The rhythmic tapping of the keyboard in the bedroom gradually ceased.
After Guodong posted today's update, he let out a sigh of relief, leaning back against his chair. He turned his head to look at Xia Qingqing, who was fiddling with A4 paper on the bed.
"What are you doing?"
Xia Qingqing rolled up the paper and then taped it together to form a stick figure. "How is it?" she asked Guodong.
Guodong examined it for a moment. "You're not trying to imitate that man's stick figures, are you? His stick figures aren't made with ordinary paper."
As he spoke, he tapped on the keyboard in front of him, bringing up the story of the streamer's trip to Beidian, as recorded by his online viewers. He angled the computer screen towards Xia Qingqing, indicating, "You need to use the paper from Beidian."
"I know, I'm just practicing," Xia Qingqing infused her handmade stick figure with ghost energy, manipulating it to move in the air. Her eyes reflected tiny specks of light, and she said with interest, "It's quite fun, isn't it?"
Guodong watched the stick figure performing calisthenics. "It is pretty fun. Are you planning to go to Beidian in the future?"
Xia Qingqing lifted her eyelids to look at him. "That's such a long way off, I haven't considered it yet."
"We'll think about the future when it comes."
...
What's it like to have special abilities from a young age?
Ever since the Ghost Building incident, Xia Qingqing's bravery was almost known throughout the entire internet. Even child traffickers at the entrance of amusement parks would give her a second glance and then walk around her.
Fortunately, people always find something more fun and interesting to focus on. Hot searches were refreshed daily. With the country's arrangements and the Xia family's intentional low-key approach, news about Xia Qingqing on the internet quickly faded. Even Xia Qingqing's friends and family were made to sign agreements, forbidding them from speaking carelessly.
However, not being able to speak about it was one thing, but asking for help was another. If any of her friends or family felt that something strange was happening around them, they would think of Xia Qingqing first. But often, it turned out to be a false alarm.
Besides that, if someone in the family passed away, people would also ask her if she could find a way to bring them back.
Xia Qingqing looked at the reddened eyes of her uncle's youngest daughter and then subtly glanced at the white figure floating not far away. She blinked her eyes. Competing with ghost messengers for souls seemed too risky. So, she feigned ignorance, "I don't know how to do that."
Her uncle's younger daughter, who was about the same age as her, choked out, "But... you can see those things, right?"
Xia Qingqing rubbed her eyes, which also looked red. "But I don't know how to revive people! What if it prevents Auntie from reincarnating in the underworld?"
Upon hearing this, her uncle's family members shivered and said nothing more. They knew that the dead cannot be brought back to life. They just wanted to ask if it was possible, just in case... just in case it was possible.
"Stop messing around and let them go peacefully," sighed the mother of Xia Qingqing's aunt.
"Mhm, mhm." Xia Qingqing sat obediently to the side, looking clean, well-behaved, and quiet. Not at all sinister. Not like a few years ago when she would say strange and frightening things.
Furthermore, with the gradual emergence of the Underworld Live Stream into the public eye, her friends and family became much more accepting of Xia Qingqing.
...
Given Xia Qingqing's outstanding abilities, after graduating from high school, she gradually began to take on cases from the supernatural investigation agency. Although her abilities were strong, she could still learn a lot in terms of handling matters. Besides her, there were several other young people in the agency. Xia Qingqing could sense that Tang Tianze and Jiang Ziwei were preparing for retirement and grooming successors.
But she had no intention of staying in one place permanently. In her plan, after graduating from university, she would travel around the vast world.
When Jiang Ziwei and the others learned of this, although they were somewhat surprised, they could understand. However, it would be too much of a waste to simply let such talent go. After deliberation, Tang Tianze stepped forward to discuss, "You can continue to stay in the agency to learn. As for after graduation... you can consider becoming our external staff."
"External staff enjoy a high degree of freedom and also possess certain privileges. Normally, you just need to be registered with our agency. When you have time, you can take on cases. When you're traveling outside, if you happen to resolve any supernatural incidents along the way, the agency will still pay you."
Xia Qingqing thought it was quite good at the time. It wasn't until later, after returning home, that she realized the agency's move was truly brilliant. This way, no matter where she went in the future, she would still be considered half an employee of the agency. If anything were to happen to the agency, she wouldn't stand by idly.
Furthermore, the agency could learn about the local situation through the supernatural incidents she resolved in other places, forming an intelligence network. They were broadening their horizons. No wonder they had been famous in the industry for so long without making many enemies.
However, Xia Qingqing thought of the agency's founders. Each of them was not simple, so it wasn't surprising that they had this capability. Working with intelligent people was always not too bad.
Thus, during university, Xia Qingqing balanced her studies and hobbies while also managing the agency's affairs. She was naturally beautiful and lively. In terms of strength and courage, she was more formidable than most men. She naturally attracted many male and female friends.
In her third year of university, Xia Qingqing even had a relationship. Her boyfriend was the campus heartthrob from the neighboring sports university. He was tall, well-built with toned muscles, and had a sunny smile. It was said that he had participated in many competitions and won several prestigious championships.
Xia Qingqing found him quite interesting, especially when he subtly showed off his physique. Moreover, he knew many fun places. The only drawback was... he wasn't brave enough. While playing at 'Happy Land,' she casually accepted a case from the agency and accidentally scared her boyfriend unconscious.
Consequently, this relationship, which lasted for half a year, naturally came to an end. Guodong even teased her, "It's not that others are timid; with your way of doing things, even the bravest man would cower."
Xia Qingqing shrugged. "My world is just like this." Her innate abilities destined her to be different. "The world is so big, there must be others like me."
For example, the supernatural investigation agency, or... those reincarnated deities hidden in the vast sea of people. There would always be kindred spirits who would appear.
...
After graduating in her fourth year, Xia Qingqing did not pursue further studies. Instead, she and Guodong, who also wanted to see the world, began to travel. They saw scenery, heard stories, tasted delicacies... They met many interesting people and learned about many strange customs.
Guodong's books, updated online, continuously changed genres. Suspense, thrillers, romance, fantasy... Everything they saw and felt became stories. One of his books was almost written with Xia Qingqing as the prototype— "After Graduation, I Became Famous Online by Ghost Hunting."
...
(PS: Xia Xiaoqing: In the next life, I want to be as free as the clouds. Xu Asan: Love, see, and write with all your life.)