Chapter 5: The Wooden Comb

Yan Yu was well aware that Zhou Lide looked down on him, but since he was living under someone else's roof, it was best to keep a low profile for the time being. He would move out as soon as possible, but for now, he had to resolve Dahei’s lodging.

He whispered to Zhou Xiaowan, “Master Cao said Dahei is sensitive and can see things that aren’t clean. With him here, Zhao Qingqing won’t dare approach you so easily.”

Hearing this, a bit of color returned to Zhou Xiaowan’s face. She quickly stepped forward and clung to Zhou Lide’s arm, swaying coquettishly. “Dad, this is Li Kang’s dog. He’s been busy lately and asked us to help take care of it for a few days.”

“Li Kang?” Zhou Lide’s expression softened considerably. “So it belongs to their family. I thought this dog looked rather fierce—not something Yan Yu could afford. But the dog has to stay in the yard; it can’t come inside.”

With that, Zhou Lide got into his car and drove away. Zhou Xiaowan let out a sigh of relief. “My dad has some business dealings with Li Kang’s father lately. If I mention his name, he’ll show some respect.”

Yan Yu smiled. “And what about you? Your feelings for Li Kang are probably more than just friendship, aren’t they?”

He had already noticed back at the villa—Zhou Xiaowan always liked to stand next to Li Kang, acting every bit the lady of the house. Although they probably weren’t officially a couple yet, it couldn’t be far off.

“Mind your own business.” Zhou Xiaowan shot him a glare.

Unbothered, Yan Yu led Dahei into the courtyard and secured him, leaving water and food before heading inside.

It was already past dinner. Xia Liu was watching television in the living room. When she saw Yan Yu and Zhou Xiaowan enter, she smiled and said, “Yan Yu, your room is right next to Xiaowan’s. Take care of each other in the days to come. Oh, and you both start school tomorrow. Are you ready?”

Yan Yu had little to pack, but Zhou Xiaowan pouted. “Mom, do I have to live at the school?”

“Well… you don’t have to. Since your brother Yu will be going to and from school with you, I won’t have to worry.”

Someone had died in Zhou Xiaowan’s dormitory, and Xia Liu certainly knew about it. Originally, for the sake of her studies, the school wanted her to continue living on campus. But for some reason, they called today and suddenly relented, saying she could attend evening study from home.

Zhou Xiaowan breathed a sigh of relief; she dared not stay in that dormitory any longer.

Xia Liu thought for a moment, then couldn’t help but ask, “Xiao Yu, what was the name of that nunnery where you used to live?”

“Si Ku An. It’s just a small temple up in the mountains.” Yan Yu yawned. “Aunt Liu, I’m a bit tired. Mind if I go up and sleep?”

“Of course. You’ve had a long day.” Xia Liu nodded, but the name “Si Ku An” began to echo in her thoughts.

When people get rich and idle, they tend to seek faith.

Xia Liu considered herself half a Buddhist and knew of the famous nunneries across the country. But this “Si Ku An”—she’d never heard of it.

What intrigued her even more was the mystery of those five mothers Yan Yu had mentioned.

Yan Yu went upstairs to his room, which Xia Liu had tidied with care. Fresh sheets were on the bed, and his luggage was set neatly on the desk.

“At the very least, Aunt Liu has been very kind to me. I must repay her someday,” Yan Yu muttered to himself.

After a day of running around, he was exhausted. He took a hot, soothing shower and crawled under the warm covers. Soon, the room was filled with the sound of his snoring.

...

Two o’clock in the morning.

Zhou Xiaowan tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

Earlier at Li Kang’s villa, she had distinctly heard Zhao Qingqing’s voice. Zhou Xiaowan was deeply worried that Zhao Qingqing would come after her again.

Suddenly, Dahei in the courtyard began to bark furiously!

Zhou Xiaowan’s heart clenched, and she instinctively ducked her head under the blanket.

A fierce wind rose outside, howling like the wailing of ghosts. Suddenly, she remembered she had forgotten to close the window.

The wind outside grew stronger, Dahei’s barking more frenzied. Zhou Xiaowan shivered under the covers, when suddenly she felt something in her hand.

She fumbled for a moment, and a chill swept through her.

Gripped in her hand was the wooden comb she had given to Zhao Qingqing!

She had clearly left that comb at Li Kang’s villa earlier today, so how could it now be on her bed—in her hand?

Just then, a hand slipped under her blanket and seized her own. Zhou Xiaowan was so terrified she nearly screamed, but her mouth was quickly covered.

She struggled free and saw, to her shock, that Yan Yu had somehow appeared in her room!

“Shh, don’t make a sound,” Yan Yu whispered.

Zhou Xiaowan nodded, trembling.

But his next words sent fresh chills down her spine.

“She’s here.”

Zhou Xiaowan felt her hair stand on end. “How do you know?”

“Didn’t you hear how Dahei was barking? Here, Master Cao gave me this talisman earlier and said it could ward off evil. Keep it close to you,” Yan Yu said, handing her a piece of talismanic paper.

But this talisman wasn’t one of Master Cao’s cheap ones; it was drawn by Yan Yu himself.

Zhou Xiaowan took it and slipped it into the pocket of her nightshirt. Only then did Yan Yu notice how loosely her nightshirt fit, and the faint outlines beneath it…

Ahem. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form!

Yan Yu collected himself. Downstairs, Dahei had stopped barking, and he let out a sigh of relief. “She must have left.”

“Thank goodness…” Zhou Xiaowan’s color returned.

“But she was injured, yet braved Dahei’s wrath to come here. She must have another purpose,” Yan Yu mused.

Zhou Xiaowan immediately thought of the comb in her hand and quickly handed it to Yan Yu. “I left this at Li Kang’s place, but it suddenly appeared on my bed just now. Zhao Qingqing must have brought it!”

“That must be it,” Yan Yu replied, examining the comb carefully. “Master Cao once told me: a resentful ghost who hasn’t passed the seventh day must rely on an object heavy with yin energy to linger in the world. Zhao Qingqing has just passed her seventh day, so she’s no longer a typical ghost and doesn’t need the comb. But why did she bring it to you?”

Zhou Xiaowan’s expression grew uneasy, as if she were hiding something.

Yan Yu tapped the comb lightly against his palm, looking at her calmly. “Xiaowan, you said Zhao Qingqing committed suicide. But people who take their own lives shouldn’t harbor such deep resentment. Unless… is there something you’re not telling me?”