Chapter 263: with translation of chapter title

The director's face changed.

As Ling Yue spoke, her head suddenly grew heavy, throbbing, as if something were lightly treading on top of it.

A faint cold wind brushed past her neck, and every muscle in her body tensed, like a bow and arrow drawn and ready to fire.

Director Yu's face was extraordinarily pale, paler than the white wall behind him, nearly transparent.

His lips quivered as he forced a smile: "What are you talking about? Hahaha, I knew it—you, the host, are a humorous and fun person; you're still joking with me right now."

If Ling Yue were smart, she'd realize he had already set up a ladder, hoping she'd be perceptive enough to take the initiative.

Ling Yue smiled mysteriously, her gaze fixed on his head, her expression intent, as if the scene above were uniquely beautiful.

"Gurgle... gurgle..."

Above the man's head—unseen and unheard by ordinary people—a blue‑white cheese cat stood silently; it was pretty and beautiful, resembling the cat in the director's hand, except its round eyes were filled with hatred and anger.

The cat on his head licked its paw, its gaze piercing the screen and locking onto Ling Yue: "Human, do you want to stop me?"

Ling Yue shook her head: "Don't worry, I won't stop you."

"Who... who are you talking to?!" The director's fingers trembled with fear; he stiffened his neck, his posture unnaturally rigid, like a stiff clay figurine.

"Meow meow meow! Meow meow meow meow!"

"Mom, hurry and save me—I've scared the kitty to death!"

The blue‑white cheese cat in his arms suddenly struggled, letting out a shrill cry as it bit the director's hand; seizing the moment, it darted out of the frame, and everyone heard a sharp pop, like a vase or glass breaking.

The director jumped in fright, instinctively wanting to shut off the livestream, but suddenly found his whole body immobile; a chill like a snake coiled from his calves up through his limbs, making his heart clench suddenly.

Ling Yue said, "Ballball!"

She glanced sideways and said, "It told me its name is Ballball, and it's been following you for a long time."

An uproar erupted!

The livestream's bullet comments were filled with shocked remarks, as some netizens who liked to browse videos online began calling out names specifically.

【I know! The cat rumored to have been killed by the director online is named Ballball!】

【Little, little cat ghost (⊙x⊙;)】

【Ahhh, it's definitely Ballball—Ballball has come for revenge!】

【Does anyone still remember that parrot? It was also used by Director Yu in his filming, and it's a state‑protected second‑class animal!】

【Look at his face—pale as a ghost! Even a fool can see he's guilty!】

In an instant, he became the target of everyone's condemnation, as the saying goes, "when the wall falls, everyone pushes."

Unable to move, Director Yu could only roll his eyes as he watched the bullet comments flash across the livestream; frankly, he didn't even know what to call the cat—it was just a borrowed animal, nothing to worry about—and the parrot, too, was supposedly sacrificed for art, right?

The dead cat and other animals could give their lives for art—that's their blessing! Afterwards, he had people compensate at the original price, hoping to hush things up, but the owner took the money and then sold the story—truly, human greed knows no bounds, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.

His mind raced, desperately trying to defend himself, and finally a hint of remorse surfaced in his fevered thoughts: "Ball… Ballball…"

He stammered, and after just a couple of words he struggled to swallow a mouthful of saliva.

The stepping on his head grew heavier, as if a sharp object were pressing in—pain! Too much pain!

The delicate, pampered director had never suffered such agony; his round, chubby pancake‑like face twisted in pain, his features almost squeezed together, making him look increasingly ferocious and terrifying.

How could the netizens in the livestream not know—this is the Little Cat Ghost taking revenge.

They, separated by a screen, could not feel the director's fear at all; after seeing the earlier science explanation, they only felt gratified.

No one knew what suffering he was enduring; the blue‑white cheese cat lowered its head, its white whiskers twitching—what should have been a cute sight, but it stretched out its long claws and muttered, "Mom said your heart is black; I also want to see if you truly have a black heart…"

"Ballball hurts so much—will you come keep it company?"

"If you don't speak, I'll take that as a yes, okay?"

Ling Yue translated the cat's words line by line, and the Little Cat Ghost, deeply immersed in its vengeful obsession, paid no heed to any outside interference.

Some scolded Ling Yue for pretending to be mystical; she smiled, her clear, limpid eyes like pure water, and repeated Director Yu's earlier words: "If you do no wrong, you need not fear ghosts knocking at your door."

"Who said this is the Little Cat Ghost's revenge? Did I say that?"

At this moment, the livestream's netizens all reacted in unison, voicing their opinions.

【Ah, yes yes yes! Our host is a good person—Director Yu is just having a fit!】

【Hey you, you're so concerned—hurry go check on Director Yu! Quick, save him!】

【Director Yu really is pitiful—doesn't he have an assistant to look after him?】

Saying that wrongly blames the assistants; several big men were outside pushing, the door wouldn't budge, while they watched the livestream and battered the door, and the whole group was nearly frantic.

"Director Yu! Director Yu, hold on a little longer—help is on the way!"

【Hey, look—Director Yu has gone crazy!】

The faithfully broadcast footage showed Director Yu's entire ordeal; once he realized he could move, he sprang up and flung himself about, his flabby body somehow gaining superhuman strength, knocking over the bookshelves with sheer force.

After a loud crash, the myriad of books were overturned, and the photos tucked between them fluttered down like snowflakes.

When the camera caught the photos, the entire audience fell silent.

They were actually the scandalous photos of stars from his studio, exaggeratedly revealing attire, indiscriminate of gender, some even □□, their bodies covered in whip marks.

【... Damn! You really know how to play, Yu Pangzi!】

After these photos appeared, everyone knew he was finished—he was done for sure.

