Chapter 3 — My Online Boyfriend is a Skin-Peeling Demon

Noticing the tense atmosphere, Mieu Mieu hurriedly ran over and grabbed my arm.

"Uong Uong, I know you are feeling hurt, but Brother Trach has already chosen San San, so please, just let him go."

"Besides, San San is incredibly generous to us. Look at this thirty-gram gold bracelet; she gifted it to me without hesitation. You should really try to mend your relationship with her. There is absolutely no harm in it."

Mieu Mieu raised her wrist, the heavy gold bracelet dangling right in front of my face. I angrily shoved her elbow away.

"For the sake of you speaking up for me in the past, let me give you one piece of advice: if you want to survive, stay as far away from Kieu San San as possible."

With that, I sent a message to Ha Tinh, asking to crash at her place for a while. Staying with this bunch of idiots for even another second made my chest feel tight, as if I were struggling to breathe. I had to move out immediately. Just then, Kieu San San crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and puffed out her chest in a show of superiority.

"Tomorrow is my birthday, and Brother Trach is throwing me a grand party. Every invited guest will receive a gift worth six figures."

The crowd erupted in excitement, their eyes glowing like stars as they swarmed toward her. Mieu Mieu tugged at my sleeve.

"Did you hear that? Hurry up and apologize to San San. She is truly a generous person."

Kieu San San, Diep Phi, and a few others looked at me with mocking smiles, as if they were certain I would grovel. Hah, the person who apologizes is the fool. I kept my head down and continued stuffing my clothes into my suitcase. Just then, Ha Tinh replied to my message.

"If you move out now, someone is going to end up dead."

I typed back, "Well, we have been roommates for a while, I will at least offer some incense for their souls." Ha Tinh replied, "It is not just them. If you do not deal with this skin-peeling demon, you will die too." She continued, "The skin-peeling demon must constantly peel fresh skin and flesh to maintain its human form. You were its target from the very beginning. Once it finishes stripping the skin of your roommates, it will come for you."

My heart skipped a beat. "What should I do? Is there really no escape?"

Ha Tinh instructed, "Find a way to get me a personal item belonging to Brother Trach. I need to examine his aura and origin. Only when I eliminate him will you be safe."

I stared at the screen, bewildered. "Brother Trach is Kieu San San's boyfriend now. How am I supposed to get my hands on his personal effects?"

Ha Tinh responded, "If you want to keep your life, figure it out. Remember, the more personal the item, the purer his aura, and the more accurate my reading will be."

I felt a cold dread settle in. It seemed I had no choice but to attend that birthday party.

I pulled every piece of clothing back out of my suitcase, turned around, and bowed deeply to Kieu San San.

"San San, I am sorry. May I please attend your birthday party?"

As soon as the words left my lips, the dormitory erupted in laughter.

"I thought she had some backbone, but as soon as she hears about money, she folds immediately."

"It is pathetic, isn't it? Isn't this just asking to be humiliated?"

Kieu San San threw me a look of pure contempt, tilting her chin even higher.

"You can come if you want, but keep your mouth shut. Don't go around spouting nonsense. I have already blocked your number on Brother Trach's phone. Don't get any ideas."

I gave a cowardly, obedient nod. To stay alive, I had to be patient. Kieu San San twirled around, looking pleased with herself. Suddenly, I noticed the fabric of her outfit—it seemed to have distinct, fleshy textures mapped onto the pattern. A wave of nausea washed over me. I knew tomorrow would be a brutal battle, so I hurriedly messaged Ha Tinh.

"What if the skin-peeling demon discovers me? Will it tear me apart while I am still alive?"

Ha Tinh: "Yes, it will."

I: "Please, give me some self-defense skills, ancestor!"

Ha Tinh: "Do you still have that mirror I gave you?"

I: "Yes."

Ha Tinh: "Sprinkle it with rice wine and leave it under the moonlight for one night. In an emergency, point the mirror at it. It will force the demon to reveal its true form for a brief moment."

