Chapter 56: You're a Pretty Face, Not an Actor
Wu Yifan and Yi Xuexian wandered the carnival like an awkward couple chaperoning a hyperactive child. Mu Xiaoyao chattered nonstop, listing Wu's "virtues" one minute and gushing about Yi's "kindness" the next, as if she were a matchmaker orchestrating a romance. Passersby stared, amused by the odd trio.
"Fan-ge, look! A wallet!" Mu suddenly bent down, picking up a sleek leather billfold from the ground.
Wu's brow furrowed. *Too convenient.* With this many people around, what were the odds they'd stumble on a lost wallet? He'd heard of scams like this—plant a wallet, then accuse the finder of stealing cash. Before he could warn Mu, a familiar voice shouted from nearby.
"Has anyone seen my wallet? I just withdrew thousands! Please—if you found it, I'll reward you!"
Wu, Mu, and Yi turned to see Su Junfeng, his face contorted with fake panic.
Mu rolled her eyes, dropping the wallet and stepping on it deliberately. "There you go, *crazy guy*. Not that it's worth much—fancy clothes, cheap wallet. Tsk. Mismatched."
Su's jaw tightened, but he forced a smile. "Thank you, little girl."
Mu feigned shock. "Am I seeing a ghost? *You* said 'thank you'? That's a first."
"You—!" Su sputtered, but Mu ignored him, tugging Wu toward a nearby ride.
"Move. You're blocking the way. At least Schwarzenegger or Andy Lau are easy on the eyes. You? You look like a wet noodle. Staring at you makes me lose my appetite."
The crowd snickered, and Su's ears turned red. He bent to retrieve the wallet, flipping it open—and froze.
"Wait a minute!" he yelped, his voice rising. "You took the money! I had five thousand in here—now there's only one! Thieves!"
Wu and Mu exchanged glances. *Predictable.*
Su turned to the gathering crowd, his eyes widening dramatically. "They stole four thousand! From a stranger! Can you believe it? This girl—she looks innocent, but she's a thief!"
Murmurs spread through the onlookers.
"Kids these days… no morals."
"Five thousand, and they took four? Greedy."
"Poor guy. Just trying to enjoy his day."
Yi stepped forward, her voice firm. "Junfeng, stop. They didn't open the wallet. I was right there."
Su scoffed, his gaze venomous. "Of course you'd defend them. You've been all over him since we got here. Are you sleeping with him too?"
Yi flinched, her face paling. "That's enough."
"Not until they pay me back!" Su shouted, pulling out his phone. "I'm calling the police. They'll regret this."
Mu burst out laughing. "Police? Go ahead. But your acting's terrible. Even Feng Xiaogang would cringe. My seven-year-old cousin tells better lies."
Wu nodded, grinning. "Yeah. If you're gonna frame someone, at least make it believable. Five thousand? Try fifty. More drama that way."
"You—!" Su's face flushed purple.
Mu sighed, shaking her head. "Honestly, you're better off as eye candy. 'Idol material,' not 'actor material.' Your lines are stiff, your expressions fake. Watch *My Own Swordsman* sometime. Even the extras act better than you."
The crowd roared, suddenly suspicious of Su's theatrics. His panic seemed… *performative*.
Su ground his teeth. "You'll regret this when the police come!"
"Great! Hurry them up. We're missing the Ferris wheel." Mu checked her watch, feigning boredom.
Su stared, bewildered. Why weren't they scared? He'd planned this perfectly—accuse them, rally the crowd, let the police "sort it out." But they were turning it into a comedy.
"Y-you're bluffing," he stammered.
"Bluffing? We're *bored*," Wu said. "Hurry up. Or are you too scared to call the cops? Afraid they'll see through your little act?"
Su's hand hovered over his phone. He'd *said* he'd called, but… he hadn't. What if the police saw through him? What if Yi never spoke to him again?
The crowd waited, watching him squirm.
Finally, Su pocketed his phone, spitting out, "This isn't over." He turned and stalked off, his tail between his legs.
The onlookers dispersed, chuckling.
Yi let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "I'm so sorry. He's never… this irrational."
Mu patted her arm. "Don't apologize. He's just mad 'cause he knows you're too good for him."
Yi smiled weakly, shooting Wu a grateful look.
Wu winked. "C'mon. Let's ride the Ferris wheel. Before any more 'drama' finds us."
As they walked away, Mu linked arms with both of them, singing off-key. Yi laughed, the tension melting from her shoulders.
Wu glanced at her, enjoying the sound. *Maybe Mu's onto something*, he thought. *This beats the security booth.*
For now, at least, the carnival was peaceful. And for once, that was more than enough.