Chapter 129: Children’s Laughter (9)
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Yan Shixun’s voice wasn’t loud, but in the quiet room, it sounded exceptionally clear.
The person called out by name stood frozen in the room, unsure whether to disappear or turn around.
But this hesitation already provided Yan Shixun with the best answer.
His initial look of curiosity gradually transformed into shock, his eyes widening as he stared at the somewhat familiar figure, as if confirming, he called out again, “Ye Li?”
“Is it really you?”
As these words came out, the atmosphere seemed to grow heavier around the figure.
For a long while, there was only silence in the dark room, until a hesitant response finally came, “I… “
“Wait! Hold on!” Yan Shixun quickly interrupted, “Don’t turn around just yet. Give me a moment to prepare myself mentally!”
The figure stiffened even more.
Meanwhile, Yan Shixun took a deep breath, feeling the urge to escape for the first time in his life.
—This situation is truly terrifying!
Just the thought of Zhang Wubing’s image was enough to give him nightmares!
However, if it were just Zhang Wubing, it would be manageable. After all, over the years, Yan Shixun had never considered Zhang Wubing an outsider. He had witnessed Zhang Wubing’s most embarrassing moments, like when he ran away from the university terrified by ghosts. So, in Yan Shixun’s eyes, Zhang Wubing had no image to shatter, and he was mentally prepared.
But Ye Li was different.
Ever since Yan Shixun first met Ye Li, he had never let his guard down or stopped suspecting him. He believed Ye Li might be some kind of ancient martial arts master, someone who had lived for centuries. Ye Li’s image in his mind was always mysterious, powerful, and dangerous.
To be honest, Yan Shixun felt he might not be able to accept Ye Li dressed as a woman. He thought it would shatter his entire worldview.
He had just tried picturing Ye Li’s face on Zhang Wubing’s image in his mind, and in that moment, he almost wanted to rip his brain out of his skull, wash it thoroughly, and put it back in.
It seemed like Ye Li could sense Yan Shixun’s subtle disdain because the figure in the long dress appeared almost as stiff as a statue, like a deity on an altar devoid of any warmth.
Fortunately, Yan Shixun didn’t keep Ye Li waiting too long. After taking a few deep breaths, he said, “Okay, I’m ready.”
Only then did the figure slowly turn around, as if afraid of startling Yan Shixun, and faced towards the door.
Yan Shixun, who had been prepared to face death, found himself unexpectedly stunned as Ye Li turned around. With each movement, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Yan Shixun’s guess was spot on. Standing in the room wearing a dress was indeed Ye Li.
Ye Li stood at a towering height of six feet three inches, with broad shoulders and a large frame. His body was beautifully proportioned, devoid of any excess fat, and his muscles were firm and powerful.
Despite possessing a face of incomparable beauty, beyond the limits of human cognition, there was no mistaking him for a woman.
Whether it was his aura, stature, or the perpetually cold and stern expression that never betrayed any warmth, everything about Ye Li conveyed the message to anyone who saw him that he was not someone to be trifled with.
In fact, apart from Yan Shixun, there were hardly any strangers willing to approach Ye Li.
That instilled in them a profound fear of being laid bare, their souls and sins exposed for all to see, awaiting the heavy dread of judgment.
But at that moment, when Ye Li adorned the floor-length antique gown, a different persona emerged.
The silk gown was impeccably tailored, with intricate patterns embroidered on the silver-blue fabric, flowing smoothly over the contours of Ye Li’s already perfect figure, presenting it even more gracefully.
Yet it felt utterly seamless.
Ye Li’s ebony locks weren’t fashioned into the traditional women’s style of that era, but casually cascaded over his shoulders.
A few strands fell across his forehead and slid down his ears, accentuating his pale, bloodless complexion with a strange and ancient beauty.
Standing there, Ye Li seemed like a living piece of bygone history, with shadows of swords and flashes of blades flickering behind him, yet he only gazed solemnly ahead toward a world bathed in light.
He didn’t have a destination in mind, but he knew which direction to head toward.
