My Partner Always Wants to Dig My Grave - Chapter 40

A sinister wind swept through violently, rustling the leaves like the mournful wails of ghosts, sending chills down one’s spine.

Dark clouds pressed down from the sky, obscuring the last remnants of the sunset, plunging the entire world into a shadowy gloom.

Crimson sleeves, as red as blood, fluttered like blooming peonies, opulent yet exuding an unrestrained flamboyance that was impossible to ignore. The hidden ferocity was restrained solely to avoid frightening the person beside her.

However, witnessing these strange phenomena, Ma Banxian, clad in Taoist robes, grew instantly excited, muttering to himself.

“Indeed, indeed… immortality is within reach…”

Before he could finish his words, he was inexplicably knocked over by some unseen force, landing on the ground in a bizarre posture.

Seeing his actions, Guan Yue felt her scalp tingle. She nudged Si Wan with her elbow and whispered,

“Isn’t he just a lunatic? I knew studying these unorthodox practices would drive him mad sooner or later.”

Observing the strange behavior, Si Wan furrowed her brows slightly and spoke.

“Let’s ignore him. It’s getting late, so let’s head back and rest.”

Her words were not only directed at Guan Yue but also at Sheng Zhen, who stood nearby.

Si Wan subtly grasped Sheng Zhen’s wrist, her movements as gentle as a soothing reassurance.

Sheng Zhen clasped Si Wan’s hand in return, resting her head on Si Wan’s shoulder with a pitiful expression that softened one’s heart.

As Si Wan led Sheng Zhen away, she seemed to recall something and turned to Song Yan.

“Send the video over, and forward a copy to Professor Guan as well.”

Song Yan nodded in acknowledgment before fiddling with her phone.

Mentioning this, Guan Yue also seemed to remember something. Seeing that Si Wan was about to leave, she hurriedly stopped her.

“Si Wan, wait a moment. I’ll come find you later, I have something to give you.”

Si Wan didn’t notice the peculiar flicker in Guan Yue’s expression and replied,

“It’s too late. Let’s do it tomorrow.”

But to her surprise, her words only made Guan Yue more anxious.

“No, it has to be tonight.”

Hearing this, Si Wan paused, frowned slightly, and looked at her anxious expression with confusion.

“Is it something urgent? Or is the item very important?”

Guan Yue couldn’t be sure whether they had truly left the depths of the tomb or if the ghost following Si Wan was still around. After hesitating for a moment, she steeled herself and nodded.

“Yes, it’s very important.”

Si Wan thought for a moment before responding.

“Then I’ll come find you after I’ve washed up.”

Guan Yue shook her head decisively, ignoring the cold sweat on her forehead, and forced a smile.

“No need. You’re too tired today, I don’t want to trouble you.”

Hearing this, Si Wan didn’t press further and simply nodded.

“Alright, just make sure to come before ten.”

Guan Yue smiled again and urged her forward, saying,

“I know you rest at ten. Don’t worry, I’ll be there.”

Sheng Zhen played with Si Wan’s hair, her eyes slightly lowered, speaking as if unintentionally, with a hint of probing.

“Are the two of you very close?”

For some reason, Si Wan detected a hint of awkwardness in her tone.

Unconsciously, Si Wan’s lips curved into a slight smile as she whispered,

“We’re colleagues.”

Then, as if realizing that Sheng Zhen, being an ancient ghost, might not understand the term, she paused to consider before rephrasing it with a word she thought Sheng Zhen might comprehend.

“Comrades.”

Hearing that it wasn’t an advisor, Sheng Zhen gave an “Mm” and didn’t press further.

Only after Si Wan had walked away did Guan Yue let out a sigh of relief, only to hear the eccentric Ma Banxian speak up beside her.

“Have you noticed it too?”

Startled by the sudden presence of someone nearby, Guan Yue took a step back, her expression darkening.

“What nonsense are you spouting?!”

Ma Banxian clicked his tongue twice, stroking the goatee he had deliberately grown with an air of self-importance. He fancied himself as possessing an immortal’s grace, oblivious to the fact that his shifty eyes made him look like a typical villain from a TV drama.

Just as Song Yan had sent out the video, she heard the commotion from Guan Yue’s side. Exchanging a glance with Liu Yaoyao, one of them headed toward Guan Yue while the other went to find Nian Nian.

“Professor Guan, why bother with him?” Song Yan eyed Ma Banxian warily, worried that he might actually be mentally unstable.

Guan Yue frowned and said, “Who knows what he’s babbling about?”

With that, she urged Song Yan to leave with her.

Fortunately, Ma Banxian seemed to realize he was at a disadvantage and didn’t follow them, but he shouted after them, “Running away won’t help! A vengeful ghost has emerged, and your friend’s life is at stake here!”

Hearing this, Guan Yue paused mid-step, pondering the meaning behind his words, but her thoughts were interrupted by Song Yan’s remark.

“Is this guy really acting like he’s in a horror movie?”

At the mention of the word “ghost,” Guan Yue’s expression shifted, and she said, “Let’s go quickly.”

The shouting behind them grew quieter, turning ingratiating. “Officer, officer, I’m telling the truth! There really is a ghost!”

Nian Nian smiled politely, ignoring his wild claims, and spoke courteously, “You’ve been reported for fraud. We need you to come with us to the station to give a statement.”

Upon realizing they were there to arrest him, the man’s face instantly paled, and he forced a smile. “N-no, I was just performing rituals to ward off evil. The money I received was my hard-earned fee.”

