Proofreader & Editor:Peter Pan
Lin Baici had already turned off the lights. The glow from his phone screen illuminated his face, creating an eerie atmosphere reminiscent of a horror movie in the dark room.
"Divine taboo?"
Lin Baici was taken aback with uncertainty.
Feeling hungry under these circumstances certainly wasn't due to some lost valuables nearby, but the presence of a top-notch Divine taboo, triggering his hunger.
Lin Baici got out of bed and walked to the window, peering out into the neighborhood.
Apart from a couple of night joggers, a Meituan delivery guy zooming past on his electric scooter, and the occasional bark of a dog, the neighborhood was quiet.
Lin Baici looked down and watched a live stream.
Xiao Xianya was dressed in a black and white maid outfit today, strumming her guitar and singing a hit song from the harbor city. Her right leg was propped up on the gaming chair, rhythmically tapping the seat to the beat.
Her black stockings, paired with the exposed thigh area, were eye-catching.
Xiao Xianya didn't like wearing accessories. Apart from changing into a new outfit, she looked no different from when Lin Baici had seen her a few days ago.
"Today's live stream ends here. See you all tomorrow at 3 PM, don't miss out!"
Xiao Xianya bid her fans goodnight and ended the stream in a flash.
Lin Baici didn't catch a clear view of anything, and after a moment's hesitation, he decided not to call Xia Hongyao.
Relying solely on his sense of hunger, he couldn't confirm whether there was a Divine taboo near Xiao Xianya. If he was wrong, it would not only be a hassle for his colleagues at the Safety Bureau but also bring trouble to Xiao Xianya.
Better to keep observing!
***
On Tuesday morning, after the first calculus class, Zhu Qiunan arrived during the break.
As soon as she entered the classroom, almost all the male students' eyes were on her.
Her figure-hugging blue jeans accentuated her long and shapely legs and hips, paired with white sneakers. She wore a thin, fluffy white down jacket that covered half her buttocks, and her hair was tied up in a youthful high ponytail.
Most people would feel uncomfortable under such scrutiny, but Zhu Qiunan walked as if she were in an empty classroom, or rather, in her eyes, these students were no different from the holly in the roadside greenery.
"Here to see the class president?"
Zhou Zhou envied the girl's figure, and she was also the top student of their freshman year, a true academic star.
Bai Jiao and Ji Xinyan were also pretty and had some fame in the college, but not as much as Zhu Qiunan.
"Probably?"
Liu Zilu muttered quietly, "Didn't she come to find the class president before? She even gave him the first tea with milk of autumn!"
Hearing this, Ji Xinyan's red lips, moistened with lip balm, twitched, wanting to say 'No, the first tea with milk of autumn was bought by me.'
Sure enough, Zhu Qiunan walked to the back of the classroom and sat down next to Lin Baici, placing the takeout bag on the desk in front of him.
"It's getting cold, take care of yourself. I've been a bit busy lately, but when I'm free, I'll treat you to a meal!"
Zhu Qiunan prattled on like a caring girlfriend concerned about her boyfriend.
【Delicious takeout delivered right to your door, dig in!】
"You don't have to do this, Zhu student, you don't owe me anything!"
Lin Baici had never thought to exploit the incident where he saved Zhu Qiunan to make excessive demands.
"Can you call me Xiao Nan? Or if you prefer, Qiunan is fine too," Zhu Qiunan asked softly.
"Holy shit!"
The boys sitting nearby were envious to the point of spitting blood when they saw the top beauty of their grade humbling herself like this. If they had known that fighting off that mad dog would win a beauty's heart, they would have risked it all, even if it meant getting bitten all over.
"Qiunan…"
Lin Baici didn't know how to respond. With Ji Xinyan, who actively flirted with him, he was happy to flirt back and even let things go further, but Zhu Qiunan was a good girl, and he couldn't bear the thought of using her and not taking responsibility.
In short, Lin Baici wasn't scummy enough.
"I heard you've been skipping classes a lot lately. It's okay, just starting college, wanting to let loose is understandable. At the end of the year, during final exams, I can tutor you!"
After saying this, Zhu Qiunan stood up, "Class is about to start, I need to go!"
This academic star was decisive and didn't dawdle. She arrived like a cloud and left like a breeze.
"What did she bring you?"