He had his own place to belong.
Yet Ye Li’s sharply defined jawline tensed, forming a fierce curve, his thin lips pressed to a pale hue, as if holding onto some tension.
Yan Shixun gazed at Ye Li for a long time, his breath involuntarily lightening. After a while, he regained his composure.
“Ahem.”
His slender hand formed a loose fist, coughing lightly into it, his lowered eyes hastily regathering themselves, concealing the turmoil beneath the surface with practiced ease. It took several seconds before he resumed his usual calm demeanor.
“I never expected you to end up with a female identity, but what’s even more surprising is how unexpectedly well you pull off this attire.”
Yan Shixun scanned Ye Li up and down, smiling. “This outfit suits you far too perfectly. I’m starting to wonder if you’ve always dressed in similar clothing, as you don’t seem out of place at all.”
Ye Li pressed his lips together, usually adept at rendering a fitting verdict with his vocal cords, yet now unsure how to produce even a single note.
Fortunately, Yan Shixun wasn’t one for morbid amusement; they weren’t here to jest about each other wearing women’s gowns.
He quickly averted his gaze from Ye Li, giving him some space to adjust.
“Are you just awake?” Yan Shixun inquired. “I heard a noise from upstairs, like something fell, so I came up to check, and then… ahem.”
Yan Shixun realized he was circling back to the beginning of their conversation, so he quickly pretended to clear his throat due to a supposed irritation, then turned his head, feigning interest in examining the items in the room.
“I did indeed drop something just now.”
Once again, it was Ye Li, quicker than Yan Shixun, to adapt to the slightly awkward situation.
Upon realizing that Yan Shixun harbored no negative feelings towards his current attire, Ye Li’s tense muscles relaxed. He nodded naturally, his calm demeanor suggesting he had long been accustomed to such dressing.
Yet, beneath Ye Li’s powerful presence, the outfit exuded no hint of femininity. Despite being a women’s gown, it seemed to evoke the aura of ancient robes when worn by him.
“When I woke up, I found myself lying on a chaise lounge, with a bottle of sleeping pills and strong liquor on the nearby table, and in my arms, a framed photo of a man and a woman.”
Ye Li recounted his actions calmly, devoid of the earlier rage. “Since it wasn’t mine, I dropped it.”
Upon hearing Ye Li’s ordeal, Yan Shixun, after a brief astonishment, shook his head with a somewhat amused expression. “Seems like whoever managed to make us both lose consciousness and pull off this series of events is quite audacious, aren’t they?”
Influenced by Yan Shixun’s mood, Ye Li also found the situation somewhat amusing, and the icy mask on his face slowly thawed.
However, Yan Shixun could never imagine how furious Ye Li had been moments ago—nothing had ever put him in such a predicament!
Even the heavens and the earth, for millennia, had never ceased their game with him, yet they had never truly defeated him.
But this time, Ye Li had indeed lost consciousness.
He lost consciousness a step later than Yan Shixun and the others.
He watched in horror as Yan Shixun collapsed before him. Fueled by anger and urgency, he rushed to Yan Shixun’s side, but only managed to catch him in his arms. Before he could ascertain what had happened to Yan Shixun, everything went black before him. The world, which had always been his companion, disappeared in an instant.
When Ye Li woke up again, he found himself holding the framed photo of a stranger, with items not belonging to him placed nearby.
This filled him with rage, even sparking a momentary urge to destroy everything.
If Yan Shixun hadn’t appeared in time, Ye Li might have acted on that impulse.
But now, he simply smiled as he listened to Yan Shixun explain everything.
“However, there are advantages to waking up late. I’ve already taken care of the tasks you should have done.”
Yan Shixun remarked casually. “No need for thanks.”
“In short, we’re currently in the old concession area by the seaside from a hundred years ago, and each of us has our own identity. The clothes we’re wearing, the items around us, and even the location we woke up in—all hint at our identities.”
