Chapter 5: I Am the Daughter of Destiny (Please Continue Reading)

“Am I... hallucinating!?”

Yang Mi felt something was off. Instinctively, she glanced at Zhang Li, only to see him still gazing at her with a “deep affection.”

Recalling the phrase, “You and Zhang Li are mutually moved, a heart-to-heart connection plus one,” her heart rate quickened again, and she awkwardly looked away.

She must have misheard it—there’s no way this is some supernatural event.

What mutual feelings with Zhang Li, a heart-to-heart connection plus one...

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

[You and Yang Mi are mutually moved, Heart-to-Heart +1]

Unlike Yang Mi, Zhang Li immediately confirmed he had gained another special ability upon hearing those words.

“This new perk... why does it feel like it’s about me getting closer to more female celebrities?” Zhang Li pondered silently.

His special talent, awakened at the age of ten, allowed him to learn some important future events by contacting female celebrities.

The first contact was direct, but afterward, he needed to deepen the relationship or have a “deep” interaction to activate it.

The current ability first appeared when he spoke sweet words to Liu Shishi, earning “Language Emotion +1.” This second time, it was through mutual feelings with Yang Mi, granting “Heart-to-Heart +1,” again involving a female celebrity.

Though he hadn’t yet felt what these +1s truly brought him, having such perks meant he had to make use of them.

“I need to find an opportunity to test this out.”

“Can any situation trigger the +1 effect, or is it still limited to female celebrities?”

Zhang Li analyzed calmly, unaware that he was overthinking.

This “+1” ability couldn’t be forced by effort alone.

“First, let’s get down to business.”

Noticing Liu Shishi and Tang Yan catching his peripheral vision, Zhang Li refocused his thoughts.

It was a long story, but it flashed through his mind in an instant.

He hadn’t forgotten his unfinished words, so he continued, “You... often send me snacks and specialties.”

“Unlike Sister Qianqian, who only steals my snacks and exploits me as her labor.”

This sudden twist left Yang Mi momentarily stunned.

She turned toward Zhang Li and found a teasing smile on his face.

“Alright, alright!” Yang Mi laughed in exasperation.

Had she just been played by this annoying younger brother?

That voice was definitely a hallucination.

Mutual feelings, my foot!

“Yeah, Liu Yifei exploits you as her labor, and I buy snacks for you, so you’re playing me, huh?” Yang Mi grabbed Zhang Li’s shoulder and habitually reached to ruffle his hair.

But then, an image of Zhang Li’s mature, handsome face flashed in her mind, and she couldn’t continue the gesture.

Zhang Li was no longer the young boy he once was but a grown man.

No matter how close the relationship, there had to be boundaries between adult men and women.

“Bang!”

Yang Mi changed her action, lightly tapping Zhang Li’s chest.

“You really have no conscience. Let’s see if I’ll still buy you snacks in the future.”

Zhang Li’s expression instantly turned strange, and his gaze became unusual.

“What’s wrong?” Yang Mi felt unsettled under his stare.

“Your tone is off,” Zhang Li theatrically teased. “You should say, ‘You heartless brat, I’ve been so good to you... boohoo.’”

Before he finished, Yang Mi covered his mouth.

“Pfft!”

Laughter erupted nearby from Tang Yan and Liu Shishi, quite loudly.

Zhang Li: “...Is that really necessary?”

“You’re all female celebrities; shouldn’t you maintain your image?” Zhang Li reminded them.

“It’s just a laugh, what image?” Tang Yan immediately defended.

Liu Shishi nodded in agreement, “I laugh however I want. Don’t like it?”

“Alright, alright, as long as you’re happy,” Zhang Li surrendered.

Among the four women known as the Great Tang Poetic Fairies, Yang Mi was the liveliest, Tang Yan exuded a cool yet sweet charm, Liu Shishi had a serene and aloof aura, and Liu Yifei seemed otherworldly.

