Chapter 4

After dealing with the overdue payments and studio matters, Feng Yi had a good night's sleep.

However, the other person did not have such good sleep quality.

Lu Yue, due to Feng Yi's words, had his items tested and spent a restless night waiting for the results with a very complex mood.

When the sky was just beginning to brighten, Lu Yue finally received a call.

The person on the other end of the phone seemed to be speaking secretly from somewhere, as if about to say something terrifying, and kept his voice very low.

"Brother Lu, are you in some big trouble!"

Lu Yue's heart sank; from this sentence, he knew things were not good.

"Tell me the results first!"

The person on the other end took a deep breath and continued in a low voice, "It's real snake skin, and it's likely wild. I don't know the specific species, as the leather has been processed and can't be matched, but it's probably a rare one.

"I used the company's newest equipment and test kits, which took a bit more time. Fortunately, these instruments are still in the debugging phase, and I was the only one on duty at night. I didn't dare to keep any records of the test results. Brother Lu, where did you get this from?"

Lu Yue closed his eyes tightly, and when he opened them, they were full of ferocity. He almost ground out the words, "Someone gave it to me!"

The person on the other end of the phone let out a long sigh, "Brother, you should stay away from those people. I heard they are investigating a batch of wild animal skins that have entered the market. Given the nature of your company, your grandfather recently mentioned in an official news report that the company is responding to the national call to use more environmentally friendly and safe materials. If you get involved in this, even if you clear your name, there will be a lot of trouble. Many people are waiting to find your mistakes! It's not easy to build a brand, and it's not easy for you to reach your current position. You can't afford to get involved in this kind of scandal!"

"I know all of this! Clear the operation records on your end, and I'll transfer the money to you later."

After hanging up and transferring the money, Lu Yue found Feng Yi's contact and sent a message: "Thanks! I owe you one!"

...

In the morning, Feng Yi saw this message when he woke up and smiled.

Although Lu Yue didn't show it on his face, he had taken the advice to heart. Anyone who could fight their way to such a position in a large group is not a simple person.

After replying politely, Feng Yi put the matter aside. He had a big task ahead!

The sky was still a bit dark, and the sun hadn't risen yet.

Feng Yi opened the glass door to the balcony, feeling the cool morning breeze, then went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

He cooked a plate of frozen dumplings and steamed three eggs. The fridge only had these things; he had been too busy recently to stock up.

Feng Yi took a bite of a dumpling and was cracking an egg when he saw a figure appear on the balcony.

Seeing this figure, Feng Yi almost forgot that the neighborhood had been suffering from a rat infestation recently!

A gray-brown rat, longer than a palm, walked in boldly from outside the balcony.

Feng Yi cracked the egg.

The sound made the rat pause.

The rat looked up at Feng Yi, then continued walking into the room.

Feng Yi: ???

Not afraid of people?

So bold in front of me?

No wonder the residents are complaining!

Thinking of Wu Ji's words, Feng Yi quickly got up and closed all the room doors, including the bathroom and kitchen. The gaps under the doors were not large, so the rat couldn't get in.

After closing the bedroom door, Feng Yi returned to the dining table and continued cracking eggs.

When Feng Yi got up, the rat had already hidden under the living room sofa. When Feng Yi sat down, the rat soon poked its head out from under the sofa, looked at Feng Yi, and started rummaging through the living room trash can.

Feng Yi stomped his foot, and the rat hiding in the trash can retreated under the sofa. But after 5 seconds, it came out again and continued rummaging through the trash can as if no one was there.

Stomping his foot didn't work this time.

Feng Yi was stunned.

Truly the king of the urban area!

There were no handy tools at home, and Feng Yi had more important things to do today, so he wouldn't spend time catching the rat.

After some thought, he used chopsticks to peel a piece of egg white, wrapped it in a paper towel, and placed it on a low flower stand outside the balcony. He then retreated inside, continued eating breakfast, and kept an eye on the situation.

Sure enough, the rat soon stopped rummaging through the trash can and followed the scent to the balcony, climbing the flower stand to find the egg.

Feng Yi quickly closed the glass door to the balcony, trapping the rat outside, and then took a photo through the glass door and sent it to Wu Ji—

"Please be careful downstairs."

"…Damn! You scared me awake in the morning!" Wu Ji asked, "How did it get to your place?"

"I don't know if it came from upstairs or downstairs. It climbed the outer wall and entered through the air conditioning unit platform next to the balcony. My window was open, and I only closed the balcony door yesterday."

"I'll tell my parents to check the doors and windows, especially the balcony! By the way, the residents' group said the community is organizing a rat extermination effort these two days. Keep an eye out," Wu Ji said.

"I have to go on a trip today and won't be home. I've checked the doors and windows, and they can't get in."

After telling Wu Ji, Feng Yi opened the residents' group and checked the chat records to understand the progress of the rat extermination.

After finishing breakfast and looking out to the balcony, the rat had already finished eating the egg and left.

Feng Yi checked the doors and windows again, made sure no food was exposed, and packed his luggage to head to the airport.

