A new place, a large sum of money, and a continuous influx of merit points.
Ke Xue was feeling on top of the world, his mood still bright as he went live on the third night.
Fans who entered the stream noticed immediately:
[Host looks different today, seems especially happy.]
[Darn host, you had a happy two-day break, huh? Do you know what it felt like for us looking at your grayed-out account these past two days?]
[Not two days, plus today makes three days! Three whole days! By the 'a day feels like a year' calculation, we haven't seen each other for three years!]
[I suggest locking the host up for daily streams. One divination session = one meal. Three sessions a day for three meals. Implement immediately!]
Ke Xue pondered, then thoughtfully said, "That's easy. I'll enable the stream replay function. You can watch replays when there's no live stream."
[In the future? You're thinking of not streaming in the future?? I declare you the most cold-hearted streamer I've ever seen! Bar none!!]
[You fake fans. Only a real fan like me cares why the host is in a better mood. Since you're in such a good mood, doing a few extra divinations today shouldn't be a problem, right?]
Remembering yesterday's events, Ke Xue happily shared the good news with everyone.
Though he wasn't sure if it was wishful thinking or dreaming, he could still faintly sense that yin energy.
The chat exploded: [As everyone knows, the start of a romance is when one party becomes interested in the other. So... is the host about to fall in love?]
[The host is falling into love's river? NOOO!!!]
[There's only one scenario where I'd accept the host being in a relationship...]
[No! I forbid it! Under any circumstances! I suggest immediately eliminating anyone having such ridiculous thoughts about the host!]
[If the other person is also a fan from the stream, and is a cold, aloof goddess/god, who treats the host like their lapdog, ignoring them unless they stream daily... then I think I'd be willing!]
[Upstairs, you're so cruel, I love it!!!]
[A lurker in the stream speaking for the first time. I want to ask: are the people suggesting and agreeing to this really the host's fans? Fans willing to let their idol be a lapdog???]
[Cough cough First, we are indeed the host's fans. But precisely because of that, we can't stand by and watch him abandon his career for love. Yes, that's it!]
Seeing the chat, Ke Xue was shocked. "The host is a human, not a dog! Don't talk nonsense in chat!!"
"Besides, if you saw this person, you'd really like them too. Someone with that kind of constitution is like an ice block, radiating cold air all over. Very electricity-saving in summer!" Ke Xue's eyes sparkled as he spoke.
Most importantly, yin energy is a type of spiritual energy, especially pure yin energy like that—it's basically a living, breathing spiritual energy power bank.
Ke Xue felt if he could get that person, he could draw at least a hundred Calming Talismans a day, maybe even a dozen or so Peace Talismans.
[So the 'like' the host mentioned is the same 'like' I had for the ghost grandma's personal air conditioning?]
[Though it sounds incredible, reality is probably just that.]
[...Break it up. I think the host is destined to be single forever.]
[How to put it... I was worried at first, but after hearing the host's words, I feel we were overthinking it. Indeed, you can't use normal people logic to guess what metaphysics practitioners are thinking.]
Ke Xue continued enthusiastically, "Of course, I still don't recommend you get close to him. That kind of person is too dangerous for you."
"He's cold all over because his body radiates yin energy from the inside out. That yin energy is a great supplement for me, but very dangerous for you."
[Understood. Personal AC + Power Bank.]
[So you covet their body (just kidding)!]
[Host, you overthink. Since learning ghosts exist, when I see someone with a lower body temp than normal, my first thought is: Is this person a ghost? Possessed by a ghost??]
[Upstairs, too real. Exactly like me!]
[Good news, everyone! During the days the stream was down, I burned paper money for my ancestors every day. That night, my ancestors sent a dream telling me there were gold bars hidden under a tree at my old homestead from when our ancestors fled. Now I'm looking at houses, planning to pay in full. I love you, Master! I love you, ancestors!]
[Me too! My luck was always terrible, a non-European since childhood. A few days ago, I went home and fixed up the ancestral grave. Been lucky since—got into my dream company by the skin of my teeth, got a kind, beautiful boss and colleagues, and won 500 bucks passing a lottery shop on the way home from work. I declare I have successfully shed my non-European status!!!]
Seeing many people's fortunes change, Ke Xue was pleased.
Though their sudden improvements were tied to their own efforts, sometimes luck is a big part of life too.
Ke Xue: "Chat time over. Sending out today's first lucky bag."
Fans' hands were already itching, constantly urging the host to hurry up.
Ke Xue moved his finger slightly, sending out the bag.
The first divination went to a netizen named "Xiao En."
After sending a "Moon Waterfall" gift, Xiao En posted triumphantly in chat: [Hahaha got it! Must be because I burned paper money for Grandma yesterday. I love you, Grandma! I love you, Host!]
Those who didn't get it wailed: [I burned some too, why didn't I get it? Didn't grease the right wheels down below?!]
Just as everyone expected to see a young woman, the screen showed a clean-cut young man in his twenties.
Unlike his嚣张 tone in chat, Xiao En looked troubled after connecting. "Host, what does it mean to keep dreaming about my dead grandma talking to me?"
"It's been happening for a few days. After the last time someone with a similar situation got picked and you said it was improper offerings, I hurried to make offerings to Grandma. But that night, I still dreamed she was talking to me."
