Ghost Catching System

Chu Hao was speechless. The System was becoming more and more human-like. He said, ”I want to know, what exactly do you mean by ’lucky pretentiousness’ and ’unlucky pretentiousness’?”

The System replied, ”Luck pertains to the Host’s good fortune for the day. Misfortune pertains to the Host’s bad luck for the day.”

”Pretending when unlucky? Are you kidding me? System, has your mainframe gone bonkers?” Chu Hao couldn’t help but complain.

The System responded, ”The System’s mainframe is forever impeccable. It is the Host who goes bonkers. A Pretentious Expert pretends at all times, and now is the time to test the composition of the Host’s pretentious cells.”

Chu Hao’s mouth twitched as he said, ”First, tell me, how powerful is this good and bad luck?”

The System played coy. ”Why doesn’t the Host give it a try and find out?”

Alright then! Putting aside the Pretentious Dice for now, Chu Hao excitedly rubbed his hands together. Opening treasure chests was his favorite thing to do.

The System suggested, ”The Host should toss the Pretentious Dice. If you’re lucky, it could improve the odds of getting better items from the treasure chests.”

Chu Hao felt elated and took out the dice to throw them.

It’s my first time, after all; I’m a bit nervous, excited, and curious...

CLATTER.

Received 100 Pretentiousness Points.

”DING... The Host has rolled the dice and received 100 Pretentiousness Points.”

Although he wasn’t lucky, receiving 100 Pretentiousness Points for free was quite nice.

It was time to open the treasure chests: one Silver Treasure Box and one Golden Treasure Chest.

Chu Hao rubbed his hands together; it was time to witness his luck.

”Open the Silver Treasure Box.”

”DING... The Host has opened the Silver Treasure Box and acquired one hundred Red Dragons.”

He felt like flipping a table.

Damn it!!

What kind of misfortune is this to get a hundred bloody sanitary pads? I didn’t roll any ’unlucky pretentiousness’ either!

The System teased, ”Host, you’re quite lucky.”

Chu Hao replied, ”You come out here, and I promise I won’t kill you.”

Anxious, Chu Hao chanted, ”Oh Great Hairless One, Immeasurable Heavenly Venerate, goodness gracious, may Sister Guanyin bless me... Open the Golden Treasure Chest.”

”DING... The Host has opened the Golden Treasure Chest and received a Ghost Dragon Egg.”

Ghost Dragon Egg: Netherworld Ghost Dragon, an exclusive pet that requires 1,000 Pretentiousness Points to hatch.

Did I just get a pet? Chu Hao was thrilled and laughed heartily.

”Haha... I am unbeatable now.”

The only drawback is that I’m still 200 Pretentiousness Points short of the 1,000 needed to hatch it.

Pretend, pretend, I need to pretend. But the dice can only be thrown once a day, so where should I go to show off?

Just as Chu Hao was trying to figure out how to be pretentious, his phone rang.

The head of the live-streaming platform asked, ”Hello! Is this Mr. Chu?”

Chu Hao asked, ”Who is this?”

”Hello, I am the head of the live-streaming platform. You received a tip of two hundred thousand RMB during your live stream on our platform. According to our rules, you are entitled to one hundred and seventy thousand of it. I’m calling to confirm that the money will be transferred into your account, and also to seek your consent to replay yesterday’s live stream.”

Chu Hao replied, ”Oh, that’s fine.”

The head expressed his joy. ”We will arrange for someone to deposit the one hundred and seventy thousand onto your card.”

Chu Hao hung up the phone. Getting an extra one hundred and seventy thousand RMB made him quite happy.

A few minutes later, a notification from the System echoed in his mind.

”DING... The Host has successfully shown off, receiving 100 Pretentiousness Points.”

”DING... The Host has shown off dramatically, receiving 200 Pretentiousness Points.”

Chu Hao was stunned. When did I show off? He asked, ”System, what’s going on? I didn’t show off.”

The System retorted, ”You’re asking the System even about this? Host, don’t you ever get tired? The live stream video from the platform was put on the front page and seen by many people.”

