Chapter 13
The next day, Ye Xiyao was late for work.
And not just by a little—he was a full hour late.
Inside, he was incredibly anxious and terrified, fearing that he might be fired because of it. But he couldn’t explain to the company why he was late.
Earlier that morning, on his way to work, Ye Xiyao had encountered someone possessed by a demonic entity on the subway.
Ye Xiyao had never come across such a situation before—or maybe he had, but simply couldn’t sense it. That’s because he had always suppressed his demonic powers, which also blocked his ability to detect the presence of other demonic energies.
But today, for some reason, when Ye Xiyao brushed past that person on the subway, he immediately sensed an aura that didn’t belong to a human.
It was a demon, he was certain of it.
Though weaker and less powerful than the demon he had encountered last time, for a human, being possessed by such a demon was still lethal.
After a brief moment of thought, Ye Xiyao decided to follow them.
He knew that there were generally two stages to a demon possession.
The first stage was when the demon had just attached itself to the human body and needed time to adapt to its new host. During this stage, the human would be unaware of the possession, and their life wouldn’t be significantly affected.
The second stage was when the demon began to invade the human’s soul and consciousness. It could then control the host body, gradually devouring the soul.
The time it took to fully consume a soul could range from three to five years, or as short as one or two days, depending on the demon’s strength.
During this period, the demon would mimic the host’s behaviors, ensuring that no one around them would notice anything unusual. Once the soul was entirely consumed, the demon would quietly leave, leaving the human to die suddenly, creating yet another unsolved missing-person case.
The reason Ye Xiyao decided to intervene was that he sensed the demon was quite weak and that the human had likely been possessed for less than 24 hours.
If he acted quickly, the possessed person could still be saved.
So, Ye Xiyao followed the person out of the subway and, finally, in a quiet area, found a way to “accidentally” bump into them, apologizing profusely while pinning the person’s face to the ground.
Though Ye Xiyao’s body wasn’t particularly strong, as long as he used a little bit of demonic power, there was no way an ordinary human could resist.
It took Ye Xiyao less than 30 seconds to eradicate the demonic energy wreaking havoc inside the person’s body.
As he stood up, he even said, “You should avoid any strenuous activity for a while.”
That’s because after being possessed by a demon, a human’s soul remains unstable, and intense physical activity could lead to sudden death.
Not even a coroner would be able to figure out the cause of death.
“…Who are you, why did you hit me… and what do you mean, avoid strenuous activity?”
Before the person could fully comprehend what had just happened, Ye Xiyao, having done his good deed, had already dashed away in a flash.
Ye Xiyao helped partly because he couldn’t mind his own business, but mostly because he couldn’t stand by and watch as a human was killed by a demonic entity.
Even though he didn’t like to admit it, Ye Xiyao and that demon were technically of the same kind. After all, succubi still had “demon” in their name.
So, seeing other demons harm people felt a bit like he himself was causing harm.
He knew perfectly well that he shouldn’t be using his powers right now, but he did it anyway.
And immediately after, he regretted it, feeling nervous and scared, afraid that he might get “hungry” again.
Thankfully, after walking a few steps and passing by a few people, he didn’t notice any particularly enticing scents. He gradually began to relax.
Ye Xiyao knew that if he encountered something like this again, he’d probably still do the same thing.
Knowing something was impossible yet doing it anyway—how foolish.
But what else could he do?
He just happened to come across it and happened to have the ability to save that person.
The only silver lining was that the demon was incredibly weak and didn’t use up much of his energy.
Using a little bit of magic shouldn’t be a problem, right?
Last time, he had used so much energy and still managed to recover just by sleeping for a while.
Worst case scenario, he’d just faint again this time.
He pretended to shrug off the ominous feeling lurking within him.
–
Meanwhile, in the product experience department, everyone sat gloomily in the meeting room.
Each person held a cup of coffee, but the more they drank, the more bitter it tasted. Their brows were furrowed deeply, and sigh after sigh filled the air.
Just this morning, when Qiao Linchuan left the house, he received a message from Wen Jisheng. He had called in sick, and not just for a day—he’d taken a full week off.
“Wen is in the hospital. How do we distribute his workload?”
Wen Jisheng was responsible for several long-term projects, many of which he had been managing for months. After each product iteration, he was the one who provided the latest feedback. Now that he was on sick leave, his tasks couldn’t just be put on hold.
Everyone simultaneously raised their coffee cups and took another bitter sip, rolling their eyes.
When it came to being busy, no one in the department was an exception. Who would willingly take on more work?
Qiao Linchuan took on the heavy responsibility, tackling the two most complex products himself. “Everyone, help cover for Wen Jisheng. It’s only for a week at most.”
Given the special circumstances, no one could really refuse, so they all reluctantly chose a few projects within their capacity to take over.
But there was still one task left untouched.
Qiao Linchuan cleared his throat, “Ahem, who’s going to handle the product launch livestream this afternoon?”
Lu Kou: “I’m not free.”
Xu Xingyang: “I’m not free either.”
