Li Qiao didn’t get in the car right away. Su Yan followed her gaze and scoffed, “That guy isn’t even half as good-looking as me. Qiao-mei, your taste needs serious upgrading.”
Li Qiao ignored him.
Her eyes remained fixed on Xu Tong!
“Follow him.”
“Huh? Oh—okay!” Su Yan drove slowly, tailing Xu Tong.
On the roadside, Xu Tong was drenched in sweat.
He kept calling Sun Qian’s number, but no one picked up.
His Qianqian—where was she?
As anxiety gnawed at him, his longing for Sun Qian grew even stronger.
Why had his sweetheart vanished?
Just as frustration peaked, Xu Tong noticed the car creeping along behind him.
He spun around, ready to yell—until he saw Li Qiao in the passenger seat.
“You… get out here! You’re the one who badmouthed Qianqian to my mom, aren’t you? Spreading lies, playing the con artist—that ‘lucky charm’ of yours is bullshit! I don’t believe any of it! Where’s my baby Qianqian? Did you hide her?!”
Xu Tong slammed his palms against the car door.
Li Qiao smiled and waved—a gesture he took as pure mockery. His pounding grew fiercer until Su Yan finally snapped. He shoved Xu Tong back and barked, “Xu Tong, you’re asking for a beating!”
“Su Yan, you’re chasing her? What kind of taste is that? She’s a lunatic!”
“Shut up. Don’t insult my Qiao-mei.”
Su Yan’s expression darkened as he glared at the fuming Xu Tong.
“Move! I’m here for my girlfriend—none of your business!”
Li Qiao stepped out, calmly studying the raving Xu Tong.
Leaning against the car, she smirked. “How touching.”
“Of course! She’s my girlfriend—I’ll love her forever. I’m a true ‘pure love warrior.’” Xu Tong puffed out his chest with pride.
“If you really see Sun Qian, your ‘warrior’ title might not last long.”
“So you did hide her! Give her back!”
Xu Tong pointed accusingly, but Su Yan blocked him from getting closer.
What a devoted fool. Li Qiao chuckled. “Get in.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She gave him a look reserved for idiots.
“Taking you to see your precious Qianqian.”
Xu Tong’s face lit up.
Once inside the car, his mind raced.
Qianqian’s disappearance had to be a setup by his mom and Li Qiao.
His sweet, kind, inspiring girlfriend—why couldn’t his mom accept her?
But he was loyal. Nothing would keep them apart.
From the rearview mirror, Li Qiao caught Xu Tong’s eager grin. Her smile widened.
Su Yan sensed trouble.
He didn’t know the details, but his gut said this idiot was headed for disaster.
Under Li Qiao’s direction, they arrived at Majiagou.
The village was eerily quiet now.
Reverend Qingxu had done his job well—not a single stray ghost remained.
This was Xu Tong’s first time visiting Sun Qian’s hometown. Desperate to find her, he sprinted ahead while Li Qiao and Su Yan lagged behind.
“This… this place is in ruins. No one could live here.” Su Yan rubbed his eyes and turned to Li Qiao. “Did we take a wrong turn?”
Xu Tong, standing at the village entrance, thought the same.
What kind of hellhole is this?
Before Li Qiao could answer, a young shepherd boy wandered by, eyeing them curiously.
He said nothing, just herded his sheep away.
Xu Tong stopped him. “Where are the villagers? Did they relocate?”
The boy—no older than ten—stared at Xu Tong in horror.
“This place has been abandoned for thirty years.”
“No way! My girlfriend’s from here—Sun Qian. Young, beautiful—”
The boy paled. “You said… Sun Qian?”
“Yeah! Look, here’s a photo of us!”
Xu Tong shoved his phone forward. The boy took one glance and screamed, bolting away.
“Grandpa! Help—ghosts!!”
His flock scattered behind him.
The boy clearly recognized the face in the photo. Xu Tong was sure he knew something.
He chased after the kid.
“Let’s go. This’ll be fun.”
Su Yan had already pieced it together. He groaned, “Can I pass?”
Li Qiao grinned sweetly. “Nope.”
Grumbling, Su Yan followed. He knew tagging along with her meant trouble.
At the doorstep of a nearby house, Xu Tong’s furious shouts erupted.
Li Qiao remained calm as the boy’s grandfather pulled out an old family photo.
In it was a young woman—Xu Tong’s beloved Sun Qian.
Xu Tong clutched his head. “No… no way! How could Qianqian be your—”
The old man had a ten-year-old grandson. His “Qianqian” was supposed to be in her twenties—not his sister!
Old Sun sighed. “Sun Qian was my older sister. But she died thirty years ago… barely past twenty.”
“I don’t believe a damn word! You’re all lying! How could a ghost be my girlfriend?!”
Xu Tong’s voice cracked.
A horrifying realization hit him.
Everyone else was thinking the same thing.
Li Qiao’s amused smile said it all. His stomach dropped.
He shook his head wildly. “No!”
“You already know the truth, Xu Tong. Why keep lying to yourself? The woman you’ve been with… is indeed a ghost.”
Xu Tong’s legs trembled. His lips quivered, face ashen.
“Sir,” Li Qiao cut in, “that village—everyone died. What really happened?”
Old Sun studied her, then bowed his head.
“It… it was the times. Our parents. And me. All because of son preference.” His voice thickened with regret.
Sun Qian had been his sister.
Forced to quit school young to raise her siblings.
By twenty, their parents sold her to a man thirty years her senior—all for a fat dowry.
She fought hard, but the entire village pressured her.
Someone suggested: Once she’s ‘tainted,’ she’ll submit. A baby will chain her forever.
So they got her drunk.
Delivered her to the old man’s bed.
