The Big Shot’s Girlfriend Is a Demoness chapter 25

The shooting of a commercial doesn’t take up too much time. With an experienced model, it can be done in a single take, and it might not even take a few hours.

The commercial director thought that Luoxi was a newcomer with no experience, so there would probably be many retakes. He hoped she would be smart and quickly grasp it with coaching, as it would be a waste of such a good face.

The only thing that reassured the director was that they had the entire day allocated for the shoot in this ancient building. Even if there were numerous retakes, a whole day would be more than sufficient.

Surprisingly, the actual shooting went very smoothly.

Not only was it smooth, but the results that came out were surprisingly good.

The director stared at the monitor and watched it several times. He couldn’t contain his excitement as he showered Luoxi with praise for her innate talent, feeling incredibly satisfied. Following the praise, he felt a bit regretful, thinking that unfortunately, they could only film one version. It would have been wonderful to shoot all three versions and produce a commercial series.

The director was a little tempted, thinking about discussing it with the advertising department when he got back.

Nevertheless, he understood that the chances were low; the Qin Group had its own brand ambassador. Getting Luoxi to shoot this commercial was already an exception; it was just a standalone ad for one of their gift box series.

The Qin Group’s annual promotional advertisements and flagship products were shot by their own brand ambassador. Although the director has long thought that the Qin Group could improve their choice of ambassador, it was not his decision to make.

As he looked at the well-shot footage, the director felt a sense of pity for Luoxi.

Despite having such excellent conditions, she insisted on remaining at Batian Entertainment. It was a waste of her talents in such a resource-constrained company.

*

Completely oblivious to the director’s complicated gaze, Luoxi silently turned her head to share her sentiments with the Little Golden Dragon.

She didn’t expect that filming commercials could be so lucrative; all she had to do was eat and drink, and it was done. What pleased her most was that the food was all Qin Group’s signature snacks, made from top-quality ingredients, and the taste was truly excellent. She ate with great contentment.

Tucked away in her sleeve, the Little Golden Dragon stole a look at Qin Ran, who remained absent-minded on the sidelines, and mumbled, “What are you going to do about that guy?”

Luoxi: “…let’s fool him a bit.”

*

After finishing the commercial shooting, Qin Ran was supposed to oversee the staff moving the old items belonging to the Qin family back. However, he delegated this task to the on-site director and, instead, took Luoxi with him into the small compartment where his great-grandfather’s skeleton was kept.

Director: “…”

The director’s assistant grinned and moved closer to him. He jokingly said in a hushed voice, “Mr. Qin is quite eager; rare beauties are really something else…”

He even took her into a small compartment. Was he considering making some implicit arrangements with her?

Wasn’t Young Master Qin afraid that Boss Feng from Batian Entertainment would rush over and fight him? He was notorious for protecting his own. However, given Batian Entertainment’s current state of decline, even if he wanted to protect, it was unlikely he could do so.

The assistant’s face brimmed with gossip, and his imagination ran wild.

The director’s expression turned cold, and he glared at his assistant. “Ged rid of your filthy thoughts. Mr. Qin has some business to discuss with the newcomer, so don’t talk nonsense.”

Seeing that his boss was getting upset, the assistant immediately corrected his attitude and sensibly refrained from speaking further.

After reprimanding the gossipy individuals, the director shifted his focus to the workers handling the old items.

As for whether Qin Ran intended to have any inappropriate intentions with Tang Luoxi in the small compartment, the director didn’t believe it.

The newcomer was indeed a rare beauty, but she belonged to the same company as Qin Ran’s girlfriend. Qin’s Young Master wouldn’t stoop so low, and besides, the location wasn’t appropriate.

Regarding anything else, no matter what Qin Ran’s purpose was in seeking Tang Luoxi, it wasn’t their place to debate.

*

In the small compartment, Qin Ran stared at his great-grandfather’s skeletal remains with a deeply conflicted expression, feeling like his entire worldview was on the verge of being reshaped.

What do you mean by ‘one person single-handedly sinking a ship’?

