Cheng Chaolin no longer belonged to the realm of humanity. The ghost's body temperature was very low, but his actions were so gentle, and all the surging desires were hidden beneath the gentle touches.
Yu Deng's ankle was held by his late husband's cold hands, which licked the soft flesh on his calf, leaving shallow marks quickly.
Ticklish and uncomfortable, Yu Deng straightened his legs, his eyelashes damp with tears, emitting soft whimpering sounds.
Cheng Chaolin looked up at Yu Deng with a pleased smile. "My wife, you're so adorable."
As he spoke, there was a tendency to continue kissing upwards.
Yu Deng suddenly remembered the strange sensation of being licked and kissed on the thigh by Cheng Xiao last time, he quickly kicked Cheng Chaolin away and made two very forceful kicks on his strong chest.
"I already said not to touch me again!"
Cheng Chaolin's fingertips brushed Yu Deng's knee, apologizing graciously, "Yes, our ghostly self-control is lacking, and it has angered my wife."
Saying this, the ghost reluctantly stopped moving further upward, but continued to caress Yu Deng's calf in his hands.
The ghost did not hide his intense and almost sickening love.
Yu Deng took a while to realize it. Isn't this the legendary admitting a mistake, but dare to do it again next time?
So, Yu Deng irritatedly stomped on his late husband several times, as if punishing the disobedient villain.
[...], System 01 was silent for a while, but finally couldn't help but remind Yu Deng, [Host, you shouldn't be too good to him.]
Yu Deng was puzzled. "What?"
He retorted, "I'm punishing him. I didn't touch him; I just kicked him very hard!"
The System: [...]
-- Touching, stomping, kicking, or hitting—there is no difference to the perverted ghost lusting after Yu Deng. Foolish host, why don't you see how the ghost reacts.. The harder you punish, the more excited he gets..
Is that punishment? That's clearly a reward.
"Why are you daydreaming, my wife? Are you thinking about someone else?" Cheng Chaolin sighed softly, redirecting Yu Deng's attention.
Yu Deng forcefully retracted his leg, hugging his knees as he sat on the sofa, ignoring Cheng Chaolin.
"My wife," Cheng Chaolin found Yu Deng's angry demeanor particularly adorable, maintaining a half-kneeling posture, pleasingly massaging Yu Deng's legs with black mist.
At that moment, there was a knock on the office door.
Yu Deng peeked in. Oh, has there been any NPC coming over for interactive plot development?
"It should be my secretary," Cheng Chaolin pondered for a few seconds, recalling the current situation, "Would my wife like him to come in?"
Yu Deng thought for a moment. "Let him in."
There might be some plot development.
After a moment, a man dressed as a secretary received the permission and entered the office.
Cheng Chaolin had already taken the nearby blanket and covered Yu Deng completely.
"Mr. Cheng, I have finished organizing the documents that you asked me to..." the secretary paused midway through his sentence, his eyes widening like copper bells.
He actually saw their esteemed boss, the heir of the Cheng family, the high-cold beauty who had no interest in romantic affairs, bending down to talk to a young man with a very low posture.
The young man was indifferent to the boss. In the midst of their conversation, he revealed a strikingly beautiful profile.
The secretary froze in shock and confusion, feeling like something was off. Was their boss really the kind of person who had such a beautiful wife?
"Place them on the table. Have someone bring a set of clothes." Cheng Chaolin skillfully provided Yu Deng's clothing size.
This request deviated from the usual course of events in the past. The secretary hesitated for a moment but quickly reacted. He eagerly offered, "I'll prepare the clothes for the boss's wife right away."
Cheng Chaolin was pleased with how the secretary addressed him.
"By the way, there's still a specific request for Mr. Cheng to handle that project from the higher-ups, mentioning that Mr. Cheng is getting older.." the secretary hesitated, "and also Mr. Cheng, your medication has been re-prescribed by the doctor."
Cheng Chaolin waved his hand, signaling for the secretary to leave.
Yu Deng's gaze fell on Cheng Chaolin, and the earlier anger temporarily subsided. "Are you sick?"
"If we're talking about recently, then yes," Cheng Chaolin lightly chuckled, sincerely saying, "Thank you for your concern, my wife, I appreciate it."
[The late husband was really good, really good in every sense of the word... the stepson is still a little immature.]
