Human-Face Sore
Late that night, I suddenly jolted awake from sleep, only to find Maya standing by the bed, holding a kettle steaming with boiling water.
I realized what she was about to do and quickly rolled aside. The water from the kettle gushed down, scalding the spot where I had just been lying. If I hadn't reacted so fast, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
"Maya, have you lost your mind?!" I roared at her.
"You're the one who's lost their mind," Maya glared at me. "It's that monster turning you into this! Getting rid of it would be for your own good!" With that, she flung the remaining water at my chest.
I kicked her away. "This is my lucky charm! I can make money entirely because of it. Anyone who tries to hurt it will pay with their life!"
I slammed the door shut. Maya wailed outside.
And I? I was busy comforting my Human-Face Sore. "Don't worry, I won't let her hurt you..."
9
From that day on, I locked the door every night before sleeping. Later, I stopped locking it because I stopped coming home altogether. I'd gotten involved with a female fan, bought her a house and a car, and formally set her up as my mistress.
The fan's name was Jing—fair skin, pretty face, long legs, and a sweet mouth that always knew how to make me happy.
But no matter what, I never took off my shirt. I didn't want anyone to discover the secret on my body!
As for not coming home, I told Maya I was too busy with work, sometimes so late that I just slept at the company.
Seeing her half-believing, half-doubting look, I added that if she didn't believe me, she could come check at the company.
Of course she couldn't come—our three-year-old son kept her tied up.
Then again, if it weren't for our son, I would have divorced her long ago. Every girl I knew now was better than her—not just better-looking, but sweeter too.
Only she, glowering at me day after day! Eating my food, spending my money—what right did she have? Just thinking about it made my blood boil.
Out of sight, out of mind—so I spent less and less time at home.
10
A tall tree catches the wind.
The livestreaming pie was only so big. If I was making money, someone else had to be losing it.
A competitor I'd thoroughly crushed suddenly pulled out a devastating move—he brought Sasha onto his stream for a tell-all interview!
The recent slap incident had subjected Sasha to vicious online abuse. Her home address was dug up; angry netizens sent her funeral clothes and razor blades. When she went out, people recognized her, spat at her, threw filth at her... Everyone called her an ingrate who didn't deserve to live.
She'd tried to explain, but her voice was too small. Now someone was willing to give her a platform, so of course she seized the opportunity!
During the program, Sasha tearfully recounted what had happened, then pointedly declared that I'd done it all just to drive traffic...
Her red, swollen eyes and pitiful expression effectively struck at the gossip-hungry masses. They felt played, and turned their guns on me...
I was lampooned mercilessly.
Just like Sasha, I received funeral clothes and razor blades. Walking down the street, people spat at me and threw dirty water...
Truly, the wheel of fortune turns.
11
I asked my Human-Face Sore what to do this time.
It gave a cold laugh. "She has a mouth—don't you? Go find her ex! Money makes the devil turn the grindstone!"
I saw the light.
I brought Sasha's ex onto my stream for an interview too.
As for the content, you can probably guess—it was all about turning black into white, smearing Sasha's reputation, claiming she was loose, even claiming she'd caught an STD. Her ex had been forced to leave because he couldn't take it anymore; she'd threatened suicide when he tried to break up...
"Look, this is proof she was being treated." Her ex even flashed her medical records.
The medical records were real—Sasha had indeed contracted an STD, but it had been transmitted by her ex. She was actually the victim, and it was precisely because of this that she'd attempted suicide out of despair.
"Someone risked her life to save you, and you repay kindness with cruelty? I couldn't just stand by, so I've come forward! There's a saying—don't let heroes bleed and cry!" Her ex ended with an impassioned plea to Sasha: "Please, try to be a decent human being!"
This heartfelt performance bamboozled the gossip crowd again. Public opinion reversed once more...
And I, once again playing the victim, raked in another wave of traffic, making a fortune.
12
"Max, how could you do that? Treating a girl like that—don't you think it's despicable? For money, just how low will you go? The person you've become is truly terrifying!"
When Maya found out about this, she had another huge argument with me.
"It was that monster egging you on again, wasn't it?"
"It's not a monster—it's my friend!" I shot back.
"Friend? It's a demon! Haven't you realized you've been gradually taken over by it? Whatever it tells you to do, you do. If one day it tells you to kill someone, will you listen to that too?"
"If that day comes, it'll be because that person deserved to die," I said coldly.
"God, you're truly possessed!" Maya backed up two steps, then turned and fled.
That day, she didn't come home until very late. I later learned she'd gone to find Sasha. She was afraid Sasha, devastated by the blow, might try again.
She'd guessed right—Sasha had slit her wrists. If Maya hadn't arrived in time, she might have lost her life.
She took Sasha to the hospital and cared for her devotedly, spending money and effort, eventually stabilizing her condition.
I had to admit, this was thanks to Maya. If something had truly happened to Sasha, I would have been in deep trouble!
13
Sasha's episode had barely settled when a new, massive trouble arose!
The products I'd been selling had serious quality issues, leading to numerous consumer complaints. The platform banned my account and ordered me to compensate for all damages.
It was an astronomical figure—enough to bankrupt me entirely. What comes in through deception goes out the same way; the ancients spoke true.
Overnight, I was back to rock bottom. The feeling of falling from the clouds was absolutely excruciating!
Maya, on the other hand, looked relieved. She urged me to find a proper job and live honestly from now on.
I couldn't be bothered with her nagging. I went looking for Jing to unwind, but when I knocked on her door, a strange family answered. They said Jing had sold them the apartment.
I was stunned. I tried calling Jing, but her number was disconnected—turned into a dead line...
Clearly, I'd been dumped. It really was true—when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter!
Not surprising, really. Can you buy sincerity with money?
14
That night, I got dead drunk at a bar. When I got home, I had another fight with Maya. She got so worked up she suddenly fainted...
At the hospital, the doctor said it was nothing serious—just too much mental stress. A few days of rest and she'd be fine. Just as I was about to tell her the diagnosis, the Human-Face Sore stopped me: "Max, do you still want to make a comeback?"
"Of course!"
"Then do as I say." It wore a wicked grin. "I guarantee it won't be long before you reclaim your former glory!"
15
I forged a medical report and convinced Maya she had cancer. She believed it and panicked immediately.
Then I told her about a special foreign medication that could treat her condition, but it was very expensive and required long-term use. In other words—buying time with money.
Finally, I told her I had a way to get the money, but she'd need to cooperate.
When I explained my plan, Maya hesitated.
"The doctor said this disease gets harder to treat the longer you wait. Your son is still so young—can you bear to leave him without a mother?" I played my trump card.
Thinking of her son, Maya had no choice but to comply...
So I dragged her onto a livestream. This time we weren't selling products—we were selling sympathy!
I spun a heart-wrenching story, painting myself as the world's most devoted husband, caring tirelessly for a terminally ill wife, even willing to sell my own organs to pay for her miracle medication...
My carefully crafted image as a loving husband won back a wave of popularity. With popularity came money—it turned out that selling sympathy on livestream was a lucrative path!
To garner even more compassion, I hired a makeup artist to make Maya look more like a patient...
Naturally, Maya resented this. Whenever she wavered, I'd bring up our son.
Our son was her weak spot. For his sake, she endured again and again...
16
Two months later, I procured the so-called "special medication." In reality, it was just cheap vitamins with the labels swapped. Maya didn't question it and took them punctually every day.
Of course, the livestreams had to continue, because the medication couldn't be stopped...
In short, it was an endless road.