The second episode was scheduled to be recorded three days later.

During those three days, Fan Jialuo continued to lay in the bathtub and only woke up at midnight to feed a drop of black water to the tiny human-shaped fog.

After consuming the three drops of black water, the foggy figure had condensed into a thin and weak soul, with much more discernible features. Its skin was pale and its eyes were dark, but the somewhat familiar large eyes still contained a glow as bright as before.

During the day, the small human-shaped fog would obediently shrink into a ball and maintain guard beside his big brother's bathtub. He would become overcautious once night fell, but still happily looked forward to their short meeting at midnight.

He especially liked it when his elder brother's clear voice vibrated and reverberated around the cramped bathroom. It generated a joyous feeling within him, one that even his soul resonated with.

On the third day, in the evening, Fan Jialuo woke up early. He had to go to the TV station to record the next episode before seven o'clock.

After connecting the mobile phone to the charger, it finally turned on. Dozens of missed calls and more than 100 unread messages rushed to crowd the screen, most of which had been initiated by Zhao Wenyan.

Just as Fan Jialuo was about to call him back, Zhao Wenyan once again rushed in with another call, and his voice sounded like a worn-out set of bellows as he pleaded, "Jialuo, what should I do? Will I be able to escape Su Fengxi's clutches during this lifetime? Tell me honestly, do I have any hope?"

"Hmm? Wait a minute." Fan Jialuo seemed to have had a premonition.

He kept the call connected while he opened the browser app on his phone to look at the latest news. All the latest headlines were pushing Su Fengxi's new song.

In just a few days, she had managed to pave a way out for herself. Out of desperation, she had announced her retirement from the acting industry, but had then quickly followed this announcement by switching her career path to that of a singer.

Her first song currently occupied the top position on the major music charts, showing an irresistible momentum.

A number of music critics were full of praise as they described her voice, saying-It is a song from the deep sea, a wonderful song which makes you feel like you're floating in heaven, and it is full of magic, just as if it is an enthralling sound from hell, containing the power to bewitch people! I love her, I love her like crazy!

Below this comment were hundreds of thousands of likes. Su Fengxi's new song had harvested almost everyone's ears.

The time it took for her to rise back onto the pedestal of popularity after her fall from fame was shorter than Fan Jialuo's. She was being touted as a miracle of the entertainment industry.

Netizens said that she was a talented singer who had been seriously delayed by her acting career.

If she had taken the singing route earlier on in her career, how could she have fallen to the state she had presently? Her fans would have loved her as much as they loved their own life!

There was no unfounded exaggeration in this sentence.

Whenever Su Fengxi's song played, some people would laugh, some would cry, and some would completely break down or fall into madness.

Her singing indeed held an extraordinary attraction, it evoked the listener's innermost feelings.

Love and hate, sorrow and joy, bitterness and happiness all turned into wine when she sang, intoxicating people and making them drunk.

As Fan Jialuo read the news, Su Fengxi's song automatically started playing, and it echoed in the narrow space of the bathroom.

It really possessed an 'extraordinary attraction,' it truly was like the chant of the sirens in the sea and the whispers of demons in hell.

Xu Yiyang, who had originally been very happy to see that his big brother had awakened early, immediately covered his ears and showed a painful expression. The sound being played made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Zhao Wenyan, who was waiting for the other's reply, suddenly groaned in pain. "Jialuo, please turn off the music! I can't hold on anymore!"

Ever since Su Fengxi's new song had attained nationwide popularity, Zhao Wenyan had once again fallen into hell.

Even if he didn't see her figure, just by hearing her song, the memories of the little moments he once had with her would appear. Those bitter memories had changed their color and appearance under the thrall of her singing and had now become saturated with sweetness, tenderness and warmth.

It was easy to avoid a person, but it was hard to avoid sound.

Played on the internet and everywhere on the real world, especially on the streets, the shopping malls and squares, and even in every passing car- he just couldn't escape her song.

It was like a magical net had woven all around him, trapping Zhoa Wenyan so thoroughly that he had nowhere left to escape.

Yesterday, if Grandfather Zhao had not sent a bodyguard to intercept him in time, he would have probably gone and knocked on Su Fengxi's door, kneeling down at her feet and begging for mercy once again.

The influence this song held was infinitely magnified on the men who had been tempted by Su Fengxi in the past.

If prior to listening to her song they had just been infatuated with her, then after hearing the song, they would go to any extent, and would even offer her their life. As for ordinary people, they would slowly become crazy with the passage of time.

After having experienced the previous fiasco, Su Fengxi seemed to be taking a more extreme approach this time.

Zhao Wenyan gasped and asked, "Is she..."

Fan Jialuo switched back to the call and calmly said, "Yes, she's become more capable."

Zhao Wenyan remained silent for a few dozens of seconds before speaking with difficulty, "Can you..."

Fan Jialuo chuckled and comforted, "Don't be afraid. These things will always have a solution. In this world, there exists no power that is unrestrained."

"Really?" The tremble in Zhao Wenyan, which could be heard from his voice, slowly began to subside.

