The banknotes in his hand vanished like the wind, so fast that the Fatty didn't even react.

"I dropped them when I was buying groceries this morning," the woman's voice sounded perfectly justified. "But I still have to thank you."

The door slowly opened, and the woman sized them up before her gaze suddenly lingered on Jiao Tailang. After a moment, she stepped aside. "If there's nothing else, come in and sit for a while."

"Thanks, Sister Qing," Jiang Cheng said, making himself right at home as he walked in.

The Fatty followed behind Jiang Cheng, and Jiao Tailang brought up the rear.

The three of them sat down in a row on the sofa, behaving as obediently as children visiting their elders.

Weng Qing turned and went to the kitchen, returning with a few cups and a delicate teapot.

Thick curtains hung in the room, and only a small lamp glowed faintly, emitting a half-dead light, creating a very eerie atmosphere.

Yet, to Jiao Tailang's slight surprise, Weng Qing didn't seem as old or strange as Jiang Cheng had described. Her attire wouldn't be out of place even now.

The loose, wine-red pajamas couldn't hide her voluptuous figure. Her long hair was spread out behind her like ink, and her pale face was lightly made up.

A pair of bewitching red eyes gave her a startling, morbid beauty.

The woman in front of him gave Jiao Tailang a completely different feeling.

Jiang Cheng stared at the woman without any pretense. The Fatty was timid, either looking down or only daring to glance around.

Slightly bending over, she filled the teacups in front of them. After straightening up, Weng Qing smoothed her slightly disheveled temples, her bewitching eyes lingering on Jiao Tailang. "And this is..."

"I'm Jiao Tailang," Jiao Tailang said, nodding somewhat awkwardly in introduction before shifting his gaze.

His heart pounded as he met the woman's eyes.

"Sister Qing," Jiang Cheng asked obediently, "Are you the only one home?"

"Yes," Weng Qing replied, withdrawing her gaze from Jiao Tailang and looking at Jiang Cheng. "I live alone, with two dogs to keep me company."

She pointed her slender finger at the bedroom door. "They don't like visitors, so I've locked them in the bedroom."

Weng Qing's voice seemed to command a strange power, beautiful and captivating. Jiao Tailang clenched his fist unconsciously.

As if responding to the woman's voice, scratching sounds came from the bedroom, right behind the door, and he could vaguely hear the threatening growl of a dog.

What Weng Qing said matched the old landlord's description, so their initial guess seemed to be wrong. It wasn't the ghost hand in the bedroom, but two dogs.

"Haven't you moved out yet?" the woman asked, picking up her cup and taking a small sip.

The instant the woman put down the teacup, Jiang Cheng's pupils dilated. He saw that the woman's lips were stained with a touch of scarlet.

The cup wasn't filled with tea, but something more like blood.

Looking at the woman, Jiang Cheng suppressed his inner turmoil and gave her an innocent smile. "Sister Qing," Jiang Cheng licked his lips, "I was planning to move out, but I'm worried about you."

"I'm afraid that a charming woman like you living here alone might attract the attention of bad people," Jiang Cheng said, clenching his fist with concern.

The Fatty quickly picked up his teacup, ready to take a sip and calm his nerves.

But as soon as he lifted the cup, he realized that this was a haunted house, and the woman in front of him was a ghost, so this tea...

Fortunately, Weng Qing's attention was all on Jiang Cheng. She smiled, her blood-red lips curving into a chilling smile.

"Worse than you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes and exhaling softly.

The Fatty couldn't help it and drained the teacup in one gulp.

Jiao Tailang's body trembled slightly, and then he also quickly took a sip of tea to calm his nerves.

The tea tasted stronger than he had expected. He didn't know what was in it.

Jiang Cheng pretended to be terrified, like an innocent young man. Weng Qing didn't continue, her gaze shifting to Jiao Tailang's position.

Jiao Tailang, who had been secretly peeking, immediately looked away, pretending not to know anything.

"You don't live here, do you?" Weng Qing's voice rippled like water, and even the lingering echoes were too much for Jiao Tailang to bear.

He had never had a girlfriend before. Although many girls at school pursued him, he had never encountered such a blatant gaze, as if she wanted to devour him whole.

"I... I don't live here," Jiao Tailang replied nervously.

Weng Qing's beautiful lips curved slightly, as if she was more interested in him than in Jiang Cheng. She refilled his cup and said with a smile, "You seem nervous."

"No," Jiao Tailang frantically searched for the right words, his mouth twitching. "I'm just... just surprised that you're so young, Sister."

"What, did they..." Weng Qing glanced at Jiang Cheng and the Fatty, then looked back at Jiao Tailang and asked with a smile, "Did they say I'm old?"

An arm draped over his shoulder, a slender but cold hand slowly stroking his neck. Weng Qing was suddenly right beside him.

That cold sensation lingered on his neck, like a venomous snake.

Just as Jiang Cheng was wondering how to help Jiao Tailang out of this situation, Jiao Tailang suddenly raised his head. The fingers on his neck were suddenly enveloped in warmth, and Weng Qing couldn't help but raise her eyebrows.

His fingertips ran over the back of Weng Qing's hand, making it slightly itchy. "Would you say I've... caught your attention, Sister?" Jiao Tailang covered Weng Qing's hand with his own, his innocent eyes reflecting only Weng Qing's image.

Jiang Cheng's expression immediately changed.

Gradually, the coldness in Weng Qing's eyes melted away, and her condescending face showed a hint of something else.

Jiang Cheng took a moment to check the time and realized that 18 minutes had passed.

糟糕... (Cao Gao - Damn it...)

Any later, and his teammates outside might do something irrational, though Jiang Cheng didn't trust them much either.

But if he left now, he would miss the opportunity. Time was running out. Until he figured out what was going on with 808, it would be like a sword hanging over his head.

Weng Qing seemed to notice Jiang Cheng's movement and tilted her head to ask, "Do you guys have something to do later?"

Jiang Cheng pursed his lips.

But a second later, he heard Jiao Tailang slowly say, "You guys go ahead." He glanced at Jiang Cheng, his tone as if he was worried that the latter would ruin his upcoming good fortune.

Taking advantage of Weng Qing's turning, Jiao Tailang nodded to Jiang Cheng.

It was clear that he was still nervous, but he seemed to have gained some confidence.

But whether he could succeed in the end would depend on whether Weng Qing was willing to let them go.

"It would be impolite to leave so soon after arriving at Sister Qing's place. May I stay and chat with you, Sister?" he looked at Sister Qing, his tone and eyes full of sincerity.

"Creak—"

The tightly closed door opened a crack.