Yan Shixun shrugged. “Ever played a game? You can think of this as a large-scale role-playing game. If you can’t find clues, you’ll be forever trapped in the mist at the edge of the concession area, unable to find your way home.”
“And conveniently, while investigating my identity, I stumbled upon yours as well.”
Yan Shixun seemed to be struggling to suppress a smile, but it was evident he failed.
However, his attempt to conceal his emotions resulted in a thin layer of moisture in his eyes, enhancing his smile. In the dim room, it shimmered like starlight, incredibly enchanting.
Ye Li couldn’t help but glance sideways, utterly captivated by Yan Shixun.
Even if his identity meant he was to be killed by Yan Shixun, at this moment, he would willingly accept it.
—As long as Yan Shixun continued to smile at him like that.
Ye Li thought to himself.
“Let’s reintroduce ourselves.”
Yan Shixun extended his slender hand, clad in sheepskin gloves, with an air of openness. “I’m Jing Bin, Jing Shiwen, a diplomat during the concession era. And you are my lover.”
He teasingly winked at Ye Li, smiling. “I believe you are my betrothed since childhood, the one I’m destined to marry, Jing Shi Wanxiu.”
Ye Li’s narrow eyes widened instantly, waves of shock crashing through his mind, leaving him unable to regain his composure for a long time.
Only Yan Shixun’s words lingered— “You are the one I’m destined to marry.”
Yan Shixun didn’t notice Ye Lii’s unsettled expression. He simply raised his hand, unperturbed by Ye Li’s failure to grasp it, and patted Ye Li’s shoulder sympathetically. “It’s okay, I understand. You need time to digest this news.”
“After all, waking up to find yourself married, with two children, and to someone of the same gender would be enough to cause anyone to panic.”
But Ye Li seemed to miss the point, asking, “We… have children?”
His voice carried a barely perceptible tremor.
Yan Shixun looked at Ye Li in confusion, then chuckled. “Do you find this situation too absurd? Don’t worry, in this identity, Jing Bin and Jing Shi Wanxiu have children—unless you’d like to consider Zhang Dabing as your daughter.”
Yet, for some reason, Ye Li fell silent.
Instead of directly refuting Yan Shixun, he hesitated for a moment before asking, “You’re treating that living human Zhang Da… Zhang Wubing, as your daughter?”
“In that case…” Ye Li’s sharp eyebrows furrowed, his lips moved but no words came out. After a moment of hesitation, it was as if he made a certain determination, and he said, “That works for me too.”
—He spoke with a sense of tragic resignation.
Yan Shixun: “…?”
“What are you thinking?”
Yan Shixun wasn’t sure what was going through Ye Li’s mind, but he guessed it might have something to do with those founding ancestors who spent years secluded in the mountains, detached from their time, hence still holding onto the solemn meaning of father and son from that era.
He chuckled as he explained, “Zhang Dabing is my college roommate. We were roommates for four years, and we’ve kept in touch even after graduation. Every time he gets into trouble, he cries and begs me to save him, calling me dad.”
Thinking he had explained things clearly enough, Yan Shixun didn’t pay any more attention to Ye Li, instead turning to inspect the room.
Thus, he didn’t see the complex expression on Ye Li’s face, a mixture of relief and disappointment, too nuanced to put into words.
Following Ye Li’s guidance, Yan Shixun indeed found the sleeping pills and strong liquor beside the chaise lounge, along with scattered glass shards, a scene of chaos.
However, Yan Shixun remembered clearly from history that Jing Shi Wanxiu’s real passing time. She died after both her daughters had passed away. Yet, at this moment, Zhang Wubing, who played the role of the eldest daughter, was still alive. Though the younger daughter hadn’t appeared yet, it was evident that now was not the time for Jing Shi Wanxiu to die.
What was the reason for this discrepancy in timing?
Yan Shixun frowned.
Although the crew members hadn’t all been gathered yet, based on the few present, their actions and attire matched their identity information. The unknown figure behind all this had left no detail unchecked, even down to the smallest decoration on their clothes—the pocket watch in his clothing pocket, the meticulously tailored wool suit befitting a high societal status, or the student identity badge in Chi Yan’s hand. Every detail was exquisite.