That was an actual warship, not some flimsy paper boat. Even if it was a warship from several decades ago, it was likely constructed from steel, wasn’t it? Can one person really take on a warship?

It turned out that the shipwreck discovered by Huaxia a few days ago was the one his great-grandfather had sunk, exerting his dominance back in the day!

Not only did he sink it, but he also preserved the nation’s cultural relics and wealth!

For all these years, the reason nobody had found it was because his great-grandfather had imposed restrictions on the sunken ship to prevent it from being plundered, patiently awaiting the discovery by future generations of the homeland.

As for why his great-grandfather’s remains were so peculiar, it was said that this was a phenomenon that only occurred in individuals of great merit, akin to how Buddhist monks’ bodies didn’t decay or turn into sarira¹ after their passing. This content belongs to thehlifestyle.com, if you see this translation elsewhere, it’s been stolen!

Qin Ran listened with a bewildered expression, finding it more and more wondrous as he listened.

Out of the blue, he recalled that his grandfather had recounted stories about his great-grandfather —a Taoist master who, wielding a single sword, had slew a hundred demons, roamed the land, and exorcised tens of thousands of deceased souls.

When Qin Ran was a child, he used to see those stories as tales, but as he grew older, he started to believe that his grandfather was embellishing the truth.

If his great-grandfather was really that formidable, how could he have disappeared?

Could he have ended up in a situation where not even his remains could be found?

Slaying hundreds of demons?

He would lose if he took something so unscientific and implausible seriously.

In Qin Ran’s mind, the impression of his never-seen great-grandfather had always been…

A part-time Taoist, because his great-grandfather was married and had a wife. In Huaxia, legitimate Taoists were prohibited from entering into matrimony.

He made a living by bluffs and deception; he probably knew a few tricks employed by wandering charlatans of the past. In the olden days, it was quite effective. Few people were literate back then, so the tricks of sham fortune-tellers and frauds could sustain them for a lifetime.

Ultimately, he vanished without a trace, and Qin Ran had always assumed that his great-grandfather’s deception had been exposed, and someone had packed him into a sack and taken some underhanded actions on him.

His long-held impressions from all these years were reshaped today. It turned out that his great-grandfather wasn’t a charlatan but a genuine master, one of those extraordinary individuals who kept their talent hidden and lived in seclusion of the world!

Even though the tales of restrictions and sunken ships sounded absurd, looking at great-grandfather’s jade-like skeleton, Qin Ran couldn’t muster any thoughts of rebuttal.

Seeing the shock on Qin Ran’s face as he accepted her explanation, Luoxi silently pinched Little Golden Dragon, speechless.

It was a good thing she didn’t follow the script Little Golden Dragon had provided, as it was even more far-fetched, exaggerating everything tenfold. Besides, the Little Golden Dragon never intended to hand over the skeleton to anyone else and was scheming to scare Qin Ran away.

*

Qin Ran found a box and carefully placed his great-grandfather’s skeleton inside. The skeleton sat in a cross-legged position. The box, which was half a person’s height, just barely contained it.

Even though the eerie white skeleton exuded a jade-like radiance, it was still just a skeleton. Its dark eye sockets were staring right at him, which sent a slight shiver down his spine.

Qin Ran was a little scared but too embarrassed to ask Luoxi to help him with the packing.

As he touched the skeleton, he silently repeated in his heart that this was his own great-grandfather, a family member, the person his grandfather had talked about all his life.

After tidying everything up with great caution and anxiety, he looked at Luoxi to convey his gratitude.

She had found his great-grandfather’s remains and had gone to great lengths to deliver them to him; this favor was undoubtedly weighty.

As for whether Luoxi was trying to deceive him or not, the book alone was irrefutable proof.

Not to mention the unexplained mixture of sorrow and warmth that surged within his heart when he touched the skeleton while handling it. Even though they had never met, it was as though the blood in his veins recognized the person before him as their ancestor from the Qin family.

