Chapter 2
1842 Words
The White Crane Tower neighborhood was truly picturesque.
Just outside the main gate, slightly downhill, sat a lake called Crane-Painting Lake. Its waters were so clear you could see straight to the bottom. The gentle slopes by the lake were covered in sprawling greenery and flower beds. Neglected for years, the plants had long since abandoned their original, manicured design. But instead of looking messy, they now burst with a wild kind of beauty—raw, untamed, and full of life.
Thanks to the lake, the entire area was cooler than the rest of the city.
Although... when ghost rumors started spreading, that coolness could feel more like a chill down your spine.
The property management was visibly surprised someone was still moving in. They welcomed Xu Mei with warm enthusiasm. Several staff rushed to help with her luggage, taking turns introducing the amenities in the compound.
The neighborhood itself was clean and shaded by tall trees, with an astonishing amount of space between buildings.
And because hardly anyone lived here, it was quiet. Unsettlingly quiet.
Xu Mei’s unit was tucked away in the more remote H Zone. Within several hundred meters, there was only one other building nearby—its doorway overgrown with weeds, clearly abandoned or barely lived in.
A staff member noticed her gaze and quickly explained, “Someone young just moved in there too. What a coincidence! You two might even become friends.”
“Yeah, yeah! Fewer people, but it’s peaceful. That’s the whole point of a villa, right? The outside world’s noisy enough.”
They seemed worried she might get spooked and back out—eager but cautious.
Xu Mei understood. With rumors of hauntings, the more residents, the better.
But she had nowhere else to go. Ghosts or not, this was her only option. And honestly, with a view like this, it already felt like a stroke of luck.
After thanking the staff and exchanging contact info just in case, Xu Mei entered the house.
Years of vacancy hit her immediately—a thick wave of dust in the air made her cough nonstop. She couldn’t even figure out where to start cleaning. In the end, she had no choice but to call for help.
With so few people living in the area, the management staff handled housecleaning duties too. Thankfully, they charged fair prices and worked diligently.
Even so, by the time they finished, night had fallen.
When it came time to pay, Xu Mei’s fingers automatically typed in a string of numbers. Miraculously, it worked—must’ve been the original owner’s password. She sighed in relief.
Until she saw the bank balance.
Xu Mei’s heart dropped. The original owner was way poorer than she’d expected.
She suddenly regretted arguing with Xu Zhongya. She should’ve at least grabbed more things to sell. Even second-hand would’ve helped.
Sure, the property might go up in value someday—but that was a long-term bet. She still had to survive the next few years.
And she doubted Xu Zhongya would give her another cent.
From the looks of it, the original owner’s remaining funds would barely cover one semester of tuition. Living expenses? Forget it.
No point regretting now. She’d have to figure it out later.
Exhausted, Xu Mei scarfed down some takeout, then unpacked and rearranged the place as best she could.
By the time everything was in place, it was nearly midnight.
She remembered there was a trash bin outside and figured she’d throw the garbage out before sleeping.
But as soon as she opened the door, a flash of lightning split across the sky—cutting through the darkness like a blade. The crackling light was blinding.
A few fat raindrops hit the steps outside. Xu Mei hesitated, then decided she wasn’t going out in that.
She turned to carry the trash back inside—but froze halfway through closing the door.
There was a head on the steps.
CRACK!
A deafening thunderclap boomed overhead.
Her hand went limp, and the trash bag spilled across the floor.
Was this place actually haunted?!
She was sure she’d locked the front door.
A cold sweat broke out over her body. Her scalp tingled, her heart raced like mad, and her breath came in short gasps.
She’d always been a firm believer in science and logic. But she had literally transmigrated into a novel. Who was she to say ghosts didn’t exist?
Panicking, she fumbled to shut the door—but some of the spilled garbage got caught in the frame. It wouldn’t budge.
She kicked a plastic bottle out of the way—but her aim was off. The bottle flew straight into the head.
And then… the head moved.
Slowly, it began to rise.
Xu Mei was frozen in place, ice trickling down her spine. She couldn’t even scream. She could only watch, helpless, as the head rose higher and higher…
It was standing up.
And it was turning toward her.
Wait—he was.
It was a man.
He had been sitting on the steps, partially obscured by the shadows of nearby trees. She’d only seen his head before.
The realization hit all at once.
“Clunk.”
Xu Mei slumped against the door, her back soaked in cold sweat.
Humans scaring humans... really could kill you.
The man turned toward her at the sound, just as another bolt of lightning lit up the sky.
His face came into full view—young and strikingly handsome, with a bottle of liquor dangling from one hand.
A drunk.
After the lightning came the thunder. The rain grew heavier.
