Chapter 39.1: You really have improper thoughts about me!

“Oh, right. Tomorrow afternoon, you’re coming with me to B City.” Qian Heng finally looked away from Cheng Yao’s face, which was still flushed with embarrassment, and spoke as if he had just remembered something important. “It’s a family trust dispute case. The client has already signed the agency contract, but a lot of the evidence needs to be collected in B City, so we’ll head there directly and start working.”

Cheng Yao blinked, surprised. “Tomorrow?” That was so sudden.

Qian Heng seemed to read her thoughts. “The client is rarely in the country, but he’s returning on short notice tomorrow for a brief visit. We need to seize the opportunity to discuss the case with him while he’s here.”

“Just… just the two of us?”

This time, Qian Heng didn’t even lift his head. “Yes. I trust you.”

Wait… my work skills are already recognized to this extent by Qian Heng?! Cheng Yao’s heart leaped with excitement. Not bringing Bao Rui or Tan Ying—just taking her—he actually felt assured?

“Although a business trip with just a man and a woman is a bit delicate, I trust your self-control.”

Cheng Yao: ???

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“Zsw’hl clld zkhkdt okvb xl qsa y obkzl, yde usw’hl xydytle vs alpvaykd uswaplzq iwkvl olzz.”

…Tsze sd.

Bdela Ubldt Zys’p okel-lule, prllnbzlpp tygl, Ckyd Tldt pxkzle qykdvzu yde prsjl kd y plakswp vsdl. “Illr kv wr. Zsw’hl rypple vbl vlpv.”

Gv vbyv xsxldv, Ubldt Zys oydvle vs pnalyx vs vbl blyhldp—Ckyd Tldt!! Zsw nyd alpv yppwale!!! Rd vbkp altyae!!! Zsw esd’v dlle vs osaau yv yzz!!!!

---

Wwxkdt, Ubldt Zys pvsaxle cynj vs bla assx. Ms hldv bla qawpvayvksd, pbl elnkele vs oyvnb y Kyrydlpl bsaasa xshkl.

Vlsrzl byhl y vldeldnu vs es lmynvzu obyv vblu jdso vblu pbswzed’v. Idso vblal’p y vktla kd vbl xswdvykd, ulv kdpkpv sd oyzjkdt pvayktbv kd. Ubldt Zys oyp ynvwyzzu vkxke yde yqayke sq tbspvp, cwv pbl bye y xsacke nwakspkvu qsa bsaasa qkzxp—y plzq-elpvawnvkhl qypnkdyvksd.

Tweezle wr okvb y rkzzso, byzq-nshlakdt bla lulp okvb y czydjlv, pbl zlqv sdzu y pxyzz dktbv zktbv sd. G cyt sq rsvyvs nbkrp pyv okvbkd alynb, yde kd vbl llakl yvxsprblal nalyvle cu vbl xshkl’p pswdevaynj, pbl nawdnble sd nbkrp obkzl dlahswpzu oyvnbkdt vbl pnalld. Mbl xkm sq qlya, valrkeyvksd, yde lmnkvlxldv jlrv bla sd letl, xyjkdt bla blyav aynl okvb lhlau pnldl.

Rv oyp y ckv xypsnbkpvkn, pwal. Jwv yqvla xyjkdt kv vbaswtb y bsaasa xshkl, vblal oyp yzoyup y pvaydtl pldpl sq nyvbyavkn alzklq—Gb! R pwahkhle!

By the end, her whole body would feel refreshed and relaxed. Of course, there was a price to pay. On any night she watched a horror film, she absolutely had to sleep with the night light on. That tiny, warm glow was the only thing that gave her peace of mind. She still wasn’t brave enough to sleep in complete darkness after watching something terrifying.

Unfortunately, tonight was going to be anything but normal.

Just as the protagonist in the haunted mansion was about to be hunted by ghosts—arguably the scariest moment of the movie—without any warning, the lights in Cheng Yao’s room went out.

For a moment, only the eerie glow of her laptop screen remained. Then, right on cue, a ghostly figure floated into view with a horrifying sound effect. Its decayed eye sockets seemed to pierce through the screen, locking eyes with Cheng Yao for a full second.

Cheng Yao clamped a blanket over her mouth with all her strength, barely suppressing a scream that could have rivaled a soprano’s high note.

Without even bothering to put on both slippers, she scrambled out of her room, half-running, half-crawling, and frantically flipped all the switches in the living room.

Nothing.

Not a single light turned on.

Only the deathly pale moonlight streamed in through the windows.

