After Swapping Lives, the Metaphysics Side Character Became the Wealthy Family's Beloved - Chapter 53

“Second Brother, don’t turn around.”

Li Qiao suddenly spoke.

By now, Li Shaoyang had begun to piece things together.

A chill ran down his spine.

The hand clutching the file trembled uncontrollably.

Li Shaoyang immediately shut his eyes, his voice tense. “Qiaoqiao, what… what do we do?”

“Don’t be afraid, Second Brother. You can open your eyes now—just don’t make eye contact with them.”

This was why she had stopped him from looking back earlier.

But her warning only made him more terrified.

Li Shaoyang slowly opened his eyes and whispered, “Let’s just get out of here.”

He was scared out of his wits!

“There’s no need to worry too much, Second Brother. In this elevator, the only humans here are the two of us. The rest are ghosts.”

“G-G-Ghosts?!” Li Shaoyang’s eyes widened in shock.

He was so frightened he could barely speak. Clutching Li Qiao’s arm, he refused to let go.

Only by staying close to her did he feel any sense of security.

In his mind, he cursed his cousin Wei Ting a hundred times over.

What kind of cursed place had he brought them to?

The other ghosts in the elevator stepped out one by one. Dressed in suits and skirts, they looked like ordinary office workers.

But these were no ordinary spirits.

The entire 44th floor was a workspace.

They were all busy working—if not for their ghastly pale faces, it would’ve been hard to tell they weren’t human.

“Qiaoqiao…” Li Shaoyang was on the verge of tears.

Walking among the ghosts, he was utterly terrified.

Li Qiao glanced at the calendar on the wall. Li Shaoyang frowned in confusion. “This date is from three years ago. Are they… the people who died here three years ago?”

“Second Brother, think hard. What happened in this building three years ago?”

Li Shaoyang racked his brain but shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“I know! I know!”

Suddenly, Wei Ting’s voice came from behind them. His face was deathly pale as he rushed over, clutching a talisman.

Li Shaoyang immediately punched him.

“Quiet.”

Li Qiao’s warning made them both freeze. When they saw the ghosts were still absorbed in their work, they relaxed slightly.

Wei Ting’s legs were shaking so badly he could barely stand. He had no idea how it happened—when he and his cousin Liu Xing entered the elevator, it had shuddered violently, and Liu Xing had vanished.

Next thing he knew, he was on a non-existent 44th floor.

By sheer coincidence, he overheard Li Qiao and Li Shaoyang’s conversation.

The truth was staring him in the face—they had encountered ghosts.

An entire floor of them.

Wei Ting was on the verge of tears. He grabbed Li Qiao’s hand and begged, “Master… Master, please save me! I haven’t even gotten married yet. I don’t want to die!”

“You know what happened here?”

“Yes, yes! Master… Three years ago, there was a fire in this building. An entire company’s employees died. I think… it’s them.” He pointed at the working figures.

Even in death, they were still trapped in their daily grind.

For a moment, Li Qiao felt a pang of sorrow.

Working to death—and even after death, still working. Such was the tragedy of the modern laborer.

The three of them huddled in a corner.

Li Shaoyang and Wei Ting were conflicted.

These souls seemed unable to move on.

Trapped here, unable to reincarnate—how long had they suffered?

Li Qiao said, “They truly are unable to move on. Soon, their souls will scatter completely.”

“What?! Then… what do we do? Master, why don’t you just exorcise them? Ghosts are terrifying!” Wei Ting suggested.

“…” Li Qiao had almost expected him to show some compassion. She overestimated him.

“They’ve never harmed anyone. Repeating their work like this—they must be under the control of that Bagua diagram above. You two, go smash it.”

She pointed at the Bagua symbol on the elevator door.

Trembling, the two exchanged glances.

Finally, mustering their courage, they worked together to tear it down.

A chorus of agonized screams erupted.

Wei Ting immediately clung to Li Shaoyang, tears in his eyes. “Master… save me! I don’t want to die!”

Though annoyed, Li Shaoyang was just as scared. Holding onto someone at least made him feel safer.

Li Qiao flicked out a talisman.

Instantly, the burns on the fifteen ghosts vanished, restoring their souls to wholeness.

A middle-aged man in his forties stepped forward and bowed deeply to Li Qiao, his voice thick with emotion.

“Master, thank you for freeing us.”

After death, they had been trapped here—fully aware but unable to control their actions.

Repeating the same routine day after day was exhausting, torturous.

They couldn’t even return home to see their families.

Just when they had lost all hope, Li Qiao appeared.

Studying him, Li Qiao said, “You were the one who lured us here.”

“Yes. The moment you entered this building, we sensed an immense power—one that could free us. Master… we apologize for the deception. Please forgive us.”

The man spoke with utmost sincerity.

The others knelt as well. Some were older, some barely adults—all robbed of their lives by tragedy.

Li Qiao couldn’t help but sigh.

Some had clearly been destined for long, prosperous lives, yet fate had intervened. How cruel.

“Since our paths have crossed, I’ll help you. But… you must know, you’ve lingered too long. You’ve missed your chance for reincarnation. I’ll allow you to return home and bid your families farewell.”

After that, she would guide them to where they truly belonged.

Overjoyed, the group thanked her profusely.

The middle-aged man’s voice trembled. “Master, thank you. Thank you.”

They had never gotten to say goodbye.

With Li Qiao’s permission, they dispersed to visit their loved ones—but they had to return by 5 a.m., or else…

None would dare disobey. This was a rare opportunity; they wouldn’t foolishly waste it.

With the matter resolved, the scene around the trio shifted—they were back on the 43rd floor.

“We… we’re out?” Wei Ting stammered in disbelief.

It all felt like a dream.

Li Shaoyang signaled for him to stay quiet. Right now, their business deal took priority.

As they headed to the conference room, Li Qiao waited outside—until her gaze landed on Liu Xing.

“You must be Second Young Master’s sister. Hello, I’m Liu Xing. Wei Ting mentioned you’re quite the formidable master of metaphysics?”

Liu Xing studied her with keen interest.

Li Qiao met his gaze calmly, then suddenly smiled. “Formidable is an overstatement. But I do know a little about reading faces.”

“Oh? Care to read mine?” Liu Xing smirked.

“Gladly.”

She observed him.

Wei Ting’s cousin had sharp, weasel-like features—nothing like Wei Ting’s handsome looks.

“So, little sister, what do you see?”

Li Qiao’s smile deepened, her eyes darkening.

“Fifteen lives on your hands. You won’t live past—tonight.”