DLRC – Chapter 14 This Is Too Freaky

“Her house?” Yu Wei stopped in her tracks, walked back a few steps, and asked, “Is it this one?”

She adjusted her phone, aiming the camera at a nearby residential building. On-screen, the user named Summer Wine started screaming.

【Aaaaah—that’s my house, that’s my house!】

As the livestream chat heated up, gifts started to roll in. Most viewers were just there for the curiosity—they wanted to see what kind of spectacle this attention-seeking streamer was putting on.

【Is this for real? I bet you’re just a paid actor.】

【Yeah, this is probably just a set in some film studio.】

Summer Wine: 【No, no, no! I swear I’m not! Isn’t there anyone who grew up in Lucheng? Friends, get in here and take a look! Please tell me I’m not seeing things—this is too freaky!】

Even after a long time, no one stepped forward claiming to have lived in Lucheng. Just as everyone was busy accusing the streamer of hiring actors, another viewer with the ID Little Conch Shell sent a message:

【No way! Isn’t this Xing Sheng Road? That old building was demolished twenty years ago! Streamer, are you even human or a ghost?】

Summer Wine: 【I need to know too—streamer, can you go inside and take a look? If this is real, my home is in there!】

Yu Wei’s pupils trembled—this was her chance!

Still smiling calmly, she said, “Alright, I’ll take you all in for a look.”

The building was a five-story tube-shaped apartment block, likely staff dormitories allocated by a factory. Unlike her own home—also near a factory but privately owned—this one was obviously employer-issued housing.

The space inside the tube building was large, but packed with people, it felt incredibly cramped. Random objects were piled up everywhere.

In the middle of the open area on the first floor were rows of bicycles. Across from them, a long rope stretched out with a colorful array of clothes hanging on it, blocking her view further in.

As she walked along the corridor, nearly every doorway had a small table out front, cluttered with mismatched kitchenware. Every hallway was like this—an impressive display. It was where the residents prepared their meals.

The walls next to the tables were nearly all covered in black grime—thick grease stains from years of smoke and cooking.

This kind of gritty, down-to-earth environment definitely didn’t look like something put together by a film crew.

Not long after, a woman came out of one of the central units on the first floor carrying a basin of leafy greens. She lit the gas stove and started stir-frying.

Moments later, the sound of a child crying came from inside. A little boy ran out sobbing, looked around, and upon spotting the woman, ran over and latched onto her leg, crying his heart out.

The woman didn’t have time to comfort him and yelled into the room while still cooking, “Shitou, come get your brother!”

“I’m coming!”

Out rushed a boy around twelve or thirteen years old. Annoyed, he scooped up his little brother, who was still crying. Yu Hui, standing beside Yu Wei, watched curiously.

Yu Wei didn’t linger. She kept moving, the livestream screen shifting with her. Meanwhile, the comment section exploded. The user who had claimed to live there as a child started frantically posting.

【Oh my god, I believe it now! That teenager just now—he’s my childhood best friend!】

【Wait, seriously?】

【Bro, are you sure you’re not another planted actor?】

【Actor your ass!】

【I’m just asking a normal question, what’s with the hostility? Feeling guilty much?】

【No profanity! Are you trying to get the stream banned?】

【Jeez, quick—everyone recite: Prosperity, democracy, civility, and harmony…】

.Yu Wei glanced at the screen and asked, “What’s your friend’s name?”

The netizen, accused of being a paid actor, furiously fired off more messages:

Summer Wine:【First of all—I am absolutely not an actor! If you don’t believe me, when the stream ends, have the streamer post something in the community. I’ll upload my friend’s old and current photos!】

The “community” referred to the chat feature of Jiu Mi Live, the platform Yu Wei streamed on. After the stream ended, it was where streamers and fans interacted, similar to Weibo.

Yu Wei was just as shocked as the netizens, but she controlled her expression well. Smiling, she walked over to the woman and quickly snapped a screenshot of the boy called “Shitou.”

During a break in cooking, the woman glanced over at her. Upon seeing the toddler beside Yu Wei, she turned back and continued her task without concern.

Yu Wei calmly moved to the end of the corridor before taking out her phone to read the comments.

Summer Wine:【This is terrifying! I just looked closely again—streamer, you’ve definitely time-traveled! There’s no way I’d mistake my childhood friend! Streamer, go look for my house now! It’s on the third floor!!】

Yu Wei didn’t reply. It wasn’t convenient to talk there, so she tiptoed up to the third floor, still holding the hand of the toddler with the short little legs. It was a slow climb, and by the time they reached the second floor, the little guy was already panting.

She held the phone out and crouched down to ask gently, “How about you wait here? I’ll go take a quick look and come right back, okay?”

The little one’s eyes widened as he grabbed her shirt tightly, afraid his mom would run off.

He shook his head and shuffled his tiny legs up the steps, clearly insisting on going with her.

Yu Wei had no choice but to continue up with her son in tow.

The third floor wasn’t much different from below, except it was even more crowded. At least the first floor had space to pile things in the courtyard—here, everything had to be crammed into the units or along the hallway.

“Which one’s your house?” Yu Wei asked.

【It’s the second-to-last one near the public bathroom!】

Yu Wei walked toward the room second from the end on the opposite side of the corridor. Unfortunately, the door was closed. She didn’t know if anyone was inside, but it would be inappropriate to knock since she didn’t know them.

Then that netizen sent another comment:

【Don’t be afraid, streamer! Just knock. If I’m home, I’ll definitely open the door!】

He’d always been this way—lacking any sense of caution. No matter who knocked, if he was home, he’d always run over to open it with a smile.

Sure enough, Yu Wei tried knocking. Instantly, she heard the thudding of running footsteps from inside. Moments later, someone reached the door.

“Who is it?”

The door opened to reveal a chubby-faced boy of about eight or nine, who poked his head out and asked, “Who are you?”

Yu Wei quickly snapped a screenshot. Summer Wine started shrieking again in the comments.

【AAAAAHHH—THIS THIS THIS—THIS IS REALLY ME——!】