Chapter 33: A Strange Feeling

"See? See? Even you guys think my dad is acting weird, right? My dad’s voice didn’t sound like this before. Combined with his recent strange behavior, I really suspect he’s been possessed by a female spirit. Streamer, please, save my dad."

Jiang Zhiyue gave her a reassuring look. "Don't be afraid. Go open the door and let me see."

As the saying goes, humans knock three times, spirits four, and demons five.

The user's father had only knocked three times each time he approached the door, so he likely wasn't possessed by a spirit. However, to be certain, she needed to examine his physiognomy.

Encouraged by Jiang Zhiyue and the prodding of the viewers, "Yangzhi Ganlu" finally gathered the courage to open the bedroom door.

Outside, her father stood holding a plate of sliced apples, smiling kindly. "Lili, I cut some fruit for you. Have some, it's very sweet."

Yangzhi Ganlu took the fruit plate. "Thanks, Dad."

"Are you on the phone with a classmate?"

"Yeah. If there's nothing else, Dad, I'm going to close the door."

"Lili, I..."

Before he could finish, Yangzhi Ganlu slammed the door shut. She rushed back to her desk and positioned her phone. "Streamer, how was it? Did you see clearly? Is my dad really possessed? What should I do? Don't worry, I know the rules and will pay you extra. Can you come to my house to help me?"

[Holy crap, Yangzhi Ganlu, you're brave! You still dare to stay in the house? If it were me, I would have left long ago.]

[Exactly. I also feel like this dad is acting weird.]

"Can you private message me your father’s full name and his birth date and time?"

"Sure, but I only know his Gregorian birth date. Is that okay?"

"That works."

Soon, Jiang Zhiyue received the private message. She made some quick calculations and asked, "Your father is a down-to-earth, honest man who has worked diligently his whole life, rarely doing anything out of the ordinary. The divination shows that his fate began to shift last month."

"Yes! Ever since he came back from his trip last month, he's been like a different person. At first, he would hide in his room and avoid people. Later, he got a bit better and could go out, but his behavior and speech are so strange. Streamer, do you think he encountered something unclean while traveling?"

Jiang Zhiyue coughed lightly. "Ahem, Yangzhi Ganlu, your father went to Thailand, right?"

"Yes, exactly."

"Then think about what Thailand is famous for."

Yangzhi Ganlu scratched her head, thinking hard. The live chat was already buzzing:

[I know! Her father must have been tricked by locals into adopting a 'Kuman Thong' (child spirit) while in Thailand!]

[Right, the child spirits there are super famous. So many people go there specifically to pray for one!]

[Hey, the viewers in this stream are so polite and serious? In my opinion, the most famous thing in Thailand is the ladyboys!]

Seeing the comments, Yangzhi Ganlu slapped her forehead. "Right! Streamer, do you think he was tricked into adopting a spirit?"

Jiang Zhiyue shook her head. "I suggest you ask your father directly about this. But I can tell you for sure: he is not possessed, and there is no negative energy in your home."

Yangzhi Ganlu was confused. "Ah? Then why did he change like this?"

Sensing Jiang Zhiyue’s hesitation, Yangzhi Ganlu boldly declared, "Streamer, just tell me! I want to know!"

Jiang Zhiyue took a deep breath and organized her thoughts. "Your father is 55 this year. Under current laws, he would retire in five years. But if a small 'accident' happens, he could retire this year!"

"Huh?" Yangzhi Ganlu was puzzled.

Jiang Zhiyue explained, "In China, men retire at 60, but women can retire at 55. Perhaps your father just wants to retire early?"

"Huh?" Yangzhi Ganlu still didn't understand.

Quick-witted viewers in the chat began to exclaim:

[Oh, damn! It’s not what I think, is it?]

[Did that brother earlier actually hit the nail on the head? Thailand's most famous thing is the ladyboys!]

[If this is the case, I’m wide awake now... If that’s true, this uncle really has a unique perspective!]

[No way, no way. I’d like to call him a modern-day hero—no, a modern-day auntie!]

Seeing the scrolling comments, Yangzhi Ganlu’s heart tightened, and she looked at Jiang Zhiyue in distress.

Jiang Zhiyue nodded slightly. "Your father has had a very hard life. Although this sounds hard to understand, he just wanted to find a legal way to rest. As his daughter, I hope you can communicate with him properly and listen to his thoughts."

"Okay, I understand. Thank you, Streamer."

The moment the stream disconnected, Jiang Zhiyue clearly saw a tear slide down Yangzhi Ganlu's cheek.

[Sigh, if that's really the case, I hope she doesn't blame her father. It's just a man who is too tired.]

[The young can't find work, and the older ones can only find loopholes like this to retire. It's truly tragic.]

Soon, the heated discussion in the chat died down as the second winner connected. This time, it was an elderly couple, with a hospital room in the background.

"Hello, Streamer, can you hear us?"

Jiang Zhiyue looked at the two plain-looking elderly people in the frame. A flash of craftiness crossed her eyes before a smile curled her lips.

This sight left Pei Heng, who was standing by to assist, completely stunned. He had never understood why the lyrics "choose beauty over the empire" existed until he met her. He wasn't sure if this counted as love, but he knew that as long as he was thinking of her, looking at her, and following her, he felt as if he were soaking in a jar of honey.

Sweet.

Jiang Zhiyue restrained her smile and said seriously, "Welcome. I can answer the question you want to ask. Please click the 1,000-yuan 'destined one' link in the shopping cart below."

"Okay, okay, let me find it. Please wait a moment, Streamer, I'm not very good with this app."

As the woman struggled to find the shopping cart, the old man beside her nudged her arm with his elbow, dissatisfied. "Forget it, don't ask. Even the police couldn't solve it—you really think this little girl can? She's just a scammer!"

The woman glared at him. "It's because the police were useless that I'm asking the streamer. Otherwise, what do you suggest? Do you want me to watch the Zhu family line die out?"

She suddenly stopped, glancing cautiously at the camera. "Streamer, I've paid. This thousand yuan is our emergency fund; please, you must help us."