Dying in the Male Lead's Arms Every Time - Chapter 7

After some time of care, Shi Qi no longer looked as emaciated. Ning Meng would squint her aging eyes every day to see how he was doing, and thankfully, the previous pallor had finally lifted.

Early in the morning, Shi Qi was already up. Not only that, but he was waiting outside her door. When Ning Meng opened the door, she found him dozing off against the wall, and her heart ached beyond words. Her legs trembled with emotion. If the old madam had a heart condition, it would surely have acted up by now.

Such a well-behaved child, yet he would later become a youth with skewed morals. Ning Meng found it hard to imagine what happened in between. It seemed the yin-yang eyes needed to be awakened sooner rather than later.

The system suggested, “Why not have your eldest son come over?”

Ning Meng praised, “I almost forgot about that.”

Though the old madam wasn’t exactly the ultimate authority in the Shi Family, she was close enough, especially since Shi Shanjin was a filial son who usually listened to her.

Even though Ning Meng opened the door quietly, Shi Qi still woke up. He straightened his clothes and stood by the side. “Grandma,” he said, his voice so obedient it made Ning Meng’s heart swell with affection. She couldn’t help but pat his head. There was a little cowlick there, and they say kids with those are the smartest. Seeing his future self being so impressive, it seemed true.

“Come with Grandma downstairs,” Ning Meng said with a smile, her face full of wrinkles. Shi Qi didn’t find it ugly at all. Despite his heavy thoughts, his eyes couldn’t help but show a hint of relaxation and fondness.

As they walked to the living room, she asked, “Seventeen, have you ever seen anything strange?”

Shi Qi didn’t understand her question. Ning Meng waved her hand, “Things you can see but others can’t?”

Shi Qi shook his head. But then he suddenly remembered something from the mansion. When he first arrived, his uncle had pointed at the air and asked if he saw anything. When he shook his head, his uncle seemed disappointed. Could it be the same today? Shi Qi couldn’t help but look at his grandma’s expression and indeed saw a hint of disappointment.

Ning Meng, unaware of the little one’s thoughts, was pondering whether there might be a change, but it seemed things were just like in the novel. It looked like she really needed to find a way to try.

To avoid revealing her true intentions, she found an excuse: the small building had few people, and she wanted to have a meal with her son. Luckily, the old madam’s character was to do things on a whim, always meddling and enjoying it, allowing her to express herself.

Li Chun quickly reported to the mansion. The second son, Shi Shanyan, was busy managing the business and seldom returned to the mansion for lunch, so only the eldest son came.

When Shi Shanjin arrived, his brows were not particularly relaxed. Ning Meng could guess that he was probably entangled with this matter and hadn’t resolved it yet. With his abilities, if it wasn’t resolved, it surely wasn’t simple.

She secretly asked the system, “Do you know what’s going on?”

The system replied, “I don’t know.”

What use are you? Ning Meng rolled her eyes.

At the dining table, only the crisp sound of spoons clinking could be heard. She casually asked, “What have you been busy with lately?”

Shi Shanjin replied, “There’s a pen fairy issue.”

Before she could say anything, he remembered that the old madam didn’t use computers or phones and probably didn’t know what a pen fairy was. So he explained, “It’s a spirit-summoning game.”

Students especially liked to play it, and it was easy to get into trouble. Matters of ghosts were believed by some and not by others. The Shi Family, being involved in such things, naturally knew they were real.

Ning Meng continued, “And then something happened?”

Shi Shanjin nodded.

…

The information from the eldest son was much more detailed. Shi Shanjin put down his chopsticks and said, “His daughter is now being haunted. I’ve temporarily asked her to stay at home, but the ghost can’t explain the reason.”

Shi Qi unconsciously slowed his eating, listening intently. Ning Meng thought for a moment and said, “They played it at school. The ghost should be nearby. Have you checked it out?”

“I have,” Shi Shanjin frowned. He had indeed visited the school, but strangely, he only detected a sinister aura and found no trace of the so-called pen fairy. Initially, he thought it was just a minor ghost, but now it seemed he was wrong.

Ning Meng glanced at Shi Qi, who was keeping his head down, “Bring that girl over for questioning.”

The old madam interfering in such matters wasn’t a first, so Shi Shanjin didn’t find it strange. Moreover, his mother had spent so much time with his father, maybe she could provide some insight.

…

Shi Shanjin acted quickly, and by the afternoon, they had arrived. Ning Meng, waking from her afternoon nap, saw a middle-aged man with his daughter standing in the living room, looking very respectful.

Little did they know, their minds had already spun through many thoughts. He was only able to approach the Shi Family because someone had found a way; otherwise, there would have been no chance. He was also fortunate that the Shi Family wasn’t busy with major matters recently; otherwise, they wouldn’t have paid attention.

