Back to 2008: Streaming the Supernatural

Check out my new novel, I Own a Building in a Hong Kong Horror Story!

In 2050, humanity went extinct.

Sixty-three-year-old Ji Rong closed her eyes as fireworks exploded.

It was an age of despair.

The sun no longer rose. Evil spirits wreaked havoc, industry ground to a halt, and technology stagnated.

Ghosts roamed in great processions. People and ghosts mingled, with demons and monsters everywhere.

When Ji Rong woke again, she had returned to 2008.

She was twenty that year. In her memories, humanity feared evil spirits, and those spirits would only grow stronger until they devoured the world and turned it into their garden.

Then she had a dream.

In another timeline, the country developed at breakneck speed. The virus never contaminated the nation's water supply, and the arsonist never destroyed the World Games.

From that year onward, the torch traveled around the world, cross-sea bridges were built, and spaceships and aircraft carriers...

Evil spirits vanished amid humanity's flourishing hopes, and the world brimmed with life.

Ji Rong opened her eyes, her gaze flickering.

It was 2008. None of it had started yet. She could still change the future.

*

In 2008, livestreaming was still an untamed frontier.

Ji Rong made a decision.

That's right, she was going to livestream the supernatural! She'd take on evil spirits head-on!

"Welcome to my supernatural livestream!"

"As long as you're not scared, evil spirits are just minions!"

"What?! The Mayan prophecy says the world will end in 2012?"

"Come on! Look how fragile they are. Can't you just knock their heads clean off with one punch? How is that the end of the world?"

And so, the internet's first generation of users in 2008 witnessed the following unbelievable scenes.

A ghost baby shrieked in terror as Ji Rong unleashed a flurry of punches, beating it until its soul scattered.

A cold, gloomy male ghost? No problem. She took him to catch some sunshine with the woman of his dreams.

An old man ghost who refused to leave the house he was squatting in? She'd wave the property deed right in his face!

[Viewer A tipped the streamer: Sports Car x1]

[Viewer B tipped the streamer: Luxury Mansion x1]

[Viewer C tipped the streamer: Yacht x11]

Tips, tips, tips...

Ji Rong: I'm stronger now, and richer too.

I, Ji Rong, take on both the living and the dead!

A few things to keep in mind before reading:

1. The heroine is an ordinary person with no golden finger, but she does have the protagonist's aura!

2. Magical realism. Please don't take it too seriously! Please don't take it too seriously! Please don't take it too seriously!

3. If anything seems off, it's because the author's left and right brains are fighting. Waaah, go easy on me and leave your brain at the door.

Also check out my completed novel in the same genre, When I Inherited an Urban Legend Theater.

You Xique thought her life had gotten pretty exciting lately.

Ever since she became the 44th owner of the Urban Legend Theater, she would die if she didn't complete the tasks the theater assigned!

Task 1: Find the bloodstained red dancing shoes

[Reward: SR-rank Actor Card. The ghost lady is watching you~]

Task 2: Remember to feed the Urban Legend Cabinet on time

[Reward: The favor of an SSR-rank Item Card. Make sure you feed it well, or it will eat you instead.]

Task 3: Go to the site of the car accident at 4:44 a.m. and escort a blind person home

[Reward: Unlock an SR-rank Item Card, and maybe an unexpected surprise]

As she went about completing her tasks, You Xique realized that though she was supposed to be alone, there seemed to be a lot more "people" around her.

A cute little ghost girl snuggled in her arms, begging for cuddles.

A pair of twin boys clung possessively to her arm, baring their sharp teeth at outsiders.

A beautiful female ghost nestled beside her, fanning her.

One moment, a gloomy male ghost was radiating murderous energy. The next, he had an arm around her waist, gazing at her with watery eyes and acting all innocent.

You Xique couldn't help but ponder.

Was her theater not big enough, or not lively enough?

Were these employees really so free that they had to cling to her every day?

*

One day, a strange illness called Withering Syndrome spread across the globe. Patients' emotions gradually grew numb over time, and eventually their bodies stiffened until they died. The only cure was to have their emotions stirred by external stimuli.

A theater opened its doors at this very moment, and quickly became a global sensation. Tickets were in such high demand that ten thousand people fought over each one, and patients with Withering Syndrome were especially desperate to get inside.

At first, no one believed it.

"That's it? What kind of crappy Urban Legend Theater is this? It's a scam!"

"My son got Withering Syndrome this year. If he goes in and doesn't get better, my dad's loaded. I'll make sure they go bankrupt tomorrow!"

"Using urban legends as a gimmick? Hah, how boring!"

The audience walked in scornfully. Before long, they were stunned.

The old theater was gloomy and terrifying, and the air seemed to reek of blood. The staff were taciturn and hardly seemed alive. As strange music played, pale-faced actors performed onstage, while countless cold shadows seemed to stir in the darkness.

Mom! This is so scary! So thrilling! I love it!

"Thanks for asking. I've had Withering Syndrome for ten years, and I'm awake now."

When the show ended, the theater owner came out with the cast.

The audience was thrilled. The owner of such a huge theater had to be a burly, muscular tough guy!

How else could he keep so many employees in line?

Then they saw the red curtains slowly draw back. The theater's owner was a tall, slender woman with a pretty, captivating face, like the only pearl in a gloomy night. Strange shadows crowded behind her, and a pale arm seemed to be wrapped around her slender throat.

She smiled faintly, like a hundred flowers blooming in the night.

"Welcome to the Scarlet-Eyed Urban Legend Theater~"

Theme: Be a good person, and keep striving to improve.