Chapter 7 Little Devil (7) Remembering such a great face as we enter...
The new episode first introduces Yuan Luhang's situation. He was quite successful in his career for a while, but recently things have been a bit rough.
While filming a program out of town, a sudden downpour caused flight delays, leaving me only able to make it to the second half of the recording; another drama series that was about to air might have its broadcast postponed due to controversy surrounding one of its lead actors; and a private dinner was photographed by paparazzi, sparking rumors and causing a huge uproar among fans…
He's currently popular and has the potential to become a breakout star. The company is handling the negative public opinion surrounding him quickly, so it won't have much of an impact. However, the accumulation of small incidents is still irritating him.
He couldn't help but think back to those days a few months ago, those long days.
That was the lowest point in his life. He clearly had such a high starting point, debuting as a child star, with his first work being the Best Film of the Year, a top-tier production, and being signed by a talent agency. It seemed like his path to stardom was smooth sailing.
The reality is that his success was short-lived. As his body matured, his acting roles became limited. During his transition period, he couldn't get good roles, and his agency, eager for quick success, made him film a few idol dramas, but they weren't suitable for him.
He was arrogant and thought he was a movie star who should take the route of a serious actor. He felt that taking on this kind of role was beneath him and felt wronged. No matter how he acted, it was awkward. The audience felt that his acting was not right and that his face was not good enough for an idol drama male lead. He was criticized and this path was cut off.
He also tried other paths, but the talent show only used his "child star debut, household name" as a gimmick. He couldn't sing or dance, so he exhausted his last bit of audience appeal. The show generated a lot of discussion, and then eliminated him.
His parents treated him as a money-making tool, the company didn't value him, he was bullied by his seniors and had his resources taken away by his juniors, so he could only work as an extra, playing some hard, dirty, or marginal roles with little screen time.
Meanwhile, his former rival, who couldn't compete with him, had become a huge star and was the male lead pampered by the entire crew. In a scene where his co-star needed to go into the water, the co-star deliberately made a mistake, forcing him to film it again and again until he was soaked to the bone. In the end, he was so dizzy that he collapsed from exhaustion.
The male lead pretended to be startled, frowning and complaining, "You're so unprofessional. Are you making everyone wait for you? No wonder you'll never be famous."
Before he fainted, he had only one thought: he had to become famous, trample everyone under his feet, and from then on, he would be the one bullying others.
No matter the cost or the method.
He will become famous.
Yuan Luhang waved goodbye to the variety show crew with a smile, but as soon as he turned around, his face darkened.
Ultimately, his bad luck started when he accidentally lost the body he had his eye on!
He looked at many people, but wasn't very satisfied with any of them. Those people were only about the same level as his current face, or maybe a little more refined. Why not just get plastic surgery? He wants the best!
The fortune teller listened to his needs and came up with a solution: if she couldn't find such a person, she would let that person take the bait themselves.
She set up a special ritual in the abandoned school, which was like a trap. She would chant a spell, and the trap would actively lure qualified people to come. When the time came, the little devil would appear and reap the rewards.
He was skeptical, but when he saw the boy on the stone table in the sorceress's mirror, he was convinced. After being shocked, he immediately decided that this was his goal, the physical form he was pursuing.
But his face did not change, and as the worshipper, he dared not question the little devil or point out his faults.
The trap ritual was a one-time event; the boy could no longer be found, but the sorceress quickly found him a new target with a face of the same caliber.
Stay calm, it's just a minor setback. He's destined to be a movie star.
The new assistant helped Yuan Luhang into the car, and subconsciously glanced down at his side, but there was nothing there.
He was puzzled; there were no children there.
Yuan Luhang's assistants are constantly changing. He had only been on the job for two or three days when he heard from colleagues that Yuan Luhang always had a child with him. The child was Yuan Luhang's nephew, and they had a very good relationship. The child was very attached to Yuan Luhang, and Yuan Luhang doted on him, always granting his requests and often keeping him by his side.
