After listening to Shen Qingqiu, Xiao Muyu looked at her for a long time but finally only said one thing, “You know a lot.”
Shen Qingqiu fell silent for a moment before softly replying, “Yes, I…” Her expression turned downcast, her brows furrowing subconsciously. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then hesitated.
Seeing this, Xiao Muyu added, “If you can’t say it, then don’t. It’s okay.”
The female ghost was still standing nearby, and Shen Qingqiu felt a surge of warmth in her heart but held it back. She remembered the main issue and asked, “You told us a woman asked you to stay here and harass the residents. Did she say anything else? Or did she tell you her purpose?”
The female ghost shook her head. “She didn’t say anything else, just that I would understand in the future as long as I followed her instructions. After releasing me, she left me with many cards, enough to last for a long time.
I owe her a favor, and it’s boring to stay here, so I followed her instructions. Every time new people moved in, I’d come out and wander around, but then you caught me.”
As she spoke, she shuddered at the thought of Shen Qingqiu’s frightening demeanor.
Xiao Muyu found it amusing and suddenly realized she didn’t know the ghost’s name yet, so she asked, “Do you have a name?”
The ghost was taken aback, then happily replied, “Yes, I do. My name is Tong Lin.”
“Tong Lin?” Xiao Muyu repeated, then asked, “Tong Lin, do you remember how long you’ve been here?”
Tong Lin frowned. “It feels like a very long time. I can’t remember exactly, even though I usually have a good memory. But from what I can recall, it’s been at least over a year.”
Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu exchanged a glance. Xiao Muyu then asked tentatively, “You said you don’t remember what the woman looked like. Was she old?”
Tong Lin thought for a moment and shook her head. “No, she was young.”
Tong Lin’s memory was vague and couldn’t provide precise information. They had asked everything they could before, so Xiao Muyu told Tong Lin to go out for a walk.
As the female ghost left, Shen Qingqiu, lying on the bed, squinted her eyes and warned, “Don’t listen to things you shouldn’t, and don’t look at things you shouldn’t. Got it?”
Tong Lin vanished quickly, “Got it!”
Xiao Muyu glanced at Shen Qingqiu with a hint of reproach.
Shen Qingqiu pondered Xiao Muyu’s earlier question and hesitated, “Muyu, did you think of something?”
Xiao Muyu shook her head. “No, it’s just a feeling. I want to know more.”
The person who had the ghost harass this place probably wasn’t doing it as a prank. Xiao Muyu even felt that the woman wanted Tong Lin to be discovered by the people here. But she couldn’t explain why.
Shen Qingqiu looked at her and, recalling what she had said before, spoke softly, “You know I’m not right either, yet you don’t press me. Aren’t you afraid I might have ulterior motives?”
Xiao Muyu’s thoughts were diverted by her question, and she laughed. Her eyes softened, a rare hint of playfulness in them, “Haven’t you already had ulterior motives toward me? I’ve agreed, so what is there to fear?”
Shen Qingqiu was taken aback, then couldn’t help but laugh. She moved closer, almost coquettishly, “So, you’re saying I can have as many ulterior motives as I want?”
Xiao Muyu raised an eyebrow, looking at Shen Qingqiu with a half-smile, “What kind of ulterior motives do you have in mind?”
Shen Qingqiu sat up straight, just a fist’s distance from Xiao Muyu, and blinked, speaking in a low voice, “I want to kiss you right now, can I?”
A trace of a smile appeared in Xiao Muyu’s previously half-smiling expression, her eyes softening, “Didn’t we just kiss?”
Shen Qingqiu licked her lips, “I don’t think it was enough.”
Xiao Muyu didn’t respond, just looked at her. No one could refuse such a request from someone they liked, and Xiao Muyu couldn’t refuse Shen Qingqiu, who was almost seducing her intentionally or unintentionally.
Her pride in her willpower and her calm, proud nature had long disappeared when facing Shen Qingqiu. Passion and impulse were ready to ignite.
It wasn’t just Shen Qingqiu who felt it wasn’t enough; Xiao Muyu did too. She felt she could never kiss Shen Qingqiu enough, as if she were addicted to a drug, obsessively entangled.
She had never considered falling in love because, in that world, she had no sense of belonging. She didn’t even have a friend, let alone someone to entrust her heart to.
Even when she met someone she wanted to be with, she believed that her inherently cold and indifferent nature would never allow her to be as passionately in love as the protagonists in TV shows and novels.
Holding back, Xiao Muyu just hugged Shen Qingqiu and lay in bed. Shen Qingqiu, who was all obedient when kissed but full of flirty talk once released, whispered by her ear, disturbing her thoughts. But she was indeed tired, so after being ordered by Xiao Muyu to be quiet, she soon fell silent, her breathing becoming steady and even.