Chu Hao couldn’t help but mock, ”System, you’ve changed. You’re not the same as before; you’re too humanized. I still like the unresponsive System better.”

The System retorted, ”The Host has an intelligence issue. Humans grow from infants to adults, which is also an upgrading process. Why can’t this System upgrade?”

I was at a loss for words.

Chu Hao was overjoyed. Such unbelievable luck! These Pretentiousness Points bring me to exactly 1,000, just perfect for hatching the Ghost Dragon Egg. It’s simply perfect.

”DING... Host has spent 1,000 Pretentiousness Points to hatch the Ghost Dragon Egg.”

The eggshell cracked open, and a tiny, jet-black creature, slender as a thumb, wriggled out.

It wasn’t a snake. Upon closer inspection, one could see its scales gleaming darkly, and its body was wrapped in wisps of black vapor, billowing and nebulous like smoke.

It also had a pair of dragon horns that emitted a faint, eerie chill. Its big, adorable eyes were like two glossy black pearls.

Is this little critter a Ghost Dragon? Are you sure it’s not a loach?

Chu Hao opened the Ghost Dragon’s attributes.

Juvenile Ghost Dragon: (Unnamed) (Female)

Level: 1

Strength: 0

Agility: 0

Intelligence: 10

Skills: None (Awaiting Development)

Hint: Hurry up and level up your pet.

Chu Hao scratched his head. How big can this Ghost Dragon grow?

Suddenly, Diao Chan emerged from the System Space. Chu Hao had given her permission to come and go anytime, anywhere.

However, Diao Chan had turned into a gaming addict, holed up in the System Space playing games.

It had been some time since he had chatted with Baby Diao Chan. She remained exquisitely elegant, with an air of ethereal charm about her. Her skin was soft and tender, her beautiful eyes lively, her cheeks lightly dimpled with a smile, her presence as refreshing as a gentle orchid—she was endlessly gentle and endearing.

So beautiful, she could well be termed a peerless gem. I really want to hold her in my arms and cherish her. Every time I see Diao Chan, my mouth waters. I wish I could immediately get 10,000 Pretentiousness Points to provide her with a body.

Diao Chan pouted her pink, tender lips, saying, ”Master, I’ve reached King rank in King of Glory, and I feel so bored now.”

Chu Hao was speechless. She must be cheating! How did she reach King rank so quickly? I’m still stubbornly stuck in Bronze!

Diao Chan clung to Chu Hao’s arm, saying coquettishly, ”Master, I’m so bored.”

Chu Hao had a soft spot for girls acting cute, especially a beauty like Diao Chan. He said tenderly, ”Baby Diao Chan, how about I give you a pet?”

”Yes, yes!”

Chu Hao pointed at the Ghost Dragon and said, ”Here! This loach... it’s a Netherworld Ghost Dragon. Once it grows up, it will be a dragon. Uh... it should be a dragon, I think. Would you like to raise it?”

The young Ghost Dragon was speechless. Damn! I’m barely born, and you’re giving me away? What kind of master are you?!

Diao Chan was thrilled. She cradled the young Ghost Dragon in her palm. The little creature wrapped around her jade-like arm, its big eyes, like black gemstones, gazing adoringly at Diao Chan.

Diao Chan joyfully asked, ”Master, does it have a name?”

Chu Hao replied, ”Not yet. How about Little Black?”

The young Ghost Dragon frantically shook its head. No, don’t! How could you come up with such a plain and earthy name? Does it fit my noble Ghost Dragon status?

Chu Hao was surprised and asked, ”You can understand me?”

The young Ghost Dragon nodded, hoping its ”former” master could give it a better name.

”Uh... how about Black Loach? I think that’s quite good.”

The young Ghost Dragon: ”...”

Diao Chan: ”...”

The young Ghost Dragon despaired. This is the end! For a Ghost Dragon as noble as myself to be called such a plain, earthy name... if I ever return to the Underworld, my own kind will laugh me to death!

Diao Chan blinked her eyes and said, ”Master, how about we call her Qiu?”

The young Ghost Dragon nodded frantically. The name Qiu is good! So much better than Black Loach.