Gier (eines der drei Gifte)

Kapitel 6

Zhang Wanping looked around. Every little decoration in the room was carefully selected by her, and they were all styles and colors that she loved. How could she bear to give them up so easily?

"Honey, how about we go to the temple tomorrow and ask for a Buddha statue to put in the house to ward off evil spirits?"

"Are you stupid? You still believe in ghosts? Didn't you see it? It was just a stray cat that sneaked in."

"But how did it get in?" Zhang Wanping shrieked. "We locked the iron gate, and we're on the sixth floor. How did it sneak in? Could it have flown in through the window? Don't you think its appearance is too strange?"

“That’s true.” Zhao Lixu pondered for a moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh and said excitedly, “Oh right, I almost forgot, I have something good.”

He jumped up naked and quickly pulled a cardboard box from under the bed, which was full of books.

"What are you looking for? What good stuff is in there?" Zhang Wanping asked curiously.

“The Bible. I bought a Bible before. Don’t they say that the Bible and Buddhist scriptures can ward off evil spirits? So putting the Bible by the bedside can protect us from harm.” Sure enough, Zhao Lixu quickly pulled out a hardcover Bible, held it up triumphantly to Zhang Wanping and said, “Now you can rest assured.”

Apartment 602, Part 8 (3)

Zhang Wanping happily accepted the Bible, solemnly placed it on the bedside table, and murmured, "May God protect us and keep us safe. Amen."

Zhao Lixu chuckled inwardly. To be honest, although he had been quite frightened by the black cat, he didn't believe in ghosts, gods, or God; otherwise, he wouldn't have bought the house in the first place. The so-called Bible talisman was just something to comfort Zhang Wanping. However, Zhang Wanping's fear still greatly affected him, sending a chill down his spine. He also began to vaguely regret buying the house.

Under normal circumstances, fear is contagious, especially in a closed, dark space. If someone stares blankly at a spot and screams "There's a ghost!", others will certainly feel a chill run down their spines and sense the presence of something strange.

"Go to sleep," Zhang Wanping said wearily to Zhao Lixu as she pulled the covers over herself.

Zhao Lixu lay down beside her, put his arm around her waist, and tentatively asked, "Do you want more?"

"No, thank you." Zhang Wanping smiled apologetically at Zhao Lixu. "I really have no interest in it at all right now."

"Alright then, sleep peacefully, my little darling." Zhao Lixu reached out and turned off the light, then wrapped his arms around Zhang Wanping. Zhang Wanping also snuggled closer to Zhao Lixu, feeling much safer.

And so, the two embraced, silently counting the hours in the darkness, and soon drifted off into the gentle embrace of sleep.

Having slept for an unknown amount of time, Zhao Lixu felt someone pressing down on his limbs, rendering him unable to move. Terrified, he tried desperately to break free from the constraints of his dream, but he couldn't muster any strength whatsoever; even his eyelids felt incredibly heavy, and he couldn't open them. "Sleep paralysis?" The word flashed through his mind. He had always thought such things were nonsense, but now it sent a chill down his spine.

He vaguely sensed Zhang Wanping getting up, leaving the bed, and opening the bedroom door. "Where are you going?" Zhao Lixu wanted to ask her, but the immense pressure on his lips prevented him from making a sound.

He felt Zhang Wanping had returned. Although he couldn't open his eyes or hear any of Zhang Wanping's footsteps, he felt as if a dark figure was standing in front of his bed, staring at him. The feeling of fear gradually intensified, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Wake up, wake up!" Zhao Lixu gathered all his remaining consciousness, fighting against the numbness in his body. Finally, he felt a surge of heat coursing through his body, and sensation returned. He abruptly opened his eyes, and the scene before him horrified him: in the dim moonlight filtering through the curtains, he saw Zhang Wanping holding a gleaming kitchen knife, coldly staring at him. Her face held none of its usual gentleness, only a狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) expression. Before Zhao Lixu could utter a sound, Zhang Wanping swiftly brought the knife down, and a spurt of blood gushed out. In the darkness, Zhao Lixu blinked in disbelief, his mouth agape, as a severed head rolled off the pillow. Then, a flash of cold light, and Zhang Wanping's own head rolled to the floor, the heavy stench of blood filling the room.

Apartment 602, the Man-Eating Apartment (Part 9) (1)

Qinglan Town is an ancient and rustic town in the southwestern border region. Its architecture and folk customs are steeped in history. A small river meanders through the town's center, flowing ceaselessly for thousands of years. Nourished by this river, the town is not the desolate, barren place one might imagine, but rather vibrant with life. For centuries, countless generations have lived and thrived here, arriving with joy and departing in sorrow.