He didn't know why, but as long as Fan Jialuo said 'yes', he would feel sure that he could do it. As long as Fan Jialuo said 'don't be afraid', he really wouldn't feel afraid.

Su Fengxi's voice seemed to contain a magical power, but the magic wielded by Fan Jialuo was no less than her. Moreover, his voice was more peaceful, indifferent and calm.

If Su Fengxi was a devil, he was, without a doubt, an angel and a safe harbor.

Zhao Wenyan couldn't contain his words anymore and said, "I heard from Cao Xiaohui that you will be going to record the show tonight? How about I go with you?" At this moment, all he wanted was to stay by Fan Jialuo's side and not go anywhere else.

"Okay. See you at the TV station at 6:30."

"No, no, no, I'll pick you up. I'll head over now." When he said this, Zhao Wenyan had already driven his car onto the road and was heading towards the Moon Bay Garden Community.

***

At half past six, Fan Jialuo and Zhao Wenyan walked into the studio side by side. Cao Xiaohui was behind them, carrying a bag and wearing a very flattering expression.

The other contestants were also present and they were going about gathering spiritual energy, meditating, or practicing asceticism...

A beautifully tuned song echoed from above and spread throughout the hall. It was Su Fengxi's song.

Zhao Wenyan's footsteps paused slightly, his face tense.

Fan Jialuo suddenly placed his hand on Zhao Wenyan's back, and calmly said, "It's fine. It's just a song."

His long and slender fingers were like an impregnable shield, which blocked out the turbulent magical sound. His clear voice was very soft and slow, it was nothing when compared to the loud and clear singing that burst out of the loudspeakers. But miraculously, it still managed to cover the latter sound completely.

Zhao Wenyan's tense body immediately relaxed, and his pursed lips straightened out before involuntarily bursting into a smile.

"I'm much better now," He whispered into the young man's ear. If it were possible, he would have liked to stick even closer to the other side, and do so all the time.

These actions displayed by the two people made them seem too close, which caused many of the staff members to glance over at them, and then think of the complaints Su Fengxi had made after promoting her new song.

It turned out that she was right. Fan Jialuo was indeed Zhao Wenyan's new love.

Otherwise, why else would the President Zhao accompany a little star in recording this kind of lesser-known program in person? Look, he was following so closely, as if afraid of losing the person!

The side glances casted by bystanders didn't affect Fan Jialuo in the slightest. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the other contestants who had crowded in the corner of the hall.

Even with Su Fengxi's singing resounding around the studio, they meditated without feeling any discomfort. Some people even showed relaxed and happy expressions, as if their practice had actually benefited from the song being played.

Only He Jinglian frowned and fidgeted with her hands, feeling very restless. However, when the song reached its climax and Su Fengxi's pitch suddenly rose, that uneasiness disappeared.

Fan Jialuo retracted his sight, already coming to an understanding about Su Fengxi's situation.

A staff member warmly welcomed them and took them to a separate lounge. Although Song Wennuan was not afraid of Zhao Wenyan, the head of the TV station dared not neglect him. It was necessary to provide him with some special treatment.

At this same time, Song Rui was walking into the observation room with a square sandalwood box that measured two-foot each way in his hands.

"What did you bring, cousin?" Song Wennuan asked, stepping forward to help him carry the box, only to find that it was too heavy.

"I'll do it myself."

Song Rui put the box on the table, glanced at the boxes that the other three judges had brought along with them, and said, "As we discussed last time, we shall not pry into each other's boxes. We just need to know that what we have brought with us is related to life.

"Apart from Wennuan, who can open all our boxes to take a look, the other staff members must avoid doing so. In other words, in this studio, only Wennuan will know what is contained in each of the boxes, there will be no one other than her who will have the answers."

"Cousin, why did you arrange something like this? What do you want to do?" Song Wennuan was puzzled.

"I just want to confirm some of my guesses." Song Rui waved his hand and said, "Wennuan, you can secretly open our boxes to check. Please avoid the cameramen and all surveillance."

Although Song Wennuan was puzzled by this, she understood that the show would become more mysterious this way, and mystery had always been the effect she pursued. So, she avoided everyone and secretly looked at the things placed inside the boxes.

What Dr. Lin, Dr. Qian and Dr. Ouyang brought were obviously very interesting, as they made her cover her mouth and snicker, while the thing that her cousin had brought made her frown and show a puzzled expression.

"Cousin, we had already agreed that what you guys bring will be life-related test items. What is this that you've brought? When did your comprehension become so bad? Elementary school students would be better at reviewing questions than you!" Song Wennuan rolled her eyes in front of the camera.

Song Rui, however, just smiled lightly and did not refute it.

***

The time was slowly approaching seven o'clock, and the contestants should soon be ready to start recording.

Chongming looked around the hall but couldn't find Fan Jialuo. So he went outside to inquire about the situation.

"Oh, you're looking for Fan Jialuo? He has a separate lounge, so he's not in there with you." A staff member pointed to a row of small rooms that lined the inner corridor.

