Massage

"Congratulations to everyone on completing this challenge! Go get some rest. We'll start streaming right at two this afternoon for the next challenge!" Wang Xiang felt that despite today's little hiccup, it had been worth it. At least the viewership was much higher than for the previous two episodes.

Excitement surged through him. As long as no more major incidents happened over the next few days, this episode would go down as legendary!

Everyone returned to their rooms to rest.

Su Li leaned lazily back in his chair, his eyes closed and a bottle of chilled fruit tea in his hands. Behind him, Zheng Xing was massaging his shoulders. He looked utterly comfortable.

"Boss, is this pressure all right?" Zheng Xing asked cautiously.

"Mm, not bad. When did you learn this?" He hadn't expected him to have this skill, too.

Zheng Xing had volunteered to give him a massage. Since transmigrating to Blue Star, Su Li no longer needed to fight and kill or race against time to grow stronger. He had always enjoyed being pampered, so naturally, he agreed.

"Thank you for the compliment, Boss. I read lots of books so I could be a good assistant to you, including books on massage. I even found a dummy to practice on."

He had sworn to become the most capable, all-around assistant.

Su Li gave him a surprised look. "In just these past two days? You're a quick learner."

"It's only right that I do things for you, Boss." Zheng Xing's respect was heartfelt.

Enjoying the massage, Su Li took a sip of icy fruit tea and said to Yuan in his mind, "Yuan, this emotional power really is frightening. All I did was slightly stir up Liu Jinjian's anger, and he started shooting his mouth off as though he'd lost his mind."

His gaze grew deep. "Everyone has emotions and desires, after all. This ability is far more powerful than any destructive witchcraft. It can kill without a trace, without the victim even knowing how they died."

"That's why only you can wield this power, Master. Only such mighty power is worthy of you." Yuan's voice was full of confidence.

Su Li smiled brightly. "Yuan, how did you get so good at buttering me up since we transmigrated?"

Su Li's smile drew a sidelong glance from Zheng Xing. Was his boss pleased with his massage? Or had he thought of something happy?

Yuan spoke, actually sounding a little hesitant. "Master... I wanted to ask..."

"What is it? With how close we are, you can just say whatever's on your mind." Su Li was very surprised. This was the first time he had seen Yuan hesitate.

"Master, do you really like having other people massage you?"

Perhaps he was imagining it, but he actually thought Yuan sounded a little aggrieved.

"I do." Only after answering did Su Li realize. Was Yuan... jealous?

Su Li smiled even more happily, like a sly little fox, and deliberately asked him, "Do you want to give me a massage, too?"

"Yes." Yuan's answer was surprisingly straightforward.

"I'm sure your massage skills would be even better, but you don't have a physical form right now. What can we do?"

He knew Yuan seemed to have a human form. He had asked about it back on the Rod Continent, and Yuan had said there was no way to take it, as though something was missing.

So Su Li was very curious about what Yuan's human form would look like.

"..." There was a stretch of silence.

Just as Su Li thought he wouldn't answer, Yuan's voice came. "I'll do it as soon as possible."

Su Li was even more surprised. Could Yuan really take human form now?

His mood inexplicably improved even further. "All right. I'll be waiting for you."

Su Li waved a hand at Zheng Xing. "Stop for now. Go next door and get the Under-Table Ghost and the headless female ghost. I have something for them to do. Then go to the banquet hall on the third floor and bring that ghost doll here."

Zheng Xing bowed. "Yes, Boss."

In his room, the more Liu Jinjian thought about it, the angrier he became. Whatever show invited him, they had always treated him with the utmost respect. When had he ever been treated like he had today?

Especially by that Su Li. First he had disrespected him, then he had incited others to gang up on him and threaten him. What a shameless bunch!

The production crew had returned the guests' phones while they rested. He picked up his phone, intending to check the comments online.

He believed the public would speak up for him. He wanted to see just how badly Su Li was getting roasted!

#Liu Jinjian gets roasted#

#Award-winning actor and singer clap back at Liu Jinjian#

#Liu Jinjian confronts production crew after a scare on variety show#

These trending topics already had him frowning with a sense of foreboding. When he saw the comments below, he instantly flew into a rage.

[Liu Jinjian got roasted? Who did it? I need to give them a like.]

[I've been sick of him for ages. He's on Feibo dissing everyone and stirring things up every day. Finally blew up in his face, huh?]

[Isn't it just a few novels getting adaptations? What's he so proud of? He's not even in the Writers' Association, and he calls himself a famous author?]

[He makes money off the entertainment industry every day, then turns around and looks down on them. What an ungrateful bastard.]

[Did you guys watch today's livestream? Liu Jinjian was comedy gold on that show.]

[Exactly! First he went after Su Li for no reason, then several people clapped back at him together. He got so scared he collapsed, then tried to shift the blame afterward. Total clown behavior.]

[I still have to say it: Best Actor An's speech was so badass.]

[Those people were clearly throwing their weight around and bullying him. Mr. Liu was the victim, okay?]

[You're calling him a teacher? What did he teach you? Ingratitude or shamelessness?]

"Outrageous!" Reading those comments, he glared so hard his eyes nearly split. These people were utterly blind. Couldn't they see how those people had targeted him?

Furious, he logged into his account and posted on Feibo:

Author Liu Jinjian V: Justice lives in people's hearts! Not everyone is capable of seeing reason. I will resolutely fight those who abuse their power to bully others to the very end!

Before long, there were thousands of comments below:

[We support you, Liu!]

[Mr. Liu is right! Those haters are uncultured and don't understand anything.]

[Oh, you still have the energy to post on Feibo after getting so scared you collapsed?]

[Why don't you spell out exactly who's throwing their weight around?]

[You've done plenty of bullying yourself, haven't you? You've got the nerve to post this?]

[Seeing reason? I don't think you can see reason or know when to back off.]

The show had indeed gained him quite a few followers, but most of them were haters.

Reading the comments, he couldn't help cursing. "These idiots online are worse than pigs and dogs! They don't have brains!"

No, he had to think of a way to teach Su Li and the others a lesson. He had to vent this anger!

While he was racking his brains, he suddenly heard a strange noise.

It seemed to be coming from beneath the floor. "Thump, thump... thump, thump..."

"What's that sound?" He looked at the floor, thinking it must be coming from downstairs. This was the second floor, after all.

"Thump, thump... thump, thump..." The sound grew louder, as though it was coming from right beneath this room's floor!

Liu Jinjian stiffened. For some inexplicable reason, he recalled the rumors he had heard about this Manor being haunted before coming here. He hadn't believed them before.

Just as his imagination began running wild, the sound vanished.

"Knock, knock, knock!" He had only just relaxed when he heard the sound again, making him jolt.

"Mr. Liu, open the door. It's me, Fan Ping!" It turned out someone was knocking.

Liu Jinjian didn't have a manager, but he had hired a personal assistant himself. Fan Ping was that assistant.