Xiao En frowned slightly. "She keeps repeating a few words: Run. Run fast. If you don't run, it'll be too late!"
"The problem is, I don't know where to run."
[Grandma wants you to run abroad. Working in China is too hard, wuwuwu.]
[Grandma wants you to run an 800-meter in your dream, to shine in the next physical test!]
[You heard wrong. Grandma actually said: Firecracker! Quick, firecracker! If you don't set off firecrackers, it'll be too late! She heard there's no New Year's Eve holiday this year and cities ban fireworks, so she wants you to burn some for her to play with down below.]
Ke Xue studied Xiao En for a moment, frowning slightly. "If an elder sends a dream, there must be a reason. Is there something else important you haven't mentioned?"
Xiao En was startled. "As expected of a master. You noticed."
[What do you mean? We're all so close here. Is there something we can't hear?]
[You fake fan! I'm kicking you out of the fan group!]
[Upstairs, wake up! The host hasn't made a fan group yet!]
[Oh, I already privately made one for the host.]
The chat was speechless.
[Wait, shouldn't you be asking me for the fan group number, then hugging my leg begging me to let you in?]
[Hah, I anticipated this. So I just made my own fan group. Fellow 'Xue-zi,' hurry into my group!!!]
[Did I miss something again? What's 'Xue-zi'? Students from which school?]
[Silly, can't you tell? 'Xue-zi' means fans of Master Ke! First, the host's name has 'Xue' (study). Second, the host is so amazing it makes me kneel and call him Dad. The host is Dad, we're the kids. Calling ourselves 'Xue-zi' (study-child/student) is perfectly reasonable, plus it highlights we're young and cultured. Kills multiple birds with one stone.]
Ke Xue felt a bit embarrassed. It was just his first time ordering delivery, worried the delivery guy couldn't find him. Who knew his real name would be discovered by fans like that?
Xiao En quickly waved his hands. "I'm also the host's fan. I didn't mention it because I thought it was unrelated."
"But since the host asked, I'll say it. Besides dreaming of Grandma, I also dreamed of another person—"
"A strange girl. Quite pretty too. Most importantly, she keeps proposing to me." Xiao En sounded a bit shy toward the end.
[Hahahaha, single for so long you dream of this stuff.]
[Grandma: I object to this marriage!]
[Got it. Grandma knows marriage is the grave of love. She doesn't want you walking into a grave, so she's telling you to run!]
Ke Xue did a quick calculation. "You've been entered into a ghost marriage. The other party is the girl in your dream."
"Your grandma discovered this and sent the dream to warn you."
Xiao En: "!"
[Isn't ghost marriage between dead people? Between a dead person and a living one is too unethical!]
[And usually, only family would do something like this; otherwise, how would they get Xiao En's eight characters?]
"Impossible. No one but me knows my eight characters."
Xiao En explained, "My parents died when I was very young. I was raised by my grandma, who also passed away during my university years."
"Also, when my village registered my household registration as a kid, they used the lunar calendar by habit. So my ID card birthdate is different from my real one."
"The ghost bride's intended isn't you." Ke Xue continued, "But because you're沾染了 that person's aura, the female ghost misunderstood."
"That person is very close to you. The place you're living in is his."
Xiao En's face changed dramatically. "No way? He's my best friend!"
[Oho, so it's陷害 between best friends. Seems these days it's not just dating that's unsafe; making friends isn't safe either.]
[How could she mistake you? It can't be just because Xiao En wore his friend's clothes, right? If so, it'd be way too easy to get the wrong person.]
Looking at the chat, Xiao En's face grew increasingly grim. "Almost everything I'm using and wearing now belongs to my friend."
"Just graduated this year, money was tight. I was sharing a place in the suburbs with strangers. Recently, my friend told me he broke up with his girlfriend, and the room was free, so he asked me to move in with him."
"Because we're close, he only charged me 800象征性. Same rent, moving from suburbs to downtown, and with a good friend—I didn't hesitate much and moved in."
[Tsk tsk tsk,贪便宜 leads to big trouble!]
[What kind of friend is this,专门算计 his own people?]
"The suite is 2500, I only pay 800. I got a great deal on rent, so I handle all the chores."
"He said he felt bad about me doing all the housework, so he often gives me his old clothes he doesn't wear anymore. Even things like toothpaste, shower gel—he buys them."
"He recently said he's going traveling, so I'm alone in the apartment. Thinking about it carefully, the dreams about that girl started after he left."
As he spoke, Xiao En's face visibly paled.
[The room is his, bedsheets are his, clothes are his, even the smell on you is his—no wonder the female ghost was mistaken.]
[And two people living together sharing a bathroom, getting hair would be easy too.]
"Do you know he had a girlfriend before?" Ke Xue suddenly asked.
Xiao En nodded. "I heard they broke up about half a month ago."
[Could it be the ex-girlfriend, heartbroken and vengeful, arranged a ghost marriage for Xiao En's roommate?]
[The hearts of women are the most poisonous indeed, as the ancients said!]
[Upstairs, what do you mean? Making the roommate play the innocent party here? Clearly, this roommate had ill intentions, knowing a ghost was after him,故意引诱 Xiao En over as a substitute!]
[Well, there's a reason, right? If not for the ex arranging the ghost marriage, who would do such a thing!]