Chapter 165: The Cannon Fodder Who Can’t Survive Three Chapters (8)
“Xingxing? Why are you home so early?”
At the Bei family estate…
Bei Xing’s mother, Zhou Yun, was surprised to see her daughter, usually averse to staying home, especially after starting university, using her studies as an excuse to stay out all night.
Bei Xing handed her designer backpack to a servant and looked around, not seeing anything new. “Didn’t Dad say he bought an antique? I’m free today, I thought I’d admire it with him—where is it?”
Zhou Yun chuckled. Pampered since childhood, loved by her husband, her daughters obedient,
She looked much younger than her age, often mistaken for her daughters’ sister.
“Since when are you interested in your father’s trinkets?” she asked, amused.
“Just… bored,” Bei Xing replied casually, mimicking the original owner’s nonchalant attitude.
Zhou Yun didn’t think much of it. “It probably hasn’t arrived yet, it should be here tonight. I’m going for a spa treatment, do you want to come, or are you staying home? If you’re staying, tell the chef what you want to eat.”
If it weren’t for Su Mingxiu’s warning, Bei Xing would have gladly joined her mother, enjoying the luxurious spa treatment and the perks of being a VIP client, access to limited-edition items and personalized service.
The thought made her heart ache.
“No, I don’t want to go out,” she said, hearing something shatter inside her,
The sound of her broken heart.
She walked further into the house, avoiding the sight of her mother’s stylish outfit, lest she be tempted, repeating silently: As long as the Bei family is safe, there’s no need to worry about money.
Zhou Yun left with her assistant, leaving Bei Xing alone with the servants.
After a while, Bei Xing checked the calendar, then called for a servant. “Please buy me two red candles, an offering table, two bouquets of lilies, a bundle of incense sticks, and a stack of yellow paper…”
Her list was long, but the servant’s expression was even more telling, the familiarity of the request unsettling—
The “masters” Bei Xing’s father had brought home before had always made similar requests.
But the rest of the Bei family had always scoffed at such things, Zhou Yun even studying religious philosophy to expose these charlatans.
Now, the patriarch wasn’t bringing home fake masters anymore, he was buying antiques, and…
…the second daughter was falling for it.
What was she planning? If you can’t beat them, join them? Or fighting fire with fire?
The servant, after listening patiently, her expression changing, finally remembered her duties and didn’t object.
After the servant left, Bei Xing played mobile games on the sofa. A maid brought her a plate of washed green grapes. As she reached for one, a delicate fragrance, a mix of sweetness and floral notes, filled her senses.
“Wow,” she put down her phone and asked, “What kind of grapes are these? They’re so good.”
The fragrance was unique, addictive.
“These are Shine Muscat grapes that Madam specially ordered, we can get you more if you like,” the maid replied.
Bei Xing ate a few more, then searched online for the price, wanting to buy some for school. 1280 yuan per bunch.
But…
They looked just like ordinary Shine Muscat grapes.
What made them so special?
She was shocked by the price and, like a country bumpkin entering the city for the first time, asked: “Are there any other seasonal fruits? Expensive, delicious ones, I want to try them all.”
So she tasted the freshest durian, and a large, juicy Yangshan peach, the living room filled with the aroma of fruit.
I’m too full for dinner now, she thought, rubbing her stomach.
Just then, the servant returned with her purchases. Seeing the leftover grapes, a piece of durian, and a small peach, Bei Xing took them to her room, placed them on the offering table, lit three incense sticks, and chanted a few words—
A red figure, visible only to her, appeared beside the table, looking at the fruit with a puzzled expression. “What are you doing?”
“Bribing you,” Bei Xing said, smiling brightly, her eyes sparkling, leaning closer to the ghost. “These are all delicious, try them.”
Su Mingxiu: “…”
She looked at the incense sticks, their smoke drifting towards her, then at the fruit, not particularly interested.
But Yu Nian’s expectant gaze was hard to resist, and she finally took a grape.
“Is it good? These are the most expensive grapes I’ve ever had!”
“Not bad,” Su Mingxiu replied casually.
Bei Xing looked at her, skeptical. Su Mingxiu’s family hadn’t been wealthy, she couldn’t have tasted such expensive fruit before, but Su Mingxiu’s calm demeanor was convincing.
She found Su Mingxiu to be an enigma, her knowledge vast, her actions confident, even more so than a pampered heiress.
So strange.
Compared to the original owner’s memories of Su Mingxiu, she was a different person now, in life and in death.
Could it be… that Su Mingxiu’s soul had also been replaced? Impossible, she’s just a ghost now.
“What’s with that look?”
Su Mingxiu, not wanting to touch the peach or the durian, continued eating the grapes, meticulously peeling them, unlike Bei Xing, who ate them whole, as if oblivious to their price.
Bei Xing, meeting her gaze, shook her head, happy to keep her secrets, not wanting to ask unnecessary questions. “Then what do you like to eat? I’ll prepare some for you next time.”
