Chapter 122
Chapter 122
He still had an hour and a half before turning into a zombie, but the nail was about to be hammered in right now!
Unable to move or speak, Qiao Yu threw caution to the wind and activated his second S-rank title.
[Live Assistant 9999999: Title “Jade-faced Rakshasa” equipped. A streamer wearing this title will mutate into a Night Rakshasa and gain the skills Ice Skin and Jade Bones and Overwhelming Decay. (Overwhelming Decay lasts only three minutes. Ice Skin and Jade Bones is a side effect.)
Note: Be careful! An increase in Charm may bring you a little trouble. But don’t worry. In your own words, “It’s no big deal.”]
For a system, weren’t you getting a little too cheeky?
[Live Assistant 9999999: Can’t help it. A system takes after its master.]
Qiao Yu: “…”
The title finished equipping an instant before the nail struck. Heat surged through Qiao Yu’s body. The sharp iron nail touching him rusted at a breath of wind and swiftly crumbled into dust.
It was as though time had been accelerated, draining every last bit of vitality from it.
Overwhelming Decay, indeed.
[Ding-congratulations to the streamer for delivering a flawless performance in Act One. The script for the next act is now being issued.]
Qiao Yu tapped Accept.
The next second, a gentle white light appeared before his eyes. A huge mirror stood ahead, clearly reflecting… him?
Qiao Yu’s eyes widened. He planted both hands on the vanity and leaned closer, staring at the face that was familiar yet strange in the glass.
It was still his face, of course. The overall impression had simply changed.
His skin was no longer pale as paper. It had become a healthy, cool ivory that looked vivid and alive, yet carried an inexplicable allure, as if someone had applied a beauty filter to a photograph.
His tacky yellow hair was gone too. Long black hair cascaded to his waist like a waterfall. His inner robe was white, covered by a layer of sheer scarlet gauze, while a red silk sash crossed over his waist and tied at the front. A red jade hairpin crowned his head, glowing faintly beneath the fluorescent lights.
Current Charm: 30%
-A gentleman like jade, unmatched in all the world. Drool~
-Such an elegant young lord, so bright and pure. Drool~
-Graceful as an orchid and a jade tree, radiant as the moon in one’s arms. Drool~
-…So pretty. Drool drool drool!
-Confirmed: the commenter above has the education of a turnip. Let me add one-the streamer is so gorgeous, aaaaaah…
Qiao Yu tugged at both cheeks and sighed in fascination. “I knew I had the bearing of a rich young heir. Maybe I’m really the long-lost son of the world’s wealthiest family. Looks like it’s time to prepare a blood test for kinship.”
-Streamer, why did you have to come with a mouth?!
-My heart is racing, my hands are shaking, and my horny face makes me look like a groundhog.
-@Lewd Ghost, @Water Ghost, @Qi-Eating Ghost, @Wronged Ghost, @Hanged Ghost, @Vengeful Spirit, @Kuiba, @Unjustly Dead Ghost, @Naughty Ghost… come look at this face blessed by heaven!!!
-Li Xiaoqin: Are you tagging your entire family tree up there? That list…
-Sadako: Aaaaaah, I have to work myself to the bone so my darling can live a better life!
-Tch. I was already annoyed that I’m a man who can’t get a period. Now I’m even more annoyed that I can’t sleep with the streamer!!!
-Forget that second one unless you want to get chopped up. As for periods… trust me, you’d be even more annoyed if you had them!
-Sob sob sob. The streamer looks even more starved for a man than I am.
-Painted Skin: Shut up. He is not starved for a man. (eye-roll.jpg)
-Hahahahaha! Look at those three. Together they could form an entire reinforced battalion of haters. I’m dying.
Qiao Yu had no idea yet what consequences the Night Rakshasa’s beautifying effect would bring. Carefree as ever, he continued admiring the enormous dressing room.
A brightly lit mirror stood in front of him. Behind him were two long racks of flowing period costumes…
Suddenly, a figure appeared in the dressing-room doorway.
