Chapter 11 – It wasn’t because of the wind moving, It was because of his heart moving.
The female ghost’s spirit was like starlight and scattered in the dark night.
Lian Xi rubbed his hands together and stood up.
He turned to look at Su Jiao who had long been frightened to death and said in a calm voice.
“Should we go home? I still need to make my live broadcast.”
Su Jiao: “….”
You actually still want to make your live broadcast!
Can’t you give the female ghost you just killed a little bit of face!
After a few seconds, Su Jiao recovered and followed him. “Eh, I never realized you were so cruel. That was just a little girl ah….”
Lian Xi lowered his head and looked at him strangely. “You also have compassion towards malicious ghosts that kill people?”
Su Jiao couldn’t say anything back.
Lian Xi said indifferently, “Don’t underestimate any murderous ghosts. Even if it’s a child…” His voice suddenly trailed off. After a moment, he continued. “Even a child can be an executioner.”
Su Jiao: “En, you’re right.”
After a moment.
Su Jiao: “However, just before you didn’t completely scatter her soul.”
Lian Xi stopped his steps: “****?!”
Su Jiao was shocked: “You also know how to swear?”
Lian Xi: “….”
Su Jiao rubbed his head. “I thought you knew. You just choked the girl’s two spiritual souls and six physical souls. There should be one left. I think it just left to reincarnate, didn’t you notice? How can a normal person kill a ghost bare-handed? If you used that bell to scatter her, I think probably her souls would scatter entirely. But using your own hands…. I think it’s still not powerful enough.”
Lian Xi: “…..”
Why didn’t you say it earlier!
Lian Xi raised his wrist: You also, how come you didn’t give a warning?!
The bronze bell shook: Hn, who told you not to let me kill her~ tralalala!
***
Xu Lang was discharged from the hospital.
As he exited the air-conditioned hospital lobby, there was a rush of heat onto his face.
But Xu Lang didn’t feel the heat. He looked up at the sunny blue sky and took a deep breath of fresh air.
-He felt as though he were worlds away.
Xu Lang’s injuries were not serious. Other than the wound on his forehead which needed to be treated, everything else was only minor. He was hospitalized for only one night then went through the discharge formalities. In the morning, the police detective questioned him. Xu Lang calmly answered all of the officer’s questions and then finally regained his freedom.
Looking across this vast expanse of open sky, after a while Xu Lang’s gaze moved over to the shopping mall diagonally opposite from the hospital.
He strode in with big footsteps.
One hour later.
Lian Xi was at his home, cleaning.
“Hey Lian Xi, can I not clean the toilet ah!”
Lian Xi said calmly: “But you lost at scissors paper rock.”
Su Jiao: “…. Freaking hell, I lost the day before yesterday. How can you still be using it now! Do you dare to play with me again!”
Lian Xi looked down and gazed at the clusters of red light wrapped around his fingers. However, his gaze was still calm. “Maybe tomorrow.”
Su Jiao: “Get lost!”
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Thinking it was the takeaway that he had only just ordered, Su Jiao yelled loudly: “Open the door quickly, I’m hungry!”
Glancing at his short housemate who was washing the toilet bowl, the handsome young man put down the vacuum cleaner and walked towards the door. However as soon as the door opened and he saw the person standing outside, he was startled and stood there frozen to the spot.
Su Jiao walked out from the toilet, “What’s going on, where’s the takeout… ah? The hell?!”
The person standing outside the door was none other than Wanderer!
Wanderer was wearing a light colored suit and standing outside. There were white bandages covering his forehead. He looked at Lian Xi then looked at Su Jiao who was standing inside. After a while he gave an odd smile and said, “Excuse me… can I please come inside?”
The bright midsummer sun shone into the room, reflecting off the glass inside.
Wanderer took the glass of warm water that Lian Xi offered him. “Thank you. It’s been some time since I’ve seen you ba. Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Xu Lang, my online ID is Wanderer.”
Lian Xi sat opposite him and made a soft “en” sound.
Xu Lang gave a self-deprecating laugh. He said, “I came because I want to tell a story.”
When he said this, Su Jiao’s body shook and he narrowed his eyes at Lian Xi.
He hadn’t forgotten that the last person that wanted to tell Lian Xi a story was hit until their souls scattered.
Right now Lian Xi didn’t make any movement change. He took a sip of water with a calm expression. “Oh?”
Xu Lang took a deep breath and continued. “I had a long, long dream. I dreamed that I came here, and I dreamed of a lot of other strange things. I dreamed of things that I never believed possible. However after I woke up, I felt like I forgot everything and couldn’t remember anything. However I still remembered one thing….”
He raised his head and looked at the unruffled youth in front of him. He said carefully, word by word, “I remember that, you probably saved my life.”
Lian Xi smiled. “Mr Xu, do you take the things that you dream of as reality?”
Xu Lang stared at him fixedly: “Were those really dreams?”
Lian Xi asked him curiously, “Otherwise what could they be? What kind of dream did you have, why don’t you tell me?”
Xu Lang: “…. I forgot.”
Lian Xi: “Then since it’s just a dream, don’t think too much.”
Xu Lang didn’t want to give up. He stared at him unblinking, trying to see some flaw. But Lian Xi didn’t move at all and continued to drink his tea indifferently.
After some time, Xu Lang could only give up. He opened the folder he brought with him, took out a document and placed it on the coffee table. “This time, in addition to that dream, I also brought a contract. Lian Cheng, don’t rush to refuse! Just take a look at this contract’s contents first. This is the contract I personally prepared for you. I’m actually one of the founders of the Gem Guild, and I’m also it’s largest investor. In this new contract, I will give you a basic salary of 10,000 yuan a month. As for what percentage of gifts you need to give to the Guild, you’ll definitely be satisfied. The most important thing is I won’t interfere with the content of any of your live broadcasts, nor will I make any unreasonable demands of you.”
