9:30 AM!
Fang Xiaocao, her eyes like those of a panda, crawled out of the hotel bed.
Ever since she received the message from her future self, telling her to buy the haunted house, Xiaocao had been suffering from insomnia.
She tossed and turned for a long time before finally drifting off into a fitful sleep.
After freshening up and donning sunglasses to hide her dark circles, Xiaocao took her laptop and went downstairs.
She checked out at the front desk and walked out of the hotel, brushing past a deliveryman as she exited the building.
[Ding Dong!]
The notification sound from her phone went off as she left the hotel.
Xiaocao looked at her phone, puzzled.
It was a WeChat message.
She immediately opened WeChat.
[Hot Noodles: Run, the killer is coming!]
Staring at the WeChat message, Xiaocao was stunned.
The image of the person she had just brushed past flashed involuntarily in her mind.
Instantly, Xiaocao felt a chill engulf her limbs.
Without a moment's hesitation, she bolted for the parking lot.
She ran back to her car and, flooring the gas pedal, her BMW mini shot out like an arrow.
As she drove past the hotel entrance, she saw a tall man in a yellow delivery uniform rushing out of the hotel doors, his eyes scanning the area as if searching for something.
"It's him!"
"It's definitely him!"
Xiaocao screamed inwardly.
Not daring to linger, Xiaocao sped away.
Watching the man through the rearview mirror, at the exact moment her BMW mini passed by, the killer happened to look up.
In that instant...
Xiaocao felt an eerie sense of déjà vu.
She seemed to have seen those eyes somewhere before!
Or perhaps...
They belonged to someone she knew well!
But for the life of her, Xiaocao couldn't remember.
There was no time for contemplation, she quickly drove off the street, fearing the relentless killer might follow.
After circling around, Xiaocao finally headed towards the university.
There was a real estate agency near the university where she once did a part-time job handing out flyers.
She parked the car in front of the agency and went inside.
"Oh?"
"Xiaocao, what brings you here?"
As soon as Xiaocao walked through the door, an agent recognized her and greeted her with a smile.
"Sister Feifei~"
Xiaocao responded with a smile.
"Is something the matter, Xiaocao?"
Liu Feifei asked with a smile.
"Sis, I've come to contribute to your performance."
Xiaocao said cheerily.
"Looking to rent an apartment?"
"I'll find you something cheap."
"One with no agency fees~"
Liu Feifei said with a smile.
"Mmm~ Not that~"
Xiaocao shook her head, still smiling.
"Sis, let's talk outside."
Xiaocao took Liu Feifei's hand and walked towards the door.
"Hey, wait a second, Xiaocao."
Liu Feifei called out to her.
"You scamp, why such a hurry?"
"Let me tell the manager, I'm still working."
Liu Feifei said with feigned annoyance.
"Okay~"
Xiaocao blinked mischievously and agreed.
"Manager, I'm taking Xiaocao to see an apartment."
After giving the manager a heads up, Liu Feifei left the office with Xiaocao.
"So, what's up?"
"Why all the secrecy?"
Standing in front of the agency, Liu Feifei asked with curiosity.
"Sis, let's talk in the car!"
Xiaocao took out her keys, pressed the unlock button, and the BMW mini "beep beeped" twice. Xiaocao opened the car door and beckoned Liu Feifei.
Seeing the BMW mini, Liu Feifei paused.
Then she looked at Xiaocao with a complex expression.
Sitting in the car, Liu Feifei hesitated for a moment before speaking in a weighted tone, "Xiaocao, you're a good kid, don't start doing bad things now."
Fang Xiaocao was taken aback upon hearing this.
She immediately burst into laughter.
"Sister, you've got it all wrong," she said.
"I'm not that kind of girl."
"You see, your sister here just won the lottery."
Fang Xiaocao said with a giggle.
"Won... the lottery?"
Liu Feifei's eyes widened like brass bells, her CPU felt like it was overheating, and she was having trouble accepting this twist of fate.
"Yep, won the lottery~"
Fang Xiaocao said with a giggle.
"Okay, okay..."
Liu Feifei blinked and responded.
However, her expression was still one of bewilderment.
"Sister, I want to buy a house!" Fang Xiaocao cut straight to the chase.
"Hmm, okay, where do you want to rent..."
Liu Feifei nodded, replying offhand.
Clearly, she hadn't quite recovered from the shock yet.
But soon, Liu Feifei collected herself and exclaimed, "What? Buy a house!"
"Yes, buy a house!"
Fang Xiaocao nodded earnestly.
"Xiaocao, how big a prize did you win?"
"Buying cars and houses now?"
"You're still young, still in school, you can't just waste money."
Liu Feifei advised earnestly and with concern.
Feeling the full warmth of Liu Feifei's concerned tone, Fang Xiaocao couldn't help being touched.
"Sister, I understand, don't worry," she said with a smile.
"Alright then, which house do you want to buy?"
Liu Feifei, deciding not to press further, inquired.
"Is there a listing for a cheap haunted house in the Junyue Villa District here with us?" Fang Xiaocao asked with a smile.
Upon hearing Fang Xiaocao's words, Liu Feifei was startled again and blurted out instinctively, "Junyue Villa District?"
"Oh my~"
"Sister, don't be so jumpy~"
Fang Xiaocao showed an expression of feigned fear.
"Alright, alright, it's my lack of composure," Liu Feifei said with an awkward laugh.
"Xiaocao, about this villa..."
Liu Feifei hesitated, then continued,
"People have died there, a lot of people. Are you sure you want to buy it?"
Hearing that many people had died there, Fang Xiaocao's hair stood on end, and she got goosebumps.
"Buy... let's buy it..."
Fang Xiaocao said weakly.
"So, are you buying it or not?"
Liu Feifei raised an eyebrow, asking with a smile.
Thinking of the "surprise" mentioned in the WeChat message, Fang Xiaocao gritted her teeth and said, "Buy!"
"Alright, if you've decided, then I'll take you there to have a look first,"
"I'll go get the keys. Wait for me,"
Liu Feifei said, as she opened the car door and walked into the real estate agency.
Ten minutes later, Liu Feifei came out of the agency and returned to the car.
"Are you sure you want to take a look?"
Liu Feifei asked once more.
"Yes, let's go!"
Fang Xiaocao nodded firmly.
"Then let's go."
Seeing Fang Xiaocao so resolute, Liu Feifei said helplessly.
Fang Xiaocao nodded, started the car, and drove toward Junyue Villa District.
"Sister, what exactly happened in that villa?"
Fang Xiaocao probed tentatively.
"That villa was built six years ago,"
"The original owners were a couple..."
Liu Feifei reminisced, narrating everything she knew to Fang Xiaocao.
"After the villa was built, it was purchased in full by a couple who came to Tang City to do business."
"At first, there was nothing out of the ordinary."
"Until one day, five years ago, the neighbors suddenly realized that they hadn't seen the lady of the house for a long time."