DLRC – Chapter 40 Haunted House

After a long, exhausting day, Yu Wei didn’t want to move at all once she got home, let alone head to the kitchen to make a proper dinner.

It was late enough that the state-run restaurants were already closed. A few noodle shops were still open, but Yu Wei remembered she still had some dried noodles at home. She figured she’d just make some quick noodles to get by.

As soon as Yu Hui got home, he rushed eagerly to the balcony to check on his beloved birds, Gu Gu and Ji Ji. The two pearl birds cooed warmly at the sight of the little boy.

He had already learned how to open the birdcage to feed them and wasn’t scared of them accidentally pecking his tiny hands. Yu Hui had cautiously observed them for several days and only dared to reach inside once he was sure the birds behaved themselves while eating.

Yu Wei walked over and bent down behind her well-behaved son, watching him feed the birds. His tiny fingers would occasionally reach out to gently touch the soft fluff on their heads.

“Hui Hui, how about noodles for dinner?”

Yu Hui was so focused that he hadn’t even noticed his mom behind him. He turned and smiled at her, his deer-like eyes curving into crescent moons.

“Okay.”

Yu Wei ruffled his hair. “You’re so easy to feed.” Every time she asked if he wanted to eat something, he always said yes.

Yu Hui followed her into the kitchen. While Yu Wei began boiling water for the noodles, the little guy hesitated at the doorway for a moment before making a soft request.

“Mommy, can I have one of those flat eggs?”

“Flat egg? What kind of egg is that?” Just as Yu Hui was about to explain, a lightbulb went off in Yu Wei’s mind. “Hui Hui, are you talking about a fried egg?”

“Fried egg.” Yu Hui nodded eagerly. “Mommy, I want a fried egg!”

“Alright, go play with Gu Gu and Ji Ji for now. I’ll fry one for you in a bit.”

The little rascal really had a good memory. Since they’d moved into the new house, they’d only had noodles once, and Yu Wei had fried him an egg that time. Ever since, Yu Hui had been obsessed. Even his usual boiled eggs for breakfast had been swapped for fried ones.

By the time they finished eating, it was already 7 p.m. It was getting dark outside, but Lucheng’s nightlife was just starting.

Even though it was the 1980s, in cities like Lucheng, karaoke bars and dance halls were already bustling at this hour.

Last time she went for a post-dinner stroll in the park, Yu Wei had run into Chen Caiqian and her boyfriend. The guy was short—barely 170 cm—with average-to-decent looks, but he had a sweet mouth and was great with words. Even though he didn’t know Yu Wei, when Caiqian enthusiastically called out to her, he joined in, calling her “sis” like his mouth was coated in honey.

The two of them had been heading to a dance hall at the time. After a brief chat, they hurried off to another street.

Tonight, Yu Wei had no energy for a walk. She lay on the bed and started a livestream, simply wanting to share how the first day of business had gone. She hadn’t expected so many viewers to join—15,000, in fact.

Ever since her last stream had made it onto the homepage’s feature spot, her follower count had been growing rapidly. Now she had over 80,000 followers. But that brought new problems.

What kind of streamer was she now, anyway? If she was a food blogger, she’d only made snacks once on stream, and that was yesterday while prepping in the store.

If anything, she resembled a virtual tour guide more.

As she got lost in thought, the comments section began to explode with chat bubbles:

【Little Fish Tail is finally live! How was opening day?】

【Must’ve been packed, right?!】

【Of course it was! We helped design the place together—those 80s bumpkins have never seen anything like it lol】

【Watch it! “Bumpkins from the 80s”? That’s like insulting your own parents】

【Oops, my bad￣】

Yu Wei: “…”

Whatever kind of streamer she was, these viewers were always the source of her joy.

“Hello everyone! I’m your favorite streamer, Little Fish Tail!”

【You’re at home, right? The lighting is super dim—don’t tell me that’s a kerosene lamp.】

【You that broke, streaming by kerosene lamp? LOL】

【Wouldn’t be surprising—she’s got a kid to raise now. Must be expensive.】

“White bulbs are hard to find, but I finally got one the other day. I’ll find someone to install it soon. Just bear with the dim lighting today, okay?”

【O-kay~ Your beauty still shines through, even in moody lighting!】

【Where’s your son? When are we getting a peek at him?】

【So curious +1. Bring him out and I’ll gift you 200 bucks right now!】

【+1 +1 +1 +1!】

…

Somehow, the topic veered to her adorable son. Yu Wei glanced toward the room—Yu Hui was sitting on a small stool, happily playing with Gu Gu and Ji Ji.

