Records of the Halls of Ten Thousand Affairs: Chapter 80: The Hopeless Romantic (Part 10)

Sitting in the reception chair at Wan Shi Zhai, Zheng Kai was still a bit dazed. He looked Chen Jiu and Chen Wu over again, feeling like the two of them looked very familiar, but he couldn’t for the life of him remember where he had seen them before.

But with so many people in the country, it was perfectly normal for two people in the same city to look alike. A fuzzy memory didn’t mean anything, so he quickly talked himself out of it, shook his head, and dismissed the thought.

Chen Jiu looked at the information he filled out on the form, putting on an act and stroking her chin. In truth, they already knew Zheng Kai’s information and schedule inside and out by now. Looking at this was just going through the motions.

“Boss, I searched your shop online. The reviews are pretty good.” Zheng Kai’s voice was very weak, dark circles under his eyes, staring blankly at the table. “I normally don’t believe in this stuff, but I’ve been dreaming about her way too often these past few days.”

Chen Jiu didn’t change her posture, only slightly raised her eyelids and asked, “Who is she?”

“My ex girlfriend. She passed away some time ago.” Zheng Kai pressed his lips together, his voice low. “Suicide.”

In the back room, Xu Wei’s mother’s expression instantly turned frighteningly dark when she heard this. Su Xiaoyu sensed her mood was off and leaned over to give her a hug.

Chen Wu came over carrying water, set it down hard in front of him, and asked pointedly, “Oh? If it was suicide, why is she haunting you? Did you do something to wrong her?”

Zheng Kai put on a look that said it was too complicated to explain, then pulled out his phone, sighed, looked at the two of them, and played the part of someone who wanted to speak but couldn’t to the extreme.

He let out a long breath and said solemnly, “I hope you can keep this secret for me. I’m the person involved in this incident.”

Chen Jiu immediately responded, “Of course. Protecting client privacy is our basic professional ethics.”

In her heart she thought, we’re selling you out. After this is over, get ready for a thousand harassment calls.

Having gotten Chen Jiu’s promise, Zheng Kai turned his phone screen around, pushed it in front of the two of them, and gestured for them to look. Then he covered his face with his hands, looking utterly exhausted and dejected.

The two of them exchanged a glance, knowing full well what was going on, but having to pretend they were just hearing about this news for the first time. They kept up expressions of shock while reading through what could only be described as torture.

“Ohhh, so you’re the main character in this news story.” Chen Wu read aloud woodenly, putting on a fake smile.

Chen Jiu’s eyelid twitched, then she forced her conscience aside and tugged at the corner of her mouth, saying, “Looks like you’ve had a rough time of it too these days.”

Zheng Kai nodded, still covering his face.

Chen Jiu and Chen Wu: “…”

Their eyes clashed fiercely in the air. A moment later, Chen Jiu pressed down on Chen Wu’s hand, telling her to keep holding back.

“I really did wrong her.” Zheng Kai launched into a speech full of fake sincerity, his voice muffled: “At the time I felt… she needed someone to help her get through it. She was too prone to getting stuck in her own head. A small thing could occupy her thoughts for a whole day… I just wanted her to relax a little, but maybe I really don’t have a gift for counseling people. I couldn’t help her get through it together. I’ve always felt very guilty, so I often see her in my dreams.”

Chen Jiu listened in silence, her brow furrowed, saying nothing.

Zheng Kai took this as her being drawn into the atmosphere of his speech, and felt slightly relieved in his heart: “These past few days the dreams have been especially realistic. I originally didn’t believe supernatural phenomena existed in this world, but she really seems to have shown up. I took some psychiatric medication, but it didn’t help. I really had no other options, which is why I came to you for help. Please help me, master…”

As he spoke, he actually managed to squeeze out two tears with effort.

“Every night I dream about her. Sometimes she’s sitting on the couch waiting for me. Sometimes she’s standing on the balcony with her back to me. She never turns around. I’ve always wanted to tell her I’m sorry. But every time I say it she disappears, so I’ve never been able to say it out loud. I’d rather she just stood there motionless. I don’t want to say goodbye.”

Chen Wu felt goosebumps rise all over her body, cursing in her heart that these were crocodile tears. She never would have guessed Zheng Kai had this kind of acting skill. It was a real shame he hadn’t gone into show business.

“I can help you.” Chen Jiu said: “As for the price, I hope you’re mentally prepared.”

Drop dead, you. If I don’t bleed you dry I’m not surnamed Chen. Perfect timing to squeeze you for cash.

Zheng Kai nodded repeatedly, but when he heard that Chen Jiu charged fifty thousand for a single calming talisman, he still hesitated.

He could afford the money, but fifty thousand for a talisman whose effects were completely unknown, with no trial period, paid upfront… wasn’t that a bit too extravagant?

“This…” Zheng Kai gave an awkward laugh, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

Chen Jiu’s expression changed: “Mr. Zheng, dark clouds are covering your head. If you’re not even willing to spend this little bit of money, I’m afraid your life is in danger. That female ghost will enter your dreams today and possess your body tomorrow!”

Her dramatic scare tactics successfully made Zheng Kai feel the pressure of supernatural forces. A notification sound rang out. Fifty thousand had been successfully transferred. Zheng Kai stretched out both hands and carefully took the sealed talisman paper, tucking it into his pocket.

