Chapter 176: Voodoo Doll (Part 1) “Good evening.”

Boss Xiang walked up to Siyuan with a wide smile, raising his glass in a toast. He was surprised to find that Siyuan, standing there today, looked like a perfect upper-class gentleman. He was no longer the out-of-place country bumpkin; instead, he appeared more like a noble than most of the upstarts.

Many people thought that having money and power could get someone into high society, but that was actually a myth. So-called nobles came from prominent families and had wealth, but that was only a small part of it. What truly determined whether someone was noble was whether they possessed a unique confidence that made them stand out.

Confidence was not arrogance. Confidence was a psychological reflection of inner fulfillment. A fulfilled person naturally appeared exceptionally confident. On the other hand, the rich second-generation kids who showed off their fierce looks all the time—their arrogance represented their emptiness and lack of confidence. They tried to attract attention and make others notice them by acting like clowns or bullies.

Siyuan, in contrast, stood quietly in the farthest corner of the hall, but his gaze never left anyone in the room. While observing everyone, he was also cautiously on guard. Whether they were business elites or entertainment stars, in his eyes, they all seemed like potential prey, waiting for him, the hunter, to capture.

“Are you getting used to this scene?”

Siyuan curled his lips. “I don’t feel uncomfortable at all. They don’t know me anyway, and they have no idea what I do, so it’s fine being here alone.”

Even though he said that, Boss Xiang didn’t think so. In fact, Siyuan had already become a topic of conversation among those people. Some guessed he was the son of a hidden tycoon; others speculated he was an officer from the anti-corruption agency. There were even those who thought he looked like a hitman. They had placed bets on his identity, and all sorts of guesses had popped up. Only Siyuan himself, the person involved, was unaware.

“Have you noticed anything?”

“No one is keeping a Little Ghost, but it seems like a few people’s luck is about to run out.”

“You mean those stars? That’s totally normal for celebrities. For ordinary folks, fortunes shift over thirty years, but for them, it’s more like three years. A nobody today could become a superstar tomorrow, but today’s top stars might become yesterday’s news by tomorrow. Once you’ve seen it enough, it’s not surprising. Look at that older woman.”

Siyuan followed Boss Xiang’s gaze and saw a woman around fifty years old who still had a bit of charm. She moved through the crowd, offering a wrinkled smile to everyone, but few were willing to engage with her.

“That woman looks familiar.”

“Yeah, of course she does. Back in the seventies and eighties, she was the hottest star in all of Hong Kong. Even the governor at the time was her devoted fan, and she was the first person from Hong Kong to perform on Broadway. But look at her now—she only makes a living by organizing young models for shady business. Most of the people here today look down on her.”

Suddenly, the main door swung open. Camera flashes went wild outside, and then a woman walked in, bathed in the spotlight.

But as soon as she entered, Boss Xiang immediately turned his back. “That girl… big trouble is here.”

“You mean… Ning Qingying?”

“You know her? Old Ning’s niece.” Boss Xiang’s expression was a mix of amusement and helplessness. “She’s a real Great Demon King.”

“I’ve heard about her.”

Siyuan gently shook his head. Although she was Ning Qingyuan’s younger sister, this girl was the polar opposite of Ning Qingyuan. While Ning Qingyuan could be a bit willful at times, it was the kind of cute stubbornness that added to her charm. But this Great Demon King was different. To those around her, she was a princess who was extremely hard to please, always finding ways to make others miserable.

When she walked in, she looked radiant and full of herself, looking down her nose at everyone. If anyone greeted her, she would only respond with a disdainful snort, ignoring them completely.

“It’s hard to understand how someone like her became a top star.” Siyuan turned his back, not wanting Ning Qingying to see him. “If I were a director, I definitely wouldn’t cast her as the female lead.”

“If you were a director, your annual box office wouldn’t exceed three hundred thousand.” Boss Xiang took a sip of wine, teasing Siyuan with a half-smile. “Then the producers would freeze you out, and you’d end up on welfare, living under a bridge. The entertainment industry is that cruel—there’s no middle ground. It’s either you or them.”

While they were talking, Ning Qingying had already made her way over to Siyuan and Boss Xiang. Her eyes sparkled with a strange light. “Qi Siyuan! What are you doing here?”

“Seriously?” Siyuan turned his head with a pitiful expression. “You still recognized me like this?”

“It seems you two really know each other.” Boss Xiang tactfully took his drink and moved aside to chat with others, leaving Siyuan and Ning Qingying some space.

