Chapter 001: Trapping, Snare

Impatiently, he said: "What do you mean by turning your back? How can you possibly believe that?"

Are you really just here to see me slap my butt

I want to cry without tears, pinching its hand with my nails, like pinching a piece of mucus, neither able to shake it off nor wipe it away. On the bustling streets of the 21st century, I feel like a child abandoned by the whole world... I just want to cry my heart out and then openly pull down my pants to urinate on this damned earth.

Calculate

I was taken aback and hurriedly pulled out the stuffed doll I had just acquired. Its expression was indifferent, yet its voice was much more vivid: "Yes, it is me."

I wonder: "Is this also considered?"

Once you finish putting on these three rings, you may leave

Is there anything else? My vigilance was at an all-time high, as I knew that the moment had come when the truth would be revealed. Whether it was a deception, a trick, or a robbery, there should be some indication by now. I pretended to be nonchalant with one hand in my pocket, but in reality, I was pressing down on my phone and wallet.

The old man handed over the ring and said: "You go your way!"

Since childhood, my motto has been "Do not provoke trouble when there is none, and do not fear trouble when it arises." I have perfectly adhered to the first half until now, but today I realized that I cannot fulfill the second half—I am still quite afraid of trouble when it arises... Especially in a situation like today, it seems I have really encountered a major issue: a talking doll that can understand people's hearts, and a contract that looks like a trap from hetushucom.com. I would rather Liu Laoliu be a homosexual pervert and that I had just drunk the beverage he handed me laced with drugs; in that case, I could just walk away without a care. Nowadays, it seems it is not that simple.

I paused, trembling as I held it up to my eyes for another look, and with a voice choked with emotion, I asked: "Is it really you?"

Liu Laoliu wiped his face with a black hand and said sadly, "I have a daughter who also ran away with someone. Such matters cannot be prevented by parents. It would be better to write it down in a contract in black and white; that way, it would be more reassuring."

Liu Laoliu pointed to the blank space at the end of the contract and said, "Here, please leave your name and mobile number."

The rag doll still wore its expression with three lines for a mouth: "Of course, it is me"

I lowered my head and said in a faint voice: "My name is Zhen Tingqiang, I am twenty-six this year... seven or eight years old."

The old man took out a pen and paper: "Let's sign a contract."

Do not be deceived! I glanced at the items scattered on the ground, dirty and tattered, resembling an exhibition of old items from the 1980s. The few boxes of cigarette remnants were filled with dirt, likely artifacts unearthed from the time of the Kunming Cigarette Factory's establishment. I was even worried that smoking them might give me smallpox.

"A set costs 5 yuan for 8 rings; it won't make you poor or make me rich. Just selling a box of cigarettes will cover the cost."

I twisted my body back and forth, yet I still found no one at https://m.hetushu.com. Then the voice said, "It's me, I'm in your pocket!"

Later, I realized that I had overthought it. At the old man's feet lay a variety of clay figurines, cigarettes, small mirrors, and powder boxes; it turned out he was running a ring toss game.

I stood there for a full ten seconds, and suddenly let out a gasp—how could it hear my innermost thoughts! At that moment, my heart was filled with fear, and I clutched the rag doll, ready to throw it far away.

I picked up the pen and wrote down my name: Zhen Tingqiang. When leaving my phone number, I was cautious and changed the last digit from 0 to 1.

My heart softened; it turned out to be a mad old man who had been stabbed. I asked him, "How do I sign?"

I cautioned, "Then what do you seek?"

So, can these three circles be sent to you as a set

Old man: "... ..."

I cautiously took the three rings, but despite the abundance around me, none caught my eye. Therefore, I casually tossed all three rings away. Two of them landed precisely in the narrow gaps, while the last ring bounced a few times before settling on top of a cloth doll

Then I can just finish up and leave!

I turned back to look, only to find no one around, yet the voice continued insistently: "Zhen Tingqiang, I am calling you!"

I casually stuffed it in and said: "Can I leave now?"

Wait! The diagram book.

I was taken aback, as I often hear about elderly homosexuals in the vicinity. The opening lines are all quite bizarre, and I think I have encountered a true specimen. The old man held three bamboo rings, just as dirty and greasy as he was, and one could only wonder what he had been through; he exuded an aura of malevolence.