Lian Xi was just about to refuse but when he heard this he raised his head. He said, surprised, “Mr Xu….”
Xu Lang smiled helplessly. “This is just small change. Compared to my life, ten thousand, one million, ten million, it’s nothing. Even if it’s just a dream, let me use this small amount of money to thank you for helping me escape that nightmare.” He raised the corner of his lips and showed a mature and confident smile. “No one will make an enemy out of money… don’t you agree, Lian Cheng?”
This time, Lian Xi accepted Xu Lang’s contract.
He took a closer look at it and his housemate also helped him look over it. The two people reached a consensus-
Xu Lang had really come to give them money!
Money is falling from the sky, if you don’t pick it up then you’re an idiot!
Sign it!
Lian Xi signed the contract. There were two copies and each person took away one.
As he was about to leave, Xu Lang smiled. “That’s right, after I was discharged from the hospital I went to the mall next door and bought a gift. By coincidence, I bought two. In my dream, it seemed Mr Lian didn’t live alone.”
Lian Xi looked at the Apple mobile bag that Xu Lang handed over but didn’t reach out to take it.
Xu Lang: “It’s nothing. In the future you’re one of our Guild’s contracted live streamers. This can be considered a work phone. Take it. Otherwise, I’m going to throw it away.”
Seeing that Lian Xi really didn’t mean to reach for it, Xu Lang smiled and put the two apple phones in front of the door of the house and directly went to the elevator and then went downstairs.
After he left, Su Jiao excitedly brought the mobile phones back in.
“****! This time saving someone was really profitable!”
Lian Xi didn’t say anything and followed Su Jiao to open the mobile phones that Xu Lang gifted them.
Oh, it was the latest Apple model.
This guy was really goddamn rich.
Since Wanderer insisted on giving it to them, then Lian Xi wouldn’t reject it.
No point in being a hypocrite!
The two people unwrapped the latest Apple mobile phone and started using it. Lian Xi was still installing the system when the doorbell rang. This time it really was the takeaway brother.
Lian Xi: “Are you eating barbeque meat with rice, or tomato and egg with rice?”
Su Jiao was entirely focused on his new phone: “Barbeque meat!”
Lian Xi: “Oh.”
The two people played with the phone and started eating at the same time. But halfway through….
On his bare spoon, half of a caterpillar’s body was still struggling and wriggling. It cocked his head and looked at Lian Xi and seemed to say, “Hello!”
Lian Xi: “…..”
Su Jiao: “Hey, Lian Xi why did you stop? Not eating anymore?”
“Pei!!!!!” {Spitting sound}
***
Su Jiao: “****! Are they still human?! This store has a lot of good reviews too but there’s actually bugs in their food! Sue! Sue for emotional distress too!”
Lian Xi: “…. it’s fine.”
Su Jiao: “Ha? Just leave it like this?”
Lian Xi’s face was completely helpless however he didn’t say anything.
…. You don’t understand a thing!
Lian Xi: “I’m going to go take a shower.”
Five minutes later.
Lian Xi: “Su Jiao! Su Jiao! Where’s the water! How come there’s no more water!”
Su Jiao: “Eh, Lian Xi. Just now the property manager texted and said that a neighbouring road’s pipe burst. They’re trying to fix it ASAP.”
Lian Xi: “…….”
After wiping clean all the shampoo foam off his head, Lian Xi lay down on the bed and decided to turn into a dead fish.
Right now I’m not going to do a thing, I’m just going to lie here. Like this, you should be happy right!
Half an hour later.
Lian Xi expressionlessly walked out of his bedroom. “My room’s air conditioning stopped working.”
Su Jiao, who was in the middle of organizing his things and preparing to go to class: “Eh, I think electricity has stopped. They’re trying to fix it.”
Lian Xi: “……”
Can’t you goddamn leave a path for people to live!!!
Su Jiao considered for a couple of moments then carefully asked, “Um, Lian Xi…. Have you realized that today… your luck is especially bad?”
Lian Xi said expressionlessly: “No.”
Su Jiao: “It is!”
The short housemate’s eyeballs rotated and he smiled. He held out his right hand. “Want to play scissors paper rock?”
Lian Xi: “……”
Can you please be human!
***
For the next consecutive days, Lian Xi lived an extremely misfortunate existence.
If he brushed his teeth, the water would stop.
If he played games, it would suddenly 460! {When your internet is so laggy you have to stop playing.}
This was all still okay, the worst was…
For three days in a row, that is 41 rounds, he had met an opponent who would suddenly drop offline.
Perhaps because Xu Lang had signed Lian Xi and had given him a few good promotions, or just simply because he was so misfortunate that he was due a few lucky turns, however right now Lian Xi’s broadcast had actually increased in popularity. The number of people watching had reached over a 100.
[I heard this host has for three consecutive days, that is 41 rounds, met an opponent that dropped offline. I came to look!]
[It’s true! I will use ten pounds of fat to beg the host to bless that my love rival will fail all his exams!] {I think ten pounds of fat is a gift in-game.}
[Hahahaha! This is the 42nd round. I bet this time it will also be a wild dog that will drop offline!]
[I’m really suspicious that this host is directing this and bought a bunch of actors to make himself look pitiful.]
Lian Xi: “……”
How can he live!
Finally in the 43rd round, he found an opponent who was not playing around.
Lian Xi nearly sobbed with joy and took out his playing list. {Um, perhaps someone familiar with online gaming rules (or has read a lot of gaming novels) can let me know if I’ve translated this part correctly (probably not). In any, the point is he’s very unlucky orz.}
Success or failure depended on this move!