Qin Zai: “Even if I were free, I wouldn’t do it.”
Qiao Linchuan, feeling a bit awkward, said, “This project is at the final stage. The tech is solid, the operations are mature. We’re just standing in for Wen Jisheng to oversee the process…”
“Oversee the process?” Lu Kou sneered. “Do you remember what they said last time when I volunteered to help? They told me, ‘We’d prefer to find someone with a better figure for the livestream debut.’ Ha! Haha! Screw that.”
Xu Xingyang chimed in, “They were polite to you. Do you know what they told me? ‘Xiao Xu’s looks don’t really match our target audience’s preferences. Your legs are too short, your neck is a bit stubby, and your fingers are thick with flat nails, so the promotional effect won’t be good.’”
Qin Zai: “Pfft.”
“What are you laughing at?” Xu Xingyang said. “You weren’t spared either!”
Qin Zai’s mouth twitched. “Hah, I was only rejected because my skin was in poor condition at the time, and I was two shades darker than Wen Jisheng. Other than that, I didn’t lose, OK?”
Lu Kou slammed the decision: “I’m not doing it.”
“I’m not doing it either,” Xu Xingyang grumbled. “Work is already frustrating enough, and now they’re pushing appearance anxiety on us. We’re in product experience, not a modeling competition!”
Qin Zai added, “Putting personal feelings aside, I’m still not doing it. Wen Jisheng has already completed the experience feedback work. All that’s left is to endorse the products under Qiaoshou’s name and promote them. I’m not in operations; I can’t handle that.”
Everyone agreed.
No one wanted to take it on.
“This livestream is important. Even the higher-ups will be watching, and it’s on our own account. This is part of our job, so let’s be proactive, okay?” Qiao Linchuan tried to coax them patiently.
But everyone covered their ears. “Not listening! Not listening! If you want it done, do it yourself!”
This livestream debut was a collaboration between three project companies, including an “AR dress-up game,” “family holographic shopping,” and Qiaoshou Tech’s own streaming platform.
If the debut went well, it would be a win for all three parties—or rather, four.
Because the livestream account being used was from their Product Experience Department.
Qiao Linchuan had previously discussed with Xue Qiao the idea of creating a livestream account for their department.
He had some ambition, believing that simply providing product feedback wasn’t enough. He wanted the department to become indispensable to the company’s headquarters.
Over the years, the Product Experience Department had handled numerous company projects. They were the most familiar with which products could collaborate to spark synergy and knew best how to frame product experiences to resonate with users.
If they established their livestream account successfully, then in the future, any project companies looking to build hype or go viral would have to rely on them.
So, this debut livestream was an important strategic experiment for their department.
The other project leads agreed to give them full control over the livestream, on the condition that the presenter must be able to showcase the products effectively.
The holographic shopping lead said, “If the presenter’s body proportions are off and their appearance lacks appeal, they won’t showcase the products well. Many brands are reluctant to provide their clothing and jewelry for the stream, fearing the audience will see it as a ‘buyer vs. seller’ comparison.”
The dress-up game lead said, “We’re trying to attract players who want to explore and develop their own aesthetic style in the game. Of course, we need someone good-looking. If an average person spends hours in the game only to end up looking ordinary, who would be interested in playing?”
What they said made sense, but it really put them in a tough spot.
The colleagues in the Product Experience Department weren’t unattractive, but they certainly weren’t models, so it was impossible for them to meet the strict standards being set. Wen Jisheng’s looks could at best be described as average, but his dedication to fitness had paid off—he had a good figure, well-proportioned, and was naturally suited for showcasing clothes. That was the only reason everyone had begrudgingly agreed on him as the presenter.
But now, at the last minute, Wen Jisheng couldn’t make it.
Frustration. Worry.
Everyone took another sip of coffee.
“Isn’t that holographic shopping project loaded with money? They hired a bunch of celebrities for endorsements. Why not just have one of them do the livestream?”
“If there’s no one from our department in the stream, then what does this debut have to do with us?”
“Don’t get too caught up in the details. The person may not be ours, but the account is.”
Qiao Linchuan thought about it some more, but still felt it wasn’t feasible. “The livestream is this afternoon. Even if we could get a celebrity on short notice, getting them up to speed on the product features would be no small task. And since they’re not from our team, would they even follow our direction?”
Lu Kou added, “I don’t agree either. Have you forgotten? They originally suggested having a celebrity host, but the idea was shot down. If a celebrity shows up, the focus will shift. It’ll become an exclusive promo for holographic shopping.”
After much back and forth, it became clear that no external options would work—they had to pick someone from their own department.
“Alright, let’s adjourn for now. Don’t let this delay your other work. I’ll think it over,” Qiao Linchuan said.
With that, the meeting ended.
As Qiao Linchuan walked out, looking troubled, he suddenly spotted Xing Xu approaching.
His eyes lit up. Never had he been so eager and enthusiastic to greet Xing Xu, “Manager Xing! Leader, my leader! I’ve been waiting for you! Could we have a quick word? I need your decision on a work issue.”
