Stigma Effect - Chapter 36

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.

Life was going well, but his wife suddenly filed for divorce, with a firm attitude.

Lu Huai’an was puzzled and even annoyed.

He supported a large family on a few acres of land, and he supported his parents in the old age, and no one could tell the difference.

Why is she so dissatisfied?

If he could do it all over again, he wouldn’t listen to the old man’s words and stay in the village, and he wouldn’t be able to make a lot of money with his back facing the loess.

The eldest daughter was getting married soon, and he was annoyed when he thought about it in the middle of the night if his son-in-law was not good.

The second daughter had to pay for a college anyway, and she couldn’t find a job after graduating from junior high school.

The youngest daughter will go abroad if she wants to, so as to save her life from going through old accounts all day long.

The important thing is that he definitely won’t marry this woman, he has to change to someone who is obedient and beautiful.

The result opened his eyes.

He went back to his wedding day.

【80s/Daily/Shuangwen】

- Description from novelbuddy

As a house servant, Gu An accidentally shattered a jar of Spirit Flowers in his youth, and in his panic, he discovered that he had seized twelve years of life span!A path to immortality thus unfolded before Gu An's eyes!In order to cultivate in peace, Gu An chose to become a Servant Disciple of the Supreme Sect, planting medicinal herbs daily to cultivate by seizing the life span of these herbs.Through the evolution of life span, his Basic Skill constantly evolved, deducing from Basic Sorcery to reach Divine Skills that connected to heaven!Eras changed, constellations shifted, and the Mortal World transformed vastly.Gradually, legends of immortals emerged in the Mortal World.The immortal known as Gu An expended half of his life span, helping his Cultivation Level break through the limits of the Immortal Path and achieving the realm of a Saint, soaring above the heavenly laws.However, one day, a white-robed old man with a saintly presence came to visit Gu An.“I am Xuan Qing from the Heavenly Stars above, appointed by the Heavenly Emperor Tai Hao. Hearing of Daoist Friend's numerous benevolent deeds in the Mortal World and your countless rescues of the living beings here, the merits are immeasurable. Thus, I have been dispatched from the Lower Realm to invite Daoist Friend to join the ranks of the immortals, to take up an immortal office, the Divine Steed Celestial Official.”“May I ask what the duties of the Divine Steed Celestial Official are?”“In the Heavenly Court, there are divine steeds that can traverse earth and heaven and penetrate Yin Yang. The Divine Steed Celestial Official is responsible for looking after and feeding these divine steeds.”Huh? Taking care of horses? Groom?!

I had thought that my life couldn’t get worse when I walked in on my fiancé cheating on me with my best friend. But after a series of unfortunate events, I opened my eyes in a world that I had only read about in a webnovel, the Erudian Empire, ruled under the domineering, bloody reign of Emperor Helio.

The worst part?

I’m not even the main character! Reborn as Winter Royberg de la Erudian, I am the pitiful side character who is discovered to be a royal bastard princess due to a certain physical trait only the imperial bloodline possesses. But I know the end of Winter’s story and the unwanted royal punching bag is framed as a witch and killed at age 16 on the guillotine due to the scheming of the cruel empress.

An aloof, murder happy father? Check.

Psycho half-sister? Check.

Meddlesome author who wants me to follow the script? Double check!

I don’t want to die an early death again, so I’m determined not to ever be discovered as a royal again. But before I know it, I’m trapped in a palace of blood and opulence playing tricky games of power, games I have no clue how to win. How will I survive to adulthood in the imperial palace and get my happily ever after? And am I really the only person who fell into this world?