After hearing her explanation, Ke Xue didn't question it but asked, "Since you suspect something, you must have your reasons."
Xiaoxiao nodded, unsure. "I first met her when university started. We were in the same major and dorm room, so we quickly became close."
"Back then, I was very thin, and she was quite heavy. She was always talking about losing weight, but never had any results."
"Ever since I started gaining weight, she began to lose it, even though she was clearly eating more than before." Xiaoxiao looked puzzled.
"And I noticed she's overly concerned with my daily weight loss routine. She checks what I eat every day. Sometimes, when she sees me eating snacks, she gets very agitated."
[Huh? You can't suspect a friend just because of that, can you?]
[It's not like eating very little is the only way to lose weight. If you manage your daily calorie intake and combine foods properly, you can eat quite satisfyingly and still lose weight. That method is more sustainable and less likely to hit a plateau.]
[Your friend kindly encourages you to lose weight, and you repay her by suspecting her now? Unbelievable.]
Xiaoxiao hurriedly defended herself. "During that time, I had a smart scale in the dorm. She weighed herself on it sometimes too. I didn't pay attention before, but later when the scale's app generated weight change charts, I noticed every time she lost weight, it matched exactly the amount I gained!"
"One weekend, my parents had a birthday with cake. I couldn't resist and had a few pieces. The next day at school, she suddenly broke out with several pimples. That day, because of the pimples, she got very angry in the dorm, even asking me if I'd been sneaking snacks behind her back."
"At the time, I didn't connect the two things. I said my snacks were all confiscated by her, so how could I have any? She believed me, saying she was just irritable from staying up late causing breakouts. Then she smiled and advised me that losing weight takes perseverance, and I should eat less fruit and sweets."
"Another period, I replaced my staple food with pumpkin, and her skin turned noticeably yellow too..."
The more Xiaoxiao talked, the more convinced she felt something was wrong. How could there be so many coincidences in the world?
The live stream audience now also sensed something off:
[Thinking deeper is terrifying. As everyone knows, eating sweets can cause acne, and eating pumpkin can tint your skin yellow!]
[I felt something was odd earlier. The host said Xiaoxiao really eats very little daily. If she eats so little, where is the weight coming from?]
[This feels like Xiao En's situation. Don't you think Xiaoxiao also became her friend's stand-in?]
[!!! This reminds me of a horror comic. The beautiful protagonist had a very unattractive best friend who used a supernatural power to swap their appearances. Applied here, it's like the friend is transferring her own fat to Xiaoxiao!]
Xiaoxiao couldn't wait any longer. "Master, what's really happening to me?"
Ke Xue's gaze swept over the faint black lines shimmering around Xiaoxiao's body. "A contract."
"You and your friend made a contract. She can transfer the fat from her body to yours."
Xiaoxiao was bewildered. "But I don't remember making any contract with her..."
Ke Xue smiled slightly. "A contract doesn't necessarily have to be on paper. Verbal agreements count too."
"However, this kind of contract usually requires a medium to work. Think carefully, did she ever give you something strange and say something odd, like wanting to transfer her fat to you?"
Xiaoxiao's heart sank. "She once gave me a handmade cloth doll that looked quite like her. She has a similar one that looks like me."
"When she gave it to me, she said, 'If only I could give some of my fat to you.'"
"And you agreed?" Ke Xue looked like this was exactly what he expected.
Xiaoxiao nodded, trying to keep her tone light. "Yes. That's probably something most close friends would say jokingly."
[Just because of a doll and a joking remark, they can exchange things?]
[Oh my god, I never imagined the truth would be like this... This is terrifying. Can't agree to things casually anymore.]
[So the truth isn't that Xiaoxiao was sneaking food, but that she became her friend's substitute, gaining weight for her! That's why no matter how she dieted, it didn't work!]
[If that's the case, the friend is too cruel. Her reminders about dieting weren't really for Xiaoxiao's sake, but because she was afraid of getting fat herself.]