He stood there, unmoving, completely exposed to the downpour.
“Hey! Don’t just stand there! You’ll get struck by lightning!”
Now that she knew he wasn’t a ghost, Xu Mei regained some of her composure and called out to him.
The man didn’t react.
Maybe it was the gloomy setting, or the eerie atmosphere, but Xu Mei couldn’t shake the feeling that this guy was drowning in despair.
Like he was here… to die.
If she didn’t do something, he might not survive the night. And then, he really would become a ghost.
Xu Mei wasn’t superstitious. But she had just moved in. The last thing she needed was a tragic death outside her front door.
The storm showed no signs of letting up. After a long pause, she gritted her teeth and ran out.
Right before the next lightning strike, she yanked the drunk man under the eaves.
“Look, if you wanna die, could you at least not do it in front of my house?!”
The man clearly didn’t appreciate being interrupted. He jerked his head toward her, eyes wild and vicious, his handsome face twisted with anger.
Xu Mei instinctively let go. That glare felt like it could flay her alive.
But his expression didn’t change. No gratitude, no recognition.
Ungrateful jerk.
She was about to leave him there when something caught her eye—an intricate tattoo peeking from under his open collar, shaped like the wing of a bird.
Her heart skipped a beat.
That face. That tattoo. That violent, dangerous aura...
Wasn’t this the villain—Fu Shuyang?
In the world of White Lotus, Fu Shuyang was the ultimate capitalist—filthy rich, dangerously powerful, and utterly ruthless.
At this point in the plot, he hadn’t turned completely evil yet.
He was still just a young man, freshly broken.
If she remembered right, the novel never explained what pushed him over the edge.
Right now, helping him was safer than offending him.
Especially if he sobered up later and came back to settle the score.
Xu Mei didn’t hesitate. She reached out again, pulled him inside, and sat him on the couch.
Fu Shuyang stared at her blankly, muttering something under his breath.
She leaned closer to hear.
“I’m dead… You’re not happy? Why save me…”
Xu Mei suddenly remembered: when he died in the novel, everyone clapped and cheered.
Even those who had once begged at his feet.
He had no one. Not really.
“You’re not dying today. You’re still young—figure out how to live first,” she murmured, her heart twisting.
Fu Shuyang tilted his head, eyes flashing. “Why treat me like this?”
He wasn’t making sense. His expressions changed by the second. Clearly blackout drunk.
Xu Mei didn’t bother reasoning. She reached for the bottle in his hand.
But he refused to let go—shoving the empty bottle to his lips, shouting, “More! Bring me more!”
Xu Mei sighed. She grabbed a leftover soda from earlier and stuck it in his hand.
Too drunk to tell the difference, he chugged it all.
Xu Mei watched with a complicated mix of amusement and sadness.
He was only in his twenties. The author never explained what he’d been through at this stage. But whatever it was, it had clearly broken him.
Once he finished the drink, he slumped over and passed out.
Outside, the rain poured down in sheets.
And that’s when Xu Mei realized something else:
Was she seriously going to spend the night under the same roof as this guy?
He was drunk. He probably couldn’t do anything... right?
“Hey…” she nudged him.
No response.
She fetched a musty old blanket from a forgotten cabinet—left behind from when the place was first furnished—and draped it over him. Better than nothing.
Just as she stood up to leave, Fu Shuyang suddenly grabbed her wrist and yanked—pulling her down as he rolled over and pinned her beneath him.
Xu Mei’s heart almost exploded.
“What are you doing?!”
Fu Shuyang squinted at her, confusion crossing his face. His bloodshot eyes narrowed, dangerously unreadable.
He looked like he might tear her apart for the slightest offense.
He’d misunderstood.
In the novel, he hated anyone getting too close.
What should she say?
“Pitying me?” he growled, grip tightening. He didn’t seem drunk at all anymore.
Xu Mei remembered—the guy had a massive ego.
The last thing he wanted was pity.
“No. I pity myself,” she blurted.
Fu Shuyang blinked, stunned. The menace in his eyes faded, if only slightly.
“You pity... yourself?”
“Yeah. Today’s my birthday. I got kicked out after getting beaten by my dad. I ended up in this supposedly haunted house. It’s almost midnight and I haven’t even heard a single ‘happy birthday’…”
Tears welled in her eyes as she pointed at the swelling on her head.
Fu Shuyang stared at the bump, then reached out and poked it.
Xu Mei winced. “Ow…”
He let go of her wrist and collapsed backward onto the couch.
Xu Mei didn’t wait around. She ran.
Then, just as she reached the hallway, a low voice echoed behind her:
“…Happy birthday.”
She turned.
Fu Shuyang had already closed his eyes.
- Writer