As Ning Meng descended, she noticed the girl’s condition-listless, leaning on her father, with a face devoid of spirit. Up close, her complexion was terrible. Although her yin-yang eyes were a basic version, she could still see the black aura on the girl’s forehead.

Moreover, there was a faint red thread extending from her chest, the part closest to her body the most vivid, fading as it stretched outward until it disappeared. It was unclear where it finally led.

Ning Meng asked the system, “What is that red line?”

The system replied, “Vital energy. The heart is the root of a person, and this vital energy is drawn from there. She’s currently losing her vital energy, and at this rate, she’ll die of exhaustion in less than a week.”

By then, the hospital wouldn’t be able to find anything.

Ning Meng coughed lightly. She glanced up to see Shi Qi’s blurry outline standing at the stairway, possibly eavesdropping on the conversation. She waved him over.

Shi Qi bit his lip, glanced at Shi Shanjin, and walked over, taking small, cautious steps to stand behind her.

Once Ning Meng was seated, the middle-aged man introduced himself. He was Su Jianhua, in the building materials business, and his daughter was Su Qingqing, who had just graduated from college this year.

Seeing that she seemed ready to intervene, Su Jianhua immediately pleaded, “Old madam, please save my daughter. She’s still young, just starting her life…”

The old madam’s head couldn’t handle too much talk without getting muddled, so Ning Meng waved her hand, “Get to the point.”

Su Jianhua’s eyes lit up. He had previously sought out several experts, all of whom agreed readily but wouldn’t even enter the school and eventually fled. If it weren’t for someone knowing the right people, he wouldn’t be standing here now.

Although he hadn’t heard much about the old madam’s capabilities, seeing how the eldest young master listened to her, could she have real skills?

He nudged his daughter, “Quick, tell her what happened.”

Su Qingqing moved slightly, her eyes filled with fear, “I… I…”

After stammering for a while, she couldn’t get a word out.

The system was still giving Ning Meng some inside information: “The pen fairy usually summons either ghosts or spirits. It’s mostly ghosts.”

Because spirits generally don’t harm people, but ghosts do.

“Schools are usually built in suburbs, near cemeteries, where the yin energy is heavy, and there’s no human presence to suppress it. Over the years, so many people have died unjustly, there must be some that were summoned. They probably summoned a particularly powerful one.”

Girls’ dormitories have even heavier yin energy.

Ghosts love such places.

Ning Meng shivered at the thought. Fortunately, she was timid and never tried such things. She wondered how they dared.

Shi Shanjin frowned at Su Qingqing’s hesitation.

Fortunately, it didn’t take long for Su Qingqing to regain her composure and start recounting in a soft voice, sounding weak and lacking energy.

…

Since this semester was their last before graduation, after finishing their thesis, they planned to have an all-night celebration, as they wouldn’t have the chance later.

One of the roommates loved horror movies and suggested playing the pen fairy. Although the others were a bit scared, they were eager to try, each with their own questions to ask, having read about it online.

So they decided to play.

At midnight, they turned off the lights and lit candles, preparing paper and pen.

Because the internet suggested three people were best, Su Qingqing was just an observer, while the other three roommates were the ones actually playing.

The candlelight in the dorm was dim, flickering.

“Pen fairy, pen fairy, you are my past life, I am your present life. If you wish to continue our bond, please draw a circle on the paper.” This was the entire summoning phrase, easy to memorize.

The three of them chanted with their eyes closed.

Su Qingqing sat on the side, closing her eyes as well, but her curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn’t help but peek.

Before she could see anything, the candle flame started to flicker.

Su Qingqing watched nervously, and within seconds, the candle went out, plunging the dorm into darkness.

At that moment, they had just finished the second chant.

The unexpected event made Su Qingqing shiver.

She had personally closed the windows and doors, so how could there be wind?

But the three roommates thought she hadn’t closed them properly and asked her to do it again. As she got up, the dorm was filled with laughter.

Su Qingqing walked to the window. Their dormitory building was old, with poor facilities. The windows were often faulty, and despite numerous complaints, the school never sent anyone to fix them.

As she approached, she found the window tightly shut.

Moreover, the drawn curtains were caught on a protruding hook, tightly snagged.

It was midnight, and most people had left the dormitory, so there was barely any light outside, just darkness.

From her vantage point, it looked like a black hole inviting her in.

Su Qingqing’s heart raced as she bent down to fix the curtain. Initially, she couldn’t pull it free, but with both hands and considerable effort, she finally managed to release it.

As a result, the curtain tore a hole, not too big or small, right in the center, round, revealing the pitch-black night outside.

Occasionally, the curtain would flutter, revealing a gap.

Outside, the shadows of trees swayed, the moon obscured by clouds, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Feeling uneasy, she quickly ran back to the table, and the three roommates resumed their game.

This time, it truly terrified her.