Zhang Zhixu, sitting in the front row, reached out and fiddled with the takeout bag.
A tea with milk, three pieces of chocolate, an egg tart, and a slice of strawberry mousse cake. These items, totaling a hundred yuan, weren't cheap for a college student, and more importantly, it was the thought that counted, especially coming from the top beauty of the grade.
"Old Bai, what are you thinking?"
Qian Jiahui was curious about what kind of girl Lin Baici liked: "The situation is clear, it's a girl chasing a boy, just agree, and the marriage is set!"
Liu Yu, sitting not far away, was green with envy.
What's so good about Lin Baici? Why is Zhu Qiunan throwing herself at him?
Doesn't she have any shame?
"Class president, are you playing hard to get? Or do you have someone else in mind?"
Zhang Zhixu was dying of curiosity.
Zhu Qiunan was beautiful and talented, and she was humbling herself to please him. How could Lin Baici not be moved?
The girls were also full of interest.
"Is the class president fishing? If he plays too hard, he's going to lose out big time!"
Xu Jiaqi thought Lin Baici was just pretending to be reserved and would probably agree soon, especially since Zhu Qiunan was truly a catch.
Pei Fei speculated whether Zhu Qiunan knew about Lin Baici's family background.
"Even if the class president really doesn't like her, who could withstand her persistent pursuit?"
Tao Nai felt it was only a matter of time before Lin Baici was conquered.
Ji Xinyan absentmindedly twirled her pen: "Time is running out, whoever wants to drink Lin Baici's first tea with milk, better make a move!"
"Is your tea with milk serious?"
Liu Zilu joked.
Everyone knew their place; competing with Zhu Qiunan for a man was just asking for trouble.
"By the way, do you know? On that rainy day, I heard a girl was sent home in a Rolls-Royce. Could it be Zhu Qiunan?"
"I think Mi Qin senior is more likely!"
"Was the guy driving the car handsome?"
"There was no guy, just a driver in uniform!"
The girls chattered excitedly, speculating whether Mi Qin was about to marry into a wealthy family.
Pei Fei listened to all this, dumbfounded. She really wanted to say that it wasn't Mi Qin, it was her and Ji Xinyan.
In the evening, Lin Baici returned to Gu Qingxiang's rental, finished dinner, tutoring, and washing up, then went back to the guest room to open Xiao Xianya's live stream.
This time, he didn't feel hungry.
***
A week passed uneventfully, and Lin Baici came up empty-handed, while Xiao Xianya's popularity continued to soar, firmly establishing herself among the top streamers.
On Saturday, Lin Baici went to practice driving with Xia Hongyao. When he returned in the afternoon, he planned to invite Gu Qingxiang out for dinner, but the counselor had bought a lot of ingredients and was preparing a feast.
Lin Baici had no choice but to give up.
After dinner, Lin Baici wanted to help clean up, but Gu Qingxiang refused.
"You go play with your phone!"
The counselor was truly wife material, never letting Lin Baici do any housework.
With nothing else to do, Lin Baici lay on the couch and watched Xiao Xianya's live stream.
This up-and-coming streamer usually broadcasted from home, either in the living room or bedroom.
Today, it was her bedroom. Through the live stream, you could see half of her bed piled with stuffed toys, almost all of which were anime and cartoon characters.
On the table were live streaming equipment like microphones and cameras, and a large enamel mug filled with wood ear mushroom tea made with Nongfu Spring water.
Every time she finished singing, she'd take a few gulps from the mug, which had become Xiao Xianya's signature.
"Looking at legs? Get lost!"
Xiao Xianya was scolding someone in the live stream: "I don't sell legs, I earn my living with talent. If the fans are happy, get a membership, donate some silver, Xiao Xianya here thanks you!"
The scene in the screen was just an ordinary girl's bedroom, with no sign of Divine taboo, but…
Gurgle!
Lin Baici felt a pang of hunger, like seeing someone post delicious food late at night, making him want to feast.
"Hmm?"
Lin Baici perked up and sat straight, staring at the phone screen.
Xiao Xianya's live stream style was very mainstream, and she was somewhat reserved, but her imitation skills were incredibly strong.
Listening to a big star's concert costs real money for tickets, but at Xiao Xianya's, you could hear covers that were no less impressive than the original singers.
