The Zashiki Warashi of Intellectual Village - Volume 4, Chapter 2: Hishigami Enbi // The Present Fluctuates Freely

Ryo Tanaka, a struggling college student, works tirelessly at multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet. In a bid to earn some extra cash, he volunteers for a paid drug research study, unaware that it will alter the course of his life forever.The experiment takes a disastrous turn, leaving Ryo bedridden with a high fever for several days. But when he finally awakens, he finds himself in a world plunged into chaos. A deadly virus has ravaged the city, turning its inhabitants into ravenous, flesh-eating zombies. Streets once bustling with life now lay desolate, the remnants of civilization crumbling under the weight of the apocalypse.

On just another normal Monday, the world changed. The universe had reached a threshold humanity didn’t even know existed, and it was time to finally be integrated into the vast multiverse. A world where power is the only thing that one can truly rely on.

Jake, a seemingly average office worker, finds himself thrust into this new world. Into a tutorial filled with dangers and opportunities. In a world that should breed fear and concern, an environment that makes his fellow coworkers falter, Jake instead finds himself thriving.

Perhaps… Jake was born for this kind of world, to begin with.

***

Author Note: Tags and content warnings are mainly to give me creative freedom later on. This is my first novel ever, and English isn’t my native language, so go easy on me chaps.

Sheng Yi can’t believe her high school classmate Jiang Lianzhou would become tremendously popular now;

What’s even more unbelievable is that she, a non-celebrity, would have to record a variety show with this top star;

But the most unbelievable thing is, the CP between her and Jiang Lianzhou had unexpectedly gone viral overnight.

One huge CP fan posted a Weibo to the circle:

“It’s been years since Jiang Lianzhou rose to stardom, yet he has never been involved in any scandal. I thought it was impossible for him to like other people.

But nowadays I discovered that, as it turned out, a top star could also be secretly in love with someone for so many years. He treasures the old notes she wrote, remembers all her preferences, and was overflowing with happiness when reunited with her after long separation.

Please let my CP be together and make his secret love wish come true.”

Sheng Yi stared at this Weibo post, then glanced at the thick variety show script in her hand, then looked towards the TV..

Inside the screen, the top star is currently acting incredibly affectionate, proceeding according to the script,”Have I ever confessed to my secret love? Yes, I have. I confessed through QQ, I told her ‘I want to be together with you’.”

Sheng Yi: “…”

He sure can act out this exceptionally fake script quite naturally, huh.

———

Sheng Yi cooperated with Jiang Lianzhou and meticulously played her role as his crush to boost their CP. Following the variety show that is coming to an end, the CP is on the verge of dissolvement.

That day, Jiang Lianzhou QQ account was suddenly leaked out. Despite his studio’s immediate denial, it still stirred up an uproar.

When a friend came looking for Sheng Yi to seek the truth, she sneered,”You can tell it’s fake with one look, I have his real QQ account during highschool.”

She casually copied the username circulated online into the search bar, only to find that it was actually in her close friends list.

Moreover, the note she added for him is——

FoolishStrangerX

And the chat history stopped at 6.9 on their senior year.

“I want to be together with you.”

- Description from Novelupdates

Chi Yan had always had a weak constitution, and ghosts had always tried to kill him. He had tried many ways to change his situation, but it was all futile.

Coincidentally, Third Master Ye of Shiming City passed away, and a priest informed Chi Yan that Third Master Ye possessed the “look of demon,” Carrying a bit of this man’s ashes and installing an altar for him at home could help control the evil spirits around Chi Yan.

Left with no choice, Chi Yan took a gamble. Amazingly, it worked. However he didn’t expect that he’d be instead be haunted by the most persistent ghost of them all.

Obsessed with love, undying resentment, possessed by evil.

- Description from Novelupdates