He found it strange that a celebrity might have a child with them and risk the media making things up. Besides, it would be inconvenient for them to travel.
But it wasn't something a new assistant like him should ask about his boss's family affairs. He just asked the agent if Yuan Luhang needed him to take care of the child when he was busy with work.
But the agent said no need, the child would play by himself and often disappeared, so there was no need to worry about him.
He considers himself easygoing, but he thinks his boss and agent are even more easygoing, letting their child run around alone.
He should keep an eye on things; there are too many people and too many eyes at the filming location. If a child bumps or gets hurt, he'll be blamed.
But since he started his job, he hasn't seen any children at all; Yuan Luhang comes and goes by himself every day.
Has the child been sent back to relatives' house?
What are you looking at?
The assistant looked up abruptly and saw Yuan Luhang staring at him with a gloomy and eerie gaze.
"N-nothing!"
"Nothing?" Yuan Luhang's tone softened, strangely gentle, as he guided, "I thought there was someone next to me... Didn't you see it?"
The assistant shook his head, and Yuan Luhang's forced smile immediately turned even more terrifying, his once fresh face becoming distorted.
The assistant broke out in a cold sweat under the stare, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously. He was afraid that even this small movement would be seized upon by the terrifying man in front of him and become the fuse for impending danger. So he suppressed his physiological reaction, his throat feeling like it was stuck, making it hard to breathe.
After a while, his legs were so weak he almost fell over before he finally looked away.
When they got home, Yuan Luhang told them all to get lost. His assistant, who was supposed to go home with him to pack, was overjoyed at the words and ran off, bowing and scraping and saying "get some rest."
In the dimly lit room, on the altar of the doll god, there was a plate of bloody raw meat, and incense was burning brightly.
In the wisps of smoke, the phone lay to the side, the person on the other end chattering away: "...I didn't expect it to be so sudden. The audition has been moved up to next Tuesday, but you know the director's quirks. The scenes with the big demon are probably filmed in the middle of the night, and the location is in the suburbs. We need to get there early, so we have to leave tonight. You might be auditioning at midnight. There's very little time left. Are you ready? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Whether I become a star depends on this role. Don't let me down..."
There was no response on the other end of the phone; only a pair of hands were visible.
His left hand rested on the raw meat, while his right hand picked up the dagger and slowly sliced it across his palm. Drops of blood fell into the greasy meat in the bowl, slid over the protruding tendons, and merged into one.
He called his name repeatedly on the phone, but couldn't hear anything. Thinking it was a bad signal, he hung up.
The dial tone of the phone being hung up pulled the person inside back to reality. He murmured, "...I will become famous."
In the comic, through Yuan Luhang's memories, it is depicted that the sorceress used a trap ritual to trick Xie Tan.
However, the plot still doesn't reveal that the ritual failed or that he survived; it simply involves the fortune teller choosing Lu Jinzhao again.
It seemed like the fortune teller was doing a very good job, so Yuan Luhang needed new qualities and came to the fortune teller again.
So this explains the background of celebrities using ghost children, but why don't these ghost children work during crucial auditions for big productions?
What exactly does he want from Lu Lu? He already slept with a stunning beauty at the beginning, but the celebrity's face didn't change. Could it be that he failed then? So he changed his target, still aiming for her looks?
Xie Tan nodded, congratulations on guessing correctly. But the others on the forum didn't think so, believing he was already dead.
Stop dreaming. You're a sacrificial offering character. If you really miss them, go out and offer sacrifices to their spirits.
Xie Tan: "?"
What is it?
He switched to the plot discussion thread, and another post had been bumped to the top; it was already a hot post.
[Cyber-themed paper offering memorial event: We will forever remember that such a magnificent face entered the world of Wonderland!]
Xie Tan had a bad feeling. He clicked on it, and his face was the first picture in the new series.
The bottom row is filled with the same message, "May your wife rest in peace," and it's already six hundred stories high.
Xie Tan: "..." Thank you, but no need.
