Chapter 32: A Modest Display of Authority

After Mo Fei finished his scenes in Director Wang’s production, he found himself at loose ends. Though he was tempted to visit the set, much like a senior who’s completed military training watching the juniors sweat through theirs, Director Wang didn’t give him the chance.

The filming location was kept secret from Mo Fei, with strict measures in place to prevent any leaks from actors or staff. Mo Fei was left speechless by this.

Was it really necessary? All he'd done was rescue an innocent youth from persecution in his team and catch a serial killer—hardly anything extraordinary. Petty, really, drink cold water and choke on it.

Mo Fei’s days at home were spent squabbling with Yitiao Feng. When he couldn’t understand cat-speak, he thought it was a quiet, elegant feline. Now that he could, he realized the cat’s vocabulary consisted mostly of profanities and maternal insults. After hearing it so often, Mo Fei found himself unconsciously picking up its mannerisms.

If he started using this verbal tic outside, surely he'd be beaten up.

“Look at you, so timid! When I roamed the streets, no brat dared mess with me. I’d sort out their ancestors for eighteen generations. Kid, you’re pathetic,” Yitiao Feng declared, growing even more brazen now that Mo Fei could understand him.

The cat refused to eat kibble, demanding proper meals instead—a balanced diet of meat and vegetables, followed by dessert. Mo Fei didn’t even treat himself so carefully.

After scorning Mo Fei, Yitiao Feng would dash downstairs to Grandma Zhang’s for more treats. Only then did Mo Fei realize the cat hadn’t been eating less; it was just filling up on wild snacks outside and nibbling a few pellets at home for show.

So it turned out Mo Fei was the one eating the most of the cat food he bought.

Damn.

Mo Fei chewed the kibble fiercely when a message popped up on his phone.

It was from Lv Chunqiu. She knew Mo Fei was currently idle and wanted to take him to meet the Ji brothers, fulfilling the promise of that lead role. This was a prime opportunity for advancement.

“Remember to make a good impression,” Lv Chunqiu earnestly reminded Mo Fei on the way to meet Ji Xingjian. “The web drama’s shooting schedule isn’t long. If it premieres alongside Director Wang’s film, you’ll get some exposure—maybe even a little fame.”

Mo Fei munched on the three-flavor bun Lv Chunqiu bought him, cheeks puffed out, and gave her an OK sign.

With that simple-minded look, it seemed a kidnapper could lure him away with a lollipop.

Lv Chunqiu sighed, exhausted.

She had arranged to meet Ji Xingjian at his fashion company. One of several businesses he owned, today he was at the one specializing in high-end coats.

Entering the lobby, they were greeted by a giant poster featuring a model in a cashmere trench coat—handsome and dashing.

Mo Fei paused at the entrance, studying the poster.

Lv Chunqiu was just about to be pleased, thinking the child finally had some sense of fashion, when she heard him say, “That guy isn’t as good-looking as Ji Xingyu.”

Lv Chunqiu: …

“You stared at it for ages just to reach that conclusion?”

“Of course not,” Mo Fei said confidently, hands in his pockets. “I’d look even better in that coat!”

Lv Chunqiu clenched her fists, remembering they were in public and it wasn’t appropriate to hit him, so she restrained herself.

Fashion models, especially for high-end brands, were often mixed-race or foreign, mostly white. What was this guy boasting about?

Gnashing her teeth, Lv Chunqiu dragged the embarrassing child inside. After notifying reception of their appointment, they were shown into Ji Xingjian’s office.

His office was simply furnished: wooden desk, executive chair, black sofa, the archetype of a boss’s suite.

Inside, a man in a suit stood, looking somewhat pale.

“You’ve arrived, please take a seat,” Ji Xingjian gestured to the sofa. “Wait a moment while I handle something.”

Lv Chunqiu and Mo Fei had no objections, sitting side by side, docile as could be.

After greeting them, Ji Xingjian’s expression shifted as he turned to the suited man. “I pay you to work, not to bring me problems.”

“Market needs my attention, designs must be revised, factories require oversight, I have to sue for piracy—so tell me, what exactly are you all doing for your wages?”

His tone wasn’t harsh, just genuinely puzzled.

The suited man broke into a cold sweat. “Ji—Mr. Ji, we’re just…”

“Just slacking off, arriving late, leaving early, playing favorites, pocketing kickbacks, suppressing newcomers, and plagiarizing?” Ji Xingjian listed calmly, delivering his ultimatum. “Get out. I’ll have legal contact you.”

The suited man jerked his head up, eyes wide, emotions running high. “Mr. Ji, please, give me a chance! It’s all slander!”

He stepped forward as he spoke.

Mo Fei tilted his head and stepped in front of Ji Xingjian. “Impulsiveness is your enemy. Calm down. Don’t resort to violence.”

But the suited man ignored the outsider’s advice. In fact, having a stranger block his way only infuriated him further.

Hearing the phrase “resort to violence,” he raised a fist without hesitation, aiming for Mo Fei’s face.

Mo Fei smiled, sidestepped the punch, and deftly pinned the man to the floor.

The suited man struggled on the ground, while Ji Xingjian called security to drag him out, tossing him away like a dead dog.

Lv Chunqiu maintained a polite smile, but inside she was cracking.

What to do with a child who keeps causing trouble?

Probably needs a beating. Or, in Mo Fei’s case, a few days of hunger would suffice.

Beating him would be pointless.

Once the internal matter was settled, Ji Xingjian put on a welcoming face for Mo Fei. “Please, sit. Sorry for the spectacle.”

Company affairs, even if embarrassing, shouldn’t be addressed directly. Lv Chunqiu was about to offer polite platitudes when Mo Fei spoke up candidly, “Wasn’t it intentional? You kept him here to give me a taste of what’s to come, right?”

Lv Chunqiu’s smile froze, and Ji Xingjian raised his brows.

Mo Fei continued, “Reception called ahead before we came in. If you didn’t want us to see that, you could’ve dealt with him earlier or later.”

“As for your motive…”

Mo Fei tapped his wrist. “A businessperson wearing a Jaquet Droz minute repeater bird watch—your brother gave it to you, didn’t he?”

“A watch worth millions, not kept away but worn daily. Clearly not for collection, but to show off. What are you showing off?”

Mo Fei cleared his throat, then exaggeratedly performed: “Mr. Ji, that watch looks extraordinary.”

Switching sides, he raised his wrist and smiled. “Oh, this? My brother gave it to me. Kids these days, I told him not to buy such an expensive watch but he wouldn’t listen, insisted on getting it for me. But hey, I earn money just for him to spend anyway.”

Finishing, he looked at the silent Ji Xingjian. “Honestly, you don’t need to worry about me having any designs on Ji Xingyu. You could just toss me five hundred thousand, and I’d disappear from your lives immediately.”