After comforting his parents for a while, Mother Xu and Father Xu gradually calmed down. Xu Dongyou’s words provided them with a sense of security, but their rationality also reminded them that if Xu Dongyou’s biological parents came looking for him one day, they would need to be prepared.
If his biological parents had indeed abandoned Xu Dongyou, they would stand by Xu Dongyou as his support and ensure that he wasn’t mistreated. However, if there was a legitimate reason and his biological parents had been searching for him all along, then both families could work together to raise Xu Dongyou.
After all, as Xu Dongyou grew older, he couldn’t stay with them forever—he would just have another set of relatives.
With this thought, Father Xu and Mother Xu felt less distressed.
But Mother Xu still had a question she didn’t quite understand. She asked Xu Dongyou, “For so many years, your father and I were so careful, even moving here overnight to avoid anyone discovering the truth. How did you start to doubt your origins?”
Xu Dongyou sighed, “My brother and I don’t have any resemblance to each other and there are no similarities between me and you.”
He spoke in a roundabout way.
Mother Xu glanced at Xu Dongyou’s exceptionally beautiful face and fell silent.
It wasn’t impossible for ordinary-looking parents to have an exceptionally good-looking child, but the problem was, Xu Dongyou was simply too beautiful.
In fact, the reason is not just this.
Xu Dongyou’s ability to activate his five senses also serves as evidence that he might not be his parents’ biological child.
However, there’s no need to share this with his parents.
He doesn’t plan to reveal his true identity to them. If his role was merely as an officer at the bureau, it might be less of a concern. However, given his current responsibilities, which involve crucial tasks related to saving the world and dealing with the looming threat behind the scenes, he prefers to keep his identity hidden to avoid involving his parents.
As the three days came to an end, major platforms and all channels began to stock the screen-casting smartphones. Many companies specializing in phone manufacturing quickly purchased the new phone for testing, and their expressions turned grim.
It turned out that the claims made in the promotional ads were true. This phone indeed eliminated the problem of running out of battery; it could automatically charge itself as long as there was light. Of course, if immediate charging was needed, plugging it in to fully charge was still an option. At the very least, it solved the problem many faced in emergency situations without a charging source.
“Times have changed. We must keep up or we will be left behind by the tide of the era.”
This was the inner thought of all the phone companies. However, the problem was that the development department of this phone was part of an official organization. More importantly, their aim in developing this phone was for public safety.
Simply because of this, they had already lost.
The official organization didn’t intend to monopolize the market with this phone. Instead, they contacted various companies to bid on the production method of this smartphone, intending to sell it and split the profits. After all, the organization hoped for healthy competition among companies to gradually improve the industry.
On the other hand, on the first day of the launch, almost everyone bought the smartphone. Those who couldn’t shop online went to physical stores, leading to an uproar when the first-day sales figures were reported in the news.
The sales reached nearly one billion units.
And this was just the first day. Although it was clear that such a situation could not last forever, it was enough to shock the public. Xu Dongyou officially became a top-tier singer because of this.
This achievement not only impressed the music industry but also made actors envious. It seemed that Xu Dongyou’s luck was exceptional; he reached the peak of his career right from the start and had the backing of the Anomaly Handling Bureau, which made him even more enviable.
After all, wealthy people are often more afraid of death. Ever since the existence of ghosts and monsters was revealed, especially after the previous live broadcast where numerous bullets couldn’t kill the monster and the Anomaly Handling Bureau had to step in, it became clear that having a friend in the Anomaly Handling Bureau was a significant safeguard.
Thus, many wealthy and powerful individuals tried to find and contact Anomaly Handling Bureau personnel, offering large sums of money in hopes that, in case of danger, these individuals could come to their rescue immediately.
Although the bureau had not explicitly prohibited accepting money, it did not actively prevent bureau personnel from addressing tasks not listed on their spiritual energy watch.
As long as the ghost could be dealt with, that was sufficient.
Anomaly Handling Bureau personnel, however, were cautious about accepting money directly. Instead, they suggested buying the screen-casting smartphone and using it to report any issues promptly.
The wealthy and influential people were disappointed but did not dare to complain. Moreover, the primary reason Anomaly Handling Bureau personnel preferred not to accept money was that they could earn and exchange points for cash while working at the bureau. Additionally, they received bonuses and gifts during holidays.
If they were ever dismissed from the bureau, despite having spiritual energy, their ability to draw talismans would be ineffective without talismans or blank paper.
Everyone knew which choice to make.
Thus, the bureau’s role became increasingly mysterious and envied in the eyes of the powerful and wealthy. They were particularly envious of the star Xu Dongyou, who had become the bureau’s spokesperson.
