Illusion Report

Chapter 165: Chapter 133: The Kai Family’s Video Recording Seen by Chaisi (Part 4)

2026.11.20

4:42 PM

REC.

"I’m sorry, Brother Chaisi, but I have a lot to say. I want to organize my thoughts and leave a record for you as a reference."

The handheld camera was placed on the ground, its screen filled with the glimmer of firelight.

The fire trough that had just been opened was still active.

Han Liuyue’s shoes were visible on the other side of the frame. She pulled Vulture away from the candle for the time being.

For a moment, no one touched the candle, nor did anyone activate the fire trough.

The section of the candle corresponding to February 10, 2017, was now solid and silent, as if awaiting Han Liuyue’s decision.

"Based on the details of the curse, I can understand why she didn’t melt the Candle Tears from 2017 to alter or erase that secret. A major action by a character in a novel is considered an ’on-stage plot point.’ If she, as a character, were to change it, the secret would be exposed to the audience."

"But what I find strange is, since Jin Xueli knew she was under this curse, why didn’t she change the curse itself?"

Han Liuyue finished, paused for a few seconds, then said, "I think, Brother Chaisi, you’ve probably reached the same conclusion."

"I’ve reviewed the matter of her being cursed several times, from every angle. My conclusion is that it’s possible to change that part of history, but... it would probably be worse than not changing it at all."

"Let me explain my reasoning now."

"The description of Candle Tears says you can ’reshape the past.’ However, the method of reshaping is to reach into the Candle Tears and apply external force to tangible objects. This means you can’t use the Candle Tears to change the thoughts a person had in the past."

She sighed.

"And it just so happens that Jin Xueli’s failure in that script back then was due to an error in judgment. I can’t alter the thoughts she had in her mind at the time."

"So I wondered, what if I took a step back and just prevented her from entering the script at all?"

"I looked into that option but quickly gave up on it. Given the circumstances at the time, if she hadn’t entered the script, she likely would have faced even greater danger."

At this point, Han Liuyue picked up the camera and replayed the history of Jin Xueli entering the partial script in 2020.

"Brother Chaisi, you see, the reason she stepped into the script back then was because she had no other choice. Even if I reached in and pushed her, I would only be pushing her down other, worse paths... Compared to dying, being cursed is the better option."

"So, what if I took another step back?"

"What if I targeted an earlier ’cause’ and prevented her from entering the Nest that day? I considered that, but it’s also not feasible. She was desperately in need of money at the time, and I can’t send money to her through the Candle Tears."

"As long as she needed money, she was bound to enter the Nest around that date. That partial script lasted for a week, so she was certain to step into it."

"And the indirect reason for her lack of money... I think it’s probably related to her secret. After 2017, her life became extremely difficult."

Han Liuyue paused, and the screen went quiet for a few seconds.

"It seems like history can be changed, but when you really think about it, not only is it risky, but it might also be all for nothing. No matter what you change, you end up back at square one. Wasn’t that the case with Anthony? All of this... led me to an idea."

She hesitated, then said, "Perhaps... no matter who tries, it’s impossible to change the critical points in Jin Xueli’s life."

Vulture had been listening quietly from the side. Hearing this, it finally made a sound, "Hmm?"

It asked, "You mean only *her* critical historical points can’t be changed? Can other people’s? Why?"

"It’s just my speculation," Han Liuyue said. "My reasoning is simple. She received the character curse in 2020 but only discovered the Candle Tears in 2026."

"...So what? I don’t get it."

"Seriously, your intelligence hasn’t improved much, has it? I’m sure Brother Chaisi has already figured it out by now."

Han Liuyue grumbled but explained anyway, "Didn’t you notice earlier? When Jin Xueli received the character curse, there was a line that said—’As a character in a novel, she naturally has a predetermined, unchangeable fate.’"

Vulture suddenly cried out, "Ah!"

"...If you get it, you get it. What are you shouting for?"

"Her fate was sealed by the character curse back in 2020, making it unchangeable. So even though she found the Candle Tears in 2026, they’re useless for her? The power of the character curse is greater than the Candle Tears?"

Han Liuyue hummed in agreement.

"I don’t know if Jin Xueli has thought of this, but I believe she must have also realized that changing the fact she was cursed would be extremely difficult."

Han Liuyue continued, "However, her future still holds countless possibilities. She isn’t dead yet, so the ’novel’ is still progressing."

"After all, it’s just a curse. It doesn’t mean this world was truly written by someone, nor does it mean the future is set in stone. So, her only choice is to start from today, to find a way to change and eliminate the curse—her past is already fixed."

She let out a soft laugh and said, "From that perspective, she’s not much different from an ordinary person without Candle Tears, is she?"

Vulture said, "Oh," and fell silent.

"Of course, Brother Chaisi, I haven’t forgotten my purpose today. I’m not here to save Jin Xueli from her curse. I’m here so you can learn her information... and her greatest secret should naturally be part of that."

"But I am not willing to let her die because of me."

"Besides, if she dies, what’s the use of you knowing everything about her, Brother Chaisi?"

The camera was lifted, tilted down, and then Han Liuyue’s voice was heard, muttering to herself.