If you just listened without watching, no one could tell the difference.
"Next up is the song request segment everyone's been waiting for. One by one, please, let's start with the fans!"
Xiao Xianya smiled sweetly.
Lin Baici watched the screen as if playing a spot-the-difference game. Soon, his gaze landed on the pile of stuffed toys.
Between a Pikachu and a Totoro, squeezed together, a little paw and half a wing were visible, looking like some kind of bird. "Could it be this thing?" Lin Baici frowned.
All the stuffed toys on the bed were anime and cartoon characters, only this little paw was an animal, quite special, and it looked like it was deliberately buried, not wanting to be seen?
【A parrot plushie touched by a deity!】
Gourmet God suddenly commented.
Lin Baici's heart relaxed.
It was confirmed, it was this thing. Lin Baici figured the last time he watched Xiao Xianya's live stream without feeling hungry, it must have been because this item wasn't in the frame.
Another deity involved?
Was it the same one he encountered at the provincial museum before?
Or a new deity?
Lin Baici pondered and dialed Xia Hongyao's number.
"What's up? Bored at night and looking for company?"
Xia Hongyao was surprised; usually, it was she who initiated chats with Lin Baici.
"Go to Shark Platform, search for the streamer Xiao Xianya, she has a Divine taboo."
Lin Baici inquired, "Is she a member of the Jiuzhou Safety Bureau?"
"Let me check!"
After a few minutes, Xia Hongyao replied, "No."
"How do you usually handle this situation?"
Lin Baici wasn't targeting Xiao Xianya, but a Divine taboo could cause significant rule pollution if it erupted, and he hadn't forgotten the last time a stray dog affected an entire neighborhood, killing many people.
"Contain the Divine taboo, have the holder sign a confidentiality agreement, but most holders die during the rule pollution outbreak."
Xia Hongyao explained as she opened Xiao Xianya's live stream and watched for a few minutes, "Where's the Divine taboo?"
"Buried under those stuffed toys!"
Lin Baici was glad Xia Hongyao wasn't the type to dig too deep, unlike Xia Hongmian, who wouldn't let him off so easily.
"Where? Oh, I see it. Really? How did you find that?"
Xia Hongyao was shocked. My ace is truly unparalleled, born to be a deity hunter.
"Wait, how did you confirm it through the screen?"
High ponytail believed Lin Baici but needed a reason to file an action report.
"Intuition."
Lin Baici explained, "This female streamer's rise was too fast, her imitation skills too abnormal. I've been following for a few days, and today I suddenly noticed something off about this stuffed toy!"
"She's currently live streaming, showing up at her house would cause unnecessary trouble. Let's wait until tomorrow, you two go!"
Xia Hongmian's voice suddenly came through the phone.
"Oh my!"
Lin Baici was startled. Why didn't you say your sister was there?
Do you want to eat stir-fried leather belt?
Fortunately, Xia Hongmian didn't dwell on how Lin Baici discovered the Divine taboo.
Lin Baici didn't want to talk to Xia Hongyao with Xia Hongmian around, so after agreeing on a time, he quickly hung up.
After all, the secret that he could consume divine remains was too significant.
"Eat some fruit!"
Gu Qingxiang placed a fruit plate on the coffee table in front of Lin Baici.
"Oh!"
Lin Baici watched Xiao Xianya's live stream and suddenly laughed. Could it be that deities also liked to cluster in first-tier cities?
But they probably didn't have to be drifters, right?
After all, they were deities and could surely afford a house!
"Qingxiang, how much do you make a month?" Lin Baici asked curiously.
"Why? You need money? Chasing a girl or buying something? Is five thousand enough?"
Gu Qingxiang looked up, glanced at Lin Baici, and reached for her phone, ready to transfer money to him.
"Not… I'm not short on cash."
Lin Baici felt embarrassed but also warmed. He asked out of a whim, thinking of buying a house for the counselor.
Otherwise, with her salary, she'd never be able to afford a house in Haijing.
Lin Baici had planned to buy a house, but living with Gu Qingxiang was too comfortable, making him not want to leave. Although the house wasn't big, the hostess was beautiful, virtuous, and capable!
Ding dong!
WeChat rang.
Lin Baici checked his phone and saw a transfer from the counselor.
Five thousand yuan!
"Qingxiang, I really don't need money!"
