Astrology Hall with Flesh and Blood

Chapter 77

The TV screen suddenly flickered, displaying a patch of static. Was there something wrong with the sports channel? He hurriedly changed the channel, but no matter which channel he switched to, the same noisy static remained. Could the cable TV connection be loose? He stood up and dragged his tired body to the corner of the room. Just then, a gentle, soft voice rang out:

"Excuse me……"

Her voice was sweet and beautiful, with a hint of timidity. A woman! Yuan Zidan stopped abruptly as if struck by lightning.

"Huh...is anyone there..." The woman hesitated, asking repeatedly as if uncertain, "Is anyone there?"

"Here!" he shouted immediately, afraid she would run away, just like a primary school student answering roll call, "I am a person!"

He rushed towards the sound and found himself standing in front of the television, the voice that had captivated him emanating from the speakers, its owner smiling sweetly.

What an absolutely stunning beauty! His throat tightened as he stared incredulously at the woman on the television. Her long, black hair, cascading like a waterfall, was casually styled into a bun on her head, thick and lustrous with a deep chestnut sheen. From her large, watery eyes brimming with spring-like passion, to her full, luscious lips, and her prominent, almost fully-protruding breasts, everything exuded a mature and glamorous femininity. "She's my type!" Yuan Zidan exclaimed, his heart pounding with excitement.

"This..." He shook his head, unsure of what to say, but the atmosphere would be too awkward if he didn't say a word—after all, this was the first time he had been alone with a woman, and such a beautiful one at that. "I heard you were looking for me?"

The words had barely left his mouth when he wanted to slap himself. What "heard"? She clearly came to him herself. The woman spoke softly, as if she could see right through his embarrassment, "Welcome to the Married Women's TV program. Please feel free to give me your feedback."

"Everyone's a Wife TV Station?" What kind of strange name would a TV station have? He hurriedly flipped through the TV guide, trying to find it. Just then, she spoke up with a smile, "The 'Wife TV Station' only appears before selected guests. The fact that you can see me means that we..." She glanced at him affectionately, then lowered her head shyly, "Isn't it fate?"

Ha, ha! He scratched his head with delight. So that's how it is! What a coincidence that we met on television! So, the beautiful woman's appearance was also because…

“Don’t you remember? I came at your call, as your wife,” she replied meaningfully.

"This 'Married Women's TV station is really smart! The one they chose just happens to be my type..." He happily drifted into a daydream. "From now on, this beautiful woman will accompany me through a happy cohabitation, right?" Hmm, what should I call her? Before he could speak, she seemed to know his thoughts and answered first, "My code name at the station is Bai Jie, but you... if it's you..." She suddenly paused, then, under his expectant gaze, gave him a charming glance:

"I...I'll do whatever you say..." The voice was so low it was like a mosquito's hum, but the most pleasant-sounding mosquito hum of all.

Short Story Collection: Remotely Controlling a Married Woman in an Absurd Country (Part 2)

One evening, he rushed home and eagerly turned on the TV, hoping to see that mature and charming face as soon as possible. But all he saw was a screen full of static. He tried changing channels, but no matter what he did, he couldn't find a single signal. Just like the sudden arrival of the "Married Women's TV Station," was it about to disappear without a trace? His heart sank. Bai Jie! Bai Jie! He frantically called her name, feeling more flustered than ever before. He had finally escaped his solitary life and was now living a happy life with someone (and a beautiful woman at that! This was important!) to keep him company, only to be plunged back into his pitiful bachelor state? He frantically shook the TV, wishing he could pull "her" out from inside. Perhaps moved by his sincerity, the TV suddenly lit up, and Bai Jie, still with a shy yet sweet expression, sat gracefully in the center of the screen. She looked more beautiful today than ever before, wearing a simple yet perfectly tailored white shirt that accentuated her fresh and natural charm. Even Yuan Zidan could easily tell that the shirt was of excellent quality and workmanship, and must have cost a fortune. Moreover, she wore a simple diamond necklace that sparkled against her fair skin.

In short, Bai Jie gave him a sudden sense of elegance today, but her demeanor remained as shy as ever.