The fact that every detail was handled so meticulously only deepened the mystery surrounding the early death of Jing Shi Wanxiu. Unless… Jing Shi Wanxiu didn’t want to die.
Someone must have wanted to kill her, then stage the scene to make it look like a suicide. That’s why Ye Li had seen such obvious clues.
To be found dead in her bedroom, with a well-dressed appearance, holding a photo with her husband, it would seem like a dignified suicide—quite typical for the era.
In this time period, investigations were often lax, especially when it came to influential families. They wouldn’t allow outsiders to inspect the bodies of their female relatives. Thus, if this scenario were to occur, it would easily be labeled as a suicide without further investigation.
That would explain everything.
After all, from the photo found in Yan Shixun’s pocket watch, it was evident that Jing Shi Wanxiu didn’t merely tolerate Jing Bin as her husband out of parental obligation, but rather harbored a fervent admiration for him, constrained by the limitations of the era and her own circumstances, resulting in a love that was subtle and restrained.
Jing Shi Wanxiu wasn’t the type to leave her beloved husband through suicide.
Wait a minute, was it murder?
Yan Shixun suddenly remembered the note he found under the Buddha statue, warning him that someone intended to assassinate him within three days.
Targeting a diplomat in the concession area was no small matter in that era. Mishandling it could even lead to a tsunami of protests.
Whoever wanted to assassinate Jing Bin would have to plan meticulously in advance.
…For example, by targeting his family first.
Yan Shixun turned back, his expression grave, as he looked at Ye Li. “Madam, it seems I have involved you.”
In that instant, Ye Li’s expression turned strange, as if some emotion was struggling to surface but was forcefully suppressed.
However, Yan Shixun didn’t notice Ye Li’s emotional turmoil. He joked, “However, Jing Shi Wanxiu was a woman of the olden days. In her eyes, perhaps dying together could also be a form of happiness—especially when dying alongside her beloved husband.”
Ye Li’s voice turned grave. “You won’t die. I won’t allow it.”
“I’m talking about your current identity, Jing Shi Wanxiu,” Yan Shixun glanced at Ye Li strangely.
But he quickly understood. After all, not everyone could seamlessly switch between two identities.
“Zhang Wubing, Zhao Zhen, they woke up at Jing Bin’s residence, but I didn’t. I woke up at a secret intelligence exchange point. It seems Jing Bin’s current situation is not optimistic.”
Yan Shixun pulled out the small piece of paper from his pocket and showed it to Ye Li. “The other party probably thinks that Jing Bin’s family might discover something after his death. So, if they’re going to assassinate Jing Bin, they might as well take care of the others too.”
“Unlucky, Ye Li,” he teased with a laugh. “First, you get assigned a female role, and now you’re implicated by me and added to the assassination list.”
Ye Li lowered his eyes and murmured softly, “No, since you’re Jing Bin, this identity suits me just fine.”
With his old-fashioned attire and flowing dark hair, Ye Li exuded a breathtaking beauty. Especially with Yan Shixun present, the sharpness in Ye Li’s eyes was diluted, transforming into a deeper sense of danger lurking in the darkness, like the unfathomable depths beneath a calm sea surface.
Ancient, mysterious, yet carrying a profound beauty.
Just like in ancient times, where the world’s perception and admiration of the East were filled with awe and wonder.
Even Yan Shixun, who usually didn’t care much about appearances, was momentarily shaken by the extreme beauty of Ye Li as he looked straight at him.
And let’s not even mention the audience before the livestream.
[Wow… What’s up with this unfamiliar handsome guy? He’s so good-looking it’s illegal! I just want to know, did Zhang Wubing step on some kind of lucky charm? First, it’s Yan Shixun, and now this guy. Why does it feel like all the world’s undiscovered handsome guys are gathered around Zhang Wubing?]
[I’m going crazy, this man is ridiculously sexy!!! Who is he exactly, does anyone know? Even just a name would satisfy me.]