With the national call for the development of western China in recent years, a number of outsiders have gradually poured into this small town. While bringing new vitality to the town, they have also inevitably brought some of the superficiality of the outside world. Thus, the town has a love-hate relationship with these outsiders; they love the benefits they bring, but hate that they disrupt their tranquility. In many people's eyes, Zhang Chengtin is undoubtedly one of those intruders.

However, Zhang Chengtin has now become a qualified resident, or rather, a household member, of the small town. Throughout the year, Zhang Chengtin mainly works quietly in an office job at a furniture factory in the town, responsible for market planning, advertising, and brand integration. Over the course of two years, he has gradually expanded the business of this little-known factory to all parts of the country, and it has begun to gain some fame in the industry. As a result, he is not only relied upon by the factory leaders, but also respected by his colleagues and even the villagers.

Now, Zhang Chengting stands in his rented room, quietly watching the rain pattering on the sycamore trees outside the window. Each sound, each leaf, is a nagging whisper. He used to think it was a poetic scene, but today, burdened by his heavy thoughts, he finds the rain utterly uninteresting.

"Teacher Zhang, what are you looking at?" Liu Changge asked casually as he flipped through the books on Zhang Chengting's bookshelf. Liu Changge and Zhang Chengting were colleagues, or more accurately, Zhang Chengting's subordinates, so although Liu Changge was three or four years older than Zhang Chengting, he always addressed him respectfully as "teacher."

"Do you think what Boss He said today might be true?" Zhang Chengting asked Liu Changge, feeling agitated.

"Are you talking about that murder case in Guangzhou?" Liu Changge said without looking up. "Who knows? I think Boss He is just talking about it secondhand. It's not that scary."

"Then do you think ghosts really exist in this world? If they do, do they really have the power to kill people?" Zhang Chengting asked, dissatisfied with Liu Changge's answer.

Liu Changge looked up at Zhang Chengting with a puzzled expression. "Ghosts? According to our local tradition, they exist, and many people claim to have seen their deceased relatives. However, I've never heard of ghosts harming people. If ghosts could really kill, then this world would have become a ghost world long ago, and we humans wouldn't have a place to rule it. Besides, if ghosts had that power, then why are there so many wrongful convictions in the world? What's the point of having police?"

"So you think what Boss He said today about the evil ghost killing three people and seven policemen is false?" Zhang Chengting asked tentatively.

Liu Changge stopped turning the pages and turned to look at Zhang Chengting. "Teacher Zhang, why are you so interested in this? Do you think there's something mysterious about it?"

"No, no, I was just asking out of curiosity." Zhang Chengting was a little flustered. "I was wondering if ghosts really exist. If they do, why would they target those innocent police officers? If they weren't ghosts, what force killed those police officers, and why did they all die so tragically?" By the end, Zhang Chengting's eyes were a little moist. To avoid Liu Changge noticing his unusual behavior, he hurriedly turned his head away and continued looking out the window.

Outside the window, the wind continued to rage, the rain continued to pour, everything was pitch black, as if the world was shrouded in a wet black cloth, making one feel oppressed and suffocated. Occasionally, a flash of lightning would pierce through the chaos and gloom, allowing a glimpse of the world's shape. What caught Zhang Chengting's eye was the red wall surrounding a courtyard across the street. It was a rather imposing building, a three-story red brick structure, enclosed by a wall about two meters high, isolating it from the world. The courtyard was divided into a front yard and a back yard. The front yard was planted with many flowers and plants, while the back yard was lush with trees. A large part of the reason Zhang Chengting rented this house was attracted by this courtyard, because it had a traditional homey feel, luxurious yet simple, flamboyant yet understated. However, what was a bit strange was that such a nice house had always been empty, and he had never seen anyone come in or out, let alone live there. Zhang Chengting had once inquired about the house's owner out of curiosity. He was told it had been the residence of the local police station chief. Several years prior, while handling a case, the chief had accepted bribes and tortured an innocent man to death. The victim's brothers, filled with resentment, reported the incident all the way to the provincial level. Despite the police chief's efforts to suppress the accusations, he was ultimately dismissed and investigated. The victim's brothers were also deeply dissatisfied with the outcome and vowed revenge. To avoid retaliation, the police chief and his family moved away, leaving the large, empty house unsold and vacant ever since. In his leisure time, Zhang Chengting liked to gaze at the house and imagine the life inside, wondering how much bloodshed and hatred might be hidden beneath its grandeur. For some reason, he always felt that living there would be oppressive, even… eerie.

