HEIFEIGU -Chapter 20

【Str…strange species…】

【I was scared when the female ghost appeared at the well, but now… why do I feel like laughing?】

【Is this also part of the script? Crawling scared on the floor?】

Ji Jin had started overly confident, then startled and jumpy—no one could tell if he was truly afraid or acting.

The hashtag #JiJinFirstTimeShowcasingActingTalent climbed higher on the hot search list.

Finally reaching the threshold of the room, Ji Jin panted, sweeping the yard with his flashlight to ensure the figure had not followed him from the well, then quickly turned and crawled inside on his knees.

Ignoring the possible injuries on his hands, he hid under the dressing table.

“There are no ghosts… there are no ghosts… impossible, impossible… Xie Jixing is still alive.”

Ji Jin curled under the table, muttering to himself.

“???”

【Why did he suddenly mention Xie Jixing?】

【Doesn’t seem like acting.】

【An idol with such good acting? Impossible.】

Meng Zezhou, like the viewers, was puzzled: “Why mention Xie Jixing all of a sudden?”

“Probably to enhance the character!” Wu Hongyuan, knowing something was off, could only praise the logic: “Using someone who once hurt or traumatized you psychologically increases the realism of fear.”

Meng Zezhou frowned: “When did Xie Jixing ever hurt Ji Jin?”

“For an artist, being splashed with milk tea live on broadcast, humiliated in front of everyone… isn’t that serious psychological harm?” Wu Hongyuan shifted the topic fully. “And it was from a formerly close teammate.”

“Then young Ji really has it tough,” Yin Li sighed. “I couldn’t endure such blows; I might just quit the industry.”

【Why should the bullied quit? They should completely blacklist Xie Jixing so he can’t even do extras!】

【Ungrateful traitor! Summer Star made him famous, he turns around to bully teammates and then quits the group!】

Xie Jixing had no idea his bullying had left a psychological scar on Ji Jin, as he walked through the secret passage toward the house.

The unlucky spirit crouched less than ten centimeters from Ji Jin, tilting its head to stare.

A pale blue flame flashed across Xie Jixing’s fingertip, and Ji Jin saw a pale gray ghost face.

It was the same face seen under the tree earlier: black eyes with no whites, black smoke emanating from the eye sockets and throat, the head tilted 90°, cheek pressed to the shoulder, even smiling at him.

“Ah!” Ji Jin screamed—the first cry since entering the mansion’s secret room.

Ironically, it startled Xie Jixing, who had just emerged from under the bed.

This room was the scene’s highlight; every corner had a camera.

The audience could see clearly and found it somewhat funny rather than scary.

【Female ghost: What’s all the commotion?】

【She shivered when climbing up, did you see that? Hilarious.】

【This female ghost looks familiar!】

【So we still have to insist Ji Jin is acting, not scared?】

Wu Hongyuan in the observation room racked his brain, trying to maintain his tough front. Suddenly, Ji Jin grabbed a makeup stool under the table and smashed it to the floor.

Bang! The stool shattered into pieces.

【WTF, what is he doing?】

【Is he going to attack an NPC? Is that in the script?】

【First instinct: grab a weapon to defend. Doesn’t seem like someone being bullied.】

【Exactly. Someone who’s been hurt wants to protect themselves first!】

【Xie Jixing’s actions toward Ji Jin must’ve been more than just splashing milk tea.】

The comment section quickly filled with #XieJixingBulliesJiJin, while Wu Hongyuan in the observation room looked at Meng Zezhou smugly: “See, I told you.”

“I don’t think there’s evidence. Don’t accuse someone lightly,” Meng Zezhou said firmly. “This is a serious allegation.”

【Of course someone sailing smoothly through life wouldn’t understand a young artist’s situation.】

【Maybe he’s the bully himself, so he’s afraid of being called out.】

Meng Zezhou ignored the comments; Ji Jin on-screen was getting more frenzied.

Waving the stool debris in the air, he shouted, “Is it you, Xie Jixing?! Come out!”

“You recognized me, huh.” Xie Jixing stepped out from the shadow of the bed, face looking innocent but stance commanding, looming over Ji Jin.

“Did you see him?” A soft, clear male voice whispered around Ji Jin’s ears, but it wasn’t coming from the Xie Jixing in front of him. “Do you think he’s still the same Xie Jixing as before?”

“Would that person have ever spoken to you like this?”

“I already told you… he’s a ghost.”

“Go! Get away! Stay away from me!” Ji Jin’s eyes blurred with tears as he stumbled backward, choking on his own sobs.

“You’re the one who called me out here,” Xie Jixing said, touching his nose, then stepping forward another pace.

“Are you a human or a ghost?” Ji Jin pointed his stick at Xie Jixing, the voice he just heard echoing in his mind.

Xie Jixing looked at his own Xiuhé outfit and, with professional finesse, crushed a blood-plasma capsule in his hand. Instantly, his face was splattered with fresh blood, and in the falsetto voice Yue Qinyao had taught him, he whispered, driftingly, “I’m a ghost~”

【Hahahahaha, this NPC’s acting is so stiff!】

【I believe you’re a ghost.】

But what Ji Jin actually saw wasn’t that. Just as Xie Jixing crushed the blood capsule, a swollen-faced female ghost, her mouth and nose oozing black blood, descended upside-down from the ceiling, positioning herself between him and Xie Jixing.

“He is a ghost,” the female ghost’s voice was soft and delicate.

“I already told you, he’s a ghost,” the clear male voice rang out again.

“Ghost! It’s a ghost! You’re in cahoots!” Ji Jin was completely terrified. He swung his wooden stick wildly. “Go! Don’t touch me, go away!”

Xie Jixing, face still drenched in blood, stared blankly at Ji Jin on the floor, trying hard to act out his next scene. “Do you know how cold the water at the bottom of the well is?”

The unlucky ghost’s icy hands once again clamped around Ji Jin’s neck from behind.

Yue Qinyao’s black hair started dripping a mixture of water vapor and the stench of blood.

None of this was perceptible to the audience.

They were still admiring appearances.

【Why does this female ghost look so good even with blood all over her face?】

【The shattered aesthetic is maxed out.】

【No, look at her. Innocent face, but eyes like trash—chosen ghost!】

【Chosen ghost!】

【Haven’t you realized yet? This NPC female ghost is actually Xie Jixing!】

【???】

【This female ghost is Xie Jixing? I stan!】

【You face-lovers really need to stop!】

“Ghosts fear evil people. Yes, ghosts fear evil people!” Ji Jin seemed to make some firm decision, swinging his stick through the air while shouting, “Xie Jixing, I’m telling you, I’m not afraid of you at all!”

“I could poison you before, now I can just kill you!”

“I’ll kill you right now!”

Xie Jixing: Oh wow! Poisoning—just said so casually.