Why didn't you tell me earlier that my little sister is still waiting for me?

To celebrate the brief return of Maqiu Mountain and to welcome Bai Manjun's official arrival, Chen Nanxing, Da Mai, and Xu Hongdou "enthusiastically" suggested that Lin Bufan, the head chef, should prepare a sumptuous lunch as a welcome gesture.

They spoke with high-sounding words, their faces beaming with enthusiasm for "thinking of their neighbors," but the expectant and craving they kept glancing at Lin Bufan betrayed their true thoughts—they were simply craving Lin Bufan's superb cooking skills and wanted to find an excuse to treat themselves.

Lin Bufan could easily see through their little scheme, but seeing the girls' feigned seriousness mixed with their hidden anticipation, he was happy to play along.

Of course, the main reason is to have someone to play ball with at night, since playing ball alone is very boring.

Lin Bufan rolled up his sleeves, tied on his apron, and once again transformed into the king of the kitchen. With his god-like culinary skills, ordinary ingredients seemed to be given a soul in his hands. His knife skills were as fast as lightning, slicing ingredients into uniform thickness and as thin as cicada wings; his control of the heat was exquisite, sometimes too high, sometimes too low; his seasonings were effortless, seemingly casual, yet always creating the most harmonious and wonderful flavors.

Before long, a table full of delicious dishes was laid out. The crystal shrimp were translucent, the braised sea cucumber with scallions was rich and flavorful, the steamed sea bass was incredibly tender, the stir-fried vegetables were vibrant green, and there was a pot of rich, creamy soup that smelled wonderful and tempted everyone's mouths.

After delivering a portion to Nana, who was volunteering at Youfeng Restaurant, everyone sat down and started eating!

This was Bai Manjun's first time tasting Lin Bufan's cooking. After just one bite, her eyes lit up, and her face was filled with unbelievable amazement: "This...this taste is absolutely amazing! Mr. Lin, your cooking skills...are even better than many five-star hotel chefs! How can these shrimp be so tender? This fish has no fishy smell at all, it's so fresh it's making my eyebrows fall off!"

She used several exclamation marks in a row, her gaze towards Lin Bufan filled with admiration and appreciation. Bai Manjun thoroughly enjoyed the meal, her initial impressions of Yunmiao Village and Youfeng Courtyard elevated several levels thanks to this amazing lunch.

After the meal, everyone sat and chatted for a while, mainly listening to Ma Qiushan share some interesting anecdotes from his trip to Shanghai and the latest developments of his tea brand. As the sun began to set, Ma Qiushan got up to say goodbye, as he had to rush to the next tea-producing region for an inspection. The others saw him off at the courtyard gate, exchanging well wishes.

Time slipped away quietly in the leisurely afternoon, and before we knew it, it was evening.

Shortly after dinner, it got completely dark, and warm yellow lights illuminated the courtyard. To Bai Manjun's slight surprise, it seemed that no one had any plans for the night. Xu Hongdou, Chen Nanxing, Nana, and Da Mai exchanged glances, then said goodnight one after another and headed to their rooms.

Bai Manjun didn't pay much attention at first, thinking that perhaps after living in such a quiet village for a long time, everyone had gotten used to going to bed early and getting up early, and had integrated into a simple rhythm of life of "working at sunrise and resting at sunset." In her view, this was part of escaping the hustle and bustle of the city and seeking inner peace.

However, what happened next left her somewhat confused.

She first saw Xu Hongdou enter room number five, and not long after, Chen Nanxing also pushed open the door and went in, followed by Nana, and finally even Da Mai, carrying a pillow, sneaked in like a thief. The door to room number five opened and closed repeatedly, like a relay race.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad, but she clearly remembered that before the four women entered, Lin Bufan had also gone in and hadn't come out since!

Bai Manjun: "???"

She subconsciously turned to look at Hu Youyu, who was also preparing to return to her room, and gestured with her eyes towards room number five. Her face was full of confusion as she lowered her voice and asked, "Are they... not planning to rest yet, and going to play mahjong together for a while? Or are they playing something else?"

Hu Youyu followed Bai Manjun's gaze and then realized what was happening. A complicated expression of "Ah, I forgot about that" immediately appeared on his face. He was about to explain when the light in room number five suddenly went out, plunging the entire room into darkness. Clearly, the people inside were preparing to go to bed.