There's another building with many floors, where people are wishing the author would bring his face back, and some are even buying him a resurrection armor.
As Xie Tan watched, his awkwardness faded, and he found it rather amusing.
It's remarkable that they still remember a cannon fodder character who didn't even survive two pages, and are so... enthusiastic about him.
The cat proudly raised its whiskers: "Looking like this, it's only right, meow."
Xie Tan: "..."
What are you so proud of?
He switched back to continue watching the plot discussion.
[His sudden change of expression was suspicious; everyone knew something was amiss. It must have been a gradual transformation. Yuan Luhang probably timed it perfectly, but the audition was brought forward, catching him completely off guard.]
[Lu Lu's qualities should be very useful. With such a big director and a good project, plus a good public image, the competition must be fierce. It's not something you can just get just because you're suitable.]
[It's "luck"! Lu Lu's incredible good fortune, he wants this, doesn't he!]
[Wow, I see the truth in the comment above! That's an ordinary person who's lived since the very first Kitan series!]
That ordinary man
That ordinary man
...
[Agreed. If beauty isn't enough, good luck will make up for it. Besides, the brat's magical power has increased; maybe he'll try to steal Lu Lu's beauty too!]
[The altar was meticulously designed, and the offerings and other ritual implements seemed meaningful. A new small golden altar was added, and raw meat and blood were offered (this is almost life-threatening; could it really just be animal meat?). But the evil spirits took the money and didn't do anything; they haven't been around the worshippers lately.]
[The little devil isn't satisfied? The Yin Doll God isn't on the righteous path; all the benefits gained will incur tenfold or a hundredfold interest in the future—it will always have to be repaid.]
[I agree with the comment above. Did you notice the birthmark on Yuan Luhang's forearm? Xiao Gui's arm also has one. It used to look a bit like it, but now it looks more and more like it, which means their bond is stronger.]
Perhaps when things are exactly the same, that's when we'll pay the price.
Xie Tan recalled the words that the celebrity had in mind.
"No matter what method I use or what price I have to pay, I will become famous."
Like a deal made with the devil.
Some forum users analyzed this statement: "Is this considered a contract? Did some kid devour him when he became famous?"
[That kid should be even more proactive in helping him win the role. Could it be that Lu Lu's luck has finally turned around?]
[Am I the only one who thinks the kid is having too much fun and has forgotten about work? He's just a kid, probably just playing around and has forgotten all about his job.]
[Haha, even ghosts don't want to go to work; this is genuine resentment.]
That's it. Xie Tan thought, this kid is so carefree, his target is right across the street, yet he keeps hanging around him every day, probably just trying to slack off.
The cat kneads its pleadingly: Really? I think it's even more attached to you than I am!
With Yuan Luhang's storyline over, it's time for the storyline of the man in black and Lu Jinzhao. Xie Tan, perk up.
Let's start with Lu Jinzhao working at a fast food restaurant.
Lu Jinzhao has been occasionally distracted lately.
The boss really likes this hardworking and lively young man. Most importantly, his face has brought him a lot of customers, and he has replaced the iced cola as the store's new signboard!
So he inquired about the employee's situation, asking if he had any exams to take recently and if juggling both was too tiring.
"School hasn't started yet, so I probably haven't been sleeping well. I'll get back into shape as soon as possible. Sorry! Please don't deduct my salary!" The young man had a serious face, but he put his palms together and flicked them outwards in a playful salute.
The boss laughed and pretended to be angry: "That's right, I am such a heartless bastard boss, so you should pay more attention to rest and balance work and rest. Let me squeeze you to the maximum extent. You can't afford to collapse from exhaustion!"
"How terrifying, it's—"
After chatting for a few minutes, Lu Jinzhao smiled and waved goodbye to the boss. It wasn't lunchtime yet, so there weren't many customers. With some free time, he unconsciously drifted off into thought again.
He then thought of the evening from last weekend.
Xie Tan looked and realized it was the night he had followed Lu Jinzhao home.
A note from the author:
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