Inside the study, Jian Yue stared at the blob of red hovering in front of him, his head aching just from looking at it.
He picked up a sheet of paper and said helplessly, “How about this, you describe him, and I’ll draw a sketch? He’s not exactly running away, so I might as well help you find him.”
Besides, maybe this could even unlock a new part of the Wanfu Village storyline. Two birds with one stone.
The female ghost gestured and stammered for quite a while. He couldn’t tell if it was a problem with her speech system or something else, but her words came out in fragments, messy and disjointed.
There was no way he could draw anything coherent from that.
Jian Yue sighed. “He used to live in your village, didn’t he? Even if you don’t have a picture, you must at least know where he used to stay. I can go ask around.”
At that, the ghost finally stopped shaking her head. Just as she was about to speak
Creak!
The door swung open. Jian Yue’s head snapped up to see Shen Yushu stepping in, wearing a crisp white shirt and carrying a cup of coffee. Shen Yushu glanced at him and said, “Housekeeper Wang? You’re awake?”
Jian Yue’s heart skipped a beat. Panic flickered through him. What if Shen Yushu saw the ghost?
His boss was a diehard believer in science, if he saw something supernatural and got scared half to death, where was Jian Yue supposed to find another rich, generous employer like him?
But not looking would have been better.
The moment he looked, Jian Yue froze. The ghost was gone. Not just her figure, every trace had vanished.
Even the blood droplets that had fallen on the floor had disappeared without a mark. The sheet of paper he’d been using for the drawing was spotless too, completely clean, as if it had never been touched.
“Housekeeper Wang?” Shen Yushu’s voice carried a hint of displeasure.
Jian Yue jerked in his seat, snapping out of it just as Shen Yushu came closer. The man raised an eyebrow, “Why are you sitting in my chair?”
Right…He suddenly remembered that the table he usually used had been splattered with blood, so he’d moved over to Shen Yushu’s desk. He hadn’t expected the owner of that desk to walk in so suddenly.
Under Shen Yushu’s skeptical gaze, Jian Yue hurried to explain, “I.. I thought you’d gone to rest, so I wanted to tidy up your desk for you.”
“My desk was already clean,” Shen Yushu said flatly. “And that paper you’re holding, I already used it. It’s supposed to be thrown away.”
Jian Yue looked down. Sure enough, there was writing on the back. It really was a scrap piece meant for disposal. He forced a stiff smile. “I just wanted to share your burden, sir.”
A poor excuse! Full of holes.
Jian Yue’s heart was pounding. Great, now he probably thinks I’m trying to steal confidential documents… I’m doomed.
Shen Yushu narrowed his eyes, “Is that so?”
A beat of silence stretched between them.
Shen Yushu thought, Could he… like me? That would explain why he’s clinging to something I scribbled on. After all, that paper really was just random notes he didn’t need anymore.
Their gazes locked.
While Jian Yue’s mind raced, Shen Yushu suddenly gave a short laugh. Looking down at him, the man’s tone softened with helpless amusement, “If you like it that much, then take it.”
“…”
Jian Yue was speechless.
I swear I don’t have some weird paper-fetish!
He could practically feel his image collapsing in his boss’s eyes. And the worst part? He couldn’t even argue.
Just then, the system chimed:
[Character behavior aligns with persona. Life value increased to 10%.]
Jian Yue finally exhaled in relief. So as long as his behavior looked normal to the CEO, his life value would go up. That was good news.
He asked tentatively, “Sir, are you going to rest now?”
Shen Yushu nodded. “Almost done for the night. You can head back first, I still have some work to finish.”
Buoyed by his restored life points, Jian Yue was in a great mood. He wanted to test something, so he said, “Then I won’t disturb you, sir. I’ll get up early tomorrow to prepare your breakfast.”
Shen Yushu waved him off. “Go ahead.”
After leaving the study and walking through the quiet corridor, Jian Yue paused in the courtyard.
Sure enough, not far away, a red figure gradually materialized under the moonlight. The female ghost stood there, her scarlet robe rippling in the wind like an empty shell without bones.
So his guess was right.
Jian Yue approached, “You’re afraid of that man from before, aren’t you?”
The ghost could clearly understand him. Though she didn’t reply, her entire form trembled, a reflexive shiver of fear.
“I see,” Jian Yue murmured. “So you really are afraid of him.”
No sooner had he confirmed it than the system spoke again:
[Main Quest: ‘Secret of Wanfu Village’ Progress 15%]
[Side Quest: ‘Hide and Seek’ Time Remaining: 12 hours. Reward: Ancestral Hall Key.]
