It was a clarification video.
In the video, a strawberry head filter looked extremely strange. The voice had been altered, making it impossible to accurately tell the person’s gender. The speaker very earnestly and honestly explained how, in hopes of gaining attention, they had spread false information.
After the restaurant proactively contacted them and communicated with them, the restaurant agreed not to pursue legal responsibility or demand compensation as long as they posted a clarification video.
Realizing their mistake and feeling grateful to the restaurant for giving them a chance to repent, they released this video.
“It really is good news,” Lan Yu said in a daze, eyes wide as he watched the video from beginning to end.
“It proves the boss has stepped in. This is just the beginning, there should be more clarifications coming out later,” Lin Zixi said with a smile. “What a pity though. We’ll only be this idle for a short while.”
“Then I should be able to work full shifts again after this, right?” Lan Yu murmured.
Lin Zixi grinned, looking thoroughly disdainful. “You really love working, don’t you? Don’t you ever get tired? I feel like I never get enough time to play games. I haven’t even played much before it’s time to sleep. I barely wake up and it’s time to go to work again.”
“That’s because your sleep schedule is irregular,” Lan Yu said and because Lin Zixi slept more than eight hours a day, sometimes even ten. Lan Yu, who had always slept very little, deeply admired his sleep quality.
“But if you keep working like this, you’ll drop dead. No matter how much you like it, there has to be moderation. Full shifts are way too long,” Lin Zixi said.
“It’s not because I like it,” Lan Yu replied.
“Then you’re short on money?” Lin Zixi asked. He noticed that Lan Yu’s gaze drifted somewhere, unfocused, as if he was thinking about something else. “Lan Yu?”
Lan Yu snapped back to his senses. “Yeah. I’m pretty short on money.”
“That still doesn’t mean you should trade your life for money. If you keep trading like that, you’ll just end up giving all the money to the hospital. That’s not worth it,” Lin Zixi said as he stood up and reached out to Lan Yu, signaling that it was time to leave.
“Then shouldn’t it count as a workplace injury? There’s insurance for that, right?” Lan Yu stared at Lin Zixi’s hand and took it. Lin Zixi applied a little force to support his arm. Even just a bit made walking much easier for Lan Yu.
Lin Zixi laughed. “Do you really believe in workplace injury insurance? That’s all just talk. We don’t even have full social insurance, where would workplace injury insurance come from? It’s all nonsense. Don’t be fooled by how nice Brother Duan usually seems. He’s actually very shrewd. Strictly speaking, your situation should involve compensation. Right now, he’s only paying your medical expenses and that’s just because you’re foolish.”
Lan Yu slowed his steps and turned his head to stare at Lin Zixi.
“…Huh?”
Lin Zixi clearly realized that he had let something slip. He coughed twice and hurriedly tried to cover it up. “Well, uh, I mean, your leg is doing really well, right? You’re walking pretty steadily, haha.”
Lan Yu: “……”
Just as Lin Zixi had said, this was only the beginning.
After that, people gradually began posting messages, saying that they had only been chasing clout and had actually just eaten at Fulin Grand Restaurant.
Many minor rumors that had gone unnoticed before also came forward to clarify things on their own. What no one expected, however, was that an even bigger piece of news would surface afterward.
It was said that some people had posted those messages under the instigation of friends. It seemed that someone had a grudge against Fulin Grand Restaurant and had deliberately spread rumors to smear it.
As for who was behind all this, the people at Fulin Grand Restaurant actually knew it in their hearts. However, since those who came forward to post clarifications didn’t know who was really pulling the strings behind the scenes, the restaurant didn’t issue an official statement.
Still, netizens were extremely excited about this kind of open ended mystery. One by one, they began to piece together clues, following every thread and in the end, most people believed that the person who had lost an arm at the restaurant was the one stirring up trouble behind the scenes.
Lan Yu poked his head out from his phone and vaguely felt that netizens were truly an incredible existence. Was this the result of strength in numbers? All the information they laid out could practically be called ironclad evidence.
However, unlike everyone else’s concern over the incident, what kept surfacing in Lan Yu’s mind were the words he had blurted out the last time he ran into a ghost.
Back then, he spoke in one breath without thinking carefully. Now, although he couldn’t remember most of what he had said, Lan Yu still remembered that he had tried to pin all the current misfortunes onto the ghost.
He had been very nervous at the time.
The fear he felt when he had come to this city alone still lingered even now. Lan Yu wasn’t good at handling sudden changes. He couldn’t handle pressure well.
Aside from work, Lan Yu no longer knew what he should be doing. Working earned money. Having money meant he could spend it when needed, without worrying about money. With money, he could live a good life and living a good life meant realizing the value of his existence. This line of reasoning ran very deep within Lan Yu.