“Zidan…” She lowered her head, the platinum necklace gleaming with a luxurious light through her glossy black hair, “There’s something I think I should tell you…”

He remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

Since she didn't hear a reply, she probably thought he was angry, so she quietly raised her head, her gaze darting away, unable to meet his eyes: "Um... please don't be angry with me, okay? I didn't mean to..."

"...What is it?" After a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence from his throat.

“Um…” Bai Jie’s fair face flushed crimson, sometimes biting her delicate lips, sometimes releasing them, “From today onwards…” She slowly swallowed a large mouthful of air, as if making her final decision:

"I've joined the VIP program!"

What?! He was momentarily stunned.

"Those were all free trial viewing slots before. Starting today, if you want to chat with me, the TV station will charge you..." Bai Jie stammered, lowering her head. "I'm sorry, Zidan, I don't want to put you in a difficult position, but I have no choice... Only married women who sign up for VIP membership will get promoted by the TV station. They'll put my ads in the programs featuring currently popular married women, and that's how my viewership will gradually increase—of course, it'll all be free at this point—but once the number of viewers reaches a certain threshold, the TV station will announce that it will start charging. From then on, you'll only be able to see me if you pay, Zidan!" She finished speaking in one breath, almost bursting into tears.

Wait a minute—doesn't this sound exactly like the charging strategy of a certain famous online bookstore? He slowly tilted his head, reminiscing about the days when he used to browse books online.

"I'm sorry!" Bai Jie kept apologizing to him. "It's not that I care about the money, it's just that it's the TV station's rule. Only by obeying them can I have a chance to become famous and become a high-profile wife..."

"Bai Jie," he slowly began, "how much?"

Bai Jie was startled by his calm tone. "Um... five yuan an hour..." she answered hesitantly.

"It's only five yuan!" He snorted and repeated unconsciously, "It's only five yuan! What do you take me for!"

"Buy it!" He slammed his hand on the table, feeling a surge of confidence rising from the soles of his feet. He couldn't help but declare boldly, "I'll buy as much time as you have! As long as you're here, I'll buy it all!"

Bai Jie covered her face with gratitude, repeatedly saying, "Thank you! Thank you!" If it weren't for the transparent screen, she might have already leaped into Yuan Zidan's arms.

That being said, Yuan Zidan's job didn't allow him to spend all his time with Bai Jie. He could only spare a maximum of six hours on weekdays, plus weekends, which meant he could only buy about 200 hours of Bai Jie's time a month, paying the TV station around 1,000 yuan. Compared to nightlife like going to bars, it was obviously cheap, and even compared to some online games, it was probably quite affordable! For just over 1,000 yuan, he found a gentle, beautiful, and understanding partner. Thinking about it, it was really a good deal!

Since joining the VIP program, Bai Jie's style has noticeably improved. She changes into a completely new outfit and jewelry every day, much to Yuan Zidan's delight. The VIP treatment is truly different! He squinted, gazing smugly at the pleasing images on the screen; even the background had become more varied. During the free trial period, Bai Jie sat alone in front of a plain-colored screen that changed color with the date—that was the so-called background change. But now? Bai Jie dressed in vibrant colors every day, moving between coconut palm beaches, vast yellow sands, misty mountain peaks, or ancient towns and deserted villages, allowing guests to enjoy her beauty while simultaneously touring the country's landscapes—a double treat for both body and mind. How did the "Wife's TV Station" come up with such an idea! Yuan Zidan's most memorable instance was when he casually mentioned his liking for nurse uniforms, and the very next day, Bai Jie changed into his most coveted pink nurse uniform, and they played cosplay together in an empty hospital—what a thoroughly enjoyable game! At the height of their fun, he shamelessly asked her to say "I'll sell my daddy" to test her skills, which startled her.

"What language is this? What dialect is this?" She opened her eyes wide in confusion, and her innocent expression made him even more unable to bear it.

"Just call out! It won't hurt anyway!" He was full of mischief.

When her bright pink lips parted and uttered the words "Sell your father," his blood surged with excitement. Thank you, Bai Jie! Thank you, Mrs. Television! Thank you to all the workers who manufactured the television, thank you to the salesman who sold him the television, thank you to the technician who installed the cable TV, and thank you to all the people who have contributed to the television industry in our country! It is you who have given me such a wonderful television wife, it is you who have made me feel that my life has not been in vain for the first time in my life—here, on behalf of my long-oppressed hands, I sincerely say to all of you working people:

"Thank you! Thank you for freeing my hands!"