Seeing that Lian Xi didn’t again run into a dog that was just going to hang up, the fans in the live broadcast thought it was boring and began to talk about other things.
[I heard Cat Fur Sauce didn’t commit suicide because of online bullying. Before she committed suicide she sent Hydrogen a lot of WeChat messages, hoping Hydrogen would come to save her. However Hydrogen spent the whole day playing games and didn’t care about her at all!]
[I saw the trending hashtags. It’s terrible, I didn’t expect Hydrogen to be such a person!]
Lian Xi kept one eye on the game and one eye on the chat screen.
Just slightly, he got distracted.
[You defeat!]
What the hell?!
I just died once, and you bunch immediately disappeared?!
You guys are even worse than people who hang up!!!
***
A particular apartment neighborhood in NanJing.
A young man with dyed blonde hair was so panicked his entire head was full of sweat. He had already bought a bus ticket to Su City. He couldn’t wait any longer. He had to see Xu Lang. Had to ask him what the heck was going on!
Wasn’t everything already over?
Everything was a misunderstanding. He hadn’t strangled Xu Lang!
The police officers had released him and it was even Xu Lang who had gone to the police station personally to get him out. How come after he got back to NanJing, things turned out like this?
After calling the phone dozens of times, it finally connected.
Hydrogen was so panicked his eyes went red: “Brother Lang! What’s going on? Why did you suddenly do this? Isn’t everything already over? Why, why? Why are you doing this to me?”
On the phone, Xu Lang smiled slightly. He slowly asked, “What’s happened?”
Hydrogen was surprised. “Didn’t you do it? Brother Lang, there’s suddenly been explosive news on the internet. It’s saying that Cat Fur Sauce committed suicide because of me. I only showed you the weixin she sent me before she died, how come now it’s all over the internet?”
“Oh. That ah, it was sent out by me.”
“Brother Lang!”
“Hydrogen, a few days ago, I had a dream.”
“What?”
“I dreamt that Cat Fur Sauce came to find me. She blamed me and said it was my fault, that I broke you guys up and wouldn’t let you keep dating. She wanted to kill me. And she wanted to be with you forever. Do you think I did wrong? Otherwise why would she come looking for me? Isn’t the person she should look for, you….?”
Holding his phone, the blonde haired man felt chills run down his back. He said hoarsely, “Brother Lang, what are you saying….”
Xu Lang sighed for a long time. “But then again, no one will make money an enemy.”
“Brother Lang?”
“Haha, earn money well, my money tree.”
***
The next day, Lian Xi logged online at the usual time. The live broadcast room was busy and noisy, there were about 50 living people around. Who knew that 9.30 suddenly someone cried out.
[****! There’s been a turn around! Quickly take a look!]
In an instant, everybody disappeared.
After logging off, Lian Xi opened Weibo and saw Hydrogen had posted a long blog post. There were even more Weixin chat logs between him and Cat Fur Sauce.
It involved a hysterical girl. The kind of girl who, if you asked to break up, would threaten suicide. Would threaten to die together with you, and even kill your entire family.
There was also a pair of parents without morals who after taking a black-hearted company’s money would claim that their daughter died of online bullying.
Then there was the pitiful live streaming host. The host who, after his ex-girlfriend died, would carefully and attentively take care of her family members and arrange her funeral.
For his entire life, Hydrogen and Cat Fur Sauce would forever be intertwined.
In Hydrogen’s blog post he expressed that no matter what the truth was, Cat Fur Sauce had already left the world.
For his entire life he planned to take care of Cat Fur Sauce’s parents. He would treat Cat Fur Sauce’s parents as though they were his own.
Everything was his fault!
This time, not only did most of the fans stand on his side. Even bystanders who got wind of this matter felt pity for this young host who would be burdened by this matter for the rest of his life.
Wanderer, as the representative for the Gem Guild, was cursed at until he was bloody, however…
Hydrogen became even more famous!
{T/N: I think basically in the end Xu Lang didn’t put Cat Fur Sauce’s interests first (although she’s hardly totally innocent) but decided to stand on Hydrogen’s side in the interests of promoting him to earn money, despite going through what he did with her ghost. Overall everything is in the interest of making Hydrogen look good so he can continue being a ‘money tree’. I think the author is saying nobody is innocent in this situation, including Wanderer, Hydrogen and Cat Fur Sauce are pretty much all as bad as each other.}
Su Jiao walked out of the bathroom and looked at Lian Xi. “Ai, are you still live broadcasting? Just now I saw some news about your DouYa platform’s livestreamer. That guy is too pitiful! Being dragged down by that kind of woman. She’s already dead but he still has to take care of her parents for his entire life, so unlucky. This Hydrogen is a pretty cool guy. Later on I’ll go follow him.”
Lian Xi: “Don’t you think the name Cat Fur Sauce sounds a bit familiar?”
Su Jiao froze, then realized: “****? That female ghost?!”
Lian Xi smiled faintly.
In the end, Xu Lang could not let go of this mantou filled with blood. {That is, the opportunity to earn money from someone’s misfortunes.}
He ate so much his entire mouth was full of blood.
The fresh blood dripped down his mouth.
That’s right. In this world, who would make money their enemy?
***
“Su Jiao!!”
“Ah? Did the water stop again? Hehe, Lian Xi you’re so lucky!”
Lian Xi: “……”
This type of living could not be borne any longer!
After getting out of the bathroom, Lian Xi put on his pajamas and said expressionlessly. “Later on, accompany me to go out for something.”
Su Jiao glanced at the clock on the wall which showed it was close to 1AM. “What did you say?”
