Chapter 36: Delivering Gifts Upstairs, Meeting Xu Xin Again

The mother looked at Ji Yan with such tenderness, yet her tone was laced with a sharp, murderous intent.

"My child, if only one of us—your mother or your grandmother—could survive, and the knife were in your hands, who would you choose to strike?"

Danger!

Hearing this deadly question, Ji Yan felt an immediate migraine. But one must be tactful; one must speak according to the person they are facing.

Ji Yan pretended to reflect and struggle for a moment, then said earnestly, "If there truly were no other choice, I would save my mother."

Upon hearing this, the smile on the mother’s face grew even more radiant.

"So, my good son, you would strike down your old hag of a grandmother without hesitation, wouldn't you?"

Ji Yan found it hard to speak, terrified of some hidden linguistic trap or minefield, so he simply nodded in silent agreement. He hurriedly changed the subject: "Does Mother have any plans for today?"

"Mother is in a very good mood. Just take this box to the floor above for me."

"It is for a dear sister of mine. Remember to be sweet-tongued; she lives on the 8th floor. If you manage your relationship with her well, there won't be many people in this apartment building who dare to touch you."

As the mother spoke with a smile, she handed over an exquisite box. Clearly, this task from his mother was meant to be a boon.

Hearing the keywords "sister" and "8th floor," Ji Yan’s heart skipped a beat. He ventured to ask, "It wouldn't be room 801, would it?"

The mother looked surprised. "Why? Have you already met that sister?"

"Is she very beautiful? You haven't let her bewitch you, have you?"

"..."

Ji Yan offered a forced, stiff smile. "Actually, she has indeed left me 'bewitched'."

Looking at the box in his hands, Ji Yan’s expression was as sour as if he were constipated. The landlord had told him to keep his distance from that woman named Xu Xin, but now, maintaining that distance was simply impossible!

"What is inside this box?"

"Just some skincare products."

"In this apartment, your mother and your sister Xu are the only true sisters. We always share whatever we have."

The mother rested her chin on her hand, looking at Ji Yan with a meaningful smile. "My son is so charming; perhaps you could even win her over and make her your bride."

"Mother, you are joking."

Ji Yan laughed along, though his smile was bone-dry. "Mother, I must be going to handle this errand now."

Having no heart to continue the conversation, Ji Yan said a brief word and exited the room.

Watching Ji Yan leave, the eerie mother continued to gaze out at the gray, dreary world beyond the window. The smile on her lips vanished. After a long while, she muttered coldly, "Hmph, that woman met him first..."

"Is she eyeing my son?"

***

Exiting the room, Ji Yan weighed the box in his hand. It was very light, yet he felt uneasy.

"Is it really a coincidence?"

"Or is this another trap designed for me?"

One could hardly blame him for thinking so; the woman named Xu Xin was the most devious person he had ever met, full of schemes. He carefully touched the box with both hands. The hidden information panel popped up:

[Good sisters? In this apartment building soaked in blood and built upon flesh and bone, there is no such magical thing. There are only dirty transactions.]

[As for what kind of transaction... why don't you guess whether there really are skincare products in this box?]

"Right, that's more like it."

"What kind of sisterly love exists in a world of horror? Not even a dog would believe that!"

Ji Yan felt a bit frustrated. Why were there riddles again? Did his talent suffer from some sort of affliction if it didn't speak in riddles for a day? He had hoped that combining two talent fragments would eliminate this flaw, but it seemed the bad habit remained.

Over at the grandmother's room, there was no sign of the door opening; Liu Yitong was still occupied with her task. Ji Yan didn't pay it much mind and went off to complete his errand.

Soon, Ji Yan reached the 8th floor. In the hallway, he encountered the bandage-wrapped entity from before—the landlord’s deputy, the apartment’s maintenance worker.

It was still wrapped from head to toe in blood-soaked bandages; at first glance, one would mistake it for a walking mummy. It was standing in front of room 804, holding a report form. It closed the door and applied a seal.

"The resident of 804 was involved in a domestic homicide. The drunken father killed his wife and son before taking his own life. The stepdaughter has been adopted by Miss Xu, the resident of 801."

Ji Yan listened, rubbed his nose, and said nothing. The bandage-wrapped entity noticed him and closed the report form. "I didn't expect you to actually survive."

"The landlord mentioned you. Not many outside guests receive praise from the old man."

Ji Yan curled his lip, not feeling it was an honor; that old man was just as devious. "What did he say about me?"

"He praised you as a child favored by the Goddess of Luck, always able to turn misfortune into fortune. He hopes that this favor might extend to the apartment as well."

"...The old man sure knows how to give a compliment."

Giving a perfunctory response, Ji Yan brushed past the entity and knocked on the door of 804. The door opened, but it wasn't Xu Xin; it was the twin sister, Zhong Yi, from the night before.

"Why are you here?" both asked simultaneously.

Zhong Yi paused, then added, "My task today involves room 804, so I came to interact with it."

Ji Yan looked at her. "That’s quite a coincidence; so is mine today."

"Tell me, how could such a coincidence happen?" Ji Yan retorted. He wasn't so foolish as to miss the signs. It seemed this twin sister wasn't as simple and honest as she appeared. Clearly, some of the things she said last night were lies.

Zhong Yi stepped aside, avoiding his gaze. "You should hurry up with your task." With that, she slipped away.

Ji Yan took a quick look around and stepped into the room. Just like at night, Xu Xin was nowhere to be seen in the living room, only the sight of gently swaying pajamas. The only difference was a girl in white sitting on the sofa. She was focused intently on the television, yet the screen showed only black-and-white static.

"Xi Xi?" Ji Yan recognized this eerie girl immediately.

She was a completely different entity from the one covered in filth and slime last night. Although she had indirectly saved him, the thought of this girl tearing his mother's head apart still made his scalp tingle.

Xi Xi did not turn her head, her attention entirely on the TV, muttering to herself, "So miserable, they all died."

It was unclear whether she was talking about the television or herself.

Suddenly feeling a chill behind him, Ji Yan turned around and saw that familiar, beautiful face. But perhaps it was his imagination, or perhaps Xu Xin's body seemed somewhat transparent and ethereal today...

"What is this? We only said goodbye last night, and today you've come to find me again."

"Could it be that you've become infatuated with your sister?"

Xu Xin’s tall figure leaned in slightly, her smile enigmatic.

"Miss Xu, my mother asked me to deliver this to you." Ji Yan held out the exquisite box, managing a stiff, forced smile.

Xu Xin didn't take it, but asked, "Did your mother tell you what is inside?"

Ji Yan shook his head. "No, and I don't really want to know."

"Help me open it; I'm actually quite curious myself."

"Your mother is sometimes quite mischievous; she always sends over pranks to scare me."

Xu Xin gestured for him to open it. Ji Yan paused. After a moment of hesitation, he slowly opened the box.

Upon seeing the contents, Ji Yan’s expression froze.

"This..."