Nian Nian remained unmoved and replied, “Then it’s not just fraud anymore. We now suspect you’re involved with an illicit folk cult.”

With that, Nian Nian signaled, and two officers escorted him away despite his protests.

Liu Yaoyao snorted coldly and said to the man, “Go to jail, you fraud.”

After washing up, Si Wan sat in front of her computer, resting her head on one hand as she took a sip of warm water, her gaze fixed intently on the video playing on the screen.

When she saw the chaotic scattering of light points, her expression grew serious.

A memory flashed through her mind, her own muttered words from earlier, and she furrowed her brows slightly.

“She’s in danger.”

Si Wan murmured to herself, repeating the words she had spoken then.

She knew very well that “she” referred to Sheng Zhen.

But as for why she had said “danger”, she had no idea.

It wasn’t until she deciphered the actual pattern within the chaotic light points that she once again located the figure within.

Only, that figure was curled up in a corner, her whereabouts unknown, with several burly, unfamiliar figures standing before her.

A sharp pain suddenly shot through Si Wan’s head, and in her mind, she heard the furious voice of the emperor from within the gilded palace.

If the eldest princess were to come to harm, the general who failed to accompany her would also face repercussions.

She wanted to recall more, but just then, she noticed the figure on the screen standing up, holding a sword that had clearly been taken from someone.

Sheng Zhen happened to witness this scene as she approached, pursed her lips, and spoke with irritation.

“Someone must have betrayed my whereabouts, putting me in danger. These people are truly audacious.”

Si Wan watched the scene on the screen, where the figure did not sit idly by waiting for rescue, and spoke in a low voice.

“Did you study martial arts?”

Although the figure held a sword, a closer look revealed that she hadn’t killed anyone. Even as she pressed toward her attackers, her hands trembled almost imperceptibly.

But even if Sheng Zhen had killed someone back then, Si Wan wouldn’t have blamed her.

At the time, Sheng Zhen was merely a teenage girl, overwhelmed by the unknown fear of being kidnapped. Staying calm enough to free herself from the ropes, seize a weapon, and escape unscathed was nothing short of a miracle.

For people like that, there was no telling what they might do.

After all, by today’s standards, it was human trafficking.

The laws of ancient times were different from modern ones. After Sheng Zhen returned to the palace, those people were likely executed.

Hearing Si Wan’s question, Sheng Zhen shook her head slightly and replied.

“I was just bluffing them.”

At this, Sheng Zhen seemed to recall something. She sat on the table in front of Si Wan, blocking her view, leaned in intimately, and said.

“But later, someone taught me properly.”

Si Wan leaned back in her chair, met Sheng Zhen’s gaze, and pressed her lips together, lost in thought.

“You didn’t listen.”

Sheng Zhen’s eyes lowered, a flicker of melancholy passing through them. She chuckled, speaking as if it didn’t matter.

“Even if I wanted to, I can’t hear it anymore.”

Si Wan opened her mouth to say more, but just then, the door was knocked, and Guan Yue’s voice came from outside.

“Si Wan.”

Hearing this, Si Wan replied.

“Wait a moment.”

As she stood up to open the door, Si Wan whispered a warning to Sheng Zhen.

“Don’t scare anyone.”

Sheng Zhen smiled, her gaze following Si Wan as she said.

“Then I’ll only scare you from now on.”

Si Wan’s hand paused on the doorknob. She glanced sideways, catching Sheng Zhen drifting over in her peripheral vision.

Outside, the person waiting had clearly grown impatient and pushed the door open hastily. Si Wan stepped back just in time to avoid being hit in the face.

Guan Yue had intended to rush in, but instead, she was met with Si Wan’s indifferent expression. Flustered, she said.

“You’re here.”

Si Wan didn’t waste words and got straight to the point.

“Do you have something important for me?”

Behind Si Wan, Sheng Zhen also peered over with curiosity.

Guan Yue felt as though, aside from Si Wan, another eerie gaze was fixed on her. She shivered, glanced at the unpowered air conditioner, and sensed an inexplicable chill in the room, which only reinforced her suspicions.

Noticing Guan Yue staring blankly, Si Wan called her name a few more times.

After just two calls, Guan Yue snapped back to reality, hiding the strange look in her eyes. She thrust the item in her hand toward Si Wan and said.

“This.”

Si Wan looked at the paper bag containing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses similar to her previous ones. She fell silent for a moment before finally speaking.

“Is this the important thing?”

Facing Si Wan’s gaze, Guan Yue felt a hint of guilt but steeled herself and said, “It’s just because you haven’t been adjusting well these past few days.”

Si Wan: “…”

Sheng Zhen’s eyes drifted toward the paper bag, as if reassured. Remembering her substantial inheritance, she spoke with a touch of pride, “I can give you even more.”

Si Wan sighed and turned to Guan Yue, “So, what else did you want to say?”

Guan Yue had sounded urgent earlier, making Si Wan think it was about the tomb matter, so she now spoke with some seriousness.

But after hesitating for a moment, Guan Yue’s next words left Si Wan stunned.

“Si Wan, book a flight for tomorrow and go back.”

Guan Yue’s voice was filled with concern as she tried to persuade Si Wan.

Frowning, Si Wan couldn’t understand why Guan Yue was acting so strangely and asked, “Why?”

Guan Yue bit her lip, looked at Si Wan, and uttered something baffling.

“You know, with your intellect, I don’t want anything to happen to you. And I don’t want to personally send you to a mental hospital in the future.”

…