[Learning another lesson. Xiao En taught us not to accept things from others casually. Xiaoxiao teaches us not to speak carelessly. Who would have thought exchanging dolls and a joke between best friends could turn you into a substitute?!]
"A person consists of body and soul. With the doll as a transfer medium, the high-calorie, unhealthy food she eats transfers to you. And the healthy food you eat for weight loss transfers to her."
Ke Xue rubbed his chin. "Although I've never dieted, weight loss generally involves controlling diet plus exercise, right? Didn't you notice she only cares about your diet, not your exercise?"
Ke Xue guessed the doll was an incomplete creation. It could only transfer ingested food, nothing more.
Fortunately, Xiaoxiao never gave up. Without exercise, at her current weight, she'd probably be a regular hospital visitor by now.
Xiaoxiao was stunned. "So that's it..."
The live stream audience was also shocked because the interactions between Xiaoxiao and her friend were so commonplace in daily life.
Close female friends even share drinks. Giving gifts and joking around are normal. Who would have thought such ordinary actions led to Xiaoxiao's current situation?
Snapping back to reality, Xiaoxiao quickly found the doll hanging on her backpack. Opening it, she indeed found a small yellow paper figure inside the doll's stomach, with her name and birth date written on it.
Looking at this doll representing friendship, Xiaoxiao felt deeply hurt.
When she connected to the stream today, she wasn't hopeful. Suspecting her friend was just a fleeting thought. Who knew her offhand remark was actually true.
[But gaining so much weight in one go is also difficult, right? Xiaoxiao also said there was a period where she lost over ten pounds.]
[Yeah, gaining that much in half a year is too exaggerated.]
Ke Xue looked at the barrage with an approving smile. "Good point, considering the details. There's indeed a third person involved."
[There really was something fishy!]
[Ahhh? What's going on? I don't understand. Wasn't it the friend eating?]
Xiaoxiao looked equally confused.
Ke Xue sneered. "There's a relatively well-off but heavy-set student at your school. After discovering your friend could lose weight while eating and drinking a lot, he sought her out. To get benefits from him, she made another transfer contract with him."
Xiaoxiao paused before understanding, then said through gritted teeth, "No wonder there was a period when my weight had stabilized and wasn't increasing much, but then suddenly I started gaining again out of nowhere."
[Tsk tsk tsk. At first, transferring two people's fat onto one person seemed too cruel. But after controlling her diet for a while, this friend still decided to let Xiaoxiao suffer alone. She's really vicious. Seeing Xiaoxiao diet with no results daily, she must have felt very smug, right?]
[So this friend, by transferring fat to Xiaoxiao, hooked up with a wealthy guy, and also transferred his fat to Xiaoxiao?]
[This isn't called a good friend anymore; it's a bitter enemy.]
[As someone trying to lose weight, I'm about to explode with anger. If it were me, struggling daily to control my diet only to get fatter, starving myself munching on greens, and then being laughed at by others... I'd really want to crash into the whole world! And now it's not just about weight. Society's standards for women's weight are so strict. Looking a bit chubby in photos gets you mocked. And during university, a time for vanity and beauty... I can already imagine the injustice Xiaoxiao suffered these past months. I really can't take it!]
Seeing the barrage comments, Xiaoxiao's nose tingled.
No one knew how she survived this past year. Although in university everyone has their own life, and besides her class, she didn't know many people, her large figure was still very noticeable on campus.
Every time passing classmates glanced at her and moved on, but behind her back they took photos and gave her nicknames. Everyone who saw her instantly had an 'oh, so it's her' expression.
Even if she slimmed down now, the year of mocking and odd looks had caused significant psychological damage.
Thinking all her pain this past year came from one person made Xiaoxiao tremble with anger. "Just because she didn't want to suffer through dieting, she thought to frame me?"
[Sometimes, being nice to others just makes them think you're easy to bully.]
[Don't be sad. The most important thing now is to break the contract.]
Hearing this, Xiaoxiao looked up at Ke Xue.
