Chapter 038: I’ve decided to confront the murderer.

Chapter 038: I've decided to confront the murderer.

Maybe he found the food fight with the lady in red childish, so Ji Xing Chen didn't join in. He just watched from the side. Listening to Chi Shen's conversation with Ghost Face, he adjusted his glasses, "You're just like them, you're merely a face. Why despise them?"

Ghost Face felt falsely accused and wanted to defend himself. He floated back to the surface, "Am I showing disdain? What I feel is..."

Ghost Face hesitated.

Chi Shen looked at him, "What you feel is?"

Gathering courage, Ghost Face exclaimed, "Fear!"

"Don't be scared." Bai Wan warmly welcomed the newcomer, reaching out with her golden ring-adorned fingers to lift the Ghost Face from the water.

The cold sensation made Ghost Face shiver, but soon Bai Wan placed him on a strawberry and said with a smile, "Have a taste."

Ghost Face's eyes darted between Bai Wan and Chi Shen. The place felt intensely eerie to him. Every smile here was one straight from the depths of hell. They seemed to have no pity for the weak and adorable him; he felt compelled to eat the strawberry.

He didn't dare refuse, hesitating before taking a reluctant bite. His entire face then froze in place.

"How is it?" Bai Wan asked with a smile.

"The taste isn’t great, and the texture isn’t either. But, it genuinely has a flavor!" exclaimed Ghost Face, nearly jumping with surprise. "It really does!"

Chi Shen frowned, "The taste isn’t good?"

Bai Wan delicately wiped the corner of her mouth with a red handkerchief. "These are gifts from my brother. Watch your words."

Ghost Face quickly corrected himself, "No, no, it's delicious. Everything's delicious!"

Only then did Chi Shen relax, smiling, "You'll adjust to this place soon and join our cozy family."

Ghost Face couldn't help but retort, "You call this cozy?"

Bai Wan tilted her head slightly, "Isn't it?"

Ghost Face immediately hugged the strawberry with his face, "So cozy! I've never felt this warmth even when I was alive!"

Seeing Ghost Face becoming more accustomed to the old mansion, Chi Shen felt pleased. Ghost Face seemed lonely. If there was no place for him with Li Xu, Chi Shen would welcome him.

After the delightful meal, Chi Shen chose to go to bed early.

The saying goes, "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy." He wanted to wake up an hour earlier to enjoy an extended weekend.

Before sleeping, he handed his phone to Ji Xing Chen. He knew Ji Xing Chen had some night-time activities with his phone and never inquired about it. Ji Xing Chen had been so helpful; lending him the phone was a small favor.

Chi Shen never deliberately checked Ji Xing Chen's usage. But once, while using the phone, he happened upon some undeleted search history. Those weren't his searches; they had to be Ji Xing Chen's.

The search terms were odd: Ji Xing Chen, Ji Xian, Hong An Trading, Harbor City Domestic Violence Case, Harbor City Murder Case.

Clearly, Ji Xing Chen was digging into his past life, probably trying to figure out his demise. From his attire and mannerisms, it appeared he had passed away quite recently.

Chi Shen never confronted Ji Xing Chen about it. Friends should trust one another. If Ji Xing Chen hadn’t approached him, it meant he could handle it. If he needed help, he'd surely ask.

However, that day in Li Xu's dream, Chi Shen saw a drowned ghost's memory. In it was someone resembling Ji Xing Chen, standing under the sun—a living person.

After some thought, as Ji Xing Chen was about to step out from his shadow, Chi Shen grasped his wrist.

Behind his glasses, Ji Xingchen's gaze rested quietly on him, waiting for him to speak.

"Do you have any family left?" Chi Shen inquired. Given Ji Xingchen's reticence and his never mentioning his family, Chi Shen initially suspected that he might be alone. But after witnessing the memory of the drowned ghost, he wasn't so sure anymore.

Ji Xingchen responded, "No, I only had my mother. She passed away when I was seven."

With an apologetic tone, Chi Shen said, "I'm sorry."

Ji Xingchen replied, "It's alright."

Chi Shen continued, "In a female ghost's memory, I saw someone who looks very much like you. I wonder if he could be your father or perhaps a brother."