Having a job and being able to save money meant living well.
So when the ghost appeared so abruptly and clearly tried to disrupt the rhythm of his life, of course he was afraid.
Was it wrong to reject something he feared?
Even if it meant wronging the ghost, as long as the ghost left him alone, wouldn’t that be the perfect ending?
Lan Yu felt that his logic wasn’t flawed yet something always felt off in his heart. Whenever he scrolled past news about the restaurant, his thoughts would spiral and he would toss and turn uncomfortably on his dorm bed late into the night.
He really wanted to go to work.
“Atmosphere? What’s that?” Lan Yu asked blankly. After the morning rush, during a slightly more relaxed period, Duan Gaozhi had called Lan Yu over again and made a rather strange suggestion.
“It’s like wearing a mask so people can’t see your face. Creating atmosphere. There’s also stuff like covering your face, maybe wearing an eye mask or something. Don’t show your full face, don’t reveal your identity. Just take photos..” Duan Gaozhi explained.
Lan Yu looked completely lost. What was this about?
“You have good facial features. You don’t need to show your whole face, just parts of it are enough. Your figure is good too, very camera friendly. People won’t realize it’s you. It’s just for restaurant promotion and that Bai Yi photo mainly focused on atmosphere. Being able to capture it like that was really rare. The restaurant combined with an atmospheric handsome guy is a completely different kind of collision. It might create a contrast driven traffic effect. Later, we can take more atmospheric photos, reduce the horror feel and enhance the sense of mystery. That would be beneficial for future themed weddings and similar projects the restaurant plans to do.” Wang Xiaoran explained seriously, leaning against a desk nearby.
“It’s not just you” Duan Gaozhi added. “Right now, we need ‘Bai Yi’ himself and we also want other staff to shoot more content to liven up the account atmosphere.”
Lan Yu lowered his head, feeling that this didn’t seem completely unacceptable. After all, the Bai Yi photo really did look vastly different from him.
“If it really draws in traffic, there will eventually be ways to monetize it. When there’s money, you can get a share too,” Duan Gaozhi tempted him again.
Lan Yu blinked.
Before, he hadn’t thought too deeply about it. After Lin Zixi’s reminder, he had given it more thought, Duan Gaozhi was a very shrewd person.
So what Duan Gaozhi was saying now, was this what people online called painting a big pie?
But when it came to thinking of ways to fight for his own interests, Lan Yu’s mind went completely blank. In his previous life, he had been even younger than he was now. Because of illness, he hadn’t attended school for long and he certainly wasn’t a genius…
“Then… the money still has to be paid, right? How much would it be?” Lan Yu asked tentatively.
“Of course. You’ll get a share. We’ll sign a proper contract,” Duan Gaozhi said, his smile as gentle and kind as ever, making it easy to trust him.
Lan Yu felt somewhat persuaded. With a contract involved, it shouldn’t be anything bad, right?
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Cresvynia
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Who wants to go back to be a minor plot device?Chapter 2 · StartChapter 3 · I’m terrified of ghostsChapter 4 · Do ghosts exist in this world?Chapter 5 · ShadowChapter 6 · There’s something wrong with how this book is dressedChapter 7 · The ghost drew a heart for himChapter 8 · Make troubleChapter 9 · Don’t scare me!Chapter 10 · I’d rather be scared to death than go backChapter 11 · Want to eat together?Chapter 12 · A cleaning ghostChapter 13 · Regret it now?Chapter 14 · ParentsChapter 15 · Find FaultChapter 16 · Ghostly photos?Chapter 17 · Nickname: White ShadowChapter 18 · A haunted taxi?Chapter 19 · Extreme fear turns to angerChapter 20 · I used to be a messChapter 21 · Best friendChapter 22 · Turning pointChapter 23 · The threat of ghostsChapter 24 · It’s not a ghost, it’s eerinessChapter 25 Part 1 · First time entering the eerie houseChapter 25 Part 2 · First time entering the eerie houseChapter 26 · Borrow moneyChapter 27 · He’s jealousChapter 28 · RetributionChapter 29 · Revenge from a Strange SourceChapter 30 Part 1 · How could you be so carelessChapter 30 Part 2 · How could you be so carelessChapter 31 Part 1 · What would happen if I ran away from home again?Chapter 31 Part 2 · What would happen if I ran away from home again?Chapter 32 Part 1 · Firmly uphold the right to privacyChapter 32 Part 2 · Firmly uphold the right to privacyChapter 33 Part 1 · The brother who brought down death to protect his belovedChapter 33 Part 2 · The brother who brought down death to protect his belovedChapter 34 Part 1 · Being secretly massaged by a shadowy figure in publicChapter 34 Part 2 · Being