Chapter 17: Kill Him

Chapter 17: Kill Him

"I can," I replied softly, attempting to soothe him. "I won't cause you any trouble, so hurry back. College students these days are easily killed, and the same applies to me."

"Okay, knowing that you're vulnerable, I'll come back quickly," Li Fan reassured me.

After comforting me for a while, Li Fan paced around the room, seemingly setting up a protective barrier. Before leaving, he repeatedly reminded me not to open the door.

Once Li Fan left, Tang Yuan leaped beside me. He circled a few times to find a comfortable spot, then sat down with his hands in his lap. His fluffy head nuzzled my palm, melting my heart.

"Little White Porcelain, your heartbeat is so fast. Did you do something naughty when I was being punished?"

Instantly, I understood why he'd said that, and I playfully swatted at him. "What naughty thing? I'm an intellectual. Can intellectuals do anything indecent? Besides, it was... it was..."

It was Li Fan who had initiated the seduction! I just couldn't resist his charm! There wasn't even a kiss involved! What a waste!

Tang Yuan wagged his tail, surprised. "The Master used his bewitching technique on you? No wonder, Little White Porcelain. The Master's technique works on everyone, regardless of gender or age. Not only you, but even I could fall under his spell."

"Speaking of which, the Master has always considered using his bewitching techniques as unfair. Back then, when he was almost cornered by that nasty woman, he didn't resort to it."

What's dishonorable about it? Everything is won through ability, only that it's a bit difficult to articulate, but a true man should be adaptable.

After my mental grumbling, I focused on the main point and prepared to ask Tang Yuan about the wretched woman he kept muttering about.

My intuition told me she was an important figure, but from the sound of it, not a pleasant one. Knowing ahead of time wouldn't put me at a disadvantage; it would also allow for early precautions.

"Ahh, you mean that wretched woman? She's just..." Tang Yuan suddenly fell silent mid-sentence. Looking down, I saw his two front paws clamped tightly over his cat mouth.

I nudged him. "Go on, don't keep me in suspense."

Tang Yuan struggled for a moment before speaking with a hint of embarrassment. "Sorry, Bai Ci. Our Master specifically instructed me not to tell you about this. He said knowing too much means dying faster. If I were to spill, he'd twist off my cat head."

It was truly uncomfortable to speak while holding back, but I couldn't force him either, so I had to bear with it.

After a moment of hesitation, Tang Yuan suddenly slapped his paw against my face, loudly exclaiming, "Bai Ci! Even though I can't reveal who she is, you shouldn't feel inferior. You're more beautiful than her, have a better figure, and are much gentler! Who does she think she is? Even a blind person would choose you!"

I was momentarily stunned by his sudden action.

What strange things was he saying? What did he mean by even a blind person would choose me? Why would I compare myself to that wretched woman? I didn't even know her.

I decided not to dwell on these bizarre matters; pondering over them would only torment myself. I spent the entire afternoon binge-watching TV dramas. Before dusk, I ordered takeout and treated Tang Yuan to some cat food.

Summer nights fell late, and it was nearly seven before the sky turned pitch black. Suddenly, the wind picked up outside, causing the branches to sway like ghostly claws. Frightened, I hurriedly drew the curtains shut.

Just as I was about to wash my face, my phone on the sofa rang, sounding like an omen of doom. I picked it up to find it was the nurse, Bai Zhi, calling.

"Miss Bai Ci, I really didn't want to disturb you this late, but your sister's condition isn't good. She suddenly started vomiting blood, and now she's been rushed into surgery for emergency treatment. As a nurse, there's not much I can do. Please come as soon as possible," the auntie-nurse pleaded anxiously.

Her voice tugged at my heartstrings. However, the darkness outside was so thick that one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face. At that moment, I recalled what Li Fan had said to me.

I instantly snapped out of my daze.

Just great, no news all afternoon, and then trouble strikes at night, precisely when Li Fan wasn't around. Wasn't this an obvious attempt to lure me out?

The nurse auntie was still urging me, her voice verging on tears.

"Miss Bai Ci, please hurry. The hospital just issued a critical condition notice. How could I sign such a thing? Please come quickly…."

"I'll call the funeral home," I replied calmly. "They can pick her up for cremation once she passes away."

"..."

There was no response on the other end of the line. Within seconds, the call was disconnected.

Hmph, what kind of trickster dares to deceive me?

As the saying goes, "Heeding advice ensures a full stomach; avoiding trouble is the ultimate life-saving strategy." Listening to advice is my forte.

If I were to speak frankly, even if my sister had passed away or my father suddenly died tonight, there's no way I'd step out of this house! That's a promise!

After washing my face, I saw Tang Yuan sprawled out asleep on the couch. Just as I was about to sit down and find a movie to watch, my phone rang again.

Hey! Is this not over yet?

Assuming it was still the caregiver calling, I intended to hear what other absurd lies she could come up with to lure me out. Instead, I heard an unfamiliar woman's voice.

Static crackled through the line, suggesting poor signal quality, but soon, an eerie female voice emerged from the other end.

"Bai Ci... Haha... Bai Ci..."

"Come out, I'm at Lakeview Scenery... Come over, find Li Fan..."

I was perplexed.

What?

How did she know my name? And why is she asking me to find Li Fan? Are they together?

"Hurry up, or I'll kill him... Kill him... I am Li..."

Her sentence was cut short, and the call abruptly ended, leaving me in confusion.

I knew where Lakeview Scenery was, a distant and secluded villa complex from my location, a good twenty-minute taxi ride away.

So what was she trying to say in the end? Does she share the same surname as Li Fan? That would carry some implications, suggesting that Li Fan might indeed be with her.

And she threatened... if I don't go, she'd harm Li Fan.

Suddenly, I felt anxious.

I put on an act.

I gave a devilish smile.

Yet another ghost trying to lure me out; you almost had me there.

Despite the number no longer being in use, I composed a text message out of politeness and sent it to the number.

"Go ahead and kill, but if you do, you can't come after me anymore."

Focusing on the movie, I started watching. At ten o'clock, I obediently went to bed. However, as soon as I fell asleep, I began dreaming.

In the dream, I found myself at a banquet. Red lanterns hung in the courtyard, and a double happiness symbol adorned the door, indicating a wedding was about to take place. Strangely, all the guests were eerily silent, not exuding any festive spirit.

Aware that I was dreaming – a lucid dream I'd experienced before – I didn't overthink it. I grabbed a couple of bites from the feast and rushed into the house to see the bride. The sight that greeted me left me stunned.

The room was opulent, yet the bride, dressed in a vibrant red wedding gown, lay on the floor. Blood soaked her chest, as if she had been stabbed. Gold and silver hairpins littered the ground around her.

She lay there, tears streaming down her pretty face, but her eyes were fixed on my direction, as if staring at the perpetrator.

I could sense her sorrow vividly, the agony of being slain by one's beloved on the very day of their wedding in a hall filled with joy.

Feeling uneasy under her gaze, I shifted my position, also curious to learn who had taken her life.

To my surprise, her gaze followed me as I moved, ultimately resting upon me once more.

Startled, I wondered, Was she looking at me? Could she see me?

"Kill him..."

She suddenly spoke, her magnificent phoenix eyes fixated on me. The torrent of sorrow overwhelmed me, piercing my heart, but her subsequent words sent chills down my spine.

"Bai Ci, kill him! This is your...last chance!"