33. An Invitation from the Fu Family

Fu Shaohuai’s handsome face grew increasingly distorted as he listened to her words. Had they not been standing at the company entrance with people coming and going, he would have struck her across the face long ago. The memory of his illness in his youth was a source of deep shame for him. Once he had recovered, he had gone to great lengths to erase every trace of that past, even quietly disposing of many people who knew the truth. He was infuriated that two young people had suddenly appeared and brought it all back up.

Chi You could see his anger, but she had no intention of stopping. Often, a person in a fit of rage would utter things closer to the truth than they ever would while composed.

"The dean’s family took pity on you and helped you out of kindness, yet in the end, you took the lives of his wife and child." Chi You remarked. "Truly a case of the farmer and the snake."

Fu Shaohuai roared, "Who needed his pity! I never needed anyone’s pity! It was all their own choice!"

Chi You arched an eyebrow, then glanced down at his abdomen and smiled faintly. "If you didn't need the dean's pity, then why did you carve out the organs of the dean’s wife and son? I wouldn't be saying this if you weren't currently using their organs."

Turning to Jiang Pan, she added with a mocking sigh, "Living with the organs of someone’s wife and child while claiming it was their choice—tsk, what do you call that?"

Jiang Pan replied, "That’s called ungratefulness and returning kindness with enmity."

Hearing these words, Fu Shaohuai flew into a greater rage. He gripped the string of prayer beads in his hand so tightly that the red cord snapped, sending the beads clattering to the ground. The crisp sound of the beads hitting the pavement startled him, pulling him back from his fury.

A bodyguard beside him whispered, "Young Master, you must not lose your temper so easily."

Fu Shaohuai stared at the beads scattered on the ground, then back at Chi You and Jiang Pan. He smoothed out his suit and said coldly, "Pick them up." He then fixed his gaze on the pair. "Everyone who knows this secret must die, and you two will be no exception."

Chi You simply laughed. "Is that so? We’ll see who ends up dead."

"Let's wait and see, then," Fu Shaohuai said, stepping into his car.

Chi You’s smile faded as she watched the two bodyguards use their flashlights to retrieve the beads. Jiang Pan noticed one bead rolling toward his feet; he picked it up and tucked it into his pocket.

The two took the last bus back to their small inn. Meng Shuyin and Zheng Hong were sitting on the sofa in the lobby playing with their phones, but they stood up the moment they saw them.

"You're back?"

"Did you need us for something?" Chi You asked, raising an eyebrow.

Meng Shuyin nodded, and the four went upstairs to a room. Once inside, they spoke up: "People from the Fu Group called us today, asking if we wanted to come in for work."

Chi You’s eyes widened. So, she didn't have to go to them—they were coming to her?

"That was a waste of the one dollar I spent printing my resume," Chi You lamented.

"It's just one dollar, why is that a waste?" Jiang Pan asked, confused.

Chi You looked at him and explained earnestly, "You don't understand; that’s called being frugal." She turned back to the others and asked, "So, did you agree?"

"Not yet. We waited for you to come back to discuss it," Meng Shuyin replied, shaking her head. Through their time together, she had come to realize that Chi You had her own way of doing things. Chi You was bold, loved adventure, and, more importantly, wasn't afraid of these monsters. Jiang Pan, while occasionally bickering with Chi You, also offered useful ideas and was consistently reliable. With them around, Meng Shuyin felt she had a backbone. However, these two never did things with caution—they simply charged head-on. Following them required a readiness to die. It helped that neither of them feared death; even when Chi You had been gutted, she hadn't shown a shred of fear.

"You can go, but be warned: the Fu Group company hides things even more terrifying and powerful than those in the psychiatric hospital," Chi You said, taking a sip from a bottle of water. "If you're scared, you can end the hidden task."

Jiang Pan, who was busy looking at photos on his camera, added, "Those things could take your life at any moment. If you aren't afraid, you can go work at the Fu Group. If you are, get back to the real world now. We’ve already been targeted by the Fu family here."

The two others fell into deep thought. The probability of death was high, and the things hidden within the Fu Group were even more dangerous. If they went, it might be a dead end.

"Are you not afraid of death?" Zheng Hong asked in a low voice.

"Death?" Chi You repeated the word, then laughed. "Once you enter these instances, there is no escaping death. Unless we become strong enough ourselves, it’s a path to the grave regardless."

Hearing this, Meng Shuyin gritted her teeth and said, "I'm with you! I’m not afraid of death!"

Seeing her resolve, Zheng Hong grew conflicted. He didn't know whether to stay or leave.

"Then prepare yourself for death," Chi You warned.

Upon hearing that, Zheng Hong immediately said, "I think I'll go back." He didn't want to die; if he died here, everything he had gained would be lost. Zheng Hong pulled out his phone to initiate the exit sequence. Before leaving, he handed the bell he possessed to Chi You. "Take this. Good luck."

With those words, Zheng Hong vanished.

Chi You stared at the bell. It had nearly cost Zheng Hong his life; she hadn't expected him to give it to her.

"Do you know how to use it?" Jiang Pan asked, sounding slightly jealous. "You probably don't. Give it to me; I'll keep it safe for you."

"I doubt you know how either, Senior Jiang. I'll keep it," Chi You said with a grin, tucking it into her app inventory.

Early the next morning, a knock on their door roused them. Jiang Pan, who was closer, opened it to find Liu Qiang and the other boy standing there.

"What do you want?" Jiang Pan asked coldly.

"We have something important to discuss," Liu Qiang said, looking around nervously.

Chi You, awakened by the noise, felt her temper reaching its peak. She sat up, ran a hand through her hair, and glared at them. "You had better have something important to say."