The Beauty with Terrible Luck Falls in Love with a Ghost - Chapter 24.1

Han Hai’er had originally wanted to linger a bit longer, but Zuo Lihua’s stomachache made it impossible to go anywhere. With no other choice, she reluctantly followed her back home.

“You should just hit menopause,” Han Hai’er said disdainfully.

Zuo Lihua’s face darkened: “…I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Fortunately, Han Hai’er wasn’t actually serious about causing her any real trouble. With a dismissive “Tch!”, she quickly turned her attention to her battle with the soybean-powdered rice cakes.

She vaguely remembered the texture of these treats, sticky and chewy, but she couldn’t taste them, which made her anxious. In the end, she simply reduced the rice cakes, box and all, to ashes.

When Zuo Lihua saw this, she exclaimed in amazement, “What kind of skill is that? So impressive!”

Han Hai’er grabbed a handful of dried pork slices, applied a gentle force, and as the pork turned black, it was crushed by an overwhelming power, dissipating into the air: “You mean this?”

“An ultimate technique!” Zuo Lihua slapped the steering wheel. “This is the ultimate technique for destroying evidence and leaving no trace!”

If possible, could they avoid taking out the trash from now on?

Perhaps because the area was sparsely populated, the trash bin in front of her residence wasn’t emptied every day, often leaving it reeking of foul odors.

Han Hai’er grinned maliciously: “I just mastered it today. If you don’t behave, I’ll kill you, cremate you first, then scatter your ashes, not a single speck will remain.”

Zuo Lihua straightened her expression: “I’ve always been well-behaved, you know that!”

Han Hai’er sneered: “But you stepped on my hair.”

Zuo Lihua looked down and saw a damp, curly strand of hair emerging from under the sofa, its tip precisely trapped under her foot.

“!”

Her heart racing, Zuo Lihua quickly lifted her foot.

The hair lifted its tip slightly, as if sternly reprimanding Zuo Lihua for her carelessness, then trembled and shrank back under the sofa.

“This… why?” Zuo Lihua glanced at the sofa, then at Han Hai’er, both startled and deeply shocked.

Han Hai’er said unhappily, “What’s with that look? Is there a problem? Doesn’t everyone shed hair?”

Zuo Lihua: “…”

So even after death, hair loss is unavoidable?!

How terrifying! Is there no hope for this world?

Later that evening, Zuo Lihua received a call from the director who had previously invited her to participate in a variety show.

At the time, she was mired in negative publicity and was surprised that someone would risk booking her. Out of gratitude, she had agreed to appear on the show. Now, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get closer to Han Youyou.

As Zuo Lihua was calculating her next move, the pot on the stove signaled it was ready. Expressionlessly, she picked up the soy sauce bottle and poured the last few drops of the dark liquid into the dish.

The savory aroma of soy sauce instantly filled the air, blending with the natural flavors of the ingredients and making one’s mouth water.

“Is it ready yet? I’m so hungry,” Han Hai’er called out from the other room, tapping her bowl.

“Almost done!” Zuo Lihua dutifully began plating the food.

The villa had a dedicated dining room, but neither Zuo Lihua nor Han Hai’er liked using it. They preferred gathering around the coffee table, eating while watching TV.

“Hahahaha…” Han Hai’er couldn’t sit still even while eating, slouching on the sofa and laughing uncontrollably.

Zuo Lihua glanced at the TV, then lowered her eyes to pick up a bite of food, eating it with her rice.

The latest version of Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf movie was playing on the TV, noisy and lively. Under the soft glow of the living room lights, the empty, spacious house shared by one human and one ghost unexpectedly carried a faint trace of worldly warmth.

After finishing dinner and clearing the dishes, Zuo Lihua was about to head out to take out the trash when Han Hai’er stopped her.

“I’ll go.” A slender hand reached over, grabbing the trash bag first.

Han Hai’er wore a black beret, its brim pulled low. Her deep blue eyes seemed even more profound in the shadows. Lips pressed together, expressionless, her seaweed-like long hair cascaded down, exuding an extraordinary aura.

Zuo Lihua blinked, a word popping into her mind for no reason: cool girl.

“What’s up?” she asked slowly. A ghost voluntarily doing chores, now that was something you didn’t see every day.

Han Hai’er curled her lips into a smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes. “A thank you for the delicious dinner.”

