Chapter 65: Chapter 65: There’s a Ghost! Help

“Streamer, you have to help me! She’s about to show up. Can you do anything? If not, I’m bolting. I really can’t handle being scared anymore. I’ve been so stressed about this, I feel like I’m going bald.”

Whether she meant to or not, Zhang Xiaoxue then angled her head toward the camera, revealing a burgeoning bald spot.

But her complete disregard for her image and her endearingly silly demeanor made her fans roar with laughter, dispelling much of the tension.

[I was so scared I was about to cover my eyes, but then I peeked through my fingers and saw Xiao Xue’s thinning hair. I know it’s mean, but I couldn’t help but laugh.]

[Xiao Xue, fess up. Did you step on some girl’s grave? Is that why she came back as a ghost to haunt you?]

[Xiao Xue! Listen to your fans. You’re in your thirties and don’t even have a partner. You definitely can’t get rid of this ghost. At least if she stays, you’ll have some company.]

[You guys are too savage. Xiao Xue is so cute, how could she keep just one ghost? If she’s going to keep any, she should keep a whole group.]

[I’m a scientist. I believe Xiao Xue is collaborating with the streamer, so they’re just putting on a show for everyone!]

[Xiao Xue, come on back! Stop messing with us, we’ve already seen through your little act!]

Zhang Xiaoxue herself never expected to be teased by her fans like this when she was already so miserable. And to think some people thought she was acting, treating the livestream like a variety show.

It was her own fault for playing her usual persona so well; her every word and action seemed to hit their funny bone.

Shen Zhiyao said, “Can you show me the living room?”

“Yes, of course!” Zhang Xiaoxue quickly picked up her phone and panned it around the house.

By now, it was 12:00 AM. But the girl Zhang Xiaoxue had been talking about was nowhere to be seen.

“That’s strange. She’s usually right on time at midnight. Why is there no sign of her now?” Zhang Xiaoxue glanced around nervously.

“It’s too bright in your room. Turn off the main light,” Shen Zhiyao explained.

“Turn it off? No way, I’m scared,” Zhang Xiaoxue hesitated.

“It’s okay. I’m here. Nothing will happen,” Shen Zhiyao’s voice was light, but for some reason, it carried a reassuring quality that inspired trust.

So, gritting her teeth, Zhang Xiaoxue switched off the main light. The room was instantly plunged into a dim, hazy glow.

Scared, Zhang Xiaoxue sent several Douyin Number Ones to Shen Zhiyao. “Miss Shen, you have to help me! I’ve never done anything wrong or wicked in my entire life. I don’t know why a ghost would be haunting me.”

Just then, a sound echoed through the room: THUMP-THUMP… THUMP-THUMP.

Zhang Xiaoxue’s expression tensed instantly. “She’s here…”

Every time the girl appeared, this haunting sound would start, accompanied by the sound of footsteps.

The longer it went on, the more mournful the sound became.

[Hahahaha, where did Xiao Xue get that sound effect? It sounds pretty realistic. I almost got scared!]

[I bet the hired actor is hiding somewhere in the room and is about to come out.]

[Attention, Zhang Xiaoxue’s fans! The probability of seeing a ghost in this stream is 100%. This isn’t an act, it’s real!]

[Streamer, Streamer, you tell us! Is there really a ghost? I don’t trust anyone else, I only trust you.]

With the massive influx of Zhang Xiaoxue’s fans, there were indeed many who weren’t familiar with Shen Zhiyao’s style and didn’t believe any of it. But those who did believe had already covered their eyes, waiting to peek through their fingers and watch the drama unfold.

Just then, before the floor-to-ceiling window behind Zhang Xiaoxue, a slender, willowy figure suddenly appeared.

The window had opened at some point, and the night wind whistled in, making one’s scalp tingle.

The young girl just stood there, her face obscured by shadows, her dress swaying in the wind.

The drumbeat was rhythmic, each beat desolate and mournful. It sounded as if it were coming from a great distance, yet also as if it were right beside her ear.

Trembling, Zhang Xiaoxue demanded, “Who the hell are you?! Why are you haunting me? Show your face!”

The girl just stood there silently, neither answering nor leaving.

The live comments blew up. Some of Zhang Xiaoxue’s fans, who had never seen anything like this, were shocked by the scene unfolding before them.

[Ahhh! Is that the ghost? This can’t be an act, can it?]

[Whoa, I thought she just appeared out of nowhere. Didn’t you guys notice? She doesn’t have any feet!]

[Holy shit, my parents are on vacation, and I’m home alone. Are you trying to scare me to death in the middle of the night?]

[New fans, calm down. I’m an old follower. In this stream, the people are usually more vicious than the ghosts. This one won’t hurt anyone, don’t worry!]

[But still, Zhang Xiaoxue, what on earth did you do to get an evil ghost latched onto you? The last one was Wu Ai Wo Fu, but her career was instantly ruined!]

[Huh? Is Zhang Xiaoxue about to get canceled? Please don’t get canceled, Zhang Xiaoxue! I actually really like you!]

Zhang Xiaoxue was in no state to read the live comments anymore. She was so scared she could have wet herself.

On the verge of tears, she looked at Shen Zhiyao with a miserable expression. “It’s like this every time. She just stands there every day. I ask her questions, but she never says a word! If I didn’t have a healthy heart, I’d probably be a ghost by now myself!”

Shen Zhiyao saw the origin of the ghost soul at a glance. “She doesn’t speak because she can’t,” she said. “And she’s here because you brought her here!”

Zhang Xiaoxue frantically denied it. “I try to stay as far away from this kind of thing as possible! Why would I bring her home?”

Shen Zhiyao said, “A year ago, you took a trip to Tibet. While you were there, you bought a small drum and brought it home.”

Now that she mentioned it, Zhang Xiaoxue did have some recollection.

A year ago, Zhang Xiaoxue had gone to Tibet to film a variety show.

While passing through a market, her eyes were drawn to an exquisite-looking small drum on a blanket.

The seller told her it was an antique, a family heirloom, and that keeping it in her home would bring her peace and safety.

So, Zhang Xiaoxue bought the drum for a high price.

Afterward, she was busy with work and constantly traveling, so she left the little drum at home and gradually forgot about it.

Only now, hearing Shen Zhiyao bring it up, did she remember the incident.

As it happened, the drum was right there on a nearby display cabinet. She picked it up and waved it in front of the camera. “This is it. I bought it at a tourist spot in Tibet last year. But what does that have to do with my house being haunted?”

Shen Zhiyao replied, “It has everything to do with it. The drumhead is made from the skin of a young girl. Her soul is trapped inside it, unable to reincarnate.”

“What?!” Startled, Zhang Xiaoxue dropped the drum. It hit the floor with a dull THUD, a sound identical to the eerie drumming from before.

But now, Zhang Xiaoxue didn’t dare touch the drum again.

“I had no idea it was made from a girl’s skin when I bought it! I just thought it looked beautiful, so I kept it in my house. What do I do now, Miss Shen?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep