The phone vibrated again. Seeing the name "Yanyan" on the caller ID, Wang Pingjin's expression softened slightly. Looking down at Gao Qian haughtily, he sneered, "Stay in this room until you die. If you dare to run away, I'll find some warlocks to make your A Si's soul scatter and never reincarnate!"
The door slammed shut, consuming the last ray of sunlight. Immediately afterwards came the sound of Wang Pingjin locking the door.
The empty room instantly grew dim. Gao Qian slumped on the ground and wordlessly stared at the pale and cold door. Her gaze was unfocused, and despair spread from the depths of her heart to every limb.
Wang Pingjin's once sweet words still echoed in her ears. She had given up everything for him, but what had she got in return?
Her husband had an affair, and her mother - in - law was snobbish. They had taken all her money and locked her up in this house all day long.
Her slender fingernails dug deeply into her palm. Warm blood oozed from her fingertips, but she felt no pain at all.
"A Si, you're still so young. Will you be scared all by yourself... Mom will come and accompany you, okay?"
Gao Qian's gaze fell on the fallen candlestick and the bedsheet. She slowly got up.
The flame just started to burn but suddenly went out. Several times in a row, the candle even broke in the middle.
Gao Qian was stunned. The windows and the door of the room were all tightly closed. How could there be such a strong wind?
With a soft creak, the originally closed door was quietly pushed open a tiny crack. A palm - sized paper figurine silently slipped through the crack.
The paper figurine looked a bit rough, as if it was casually cut by someone in their spare time. It fluttered to the ground, looking lifeless.
Gao Qian was a bit confused. Wang Pingjin and his mother, Li Lanhong, didn't come home often. Where on earth did this paper figurine come from?
The next second, the little paper figurine actually stood up straight and walked towards Gao Qian, with a somewhat casual and unrestrained gait.
Gao Qian's pupils suddenly contracted. She was completely stunned on the spot and forgot to cry.
"Miss Gao, don't be afraid. I'm not here to harm you, but to help you."
The paper figurine casually grabbed a tissue that was even bigger than its body and stuffed it into Gao Qian's hand.
Seeing that the paper figurine meant no harm, Gao Qian's frightened heart gradually calmed down. "Who are you? And how do you know my name?"
The little paper figurine jumped two steps at a time to the offering table and sat down beside Gao Qian. Its paper legs dangled in the air non - stop. "Just call me Yu Nian. I'm a Taoist priest and a friend of your brother's."
"Brother..." Gao Qian was stunned for a moment. Then tears welled up uncontrollably. "Does he still remember me, his sister? But I'm too ashamed to see him. I'm sorry to my parents and brothers. I've lived such a miserable life."
Yu Nian looked at the bruises all over Gao Qian's arms and recited the spell to suppress all pains once.
The small paper hand gently stroked her swollen cheek. "It's not only Feng Chengyuan who misses you, but also A Si. He should have gone to reincarnate long ago, but he just couldn't bear to leave you. So he has been silently accompanying you for a long time. As time went by, he was also about to hold on no longer. That's why he found me and Feng Chengyuan."
Gao Qian's eyelashes, stained with tears, suddenly trembled. She suddenly stood up, looking around the room. When she spoke again, her voice was choked with sobs. "You mean A Si has been by my side all the time? Then why doesn't he come out to see me? A Si, do you resent Mom for not protecting you well? Mom is sorry for you..."
Yu Nian shook her head. "A Si doesn't want to see you. It's just that the barrier between the living and the dead exists, and the time hasn't come yet. He has never resented you. He just wants you to start a new life. If you are tortured to death by Wang Pingjin like this, the Wang family won't show the slightest bit of repentance. Instead, they will squander your money wantonly. More importantly, if you leave, no one will remember A Si. Compared with death, the more terrifying thing is forgetting. By then, A Si will really disappear between heaven and earth."
Gao Qian's eyes were red. She looked at the paper figurine as if she had seen the last straw. "Master, please give me some advice. What should I do?"
The paper figurine jumped beside Gao Qian and stuffed two things into her hand. "Within three days, the business of Wang Pingjin's company will collapse. He is used to relying on his wife, so he will surely force you to ask your family for money. At that time, you don't need to worry. Just agree to him. Leave the rest to us."
Gao Qian nodded solemnly. When she lowered her head and looked at one of the objects in her hand, she was so surprised that her eyes widened. It was the pendant of the necklace she had lost for a long time.
The paper figurine leisurely paced to the outside of the door. "Since it's a birthday gift from your dad, you should keep it well. It's not scary to meet a scumbag. Just stop the loss in time. But this time, don't be soft - hearted again."
Gao Qian was stunned at first. Looking at the small back of the paper figurine, tears welled up uncontrollably, but she tried to raise the corners of her mouth and whispered, "Okay."
...
It was already two o'clock in the early morning when Wang Pingjin staggered out of the club, dead drunk.
The night was thick. The moon was covered by layers of dark clouds, not a single ray of light could penetrate.
Wang Pingjin pushed away the supporting hand of his subordinate, Wu Yue, and kicked him hard on the knee. "Get out of my way!"
Wu Yue suddenly staggered. He managed to stabilize his figure and didn't fall. His fingers curled up by his side, and he stepped back to one side.
Wang Pingjin squinted at Wu Yue, who had his head down. He raised his hand and slapped Wu Yue's face. "Don't think I didn't notice just now. Your dog eyes couldn't stop looking at Yanyan's low - cut dress. You dare to covet my woman. Do you think you're worthy?"
The more Wang Pingjin thought about it, the angrier he got. He fanned Wu Yue hard across the face under the influence of alcohol. He didn't restrain his strength at all, so the thin Wu Yue was slapped to the ground.
Wu Yue's head hit the stone steps. Blood slid down his cheek. His gums ached sharply, and his left front tooth was loose.
Wang Pingjin looked down and sneered.
"You're just like that bitch Gao Qian. You pretend to be so high - minded. I'm telling you, a person should know their own place. As my subordinate, you should just be a dog that knows how to beg for mercy. Got it?"
Seeing that Wu Yue lowered his head and said nothing, Wang Pingjin kicked him hard in the stomach again. Wu Yue immediately felt dizzy and curled up on the ground.
"If you got it, then bark!"
Wu Yue suddenly shrank. He knew that Wang Pingjin was just drunk and acting crazy. After all, this wasn't the first time. If he didn't follow Wang Pingjin's words, Wang Pingjin would only be more brutal. He was just a child from an ordinary family. He had entered Wang Pingjin's company with hope and dreams, but unexpectedly, what awaited him was a long nightmare.
Wu Yue clenched his fists tightly. He closed his eyes, and his pale lips slightly parted. "Woof..."
"Good boy. I'm happy. This is your reward." Wang Pingjin casually took out two bills from his bag and threw them on Wu Yue. Then he staggered to an empty place to relieve himself.
Looking at Wang Pingjin's retreating back, Wu Yue's eyes were blood - red.
Little did he know that on the high wall, Yu Nian was sitting upright. Her eyes were cold as ice as she quietly watched what was happening in front of her.