The quest had progressed!
Jian Yue hadn’t expected that simply confirming one fact would trigger the storyline. So Shen Yushu really was a walking ghost-repellent, an exorcist in human form. Wherever he went, no spirit could linger.
But Jian Yue knew he couldn’t rely on Shen Yushu for everything. If he hid behind him forever, the plot wouldn’t move forward. And judging by how the dangers grew worse each night, he needed to push ahead fast.
He took a deep breath. “I’ll help you find your lover,” he said to the ghost. “In exchange, you’ll help me enter the ancestral hall. Deal?”
She didn’t understand the second part, but she understood the first. She nodded.
“Good,” Jian Yue said. “Since drawing a portrait’s impossible, you must at least know where he used to live, right? Can you still find that place?”
The ghost nodded again.
Jian Yue relaxed. “Alright then, let’s go.”
She led him toward the main gate. The night outside was pitch-black, the silence heavy. From the archaeologists’ quarters nearby, the faint glow of red lanterns flickered, filling the air with the thick, greasy scent of corpse-oil candles.
They reached the gate, and as it creaked open, a wall of mist greeted them. The fog was dense, the moonlight ghostly pale.
In the haze, human-like figures loomed, some twisted, some crawling, wandering aimlessly. The wind carried with it the wet drag of blood smearing across the ground. A few shadows stopped and slowly turned toward the mansion.
“…”
Jian Yue slammed the gate shut.
When he turned, he met the ghost’s blank stare.
“…”
His knees nearly gave out.
The livestream audience erupted in laughter.
“Hahaha! So much for being brave!”
“Scared half to death, wasn’t he?”
“When I played that part I almost peed myself too!”
“This game’s literally called Play with Your Heart Rate!”
Cold sweat prickled Jian Yue’s back. There was no way he was stepping outside right now. “It’s too crowded out there,” he told the ghost. “I can’t go. You wait, I’ll think of a way and take you tomorrow.”
The ghost looked displeased and raised her claws, ready to pinch him again.
The audience went wild, finally, they thought he was going to get punished.
But Jian Yue said sharply, “If you dare pinch me, I’ll scream! Shen Yushu’s study is right ahead, he’s still awake!”
The ghost and the chat fell silent.
After a long pause, the ghost obediently lowered her hand, though her eyes remained gloomy and resentful.
Maybe the noise from before had stirred the creatures outside, because now he could hear scratching and thudding against the door. They were trying to get in.
He was caught between a furious ghost inside and monsters outside, truly between hell and a hard place.
Thinking quickly, he cleared his throat. “You see, you’ve already kept me up all night. How am I supposed to help you find your lover if I don’t sleep? Normally I’m very efficient, you know. It’s just that I’ve been losing sleep lately, something keeps making noise outside my window. They’re not as considerate as you. You’re different. You understand me, right?”
The ghost didn’t really understand, but sensing the compliment, she tilted her head in confusion, almost looking thoughtful.
“That’s right.” Jian Yue smiled. “Since you’re so understanding, I’ll go sleep now. I trust that with you here, no one outside will disturb me tonight. That way I can help you tomorrow, okay?”
At that, the ghost nodded earnestly.
“Perfect,” Jian Yue said, grinning. “Then I’ll leave it to you!”
And he slipped out before she could react.
The livestream exploded.
“HAHA WHAT?!”
“He’s conning ghosts now?!”
“This guy’s unreal!”
“Bro, you’re my new idol!”
As more viewers flooded in, word of the rookie streamer spread fast. For a new player to debut and make it onto the homepage, it was almost unheard of.
Among the various factions of players, each aligned by card type or pure skill, the Eagle Organization base was buzzing. A man there was laughing so hard he could barely breathe as he replayed the stream.
Their leader had just returned from a dungeon run. “What’s so funny?” he asked.
“Boss, you’ve got to see this,” the man said between chuckles. “This new guy, how does he even come up with these ideas? And the NPCs actually listen to him! He’s either crazy lucky or a genius.”
The leader watched the footage quietly for a moment, then said, “Maybe it’s not luck. Maybe it’s because he treats the ghosts like people, not as mindless NPCs.”
Every player who entered a dungeon world had been told again and again to respect NPCs, it was tied directly to their safety values. Some ignored the warning, some didn’t believe it. Those who respected them, survived. Those who didn’t… died.
The man’s laughter faltered as understanding dawned, freezing the smile on his face.
Meanwhile, Jian Yue had long fallen asleep, exhausted.
When his alarm went off in the morning, he dragged himself out of bed, fetched breakfast from Aunt Zhang, and even made a heart-shaped sandwich for Shen Yushu, his savior from the night before.