He took a nap on the plane and woke up when he was already in Yangcheng territory.

It had been five or six years since he left here after the college entrance exam, and he was back again.

Standing at Yangcheng Airport, Feng Yi's feelings were indescribable.

Of course, there was no time for sentimentality.

After searching for the nearest outdoor equipment stores, Feng Yi took a taxi to buy some gear.

Xiaofeng Mountain was a snake mountain, and even with the isolation zone, there was no guarantee that snakes wouldn't cross it and encounter him. More equipment would give him peace of mind.

After buying the gear and changing into more protective clothing and shoes, he didn't wear the helmet yet, as it would look strange. He only wore a disposable mask from the pharmacy.

Now, many people wear masks to prevent dust, respiratory allergies, and infectious diseases, so Feng Yi's mask didn't draw attention. Besides, he had briefly become a minor internet celebrity, and this was a place where he had lived for 18 years. Being recognized would be a bit awkward.

He ordered a ride-sharing car, with the destination set as Xiaofeng Mountain, which would cost about 200.

However, after waiting for ten minutes, no one accepted the order.

The only driver who did accept called back, saying it was a mistake, and asked him to cancel the order, offering a red envelope as compensation.

Feng Yi sat on a public bench, staring at his phone.

No one was willing to take the order!

Recalling the online posts about how many people were unwilling to go to Xiaofeng Mountain, Feng Yi selected the option to add money, but a message popped up saying the feature was being updated and would be available after midnight.

Feng Yi needed time!

He had told the old butler that he needed to finish the task as soon as possible!

He searched for the subway and bus options.

The gear he had just bought couldn't be taken on the subway, and none of the public transportation options went directly to Xiaofeng Mountain. The nearest bus stop was at least two kilometers away.

Xiaofeng Mountain had a protected area, and according to netizens, it was not within the range of shared bicycles. If you rode there, you would receive a warning and the bike would lock automatically.

Feng Yi looked around and saw a taxi with a passenger getting out nearby.

He rushed over and stopped the car before it left.

"Driver, can you go to Xiaofeng Mountain? I'll pay extra."

The driver was about to refuse when he heard the last two words, paused, looked at Feng Yi, and said, "500, and we'll go."

"Deal!"

As long as he could get a ride, it was fine. He didn't want to rent a car. He was in a hurry.

"Scan this code, and on the operation page, click to add 300, and check the box for voluntary payment," the driver said.

Feng Yi put his large backpack in the trunk, got in the car, and heard this. He replied, "Okay. Is that how it works? Won't your company say something?"

"Once I complete this order, I'll submit a note, and the company will understand. No one wants to go to Xiaofeng Mountain.

"It's okay in winter, but as the weather gets warmer, people are less willing to go. After all, it's a snake mountain. Although there's an isolation zone, it's not guaranteed to be completely effective. A few days ago, my colleague took an order to take two people there for a company inspection. There are many agricultural and livestock companies near Xiaofeng Mountain, but I don't remember which one. After dropping them off, he was even invited to a meal. On the way back, his car was impounded."

"Why?" Feng Yi asked.

"On the way back to the city, he took another order, and a passenger found a snake in his car. The passenger screamed, complained, and reported it to the police!"

The driver sighed, "What bad luck!

"Next, the company was overly concerned, the police were called in, and relevant departments paid attention. There were rumors that he was a ride-sharing driver on the surface but secretly traded in wildlife!

"Fortunately, there was surveillance footage and witnesses from Xiaofeng Mountain. Otherwise, he couldn't have explained it with ten mouths!

"Fortunately, he wasn't fined, just scolded a bit. The company even held a meeting to remind drivers not to linger in that area and to check their cars thoroughly before leaving, or they might end up in the news."

The driver sighed, "People are worse than snakes.

"My grandparents used to eat snakes, but by my parents' generation, the policies tightened. By my generation, forget it. We avoid it at all costs. The strictest protection laws are hanging over our heads. It's not that we're afraid of snakes, but sometimes getting involved in something can be hard to explain, and some reporters are just looking for trouble.

"My colleague's incident was picked up by a self-media marketing account, which made a video about it, making it sound very dramatic and mysterious, with suspenseful music and flashbacks. It even made the hot search list!

"Although it helped clear my colleague's name, not everyone wants to become famous this way."

Feng Yi understood. It was indeed like that. He hadn't paid attention to such news online because of his studio matters. The many drivers refusing to go to Xiaofeng Mountain had a reason.

At a red light, the driver looked at Feng Yi in the rearview mirror.

"Are you a celebrity?" the driver asked.

Feng Yi was surprised. He had only played a minor role in a web drama, which had aired recently and made him a minor internet celebrity, but he hadn't had time to maintain his popularity due to studio matters. The driver couldn't possibly recognize him, right?

After some thought, Feng Yi cleared his throat and said firmly, "No."

An 18th-line and beyond minor internet celebrity doesn't count as a celebrity.

I don't deserve it!!!