I really hadn’t expected Shen Cheng and Wanqian, that shameless couple, to have brazenly moved into the main residence. A mocking smile played on the corner of her lips as she looked at the villa, still brightly lit in the deep of night, before her figure flashed and she vanished into the space.
In the living room, Wanqian’s figure was nestled in Shen Cheng’s embrace, laughing softly, while Shen Jia’s family of three kept glancing around at the luxury of the villa before them, their faces filled with envy and jealousy.
Shen Cheng yawned and, holding Wanyou, entered the bedroom on the third floor. The room they entered was right next to Wanyou’s old room from before her marriage. Now that Shen Cheng has set up his and Wanqian’s room next to mine, hmph! If it weren’t for the fear of being accused of ingratitude by outsiders, I believe that even my and Grandfather’s rooms would vanish. she thought, sneering inwardly.
Shangguan You’s hands were tightly clenched. Taking a deep breath, she emerged from the space, looking at her former room. It remained unchanged except for the expensive jewelry and clothes that were now missing from the table. She paused what she was about to do when she heard muffled moans from the next room—Shen Cheng’s heavy breathing and Wanqian’s soft cries. Her body stiffened instantly; a nameless rage surged within her but slowly subsided. A cold smirk lifted the corners of her mouth.
Her figure flashed and disappeared into the space again. I remember, on the second floor of the Medicine King Tower, there’s a shelf with information about a slow-acting poison. That would be perfect to use against this treacherous couple, to exact revenge not just physically, but on their very souls.
When Shangguan You reappeared in her room, the occupants of the neighboring room were reaching their climax. Listening to Wanqian’s increasingly loud cries, Shangguan You’s lips involuntarily curled up. Her hand scattered a powder into the air, and her fingers formed a strange seal. She had cast the Heart Curse. Then, her body vanished once more, heading towards the Shangguan Mansion.
As she disappeared, the previously shut windows of the room were blown open by the wind, which continuously rustled the curtains, producing a creaking sound.
In their room, Shen Cheng and Wanqian were at their final, passionate moment when suddenly the closed windows were flung open by the wind. A white, phantom-like figure flew in through the window, startling them both and causing their movements to falter. They instantly opened their eyes wide, terror-stricken at the transparent apparition, which wore a smile that was not quite a smile, floating in mid-air by the window.
"Little Sister, Shen Cheng."
Both were startled. "You, you..." Wanqian’s originally rosy face turned deathly pale, and she began to tremble. It’s Wanyou! It’s really Wanyou!
"Who are you?" Shen Cheng, regaining his composure after the initial panic, stared at the transparent figure at the window. It... it looks exactly like Wanqian! How is that possible? Wanyou is already dead! How could she be here?
"I am Wanyou, Shen Cheng. How could you forget me in just a short year? Every day in the Underworld, I thought of you, longed for you. How could you not remember me?" the floating figure said, its voice tinged with sorrow. Its body slowly drifted into the room, bright, beautiful eyes fixed on Shen Cheng’s gentle face.
"You’re talking nonsense! There can’t be ghosts in this world! What are you?" Shen Cheng picked up a vase from the table and hurled it at the transparent figure.
BANG! It struck the head.
"Shen Cheng, you have such a cruel heart. So cruel," the transparent figure lamented as bright red blood flowed from it. Then, it slowly faded away into nothingness.
"Shen Cheng, I’m so scared, so scared," Shen Qian quivered all over.
"It’s nothing; that was just a hallucination," Shen Cheng suppressed the pounding in his chest, embracing Wanqian in his arms, and began to comfort her softly.
"BOO HOO..." Suddenly, the sound of crying, faint and barely audible, drifted in from the adjacent room. Shen Cheng and Wanqian’s hearts leaped into their throats again, and they exchanged glances.
"Let’s go take a look." Shen Cheng got dressed, casually grabbed the ashtray from the table, and walked out of the room, heading towards the room next door.
Before their hands even touched the doorknob, CREAK! The door swung open automatically. A figure in white sat by the window, with shoulder-length hair and a bright smile—who else could it be but Wanyou? This was a real, flesh-and-blood person, not the transparent figure they had seen just moments ago.
Their steps halted simultaneously, their bodies inexplicably beginning to tremble.
"Shen Cheng, Little Sister, it’s been a year. How have you been?" The figure by the window turned its head, flashing a radiant smile at them.
This is Wanyou! It has to be Wanyou! She wore Wanyou’s clothes, had Wanyou’s smile, and spoke with Wanyou’s voice.
Moreover, the room was filled with a faint scent of Magnolia Fragrance, Wanyou’s favorite perfume when she was alive. The spot she occupied was also Wanyou’s favorite place to sit.
Wanqian started to shiver uncontrollably, unable to take another step. Her face, already pale with fear, now took on a ghastly, bluish-white pallor. If the figure in their room before was an illusion, then what is this one now? I can clearly see its long shadow on the floor! It has a shadow! That means the person by the window is real!ŸŸŸ A chill ran down her back, her lips trembled, and she extended a hand, pointing straight at the figure by the window.
"AAAAH!" A piercing scream erupted from Wanqian’s lips. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted into Shen Cheng’s embrace.
A loud thrum echoed in Shen Cheng’s mind, and he stood frozen on the spot. He wanted to move, he wanted to run, he wanted to scream, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make a sound. All he could do was stare wide-eyed at the white figure by the window, his entire body rigid, his mind a complete blank.
The "Wanyou" by the window lifted her head, a congenial, warm smile gracing her radiant face, as she quietly watched Shen Cheng, who was sweating bullets by the doorway.
"Wan...you...?" Faced with Wanyou’s gentle gaze, Shen Cheng felt waves of cold dread ascending from the soles of his feet to his back, his body sweating profusely. After a long moment, he finally found his voice and called out the name he had long since tried to forget.
"Heh." The "Wanyou" by the window smiled faintly, cast a gentle glance at Shen Cheng, and then, as he watched with wide eyes, spread her arms and flew out the window. Her white clothes fluttered as she disappeared into the night air, leaving behind a lingering trace of Magnolia Fragrance in the room.