My Partner Always Wants to Dig My Grave - Chapter 14

After the group finally arrived at their destination, they were treated to dinner. However, Si Wan had been somewhat absent-minded and slightly fatigued from the start, which affected her appetite. Yet, she showed no outward signs of discomfort, so no one else noticed anything amiss.

Grandma Liu, on the other hand, remarked twice in surprise about how exceptionally cool the breeze was that day. Aside from Si Wan, who knew the truth, the others present subtly changed expressions. Two of them instinctively moved to shield Si Wan, forcing awkward smiles to brush off the topic.

Grandma Liu pretended to be annoyed, adopting a kindly demeanor as she addressed the two blocking Si Wan.
“What are you two girls blocking her for?”

Liu Yaoyao scratched her head awkwardly, her expression complicated, and said,
“Grandma, you don’t understand…”

As she spoke, Song Yan grabbed her hand, shaking her head slightly with a serious look.

Si Wan frowned slightly, raising her eyes in confusion to glance at them. Just as she was about to ask, a cool breeze brushed against her cheek, gentle as if solely meant to dispel the heat.

Sensing something, Si Wan instinctively turned her gaze toward a strikingly vivid red figure seated by the doorway.

The figure’s posture was dignified; even sitting on the doorstep did not detract from her grace. Yet, as Si Wan looked at her back, she felt an inexplicable sorrow, reminiscent of the dried bloodstains on the gown worn for a thousand years, a grief from an unknown source, spanning millennia.

Si Wan couldn’t understand why she, someone so afraid of ghosts, had grown accustomed to this ghost’s presence in just one day.

She suddenly recalled a phrase she had stumbled upon online years earlier:
The ghost you fear was once someone’s most cherished loved one.

For some reason, Si Wan couldn’t help but smile at the thought, then dismissed it as absurd.
Her family, no matter what, could not be a ghost from a thousand years ago.

At that moment, Grandma Liu gazed affectionately at Si Wan, who sat poised nearby, and said,
“Yaoyao has really troubled you.”

Liu Yaoyao’s expression shifted, realizing her grandmother had misunderstood again, and she hurriedly denied it.
“Grandma, that’s not it. Don’t listen to those rumors outside. It’s already very gracious of Professor Si to come today.”

Unaware that everyone there mistakenly believed Liu Yaoyao was her student, and noticing nothing unusual in the exchange between Grandma Liu and Liu Yaoyao, Si Wan snapped out of her thoughts. She withdrew her gaze from Sheng Zhen, offered a polite smile, and nodded.
“She’s the one who helped us greatly. We should be thanking her.”

Hearing Si Wan’s words, Liu Yaoyao felt a bit embarrassed, blushing as she subtly shifted closer to Song Yan.

“I didn’t really help that much.”

Grandma Liu looked at Liu Yaoyao with tender affection and said,
“This child lost her parents early and was raised solely by me. I only hope she studies well, leaves this remote mountain village, and makes something of herself. I don’t expect her to achieve great things, but staying here would only hold her back.”

Granny Liu was already a woman with one foot in the grave. Having seen through the vicissitudes of life, she understood clearly that Liu Yaoyao shouldn’t remain here. Yet, she couldn’t let go of the girl she’d watched grow up. That’s why she had summoned Si Wan today, just to see whether this professor, who’d appeared on television, was someone capable of guiding her granddaughter.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yaoyao frowned and spoke discontentedly, “Grandma, what are you talking about? I haven’t even taken you to enjoy life yet.”

Granny Liu chuckled but didn’t directly answer her question. Instead, she stroked the girl’s head with her wrinkled, furrowed hand and said, “I’d feel at ease knowing you’re following Professor Si.”

Liu Yaoyao wanted to say more, but she was interrupted by Si Wan’s inquiry. “Elder, I have a question I’d like to ask you. I wonder if it’s convenient?”

After speaking, Si Wan glanced toward Sheng Zhen at the doorway. The desolate silhouette made her heart ache with pity.

