bùluàn from Lin Yin Temple.
Today, he was dressed in a white suit, exuding an air of refined elegance. Even Jia Yanzhen, who prided himself on his peerless beauty, felt his status as a handsome man threatened upon seeing this unfamiliar bald man in a white suit.
Monk Bùluàn's gaze was as gentle and serene as a calm spring, devoid of any aggression.
Yet, both Jia Yanzhen and Zhou Jincai narrowed their eyes simultaneously.
Some things, though seemingly harmless, could be as treacherous as water that can both carry and capsize a boat.
"What do you mean 'not sick'? You bald man, don't talk nonsense here. Starry Treasure fainted right in front of us."
Jia Yanzhen clearly harbored strong hostility towards the bald man, while internally contemplating whether he should shave his head upon returning. He absolutely could not tolerate any man in this world being more handsome than him.
"My monastic name is 'Bùluàn,' and I am known as Monk Bùluàn. You may call me Bùluàn, benefactor," Monk Bùluàn said, walking to the unconscious Lin Xingwan's side. He seemed to be talking to himself, yet also explaining to everyone present. "In ancient times, there were the seven emotions and six desires, with the seven emotions referring to joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, love, hate, and desire. However, in traditional Chinese medicine, the seven emotions refer to joy, anger, worry, contemplation, grief, fear, and alarm. This female benefactor has clearly been hypnotized by fear and desire."
Jia Yanzhen frowned. He understood every word the monk spoke, but strung together, it made no sense.
Jia Yanzhen thought: This monk is like a charlatan!
Chen Yuchu, however, seemed to have heard something extraordinary and couldn't help but press further, "Master Bùluàn, does the 'hypnotized fear and desire' you mentioned originate from the ancient Duan family?"
Monk Bùluàn nodded affirmatively. Zhou Jincai then asked Chen Yuchu, "Secretary Chen, what ancient Duan family are you referring to?"
"Young Master, I don't quite understand it myself. It was merely through a chance encounter that I heard this story. Legend has it that the Duan family has been studying the art of hypnosis for thousands of years. There was once an emperor who was cruel by nature, and his people suffered greatly. The Empress found a descendant of the Duan family to treat this emperor. Later, this tyrannical ruler became a diligent and benevolent emperor who cared for his people. There was also a matriarch of a noble family who was arrogant and extravagant, spending lavishly. She would kill no less than a hundred small animals for every meal, yet she would only take a shallow taste of each dish. At that time, there was a famine outside, and many people were starving to death every day. Later, a wandering monk, pitying the common people, knelt all the way from his dwelling to the Duan family's doorstep. Moved by the monk's sincerity, the Duan family descendant went to the matriarch's mansion to treat her. Subsequently, the matriarch opened her gates wide, bestowing kindness and virtue."
Jia Yanzhen listened, his face filled with disbelief. "Secretary Chen, you've watched too many fantasy stories! Is this still called hypnosis? It's practically reincarnation!"
Monk Bùluàn, however, calmly stated, "The secret techniques of the Duan family have been passed down for a long time, but they have not reappeared in the martial world for the past hundred years. Furthermore, the descendants of the Duan family only treat those who can afford it, and their fees are exorbitant. They are gifted and solitary, preferring death to submission."
"Are you saying you know the whereabouts of a descendant of the Duan family?" Zhou Jincai asked, looking at Monk Bùluàn with a gaze as cold as ice. Zhou Jincai always felt annoyed by this monk's appearances because his eyes, which seemed to see through everything, made Zhou Jincai very uncomfortable.
"This humble monk is indeed a descendant of the Duan family—Duan Jingyu," Monk Bùluàn said with a slight smile. He then took out a delicate small bell from his pocket and, placing it near Lin Xingwan's ear, shook it with a peculiar rhythm. The bell emitted an unusually piercing sound that sent a shiver down one's spine.
Monk Bùluàn, accustomed to it, continued to explain in a calm voice: "This female benefactor is currently tormented by nightmares. If she is not awakened in time, she will repeatedly cycle through her nightmares, eventually becoming a living dead person, what is medically described as a vegetative state. For ordinary people, the secret techniques of the Duan family can transform them. However, for those with strong wills, the hypnotized fear is like a demon trying to escape and take control of the body. Of course, such situations are rare, occurring once in a century. I read in ancient texts about a prince five hundred years ago who witnessed his loved ones being harmed. The subordinate who helped him escape hypnotized his most terrifying memories. However, at the age of fifteen, this prince recalled all his past memories, then spent five years in quiet cultivation, becoming a valiant soldier on the frontier, then a general, and eventually married a princess. Yet, unable to forget his hatred, he harmed his wife and children, and bloodied the imperial palace. The war had already caused heavy casualties, and after he ascended the throne, he exterminated his enemies' entire clan, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths daily. The land was devastated, and the people suffered immensely."