secretly massaged by a shadowy figure in publicChapter 35 Part 1 · Go to my dear older brother and sister’s bedroomChapter 35 Part 2 · Go to my dear older brother and sister’s bedroomChapter 36 Part 1 · Being favored by everyone in the eerie houseChapter 36 Part 2 · Being favored by everyone in the eerie houseChapter 37 · We must protect our precious childChapter 38 · It’s too tragic, I can’t bear to watch anymoreChapter 39 · Because of the unique companionshipChapter 40 · The first meeting with the admirer of the protagonistChapter 41 · It’s eerie, but they’re all real family members!Chapter 42 · Using the eerie house to get a cheat codeChapter 43 · The baby’s crying after getting drunk is so cute!Chapter 44 · A traitorChapter 45 · All family members can help the baby.Chapter 46 · When the family is happy, they will hug their waistChapter 47 · Ear piercings were adornedChapter 48 · Treasure are the most precious itemsChapter 49 · Revenge is not an easy thing to doChapter 50 · Because I couldn’t see his faceChapter 51 · One of his brothers is a continuous mountain rangeChapter 52 · How could we possibly run into characters from the original storyChapter 53 · The gems my brother gave me piled up into a small mountainChapter 54 · One can feel an overwhelming sense of superiority.Chapter 55 · Sleeping with a shadowy figure means you won’t be afraid of ghosts at allChapter 56 · The fireworks display to celebrate my baby was absolutely devastating!Chapter 57 · It wasn’t this restaurant that treated us; it was another oneChapter 58 · His super-rich older sister paid for his treat!Chapter 59 · He’s different from beforeChapter 60 · It’s all so weird, isn’t it normal for people to want to disappear?Chapter 61 · Wen JieChapter 62 · Has the identity of this strange child been discovered?Chapter 63 · Those who make their child angry are unforgivableChapter 64 · Being too inquisitive about other people’s private affairs will bring you troubleChapter 65 · A person not to be covetedChapter 66 · Can you bridge the racial divide by staying close to your family?Chapter 67 · What to do if my child doesn’t want to celebrate their birthday?Chapter 68 · The baby is also a second-generation, a bizarre second-generation!Chapter 69 · We are clearly each other’s only friendsChapter 70 · The House of Eeries really did throw a ridiculously huge birthday partyChapter 71 · Why would he feel competitive towards his friend?Chapter 72 · Try to appease the jealous shadow.Chapter 73 · If you’re going to take revenge, you should do it in front of him!Chapter 74 · Now that things have come to thisChapter 75 · My baby’s travel is strange and worryingChapter 76 · One of the older brothers who crawled into the suitcase and followedChapter 77 · He resolutely refused to leave his abandoned brotherChapter 78 · I don’t want my baby to see my terrifying true formChapter 79 · I love hugging you like this.Chapter 80 · It’s a good thing to know you.Chapter 81 · Does my brother also want to go out and have some fun?Chapter 82 · His Older brother?Chapter 83 · Xiao Ming!Chapter 84 · I’m doing great as long as the original text doesn’t go crazyChapter 85 · What’s there to be afraid of when everything’s shrouded in eeriness?Chapter 86 · Let’s have a fight for the sake of the original ownerChapter 87 · How did they know he wasn’t the original owner?Chapter 88 Part 1 · Was the shadowy figure injured?Chapter 88 Part 2 · Was the shadowy figure injured?Chapter 88 Part 3 · Was the shadowy figure injured?Chapter 89 Part 1 · To inflict countless severe emotional blows on someoneChapter 89 Part 2 · To inflict countless severe emotional blows on someoneChapter 91 Part 1 · He was like a human in a supernatural taleChapter 91 Part 2 · He was like a human in a supernatural taleChapter 92 · Someone is secretly using underhanded tacticsChapter 93 · The right people I once followedChapter 94 · Let go of your prejudices against the protagonist.Okay! How come on one complain that we can’t right click the link and open a it in a new webapge??Chapter 95 · Favoritism from his current friendsChapter 96 · The baby is going to marry into our familyChapter 97 · The idea of falling in loveChapter 98 · Want to replace your baby?Chapter 99 · What’s wrong with double happiness?!Chapter 100 · It’s just a matter of raceChapter 101 · I need to balance dating and studying!Chapter 102 · After the shadowy figure gained a physical bodyChapter 103 · Confess your love to the eerie house!Chapter 104 · Even with such pampering, your baby still lacks a sense of security.Chapter 105 · How much help did he receive that he didn’t know about?Chapter 106 · You are not worthy to be the middlemanChapter 107 · Is there anything wrong with me being petty?Chapter 108 · You can have both love and studies!Chapter 109 · Suppressed and restrained desiresChapter 110 · What does an unforgettable yet ordinary date need?