After delivering it, he returned to his own room. The morning sun had just begun to rise, its light brushing across the courtyard. And there she was, the red-clad ghost, waiting silently for him.
Jian Yue walked over. “Alright, let’s go.”
But she hesitated, refusing to move.
He frowned. She stood just inside the threshold, sunlight glinting outside. A thought struck him. “You can’t go into the light, can you?”
She nodded.
Jian Yue rubbed his temples. That was bad. He needed her to find the lover’s old home, but she couldn’t leave during the day. At night, he couldn’t go out because of the other monsters.
Great, he thought grimly. The system just gave me an impossible problem.
If he couldn’t help her, then..
He looked up, meeting the ghost’s cold gaze, and a chill ran down his spine. Then he definitely wouldn’t survive.
Right on cue, the system interface popped up again:
[Timed Mission: Hide and Seek]
Objective: Survive in her presence for 24 hours. Time remaining: 5 hours.]
Jian Yue frowned. There was no way the sun would set within five hours, he had to come up with something fast.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?” he called.
The door creaked open, sunlight spilling in. Standing there were the bespectacled boy from the archaeology team and the tearful girl.
Jian Yue’s expression darkened. “What do you want?”
He had no fondness for the archaeologists, they’d caused him nothing but trouble. If not for them, he wouldn’t have been forced into this mission.
The boy hesitated, exchanging glances with the girl several times.
Jian Yue sighed impatiently. “If you’ve got nothing important, leave.”
Just as he was about to close the door, the girl blurted out, “Wait, please!”
She took a deep breath, as if summoning courage, and bowed deeply. “I’m sorry, Housekeeper Wang. The person in the grass that day, it was me. I was sent on a mission to find the ancestral hall. Brother Dao gave me a clue, and since I had a teleportation card, I thought it was safe. I didn’t know you’d be there too. I’m sorry! I really am!”
Her voice trembled, thick with guilt, tears brimming in her eyes.
The boy patted her shoulder and said, “She’s my girlfriend, Tian Tian. We were supposed to get married. But on our honeymoon, we had a car accident and fell off a cliff… that’s how we ended up in this dungeon. My skill is lightning, hers is teleportation. She didn’t mean to hurt you. She cried all night, so I brought her here to apologize.”
Jian Yue listened in silence.
Honestly, he didn’t care for their apology. He couldn’t. If his own card hadn’t triggered that night or if it had been on cool down, he’d be dead. There was no reason for him to forgive them so easily.
But..
His eyes flicked to the girl’s tearful face. “You said your ability is teleportation?”
She blinked, confused by the sudden question, but nodded. “Yes.”
“How many people can you teleport at once?”
“Three at most,” she said honestly. “But the more people there are, the shorter the distance.”
“What’s the minimum range?” Jian Yue pressed.
She thought for a moment and gestured. “If it’s just me, I can move freely around the village. But with three people, the range drops to about a hundred meters.”
Jian Yue’s mind turned rapidly. The direction the ghost had pointed last night wasn’t far, within a hundred meters, maybe.
He looked up again, a smile curving his lips. “You said you wanted to apologize, right?”
The girl hesitated, a sense of dread creeping up her spine. “Y-yes…”
“What good is an apology in words?” Jian Yue said softly. “If you’re truly sorry, then help me. I might need your skill.”
The two rookies exchanged uneasy glances.
Seeing their hesitation, Jian Yue’s tone remained calm, almost gentle. “Don’t forget who saved Granny Li that night. If I hadn’t intervened, she would’ve died and if that had happened, do you really think the two of you would’ve made it through the night? Because I saw her, you know. Outside your courtyard.”
Their faces went pale.
The boy stammered, “B-but the card has a twenty four hour cooldown. If we use it now and something happens later, we’ll be helpless…”
So that was it, they didn’t want to help.
Jian Yue chuckled softly, pushing up his glasses. “You see, I’m a reasonable man. That’s why I’m asking nicely.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “But if you really don’t want to cooperate…”
He snapped his fingers.
The screen partition behind him slid aside.
The two newcomers looked up and froze in horror. Behind the screen stood the red-clad ghost, pale as bone, blood dripping from her eyes, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders.
The talon-like nails on her fingers gleamed sharply, as if they could pierce a throat with ease.
If not for the wall at their backs, both of them would have collapsed.
And in that chilling tableau, the usually mild, honest housekeeper smiled, calmly, faintly, with a touch of wicked amusement.