But Zhang Li knew their true personalities well: all lively and cheerful. Yang Mi was skilled at abstract humor, Tang Yan combined the qualities of a strong woman and a sweet girl, Liu Shishi was nicknamed “Poet Lord” for her straightforwardness.

As for Liu Yifei, his “dry older sister,” the more ethereal her appearance, the more down-to-earth her nature.

“You say you surrender, but your expression says otherwise,” Yang Mi stoked the fire silently.

Tang Yan and Liu Shishi exchanged a glance, their eyes threatening as they looked at Zhang Li.

“Shut up, Yang Mi,” Zhang Li shot a glance at her.

“Oh really?” Yang Mi raised an eyebrow. “No ‘sister’ for the younger guy, huh? Your thoughts are a bit wild. I think you need to be taught a lesson.”

She then looked at Tang Yan and Liu Shishi: “You two, gang up on him and give him a good beating to teach him a lesson.”

Tang Yan and Liu Shishi shared a knowing look and simultaneously moved.

Under the sunshade, Zhang Li suffered their “merciless” teasing.

“Just you wait, thirty years on the east side of the river, thirty years on the west. Don’t underestimate a young man…”

Seeing the three women’s half-smiles, half-smirks, Zhang Li swallowed his unfinished words and decisively left.

“I’m going to do my makeup now. I won’t stoop to your level.”

Tch~

All three burst into laughter.

But once Zhang Li left, the atmosphere instantly cooled.

“Playing with a handsome little brother every day really lifts the spirits,” Yang Mi, ever outgoing, took the lead to engage Zhang Li in conversation: “I learned this from Liu Yifei on the Divine Eagle set—if you can’t kill Zhang Li with teasing, then go all out.”

Poetic Sugar: “...”

This definitely wasn’t a real sibling bond.

However, Yang Mi’s opening words revived the mood.

Tang Yan and Liu Shishi were eager to get along with Yang Mi and responded willingly.

But their chat didn’t last long, as Yang Mi still had to memorize her lines.

Time flew by, and soon it was evening, time for the boxed meals.

After finishing makeup, Zhang Li went to film some individual scenes.

When filming ended, he stayed by Director Li Guoli’s side to learn, only returning to the resting area when it was time to eat.

“Little brother, you look pretty good in that costume.”

Yang Mi was seeing Zhang Li’s “Xu Changqing look” for the first time and couldn’t help but take a few extra glances.

He wore a plain Taoist robe, his hair tied simply in a bun, with flowing long locks framing his sharp features. His brows carried a heroic air, giving him a rugged, handsome aura—not from muscle, but from the inner strength shining in his eyes.

His every gesture seemed to carry a faint ethereal grace, somewhat resembling Liu Yifei in appearance and temperament.

“I know,” Zhang Li shot Yang Mi a glance. “Don’t be infatuated with me. You can’t have me.”

Snap!

Yang Mi broke the chopsticks in her hand.

That annoying attitude was exactly like Liu Yifei’s.

“Brother?” Yang Mi snorted lightly. “Just wait during the scene—I won’t go easy on you. Don’t blame me if you embarrass yourself.”

Zhang Li didn’t argue but gave her a meaningful look.

Tang Yan and Liu Shishi nearby smiled knowingly, though Yang Mi didn’t notice.

“Cut!”

“Pause for makeup touch-up!”

Director Li Guoli’s voice came through the loudspeaker from the backyard.

Under a tree surrounded by camera lenses, Yang Mi appeared instantly, glaring fiercely at Zhang Li.

This was already her fifth take ruined tonight, all because this man overshadowed her scenes.

Though the crew seemed unfazed, she felt utterly humiliated.

At that moment, a familiar yet strange voice echoed in her mind.

[You and Zhang Li have successfully performed a scene together; Adaptability +1, Line Delivery +1]

Yang Mi: !

This was definitely not a hallucination.

Could it be that she had developed a supernatural ability too!?