Ch. 33 - The Ghost Wife’s Suspicions

White-haired…weirdo? What kind of nickname was that…?

Su Yuening couldn’t help recalling how she’d looked that day in the office—her face hidden in that mess of white hair—and her toes instantly curled from embarrassment.

Back then, she hadn’t understood why the wind had come so suddenly. But looking at it now, there was no doubt—this had to be Bai Wan’s doing!

Thinking about it, Su Yuening ground her teeth in secret. She forced out a smile and replied sweetly, “Hearing you confess your feelings really makes me happy. Actually, just like you, ever since the moment you got all three people stuck at the headquarters doorway, stacking them like human Jenga, I noticed you…”

Bai Wan’s expression cracked.

“…”

Su Yuening continued mercilessly: “Of course, you truly entered my heart during the car ride—when you blew out our tires four times in a row with that dashing heroism of yours. Truly, so charming.

“And you didn’t even fight for the credit! You generously gave all the glory to a ‘rules-based ghost phenomenon’ while you just stared at the sky like an innocent man. So humble!

“But what really made me fall for you was that glorious moment when you offhandedly nuked our ancestors’ graves with a meteor shower. I only had one thing to say then—Brother, you’re insane! Absolutely badass!!”

“............”

His eyes widened, hair practically standing on end. He glared at her.

“Hey! Don’t frame me for that! You can’t just slander people like this!”

Blowing up the ancestors’ tombstones? …Well… okay, maybe technically he did do that…

But there’s no proof! That counts as false accusations!

He felt deeply wronged. Falsely accused!

Su Yuening just huffed and said, “So yes, I like you too. I’ll be your girlfriend.”

Hearing this, the ghost that had just broken through the walnut blockade paused, its grim, resentful aura freezing in midair—only to let out a final hiss of frustration and circle around Bai Wan and Su Yuening instead.

Su Yuening’s eyes widened—it worked! Bai Wan’s deduction was right!

Not far away, Sun Qian and Xu Bing, who hadn’t fled too far, also heard their exchange. The moment they saw it worked, they scrambled to imitate them, pretending to be a couple too.

The ghost drifted around the gathered pairs, looked them all over with seething malice—then vanished with a hiss.

Everyone finally exhaled. Their eyes turned toward Bai Wan with complicated expressions. 

A moment ago, they’d all thought he was pitiful—now they realized they were the clowns here.

This man wasn’t just strong, his bizarre skills plus terrifying insight were outrageous. It was only Day Two and he’d cracked the ghost’s killing condition. His brains matched his brawn.

There’s no way this guy is a rookie. No way. At least six dungeons deep, minimum—no newcomer could be this strong.

Sun Qian walked over with a wry smile. “Brother Liu Tong, you really fooled us good. You don’t act like a first-timer at all.”

So this was the classic Big Boss pretending to be a noob.

Luo Ya glanced at Bai Wan too, eyes flickering. Who would have thought this unassuming rookie was actually a monster in disguise?

Bai Wan just sighed and said modestly, “I’m sorry, brothers. I, Liu Tong, am just naturally mean-spirited and morally bankrupt. Please forgive me.”

Su Yuening rolled her eyes at him. If Liu Tong ever found out what Bai Wan was doing with his name… he’d probably beat him senseless.

Sun Qian blinked, then waved his hands quickly, “No, no, no—don’t say that! If it weren’t for you, we’d be ghost food right now.”

“It’s nothing, really,” Bai Wan said airily. “Just a small favor. Sigh—my parents always hoped I’d stay childlike and kind. Saving you all today means I’ve lived up to my name, Liu Tong. I’m sure my parents can rest easy in the afterlife.”

Inside the portrait behind him, Zhang Yanfang was already cursing furiously. “This unfilial brat! I’ll drag you down here to the underworld right now—then we’ll see if I’m resting easy!”

Bai Tian sighed beside her: “Alright, alright, calm down. Too much anger will make you look older—”

“Bai Tian! Are you calling me old now?!”

“??? Wait, no! That’s not what I—”

“So you are saying I’m old!!”

Bai Tian: “…”

……

“Alright, let’s head back…” Su Yuening muttered, glancing sideways at Bai Wan still deep in his melodramatic monologue. “All we did was crack one killing pattern. The real problem is the letter itself. That’s still the key.”

Everyone sobered instantly. 

She was right. This “Letter” dungeon had only just begun. One wrong reply, and it’d be instant wipe.

Last time, the ghost wife had said she’d come by at night… had she come or not…?

Sun Qian felt a cold wind rustle over his bald spot just thinking about it. 

This was no time to relax.

The group headed back to Lin Yuan’s house—eyes carefully avoiding the abandoned warehouse in the courtyard—and went straight inside, anxiously scanning every corner.

Looked safe. No sign of the ghost wife.

Seeing this, they all let out shaky sighs of relief. No matter what, they had survived one more day. Exhausted from the day’s chaos, they each returned to their rooms.

Thanks to Bai Wan’s deduction, they didn’t have to worry about Lin Yuan’s corpse popping up to ruin their sleep tonight. It was the best night’s rest they’d gotten in days.

Bai Wan even let his sunflower keep watch, carefully unhooked his photo-family, and set them on the bedside. Under the vigilant gazes of three people, one cat, and a gently swaying sunflower—he finally slept well.

After all, he’d need every ounce of energy to handle the nightmare still to come.

This dungeon was only halfway through. So far, “Lin Yuan” alone wasn’t enough to wipe out an entire team. Which meant something far worse had to be waiting.

That abandoned warehouse. Or the ghost wife writing these letters.

Neither would be easy to deal with.

But Bai Wan glanced at the sunflower on his shoulder and smiled. His giant sunshine mushroom would be delivered tomorrow. Even if the ghost wife really did appear, he wouldn’t be helpless.

…

The next morning.

Everyone gathered in the main room, visibly more rested. It had been a rare, peaceful night—thanks entirely to Bai Wan’s deduction.

Now the ghost couldn’t touch them—at least not directly. At this stage, even pretending to be someone’s lover wouldn’t fool them. No more fake girlfriends knocking at the door in the dead of night.

The group sat in a circle, bracing for what came next.

A knock.

Knock knock knock!

Their faces stiffened. Another letter from the ghost wife.

Sun Qian glanced at Bai Wan, half-hoping he’d take charge. But seeing the mysterious big-shot nonchalantly plucking petals off his sunflower, Sun Qian gave up on that dream. He stepped forward himself, opened the door, and retrieved the letter.

Holding his breath, he unfolded it carefully.

And froze.

Everyone leaned in—and their blood ran cold.

[Dearest, why have you been so distant lately? It’s been ages since you last called me baby. I miss you terribly. Lately, I keep thinking about your “Fantasy Town.” You said you were going to enter it in that exhibition at Xinghai Gallery in the next county over, but you never finished the painting. Y told me you’d run out of inspiration. I just want to know: what inspired you to paint it in the first place? Tell me, so I can help you finish it. —Love, Xinran]

A chill swept the room.

The ghost wife had sensed something was wrong.

Worse yet—there was no possible answer. They knew nothing about “Fantasy Town.” If they made something up now, they’d definitely get caught. She’d already sensed the lies.

Sun Qian’s forehead beaded with sweat.

The true face of this so-called “Unsolvable Dungeon” was finally showing its fangs.

This was probably where all the previous teams had fallen.

“How… how the hell do we answer this one?”

Comments