Another bolt of lightning flashed, illuminating most of the opposite courtyard. "Ah..." Zhang Chengting cried out in surprise, as if he had seen a ghost, and collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

"What's wrong?" Liu Changge rushed over.

"There's a ghost! There's a ghost!" Zhang Chengting scrambled out of the window.

"Ghost? What ghost?" Seeing Zhang Chengting's panic and disheveled state, Liu Changge was also secretly alarmed, and a chill rose from his heart.

“A female ghost, a disheveled female ghost…” Zhang Chengting pointed stiffly at the window, his teeth chattering. “Did you see that?”

Liu Changge cautiously peeked out the window. The wind and rain were still raging outside, obscuring the sky and sky; he couldn't see anything. He shook his head blankly. "There's nothing there. Teacher Zhang, are you hallucinating?"

Apartment 602, the Man-Eating Apartment (Part 9, 2)

"Impossible." Zhang Chengting calmed down a little, but was still shaken. "I saw it clearly. A female ghost, dressed in white, with disheveled hair and a face covered in blood, was standing in the courtyard, coldly staring at me. Didn't you really see her?"

Liu Changge felt a chill run down his spine after Zhang Chengting's words. He glanced quickly out the window again, but it was pitch black and he couldn't see anything. He helplessly shrugged at Zhang Chengting.

"Impossible!" Zhang Chengting rushed to the window. Just then, another bolt of lightning flashed, tearing through the darkness once more. Zhang Chengting clearly confirmed that what he had seen before was not an illusion. In the courtyard, there stood a woman in white, her face pale, her expression filled with hatred. Rain and blood mingled together, making her look even more tragic. Especially her eyes, filled with murderous intent, stared straight at Zhang Chengting, as if she wished she could slowly torture him to death with her gaze.

Zhang Chengting stared at her in horror, his face contorted with extreme fear. He gripped Liu Changge's shoulders tightly, his whole body trembling. "You...look, she's right there, in the middle of the yard."

"Where is it?" Liu Changge turned his head, his gaze following the direction Zhang Chengting was pointing, but the lightning had passed, and the world was once again plunged into darkness, with nothing in sight. Although he saw nothing, Zhang Chengting's expression still sent a chill down Liu Changge's spine.

"I remember now, it's Zhu Su! Zhu Su!" Zhang Chengting screamed hysterically, "She finally found me..."

Zhang Chengting is Su Yang.

Two years ago, on that night, he lost consciousness after hearing that unfamiliar cell phone ringtone. When he regained consciousness, he found himself alone on a train heading southwest, with nothing but the clothes on his back and no luggage.

He then rummaged through his pockets and found his wallet, which contained over 1,000 yuan, a train ticket, and an unfamiliar ID card. He recognized the person on the ID card as the man from room 704, but the photo was from several years ago. He looked much more robust then, and the black-and-white photo obscured the difference in skin texture, so from the eyes and brows alone, he did indeed resemble Su Yang somewhat. Su Yang then learned that the man's real name was Zhang Chengtin.

For the first six months, Su Yang lived in constant fear. He was afraid he had actually killed someone, afraid the police would find his hiding place, afraid he would fall into hypnosis again and experience another series of terrifying events. Therefore, he always kept his phone on silent and never went online, isolating himself from the outside world. But for over two years, everything was surprisingly peaceful; no one and no accidents disturbed him. Su Yang gradually calmed down and even began to enjoy this tranquil life. Although it lacked the glitz and glamour of big cities, he found a profound sense of peace and belonging. He even fantasized about marrying and having children here, settling down permanently, feeling that such a life was a rare kind of happiness. But today, a series of unexpected events shattered all his dreams.