“There’s more ghosts around at midnight.”
“What?”
Lian Xi: “I’m going out to do good deeds, get it?”
Su Jiao: “……”
Lian Xi thought for a moment: “Don’t you think being a person means that you need to be kinder?”
Su Jiao: “…..”
Are you sick ah!!!
***
Su Jiao really didn’t understand why he had come out in the middle of the night to accompany Lian Xi to roam the streets.
It was the middle of the night, at a crossroads.
Lian Xi: “Old grandma, do you need help crossing the road?”
Old grandma: “No! I’m waiting for my dear grandson!”
Lian Xi: “It’s the middle of the night. Your grandson is asleep. Let me help you across.”
Old grandma: “No, my dear grandson is coming.”
Lian Xi: “Just let me help you okay?”
Old grandma: “No!”
“Please.”
“Just no!”
“Please.”
“No!”
Lian Xi: “…..”
Lian Xi: “Let’s go!”
The old grandma started yelling: “Help! Which ghost is going to help me ah! A person is bullying a ghost ah!”
Su Jiao who was standing to one side, watching: “…..”
He tugged Lian Xi’s arm. “What are you doing? Why do you have to help this old woman cross the road?”
Lian Xi paused, then pointed on top of the old woman’s head: “Can’t you see this?”
Su Jiao hugged his arm and stared for a while: “What am I looking at?”
Lian Xi turned around and looked at the faint golden light that was hovering above the old woman’s head. He looked at Su Jiao and said nonchalantly, “It’s nothing. I just think that it’s good to learn from Lei Feng and do good deeds such as helping this old grandma cross the road.” {Lei Feng is a Communist youth hero who is famous for his good deeds.}
Su Jiao looked at his old woman who was wailing so loudly the tears rolled down her cheeks. He grumbled, “Are you sure this is called a good deed?”
Lian Xi glared at him.
What do you know?
Ever since he was young, Lian Xi had seen countless ghosts.
In the beginning he would often help ghosts fulfill their cherished wishes. He wouldn’t reject anybody who asked him for help. Because the majority of ghosts were not malicious. They only remained in the world because they had unfulfilled wishes. Once he helped them fulfill their wish, then they could go to reincarnate.
However slowly, Lian Xi discovered that everytime after he helped a ghost, there would appear either a gold light or a red light on the ghost’s body.
A gold light meant that heavens would smile upon you for your meritorious deeds.
A red light meant a terrible curse would entangle you!
The previous time when he had helped Chen JianJun’s ghost and helped him find the murderer of the fan factory case, he earned a lot of merit and got the demolition compensation money. But this time when he killed Cat Fur Sauce’s ghost, he was immediately entangled by a red light. In the last three consecutive days, there had been bugs every single day in his take away food. Who could continue living like this ah!
But the thing was, when you helped a ghost, just because you did something right didn’t mean it would definitely be a golden light. And if you did something wrong, it didn’t mean it would definitely be red.
It was extremely unexplainable!
And the thing was with the vast majority of ghosts, he would not be able to tell if it would be a gold light or a red light that awaited him after helping the ghost out.
However….
Looking at it now, Su Jiao completely didn’t have this problem. He wasn’t affected by the red light’s influence and he also could see it either.
Lian Xi looked at this old grandma who had died for who knows how long. He stared at the very faint and weak gold light on top of her head. Clenching his teeth he said, “Today you have to cross the street even if you don’t want to! I’m going to help you across!’
Old woman: “……”
I might not be a real person, but you’re definitely a real dog!
Don’t even think about it, Lian Xi definitely could not let go of this old woman’s ghost.
He and Su Jiao had wandered the Yuan district of Su City for ages and only found this one ghost. And she even already displayed a gold light.
How could he let her go?
Lian Xi used his hands to hold the old woman’s arm. “Come with me!”
The old woman wept like pear blossoms in the rain. “Wuwuwu, save this ghost la, save this ghost la. Hey, this good looking brother, save me ah! He’s forcing a ghost against her will ah!”
Su Jiao laughed. “You’re this and still know what a good looking brother is? Where am I good looking, where where?”
Lian Xi was intent on helping this ghost cross the road. He didn’t raise his head. “Just obey me ba!”
The old woman ghost: “Save me ah, good looking brother!”
Lian Xi’s eyebrows were knitted. He was just about to open his mouth when suddenly there was a flash of gold light that crossed his vision.
His whole body shook. Slowly he raised his head.
3AM in the morning, Su City’s Yuan District, Times Square.
The cool night wind was blowing through the empty crossroad. A beautiful and delicate young man slowly opened his mouth and looked at the thing which had appeared….
A gold light.
In his entire life, Lian Xi would never forget the vision which appeared before his eyes.
There was an old woman who was wailing hysterically beside him.
In front of him, a golden light was walking silently and wordlessly.
It was brilliant and gorgeous and completely took one’s breath away.
At this moment his heart became peaceful and serene. From his ear he heard whistling of the wind and with it the sound of his steady heart beat: pu-dong, pu-dong.
Right now the heat that he was feeling…
It wasn’t because of the wind moving.
It was because of his heart moving.
The old woman: “Help me ah, good looking brother!”
Lian Xi let go of the clutch hold he had on the old woman. The old woman immediately fell over onto the ground.
Old woman ghost: “???”
Su Jiao: “Lian Xi???”
Looking at the blinding and brilliant light before his eyes, the eyes of the delicate youth became hot and his breathing accelerated. He breathed slowly, trying to calm himself down, then gave a warm and friendly smile. His eyes curved into beautiful crescent moons. “Hey….”
“Can I ask, do you need help crossing the road?”