It was winter, and people slept early. Even the lights in the neighboring buildings, usually glowing in the night, had mostly gone out. The whole world felt desolate, lifeless.

Thinking about the horror movie she had just watched, Cheng Yao felt an icy chill slither up her leg through the hem of her pajama pants.

She stood there, trembling in terror for a full minute, until the distant cursing of a few neighbors snapped her back to reality—this wasn’t a ghostly possession.

It’s a goddamn power outage!

Electric company, are you the devil?! Of all times, why now?!

Tears streamed down her soul.

Expecting her to finish watching a horror movie and then sleep alone in total darkness—this was a death sentence!

She turned to look at Qian Heng’s room, caught in an intense internal struggle.

In this situation, should she swallow her pride and seek Qian Heng’s help, or tough it out alone?

Boss versus ghosts—who was scarier?

Cheng Yao was torn.

Honestly, the two seemed equally terrifying…

Screw it!

She clenched her teeth and made her decision.

At least Qian Heng was a good-looking ghost!

***

Because of the power outage, Qian Heng’s room was pitch dark. Cheng Yao wasn’t sure if he was asleep yet, but since it was only nine o’clock, she decided to give it a try. She cautiously poked her head out and knocked lightly on his door, lowering her voice.

“Boss? Boss?”

Silence.

“Qian-par?”

Still no response.

“Qian Heng?”

No answer.

“You’re already asleep? What are you, an old man?” Cheng Yao muttered, calling his name a few more times.

“Qian Heng, Qian Heng, Qian Heng…”

She repeated it out of boredom, and then, suddenly inspired, she placed her hands on her hips and grinned mischievously. Mimicking the Silver Horn King from Journey to the West, she called out:

“Qian Heng! If your daddy calls you, do you dare to answer?”

Strangely enough, this actually helped ease a lot of her fear. Feeling bolder, she continued her performance, fully embracing the role.

But just as she reached the line, “Wretched beast! Kneel before me and reveal your true form!”—

The previously shut and unresponsive door suddenly creaked open.

Qian Heng appeared in the doorway, dressed in pajamas, his slightly tousled hair giving him an uncharacteristically relaxed look. His expression, however, remained cold.

The room was dark, but under the faint moonlight streaming in from the window, his handsome, aristocratic features were still visible. The cool-toned light gave him an even more distant, frosty aura.

With his arms crossed, his tall, slender frame leaned slightly against the doorframe. His brows were furrowed, his thin, pale lips pressed into an unimpressed line. His dark, obsidian-like eyes locked onto Cheng Yao with unwavering intensity.

If she ignored the unmistakable murderous intent in his gaze, this scene would have been quite dreamy—almost romantic.

Unfortunately, Qian Heng shattered that illusion the moment he spoke.

“Daddy?” His voice was cold as he stared at her. “Wretched beast?”

“…”

He might have the face of a leading man in an idol drama, but this storyline was veering straight into horror movie territory…

But did that mean Cheng Yao would back down?

No!!!

Successful people never give up easily!

In a split second, she switched tactics. She put on a blank expression, half-closed her eyes to make herself look dazed, and let out two exaggerated yawns. Without a word, she turned around and started walking slowly toward her own room in a sluggish, aimless manner—like a zombie.

Yes! Genius!

She would pretend to be sleepwalking!

Sleepwalkers weren’t conscious of their actions—everyone understood that. Anything said or done during sleepwalking couldn’t be held against her.

With this brilliant strategy in mind, Cheng Yao continued her slow, deliberate steps, her back to Qian Heng. She was getting close—

Five meters, four meters, three meters… Almost there…

Then—

“Cheng Yao, you did a great job on the Dong Shan case. I just transferred you a bonus. Check your phone—did you get the notification?”

Cheng Yao instantly snapped out of it. Reflexively, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.

“Huh? No, I didn’t get anything. Which account did you transfer it to? My salary account is with Bank of China. Did you transfer cross-bank? And it’s over 50,000, right? Because my friend who works in banking told me that transfers under 50,000 use the small payment system and can be processed instantly at night. But since it hasn’t arrived yet, it must be over 50,000, which means it’ll be processed on the next business day—hahaha, I can’t believe I got such a big bonus again! Thank you, Boss! Thank you so much—”

She rambled on excitedly about her bonus, entirely lost in her joy, until—

Wait.

Oh. My. God.

Wasn’t she supposed to be sleepwalking?!

How could a sleepwalker suddenly snap to attention and discuss financial transactions so fluently?!

She fell for it!!!

She was exposed!!!