"Mm, can I really go?" Shen Jia raised her head, wiped her tears, and looked at Shen Cheng and Wanqian. The banquets they attend are always filled with Beijing’s elite; I’m sure to meet some eligible bachelors! If Shangguan You is going, her status must be significant, right? If I can outshine her, I’ll finally get my revenge and crush her underfoot again! The thought instantly dispelled her gloom. "Will Shangguan You be at that banquet too?" she asked, her voice hopeful.
"Of course, you can. If Shangguan You attends the banquet that day, her status will naturally become apparent. We can decide then how to deal with her. Tomorrow, go pick out a few beautiful outfits. Your aunt and uncle will start their jobs at the Shen Family company." Shen Cheng nodded gently.
"Thank you, Brother Shen Cheng! Sister Wanqian, you two are so good to me! I will definitely crush Shangguan You underfoot again!" Shen Jia exclaimed, then ran upstairs, her tear-smeared face hidden, not wanting anyone to see her in such a sorry state.
"This silly girl." Shen Congming and Duan Mei both chuckled and shook their heads. They chatted a few more words with Shen Cheng before following Shen Jia upstairs to rest.
"Shen Cheng, I’m a little scared," Wanqian said, nestling against him, her voice soft as she watched the family of three disappear at the stairway. Wanyou’s appearance last night had been a nightmare for her. She was frightened, fearing Wanyou would appear before her again tonight. She wasn’t sure she could handle it.
"Don’t be scared. You know the old man’s capabilities," Shen Cheng reassured her, completely trusting him. "He said that whether it’s a real or fake ghost, Wanyou won’t show up again, so she won’t. Rest easy." Embracing Wanqian, he slowly ascended the stairs.
Except for a dim wall lamp still lit on the third floor, the once brightly lit villa plunged into darkness.
On the large bed, Wanqian’s soft body snuggled into Shen Cheng’s embrace. She inhaled his uniquely masculine scent and listened to his strong heartbeat. Despite being very tired, she found herself strangely sleepless, a faint, elusive fragrance lingering in the air around her. When she tried to focus on the scent, it would vanish, only to return sporadically. This made it increasingly difficult for her to fall asleep. The more she tried to sleep, the less she succeeded. Her mind would wander, and Wanyou’s familiar face repeatedly flashed through her thoughts.
The longer she lay awake, the more agitated she became. Hearing Shen Cheng’s steady breathing beside her, she gently caressed his chest, a teasing touch.
"Shen Cheng," Wanqian murmured, her hand moving softly against him.
"Hmm," Shen Cheng hummed in response, groggily.
"I can’t sleep. I’m a bit scared."
"Go to sleep; it’s alright. She won’t appear tonight. Trust the old man," Shen Cheng mumbled, his voice heavy with sleep.
"But I’m scared," Wanqian whispered.
"Don’t be. I’m here for you. Sleep." Shen Cheng’s voice was thick with drowsiness. He turned over, wrapped Wanqian tightly in his arms, and his steady breathing soon signaled he had fallen asleep again.
"Shen Cheng," Wanqian murmured softly again, her body nudging against him in his arms.
"Behave, don’t make a fuss. Sleep." Shen Cheng kissed her forehead gently and turned over, facing away. He was so tired—he really just wanted to sleep.
Wanqian watched Shen Cheng’s back, a twinge of disappointment in her heart. She wrapped her arms around his waist and closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep.
In the depths of their sleep, the sharp ring of the telephone startled them both awake. Shen Cheng reached for the bedside phone. We always turn off our phones before bed, so who on earth would call at this ungodly hour?
"Hello?" Shen Cheng’s voice, groggy and hoarse, answered.
"Shen Cheng, it’s Wanyou." The voice on the other end was all too familiar—Wanyou’s gentle tone. It was a timbre Shen Cheng had heard thousands of times, a familiarity etched into his very marrow. His mind went blank, his face turned ashen, and his heart began to pound erratically.
CLATTER! The phone slipped from Shen Cheng’s numb hand and hit the floor. All drowsiness vanished instantly, replaced by a deathly chill that engulfed his entire being.
"What’s wrong? Who’s calling in the middle of the night?" Wanqian mumbled, stirring in his embrace. She had only just fallen asleep and was annoyed at being woken. When Shen Cheng didn’t answer, she looked at him, puzzled by his frozen state.
Just then, Wanqian’s phone began to ring, piercing the silence. Shen Qian grabbed it without looking at the caller ID and answered.
"Don’t answer!" Shen Cheng blurted out, snapping back to his senses. His voice quivered, and his body trembled. But it was too late; Wanqian had already answered.
"Hello?"
"Little sister, it’s your big sister. Remember me? HEE HEE HEE..." A chilling laugh echoed from the phone, making Wanqian scream. All traces of sleepiness vanished. Her phone slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor as a cold sweat broke out all over her body.
"Shen Cheng, I’m so scared! I’m so scared!" Wanqian cried, throwing herself into Shen Cheng’s arms and trembling violently. His face was just as pale. The old man said we wouldn’t see these things again! What’s happening with that voice on the phone? What is going on?
Cold sweat beaded on both their foreheads. Suddenly, they heard the sound of a door opening in the next room, followed by footsteps, and then the distinct hiss of a shower starting. The rooms were usually well soundproofed; such noises should have been inaudible.
Yet, every sound from the neighboring room—every movement, every action—reached their ears with chilling clarity. They stared at each other, their faces drained of color. Wanqian trembled, burying her face in Shen Cheng’s embrace.
The old man’s remedy had failed. It had utterly failed. Lying stiffly in bed, Shen Cheng and Wanqian listened, every nerve on edge, to the distinct sounds of movement from the room next door.