Noticing the change, Xiao Muyu turned her head to look at Shen Qingqiu. Asleep on her side, Shen Qingqiu’s face was peaceful, her restless hand that had been clutching Xiao Muyu’s was now relaxed, lightly curled. Her hair, more fluffy after a bath, spread out on the bed like seaweed. Her lips, previously pale, were now rosy from their recent kisses.
Shen Qingqiu was truly beautiful, with no feature that wasn’t striking. Asleep, she lost the cold demeanor she showed others and the sultriness she displayed to Xiao Muyu. Her delicate, refined features made her seem completely harmless.
“So well-behaved at this moment,” Xiao Muyu thought, her expression softening. She gently poked Shen Qingqiu’s face and pulled the quilt over her, covering her well. After staying with her for a while, she got up and went back to her own room to sleep.
When Shen Qingqiu woke up, Xiao Muyu was already making breakfast.
Still in her pajamas, Shen Qingqiu leaned against the kitchen door, staring at Xiao Muyu with a resentful expression, “Why did you go back to sleep in your own room last night?”
Xiao Muyu didn’t turn around, her lips curling as she flipped the eggs in the pan. “If I didn’t sleep there, where else would I sleep?”
Shen Qingqiu was momentarily choked by this, then mumbled, “Sleep with me. I woke up in the middle of the night and didn’t see you, and my mood got worse.”
Xiao Muyu placed the toast and fried eggs on a plate, added some ketchup, and walked past Shen Qingqiu with the plate, reminding her, “Stop dawdling, go brush your teeth and have breakfast. Is your stomach still uncomfortable?”
Shen Qingqiu shook her head and sighed, “My stomach’s fine, my heart is what hurts.”
Xiao Muyu chuckled and shook her head. Just as she was pouring water, Shen Qingqiu poked her head out from the bathroom again, holding her toothbrush, “I let you sleep in my bed, not with me. Are you really that shy?”
Xiao Muyu’s forehead twitched. Frowning, she said calmly, “Shut up and brush your teeth.”
Shen Qingqiu laughed out loud, humming a tune as she brushed her teeth, making Xiao Muyu helplessly amused.
This time, after finally getting out of the game, Xiao Muyu fulfilled her promise to take everyone out for a meal, so they could further discuss what to do next. The situation inside had been too tense to sit down and have a relaxed gathering.
Today, Shen Qingqiu dressed quite strikingly. She wore a simple but elegant ivory satin dress that showcased her slim and tall figure, making her the center of attention on the street.
Xiao Muyu had looked at her several times before they left, her lips pressed together, not saying a word.
Noticing Xiao Muyu’s slightly sullen expression, Shen Qingqiu found it amusing and deliberately asked, “How do I look in this outfit?”
Without even looking at her, Xiao Muyu replied indifferently, “Not very good.”
Pretending not to understand, Shen Qingqiu asked, “Not very good? Does it look bad?”
Though reluctant to have others see Shen Qingqiu dressed like this, Xiao Muyu wouldn’t deliberately belittle her. No matter how reserved she was, she knew better than that.
“It doesn’t look bad. No matter how you dress, you can’t look bad. It’s just not appropriate.”
Shen Qingqiu was surprised by her words. Though serious and earnest, they sounded almost like a compliment. Suppressing her delight, she blinked and asked, “How is it not appropriate?”
After a long silence, Xiao Muyu finally said in a muffled voice, “We’re just meeting Chen Kaijie and the others. It’s not worth dressing up so nicely.”
Unable to hold back her laughter, Shen Qingqiu’s eyes curved into crescents. “You mean you’re praising me with that serious look?”
Xiao Muyu stayed silent. She didn’t want to interfere with Shen Qingqiu. No matter their relationship, she shouldn’t become Shen Qingqiu’s shackle.
However, since they were already a couple, her little bit of jealousy and the emotions she used to suppress were now harder to control.
Her serious expression tinged with a hint of bitterness made Shen Qingqiu want to laugh and feel tender-hearted at the same time. Deciding not to tease Xiao Muyu any further, she said sincerely, “You know we’re just meeting Chen Kaijie and the others. Why don’t you know who I’m really dressing up for?”
At this point, Xiao Muyu was already regretting her previous emotions, feeling they were unreasonable. But hearing Shen Qingqiu’s words, she was still taken aback.
Shen Qingqiu’s eyes sparkled like starlight as she smiled and said, “Although we’re meeting them, today is our first official day together. Even if showing off our love might bring bad luck, some things should still be expressed. And besides…”
Shen Qingqiu’s gaze turned seductive, and she spun around, “I dressed up like this for you.”