Kieu San San's birthday party was held at a private beach. Along the dunes sat a row of enclosed wooden cabins for guests to change and rinse off. The salty sea breeze whipped against my face as Kieu San San led her group of roommates toward the shallow water. Brother Trach followed close behind, the group laughing and joking as they prepared to dive in. I slowed my pace, waiting for the perfect moment.

"Oh no, I forgot my sunscreen! You guys go ahead, I will join you in a moment."

The group, who had no intention of including me anyway, waved dismissively and ran off. I stealthily slipped into the wooden cabin where Brother Trach and Kieu San San were staying. As I stepped inside, a bone-chilling gust of wind hit me. I couldn't help but shiver; the room smelled of mold and stagnant death. It did not feel like a coastal retreat, but rather like a morgue. Remembering Ha Tinh's instructions, I scoured the room for a personal item. My eyes finally locked onto a pair of men's briefs on the sofa. I gritted my teeth and took a risk. Stealing a man's underwear was degrading, but to survive, I had no other choice. I steeled my resolve, grabbed the briefs, and shoved them into my pocket. At that exact moment, the wooden door was kicked open with a thunderous crash.

Kieu San San and the others stormed back in. She spotted what I was holding and lunged at me.

"I knew it! You were just pretending to leave, you never had good intentions. Stealing my boyfriend's underwear? How can you be so disgusting?"

The other roommates crowded around. Diep Phi sneered, "You have truly hit rock bottom, Lac Uong. How could you be so low?" Giang Nhien added, "It was a waste of San San's kindness to bring you here, and you repay her by doing something so filthy." Tran Mach Mach chimed in, "You are repulsive, Lac Uong." They surrounded me, their insults and spittle hitting my face. The young man leaned against the doorframe, watching the drama with keen interest. His skin was unnaturally pale and smooth, so flawless that not a single pore was visible. I glanced at his neck; the red birthmark had grown even darker. Kieu San San, seeing me still staring at Brother Trach, raised her hand to slap me. The man stepped forward with a long stride and caught her wrist.

"San San, I think... this roommate of yours is actually quite interesting."

The man smiled gently at me. It was a clean, refreshing smile, yet the look in his eyes sent a shiver of terror deep into my soul. He wasn't looking at a human being; he was observing prey he had already marked, a creature he was determined to capture. The man continued with a playful tone, "At least... Lac Uong's skin is beautiful." He gazed at me with a gluttonous hunger, like a starving hyena eyeing a fresh cut of meat. Every drop of blood in my body turned to ice.

Kieu San San stomped her feet, hitting Brother Trach's chest. "What are you talking about? I am your girlfriend!" Then, turning to me, she shrieked, "You despicable slut!"

Seeing the situation unravel, I turned to run. Brother Trach stepped in my path, scanning me from head to toe. "Where are you going?"

Terrified, I whipped out the mirror, clutching it tightly. "Kieu San San, everyone, open your eyes and look at what he really is!"

All eyes turned to Brother Trach. I held the mirror up, aiming it directly at him, my heart hammering in my chest as I waited for him to reveal his true form. The light reflected off the mirror hit his handsome face, highlighting his perfect, clean features. There was no anomaly. I stood there, stunned and frozen.

"That is impossible. That cannot be right. Why is nothing happening?"

I refused to give up, tilting the mirror left and right, adjusting the angle repeatedly. There was no black fog, no distortion—just that same handsome face, completely normal. The man looked at me, his smile deepening. His eyes were like a cat confident of its victory, teasing a mouse already caught in its claws. Kieu San San snatched the mirror from my hand and smashed it against the floor.

"Lac Uong, have you lost your mind? Trying to use such pathetic tricks to get Brother Trach's attention? How can you be so low?"

There was no point in arguing any further. I shoved past them and bolted. A low, gravelly voice echoed from behind me:

"Lac Uong, let us go on a date another day."

Behind him, I could hear Kieu San San's jealous, whining protests.