“…Oh.” Zuo Lihua’s gaze drifted aimlessly.

She watched as Han Hai’er left, pausing by the entrance to slip on a newly purchased windbreaker jacket.

Like any blossoming young girl heading out, she waved to the person inside the room and closed the door behind her.

Smack! Zuo Lihua slapped her own cheek.

It stung a little. She wasn’t dreaming.

Just two hours ago, this ghost had threatened to kill her if she didn’t obey, so how could it be…?

Zuo Lihua couldn’t figure it out and gave up thinking.

She had assumed Han Hai’er would be back soon, after all, the dumpster wasn’t far. Even walking slowly, five minutes would be more than enough for a round trip.

But Han Hai’er was like that piece of meat thrown at a dog, swallowed by the night, never to return.

Thirty minutes later, Zuo Lihua grew tired. After a moment’s thought, she decided to give up waiting for the ghost and go take a bath before bed.

After all, the ghost couldn’t go far, and what right did she, a mere mortal, have to meddle in ghostly affairs?

The bath bomb she randomly picked today had a scent Zuo Lihua loved, fresh but not cold, fragrant but not cloying, somewhere between gardenia and lavender, with a calming effect.

Zuo Lihua couldn’t resist soaking a little longer. Just as she began to feel drowsy, she prepared to climb out of the bathtub.

She straightened up and suddenly felt a cold liquid dripping onto her head from above.

Instinctively, she shifted her body. Drip. The liquid landed on her shoulder.

She reached to touch it, her hand came away covered in crimson red.

“!”

Startled, Zuo Lihua jolted awake and looked up.

Right above her, positioned precisely over her head, hung a person!

The person’s bluish-gray legs dangled right above her, the tips of their feet just a little lower from touching her head. From this angle, she could even see parts of the limbs hidden beneath tattered pant legs.

Zuo Lihua’s pupils contracted. Her body moved faster than her mind as she swiftly dodged to the side, splashing water everywhere.

Only after reaching the other end of the bathroom did Zuo Lihua realize that this “person” was actually hanging by a hemp rope around their neck. Bulging eyes stared fixedly at her, the body swaying back and forth as more and more blood dripped down. The entire tub of bathwater had turned a vivid red.

Standing in the blood-tinted water, Zuo Lihua felt nauseous.

This bath was a complete waste.

The moment this thought crossed her mind, Zuo Lihua pressed her hands firmly against the edge of the bathtub and, like a loach, slipped out with the smallest possible movement.

A snapping sound echoed as the rope broke.

Seeing Zuo Lihua trying to escape, the ghost had directly yanked the rope apart.

Using both hands and feet, Zuo Lihua scrambled out as fast as she could, not forgetting to grab a towel to wrap around herself.

Stepping out of the bathroom, she instinctively reached to close the door. She knew its position so well she didn’t even need to look.

Rushing out and shutting the door, a fluid motion, came to an abrupt halt when her hand touched something sticky and elastic.

She quickly looked up. A horrifying ghost head was plastered against the door, its hair tangled around the frame. For some reason, the doorknob had been driven into its skull. Facing the door, it couldn’t turn its head, but its bulging eyes strained to peer toward Zuo Lihua.

Zuo Lihua’s mind reeled. The scene was grotesque, more visually repulsive than mentally shocking. Thanks to her experience living alongside ghosts day in and day out, she managed not to collapse in terror.

In that moment of distraction, the hanging ghost had already caught up.

It couldn’t run, it just rolled clumsily along the floor, unable to change direction. When it bumped into a table or a corner, it was forced to stop, splattering blood everywhere.

It was only thanks to its rigid movement that Zuo Lihua could catch her breath.

Hiding inside the wardrobe, Zuo Lihua listened to the banging on the door and curled into a tight ball, overwhelmed with despair.

Why had ghosts invaded her home?

Were there more outside the bedroom?

What about Han Hai’er? Had she already been killed by a ghost?

After all, that ghost had admitted its powers were weak, it couldn’t defeat any spirit with stronger resentment.

Or had Han Hai’er abandoned her? Were these ghosts summoned by her?

Was Zuo Lihua going to die here today?

The more she thought, the more hopeless she felt, on the verge of tears.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The knocking on the wardrobe grew louder, like a death knell from hell, each strike chipping away at her remaining lifespan.