[Who knows, in other live streams, it's full of traps everywhere. A slight mistake could lead to a life-or-death escape. Here, it's turned into a Republican era love drama, or even a battleground.]
[Subduing the boss in a game instance is also a form of strength.]
[Others deal with bosses by using violence and wits. Our Deng Deng: We can turn the boss into a croaker with just one sentence!]
Yu Deng pursed his lips, showing some humane care towards his late husband. "So, is it serious?"
Unexpectedly, Cheng Chaolin shook his head. "Not serious."
Yu Deng tilted his head in confusion. Cheng Chaolin didn't explain, but just said: "Perhaps in a while, my wife will understand."
His wife seemed very persistent in exploring these past events.
Yu Deng continued to feel puzzled, sensing that something was amiss.
He was the player, so why did it seem like the ghost (boss) was actively revealing the plot now?
Cheng Chaolin calmly sat on the sofa, taking advantage of Yu Deng's distraction to lift him up and hug him closely.
"My wife should have figured it out; this is from the past."
If he was correct, this place might even be a space formed based on 'his past memories.
Cheng Chaolin had a thought and, caressing the torn trousers on Yu Deng, within seconds, the pants looked brand new.
Just as he suspected, there was no need for the secretary to prepare the clothes earlier.
Yu Deng lifted his leg and noticed the real trousers, once again admiring his late husband's abilities.
Struggling to refocus on the conversation he heard earlier, Yu Deng decided to ask Cheng Chaolin, as a native of this instance, "How did we end up here? The place I was just in seemed like a past time too."
"I think it should be different." Cheng Chaolin answered patiently, "As for why I came... probably because I wanted my wife to come."
He wanted Yu Deng to go to a place where he would not be disturbed by others. He made a choice based on his power and instinct in an instant, and thus came to the illusion made up of his memories.
Yu Deng turned to look at Cheng Chaolin. "So, can I see some things I didn't know before, like, about you?"
"Yes."
[Ding. Officially unlocking hidden characters and plotlines.]
Yu Deng blinked.
So the 'Ta' in the additional task refers to his late husband, Cheng Chaolin.
Yu Deng was conflicted. It seemed like this was the Cheng family secret in the additional task. Once he saw it, the task would be completed. But if regular tasks were already dangerous, would the additional task be even more perilous?
"Why the frown again?" Cheng Chaolin brushed Yu Deng's delicate brow.
Yu Deng directly asked his late husband, "Am I in danger..?"
"Of course not."
Cheng Chaolin lifted Yu Deng up and walked to the window. "If I'm here, my wife won't get hurt. Otherwise, I'd be useless."
After saying that, the scene around them began to change rapidly.
Yu Deng didn't know what Cheng Chaolin did, but their figures became translucent and unreal, yet nothing in the illusion was affected.
Another Cheng Chaolin appeared in Yu Deng's line of sight, from a past timeline.
Yu Deng observed many people speaking respectfully or admirably to Cheng Chaolin, impressed by his business acumen and capabilities. They saw many industries of the Cheng family thriving under Cheng Chaolin's leadership, with more and more people willing to follow him rather than obeying the patriarch.
The young heir of the Cheng family was flourishing, with a bright future ahead.
The scene shifted, and Yu Deng and the ghostly late husband appeared in the Cheng family mansion, in the study.
The patriarch sat at the desk, with Cheng Chaolin standing, the father and son at odds.
"Father, we can't continue this business." Cheng Chaolin's tone was cold, "Are you losing your mind, using such methods to gain wealth and power?"
The patriarch was furious. "You dare lecture your father?! Do you think you're invincible just because you've achieved a little something in business? These businesses are crucial for the Cheng family. Stop meddling here!"
As a translucent observer, Yu Deng watched this scene, puzzled, turning to look at the ghostly late husband. "Why is (Master) Mr. Cheng behaving this way?"
Seems like a breakthrough is happening.
Cheng Chaolin glanced at the memory of his father. "He can't stand me. He wants me to make the Cheng family stronger, yet he fears that I'll take away his power."
Yu Deng didn't quite understand this way of thinking, as it wasn't how biological parents would typically think. He continued to ask, "So, what industries were you trying to stop?"
