CH 40

In the star map drawn by the ghost girl Irin, there were several differently colored stars surrounding the dark purple stars. This was the only clue they had.

Irin’s physical body was still alive, but her spiritual form had become weak from being separated for too long. Si Huaixi couldn’t predict how long she could hold on. He couldn’t understand how she had entered the virtual world of the game.

Si Huaixi asked Irin, “Have you thought about escaping?”

Irin shook her head and said, “I’ve tried many methods to find a way out into the outside world, to find my brother. But this place is like a complex maze. The players in the game treat me as an NPC or a monster, wanting to attack me for game experience. Only you were willing to stop and listen to me…”

Si Huaixi’s eyes darkened.

No one could have imagined that there was a soul of a living girl trapped in the game.

Those players coming and going would never believe the words of a ghost NPC. If it weren’t for the curiosity and kindness of Liu Sishan, who stopped and initially thought the ghost girl had a hidden game quest.

This ghost girl who had never appeared in the book from beginning to end might have truly died in the game, and no one would know.

After leaving the virtual game warehouse.

Si Huaixi showed the map to Liu Sishan and asked, “Are there any star seas like this near the main star?”

Liu Sishan, of course, shook her head. Who could find anything based on such a map? It was like a child’s scribble.

Setting the matter of the map aside, Si Huaixi didn’t expect to find a solution so quickly. He hadn’t even found the original owner’s family. Sigh…

Amidst the vast sea of people, a sea of stars.

On the other side, Bai Huaiyu, the central protagonist in the play, still hadn’t arrived. It was almost noon, and director Lin’s face turned increasingly grim as he lashed out at the crew several times. The staff working on the storyline kept their heads down, not daring to provoke the infuriated director.

“Director Lin, Teacher Bai and the crew of the program ‘Yearning for the Stars’ have lost contact with their spacecraft!” The assistant director in charge of communication shouted, holding a phone.

Director Lin was immediately taken aback. If Mr. Bai’s spacecraft had lost contact, what would happen to the idol drama he was shooting? So much investment had been poured into it. If Mr. Bai disappeared for a day, the daily expenses of the crew would be unbearable!

Director Lin quickly asked, “Did you ask what happened? I know Mr. Bai asked for leave to participate in a variety show, but he should have returned yesterday!”

The assistant director frowned, saying, “I don’t know either. The police said that Teacher Bai and the crew’s spacecraft lost contact since yesterday. They suspect a cosmic storm might have disrupted the signal, or perhaps the spacecraft malfunctioned. The police have dispatched a security spaceship to investigate, but we don’t know when things will improve…”

Director Lin’s legs went weak at the news, unsure of when things would improve. The entire cast and crew, over a hundred people, were waiting to start filming. With hundreds of thousands of star coins flowing out every day, it was like burning money, and they couldn’t possibly explain it to the investors.

Director Lin’s face turned serious as he said, “Let’s wait another week. If something really happened to Mr. Bai, then we’ll have to come up with a new plan…”

“Something happened to Teacher Bai?!” Yao Ying rushed out from the crowd, her eyes turning red with anxiety upon hearing about Bai Huaiyu’s disappearance. She spoke urgently to Director Lin, “What happened to Teacher Bai? If you’re worried about the production costs during his absence, I’ll take care of them. Teacher Bai has put so much effort into this drama, and I don’t want him to be disappointed or saddened.”

Having someone bear the financial consequences would be great, and Director Lin didn’t want to be the bad guy either. However, the investors weren’t just the Ying family, so he briefly explained the situation and furrowed his brows, saying, “Naturally, I hope Mr. Bai comes back safely. In the meantime, let’s film the scenes of other characters first and wait for news from the police regarding Mr. Bai.”

Yao Ying’s expression changed repeatedly, her clear eyes filled with worry. Biting her lip, she said to Director Lin, “In that case, Director Lin, I’d like to take a leave!”

Director Lin’s face turned dark immediately. “What are you taking a leave for? We’re already short of a lead actor, and now even an important supporting actress like you wants to take a leave. What are we supposed to film in the production?”

Yao Ying, however, remained unusually determined. With watery eyes, she earnestly looked at Director Lin and said, “I can’t stop worrying about Teacher Bai I want to go find him!”

Director Lin was exasperated. “You’re not a police officer, and even if you’re from the Ying family and have money, you can’t just go searching in outer space. In the vast universe, where would you even begin to look?”

Yao Ying lowered her gaze, her tone filled with dejection. “But I can’t help but worry about Teacher Bai…”

Director Lin let out a sigh and waved his hand. “Fine, go ahead then. The production will be on hold, and I’ll talk to the investors about it.”

Yao Ying sincerely thanked Director Lin with a bow and then turned to leave. Everyone knew she was going to find Bai Huaiyu.

The rest of the crew also felt moved by Yao Ying’s actions. There was truly nothing more to say about her devotion to Teacher Bai.

Director Lin and the assistant director gathered together, smoking and worrying. After a few phone calls, they announced that the production would temporarily halt and disperse.

People packed up their things and went home temporarily.

Si Huaixi, who was now unemployed, had a somewhat vacant look in his eyes.

Upon hearing about Bai Huaiyu’s disappearance, Si Huaixi suddenly remembered the plot from the original story. It seemed that during the filming of this drama, Bai Huaiyu had taken the opportunity to participate in the popular variety show ‘Yearning for the Stars’ and had an accident on the spaceship, resulting in being kidnapped by the Star Pirate King, Ke Yan.

