Cannon Fodder 02

Zhao Manqi was stunned for a long time; she couldn't understand why Fang Zhiyi had died.

Could there really be ghosts in this world?

She shook her head. No, that couldn't be. It must be that guy's own fault, probably killed by someone.

Yes, that's it.

Zhao Manqi posted an update.

"First, I express my condolences for the deceased, but please get this straight: he went of his own accord. I merely said a few words. Am I supposed to be responsible for a grown man's impulsive actions? Some people should stop with the moral blackmail. Let's be honest, you just can't stand a woman daring to speak the truth! What ghosts are there in this world? I think the ghosts are in your own minds!"

Her comments section exploded.

PeachNoSugar: "I'm a woman too, and I think what you said is really unreasonable. After all, he went because of your provocation..."

MilkTeaFullSugar: "Even if it's not your fault, is it so hard to say you're sorry?"

Zhao Manqi got worked up again: "You women have been tamed by the patriarchal society into having no backbone! You even help count the money when someone steps on your heads! Pathetic!"

She blocked everyone who disagreed with her, turned off her private messages, and cursed the dead Fang Zhiyi resentfully.

But from that day on, she began to frequently dream of the deceased Fang Zhiyi.

Zhao Manqi started to become absent-minded, and her convictions began to waver. Could there really be ghosts in the world?

Finally, she became afraid. In her dreams, Fang Zhiyi would just stare at her, his eyes full of grievance. So one day, she went to the school where Fang Zhiyi had died. She had to resolve this.

After a series of frights, she met a boy in a white shirt, very good-looking. He said his name was Shen Yan. Hearing that Zhao Manqi was there to find a ghost, he frowned.

"Leave it to me."

Sure enough, from that day on, Fang Zhiyi stopped appearing.

And Zhao Manqi completely believed in the existence of ghosts. She began collecting many books on the supernatural to teach herself, and with Shen Yan's help, she could also see things ordinary people couldn't.

Zhao Manqi smelled a business opportunity. She reinvented herself and registered a new account called "Spiritual Medium Qiqi." With her carefully applied makeup and a few tricks, Zhao Manqi quickly became popular.

Even if she made mistakes, she wasn't afraid. Shen Yan had her back, and she also discovered that Shen Yan was actually a ghost himself.

"I had them kill that man," Shen Yan said, flashing a bright smile. "But I heard about you from him. I think you're interesting."

Zhao Manqi only struggled for ten minutes before forgiving Shen Yan for his deception.

"Thank you, heartless big brother, for the sports car," Zhao Manqi smiled at the camera, while Shen Yan behind her looked a bit jealous.

"Brothers, today I'm going to help a girl with her problem. Her dead best friend seems to be haunting her."

Zhao Manqi now showed none of her previous stance. Her persona was that of a powerful yet gentle spiritual medium.

But as her fame grew, some untimely comments also appeared.

PeachNoSugar: "I thought she looked familiar. Isn't this Zhao Manqi, who got someone killed?"

MilkTeaFullSugar: "Didn't notice before. She's really smooth with all that 'thank you, big brother' talk."

Zhao Manqi saw these comments too. She felt awkward but still pretended not to see them, interacting with other netizens. As expected, her fans mercilessly cursed out those who made such remarks.

But it didn't end there. The account PeachNoSugar never logged in again. That very day, she started having nightmares. In her dreams, a man in a blood-stained shirt branded her all over with a red-hot iron. When she woke up, her skin was red, itchy, and painful. In just a few days, the girl was admitted to the hospital—the psychiatric ward.

MilkTeaFullSugar's fate was even worse. She mysteriously drowned in the washbasin at her own home.

Around the same time, several other netizens met with accidents, ranging from injuries to deaths.

In short, there were no more discordant voices in Zhao Manqi's live stream.

"With me here, none of those who hurt you will get away," Shen Yan said dotingly, stroking Zhao Manqi's hair. Zhao Manqi closed her eyes happily.

"Someone claiming to be a Taoist priest wants to challenge me. I'm a bit worried."

Shen Yan's pupils instantly turned pitch black. "Hmph, leave it to me."

The subsequent story was similar to what Fang Zhiyi had seen before. The male lead ultimately dissipated, still longing for the female lead, while the female lead made a fortune, quit the internet, and became a quiet woman waiting for her Prince Charming.

"Streamer, are you still there?" a comment floated by.

Fang Zhiyi snapped out of it. "Heh, yeah, I'm here."

"You scared me. You suddenly stopped moving and talking."

Fang Zhiyi checked the live stream. The original host was really something; there were only about a hundred people in the stream.

"I just thought of something."

"Streamer, look, what's that on the floor?"

Fang Zhiyi looked where indicated. A faint footprint suddenly appeared in the camera frame.

"A footprint," Fang Zhiyi sniffed. Say what you will, but the original host's taste was still commendable. "Quite a small foot."

"I've got goosebumps. Why is there a footprint like that in this abandoned house?"

"Streamer, maybe we should just go home."

Fang Zhiyi pointed the camera at the footprint and looked around himself. He saw nothing. The abandoned house was very eerie, but it didn't have any aura of violent evil. That is to say, even if there was something here, it was the more subtle kind. Otherwise, the original host wouldn't have made it out.

But the stream must go on. Love the job you do.

Fang Zhiyi gestured with his hand. "The footprint isn't big, the sole has no pattern, it's a bit blurry... seems like a woman's foot. Speaking of which, I have a story. Back when I was a Taoist priest, once in a dilapidated temple..." Fang Zhiyi started spinning a tale effortlessly; storytelling was his forte.

The hundred or so people in the stream listened intently.

Suddenly, a connection request notification popped up on Fang Zhiyi's screen, and his phone made a "ding-a-ling" sound.

Fang Zhiyi smiled. So it really came. He was a bit puzzled looking at the user named ZhaoManqi520. Why did the female lead like using her own name as a username?

"Brothers, a netizen wants to connect. Should I take it or not?"

"A connection now? Hang up."

Just as someone typed that, Fang Zhiyi pressed accept. Immediately, a girl appeared on the screen.

"What the heck, you scared me!" a netizen complained.

"Hello, netizen named Zhao Manqi Two-Fifty."

Zhao Manqi was about to interrupt Fang Zhiyi and start venting when his opening line made her roll her eyes in exasperation. "Are you blind? It's ZhaoManqi520!"

"Uh-huh, uh-huh," Fang Zhiyi nodded. "Miss Two-Fifty Zhao Manqi, what can I do for you?"