[Just now, it seemed like Brother Yan called out to him, but oddly enough, right when Brother Yan called him, my light bulb suddenly burst with a ‘pop,’ and I missed hearing his name.]
[Huh? My internet lagged for a moment, and I ended up missing his name.]
[I did too…]
[Is this some kind of mystery? Is the name of the handsome guy something we’re not allowed to know? It’s so strange, not even one out of millions heard it? What kind of probability is this?!]
[But it oddly fits his image, doesn’t it? Despite not being well-educated, he’s so stunning it leaves me speechless. When I see him, it’s like seeing one of those untouchable bosses from the old Chinatown days, with his long hair, traditional clothing, mysterious ancient Eastern aura, and inscrutable mist… All these labels just pop into my head.]
[At first, I was joking with my friends, betting on who looks scarier in women’s clothing between him and Director Zhang. But as soon as he turned around, I was shocked. Is he an immortal being? He just fits that outfit so perfectly, like he’s always belonged to that ancient era.]
[It’s not that mysterious, right? I think it’s pretty normal. Think about it, a lot of actors look particularly good in ancient costume styling, but modern makeup doesn’t suit them as well, right? Maybe this guy’s the same, perfectly suited for ancient attire.]
[…That’s a bit too much of a perfect fit. If you make any other guy wear women’s clothing, they’d look awkward with broad shoulders and a large frame, but he doesn’t have that issue at all.]
[Sigh… Director Zhang really nailed it with the title of this show. My heart is fluttering, going crazy!!!]
[Um, I know you’re all busy screaming, probably didn’t have time to take screenshots. I just wanted to tell you, for some reason, all the screenshots of this unknown man are blurry, you can’t see his face at all. It’s like we can only temporarily see him next to Yan Shixun in the livestream, but anywhere else, forget it.]
[?? It really is!]
The sound of high heels tapping against the floor could be heard from outside the room, indicating that Chi Yan had come upstairs.
It wasn’t until this moment that Yan Shixun’s mind abruptly snapped out of the mesmerizing feeling he was drawn into by Ye Li.
He quickly blinked his eyes, thinking he had successfully concealed his momentary distraction, then lowered his voice and said, “Actually, I’m also glad that you’re my wife, not someone else.”
Jing Shi Wanxiu deeply loved Jing Bin, and from historical records, Jing Bin had always defied conventions to make Jing Shi Wanxiu his wife, even if it meant she became a stain on his reputation.
This meant that Jing Shi Wanxiu would have many clues about Jing Bin, and she could provide him with wholehearted support. Jing Bin didn’t need to worry at all about his wife being the one trying to assassinate him.
Yan Shixun didn’t know who was trying to assassinate him, but he was sure it wouldn’t be Ye Li. So, having Ye Li pose as his wife was just right.
This was like giving him the greatest assistance.
But judging from Ye Li’s reaction, it seemed like he didn’t quite grasp Yan Shixun’s original meaning.
He stared blankly at Yan Shixun’s back as he walked towards the door, his mind swirling with tumultuous thoughts, like raging waves refusing to calm down, wild ideas roaring through his mind like a hurricane.
Ye Li’s heart felt like it collapsed in a corner in that moment.
“Thud… thud.”
His heart beat very slowly, as if in a trance.
But his gaze followed Yan Shixun, unable to resist.
Chi Yan had an anxious look on her face as she headed straight for the master bedroom on the third floor, reaching out to push open the door.
Just then, the door was opened from the inside.
Yan Shixun appeared calmly at the door: “Miss Chi, is there something you need from me?”
Chi Yan’s hand froze in midair, retracting awkwardly. She glanced anxiously behind Yan Shixun, as if worried about him: “Mr. Yan, are you alright? Haven’t encountered any trouble, have you? I saw you hadn’t come downstairs, so I was a bit worried and came up to check.”
Yan Shixun gave a perfunctory smile. “Miss Chi still worries about me, which is truly flattering. But I’m fine.”
