Care for a Fortune, Boss?

Xu Huai is a young employee of the National Security Special Protection Department, Third Branch, a government agency tasked with managing supernatural events under the guise of combating feudal superstition. Despite his official title as a special security guard, his primary duties involve investigating paranormal occurrences, debunking fraudulent exorcisms, and maintaining public order regarding occult threats. Xu Huai possesses innate spiritual sensitivity, allowing him to see ghosts and manipulate yin energy, a skill he inherited from his master, Zhang Daoquan, who raised him after his parents died. However, Xu Huai is deeply cynical about his work, viewing it merely as a means to earn a meager salary to support himself and his three cats. He is financially strained, often supplementing his income by illegally setting up a fortune-telling stall under an overpass, where he uses traditional Taoist divination methods to make quick cash.

The story begins when Xu Huai is hired by a woman named Li Fang to investigate her daughter’s persistent illness, which locals attribute to a supernatural curse. Xu Huai correctly identifies the condition as a medical issue exacerbated by a fraudulent master who scammed the family, advising them to seek proper hospital care instead. This incident highlights Xu Huai’s pragmatic approach: he dismisses superstition while simultaneously acknowledging the existence of real supernatural entities that threaten humans. Later, while operating his illegal fortune-telling stall, Xu Huai encounters a mysterious man named Xie Jing. Xie Jing appears friendly and naive, claiming to have been haunted by a ghost in his home and offering Xu Huai a substantial sum of money to resolve the issue. Despite his initial reluctance and the danger involved, Xu Huai is swayed by the financial incentive, agreeing to help for a deposit of one hundred thousand yuan and a promise of five hundred thousand more upon completion.

As Xu Huai begins to investigate Xie Jing’s case, strange phenomena occur. Xu Huai discovers that he can suddenly see ghosts clearly, a change from his usual limited perception, suggesting that Xie Jing’s presence is linked to a disruption in the barrier between the living and the dead. During the night, Xu Huai extracts a ball of yin energy from Xie Jing’s body, but the energy proves to be sentient and rebellious, eventually escaping its container. Simultaneously, a female ghost that had been haunting the area attempts to approach Xu Huai, drawn by his spiritual aura, but is intercepted and killed by Xie Jing. It is revealed that Xie Jing is not an ordinary client but a powerful entity with the ability to control and destroy ghosts, raising questions about his true nature and intentions.

The relationship between Xu Huai and Xie Jing evolves as they spend more time together. Xie Jing moves into Xu Huai’s home under the pretense of needing protection, but his behavior suggests a deeper interest in Xu Huai. Xu Huai notices physical marks on his body, which he attributes to mosquito bites, but suspects Xie Jing may be involved. Meanwhile, Xu Huai continues to work for the Special Protection Department, dealing with various supernatural cases while trying to uncover the truth about Xie Jing. He learns that Xie Jing’s ID information is falsified and that he has no known family, adding to the mystery surrounding his identity. Xu Huai’s master, Zhang Daoquan, disappeared years ago, and Xu Huai suspects that Xie Jing’s arrival is connected to this unresolved past.

The core conflict centers on Xu Huai’s struggle to maintain his detached, professional demeanor while being drawn into a dangerous supernatural situation involving Xie Jing. As he investigates the ghost haunting Xie Jing’s villa, Xu Huai encounters powerful entities and uncovers secrets about the spiritual world that challenge his understanding of reality. Xie Jing’s true motives remain unclear, but his actions suggest he is using Xu Huai for his own purposes. The story follows Xu Huai as he navigates this complex web of supernatural threats, personal danger, and growing emotional entanglement with Xie Jing, all while trying to survive and complete his duties for the government agency.

Key turning points include Xu Huai’s realization that he can now see ghosts clearly, the escape of the yin energy ball, and the revelation of Xie Jing’s supernatural abilities. These events force Xu Huai to confront the dangers he has been ignoring and acknowledge his growing dependence on Xie Jing. The narrative direction shifts from a simple ghost-hunting case to a deeper exploration of Xu Huai’s past, his connection to Zhang Daoquan, and the true nature of Xie Jing. As the story progresses, Xu Huai must decide whether to trust Xie Jing and risk his safety or distance himself from the supernatural forces that seem to be converging around him.

The story concludes with Xu Huai and Xie Jing continuing their investigation at the villa, facing increasingly dangerous ghosts and uncovering more secrets about the spiritual realm. Xu Huai’s professional life and personal safety are constantly threatened, but his determination to protect his cats and maintain his independence drives him forward. The narrative sets the stage for further conflicts as Xu Huai delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding Xie Jing and the supernatural world, with the potential for both danger and unexpected alliances shaping the outcome of their journey.