Chapter 19
Shang Tingzhi snapped his fingers in front of the absent-minded Xia Leyang. “What are you thinking about?”
Since waking up from his nap, Xia Leyang had been acting like he’d lost his soul, muttering about seeing ghosts again. Shang Tingzhi walked around his bedroom, finding nothing abnormal except for the chilling temperature of the air conditioner.
“I’ve thought about it; it’s definitely not a dream.” Xia Leyang put down his chopsticks, furrowing his brow and looking like a storm was brewing. “I barely know her, so why would I dream about her?”
“Stop thinking about it.” Shang Tingzhi picked up a piece of meat and put it into Xia Leyang’s bowl. “I’ve told you before; this house isn’t clean. It’s normal for these things to happen.”
“Why are you so fearless?” Xia Leyang’s anxiety wasn’t met with understanding. He bit into the meat in his bowl with discontent. “This is a ghost we’re talking about, big brother.”
Shang Tingzhi found it amusing. “Haven’t you become a bit braver recently? Why are you still afraid of ghosts?”
After being possessed by the female ghost last time and realizing he didn’t suffer any actual harm, Xia Leyang was still afraid, but he had a bit more confidence than before.
However, it turned out that courage wasn’t built in a day. Regardless of his usual demeanor, when faced with the female ghost again, Xia Leyang was still extremely frightened.
Before today, he had dared to go to the bathroom alone at night, but today he finished bathing early, firmly decided not to drink water, and crawled into Shang Tingzhi’s bed as soon as it got dark.
After Shang Tingzhi finished his nightly routine and joined him in bed, Xia Leyang, who last night had hesitated to let him hold him, now rolled into his arms without reservation. Shang Tingzhi carefully advised, “Hold on tight and don’t give the female ghost any chance.”
Shang Tingzhi smiled and embraced Xia Leyang’s timid figure.
The final decision for the location of City No. 1 High School remained unchanged, settling on the previously chaotic burial mound.
Xia Leyang couldn’t understand why anyone would choose to attend such a school, but in reality, there was no expression of discontent from parents on the internet.
“Some parents still choose to transfer, but the rest…” Shang Tingzhi looked at his phone messages distractedly while talking to Xia Leyang. “The school is waiving tuition and accommodation fees and providing benefits. When parents can benefit, whether it’s good or bad doesn’t matter.”
Xia Leyang shook his head with a complicated expression. “Money really makes things easier.”
“Just spending money won’t work.” Shang Tingzhi put down his phone. “Liu Defa invited Zhang Wenlun to announce externally that the place has been improved into an auspicious land.”
Xia Leyang vaguely remembered the name Zhang Wenlun—a round and chubby figure, the leader of another Feng Shui sect.
“Does changing Feng Shui really work?” Xia Leyang rubbed his chin and asked, “If its effect is to make people feel at ease, then maybe it’s okay.”
Shang Tingzhi watched Xia Leyang earnestly studying Feng Shui, resisting the urge to ruffle his hair, and said, “It has both good and bad aspects. Solely from a Feng Shui perspective, improving a big Feng Shui might be acceptable. However, from another perspective, their actions are environmentally unfriendly.”
Xia Leyang nodded somewhat understandingly. “Are they going to face retribution?”
Shang Tingzhi burst into laughter. “You’re thinking too much. What I mean is that their land development damages the green environment.”
Xia Leyang said, “Oh.”
After City No. 1 High School confirmed its commencement, Liu Defa invited various people related to the project to have a meal. The guests included city leaders and construction site contractors, and Shang Tingzhi was also among the invited.
Although Liu Defa didn’t ultimately listen to Shang Tingzhi’s opinions, preserving face was still necessary, and the meal was a good opportunity to explain.
The banquet was held at a five-star hotel, and naturally, Xia Leyang tagged along with Shang Tingzhi to get a free meal. However, what he didn’t expect was that Li Shan was also invited.
Li Shan’s family, like the Shang family, was well-known in the city. The Shang family specialized in Feng Shui, while the Li family were hereditary Taoists, handling various “difficult and mysterious issues.”
Shang Tingzhi and Li Shan had known each other since childhood and happened to sit together at the dinner table.
Halfway through the meal, people at the table began to move around and chat. Liu Defa raised his glass to apologize to Shang Tingzhi during a break in their conversation. Shang Tingzhi, with a natural attitude, didn’t feel offended.
Taking advantage of Shang Tingzhi chatting with Liu Defa, Li Shan circled around from Shang Tingzhi’s side to Xia Leyang’s side. Holding a glass of wine in one hand and casually draping the other over Xia Leyang’s shoulder, he asked, “Assistant Xia, can you reveal how much your monthly salary is?”
