As An Antique Shop Owner, It's Only Reasonable That I Know A Bit Of Magic - Chapter 37

While the two were talking, a knock sounded at the door.

“Who is it?”

Jamie got up and went to answer it.

The visitor wasn’t a member of the film crew, but a gaunt old woman.

“Who are you?”

Seeing Jamie at the door, the old woman’s face showed undisguised disgust. Her sharp voice, laced with hostility, was unpleasant.

“I’m here to see Anne Hathaway. Where is she?”

Her sunken eyelids, smudged with eyeshadow, fluttered up and down. Soon, her gaze fell upon Anne, sitting on the sofa behind Jamie.

“Anne…”

The woman completely ignored Jamie standing in front of her, pushed her way inside, and quickly walked over to the sofa, striking up an eager conversation with Anne Hathaway.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting. How have you been feeling lately? Has the insomnia and the nightmares gotten any better?”

“No, not at all.”

During a pause in their conversation, Su Fan glanced at Rachel, who was to the side.

She leaned in closer and explained in a low voice.

“This is Mrs. Elizabeth Smith. She was referred by the psychologist I found for Anne earlier.”

“She’s very interested in all sorts of rare and difficult conditions. She firmly believes the root cause of Anne’s insomnia is a psychological block…”

Hearing this, Su Fan’s expression remained calm.

Great. Another soldier for materialism has arrived.

“I’ve made some new progress regarding your condition recently,” Elizabeth said, seizing Anne’s hand with her own dry, bony one, her tone fervent and completely oblivious to Anne’s awkward expression. “Just a little more time, and I’m sure I can find a treatment.”

“You must believe me. Believe in modern medicine.”

As she spoke, Elizabeth’s peripheral vision finally caught sight of Su Fan. Her brow furrowed.

“And this is…”

“This gentleman is Mr. Su Fan. He’s also an expert I’ve asked to help with the treatment,” Anne Hathaway explained, her demeanor brightening slightly as she spoke. “Don’t be fooled by Mr. Su’s youth. Just moments ago, with his help, I enjoyed a peaceful sleep for the first time in ages.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Hearing this, the old woman’s face instantly darkened. She looked Su Fan up and down a few times.

“Might I ask which university Mr. Su Fan graduated from and where he is currently employed?”

Anne’s condition was extremely rare. Being the first to analyze and solve it, to publish a paper… it would undoubtedly cause widespread discussion in the medical community. She could then become famous overnight, securing a higher position and title.

How could she let this piece of prime meat be snatched away by some brat who appeared out of nowhere?

“What’s it to you?” Su Fan frowned.

She couldn’t solve the problem herself, so she saw him as a thorn in her side?
If she were truly a serious, responsible medical expert with good professional ethics, Su Fan might have been able to accept her skepticism.

The key was the selfish desire practically overflowing from this old woman’s eyes. It was obvious she was no good, yet she put on this act of caring for the patient.

It was disgusting to watch.

Elizabeth had originally wanted to gauge Su Fan’s background but didn’t expect him to be so bluntly disrespectful right off the bat. Her already gloomy old face instantly looked as if she’d swallowed a dead fly.

“Dr. Elizabeth, why don’t we step outside to chat? We shouldn’t disturb Anne’s rest.”

Seeing the situation turning sour, Rachel immediately spoke up, rising first and walking towards the door.

The old woman Elizabeth’s eyes darted between Anne and Su Fan a few times before she also stood up and headed outside.

“Su, I have a feeling that old woman won’t let this go easily,” Jamie said in a low voice.

“Whatever.”

Compared to Elizabeth, dealing with Freddy was far more important.

Su Fan turned to ask a question.

“Anne, when your crew started filming, did you happen to find a glove with blades attached among the old items belonging to the house’s previous owner?”

“A glove with blades…” Anne tilted her head slightly, as if thinking. “I believe there was. The props team thought it might be useful, so they kept it.”

Hearing this, Su Fan raised an eyebrow.

Freddy was being quite honest. He’d told the truth.

“It’s in the prop room of this house right now.”

“You sure know how to pick them,” Su Fan said. “That thing is the torture device used by the evil spirit haunting your dreams.”

“That fiend’s name is Freddy. In life, he was a pervert who specialized in torturing and murdering children. The parents, pushed beyond their limits, cornered him in the boiler room and burned him to death. His vengeful spirit lingered, turning into a malicious ghost.”

“The fact that he’s targeting you suggests one possibility: your parents might have been among those who took action against him back then.”

Jamie looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Freddy’s origin story felt somewhat familiar.

Upon hearing this, a look of astonishment appeared on Anne’s beautiful face.

“Should we destroy it now, then?”

“Don’t be naive. It’s not that simple,” Su Fan shook his head.

“Don’t touch that ghostly claw glove. Ordinary methods can’t destroy it. Anyone mishandling it would most likely die a sudden, violent death.”

“Take me to it later.”

“But before that, take these two talismans.”

Su Fan handed the Evil-Warding Talismans he had just made to Anne.

“While they can’t stop you from entering the dream, they can at least keep you safe for a period of time while you’re in it.”

“Su… I have an idea. This treasure you gave me, even though it’s a consumable item, if I had enough of them, couldn’t I just…”

“Have you considered why you’ve been tormented for this long without being killed?” Su Fan interrupted Anne’s unrealistic fantasy.

“In the dream, you can’t move at first, right? So why doesn’t Freddy just kill you immediately?”

“Why… why?” Su Fan’s words triggered some memories for Anne. Horrifying fragments from the nightmare flashed incessantly in her mind, causing her body to tremble unconsciously.

“He needs the fear you generate to strengthen himself,” Su Fan stated a conclusion that made the other two present shudder.

“The more afraid you are, the stronger he becomes.”

“If he can’t harm you now because you have the talisman, do you think he won’t drag others into the dream?”

“He’ll feed on others’ fear until he’s powerful enough to break through the talisman’s protection. What will you do then?”

“To think he can grow stronger by feeding on fear… that’s just…” Even Jamie, who had seen his share of big scenes, couldn’t help but look horrified.

No wonder Su Fan said he’d be harder to deal with than Mary Shaw!

“If I were Freddy,” Su Fan continued, “I’d give up targeting you and Rachel for now, since you have the Evil-Warding Talismans. I’d turn to the other members of the crew…”

“Torture them to my heart’s content, while simultaneously isolating you, wearing down your spirits.”

“Then, and only then, would I deal with the prey that stubbornly resists me.”

Su Fan trailed off, suddenly pausing as he looked outside.

Anne and Jamie both turned to follow his gaze.

Outside the window, the sky was dyed in hues of gold and deep purple.

The sunlight was gradually disappearing, replaced by the deep darkness of night.

“Look,” Su Fan’s calm voice rippled through the dead silence of the room. “The long night is almost here.”