Chapter 29 Collapse

A crisp, resounding slap landed on Yang Changfeng’s face.

Chen Aijia sat up abruptly, her expression icy cold under the light. Her voice was frigid as she said, “Yang, do you have any shame left? What are you trying to do?”

Yang Changfeng was completely stunned. He’d only meant well by helping her—how did it end up with him getting slapped?

He could swear on his life, he hadn’t done a thing, not even the slightest inappropriate touch!

“What’s wrong with you? No, you really are sick—a split personality. Instead of sleeping at night, you get up to clean the house? Are you trying to kill yourself?” Yang Changfeng shouted in exasperation. This woman was impossible. He should have just let her wander around sleepwalking all night and wear herself out.

Chen Aijia was momentarily dazed. Only then did she realize she was nearly naked in front of him. She hurriedly pulled the blanket over herself and felt the warmth, finally noticing that her body was icy cold.

Clean the house?

How could that be? Why would I get up in the middle of the night to clean...

“I—I don’t understand. What’s going on?” Chen Aijia blinked, still furious. If he couldn’t provide evidence, then he was surely just trying to turn the blame on her.

Coming into my bedroom in the middle of the night...

Wait!

It suddenly dawned on her: she had locked the door and wedged it with a footstool tonight. Now the footstool lay to one side, but the lock was still in place. If that was the case, could what he said be true?

She pressed her forehead in pain, struggling to recall, and gradually remembered fragments of a dream—she’d been busy cleaning the house, muttering about how Mrs. Yu never bothered to sweep the floor.

How could this be? How could I... sleepwalk?

Yang Changfeng didn’t bother arguing. He took out his phone, opened the video he’d just recorded, and dragged a chair to the bedside. He watched her shiver and pale as she watched the footage, inwardly crowing, Serves you right for being so vicious, for hitting without asking questions. If it doesn’t scare you to death, at least it’ll make you sick!

“No, I—I can’t be, I can’t be sleepwalking. No, that’s impossible!” Chen Aijia protested, but halfway through the video she realized Yang Changfeng wasn’t lying. She didn’t even think to blame him for suppressing his laughter and filming her; her mind was in chaos and her body curled up under the covers like a frightened, shivering chick.

Now you’re scared, aren’t you?

Wiping his face, Yang Changfeng gave a sly, cold smile. “Don’t worry too much. It’s a normal thing.”

Chen Aijia clung to his words like a drowning person to driftwood, her face lifting with hope—she wanted comfort.

Taking his time, Yang Changfeng continued, “Maybe there’s something unclean in your mansion. I heard that when someone’s possessed by a ghost, they can’t control themselves at all. Don’t worry; if it happens a few more times, you’ll get used to it. All right, you should rest—I’m going to bed, too.”

Her cold hand gripped his arm, her face ashen with terror. Unable to explain what was happening, and after his supernatural scare, she began to think of all those ghostly legends.

“You—you can’t leave!” she stammered, leaping from under the covers, clutching his arm as she begged, “Don’t go, I’m... I’m scared.”

So what if you’re scared? You can’t expect me to stay here with you all night, can you? Even if you want to, I certainly don’t!

Yang Changfeng’s eyes roamed over her nearly naked body, and he felt a secret thrill. He tried to shake her off, pretending concern, “Oh, this isn’t right. It’s the middle of the night—a man and a woman alone. If you think I’m taking advantage, that’d be hard to explain, right? Let go, I need to go rest. Or, maybe you could call that Young Master someone or other—maybe he’d be happy to keep you company, and you’d feel safe?”

His words were tinged with jealousy, and even in her confused state, Chen Aijia could sense it.

She snapped, “Can’t you have a little compassion? Look at me—I’m already like this, and you still make things difficult?”

Pointing to the red mark on his cheek, Yang Changfeng retorted sarcastically, “So hard to be a good guy. Why should I bother? Good thing there are no knives here, and I filmed everything, or I’d be wronged by you for life.”

Chen Aijia fell silent.

She knew she was at fault. She couldn’t really blame him.

But when she’d touched the blanket—waking up from her sleepwalking state—she’d seen him and, without thinking, assumed he was up to something. Why was she still clinging to that?

In a fit of pique, she let go. Whether from fear or humiliation, she couldn’t help but burst into tears.

Yang Changfeng continued his mockery, circling the room with a hand behind his back like a fake master, shaking his head. “This is serious. The feng shui, the layout—maybe you really did attract something unclean. First day back and already being haunted. I’d better find somewhere else to stay before this place kills me!”

At that, Chen Aijia began to truly sob, no longer just sniffling but wailing, hair a mess, leaping from the bed to pummel him with a pillow, shouting, “Get out! Get out! I don’t need you, even if I die! Get out, I never want to see you again!”

Had she broken down?

Yang Changfeng, feeling a twinge of guilt, covered his head and let her hit him over and over, but he understood exactly what was happening. Chen Aijia was simply under too much pressure. She hadn’t been home in ages; maybe this place had left her with some deep-seated connection to cleaning. Coupled with psychological stress, it had triggered her sleepwalking.

More importantly, seeing herself acting like a ghost in the video—anyone, no matter how strong-willed, would break down.

This combination of factors explained her reaction now. At this moment, she seemed more real, more vulnerable—no longer a lofty boss, but just a person.

Exhausted, Chen Aijia dropped the pillow. Kneeling on the bed, arms falling to her sides, she grabbed Yang Changfeng’s neck and sobbed uncontrollably.

Was this a reward?

Her soft, barely concealed curves pressed against his chest, her arms, now finally warm, wrapped around his neck, and the scent of her body filled his nose. Yang Changfeng’s heart softened.

Damn it, I’m just not cut out to be the bad guy!

With a silent sigh, Yang Changfeng patted her smooth back and comforted her softly, “Don’t be afraid. It’s all right. I was just talking nonsense earlier. Even if something happens, I’m here, aren’t I?”