***
Chapter 11 – It wasn’t because of the wind moving, It was because of his heart moving.
The female ghost’s spirit was like starlight and scattered in the dark night.
Lian Xi rubbed his hands together and stood up.
He turned to look at Su Jiao who had long been frightened to death and said in a calm voice.
“Should we go home? I still need to make my live broadcast.”
Su Jiao: “….”
You actually still want to make your live broadcast!
Can’t you give the female ghost you just killed a little bit of face!
After a few seconds, Su Jiao recovered and followed him. “Eh, I never realized you were so cruel. That was just a little girl ah….”
Lian Xi lowered his head and looked at him strangely. “You also have compassion towards malicious ghosts that kill people?”
Su Jiao couldn’t say anything back.
Lian Xi said indifferently, “Don’t underestimate any murderous ghosts. Even if it’s a child…” His voice suddenly trailed off. After a moment, he continued. “Even a child can be an executioner.”
Su Jiao: “En, you’re right.”
After a moment.
Su Jiao: “However, just before you didn’t completely scatter her soul.”
Lian Xi stopped his steps: “****?!”
Su Jiao was shocked: “You also know how to swear?”
Lian Xi: “….”
Su Jiao rubbed his head. “I thought you knew. You just choked the girl’s two spiritual souls and six physical souls. There should be one left. I think it just left to reincarnate, didn’t you notice? How can a normal person kill a ghost bare-handed? If you used that bell to scatter her, I think probably her souls would scatter entirely. But using your own hands…. I think it’s still not powerful enough.”
Lian Xi: “…..”
Why didn’t you say it earlier!
Lian Xi raised his wrist: You also, how come you didn’t give a warning?!
The bronze bell shook: Hn, who told you not to let me kill her~ tralalala!
***
Xu Lang was discharged from the hospital.
As he exited the air-conditioned hospital lobby, there was a rush of heat onto his face.
But Xu Lang didn’t feel the heat. He looked up at the sunny blue sky and took a deep breath of fresh air.
-He felt as though he were worlds away.
Xu Lang’s injuries were not serious. Other than the wound on his forehead which needed to be treated, everything else was only minor. He was hospitalized for only one night then went through the discharge formalities. In the morning, the police detective questioned him. Xu Lang calmly answered all of the officer’s questions and then finally regained his freedom.
Looking across this vast expanse of open sky, after a while Xu Lang’s gaze moved over to the shopping mall diagonally opposite from the hospital.
He strode in with big footsteps.
One hour later.
Lian Xi was at his home, cleaning.
“Hey Lian Xi, can I not clean the toilet ah!”
Lian Xi said calmly: “But you lost at scissors paper rock.”
Su Jiao: “…. Freaking hell, I lost the day before yesterday. How can you still be using it now! Do you dare to play with me again!”
Lian Xi looked down and gazed at the clusters of red light wrapped around his fingers. However, his gaze was still calm. “Maybe tomorrow.”
Su Jiao: “Get lost!”
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Thinking it was the takeaway that he had only just ordered, Su Jiao yelled loudly: “Open the door quickly, I’m hungry!”
Glancing at his short housemate who was washing the toilet bowl, the handsome young man put down the vacuum cleaner and walked towards the door. However as soon as the door opened and he saw the person standing outside, he was startled and stood there frozen to the spot.
Su Jiao walked out from the toilet, “What’s going on, where’s the takeout… ah? The hell?!”
The person standing outside the door was none other than Wanderer!
Wanderer was wearing a light colored suit and standing outside. There were white bandages covering his forehead. He looked at Lian Xi then looked at Su Jiao who was standing inside. After a while he gave an odd smile and said, “Excuse me… can I please come inside?”
The bright midsummer sun shone into the room, reflecting off the glass inside.
Wanderer took the glass of warm water that Lian Xi offered him. “Thank you. It’s been some time since I’ve seen you ba. Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Xu Lang, my online ID is Wanderer.”
Lian Xi sat opposite him and made a soft “en” sound.
Xu Lang gave a self-deprecating laugh. He said, “I came because I want to tell a story.”
When he said this, Su Jiao’s body shook and he narrowed his eyes at Lian Xi.
He hadn’t forgotten that the last person that wanted to tell Lian Xi a story was hit until their souls scattered.
Right now Lian Xi didn’t make any movement change. He took a sip of water with a calm expression. “Oh?”
Xu Lang took a deep breath and continued. “I had a long, long dream. I dreamed that I came here, and I dreamed of a lot of other strange things. I dreamed of things that I never believed possible. However after I woke up, I felt like I forgot everything and couldn’t remember anything. However I still remembered one thing….”
He raised his head and looked at the unruffled youth in front of him. He said carefully, word by word, “I remember that, you probably saved my life.”
Lian Xi smiled. “Mr Xu, do you take the things that you dream of as reality?”
Xu Lang stared at him fixedly: “Were those really dreams?”
Lian Xi asked him curiously, “Otherwise what could they be? What kind of dream did you have, why don’t you tell me?”
Xu Lang: “…. I forgot.”
Lian Xi: “Then since it’s just a dream, don’t think too much.”
Xu Lang didn’t want to give up. He stared at him unblinking, trying to see some flaw. But Lian Xi didn’t move at all and continued to drink his tea indifferently.
After some time, Xu Lang could only give up. He opened the folder he brought with him, took out a document and placed it on the coffee table. “This time, in addition to that dream, I also brought a contract. Lian Cheng, don’t rush to refuse! Just take a look at this contract’s contents first. This is the contract I personally prepared for you. I’m actually one of the founders of the Gem Guild, and I’m also it’s largest investor. In this new contract, I will give you a basic salary of 10,000 yuan a month. As for what percentage of gifts you need to give to the Guild, you’ll definitely be satisfied. The most important thing is I won’t interfere with the content of any of your live broadcasts, nor will I make any unreasonable demands of you.”