Granny Liu beamed at Si Wan and replied, “Go ahead and ask. If this old woman knows anything, I’ll surely tell you everything.”

Si Wan pondered for a moment before speaking politely, “On our way here, we passed a household conducting a ritual. I heard it was for Liu Yaoyao’s second uncle. I’m not sure how long such rituals usually last, but I have some matters I need to clarify, so we’d like to visit after the ceremony ends.”

She had already asked Liu Yaoyao, but the girl had boarded at school since childhood and wasn’t very familiar with the villagers, so she didn’t know either.

With many eyes and ears around during such events, Si Wan preferred to go afterward to verify whether what Sheng Zhen said was true, that the man had stolen her hairpin. As someone who studied these matters, she understood what personally worn sachets and hairpins meant to women in ancient times.

If this were merely a ghost trying to retrieve its belongings, she could easily ignore it. But now it fell within her professional duties. Whether true or not, she ought to investigate.

Hearing Si Wan’s words, the figure by the door shifted slightly, turning sidelong eyes that studied Si Wan intently for a long moment.

Noticing Sheng Zhen’s gaze, Si Wan forcibly ignored its burning intensity, maintaining her composure.

Granny Liu, suspecting nothing, assumed Si Wan was simply curious and explained, “You mean Second Dog.” She sighed with some emotion. “He’s brought misfortune upon himself by offending some unclean spirit. Your Aunt Fang told me his possession is quite severe, the exorcism will take two full days.”

Hearing this, Si Wan frowned, recognizing the classic scam of charlatans trying to extort more money. Still, she refrained from stating it outright and instead said tactfully, “It might be better to see a doctor at the hospital.”

Granny Liu waved her hand helplessly. “We’ve tried telling him, but he won’t listen. Ah, what was it you wanted to do again?”

Si Wan straightened her expression. “I wonder if you could take us there? We’d like to…” Pausing briefly in case the elder had forgotten her earlier reason, she emphasized seriously, “I have some matters I need to resolve there.”

Without suspicion, Granny Liu remained enthusiastic, believing someone like Si Wan must have her own reasons for wanting to go.

“Judging by the time, today’s ritual should be over by now. Since my legs aren’t what they used to be, I’ll have Yaoyao take you there on your way back.”

Si Wan didn’t object to this and nodded in agreement.

“That works. Sorry to trouble you.”

Liu Yaoyao immediately waved her hands dismissively.

“No trouble at all, really.”

However, Song Yan, who had been listening nearby, furrowed her brows and cast a puzzled look at Si Wan, whispering to her.

“Professor Si, what are you…?”

Si Wan couldn’t outright state her true intentions, so she once again gave an ambiguous reply.

“I just want to take a look.”

Si Wan had never believed in ghosts or spirits, viewing all so-called folk Taoists as nothing more than charlatans. She knew her excuse probably wouldn’t fool Song Yan and was already thinking of a more plausible reason when, to her surprise, Song Yan didn’t press further. Instead, she took Liu Yaoyao’s hand and spoke with determination.

“Professor Si, we’ll help you. Don’t worry.”

Liu Yaoyao nodded earnestly and added something that left Si Wan baffled.

“Professor Si, you can rest assured.”

Si Wan looked at the two of them, her mind filled with doubts, but she couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. Seeing the hopeful looks in their eyes, she remained silent and didn’t ask any more questions.

Meanwhile, Sheng Zhen, the one responsible for all this, drifted quietly into the room, careful not to let any chilling drafts follow her in.

Out of the corner of her eye, Si Wan caught a glimpse of that terrifyingly pale face. Contrary to what she had imagined, it wasn’t etched with sorrow but deliberately twisted into a smile.

“I knew it, you’re the type to say one thing and mean another.”

Sheng Zhen leaned close to Si Wan’s ear, her icy breath brushing against Si Wan’s skin, sending shivers down her spine.