Short Story Collection: Remotely Controlling a Married Woman in an Absurd Country (Part 2)

Since acquiring Bai Jie, Yuan Zidan's appetite improved, his steps became more energetic, and even his bowel movements became much smoother. From the moment he turned off the TV and stepped out of the house, he eagerly awaited the day's end, hoping his work would finish so he could spend the rest of his precious time with Bai Jie. However, due to his absent-mindedness, he made frequent mistakes at work, ignoring his boss's criticisms, and finally received a warning from above: if he didn't pay attention, he'd be fired immediately!

He barely managed to keep his job, but his bonus was unsurprisingly withheld. The thousand yuan he was allotted to Bai Jie remained unchanged; the rest was barely enough for his daily expenses, leaving him short even for a new pair of shoes. He gritted his teeth, thinking, "It's just this month, right? I'll just hang in there!"

The following month was even worse. His sales performance plummeted, and his boss punished him with a pay cut. Even if he ate nothing but steamed buns and pickled vegetables every day, he still had to pay the rent! He finally reached the point where he couldn't afford to support his wife.

He didn't dare tell Bai Jie about his predicament, so he secretly came home an hour later each day. One hour a day, that's thirty hours a month, and 150 yuan—he'd never cared about such a small amount! But now, bad luck had forced him to bow his head for a pittance. During that difficult hour each day, he would always squat on the stairs outside his house, refusing to go inside. As soon as the hour arrived, he would rush out, panting, and open the door. "I'm sorry, Bai Jie!" That was always his opening line. "The company's been so busy lately, I rushed home like my life depended on it!"

Bai Jie on the television screen gave him a reassuring smile.

She's become increasingly popular lately. Her schedule is packed from morning till night, filled with fashion shows and various banquets, surrounded by tens of thousands of guests. Her fashion sense has also grown increasingly sophisticated; a simple vest she wears costs over ten thousand yuan, reportedly a gift from a wealthy client. And that's not all. Given her skyrocketing popularity, the "Married Women's Television Station" is planning to promote her as their top star, challenging "Midnight" from the "Loli Television Station." This battle will determine the future of these two rival stations, hence the intense attention it receives. Every time you turn on the TV, you're guaranteed to see a large, scrolling advertisement featuring Bai Jie, adorned with jewels, smiling alluringly and urging viewers to cast their precious votes for her.

Yuan Zidan felt the gap between them widening. How could he, impoverished and dejected, possibly be worthy of Bai Jie, the most beautiful and alluring woman on a TV station? He preferred gentle, charming, and beautiful women, ordinary women who could give him a sense of dependence and fulfillment, not a star surrounded by admirers—he needed a woman who belonged only to him, who loved only him, and whom he didn't want to share. The thought of millions of sleazy men talking to Bai Jie like he did, making strange demands, and Bai Jie greeting him with the same smiles, even shouting "selling your father!"... filled him with utter disgust.

"Bai Jie..." Perhaps it was just his imagination, but he felt that ever since he stopped buying Bai Jie's time, she had become distant, no longer as warm as before. One day, he mustered up the courage to tell her that he hoped she would still be the same as before, only kind to him. "I really like you," he confessed sincerely. "Let's go back to how things were before, okay?"

Bai Jie remained silent, only casting a cold, disdainful glance at him from the corner of her eye, a look that sent shivers down his spine. "I never expected you to be this kind of person!" she said indignantly, "Stingy and petty!"

She began to list his faults. First, he was narrow-minded; instead of being happy for her success, he willingly became a stumbling block, obstructing her path. Second, he no longer loved her as much as before, most notably because he had once claimed he would buy as much screen time as Bai Jie had, but now that she had more opportunities to appear on screen, he was buying less and less time. Last month, he only bought less than a third of her screen time—"He didn't keep his word!" Well, another crime added to his list.

Yuan Zidan was truly suffering in silence, unable to express his bitterness. "I love you more passionately than ever before!" he could only shout in his heart, "but I'm short of money and can't buy time like before!"

Bai Jie seemed to see through his thoughts and scoffed, "Pathetic!"

Her harsh words were like knives, stabbing into his heart.

