The Jade’s Hidden Burden

“Little sister, you probably don’t understand jade, do you?” the middle-aged man asked, chuckling awkwardly. He had sought Bai Wanwan’s online fortune-telling service primarily for amusement, though ostensibly to choose a birthday gift for his daughter. The notion of Bai Wanwan dismissing a priceless jade with just a few words seemed utterly preposterous to him.

While Bai Wanwan’s ability to deduce one’s identity was indeed impressive, this was a live broadcast. Online real-name registration had been strictly enforced for two years already. For this young woman to possess the authorization to stream folklore content, her backing must be formidable. It wouldn’t be difficult to retrieve some information from the streaming platform’s backend to add a bit of sensationalism to her broadcast.

As a businessman, Liu Guochang understood the intricacies and unspoken rules of such operations. Yet, he had no desire to create a spectacle for a young woman he barely knew.

“This jade’s value is quite extraordinary.”

Liu Guochang retrieved a jade necklace from his pocket. As he gazed at the beautiful jade, gleaming with a gentle luster under the light, even those unfamiliar with such artifacts in the livestream clearly recognized its exceptional quality.

[I’m learning so much! There’s actually jade like this?]

[The quality of this thing should be good enough for television, right?]

[This is truly top-notch! Brother’s jade is definitely a rare treasure, worth tens of millions!]

[Isn’t this a fortune-telling stream? How did it turn into antique appraisal?]

[Well, I also have a jade carving, passed down from my ancestors. It depicts King Qin riding a shared bicycle to unify the six states. Streamer, connect with me, and I’ll also enlighten everyone!]

[Upstairs, I have a painting of ‘Waking at Cock’s Crow to Practice Swordplay’! They say the basketball in the painting was personally bestowed by your King Qin!]

[You little hater, did you just roast chicken feet?]

“Everyone, please don’t joke around. This jade is indeed invaluable. It would be a true pity to lose it.”

Liu Guochang chuckled good-naturedly, not intending to press Bai Wanwan further. After all, the internet was for entertainment; taking things too seriously meant losing out.

“Streamer, why don’t you just help me pick a gift?”

“It’s useless to pick anything,” Bai Wanwan replied. “If this matter isn’t resolved, your family will suffer the consequences. This jade is indeed fine, not for its inherent value, but because it makes an excellent vessel.”

Bai Wanwan gazed at the crystalline, perfectly square jade, then her eyes flickered to the pale-faced child perched on Liu Guochang’s neck.

“If my suspicions are correct,” she continued, “this jade harbors a malevolent spirit, and the person who gifted it to you harbors ill intentions. They wish for this spirit to steal your luck, and even your very life. As for why, I cannot say. You must consider who you might have offended.”

At Bai Wanwan’s words, Liu Guochang’s expression visibly darkened. After all, Bai Wanwan’s bluntness was unsettling; no one would find such direct accusations pleasant to hear. Yet, it was precisely Bai Wanwan’s earnestness that made him unconsciously begin to ponder her words.

“The one who gifted me this jade was actually my competitor. After losing the bid, he pivoted, proposing a partnership for joint development. He offered a sum of money, seeking to buy shares, and presented me with a piece of jade as a gift. Personally, I didn’t place much importance on this particular project, as I have several others under my belt, each far more promising. However, it seems the largest project that Vietnamese competitor could secure was this very one I deemed insignificant.”

Liu Guochang meticulously recalled recent events. While it was true he had entered Bai Wanwan’s livestream for amusement, he usually found such broadcasts inauspicious. His unconscious decision to click in today was driven by a faint hope, for recently, both his life and his health had been plagued by considerable issues. Having exhausted all conventional methods without finding answers, he had finally turned his attention to the metaphysical. Yet, the young woman before him was starkly different from the ‘master’ he had envisioned.

“Seeing is believing,” Bai Wanwan declared. “I can show you. But you must prepare yourself mentally. If, even after seeing it, you still refuse to discard that jade, then my advice ends here.”

As she spoke, Bai Wanwan casually picked up a piece of tissue paper and began to draw.

[Oh my god, is the plot starting?]

[Drawing talismans on tissue paper? Streamer, at least try to be a bit more professional when pretending to be a god or ghost.]

[Wait a minute, she doesn’t have any paint on her hands, does she? How are patterns appearing on this tissue paper?]

“Burn!”

The talisman in Bai Wanwan’s hand instantly ignited. Simultaneously, Liu Guochang felt a sudden chill on his neck, which had already felt heavy, but now seemed to grow even heavier.

[Holy crap! Uncle, look up quickly!]

[Oh my, is there really a ghost?]

[This plot is exciting, I love it!]

Liu Guochang slowly raised his head. When he saw the ashen-faced child riding on his neck, he was instantly terrified, nearly fainting. And this child… he seemed to have seen him somewhere before…

The Vietnamese businessman had used his family to draw closer to him when he presented the jade… The photograph of his son that the man had shown him looked exactly like the malevolent spirit perched on his neck!