Luoxi and Little Golden Dragon tried to probe into the affairs of the Inner World, but Qin Ran was totally clueless when asked.

Mr. Skeleton was quite extraordinary; the Qin family had once produced a remarkable figure. Unfortunately, their descendants failed to live up to expectations and lacked spiritual insight.

Qin Ran’s grandfather, the son of this jade-like skeleton, had vaguely known that his old man was quite capable, but he himself was slow to learn and managed to pick up only a few skills. Later, his formidable old man went missing, and the family’s heritage was completely lost.

At that time, it was an era of turmoil, and when it finally subsided, there was a profound transformation. Everything began to emphasize science.

In light of the circumstances, the patriarch of the Qin family completely put his ambitions to rest.

He began to diligently run the family pastry shop, hoping that among his descendants, someone gifted with spiritual insight would emerge. However, each generation was worse than the last, and by the time it reached Qin Ran’s generation, they had completely rejected anything non-scientific, let alone delving into it.

Seeing that Qin Ran truly knew nothing, the Little Golden Dragon was extremely disappointed.

It used telepathy to mutter to Luoxi: ‘Ask him for money, resources, and gold! His great-grandfather really gave me a hard time, and he doesn’t know anything. We can’t let him off so easily!’

Luoxi: ‘…I think their family’s pastries are quite delicious.’

The Little Golden Dragon wore a disgruntled expression, ‘Look at you, all you think about is eating. Aren’t you fond of the swimming pool the most?!’

Luoxi expressed a hint of regret: ‘The Navy has already built a swimming pool for me. Being too greedy isn’t good; one is enough for now.’

Little Golden Dragon: ‘…’

So, if the Navy hadn’t built it for you, were you planning to ask for another one?

Count how many you already have. The Navy promised to construct one for free, Boss Feng planned to build one in the future, and it also said it would give her one made of gold!

Three!

Are three of them still not enough for your enjoyment?

You should ask for something useful and practical!

Qin Ran was eager to take his great-grandfather back home and wanted to invite Luoxi to come along. After all, this was a master who found his great-grandfather’s remains. She should at least be an honored guest in the Qin family, and his grandfather should meet her.

Luoxi’s explanation of how she had brought the skeleton from the sunken ship was vague. Eight parts true, and two parts false, but it successfully fooled Qin Ran.

In Qin Ran’s opinion, anyone who could break his great-grandfather’s restrictions and retrieve the remains, all while keeping it hidden from the higher-ups, must possess a form of divine skills.

Not to mention anything else, today he didn’t see Luoxi bringing in any boxes. Given the size of his great-grandfather’s skeleton, if she wanted to get it in, it would definitely be very conspicuous.

Didn’t Taoists possess techniques like camouflage and Five Ghosts Wealth-Transfer²? Whoever could employ such methods definitely wasn’t an ordinary person.

Maintaining good relationships with those with special talents was important, and his grandfather had a particular fondness for such things. Considering various factors, Qin Ran sincerely wished to invite Luoxi to come along.

As for why this master was staying in Batian Entertainment, Qin Ran believed it was undoubtedly a form of spiritual cultivation within the secular world.

With all these assumptions in mind, when Qin Ran looked at Luoxi now, he couldn’t help but feel that she was very different from them, ordinary folks, exuding a particularly ethereal beauty!

Luoxi declined his invitation. Since Qin’s family didn’t know anything,  she had no interest in making the trip.

In the midst of Qin Ran’s disappointment, Luoxi left with several large boxes of the Qin family’s signature pastries. Before leaving, she also made sure to remind him not to delay payment for the advertising fee.

As Batian Entertainment was on the verge of collapsing, with this fee, the boss could probably hold on for a few more days.

Carrying the massive box, Qin Ran headed straight to his grandfather’s territory, the Qin family’s old mansion.

It was said the location of the old mansion of the Qin family was personally chosen by the great-grandfather himself back in the day, and he was also the one who decorated it. The house wasn’t very large, about the size of a Chinese quadrangle. During turbulent years, it was even confiscated, but it was later returned when everything calmed down.

