Chapter Thirty: The White Slip

Yu Xianzhi extinguished the two rhinoceros-horn lamps by the incense burner, plunging the room’s green candlelight into utter darkness. As he opened the door, a shaft of sunlight finally dispersed the chill that had filled the chamber.

Back in the second hall of the Yu family home, we seated ourselves upon embroidered stools.

“Taoist Yu, does this mean that the matter concerning young Mr. Shao has been resolved satisfactorily?” Yang Puqiao inquired.

Yu Tianhua sighed. “That vengeful spirit was not his cousin, but his cousin is indeed dead. For reasons unknown, I have been unable to summon his soul. For now, these three ghosts are unlikely to trouble Mr. Shao.”

“For now? So, you mean they might come for me again one day?” Shao stammered, terror etched across his face.

Yu Tianhua waved dismissively, “Mr. Shao, there’s no need for such fear. I can sense your cousin’s soul lingering near Kowloon LZ in Hong Kong. If you can find him and bring him back, the truth will be revealed.”

LZ? That’s one of the most haunted places in Hong Kong, infamous for paranormal events that have even made the newspapers—cases still unsolved to this day. The thought sent a chill down my spine. But as it wasn’t my problem, I soon calmed myself.

“Oh no, I’m not going! There’s no telling if I’d make it back alive!” Shao’s face turned pale as he hurriedly shook his head.

At that moment, Yu Tianhua suddenly fixed his gaze on me, and I shivered involuntarily.

“You’re not going to make me accompany him, are you?” I asked hesitantly.

Yu Tianhua nodded. I quickly shook my head, “I’m not going—no sense in dragging someone else down with me!”

Yu Tianhua gave a mysterious smile. “Mr. Qiu, if I’m not mistaken, you’ve also been entangled in some unusual disturbances lately, haven’t you?”

I froze, narrowing my eyes at him. Yu Tianhua looked back at me, as if seeing through everything, his face creased in a knowing smile.

After a moment’s hesitation, I sighed deeply and gave a slight nod.

“If you help Mr. Shao resolve this matter, perhaps some clues to your own troubles may come to light,” Yu Tianhua said.

I sneered, looking at him with disdain. “I know what a rhinoceros-horn lamp is—I don’t need you playing tricks here.”

Yu Tianhua only responded with a cold chuckle, turning to glance at Yu Xianzhi, unfazed by my sarcasm.

“So… how am I supposed to trust you?” I ventured.

“prajñāpāramitā.”

Hearing that familiar Sanskrit phrase, I felt as though struck by lightning; darkness closed over my vision. The Yu father and son stood before me, their faces as solemn as the guardians of the underworld. Forcing my eyes open, I stared at them as intently as I could.

“So you’re in on it too?” I asked in a low voice.

Yu Tianhua simply waved a hand, saying nothing. He looked up at Yang Puqiao and said gravely, “Mr. Yang, your and Mr. Shao’s requests have been fulfilled, and I have offered the solution. Please take your leave.”

Yang Puqiao was left bewildered by Yu Tianhua’s sudden shift in demeanor. Forcing a smile, he nodded awkwardly, “Then we’ll take our leave.”

We walked out the front door of the Yu residence. Yu Tianhua escorted us to the mouth of NHJ Alley. After watching Yang Puqiao and Shao drive away, he turned to go back.

“Wait.” I called after Yu Tianhua.

“Mr. Qiu, what more do you wish to ask?” Yu Tianhua stopped, his tone frosty.

I hesitated, then summoned my courage and probed, “Do you know about what happened decades ago?”

Yu Tianhua’s composure faltered for a fleeting moment, a trace of fear passing across his face before he quickly recovered. He glanced at me, scoffed, and replied, “I know nothing.”

Left helpless by his reaction, I nodded. “Then I’ll be going.”

“No need to see you out.”

I hailed a taxi to return home. In less than half an hour, the car pulled up outside my building. As I reached for my wallet to pay, a white slip of paper fell from my pocket. Startled, I stuffed it back in, paid the driver, and stepped out. Then I unfolded the note.

