The Haunted House - Chapter 8

“Thank you for helping me find my train ticket,” Bai Qingqing said to the man.

“Hehe, it’s no problem,” the man replied with a smile.

“Oh, by the way, you helped me out earlier, but I don’t know how to address you.” For the first time, Bai Qingqing spoke so naturally and openly with a stranger.

“Oh, my surname is Li, and my first name is Rang-Li Rang.”

When Bai Qingqing heard the surname “Li,” her eyes briefly clouded over, but she quickly regained her composure. “That’s a great name, very easy to remember. My surname is Bai, Bai Qingqing. You can call me Qingqing.”

“That’s a beautiful name. Hearing your name makes me picture a lush, white, verdant place. By the way, could you tell me how to get to Wangti Road after arriving at the train station? I’m visiting home for the first time, and I’m worried I might get lost.”

“Really? My home is actually in the mid-section of Wangti Road. After we get off the train tomorrow morning, you can follow me,” Bai Qingqing said, smiling proudly.

“Really? That’s great! I’ll follow you when we get off, then,” Li Rang said cheerfully.

Bai Qingqing glanced at the man in front of her-sunny, handsome, fair-skinned, with large eyes-and suddenly felt a slight flutter in her heart. Her earlier mistaken belief that he might be Li Qian vanished instantly. They were clearly worlds apart-one an angel, the other a devil. How could they possibly be the same person?

She looked at Li Rang with curiosity and something akin to fondness, her thoughts drifting away in wild reverie.

“Qingqing, Qingqing, wake up. We’re about to arrive,” Li Rang called early in the morning, waking Bai Qingqing from her hazy sleep. Her mind was still a little foggy as she rubbed her eyes, staring at him in half-conscious confusion.

“What’s going on? What time is it?”

“We’ll be arriving in half an hour. I didn’t want to wake you, but you haven’t packed your things yet. I thought it’d be better to save you the rush later,” Li Rang said, showing his seasoned experience.

Bai Qingqing stretched lazily, embarrassed, and gave a small smile. She got up and started packing her belongings. Even she couldn’t quite understand why, but ever since Li Rang had appeared by her side, her mood had improved dramatically. Things she had been brooding over suddenly seemed to resolve themselves, and she felt an inexplicable joy bubbling up inside.

“Dear passengers, good morning. The train will be arriving at the next station soon. Passengers exiting at this stop, please gather your belongings and prepare to disembark,” the conductor’s announcement echoed repeatedly through each car. Everyone began crowding toward the doors, eager to escape this long, confining train.

“Hey, Li Rang, have you already packed your luggage?” Bai Qingqing asked with a hint of curiosity.

“Oh, there’s really nothing much to pack,” Li Rang replied casually.

“So, you didn’t bring anything at all?” Bai Qingqing pressed further.

“Just my phone,” Li Rang said with a cheerful smile.

Bai Qingqing paused, staring at him in disbelief.

“Men and women really are worlds apart,” she muttered. “Alright, come with me in a bit. The transportation here isn’t the most convenient, so we’ll just grab a cab.”

“You’re the expert around here. I’ll follow your lead,” Li Rang replied, grinning brightly.

As they exited the train station, Li Rang took a deep breath and exclaimed, “Qingqing, this city is really beautiful. The people, the scenery-everything feels so harmonious.”

“Maybe so,” Bai Qingqing said with a small chuckle. “I’ve lived here for so many years that I’ve grown used to it.”

“Wait, I never asked-are you originally from here? Is this a trip home to visit your parents?” Li Rang inquired.

“Yeah, my dad’s ill and in the hospital,” Bai Qingqing said, her voice tinged with sadness as the thought of her critically ill father brought a pang to her chest.

“Really? What a coincidence. I’m heading to visit someone in the hospital as well. Maybe you can help me find my way, and we can go there together,” Li Rang said, sounding a bit excited.

Bai Qingqing wasn’t someone who pried into others’ personal matters, so she didn’t ask who exactly Li Rang was going to see. The two of them climbed into a taxi, and Bai Qingqing said to the driver, “Driver, please take us to the lion statue at Wangti Road, Mid Section.”

“Alright,” the driver responded cheerfully. Then, after a quick glance in the rearview mirror, he added with a playful tone, “Are you two heading to visit family? What’s the occasion-meeting the in-laws?”

His joke made Bai Qingqing and Li Rang instantly blush, their faces turning a faint shade of red as they lowered their heads shyly.

“Driver, you must be joking! We just met on the train, that’s all. It’s purely coincidental that we’re headed in the same direction,” Bai Qingqing stammered, embarrassed but trying her best to explain.

“Oh, really?” The driver briefly turned his head to look at them, his tone skeptical but teasing. “I don’t know, you two sure look like a married couple!”

Bai Qingqing felt her face heat up even further, but somewhere in her heart, she felt a sudden, unfamiliar warmth. For the first time since she had begun to lose touch with her emotions, she felt an unmistakable flutter in her chest-a sense of something she couldn’t quite name, yet it felt so real.

“Ha! Thanks for the kind words, driver. You must have an eye for spotting the hidden magic in things,” Li Rang joked, his laughter contagious.

