The Ultimate Horror Live Stream - Chapter 18 - Trouble Brewing

I held the photo frame and examined it closely. The boy was tall with pale skin, but his face was blurred and indistinct.

“Besides this photo, my brother’s image has vanished from all other pictures. I don’t know why, but every time I look at the album, it terrifies me.”

“Why is this one so different?” The idea of images disappearing from photos sounded unbelievable. If I hadn’t heard the name Xia Chi from the Paper Dolls interviewer, I might not have believed Xia Qingzhi’s words.

“This family photo was handed to me by my brother before he disappeared. That day, he said a lot of strange things, but when I woke up, I couldn’t remember anything except this photo clutched tightly in my hand.”

“So it’s your brother’s last keepsake.” If Xia Chi’s disappearance were treated as a criminal case, this photo would be one of the few clues I had.

“Have you ever opened this frame?”

“No, I’m afraid of damaging it.”

Just looking at the image didn’t reveal much, but my intuition told me there was more to the frame than met the eye.

I asked Xia Qingzhi to find a small screwdriver, and sitting on the floor, I carefully dismantled the frame.

“Just as I thought…”

On the back of the family photo were six words: “Plum Blossom Brand, Plum Blossom Gu.”

“What does my brother mean?” Xia Qingzhi leaned against me, her face full of confusion.

“Plum Blossom?” I instinctively covered my right wrist. During the Underworld Showroom’s signing ceremony, my right hand had been bitten by a strange bug, leaving a plum blossom-shaped wound.

“Could that bug, with its centipede-like head and single horn, be the Plum Blossom Gu? Is this how the Underworld Showroom controls the Streamers?” I wasn’t sure if Xia Chi’s information was accurate, but at least it gave me a direction.

“Don’t mention the writing, information, or photos to outsiders. And from now on, don’t tell anyone you have a brother, okay?”

“Why?”

“They’re dangerous, very dangerous.” Xia Qingzhi listened intently, her body leaning heavily against mine.

“Alright, I’ll stay here to document everything. You should go take a shower and change your clothes; you look a mess.”

Urging Xia Qingzhi to leave, I photographed Xia Chi’s carvings and the photo. Although we’d never met, I could already sketch out Xia Chi’s character in my mind.

“Did you lead me down this path to take your place? But why don’t I have any memory of you?”

I never shy away from considering the worst possibilities in my deductions. It’s possible that Xia Chi and I knew each other long ago.

After gathering evidence, I left the room. The sound of running water came from the bathroom; Xia Qingzhi was still showering. “This girl is too trusting. Luckily, she met me. If it had been someone with ill intentions…”

Just as I reached the door, the security door suddenly opened, and the sound of a key turning in the lock made my heart leap into my throat.

“Could I be this unlucky?”

The door swung open, revealing a graceful woman in her forties standing at the entrance.

“Uh… hello.”

Finding a weary, ragged stranger in your home is something no one would easily accept.

Her mouth gradually opened wide, and her hand loosened, causing the shopping bag to drop to the ground, with fresh red apples rolling all over the hallway.

“Honey! Catch the thief!”

A man over six feet tall sprang out from behind her, and neighbors emerged with rolling pins to lend a hand.

“Wait! I’m not a thief! I’m Xia Qingzhi’s teacher, here for a home visit today!” The crowd paused slightly, but within seconds, Xia’s mother spotted the school uniform tossed casually on the sofa by Xia Qingzhi.

“This is…” She almost cried as she picked up the torn school uniform, then lifted the muddy long skirt Xia Qingzhi had left at the bathroom door, her eyes swollen with tears.

“You! You! Beast!”

The crowd’s anger was instantly ignited, leaving me no time to speak.

“Call the police!”

“Beat him!”

At that moment, crouched on the ground with my hands over my head, I couldn’t help but recall a saying by Mr. Lu Xun: “Face the scorn of a thousand fingers with a cold stare, bow willingly to be a servant to the young.”