"This one." Cheng Chaolin answered promptly, "He was secretly gathering various girls, grooming them, and forcibly giving them to wealthy merchants and warlords, even trading with foreigners."
Upon hearing this, Yu Deng realized the nature of this business, shocked and disgusted.
Doing such business was truly outrageous.
Cheng Chaolin continued, "The Cheng family is a prominent clan, and these girls had no choice but to comply. Even if they resisted, it would only lead to worsened situations."
When power becomes absolute, it results in endless exploitation and oppression.
Even the most simple-minded person could understand this principle. Yu Deng's voice was muffled as he spoke, "So you want to stop it?"
"Yes, I refuse to let my family profit in this manner. But my wife has seen it, and Master Cheng is displeased with my defiance."
The conversation from the past continues.
The head of the Cheng family and the heir argued fiercely and parted ways. Before Cheng Chaolin left the study, the patriarch suddenly spoke, "You've been ill for some time. Marry that man as soon as possible to bring good fortune."
The Cheng Chaolin from the past coldly refused, "I don't need to get married, especially not to a man I don't know."
"..."
After this conversation, the scene ended. Yu Deng, feeling dazed, cleared his thoughts and exclaimed, "You clearly didn't want to marry me!"
With such finality in his previous statement, it was clear he didn't want to marry him. So why was Cheng Chaolin now constantly bothering him, calling him 'my wife' at every opportunity?
Cheng Chaolin paused. "That's how it was before."
The ghost lowered his gaze, staring at Yu Deng.
Before his death, he had no feelings towards the husband he married, and his memory of Yu Deng was faint. It was as if Yu Deng had never existed in his memories.
He knew clearly that his illness was caused by these people, who wanted him to marry for good fortune. And the good fortune was merely an excuse, a way to better seal him away.
Cheng Chaolin understood all of this, and initially even detested Yu Deng. But when he became a ghost and returned to the mortal world.
On that quiet night, for the first time, he saw the beautiful young man asleep, with lips swollen from being kissed.
His heart harbored only one thought: to obtain Yu Deng, to possess Yu Deng exclusively, and to drive away all others who coveted Yu Deng.
The ghost smiled faintly. "In the end, all I want now is my wife."
Yu Deng couldn't understand, so he stopped pondering.
The scene changed even faster.
Many people performing rites came to the Cheng family, discussing matters with the Cheng family members. A few days later, after Cheng Chaolin finished his business dealings, he returned to the Cheng family.
For a rare occasion, the entire Cheng family sat down for a meal together, but Cheng Chaolin only had a bowl of soup and quickly fainted.
"Hurry, he's passed out. We can proceed with the ceremony now," Cheng Chaoxia mumbled. "Don't blame me, little brother. If you must blame someone, blame your existence, for my rise was only achieved because of you. No, no, I shouldn't say that. The Master said you were a calamity."
Cheng Wenhao and his mother were eager, the patriarch a mix of urgency and hesitation, while the matriarch remained silent, holding her prayer beads. The others lurked in the shadows, watching everything closely.
The expressions varied, but everyone had clear roles as they collectively subdued Cheng Chaolin's feeble struggles and sealed him alive in the coffin.
The full moon was bleak, and the flickering candlelight added to the eerie atmosphere. A group of people stood in the darkness, more terrifying than specters.
Yu Deng was horrified, stuttering, "Why are they... why are they doing this to you?"
"Because those charlatans said I was the calamity of the Cheng family. With me around, everyone else would suffer, even face unexpected disasters. But as long as I'm sacrificed, all others will have a bright future, and the Cheng family will prosper."
Cheng Chaolin said nonchalantly, "It's a ridiculous story, isn't it? But they believed it."
Rather than saying they believed, it was more like they finally found an excuse.
The insatiable desire for power and wealth led to the entanglement of the Cheng family members, whether the patriarch's stubborn desire to control the Cheng family or the rivalry among the main and branch lineages over the family assets.
Such mad desire, with just a touch of feudal ignorance, could lead to horrific outcomes.
"Alright, Cheng Chaolin's male spouse's horoscope effectively immobilizes him." A robed figure concluded the ritual, saying, "He won't come out."
Yu Deng heard this and was stunned for a moment, realizing.
So his purpose in the Cheng family was right here.
