That woman’s features were cold and sharp. Her words were brief, but they carried such a chill that the surrounding crowd fell into a sudden, heavy silence.
White robes, a slender waist, long brows, and icy eyes—it was none other than “Little Stupid Zhang,” Zhang Youwei, the very girl whose nipples Qian Luo had pinched years ago. The moment she appeared, Qian Luo’s first instinct was to cover her face, thinking: I absolutely cannot let this “living Buddha” recognize me. Seven or eight years ago, her sword wasn’t even sharpened; now, that blade could slice through iron like butter. Her killing techniques were undoubtedly leagues beyond her childhood self. Qian Luo had a big personality, but her courage was microscopic.
Especially in a situation where if she got hit, she’d die, and if she hit back, she couldn’t afford the compensation.
Zhang Youwei glanced back at her. “Why are you covering your face?”
“Ugh,” Qian Luo stammered, “it’s… it’s ‘eye-stinging’ (cringe).”
Having lived a secluded life for a long time, Zhang Youwei didn’t understand the modern slang. She took “eye-stinging” literally. She leaned down toward Qian Luo, reaching out to pry her eyelid open, frowning. “Don’t rub it. Let me see.”
Being handled like that gave Qian Luo a massive fright. She instinctively hopped back a step and laughed nervously. “Aha! That’s strange! The moment you touched it, the stinging stopped! Hahaha…”
Zhang Youwei: “…”
Her extended hand paused for a moment before she dropped it. She turned to the receptionist. “Let’s go.”
She began walking toward the building in the back.
Qian Luo felt the danger radiating from the crowd; everyone seemed to be eyeing her with hostility, especially the female secretary whose wrist Zhang Youwei had squeezed. That woman was clearly looking for a place to vent her fury.
Qian Luo immediately trotted after Zhang Youwei. Under the girl’s suspicious gaze, she pushed her thick frames up and gave a dry laugh. “Is Miss Zhang heading home?”
“I’m not,” Zhang Youwei said. “I’m going to check the building in the back.”
The staff member chimed in, “Miss Zhang, that building has been sealed for a long time. I don’t know much about it, but I saw Manager Yin lead Xiao Lin inside the other day…”
Zhang Youwei spun around instantly. “Manager Yin? One of your executives?”
“Yes! It was last night, right? Man, that place is bad news…”
Zhang Youwei’s suspicious gaze landed on Qian Luo. “What were you doing in a place like 그?”
Qian Luo broke into a cold sweat. This guy really knows how to pick the worst topics. She’d worked so hard to make this ancestor forget her, and now one comment was bringing it all back.
She adjusted her black frames. “Miss Zhang, as you saw this morning, so many people in this company watched me carry a mountain of files alone. It’s Saturday, yet so many people are working overtime…”
Zhang Youwei arched an eyebrow but remained silent, just watching her.
Qian Luo continued with a dead-serious face, “That’s because our company abuses its employees! Someone died in that back building, right? So the executives said that from now on, anyone who messes up gets sent there to reflect in solitude. I made a huge mistake yesterday. Right, Mr. Supervisor?”
The staff member, suddenly wearing a “manager” hat he didn’t ask for, broke into a sweat. “How should I know…”
Zhang Youwei’s lips twitched slightly. Sensing something, she shot a glance at Qian Luo but didn’t say much. “Walk faster.”
Qian Luo scrambled to keep up.
The three of them soon entered the gloomy building. Despite it being daytime, no sunlight reached the interior as most windows were boarded up. It was so dark the staff member nearly tumbled down the stairs twice.
Zhang Youwei stood by the broken window on the second floor for a long time before turning to Qian Luo. “When exactly were you locked in here?”
“I wasn’t really locked in,” Qian Luo lied. “The boss just found a quiet spot to yell at me, then I followed them back. How could our company actually abuse staff? Hahaha.”
Zhang Youwei tilted her head, a rare, faint trace of amusement touching her cold lips.
Qian Luo reached out to touch the window frame, acting surprised. “Manager, what do we do about this broken glass? If the higher-ups find out, they might think we did it.”
“I’ll… I’ll report it,” the staff member muttered.
Zhang Youwei finished her inspection and announced she was leaving. The staff member insisted on walking her out, and since her car was in the shop, he offered her a ride.
As Qian Luo waved goodbye, she let out a massive sigh of relief. Finally, this cursed day is over.
Just then, her phone rang. She pulled it out to answer while still waving to Zhang Youwei with her other hand.
Ye’s frantic voice exploded through the receiver: “ARE YOU AT THE COMPANY?!”
“I am!” Qian Luo jumped.
“STOP IT! I see you! Zhuo Zitong is two hundred meters away from you!”
Qian Luo instinctively looked around. Suddenly, she saw a dark blur a hundred meters away. With fingers like claws, it lunged toward her with murderous intent!
It’s broad daylight!
How could a ghost appear in the sun and brazenly attack a ghost-tamer?
