The wedding went on as scripted—every step carefully choreographed, flawlessly executed. It was clear Jiang Chen had spared no expense, unwilling to allow even the slightest hitch on his big day.
Once the guests were introduced and the chairman of Jiangjin Group gave his personal blessing, the host took the mic, revved up the mood, and kicked off the main event.
"Alright, dear friends, let's count down from five and welcome the bride and groom!"
"Spring blossoms on the bough, the beauty crosses the jade bridge… Dressed in a snow-white wedding gown, adorned with flowers, our radiant couple walks side by side, hand in hand, heart to heart, down the red carpet to the solemn march of matrimony. Friends, let's give them our heartfelt blessings, our prayers, our cheers, and our applause! Let us celebrate this perfect union and wish them a wonderful future!"
Thunderous applause erupted. A hundred-meter red carpet stretched across the hall. Ye Bing, delicate as a bird, clung to Jiang Chen's arm. With beauty on his side, Jiang Chen looked every bit the dashing prince—beaming with pride in his spotless white suit, head held high, waving confidently at the crowd.
Halfway down the aisle, he deliberately glanced toward our table—probably hoping to catch a glimpse of some pitiful, broken ex. Too bad for him, I wasn't playing the part.
Noticing Jiang Chen's gaze, the whole table kicked into gear, clapping enthusiastically, feigning sincere delight.
Everyone but two people.
Ironically, the only two who ignored Jiang Chen completely were whispering sweet nothings, leaning in intimately, oblivious to the spectacle.
His smug expression faltered—by the time his eyes locked on me, it had all but vanished. Then his stare froze on Tie Ningxiang.
And I couldn't blame him. Standing beside her, Ye Bing paled in comparison. It wasn't just her looks—Tie Ningxiang radiated something deeper, stronger. A self-assured elegance. A kind of gravity that drew eyes and didn't let go.
She wasn't just a beauty. She was also the head of the city's Criminal Investigation Division—and not because of family connections. Ninety percent of what she had, she'd earned on her own.
A woman like her would ignite any man's desire to conquer.
I only noticed Jiang Chen's smoldering glare after I'd finished whispering with Tie Ningxiang. Not that I cared. I lazily lit a cigarette and took a long drag, completely unconcerned.
"Gao Jian," she nudged me with her elbow, "why does the groom keep staring at you like that?"
"Probably feels like a kid with a shiny new toy—only to find out someone else played with it first and already tossed it aside."
"That's… oddly phrased."
"Really? Come on, don't move. You've got something on your shoulder." I casually rested my hand on hers. "Oops—my mistake."
The ceremony continued. For Jiang Chen and Ye Bing, this was supposed to be the most important day of their lives. They walked with practiced calm to the host's podium.
I already knew a long string of sappy vows and clichés were coming, so I pulled out my oversized phone—courtesy of The Netherworld Live Show. Ever since the day I passed the interview, I'd carried it with me.
Flipping through the messages, I remembered: the phone automatically deletes all call logs and texts at midnight. Sometimes I wondered if it was haunted itself.
There were three apps on it—two of them useless. Bored, I tapped the Netherworld Live Show icon.
"Congratulations, Host! You've completed your first livestream. A new feature has now been unlocked: Camera. You can now livestream directly through your phone."
"A new feature?" I blinked. This thing updates?
During my last stream in that cave, I'd disappeared for a while trying to lug around that bulky camera. I thought I'd get penalized—but instead, they added a bonus?
Sure enough, back on the home screen, a new app had appeared: Camera.
Normal phones advertise high-definition and crisp clarity. But this one? Its sole selling point: it sees what others can't.
Curious, I aimed it at our table, shot a short video—nothing unusual appeared.
"Pfft. I thought something creepy might pop into frame."
I panned across the hall—still nothing. Made sense. It was broad daylight, yang energy at its peak, and the place was packed. No wandering ghosts would dare show their face now.
"Guess I'll have to try it again late at night." A mental image flashed—me lying in bed filming, only to see a ghost woman sleeping beside me.
Yeah, no thanks. Better not tempt fate.
Just as I was about to put it away—"Huh?"
When the camera swept past the couple onstage, I spotted something.
On Jiang Chen's back—was something crouching?
He was dressed head-to-toe in white. If something was really there, the crowd should've noticed.
"What the hell…" I zoomed in.
"And now, dear friends, it's time for the vows. The bride and groom will face one another and promise their love before all of us."
As Jiang Chen turned, I saw it.
A full-term infant—emaciated, skin drawn tight over bones—clinging to his back.
"No way."
I blinked, glanced up from the screen. On stage, Jiang Chen looked every inch the fairytale groom—charming, confident, upright. Nothing unusual.
But when I looked through the Netherworld Live Show's camera—there it was. Still there.
And it was moving.
One bony arm clung tightly around Jiang Chen's neck. The other—thin and shriveled—was reaching toward Ye Bing.
"Please, friends, let's quiet our hearts and listen to this sacred vow."
"Groom, place your right hand over your heart and look into your bride's eyes. Do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?"
"I do."
Hundreds of guests held their breath in silence.
Only I watched in horror as the infant on his back crawled up his shoulders.
Its twisted little fingers reached for Ye Bing. One finger even gouged into its own skin, the others brushing against her hair.
"In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, in good times or bad, will you love her, honor her, and stay by her side forever?"
"I will."
At that moment, the creature's hand buried itself in Ye Bing's hair. It had all but detached from Jiang Chen, now trying to anchor itself onto her.
Their bond wasn't being forged through vows.
It was through that grotesque, spectral infant.
"Wait… I know what that is."
It clicked.
A Kuman Thong.
I'd seen it once in The Netherworld Live Show's rewards catalog. The Thai ghost child—crafted through dark rites using the corpse of an abandoned infant.
Horrifying to create, but powerful. It was said to bring luck in wealth, gambling, and career. Incredibly effective.
But not without cost.
They drain your life force. Sometimes, they turn on you. End in ruin.
This one wasn't just clinging to Jiang Chen. It was trying to infest Ye Bing. Once she got pregnant, it could inhabit the unborn baby and fully reincarnate.
"Now, groom, you may lower your hand," the host said. Then turned to Ye Bing, who stood in blissful ignorance. "Bride, place your right hand over your heart and look into the groom's eyes."
On-screen, the ghost's hand gripped tighter in her hair. Its thin body was nearly fully transitioned to her.
"Do you take this man to be your lawful husband?"
"I…"
"I object!"
The chair screeched as I stood.
A hundred voices fell silent, all eyes turning to me.
I took one last drag of my cigarette, flicked it aside, and slowly said:
"Sorry. I don't agree to this."