The current scenario was absurd and insane, detached from all ethics and morals, leaving only a delirious celebration of sin. Live people were buried alive, and the glee on the executioners' faces was so ironic that even their feigned sorrow and pity for the outside world were sickening.
Cheng Chaolin watched it all impassively, barely feeling anything.
Yu Deng, on the other hand, watched as the coffin wobbled before being callously buried below ground.
No wonder Cheng Chaolin became the taboo of the Cheng family, never to be spoken of.
They were the villainous perpetrators, the accomplices in the crime, the cowardly bystanders. The members of the Cheng family, despite many mouths, were all wicked.
Yu Deng remained motionless, engulfed by a bizarre sense of fear and sorrow.
He wanted to do something to break the existing pattern, just like how he had driven away the coercive individuals in Miss Lin's illusion.
Of course, the illusion was dangerous. As soon as Yu Deng had this thought, the coffin buried underground trembled for a moment and cracked open, as if someone inside was about to emerge.
Intense dark emotions swept over him, and Yu Deng resonated with the emotions, feeling breathless. His eyes remained fixed ahead, tears uncontrollably streaming down his face.
The tears fell onto the ghost's cold hand, making them seem scalding hot.
Cheng Chaolin sighed softly and covered Yu Deng's eyes with his hand. "My wife, don't look. I was quite unpleasant back then."
Yu Deng's gaze was blocked, and he blinked blankly.
The scene before him wavering like water, gradually fading away as Yu Deng returned to his normal self, but his mind was still reeling.
[Wow, this instance turns out to have such a background. I've looked at it several times before, feeling like it was a waste of time.]
[So absurd and sinful, I thought these were all good people when I first read it.]
[I wanted to say it was not very reasonable, but in the infinite world, anything is possible. Maybe there are parents and siblings like this, especially in an infinite instance, anything can happen.]
[Such a strange feudal superstition and family conflict.]
Yu Deng turned his head and looked at the deceased husband with wide eyes, remaining silent.
At that moment, not far behind them, another disturbance was felt, and after a moment, the figure of Lin Zhiyue appeared before them.
"Sorry to interrupt. I sensed a spatial rift and came here," Lin Zhiyue looked at the intimate scene between the man and the ghost, paused for a few seconds, and with a gesture from Cheng Chaolin, said, "Madam, do you want to see my past? If you need to."
Yu Deng regained some ability to think and responded blankly.
It was strange how easily she could know this; it almost felt like cheating..
The proposal was tempting, but after thinking for a moment, Yu Deng shook his head, "I won't watch it. However, I have a few questions for Miss Lin."
Lin Zhiyue was a bit surprised that Yu Deng didn't delve deeply into those past events, and her gaze softened slightly. "Please go ahead."
Yu Deng quickly recalled the key points of the case and picked the most crucial question. "Was that old man killed by Miss Lin? I want to know how Miss Lin did it..."
Indeed, he still didn't know Lin Zhiyue's method of committing the crime. Since the wound on Old Master Cheng's chest was inflicted by Cheng Chaoxia and was a post-mortem injury, there must have been a killing process before that.
"Ah, him." Lin Zhiyue's expression was indifferent. "That afternoon, I borrowed Mr. Cheng's power to trap him in a nightmare, making him experience the evil deeds he had committed as they were reflected back onto himself. In his terror, he forgot to breathe." She paused. "However, before I arrived, a maid mistakenly served the wrong tea, which reacted with the midday meal and caused him to be slightly poisoned."
Yu Deng thought hard. So, they found Old Master Cheng's corpse with purple lips not only due to poisoning but also because of suffocation.
He scratched his cheek. "Oh, I also heard from a maid that she seemed to have seen Cheng Wenhao leave."
If Lin Zhiyue was the one who acted, what was Cheng Wenhao doing leaving? Or did the maid see it wrong?
Lin Zhiyue paused for a few seconds, then continued with Cheng Chaoling's approval. "That was actually me. I transformed myself into a paper figure and climbed down from the window, reaching that room within seconds. After becoming a paper figure, I took on Cheng Wenhao's appearance and met the old man in that form."
So, the maid didn't see anyone coming down the stairs because Lin Zhiyue had exited directly through the window and completed the crime in a very short time.
