The Ghost Insists on Giving Me a Beautiful and Powerful Wife! - Chapter 5

Creak—

The old wooden door was pushed open, and a musty smell from dampness filled her nose.

Yu Ruoyin clutched the card Jiang Huaining had given her, lowered her head, and hurried inside. She pressed her back against the door, shoved it shut, and locked it again without wasting a single second.

Leaning against the door panel, she panted heavily.

Although Jiang Huaining had lied to her, not everything she said was false.

Yu Ruoyin had followed her instructions just now—after walking the way she’d taught, she really did pass through a wall and end up in the western alley of Longyu Street, then rushed all the way back home.

The sensation of weightlessness while passing through the wall still lingered in her body.

It was hard to imagine that scenes like seeing ghosts or walking through walls—things that should only exist in movies—had suddenly wrapped around her reality.

To be honest, Jiang Huaining had frightened her, but at the same time, she had also sobered her up.

Everything that had felt “off” before now flooded her mind all at once, squeezing her chest so tight she dared not linger there a moment longer.

After all, Yu Ruoyin had only gone to Longyu Street because she’d received a message from Zhuang Ciyue. But Zhuang Ciyue had never actually sent her any message. Which meant, from the very moment she stepped onto Longyu Street, everything had been arranged by someone else.

She had only stayed in that shop for a short while, yet outside, the sky had already turned dark, and a thick fog had risen.

There hadn’t been a second soul in sight besides her.

No matter how she thought about it, it seemed impossible that she had been chosen randomly. From the very beginning, Lu Qingzhen and the others must have been targeting her.

But… could ghosts control the passage of time?

Or was it not Lu Qingzhen at all—but Jiang Huaining?

If it had been Jiang Huaining who singled her out from the start, then everything became much easier to explain. But what exactly did Jiang Huaining see in her?

Yu Ruoyin slowly walked further into the house.

In her living room stood a full-length mirror.

She stood before it.

The reflection showed a young face, still rather tender, her features clean and delicate—pretty enough by most standards, though it depended who you compared her to.

Yu Ruoyin wasn’t ugly, but Jiang Huaining was the very definition of breathtaking beauty.

Drip—

A drop of water fell from the ceiling, striking her bare arm with a chill.

Yu Ruoyin didn’t even blink. She stared expressionlessly at her reflection, wiping the droplet away.

This house she lived in had been left behind by her grandmother. She didn’t know exactly when it was built, only that her family had lived here for generations. The old place had long been in disrepair: paint peeling off the walls, the ceiling leaking, and if she wasn’t careful, drops of water would plop down right on her head.

It wasn’t as if the house had just developed problems now. But fixing leaks in such an old house would mean a full renovation—the quickest and only effective solution.

Yu Ruoyin simply didn’t have that kind of money.

What she earned was already stretched thin covering her tuition. All she could do was put it off day after day.

The house wasn’t bright, either. Even in the daytime, if she didn’t turn on the lights, it felt like perpetual dusk.

Once, the lighting hadn’t been so bad. But over the years, taller and taller buildings had sprung up around the neighborhood, blocking nearly all natural light.

Only the kitchen still had a window that let in a little sun. On clear days, if she left the kitchen door open, the living room might share a faint bit of brightness.

That dim light served as a reminder—Yu Ruoyin was just a poor student when it came to financial standing. In contrast, Jiang Huaining had handed her five hundred thousand yuan right after they agreed to be together.

Yu Ruoyin touched the card again, feeling lost.

By normal standards, she was hardly a suitable match.

Besides, Jiang Huaining spent her life dealing with ghosts. If she wanted a wife, wouldn’t it be better to find someone more useful? Why choose an ordinary girl like her?

Someone like Xia Yu, for example.

Yu Ruoyin had met Xia Yu before. Though she hadn’t seen her abilities firsthand, instinct told her Xia Yu was anything but ordinary. And looks-wise, even if Xia Yu couldn’t outshine Jiang Huaining, she was still more striking than herself. If Jiang Huaining really wanted someone to face the Underworld King with her, to obtain that so-called “Chunxian Fruit,” then wouldn’t Xia Yu have been the better choice?

Though the two of them seemed at odds, if they were willing to get along, they would make quite a pair.

Suppose she did have some special fate, like the protagonists in movies. Something worth Jiang Huaining’s attention.

Even then, Jiang Huaining could simply have forced her hand. With power like hers—enough to shatter Xia Yu’s shoulder with a single strike—Yu Ruoyin doubted she could ever escape.

There was no need to waste time pretending, to coax her gently.

Yu Ruoyin had already seen Jiang Huaining’s softer side. She believed her when she said she wasn’t naturally a gentle person. If that was the case, why bother acting sweet? Wouldn’t that be exhausting?

Even if Jiang Huaining wanted nothing at all—if she was merely bored, looking for someone to pass the time with—surely she could have found countless others with better qualities.

What on earth could Jiang Huaining possibly want from her?

That question kept circling in her head: Why me?

Her thoughts drifted to Lu Qingzhen’s words: She likes you.

But that felt wrong.

If this was love at first sight, then logically, shouldn’t it have been her falling for Jiang Huaining at first sight?

It was all too strange.

Yu Ruoyin stared into the mirror, lost in thought for a long while. Outside, the daylight gradually faded into dusk.

She walked back to the front door and turned on the lights.

Time lately seemed to slip by oddly fast. Without realizing it, she’d already been home for hours, and Jiang Huaining hadn’t called, not even a message. Did her words about wanting her as a wife still count, or not?

