Chapter 398

Chapter 398

◎The Normal Procedure Is to Call the Police◎

After leaving the Tang residence, Xia Junyan still looked dazed: "How did I not think of this? The house is clean—no trace of Yin energy was detected, and neither the talismans nor the compass reacted. So the problem must be with the person!"

Xiao Ye: "You're too stuck in your ways. Hearing her describe the situation, you immediately assumed it was a supernatural incident. When you couldn't find the issue, you hit a dead end."

Xia Junyan chuckled: "Nanxing really came through. Thank goodness you stepped in. For someone like her—is it schizophrenia? Or delusional disorder?"

Xiao Ye: "Probably. I once read about a case involving a man living alone who would find food cooking on the stove every morning. He thought he'd encountered a Mysterious Housekeeper, but it turned out he was the one waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. to cook, then going back to bed and completely forgetting what he'd done. He only realized the truth after being diagnosed with schizophrenia."

Xia Junyan sighed: "That girl seemed so normal. This kind of illness must be hard to treat, right?"

A pretty girl from a good family—if she were really diagnosed with such a condition, it would be devastating for her.

Ji Nanxing shook his head: "It might not be an illness."

Xia Junyan and Xiao Ye were both surprised: "Huh? What do you mean?"

Ji Nanxing: "I observed her facial features and aura. Her energy is erratic, and her face bears marks of conflict, financial disputes, and worse—she’s nearing a life-threatening crisis. Signs point to impending disaster."

Considering Tang Huaying's visibly abnormal complexion and her hair falling out in clumps, he suspected this might be deliberate—or someone taking advantage of her state to achieve something.

But since he had only visited Tang Huaying’s home and met her alone, he couldn’t deduce more. He could only advise her to get a medical checkup first to determine whether she was ill or if someone was deliberately staging these ghostly incidents to frighten her.

Xia Junyan pondered: "Money troubles? Could it be the person she co-owns the cat café with? I need to look into this. Once her test results come out, I’ll check out her friend’s situation."

Ji Nanxing nodded: "Alright. Keep me updated if anything comes up."

Tang Huaying acted swiftly. Right after the Taoists left, she rushed to the hospital and underwent a series of tests, with special emphasis on mental health and a blood drug screening. The extensive and detailed tests meant the results would take a week.

During that week, she didn’t dare stay alone or return home. Instead, she moved in with her best friend—the same one she co-owned the cat café with. They had been inseparable since kindergarten, closer than family, so she naturally turned to her in this crisis.

A week later, the test results came in. Her friend, Yu Yingqiu, accompanied Tang Huaying to collect the report. The Taoist’s prediction proved shockingly accurate—her blood contained traces of a drug that induced hallucinations, insomnia, and nightmares. Prolonged use could push victims toward insanity or suicide under unbearable psychological strain.

Tang Huaying and Yu Yingqiu stepped outside, faces pale, and walked into the sunlight. Tang Huaying’s hands trembled as she clutched Yu Yingqiu’s arm: "I can’t believe this is happening to me. But how? The doctor said stopping abruptly after long-term use worsens the effects. My hallucinations started after moving to the new place, meaning the drug was stopped around then. Think—was there anything I did or consumed daily at home?"

Yu Yingqiu: "Was there anything you ate or did every day?"

Tang Huaying shook her head. She couldn’t figure it out. She hadn’t eaten at home every day before moving. She often dined out with friends or ordered takeout when she didn’t feel like home-cooked meals.

Her mother didn’t cook—their longtime housekeeper did. But the housekeeper had been with the family for over twenty years, practically watching Tang Huaying grow up. She couldn’t imagine who’d been poisoning her or how it had been sustained for so long.

Once she got the results, she immediately informed Xia Junyan. She trusted this Taoist she’d met by chance—who knows where she’d be now without them?

So Xia Junyan scheduled another meeting, suggesting they gather at the cat café she co-owned with her friend—a chance to discreetly observe whether Tang Huaying’s friend was involved.

The cat café was tucked into a quaint, artsy alley, with red brick walls and green ivy climbing over slightly European-style buildings. Small shops selling accessories, clothes, and snacks lined the street.

The area wasn’t crowded, but it had a steady trickle of visitors. Some customers sat inside cuddling cats, sipping tea, snacking, and watching passersby—an atmosphere serene and inviting.

As soon as they entered, Xia Junyan praised: "Cozy and welcoming—a peaceful retreat in the city."

Xiao Ye picked up a cat teaser and waved it lightly, instantly luring a cluster of curious cats.

Tang Huaying introduced her friend: "These are the Taoists. If not for their advice, I’d never have gotten checked—who knows where I’d be now without them."

Yu Yingqiu greeted them warmly, then flipped the sign to 'Closed' before stepping behind the counter to make tea for the group.