"If you don't have money, can't you earn it? You keep saying you love me, but in the end, you can't even earn money for me! What kind of man are you!"

Money, money, money! Everything is about money! One end of the remote control is connected to Bai Jie, but the other end is connected to his wallet. He thought Bai Jie was a remote-controlled wife, but in the end, he realized that the one truly being manipulated by this remote control was none other than Yuan Zidan himself!

He started working day and night, and finally, his boss, in a moment of kindness, allowed him to receive his long-awaited bonus. However, that amount of money was utterly insignificant in Bai Jie's eyes now. Every item she wore was a luxury item costing over ten thousand yuan; why would she even look at cheap goods worth a thousand yuan? She repeatedly and insatiably demanded more, forcing Yuan Zidan to embark on a path of rapid wealth accumulation—that was...

At first, he had good luck, winning fifty or sixty thousand yuan in a row. With this money, he bought Bai Jie a Chanel handbag, making her beam with joy, and she served him exceptionally well that night. However, he soon followed the path of countless gamblers: losing money—borrowing money to recoup his losses—losing again—borrowing again… He accumulated a mountain of gambling debts, mortgaging all his furniture and appliances except for the television set. Tomorrow was the creditors' deadline, the end of their long-standing patience. He sat in his empty house, clutching the television set, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Bai Jie, Bai Jie..." he called out the name of his beloved woman, but the television remained silent. The cable TV had been shut down due to unpaid bills, and by tomorrow, even the water and electricity might be cut off. He stared blankly at the television that was swallowing him up, unable to utter a single word.

The television screen flickered suddenly, and then a well-dressed man appeared on screen.

“Yuan Zidan,” he said in an unquestionable tone, “you owe this TV station a total of 66 yuan in maintenance fees as of today. Please pay it in full.”

"Keep the change..." Yuan Zidan pulled out the few remaining bills from his pocket and threw them in front of him. The man frowned. "Still owes 60 yuan and 6 jiao."

With a wave of his hand, two men suddenly sprang from the television screen, each grabbing one of Yuan Zidan's hands. The man continued in a mechanical tone, "He hereby settles his debt with his body."

The two men dragged Yuan Zidan toward the television. "...Where to?" he asked weakly at the end.

"Host Club TV Station," the man replied coldly. "Go for it, empty the pockets of lonely old women."

Short Story Collection: The Smoke of Rape in an Absurd Country (Part 1)

The bluish-green smoke, like a two-headed serpent, swayed its obese body and slowly crawled out of his nostrils. He was immersed in the wonderful atmosphere created by this serpent, savoring it for a long time. "Good smoke!" After a while, he finally raised his thumb high, shook his head, and said, "Top-grade good smoke!"

Calling it an "exquisite" cigarette would be an exaggeration; it was merely a local cigarette handed to him by a chance acquaintance on the road—yet for Lao Yan at that moment, it was like a godsend, "the best gift from heaven." He was a heavy smoker, unable to bear the itch all over his body without smoking thirty to fifty cigarettes a day. For over a decade, his wife had pleaded with him to stop, but he not only ignored her but his addiction only grew stronger. His meager salary was entirely consumed by cigarette after cigarette, burning to ash in his mouth, yet still not satisfied. Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, he would follow others, specifically collecting unburnt cigarette butts, savoring even a single puff. The couple argued countless times about this, until finally, his wife, heartbroken, packed up and went back to her parents' home. That was the last time he saw his wife in such a spirited state.

A year later, he was called to the hospital. Lung cancer, and the doctor told him his chances of survival were slim. It was caused by inhaling too much secondhand smoke. The doctor coldly examined the yellow stains on his teeth, his disgust evident, clearly believing it was his fault.

Bullshit! He wouldn't dare contradict a learned person to their face, but behind their back he'd curse their ancestors for eighteen generations—of course, from the bottom of his heart. I've smoked for so many years and haven't developed any health problems, so why should my wife's cancer be blamed on me?!

Even so, he had to be careful. Smoking was strictly prohibited during the half-hour he spent visiting his wife each day, making this unwavering half-hour the most unbearable part of his day. And because of this, whenever he crawled out of the pristine white hospital room, filled with the strong smell of disinfectant, he felt as thirsty as a wild beast in the mountains, wishing he could immediately throw himself into the murky smoke. "A cigarette! Give me a cigarette!" he cried, his bloodshot eyes trembling as he struck the match, a symbol of hope.

