Chapter 38

Bo Ting had been fretting lately over what to give Mr. Xu.

Just as he was dozing off, a pillow arrived right at his door. This “Smiling Doll” was perfect!

It could serve as a surprise and even deepen their bond.

Though Bo Ting didn’t believe in those online tales of fateful items, buying one for good luck couldn’t hurt.

Besides, the “Smiling Doll” was pretty cute. Just looking at it lifted his spirits.

Without a second thought, he added the “Smiling Doll” to his cart. For the first time in his life, Bo Ting prepared to check out without even glancing at the price.

Fortunately, though it was a craft item, the “Smiling Doll” wasn’t expensive at all—only nine yuan and nine jiao.

Talk about great value for money.

Bo Ting happily filled in Mr. Xu’s company address. He recalled the contact info from when the man had bought things for him last time and copied it over, then smoothly clicked to complete the purchase.

The pitch-black page instantly brightened into harmony.

After Bo Ting successfully placed the order, a new line appeared on the “Smiling Doll” page.

“Please don’t tell your companion before receiving it.”

“Only when the delivery box is opened will your bond take effect.”

The mysterious closing remark made Bo Ting drop the idea of messaging Mr. Xu right away. He hesitated for a moment but followed the instructions as stated.

It was same-city delivery anyway—it would arrive that same day. No need to rush those few hours.

Hmm.

The internet really did have good stuff.

He should browse online shops more often. Look at this find.

Bo Ting curled his lips in satisfaction, already looking forward to Mr. Xu’s reaction upon seeing the doll.

…

Resurgence Management Office:

After the marked “special account” went stagnant, the air in the room grew tense.

“Why did it stop moving?” Xue Hengfu asked, eyes wide in bewilderment.

How could it just freeze like that while they watched? Had it left?

But the account showed no logout.

Si Ning fiddled with the page a few more times. Suddenly, his fingers pulled back slightly as he stared at the screen.

“Something’s off.”

“This page has a hidden layer.”

The 【Taiping Luxury Garden】 account had lingered longest on the instant noodle purchase page before stopping.

Si Ning tried various angles and finally broke through a layer of eerie barrier, entering a black URL.

A familiar creepy aura leaped into view.

A fully automatic vending machine for craft items, hidden deep within the shopping platform, appeared before them.

Their webpage had glitched right here.

“Fully Automatic Vending Machine?”

“What’s it selling?”

Lu Jingshan was surprised. Was this what 【Taiping Luxury Garden】 had been browsing?

No.

It had… placed an order?

The 【Fully Automatic Vending Machine】 page slowly shifted from a 0 to a 1 in front of the loading indicator.

Clearly, someone had bought something just minutes ago.

They exchanged glances, and Lu Jingshan twitched his lips.

“Looks like I called it right.”

He’d said that creepy thing wouldn’t go for those small fries—it had been waiting here.

But what was this thing for?

Si Ning had already clicked on the vending machine’s sole item for sale.

A round-faced doll with a chilling smile appeared. At first glance, it looked utterly cute. But on a second look, it evoked an uncanny valley terror that wasn’t human.

Xue Hengfu sucked in a breath and rubbed his arms.

“Which craft master’s masterpiece is this?”

A plain doll managed to evoke that feeling.

After forcing past the discomfort and ignoring the doll, Si Ning finally found the description for this eerie item.

It was a “bond” item.

Meant to deepen the relationship between lovers, making them more intimate.

“Wait, why does this sound so familiar?” Lu Jingshan frowned suddenly, feeling like he’d heard of this bond item before.

Vice Captain Yin Liao nearby flipped through the archives.

Then he spoke up. “Three years ago, the ‘Lovers’ Bell’ that escaped in Lena City had the exact same effect.”

“And.”

He paused. “The description matches this ‘Smiling Doll’ perfectly!”

The “Lovers’ Bell” was an SS-grade anomaly that had rampaged through the neighboring city-state a few years back.

It had first been unearthed from an ancient underground tomb and appeared at an auction, where tycoons vied for it.

It unexpectedly ended up with its first buyer.

The boss of a Lena City jewelry company bought the bell as a birthday gift for his third wife, and at first, their relationship did grow more intimate.

