My Youth Began With Him - Chapter 9: Cracks

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.

Jian Huan found herself transported into a xianxia novel as the fiancee of the main antagonist.Feeling her empty wallet, she recalled the pitiful fate of the original owner of the body who stubbornly refused to annul the marriage. Without hesitation, she took the marriage contract and went to the antagonist for a friendly negotiation.At this moment, Shen Jizhi, the future scourge of the cultivation world, was still a righteous disciple. He silently looked at the marriage contract with a cold expression, asking, “How can I get you to annul this marriage?”“One hundred thousand spirit stones,” Jian Huan held up ten fingers, “as long as you pay one hundred thousand spirit stones, our marriage will be void.”Shen Jizhi fell into silence for a moment. “Is there nothing else you want me to do?”Jian Huan shook her head. “None.”Shen Jizhi asked sternly, “You will only accept this condition?”Without hesitation, Jian Huan replied, “Yes.”Shen Jizhi’s tone turned harsh. “Then there’s no annulment.”Jian Huan was confused. “?”Shen Jizhi looked at her and said, “I won’t annul the marriage. We can get married whenever you want.”He bid farewell. “I have other matters to attend to. Goodbye.”Jian Huan exclaimed, “???”

I was always alone, throughout my life. People looked at me with disdain because I was an orphan without parents. Constant abuse followed me everywhere. I lost touch with how to interact with others.With each passing day, I grew more distant from my emotions until I scarcely recognized myself. The warmth of family and friendship felt foreign to me.In the end, I snapped, and I became what I hated the most... something that wasn't human anymore... something that shouldn't have been born...That was until I was reincarnated as Lucas Nightstar, granted a second chance at a happy life with a loving family. Now, I would do anything to protect them, live my life to the fullest, and was willing to destroy anyone who dares stand in my way of my newfound peace. Yet...Little did I know what fate had in store for me.

Traveling through the Naruto world and becoming a member of the Uchiha clan, the third ninja war is about to start in a year or two, so panic.

At a critical moment, the golden finger goes online, and a character is drawn to obtain a random ability of the character, then am I not…

“Champion Mayweather’s shoulder-lifting defense, the flying cross-body for cooking a fish feast, Master Ma’s lightning five whips, Jack Ma’s skill guarding the road…

What kind of spicy chicken skills are these? “

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