Weren't you going to eat me? Why are you running?

That horrifying face did not linger in front of the camera for long. Like a slide, it flashed past with a click.

Even so, it caused an uproar in the livestream.

[What did I just see?! My eyes weren't playing tricks on me, right?! That was a woman's face, right?!]

[I saw it too! It flashed past, like an NPC in a haunted house! Fuck, there goes my sleep tonight!]

[This is a prank, right? Could it be edited in? I'm starting to think I'm hallucinating!]

[If I weren't here to watch Lu Yanting, I'd report this in a heartbeat. Footage like that isn't suitable for kids. It's definitely against the rules!]

[+1. I came to watch this variety show because I'm thirsting over Ji Yuanming's body, but before I could even drool over the screen, I saw that. My heart nearly jumped out.]

[Am I the only one who thinks this is exciting?! After all those ordinary, boring variety shows, this really hits different!]

[Exactly, exactly! I'm actually really looking forward to watching Jian Ran catch ghosts now. Am I crazy?!]

[He is pretty badass. Didn't you hear Du Yunmeng and Shen Jiafei both calling him Jian Ran? He must really know his stuff!]

[...]

In just one minute, the barrage of comments nearly overwhelmed the screen.

The cameraman was scared out of his wits. Before he could recover, Jian Ran's face filled the lens. "What did you catch on camera just now?"

"Must've picked up another channel, right?"

"Another channel?" the cameraman asked in confusion.

"There's no need to film here. You can go." Jian Ran covered the lens with his palm. His clear eyes shone in the darkness, instantly reminding the cameraman of searchlights along the coast.

A light that offered enlightenment.

"Right, right, there was a signal problem just now. We picked up another channel." The cameraman turned and bolted outside. "The lighting's bad. I can't film here. I'll head downstairs and find some help."

Before he had even finished speaking, he had practically skidded to the stairway, the camera on his shoulder doing nothing to slow him down.

The three left behind fell silent for a moment.

Then Ji Yuanming cleared his throat and asked, "What did he see just now?"

The camera had been behind him the whole time, while he had been walking ahead, so whatever had happened was completely outside his field of vision.

Seeing how quickly the cameraman had fled, Ji Yuanming was certain something unusual had happened.

"Are you going on about ghosts and spirits again?"

He frowned as he asked, sounding a little impatient.

At some point, Jian Ran had become particularly interested in the occult. He often said his constitution attracted yin energy and that a little ghost was always perched on his left shoulder.

What a joke.

Ji Yuanming had grown up abroad, thoroughly steeped in Western thinking. He championed science and atheism. Would he believe such nonsense?!

Although, that said...

His left shoulder really did feel sore and swollen.

That could only be frozen shoulder!

Jian Ran could not be bothered with Ji Yuanming's skeptical mockery. He turned and headed deeper into the guest room area.

"Hey, wait! I'm talking to you!"

Ji Yuanming tried to follow, but Lu Yanting blocked his way.

"What are you doing?" His tone was stiff, his expression hostile.

Ji Yuanming had already developed a strong hostility toward this award-winning actor whom rumor said no one could afford to cross.

Lu Yanting was nowhere near as agitated. His expression remained indifferent, his dark eyes flicking to the left. "There's something on your shoulder."

Ji Yuanming froze. Once he registered the words, his face darkened further. "Jian Ran even told you about that?!"

"Heh, you actually believe it?!"

Lu Yanting pressed his thin, cold lips together and was just about to speak when a clang suddenly rang out behind him.

He spun around and caught the moving image of Jian Ran kicking open a guest room door and swiftly drawing his leg back.

Lu Yanting froze for a second, then a faint smile curved his lips.

That temper really was straightforward.

When the two men, who were practically romantic rivals, reached the doorway and saw inside the guest room, both froze.

The guest room was very simply furnished: a bed, a wardrobe, a writing desk, and a handwoven bamboo chair.

The window was open, and the white curtains billowed in the wind, flailing like claws.

Everything looked fairly normal.

If one ignored the water constantly seeping out of the wardrobe, that was.

"W-what is that?" Ji Yuanming had never seen anything so unnatural. His handsome, Western features could not hide his shock.

Jian Ran did not turn around, his tone full of disdain. "Can you shut up?!"

Lu Yanting silently took a few steps forward instead. His pupils suddenly contracted, and he asked in a low voice, "Is that bloody water?"

"Mm," Jian Ran answered.

Ji Yuanming was speechless. Could he make the favoritism any more obvious?!

He tells me to shut up, but gives him an 'mm'?!

They've only known each other a few days, and they're already this close?!

Standing before the iron wardrobe, Jian Ran stared fixedly at the gap. Bloody water kept pouring out of it, and a faint voice emerged as well.

"I'm hungry-"

"Feed me-"

"What do you want to eat?"

Whatever was inside the iron wardrobe seemed not to have expected a reply. It paused before continuing in a hollow, eerie voice, drawing out the last syllable. "Human flesh-"

"I want to eat human flesh-"

"That won't do," Jian Ran replied solemnly. "Our inn's guiding principle is to be green and environmentally friendly. Eating meat is forbidden."

The iron wardrobe fell silent.

It seemed to feel it had been made a fool of and began shaking violently in fury. More blood gushed out, flowing along the cracked floor and swiftly snaking toward their feet.

"You two, get out!" Jian Ran suddenly shouted.

Ji Yuanming was already stunned by the sight and was about to bellow angrily, "Whoever's in that iron wardrobe, get the hell out!"

But Lu Yanting moved before he could, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him out. "Don't make trouble here. If that blood touches you, you'll die!"

"Seriously, man, you actually believe this?!" Ji Yuanming could no longer worry about appearances, because he discovered that despite being six foot three, he was utterly helpless in Lu Yanting's grip. Lu Yanting dragged him out just like that, leaving him no room to resist.

Once the two were outside, the guest room door slammed shut on its own with a bang.

With nothing left to worry about behind him, Jian Ran rapidly formed hand seals and growled, "Shake again, and I'll smash your coffin!"

Before he had finished speaking, he struck the iron door with his palm.

A golden halo spread out, and the iron wardrobe indeed settled down.

But the next second, it let out a cackling laugh, like a sound squeezed from a woman's strangled throat, shrill and piercing. "Heehee, I'll eat you tonight-"

"Don't even think about running-"

The corners of Jian Ran's mouth curled. "I told you to eat vegetarian, but you wouldn't listen."

As he spoke, he suddenly thrust his fingers into the gap in the iron wardrobe, then wrenched it open...

The ghastly pale, hideous face inside, bleeding from all seven facial openings, actually froze. Its bulging eyes stared straight into Jian Ran's, and for a moment, the air stood still.

Then a panicked, uncontrollable howl erupted.

"Aah-"

A gray figure shot out of the iron wardrobe.

Jian Ran watched the drifting figure, a teasing curve to his lips. "Weren't you going to eat me? Why are you running?"