The villa’s door was locked from the outside. It was a pair of wooden doors painted in black, looking strange and ominous.
Shang Jingchen’s expression turned grim instantly; those people wanted him dead! Assistant Zheng could not leave the car, so now they had to rely on themselves. Ye Zhixing didn't say a word; she began kicking the door.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Each kick was powerful, sounding unusually jarring in the deathly silent villa. Behind them, a cackling laugh suddenly erupted—ghastly and terrifying. A sharp, shrill voice was closing in.
"Don't waste your energy! You won't get out tonight—"
"Let us eat you—"
The voice was so piercing it gave one a headache.
"Ye Zhixing, you deal with those things; I’ll handle the door!" Shang Jingchen said in a low voice.
Hearing the words of the evil spirits, a frost-like chill settled over Ye Zhixing’s cold face. Upon hearing Shang Jingchen's request, she paused and asked, "Is your body up for it?"
"It has to be. I don't want to stay here with these filthy things!"
"Fine. Keep your talisman safe."
"I know!" That was his life-saving charm; she had warned him repeatedly, so there was no way he would lose it.
Once the roles were divided, they began their work. Weak as he was, Shang Jingchen was still a man, and when pushed to the brink, one’s latent potential is often ignited. He kicked the door with all his might, putting every ounce of his remaining strength into it. The effect was slightly better than Ye Zhixing's; the door began to loosen.
Behind him, Ye Zhixing was busy dealing with the Vengeful Spirits in the villa. These were clearly more powerful than the ones outside, but they were nothing before her. She held a copper coin threaded with a red string, whipping it out again and again to strike at the Vengeful Spirits. It was one of her Dharmic Instruments. The Vengeful Spirits dared not approach; one lash from it had nearly caused their souls to dissipate. They hadn't expected this young girl to be so formidable! Ye Zhixing drew out several more talismans and flung them; the lower-level Vengeful Spirits were struck and immediately vanished into thin air.
*BOOM!*
A loud crash sounded behind her. After countless attempts, a panting, exhausted Shang Jingchen had finally kicked the door open. The lights under the eaves flickered on.
As soon as the door gave way, Shang Jingchen turned back, grabbed her hand, and said in a low voice, "Ye Zhixing, go!"
Ye Zhixing had just finished her task. The Yin spirits and Fierce Ghost that had appeared were dealt with, though there might have been others hiding. However, she had no appetite for further fighting; she only wanted to leave this place.
Having expended so much energy, Shang Jingchen’s condition was poor. Assistant Zheng’s car was parked outside the villa gates. Upon hearing the loud crash, he had wanted to get out to investigate, thinking perhaps his boss was in trouble and needed assistance. But just as he reached for the door handle, he recalled the woman’s voice from earlier: *No matter what happens, do not get out of the car.* He hesitated.
Finally, not long after, he saw the familiar figure emerge from the villa, accompanied by a girl in a red wedding dress who was supporting him. When Assistant Zheng saw that his President Shang was also wearing a matching red wedding outfit, he was stunned. Had his boss, who had been missing for over twenty hours, gone off to get married?
In his shock, he unlocked the car doors. Shang Jingchen and Ye Zhixing hurried inside.
"Drive. Let's get out of here," Shang Jingchen said, his voice rasping.
Assistant Zheng immediately started the engine and floored the gas, speeding away as fast as he could. He had felt it too—this place was truly wicked.
In the backseat, Ye Zhixing asked coldly, "Are you alright?" She knew that kicking down that door had been a grueling task for his current physical state. The fact that he had actually managed it made her see him in a new light.
"I’m fine, just need a rest."
"President Shang, shall I take you and the Young Mistress home now?" Assistant Zheng asked. He hoped he hadn't used the wrong title.
Shang Jingchen didn't object, whether out of distraction or some other reason.
"Yes."
Assistant Zheng naturally knew where his boss usually lived. He had a bellyful of questions to report, but with an outsider present and his boss in such a poor state, he decided to wait until they were home to speak with him privately.
There was bottled water in the car’s small refrigerator. Shang Jingchen took one and handed it to Ye Zhixing; he even subconsciously unscrewed the cap for her before giving it to her. He then took one for himself. After all the commotion, he was parched. Ye Zhixing noted his small gesture and took the water; she, too, had gone without a drink all day.
Assistant Zheng drove quickly, and before long, they were out of the villa district and onto the main road. After resting for a while, Shang Jingchen finally regained some composure. He looked at the girl beside him, only to see her staring out the window, lost in thought. She didn't look old—about the same age as his younger sister. The mere thought of his sister cast a shadow over his eyes, though it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
A moment later, his low, hoarse voice broke the silence: "Thank you for your help earlier." If it hadn't been for her, he would likely have perished there.
"Don't mention it. I did it for myself as well."
Assistant Zheng, listening from the front seat, was surprised. *So the President’s wife is this cool, too?* Still, she looked like a perfect match for his boss. He thought about how his boss had been solitary for so many years, never thinking of starting a family, with no one to care for him. Who would have thought he’d jump on the trend of a whirlwind marriage? And President Shang didn't seem to dislike the Young Mistress, which was truly miraculous. He rarely had women around him; the only one had been Miss Shang, his sister, and that had ended in tragedy... but now, after all these years, someone he didn't repel had finally appeared. It was truly rare!
After that, neither Shang Jingchen nor Ye Zhixing spoke. Twenty minutes later, the car pulled into the residential complex where Shang Jingchen usually stayed. This was the most famous and high-end villa district in the Capital, a development owned by the Shang Group—the first major project Shang Jingchen had overseen after taking over the company.
The car parked in the space next to his villa. It was already past ten o'clock at night. Shang Jingchen led Ye Zhixing inside, all the while quietly observing her every move. He noticed that upon seeing the villa, her emotions remained completely flat, as if this place had absolutely nothing to do with her.
"Call someone to have some food delivered," Shang Jingchen ordered Assistant Zheng as soon as they entered. He hadn't eaten all day, and Ye Zhixing must have been in the same state.
"Understood."
After instructing Assistant Zheng, he turned to Ye Zhixing. "The rooms are all on the second floor. You can choose any room you like, except for the master bedroom and the one at the end of the hallway."
"Food will be here soon. Eat something before you rest."
"You don't have any luggage?"
Ye Zhixing shook her head expressionlessly. She had only brought her worn-out cloth bag. Shang Jingchen pursed his lips. "And clothes to change into?" He was already thinking of having Assistant Zheng arrange for some to be delivered.
To his surprise, Ye Zhixing replied calmly, "I have them in my bag."
Shang Jingchen’s gaze fell on her cloth bag. It wasn't very large—about the size of a tablet. How could it possibly hold clothes? However, he didn't ask any further questions.
Assistant Zheng hung up the phone and said in a low, urgent voice, "President Shang, I have some important matters to report to you!"