I grasped its head and limbs and carefully pinched them all over, but found no devices like a miniature recorder inside. I jumped up and down in place and shouted, "Who is it? Stop messing around!"

Contract? I was taken aback; are today's con artists this formal? I took a look at that "contract" and saw it was titled "Several Provisions Regarding the Acceptance of the Heavenly Realm Doll." Party A, Liu Laoliu; Party B, blank. The provisions stated: Party A, Liu Laoliu, will gift the Heavenly Realm Doll to Party B (that is, me). Party B has the obligation and responsibility to take proper care of it, must carry it with them every day, must not allow it to be damaged, and under any circumstances (including force majeure), must unconditionally meet the demands of the Heavenly Realm Doll, and so on. The provisions stated: Party A, Liu Laoliu, will gift the Heavenly Realm Doll to Party B (that is, me). Party B has the obligation and responsibility to take proper care of it, must carry it with them every day, must not allow it to be damaged, and under any circumstances (including force majeure), must unconditionally meet the demands of the Heavenly Realm Doll, and so on.

Then the voice said: "Are there any ghosts in this world... Oh, there are, but I am not one of them"

That day, I was walking down the street without having provoked or offended anyone, when suddenly an old man, his face covered in mud, jumped in front of me and shouted, "Want to try some ring toss?" He was holding three bamboo rings, almost thrusting them into my face

I was taken aback; my voice was not loud, so how did the other party hear me? It was as if a group of people (let's assume this group exists) had set up a satellite system that supports instant sending and receiving to prank me. My palms suddenly became damp: could it be that I was being haunted?

Liu Laoliu pointed to the second page and said: "There is also this, in duplicate."

How dare you! We have signed a contract!

The old man was anxious: "Aren't you going to put it on for you?"

I still shook my head: "I won't take advantage of others, I don't like to gain small benefits at their expense"

Let me introduce myself first. My name is Tianjie Wawa. As for who I really am, you will gradually come to understand in the time to come. Now, it's your turn.

As I stepped back onto the road, I couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation at the scene I had just witnessed. However, upon further reflection, it is not surprising that in modern society, where people endure various pressures, peculiar individuals like Liu Lao Liu emerge.

The old man rushed forward in a single leap to pick up the cloth doll, repeatedly exclaiming, "Got it, got it, got it." He appeared even more excited than I was, and handed the cloth doll to me, saying, "This is for you."

I frowned and said, "Are you out of your mind?"

Liu Laoliu's face revealed an expression of relief, and he said with a flicker of his eyes: "Let's go!"

At that moment, I heard a youthful voice calling me: "Hey, Zhen Tingqiang!"

I said: "Three circles draw me back in, I won't play any lifelong free online games, let alone those that require purchasing game cards."

Am I just looking to make a quick shout for profit

I shook my head with a bitter smile, signed my name, and handed it to him. He pulled out a dirty official seal from somewhere and stamped it on both pages, then handed me one, saying, "This one is yours"

I have never had a good impression of such things as scams. Under the influence of my frugal parents, I have always equated them with swindlers. Of course, at that young age, I was not aware of the deceitful nature of the world. When I was 12, I hesitated in front of a similar stall, and when my parents expressed their views, I passionately defended the stall owner. Eventually, my father convinced me—he gave me a beating.

Liu Lao Liu said: "I will give you the celestial doll, and you must take responsibility for it. Sign this contract, and it will be yours."

I am puzzled: "What is the situation?"

I took a glance at this cloth doll, which is about the size of a palm. Its hair consists of a dozen strands of low-quality yarn, and its eyes and mouth are basically... just like that (-). Its arms and legs are of average length, and when held in hand, it resembles a starfish. This is the kind of trinket that ramen shops give away during promotions for customers who eat more than two bowls of ramen. It is poorly made and can only be hung on the keychain of the warehouse keeper.

I jumped up high: "Come out quickly, or I will lose my temper!"

It's me, where are you looking?

Since it was given to me for free, I didn't take it to heart. I simply slipped it into my pocket and waved my hand, saying, "Then thank you."