Si Wan didn’t respond but abruptly stood up. Realizing the others were still looking at her curiously, she spoke up.

“It’s getting late. I shouldn’t disturb you any longer, Grandma.”

Grandma Liu, leaning on her cane, rose to her feet and smiled.

“Let me see you out.”

“No need, it’s just a few steps. Please rest.”

But in the end, Grandma Liu insisted and escorted them to the door. Before they left, she took Liu Yaoyao’s hand and repeated what she had said earlier.

“I’m relieved knowing you’re with Professor Si.”

Then, she turned her gaze to Song Yan and said with a smile,

“I’m just as happy that Yaoyao has a friend like you.”

Song Yan hadn’t expected to be mentioned and was momentarily taken aback before replying politely,

“She’s a good person.”

“Grandma, we’ll head over now.”

After saying this, Liu Yaoyao turned to Si Wan.

“Professor Si, I’ll take you to Second Uncle’s house now. Please stay close. Because of what happened there, the village has been a bit wary lately. Not many households keep their lights on after dark, so the road might be a bit dim.”

Si Wan simply replied with a quiet “Mm,” her gaze still fixed on Sheng Zhen, who was drifting ahead of her.

Liu Er’gou’s house wasn’t too far away. After a few minutes of walking with Liu Yaoyao leading the way, they arrived.

Perhaps they had come at just the right time, the fake Taoist had just finished the ritual and was packing up his things. Liu Fang was grumbling as she tried to drag the unconscious Liu Er’gou back into the house.

Liu Fang narrowed her eyes as she watched Si Wan and the others arrive, scrutinizing them for a long moment before abandoning Liu Er’gou and turning to Liu Yaoyao with a beaming smile.

“Isn’t that the person from TV? This is my first time seeing them in real life.”

After speaking, she continued to stare curiously at Si Wan from head to toe. But then, an inexplicable gust of wind blew sand into her eyes, forcing her to rub them.

“Ugh, how did sand get in my eyes? I’ll go inside to grab a mirror and check, and while I’m at it, I’ll bring you all some water.”

With that, she rubbed her eyes and hurried inside, not bothering to check if anyone had heard her.

On the ground, Liu Er’gou’s previously incoherent mumbling suddenly grew louder. His bloodshot eyes widened in terror, as if he had seen something horrifying.

“Ghosts… there are ghosts…”

Si Wan frowned as she looked at him, but since his gaze wasn’t fixed on Sheng Zhen, she couldn’t suspect Sheng Zhen of having done anything intentional.

“Was everything he took thoroughly checked?”

After all, when they had arrived at the scene, Liu Er’gou was still unconscious below.

Liu Yaoyao shook her head and said, “Second Uncle has been like this since he returned, completely deranged. We can’t even get close to him.”

Indeed, when Liu Fang had tried to move him earlier, his frantic struggles made it difficult for her.

“Since they’re burial objects, if there are any, we’ll need to retrieve them.”

Sheng Zhen, floating beside Si Wan, curled her lips disdainfully and retorted, “Burial objects? That’s the hairpin you gave me.”

Si Wan automatically ignored her words, extracting only the useful information: “hairpin.”

As soon as Sheng Zhen finished speaking, she turned toward the man on the ground and revealed a smile. Under the cold moonlight, her expression appeared blurred and eerie, as if she were baring fangs behind Si Wan’s back to threaten him.

The man on the ground suddenly saw that terrifying face again in his mind and let out a panicked scream. His body began to convulse violently, and the air instantly filled with the pungent smell of urine.

The others raised their hands to cover their noses, looking slightly embarrassed. Si Wan had initially thought it inappropriate to search him by force and planned to ask Officer Nian to bring someone to investigate the next day. But just then, something fell from Liu Er’gou’s body. Under the moonlight, it shimmered with a faint, glowing light.

As Si Wan looked over, the fake Taoist priest, who had just finished tidying up, suddenly brightened. A greedy glint flashed in his eyes as he reached out to grab the object.

…