The wardrobe shuddered under the assault. Zuo Lihua prayed silently, hoping it was sturdy enough. If she survived today, she vowed to only buy furniture from this brand for the rest of her life.

A faint chill brushed against her skin, accompanied by a cold, sticky sensation that slithered over her like maggots burrowing into bone.

Zuo Lihua froze, too terrified to move a muscle.

The touch slowly traced upward along her waistline, light and unhurried, as if admiring a beautiful object. At any moment, it might pierce her skin and run her through.

All sound faded from her ears. In her terror, three words flashed clearly in her mind:

I’m done for!

“Tu…rn… a…round…” A faint, sigh-like whisper sounded behind her, right by her ear. Though soft and barely intelligible, it sent chills down her spine. She didn’t dare disobey even a single punctuation mark.

The wardrobe was cramped, but she was flexible enough to turn around without much difficulty.

Steadying herself and suppressing her trembling, she managed to twist her body without pushing the door open.

Her eyes had adjusted to the dark. By the sliver of light seeping through the cracks, she saw a half-rotten “person” crouched inside the wardrobe.

It wasn’t tall, curled up in a squat. Its skin was entirely gone, revealing clearly defined muscles. One of its eyeballs had rotted, dangling precariously from a strip of decaying flesh. A finger, coated in some unknown sticky substance, was stretching toward Zuo Lihua.

The stench of decay flooded her nostrils.

“Face… face…” The ghost opened its mouth, emitting a series of barely distinguishable breathy sounds. The moment it clearly saw Zuo Lihua’s features, the blood vessels in its eyes bulged violently.

“I want… I… want!” it whispered, radiating undisguised, naked desire.

Zuo Lihua couldn’t suppress her trembling, retreating backward almost instinctively.

The ghost paid no attention to her movements because, no matter how much she retreated, the wardrobe was only so big.

The ghost’s fingers roamed continuously over Zuo Lihua’s body, as if struggling to decide where to start.

When her back pressed against the wardrobe, the ghost leaned in closer. The distance between human and ghost became extremely narrow, Zuo Lihua’s breath could even spray onto the ghost’s face.

The longer the ghost delayed its attack, the more terrified Zuo Lihua became.

Because she realized this ghost was coveting her skin, in other words, this ghost wanted to peel off her skin and wear it itself.

The stench of rotting corpse nearly suffocated her.

“Heh heh.”

As its fingers moved to Zuo Lihua’s ear, the ghost suddenly grew excited. It seemed to have found the perfect starting point.

Realizing this, Zuo Lihua trembled like a leaf in a storm.

“Mine… heh heh… mine…” The ghost roared excitedly. Zuo Lihua only felt a piercing pain behind her ear.

In that instant, her mind went blank. Survival instinct made her temporarily forget the pursuing ghost outside the wardrobe. She thrust her elbows forcefully, breaking through the wardrobe door and tumbling out.

The back of her head hit the floor with a dull thud.

Simultaneously, intense pain radiated from behind her ear.

When she moved, the ghost’s fingers had carved a gash behind her ear.

Dizziness washed over Zuo Lihua’s vision, but it quickly cleared.

She found herself face to face with the hanged ghost crawling on the floor.

The blue-white skin of the hanged ghost showed obvious delight, even its blackish tongue hanging from its mouth curled and trembled with excitement, as if astonished and thrilled by the prey delivered right to it.

Zuo Lihua didn’t share the sentiment.

The ghost from the wardrobe was already climbing over, grabbing her leg, her bath towel was nearly torn off!

The hanged ghost had also crawled closer, swinging its tongue as if ready to lick her face.

“Ah!!!” Utterly hopeless, Zuo Lihua screamed and tightly shut her eyes.

At the very least, she didn’t want to witness her own miserable death!

…

The expected pain never came.

Peeking through a narrow slit in her eyes, Zuo Lihua saw a familiar pair of white sneakers pinning the hanged ghost to the ground.

Zuo Lihua immediately realized, Han Hai’er had returned!

Han Hai’er bent down, her slender, bony fingers covering the hanged ghost’s head. In the next moment, the blue-white color was abruptly drained from the hanged ghost, leaving only viscous blackness before it turned to ashes and vanished on the spot.

Only then did Han Hai’er turn her face to look at Zuo Lihua.

She paused for a moment, then curled her lips into a wicked smile: “I was only gone for a little while, and you’ve already ended up in such a sorry state. You really can’t manage without me, can you?”