“Salary?” Xia Leyang tilted his head, glanced at the “boss” Shang Tingzhi beside him, and said, “I don’t seem to have a salary.”
“That Old Shang is really unkind,” Li Shan sneered, showing a disdainful expression. “Making you an assistant and not even paying you a salary.”
Xia Leyang scratched his cheek with his index finger, pondered for a second, and objectively said, “I don’t seem to need a salary.”
“Oh, by the way, what’s your name? Let me calculate your fate,” Li Shan put down his wine glass and said.
Xia Leyang was unaware that fortune-telling usually required specific birth information. During this period, he happened to be curious about feudal superstitions and honestly confessed, “Xia Leyang, joyous joy, sun’s sun.”
“Xia, right.” Li Shan snapped his fingers successfully, “The son of Xia Guohua?”
Xia Leyang was surprised, “You can tell that?”
“No wonder.” Li Shan rubbed his chin, suddenly thinking of the female ghost in the Gu family mansion, and asked, “Have you already seen that female ghost?”
Xia Leyang widened his eyes, “Master, how do you know?”
Li Shan said, “That female ghost is so bored. Rarely does someone come by, so why wouldn’t she tease a bit?”
Xia Leyang quickly pulled a stool closer to Li Shan, asking seriously, “Master, who is that female ghost?”
Li Shan shook his head and withdrew his hand from Xia Leyang’s shoulder, “Don’t know, no clues at all.”
Xia Leyang asked again, “Then is there no way to get rid of her?”
“Without a name or identity, it’s very difficult,” Li Shan said, taking out a small yellow triangular object from the sleeve of his Taoist robe. “Wear this talisman, and she won’t be able to approach you.”
Xia Leyang took the small talisman and examined it repeatedly. “Does having this thing mean I don’t have to be afraid of ghosts?”
“Of course.” Li Shan extended his index finger and pointed at the talisman. “This is a good thing, blessed by the ancestors. I usually sell them for eight thousand each, but seeing as you’re Shang Tingzhi’s assistant, I’ll give you a fifty percent discount…”
“Thank you, Master!” Xia Leyang quickly placed the talisman away. However, at that moment, a large hand suddenly appeared, snatching his phone from his hand.
“Eight thousand?” Shang Tingzhi raised an eyebrow, looking at Li Shan. Li Shan immediately shrank his neck and whispered, “It’s already a fifty percent discount.”
Shang Tingzhi swiftly entered two digits on Xia Leyang’s phone and then handed the phone to him, saying calmly, “Payment.”
Xia Leyang looked at it, “Forty?”
Li Shan almost spat out blood from anger. He looked at Shang Tingzhi and said, “Are you out of your mind?”
Shang Tingzhi glanced at Li Shan and said to Xia Leyang, “Then don’t pay.”
“…Forget it.” Li Shan withdrew his gaze, looked at Xia Leyang’s phone screen, and said, “Since we’re acquaintances, forty it is.”
With the talisman in hand, Xia Leyang felt more confident when he returned to the Gu family mansion. He didn’t bother avoiding places where people had died, and it seemed like the eerie house had returned to a normal residence. The warm light illuminated the wooden furniture, giving it a touch of warmth.
Returning home after dinner at the hotel, the night sky was already covered in darkness. Xia Leyang took his toiletries to the bathroom to take a shower. He knew the female ghost wouldn’t dare to approach him, so even though it was late at night, he wasn’t afraid at all. He quickly undressed, tossed his clothes onto the sink, and hummed a tune while showering under the sprinkler.
The talisman was made of paper, so Xia Leyang naturally didn’t carry it on his body. Instead, he left it in his pocket, and his clothes were strewn over the sink.
Thinking back, this was the first time Xia Leyang had taken a shower alone at night since the night of the full moon. The warm water splashed on his skin… wait, why did it feel a bit cold?
Xia Leyang thought the water heater might have gone out, so he closed the tap, intending to turn it on again. However, at that moment, the light in the bathroom flickered, and the mist suddenly dispersed, gathering towards the bathtub.
This scene was too familiar, and Xia Leyang knew something was wrong. He quickly ran towards the sink, intending to retrieve the talisman from his clothes pocket. However, his clothes were scattered all over the place, and when he finally found the right pocket, he touched, only to find it wasn’t the right pocket.
The more flustered he became, the more likely he was to make mistakes. The chill at his back became more pronounced, and Xia Leyang, trembling with nervousness, suddenly heard a woman’s voice beside his ear, saying, “Hi.”
Xia Leyang was instantly frightened, throwing his clothes behind him. Knowing he couldn’t escape, he resignedly advised, “Could you stop making eerie sounds? Can’t you have some dignity?”
As soon as the words were spoken, Xia Leyang’s vision darkened, and he fainted.