Around noon, the company hosted Mr. He, a furniture dealer from Guangzhou. A welcome dinner was inevitable, and the banquet was held at "Zui Xiang Lou," the most luxurious restaurant in town. As the wine flowed and everyone chatted animatedly about various strange tales, Mr. He, to demonstrate his extensive knowledge, mysteriously recounted the Zhu Su case in Guangzhou. He said that six people had died in the case: Zhu Su, Chen Lijuan, the man in room 704, the Zhao Lixu couple, and Su Yang. Moreover, each victim's death was gruesome; they were all beheaded one after another. Even more tragic was Su Yang's death, leaving him without a burial place. Furthermore, even more bizarre was the unjust and brutal death of seven policemen. He embellished the story, saying that residents of Building 6 in Buyun Garden were now afraid to pass by room 602 after 10 PM because they could hear strange noises coming from inside, such as "bang bang" sounds, screams, and wails. Mr. He's "story" sent chills down the spines of everyone present. The most shocked of all was Su Yang, who was using the alias Zhang Chengting. He had initially thought the tragedy would end with his feud with the man from 704, but he never expected it would involve so many others, especially Old Chen's tragic death, which filled him with deep heartache and guilt. He found the forces controlling the lives and deaths of so many people, and their purpose, increasingly perplexing, just as he couldn't understand why he had boarded the train to this remote town in the first place.

On his way back, Su Yang kept pondering the truthfulness of Boss He's words. The horrific details might have been exaggerated, but the number of deaths seemed certain. Of course, the only inaccuracy was that he, Su Yang, was still alive, not dead as people imagined, taken by a vengeful ghost. But that was for the best; at least it relieved him of one worry—no one would investigate his whereabouts anymore, and he could continue living peacefully in this small town. His only unease was the deaths of Old Chen and the other policemen. He always felt they were innocent, and that he was responsible for their deaths, especially Old Chen. This weighed heavily on his heart, making it hard to breathe. He also vaguely felt that with so many deaths, it would be difficult for him to live peacefully as an outsider any longer. In fact, Boss He's arrival signaled the end of his peaceful life; he would be drawn back into the vortex of terror. But he never expected everything to happen so quickly, and he witnessed Zhu Su's appearance for the first time. The thought of ghosts completely shattered his courage—the existence of ghosts caused his unwavering scientific beliefs to crumble, plunging him into a dark despair. He could at least find ways to break free from hypnosis, such as by not going online or using a mobile phone, but if ghosts existed, he would have nowhere to hide.

"Zhu Su? How can you see Zhu Su?" Liu Changge stared in astonishment at Su Yang's face, which was distorted with fear, his mind filled with questions.

"You know Zhu Su too?" Su Yang's heart skipped a beat, and his mind cleared up a little.

Apartment 602, the Man-Eating Apartment (Part 9) (3)

Liu Changge pointed to the courtyard across the street and said, "Zhu Su used to live in that building."

"What did you say?" Su Yang grabbed Liu Changge's hand. "You said Zhu Su lives in that building?"

Liu Changge nodded. "Yes, Teacher Zhang, you know her, right? If you know her, how come you didn't know this was her home?"

"Her home?" A jumble of emotions surged through Su Yang's mind. The question that had been troubling him was suddenly answered, but it only plunged him faster into an abyss of fear—it turned out that Zhu Su's ghost had guided him, in a daze, on a train journey of over a thousand kilometers to her home. "A ghost! There really is a ghost!" Su Yang jumped up in shock.

Liu Changge was startled by Su Yang's actions. He asked tremblingly, "Teacher Zhang, what exactly did you see?"

“Look at that courtyard, look at that wall…” Su Yang excitedly grabbed Liu Changge’s hand, “Look, she’s standing there, looking at me, like she wants to kill me…”

Liu Changge breathed a sigh of relief. "I understand, Teacher Zhang. What you saw wasn't a ghost, but an old image."

"Old footage? What footage?" Su Yang was confused.

"Teacher Zhang, I don't know if you understand the principles of filmmaking. But to be honest, I don't either; I've only heard bits and pieces from others. Ever since Zhu Su's family built this house, during stormy weather, people passing by would often see shadowy figures flickering on the walls, which frightened many. At the time, there were rumors that Zhu Su's father had killed several people when he was a policeman, and that their vengeful spirits were gathering at her house, haunting her. But later, an old physics professor came to the town and said it was a natural phenomenon because the red paint used on Zhu Su's walls contained iron(III) oxide." The explanation is that during thunderstorms, because her house has relatively high walls, the walls absorb the lightning, thus functioning like a movie camera, recording the surrounding scene. If someone happens to walk by, they will be recorded. Then, during the next thunderstorm, this scene can be replayed. It's said that this phenomenon also exists in the Forbidden City in Beijing, where people often see rows of palace maids and eunuchs on the walls during stormy weather. That's about all I know. Anyway, the old professor said it wasn't ghosts at work, and we're not as scared as we used to be.”

"Oh." After hearing Liu Changge's explanation, Su Yang was somewhat skeptical, but his heartbeat gradually calmed down.