Xia Junyan gave Ji Nanxing a meaningful look, urging him to take a good look at Yu Yingqiu. Given what had happened to Tang Huaying, the culprit was probably someone in her inner circle, and with money issues at play, Yu Yingqiu was currently the most suspicious.

Yu Yingqiu, unaware of their suspicions, brewed tea and brought out some homemade snacks. Looking at the three of them with sincere thanks, she said, "Before, I told Yingying not to believe in these things, but she wouldn’t listen. She said it was like trusting horoscopes or tarot cards—no harm in it either way. Now, I’m really glad she did. Otherwise..."

She glanced at Tang Huaying, her eyes welling up. Thankfully, they had discovered it early, or she might have lost her best friend.

Ji Nanxing looked at Yu Yingqiu and asked, "As her longtime friend, you must know her well. Do you have any suspicions about who might have drugged her?"

For someone to administer drugs in daily life, it had to be someone close.

Yu Yingqiu replied, "I’ve been puzzled about this too. Yingying has always lived with her mom, but her mom hardly handles household matters—she’s usually off at spas, shopping, or playing mahjong, even more so than Yingying. Their family has a steward who’s worked for them for years. The steward’s children are grown, and one was sent abroad years ago and hasn’t returned. Beyond that, we really can’t think of anyone else."

Xia Junyan asked, "Ms. Tang, are you from a single-parent family?"

Tang Huaying shook her head. "No, my dad runs a small auto parts business. He and my mom live apart—he’s got another family on the side. They haven’t divorced because of company shares. My mom has no feelings for him, so they just live separate lives."

Xia Junyan pressed, "Your dad has another family—does he have other children?"

Tang Huaying answered, "Yes, a son five years younger than me. But his mistress’s kid has nothing to do with me. I’d never acknowledge a mistress’s son as my brother."

Their family maintained this messy truce because of an earlier agreement: her mom’s shares would go to her, while her dad’s would be split—not entirely given to that woman and her son. That was why their marriage remained intact yet undisturbed.

Ji Nanxing, however, shook his head. "Your face reads as that of an only child—no siblings."

Such things could be discerned through aura and facial readings—whether by blood or emotional bonds. Even without blood ties, emotional connections would leave traces.

Tang Huaying had neither—no blood relation nor emotional ties. There was no sibling energy in her aura. She couldn’t possibly have brothers or sisters.

Tang Huaying froze. "No way. That boy is five years younger than me—I’ve even met him."

Yu Yingqiu was equally stunned. "What’s going on?"

A chill ran down Tang Huaying’s spine as she looked helplessly at her friend. "I’m definitely my mom’s child. So does that mean I’m not my dad’s, or he’s not my dad’s?"

Yu Yingqiu was at a loss for words.

Xia Junyan glanced at Ji Nanxing, then at Yu Yingqiu, while Xiao Ye silently stroked a cat, listening.

Ji Nanxing caught his drift and said matter-of-factly, "Ms. Tang has no connection to this matter."

Yu Yingqiu wasn’t a head-turner, but her gentle features radiated warmth. Her clear, tranquil eyes and the clean energy around her—likely from long-term interaction with animals—showed no trace of malicious intent. At the very least, she wasn’t involved in drugging Tang Huaying.

Xia Junyan just said, "Huh."

It took Tang Huaying a moment to catch on. She quickly grabbed her friend’s hand. "It can’t be Yingqiu! I’d rather suspect my own mom than her!"

Their friendship was beyond doubt. She’d sooner suspect her mother than her best friend. They’d known each other for over twenty years—from kindergarten through college, even now as business partners. They’d promised to grow old together if they never found love.

They’d been through hell and back together, supporting each other to get where they were. Yingqiu would never harm her.

Yu Yingqiu smiled, comforting Tang Huaying. "Their suspicion is natural. Eliminating all possibilities is the only way to find the culprit. Otherwise, not knowing who’s lurking in the shadows would make life unbearable."

Ji Nanxing added, "Now that we know your hallucinations were drug-induced, the perpetrator must be someone close with something to gain. We can only help rule out suspects through aura and facial readings, but the rest depends on the police investigation."

Such drugs were banned, and tracing their source required police involvement. Taoists dealt with lingering ghosts—living perpetrators were a job for the cops.

Tang Huaying and Yu Yingqiu exchanged glances. "The police?"

Ji Nanxing asked, "You haven’t reported this?"

They shook their heads.

Ji Nanxing couldn’t help but laugh. "Being drugged is attempted murder. Shouldn’t your first move have been calling the police?"

The two women finally realized—yes, they should have reported it immediately. But what with the ghost stuff and the Taoists, they’d forgotten the normal procedure was to involve law enforcement.