Chen Zui arrived at the entrance of a nightclub called "Night," effortlessly slipping inside. Along the way, he exchanged casual greetings with several young men and women, laughing and chatting. Sitting at the bar, he inhaled deeply, enjoying the long-awaited opulent, luxurious atmosphere of the nightclub. He finally felt like he had come back to life. Just like a fish can't live without water, or a plant can't thrive without sunlight, he, the playboy, couldn't resist the allure of this nightlife atmosphere. He ordered a low-alcohol cocktail and slowly sipped it while flirting with the beautiful women passing by.
"Chen Shao, long time no see!"
A seductive voice sounded from behind him, followed by the scent of strong perfume and a delicate hand resting on his shoulder.
"Hi, Rose, long time no see." Chen Zui grinned, lifting her hand to his lips for a gentle kiss, followed by a charming smile. He was always generous with beautiful women, whether it was paying the bill with his credit card or offering his attention. Especially with Rose, a striking mixed-race beauty with an alluring figure.
"Want to find a quiet place and have a drink?"
Rose whispered in his ear, her warm breath sending a shiver down his spine. Chen Zui immediately felt a stir of excitement. He had quickly assessed the number and beauty of the surrounding women, and Rose, being one of the top ones, piqued his interest. Moreover, they were old acquaintances, which made their chemistry even better. He grinned, stood up, and wrapped his arm around Rose's slender waist, guiding her toward the stairs. The upstairs private room had a certain ambiance, quiet and perfect for deeper conversations.
"By the way, I'm going to introduce you to a new friend tonight," Rose said with a mysterious wink.
"Oh? A beautiful woman?" Chen Zui's interest was immediately piqued.
"Yeah, a special one, she's quite intriguing. And she's admired you for a long time."
Such flattering words applied to both men and women, and for someone like him, who had been cooped up at home for a week, the thought of a new woman was incredibly exciting. Chen Zui eagerly hurried up the stairs, nearly tripping in the process, causing Rose to laugh and playfully tease, "Look at you, so eager. What's that saying again? Oh, right, 'Haste makes waste.'"
Chen Zui didn't even care to respond to her playful comment. All of his attention was on the last three words. When they entered the private room, he immediately saw a slender figure standing near the window. Just the sight of her back made him excited, as he had always preferred women with long hair, especially the kind whose strands tangled between his fingers in a delightful touch.
Rose, noticing his reaction, smiled knowingly. She leaned toward him and, with an almost teasing tone, asked, "Should I stay and watch?"
Chen Zui didn't answer, his gaze locked on the woman's back, almost hypnotized.
Rose smiled and said softly, "Looks like this girl's a newbie and might be shy. I won't stay and interfere tonight. We'll catch up later." She kissed him lightly on the cheek, then swayed her hips as she exited the room, leaving them alone.
The woman remained standing, not even turning her head. Chen Zui thought she must be pretending to be demure, playing hard to get. Women always enjoyed this game. He couldn't help but silently ridicule her, but since he was in a good mood, he decided to play along. With her long, smooth hair and slim waist, she was worth indulging.
He walked over with a confident stride, but when he saw her face turn toward him, he froze in shock, like a thunderclap ringing above his head. His body swayed in disbelief.
There's a saying that goes, "From behind, it looks tempting; from the front, it looks like self-defense." That was exactly how Chen Zui felt at that moment, though in his case, it was a bit different. Instead of a captivating back, he wished he had seen a "dinosaur"—a Tyrannosaurus at that.
"Hi, Chen Zui." The woman greeted him calmly.
"Lin… Lin Wan? What are you doing here?" Chen Zui pointed at her, stammering. Since the day she nearly choked him to death, he had developed a deep unease about this woman. A part of him was guilty, but a bigger part was terrified. He had encountered many women, but none as violent or blood-soaked as her. He had even dreamt of her coming after him with bloody hands. Could he not be afraid?
Lin Wan was wearing a red dress tonight, her makeup sultry, with pale skin and red lips. Her eyes held a beguiling charm, perfectly fitting the setting, but to Chen Zui, there were only two words: eerie. At that moment, he just wanted to run away, and indeed, he started to turn around to leave without a second thought.
"Chen Zui, are you nervous?" Lin Wan's calm voice came from behind.
Chen Zui stopped dead in his tracks and immediately denied it, "No, what nonsense. I've got other things to do."
Lin Wan walked up to him and spoke coolly, "Then let's sit down and talk."
Chen Zui scoffed, "What's there to talk about between you and me?"
Lin Wan casually sat on the sofa beside him, her voice calm as she said, "Of course, there's something to discuss. For example, the fact that we both survived the same car accident just now." Noticing Chen Zui's feet were still pointed toward the door, she continued, "Don't be so panicked, unless you really feel guilty."
Reluctantly, Chen Zui turned around and sat down on the farthest sofa, fearing she might suddenly attack him. Lin Wan seemed to casually move a little closer, satisfied to see his body tense up despite his effort to remain composed.
"I came here to ask you to do one thing," she said, her voice soft but resolute. "I'm not planning to pursue the past, but I would like you to go to Wang Xiao's grave and apologize."
As Lin Wan finished her sentence, Chen Zui's expression changed, flickering with hesitation. Hearing the final part, he quickly retorted, "Why should I go?"
Lin Wan raised her finger to her lips, signaling him to stay quiet. "Shh, don't get worked up. This is my biggest concession." She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping mysteriously, "Do you know what today is?" Seeing the confusion in his eyes, she smiled faintly and whispered, "It's Wang Xiao's seventh day. Do you know what the seventh day is?"
In truth, she was lying; the seventh day was actually yesterday, but Chen Zui had no idea. When he heard the chilling word, he instinctively recoiled, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.
Lin Wan continued without urgency, "It's the day the soul returns home. So, perhaps Wang Xiao is…." She glanced over Chen Zui's shoulder, and instantly, all the hairs on his neck stood up. A cold chill ran down his spine, and he forced himself not to turn around. Lin Wan's voice floated in the air, "Somewhere, angry and sad. It's said that ghosts have lingering resentment, and if…"
"Enough!" Chen Zui could no longer tolerate it. He knew this woman was a walking nightmare. What was she trying to do? A red dress, long hair, and a face that could easily belong in a horror movie. But the worst part? He was drawn to it. He straightened up, trying to sound forceful. "What nonsense are you spouting? It's nothing but superstition. It has nothing to do with me. I'm not going."