"This substitute doll itself is incomplete, so breaking it is simple. Just burn it. The important thing is while burning it, you must keep saying you refuse the fat transfer." As Ke Xue spoke, a smile curled at the corner of his lips, inexplicably calming.
"After breaking the contract, the fat on your body won't disappear immediately, but that doesn't mean your efforts were wasted. You're just bloated from accumulated excess energy. Once that energy is consumed, you'll slim down quickly."
[Angry. Doesn't the friend get any punishment? She gets to keep enjoying the results of the girl's weight loss?]
[This weight-loss person is really angry seeing this. Why are there such despicable people in the world?]
Ke Xue chuckled lightly. "Habits of overeating, plus the backlash, mean she's about to enter a weight-gain phase."
"And you forgot she still has that contract with her 'good friend,' right?"
[Can't she just break that contract like the girl did?]
"Even if she wants to break it, her 'good friend' probably wouldn't agree." Ke Xue said calmly.
Humans seek pleasure. After experiencing painless weight loss, who would want to endure the real pain of dieting?
[Ok ok. I unilaterally declare I feel satisfied now.]
[Although this wealthy guy doesn't sound great either, hearing this fake friend suffer misfortune makes me feel good!]
[Suggestion: Let the two villains stay together forever!]
Back to Xiaoxiao. After burning the doll, she felt her whole body lighten, as if returning to her former self.
Although her weight hadn't changed yet, the greasy feeling from obesity dissipated. Now people seeing her would just think she's a bit overweight, not find her off-putting.
Feeling an unprecedented lightness, Xiaoxiao finally showed a relieved smile.
"Thank you, Master Ke!" After profuse thanks, Xiaoxiao ended the call, not forgetting to gift Ke Xue several Moon Waterfalls before logging off.
Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao's friend, who had just ordered a pile of takeout to binge on, felt her stomach bloat before even starting.
The girl just thought the wealthy guy must be eating again and didn't pay it much mind.
Li Xiao saw her friend again two months later when school started.
In just one summer break, although Li Xiao hadn't slimmed back to her original weight, through strict diet control and exercise, paired with well-fitting clothes and nice makeup, she looked like a standard plus-size beauty.
In contrast, her friend Hu Yue had gained 30-40 pounds. Not only did she look extremely swollen, but she also gave off a greasy smell, making people frown and step away at first glance.
Hu Yue rushed over upon seeing Li Xiao. "Xiaoxiao, why couldn't I contact you all summer?"
Seeing Li Xiao looking almost as beautiful as before, she almost scolded in an accusatory tone, "How did you suddenly lose so much weight?!"
"You're not happy I lost weight?" Li Xiao stared intently, afraid to miss any change in her expression.
Seeming to realize her words were suspicious, Hu Yue quickly explained, "How could I not be happy? We're best friends! I was just worried you might take extreme measures in your eagerness to lose weight."
Though calling them best friends, Hu Yue's eyes turned practically green seeing Li Xiao's expensive dress and designer bag.
Back at the start of freshman year, Hu Yue disliked Li Xiao the moment she saw her in the dorm.
She thought her university roommate would be someone from a similar financial background, so they could become close friends. Or maybe someone from a poor family on financial aid, so she could share snacks and comfort her.
But instead, it was someone whose family was vastly better off. Why did she wear cheap clothes while Li Xiao wore expensive ones? Her parents even gave her designer bags for birthdays.
When they went to class together, everyone's eyes were on Li Xiao.
Eating together in the cafeteria, people praised Li Xiao for her grace, saying even eating there seemed classy. When their eyes swept over Hu Yue, they showed mocking smiles.
Hu Yue also knew people said behind her back how lucky she was to be roommates with Li Xiao, able to borrow all sorts of brand items, gossiping that she and Li Xiao weren't from the same world.
Especially that time she wanted to borrow Li Xiao's dress for photos, but Li Xiao said she couldn't fit into that size and would give it as a gift when she lost weight. Wasn't that just mocking her for being fat?!