Upon hearing his heartfelt praise of "good cigarettes," the acquaintance who had given him the cigarettes shook his head with a mixture of pity and disdain. "This is hardly praiseworthy? To tell you the truth," he whispered mysteriously close to Old Yan's ear, "we recently got a new batch of cigarettes, and those are truly exceptional!"

Upon hearing this, Old Yan felt an unbearable itch, as if a thousand ants were crawling all over his body. "Old Qiang," he grabbed the other man, his face gleaming with a lewd grin, "can I smell...smell him?"

Everything was going according to Lao Qiang's expectations, but he still frowned and pretended to be having a hard time. Lao Yan pleaded repeatedly, practically begging him to be his father, before Lao Qiang finally agreed, feigning reluctance.

"Strong Smoke"—that's the name of the new product.

As they walked, Lao Qiang explained to him, "Ever since I smelled the aroma of this cigarette, all those other brands like Yunyan and Hongtashan have to get lost! They're all garbage!"

"So amazing?" Old Yan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He was always short of money and had never even smoked a cigarette butt like Yunyan, so he had no idea what it tasted like. Unlike Old Qiang, who was frequently exposed to all kinds of famous cigarettes because of his work, Old Yan always trusted his taste.

In other words, this new product called "Strong Smoke" would be an unprecedentedly excellent cigarette. Thinking of this, Old Yan's legs couldn't help but tremble. When Old Qiang put on white gloves and respectfully offered it to his lips, his legs shook uncontrollably, and he could barely stand.

"I won't stand on ceremony." He gestured to Lao Qiang with his eyes, and the latter agreed by lighting the cigarette. He narrowed his eyes to focus on every minute of the tobacco burning.

Huh? He slightly opened his eyes. Why is there no smell?

Two wisps of dark blue smoke slowly emerged from his nostrils, swirling like snakes in the air to form intersecting rings. He took two deep breaths, exhaling even more smoke into the air. He clearly saw Old Qiang beside him, his nostrils flared, greedily inhaling the dark smoke, a look of utter enjoyment appearing on his wrinkled face.

However, in Lao Yan's mouth, he only tasted a burnt flavor similar to burning cotton.

The acrid smell grew stronger and stronger. At first, it was odorless, then gradually turned into the smell of burning paper, and finally, it smelled like charred flesh—fishy, foul, and burnt, with a faint, nauseating stench of blood. Old Yan, unable to bear it any longer, ripped the cigarette from his mouth, wanting to smash it on the ground. Just then, Old Qiang opened his eyes and stopped him in time.

"Are you crazy?" He grabbed Lao Yan's hand tightly, horrified. "This is an absolute gem of cigarettes!"

Old Yan spat at him fiercely, "You little bastard, you dare to play me! It stinks! This is the first time I've ever smoked such disgusting cigarettes!"

"The smoker smells bad, but the person inhaling it smells good!" Old Qiang greedily chased after the gradually dissipating black smoke, seemingly still wanting more. "If you don't believe me, ask them!"

Several people were hiding behind the door, each with a look of satisfaction mixed with regret on their face. Their eyes were vacant and their movements were listless, until they inhaled the last wisp of smoke in the air, at which point their eyes seemed to regain their vitality.

"Exquisite! Truly the finest of cigarettes!" One of them exclaimed excitedly, tears and snot streaming down his wrinkled face. "To smell such an unparalleled aroma, my life has been worthwhile, truly worthwhile!"

He walked shakily to Lao Yan, grabbed his hand, and shook it violently. Lao Yan was bewildered by his frantic actions and couldn't understand what was going on. So Lao Qiang came over with a smile and explained.

The unique feature of strong smoke is that the smoker cannot perceive any fragrance, and may even smell a foul odor; however, the smoke they exhale contains an unparalleled fragrance, better than any cigarette currently in existence. Even more remarkably, the more unpleasant the smell perceived by the direct smoker, the more fragrant the aroma perceived by the indirect smoker. In other words, one must inhale secondhand smoke to experience the wonder of strong smoke. Before Lao Yan, Lao Qiang and others had already conducted experiments, and none of them wanted to give up the opportunity to inhale secondhand smoke. Therefore, it was necessary to find another person to inhale strong smoke and exhale the smoke for them to enjoy.