“—Unless, you consider finding someone from the production team also a matter.”
Because everyone now had assigned identities, Ye Li, who had been able to blend into the production team like a transparent person, had lost his ability to remain hidden.
Although Yan Shixun wanted to help Ye Li conceal his identity secretly, the identity of Jing Shi Wanxiu as another master of the Jing Bin mansion was too conspicuous. Trying to hide it would only arouse more suspicion.
So, Yan Shixun simply pushed open the door and introduced Ye Li to the several people gathering outside.
“Let me introduce you. This is the assistant director, who for some reason has also appeared here. His current identity is my wife, Jing Shi Wanxiu.”
Chi Yan didn’t think much, she raised her head and looked into the room.
But as her gaze fell upon the scene, her mind was violently shaken, as if someone had placed her under the giant bell of a temple. A loud “buzz” rang through her senses, shaking and numbing her to the core.
The shock sent Chi Yan’s soul reeling, freezing her in place for a moment. Her expression went blank.
Zhang Wubing, who had lagged behind and walked up a few steps, didn’t notice anything amiss with Chi Yan. He chuckled carelessly, “See, I told you, Brother Yan will be fine. If even Brother Yan’s in trouble, then we might as well sit in the living room and wait to die — I hope I can sit on the sofa at least, it would be a more comfortable way to go.”
However, when Zhang Wubing’s gaze passed over Chi Yan and landed on the figure inside the room, he felt like his entire worldview was suddenly shattered, on the verge of collapse.
“You!” Zhang Wubing was astonished.
Ye Li raised an eyebrow, calmly waiting for Zhang Wubing to continue.
Since Zhang Wubing was sort of his “daughter” now and also a friend that Yan Shixun cared about, it wouldn’t hurt to listen to what Zhang Wubing had to say.
Yan Shixuncouldn’t help but glance sideways, thinking: Has Zhang Wubing finally grown up? Recognizing Ye Li as the assistant he hired and then forgot about?
To everyone’s surprise, after hesitating for a while, Zhang Wubing blurted out, “Why do you look so good in a dress? It’s not fair!”
Everyone, expecting some profound words from Zhang Wubing: “……….”
Chi Yan shot a glance at Zhang Wubing, her gaze tinged with concealed disdain.
Zhao Zhen, feeling sorry for Zhang Wubing, quickly chimed in, “It’s mainly the hairstyle, Director. Look at this assistant director, the long hair complements the ancient costume perfectly, so it doesn’t look out of place.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Shixun glanced at the two buns on Zhang Wubing’s head and fell into an even deeper silence.
He looked at Zhao Zhen with a complex expression. Zhao Zhen was indeed a kind-hearted person, willing to say such things just to avoid hurting Zhang Wubing’s innocent heart.
Zhang Wubing seemed quite satisfied with himself. After glancing at Ye Li and then patting his little bun, he nodded contentedly. “You’re right.”
Everyone else: …
Forget it.
“Brother Yan, is there anything inside?” Chi Yan hadn’t forgotten her purpose for coming upstairs. She was anxious to enter the room but was blocked by Yan Shixun standing at the door.
Yan Shixun gave Chi Yan a deep look, then gestured for Ye Li to leave with him.
“There’s nothing inside, just a typical master bedroom for a married couple.”
Yan Shixun said calmly as he closed the door. Then, he strode out and said, “Let’s go. Zhao Zhen must be uncomfortable standing for so long, and Zhang Wubing doesn’t have experience taking care of people. Miss Chi, could you please look after Zhao Zhen?”
“After all, in times of danger like this, we should help each other, shouldn’t we?”
Given Chi Yan’s usual image, she found herself unable to come up with a reasonable excuse to refuse when Yan Shixun said this. She could only grit her teeth and reluctantly nodded. “Fine.”
Yan Shixun smiled and stepped aside, gesturing towards the stairs as if to say, “Please.”
Chi Yan glanced at Yan Shixun but still reached out to help Zhao Zhen, unwilling but forced to temporarily go downstairs.