Suddenly, a bang rang out.

The director's massive, mountain‑like body crashed to the ground; as he lost consciousness, the door was finally burst open, and assistants and staff rushed in—some to send him to the hospital, others to shut off the livestream.

Staring at the dark screen, the melon‑eating netizens were buzzing with excitement, utterly unhindered by any displeasure.

Ling Yue's main concern was still the little cat in the livestream; at that moment she saw a bullet comment: "【Host, is that stand‑in cat named Mike? We were on a business trip a few days ago and left the cat at a pet store, and it looks just like Mike—【sob】【sob】】"

Ling Yue blinked, recalling the memory, and nodded involuntarily: "Yes."

She herself found a moment to ask the kitty twice for its address; when that was reported, the owner hearing it instantly broke down.

Ahhh that's my family's McKin! Our McKin is boarded at that pet store!

Holy shit, this cat didn't even get the owner's permission! Poor girl!

Thanks, streamer, I'm back now, I'll go to the pet store right away, and I'll also file a police report!

Ling Yue nodded, about to say something, when a piercing scream suddenly rang out from outside the cabin—something had happened!

Not only her, even the stream's viewers could hear it crystal clear.

In broad daylight, who suddenly yelled like that? Scared the hell out of me!

!!! I remember the streamer is abroad; right now it's still night, no, it's midnight? What's going on?

Ling Yue nodded, glanced at the time in the lower‑right corner of the screen: "It's definitely night, around 2:30 a. m., almost 3."

She paused, frowned, and said: "Sorry, something might have come up; I need to step out temporarily, goodbye."

Hearing this, the viewers: 【d(OдO*)！！】

Really? Streamer, don't scare me like that! Why not start a stream?

We'll all go with you, give you a personal audience!

Ling Yue pondered for a moment: "... If I go live, will I get banned?"

Seems about right...

Suddenly, a line of big text floated across the screen—it was the room moderator!

Streamer, stream with peace of mind, Huajing will always be with you O(∩_∩)O!

Ling Yue: "……"

She quickly glanced at the online viewer count in the stream—my goodness, it had already surpassed her previous record; no wonder the Huajing platform was giving her such strong support. Ling Yue couldn't help but rub her forehead: "Alright."

"I'll shut down the computer and switch to my phone, everyone exit and re-enter."

After saying that, she closed the stream, opened a new one while pushing the door open; the cabin was dead silent, as if the earlier scream had just been Ling Yue's illusion.

How could that be? How could hundreds of millions of people simultaneously share the same illusion?

Ling Yue hurriedly walked outside; after just a few steps, Dai Linna, face flushed red, came running up, out of breath, she said: "Quick! Quick, come with me outside!"

When Ling Yue went out, a group of people were already standing on the deck; seeing her approach, Captain Bo En, face glowing red, gave a salute and pointed far ahead: "Master, please look forward!"

Under a starless, moonless sky, the ink‑black waves surged wildly, piling up wave after wave of tumultuous spray, as if a beast were roaring loudly.

In the midst of the unfathomable, ink‑black waves, a white‑hulled, red‑painted ship cut through the layers of water, slowly sailing toward them.

Dai Linna stared in shock at the opposite side, already unable to hold back a sob; her sparkling eyes fixed ahead, hands over her heart: "It's the Goddess! I recognize it—this is the ship my brother is on, the Goddess!"

"Look, on the ship's forward deck stands an iconic pure‑white Statue of Liberty!"

Not only Ling Yue saw it; countless viewers in the stream also saw it, and the huge crowd, stunned by the raging sea, instantly shifted their gaze.

【This scene is like the beginning of *The Pianist on the Sea*, with tens of thousands of stowaways curled up in makeshift rafts or cabins, peeking through cracks at the faint light wrapping the Statue of Liberty!】

【The difference is, we're not stowaways, and the opposite side isn't the American mainland.】

Seeing the approaching Goddess, Dai Linna's heart surged with excitement, her hands and feet at a loss.

As if in response to her words, the distant ship began to honk its horn with a low 'wooo', suddenly belching out a puff of white smoke.

This seemed like an omen; the calm sea surface had somehow risen a white mist, which quickly turned from a gauzy thin fog into rolling thick smoke.

It was as if a thick curtain had been drawn, making everything hazy, half‑hidden.

Ling Yue's eyesight was excellent; she saw figures coming and going, back and forth above, seemingly passengers on the ship.

Upon hearing her words, everyone instantly relaxed.

Dai Linna was even more moved, tears spilling down.

Ling Yue swept her gaze over the crowd: "That's exactly why I'm even less at ease."

Hearing her words, everyone couldn't help but stare, instinctively looking at her with blank eyes and a bewildered expression.

Dai Linna blinked and uttered: "Huh?"

Ling Yue explained calmly: "When I came out, I glanced at the computer—it showed 3 a. m., deep night, exactly when ordinary people are in deep sleep."

【We can testify, the streamer just checked the time; it's now 2‑3 a. m.!】

【What does this mean again? 【grin】【scratch head】】

Ling Yue's gaze was as sharp as a blade as she surveyed the crowd: "You say, at this hour, would there really be so many people not staying in their warm, comfortable rooms to sleep, instead wandering aimlessly on the cold deck?"

A deathly silence.

The howling cold sea wind carried a fresh salty tang, like a resounding slap that swept across everyone's cheeks, leaving a reddened mark.

Then, a faint male voice drifted on the wind from afar: "Anyone there? Anyone there? Our ship met with an accident—come help!"

Dai Linna clenched her fists, her face as pale as snow, her teeth chattering: "That… that sounds like… my brother's voice!" ，，.