“So,” he said softly, “what was it you two wanted to say? Perhaps you’d like to repeat it for my friend here?”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
You may now perform the sacred ritual of pressing the coffee button.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · Master, Calm DownChapter 2 · This Damn ValleyChapter 3 · The Old slave Is here!Chapter 4 · Shocked my Friend?Chapter 5 · Life Doesn’t have that many viewers but Live doesChapter 6 · Science is Primary productive ForceChapter 7 · A one million in a card!Chapter 8 · You’re First Person to reject Young MasterChapter 9 · He saved meChapter 10 · Your Life is mineChapter 11 · This village is such a Mess!Chapter 12 · Little GoblinChapter 13 · Who should be afraid of whom?Chapter 14 · I, an honest person, don’t understand these thingsChapter 15 · The world is finally upside downChapter 16 · Made a decision that went against our ancestorsChapter 17 · Young Master hasn’t laughed so happily in a long timeChapter 18 · Brother, you smell so good!Chapter 19 · Licking everything to the endChapter 20 · This mental state is too advancedChapter 21 · Enough, let’s stop this farce!Chapter 22 · Young master, please let me explain!Chapter 23 Part 2 · You’re playing with fire!Chapter 23 Part 2 · You’re playing with fire!Chapter 24 Part 1 · The light of righteousness shines upon the earthChapter 24 Part 2 · The light of righteousness shines upon the earthChapter 25 Part 1 · You two-faced man!Chapter 25 Part 2 · You two-faced man!Chapter 26 Part 1 · Butler Wang, I see you still retain your charmChapter 26 Part 2 · Butler Wang, I see you still retain your charmChapter 27 Part 1 · I’m straight, bro!Chapter 27 Part 2 · I’m straight, bro!Chapter 28 Part 1 · This is a blatant violation of citizens’ portrait rights!Chapter 28 Part 2 · This is a blatant violation of citizens’ portrait rights!Chapter 29 Part 1 · The domineering CEO falls in love with me!Chapter 29 Part 2 · The domineering CEO falls in love with me!Chapter 30 Part 1 · Take this Five million and leave my son!Chapter 30 Part 2 · Take this Five million and leave my SonChapter 31 Part 1 · Biting me means you’re arrogantChapter 31 Part 2 · Biting me means you’re arrogantChapter 32 Part 1 · Has butler realise his mistake?Chapter 32 Part 2 · Has butler realise his mistake?Chapter 33 Part 1 · The simple master-servant relationship has soured!Chapter 33 Part 2 · The simple master-servant relationship has soured!Chapter 34 Part 1 · A one-night stand by the domineering CEO leads him to fall in love with meChapter 34 Part 2 · A one-night stand by the domineering CEO leads him to fall in love with meChapter 35 Part 1 · This tastes damn sweet!Chapter 35 Part 2 · This tastes damn sweet!Chapter 36 Part 1 · I will take responsibility for youChapter 36 Part 2 · I will take responsibility for youChapter 37 Part 1 · He will never drink again!Chapter 37 Part 2 · He will never drink again!Chapter 38 Part 1 · He said he didn’t want itChapter 38 Part 2 · He said he didn’t want itChapter 39 · Now is not the time to ask for a title!Chapter 40 Part 1 · Brother Dao, how can I live without you!Chapter 40 Part 2 · Brother Dao, how can I live without you!Chapter 41 · What a human-like beastChapter 42 Part 1 · This damned ancestral hall has successfully caught my attention!Chapter 42 Part 2 · This damned ancestral hall has successfully caught my attention!Chapter 43 · After the overall situation is fully opened upChapter 44 · Village chief, are you really that vigorous for your age?Chapter 45 · Butler Wang, I love you!Chapter 46 · What exactly do you see in me?Chapter 47 · I swear to GodChapter 48 · All I want to do is die with himChapter 49 · I’m going to kill themChapter 50 · Who would like Shen YushuChapter 51 · Young master, I want to cling to you tightly!Chapter 52 · They’ve run away together! They’ve run away together!Chapter 53 · Sworn BrothersChapter 54 · My boss is the best in the world to meChapter 55 · I want you all to be buried with him.Chapter 56 · It’s a beautiful day outside Wanfu VillageChapter 57 · You don’t have anyone you want to seeChapter 58 · I’m married! Married!Chapter 59 · The Cold Prince’s SweetheartChapter 60 · Young master, this old servant has arrived! ~Chapter 61 · Who else could do something so outrageous?Chapter 62 · Boy, I got my eyes on youChapter 63 · Does Butler Wang really want to see him that much?Chapter 64 · Come on, call me Dad!Chapter 