The car fell into a silent lull for the next half hour. Bai Qingqing and Li Rang both lowered their heads in thought, saying nothing as they each drifted into their own contemplations.

Eventually, it was the cheerful driver who broke the silence between them.

“Miss, is this the place? This old town has changed so much, but this lion statue hasn’t changed at all.”

“Yes, this is it,” Bai Qingqing said as she gazed at the familiar streets and the well-known statue. A wave of nostalgia and melancholy washed over her.

Li Rang quickly pulled out his wallet and insisted on paying the fare. The two of them got out of the car one after the other.

“Li Rang, where are you headed? We’ve already arrived at Wangti Road. My home is in the building right behind that statue. What about you?” Bai Qingqing asked.

“Really? Hold on a second, let me check.” Li Rang took out his phone, glancing at it before scanning his surroundings. His face lit up with excitement. “It turns out the place I’m going to is also right behind the statue. What a coincidence!”

Bai Qingqing looked at him, her face full of doubt, but she didn’t say much. Instead, she pulled her suitcase and started walking ahead.

When they arrived at the foot of her building, Bai Qingqing stopped and said seriously, “This is the unit I live in. Don’t tell me you’re heading to this same unit?”

Li Rang stared at his phone for a long moment, glancing back and forth between it and the building Bai Qingqing had pointed at. Then, with an emphatic nod, he confirmed, “Yes, I am.”

“Then you’re not, by any chance, going to the third floor, apartment 302, are you?” Bai Qingqing was utterly speechless as she raised the question.

“That’s exactly right! How did you know?” Li Rang asked, looking at Bai Qingqing with curiosity.

“Heh. Of course, I know, because that’s my home. So, who are you here to see? Don’t tell me you’re here for my father, Bai Song?” Bai Qingqing asked sharply, her tone dripping with suspicion.

“Ah, so Uncle Bai is your father? On the train, I thought it was such a coincidence that you also had the last name Bai, and now it all makes sense,” Li Rang said, reassessing Bai Qingqing with a satisfied smile.

“And may I ask, why are you here to see my father?” Bai Qingqing asked, her tone still rather annoyed.

“Well,” Li Rang began to explain, “yesterday Uncle Bai called me and said he wasn’t feeling well, so he asked me to come and visit him. Then-” Before he could finish, Bai Qingqing turned away abruptly and headed upstairs without even sparing him a second glance. A sinking feeling began to grow in her chest.

Knock, knock, knock.

It wasn’t long before a middle-aged man, about the same age as Bai Song, opened the door.

“Qingqing, you’re here! Come on in!” the middle-aged man said, his tone both nervous and excited.

“Excuse me, is Uncle Bai home?” Li Rang asked hesitantly, his voice faltering slightly.

The middle-aged man took a careful look at Li Rang, then glanced at Bai Qingqing with a look of puzzlement. He muttered quietly to himself, “Huh? How did they end up coming here together?”

“Yes, yes, of course, he’s home. Come on in,” he said warmly.

Bai Qingqing looked around at the place she had once called home. Yet, somehow, she felt a strange sense of fear and unfamiliarity. Just as her eyes wandered, she caught sight of Bai Song stepping out of the bedroom. Without a second thought, she rushed toward him.

“Dad, are you alright? You scared me to death!” Bai Qingqing clung to Bai Song’s arm and asked in a soft, slightly spoiled tone.

“Hehe, I’m fine, I’m fine. See? Your dad is perfectly okay,” Bai Song replied with a mysterious smile.

Suddenly, as if realizing something, Bai Qingqing’s face grew serious. A little upset, she asked, “Dad, weren’t you in the hospital just yesterday? How come you’re already back home?”

The room fell silent for a moment. Bai Song looked a bit sheepish before saying, “Qingqing, if I didn’t tell you that, would you have come home? I missed you!”

Hearing these words, Bai Qingqing helped her father over to the couch. Feeling guilty, she said, “I’m sorry, Dad, I admit it was my fault. But you can’t scare me like this! You know I haven’t even had a proper meal since yesterday.”

“You haven’t eaten yet, Qingqing? I’ll fix that right away. After a long and tiring night, you deserve a good meal. I’ll whip up my specialty dishes!” the middle-aged man standing nearby said cheerfully.

Watching his over-the-top enthusiasm, Bai Qingqing turned and gave Bai Song a puzzled look, silently demanding an explanation.

“Oh, that’s an old friend of mine,” Bai Song quickly explained. “He used to hold you when you were little, and back then, you absolutely adored Uncle Tang.”

In truth, this middle-aged man wasn’t Bai Song’s old friend at all. About a month ago near the lion statue, Bai Song had come across this homeless man by chance and helped him. Over time, the man had become his confidant, and it was even his idea to fake an illness in order to bring Bai Qingqing home. Bai Song was deeply grateful to the man, whose name was Tang Shan. However, the one thing Bai Song couldn’t figure out was why Tang Shan refused to share anything about his past or real identity.

