Извращенная сверхъестественная академия

Глава 2

"Who are you?" I blurted out.

Qiu Hong paused for a moment, then let out two chuckles, which I could sense were a cold laugh. "Yes, who are you? That's what I asked him, and guess what he answered?" Qiu Hong suddenly asked me, and I honestly replied, "I don't know."

“He said,” Qiu Hong suddenly raised her voice, her tone sharp and menacing, “His name is Feng! Xiao! Tao!”

A chill ran through my body.

"Beep..." The phone hung up. I quickly turned off the hotline and chuckled, "Haha, this friend really knows how to joke. Really... really knows how to joke..." I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Was it really a joke? "...It really startled me. Thank you to our friend Qiu Hong for this wonderful joke, which added a more lively atmosphere to our program. I also hope that everyone will participate more in our program, just like Ms. Qiu Hong. Xiao Tao's biggest wish is to turn this program into a completely interactive and thrilling game. Of course, this requires the support and participation of all the listeners in front of the radio. Okay, today's program is almost over. Thank you to the friends who called into our hotline earlier, and thank you to all the enthusiastic listeners who have been waiting in front of the radio. Let's listen to Faye Wong's 'Laughing and Forgetting,' and let's end today's thrilling journey with Faye Wong's ethereal voice. This is Xiao Tao's Ghost Stories program on Dadi Entertainment Radio. I am your host, Feng Xiao Tao. See you next Monday at the same time."

I pressed play on the CD player, turned off the microphone, and let out a long sigh. The doubts still lingered in my mind. Who was she? How did she know what I was thinking?

"No way?" Xiao Qi put down his beer bottle, staring at me with wide eyes. "How could something so bizarre happen?"

The bar was dimly lit, but I could still see my reflection in the glass of the liquor cabinet behind the bar. I didn't look well, and I touched my face.

"I have a cassette tape! It's recorded every time it airs. I'll get it for you to listen to tomorrow if you don't believe me." I was a little annoyed by his skeptical look.

"Well...maybe it's just a coincidence." Xiao Qi frowned and thought for a while. "It's hard to say, but I don't think there's anything else going on."

“How could it be a coincidence?” I said. “Didn’t she tell you her last words? She said that man was Feng Xiaotao! She was pointing at me! At that moment, I felt like someone was pointing a finger at me!”

"So what? It was just a joke. A prank."

"How could it be a prank! How could someone who knows you so well, yet you know nothing about you, play such a joke?"

"Then what do you mean? What was the purpose of her statement?" Xiao Qi asked, puzzled.

Yes, if it wasn't a joke, then what was the purpose? I frowned, carefully considering every possibility. What exactly did that sentence mean? What was Qiu Hong trying to say?

Seeing my pained expression, Xiao Qi patted my shoulder and said, "Forget it, don't overthink it. Come on, let's drink." He raised a bottle.

I barely managed to lift the bottle and clink it against his, took a sip of the wine, and slowly let it slide down my throat.

“By the way—” Xiao Qi picked his nose, “Anyway, I think what that woman said makes a lot of sense.”

"What logic is that?" I almost choked on his words. "What utter nonsense logic is there? I've never heard of a girl named Qiu Hong in our department who tells ghost stories. Back in the day, I was the only one in our department who was famous for telling ghost stories! Why would I call someone I don't even know?"

“I know, I know,” Xiao Qi comforted him. “Just like you analyzed it yourself, it’s obvious that the woman named Qiu is using storytelling as an excuse to talk to you.”

“Chou Hong”.

"Yes, Qiu Hong. It's obvious that the story is completely fabricated; she has ulterior motives."

What do you mean?

"Let's not worry about the logic behind her last sentence; we can't figure that out right now. What I mean is that what she said before makes a lot of sense."

"You mean..."

“I mean, she used the words of the mysterious man in her story—let’s not worry about whether it’s you or what else she meant—to point you in a direction.”

"Alright, alright, I'm her dad, why is she so nice to me?"

