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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 4: Grudge (Twelve)
Originally, I was just trying to relieve some stress by drinking here because of the matter concerning Zhang Xian. I didn't expect to encounter someone named Chen Pi along the way, who had a rather unusual relationship with Gousi. Suddenly, I felt out of place and thought it would be better for me to leave.
Moreover, Gousi's friends were generally involved in tomb raiding and antiques. As someone who specialized in serving the dead, I felt there was no common ground between us. With that in mind, I stood up to express my thoughts.
" Gousi, I'm still worried about Zhang Xian, so you all chat; I'll go for a walk."
Gousi and Chen Pi were just about to sit down when they heard my words, and Gousi seemed a bit annoyed. He frowned and said, "Chen Pi is not an outsider; we're all friends here. Why are you leaving?" Then he took it upon himself to introduce me to Chen Pi.
I looked at Chen Pi. His Yintang was dark, and there was an ominous aura about him that made me pause for a moment. I nodded as a greeting but carefully observed his features.
Chen Pi had a disheveled complexion with hints of gray, his eyes murky and filled with a greedy light—he seemed like someone who would drag others down with him.
"Ma Qi, that's an interesting name. Who is Ma Wu to you?" To my surprise, Chen Pi actually knew my grandfather's name. Did he know my grandfather?
With questions swirling in my mind, I found his comment rather dull but still smiled politely and joked, "I've disliked this name for a long time; what do you mean by that?"
"Hahaha..." Gousi and Chen Pi found my words amusing. I wondered if it was really that funny—how absurd!
After that, the three of us had little to say. I insisted on leaving and didn’t pursue how Chen Pi knew my grandfather’s name. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that Gousi, being younger than Chen Pi, must have known my grandfather too.
Due to my stubbornness, Gousi agreed to let me go. At the same time, I noticed that Chen Pi seemed to have something to say to him, so I left No Problem Nightclub without waiting for the hostess to guide me to a private room. It was hard for me to confront Gousi or Chen Pi given the bad vibe I sensed from him, especially since something significant might happen soon. However, after leaving No Problem Nightclub and not going far, I sent him a text: Gousi, Chen Pi is in trouble; you need to be cautious.
After a while, Gousi replied: Understood.
Sigh! Everything is fate, I hope Gousi can remember my warning.
The night is deep and long, a fitting reflection of my current mindset. I wander the streets in the dead of night, dragging my weary body step by step toward my home. A car approaches, honking its horn. I snap my fingers, and the car obediently pulls up beside me as if controlled by a remote.
I get in and glance at the driver, lazily throwing out a single phrase: "New South Street..." Then I sink back into the seat, not wanting to move. Orange lights, white lights, neon signs—all showcasing their charms in the night, yet none can capture my attention. Suddenly, I long to sleep like this forever, never to wake again.
This way, I could see the woman I love—my Mi.
Noticing my state, the driver remains silent and drives quietly along his designated route. The car window acts like a magic mirror, flickering between light and dark. I lose track of how many times it shifts until the driver finally announces we've arrived. Startled, I sit up straight and look around.
Indeed, we have arrived. If it weren't for the nightmare from before, I would have woken up from a beautiful spring dream. After paying and getting out, a gust of cold wind makes me shrink my neck. The car leaves expressionlessly, just like the driver's face.
In the narrow alley, I wander alone like a ghost—only I have a purpose; ghosts do not.
My temporary home stands before me as I open the door and step inside. I close it gently behind me but still feel the lingering effects of alcohol in my stomach. Covering my mouth, I rush to the bathroom and after a bout of vomiting, I feel much better.
I scold myself for being so pathetic!
Two bottles of beer aren't that much, yet here I am, drunk. I avoid looking in the mirror; I don't want to see how disheveled I look. Stumbling back to the bedroom, thoughts of Chen Pi, Gousi, and the sexy women from the nightclub swirl in my mind.
Isn't reality surreal? I've imagined her countless times in my head.
I crave a woman; it's a normal psychological need. Sigh! If I'd known I'd be this desperate, why not just follow Gousi's advice and indulge myself for once?
He had been thinking about women all night, dreaming of one after another—sometimes it was the landlord's wife, other times a stranger. By the time he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.
He opened his phone to find several missed calls.
Damn, I slept like a log; the ringing didn’t even wake me. The first call I made was to Chi Xinrong, the first person who had called me.
Chi Xinrong sounded frantic on the phone. "Ma Qi, something happened to Zhang Xian. She jumped off a building and her life is uncertain."
I didn’t understand at first. Zhang Xian seemed fine last night; how could she possibly commit suicide? After asking again, Chi Xinrong impatiently insisted that I go to the hospital with her and that Qin Jian would join us too. My mind raced back to last night; Zhang Xian had indeed been acting strangely, but it was just her stubbornness that had annoyed me, causing her to leave in a huff after a spat with Gousi.
When Chi Xinrong got angry, it was terrifying—she could make even a mother tiger back down. I needed to get ready before she arrived; otherwise, I would be in for a torrent of complaints.
Sure enough, just five minutes after hanging up, Chi Xinrong arrived. It seemed she must have called as she was nearing my rental place; otherwise, how could she have gotten here so quickly?
I got into the car, and Qin Jian briefly explained what had happened with Zhang Xian.
"Zhang Xian doesn’t seem like someone who would jump off a building; it feels more like a prank. How could she jump from the second floor? Plus, it was around seven-thirty in the morning—there were plenty of people on the street. If she really wanted to die, she wouldn’t choose such a public time or place."
Jumping from the second floor generally wouldn’t cause serious harm; she might have sprained her ankle or scraped her arms. When she fell, she seemed dazed and confused, as if she were sleepwalking and didn’t know where she was. Someone who recognized her quickly called for help.
After Qin Jian finished speaking, Chi Xinrong added that Zhang Xian claimed to have no idea how she fell; she thought someone had pushed her off. Additionally, there seemed to be some head trauma; her speech was incoherent and jumbled.
Once they finished explaining, both of them turned to me and asked if Zhang Xian might have been possessed.
I am not simply possessed; in fact, I am not well at all. I need to observe people to determine what is really going on.
Qin Jian let out a heavy sigh and said nothing more.
Chi Xinrong seemed somewhat displeased with me, rolling her eyes and muttering, "You usually act so impressive, yet here you are, unable to see through this situation."
"Shut up, girl. If you're so capable, why don't you figure out what's happening with Zhang Xian?"
With the traffic jam and my comment, Chi Xinrong angrily pounded the steering wheel and retorted, "If I had your abilities, I wouldn't need anyone else's help."
Qin Jian, fearing we might start arguing, quickly intervened, "Alright, let's focus on the important matters. No more banter."
Chi Xinrong huffed in dissatisfaction but remained silent.
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