Lian Xi was just about to refuse but when he heard this he raised his head. He said, surprised, “Mr Xu….”
Xu Lang smiled helplessly. “This is just small change. Compared to my life, ten thousand, one million, ten million, it’s nothing. Even if it’s just a dream, let me use this small amount of money to thank you for helping me escape that nightmare.” He raised the corner of his lips and showed a mature and confident smile. “No one will make an enemy out of money… don’t you agree, Lian Cheng?”
This time, Lian Xi accepted Xu Lang’s contract.
He took a closer look at it and his housemate also helped him look over it. The two people reached a consensus-
Xu Lang had really come to give them money!
Money is falling from the sky, if you don’t pick it up then you’re an idiot!
Sign it!
Lian Xi signed the contract. There were two copies and each person took away one.
As he was about to leave, Xu Lang smiled. “That’s right, after I was discharged from the hospital I went to the mall next door and bought a gift. By coincidence, I bought two. In my dream, it seemed Mr Lian didn’t live alone.”
Lian Xi looked at the Apple mobile bag that Xu Lang handed over but didn’t reach out to take it.
Xu Lang: “It’s nothing. In the future you’re one of our Guild’s contracted live streamers. This can be considered a work phone. Take it. Otherwise, I’m going to throw it away.”
Seeing that Lian Xi really didn’t mean to reach for it, Xu Lang smiled and put the two apple phones in front of the door of the house and directly went to the elevator and then went downstairs.
After he left, Su Jiao excitedly brought the mobile phones back in.
“****! This time saving someone was really profitable!”
Lian Xi didn’t say anything and followed Su Jiao to open the mobile phones that Xu Lang gifted them.
Oh, it was the latest Apple model.
This guy was really goddamn rich.
Since Wanderer insisted on giving it to them, then Lian Xi wouldn’t reject it.
No point in being a hypocrite!
The two people unwrapped the latest Apple mobile phone and started using it. Lian Xi was still installing the system when the doorbell rang. This time it really was the takeaway brother.
Lian Xi: “Are you eating barbeque meat with rice, or tomato and egg with rice?”
Su Jiao was entirely focused on his new phone: “Barbeque meat!”
Lian Xi: “Oh.”
The two people played with the phone and started eating at the same time. But halfway through….
On his bare spoon, half of a caterpillar’s body was still struggling and wriggling. It cocked his head and looked at Lian Xi and seemed to say, “Hello!”
Lian Xi: “…..”
Su Jiao: “Hey, Lian Xi why did you stop? Not eating anymore?”
“Pei!!!!!” {Spitting sound}
***
Su Jiao: “****! Are they still human?! This store has a lot of good reviews too but there’s actually bugs in their food! Sue! Sue for emotional distress too!”
Lian Xi: “…. it’s fine.”
Su Jiao: “Ha? Just leave it like this?”
Lian Xi’s face was completely helpless however he didn’t say anything.
…. You don’t understand a thing!
Lian Xi: “I’m going to go take a shower.”
Five minutes later.
Lian Xi: “Su Jiao! Su Jiao! Where’s the water! How come there’s no more water!”
Su Jiao: “Eh, Lian Xi. Just now the property manager texted and said that a neighbouring road’s pipe burst. They’re trying to fix it ASAP.”
Lian Xi: “…….”
After wiping clean all the shampoo foam off his head, Lian Xi lay down on the bed and decided to turn into a dead fish.
Right now I’m not going to do a thing, I’m just going to lie here. Like this, you should be happy right!
Half an hour later.
Lian Xi expressionlessly walked out of his bedroom. “My room’s air conditioning stopped working.”
Su Jiao, who was in the middle of organizing his things and preparing to go to class: “Eh, I think electricity has stopped. They’re trying to fix it.”
Lian Xi: “……”
Can’t you goddamn leave a path for people to live!!!
Su Jiao considered for a couple of moments then carefully asked, “Um, Lian Xi…. Have you realized that today… your luck is especially bad?”
Lian Xi said expressionlessly: “No.”
Su Jiao: “It is!”
The short housemate’s eyeballs rotated and he smiled. He held out his right hand. “Want to play scissors paper rock?”
Lian Xi: “……”
Can you please be human!
***
For the next consecutive days, Lian Xi lived an extremely misfortunate existence.
If he brushed his teeth, the water would stop.
If he played games, it would suddenly 460! {When your internet is so laggy you have to stop playing.}
This was all still okay, the worst was…
For three days in a row, that is 41 rounds, he had met an opponent who would suddenly drop offline.
Perhaps because Xu Lang had signed Lian Xi and had given him a few good promotions, or just simply because he was so misfortunate that he was due a few lucky turns, however right now Lian Xi’s broadcast had actually increased in popularity. The number of people watching had reached over a 100.
[I heard this host has for three consecutive days, that is 41 rounds, met an opponent that dropped offline. I came to look!]
[It’s true! I will use ten pounds of fat to beg the host to bless that my love rival will fail all his exams!] {I think ten pounds of fat is a gift in-game.}
[Hahahaha! This is the 42nd round. I bet this time it will also be a wild dog that will drop offline!]
[I’m really suspicious that this host is directing this and bought a bunch of actors to make himself look pitiful.]
Lian Xi: “……”
How can he live!
Finally in the 43rd round, he found an opponent who was not playing around.
Lian Xi nearly sobbed with joy and took out his playing list. {Um, perhaps someone familiar with online gaming rules (or has read a lot of gaming novels) can let me know if I’ve translated this part correctly (probably not). In any, the point is he’s very unlucky orz.}
Success or failure depended on this move!