Xiao Muyu felt a bit embarrassed but couldn’t help stealing a few more glances, remaining silent.
When they arrived, Chen Kaijie, Su Jin, and Zuo Tiantian had already found a private room and were seated.
Seeing Shen Qingqiu, they couldn’t help but stare at her for a while.
It wasn’t until Xiao Muyu coughed lightly, giving them a bland look, that the three snapped back to reality.
Zuo Tiantian laughed, “Ms. Shen and Captain Xiao are both so stunning today, I’m completely mesmerized.”
Chen Kaijie, being a married man, had restrained his gaze, but he nodded repeatedly.
“By the way, Ms. Shen, how’s your stomach? Did the medicine help?”
After Chen Kaijie spoke, Su Jin and Zuo Tiantian also looked at Shen Qingqiu with concern.
Shen Qingqiu nodded, “I’m fine now. It was just a minor issue, but she made a big deal out of it.”
Xiao Muyu glanced at her, her eyes speaking volumes despite her silence.
Shen Qingqiu smiled softly and then said, “Since we’re all part of the same team and have been through life and death together, it feels strange to keep calling me Ms. Shen. Just call me by my name.”
Chen Kaijie hesitated, then scratched his head and laughed, “I don’t know why, but I feel embarrassed to call you by your name. I want to call you Boss Shen.”
Su Jin and Zuo Tiantian nodded in agreement. Shen Qingqiu was so formidable that they felt unworthy of addressing her by name.
Xiao Muyu, who had been silent, added, “Since you call me Captain Xiao, call her Captain Shen.”
The three of them found this agreeable, and Shen Qingqiu smiled at Xiao Muyu, “You’re the captain, Muyu. Just call me vice-captain. I’ll definitely follow Captain Xiao’s lead, right?”
Xiao Muyu didn’t respond, merely glancing at Shen Qingqiu. In the end, the three followed Shen Qingqiu’s suggestion and called her vice-captain.
The team had truly become united after completing a challenging mission together. Though their cooperation wasn’t perfect due to the mission’s difficulty, they had all strived to trust each other. Despite nearly failing, there were no complaints about their teammates, establishing the core of a solid team.
“Who knows what the next mission will be like. This one, number 004, was terrifying enough,” said Chen Kaijie, looking troubled as he nervously rubbed his fingers.
Xiao Muyu looked at him, and Chen Kaijie lowered his head, “I always feel like I’m dragging the team down.”
For Chen Kaijie, the 004 mission had been a significant blow. Due to his role, he hadn’t participated in the first night’s activities and couldn’t help during the fire scene. During the magnetic field test, he, being older, knew the least and scored the lowest, leaving him truly dejected.
Though Xiao Muyu didn’t see herself as the team leader, she always had a clear sense of fairness.
She had arranged this gathering not just for a meal but to address their morale and make some things clear.
“Chen Kaijie, have you forgotten that in the 002 mission, you were the only one in your team who survived? Moreover, your crucial role helped everyone escape the building. While you may not match Qingqiu in combat, no one does. In terms of intelligence, you surpass most people. The magnetic field test covered high school knowledge, which is normal to forget. If you weren’t capable, how could you have survived three missions on your own?” She then looked at Zuo Tiantian and Su Jin.
“Su Jin, your performance in the 002 mission already impressed Qingqiu. You know her personality—if she didn’t see something in you, she wouldn’t have bothered with you. Your results this time were also excellent, and Xiao Zuo’s performance was impressive too. Compared to the 002 mission, Xiao Zuo’s growth is evident to everyone.”
Su Jin nodded repeatedly. In the 002 mission, Zuo Tiantian had been nearly paralyzed with fear, screaming through most of it. Now she stepped in front of danger to protect others.
Zuo Tiantian blushed, then her eyes reddened. “I… I still have a long way to go. I’m not as dependable as Chen Ge, nor as calm as Su Jin. I’m still scared.”
“What’s wrong with being afraid? A person without fear loses many of life’s beauties. There’s nothing wrong with that. Even I want to scream when I see a ghost, which is completely normal,” Shen Qingqiu said seriously.
Tears clung to Zuo Tiantian’s eyelashes as she widened her eyes, then shook her head and choked out, “Really? But I don’t believe you at all.”
“Pfft!”
“Haha…”
“I don’t believe it either,” Su Jin and Chen Kaijie laughed.
Xiao Muyu smiled, savoring the rare warmth in Shen Qingqiu’s words, looking at her tenderly.
Shen Qingqiu rolled her eyes dramatically.
Author’s Note: Shen Qingqiu: When I see a ghost, I’m scared and want to scream.
Ghost: When I see you, I also want to scream.
Little Shen: This team is hard to lead. Now they even dare to contradict me.
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