In the moment they passed by each other, Yan Shixun gave Zhao Zhen a slight wink.
Zhao Zhen immediately understood, returning the smile but saying, “Thanks, Sister Chi Yan.”
Chi Yan was almost furious, but she forced herself to say, “No trouble, it’s the least I can do.”
Watching Zhao Zhen deftly shift all the weight onto Chi Yan, making her struggle to walk down the stairs in high heels and temporarily unable to spare any energy, Yan Shixun couldn’t help but smirk.
So that’s why he doesn’t like the entertainment industry, isn’t it? What rises from one thing can fall from the same thing.
Because of her approach to doing things, Chi Yan had accumulated a large number of fans, so she was used to subconsciously applying this set of methods in her daily life. But now, it became a way to confine her movements.
“Let’s go.” Seeing the suspicious person leave, Yan Shixun turned and walked to the other side of the third floor. “Let’s see what’s here and why you all woke up here.”
“Maybe there are people from the production crew in other rooms too.”
As a well-known diplomat of that era, there is clear documentation about Jing Bin’s life, and the constant criticisms and excavations of him on the internet have exposed many aspects of his life.
Perhaps because he went abroad on government scholarship at a young age, many of Jing Bin’s personal habits bore the stamp of the West. For example, during that era, most high-ranking officials had several concubines or confidantes.
But Jing Bin did not have that.
Jing Bin’s family structure was very simple. From the descriptions of Jing Bin’s former residence in his memory, Yan Shixun recalled that besides Jing Bin’s wife and two daughters, there was also a female family tutor named Lin who lived in his house, as well as a female friend.
So, was the photo Yan Shixun saw on Zhang Wubing’s desk the one with the family tutor and the eldest daughter?
Frowning, Yan Shixun murmured softly, “Lin?”
“Lin?” Hearing Yan Shixun’s words, Zhang Wubing behind him was puzzled. “Did you install surveillance downstairs? How did you know I found another identity tag?”
“What tag?” Yan Shixun asked, confused.
“This one.”
Zhang Wubing handed over the metal tag. “It sounds similar to Chi Yan’s identity, but this person is named Lin Qiong.”
“Lin Qiong, Lin Ting. Sounds like they could be sisters.”
Yan Shixun took the tag and ran his slender fingers along its edges, but he didn’t confirm Zhang Wubing’s statement.
In this era, unlike the future where compulsory education was widespread, it was a time when the opportunity for education and literacy was extremely rare. Especially for girls, even in wealthy families, it was difficult to afford the expenses of sending two girls to school at the same time.
…Especially when both girls were attending the prestigious university in the capital.
Yan Shixun temporarily set aside his doubts and pushed open the door to the other side of the third floor.
As soon as he opened the door, Yan Shixun could clearly sense the opulence of the room’s owner.
Each room had its own distinct style, reflecting the personality of its owner.
Because of Jing Bin, the master bedroom still bore many traces of the old times, including the bed sheets, rosewood dressing table, and the grand armchair, among other things.
The room in front of Yan Shixun was a typical style of an old Binhai socialite, the kind you’d see on a movie poster.
With its European furnishings, fur throws everywhere, an open powder compact on the dressing table, and a phonograph by the window… it exuded luxury and sophistication at every turn. Yet, it was clear that the owner of this room was a woman.
The problem was—there were no mistresses in Jing Bin’s household.
Though Yan Shixun briefly considered the painting he saw earlier in Jing Bin’s residence, he quickly dismissed that speculation.
The woman in the painting, while modern and clearly of high status judging by her refined attire, didn’t quite fit the opulent atmosphere. Instead, she exuded the confidence of someone well-read and cultured. Her bright eyes revealed her to be a woman with aspirations and ideals.
“Living on the same floor as Jing Bin, not a mistress, and not the woman in the painting…”
Yan Shixun murmured to himself, “Strange…”
“Ye Li, what kind of woman would you tolerate living on the same floor as you?” Yan Shixun, perplexed, turned to Ye Li for a different perspective.