"What does this have to do with the young madam?" Chen Yuchu asked, confused. The young madam was just an ordinary person.
However, in Zhou Jincai's mind, the conch shell pearl necklace appeared. The man's heroic and stern brows furrowed deeply, a distinct character resembling a '川' appearing on his forehead.
"I have calculated this female benefactor's destiny, which is similar to that of the former prince, a sign of great misfortune," Monk Bùluàn said with a slight smile. "The reason I am here tonight is also because I calculated that this female benefactor would face a calamity. The calamity has now been resolved, and I should depart."
With that, Monk Bùluàn turned and left.
"What the heck! You damned monk are just spewing nonsense! If every coma in this world could be cured by shaking your five-cent bell, wouldn't that be a slap in the face to hospitals? I'm telling you..."
Before Jia Yanzhen could finish speaking, Lin Xingwan, who had been unconscious, murmured.
"Zhou Jincai... don't..."
"Mom... I don't want to die, please don't die, okay? Wanwan will study hard and won't make you angry, Mom..."
Zhou Jincai quickly walked to Lin Xingwan's side and held her cold hand. The only sound in the room was Lin Xingwan's ragged breathing. Even the words that had surged to Jia Yanzhen's throat died before they could be spoken.
This was uncanny!
Lin Xingwan suddenly opened her eyes and, regardless of who was in front of her, tightly embraced him. Zhou Jincai wrapped one arm around Lin Xingwan's waist and gently patted her back with the other. "It's okay, I'm here, it's okay."
Lin Xingwan was trembling. She had just dreamt that her mother was holding her as they jumped off the rooftop. She hadn't died, but her mother was covered in blood, torn to pieces. She was terrified and wanted to escape, but she saw a woman who looked exactly like her mother jump from the building, dying right before her eyes. Then came the third, the fourth... the garden, once filled with laughter and joy, was now filled with her mother's corpses. What was even more terrifying was that these corpses, like zombies, crawled towards her, smiling eerily, telling her to take revenge. Lin Xingwan wanted to escape. She couldn't believe that her usually gentle and elegant mother had turned into a monstrous creature. But her limbs were immobile, and she couldn't even close her eyes, watching her mother's blood-soaked face inches from hers.
The warmth of the embrace and the calming scent of sandalwood entered Lin Xingwan's nostrils. Her cold body slowly warmed, and her emotions calmed down. Realizing she was hugging Dongfang Junze, Lin Xingwan quickly pushed him away. Although she suspected that Dongfang Junze was her husband, Zhou Jincai, without concrete evidence, Lin Xingwan didn't want to blindly assume Dongfang Junze was her husband. What if she was mistaken? Moreover, Dongfang Junze's status was too high. Lin Xingwan had never been a self-conscious person, but she had her own worries. Dongfang Junze had once tentatively told her about his father's story. Lin Xingwan felt she wouldn't be as capable as Dongfang Junze's father, who, despite his abilities, died without a complete corpse. What about her? The struggles within wealthy families were extremely brutal and terrifying. How long could a small fry like her survive? Lin Xingwan's tear-filled eyes were filled with a myriad of thoughts. Zhou Jincai, thinking she was stunned by fear, affectionately ruffled her hair. "It's all over now, it's okay."
Lin Xingwan said nothing, but at that moment, a knock echoed from the corridor. Everyone's gaze turned to the door, and they saw that it was Brad. He had a fawning smile on his face and asked with extreme deference, "Mr. Dongfang, Miss Lin, may I come in?"
Dongfang Junze remained silent, as did Jia Yanzhen. Chen Yuchu dared not overstep. Only Lin Xingwan spoke, "Mr. Brad, may I ask what brings you here?"