"What does it matter?" Xiao Qi asked, puzzled. "Maybe it's just a loyal listener who learned about your predicament through some means and wants to offer some advice. Why not?"

"How did she do it? And why didn't she bring it up directly instead of telling that story?"

"What does it matter what method you use? As for that story, maybe she's just an admirer who didn't want to embarrass you in public. These are all secondary. What I think is important is that her suggestion is very good and worth taking."

What suggestion?

"Are you drunk? I just told you this: go to some supernatural places yourself, and you might find some material and get some inspiration."

"You want me to dig up graves of people without descendants and count the bones of the dead? Forget it. I haven't stooped so low as to need my audience to teach me how to make a show." I lit a cigarette and shook my head. Of course, I was just being defiant; I had actually thought about it, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

“Who told you to go to a place like that? But if you really do go, remember to call me. Oh, by the way,” Xiaoqi slapped his forehead, “I’ve thought of a perfect place.”

"Where to?"

"Do you remember what I told you last time? The incident at the provincial hospital?"

"I remember, so what?"

"We can go to the provincial hospital again sometime to look for my camera while we're there," Xiao Qi said mysteriously, winking.

"God, don't tell me that's true."

"That's true."

I don't believe it.

"Where did I throw the camera? God above, I'm going to have to pay a huge sum of money on stage." Xiao Qi said with a mournful face.

"Who knows where you got drunk last night?"

"That's true! Let's go there once, and you'll understand when you're in that kind of environment."

"I won't go, and I don't believe it."

"Stubborn and incorrigible, you're hopeless! Your show is getting more and more popular and has great potential. I have a nephew who's a loyal listener. Don't ruin your fledgling career because of your stubbornness."

"That's none of your business." I hate it when people lecture me, especially those I consider inferior to me.

"By the way, do you still see Sister Wei often these days?" Xiao Qi took a sip of wine, his face full of ill intent.

"Wei Weiwei? So what?"

"Oh, so what? Your former classmates were so envious when they heard you were hosting a show with Sister Wei."

"Forget it, that old woman who's three years older than me? Besides, I've already told you about how I don't get along with her."

"Sigh, you just don't understand. A man should be incredibly tolerant and considerate of a woman. What's so great about being three years older? 'A woman three years older is like a gold brick in your heart'..."

"Bullshit! Bullshit! You son of a bitch!" I quickly interrupted him, otherwise he might have said something else entirely. In fact, Wei Weiwei was a senior at the provincial university, three years my senior. Back then, she was a legendary figure on campus, the talk of the town. It was said that at least a whole company of guys had pursued her, including this grinning Feng Xiaoqi in front of me, but no one could overcome all obstacles to win her heart. It was said that everyone who tried to get close to Wei Weiwei claimed her arrogance bordered on disdain. However, I scoffed at this. While Wei Weiwei was pretty, she wasn't as stunning as the rumors suggested, and certainly didn't have the right to be so arrogant. Her best feature was probably her voice—versatile, a blend of maturity and innocence, clear and elegant, full of feminine tenderness and charm, offering ample room for the imaginations of naive young men. I wasn't a naive young man, and I'd even had a falling out with her, but I still admitted she was very attractive, because I was, at least, a man.

"Forget it, looks like there's nothing more to say to you," Xiao Qi finished his drink, patted his butt, and said, "I have something to do. I'm leaving now."

"Bullshit, what's the big deal at 2 a.m.? You just want me to treat you."

"It's my turn to be on duty for tomorrow's morning news. Bye-bye." The kid scurried away, turning back to say, "Remember to call me anytime you want to go on an adventure, we can encourage each other."

What a load of crap! I shook my head inwardly. How could I have made such a terrible friend? Not only did he not help me solve my problems, but he also brought up the very things I didn't want to talk about. I guess I'm just unlucky.

I seem to have an innate aversion to the idea of seeking inspiration. At the time, I simply didn't like going, so I didn't go. Only later, when it was all over and I began to reflect, did I realize that it might have been an instinctive self-protective reaction.