Ye Li’s gaze darkened. “None at all, regardless of circumstances.”
Yan Shixun sighed. “….Never mind, wrong person to ask.”
He turned to Zhang Wubing. “How about you?”
Zhang Wubing shook his head in confusion. “My dad’s secretary is a woman, stays in a big suite when on business trips. Time is precious, can’t waste a second. But she’s efficient, almost as tough as any man, so it’s not that type.”
He gestured to the luxurious décor of the room. “This… is more like a style that exudes feminine charm.”
Feminine charm?
Yan Shixun found himself intrigued by the notion.
He did indeed see someone who fit the description of “exuding feminine charm.”
It was Chi Yan.
Her style of dress was in perfect harmony with the room, extravagant and magnificent, reminiscent of the vibrant nightlife of old Binhai.
“The identity card Chi Yan produced was for someone named Lin Ting, right?”
Yan Shixun casually rummaged through the vanity table, but found only piles of love letters and dried roses. It seemed his guess was correct; the owner of this room was indeed a socialite, a leading figure in old Binhai’s trendsetting circles.
However, there was a problem—none of the love letters addressed her as “Lin Qiong” or “Lin Ting.”
And the engraving on the lipstick box all read “Lin Yu.”
So, what was the story behind this extra person? And why would Jing Bin share a floor with a socialite?
The third floor could be considered the owner’s floor, following the residential customs of the past, it was the most private area, almost never visited by anyone other than family.
Yan Shixun really wanted to ask the real Jing Bin about what was going on with this strange layout of his house.
But the reality was, Jing Bin was not there, and after leaving the third floor, Yan Shixun encountered the same situation on the second floor.
Looking at the empty room on the other side of the second floor, Yan Shixun said to himself, “…”
What’s this, a control group? Extreme opulence and extreme simplicity?
The room upstairs, in the same position, was filled with jewelry and fur, while the one below had bookshelves everywhere, with stacks of half-written manuscripts scattered around, resembling an editor’s office in a magazine.
Suddenly, Yan Shixun realized something and walked briskly to the desk, casually flipping open one of the manuscripts.
Although it was still a draft, covered with ink smudges, every word was sharp and precise, without any flattery, yet clean in expression and logical in reasoning.
It seemed that the owner of this room could indeed be a magazine editor. Editors from that era were not simple figures.
And as Yan Shixun’s gaze reached the end, he suddenly noticed the signature — Lin Ting.
Such sharp and logically rigorous articles, coming from a woman’s hand.
And Jing Bin’s two daughters had a female family tutor.
Yan Shixun had a suspicion in his mind. It seemed that this room belonged to the family tutor, Lin Ting.
In other words… Chi Yan.
But Yan Shixun still felt that something was not quite right, as if he had overlooked something crucial.
Yan Shixun quickly straightened up, intending to search through the densely packed books for more evidence that could support Chi Yan’s identity. But at that moment, Zhang Wubing, who had been standing beside him, let out a startled cry.
Yan Shixun swiftly looked up to see Zhang Wubing frozen stiff, staring at something outside the window.
His trembling arm slowly lifted, pointing in that direction, his voice trembling as he stuttered, “Brother Yan, there’s a ghost!”
With the power outage, the house was dimly lit, but the moonlight outside had already emerged from behind the clouds.
And at this moment, the figure of a woman stood outside the French window, pressed tightly against the glass, her face twisted grotesquely. A pair of pitch-black eyes stared straight into the room, as if she had been standing there, watching for who knows how long.
Yan Shixun’s expression turned cold, and he quickly strode towards the window.
But just as he took a step forward, the woman behind the glass disappeared like foam on the water.
He hesitated for a moment before walking to the window and pushing it open to look on either side.
Outside the French window, there was only a narrow gap less than five centimeters wide, and the wall was smooth with no footholds, making it impossible for a normal person to stand there.
So…
Not only were there people in the Jiang Bin Residence, but there were also ghosts.
Hidden in every overlooked corner.
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