A soft smile of motherly love tugged at her lips, prompting squeals from the viewers:

【Are you smiling at your son?!】

【Of course! She’s a single mom—who else would she be smiling at?】

【Wait, what? She’s not married? I was wondering why we never saw her husband!】

【How do people still not know this?! Drag them away!】

【Don’t be mean, I’m new here, okay? T-T】

The more Yu Wei read, the more amused she became. She raised her phone higher to show her full face, then replied, “I’m not planning to show my son on camera just yet. Maybe in a few days.”

【Awwww】

【Come on, it’s just a peek! If you really did time travel, why would you care if we saw him?】

Trying to bait her? Yu Wei smirked but said nothing.

Finally, someone changed the subject:

Little Piggy: 【Totally off-topic, but I’ve been meaning to ask: anyone else had something weird happen when watching Little Fish Tail’s stream?!】

“What kind of weird thing?” Yu Wei asked curiously.

【Yeah, what happened?】

Everyone wanted to know. The shift in topic gave Yu Hui a break.

Little Piggy: 【Well… have any of you tried sharing this stream with your friends?】

Yu Wei and the chat waited, confused.

【Nope, why would I? It’s just a livestream.】

【Same. I watch it and go about my day—what’s there to share?】

Everyone responded with a resounding “no.” Frustrated, Little Piggy sent a barrage of question marks—still no one agreed with her.

Just when it seemed the topic would change again, a new commenter joined:

Baby Cabbage: 【Holy crap! I think I know what you’re talking about!】

【WHAT IS IT?】 everyone demanded.

Little Piggy: 【Okay so—I didn’t start off as a fan. I saw her stream from the homepage and came over. I didn’t believe the time travel stuff, so I tried sharing the link with my friend—but it wouldn’t work! No matter what I did, I couldn’t send the link. But I could share other streamers just fine!】

【Then what happened?】

Little Piggy: 【One time I thought I’d just tell my friend about it in person. But when I tried, my mouth wouldn’t open! I literally couldn’t speak. I could talk about anything else—but not this stream.】

Little Piggy: 【It was terrifying!】

【Huh????】

【That can’t be real. I shared it just last month!】

【Yeah, didn’t “Summer Wine” tell her friends to check it out last week?】

Yu Wei: “?” This was getting creepy. If she hadn’t actually time-traveled, she’d think these people were hired actors.

Thirty seconds later…

Fish Head: 【OH MY GOD. TRY IT RIGHT NOW. I just did and couldn’t say a word—my mom slapped me and asked what I was trying to say, but I couldn’t open my mouth!】

【You kidding?!】

【WTF! Creepy!】

【She hired actors!】

【No, seriously, she didn’t.】

【Just tested it—definitely not actors.】

【+1. I tried writing it down—showed my friend the note, and the words were GONE!】

【I just got chills. I tried telling my boyfriend, but I couldn’t say a word.】

【What’s happening? I swear I could share this just last month!】

【Aaaaah—it’s real! I’m done! This is too scary. I’m out. Unsubscribing. Byeee!】

Now Yu Wei was the most innocent and baffled person in the room.

She thought: You guys… are seriously not actors? It really was creepy.

But the more she thought about it, maybe this wasn’t so crazy. If time travel could happen, what couldn’t?

Maybe it was time to rebrand her channel—not a food blogger, not a virtual tour guide, but a…

Thriller Horror Streamer.

Welcome to the Haunted Stream.

【Guys seriously—are you real people? I swear this stream is a haunted house. I just tried again and it’s like my mouth doesn’t belong to me!】

【You’re questioning if WE’RE real? I think I’m the only real one here! Everyone else is fake! Aaaaah—Mommy help—this is so scary but I can’t stop watching. What if I wake up mute tomorrow?!】

Yu Wei read on, the comments sending a chill up her spine like a ghostly breeze. She looked up—the balcony door was open. It was late September, and the evening air was crisp and cold, making her shiver.

She suddenly wanted to end the stream right then and there. What was meant to be a warm, wholesome stream had taken another unexpected turn.

Clearly, she should’ve known better. Every stream of hers turned into a circus.

And this time? Too bizarre.

She watched her follower count plunge—then spike again just as fast.

From 80,000… to 96,000… and still rising.

Yu Wei: You’re saying this stream is haunted? I think you guys are the real weirdos here!

【Guys help! I just tried reporting this stream, and it didn’t work! The app literally said “Unable to report”! This stream really is cursed!】

【Same here! I even tried messaging a mod about it—only messages about this stream fail! Anything else sends fine.】

【It’s like anything that might harm the host just… gets blocked.】

【It’s gotta be her time-traveler cheat code!】

【AHHH—CONFIRMED! SHE REALLY DID TIME TRAVEL! NEVER DOUBTING YOU AGAIN, HOST!】

The comment section was still exploding with chaos, and somehow, the atmosphere had shifted yet again.