Chapter 10: Renting a House

On the side, Jiang’s mother hadn’t yet grasped what was happening; in the blink of an eye, she saw her husband and son. Overjoyed, she hurriedly greeted them, but unfortunately, neither seemed to notice her at all.

Jiang’s father, with a terrified look in her eyes, seemed to pass right through her: “Where, where? Is my wife back?”

Jiang Zhiyue raised her hand to gently pull him aside. “Please make way.”

Then, she took Jiang’s mother’s hand and gently guided her forward. In the next moment, the woman who had been unconscious suddenly snapped her eyes open.

Seeing this, Jiang’s father rushed over and embraced his wife, weeping uncontrollably.

Jiang’s mother was stunned, still trying to comprehend how she had suddenly returned to her room in such an instant.

What a strange feeling!

“Ahem,” Jiang Zhiyue interrupted the two, “Madam Jiang, you should remember to get more sunlight to dispel the lingering阴气 (yin energy) in the coming days. You’ll be fine soon.”

“What’s going on? Wasn’t I kidnapped? How am I suddenly at home?”

“Mom, do you really not remember anything?” Jiang Heng asked.

Jiang’s mother frowned, racking her brain, then shot a glare at Jiang’s father. “I don’t remember. I just saw darkness, then I was tied up in some dark place. After that, I saw this young girl, and then I opened my eyes and was back.”

Jiang’s father and Jiang Heng exchanged a glance, both shocked.

They could guarantee that Jiang’s mother had been at home during her unconsciousness. So could the dark place she described have been the journey her soul took?

Truly miraculous!

Noticing their silent scrutiny, Jiang Zhiyue wore a mysterious smile.

“What Madam Jiang experienced was indeed what her soul witnessed. Just make sure to get plenty of sunlight to clear the阴气.”

“Soul?” Jiang’s father kindly explained the matter simply, causing Jiang’s mother’s face to pale.

“So I wasn’t kidnapped; my soul was taken away? Oh my, did I make a trip to the underworld while still alive?”

“Mom, I know this is shocking, but don’t panic. When you were unconscious, a strange female ghost possessed your body. She seemed deeply attached to Dad. Do you know who she is?”

Jiang’s father discreetly nudged Jiang Heng with his foot, then turned to meet Jiang’s mother’s curious gaze.

“A woman, deeply attached to you? Well, I didn’t expect the big boss Jiang to still have charm at nearly fifty.”

“That’s slander, my dear! You know what kind of person I am, don’t you? This is nonsense!”

Jiang’s mother snorted. “No, it isn’t! Have you forgotten the female college student sponsored by the Jiang Group twenty years ago?”

“What female college student? The company sponsors so many poor students every year; how could I remember one? Don’t slander me in front of our son. I, Jiang Shao, call upon heaven to judge loyalty and treachery!”

Mmm~

Jiang Zhiyue watched the two with amusement. From Jiang’s mother’s memories, she could roughly guess who the ghost that took over was — likely just an old entanglement from Jiang’s father's youth.

The Jiang family would investigate the matter themselves; it had nothing to do with her. Her job was simply to catch ghosts and dispel evil.

After soaking up the gossip, she left with Jiang Heng, still savoring the moment.

“Xiao Jiang, I’m really sorry. I wanted you to look into this talisman matter, but I didn’t expect my mom to have this problem. I don’t want her to worry now. Can we tell her about the talisman later?”

Jiang Zhiyue nodded. “No problem. As long as you don’t keep wearing that thing, it won’t threaten you for now.”

Jiang Heng visibly relaxed and sheepishly said, “That’s good, that’s good.”

“By the way!” Jiang Zhiyue approached Jiang Heng with a serious look, causing him to change color instantly. “My name is Jiang Zhiyue! Just call me by my name or Master Jiang!”

Xiao Jiang? What nonsense!

No dignity at all!

Looking at the time, Jiang Zhiyue gave a few more instructions and then left the Jiang residence.

Having decided to leave the Jiang family, there were still many things she needed to do.

Fortunately, the Jiang family generously paid her a decent fee; otherwise, she might have had to sleep under a bridge tonight.

She found an agent and eventually rented a very cheap apartment — a two-bedroom of about seventy to eighty square meters, with a monthly rent under 1,500 yuan!

Though this was exorbitant for her, it was prime real estate in the capital city.

When the agent enthusiastically delivered her to the building entrance on an electric scooter and handed her a bunch of keys, she felt almost unrealistically lucky.

“Miss Jiang, I have to leave now. The keys are for apartment 404 upstairs.”

“Okay, thank you.”

The agent smiled sheepishly, then quickly sped away.

Jiang Zhiyue didn’t think much of it, but the moment she stepped through the building entrance, her expression changed drastically.

It was midday, the sun blazing outside, yet as soon as she entered, a chilling cold swept over her, as if she had stepped into a freezer.

No wonder such a well-located apartment was so cheap—was it haunted?

It frightened her to death!

She had thought someone was setting a trap. When signing the lease, she had carefully examined the contract several times to avoid being duped.

Turns out it was just a haunted place!

That was a relief.

Soon the elevator stopped on the fourth floor. As the doors slid open, a dense aura of ghostly energy assaulted her head.

If left unchecked, this building would soon become a haunted house. Everyone living here would perish—except her.

But since others hadn’t found her, she couldn’t forcibly intervene in their karmic fates. So even if she wanted to act, she had no just cause.

With a click, the door to 404 opened. Jiang Zhiyue was about to step in when the door next to her, 405, cracked open slightly.

Peering through the crack was a pair of narrow, murky eyes staring intently at her.

Jiang Zhiyue politely waved. “Hello, I just moved into 404…”

Bang!

Before she could finish, the door slammed shut.

Jiang Zhiyue was speechless.

What was wrong with this person?

She turned and entered 404. The apartment was small; she took a quick look around.

It was very clean—truly spotless.

No dirt anywhere.

The furniture and appliances were fairly complete; she only needed to buy some daily necessities, which pleased her.

After the brief inspection, she headed out to get some food. But upon opening the door, a foul stench hit her like a hammer.

She immediately stepped back!

The smell was unbearable!

In just a short while, several black garbage bags had been placed blocking most of the already narrow hallway.

The bags emitted waves of horrible stench.

???

Jiang Zhiyue had never encountered such a direct and crude form of harassment; she couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

Even if Jiang Qingyan wanted to disgust her, she’d have to be subtler. She had truly never seen such a blunt low-level attack.

Very well.

With one glance, she knew the garbage belonged to apartment 405, and the stench was exquisite in its own way!

Angrily, she marched over and knocked loudly on the door, causing the frame to tremble slightly.