Chapter 75
Chapter 75
-And here I thought the streamer was obsessed with looks. Turns out he’s obsessed with that guy’s brains.
-Is this what they call sapiosexuality?
-I think the streamer still likes money more. The Qiao-Qian ship will never sink.
-Why are you telling the truth upstairs?
-Uh… untouchable flower on a lofty peak vs. human husky.
-Pfft. Perfect summary. 666~
-Li Xiaoqin: Hahahaha, can’t argue with that.
-Sadako: Sister Li, consider this a warning before you’re kicked out of the fandom.
-Li Xiaoqin: ??
Qiao Yu hurriedly looked away and, as if guilty, reached out to feel along the wall. Unexpectedly, he had only taken one step when he kicked something that looked like an envelope.
Curious, he bent down and picked it up.
[Yantai Paternity Testing Center.]
July 12, 2012
Test Result: *****
Test Subjects: Lai Xinrong, Lu Ruan.
The date was ten years ago!
The test result had been blacked out with a marker. Qiao Yu looked up again at the symbols and numerical values above it, and his head instantly began to ache.
“Here, here, here. You’re the professional. Time for you to make your entrance.” Qiao Yu immediately handed the report to Shang Yan.
Shang Yan raised an eyebrow. “Care to learn about my appearance fee?”
Qiao Yu guessed he was up to no good and cut him off first. “Deduct it from your card. You said it was mine anyway.”
Shang Yan was truly at a loss with him.
He skimmed the paternity test report and stated a result that was not particularly surprising. “Three of the values don’t match. Not biologically related.”
Hearing that, Qiao Yu nodded. “That about settles it. Let’s go.”
“Go where?” Luo Yunmeng asked instinctively.
“To catch the Instance Boss.”
Luo Yunmeng: ??
Say that again. Go do what?!
**
The streamers’ formation had been thrown into chaos by the Ghosts appearing one after another in front of the mirror. Like mad, they surged into the teaching building in search of somewhere to hide.
Having learned from his previous mistake, No. 23 did not run toward the restroom this time. He mixed into the crowd, and after everyone realized that streamers who ran upstairs would mysteriously disappear, they could not help slowing their pace.
No. 23 climbed the stairs step by step. He did not dare look back, because the moment he did, he would see those Ghosts covered from head to toe in black clots, as well as Head Teacher Liu’s savage smile beneath his charred-black skin.
Fortunately, those Ghosts also instinctively slowed down as they climbed the stairs. From time to time, there came a terribly discordant scraping sound, along with Head Teacher Liu’s shrill laughter.
Most of the streamers could not withstand the pressure and ran into classrooms on the second and third floors, pushing open any door at random to hide inside.
That also diverted some of the Ghosts behind them.
No. 23 made it all the way to the fifth floor in one breath, then quietly pushed open the door to the archives room.
The wooden cabinets in the archives room were covered in dust, but they were extremely suitable for hiding.
Ignoring the filth, he collapsed onto the floor as if all his strength had left him.
The archives room was very dark. As he breathed, the faint smell of burning crept into his nose. The odor choked him so badly he wanted to cough, but out of fear, he forced down the itch in his throat.
During that time, the sound of streamers running for their lives occasionally came from the corridor.
Suddenly, someone shoved open the door to the archives room. No. 23’s heart began pounding. He poked his head out and took a look.
He saw a streamer rush in, still badly shaken, then hurriedly hide in the gap between the cabinets in front.
Thud-
Thud-
Thud-
The strange sound drew closer and closer. No. 23 quickly covered his mouth and shrank behind a cabinet.
Thud… thud…
That thing had reached the doorway!
No. 23 was about to die of anger. Why was it that every time he played hide-and-seek, some idiot teammate would appear and lead a Ghost right to him?
Unbelievable! Absolutely freaking unbelievable!
Thud… thud… thud…
The sound kept lingering outside the door, never going far.
It was as if it were deliberately putting pressure on the people inside the room.
Knock, knock, knock, knock.
Suddenly, there came the sound of knocking outside the door.
Four knocks! A Ghost always knocked four times!
Then, a familiar voice sounded from outside. “Is anyone in there? If you don’t return to the dormitory to sleep in the middle of the night, you’ll be marked absent from bed check.”
It was Yucai University’s Dorm Superintendent!