Lin Baici was taken aback by how readily Gu Qingxiang gave him money.
"I don't have anywhere to spend it. You use it to buy some clothes or have a better lunch at the cafeteria!"
Gu Qingxiang instructed.
Lin Baici was touched, jumped up from the couch, rushed over, and hugged Gu Qingxiang: "Why won't you agree to be my girlfriend?"
"…"
Gu Qingxiang was silent for a few seconds, then tiptoed up and kissed Lin Baici before pushing him away and continuing to wipe the table.
Lin Baici wrapped his arms around Gu Qingxiang's waist from behind, kissed her hair, and then tentatively slid his right hand upward.
He couldn't understand why Gu Qingxiang didn't reject these intimate actions but just wouldn't agree to be his girlfriend.
***
The next morning, Lin Baici waited for Xia Hongyao at the school gate. They were going to find Xiao Xianya, but the first to arrive was Hua Yueyu.
"Little Bai!"
Hua Yueyu had planned a surprise attack but didn't expect to see Lin Baici as soon as she got out of the taxi: "Did you guess I was coming?"
"…"
Lin Baici was speechless.
The little mermaid pouted, a hint of grievance in her voice: "You're not waiting for another girl, are you? Let me see, is she cuter than me?"
"I'm waiting for Hongyao; we have important business today!"
Lin Baici explained.
"Hongyao sister? Then it's fine!"
Hua Yueyu immediately smiled, trusting Lin Baici's integrity, he wouldn't make a move on the intellectually challenged Xia Hongyao, or he would have done so long ago.
"What's the important business? Surely not to purify God's Ruins?"
Hua Yueyu was both excited and fearful of such actions. She loved the possibility of receiving divine grace or even meteorite stones, which could strengthen the body and make one healthier and prettier when absorbed. But she feared the danger, as it was easy to perish.
Although she would be protected by Lin Baici, she didn't want to be a burden forever.
"Contain a Divine taboo!"
Lin Baici briefly described the situation.
"Ah? Xiao Xianya is a deity hunter? Rose to fame with a Divine taboo?"
Hua Yueyu was shocked, then relieved: "No wonder. But how come her divine grace is so powerful? Mine is just drinking and boxing?"
Beep beep!
An army jeep drove up, honking a few times.
"Hongyao sister!"
Hua Yueyu hurriedly greeted.
"Aren't you cold?"
Xia Hongyao was astonished.
The streamer wore black leggings and a down jacket that barely covered her thighs. If she made a bigger move or bent over, her buttocks would be exposed.
"Cold!"
Hua Yueyu immediately wrapped her arms around Lin Baici's arm.
Sigh!
If it weren't for capturing Little Bai, I wouldn't wear such things out.
The passenger door of the jeep opened, and Gu Qingqiu got out: "Baici, Yueyu, cough cough, good morning!"
"You're coming along too?"
Hua Yueyu saw Gu Qingqiu's pale face and cough and felt she should be resting at home.
"Just bored, came to watch!"
Gu Qingqiu just wanted to observe Lin Baici containing the Divine taboo up close, so she brought two of the best filming smartphones and a digital camera.
"Get in the car, we'll talk on the way!"
Xia Hongyao urged.
In one night, the Safety Bureau had found Xiao Xianya's detailed information, including her real name, current address, and family situation.
Xiao Xianya didn't finish high school and came to Haijing to work. Due to her poor education, she couldn't find a good job, so she turned to live streaming. She became famous just over a month ago, so she hadn't earned much money yet and still lived in an old and dilapidated neighborhood called Meiya Phase II.
At 9:30 AM, Lin Baici and the group arrived at the neighborhood and found Xiao Xianya's rental.
Knock knock knock!
Xia Hongyao knocked, but there was no response.
"Seems like she's not home?"
Gu Qingqiu was filming with her phone: "Should we break in?"
"Let's wait for Xiao Xianya to come back. She must carry such an important Divine taboo with her," Lin Baici said, not expecting such a setback. He currently didn't feel hungry, indicating that the Divine taboo wasn't in the room.
"We'll have to wait," Xia Hongyao decided to head back to the car when Hua Yueyu suddenly spoke up.
"I asked about Xiao Xianya in my fan group, and someone said she's having a gathering with her fans today and won't be streaming tonight."