Xing Xu: “Talk straight.”
Qiao Linchuan: “I’m about to throw a hot potato your way.”
Xing Xu: “?”
Rubbing his temples, Xing Xu glanced around and asked, “We’ll discuss work later. Where’s Ye Xiyao?”
“You mentioned it, and now I realize—it’s almost 9:30, why hasn’t he shown up yet?” Qiao Linchuan paused, then added, “Wait, we can deal with Ye Xiyao being late later. Let’s first talk about the work.”
Xing Xu shot him a cold look: “Call him and remind him.”
“Do you really have to…” Sensing that Xing Xu was a little upset, Qiao Linchuan didn’t dare refuse. “Alright, alright, I’ll call him now.”
Usually, when an employee is late, a typical leader would be annoyed.
But Xing Xu wasn’t a typical leader.
He barely seemed invested in his own job, so why would he genuinely care about an employee being late?
Qiao Linchuan had a feeling that Xing Xu had some ulterior motive in specifically asking about Ye Xiyao. Was he trying to catch him slipping up?
Not daring to cross Xing Xu, Qiao Linchuan called Ye Xiyao right in front of him, urging him to come to the office quickly. Then, he nervously glanced at Xing Xu’s expression.
Only after Xing Xu nodded did he hang up the phone. Trying to gauge the mood, he cautiously said, “When he gets here, I’ll give him a talking-to myself. Now, can we discuss the work?”
Xing Xu had long seen through Qiao Linchuan’s ploys.
If it were a purely professional matter, Qiao Linchuan wouldn’t have sought out Xing Xu for input. The fact that he did meant it was something tricky, a decision he couldn’t make or take responsibility for.
That bootlicking demeanor practically had “I’m here to pass the buck” written all over his face.
Without saying much, Xing Xu walked into his office, and Qiao Linchuan followed closely behind.
In less than ten minutes, Qiao Linchuan had explained the entire livestream situation to Xing Xu.
In short, the livestream was quite important, and they couldn’t afford to miss it. But they couldn’t find a suitable host, and Xing Xu needed to make the final decision.
Qiao Linchuan believed that if Xing Xu picked the person, no one in their department would dare to object, and the two project leads wouldn’t dare say a word of dissent.
Having successfully passed the hot potato, Qiao Linchuan was quietly pleased with himself.
But then, to his surprise, Xing Xu said, “Why not ask Ye Xiyao? What, he’s not willing?”
“Who? Xiao Ye? No, don’t be ridiculous.” Qiao Linchuan hadn’t expected Xing Xu to choose an “X” option from an “ABC” set. He quickly added, “Xiao Ye hasn’t been with us that long—do you really want to give him such a huge responsibility?”
“Didn’t you say that as long as we have someone, there wouldn’t be any technical difficulties, and the only requirement was for the on-screen appearance?” Xing Xu looked at him flatly, neither cold nor warm. “Isn’t Ye Xiyao the best-looking one among you?”
Qiao Linchuan nearly choked on his own saliva. “Cough, cough, cough!”
Xing Xu said, “Go outside to cough.”
Covering his mouth, Qiao Linchuan said, “You… cough, cough, your taste in aesthetics is quite niche… cough, cough!”
To be honest, Qiao Linchuan couldn’t even recall what Ye Xiyao’s features looked like. He vaguely felt that there was nothing memorable about him, just a blurry face.
It was rare for someone to be so ordinary that even Qiao Linchuan couldn’t find any commendable traits. This could only mean that Ye Xiyao was too plain and unremarkable.
Qiao Linchuan couldn’t help but think of the worst-case scenario—
Could it be that Xing Xu was holding a grudge about Ye Xiyao touching his abs last time? So, knowing he would be mocked for his appearance, he was deliberately recommending Ye Xiyao for the job?
God.
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Even Qin Zai, who was relatively handsome, and Lu Kou, who was quite pretty, were subjected to pointed remarks from those project leads. Wouldn’t Ye Xiyao, with his lack of standout features, just be asking for disdain?
Xing Xu was really holding a grudge!
He clearly wanted Ye Xiyao to suffer. Once Ye Xiyao felt frustrated and disheartened, he would just resign, and that would fulfill Xing Xu’s wishes!
“Manager Xing, let’s choose someone else. The situation is special now, and I don’t think the other side will be fixated on appearance requirements.” Qiao Linchuan tried to save Ye Xiyao, saying, “If worse comes to worst, I can do it. At least I have a bit more recognition than Ye Xiyao…”
Xing Xu gave him a look of exasperation, suddenly pulled out his phone, tapped a couple of times, and tossed it to Qiao Linchuan.
Qiao Linchuan caught it awkwardly and saw that Xing Xu had already opened the front-facing camera.
“Oh, I get it. You want me to test the livestream effect in front of the camera right now?”
“I want you to take a good look in the mirror,” Xing Xu said. “Don’t be blindly confident.”
——————–
Author Note:
Xing Xu: Family, who understands? I’ve run into a mediocre guy.