Qian Luo’s sword was in her bag; she could draw it at any second and lop off the ghost’s hand. But Zhang Youwei was standing right there. If she drew her weapon, wouldn’t her cover be blown instantly?
Seeing the vengeful spirit rushing toward her, Qian Luo gritted her teeth. She ducked behind Zhang Youwei, grabbed her sleeve tightly, and buried her face in the girl’s back. “Miss Zhang! A GHOST! AAAHHHH!”
Zhang Youwei seemed startled for a split second, but she didn’t even flinch. A subtle, mocking smile played on her lips.
At that moment, Ye—in the form of a black cat—came sprinting at high speed. Seeing that Qian Luo wasn’t defending herself, she leaped into the air with lightning speed, striking the ghost down just before it reached Zhang Youwei.
The black cat landed gracefully, head held high, and walked over to Qian Luo.
Qian Luo peeked out from behind Zhang Youwei, frantically winking at Ye to leave.
Instead, Ye stretched, stood up on two legs, and transformed back into a human. Naked and unbothered, she crossed her arms and stared at the hand Qian Luo was using to grip Zhang Youwei’s sleeve.
Qian Luo’s brain stalled. Fortunately, Senior Sister Qian Zhen rushed up from behind and draped a coat over Ye. Qian Luo practically wanted to claw the wall; she cursed a thousand times in her head: Lady Ye! Even if you are a god, stop walking around naked in broad daylight!
Ye glanced at the vengeful spirit now cowering at Zhang Youwei’s feet. “Impressive,” Ye said. “You dare to keep such a fierce ghost as a pet? Aren’t you afraid of the backlash?”
Zhang Youwei didn’t recognize Ye, but she could tell she was a “Divine Being” used by ghost-taming sects to communicate with spirits. She bowed with her sword. “Great One.”
Ye’s emerald eyes turned icily toward Qian Luo, who was still clutching Zhang Youwei’s sleeve. “What are you still doing there?”
Qian Luo slapped her own forehead, wishing she could knock herself unconscious.
She knew now, even without Ye saying it. The ghost belonged to Zhang Youwei. It had been summoned specifically to test if Qian Luo was a ghost-tamer. The cat was out of the bag; there was no point in lying anymore. Now, they would either have to duel or one of them would have to withdraw.
Zhang Youwei glanced sideways at Qian Luo. “The quality of ghost-tamers these days is getting quite high. Not only can you investigate cases, but your acting skills are top-notch.”
Qian Luo silently let go of her sleeve. Fine, a duel it is. With Ye here, I won’t lose…
Zhang Youwei sheathed her sword and turned to Qian Luo. “You took this case?”
Qian Luo kept her head down and nodded, not daring to look her in the eye.
“Then I withdraw,” Zhang Youwei said simply.
Qian Luo was so shocked she nearly jumped.
Qian Zhen, who had been worried, let out a long breath and smiled gently. “Miss Zhang has great character.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Zhang Youwei said tonelessly. “I don’t lack the money.” She turned to leave.
Qian Luo was moved to tears.
But something flickered in Ye’s eyes. She looked at Zhang Youwei, then at Qian Luo, and a playful, wicked smile curled her lips. Her voice turned flirtatious. “Miss Zhang? From the Chang’an Zhang family?”
Zhang Youwei bowed respectfully to the deity. “I am.”
Ye smiled sweetly. “The Zhang descendants are truly something. I haven’t seen a junior as strong as you in a long time. Such achievements at such a young age… it’s not easy.”
Zhang Youwei lowered her head. “Thank you, Great One.”
Ye studied her delicate, humble face as if searching her memory. “Ah!” she gasped, turning to Qian Luo. “Luo, doesn’t this girl have quite a bit of ‘destiny’ with you?”
A terrible premonition rose in Qian Luo’s heart.
Sure enough, Ye’s next words were: “I remember when you were little, you fought someone over a ghost. Didn’t you pinch her nipples to bully her? My, you’ve both grown up so fast. So beautiful, so graceful…”
Qian Luo felt an overwhelming, suffocating pressure descend upon her.
Zhang Youwei’s beautiful eyes widened instantly. Her humble expression vanished, replaced by something bordering on monstrous rage. She stepped forward, looming over Qian Luo.
Qian Luo stumbled back, laughing weakly. “Lady Ye, you’ve got it wrong. That was my junior sister…”
Ye’s smile was pure mischief. “Ah, I must be getting old. My memory is failing me.”
Zhang Youwei reached out and clamped her hand around Qian Luo’s wrist, her voice as cold as a razor blade:
“How could anyone forget that?”
With a violent snap, she ripped the glasses off Qian Luo’s face and crushed them under her heel.
“I told you I’d seen you before. As it turns out, I really have.”
…
The secret is out! Zhang Youwei remembers the ‘shame’ of her childhood. Will she demand a duel to reclaim her honor, or will this shared, embarrassing history lead to an unexpected alliance?