The Beauty with Terrible Luck Falls in Love with a Ghost - Chapter 13.2

After finishing her meal, Zuo Lihua received a phone call.

It was from an unfamiliar number.

When she answered, the caller surprised her greatly.

It was a director from a well-known TV program.

The production team had contacted her before, but she had declined at the time due to filming commitments. Now, this director had reached out to her again, and without going through Ning Dongbang first.

“Director Li?” Zuo Lihua was stunned.

Given that she was currently being vilified online, she couldn’t believe any program would still dare to invite her.

[“I believe, given your character, you wouldn’t do such a thing. There must be a reason, right?”]

Zuo Lihua neither denied nor confirmed it. After all, she was still preparing for a lawsuit and couldn’t risk alerting anyone prematurely.

Since she couldn’t tip her hand, she had to refuse.

Unexpectedly, the director was persistent and insisted on having her on the show. When Zuo Lihua explained that it wasn’t a good time for her to appear in public, the director immediately scheduled her for three months later.

His sincerity was evident, and the terms he offered were tempting.

Thinking that everything would likely be resolved in three months, Zuo Lihua agreed.

Then, seizing the moment, the director arranged to meet her in three days.

Zuo Lihua replied, “…Alright.”

And so, it was settled.

The pizza, now soggy and congealed like tar, was sealed in its packaging and tossed into the trash bin.

The next day, Zuo Lihua was discharged from the hospital and returned home.

Ling Mengwei, who had promised to come, didn’t show up, she only sent a message saying she was tied up with last-minute work.

Zuo Lihua didn’t comment.

Carrying a large bag of tonic medicines back to the villa, the first thing Zuo Lihua did was check her phone to see if there was an internet connection.

The signal was full.

That meant Ning Dongbang hadn’t checked the network again.

Of course, why would he? This was the place where a ghost, someone he had personally driven to death, resided. He’d be fleeing in fear; how could he dare come back so easily?

Zuo Lihua pondered this. It seemed that, for now, this villa was the safest place for her.

Zuo Lihua had paid a high fee, and Zhang Shuo was efficient. He had hired a detective to gather evidence that Zuo Lihua was not pregnant and sent the compiled report to her phone on the evening of the second day.

After skimming through it, Zuo Lihua called Zhang Shuo back.

“Attorney Zhang, you truly live up to your reputation as a top lawyer. I feel completely at ease, thank you for your hard work.”

It was already 10 p.m. Zhang Shuo seemed to have just finished work and was out on the street. “I’m just doing my job for the pay. Are you free tomorrow? Let me treat you to a meal.”

“Taking a client out to eat?”

“Yes. Would you do me the honor?”

“If I said no, would you drop the case?”

Zhang Shuo paused, his tone turning cool and firm. “Money once earned is not meant to be returned.”

Zuo Lihua’s eyes curved into a smile. “Haha.”

She didn’t continue the conversation.

Understanding that this was a rejection, Zhang Shuo sighed. “Alright then, big star. You’re busy, I’ll continue running around for you.”

After hanging up, Zhang Shuo gazed at the neon lights at the end of the street, shaking his head with a bitter smile.

The second time in his life he’d tried to pursue someone, and he’d failed.

Both times, it had been the same person.

As Zuo Lihua set down the phone, she saw Han Hai’er’s face right in front of hers, magnified and close.

Startled, she exclaimed, “What are you doing?”

Han Hai’er narrowed her eyes, looking like a cuckolded Wu Dalang: “Who were you talking to?”

“My lawyer?”

“Don’t contact them again.”

Zuo Lihua gasped sharply. “The trial hasn’t even started, and you’re already removing my lawyer? You can’t do that, it’s not right!”

“Is that so?” Han Hai’er sneered, her gaze shifting unpredictably toward the phone, as if she wanted to crawl through it and kill the person on the other end.

Zuo Lihua quickly added, “I paid for it, clear pricing! I hired that lawyer with my own money. I have no income now; every cent is a precious resource! I can’t just waste it!”

“Income source?”

Zuo Lihua nodded eagerly. “Mm-hmm!”

Then Han Hai’er yanked her to her feet.

“There’s more than one way to earn money.”

Zuo Lihua thought for a moment and tentatively asked, “Do you have a way?”

Han Hai’er tilted her chin up slightly. “Come with me.”

“Now?” Zuo Lihua instinctively checked the time again.

Han Hai’er: “Problem?”

“I-I need to put on a mask.”

Zuo Lihua dug out a baseball cap and a mask, then threw on a loose coat that covered her entire body before following Han Hai’er out the door.

