Volume One, Chapter Thirty-Six: Infamy Is Still Fame

Li Mengdie was secretly delighted upon hearing the news, but when she looked up and met Qin Yu’s clear gaze, a sudden sense of guilt welled up inside her. Why did she feel as though her motives had been exposed?

“Congratulations to Little Die for landing a new role!”

“Hope Little Die shines in ‘The Chronicle of Liu Qiang’!”

“Thank you to all the fans for your love. Little Die will stay grounded on the path ahead, and I won’t disappoint your support and affection.”

With tears glistening in her eyes, Little Die spoke these words with sincerity. Yet modern netizens, sharp-eyed and astute, were not swayed by her act.

“Is it really necessary to cry over this? Isn’t she overdoing it?”

“Isn’t this her usual way? She’ll do anything for the camera.”

“Among the Candy Girls, she’s the most scheming—such a green tea persona.”

“…”

Qin Yu studied her face, frowning slightly. Li Mengdie’s cosmetic surgery had altered her features, making them difficult to read, but faintly, Qin Yu saw traces of green about her.

She had calculated before: prior to appearing in her livestream, the chances of Li Mengdie getting this role were nearly zero. But Qin Yu knew well the rules of the entertainment industry—controversy brings attention, and even negative fame is still fame. Li Mengdie had joined the livestream to stir up drama.

Clearly, she succeeded. Her affected tears before the camera sparked widespread dislike.

Every profession has its hardships. Qin Yu didn’t blame Li Mengdie for using her livestream as a platform—everyone’s just trying to make a living—but…

“Li Mengdie, no matter how far or high you rise, don’t forget your original intention,” Qin Yu said, looking into her eyes with meaning.

Li Mengdie felt inexplicably uneasy; the girl on her phone, who seemed her own age, was unnervingly perceptive, seeing right through her. Smiling, she nodded with humility and courtesy, “Thank you, Master. I’ll remember.”

Once Li Mengdie left the stream, Qin Yu saw a new request in the queue—it was Yongzi’s father, Chen Hu.

Without hesitation, Qin Yu accepted.

On screen, Chen Hu had grown stubble overnight, appearing unkempt and weary, clutching a grasshopper woven by Yongzi, his eyes red-rimmed.

He didn’t say a word before sending Qin Yu a yacht gift—a virtual yacht worth five thousand yuan, his entire month’s wages.

Qin Yu felt a pang in her heart. If you want to send money, just transfer it directly to her payment account! The Douya platform charges fees!

“Master, has Yongzi gone?” His voice was rough, choked with emotion.

Qin Yu masked her heartache, glanced behind him, and replied, “He’s gone to the place he wished for.”

Chen Hu covered his face, tears glimmering through his fingers, his voice hoarse, “Thank you, Master Siqiu.”

“Do you remember what your son told you before he left?” Qin Yu reminded him before he hung up.

Chen Hu forced a smile, “I’ll live well.”

With that, he left the stream.

Qin Yu shook her head. Chen Hu truly lived up to his name—oblivious to her hint. Who knew when he’d uncover Da Huang’s secret?

[Several months later]

Chen Hu returned home as usual, exhausted and lifeless. Sitting on the sofa, he spotted a fresh green grass butterfly lying quietly next to Yongzi’s favorite woven grasshopper. Clearly, it had been made recently.

Chen Hu recognized the unique knotting at the butterfly’s tail—he had taught Yongzi that technique! Only father and son knew it.

He sprang up from the sofa, “Yongzi! Is that you? Have you come back?”

“Woof, woof, woof!”

Da Huang, his dog, burst in from outside, barking energetically in reply.

Chen Hu tried to chase out the door, but Da Huang blocked his way. He patted Da Huang’s head, coaxing softly, “Good boy, Da Huang. Yongzi is back, let’s go find him!”

Normally obedient, Da Huang refused to move. He gently tugged at Chen Hu’s pant leg, whining and dragging him toward the sofa.

Chen Hu, puzzled by Da Huang’s behavior, was single-minded in his search for Yongzi, planning to dash out when Da Huang was distracted.

But then Da Huang retrieved another newly woven grasshopper from beneath the sofa. Something exploded in Chen Hu’s mind.

He took the grasshopper from Da Huang’s mouth—same unique knotting!

In that instant, he seemed to understand.

“Did you make this?”

Da Huang sat upright, placing a paw gently on Chen Hu’s hand, and looked up, “Woof!”

Chen Hu was speechless with shock, gripping Da Huang’s paw, the soft pads comforting.

“Yongzi! Are you my Yongzi?”

“Woof!”

At that moment, Chen Hu embraced Da Huang, overwhelmed with tears of joy.

Only then did he grasp the meaning behind Qin Yu’s final reminder during the livestream.

Yongzi, welcome back to your father’s side.

This time, Dad will be a good father.

—

Qin Yu tossed out the last lucky bag.

“Master, I feel there’s something wrong with my son lately. It’s as if… as if he’s possessed by something unclean.”

The speaker was a mother around fifty years old.

“Why do you say that?”

“He sleeps all day without eating or drinking, but as soon as night falls, he becomes active…”

“Isn’t this just the norm for today’s college students? If the moon’s awake, so am I.”

“I don’t think it’s much of a problem.”

“Auntie, if you can’t stand it, talk to your son and try to get him to adjust his schedule. If he won’t listen, let it go—he’s grown, let him be.”

“If only it were that simple!” The woman sighed deeply. “A few nights ago, I got up and heard noise near the fridge. I thought there was a burglar. But when I looked, it was my son crouched in front of the fridge! He had a parrot feather in his mouth and was holding a box of frozen ribs.”

“He ate the parrot raw?”

“Whoa, that’s wild! Does your son have some kind of eating disorder?”

“This morning, when I cleaned his room, I found lots of leftover pig and chicken bones—with fresh blood still visible!”

Qin Yu, nibbling on pork jerky, paused mid-chew.

“Could he be possessed by a starving ghost? That’s how it goes in the movies.”

“I think so too.”

“But maybe take him to the hospital first. Being haunted is pretty rare, right? Surely not every case is the work of ghosts.”

Qin Yu swallowed her jerky and reminded the mother, “Ma’am, you haven’t paid for the fortune yet.”

The woman, embarrassed, immediately sent an Eternal True Love gift.

“I did think about taking him to the hospital, but he won’t listen…”

“I’m afraid something will happen, so I secretly installed a camera in his room.”

“Last night, the footage captured something extraordinary.”

“Master, I’ve sent you the video in a private message.”