The main target of Star Pirate King, Ke Yan’s kidnapping was the mysterious character on the same spaceship, and the others on the spaceship were just incidental. However, during the search process, Bai Huaiyu’s innocent and pure appearance caught the attention of Star Pirate King, Ke Yan, who almost took Bai Huaiyu back to the pirate ship.

But at this moment, a mysterious character appeared, piloting a mech to resist the invading star pirates. The mysterious character defeated dozens of star pirates, and even the Star Pirate King, Ke Yan, personally took the field. Under the protection of the mysterious character, Bai Huaiyu and the other spaceship passengers escaped in a small rescue ship.

As they departed, Bai Huaiyu could only remember the gleaming mech blocking all the star pirates’ firepower, creating a path for their escape.

Soon, Bai Huaiyu returned to the main star and coincidentally encountered the Star Pirate King, Ke Yan, whom he couldn’t forget amidst the series of events. Bai Huaiyu gradually developed some fondness for this seemingly arrogant and hot-tempered yet sensitive and attentive Star Pirate Alpha. Naturally, Ke Yan became one of the five main attacking characters, exerting great effort to pave the way for Bai Huaiyu’s path to stardom.

Si Huaixi felt no need to worry. According to the original plot, a protagonist with a halo could easily escape unharmed from the brutal and ferocious star pirate army. Bai Huaiyu would surely return soon, probably within a day or two according to the storyline.

Also in a daze is the female lead of this drama, Liu Sishan. She looked at the composed and calm Si Huaixi beside her with a puzzled expression and asked, “Should we go back now?”

Si Huaixi nodded, “Yes, we should receive news soon.”

Liu Sishan almost burst into tears and said with a touch of sadness, “If the production team doesn’t resume filming, my schedule will clash. The company has already arranged my subsequent work. Aren’t you worried?”

Si Huaixi furrowed his brow, recalling the useless and burdensome rubbish company from the original owner. If he lost his job, his agent would probably applaud.

His agent, Li Zhuo, kept sending him messages since he appeared on the hot search recently, wanting him to accompany those investors for drinks. Some things never change.

If it weren’t for Brother Pei’s recent matters being more important, that agent Li Zhuo wouldn’t be bouncing around in front of him.

But it’s also time to resolve this trouble.

A cold light flashed in Si Huaixi’s eyes.

Since the production team had disbanded and he could leave work early, Si Huaixi decided to wait for Pei Zhaozhou at his company.

The receptionist greeted him with a smile, inwardly exclaiming,

“Oh, President Pei’s adorable little wife is here again! Last time he even brought him soup to drink. So envious!”

President Pei was recognized as the company’s diamond bachelor. So many beautiful and handsome Omega sisters and brothers in the company launched an attack on President Pei but miserably failed to break through his cold indifference.

There was a time when everyone in the company believed that President Pei would spend his whole life dedicated to work, staying in the company during rest time, never going on any dates with the opposite sex. He would remain in the research room all day long, and the employees would secretly complain, begging President Pei to finish work quickly!

Even the group of most boring and introverted tech geeks in the company managed to find boyfriends or girlfriends, or even solve their needs internally.

But President Pei’s turn still seemed distant, not even having an ambiguous partner.

Unexpectedly, one day President Pei showed up at the company with his young and charming wife!

Although this young wife appeared slightly taller than President Pei, it didn’t matter! President Pei was regarded as the most assertive Alpha in the entire company, so it was only natural that he would have a stunningly beautiful Beta as his wife!

Despite the presence of some anonymous cult CP fans who believed in the pairing of the young wife and President Pei, engaging in BA romance, the receptionist at the front desk always mocked at such cultish notions, firmly standing by AB romance!

The receptionist flashed a mischievous smile, indicating her approval of the CP, and said, “Mr. Si, President Pei is in his office. You can go up.”

Si Huaixi looked at her mysterious smile, hesitating for a moment before nodding and saying, “Hmm, thank you.”

After Si Huaixi left, the internal gossip anonymous group within the company became lively.

[Report! Mr. Si went to see President Pei!]

[Wow, really? Last time I heard you guys talking about President Pei having a much younger and handsome boyfriend, I couldn’t quite believe it.]

[What boyfriend! That’s President Pei’s young and charming wife! Mark my words! Young and charming wife—]

[Splash some cold water, President Pei has never revealed his partner’s identity, so it’s hard to say if he’s his boyfriend or not.]

[I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it! Mr. Si even brought soup last time. Have you ever seen the cold and ruthless King Pei casually accepting someone else’s soup?]

[Enough already! I saw Mr. Si, on the top floor! I caught a glimpse of President Pei. Mr. Si looks so, so, so handsome! As beautiful as a fairy, with long fluttering eyelashes and sparkling sea-blue eyes. Ah, I’m dead…]

[(Whimpering) I envy President Pei, who holds such a beautiful person in his arms!]

[Ah, I want to go see!]

[Count me in!]

[+1]

On the top floor.

Employees of Blue Air Mecha Company hurriedly shuttled through the wide corridors, clutching their documents. The spacious passageways became as bustling as a market.

Si Huaixi’s gaze became complex as he glanced at a particular employee who had already walked back and forth three times. He had already memorized that employee’s face…

— Are all the employees of President Pei’s company directionally challenged?

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