Chapter 67

At the Shen residence.

Bai Xiulian sat in the living room, engaging in a conversation with a boy of about seven or eight years old, her demeanor ingratiating.

The servants carefully served tea, glancing at the weary-looking lady with dark circles under her eyes before quickly retreating.

In the kitchen, Xiao He whispered to Aunt Li, “The madam must have lost her mind, fawning over a child like that…”

Aunt Li, busy with her work, shushed her, “Don’t speculate. He could be some important figure’s child.”

Unable to resist, Xiao He peeked outside, noticing that the boy was about 1.5 meters tall, wearing sunglasses. He had delicate features, with rosy lips and pearly white teeth.

“He’s good-looking, sure, but nothing else seems special about him,” she muttered. “I wonder what’s his background. The madam even asked us to prepare his favorite snacks, something she rarely does for the young master.”

Aunt Li rolled her eyes impatiently. “Didn’t you see that Young Master Zhou is here too? Maybe he’s from the Zhou family.”

Xiao He found this even stranger. “Wasn’t it said that something happened to Young Master Zhou? Why is he back at the Shen family’s place?”

…

Bai Xiulian wasn’t concerned with the servants’ prying. Her entire focus was on the guest before her.

Leaning forward with a pitiful expression, she pleaded, “Chairman Zhou, please, you must help me this time.”

Zhou Jingshen, bored, was casually scrolling through videos on his phone. He responded with a half-hearted “Hmm,” clearly uninterested.

Left with no choice, Bai Xiulian glanced at the man standing behind Zhou Jingshen. He wore black clothes and had chestnut-colored hair—none other than Zhou Huai’an, who had recently regained consciousness.

Zhou Huai’an’s devotion was truly remarkable. After being severely injured and falling into a coma from an A-level malevolent assault, he had only woken up half a month ago. Still frail, the first thing he did upon opening his eyes was ask where Shen Baozhu was.

The other members of the Metaphysical Society in the hospital room were momentarily stunned before hesitantly informing him that Shen Baozhu had gone missing at the time and hadn’t been found since.

Zhou Huai’an fainted again on the spot from shock. When he woke up the next day, he was frantically inquiring about Shen Baozhu’s whereabouts. But the more he asked, the worse the news got—one piece of bad news after another.

Shen Baozhu had been missing for a month, and no one had bothered to look for her. Shen Baozhu’s biological father had become comatose, and the Jiang family was suing Shen Hao Ping and Bai Xiulian on behalf of Yue Yin, accusing them of embezzling Yue Shaoqiang’s inheritance and even abandoning a child.

In short, Shen Baozhu was missing, her fate unknown, Shen Hao Ping was barely alive, Bai Xiulian was about to face jail time, and the Shen family’s assets would soon belong to Yue Yin!

With all this, Zhou Huai’an understood, his beloved’s family was falling apart!

Originally, Zhou Huai’an was quietly recovering in the hospital. But upon hearing these updates, he leapt out of bed, determined to do something!

Then he was overwhelmed.

There were too many problems, all intertwined and each a major headache. He didn’t know where to start! Should he first search for the escaped A-level malevolent spirit to find the missing Shen Baozhu? Or negotiate with the Jiang family to help the Shens with their lawsuit, securing the Shen family’s assets, which mostly belonged to Shen Baozhu anyway?

Anxious and pacing in his hospital room, he was visited by the President.

Despite being young, Zhou Huai’an was talented in the Metaphysical Society, already a B+ level practitioner, and likely to advance to A-level before turning thirty. Because of his father’s close relationship with the President, many believed he was the future leader of the Society.

The Chairman treated Zhou Huai’an more like family than he did others in the Society. Occasionally, he would call Zhou Huai’an aside to have a word with him.

Zhou Huaian was familiar with the President’s unpredictable nature, but seeing him here, he was still surprised. “Uncle, aren’t you forbidden from leaving City B?”

Outsiders didn’t know this, but the family did—Zhou Jingshen was not supposed to leave City B without a good reason.

