Chapter 13: Can’t Afford It
Midnight.
The drizzle that had stopped for a moment began to fall again, pattering on the bluestone streets of Peony Street. The air was cool and fresh.
Huacheng Folk Culture Research Administration
Sitting in front of theputer, the soft sound of the rain pped on the leaves of the nt outside. The repeated pattering made Jiangli considerably frustrated, so much so that she lost several Mahjong games in a row.
Indeed, it was a risky decision to let Yibei be the bait.
However, she had no choice.
It was easy for urban legends and rumours to hide in the city and evade capture.
Besides, there are too few psychic users in Huacheng, and all of them specialize in something. It would be great if there was a psychic user who could track down urban legends and rumours.
Yibei seemed to have potential in this area, however. If only
Jiangli brushed that idea out of her mind. The process of bing a psychic user is too painful and dangerous. Forcing him to be a psychic is like asking someone to die.
And all psychic users die miserably.
Jiangli didnt want to hurt an innocent person.
Jesus Christ.
Yibei fell onto his bed and let out a nasty groan.
The reality of the situation just hit himall the ghost stories and urban legends online, the far-fetched and eerily realistic stories of mysterious eventsit was all real.
Laying on his bed, he stared at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep.
It wasnt that quiet in his apartmentsounds of water dripping in his bathroom, ss balls bouncing on the unit above him, sighing in the living roomit was as if he wasnt living alone.
Those doctors were right. It wasnt my eyesight after all, but these strange things were happening!
Now that he was sure that these things were real, he figured that he wasnt going to get into trouble anymore.
However, he was sure that he was bound to die one day.
He thought about the girl in his dream and wondered about her identity. He pondered whether he should report to the [Dreams, Nightmares, and What-Not Administration] or whatever they called themselves.
Thinking about them, he guesses that this mysterious organization seemed to be on the good side of things. Perhaps he could help them out?
I could be a part-time worker for them! And I get to sleep on the job too!
He thought that it was way better than doing odd jobs to support himself. Being outside meant that he was at risk of dying.
Time passed slowly, and Yibei was apanied by his own thoughts. Unconsciously, his eyelids began to droop. Just as he was about to ept the warm embrace of sleep, he could hear a knocking from downstairs.
Knock, knock, knock!
Lu Yibei was in a daze before he was forcibly ripped from his limbo. Hearing the knocks, he got up and prepared himself to open the door. However, the words that came soon after made his drowsiness vanish in an instant.
Anyone home? If there isnt anyone, Ill let myself in! A hoarse and guttural voice could be heard outside.
W-wait, isnt that the same exact thing Mr Rabbit said before he broke into that womans house?
Lu Yibei fell back on his bed, clutching the statue of Ac, the Immovable, tightly. His legs felt weak.
Something strange happened in his room, too. The water droplets in his bathroom, the sighs in the living room, the ss marbles upstairs
These strange things started to make him feel uneasy, as if they were fearing his existence outside his door. Soon, the room fell into a dead silence.
And Lu Yibei was all alone.
He sat in silence for a few seconds, grateful that he had barricaded the door before sleeping. Mr Rabbit had some trouble entering the house.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Ill let myself in!
Lu Yibei took deep breaths, attempting to calm his racing heart that was trying to jump out of his throat.
I cant just wait and die like this. Right, I need to call for help.
He rushed to his bedside table and scrambled for his phone. Turning on his security camera app, he looked at the scene outside his
It was pitch ck,
The screen flickered, and a rabbits head was staring directly into the camera.
F*ck!
Lu Yibei threw his phone out of fright but flew towards it again.
Aha! You are home! Ill being in now!
Sh*t, Sh*t, Sh*t, Sh*t.
He could hear the rabbit twist the doorknob, but the doorknob emitted electrical shocks, and violent knocking could be heard once again.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The door shook violently, making its sawdust fall from the door frame.
Amidst the violent knocking, Lu Yibei crouched in a corner as his phone beeped in the darkness.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Lu Yibeis eyes began to water, and they burned.
When he opened his eyes, he saw something surge in the dark room, approaching quietly. The ceiling seemed to copse upon itself, and he felt ustrophobic.
The phone connected, and everything returned to normal.
H-h-hello? Police? Theres s-s-s-something outside my door. My name is Lu Yibei. I am living on the 9th floor of the 3rd building of Jingyi Apartment, and
Only static could be heard.
Hehe!
The static gradually shifted into a giggle, and it was clear that it was the voice of Mr Rabbit.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Lu Yibei gulped as he heard his living room window being pried open downstairs.
His face turned pale, and he continued dialling every single emergency number he knew.
Public Security, Firefighters, the security downstairs, his regr take-out ce
Crack! Crack! Crack!
After calling everybody he knew, he stumbled upon Shuis blocked contact, and he hurriedly unblocked him and called him.
Beep! Beep! Be-
Hello? Yibei? I-ah! Im doing escort work now! Let me guess, do you want in on the fun too? Theres everything here, men, women, and
Im going to die. D-door monster outside my window
Clink!
His window was open, and he could hear that eerie breeze rushing into his living room.