Brad quickly rushed to Lin Xingwan's side, bending over solicitously. "Miss Lin, I know you are not feeling well and should not be disturbed, but I wish to discuss a collaboration with you. I was blind and mistook a pebble for a pearl, almost missing out on the masterpiece 'Miracle.' I, Brad, despise plagiarists. Moreover, I have read part of 'Miracle,' and it is indeed more brilliant than 'Imperial Reign.' For such a classic work, I will invest at least two billion. You don't need to worry about the special effects artists either; I know the top special effects artists in the industry. I believe that when 'Miracle' is released, it will become a legend."
Brad's tone was gentle, and his demeanor was ingratiating. If he had known earlier that the seemingly unknown small company was backed by the Dongfang Consortium, he would have knelt and begged Miss Lin for cooperation.
Lin Xingwan glanced at Dongfang Junze, who stood beside her. The mask he wore glinted in the light. If it were in the past, Lin Xingwan would have naively believed that these magnates were appreciating her talent. But now, Lin Xingwan belatedly understood. All this good fortune came entirely from Dongfang Junze!
"Then, for the next few days, you will contact your top friends in the industry. Furthermore, the Dongfang Consortium will sponsor Peak Entertainment with five billion." Dongfang Junze, who had been silent, made a stunning declaration. Lin Xingwan's original plan was for 'Miracle' to receive at most ten billion in sponsorship, but now she had received seven billion in one go, feeling as if she were living in a dream.
"I'll also sponsor five billion!" Jia Yanzhen declared, unwilling to be outdone. He had finally waited for Lin Xingwan and Dongfang Junze, this show-off, to divorce, and he absolutely would not allow them to remarry.
"Disgusting," Dongfang Junze said concisely. Jia Yanzhen was so enraged that his handsome face contorted.
"Shall we go back now?" Dongfang Junze, without sparing Jia Yanzhen another glance, turned his gentle gaze to Lin Xingwan.
"How long was I unconscious?" Lin Xingwan asked.
"A little over an hour," Zhou Jincai replied.
"Only a little over an hour? I finally got to attend the Blissful Feast. I want to see the interesting activities there and broaden my horizons," Lin Xingwan said with reluctance. As a devoted husband, Zhou Jincai naturally wouldn't refuse Lin Xingwan.
"Okay." Jia Yanzhen couldn't help but get goosebumps and deliberately spoke in a high-pitched voice, "Okaaaay—" How utterly sickening.
When Lin Xingwan got out of bed, she discovered that her evening gown had been changed into another one at some point. Lin Xingwan secretly glanced at Dongfang Junze, wondering if this man had changed it for her. Since connecting him with Zhou Jincai, Lin Xingwan found that she wasn't as repulsed by this man as she had imagined. Lost in thought, Lin Xingwan arrived at the core area of the Blissful Feast once more. Looking around, she saw a sea of people. However, no matter how high-class a banquet was, as long as a man at the pinnacle of the pyramid appeared, the banquet would turn into his personal carnival. Undoubtedly, Dongfang Junze, attending the Blissful Feast for the first time, became the magnate everyone wanted to approach and curry favor with the moment he appeared. They naturally wouldn't be so presumptuous as to seek employment with the Dongfang Consortium, but they could focus their attention on Lin Xingwan, offering gifts through her. Thus, soon people began to chat with Lin Xingwan, inquiring about 'Miracle,' the film being invested in and produced by Peak Entertainment. In just half an hour, Lin Xingwan had secured at least ten billion in sponsorship, and several investors wanted to collaborate with Peak Entertainment. Once these collaborations were signed, Peak Entertainment would become the number one entertainment company in Rongcheng. If Dongfang Junze was the king of the Blissful Feast, then Lin Xingwan was the queen of its fleeting favor. The gazes fixed upon them made Ye Qingning and Lawrence, hiding in the shadows, burn with envy. Once, all this radiance belonged to her. But why did her fiancé deeply love Lin Xingwan? Her proud ballet was merely the performance of an actor. Now, she had fallen to become Lawrence's mistress... All of it was because of Lin Xingwan!
"I can't wait any longer, Lawrence. I want that bitch Lin Xingwan to die immediately." The gentle and virtuous demeanor on Ye Qingning's face vanished, her eyes like cold pythons. Lawrence looked confident. "I can't wait either. Don't worry, that bitch Lin Xingwan can only live for another half an hour." Ye Qingning's eyes widened, as if she had thought of something. "Could it be... you intend to..." Lawrence made a shushing gesture, a sinister smile on his face.