"What benefit would I get?" Old Yan pointed out sternly. "You guys are enjoying yourselves inhaling secondhand smoke, while I'm left to inhale that stinky smoke for nothing. Only a fool would do that!"

"Old Yan, don't be so formal!" Old Qiang patted his shoulder affectionately. "Anyway, you won't lose out! How about we chip in and pay you as a reward? Or, you can smoke as many cigarettes as you want in my shop?"

The latter was simply too tempting. Panda, Zhonghua, Yuxi... all sorts of unattainable famous cigarettes made his mouth water. "Okay!" he decided.

Short Story Collection: The Smoke of Rape in an Absurd Country (Part 2)

That being said, the days of officially "going to work" were far from pleasant. Every time he saw Lao Qiang and the others enjoying inhaling secondhand smoke, Lao Yan, who smoked as well, felt increasingly uncomfortable. If it weren't for the generous pay, he would have quit long ago. Strangely enough, ever since becoming addicted to strong cigarettes, Lao Qiang and the others no longer cared for ordinary famous brands, even giving up rare gems like "Panda." Although smoking strong cigarettes felt like torture, as long as Lao Qiang and the others' cravings were satisfied, Lao Yan could get his wish and sample many renowned cigarettes for free.

His only question was, was strong smoke really that magical?

The only cigarette brand that truly irritates active smokers is probably Strong Cigarette; there's no other like it. Old Yan endured the pungent, fishy stench day after day, his heart filled with irritation. If the first time he smoked, the smell was merely like burning cotton, then the current stench was a world apart. The more he smoked, the stranger and more unpleasant the stench became. From a garlic/rotten egg smell, it gradually evolved into a strong stench of blood and corpses… the bizarre changes were truly astonishing. However, he didn't dwell on it. As long as he had cigarettes to smoke and money to spend, he was as happy as a god. As for the inconvenience of smoking Strong Cigarette, he simply considered it a minor nasal congestion and let it pass.

The group of smokers gathered around him grew ever larger. Each time Old Yan lit a strong cigarette, the more unbearable the stench became, and the thicker and more robust the black, serpentine smoke billowing from his nostrils grew. The smoke swirled heavily in the air, thickening the surrounding atmosphere like turbulent waves in the night, accompanied by a hissing sound. Old Qiang and the others followed the black serpent in a daze, their nostrils flaring powerfully, as if trying to inhale every last drop of smoke. Occasionally, a wisp of black smoke would escape from the house, and passersby, upon smelling the strange aroma, would forget everything else and press their faces against the door, inhaling deeply. Once someone had tasted the strong smoke, they could never escape its sweet temptation again; they would wait outside for days and nights until they were granted the privilege of inhaling secondhand smoke.

As the group grew, Lao Qiang gradually realized the importance of management. After discussing with Lao Yan and several senior members, the "Strong Smoke Club" was officially established. Lao Qiang took the position of minister, and Lao Yan naturally became the vice minister. The club's rules were simple: a smoking session would be held daily at a set time, with Lao Yan in charge of smoking while all other members smoked. Of course, a fee was charged, starting at 300 yuan per person per month, which went into the club's expenses, with most of it ending up in Lao Yan's pocket. On the first day of trial operation, Lao Yan was quite apprehensive, after all, he was relying on others to provide him with cigarettes! However, the situation was surprisingly gratifying; fifty or sixty people enthusiastically signed up on the first day, dispelling his gloom. He slapped his forehead and smiled triumphantly. After all, those captivated by Strong Smoke were willing to spend any amount of money as long as they could smell that delicious aroma again! Lao Yan would never forget the sacred moment of receiving his "salary" at the end of the month, a large stack of hundred-yuan bills of varying condition, heavy and burning in his hand. He'd smoked his whole life, and this was the first time he'd ever made money, and a whole thousand yuan at that! This job was fucking a steal!

He excitedly recounted his good fortune to his wife, who was lying in the hospital bed. His wife, hidden under the sheets, was deathly pale; she simply listened quietly, without uttering a single word.

After he finished his rambling, his wife deliberately turned her head away:

"No wonder you've been smelling strange lately."