Translator: Cinder Translations
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An Xuan acted as if he hadn't noticed the underlying meaning in Jiang Cheng's words and continued smiling naturally. "Miss Tang is such a kind person. I believe she will bless every one of us."
"No, no, mainly you," Jiang Cheng said stubbornly. "She remembers everything you've done for her!"
"Mr. Hao, please don't say that."
Xia Meng felt her head throbbing. She turned to the Fatty, hoping he'd put a stop to this pointless exchange, but she soon realized he was watching with keen interest, blinking eagerly.
At that moment, she suddenly understood why Jiang Cheng had brought this Fatty along.
Unable to take it any longer, Xia Meng interrupted, "Mr. An, what exactly is going on with Qin Jian's corpse?"
"I... I should be the one to explain," Shi Liaozhi, who had been sitting quietly, stood up with a pale face. "Earlier, I was walking along the lake with Miss Zuo and the others. We passed by the spot where we boarded the boat yesterday, and I suddenly remembered what You Qi had said before."
Xia Meng looked at him, already guessing he was referring to the ghostly reflection in the lake.
"And then?" the Fatty blurted out, unable to resist his curiosity.
He wasn't particularly interested in Shi Liaozhi himself—what intrigued him was the discovery process of the corpse. After all, understanding it could help him be more cautious in the future.
"Then… then I leaned over the lake and took a look." Shi Liaozhi's entire body started trembling again. "And I saw… I saw him squatting underneath, his skinless hands gripping the gaps between the stones, staring straight up at me!"
Recalling the gruesome sight, Shi Liaozhi shuddered violently, his lips trembling uncontrollably.
It was impossible to imagine the horror of discovering a completely skinless human lurking beneath the shore's stones, staring up with bulging, lifeless eyes.
But that wasn't even the most terrifying part. What truly broke Shi Liaozhi's mind was—
Why was he the only one to find the corpse?
Why was Qin Jian's body hidden there?
Why was it that, at that exact moment, he had the sudden urge to look down and actually did so?
And then there was last night…
That painting…
He was already marked by a ghost.
If he didn't find a way out soon, he would be the next to die.
"It looks like you're in serious danger," Xia Meng stated bluntly, shrugging. "You've already been targeted by a ghost. You're next."
It was harsh, but it was the truth. Other than breathing becoming more rapid, Shi Liaozhi didn't show much reaction. He just stared at Xia Meng, as if waiting for what she'd say next.
"You saw the attic in the painting, right? There must be clues inside," Xia Meng continued. "There will probably be another performance tonight. That might be your last chance."
Shi Liaozhi gritted his teeth. He knew Xia Meng was right, but he wasn't willing to just accept his fate. "You want me to be the one to take the risk?"
"Don't put it that way."
"Heh." Shi Liaozhi suddenly changed his demeanor, becoming deep and serious. Facing life and death, he no longer bothered to pretend. His voice was squeezed out of his throat, slow and deliberate. "That attic of Young Master Huang's isn't necessarily safer than the performance itself. You can't fool me on that."
Shi Liaozhi knew he had no other choice. Since the risk was already determined, he at least wanted to gain something in return.
For example, dragging someone along with him…
"I'll go with you."
A hand landed on Shi Liaozhi's shoulder. Turning his head, Shi Liaozhi saw Jiang Cheng's ever-righteous face.
"You?" Shi Liaozhi was momentarily stunned.
"And me."
An Xuan also placed his hand on Shi Liaozhi's other shoulder and said firmly, "I'll go with you too, Mr. Shi."
He looked at Shi Liaozhi, then at Jiang Cheng beside him, pausing for a moment before saying seriously, "I can't leave you two alone."
"Tsk." Jiang Cheng crossed his arms, scanning An Xuan up and down with disdain before glancing at Shi Liaozhi. He smirked mockingly, "Be careful, brother. The last person Mr. An 'couldn't leave alone' is already up in the sky watching over us."
But from Shi Liaozhi's perspective, he was more than happy to have companions. Having others along meant sharing the risk.
Even if he knew these two had their own agendas.
This operation wouldn't be easy, though. The biggest issue was how to deal with the servants in Huang Manor.
Housekeeper Zhou, the middle-aged woman—none of them seemed normal.
Back at their gathering spot, they discussed the plan. In the end, they decided that Shi Liaozhi, Jiang Cheng, and An Xuan would sneak into Young Master Huang's attic to search for clues, while the others provided cover.
They would rest in the morning, investigate separately, and act together in the afternoon.
By the time they finished lunch, with the sun blazing overhead, the three of them had already reached the vicinity of Young Master Huang's attic. Hiding in a dense thicket, they observed the building through the gaps in the leaves.
The attic was eerily silent. The main door was shut tightly, and it seemed like no one was inside.
Shi Liaozhi knew that since he was the one marked by the ghost, he had to be the one to lead the way. The two sly-looking men beside him were just here to take advantage of the situation.
Avoiding the main door, Shi Liaozhi quietly pushed open a window. After confirming there was nothing unusual inside, he climbed in.
"Brother An," Jiang Cheng, still crouched beneath the window, mouthed to An Xuan, "You climb in from the other side. Let's give Young Master Huang a surprise."
An Xuan pretended not to hear.
After about half a minute, Jiang Cheng and An Xuan both climbed in one after another. As soon as they landed, they instinctively moved apart, clearly wary of each other.
They had been in this room before—it wasn't too large, and it was filled with opera costumes. But now, most of the garments left were unfinished pieces. In the center, there was a strikingly bright red costume.
Even under dim lighting, the robe was as red as fresh blood. Staring at it too long gave the illusion of a sea of blood surging before their eyes.
Determined to survive, Shi Liaozhi rushed upstairs before the others. After searching around, he came back down. "No one's upstairs," he whispered. "Young Master Huang isn't here."
An Xuan glanced at him thoughtfully.
"You… You should come up and take a look," Shi Liaozhi swallowed nervously. "There are some strange things up there."
Last time, Jiang Cheng had left after barely ten seconds.
Young Master Huang's room had a classical aesthetic—an extravagant vanity covered with jewelry and opera accessories, an intricately carved wooden bed veiled by sheer curtains.
Through the curtains, the bed was visible—empty, except for a pair of mandarin-duck embroidered blankets and a black pillow.
(End of the Chapter)
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