Bai Manjun's eyes widened as she looked at the dark door and then at Hu Youyu's strange expression, her mind momentarily blank.

This...what's going on?

So fierce?

Don't you try to avoid people at all?

The key question is, can people really stand this?

Seeing Bai Manjun's expression, Hu Youyu knew that she must have misunderstood, so he quickly waved his hand and explained in a low voice, "Sister, it's not what you think! Let me explain, this matter... it's a bit complicated, and it sounds really far-fetched, but you have to believe me, what I'm saying is all true!"

They slept in the same room because they had offended Miss Liu, who would come to check on them every night…

Upon hearing the mention of the nightly check-ins, Hu Youyu's expression suddenly changed, and her voice trembled: "Wait! Oh no! How could I forget about that! Sister, wait for me!"

Without waiting for Bai Manjun's reaction, he turned around and ran upstairs to the second floor. He rushed to the door of room number five, raised his hand, and banged on the door. The sound was particularly clear in the quiet room, which startled Xu Hongdou, who was fighting with Lin Bufan for possession of the ball. With a forceful movement, she completely broke free from Lin Bufan's entanglement!

Lin Bufan was naturally very unhappy because he lost the ball due to an accident, so his voice sounded very impatient: "Knock knock knock, what are you knocking for? Don't you know I'm playing ball? Waaah..."

Hearing the "whooshing" sound coming from inside the room, Hu Youyu was puzzled, but didn't have time to think about it. She shouted, "Teacher Lin! It's me! Youyu!"

Lin Bufan naturally knew who was outside the door, and immediately said irritably, "Speak if you have something to say, or get the hell out of here!"

Hu Youyu dared not linger any longer: "Teacher Lin! I have something to ask! I just want to ask, after Miss Liu arrives later, if she doesn't have a suitable target, will she... will she possess my sister? My sister just started living here, she doesn't know these things, will she be in danger?"

"How would I know? I'm not Miss Liu! If you're really worried about her safety, then why don't you go and share a room with her!"

“But…” Hu Youyu was about to say, “But this is not appropriate either.”

Before she could finish speaking, Lin Bufan retorted, "What do you mean, 'but'? Do you want to bring her to my room? It's already packed like sardines in a can!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Bufan let out a sharp gasp from inside the room, as if he had been pinched hard by something, and his voice changed tone.

Hu Youyu was startled and quickly asked, "Teacher Lin? What's wrong?"

"Get out! Get out!" Lin Bufan's voice was tinged with anger and embarrassment. "If you keep babbling on here, believe me, I'll bring that Miss Liu to your room tonight and have her talk with you by candlelight all night long!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Youyu was terrified. He didn't dare stay any longer and immediately nodded vigorously, saying, "I'm leaving! I'm leaving! Teacher Lin, please rest well! Good night!" After saying that, he ran downstairs as if his pants were on fire.

In the courtyard, Bai Manjun was still standing there, her confusion deepening. She watched as Hu Youyu rushed back in a panic, sweat beading on his forehead, and her curiosity only grew stronger.

"Are you... alright? Who is this Miss Liu you're talking about?"

Hu Youyu spoke quite loudly, and Bai Manjun, who was in the courtyard, naturally heard him, but she didn't quite understand what he was saying. After all, things like danger, checking up on guards, and possession were indeed a bit hard to comprehend!

Hu Youyu took a few deep breaths, composed himself, and looked into Bai Manjun's gentle yet inquisitive eyes, a look of almost tragic determination on his face. He rubbed his face with both hands, lowered his voice, and said with utmost seriousness, "Sister, I know what I'm about to say might sound incredibly absurd, like complete fabrication... But! Please believe me! Every word I say is true! I'm absolutely not lying to you!"

Bai Manjun was amused by Hu Youyu's serious demeanor. She pursed her lips and said with a flicker of her eyes, "How am I supposed to know whether I should believe you or not if you don't tell me?"

"Huh? Oh, right, right!" Hu Youyu paused for a moment before realizing that he had been so focused on expressing his opinion that he hadn't gotten to the point yet. He scratched his head sheepishly, organized his thoughts, and then began to recount in detail everything from Xu Hongdou and the others' first nighttime visit to the guesthouse construction site, to the appearance of "Miss Liu," to their having to squeeze into Lin Bufan's room to "act" in order to avoid being possessed, and the terrifying scene he had witnessed.