The sudden knock snapped Qiao Yu back to his senses. He turned toward the sound.
A handsome man stood outside carrying a makeup case, his smile warm and professional. “Hello, Mr. Lou Yu. I’m your makeup artist. You can call me Xiao Zhao. Filming for the next scene starts in fifteen minutes. Would now be a convenient time for a touch-up?”
Who was Lou Yu?
Only then did Qiao Yu remember that he had not read the script. He nodded and opened the control panel for the Live Stream Room.
With permission granted, Xiao Zhao walked in and pulled out the chair in front of the vanity.
Once Qiao Yu sat down, he efficiently began taking out primer and other cosmetics.
Qiao Yu let the man work while his gaze moved over the lines of simple black text on the blue screen.
(Act One: The Ghost Marriage-complete.)
(Act Two: The Wedding Night, A Love Between Human and Ghost-incomplete.)
Plot: You are Lou Yu, Prince of Lanling and seventh paternal cousin of the reigning emperor.
In life, you pined for Tao Zhuyue for many years. Despite your exalted rank, you could never make her yours. After death, your obsessive love transformed you into a malicious ghost who plunged the imperial city into nightly unrest. Your cousin, the reigning emperor, issued an imperial decree granting you this marriage and fulfilling your wish.
On your wedding night, the beauty of your new bride beneath the candlelight only deepens your obsession. Overcome by lust, you use your power as a malicious ghost to drag her into an evening of carnal bliss…
Overcome by lust!
Carnal bliss!!
Bliss… bliss…
Whoa!
What kind of trashy plot was this?
Were they sure a movie like this could even get past the censors?!
While Qiao Yu’s full attention was occupied by his disbelief at the plot, Xiao Zhao’s eyebrow pencil began moving more and more slowly. His icy fingers cradled Qiao Yu’s chin, and his previously dull eyes gradually turned hazy.
“Mr. Lou Yu, your skin is so lovely…”
Current Charm: 35%
As he spoke, Qiao Yu sensed something was wrong. The two fingers beneath his chin moved slowly, the gesture taking on a faint but unmistakable intimacy.
Qiao Yu frowned, pulled the hand away, and glanced at Xiao Zhao.
The man’s eyes were empty, fixed unblinkingly on his face. Eerie red veins slowly spread through them, as though some force had seized his mind and left him bewitched.
Qiao Yu followed the direction of the lights and lowered his gaze. The floor was spotless, without even the faintest shadow.
That settled it. Xiao Zhao might look like a normal person, but he cast no shadow. He was a ghost.
Within seconds, Xiao Zhao seemed utterly captivated by him. In a daze, he reached out again. An ugly, blood-red scar ran along the inside of his raised wrist, like the mark left by a suicide attempt.
“Mr. Lou Yu, may I touch your face?”
Qiao Yu narrowed his eyes and leaned back to avoid the approaching icy hand. Then he stuffed something into the man’s palm.
“Why don’t you finish my eyebrows first?”
Xiao Zhao looked down at the Painted-Skin Ghost’s Eyebrow Pencil in his hand and shuddered. “…Of course, Mr. Lou Yu.”
At last, the rest of the makeup application proceeded without incident. As Xiao Zhao reluctantly departed, Qiao Yu kept a straight face and slammed the door shut behind him.
Only then did he begin to take the effects of the Jade-faced Rakshasa title seriously.
And that steadily rising Charm…
This was bad. A very big deal!
The thought sent him to his feet. He yanked open the drawers and began rummaging through them, tossing aside hair ornaments while muttering, “Where’s the Review Card?”
He soon turned the entire dressing room upside down. After his fruitless search, he slumped onto the single armchair by the wall, his whole body sinking into the soft cushions as though his parents had just died.
That infuriating Review Card always appeared uninvited when he was not looking for it. Why was it hiding now that he actually needed it?
It was doing this on purpose, wasn’t it?!