Daily quarrels softened, and even the habitually cheating jewelry boss settled down.

Just when everyone thought the couple was blissfully in love, a month later, the company secretary noticed her boss hadn’t come to work and went to his villa. There, she found the two mutually devouring each other to death.

The horrific intimacy sent chills down spines—it was a curse that twisted human nature.

The “Lovers’ Bell” continued wandering, falling into different buyers’ hands and causing incidents one after another, until it caught the Resurgence Management Office’s attention.

The Lena City squad rushed to seal it off. But inexplicably, the “Lovers’ Bell”—which had killed dozens of couples—vanished without a trace.

The eerie incident had gone quiet for three years, and people had mostly forgotten it.

Who would’ve thought it would suddenly reappear in a hidden layer of a shopping app.

And remade into a “Smiling Doll” to continue its killings.

After quickly reviewing the archives, Lu Jingshan had no doubts.

As everyone knew, anomalies didn’t share abilities except for group-dwellers like the Two-Headed Rats.

Such similar traits meant this “Smiling Doll” had to be the “Lovers’ Bell.”

He inhaled sharply, frowning.

“This is getting troublesome.”

Xue Hengfu felt a bit desperate too.

“Nothing’s been simple since 【Taiping Luxury Garden】 showed up.”

Whatever purpose the anomaly from 【Taiping Luxury Garden】 had in buying this “Smiling Doll”…

Everyone in the office knew this thing absolutely could not be allowed to spread further!

…

Bo Ting had no idea he’d “done something huge.”

After fulfilling his shopping quota for the day, he planned to clear out the rest of the instant foods in his cart.

But just like last time, after entering the address, the shop owners all said they couldn’t find 【Taiping Luxury Garden】.

Looks like he’d have to go through Mr. Xu for purchases after all.

Still, he’d wait until tomorrow when Mr. Xu received the gift before mentioning it.

Bo Ting shook his head, yawned, and exited the shopping page.

…

The next day, Xu Qinglai had just arrived at the company when the front desk called.

“President Xu, a delivery from the logistics company just arrived. They say it’s for you.”

The front desk staff checked with their superior as usual.

After all, Rong’an Building was Mengjia City’s top economic powerhouse. President Xu occasionally received dangerous packages.

Some from admirers, some from rivals.

If they delivered unknown items to the president’s office without checking and something happened, who’d take responsibility?

The front desk was experienced in handling these.

A delivery?

Xu Qinglai checked his phone. He hadn’t ordered anything lately.

Any packages he sent were outbound, not to himself.

When had a delivery suddenly been sent here?

He was about to refuse it, but then something occurred to him. Xu Qinglai asked,

“Does it list my personal contact info?”

The front desk checked closely. The tracking number indeed used a different number from the company’s.

“Yes, President Xu.”

“Then disinfect it and bring it up.”

Xu Qinglai hung up, thoughtful.

A delivery with his personal contact—who could it be from?

Minutes later, the package sat outside his office door.

Xu Qinglai opened it, and his fingertip paused.

Even through the box, an overwhelming eerie aura hit him.

As if it wanted everyone to know there was an anomalous item inside.

Unfazed, Xu Qinglai unpacked it.

Upon opening, he narrowed his eyes slightly. Inside was… a doll?

A craft item?

The smiling-faced doll, once exposed, caused the ambient magnetic field in the space to shift subtly.

Just then, his phone buzzed twice.

Xu Qinglai glanced down to see a message from Bo Ting.

“Mr. Xu, did you open the delivery?”

A peeking cat emoji followed, giving away the sender immediately.

Xu Qinglai: …

“Got it.”

He’d thought it was some old rival. Turns out it was Bo Ting.

So, what was this for?

And this Smiling Doll’s power seemed… off?

Xu Qinglai sensed that the moment he opened the box, a strange energy linked him to Bo Ting on the other end of the phone.

Without using his abilities, relying solely on human senses, in that instant, he inexplicably felt a closeness to Bo Ting.

Very abrupt.

Xu Qinglai’s brow furrowed slightly. Seeing this item—meant for lovers—used on them felt bizarre.

He looked down at his phone without replying right away.