Ji Xingchen shook his head, "I don't have any memories of my father. After the age of seven, I've always been on my own."

Not pressing further, Chi Shen mused, "Perhaps your family had some connection with the Bai family."

Ji Xingchen remained silent, still gazing at him.

Puzzled, Chi Shen asked, "What's the matter?"

"You have the ability to view the memories of spirits," under the dim light, Ji Xingchen's eyes behind the glasses looked incredibly dark, like soulless whirlpools, "Have you ever seen mine?"

Feeling their friendship might be at stake, Chi Shen quickly explained, "I only peer into the memories of spirits when communication is difficult. I don't do it all the time. Rest assured, I haven't seen yours."

Ji Xingchen lowered his eyes in thought, then looked back up, "Could you try to see my memories and help me discover how I died?"

Never had Chi Shen thought Ji Xingchen to be so forthright, the idea of someone willingly letting another peer into their memories seemed unfathomable.

Choosing his words carefully, Chi Shen replied, "I can only see what's within your memories. I can't see what you've forgotten, so I wouldn't be able to see how you died."

A hint of disappointment showed on Ji Xingchen's face, but he quickly said, "I apologize for bothering you. Sleep well."

Even though he was uncertain why Ji Xingchen was apologizing, Chi Shen gently patted his hand as a gesture of comfort, encouraging him to bravely seek the truth of his demise.

After their brief conversation, Ji Xingchen resumed playing with Chi Shen's phone, while Chi Shen nestled under his blanket, drifting off to sleep.

Even though he didn’t have work the next day, Chi Shen was up early. He tidied himself up, left the house, and took the bus, just as he would on a workday. He even left earlier than usual, without needing Ji Xingchen to wake him.

The moment Chi Shen stepped out, Gui Lian immediately followed. That place was far too eerie, and he dared not venture out of Chi Shen’s room on his own. With Chi Shen leaving, he decided it was safer to tag along.

Ji Xingchen too followed, lurking in Chi Shen's shadow. He wanted to explore more places, seeking clues about his death. This was the real reason he had hoped Chi Shen would go out.

Instead of alighting in the city center, Chi Shen followed his phone's directions, switching subways twice to reach an urban village.

Upon exiting the subway station, he glanced around the unfamiliar streets, eventually pulling out his notepad to locate the address he jotted down. After some searching, he finally found the residence listed.

Stopping at a fruit stall downstairs, he used his remaining money to purchase some fruits and milk. Chi Shen then made his way up a worn-out three-story building and knocked on an apartment door.

The green security door was plastered with small ads and rusted patches, yet in its center was a vibrant 'luck' character, likely put up last Chinese New Year. It showcased the household's dedication as it hadn't faded over the months.

After a little wait, a girl, appearing about fifteen or sixteen and seemingly just woken up, answered the door with a smile, "Brother Chi, you're here! Grandma, Brother Chi Shen is here!"

Chi Shen, holding the groceries, entered the clean but old-fashioned living room. He changed into indoor shoes and followed the girl inside.

An elderly lady sat on the sofa, lost in thought. Seeing Chi Shen, she smiled warmly, "Little Shen, why did you buy so much? You don't have a lot of money. Save it for yourself. Every time you bring so much, and we can't finish it all."

This was the elderly lady Chi Shen accidentally hit with his bike upon arriving in the harbor city.

The circumstances of their meeting were peculiar; his bike's brakes malfunctioned, and she had just fallen off the sidewalk. Though initially skeptical of her, after learning of her family's situation, he generously covered her medical expenses.

The old lady had one son whose wife was chronically ill and required daily medication. Despite this, she sold vegetables at the market, the son worked at an auto repair shop doing manual labor, and their daughter was in high school – a period when expenses were high.

Crucially, the old lady had no medical insurance. With her broken leg from the accident, the costs were substantial.

At first, the elderly lady's son was furious when he learned Chi Shen was responsible for the accident. However, seeing Chi Shen's genuine care and willingness to pay the medical bills, his anger subsided, even turning into gratitude.

