"So cruel?" My fingertips lightly brushed across Xiaofeng's back. She tensed instinctively, trying to flinch away.
"That lady cop said the needles had been in there so long they'd rusted into the flesh. It's hard to get them out."
I didn't even want to imagine the kind of pain Xiaofeng had been through. But sympathy was one thing—marrying her was a whole different matter.
A woman with such a strange past, someone I'd only met once before… how could I possibly take her into my home with peace of mind?
Not to mention, there was probably a ghost inside her—one that could go berserk at any moment.
"You've suffered a lot." I helped adjust her clothes. "About the whole marrying-me thing… I really think you should reconsider. Marry a chicken, live like a chicken; marry a dog, live like a dog. Marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime decision. Think carefully."
Xiaofeng had that kind of beauty that grows on you—delicate and soft, the very picture of a southern girl. Anyone who didn't know her past would have a hard time resisting that charm.
I hadn't answered her directly, but the message was clear enough.
"The Anxin Motel was a lifelong nightmare for me. There's no way I can go back. I never went to school, I'm no good at talking to people… besides you, I don't even have a single friend." Her eyes dimmed.
Honestly, right then I wanted to say something cruel: "Sorry. I never saw you as a friend. That night, I was just using you to get information."
But I couldn't bring myself to say it.
She'd suffered enough. I couldn't make it worse.
"Think it over carefully. You're still young. You've got a long life ahead of you." I slid my chair back and sat across from her.
Her face turned a pale, sickly grey. Her eyelids twitched nonstop, her hands clutched the cuffs, her bound ankles curled inward, heels digging into the floor like she was trying to stand.
Looking at her like this, I let out a deep sigh. If no one helped her, she'd probably end up in a psych ward eventually.
Her expression twisted further, fingers drumming against the table, the light overhead only making her more terrifying.
Beep-beep.
The drawer's intercom came to life. Tie Ningxiang's voice: "Gao Jian! Get out of there—now!"
I stood, snuffed out my cigarette, glanced at Xiaofeng's pained expression—and hesitated. I felt guilty.
"Gao Jian! Move! The suspect might lose control again!"
I stayed put and casually turned off the intercom.
Ever since I became a streamer on The Netherworld Live Show, I'd been dealing with things no normal person could even begin to comprehend. The fear, the dread—you only understand it after living it.
Acting on impulse, I walked over to Xiaofeng, gently cupped the back of her head, and held her in my arms.
"I know how lonely you are. I understand what you're afraid of. Look—if you really have nowhere else to go, I could use a shop assistant. I've got a store, and I need help. If you're okay with it, I can offer food, board, and a thousand a month. What do you think?"
She didn't say a word, just stayed there in my arms. Then, slowly, I felt warmth—she had started to cry.
Tears welled up in her eyes, trailing down her cheeks like a pear blossom in the rain.
Five minutes later, Tie Ningxiang and Officer Xiao Wang came in to resume a formal interrogation.
"You sly dog." Tie Ningxiang grinned at me on the way out of the station. "You really know how to tame a woman—three moves and she's obedient as a kitten. Come on, let's get dinner at our canteen. It's on me."
"And you seriously think she's going to work in my shop?" I asked.
"What, you were bluffing?"
"Even if we're cramped, I'll make it work. I already promised—I can't go back on that."
"Bro, I owe you for this. I know things got out of hand, and I feel kinda bad…"
Whether she felt bad or not, I couldn't say.
What I do know is, early the next morning, two police cars pulled up in front of my adult store.
BANG BANG BANG!
"Gao Jian! Open up! We're here to deliver someone!"
Deliver? I was still half-asleep. I threw on some clothes and ran to the door.
There was Tie Ningxiang, smiling brightly in full uniform. "Morning, Gao Jian!"
"What the hell is this?"
"We agreed yesterday, didn't we? I told you I'd bring her over safe and sound. And don't you dare bully her!" The officers stood on either side in formation, like they were escorting royalty. Behind them, Xiaofeng stepped forward, now wearing a brand-new black dress.
"Couldn't you at least call first?"
"We wanted to surprise you." Tie Ningxiang gave Xiaofeng an encouraging nudge. "Girl, this is your new home now. If he bullies you, just tell me. The people's police don't wrong good folks—and we definitely don't let bad guys off the hook. All right, you two chat. We'll take our leave."
"Wait, hey! Tie Ningxiang—don't leave!"