When Li Xiao gained weight and she lost it, and people showed disgusted looks at Li Xiao, Hu Yue had never been happier.
But now—
Li Xiao actually lost weight?!!!
"Actually, finding the right method makes weight loss simple." Li Xiao said meaningfully. "Didn't you often tell me that before?"
Hu Yue forced a stiff smile. "Of course."
Li Xiao sighed, pretending to be troubled. "But even so, dieting is hard work. If only I could transfer some of my fat to you."
Hu Yue looked at Li Xiao with suspicion, rejecting without thinking. "Weight loss should rely on oneself."
Finished, Hu Yue lost patience. After glancing through Li Xiao's bag, she asked casually, "Why did you change bags? Where's the doll I gave you?"
"Oh, that? I left it at home." Li Xiao extended her fingers, admiring her new manicure.
Hu Yue anxiously said, "How can you not carry such an important thing with you?!"
"Aren't we best friends anymore?!"
Li Xiao tilted her head innocently. "That day I saw you had another person's doll in your bag."
Hu Yue immediately covered the bag at her waist guiltily.
After enjoying Hu Yue's awkwardness, Li Xiao looked her up and down with surprise. "Has anyone told you you've gained quite a bit recently?"
"Who doesn't gain weight during break?" Hu Yue evaded.
Seeing Li Xiao seemed bothered about not having the doll, Hu Yue planned to make a similar one to apologize.
Before leaving, Hu Yue, contrary to her usual behavior, showed a genuine smile at Li Xiao.
If she could transfer once, she could do it again. Next time, she wouldn't be as nice.
Li Xiao also understood. But Master Ke had told her that after breaking the contract, she couldn't make another with the same person for a while. Even if Hu Yue managed another contract, Li Xiao just needed to silently refuse. So Hu Yue's efforts were destined to fail.
Later, Hu Yue, using the dorm proximity, secretly put a similar doll into Li Xiao's bag again. Just when she thought she succeeded and ordered food to celebrate, she found the fat still on herself, realizing it no longer worked.
Meanwhile, the wealthy guy figured out the contract conditions. Mistakenly thinking it was one-time only, and wanting to keep eating freely, he deliberately moved Hu Yue into his dorm and had people watch her.
Receiving the fat transferred from the wealthy guy, even if Hu Yue tried to control her diet, under the dual effect, her weight still ballooned.
In less than two months, she reached nearly 200 pounds. The earlier mocking around Li Xiao now transferred to Hu Yue.
Li Xiao saw Hu Yue again much later.
Walking back with a real friend, Li Xiao heard familiar mocking, but the target wasn't her.
If not for the name, Li Xiao wouldn't have believed the person on the sports field—so fat her features were obscured, panting with every step—was Hu Yue.
Hu Yue wasn't alone; several bodyguard-like people followed.
Besides, two curvy girls urged from the side: "Hurry up, don't dawdle. Swimming class later."
"We're doing this for your good. The doctor said these are the best exercises for you."
Seeing Li Xiao, Hu Yue seemed excitedly wanted to approach, but was stopped.
Before arousing the girls' vigilance, Li Xiao shifted her gaze.
As Li Xiao turned to leave, she could hear sarcasm: "What, daring to ask for help now?"
"I give you loads of money monthly. It's just gaining some weight then losing it. Many want this. If I hadn't known this method, do you think you'd get this 'good thing'?!"
As for Li Xiao, after her ordeal, she finally saw human relationships clearly, knowing who stood by her, and gained true friendship.
Time returns to the present.
Ke Xue sent the last lucky bag. The winner was a young man.
After connecting, half the screen went dark. The room was dim; he was under a blanket, shivering.
[Someone called 'Invincible Raging Dragon Warrior' is a coward?]
[Bro, you're not doing... something inappropriate?]
[Stop, this isn't the ride to kindergarten!]
Ignoring teasing, Yao Zhou said fearfully, "Host, my neighbor... might not be human!"
His face came close, bloodshot pupils magnified, startling viewers but piquing curiosity.