The old man first thought his grandson had attacked him, then lost his breath in the nightmare, and finally, at the moment of his death, realized that he was being avenged by someone he had bullied. With such a series of shocks, no wonder his eyes were full of fear.
"In that case, was the death of the fourth concubine also related to Miss Lin?"
Lin Zhiyue answered readily, "Yes, at that time, I was locked in a classroom by that old man. There were also a few beasts in the school trying to molest the young girls, and she was helping them. My sister almost fell victim too."
"Oh," Yu Deng said, understanding. The incident mentioned in the clues about the school's molestation must have been this.
With all the details clear, Yu Deng blinked. "Alright, no more questions. Thank you."
Lin Zhiyue nodded and turned to bow to Cheng Chaoling. "The exposure of the school incident is thanks to Mr. Cheng's help."
Cheng Chaoling waved his hand nonchalantly.
Seeing that Yu Deng truly only wanted to ask a few questions, Lin Zhiyue answered them and then, at Cheng Chaolin's signal, left the area.
Yu Deng allowed his deceased husband to hold him as he pondered over Lin Zhiyue's respectful attitude toward his husband. Slowly, he asked, "So, your relationship with Miss Lin is that you helped her?"
"When I was still alive, I helped her with some small matters. Later, it became mutually beneficial."
"Hmm."
"They hated me yet also feared me," Cheng Chaolin said mockingly. "As I told you, they sealed me layer by layer to prevent me from harming the Cheng family members, fearing retribution if I did."
"Only after they died could I appear."
Cheng Chaolin took Yu Deng back to the office and placed him on the sofa. "Miss Lin was constrained and had many concerns. So I lent her a bit of my power."
In a rare moment of quick thinking, Yu Deng realized something.
The Cheng family members were their common enemies. While Miss Lin avenged herself with the borrowed power, she also facilitated Cheng Chaolin's return to the mortal world.
"After becoming a ghost, my greatest skill isn't controlling yin energy. Can you guess what it is?" Cheng Chaolin asked.
Yu Deng shook his head, unable to guess.
With a flick of his wrist, Cheng Chaolin conjured two paper figurines. "It's the art of paper spirits. I lent her a little bit of this ability."
The paper figurines curved their mouths into smiles, especially the one in red, which grinned particularly wide, trying to please Yu Deng.
Yu Deng was startled by the lifelike paper figurines, and some unpleasant memories surged up. After a moment, he suddenly understood.
No wonder Cheng Wenhao's face looked swollen and distorted when he died—it was because he had transformed into a paper figure.
Serves him right.
Yu Deng still felt that the characters in both the superficial and hidden plotlines of this scenario were disgusting. Amid his disgust, he suddenly thought of something.
If this beginner-level scenario keeps resetting, would these events repeat over and over?
Would Miss Lin have to repeatedly relive her terrible experiences, forced to expose her painful past to others while players continuously seek out these so-called truths, dancing on the edge of death?
Oh, wait, this time it's a variation scenario. Before, it was all about weddings.
Does that mean Miss Lin has to marry someone she hates repeatedly, while his late husband is merely a name buried deep within the background story, never seeing the light of day?
If that's the case, it's too cruel. How could a scenario be so heartless?
Filled with a sense of injustice, Yu Deng silently cursed the scenario and the main system.
Cheng Chaolin lowered his gaze to observe Yu Deng, noticing the obvious anger and sadness in his eyes.
The ghost slowly curled his lips into a smile.
See, the ghost had laid everything bare, even the most unbearable parts of his past, obediently displaying them for his little wife.
The ghost no longer felt sadness or anger for others; he only wanted his beloved treasure.
"I've been very obedient, haven't I? I've told you everything you wanted to know."
Yu Deng pressed his lips together.
"So, my wife, I want to ask you for something."
Yu Deng, now very compliant, looked up at his late husband. "What is it?"
The ghost, looking at his delicate, pretty, but soft-hearted little wife, slowly lowered his head, hiding the obsessive desire in his eyes.
The powerful ghost knelt before Yu Deng, pressing his cold cheek against Yu Deng's warm, soft palm, appearing both gentle and pitiful.
"So, my wife, please care for me more. I only have you."
T/N: It's actually 'evil ghost' or 'fierce ghost,' and 'patriarch' should also be 'master' in formal translation, but yeah, too lazy to retype it again.