Chapter 33

33 Sister-in-law takes you guys to catch ghosts

"Who the hell are you calling sister-in-law, you damn......" Xie Jingting was about to slam the table in anger, but someone kicked his foot under the table, not lightly nor heavily.

He looked up at Tushan Jiu.

Tushan Jiu was still eating.

Xie Jingzhou pondered Tushan Jiu's intention and also spoke up: "Now that autumn has arrived, there will be more flies; we should suggest the school clean up properly."

Xie Jingting smirked in agreement: "Really, these flies don't bite but they're annoying; if I had a fly swatter, I'd really want to swat them to death!"

The two brothers traded barbs, and anyone could tell the annoying fly they were talking about was actually Chen You nan.

I thought Chen You nan would fly into a rage, but the people at the nearby tables had already picked up their meals and moved seats, fearing they'd get caught in the crossfire if a fight broke out.

But to everyone's surprise, Chen You nan wasn't angry at all; instead, he smiled and looked at Tushan Jiu, saying:

"Sister-in-law, you don't have many friends in Nan Cheng, do you? Want me to introduce a few friends so you can meet them? It'd be less boring with those two guys keeping you company. Tonight I'm hosting a party at my place—perfect for you to meet the people in our circle."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tushan Jiu looked up and said, "Sure, what time does it start?"

For some reason, Chen You nan felt he saw the four words "eager and impatient" in her eyes.

Couldn't she tell this was a Hongmen banquet?

As expected, someone from the mountains who knows a little fortune‑telling still has no brains.

In such a complicated upper‑class environment, she was only fit to be toyed with.

But that suited him just fine.

Wasn't his goal just to embarrass her?

Only if she was humiliated would the Xie family lose face, and Xie Jingting would be embarrassed.

Besides, the Xie family may be the richest, but the Chen family's foundation isn't bad either; although we don't want to be hostile, it's not to the point of fearing them.

Moreover, he and Xie Jingting have been at odds since childhood, always competing in everything.

Seeing him grow closer and more respectful toward Tushan Jiu only made him want to cause trouble all the more—especially after last time Tushan Jiu made him a laughingstock; he was determined to embarrass her somehow.

Thinking this, Chen You nan smiled at the corners of his mouth: "Then I'll be waiting for you, sister‑in‑law, at 8:30 p. m. at the South Mountain Villa—don't be late."

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Xie Jingting and Xie Jingzhou's faces and added, "You coming too?"

Xie Jingting didn't want to deal with him, so he simply ignored his existence.

Having achieved his goal, Chen You nan didn't mind his attitude and led a crowd away in a noisy rush.

After they left, someone kept glancing at Tushan Jiu, but Xie Jingting gave him a cold stare and he instantly shrank his neck.

Seeing Tushan Jiu still eating seriously, Xie Jingting couldn't help but ask: "Sister‑in‑law, why did you agree to him? Let me tell you, that dog‑barked Chen You nan......"

"No swearing!" Tushan Jiu snapped, lifting her brows to cut him off.

She put down her chopsticks, picked up the lemon water Xie Jingzhou had given her, took a sip, then answered Xie Jingting's question.

"I came to see you today not just for a meal but for one important thing: I want you to take me to meet Chen You nan."

Xie Jingzhou wasn't surprised at all; he knew she was looking for them for another reason.

But he was curious: what exactly did Tushan Jiu want with Chen You nan?

Xie Jingting was even more curious than Xie Jingzhou and couldn't hold back, asking her directly: "You're not close with him—why do you want to see him?"

Tushan Jiu set down her lemon water, picked up her chopsticks again, hesitated a moment, her eyes complex: "Are you sure you want to know?"

At first Xie Jingting didn't react, but Xie Jingzhou beside him caught the hint in Tushan Jiu's words.

As Xie Jingting was about to nod, Xie Jingzhou jabbed him and whispered, "It's probably that kind of thing."

"Which......" Xie Jingting trailed off, his hand gripping the chopsticks stiffening.

Tushan Jiu gave him a sideways glance: "You get it now?"

Xie Jingting nodded firmly, his movement a bit stiff.

You could see goosebumps rising on his bare arm where his short sleeve was exposed, appearing at the speed of the naked eye.

Xie Jingzhou shook his head helplessly: "His guts are totally inherited from his mom."

He wasn't really scared either; especially after seeing a ghost with his own eyes last time, he's become increasingly curious about these beings.

"Sister‑in‑law, why have there been so many ghosts lately? Is there some special reason?" Xie Jingzhou asked.

Xie Jingting also wanted to know, so he rubbed his arms while watching Tushan Jiu get ready to explain.

"Because you didn't know me before." Tushan Jiu answered the question concisely.

The two brothers exchanged a glance: "......"

That made perfect sense; they were left speechless.

Tushan Jiu finished eating, took out a tissue from her bag to wipe her mouth, and explained: "Ghosts are transformed humans, so the number of ghosts naturally corresponds to the number of people."

"However, the underworld has its rules: most souls, when they leave the body, are snatched away by underworld officials, while some linger in the human world for various reasons."

"Of course, the reason I just mentioned is the fundamental one; ordinary people naturally don't come into contact with this—just like if you suddenly meet someone from a niche profession, you only learn about it then; otherwise you might never know such a profession exists in the world."

Xie Jingzhou nodded to show he understood, "Understood, the root cause is still that we met you late; if you had come down the mountain earlier, we would have already seen ghosts."

Upon hearing the word "ghost", Xie Jingting instinctively shuddered.

Tushan Jiu quickly shifted the topic, "Let's go, we'll go return the trays; your Southern University's braised pork with small potatoes is really delicious—I'll come again if I get the chance."

Seeing her reach for the tray, Xie Jingting took it directly, "Sister-in-law, just sit; we two will go. If the elder brother finds out we're making you work, we'll be in trouble."

Not needing her to work, Tushan Jiu was naturally happy.

After the two of them finished delivering the trays, the three left the cafeteria.

Arriving at the school gate, Tushan Jiu prepared to flag down a car, "You go back; I'll go home to nap. As for the party tonight, if you two are scared, don't follow me—I'll be fine on my own."

Xie Jingzhou shook his head, "Big brother's company took on a new project; he'll probably be late again tonight. I'm not afraid of ghosts—I'll accompany sister-in-law."

As for Chen You nan, it's not certain that something will happen—she is 'isolated and helpless'; how could they let her go alone?

Little did he know, he thought that way, and Xie Jingting naturally thought the same.

Xie Jingzhou gritted his teeth and raised his hand, saying: "I'm not that scared either; I'll go with you—I can't let you go alone!"

Tushan Jiu glanced at the resolute Xie Jingzhou, then at the trembling-legged Xie Jingting, and a curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"Alright, then tonight we'll go together—sister-in-law will take you ghost-hunting!"