When Li Qiao woke up with a start, her entire body was drenched in sweat.
For the first time, she had a feeling that something was completely out of her control!
When Li Shaojin called her for dinner, Li Qiao was listless and clearly not herself. He had no idea what was going on with her.
This kid was acting really strange today.
“Qiaoqiao, is it because building the Daoist temple wore you out?”
He asked tentatively.
Her big brother was worried about her. Li Qiao shook her head slightly. “I can handle it, big brother. The talisman I gave you—make sure you carry it with you at all times. Lately… I’ve been feeling uneasy.”
She pressed a hand to her chest.
Li Shaojin stepped forward and gently pulled Li Qiao into his arms. As her older brother, he could clearly tell that something was bothering her, yet he couldn’t do anything to help. He felt deeply ashamed.
“I’ll listen to everything you say, Qiaoqiao. But—if you ever run into trouble, just remember that you can tell me, and I swear I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.”
“Big brother… thank you.”
“No, we’re the ones who should be thanking you. Without you, Qiaoqiao, none of us—our lives, or even the entire Li family—would still be here. You’re incredible. You’re the little sister who gave us a second chance at life!”
Li Qiao leaned into his embrace, listening quietly.
That’s right!
She had changed things once, so she could change them a second time, and a third!
Her heavy mood suddenly lifted quite a bit. Though Li Shaojin didn’t know why she was suddenly feeling better, he was just glad that his sister was happy.
At dinner, it was just the three of them—Li Qiao, Liu Yusi, and Li Shaojin. Everyone else was busy with their own duties, going about their own business.
“You’re going out again later?”
“Mom… I need to make a trip to the Su family. Mr. Su and his little mistress are in for quite a show tonight.”
When Qiaoqiao said “show,” it was never anything good.
It probably had something to do with ghosts and spirits.
Liu Yusi shuddered slightly but didn’t ask any more questions.
Qiaoqiao’s skills in the metaphysical arts spoke for themselves.
Li Shaojin felt proud of her.
Night fell.
At the Su residence.
Li Nana had gone to bed early. In the haze between sleep and waking, she still felt incredibly cold, especially on her back.
An air-conditioning repairman had come to check it out and found nothing wrong.
She sat up straight!
She carefully focused on her surroundings. That chilly, drafty sensation seemed to be coming from her hip area.
No—
It was coming from under the bed!
Her heart pounding with unease, Li Nana crawled to the edge of the bed and turned on her phone’s flashlight.
She lowered her head and peered under the bed.
A skeleton was lying there, its mouth open, blowing cold air through the mattress. It seemed to sense that someone was watching it, and suddenly, the skull twisted its face around—
Li Nana felt her brain buzz with a deafening ringing sound. Her lips turned pale from fear, her whole body trembling, and her eyes filled with an uncontrollable terror.
With a piercing scream!
She bolted out of the bedroom and pounded frantically on Su Jianguo’s door.
“There’s a ghost… a ghost…”
When Su Jianguo opened the door, Li Nana immediately threw herself into his arms. He held her with great satisfaction.
His charm was just too powerful—even this pure, innocent young flower had fallen for his beer belly.
Su Jianguo hugged her contentedly.
“Ghost… there’s a ghost… there’s a ghost!” Li Nana was too scared to let go. Su Jianguo smiled smugly and said, “Yes, there’s a ghost—your dead lover is here.”
“Seriously, there really is a ghost!” Whether she opened her eyes or closed them, that skull just wouldn’t leave her mind.
“Right, I’m your dead lover. Sleep with me tonight.”
He clearly had other intentions, but Li Nana wasn’t in the mood for romance. She hid in Su Jianguo’s arms, clinging to him tightly.
Feeling needed, Su Jianguo wrapped his arms around Li Nana with satisfaction. She was trembling all over from the fright.
“Baby, I’m here. Sleep easy.”
“Mhm…”
Li Nana finally fell asleep, but she had a nightmare.
In the dream, the skeleton grinned at her menacingly, and she couldn’t escape the nightmare no matter what she did.
In the middle of her sleep, Li Nana suddenly opened her eyes. She checked the time—it was just midnight.
But here, she no longer felt that cold draft!
What—
Had she imagined it all?
“Jianguo…” Li Nana turned over and reached out to place her hand on him, but the texture—
Her hand groped around, and she slowly opened her eyes. A skeleton was facing her, its mouth slightly open, blowing a gust of cold air right onto her face!
“Ahhh—”
“Ahhhhhhhhh—”
“Ahhhhh—help! A ghost! There’s a ghost!”
Her screams echoed throughout the entire villa.
Downstairs, Su Yan was eating watermelon and said with great excitement, “Qiao sister… the show’s starting, hahaha…”
Li Qiao walked upstairs, with Su Yan following close behind.
Upstairs, Li Nana had gone limp and collapsed onto the floor. She stared in terror at the bedroom doorway.
“Nana… Nana… why did you come out here?”
Su Jianguo, who had just come out of his study, was surprised to see Li Nana. He hurried over to help her up.
“Ghost…”
“Nana, your dead lover is here.”
Su Jianguo’s eyes lit up. He thought Li Nana was just playing some kind of role-playing game with him.
Li Qiao and Su Yan, who had just come upstairs, happened to overhear this exchange. They were utterly stunned.
This Mr. Su really knew how to have fun!
Suddenly spotting the two younger ones, Su Jianguo gave an awkward smile. “You two… why aren’t you resting yet?”
“Ghost… ahhh—”
Another scream rang out. She looked ghastly pale.
Su Jianguo found it very strange. Casually, he followed Li Nana’s gaze—and then another scream erupted.
“Ghost… help…”
A skeleton slowly crawled toward them. Both of them were trembling with fear.
Su Yan: “Dad, didn’t you say you didn’t believe in ghosts?”
“You… you unfilial brat! Li Qiao… please save me!”
At this moment, Su Jianguo finally regretted it.
What Li Qiao had said was true.
Under his gaze, Li Qiao walked over slowly. Her eyes fixed on the skeleton, then shifted to Li Nana.
“I told you before—don’t take things that don’t belong to you. Otherwise—”
“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Still refusing to repent.”
Li Qiao looked away. She stepped forward, waved her hand, and the skeleton instantly shook violently before dissolving into a pool of liquid.
A strange, foul stench filled the air.
Li Qiao’s expression didn’t change, but Su Jianguo and Li Nana kept retching.
“What is that smell… ugh…” Su Yan pinched his nose and hurried downstairs, calling for the servants to come up and clean.
Su Jianguo and Li Nana, both with weak legs, had to be helped downstairs by the servants.
“Li Qiao… why is there something like that in my house?”
“Ask her!” Li Qiao shot a glance at Li Nana. When it came to life and death, Su Jianguo wasn’t one to be sentimental.
He pressed Li Nana for answers, but all the woman did was cry and cry, to the point that Su Jianguo actually started to feel guilty.
Had Li Qiao misunderstood her?
Just as he began to waver, Li Qiao felt utterly speechless.
“She took someone else’s belongings, so that someone came looking for her. That’s only natural. Even though the skeleton is gone, that doesn’t mean the tomb owner is going to let this go.”
“The tomb owner? Don’t tell me… she stole burial items?” Su Yan exclaimed in shock.