Bo Ting felt a bit embarrassed only after confirming Mr. Xu had received and opened the package.

“Mr. Xu, um.”

“Actually, I saw this ‘doll’ while shopping and thought it suited you, so I bought it.”

“You’ve helped me so much these past days, but I haven’t given you anything yet.”

“This doll represents my heartfelt thanks. I hope you’ll accept it.”

As Bo Ting typed this, his face flushed slightly. Even his fever function seemed to activate.

He pressed his hand to his cheek briefly, then shoved away Gouzi’s intruding head and lifted the calico off his neck.

Eyes glued to the screen, he awaited Mr. Xu’s reply.

Xu Qinglai: …

Xu Qinglai felt a headache coming on.

Did the guy opposite know what those “words” implied?

Simple gratitude would’ve been fine.

But paired with this “Smiling Doll,” it all took on a different flavor.

Especially since Xu Qinglai knew it wasn’t just any doll—it was the “Lovers’ Bell.”

After another glance, he detected the original entity within the doll’s hollow layers and pierced its anomalous essence.

So, did Bo Ting know he’d sent a “lovers'” item?

No, with his abilities, he couldn’t be unaware.

Xu Qinglai paused, then typed: “Thanks, I’ll treasure it.”

Huh?

Mr. Xu accepted it?

Bo Ting excitedly slapped his hand but quickly calmed himself, feigning composure with a light cough. “Good.”

“Then put it on your desk, Mr. Xu.”

That way, he’d see the doll Bo Ting gave him every time he opened his eyes.

How wasn’t that deepening their bond?

Xu Qinglai: …

“Okay.”

The faintly expectant look on the other’s face flashed in his mind.

Despite his complicated feelings, Xu Qinglai didn’t refuse.

However, this “doll’s” anomalous power needed handling. He didn’t want to wake up one day influenced by such a low-level item.

Pondering, he extended a tentacle and lightly tapped the doll’s forehead. Instantly, the doll’s goofy smile lost its liveliness, turning rigid like a true craft item.

The bell inside causing trouble was thoroughly sealed, unable to ring and affect minds anymore.

Yet as he placed the neutralized “Smiling Doll” on his desk, Xu Qinglai wondered if Bo Ting could sense his actions.

Bo Ting felt nothing at all.

But the Resurgence Management Office did!

They’d finally tracked a trace of the “Lovers’ Bell” using past data samples, only for the eerie aura to vanish the next second.

Who could accept that?

Xue Hengfu stared at the computer in disbelief.

“Isn’t there supposed to be a signal just now? Now it’s gone?”

They had been so close to pinpointing the current location of the Lovers’ Bell. But abruptly, the eerie signal source vanished completely, as if it had been sealed away by something.

Xue Hengfu took a deep breath, feeling that it was all too stimulating—his heart couldn’t take it.

Lu Jingshan glanced at the chubby guy beside him and patted his shoulder.

“This is pretty normal.”

“Weird incidents aren’t that easy to track. All sorts of accidents popping up midway is par for the course.”

Even as he said that, Lu Jingshan pondered the situation. Clearly, someone had intervened midway to block them.

But who exactly?

Whether it was the anomaly itself or another Ability User, they had no clue.

Staring at the dead end before him, Lu Jingshan made a decisive call to redeploy:

“Switch directions. Investigate who posted the Lovers’ Bell for sale online.”

Although the Lovers’ Bell was SS-grade, it wasn’t particularly intelligent—whoever picked it up was the one who suffered.

This time, it had been listed online, which didn’t match its usual killing style. It seemed like someone was reselling it from behind the scenes.

Lu Jingshan had already considered what to do if the trail went cold. Now, he simply started from the sales page, aiming to get the contact info of the seller and thoroughly investigate. That way, they could still intercept the Lovers’ Bell.

Everyone in the office snapped to attention and turned to check the webpage.

Meanwhile.

Bo Ting also received a message from the website.

In all his time online shopping, this was the first time he’d gotten a follow-up from customer service. He was a bit puzzled and nearly blocked it as spam.

But upon seeing the familiar “doll” profile picture, Bo Ting realized what it was.

“Dear customer, has the doll reached your special someone?” came the mechanical query from customer service.