“No need.”
“Oh.”
As the sky darkened, Bei Xing was being quizzed on her memorization, but there was still no sign of her father, nor the Pixiu antique.
She dozed off on the sofa, then was woken up by some noise, opening her eyes to find her family had returned.
But they were talking quietly on the other side of the living room, as if not wanting to disturb her, her sister’s jacket draped over her.
“Why are you all back?” she asked, sitting up, yawning. “And where’s Dad’s antique?”
She was still thinking about Su Mingxiu’s warning, wanting to get rid of the Pixiu.
“That’s what we were just talking about,” her sister, Bei Qiming, smiled. “The delivery truck had an accident, Dad is dealing with the insurance company.”
Huh?
Bei Xing considered this, a good thing, and settled back onto the sofa, as if wanting to continue her nap. As Bei Qiming urged her to go to her room, lest she catch a cold, she turned to her mother. “Are you going for your spa treatment tomorrow? Take me with you.”
“Okay.”
She went upstairs and collapsed onto her bed.
As she slept, a sudden jolt, and she stirred, half-awake, remembering that she hadn’t showered or brushed her teeth. She opened her eyes and saw the red figure sitting by her bed, her pale skin and long, dark hair—
Before she could scream, Su Mingxiu turned, her voice melodious. “Why are you awake now?”
Bei Xing’s heart, which had almost leaped into her throat, settled back down. She clutched her chest, her voice slightly shaky. “Master, although they say that being startled can scare someone to death, ghosts are much more terrifying, really.”
Su Mingxiu, understanding, remembering her past lovers, none as easily frightened as this one, said: “I told you not to call me Master.”
“Oh, Susu, can you… not sit by my bed and scare me next time?”
The red-clad ghost paused, then replied readily: “Okay.”
Then, she added: “Are you thirsty after sleeping for so long? Want some water?”
Bei Xing hadn’t been thirsty, but now, hearing Su Mingxiu’s words, she suddenly felt parched. She got out of bed and walked towards the door.
Only the living room lights were on. The second floor was quiet, the servants asleep. She walked downstairs.
Passing the kitchen, she suddenly saw a black, jade-like… monster crouching before the TV wall.
Its head like a dragon’s, but without horns, its body like a leopard’s, its claws like a qilin’s, but without a tail.
She stared at it, confused, muttering “What the hell is that?”, then continued towards the kitchen, poured herself a glass of water, and walked back, sipping it.
A servant, woken by the noise, came out and asked if she was hungry, offering to make her a late-night snack. Bei Xing shook her head, then pointed at the living room. “Didn’t Dad say the antique was destroyed in the accident? Who brought that statue back?”
“What statue?” the servant looked at her, confused.
Bei Xing led her towards the TV wall. “That big, black thing, like a jade carving, it doesn’t match our house at all.”
The servant paused,
Then asked cautiously: “What… what are you talking about, Miss? There’s only the TV there…”
“No,” Bei Xing put down her glass, staring at her in disbelief, “that big, black—”
“Miss, don’t scare me, it’s late at night, I’m scared.”
Bei Xing, seeing the servant’s trembling legs, felt her own knees weaken.
Why… why could only she see this thing?
She forced a smile, more terrifying than a grimace, and, making an excuse about something she had left in her room, had the servant accompany her back, then gave her some clothes to wash, ignoring her protests, and sent her away.
The room was quiet.
No sign of the red figure.
Bei Xing took another sip of water, her unease growing. She sat on the edge of the bed and whispered: “Master?”
No response.
“Susu?”
Still silence.
She looked at her shadow under the lamplight and called out, her voice slightly bolder: “Su. Ming. Xiu!”
“Looking for a beating?” The voice by her ear made her jump. She saw the flash of red and grabbed Su Mingxiu’s sleeve like a lifeline, ignoring the warning in her voice, her grip tightening, her voice a pitiful whisper. “There’s a monster downstairs, I’m scared.”
“Can you… sleep with me tonight?”
Su Mingxiu had indeed wanted to scare her, having been annoyed by her earlier comment and unsure about the creature in the living room. But hearing her plea, three parts fake, seven parts genuine, she couldn’t help but feel amused.
She chuckled, her face radiant in the lamplight, almost like… sunlight, if not for the chilling aura surrounding her.
Then, the ghost leaned closer, her lips curving into a smile, her voice a playful taunt. “You’re not afraid of me now? Or do you think that monster is more terrifying than me?”
Seeing Su Mingxiu’s playful expression, as if about to reminisce about childhood horror movies, Bei Xing’s legs gave way, and she knelt on the bed, her body trembling.
“Master, wuwuwu…”
Two tears squeezed out of her eyes, landing on the sheets.
Like a cute Pomeranian, mischievous and playful, yet also charming and affectionate, now with its ears drooping, its bright eyes filled with tears, utterly adorable.
Su Mingxiu looked at her, thinking, The little Pomeranian’s acting has improved.
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