Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

Xu Xingguang temporarily disabled the reward feature and asked her fans, ”Babies, do you want to join me on an ancient castle exploration adventure?”

The fans flooded the screen: [Yes! Is Xingguang switching to become a suspense and adventure streamer?]

Xu Xingguang smiled faintly and said, [I’m on vacation outside, and there’s a gothic castle here that’s quite old and looks pretty spooky.]

She checked the time and told the fans, ”Tonight at eight, Xingguang will take you on a live stream adventure.”

[Great!]

With the live stream time set, Xu Xingguang closed the live stream room.

She took Huo Wuyi to the main hall, found Huo Wen’an, and mentioned the plan to live stream from the unoccupied palace in the back that evening.

Huo Wen’an had no objections and only asked, ”Do you need me to find someone to accompany you?”

With his frail body, he didn’t have the energy to run around in that house with Xu Xingguang for now.

”No need, Song Chi accompanying me is enough.” Song Chi was still on the other side at the guest building and would only come over that afternoon.

Huo Wen’an no longer inquired into Xu Xingguang’s arrangements.

”By the way.” Xu Xingguang hugged Huo Wen’an’s neck and whispered in his ear, ”Aren’t you going to introduce me to your family? I brought gifts for them this time.”

Xu Xingguang’s hot breath tickled Huo Wen’an’s ear, and he instinctively curled his fingers, saying hoarsely, ”I’ve already invited them for lunch tomorrow.”

”I understand.”

In the afternoon, Song Chi arrived at Huo Wen’an’s residence carrying Xu Xingguang’s large bags. Uncle Xia was astonished upon seeing Song Chi, ”This...”

This kid looks too much like someone from the Huo Family.

Huo Wen’an observed Uncle Xia’s reaction and suddenly said, ”Song Chi, Huo Yunsheng and Mrs. Huo will be coming tomorrow. Do you mind taking a paternity test with them?”

If only one person said Song Chi resembled him, Huo Wen’an wouldn’t suspect anything.

But when everyone thought Song Chi resembled him, Huo Wen’an couldn’t just let things slide.

Perhaps Song Chi really had some intricate connection to the Huo Family.

Song Chi didn’t have a strong reaction to this, nodding indifferently, ”I’m okay with whatever.” Then, remembering that he was already with Xu Xingguang, he asked, ”Boss, is that alright?”

Xu Xingguang felt exasperated and said earnestly to Song Chi, ”I’m just your boss; it doesn’t mean you’re my property, and you don’t have to get my approval for everything. You just need to complete the work I’ve given you.”

Afterwards, Xu Xingguang teased Song Chi with a playful smile, ”With your attitude, will you consult me even on who to marry in the future or how many kids you want to have?”

Song Chi’s face showed rare embarrassment, ”I understand.”

That night, Xu Xingguang took Song Chi to her great-grandfather’s old residence for the live stream.

Since it was a live stream, it definitely needed to be eerie and terrifying, evoking fear yet piquing curiosity.

They decided not to turn on the lights.

Song Chi held the light for Xu Xingguang, who was clutching her phone, as they silently walked down the desolate and spooky corridor.

The live stream was packed with viewers, but those watching from behind their screens were curling their toes in fear.

Viewers commented: [Honestly, where did Xingguang find this house? It looks huge, very vintage, but also very scary. It feels like any moment now, a vampire will jump out from behind those curtains.]

[Which wealthy family built such a big house and then left it empty? Leaving it empty is such a waste; let me live there!]

[This house would be perfect to convert into a film base or an adventure house.]

Xu Xingguang opened the rearview mirror, showing them the interior of the house, while keeping a close eye on the viewers’ discussion.

”It seems like there are some old photos here.”

Song Chi shone the light on the photos on the wall. Xu Xingguang’s phone hovered over the photos as she said, ”Most of these photos are damaged, so mottled you can’t make them out.”

”Hmm? This one’s pretty clear.” Xu Xingguang focused the lens on the plant in the photo, saying, [What’s this plant? I’ve never seen it before. Does anyone know?]

Viewers began to chime in: [Curved grass?]

[Don’t you think this plant looks a lot like the parasite found in a mantis’ belly?]

[Is it horsehair worm that you’re referring to?]

Suddenly, Xu Xingguang said, [Let’s have a prize quiz to see who can identify this plant. Whoever answers correctly will get a cash reward of 100,000. I promise.]

[!!]

[Wow! I’m taking a screenshot to search for it!]

[I’ll check online.]

At the sight of money, the viewers, even before identifying the type of plant, already planned how to spend the 100,000 reward.

In midst of this banter, a user with the pseudonym ’Jiaoyang is like fire’ commented: [That’s not a plant, but a living organism.]

Among the flood of comments, Xu Xingguang accurately pinpointed this one.

She quickly scrolled back up through the comments and took a screenshot of Jiaoyang is like fire’s comment, lowering her voice to tell Song Chi, ”Have Zheng Qin investigate this user’s identity. I need to know their exact address.”

Song Chi quietly left, and the rest of the live stream was completed by Xu Xingguang alone.

When she ended the stream and returned to the main building, Zheng Qin had already found the clue Xu Xingguang was looking for.

He was sitting on the sofa in Song Chi’s bedroom with a laptop, and when he saw Xu Xingguang return, he said, ”Miss Xu, the IP address for Jiaoyang is like fire has been locked down, showing Yujiang City University City’s Book Road.”

”University City’s Book Road?” Xu Xingguang was surprised, as it was only three kilometers away from Cangshan Town.

”Earlier, I hacked into the Yujiang City Police Department system and got the user registration data for that street. I traced the detailed identity of the other party and locked down a man named You Jiaoyang.”

”Who?” Xu Xingguang raised her voice slightly.

Zheng Qin said, ”You Jiaoyang, a minor civil servant under the Yujiang City Alliance Government.”

Zheng Qin turned the laptop to face Xu Xingguang, showing a picture of You Jiaoyang, who wore glasses and was dressed in a chic British style.

When did You Jiaoyang move to Book Road?

Isn’t he supposed to be living in the dormitory allotted by the government?

Remembering the scene she saw on the street in West Continent City, Xu Xingguang asked Zheng Qin, ”Does he have a housemate?”

”How did you know?” Zheng Qin pulled out another photo.

The photo showed a woman in a red suit dress, with black high heels.

The woman’s face wasn’t clear under surveillance, but Xu Xingguang could still recognize her through her build and attire as the stranger who bore some resemblance to Huo Xin.

Zheng Qin said, ”She’s You Jiaoyang’s cohabitant, named Yin Su, whose data shows she’s a doctor at the Cangshan Town mental hospital.”

Cangshan Town mental hospital?

Cangshan Town indeed has a mental hospital located at the head of the town, whereas her and Huo Wen’an’s home is at the tail of the town.

They were separated by an entire street.

As far as she knew, the medical facilities in Cangshan Town were outdated, and not many people willingly sent their family members there for treatment.

Though labeled a mental hospital, it was more akin to a nursing home, housing homeless elderly people without family.

Yin Su turned out to be a doctor at the mental hospital?