The villa was located in a desolate, remote area with no lights, save for a few scattered streetlamps on the distant main road. Weeds grew thick on both sides of the path, and withered branches and leaves rustled without any wind. Unidentifiable insects chirped faintly, creating an eerie, desolate atmosphere.

Under the cover of moonlight, Zuo Lihua followed a ghost out into the night.

To avoid drawing attention and being photographed by passing vehicles, Zuo Lihua stuck to the smaller paths.

If she were alone, she might not have dared to walk this way, but with a ghost by her side, her courage swelled.

As the saying goes, walk the night path often enough, and you’ll eventually meet a ghost.

Walking with a ghost meant she no longer had to fear encountering one.

After about half an hour, Zuo Lihua arrived at what looked like an urban village.

This area had been the first developed affluent neighborhood thirty years ago, mostly consisting of two- or three-story standalone houses with yards, along with many single-story homes. Later, as the new city district was established, the wealthy gradually moved there. Over time, this place had become the most backward, “forgotten” zone.

Walking into the narrow alley, she could hear a dog barking once or twice.

One dog even charged out, but upon seeing Han Hai’er, it tucked its tail between its legs, whimpered, and scurried away.

Zuo Lihua had never been to a place like this before and curiously craned her neck, looking around in every direction.

Han Hai’er led her to a large iron gate in front of someone’s yard and said, “Knock.”

“It’s almost eleven, is that really okay?” Zuo Lihua hesitated.

Under the moonlight, Han Hai’er frowned almost imperceptibly.

Without another word, Zuo Lihua raised her small fist and banged on the door twice.

A moment later, a voice came from inside, sounding like a middle-aged man: “Who is it?”

Zuo Lihua knocked again, though this time with less force.

Footsteps approached from a distance, followed by the clatter of the iron door bolt. The door swung open.

A bald, shirtless man, nearly two meters tall and wearing only boxers, stood in the doorway, frowning at Zuo Lihua. “Who are you?”

The green dragon tattoo on his shoulder gleamed menacingly in the moonlight.

Zuo Lihua glanced at his arm and realized her waist wasn’t even as thick as his bicep.

Steeling herself, she looked toward Han Hai’er.

Han Hai’er: “Ask him for money.”

Zuo Lihua’s eyes widened, her pupils shaking in disbelief. “What did you say?”

The big man grew impatient, staring at the young girl before him, utterly baffled. “Little girl, who are you looking for?”

Zuo Lihua paused, then raised her head to meet the big man’s gaze. Their eyes locked.

Good grief, this guy even had a scar on his face.

Zuo Lihua grew even more frightened.

The big man stared at the unfamiliar girl’s pink eyes and froze for a moment.

“Give… give me money.” Zuo Lihua’s voice trembled as she spoke.

“Huh?” The big man couldn’t believe his ears. “What did you say?”

Holy cow, is this some kind of setup? Is someone trying to mess with me?

“Give me money!” Zuo Lihua closed her eyes and repeated loudly.

What a joke, Han Hai’er was far scarier than this big man. At least the big man was human, but Han Hai’er was a ghost.

“Looking for a beating, are you?” The big man raised his hand, pretending to strike.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past, and a torn piece of paper fluttered to Zuo Lihua’s feet.

She glanced at it, picked it up, and held it out to the big man. “Give! Money!”

The big man took a closer look, froze for a moment, and his expression instantly changed.

He stared at Zuo Lihua with suspicion and caution, took the paper, and asked carefully, “You… how did you know?”

Zuo Lihua was also confused and remained silent.

What was there to say? What did she know? She knew nothing!

“Please come in! Please come in quickly!”

The big man hastily stepped aside to let Zuo Lihua enter.

Zuo Lihua glanced at him and walked in.

The big man tossed the paper aside, thought for a moment, and didn’t dare to close the door. He led Zuo Lihua into the room.

The room was a relatively large one-bedroom apartment with a bed. A woman sat on the bed, holding a towel and repeatedly wiping the body of a child lying on the bed.

Seeing her husband bring a woman into the room, she was taken aback. “Who is this?”

“This is the Great Immortal.” the man said, throwing the torn paper into the trash.

The woman saw the paper and immediately flared up. “How dare you bring that thing into the house again? Do you want our son to die or what?”

Zuo Lihua had remained silent since entering the room, her gaze fixed on the bed.

There, a mummy-like figure, about the size of a four- or five-year-old child, was clinging to the child, tightly gripping the child’s head.

“Money… hehe, money, money…” it muttered deliriously, its mouth hanging open, unable to close.