The house appeared very rundown now, and since the old patriarch forbade anyone from making changes, it looked even more antiqued.

After the Qin family opened the pastry shop and became successful, everyone else from the Qin family moved out of the old mansion, leaving only the family’s old patriarch, Qin Ran’s grandfather, still living there.

Qin Ran entered the house carrying a large box. His grandfather was sitting in the main hall, watching TV. The TV was buzzing with a lively Chinese opera while the elderly swayed a fan and hummed along.

Seeing his grandson returning, the old patriarch was surprised, “What wind brought our precious Young Master back?”

Qin Ran was afraid of ghosts and didn’t like this old house.  He always felt that in its dilapidated and dark corners, there were things waiting to jump out at him. After moving out, he would return to the old mansion for just a few days each year during the Lunar New Year or other festivities. Usually, he showed his filial piety to his grandfather by taking him outside.

Qin’s family’s old patriarch naturally understood his grandson’s peculiarity. He had used this to scare his little grandson in the past. Today, upon suddenly seeing Qin Ran return, the elderly, despite being delighted in his heart, couldn’t resist a bit of banter.

Qin Ran carefully placed the box on the tea table in the main hall. Worried about frightening his grandfather, he didn’t open it directly but said tactfully, “Grandfather, I’ve found Great-grandfather.”

“Ah?” The old patriarch was stunned for a moment, and after a few seconds, he comprehended what he was saying.

He also stopped fanning himself. The old patriarch sprang to his feet, his face filled with eagerness. He urgently inquired.

“Have you found your great-grandfather? Where did you find him? Where is he?”

Qin Ran quickly supported him and gave him a series of admonitions: “Take deep breaths, don’t get too excited, stay calm. Grandfather, weren’t you planning to hold your great-grandson? Please don’t pass out.”

The old patriarch, squeezing his grandson’s hand, managed to calm down. He asked with trembling lips, “….where is he?”

Qin Rang helped him sit down and then opened the large box on the tea table. With a respectful expression, he called out to the white bones inside, “Great-Grandfather.”

The old patriarch: “…”

What?

This white skeleton was his father?

When he suddenly heard Qin Rang say that he found him, the old patriarch thought it was a living person.

Now that he thought about it, considering his own father’s age, if he were still alive, he would be at least around a hundred years old. So, it was not unreasonable for him to have turned into white bones. However, in his memories, his father was so formidable, possessing enigmatic and unfathomable skills. Even after disappearing for so many years, he had always harbored a faint hope that his father might still be alive.

Worried that his grandfather might not believe him, Qin Ran immediately took out the book. The old patriarch was even more familiar with this thing than he was.

Sure enough, the old patriarch’s face changed, and he took the book and flipped through a few pages.

“It’s him, it’s really him…”

He was extremely familiar with this book. He had seen his father write and draw on it countless times. When he was a mischievous child, he even drew a little tiger on one of the pages, which got him hung up and receiving a spanking by his father.

The old patriarch was in tears as he gently stroked the now-faded ink sketch of the little tiger.

Qin Ran was afraid that the elderly would become too saddened, so he tried to console him with some light-hearted jokes, then proceeded to recount the glorious deeds and merits of his great-grandfather. He deliberately showered more praises on his great-grandfather, expressing how foolish he had been in the past and how he failed to recognize his great-grandfather’s greatness and so on, attempting to shift the elderly’s attention.

The elderly’s tears hadn’t dried yet, but his eyes now held a touch of nostalgia and amusement. He agreed and said, “Father was truly remarkable back in the day. It’s a pity even good bamboo can produce bad shoots. We, the descendants, are declining with each generation. And your generation is even worse – as dumb as a pig, and even afraid of ghosts!”

In the past, his father wielded a single sword to slay and exorcise ghosts. The ghosts, upon encountering him, were so terrified that they wouldn’t even dare to flee. However, despite having such an exceptional father, among his descendants, there wasn’t anyone with spiritual insight. Instead, there was even someone who was afraid of ghosts. What a misfortune!