No. 23 could not help remembering the way the Dorm Superintendent had looked at him in front of the dormitory building, and the saliva that had dribbled from the corner of his mouth.
“Not making a sound? Then I’ll come in and look for you myself.”
Creeeak-
The door opened!
Thud… thud… thud…
No. 23 swallowed and stole a glance toward the source of the sound. His pupils instantly contracted, and he clenched his teeth hard.
He was terrified he might scream from fear.
The Dorm Superintendent’s legs had been burned black and fused together, his huge head hanging downward.
Every time his skull struck the floor, it made a dull thud. The sight was an outright assault on No. 23’s nerves.
Thud… thud… thud…
“Found you!”
“Aaaah-”
A scream. The scraping sounds of struggling. Dull bangs against a cabinet… Then came the sounds of tearing and chewing, one after another.
No. 23 clamped both hands over his mouth, his entire face flushing red from holding his breath.
He seized the moment to open the Live Stream Room and glimpsed his coin balance-105 coins. Without hesitation, he tapped the Talisman Lottery Pool once.
[Talisman drawing in progress… Ding! Streamer Cherry Little Disaster has obtained one Immobilization Talisman.]
The next second, he felt the skin beneath his clothing pocket warm up. He shoved his hand into the pocket and felt a thin sheet of paper.
The paper was light and thin, its texture not particularly smooth, yet it gave him an enormous sense of security.
After who knew how long, the thudding gradually moved farther away.
The archive room fell silent once more.
Only then did he let out a breath and muster the courage to lean out.
Suddenly, a black shadow dropped from above. The Dorm Superintendent Ghost was hanging upside down from the ceiling, his charred head stopping right in front of No. 23’s face.
“There’s one more. Found you.”
No. 23 felt as if an invisible hand had seized his throat. He wanted to scream, but not a single sound would come out.
The muteness brought on by extreme terror sent his heart racing. His hands and feet went numb. Even moving a finger had become a luxury.
Immobilization Talisman!
Hurry, hurry! Why won’t my hand work?!
No. 23 was so anxious that sweat poured down his forehead, but his trembling hand just couldn’t get the talisman out of his pocket.
Just as the Dorm Superintendent Ghost reached for him, the half-closed door was pushed open. A red whip came flying straight in and wrapped around No. 23’s arm in an instant. The next second, he was dragged by that whip all the way to the doorway.
The person holding the whip was Luo Yunmeng.
This girl was way too cool!
He desperately wanted to thank her, but he had the will and not the strength. All he could do was open his mouth uselessly.
The Dorm Superintendent Ghost hung from the ceiling and turned his head to look over, his gaze cold enough to feel almost solid.
It wasn’t until a figure slowly walked in that he restrained himself slightly. The way he looked at the newcomer carried wariness and unease. After a long while, the Dorm Superintendent Ghost said, “That is my prey.”
It sounded more like a bluff than a threat.
Qiao Yu tilted his head. “Now it’s my prey.”
The Dorm Superintendent Ghost fell silent for a moment. Then he dropped down from the ceiling and left just like that, head-first.
No. 23: ??
Damn. The Dorm Superintendent Ghost just left?
At that moment, No. 23 gained a whole new understanding of just how insane Qiao Yu really was.
Maybe Qiao Yu’s method of chasing off ghosts was just too hardcore, because No. 23’s temporary muteness was cured on the spot.
“Boss, what’s your ID? Let’s add each other.”
Qiao Yu glanced sideways at him. “I’m Your Dad!”
Shang Yan’s raised hand froze in midair, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
Uh… He hadn’t managed to stop him this time. Qiao Yu’s mouth was too fast.
No. 23: ??
Why? Had he done something to offend Boss Qiao?
Why curse him right off the bat?!
So wronged~
-Hahahahaha, I can’t. Every time the streamer says his ID, I can’t help laughing.
-+1
The atmosphere turned a little awkward. No one spoke.
No. 23 pursed his lips and took the initiative to break the silence. “Boss, what did you mean by prey?”
At that, the corner of Qiao Yu’s lips curved up, his brow arching rebelliously. His eyes seemed capable of striking straight into the deepest part of a person’s heart. “Prey means…”
No. 23 widened his eyes curiously. “Means what?”
Suddenly, the innocence in Qiao Yu’s smile was slowly tainted by mischief.
“Ghost fishing.”
No. 23: o(ﾟДﾟ)っ!
What the hell?
Say that again!