“Of course I recognized you. I’d know you even if you turned to ashes.” She looked beautiful and sexy, but the way she talked wasn’t like a seasoned veteran of the entertainment industry. Instead, she sounded like a child. “What are you doing here?”

Siyuan gave her a slight smile. “I’m here to investigate a case.”

“You’re just like my sister, always about cases, cases.” Ning Qingying pouted, her face full of disdain. “So boring. I went to see my sister a while ago and looked for you, but she said you were on a business trip. Where did you go?”

“When was that?”

“Two weeks ago.”

“Yeah, I went to New Zealand to see the Ghost Ship.”

“Haha, that’s funny. A Ghost Ship, really?”

While they were making small talk, the main door opened again. A woman in red walked in. Siyuan recognized her right away. She had been hugely popular a couple of years ago, with loyal fans even in Japan, and was hailed as a global pure goddess. But last year, a nude photo scandal suddenly brought her down from her pedestal. Her luck plummeted, and there were even rumors that she had attempted suicide multiple times but was saved each time.

Seeing her up close now, she still looked incredibly glamorous and exceptionally beautiful. However, as soon as she entered, Siyuan sensed an unusual aura about her.

The appearance of this aura immediately sharpened Siyuan’s focus. He turned to Ning Qingying and asked, “Do you know that woman well?”

“Her? She’s a used goods still pretending to be pure. Disgusting.”

“I’m not asking if she’s used goods…” Siyuan waved his hand and shook his head. “I’m asking if you know her well.”

“Yeah, she’s with the same talent agency as me. But the company was planning to drop her recently.” Ning Qingying glanced at the woman scornfully. “But I heard her luck suddenly turned around lately. Paramount actually offered her a role in Narnia. It’s really hard to figure out.”

Siyuan nodded. Although he had never personally encountered someone who kept a Little Ghost, unusual signs often meant there was something fishy going on. So, this woman definitely seemed a bit off.

She moved through the crowd like a social butterfly, wearing a flirtatious smile and using expressive body language until she reached Ning Qingying. Cheerfully and happily, she greeted her, “Qingying, long time no see.”

Ning Qingying, with her proud and aloof nature, didn’t care about the greeting. She only responded with a disdainful snort. But the woman didn’t seem embarrassed or bothered at all. Instead, she smiled even wider and extended her hand toward Ning Qingying. “This is for you. They say it’s very effective.”

Ning Qingying looked and saw a milky-white ivory-carved doll in her palm. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and it looked adorably charming.

Girls, whenever they come across something cute like this, usually can’t resist—Ning Qingying was no exception. Her opinion of the woman instantly soared, and a smile appeared on her face almost immediately.

But before she could show any friendliness, the woman said goodbye and went over to another female star, giving her an identical ivory-carved doll. Faintly, she mentioned that she was going to Hollywood, so she wanted to leave everyone with a good keepsake.

“Looks pretty, right?”

Ning Qingying held up the little doll proudly to show Siyuan. But Siyuan snatched it right out of her hand and examined it closely. Upon inspection, he indeed found something wrong. The doll was shaped like a little monk, plump and smooth, with a warm feel in the palm—a truly fine piece of craftsmanship. However, on the little monk’s robe, there was a series of intricate patterns. These patterns appeared to be ordinary decorative designs, and most people would never guess that they contained a miniature Formation Array.

But even if Ning Qingying couldn’t see it, that didn’t mean Siyuan couldn’t. He quickly discovered the secret of the little doll. After examining it for a while, he narrowed his eyes and said to Ning Qingying, “I’m confiscating this.”

“Why? I really like it!”

Ning Qingying was very unhappy. She tried to rush over and grab the doll back, but Siyuan agilely dodged her. Then she began to throw a tantrum, demanding that Siyuan return the doll to her.

With all the commotion she caused, everyone’s attention turned to them, making Siyuan quite embarrassed. So, he had no choice but to awkwardly hand the doll back to Ning Qingying, though he left her with a warning:

“Don’t regret holding onto this.”

“Whether I regret it or not is none of your business! Stay away from me!”

Ning Qingying snatched the doll back angrily and turned to leave. Once her temper flared up, she didn’t care who was in front of her—she could turn on them instantly, leaving Siyuan both amused and exasperated.

“You shouldn’t have messed with anyone else, but why did you have to provoke this young lady?” Boss Xiang quietly approached and handed Siyuan a glass of wine. “Tomorrow’s tabloid headlines are going to give you a hard time.”

“What will they say?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”