"Teacher Zhang, how did you meet Zhu Su? Where is she now? Is she alright?" Liu Changge looked at Su Yang, a hint of doubt clearly in his eyes.

A thought struck Su Yang: perhaps Liu Changge could help him unravel the mysteries Zhu Su had presented him with. He feigned sadness and said, "She's dead."

"Huh?" Liu Changge was taken aback. "How did she die? And what about her and you..."

“She was my girlfriend.” Su Yang tried to make his sadness even more pronounced. “We had known each other for less than three months when she committed suicide, leaving only a suicide note saying that she couldn’t escape her heavy past and felt guilty towards me. In those three months, she never mentioned her past, so everything was so sudden, so sudden that it was unbearable…” For some reason, as Su Yang spoke, he thought of Zhu Su’s fate, of her being a lone woman who was brutally murdered in Guangzhou, and whose body was cruelly desecrated after death, and he couldn’t help but feel sorrow in his heart.

Liu Changge showed a look of sympathy. "So that's how it is." He patted Su Yang's shoulder forcefully. "I didn't expect you to be such a sentimental person, Teacher Zhang. Is it because Zhu Su's death was such a blow to you that you came here as a way of commemorating her?"

Su Yang hesitated for a moment, then decided to confide his doubts to Liu Changge, "That's one reason. Another reason is that I don't understand what Zhu Su meant by the heavy past, so I came here to find out."

"What about Zhu Su's parents? Don't they live with Zhu Su?"

“They have all immigrated to Australia. They didn’t even come back for Zhu Su’s funeral.”

"What a despicable couple!" Liu Changge cursed angrily. Seeing the surprised look on Su Yang's face, he quickly explained, "I was referring to their usual behavior. I suspect that the past Zhu Su mentioned might be related to them."

Su Yang's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, "Are they very mean to Zhu Su?"

Liu Changge sighed, added some water to Su Yang's cup, and poured himself a glass. "Actually, in a way, Zhu Su's family and I are distant relatives, but our two families have long since lost contact. The main reason is Zhu Su's father. He's practically a tyrant in our town, with a terrible reputation. He's supposedly the head of the police station, but what he does is practically like a gangster—extortion, blackmail, protection money, and he's even raped at least ten women. To be honest, Zhu Su's mother was raped by him before she had no choice but to marry him. Back then, Zhu Su's mother was a beauty in our town, while her father was just a lowly policeman. Everyone thought it was a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung. Zhu Su's mother probably felt the same way, and since that beast treated her badly, she died not long after giving birth to Zhu Su, who was only four years old. She was truly pitiful, never having enough to eat or wear. Her father would take his anger out on her all the time, often..." Her body was covered in bruises, even bleeding from a head wound. If it weren't for the neighbors taking pity on her and frequently bringing her food and medicine, she would have died long ago. The villagers all sighed, fearing that the child would eventually be tortured to death by that beast. But Zhu Su was lucky; she survived. When Zhu Su was about six years old, that beast found another woman, and perhaps finding a way to vent his excess energy, he treated Zhu Su a little better. At least in public, Zhu Su could dress somewhat decently. However, this kind of life didn't last long. When Zhu Su was about fifteen or sixteen, she became pregnant with some man, and the child was a freak, with four eyes—two extra eyes on its forehead. The midwife fainted from fright at birth. The beast was enraged and eventually found a way to kill the child, locking Zhu Su in the house and forbidding her from ever leaving again. It is said that if it weren't for the protection of Zhu Su's mother's ghost, Zhu Su would have almost been killed by that beast…

Apartment 602, the Man-Eating Apartment (4)

"Her mother's protection? What do you mean by that?" Su Yang interrupted Liu Changge and asked.

“Well… I only heard it from others. You know, although this is a small town, it used to be no different from the countryside. People were ignorant, gossipy, and all sorts of rumors circulated.” Liu Changge took a sip of water and continued, “What I heard was that one night, Zhu Su’s mother appeared at that beast’s bedside, scaring him half to death. However, Zhu Su’s mother didn’t hurt him; she just warned him that if he treated Zhu Su well, she would tolerate everything he did. But if he made the slightest mistake towards Zhu Su, she would haunt him every night and make sure he ruined his family. People who have done a lot of evil are usually guilty, afraid of ghosts, and afraid of revenge, so he probably obeyed her. Later, I gradually saw Zhu Su going out again, but she was basically a different person. Before, she didn’t like to talk because she was stubborn, but later she just seemed mentally unstable, or rather, like she had a split personality…”

"Schizophrenia?" Su Yang was taken aback. "Did she stay like that afterward?"

