Chapter 9 : Chapter 9
Chapter 9: The Pitiful Male Lead, the Pitiful Female Lead
Previously, Bai Yu had worried about how these lunatics would identify one another after turning into beautiful girls, especially since none of them knew the others’ identities. She had feared they might hide themselves too well.
But now it seemed she had overthought it. These people truly had no idea how to behave like proper women. After all, they had previously been men—men who were mentally unstable murderers at that.
Still, the person in front of her was overdoing it to a disgusting degree. That sickening tone, the inexplicable makeup. Perhaps she believed that acting this way would leave an unforgettable impression on Lu Liangting. After all, who wouldn’t like a delicate, charming girl?
Not only Bai Yu—even Zhao Mingyue unconsciously took a small step back.
She even ignored being called an old woman. There was simply something mentally off about the girl in front of them.
The atmosphere inside the convenience store had already been somewhat heavy because of Lu Liangting’s story. After this girl appeared, the words he had been about to say were forced back down his throat. He turned slightly, trying to shake off the hand resting on his shoulder, but not only did he fail to get free, the girl’s stare made his scalp tingle.
“Xiaohan, I’ve told you many times—you can’t be this rude.”
His tone carried a trace of helplessness as he looked toward Zhao Mingyue behind the counter, who looked rather awkward.
“Sorry, Mingyue. Her name is Xia Han. She’s my cousin. Please don’t take what she said to heart. She’s been like this since she was little—no one can make her listen.”
“It’s… it’s fine.” Zhao Mingyue gently shook her head.
“Let’s go, cousin. Don’t forget our plan tonight. We can’t waste any more time. Hurry up!”
The girl named Xia Han tugged on Lu Liangting’s sleeve and pulled him toward the door.
“Wait, I still have something to say.”
“No! Hurry up! Otherwise I’ll tell Aunt about tonight’s plan!”
“This… fine, fine.”
Lu Liangting rubbed his temples in frustration. When it came to this cousin of his, he truly had no way to deal with her. And tonight’s operation was important.
Before leaving, he did not forget to call out to Zhao Mingyue.
“Mingyue, remember what I told you!”
“There’s something wrong with Sunshine Apartments!”
“And tonight—no matter what sounds you hear—do not come outside!”
His voice faded into the distance. Along with the crisp chime of the bell on the doorframe, the convenience store’s glass door slammed shut.
Zhao Mingyue was puzzled. She instinctively looked up at the wind chime, which had not moved at all, then turned to glance outside. That glance was all it took for her eyes to meet another pair.
The gaze made her extremely uncomfortable, yet she could not explain why.
The person staring at her was Xia Han.
She gave Zhao Mingyue a strange smile before pulling Lu Liangting away.
“That person’s eyes are really strange.”
Murmuring softly, Zhao Mingyue took the rabbit plush toy from her pocket and placed it on the counter. Then she sat down herself, cupping her cheeks with both hands.
“Bai Yu, do you think what Lu Liangting said is true? Could the ghost maze this morning really have been caused by the ghosts who were burned to death?”
“It should be true. The thing targeting you this morning was a female ghost,” Bai Yu replied.
“A female ghost? If it really is them, then why did they appear today? They never showed up before.”
Zhao Mingyue was confused. She had lived here for several months and had never encountered anything like that. She had only seen a ghost once before.
“Because the game you played last night attracted the ghosts from that building.”
“If that’s the case… am I in danger?”
Zhao Mingyue felt a small wave of panic.
“Yes.”
“W-What? Then… then… is there any way to solve it?”
When most people heard they might be hunted by vengeful ghosts, they would either refuse to believe it or desperately try to escape. But Zhao Mingyue’s only hope right now was Bai Yu.
In her eyes, Bai Yu was a special kind of ghost—and a very strong one.
“There is a solution. I’ll tell you when we get back tonight. But tonight might be a bit… stimulating for you.”
“As long as it can be solved, it’s fine.”
Zhao Mingyue let out a long breath of relief. A little excitement was acceptable.
Then she suddenly thought of something else.
“Then why did Lu Liangting tell me not to go outside tonight?”
“Because the thing he’s going to do tonight is exactly the same thing you’re going to do.”
“Alright… I understand.”
Zhao Mingyue did not ask further. Bai Yu had said she would explain tonight. In truth, Zhao Mingyue realized she had begun to trust Bai Yu somewhat blindly.
She also knew this.
But she had no other choice.
Other than trusting Bai Yu, she had no alternative.
The convenience store had very few customers throughout the entire day. The place was simply too remote. Zhao Mingyue had never understood why the owner chose to open a shop here.
At seven in the evening, the employee who came to take over the shift arrived.
Zhao Mingyue put the rabbit plush back into her bag, tidied her backpack, and pushed the door open to leave.
Just like when she had arrived, the bell on the doorframe rang once. Meanwhile, the wind chime hanging not far away began ringing softly without any wind, producing a sound like flowing water.
She did not pay it any mind.
She mounted her bicycle and rode toward Sunshine Apartments.
It took less than ten minutes.
After arriving downstairs, she looked at the apartment building shrouded in the hazy night.
For no reason at all, Zhao Mingyue shivered.
Remembering what Lu Liangting had said earlier about the building only made her feel even more uneasy.
After all—She lived on the fourth floor.
For all she knew, someone might have committed suicide in the very room she was living in now.
No wonder the rent had been so cheap.
Only four hundred yuan a month.
Much lower than anywhere else.
“Bai Yu… Sister Bai… if we run into any evil ghosts again, I’ll be relying entirely on you.”
With her backpack on, Zhao Mingyue hurried upstairs while muttering to herself.
Under the dim light in the stairwell, Zhao Mingyue—who clearly had short hair—cast a shadow behind her that belonged to a long-haired woman.
As she whispered to herself, the shadow rippled slightly.
Tonight would not merely be stimulating for Zhao Mingyue.
It would be terrifying.
What Bai Yu had not told her was that there was more than one ghost in this building.
She did not even know exactly how many.
There were simply many of them.
It could be called a “ghost building.”
And Zhao Mingyue’s luck was truly remarkable. Living in a place like this for so long without incident until last night was almost unbelievable.
But for Bai Yu, it was actually a good thing.
She could grow stronger by devouring ghosts.
The ghosts in this building could simply serve as nourishment.
There was no ghost maze this time.
Zhao Mingyue ran all the way up to the fourth floor.
Just as she was about to take out her key and open the door, she felt as though someone upstairs was watching her.
She glanced up.
The silhouette vanished immediately.
Zhao Mingyue frowned, opened the door, and entered the room.
The small apartment that had once felt warm and cozy now seemed dark and cold.