Chapter 13 He

“Good morning!” Chu Ning greeted Tanya, who was sprawled on the living room sofa, engrossed in her show. It looked as though Tanya hadn’t slept at all last night, her spirits high as she threw herself into the soap opera that bored him to death.

“Morning,” Tanya replied softly, hugging a pillow and staring at the screen, completely lost in her own little world, not bothering to acknowledge Chu Ning’s arrival.

“By the way, what was it you wanted to talk to me about yesterday?” After some deliberation, Chu Ning decided to ask directly, hoping to avoid arousing Tanya’s suspicions and prompting her to act preemptively.

The prospect of an imminent attack kept his nerves constantly taut, threatening to push him to the brink of collapse. Yet knowing the precise moment danger would strike was no less tormenting, leaving him anxious and worried about the future.

“Oh? Didn’t we already talk everything through yesterday? Did you forget? I remember you were especially talkative yesterday—especially when it came to charming girls. You’re certainly an expert in that area!” Tanya rolled her eyes as she spoke, genuinely surprised at how much of a lecher Chu Ning had seemed. The words he used to sweet-talk girls flowed endlessly, as if he were a different person.

Chu Ning stood frozen, his face pale, his raised hand suspended in midair. Brow furrowed, he racked his brain for anything from yesterday, certain he hadn’t opened his door or had any in-depth conversation with Tanya.

With a heavy, angry tone, he asked, “What exactly did I say to you yesterday? Could you repeat it in detail?”

Sensing that something was off, Tanya silently cursed the fickleness of men. Just yesterday, he’d been whispering sweet nothings like an attentive suitor, and now he acted as though he didn’t know her at all. Unless, of course, it hadn’t been Chu Ning yesterday after all. The thought made Tanya’s heart flutter with unease. If her suspicions were right, this would be her second encounter with “him.”

Am I really so irresistible to ghosts and monsters? Tanya thought bitterly to herself.

“What happened? Tell me, what did you do yesterday?” Chu Ning bellowed at Tanya, his voice hoarse, staring at her with a twisted expression.

“I’m sorry, really, I’m sorry!” Tanya replied fearfully, unable to meet Chu Ning’s bloodshot gaze. She didn’t waste words and followed his instructions, describing the events of the previous day.

Not every apology elicits forgiveness, but Tanya chose to apologize first, lowering herself. She silently regretted trusting the agency’s recommendation; at this rate, she might not survive another day.

The anger clouding Chu Ning’s mind began to clear, and he admonished himself to stay calm. He listened patiently to Tanya’s account of what “he” had done yesterday—a routine he was all too familiar with by now.

This time, though, things were different—it involved someone else. When third parties were dragged into such matters, everything became infinitely more complicated.

According to Tanya, she had been invited by Chu Ning and arrived at his room at the appointed time. At first, the door was tightly shut, and no matter how she knocked, there was no response. After a while, Chu Ning opened the door, apologizing for having fallen asleep.

He then invited her in, and they chatted about all sorts of things—much like a landlord getting to know a tenant’s character, identity, and family background. It all seemed perfectly normal.

Tanya hadn’t thought much of it; if the roles were reversed, she would have done the same. Picking the right tenant was a subtle art, after all, and reading people was never easy. A poor choice could lead to endless trouble.

“Did he invite you to sit on the red-and-black sofa? The one in the second-floor living room, near where you fainted?” Chu Ning interrupted Tanya’s description of “himself” flirting, cutting straight to the point.

“He?” Tanya’s hair stood on end as she repeated the word, her confidence wavering. Was it really not Chu Ning yesterday? Was there someone else in the villa, hiding in plain sight?

Though she was a ghost who embodied fear, that didn’t mean Tanya was immune to being frightened by other spirits. People feared murderers for the same reason; it was only natural.

Chu Ning offered a shallow smile, trying to look amiable. “Sorry, slip of the tongue. I meant myself. The person you saw yesterday was indeed ‘me.’”

His attempt at reassurance did nothing to comfort Tanya; it only confirmed her suspicions. The person from yesterday had to be the spirit in the mirror. She didn’t know why they looked exactly alike, but knowing they were two completely different beings was enough.

“You did suggest we sit on the sofa yesterday, but I refused, claiming I wasn’t feeling well. I went back to my room and didn’t linger upstairs.”

“Good. Never sit on that sofa—something very unpleasant would happen!” Chu Ning warned Tanya repeatedly, his seriousness leaving no room for doubt.

“Okay! Ah…” Tanya nodded blankly, then suddenly seemed to remember something important. She sprang up from the sofa, arms trembling as she pointed to where she’d been sitting.

Chu Ning couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the sight of Tanya fleeing from the sofa as though it were haunted. Noticing her glare, he covered his mouth, trying to stifle his amusement.

With a smile, he said, “Relax! Besides the one on the second floor, all the other sofas in this villa are safe. You can sit without worry.”

Tanya was just about to return to the little nest she’d built with her pillows when Chu Ning’s words replayed in her mind: none of the other sofas had any major issues—which implied there were still minor ones.

Unable to resist, she looked to Chu Ning for an explanation, hoping he’d clarify what dangers lurked within.

“Sorry! I misspoke. The sofas are just old, so some of them are a bit worn out. Only the one upstairs is really dangerous; the rest are harmless little problems.”

“Sure, I get it,” Tanya replied with a sneer, her disdain plain to see. Even when facing the truth, he still tried to hide the facts—how infuriating!

Chu Ning didn’t care what Tanya thought of him; the opinions of strangers meant nothing. Besides, he had no idea how long Tanya would last before choosing to leave this uncanny place.