"Perfect. The handheld camera only has 5% battery left."

As she spoke, she readjusted her grip on the camera and panned it around the exhibition hall.

Vulture glanced at her from the corner of its eye—the exhibition hall seemed much darker than before, though it was hard to say if it was just an illusion.

"I’ve made a decision."

Her voice was calm, so calm it was hard to imagine the danger she was about to walk into. ƒreewebɳovel.com

"...After Jin Xueli was cursed, I have to assume that the world she lives in is like a novel with an audience. In that case, I’m also included in her ’novel’... I can only assume that an audience is watching me right now, or watching this world through me."

She pointed the handheld camera at herself, and the paper supermarket bag on her head appeared on screen again.

Han Liuyue smiled slightly, her eyes narrowing through the holes in the paper bag.

"One, I have to complete my mission. Two, I can’t let Jin Xueli die. I’ve thought about it for a long time, and there’s only one way to satisfy both conditions."

Behind Han Liuyue, Vulture suddenly turned its head slightly to sneak a glance at her. In that glance, Jin Xueli’s face instantly melted and collapsed off its own—and it quickly turned back.

Han Liuyue didn’t notice—or rather, if she did, she didn’t react.

"The solution is... to simply cut off the ’Han Liuyue’ perspective."

With that, she approached the candle again. This time, she activated the fire trough for the February 10, 2017 section.

According to the curse’s "directions," Jin Xueli’s secret took place on the afternoon of February 10th, and the event itself lasted for about an hour.

But Han Liuyue didn’t linger. The moment the flames leaped up, she immediately turned and walked away without even a glance at the candle.

"As you instructed, after entering the exhibition hall, I set up one camera on a tripod and held another in my hand."

"Let me start with the conclusion: I have never looked at the stationary camera, so I believe its footage won’t be seen by the ’audience’ either."

She said as she walked.

"Why did I come to this conclusion?"

"Novels basically fall into two types: one told by an omniscient author, and one that unfolds through a character’s perspective. The curse Jin Xueli is under must be the second type. Otherwise, her past would have been exposed long ago, and there would be nothing left to hide."

"Furthermore, the curse also mentioned the phrase ’regardless of which perspective it unfolds from’—which supports my theory. The audience will only see Jin Xueli’s secret when it is exposed through the perspective of us ’characters.’"

"In other words, what I see, the audience sees. What I don’t see, the audience doesn’t see either."

The handheld camera’s view was now fixed on a wall and a pillar. Based on the position, the candle should be behind Han Liuyue.

"Because I’ve been constantly watching the handheld camera’s screen, it has very likely become a viewable perspective for the audience, just like my own. But I’ve never looked at the other camera, so I believe the audience knows nothing about what it’s recording."

"When only that camera is filming, and I know nothing, the audience will be kept in the dark. Because the ’Han Liuyue’ perspective will have been cut off."

She laughed softly.

"Next, I will turn off the handheld camera to prevent it from recording any sound."

"Then, I will hold onto the camera on the tripod with one hand to make sure nothing happens to it... like getting quietly stolen by something."

"Finally, I will close my eyes and find something to plug my ears. That way, even if someone suddenly holds up a large mirror in front of me, I won’t accidentally see Jin Xueli’s secret."

She paused for a few seconds. Behind her, the fire trough under the candle emitted a faint CRACKLE.

Based on what happened before, the Candle Tears should have already dripped down and would begin replaying history at any moment.

"I don’t have much time."

Not a single tremor could be heard in Han Liuyue’s voice.

"I know that when humans in the Nest are in a weak, exhausted, or unguarded state, they attract residents at a much higher rate. Right now, I’m both of those things... and I have Vulture next to me."

"But I only need to wait for an hour, so it should be fine, right? Even with my eyes closed and ears plugged, I’m confident I can fight. I won’t push myself too hard, don’t worry. If things go south, I’ll give up. I value my life, you know."

"As for you, Brother Chaisi, the problem of how to watch Jin Xueli’s history while hiding it from the audience—I’ll leave that challenge to you."

At this point, the recording from the handheld camera captured Han Liuyue’s final words.

"Goodbye, Brother Chaisi."

Immediately after, the screen went black.

Chaisi’s reflection appeared on the black screen.

He closed the laptop, looked up, and faced the woman at the desk.

She had long, straight, jet-black hair. Her face was round and snow-white, with small, narrow eyes and a sharp, bright red smile.

The more Chaisi looked at this face, the more it reminded him of a Japanese "Noh mask."

His large hand, resting below the desk, unconsciously snapped a pen in two.

"...Are you feeling unwell in any way?" he finally asked in a low voice after a long pause.

"No, I’m fine. I was lucky to get out of the Nest without a scratch this time."

"Is that so."

Chaisi paused, unable to find his next words.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going, Brother Chaisi."

The woman before him nodded, turned, and walked toward the door.

"Han Liuyue," Chaisi couldn’t help but call out her name.

"What is it?" She turned her head, revealing that face like a Japanese Noh mask.

’What could he even say?’

’He had already asked her everything, countless times over.’

’No matter who it was or how many times they asked, her only reply was ever, "What are you talking about? I’ve always looked like this."’