Bai Qingqing cast a doubtful glance at Tang Shan before turning to Bai Song, feigning anger. “Fine, let’s not talk about your ‘illness’ for now. But can you explain this to me?” she asked, pointing to Li Rang, who had been standing off to the side.

Bai Song, too preoccupied with chatting to his daughter earlier, suddenly realized Li Rang was still there. He quickly stood up and warmly invited him over. “Oh, look at me, just going on and on with Qingqing. Come, come, sit down on the couch, Rang,” he said enthusiastically.

Turning back to Bai Qingqing, Bai Song added, “Qingqing, this is Li Rang, the son of your Uncle Li from the magazine agency where I used to work.”

Bai Qingqing shot a glance at both Bai Song and Li Rang before asking coolly, “Dad, don’t tell me you brought me back here just to set me up on a blind date?”

“Come on, girl, you’ve got it all wrong,” Bai Song said with a laugh. “Your Uncle Li’s mentioned this several times already, but it wasn’t until after making arrangements with your Uncle Tang that I remembered to bring it up. Who would’ve thought you’d end up arriving together? So, what exactly happened there?”

“Uncle, it’s a funny coincidence,” Li Rang explained, smiling shyly. “Qingqing and I happened to be on the same train.” He proceeded to recount the events on the train.

After hearing the story, Bai Song burst into hearty laughter. “What a coincidence! As they say, life’s coincidences often lead to the best stories. Looks like you two were destined to meet, huh?”

“I’ve just put the fish in the steamer. I’ll make some fish for you all,” Tang Shan said as he walked out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on his apron. “Qingqing, Rang, is there anything else you’d like to eat? Let me know, and I’ll make it for you.”

“Qingqing loves green pepper pork stir-fry, braised eggplant, and mushroom pork stir-fry,” Bai Song chimed in enthusiastically. “Old Tang, do we have all the ingredients for those dishes? Oh, and by the way,” he turned toward Li Rang, “what about you, Rang? What do you feel like eating?”

Li Rang hesitated for a moment before responding bashfully, “I’ll eat whatever Qingqing likes to eat.”

Bai Qingqing suddenly felt a surge of irritation at the false camaraderie among the three men. Without another word, she stood up abruptly and walked straight to her bedroom. With a loud bang, she slammed the door shut behind her.

Bai Song awkwardly chuckled and said to Li Rang, “Hahaha, don’t mind her, Rang. That girl’s been spoiled by me. She’s got quite the temper sometimes, but she’s a good kid deep down. So, how long do you plan to stay this time?”

Li Rang scratched his head, clearly somewhat embarrassed. “Well, my dad suggested that I stay a few more days to get to know Qingqing better. What do you think, Uncle Bai?”

“Good, good. You’re both not getting any younger. The sooner you settle down, the better for everyone. I’d feel more at ease, too. Qingqing can be a bit stubborn, but don’t take it personally,” Bai Song said with a knowing grin. The two men exchanged a glance and shared a subtle, understanding smile.

Meanwhile, Bai Qingqing lay on her bed, that uneasy feeling in her heart finally subsiding. Her mind wandered back to Li Rang, and without realizing it, a warm, happy feeling began to well up inside her. Could this really be fate? Perhaps this time, she wouldn’t push this stranger away. Partly for her father’s sake, and partly for her own.

While Bai Qingqing was lost in thought, her phone suddenly received a text message from an unknown number.

“I want blood for blood!”

Bai Qingqing jumped in shock and immediately sat up in bed. After gathering her thoughts, she dialed the number back.

“The number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later.”

Bai Qingqing tossed her phone aside, frustration and fear gradually flooding her heart. The faces of Wang Chenxi, Li Qian, Li Xian, and the guide to the underworld flashed through her mind one by one. Trembling all over, she leaned against the headboard, biting her lower lip, desperately holding back the tears that threatened to spill from her green eyes. She couldn’t let such terrifying tears fall in front of her father. “Who sent the message? Was it Wang Chenxi or the guide to the underworld? Could it be Li Qian?” she kept guessing.

Bai Qingqing never imagined that the message had been sent by the wife of a security guard in her apartment. At that moment, the security guard lay in a hospital bed, while his wife, Chunxiang, wore a strange smile as she stared at the successful send notification on her phone. Holding her husband’s hand, tears streamed down her face, landing on his hand. Suddenly, the security guard convulsed, his eyes shooting wide open as if they might pop out of their sockets. His lips moved slightly, seemingly trying to say something. Before Chunxiang could react, he returned to his previous state. It took Chunxiang a moment to regain her focus, and she rushed out of the hospital room, shouting, “Doctor, please come see my husband! He just opened his eyes and moved a little!”

The doctor and nurses hurried over, quickly conducting a series of tests. Afterward, they told Chunxiang, “The examination shows that his heartbeat and brain activity have significantly improved compared to before. He appears to have regained some level of consciousness. It’s important for you to stay with him; the strength of family is crucial.” After saying this, the doctor and nurses exchanged incredulous glances at the security guard before leaving the room.

“Honey, did you hear that? The doctor said there’s hope! No matter what, I will avenge you!” Chunxiang held the security guard’s hand tightly, overcome with emotion.