Yu Ruoyin felt conflicted.

She always overthought things like this.

Maybe Jiang Huaining simply didn’t know her number—but that couldn’t be, since the phone itself had been bought new by Jiang Huaining.

Yu Ruoyin pulled it out and glanced at the screen. Jiang Huaining’s photo lit up again.

Her lips curved upward unconsciously as her finger tapped the picture twice. “Pretty wife?”

She must look foolish now. Luckily, there was no one in the living room but her.

Zhuang Ciyue was right to scold her—every word had been spot-on. She really was acting like a lovesick fool. How else could just one glance at Jiang Huaining’s photo lift her mood so much?

Grumbling at herself, her finger slid into her contacts. That’s when she noticed a pinned number at the top: Pretty Wife.

So Jiang Huaining had labeled herself that. Not subtle at all.

But… she really was beautiful.

Yu Ruoyin let out a silly laugh, then quickly shut off the phone.

So dumb. Truly dumb.

She even despised herself for it. If Zhuang Ciyue ever saw her like this, she’d be mocked to death.

Over the years, that girl hadn’t just grown louder, but sharper-tongued too.

Still… since Jiang Huaining had given herself such a nickname, maybe she really did mean to be her wife. Though the wedding night had been a lie, Yu Ruoyin admitted it was too fast anyway. If Jiang Huaining had run away, that was only natural.

She found herself making excuses for her, each one sounding more reasonable than the last.

Would Jiang Huaining come find her?

And if she did—if she asked her to return—should she go?

Even if Jiang Huaining wasn’t a ghost, she couldn’t be fully human. What if she truly meant to harm her?

No. If Jiang Huaining wanted to harm her, she’d never escape anyway.

So perhaps it was safer to go back. Otherwise, what if Lu Qingzhen tracked her down again?

She was still terrified of Lu Qingzhen.

The more she thought, the deeper she sank into her own little world, oblivious to everything outside.

By the time she came back to herself, the night sky was fully dark.

Suddenly, a knocking sound echoed at the door. Yu Ruoyin’s gaze flicked toward the old wall clock—it was already 7 p.m.

Who could it be at this hour? Jiang Huaining?

It wasn’t that Yu Ruoyin was bewitched—it was simply that she had very few people in her life. Zhuang Ciyue wasn’t even in Chongshi right now. As for relatives, she only remembered a few distant cousins, so faintly connected they hardly counted. Realistically, there weren’t many who would come knocking.

Yu Ruoyin leaned closer, pressed her ear against the door, and called: “Who’s there?”

Her sense of self-preservation had always been sharp. Only with Jiang Huaining did it falter.

The old door didn’t even have a peephole. She always relied on listening to make sure it was safe.

But her question went unanswered. The knocking gradually stopped.

Yu Ruoyin pulled back, puzzled. “Wrong door?”

She stared at the door a few seconds longer. Seeing no further sound, she turned back into the room.

Bang, bang, bang—

Just as she reached the middle of the living room, the knocking returned.

This time, it was louder, heavier, rattling the old wood so violently she feared it would splinter to pieces.

“Who is it?” she forced herself to ask again. Still, no reply.

Her mind raced through every horror story she’d ever read.

Quickly, she shoved the oxhide envelope under a nearby cabinet. Then she dashed into the kitchen, pulled out a chainsaw she kept for self-defense, and gripped it tightly as she crept toward the door.

Her heart clenched tight from panic, breath shortening until tears pricked her eyes. “Who?” she asked again, unwilling to give up hope. Maybe it was just some prank, maybe she’d soon hear laughter outside and breathe easy again.

Indeed, laughter rang out—but strange, unnatural laughter.

“Hahaha! Jie-jie-jie! Wa-ooh, wa-ooh!”

It was a jumble of sounds: a woman’s low chuckle, a baby’s light giggle, and noises no human throat should make.

It felt as though a whole crowd was crammed into the dark hallway outside.

As night fell, they had filled Yu Ruoyin’s doorway completely.

She no longer doubted—they weren’t people.

“Who?” she demanded again. Still, nothing answered her words.

Terror mounted in her chest.

Her hands shook, but she yanked the starter cord with all her strength.

Vrrrroooom!

The roar of the chainsaw split the silence—at the exact same moment the door was smashed open.

Inside and out, everyone froze, stunned.

Just as Yu Ruoyin had guessed, there really were people standing outside her door.

But not living people.

An old lady leaning on a cane, dressed in an old-fashioned cheongsam. A woman cradling a baby. A pair of twin sisters. Even a black cat.

What they all shared was ghostly pallor, long tongues lolling from their mouths, and pale green eyes that glowed in the dark.

They didn’t look like people.

No—they weren’t people. They were ghosts.

Yu Ruoyin had already encountered nonhuman beings before. It didn’t take long to recognize what she was facing.

The shorter of the twin girls tugged at her sister’s sleeve, pretty eyes wide in surprise. “Sis, she doesn’t seem afraid of us.”

Afraid? Of course she was.

That ghost just hadn’t noticed how badly her legs were shaking.

“Hmph!” The old woman slammed her cane against the floor, wrinkles twisting. “And you’re all scared of a chainsaw?”

Right. Ghosts weren’t supposed to fear chainsaws.

Yu Ruoyin felt her hope deflate. Still, she refused to lower it. At least it was the best weapon she had.

The woman holding the baby frowned darkly, clutching her child closer. “Old Madam, she’s got strong spiritual energy on her. How do you know that chainsaw won’t harm us?”

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