On the white paper, six red characters glared up at me: “Stay away from that woman.”

What could this mean? I was utterly baffled. I pondered for a moment, and suddenly a scene flashed through my mind—

“Miss… I advise you not to go in.”

I recalled Yu Tianhua’s hesitation—was he warning me to stay away from Mengya?

I spun around suddenly, a chill racing down my spine. There she was, Mengya, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, her face sullen and cold, eyes fixed balefully on me.

Her resentful expression made me shudder. Turning away, I burned the white slip to ashes and went upstairs.

Inside, I found Mengya seated on the sofa, her face dark and unreadable. She didn’t bother to look at me when I entered.

“Mengya, what’s wrong?” I ventured.

Without looking at me, Mengya sneered, picked up a white letter from the table, and handed it to me.

I opened it—it was a resignation letter. I set it aside and asked, “Tell me—what did I do wrong?”

Mengya wiped her eyes, shook her head, and replied coldly, “You did nothing wrong. I was the one at fault.”

Her words left me speechless. I didn’t even know how to respond.

“There’s nothing more to say. I hope you…” She choked on her words, sobbing softly.

I stepped forward and suddenly wrapped my arms around her slender waist.

“What are you doing? Let go of me.” She sobbed, but did not resist.

“Don’t you love me anymore? If I’ve done something wrong, tell me—I’ll change.”

She looked at me, let out a cold laugh, and shook her head. “I already said, you did nothing wrong. I’m the one who’s wrong.”

“Stop talking!” I said, and pressed my lips to hers.

She jolted, pulling her lips away quickly. Looking at me, she wiped her mouth and sneered, “Are you pitying me? Or do you just want a final ‘breakup tryst’?”

I’d hoped that this would win her back, but her words cut deep. Then I thought of Yu Tianhua’s note, sighed, and nodded, returning her cold smile. “If that’s what you want to think, I can’t stop you. If you’re so determined to leave, I can’t stop you. Do as you wish.” I took a wad of cash from the safe and placed it on the table. “Here’s a hundred thousand—it’s your salary. Go if you want.”

Mengya stood motionless, tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked at me again with a resentful smile.

I sneered in return, “No need to smile for me—go home and smile there if you want.” At that, I found myself shedding a few tears as well.

She nodded, left the money untouched, and walked out without another glance.

“Mengya, come back!”

She paid no heed to my shouts, disappearing through the door. I hurried after her, running down the stairs.

“Mengya, come back! Please come back!” I called after her retreating figure.

Suddenly, the world spun, darkness engulfed me, and I collapsed at the roadside.

I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but when I awoke, Mengya was sitting by my bed, holding my hand as she slept. At my slightest movement, she woke with a start.

“You’re awake!” she exclaimed, touching my forehead as tears welled up again.

I forced a smile. “Ah, truly, there’s nothing more venomous than a woman’s heart.” I sighed. “You really are ruthless—almost ‘attempted husband-slaying.’ Just look at my head—you’ve nearly cracked it open.”

Mengya gave a half-amused snort and wiped my brow with a towel soaked in warm water—her touch sending a stab of pain.

I waved her hand away, hesitated, and then asked tentatively, “You’re not leaving anymore, are you?”

Mengya huffed with a touch of pride, “Not until you’re well. If you really die here, they’ll say it was my fault.”

Her words made me grin mischievously. “Ah, you’re right. Our ‘breakup tryst’ isn’t even finished and you want to leave already?”

She blushed at my teasing, glared at me, and allowed a faint smile to surface. “Wait until you’re better.”

I pulled her into my arms. She blushed deeper and smiled, “Now? Don’t regret it—this will be the last time.”

I nodded, looking into her eyes, and said firmly, “You’re never allowed to threaten me with leaving again.”

She scowled, “Who’s threatening you, you—”

I cut her off, pressing my lips to hers.

Mengya’s gaze turned dreamy as she kissed me back. After a time, she pushed against my chest and I rose.

“If you ever abandon me, I’ll kill you—and then myself,” she said, glaring at me with fierce resolve.