C21 Midnight Shocking Soul(last part)

The atmosphere in the bus turned chilly for a few seconds before everyone, as if on cue, burst into a conniving chuckle, exchanged glances, and erupted into raucous laughter.

"This host is quite the character!" a grandpa exclaimed with a hearty laugh, his face glowing as he nodded in approval. An auntie next to him tried to stifle her giggles, her face turning beet red as she hurried to steady the grandpa.

She shot a stern look at him, torn between laughter and exasperation, and half-laughing, half-scolding, she guided him back to his seat, "You and your antics! If it's funny, laugh, but why stand up? Don't you remember your rheumatism? You'll end up falling and killing yourself..."

With an embarrassed chuckle, the grandpa settled back into his seat, and the rest of the passengers shared a knowing smile, creating a warmly harmonious scene.

"Oh, my health is solid; I could easily live another twenty years!"

"Absolutely, grandpa! Laughter makes you ten years younger!"

An office worker, shaking off the constraints of corporate Western decorum, laughed heartily as he adjusted the armrest.

Qiao Lengzhi listened to the radio broadcast in stunned silence, completely unaware that she had become engrossed in the very radio station she once deemed passé.

"The host's name is Lin Haoyu... right?"

The daily opening segment, reminiscent of a timeless Earthly tradition, captured the attention of the audience, not to mention the myriad of eerie and supernatural tales that followed.

As the bus reached its final stop, Qiao Lengzhi had just stepped off when a realization struck her. She immediately feigned searching for something, lingering on the bus to continue listening to the broadcast.

"How fascinating, and well-spoken too."

Lin Haoyu was reaching a crescendo in his narration, a minor climax building momentum, compelling many passengers to stay on board, reluctant to disembark and miss out.

The bus driver, enjoying the calm of the last run, smiled to himself. One of the perks of the last bus was the absence of any need to hurry.

When Lin Haoyu finally unveiled the climax of his tale, the driver let out a sly chuckle and turned to the few remaining passengers with a triumphant grin.

"Heh, I told you! That wasn't a real ghost at all!"

The old man chuckled, smacking his lips with a smug tilt of his head.

"So, what do you think? Weren't we betting on whether it was a ghost? Hand over the fifty cents!"

The young man on the other side let out a cold snort.

"Tsk, it's just fifty cents! Take it! Hmph! I still don't believe it. The next one is definitely going to be a ghost!"

The group continued to fervently dissect the plot from Lin Haoyu's narration, speculating on the twists and turns. Occasionally, their eyes drifted to Qiao Lengzhi, the sole student remaining on the bus.

Qiao Lengzhi's cheeks flushed slightly as she stayed on the bus, her actions belying her true intentions.

"I'm not just here to listen to the radio; I'm looking for my student ID..."

After convincing herself, Qiao Lengzhi resumed listening to the broadcast with renewed enthusiasm, oblivious to the fact that it was now one in the morning.

"Two hours have flown by, and our 'After Midnight' program will be taking a break for now. But when you head home, keep an eye out so the person next door doesn't sneak into your house in the dead of night!"

Qiao Lengzhi stifled a laugh, bowing her head to continue her search for the elusive student ID, which had eluded her for a full two hours.

"Maybe I left my student ID at school."

Comforting herself once more, Qiao Lengzhi looked up, eager for the next installment of the show, only to notice that the others were gradually exiting the bus.

Her mouth agape in surprise, Qiao Lengzhi looked around in confusion and asked,

"Huh? Is the program finished?"

The bus driver yawned deeply, stretching languidly.

"Yeah, it's over! The 'After Midnight' show runs from eleven at night until one in the morning. It's pretty entertaining."

Qiao Lengzhi, in a state of shock, pulled out her phone and checked the time, her heart skipping a beat.

"It's already one o'clock? How long have I been listening to this radio?"

Oh no!

There's an exam tomorrow, and it takes at least an hour to travel from the Mi Yun district to school. So, getting up at four in the morning is the absolute latest I can manage. By the time I get home, I'll only be able to sleep for a maximum of three hours!

Qiao Lengzhi's mind was haunted by thoughts of tomb raiding and grave digging, so much so that she was nearly too frightened to walk alone at night.

"I need to hurry home and buy a radio. From now on, I'll listen to it once I'm safely inside..."

Meanwhile, the city buses were adorned with advertisements for After Midnight featuring Lin Haoyu's half-body portrait surrounded by a horde of ghoulish tomb raiders.

...

Unaware of the buzz, Lin Haoyu dreamt sweet dreams of sudden fame.

The following day, it wasn't just the buses that showcased After Midnight ads; the street lamps, subway station billboards, and certain time slots on Shiatan TV Station were all plastered with Lin Haoyu's image—he had indeed become an overnight sensation.

"Ah, it seems like it's Friday. I've got to go record the show..."

Lin Haoyu, groggy from sleep, yawned and shuffled about. After freshening up and dressing, he grabbed his briefcase and headed straight for the TV station.

But as soon as he stepped outside, he was confronted by his own oversized portrait on the buses driving by.

"What in the world is this?"

Startled, he wondered if his good looks had somehow captivated the entire world with his unparalleled charm.

Well, it was a possibility.

Before he could tiptoe his way to the TV station, a passerby excitedly recognized him:

"Hey, aren't you that radio host, Lin Haoyu?"

Lin Haoyu offered an awkward smile and coughed a few times, though inside he was bursting with excitement—he hadn't even perfected his own stylish autograph yet!

The passerby chuckled, gave Lin Haoyu a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and with a parting remark, turned and walked away:

"Your show's pretty good! Really interesting. Make sure you keep sharing those fascinating stories next time!"

After that, Lin Haoyu went largely unrecognized on his way.

"You're leaving just like that? Don't you want an autograph or something?"

Lin Haoyu, looking utterly bewildered, scratched his head and let out a resigned sigh as he made his way toward the Shiatan TV Station.

Lin Haoyu: Where are those fervent fans I was promised? The ones clamoring for my autograph?

Well, it seems those were just empty promises...

"No, they're not empty promises."

Suddenly, a voice laced with allure and a London accent rang out behind Lin Haoyu. Before he could turn around, a sweet scent wafted towards him.

Karina had been having a rough time lately. Her performances in Aglon had faced criticism from some judges, primarily because she wasn't a native, but rather from Cusweicia.

"At last, the Western beauty, Karina, makes her entrance! Are you thrilled? Are you taken aback? Are you amazed?"