Chongming's handsome face twisted for a moment due to jealousy, and then he walked over with a sneer.

However, when he reached the door of a certain room, something made him stop in his tracks.

A sarcastic voice came from behind the door, "...I also secretly looked for the technical producer to watch the replay. Fan Jialuo really is powerful, he is worthy of being in first place!

"Chongming was behaving in such an embarrassing manner, protesting against Sister Song about the rankings, without any knowledge of just how ordinary his own performance was. He couldn't answer with anything else except for describing the scene in the photos. It was already good that he managed to get seventh place.

"As Dr. Song said, his ability is too limited. He can only see the appearance but not the essence. What kind of a psychic is this?"

"Yes, I also think his ability is very weak. Ah, Xiaxia, what does your dog want to do, raising its hind leg? Does it want to pee? Take it out quickly. This dressing room belongs to Sister Song. If she smells urine, you will definitely become miserable!"

A ruckus took place inside the room, and soon a girl in her early twenties rushed out of the room carrying a pug, almost colliding with Chongming.

As she passed by, she quickly glanced at the man in the Taoist robe, but was startled by his pair of red, sinister and ferocious eyes.

She ran away, gradually distancing herself from Chongming, but kept looking back repeatedly in fear.

Chongming also looked at her with a strange smile playing across his mouth. Then, with light steps, he quietly followed after her.

Three minutes later, the girl ran back crying, holding a breathless puppy in her arms. Her cry attracted several other make-up artists to gather to see what was wrong. Everyone was surprised and bewildered at the puppy's sudden death.

There was no disease, no accident, and no injury to its body. The dog had only left the owner's sight for a few seconds to pee. How could it just be gone like that?

The girl's sad cry also attracted Fan Jialuo's attention. He was about to ask Cao Xiaohui to check on the situation, however, before he could do so, knocking sounded on the door of the lounge he was in.

Chongming leaned against the door frame with a sunny smile and asked, "Fan Jialuo, I encountered a bottleneck during my practice. I heard that you are very strong. Can you give me some pointers?"

Fan Jialuo turned his head to look at him, and his lazy expression disappeared from his face in an instant.

He slowly stood up and gently pressed down Zhao Wenyan, who had also wanted to get up and accompany him. He slowly walked to the door, pushed Cao Xiaohui aside, and gazed at the young man. "Yes, let's find a quiet corner to talk about it alone."

Chongming's smile became more and more brilliant. Pointing to a dark stairway that was not far away, he said, "Let's go over there and chat."

Zhao Wenyan stood up nervously. However, Fan Jialuo comforted him, "It's nothing serious. I'll be back in a while."

"Well, I'll wait for you here," Zhao Wenyan said, looking at him eagerly.

Then, the two people walked into the stairwell, and into its darkest corner.

Chongming's eyes glinted red in the darkness, just as red as a mad beast's or a devil's. He stretched out his convulsive fingers, caught Fan Jialuo's shoulder, and made a gesture of pulling swiftly with the other hand.

In the dark, the smile on his face had finally been replaced by utter ferocity, but the very next instant, it turned into fright.

He couldn't pull anything out of Fan Jialuo's body!

The other side seemed to be a vast nothingness, or rather, eternal desolation.

Fan Jialuo turned around and looked at him quietly. His voice was very soft as he said, "So, this is your ability?"

"What are you talking about?" Chongming wanted to pull back the hand he had placed on Fan Jialuo's shoulder, but was instead firmly held in place by the other party.

A suction force rapidly and reflexively generated in his body when he was touched by this cold hand. It searched for his blood and essence, and then led them into surging towards Fan Jialuo's palm, just like how all rivers and lakes would eventually rush towards the vast ocean under the irresistible force of nature.

"You and I both know what your abilities are." Fan Jialuo lowered his head and looked at his feet, though there was nothing there to look at.

Chongming followed his line of sight, and his eyes widened in fear.

As if finally understanding something, he started to struggle wildly. He wriggled, snarled, kicked and scratched, but it was all futile.

He, who once believed himself invincible, was now pushed into a state of being as embarrassed as a maggot that couldn't even turn over when pressed between the fingertips of human beings.

Unfortunately, the door of the stairwell was suddenly pushed open, and a staff member hurriedly urged them, "Ah, you're here! It's almost seven o'clock. The director has asked all the contestants to quickly return to the studio."

The ferocious suction force disappeared. Fan Jialuo gently let go of Chongming's hand and laughed in the dark before replying to the staff member, "Alright, we will come right away."

Chongming immediately took a few steps backward, shoved the staff member aside and pushed the door wide open as he ran into the corridor.

There were white lights shining from the ceiling of the corridor. When these lights fell on Chongming's face, they revealed his moist eyes. The joy he felt at escaping was so great that it made him shed tears of relief.

A girl who was also crying ran into the corridor from the opposite direction. He glared at the girl severely and released something from his palm. It was something that he had gathered and kept in his palm, but had been unable to release onto Fan Jialuo.

...