[What do you mean? How did you find out?]
[Point the camera at the neighbor's place, let my sharp eyes judge!]
[I'm not the coward scared at first ghost encounters anymore. Now I'd burn spirit money, use monetary power to beg for mercy!]
[Wait—you carry spirit money now?]
[You bet! Last night my mom found me sleeping with it, thought I was possessed, hitting me with a branch. After explaining, she used slippers.]
Yao Zhou's teeth chattered. "I work from home, so I'm here most of the time. The person I suspect lives next door."
"He always chops pork ribs around 8-9 PM when everyone's resting. His reputation is bad; we all complain. But that time isn't too late, and he stops after a while. After telling him with no change, we endure it."
"Until once I went out for groceries and bumped into him returning. I saw his bag was all vegetables. I sighed, thinking no noise tonight. But the chopping still happened on schedule!"
Then Yao Zhou recalled something scary, swallowing hard. "The next day, I checked his garbage bag before he woke. Not a single bone fragment inside!"
He remembered stumbling, making noise. The neighbor opened the door asking. Luckily, he pretended he kicked the bag.
[Bro, instead of ghost, worry he's a killer dismembering bodies at night!]
[Those who've killed know: hiding the body is key.]
[Question: Did the landlord act strange after checking the water bill?]
Ke Xue, seeing the dark aura above Yao Zhou, frowned. "There is yin energy around you."
"Master, is my neighbor really a ghost?!" Yao Zhou looked like crying.
Ke Xue pursed his lips. "Take your phone and walk around the apartment."
Yao Zhou obeyed, filming. At the neighbor's door, it opened.
Yao Zhou was caught in deep eye contact. "You... why now?"
Screen filled with panic, accompanied by a wail: "Host, save me!!!"
The neighbor: "???"
"I heard you talking about ghosts, being scared, so came to check."
[Scared by you first.]
[It's over. He's getting dissected!]
[Don't know if illusion, but this person looks sinister.]
[Not really. Feels warm-hearted. If I heard neighbor talk ghosts, I'd hide.]
Ke Xue's calm voice came. "Turn camera; can't see."
"Oh." Yao Zhou turned it towards the neighbor.
Ke Xue looked a second. "Relax, human."
The neighbor saw the stream, pupils shaking. "Tech is advanced. Can consult masters online."
Leaned closer, asked quietly, "Really a ghost here?"
"P-probably?" Yao Zhou moved, uncertain.
At 11 PM, slightly scared, the man squeezed closer.
Yao Zhou moved away.
He squeezed, Yao moved. He squeezed again, Yao moved again...
Man depressed. "Hey bro, I came to help catch ghost. Can't give some安全感 (sense of security)? Not loyal."
Yao shook head. "No. Seeing you, mental block. Can't stand close until figured out."
Remembering Yao's expression, man understood. "Still suspect I'm ghost? Master said human."
Met Yao's stubborn gaze.
Yao to Ke Xue: "Master, tell truth!"
Man nodded. "Yeah, Master. Look how scared, tell him I'm human!"
Ke Xue calculated calmly. "He's just worried people look down for not affording ribs, so特意 (specifically) chops tofu with force at night, making them think he eats ribs daily."
Tofu Guy: "?" Why expose someone?!
Yao: "!"
Tofu Guy's gaze shifted.
Yao's eyes darted. "Misunderstanding. Focus on problem."
Tofu Guy nodded, meaning set aside.
Yao sighed. "Must be chopping sound, making me nightmare of corpse back to me."
Tofu Guy said slowly, "But I also dreamt female corpse side/back to me sitting."
Ke Xue: "Nightmares because female corpse hidden in TV cabinet. Asking for help."
"Call police."
Yao: "!"
Tofu Guy: "!!!"
Audience: "!!!"
[Walled up?]
[Scarier than ghost. Wanted thrilling ghosts, not this刺激 (stimulation)!]
[In shared apartment, living room a wall away, panicking.]