Soon, many began to consider sending their children, who lacked business acumen, into the entertainment industry, hoping that one day they might be noticed by the bureau.
Celebrities and idols shared similar thoughts. They started to showcase their positive qualities, such as being kind to others, frequently attending charity events, and making donations whenever possible.
By September, the weather had gradually turned cooler. Everyone had moved on from their old phone models to screen-casting smartphones, though some avid gamers still used their old phones. After all, a screen-casting smartphone was not ideal for gaming or watching videos while lying down; it was best suited for temporary use when out and about.
Therefore, the old phones had not completely disappeared from the market and there were still many buyers. This was a relief for small and medium-sized phone companies.
On the other hand, it was time for the final performance concert. Xu Dongyou and all the top ten contestants had returned to begin intense rehearsals.
This time, not only the contestants but also the staff and directors had completely changed their attitude towards Xu Dongyou. They were all making an effort to be friendly with him and treated him with exceptional courtesy.
Despite Xu Dongyou’s rapid rise to fame with the Anomaly Handling Bureau, he remained as calm and unassuming as before, showing no signs of arrogance. This was in stark contrast to another contestant who, having become famous, acted with noticeable arrogance.
The arrogant contestant’s face turned red, feeling as though his previous behavior made him look like a fool. He was certain everyone was now laughing at him.
The concert included not only Tian Haomiao and the three judges but also Lu Xianhong, who, like Tian Haomiao, was a well-known singer. However, while Tian Haomiao was a seasoned power singer and had moved beyond the idol singer label, Lu Xianhong was the leading figure among the new generation of idol singers. He was on the same path as Xu Dongyou, which was why Lu Xianhong was particularly wary of him.
The director was pleasantly surprised when he learned that Lu Xianhong had agreed to participate in the concert. He had not expected him to agree.
Lu Xianhong did not seem as difficult to deal with as rumored. Once he arrived backstage, he was quite friendly, engaging in conversation with all the contestants and leaving them in awe.
When Xu Dongyou arrived, the backstage fell silent for a moment. The contestants, suppressing their complex emotions, watched as Lu Xianhong approached Xu Dongyou with an even more enthusiastic smile than they had shown, saying, “I’ve heard a lot about you, but I haven’t had the chance to meet you until now.”
The contestants’ feelings became even more complicated.
Xu Dongyou was always polite, especially to someone who was a senior in the industry. He stood up to greet Lu Xianhong but did not respond with the same level of excessive enthusiasm or surprise that other contestants might have.
Lu Xianhong suppressed his dissatisfaction and continued smiling, “Perhaps we’ll have the chance to perform together in the future.”
Xu Dongyou smiled and nodded in response but remained more cautious. Even though he had not activated his five senses, he still sensed suppressed hatred and hostility emanating from Lu Xianhong.
He was puzzled but did not show it. After parting ways, he immediately reported the matter to Zhang Feng, who had been in the industry for a long time and might know the reason behind it.
Zhang Feng replied, “You’re currently at the peak of your fame and defined as an idol singer by the public, and so is he. For him, you are naturally a significant threat.”
Xu Dongyou nodded, feeling somewhat resigned but also decided to be cautious around Lu Xianhong. It was always better to be safe.
Throughout the event, Lu Xianhong remained quiet and even handed out drinks to everyone. Xu Dongyou did not dare to drink but pretended to take a sip before putting it down.
As the concert began, all the contestants went on stage for the opening performance. Only Tian Haomiao, the other judges, and Lu Xianhong remained backstage. Lu Xianhong pretended to stroll around and, while passing by Xu Dongyou, took the used makeup cotton from the side. This cotton was used by the makeup artist on Xu Dongyou earlier.
This item, Lu Xianhong thought, could be used to perform a spell. If Xu Dongyou were to die, all the benefits would be his.
Lu Xianhong’s face grew increasingly sinister and eerie, causing Tian Haomiao to shiver and quietly move away.
At this time, Zhang Feng was backstage, focused on the stage and unaware of what was happening behind the scenes.
Soon, as other judges went on stage to perform, Xu Dongyou returned to find Lu Xianhong still calm and showing no signs of trouble. However, for some reason, his unease increased.
Trusting his instincts, Xu Dongyou even activated his five senses to carefully perceive the situation but still sensed nothing. Unable to figure out what was wrong, he reported the matter to Zhang Feng.
Zhang Feng pondered for a moment before replying, “You have a strong sense. With the concert nearing its end, I’ll contact the director right away to add more staff and try to shorten the program and end the event as soon as possible.”