Chen Jiu said, “This is the quickest and most convenient method. If this female ghost’s resentment isn’t too heavy, you only need to stick this talisman by your headboard and wait seven days, then she’ll leave.” Then she changed her tone: “But if her resentment is extremely deep, then I’ll have to suspect there’s some water mixed into what you’re telling me, sir.”

“Everything I said is the truth, not a single false word!” Zheng Kai said with a straight face.

“Of course I believe you, Mr. Zheng.” Chen Jiu smiled: “Have a safe trip.”

Zheng Kai left. Xu Wei’s mother pulled back the curtain, her face dark as water, staring in the direction he had left, muttering under her breath: “He won’t die a good death…”

“Auntie.” Chen Jiu walked up to her and asked for her phone.

Xu Wei’s mother didn’t understand, but right now Chen Jiu was her biggest ally. If she wanted something, there must be a reason for it, so without a word she handed over her phone.

Chen Jiu scanned the QR code, and the freshly received fifty thousand went straight into Xu Wei’s mother’s account.

Xu Wei’s mother was stunned, quickly snatching her phone back, saying urgently, “This won’t do!”

“Auntie, don’t worry.” Chen Jiu gently held her back, saying: “I still have ways to squeeze money out of him. This little bit isn’t enough for him to atone for his sins.”

Xu Wei’s mother’s tears immediately started flowing: “Child, I know this is your good intention, but I’m just a lonely old woman. What use is so much money to me? My daughter is already gone. What do I need this money for?”

The room fell silent for a moment.

Chen Wu also started crying, her nose stinging: “Auntie, even if you’re alone, you still have to live well. Look…” She pulled Chen Jiu over, sniffling: “The two of us were born not knowing who our parents were. We only had one master. Now that we’ve grown up and come down the mountain, we’re both living on our own… A person can still live very happily alone.”

Su Xiaoyu also couldn’t hold back anymore, tilting her face up, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at them.

“…” Chen Jiu scratched her head, racking her brains, and said: “Right, Auntie, life is still long. You’ll meet new people too. Without blood relatives, you can still have friends. Friends are just family without blood ties. It’s all the same.”

Xu Wei’s mother’s tears flowed even harder. She pulled Chen Wu and Su Xiaoyu into her arms, and the two kids cried their eyes out together.

After crying for a while, Xu Wei’s mother looked at Chen Jiu again. Chen Jiu quickly waved her hands, politely declining: “It’s fine, it’s fine. Cry however you want. It’s good to let your emotions out.”

After about half an hour, Chen Jiu sat down at the front desk and suddenly snapped her fingers.

Chen Wu was still rolling a hardboiled egg under her eyes to reduce the puffiness. Hearing the sound, she turned to look at her: “?”

“Nothing. Just wait and watch the show.” Chen Jiu tugged at the corner of her mouth.

On the other end, Zheng Kai dragged his exhausted body to his front door, reached into his pocket, but came up with nothing.

He froze on the spot, then rapidly patted himself down all over, but still didn’t find that talisman paper.

Cold sweat immediately ran down his forehead. Oh no, oh no, oh no. Could the pocket have been too shallow and the talisman had fallen out somewhere along the way?

Damn it all! That was fifty thousand!

Zheng Kai went crazy, stripping off his clothes and pants and shaking them out nonstop, but nothing came out. Under the strange gazes of neighbors passing by his door, he furiously put his clothes back on, walked back to his car along the original route, and searched the car inside and out, even checking under the car, but still found nothing.

Damn it, could he have left it at Wan Shi Zhai?

Just as Chen Jiu expected, Zheng Kai, clinging to his last shred of hope, returned to Wan Shi Zhai before dark.

“Boss Chen…” He found it hard to get the words out, not because of some nonexistent pride, but because he was terrified that if he brought it up again, Chen Jiu would take advantage of the situation and demand an arm and a leg, asking for another hundred or eighty thousand.

Chen Jiu pretended not to know, looking up from her computer with a suspicious expression: “Hmm? Mr. Zheng, why are you back?”

At this point Su Xiaoyu had taken Xu Wei’s mother home to meet her own grandmother. Grandma loved lively company and would surely receive her warmly. They could have dinner together too. Only Chen Jiu and Chen Wu, who was just there to help out, remained in the shop.

Chen Wu didn’t know what was going on either, thinking Chen Jiu was truly a fortune teller. She secretly gave her a thumbs up.

Zheng Kai let out a long sigh: “Well, I think the talisman I bought might have been left at your shop. I thought I’d come back and look for it.”

“What?!” Chen Wu put on a shocked act, looking even more anxious than him: “That was fifty thousand!”

She quickly got up and searched every nook and cranny in front of Zheng Kai’s eyes, the sofa, the coffee table, the counter, and everywhere else, but still came up empty.

Chen Jiu pulled up the shop’s security footage and openly showed Zheng Kai the relevant section. The video showed that after receiving the talisman paper, Zheng Kai had carefully tucked it into his pocket and safely walked out the door.

Which meant the talisman couldn’t possibly have been left at their shop.

“Such a shame.” Chen Jiu put on a sympathetic expression.