“Just don’t hit the face…”

…

By the time I was sitting in the interrogation room at the city police station, it had been over ten minutes.

“Gao Jian, you come to the police station more often than I clock in for work. Even Old Huang, the guard, knows you.” Tie Ningxiang held an ice pack to my swollen arms: “They were pretty rough, your arms are as swollen as frozen radishes.”

“Senior, I’m already miserable enough, don’t make fun of me. Easy, easy, it hurts!”

“Serves you right, being alone with a young girl in a room, I’d hit you too.” Tie Ningxiang glanced at Xia Qingzhi, who looked worried and guilty: “Don’t worry, this guy’s got thick skin, he can take a beating. Once your statement is recorded, you can go home. We’ve checked the surveillance, we won’t trouble this odd uncle.”

“You can’t say that, I was being brave and righteous, how can you call me an odd uncle?”

“What more do you want? The adults offered compensation and you refused, do you need two big banners of commendation?” Tie Ningxiang sat beside me, exhausted from a long day of police work: “Once they leave, stay behind, I have more to discuss with you.”

“Hey, don’t suddenly act so close, it gives me a bad feeling.”

After Xia Qingzhi and her parents left, Tie Ningxiang reverted to her authoritative police officer demeanor, tossing a stack of files onto the table.

“The forensic results match what you previously stated. Five bodies were found in the shallow well, identified as the landlord’s son’s sister, his childhood friend, two of his ex-girlfriends, and his former workshop boss. These five individuals, with seemingly unrelated social connections, all have one common link: the landlord’s son, Lu Xing.”

“We’ve largely ruled out the elderly couple as suspects, but we can’t understand why they repeatedly condoned their son’s outrageous actions, even actively helping to destroy evidence and cover up the truth.”

“Maybe it’s because of indulgence?” I shrugged indifferently.

“Gao Jian, look into my eyes.” Tie Ningxiang suddenly turned serious, gripping my shoulders, her face just inches from mine. “I don’t know why you went to Anxin Inn alone in the dead of night, nor do I understand how you deduced the truth of the case. But I know this case is far from simple. Lu Xing is still on the run, and you’re hiding something from me.”

With her so close, I caught a whiff of her fragrance. “What could I possibly hide from you? I’m just an ordinary guy running an Adult Store.”

“You’re lying. We were the top of our class; you can’t fool me.” Captain Tie released her grip, her hands like talons. “One day, I’ll uncover everything, and you’ll have to face the music.”

I met Tie Ningxiang’s gaze for a moment, a wry smile on my face. “Do you really want to know the truth that badly?”

“Lives are at stake!”

“Alright, I’ll tell you.”

“Spill it!” Tie Ningxiang activated the recorder and crouched beside me.

“Actually… actually, you look quite pretty when you’re angry too.”

“Bang!” The Interrogation Room door slammed shut, leaving me alone on the cold chair. I admit, there was a fleeting moment when I wanted to tell Tie Ningxiang about the Underworld Showroom and my recent experiences, but it was just a momentary impulse.

If one day the Live Stream fails, perhaps disappearing quietly like Xia Chi wouldn’t be such a bad way to end things.

“At least it would be peaceful, without hurting anyone.”

Back at the Adult Store, I collapsed into bed and didn’t wake up until the afternoon the next day.

After working out, I went to the bank to exchange the gold bar for cash, then bought a suitable suit from a specialty store.

Looking at myself in the fitting room mirror, I adjusted my tie. “I never thought the first time I’d dress this formally would be to attend an ex’s wedding.”

That day, I wandered around Tingtang Road until late before heading back. “Tomorrow, I’ll say goodbye to everything and start anew.”

The morning sun rose as usual. After a good night’s sleep, I finally shook off the fatigue of the past few days.

I washed my face, put on the suit, polished my shoes. “An ex’s wedding is something to look forward to, after all.”