Seeing that Lian Xi didn’t again run into a dog that was just going to hang up, the fans in the live broadcast thought it was boring and began to talk about other things.
[I heard Cat Fur Sauce didn’t commit suicide because of online bullying. Before she committed suicide she sent Hydrogen a lot of WeChat messages, hoping Hydrogen would come to save her. However Hydrogen spent the whole day playing games and didn’t care about her at all!]
[I saw the trending hashtags. It’s terrible, I didn’t expect Hydrogen to be such a person!]
Lian Xi kept one eye on the game and one eye on the chat screen.
Just slightly, he got distracted.
[You defeat!]
What the hell?!
I just died once, and you bunch immediately disappeared?!
You guys are even worse than people who hang up!!!
***
A particular apartment neighborhood in NanJing.
A young man with dyed blonde hair was so panicked his entire head was full of sweat. He had already bought a bus ticket to Su City. He couldn’t wait any longer. He had to see Xu Lang. Had to ask him what the heck was going on!
Wasn’t everything already over?
Everything was a misunderstanding. He hadn’t strangled Xu Lang!
The police officers had released him and it was even Xu Lang who had gone to the police station personally to get him out. How come after he got back to NanJing, things turned out like this?
After calling the phone dozens of times, it finally connected.
Hydrogen was so panicked his eyes went red: “Brother Lang! What’s going on? Why did you suddenly do this? Isn’t everything already over? Why, why? Why are you doing this to me?”
On the phone, Xu Lang smiled slightly. He slowly asked, “What’s happened?”
Hydrogen was surprised. “Didn’t you do it? Brother Lang, there’s suddenly been explosive news on the internet. It’s saying that Cat Fur Sauce committed suicide because of me. I only showed you the weixin she sent me before she died, how come now it’s all over the internet?”
“Oh. That ah, it was sent out by me.”
“Brother Lang!”
“Hydrogen, a few days ago, I had a dream.”
“What?”
“I dreamt that Cat Fur Sauce came to find me. She blamed me and said it was my fault, that I broke you guys up and wouldn’t let you keep dating. She wanted to kill me. And she wanted to be with you forever. Do you think I did wrong? Otherwise why would she come looking for me? Isn’t the person she should look for, you….?”
Holding his phone, the blonde haired man felt chills run down his back. He said hoarsely, “Brother Lang, what are you saying….”
Xu Lang sighed for a long time. “But then again, no one will make money an enemy.”
“Brother Lang?”
“Haha, earn money well, my money tree.”
***
The next day, Lian Xi logged online at the usual time. The live broadcast room was busy and noisy, there were about 50 living people around. Who knew that 9.30 suddenly someone cried out.
[****! There’s been a turn around! Quickly take a look!]
In an instant, everybody disappeared.
After logging off, Lian Xi opened Weibo and saw Hydrogen had posted a long blog post. There were even more Weixin chat logs between him and Cat Fur Sauce.
It involved a hysterical girl. The kind of girl who, if you asked to break up, would threaten suicide. Would threaten to die together with you, and even kill your entire family.
There was also a pair of parents without morals who after taking a black-hearted company’s money would claim that their daughter died of online bullying.
Then there was the pitiful live streaming host. The host who, after his ex-girlfriend died, would carefully and attentively take care of her family members and arrange her funeral.
For his entire life, Hydrogen and Cat Fur Sauce would forever be intertwined.
In Hydrogen’s blog post he expressed that no matter what the truth was, Cat Fur Sauce had already left the world.
For his entire life he planned to take care of Cat Fur Sauce’s parents. He would treat Cat Fur Sauce’s parents as though they were his own.
Everything was his fault!
This time, not only did most of the fans stand on his side. Even bystanders who got wind of this matter felt pity for this young host who would be burdened by this matter for the rest of his life.
Wanderer, as the representative for the Gem Guild, was cursed at until he was bloody, however…
Hydrogen became even more famous!
{T/N: I think basically in the end Xu Lang didn’t put Cat Fur Sauce’s interests first (although she’s hardly totally innocent) but decided to stand on Hydrogen’s side in the interests of promoting him to earn money, despite going through what he did with her ghost. Overall everything is in the interest of making Hydrogen look good so he can continue being a ‘money tree’. I think the author is saying nobody is innocent in this situation, including Wanderer, Hydrogen and Cat Fur Sauce are pretty much all as bad as each other.}
Su Jiao walked out of the bathroom and looked at Lian Xi. “Ai, are you still live broadcasting? Just now I saw some news about your DouYa platform’s livestreamer. That guy is too pitiful! Being dragged down by that kind of woman. She’s already dead but he still has to take care of her parents for his entire life, so unlucky. This Hydrogen is a pretty cool guy. Later on I’ll go follow him.”
Lian Xi: “Don’t you think the name Cat Fur Sauce sounds a bit familiar?”
Su Jiao froze, then realized: “****? That female ghost?!”
Lian Xi smiled faintly.
In the end, Xu Lang could not let go of this mantou filled with blood. {That is, the opportunity to earn money from someone’s misfortunes.}
He ate so much his entire mouth was full of blood.
The fresh blood dripped down his mouth.
That’s right. In this world, who would make money their enemy?
***
“Su Jiao!!”
“Ah? Did the water stop again? Hehe, Lian Xi you’re so lucky!”
Lian Xi: “……”
This type of living could not be borne any longer!
After getting out of the bathroom, Lian Xi put on his pajamas and said expressionlessly. “Later on, accompany me to go out for something.”
Su Jiao glanced at the clock on the wall which showed it was close to 1AM. “What did you say?”