Bo Ting nodded, then remembered they couldn’t see it and sent an emoji instead.

The customer service rep, who had been about to type, paused for a moment before responding in the same tone:

“That’s great.”

“Did you notice any obvious changes when you used it today?”

“All our customers who’ve bought the ‘Smiling Doll’ say there’s a very noticeable change on the first day.”

Bo Ting sucked in a breath.

A change on the first day? He definitely couldn’t fall behind.

But what counted as an “obvious change”?

Bo Ting thought back but still felt a bit lost.

Did placing the doll on Mr. Xu’s desk count?

He hesitated slightly.

Customer service seemed to weigh their words, apparently compiling past “feedback,” before asking:

“I mean, did you and the person you like have any fights today?”

Bo Ting: …

This customer service rep was weirdly embarrassing to talk to. They’d just called it a “special companion,” and now it was shortened to “the person you like.”

Anyone who didn’t know better might think he liked Mr. Xu.

Bo Ting blinked.

“We never fight.”

“How could someone as polite and gentlemanly as Mr. Xu ever fight with me?”

This question clearly didn’t apply to them.

Customer service: …

“Then has your level of intimacy increased today?”

“For example, did your daily kisses go from one to two?”

Bo Ting: …?

“What?”

“We have to kiss?”

Bo Ting froze, then paled in shock, wondering if he’d misread something.

It was just a doll—how had it escalated straight to kissing?

His stunned retort hit too hard.

Customer service fell completely silent, then seemed to switch to someone else.

“Dear customer, what do you usually do to express intimacy?”

Better to clarify and probe accordingly.

Bo Ting mulled it over along their lines of questioning.

How did he and Mr. Xu express intimacy…?

“Of course, chatting!”

“We chat for an hour every day.”

With how busy everyone was these days, which online bros chatted that long?

Bo Ting was super proud of it, and just mentioning it brought a smile to his face.

Customer service took a deep breath.

Fine.

Chatting, huh.

The black keyboard clacked out a line.

“Then has your chatting time increased today?”

This had to count as a change, right?

They tossed out the real question they wanted to ask, while the Ability User couple—still terrified the Lovers’ Bell might return—huddled tensely in the basement, holding their breath.

Bo Ting scratched his head, glanced at his chat history with Mr. Xu today, and hesitated.

“Actually, because I spent quite a while just now giving you feedback, my chat time with Mr. Xu today… was about ten minutes shorter than yesterday.”

Silence hung in the air.

The Ability Users on their chairs were on the verge of breaking down.

It was over.

No progress?

How were these two so impervious? Was the Lovers’ Bell useless against them?

Hadn’t it been said that once you resold the Lovers’ Bell, it would latch onto the new couple?

Why did that damn guy on the other end seem totally unaffected?

After paranoid checks for ages, customer service gritted their teeth and urged:

“Dear customer, just chatting won’t deepen feelings.”

“The Smiling Doll enhances bonds, but it needs some external stimulus.”

“Maybe plan a movie date?”

Suspecting the other side was a hopeless straight guy, customer service put it mildly.

Bo Ting: ???

Go out to a movie?

He felt a bit embarrassed.

“But we’re just online friends.”

“We haven’t met in person yet.”

Customer service: ???

!!!

Damn it!

They’d been tricked?

You’re just in an online romance—why the hell did you buy a “Smiling Doll”?

Wasn’t this obviously for couples who were head-over-heels, love-to-death, entangled hopelessly?

The person on the other side of the keyboard nearly passed out from anger.

But the item had already shipped. It was too late to find a new target to resell to.

Customer service could only grit their teeth and soldier on.

“Why not bravely meet up?”

“With the Smiling Doll’s blessing, you might feel even more moved once you meet.”

For the first time in their life, they were pushing someone to meet IRL, and it felt awkward. But with their lives hanging on these two, customer service pushed on like a big brother therapist.

Bo Ting was a bit surprised.

Was that how it worked?

But had this customer service misunderstood something?

Moved? What was that about?

Bo Ting cleared his throat and finally couldn’t help explaining:

“Mr. Xu is a great guy, very gentle.”

“But I think you’ve got the wrong idea—we’re just bros, you know?”