But I couldn't have imagined that at the time.

I can only deduce from Qiu Hong's words that this woman, capable of accurately guessing my feelings, must be no ordinary person. First, she must be a loyal listener, paying close attention to my story and discovering things others missed. She must have noticed that despite the show's increasing popularity, my ideas were becoming increasingly mediocre, even to the point of copying someone else's story on Thursday. Second, she must also be someone with similar experiences, which is why she could accurately understand my current predicament.

As for her motives, who knows? Perhaps it really was, as Xiao Qi analyzed, a friendly suggestion from a loyal listener to the host?

That must be it! I suppressed the doubts that were still piling up in my mind, forced myself to put a period to it in my heart, and then ordered half a dozen bottles of wine to completely put the matter out of my mind.

Hello—

"Hello, Xiao Tao."

"Judging from the voice, it should be our old friend Pepe."

"Yes, hehe, it's me."

"Okay, what does Pepe want to say today?"

"I'd like to share some of my feelings."

"Yes, please go ahead."

"Xiao Tao, I've noticed that ever since I started listening to your program, I've become bolder and bolder!"

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"When I first listened to your story, I was so scared, I huddled under the covers all by myself. But then I gradually found that I wasn't so scared anymore. When you were telling that story just now, I didn't even have a reaction."

"Oh, really?" I chuckled self-deprecatingly, feeling as if my secret had been exposed.

"Yes, I think it's definitely not that Xiao Tao's level has declined. It must be that I've become more and more daring. But no matter what, I will definitely keep listening to this program."

Listening to this innocent little girl's trust, I was suddenly a little moved.

"Okay, thank you, thank you Peipei for supporting Xiaotao, and thank you to all the enthusiastic listeners in front of the radio. I will definitely do my best to make every episode a success."

"Okay, keep it up, Xiao Tao!"

"Okay, thank you, goodbye Pepe."

"goodbye."

I really didn't know what to say, so I just answered the hotline call: "Let's hear what the next listener has to say. Hello."

Hello.

"Hey, friend, may I ask your name?"

"Just call me Zhiqiang."

"Okay, Zhiqiang, do you listen to our program often?"

"No, this is the first time I've heard it today."

"Oh, you called our hotline on your first call, that's really impressive. I wonder what Zhiqiang wants to say?"

"Well, let me put it this way. One of my classmates recommended this program to me. No, it's a lot of friends. This program seems to be very popular now. Many of my classmates listen to it every Monday and Thursday night without fail. (I couldn't help but feel a little proud when I heard this.) But, after listening to the story the host just told, I didn't think it was anything special. It didn't seem as scary as the rumors suggested."

I was startled: "So, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"Well, if you don't mind, I'll just say it directly?"

"It's alright, I don't mind, please go ahead." Of course he wouldn't mind.

"I feel that the show 'Xiao Tao's Ghost Stories' is somewhat overrated despite its great reputation. I'm just telling the truth, please don't take offense."

“Okay,” I said, calming myself down. “Thank you for your feedback. Perhaps this is your first time listening to our program, and you’re not quite used to our style yet. I hope you’ll keep listening. I believe you’ll find our program gets better and better.”

After hanging up the hotline, I continued, "Thank you to our friend Zhiqiang for his sincere feedback. It's especially a wake-up call for me as the host. Perhaps I haven't done my job well, which has led to increasing dissatisfaction. However, please rest assured that I, Xiaotao, will do my best to make every episode a success. Please believe me, I will not let you down." I wiped the sweat from my brow, glanced at my watch, and saw that it was still early before the end of the call, so I reluctantly took the next call.

"Hello."

"Hello." It was a girl's voice.

"Hello, may I ask your name, miss?"

"I... I just want to say a few words. I disagree with what that listener said earlier, that Xiao Tao is undeserving of his reputation. I think we should give Xiao Tao more time and opportunities. Although I admit that this episode wasn't very exciting, and it seems to be getting worse with each episode, I still support Xiao Tao. Xiao Tao is the best!"