"Actually, it can't be called schizophrenia, it's just that her behavior is a bit strange. For example, when she sees someone else's well, she will run over and fill it with soil, or try desperately to crawl into it. She has even jumped in several times, but fortunately she was rescued each time." Liu Changge hesitated for a moment, then said hesitantly, "It is said that the baby was thrown into the well by Zhu Su's father and drowned. What's even more terrifying is that Zhu Su's family has been drinking water from that well all along, which is probably the main reason for Zhu Su's schizophrenia."

Su Yang shuddered. He recalled the image he had just seen: Zhu Su, dressed in white, her face covered in blood, standing in the courtyard, filled with resentment. This scene must have occurred shortly after the child's death. Was she cursing and resenting her father, or someone else entirely?

Suddenly, a flash of lightning struck, the lights in the room flickered, and then went out. Liu Changge screamed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Su Yang's heart tightened, and cold sweat broke out. He suppressed his fear, fumbled for a lighter in the room, and lit it. In the dim light, he could see that Liu Changge was covered in cold sweat. Su Yang's hand trembled, and the flame went out. He asked in a trembling voice, "Changge, what's wrong?"

Liu Changge said in a hoarse voice, "I just heard someone sighing behind me." He suddenly jumped up and knelt down with a thud. "Zhu Su, Zhu Su's mother, I know it must be you. You must be complaining that I told Teacher Zhang so many things, so many things you didn't want to talk about. But I really didn't mean any harm. Please forgive me, considering we're still distant relatives." After saying that, he kowtowed repeatedly.

Su Yang slumped into the chair, his mind blank. For a moment, only one thought crossed his mind: You've finally come!

In the darkness, only the sound of Liu Changge's teeth chattering could be heard. Of all emotions, fear is the most contagious. Su Yang felt as if two hands were tightly squeezing his heart, tightening and loosening, causing his heart to pound wildly in protest.

After enduring what felt like an eternity, Su Yang gritted his teeth: rather than waiting to die like this, he might as well venture into the lion's den and risk it all. Even if he died, at least he would know the truth. He suddenly stood up, kicked over a chair in the darkness, and heard Liu Changge let out a dying scream, which sent chills down Su Yang's spine.

Su Yang lit the lighter again. Liu Changge, standing before him, was deathly pale, his bulging eyes appearing like a vengeful ghost in the flickering flame. Su Yang suppressed his fear and said calmly to Liu Changge, "Changge, didn't you just say there were no ghosts? Why are you so scared now?"

Perhaps it was the warmth of the flames that gave Liu Changge a sense of comfort, for his expression softened slightly. He scrambled to his feet, dusted himself off, and then hugged himself tightly. His voice still trembled slightly as he said, "Didn't you hear me? I heard it all clearly. It was right behind me. I could even feel her cold breath on my neck..."

Su Yang interrupted Liu Changge, saying in a resolute tone, "There are no ghosts in this world! And think about it, if Zhu Su and the others really came back, how could I not have sensed it? Don't forget, I'm her boyfriend, the person she cared about most when she was alive. She couldn't possibly not have greeted me."

Su Yang's words clearly moved Liu Changge, and his fear gradually faded. "What about that sigh? What happened?"

"I think it's just the sound of the wind blowing through the paper and cloth in the room." Su Yang used the light from his lighter to find a candle, lit it, and the room was instantly brightened. However, the wind made the candlelight flicker, adding a touch of eeriness to the room. "As for the chill you felt, it was probably the rain blowing in and hitting your neck."

Liu Changge rolled his eyes, clearly relieved that the object of his fear had been given a reasonable explanation. He sat down on the stool, took a sip of water, and cursed, "Damn it, this awful weather gave me a real fright."

"Changge, can you take me to Zhu Su's house?" Seeing that Liu Changge had shed his fear, Su Yang made the request directly. He was determined to go to Zhu Su's house to find out what was going on. Although he could persuade Liu Changge to get rid of the ghost's torment, he couldn't do it himself; he needed to find a reasonable explanation for himself.

"What did you say?" Liu Changge was startled, almost spitting out the mouthful of water he was holding. "You said to go to Zhu Su's house? Now?"

Apartment 602, the Man-Eating Apartment (1)

Guided by the faint light from Su Yang's flashlight, they walked silently through the muddy ground after the rain. The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, and a small crescent moon even pierced through the heavy clouds, casting its dim light upon the earth, which reassured the two of them considerably.

In less than five minutes, the two arrived at Zhu Su's house.