Coming to senses, Yao's legs weak. "So sleeping next to corpse daily?"
Seeing scared, Ke Xue comforted. "Not that scary. Body intact, in TV cabinet."
[Question: How fit adult body? Too small.]
Earlier filming showed layout. Cabinet under TV long but fitting adult woman difficult.
Ke Xue gestured. "Not horizontal."
"Body sitting 90 degrees, thighs calves folded. Said back sitting."
[So while watch TV, corpse sits behind staring?]
[Not just TV. TV wall faces entrance. Everyone coming/going under gaze...]
[Ahhh! Why describe so vividly? Trying scare to death inherit 50 cents?!]
[Host and barrage comfort well. Half-scared, now completely dead.]
After police, Yao and Tofu Guy huddled by door, shivering.
Tofu Guy scared but remembered grudge. "Didn't want crowd together?"
"Leave then?" Yao hesitated.
Tofu Guy hugged tight. "No, no!"
[Want laugh, reaction worse.]
[Talismans ready, blessed pendant. But scarier than ghosts...注定 (destined) sleepless night.]
[Other tenant killer? Know these two not. Others suspicious.]
[Don't forget landlord. Landlord enters freely.]
Hearing, more scared—not just corpse, but other tenants appearing. What if killer among them?
Late-night homicide report, police swiftly dispatched.
Soon, several arrived.
Middle-aged officer looked sharply. "You reported?"
Yao pointed. "Corpse there!"
"How discover? When? Relationship deceased?"
Yao answered honestly: "Haven't seen, don't know. Just discovered. Fortune-telling streamer told."
Officer looked down, eye contact Ke Xue.
While talked, others opened cabinet, saw body tightly wrapped.
"Female corpse. Rotting smell. Dead while..."
Yao looked at body, want scream no sound.
Ke Xue: "Name Li Li, 30. Killed by previous tenant Yao's room."
Hearing, Yao almost knelt.
Officer stared eagle-like. "How know?"
Ke Xue serious: "Calculated."
Officers 'you kidding' expressions.
Young officer sneered. "What era? Still believe fortune-telling."
[Appearing: Questioner!]
[Enjoyable face-slapping!]
[Kid young, don't know many things can't explain science.]
[Science can't, Ke Xue can!]
Nighttime; all tenants present.
Learning corpse behind cabinet, tenants crazy, accusing Tofu Guy:
"Must him! Chops ribs midnight! Asked, said likes stewing ribs night!"
Tofu Guy: "Didn't! Wronged! Ask butcher—never bought ribs!"
"More suspicious? No ribs, what chopping? Body!" Accuser convinced.
Police helpless. "...Body intact."
[Consequence scaring people chopping tofu night!]
[At station, police: So chop tofu nightly schedule so people not look down not afford ribs?]
[Now only stay hotels wall-mounted TVs. TV cabinets rejected!!!]
"You, all tenants, landlord coming. And you." Officer pointed Ke Xue screen.
Ke Xue bewildered. "Not on-site???"
"But revealed deceased info."
Ke Xue more puzzled. "But didn't believe, right?"
"After DNA, know."
[So why streams usually cut police arrive, not today. Host suspect, ha.]
[Still laugh? Think: host detained, no streams.]
Suddenly screen black; stream banned gore/horror.
Ke Xue calculated—Yao shaking hand captured corpse.
Although stream banned, curiosity contained. Fans posted online, with recording.
#Grandson dreams deceased grandma night—actually ghost marriage!#
#Gain weight even drinking water? Fat transferred!#
#Neighbor never visits butcher chops ribs nightly—police find corpse TV cabinet!#
Netizens dumbfounded: Such mystical things world?
Caused huge uproar online. Whether Xiao En substituted ghost marriage, Xiaoxiao fat transferred via doll, or last reading's TV cabinet corpse photo, added Ke Xue mystique.
So even stream banned, drama-seekers continuously poured. Ke Xue watched followers soar 30,000 to 200,000.
Ke Xue dumbfounded: Good or bad?