Chapter 7: A Close Encounter
9:30 AM!
Fang Xiaocao, with dark circles under her eyes, crawled out of bed in the hotel.
Ever since receiving a message from her future self instructing her to buy a “haunted house,” she had been unable to sleep.
After tossing and turning for a long time, she finally drifted off in a daze.
After washing up and putting on sunglasses to cover her dark circles, Fang Xiaocao grabbed her laptop and went downstairs.
After checking out at the front desk, she walked out of the hotel. As she exited the main entrance, she brushed past a delivery man.
[Ding-dong!]
As she stepped outside, her phone chimed.
She glanced at it in confusion.
It was a WeChat message.
She immediately opened it.
[Hot Noodles: Run! The killer is after you!]
Fang Xiaocao froze as she read the message.
In her mind, the image of the person she had just brushed past surfaced.
In an instant, her hands and feet turned ice-cold.
Without a second thought, she bolted towards the parking lot.
Jumping into her car, she slammed the accelerator. The BMW Mini shot forward like an arrow.
As she sped past the hotel entrance, she caught sight of a tall man in a yellow delivery uniform rushing out, scanning his surroundings as if searching for something.
“It’s him!”
“It’s definitely him!”
Fang Xiaocao’s mind screamed.
She dared not stop and sped away.
Checking the rearview mirror, she saw the man look up just as she drove past.
In that instant…
A strange sense of familiarity washed over her.
Those eyes—she had seen them before!
Or rather…
They belonged to someone she knew!
But at that moment, she couldn’t recall who.
There was no time to dwell on it. She quickly left the street, fearing that the relentless pursuer might catch up.
She drove in circles around the city before finally heading toward her university.
There was a real estate agency near the campus, where she had once worked part-time handing out flyers.
After parking in front of the agency, she stepped out and walked inside.
“Huh? Xiaocao, what brings you here?”
As soon as she entered, a young female agent recognized her and greeted her with a smile.
“Feifei~”
Xiaocao smiled back.
“Do you need something?” Feifei asked with a smile.
“Sis, I’m here to bring you some business!” Xiaocao said playfully.
“Looking to rent a place? I can find you something cheap. No agency fees!” Feifei grinned.
“Hmm, not exactly.” Xiaocao shook her head with a mischievous smile.
“Let’s talk outside.”
She took Feifei’s hand and led her toward the door.
“Wait, wait! Xiaocao, hold on.”
Feifei stopped her.
“You’re always in such a rush! Let me inform my manager first—I’m still on duty.”
“Alright~” Xiaocao blinked playfully.
“Manager, I’m taking Xiaocao out to look at some properties.”
After informing her boss, Feifei walked out with Xiaocao.
“Alright, what’s so mysterious?” she asked curiously.
“Jie, let’s talk in the car!”
Xiaocao pressed her key fob, unlocking her BMW Mini with two beeps. She opened the door and gestured for Feifei to get in.
Seeing the BMW, Feifei was stunned.
Her expression turned complicated as she looked at Xiaocao.
Sitting in the car, Feifei hesitated before speaking in a serious tone:
“Xiaocao, you’re a good girl. Don’t go down the wrong path.”
Xiaocao was momentarily surprised, then burst into laughter.
“Jie, you’ve got it all wrong. I’m not that kind of girl!”
“I actually won the lottery recently!” she said cheerfully.
“You… won the lottery?”
Feifei’s eyes widened like saucers. Her brain felt like it was overheating from the unexpected turn of events.
“Yup! I hit the jackpot~” Xiaocao grinned.
“O-okay then…” Feifei blinked in confusion.
She still looked a bit dazed.
“Jie, I want to buy a house!” Xiaocao said bluntly.
“Alright, where do you want to rent—”
Feifei nodded absentmindedly, still not processing the shock.
Then, realization struck her.
“What?! Buy a house?!”
“Yep! Buy a house!”
Xiaocao nodded firmly.
“Xiaocao, how big was this lottery prize? You’re buying a car AND a house?”
“You’re still young and in school. You need to be careful with money.”
Feifei’s tone was filled with genuine concern.
Xiaocao felt warmth in her heart at Feifei’s caring words.
“I understand, sis. Don’t worry.”
“Alright then. Where do you want to buy?”
Feifei sighed and decided not to pry further.
“Is there a ‘haunted house’ in Junyue Villa District listed in your agency?” Xiaocao asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Feifei was shocked again.
“Junyue Villa District?!”
“Ahh, Jie, don’t be so dramatic~” Xiaocao pouted.
“Alright, alright. My bad.”
Feifei smiled awkwardly.
She hesitated before speaking:
“That villa… there were deaths there. Many deaths. Are you sure you want to buy it?”
Hearing that people had died there—many people—Xiaocao felt goosebumps rise on her skin.
“I… I’ll buy it…” she said weakly.
“Are you sure?”
Feifei raised an eyebrow.
Thinking about the message from her future self mentioning a “surprise,” Xiaocao gritted her teeth.
“I’m sure! I’ll buy it!”
“Alright then. If you’re determined, I’ll take you to see it first.”
“I’ll go get the keys. Wait here.”
Feifei stepped out of the car and headed back into the agency.
Ten minutes later, she returned.
“Are you sure you want to go?” Feifei asked again.
“Yes, let’s go!” Xiaocao replied firmly.
“Alright then.”
Seeing her determination, Feifei had no choice but to comply.
Xiaocao nodded, started the car, and drove toward Junyue Villa District.
“Jie, what exactly happened in that villa?” Xiaocao asked cautiously.
“That villa was built six years ago.”
“The first owners were a married couple…”
Feifei recalled the details and started recounting the story to Xiaocao.
“At first, nothing seemed unusual.”
“But five years ago, neighbors started to notice something strange…
“They realized that they hadn’t seen the villa’s female owner for a long time.”
(End of Chapter 7)