Qin Ran muttered, “Pigs are anything but dumb; scientific research has shown that pigs are highly intelligent animals.”

The old patriarch Qin shot him a glare, “In that case, you’re even worse than a pig.”

Qin Ran: “….”

If this weren’t his own grandfather, he would have found it hard to contain his temper.

*

The old patriarch reverently carried his father’s remains into the inner room, intending to choose a suitable day to bury them in the ancestral grave.

After completing all this, he finally had the spirit to ask about other matters. “You mentioned the girl who found the remains, her name is Tang Luoxi?”

“Mhm.”

Qin Ran passed him the story that Luoxi told him. Moreover, there was evidence of the sunken ship’s discovery in the news, so its credibility was particularly high.

The old patriarch was somewhat skeptical. Having such abilities, could she be someone from the Inner World?

He knew a bit more than Qin Ran. At least he was well aware of the existence of The Outer and Inner World. Back then, his father was so powerful, and many of the people he interacted with were from the Inner World.

Of course, many of his enemies also came from that place.

Because of this, after his father discovered that he didn’t possess any spiritual insight, he raised him as an ordinary child and rarely mentioned anything about the Inner World in front of him. However, there was one thing he remembered clearly—his father once pointed at the book and said,

‘This book bears the cumulative restrictions passed down by our ancestors over generations. Aside from the blood descendants of our Qin family, anyone else who covets and attempts to touch it will meet their demise.’

At that time, he had been too young, not even recognizing many characters. He simply expressed, ‘So incredible.’

His father contemplated for a moment, as if making a firm decision, before saying, ‘However, there is an exception. People with the Celestial Yin body can also open the book. If one day someone outside of our Qin family opens it, you must remember…’

What was it that he should remember?

The old patriarch racked his brains, feeling that this sentence from his father was of particular importance.

“Grandfather, why don’t you come back and stay with me?” Qin Ran said.

The inner room of the old mansion had poor lighting, making it somewhat dim. Now, with the addition of a skeleton, it appeared even more eerie and intimidating. Even though Qin Ran knew it was his great-grandfather, but they were separated by several generations. He still felt a bit spooked.

His great-grandfather was far from scientific, and it was entirely possible that he could attract some unscientific things.

Qin Ran’s hair stood up at the thought that this room might be filled with all kinds of ghosts they couldn’t see.

The old patriarch felt like he was on the brink of remembering something, but was interrupted by his grandson and forgot again.

He gave his grandson an annoyed look, “Stay for what? This is my father, your great-grandfather. What are you afraid of? Go and tell your father and elder sister to come back, kowtow, and offer incense to your great-grandfather.”

Qin Ran complied and hurried out of the eerie room to call the family.

The old patriarch mumbled to the white bones, “Father, what did you say I was supposed to remember back then? I was too young then and you didn’t repeat it. Now that I’m old, I’ve forgotten. Can you send me a dream tonight to remind me?”

The jade-like skeleton remained silent. The incense placed in front of it suddenly snapped, and its ash fell onto the old patriarch’s foot.

The old patriarch found it puzzling. He picked up the incense and examined it, “Perhaps it’s been stored for too long and became worm-eaten?”

He replaced a new incense for his own father, kowtowed, and then turned to leave, “Remember to send me a dream, father.”

Behind him, the freshly inserted incense snapped once again with a ‘pop’ as if it were infuriated and crashed heavily to the ground.

If the skeleton could talk, it would certainly jump up to scold the unfilial son.

Send you dreams my arse. If I could send dreams, I wouldn’t have needed to suffer for so many years in the sea, treated as a missing person, would I? Think with that pig brain of yours; even without spiritual insight, you shouldn’t be this dumb!

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Translation notes:

[1] Sarira usually refers to pearl or crystal-like bead-shaped objects that are apparently found among the cremated ashes of Buddhist spiritual masters (source here).

[2] Five Ghosts Wealth-Transfer refers to a technique where five child ghosts could obtain people’s belongings without opening doors or breaking locks.

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