“There’s more ghosts around at midnight.”
“What?”
Lian Xi: “I’m going out to do good deeds, get it?”
Su Jiao: “……”
Lian Xi thought for a moment: “Don’t you think being a person means that you need to be kinder?”
Su Jiao: “…..”
Are you sick ah!!!
***
Su Jiao really didn’t understand why he had come out in the middle of the night to accompany Lian Xi to roam the streets.
It was the middle of the night, at a crossroads.
Lian Xi: “Old grandma, do you need help crossing the road?”
Old grandma: “No! I’m waiting for my dear grandson!”
Lian Xi: “It’s the middle of the night. Your grandson is asleep. Let me help you across.”
Old grandma: “No, my dear grandson is coming.”
Lian Xi: “Just let me help you okay?”
Old grandma: “No!”
“Please.”
“Just no!”
“Please.”
“No!”
Lian Xi: “…..”
Lian Xi: “Let’s go!”
The old grandma started yelling: “Help! Which ghost is going to help me ah! A person is bullying a ghost ah!”
Su Jiao who was standing to one side, watching: “…..”
He tugged Lian Xi’s arm. “What are you doing? Why do you have to help this old woman cross the road?”
Lian Xi paused, then pointed on top of the old woman’s head: “Can’t you see this?”
Su Jiao hugged his arm and stared for a while: “What am I looking at?”
Lian Xi turned around and looked at the faint golden light that was hovering above the old woman’s head. He looked at Su Jiao and said nonchalantly, “It’s nothing. I just think that it’s good to learn from Lei Feng and do good deeds such as helping this old grandma cross the road.” {Lei Feng is a Communist youth hero who is famous for his good deeds.}
Su Jiao looked at his old woman who was wailing so loudly the tears rolled down her cheeks. He grumbled, “Are you sure this is called a good deed?”
Lian Xi glared at him.
What do you know?
Ever since he was young, Lian Xi had seen countless ghosts.
In the beginning he would often help ghosts fulfill their cherished wishes. He wouldn’t reject anybody who asked him for help. Because the majority of ghosts were not malicious. They only remained in the world because they had unfulfilled wishes. Once he helped them fulfill their wish, then they could go to reincarnate.
However slowly, Lian Xi discovered that everytime after he helped a ghost, there would appear either a gold light or a red light on the ghost’s body.
A gold light meant that heavens would smile upon you for your meritorious deeds.
A red light meant a terrible curse would entangle you!
The previous time when he had helped Chen JianJun’s ghost and helped him find the murderer of the fan factory case, he earned a lot of merit and got the demolition compensation money. But this time when he killed Cat Fur Sauce’s ghost, he was immediately entangled by a red light. In the last three consecutive days, there had been bugs every single day in his take away food. Who could continue living like this ah!
But the thing was, when you helped a ghost, just because you did something right didn’t mean it would definitely be a golden light. And if you did something wrong, it didn’t mean it would definitely be red.
It was extremely unexplainable!
And the thing was with the vast majority of ghosts, he would not be able to tell if it would be a gold light or a red light that awaited him after helping the ghost out.
However….
Looking at it now, Su Jiao completely didn’t have this problem. He wasn’t affected by the red light’s influence and he also could see it either.
Lian Xi looked at this old grandma who had died for who knows how long. He stared at the very faint and weak gold light on top of her head. Clenching his teeth he said, “Today you have to cross the street even if you don’t want to! I’m going to help you across!’
Old woman: “……”
I might not be a real person, but you’re definitely a real dog!
Don’t even think about it, Lian Xi definitely could not let go of this old woman’s ghost.
He and Su Jiao had wandered the Yuan district of Su City for ages and only found this one ghost. And she even already displayed a gold light.
How could he let her go?
Lian Xi used his hands to hold the old woman’s arm. “Come with me!”
The old woman wept like pear blossoms in the rain. “Wuwuwu, save this ghost la, save this ghost la. Hey, this good looking brother, save me ah! He’s forcing a ghost against her will ah!”
Su Jiao laughed. “You’re this and still know what a good looking brother is? Where am I good looking, where where?”
Lian Xi was intent on helping this ghost cross the road. He didn’t raise his head. “Just obey me ba!”
The old woman ghost: “Save me ah, good looking brother!”
Lian Xi’s eyebrows were knitted. He was just about to open his mouth when suddenly there was a flash of gold light that crossed his vision.
His whole body shook. Slowly he raised his head.
3AM in the morning, Su City’s Yuan District, Times Square.
The cool night wind was blowing through the empty crossroad. A beautiful and delicate young man slowly opened his mouth and looked at the thing which had appeared….
A gold light.
In his entire life, Lian Xi would never forget the vision which appeared before his eyes.
There was an old woman who was wailing hysterically beside him.
In front of him, a golden light was walking silently and wordlessly.
It was brilliant and gorgeous and completely took one’s breath away.
At this moment his heart became peaceful and serene. From his ear he heard whistling of the wind and with it the sound of his steady heart beat: pu-dong, pu-dong.
Right now the heat that he was feeling…
It wasn’t because of the wind moving.
It was because of his heart moving.
The old woman: “Help me ah, good looking brother!”
Lian Xi let go of the clutch hold he had on the old woman. The old woman immediately fell over onto the ground.
Old woman ghost: “???”
Su Jiao: “Lian Xi???”
Looking at the blinding and brilliant light before his eyes, the eyes of the delicate youth became hot and his breathing accelerated. He breathed slowly, trying to calm himself down, then gave a warm and friendly smile. His eyes curved into beautiful crescent moons. “Hey….”
“Can I ask, do you need help crossing the road?”
***