Chi Shen’s funds were initially insufficient, but the son offered to cover part of the medical bills, leaving Chi Shen with just enough for his daily expenses.

Due to the financial constraints, the old lady was discharged from the hospital early and returned home to recover.

Chi Shen took down their address and occasionally visited to check on her.

What could have been a strained relationship due to the accident blossomed into a genuine friendship because of the kindness and understanding of both parties.

Reflecting on it, Chi Shen realized this was only his second visit since her discharge, the first being right after she returned home.

Despite all that seemed to have transpired, it had only been ten days since the accident.

After chatting with the elderly woman for a while, Chi Shen helped her downstairs to bask in the sun.

As she shared recent news she'd seen on TV and voiced concerns about his financial situation, Chi Shen reassured her. He told her about his new job, his friendly colleagues, and his comfortable living situation, emphasizing that his neighbors were both kind-hearted and generous, ensuring she had nothing to worry about.

The elderly woman finally relaxed with a smile, voicing her concerns about Chi Shen, even inquiring if he had a girlfriend. Chi Shen dodged the question with a laugh. By noon, he hoisted the elderly woman onto his back and carried her up the stairs.

The elderly woman's granddaughter was preparing lunch, and Chi Shen stepped in to help. After the meal, he delivered food to the elderly woman's daughter-in-law at the market, and then helped sort and carry some goods. It wasn't until the afternoon that he left the elderly woman's home.

As he was leaving, the elderly woman handed him a pair of knitted gloves she had made herself, insisting that he take them for the upcoming winter.

Chi Shen looked at the bright red gloves, caught between amusement and bemusement, but graciously accepted them.

Just as he left the elderly woman's residence, he found himself still smiling, having felt a warmth of familial love he hadn't known before – all thanks to the elderly woman.

Before he could even descend the stairs, he heard the little ghostly face attached to his shoulder crying out, "Oh, it's so touching! How can there be such a kind elderly woman?"

"I shouldn't have bumped into her."

In an instant, Chi Shen's demeanor chilled. The ghostly face shivered and quickly slid from his shoulder to his sleeve, sensing a hint of menace in his voice.

"I'll investigate the incident thoroughly," Chi Shen declared, descending the stairs in a steady pace that mirrored his unwavering tone, sending shivers down the spine. "Whoever caused this will not escape responsibility."

The little ghostly face on his sleeve piped up, "So, someone tried to harm you! Once you find them, I'll help you punish them by drowning them in their dreams hundreds of times!"

Chi Shen chuckled softly, offering no reply, and headed for the subway station as he had an appointment later that afternoon.

Yuan Yiping gave him a call. They had initially planned a weekend session to teach Chi Shen some protective spells, but Yuan Yiping had messaged him in the morning with news of obtaining the CCTV footage from the day of the incident. They arranged to meet.

Yuan Yiping acted promptly. Upon Chi Shen's request, he liaised with colleagues to access the CCTV footage.

The delay in obtaining the footage was due to the time lapse since the incident and Chi Shen's mere suspicions without concrete evidence. However, given the Special Security Department's unique requirements, Yuan Yiping was eventually granted access.

That morning, Yuan Yiping managed to locate the exact moment of the accident amidst a plethora of surveillance data. Spotting the irregularity, he immediately reached out to Chi Shen.

Yuan Yiping suggested they meet at the Special Security Department, emphasizing the peculiar nature of the matter.

Upon arrival, Yuan Yiping presented a tablet and played the surveillance video for Chi Shen.

The intersection's footage was slightly grainy and soundless, but Chi Shen recognized the elderly woman waiting at the crosswalk.

She stood there, waiting for the traffic lights, not moving.

Soon, Chi Shen appeared on his bike, riding a bit faster than usual due to his anticipation of meeting his birth parents. He didn't notice the stationary elderly woman at the side of the road.

In a brief moment, Chi Shen cycled up to the elderly woman's side. Suddenly, it seemed as if the old lady was pushed by an invisible force, causing her to fall directly in front of Chi Shen. Yet, there was clearly no one near her. As Chi Shen saw her tumbling down, he braked urgently but still couldn't avoid a minor collision, even rolling over the old lady's leg.