65 · Other men might have it too!!Chapter 66 · Being obsessed with love is indeed a major problemChapter 67 · He’s playing the devoted second male lead!Chapter 68 · The number one person to wash underwear with a cold face!Chapter 69 · Young master, will you be back for dinner tonight?Chapter 70 · Others ask for money to save peopleChapter 71 · Wang, please don’t die!Chapter 72 · My current identity is that of a father!Chapter 73 · Here’s your chance to confess!Chapter 74 · That’s definitely someone with connections!Chapter 75 · This is my personChapter 76 · How come you’re already married?Chapter 77 · I’m going to pester you, young master!Chapter 78 · How do you turn a straight man gay?!Chapter 79 · Am I Butler Wang’s mistress?!Chapter 80 · He really does have a fiancé!Chapter 81 · Don’t stay with himChapter 82 · Man, you asked for this!Chapter 83 · Was he just acting like this?Chapter 84 · The second male lead is about to turn the tables and become the master!!Chapter 85 · This trick is cheapChapter 86 · How dare you cheat on me!Chapter 87 · Are you an undercover agent sent by Butler Wang?Chapter 88 · I think of my master day and nightChapter 89 · These wealthy families really know how to have funChapter 90 · You possess such advanced talent that you can enter Hope IslandChapter 91 · Be my Consort!Chapter 92 · Young Master, are you really angry?!Chapter 93 · I swear I will only love you!Chapter 94 · Who bullied you?Chapter 95 · Just a quick favor!Chapter 96 · This is no challenge for him at all!!Chapter 97 · He’s no match for them!Chapter 98 · Xiaoyu, I only love youChapter 99 · This is Butler Wang’s territory!Chapter 100 · Is this how you treat your savior?Chapter 101 · You two are definitely a family!Chapter 102 · Who is your mother-in-law?Chapter 103 · Are we really going to send him to his death?Chapter 104 · He married him againChapter 105 · How can someone be so carefree?Chapter 106 · Butler Wang has done immeasurable good deeds!Chapter 107 · Only those who survive can be considered heroes!Chapter 108 · Since we’re going toChapter 109 · I love youChapter 110 · I will never leave you again.Chapter 111 · The Overbearing King’s Gentle PamperingChapter 112 · Mainly, I kind of want to be your auntChapter 113 · Don’t easily test my limitsChapter 114 · He’s seducing me!Chapter 115 · Uncle opened the doorChapter 116 · The world of the wealthy is such a mess!Chapter 117 · Your old servant is here!Chapter 118 · Xiaoyu, you’ve gone astray!!!Chapter 119 · Uncle, you have to keep this a secret!Chapter 120 · Who’s child is this?Chapter 121 · Butler Wang really has a crush on me!Chapter 122 · One person has surrounded everyone!Chapter 123 · Are you guys playing this fancy?!Chapter 124 · Even gamers are working for him!Chapter 125 · If you fall into the river, I’ll save you first!Chapter 126 · What a troublesome little devilChapter 127 · Does the Puppet Master app have anti-fraud features?Chapter 128 · You’re a scorpion demon incarnate!Chapter 129 · How about we give it a try?Chapter 130 · The dog shit will arrive faster than your knife!Chapter 131 · Is he hungry too?Chapter 132 · We even stayed a few days less than them!Chapter 133 · How about I marry you so you can take my place?Chapter 134 · This is truly a team full of villains!Chapter 135 · It’s clearly an auspicious omen!Chapter 136 · Is it normal to think my brother smells good?Chapter 137 · You’re the biggest capitalist here!Chapter 138 · What happened to true love?Chapter 139 · Romantic types are strictly prohibited from participating in horror dungeons!!!Chapter 140 · What should I do with Butler Wang!?Chapter 141 · Butler Wang! The most courageous man ever!Chapter 142 · What are you doing?!Chapter 143 · Man, you’re playing with fire!Chapter 144 · I heard a heartbeatChapter 145 · Can puppets also have superb kissing skills?Chapter 146 · What else is real then?!Chapter 147 · Seduction? That won’t work on me!Chapter 148 · What is my uncle doing?!Chapter 149 · Uncle, you don’t treat others like this!Chapter 150 · I’ll give you five million!!Chapter 151 · We’re true love!Chapter 152 · Sister-in-law, I genuinely want to help you!Chapter 153 · They can even find an excuse to sleep together!Chapter 154 · Butler Wang iis popular among young people.Chapter 155 · Who says Butler Wang’s strategy guide is bad?Chapter 156 · I’ll remarry the moment you’re in your coffin!Chapter 157 · Now it’s your turn to beg me or not