"I've tried convincing her, but she won't listen to me. Whenever anyone tries to get near the phone, she completely loses it," Guo's father said helplessly, rolling up his sleeve to reveal an arm full of bite marks.
"See this? These are from when I tried to take the phone away from her."
"Auntie is not in her right mind right now. Reasoning won't work. The best option is to take the phone when she's not paying attention," Lu Fei suggested.
"I've tried that too. It's impossible! She clings to the phone all the time, barely eats or drinks. The slightest noise puts her on edge," Guo's father sighed, his brows furrowed in worry. "I know this can't go on—her body won't hold up. All I can do is humor her and coax her into eating something, hoping to find a solution later."
Lu Fei knew there was no time to wait. It was the seventh day since Guo Haitao's death—a critical moment when supernatural occurrences were most likely to escalate.
He took out another talisman designed to calm spirits.
"Uncle, this is a peace talisman. Slip it into Auntie's clothing without her noticing. It should help her calm down. Once she's asleep, we can quietly take the phone away."
"A peace talisman?" Guo's father looked doubtful, but recalling his wife's terrifying episodes, he decided to give it a try.
He cautiously walked into the bedroom with the talisman in hand.
"Dear, aren't you tired? How about lying down for a bit?"
"What do you want now? Are you trying to take Haitao's phone?" Guo's mother eyed him warily.
"I just came to check on you. Come on, lie down for a while. Don't you need the energy for your call with Haitao tonight?"
Guo's father did his best to soothe her. Slowly, her defenses lowered.
As he helped her onto the bed, he discreetly slipped the talisman into her pocket.
Clutching the blood-stained phone, she unexpectedly closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.
"Does the talisman work that well?"
Guo's father hesitated for a moment, then carefully reached out for the phone. When she didn't react, he sighed in relief, covering her with a blanket before tiptoeing out of the bedroom.
"Kids, she's really asleep!"
"Uncle, please give me the phone," Lu Fei said eagerly.
As soon as he got hold of Guo Haitao's phone, he opened WeChat and began searching through the messages.
Despite Pan Linkai's nervous glances, Lu Fei found no record of Guo Haitao's account sending any recent messages. All social activity on the phone had ceased at the moment of Haitao's death.
"Lu Fei, I wasn't lying! The message is still on my phone!" Pan Linkai said anxiously.
"I believe you. This phone is definitely problematic."
This was Lu Fei's first encounter with such a cursed object. He thought for a moment before pulling out his lightning-infused jujube wood stick. Infusing it with magical energy, he gently tapped the phone.
A faint blue arc of electricity flashed across the device.
The oppressive, cold energy surrounding the phone instantly dissipated.
The sinister chill was gone. The phone was now just an ordinary phone.
Was it really that simple?
"Child, what are you doing? Is something wrong with Haitao's phone?" Guo's father asked, puzzled.
"Nothing serious, Uncle. We just wanted to check for any issues with the phone," Lu Fei replied. "Uncle, could you let me borrow the phone for a few days?"
"What do you need Haitao's phone for?" Guo's father grew more confused. His son was gone—weren't these friends afraid to handle his belongings?
"Auntie mentioned seeing messages on the phone. We'd like to get it checked out and see if we can recover them," Lu Fei explained, crafting an excuse. He didn't want to add to the older man's burden.
"But this phone is your auntie's last connection to Haitao. If I take it, she..." Guo's father hesitated.
"Uncle, it's precisely because it reminds her of Haitao that it's making things harder for both of you. Every time she looks at it, she'll think about the tragedy. Separating her from it for a few days might help her move forward," Lu Fei gently persuaded.
Looking at his sleeping wife and the bite marks on his arm, Guo's father sighed heavily. "You're right. Fine, take it. But please, bring it back soon."
"Don't worry, Uncle. I'll return it as soon as it's fixed," Lu Fei reassured him.
"Good kid, thank you for your kindness. Haitao was lucky to have friends like you."
"Uncle, please take care of yourself and Auntie. Let us know if you need anything," Lu Fei said, preparing to leave.
Pan Linkai, still uneasy, was eager to leave as well.
The two bid farewell and left the apartment.
However, just as they stepped outside, the incense in front of Guo Haitao's portrait abruptly went out.
The smoke trail formed a distinct pattern: one long in the middle, two short on the sides.
Once outside the complex, Pan Linkai stopped to catch his breath under the sunlight, his face pale.
"Lu Fei, why did you take Haitao's phone? Aren't you afraid?" He glanced nervously at the blood-stained device in Lu Fei's hand, trembling too much to get close.
"The phone isn't a problem anymore," Lu Fei said calmly.
"Just like that? You tapped it with a stick, and it's fine?" Pan Linkai asked, incredulous. "Lu Fei, can you tell me what's really going on? You're not like other people. You're so calm with all this. And those talismans—what are they?"
"My family business deals with supernatural objects. I've seen my fair share," Lu Fei explained with a slight smile.
"Supernatural objects? Does that mean you're some kind of Taoist master? Am I safe now?" Pan Linkai's expression shifted to hope.
"I can guarantee the phone won't cause trouble anymore, but I can't say for sure that the message you received came from it. Be cautious for the next few days, and avoid staying alone," Lu Fei advised.
"If it wasn't the phone, what else could it be? Thanks, Lu Fei!" Pan Linkai said, gripping Lu Fei's hand tightly. "People say you're cold and aloof, but they're wrong. We weren't even close, and yet you helped me."
"We're classmates, after all," Lu Fei replied with a faint smile. His real concern was ensuring Guo Haitao could find peace, helping Pan Linkai was secondary.
Pan Linkai thanked him profusely and even asked for Lu Fei's contact information, promising to treat him to a meal once he got paid.
Back home, Pan Linkai finally allowed himself to relax.
"At last, I can get some sleep."
He collapsed onto his bed, his tightly wound nerves unwinding. Exhaustion overtook him, and he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Some time later, his phone rang, waking him abruptly.
Groggily, he picked it up and looked at the screen. At first, he was confused. Then his pupils began to shake with disbelief.
On the screen was a WeChat message from Guo Haitao.
"Lin Kai, why haven't you come? I'll have to come find you."
*Ding.*
Another message popped up—a photo.
Pan Linkai recognized it immediately. It was the entrance to his apartment complex.
*Ding.*
Another photo appeared.
This time, it was his building—Number 3.