"Mission complete! Team, move out!"
The police cars sped away, like they'd just dropped off a ticking time bomb.
"So much for serving the people." I sighed, waving Xiaofeng into the store.
She walked in, touching this, inspecting that, eyes wide with curiosity.
I felt awkward introducing her to the real purpose of most of the products.
"Xiaofeng, from now on, you're the shop's only employee. I'll get you a key later. Meals and lodging are all here. First floor's yours, upstairs is my office—don't go up there unless it's important."
And I swear, I only said that to keep her from finding the stack of "fashion magazines" on my bed, or the 100 gigs of "documentaries" on my PC.
Not to mention the detailed records I'd been keeping of The Netherworld Live Show.
"Okay. I'll do whatever you say." Xiaofeng nodded obediently, like she really thought she'd just married into the place.
"In that drawer, there's a product catalog and price list. Memorize it. And this—this is a stun baton. If anyone tries anything with you, just press this button—"
"Here?"
ZZZAP!
"Aaah!!"
My scream woke the whole street. A new day had officially begun.
—
Today happened to be another task release day on The Netherworld Live Show. I plugged in my phone, told Xiaofeng to watch the shop, and headed to the overpass to borrow a talisman from Liu the Blind.
But that slippery bastard must've known I'd come—he'd already packed up and vanished.
"Damn it! This is life and death and you ghost me?" I pounded on his door for fifteen minutes before giving up.
Tonight, I'd have to go in unprotected.
At 8 PM sharp, I made Xiaofeng stay in the store while I sat alone beside my phone.
The clock ticked. The phone glowed cold blue. Then, a call came in—from an unknown number.
"Who's it this time?" I raised the phone to my ear and answered.
🎵 "Drop the hanky, drop the hanky… twist off the head and leave it behind the children. Don't tell him… hurry, hurry, catch him! Hurry, hurry, catch him!" 🎵
What should've been a cheerful nursery rhyme chilled me to the bone.
When the singing stopped, I heard children giggling—cold, eerie laughter.
"Let's play a game," one of them whispered. "If you can find me before sunrise, you can leave. Otherwise… stay and play with me forever."
Click.
The call ended. A text appeared.
"The campus at night becomes something else. Count the thirteen steps beneath your feet. Listen for a baby crying in the nurse's office. Behind the last stall in the bathroom, a ghost doll is waiting. She wants to know—where did your left hand go?"
"Now answer me one last question:
Do you prefer blue… white… or red?"
Live mission: Arrive at Xinhu High School by midnight and survive until sunrise.
Optional tasks: Play seven games around the campus. One bonus point for each completed game.
Staring at the screen, I scratched my head. "You sure it's play, not perish?"
No talismans. No calling the cops.
I had to be extra careful.
Xinhu High School?
I didn't recall a school by that name in Jiangcheng. A quick search online showed it had shut down five years ago.
No official explanation. Just a slew of theories.
Some said there was a fire, and a stampede caused many deaths.
Others claimed it was shut down after too many student suicides.
And some said it was haunted—humans by day, ghosts by night.
Old photos showed a bright, upscale campus. Digging deeper, I found it was a private international school—a China-Japan joint project. All the students came from wealthy families, even out-of-town elites.
Strange, I thought. A place like that should be famous. But I've never heard of it. It's like all info about it was wiped.
The location was isolated, midway between Jiangcheng and Puhu City.
That made things harder.
At Anxin Motel, I got lucky—police arrived just in time. But out there, help would take over an hour.
No Heaven Thunder Talisman. No help line.
I was getting nervous.
"What are you thinking about? You look so serious." Xiaofeng walked out holding a steaming bowl of noodles. "I made this myself. Want to try?"
"I've got to head out tonight. You stay and watch the shop. No dinner for me—time's tight."
I checked my gear and grabbed my black case.
"You're livestreaming again? Can't I come with you?" She looked at me with those big hopeful eyes, still holding the noodles.
I shook my head. "No. Stay here. And don't go wandering around tonight."
"Th-then at least have a bite. I made it just for you."
She placed the bowl in front of me. No one had cooked for me since… since that night.
"…All right." I took a few hasty bites. Unexpectedly tasty. "Not bad at all."
"Really? Then—"
"I'm heading out. Don't worry. See you tomorrow."
I left with the case in hand, unaware of the quiet little smile curling at the corners of Xiaofeng's lips.