He recounted the story vividly, and when he spoke of the blood-red lamplight, the churning earth, and the red wedding dress that appeared out of nowhere, he couldn't help but shudder, his eyes still filled with lingering fear.

Bai Manjun initially listened with a smile, but as she listened, the smile gradually faded, her brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes changed from curiosity to suspicion. When Hu Youyu finished speaking and looked at her expectantly, she remained silent for a long while.

“Red-clothed female ghost…three hundred years of cultivation…checking in every night…living with a ghost…” Bai Manjun murmured these keywords, looking up at the window of room number five on the second floor, where the lights were already off. Her expression changed several times. The initial appreciation and goodwill she felt for Lin Bufan’s cooking skills and appearance was now quietly shrouded in a complex shadow.

Bai Manjun glanced at Hu Youyu without showing any emotion, and spoke again in a calm tone: "So... you mean, there's danger for me living here? Then what do you think I should do?"

Hu Youyu was taken aback by Bai Manjun's question. He opened his mouth, his face showing embarrassment and hesitation: "This... I... Teacher Lin... he did give me an idea, it's... this idea..." He stammered, his cheeks flushed slightly, his eyes darting around, unable to say the rest of the sentence.

Seeing this, Bai Manjun took the initiative to say, "Just say what you want to say, I don't mind."

Hu Youyu took a deep breath, as if he had nothing to lose, and said quickly, "Teacher Lin said... said I should move into your room! Just... just pretend we're a couple, to fool that Miss Liu!" After saying that, he immediately lowered his eyes, not daring to look at Bai Manjun's expression, his fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of his clothes, his heart pounding.

Bai Manjun did not respond immediately. She raised her eyes, calmly scrutinizing Hu Youyu. Her eyes, which had been through many things and appeared calm and gentle, held a scrutinizing and judging quality. She was not an innocent young girl, and Hu Youyu's words were certainly easy to misinterpret.

Hu Youyu felt uneasy under Bai Manjun's gaze and quickly looked up, waving his hands hastily to explain, "Sister... Sister! Don't misunderstand! I absolutely didn't mean that! I didn't want to take advantage of you! I'm really worried about you! If you don't believe me... how about we go to town and find a hotel now? You can stay in a hotel, it'll be safer!" His tone was urgent, and the worry in his eyes seemed genuine.

Bai Manjun quietly looked at Hu Youyu for more than ten seconds, the scrutiny in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by a very faint smile. She shook her head, her voice still gentle, yet carrying a sense of certainty: "No need to trouble yourself, Youyu. I believe you are not that kind of person."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the dark window of room number 5. "However, I'm a materialist and don't really believe in these things. Besides, even if it were true, didn't you just say that Miss Liu only possesses pretty, single young women? I'm a married, older woman; she probably wouldn't even look at me." She chuckled softly, then turned and headed towards the stairs. "Alright, you should get some rest too. I'm going back to my room."

Hu Youyu subconsciously reached out his hand, wanting to say something, but ultimately silently put it down. He watched Bai Manjun's graceful figure go upstairs, the moonlight outlining her soft curves, and couldn't help but mutter softly, "I think... she looks pretty good."

The sound was very soft, but in the quiet courtyard, it still clearly reached Bai Manjun's ears. Her steps paused almost imperceptibly. Without turning around, she silently curved her lips upward, revealing a faint smile that even she herself was unaware of. Then she continued walking, her figure disappearing around the corner of the second-floor corridor.

Hu Youyu stood in the courtyard for a while, lost in thought. The night breeze was cool. He rubbed his arms, then looked up at the closed door of Bai Manjun's room on the second floor before sighing and turning back to his own room.

After a few days of "adjustment," Hu Youyu was no longer so scared. Even without Sang Biao's company, he could barely sleep through the night. But tonight, he tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

One moment, the image in my mind is of Miss Liu's fleeting red figure and her eerie singing voice, and the next moment it is of Bai Manjun's gentle and peaceful smile.

"My sister... lives alone. What if Miss Liu really comes? She won't know... won't she be terrified?" Hu Youyu became more and more worried. He couldn't help but imagine Bai Manjun waking up in the middle of the night and seeing a red wedding dress ghost floating by her bed. He immediately shuddered.

"No! I can't just ignore this!" Hu Youyu suddenly sat up in bed. In the darkness, his eyes flickered with fear, but also with a burning sense of responsibility to "protect the weak," even though Bai Manjun was older than him.