The footage appeared ordinary at first glance. However, Yuan YiPing rewound it slightly, just before the elderly lady fell into the path of the non-motorized lane, and played it frame by frame for Chi Shen.

In a few distinct frames, a clear shadow appeared behind the old lady. It was a figure of a man with a blurred face, missing half an arm. As Chi Shen was about to cycle by her, the man reached out and pushed the elderly woman.

Simultaneously as he pushed the elderly woman, the shadowy figure tampered with Chi Shen's bicycle handle. Despite Chi Shen's desperate attempt to brake, it was to no avail. He ended up crashing into the elderly lady.

The shadowy figure only appeared in those few frames. Unless one was deliberately searching and playing it back slowly, no one would notice this shadow. However, given Yuan YiPing's extensive experience in such matters, he naturally spotted it.

"The incident where you hit the elderly lady is indeed unusual," Yuan YiPing remarked, "I'm not sure why this ghost suddenly appeared to push her. He could have a vendetta against either you or her."

After saying this, Yuan YiPing looked up at Chi Shen, intending to offer some comforting words. However, he was taken aback by Chi Shen's calm demeanor.

Catching Yuan YiPing's gaze, Chi Shen even managed a smile. "Thank you for your help."

Yuan YiPing continued, "We will investigate this matter. We won't let any malevolent ghost go unchecked. Think about any recent conflicts or anything disrespectful you might have done. Or if someone from the Bai family warned you against returning to the Harbor City."

"Thank you," responded Chi Shen, "I will give it some thought."

Seeing Chi Shen's unflappable expression, Yuan YiPing voiced his concern, "Don't do anything rash. If anything comes up, or if you recall any details, let us handle the investigation. Don't take matters into your own hands, given your unfamiliarity with these supernatural matters."

"Understood," Chi Shen said, rising from his chair at the agency. He reassured, "Don't worry, I won't investigate on my own. I'll just inquire around."

After numerous words of caution from Yuan YiPing, Chi Shen left the park.

He truly had no intention to probe further by himself. After all, this wasn't some intricate death game where he had to painstakingly piece together every detail. No need for any grand display of deductive reasoning.

Instead, he opted for a straightforward approach: simply find the ghost and ask him directly.

Just as Chi Shen stepped out of the agency, a mischievous ghostly face attached itself to him. Being a ghost, it dared not follow Chi Shen into the agency and had waited outside. Now, it eagerly asked, "How did it go? Did you find out anything?"

Chi Shen responded with a chuckle, "I found out everything. Let's go find our culprit... oh, I mean our ghostly culprit."

Ji XingChen emerged from the tree shadows. Since Chi Shen purposely walked under the trees, Ji XingChen was able to accompany him. Adjusting his glasses, after casting a few glances at the ghostly face, he suddenly remarked, "Remember to ask Yuan YiPing tomorrow about how to exorcise a spirit."

Initially engrossed in thoughts about the elderly lady, Chi Shen wasn't irked by the interruption and nodded with a smile, "Will do."

After a few subway stops, Chi Shen returned to the intersection where the old lady had her accident. The crossroad was rather secluded, and even on weekends, it saw scant foot traffic. He strolled leisurely to the spot where the elderly lady had waited for the traffic lights.

Turning his head, he gazed in the direction from which he had come cycling.

——

Outside the old mansion.

A young man is on the phone.

“Alright, I understand. He's left. Uncle and the others will be patrolling tonight? Got it. I'll place the items inside now.”

The young man clutched a box sealed with a talisman, appearing somewhat nervous.

But after all, he thought, it was a task given by Young Master Bai Ran. Bai Ran had covered up several of his mistakes. Helping him out in this small way was the least he could do.

Thinking this way, his steps toward the old mansion felt lighter.

Ghosts don't come out in the daylight, he reassured himself. After glancing around to ensure no one was watching, he cautiously pushed open the large door to the mansion.

The heavy door creaked open, just wide enough for one person to slip through. As soon as he did, he made his way to Chi Shen's room, intending to place the item inside—

He didn’t open the door, but it swung open nonetheless.

A ghostly woman shot out like a cannonball, shrieking, “Candy!”