Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Enchantress

Listening to Yangzi, she claimed that her bizarre act of consuming her own boyfriend was influenced by the man in the rainbow robe. Yet, the story between her and Kun was nothing short of tragic and beautiful.

I rose and said to Yangzi, “My condolences. Thank you for opening your heart to me. I will bury this matter deep within and never speak of it to anyone.”

“That’s best,” she replied. “Mr. Zhang, take care. I won’t see you off. I’m preparing to leave this sorrowful city. Without him here, I have no reason to stay. I plan to go to Kun’s hometown and spend my days there.”

I wanted to offer some words of comfort, but they caught in my throat, so I simply left the laboratory.

Just as I stepped outside, intending to turn back and close the door for Yangzi, I casually glanced at her. She was facing away from me, but her reflection in the mirror on the table caught my eye.

In that moment, I saw Yangzi’s face in the mirror twisted into a sinister, horrifying smile—a smile so dark and strange it sent chills through me.

Yangzi was not as simple as she claimed.

This was no place to linger. I quickly closed the door and hurried down the stairs.

Outside, the sunlight remained warm, bathing my face in gentle warmth. I stretched out my arms, embracing the comfort of the world.

Couples strolled slowly along the shaded path, and on the nearby soccer field, a group of male students were immersed in a match.

The sun was warm, life seemed tranquil and good.

I sat lazily on the bleachers, basking in the sun, watching the university students play.

A lone figure walked slowly along the track, clothes tattered, steps unsteady.

He passed through the entrance, climbing step by step toward the stands.

Was he… coming toward me?

Gradually, he approached. The stench emanating from him was unbearable—a beggar, clearly. It was as if he hadn’t bathed in a month. He tilted his head, drool slipping from his mouth, emitting eerie laughter: “Heh heh heh,” “Giggling,”—enough to make anyone uneasy.

He walked past me. I instinctively avoided his gaze, but he did not seek me out; instead, he settled two rows behind me.

Yet the smell was so offensive, and having such a strange person behind made me uncomfortable.

I got up, ready to leave the campus.

“Mr. Zhang Xu, please stay.”

I froze. Never did I expect to hear my name from a beggar’s lips.

Who on earth was this beggar?

I turned to look. The beggar’s demeanor was no longer that of a confused fool, but calm and serious.

Facing him, I dared not act rashly—only watched him warily.

“My name is Chu Yan Kun. You can call me Kun,” he sighed, speaking again.

Kun? Wasn’t he dead?

“You’re Yangzi’s boyfriend?”

I asked in suspicion. This ragged, ugly figure bore no resemblance to the outstanding man Yangzi had described.

He nodded and gestured for me to sit.

I sat sideways on the bench, looking up at him.

“You folks with spiritual insight must know about spirit possession, right?”

With those words, I instantly understood. My grandfather used to say that madmen and fools are most susceptible to spirit possession, because they lack one of their souls.

Kun was possessing the beggar.

“I saw you enter Yangzi’s lab. I heard your conversation clearly. What she said about us was true—but not the whole truth. Do you have a cigarette?”

I hurriedly pulled out a pack from my pocket, handing him one.

“I was indeed born in a fishing village. My parents died young. I worked hard at my studies, hoping for a better life, so no one would look down on me.

But I didn’t want to connect with others.

Until I met her.

Before finishing our studies, we fell deeply in love.

Student days’ romance is always so beautiful—so much time together, our world only consisted of each other.

But everything changed once we stepped into society.

We each had our own jobs, came home exhausted, with less understanding and more arguments and complaints.

Mr. Zhang, do you know—Yangzi is a woman with a strong need for control.”

I listened intently to Kun’s words. Indeed, from my brief days with Yangzi, I found her far less intellectual and graceful than she appeared. Quite the opposite, she was stubborn and emotional.

Perhaps, accustomed to being a top student, she always played the role of the cold, wise woman before others.

Maybe that’s why, when faced with love, she was so obsessed and helpless.

“Do you know who killed me?”

“Who?”

“It was Yangzi.”

I was shocked, leaping from my seat. Yangzi had said they quarreled, then Kun walked onto the road and was struck by a truck.

So, was Yangzi his lover or his murderer?

Kun smoked, watching the ember burn down to the butt. He pinched it out with his bare fingers, gently placing the stub in his ragged pocket.

What a refined man.

Even possessing a beggar, his every gesture was cultured. How could such a person do what Yangzi claimed?

Kun continued his story.

I sat below, silently listening.

After Kun joined the research institute, Yangzi secretly envied him. Both were outstanding, both had won national awards during their doctorates. The professor gave the post-graduation recommendation to Kun for his diligence, sincerity, and dedication to research.

The professor said Yangzi’s pride would hinder her in research.

So Kun entered the institute, while Yangzi, recommended by the university, became a mentor at Southern Guangdong University.

At the time, they were still madly in love. Yangzi was proud and supportive of Kun’s advancement.

Her heart was full of Kun; she felt she no longer belonged to herself—he was her whole world.

Proud, cold Yangzi could never have imagined that one day she would become so humble for a man.

After moving in together, both were busy during the day. Yangzi transformed into a gentle woman, constantly wondering when Kun would come home, willingly doing chores for him.

Kun’s achievements continued to grow, social engagements increased, and he took on more mentees—naturally, time spent with Yangzi dwindled.

She grew suspicious, hired private detectives to follow him, checked his phone and computer, even investigated each female friend.

Any contact with women, even work-related, infuriated Yangzi, causing Kun much distress.

On one side, his beloved career; on the other, his girlfriend. The two inevitably clashed.

“She actually… she actually tried to bewitch me.”

“Bewitch you?”

Yangzi could use witchcraft? Who was she, really?

“You didn’t know? Yangzi is a girl from Western Hunan. Her major in biological sciences, especially entomology, stems from her deep knowledge of insects. This is a secret between us. She never showed her abilities, always acting as an ordinary person with me.”

“You lived with a girlfriend skilled in witchcraft? Weren’t you afraid?”

Kun gave a bitter smile, pain etched on his face.

“Afraid? I’ve always been alone. My life was dull, but Yangzi brought sunlight into it. With her, I found meaning and the courage to pursue my career and love. Knowing she could use witchcraft didn’t matter—I loved her. Even if she wasn’t human, I’d stay with her.”

His sincerity moved me.

A devoted man and a possessive witch—a cruel irony.

“That day, we fought again over my female colleague. She accused me of betrayal, threatened to use love-binding magic so I’d belong to her forever. Terrified, I fled, wandering aimlessly until I reached a deserted alley.

Suddenly, as I walked lost in thought, I heard an engine behind me. Before I knew it, I was hurled meters away, losing consciousness. As darkness crept in, I saw her familiar face kneeling beside me, a twisted smile as she stroked my cheek…”

So it was true—a deeply possessive woman, her need for control bordering on severe psychological illness.

“Do you want me to call the police?”

Kun covered his face, smiling bitterly. “No. I don’t hate her. She was everything to me. Even if she killed me, I’d still love her. What’s the point in agonizing now, Mr. Zhang? I should thank you.”

“For what?”

“After hitting me, Yangzi was deeply remorseful. She sought out a mysterious man in a rainbow robe. He taught her the method of consuming love. But this method doesn’t let us be together forever—it binds my soul to her, so I’ll never be reborn. Your Yin-Yang embroidery freed me, returned me to freedom.

But there’s something I must warn you.

The rainbow-robed man knew Yangzi could use Hunan witchcraft. After teaching her the method, he set a condition.”

“What condition?”

“He wanted Yangzi to use witchcraft—to kill you.”