As An Antique Shop Owner, It's Only Reasonable That I Know A Bit Of Magic - Chapter 33

Su Fan pulled out a few tissues from the box beside him and handed them to Rachel.

She thanked him, took the tissues, and wiped her tears.

“Is it only the two of you in the entire crew experiencing these things?” Su Fan asked.

“No one else has shown any signs of abnormality,” she replied. “But because Annie and I have been reacting so intensely, everyone in the crew has been keeping their distance from us. I don’t know the specifics beyond that.”

Hearing this, Su Fan narrowed his eyes.

Seeing that he seemed to be deep in thought, the two women fell silent, not daring to interrupt.

Not far outside the café, the filming crew, who had been gathered together, set down their equipment and began to disperse.

“Go back to the set first and talk with her,” Su Fan instructed. “I’ll tell you what to do later.”

Rachel nodded in agreement. “…Okay.”

After she left, Su Fan turned to Jamie. “Did you explain everything to them in detail?”

Rachel’s reactions had been genuine earlier—she had held nothing back regarding the malicious spirit. Su Fan was even a little surprised by how cooperative she was with him, considering he hadn’t yet demonstrated any of his abilities.

“Of course,” Jamie replied, sounding entirely justified. “Su, you told me before we parted ways to help advertise for you. See? I’ve brought you a client, haven’t I?”

This isn’t exactly the kind of client I had in mind…

“So, Su, have you figured anything out?” Jamie asked, ignoring Su Fan’s exasperated expression.

“I have some suspicions. This enemy is troublesome.”

Su Fan’s answer made Jamie’s expression turn serious.

The only time Jamie had ever encountered a haunting was with Mary Shaw in Ravens Fair. Remembering how dangerous that was still made his heart race. That was why he held such deep respect—even admiration—for Su Fan, who had remained calm throughout and dismantled every one of Mary Shaw’s methods.

If even Su Fan said this was troublesome, then the malicious spirit haunting Rachel and Annie must be far more powerful than Mary Shaw.

As the two spoke, angry shouting from a man could be heard outside again.

Su Fan looked in the direction of the noise and saw a bearded man yelling furiously at Rachel.

Even from a distance, through the glass window, Su Fan could clearly make out every word the man was saying.

“Dammit! What’s wrong with the artist you’re managing?! She only has a few lines! How can she not even memorize them?!” The bearded man’s face was red, and spit flew from his mouth as he shouted.

“As the female lead, she hasn’t performed well in a single scene! Do you have any idea how much this is costing us every day?!”

“I’m sorry… Annie hasn’t been sleeping well lately. She’s not in a good state mentally…”

“If she can’t sleep, then tell her to get more sleep! Do I need to buy sleeping pills for you?!”

While berating Rachel, the bearded man didn’t forget to yell at the young woman standing nearby.

Her head was bowed, her long hair covering most of her face. She nodded occasionally, but to Su Fan, it looked less like agreement and more like she was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion.

A few supporting actresses watching from the side wore smug, mocking smiles.

Su Fan frowned.

People lacking in energy and spirit were the most vulnerable to possession by malicious entities. These two were already frightened and anxious—any additional mental pressure could cause their willpower to collapse. Once that happened, the evil spirit would be free to do as it pleased in their dreams.

He stood up from his seat, walked out of the café, and headed straight toward the gathering crowd.

Jamie quickly got up and followed.

The bearded director didn’t notice Su Fan approaching from the outside and continued venting his anger, his insults becoming increasingly personal.

“There are plenty of women like you in Hollywood—unprofessional and talentless! Don’t think taking off your clothes and climbing into some man’s bed will make you a star! I can find someone to replace you anytime I—!”

He was cut off as a unfamiliar young man with black hair appeared in front of him.

“Are you done? I need to speak with them.”

“Who are you?” The director paused, then let out a scornful laugh. “I’m the director reprimanding my actors. Who gave you the right to interrupt?”

The director’s confidence was understandable. In the early 2000s, film sets were far less regulated than they would later become. Aside from the investors, the director often had the final say. Directors yelling at actors was practically routine.

Ignoring him, Su Fan carefully observed the woman standing next to Rachel.

Her head was drooping, her body swaying unsteadily. She showed no reaction to anything happening around her.

Clearly, Anne Hathaway had fallen asleep!

At the same time, an icy aura—undetectable to ordinary people—began radiating from her.

Su Fan frowned, stepped forward quickly, and caught her as she began to collapse.

He immediately took out a Clear Mind Talisman from inside his coat and pressed it against Anne’s smooth forehead.

But within moments, Su Fan could feel the talisman’s power draining away rapidly. In no time, it crumbled into dust and scattered.

What a powerful vengeful spirit!

To deplete the Clear Mind Talisman’s energy so quickly—this was indeed no ordinary entity.

Throughout this, the people nearby watched everything unfold, and murmurs began spreading through the crowd.

“Did you see what he just did?”

“No—where did that yellow paper come from? Is he a magician or something?”

“That’s not the point! Did you see the paper shatter?”

“It must be some kind of trick. Why would he suddenly show up and pull a stunt like this? It’s ridiculous.”

“I heard from the props team that Annie and her agent have mental issues. They keep imagining some evil spirit is haunting them, screaming in the middle of the night…”

“They don’t have mental problems—they’re just making up excuses.”

“And now they’ve even hired a clown to play along? How entertaining.”

The buzzing gossip around them only irritated the director further.

Anger surged within him, overriding his sense of caution.

He grabbed a prop from nearby, strode quickly toward Su Fan, raised it high, and aimed for Su Fan’s head, ready to bring it down.

“You freak! Can’t you hear me talking to you?!”

Su Fan looked up sharply. His hand shot out like an iron clamp, catching the director’s wrist precisely!

With a squeeze, the director cried out in pain, buckling to his knees uncontrollably. The prop in his hand clattered to the ground.

“Get lost!”

Su Fan kicked out, sending the director tumbling several feet away. Then, he scooped up Anne’s body and hurried toward the nearest actors’ rest area!

Rachel stood frozen, still not fully grasping what had happened.

“What are you standing there for?! Hurry up and follow him!” Jamie snapped impatiently before rushing after Su Fan.

Only then did Rachel snap out of her daze. As if suddenly realizing something, her face paled dramatically.