Zhou Huai’an assumed he came to City A because of his injury. Frowning, he said, “I’m fine now, Uncle. No need to worry. The priority is finding that A-level malevolent spirit as soon as possible. You don’t know…”

Before he could finish, he was hit on the head by an orange.

Zhou Jingshen, wearing sunglasses, scolded him, “I told you to stop calling me Uncle this, Uncle that! Makes me feel old. What, trying to show off how respectful you are to your elders?”

Zhou Huai’an, exasperated, replied, “I’m only doing this for your sake…”

“Alright, alright, enough with the nonsense,” Zhou Jingshen cut him off impatiently. “I didn’t come here just to see you, don’t flatter yourself. I want to ask—what’s your relationship with Shen family’s Yue Yin?”

“Yue Yin?” Zhou Huaian froze, then quickly replied with disgust, “Terrible.”

He added, “Yue Yin is a scheming, malevolent person. I suspect she’s in league with the malevolent spirits. The spirit incident at No. 1 High School is likely her doing…”

Seeing Zhou Huai’an’s reaction, Zhou Jingshen recalled Yue Yin’s murderous look when she heard Zhou Huai’an’s name and instantly understood.

He stood up and pointed at Zhou Huai’an, “Useless.”

Leaving that remark behind, Zhou Jingshen walked out, not bothering to visit Zhou Huai’an again.

Days later, when Zhou Huai’an went to the Shen residence seeking news of Shen Baozhu, he unexpectedly ran into Bai Xiulian, who had rushed back to City A.

Seeing Zhou Huai’an awake, and hearing him mention Shen Baozhu’s disappearance, Bai Xiulian immediately burst into tears.

She grabbed Zhou Jingshen’s hand, pleading urgently, “Master Zhou, please save me. My daughter is possessed by a malevolent spirit!”

Zhou Huai’an didn’t have a good impression of Bai Xiulian. He was about to turn away, but stopped when he heard that.

His vague suspicions were confirmed, and he turned back.

Bai Xiulian continued, “I suspect Baozhu’s disappearance and Hao Ping’s accident are all connected to that spirit! Please, help us!”

At that moment, Zhou Huai’an knew what to do—he needed to ask the Chairman for help in exorcising the spirit.

However, knowing Zhou Jingshen’s eccentric temperament, even Zhou Huai’an, his nephew, couldn’t be sure if he would intervene. And the Chairman seemed preoccupied lately, adding to Zhou Huai’an’s doubts. Despite not yet naming the suspect, Zhou Huai’an casually mentioned Bai Xiulian’s return to City A and her request for help. Surprisingly, after a brief contemplation, the Chairman agreed!

Today, Zhou Huai’an and Zhou Jingshen were at the Shen residence to assist Bai Xiulian.

Suddenly, there was a sound outside—an engine pulling into the garden. The people inside were momentarily stunned, unsure who would be visiting at this hour.

But the sharp-eyed Zhou Jingshen perked up, straightened in his seat, and adopted a dignified posture, ready to listen.

Bai Xiulian also seemed to realize something, her face turning pale and her expression tense.

Seeing Bai Xiulian’s hesitation, Zhou Huai’an prompted her, “Mrs. Shen? Just speak, and the Chairman will help you.”

Bai Xiulian’s face was ashen. She snapped back to reality, pleading desperately, “Please, help me.”

With Yue Yin’s one-month warning approaching, only ten days remained. Bai Xiulian knew something was wrong.

After hiding in City C for half a month and witnessing malevolent spirits lurking around her, she finally understood that Yue Yin wasn’t merely threatening her—she was going to die!

So, she hurried back to City A, hoping to leverage her connection to Shen Baozhu to seek help from Zhou Huai’an and the Metaphysical Society.

She looked at Zhou Jingshen and approached, “Chairman Zhou, you must help me. I don’t know what malevolent spirit I’ve provoked, but I’ve been cursed and driven to desperation. You’re my only hope…”

The Chairman casually exchanged a few words with her, his interest waning—until the door opened, and Yue Yin walked in.

Dressed in a holiday sundress and wearing a rose-colored hat, Yue Yin looked radiant. Behind her was Jiang Suliu, a refined young man carrying her luggage. Although he was the heir to the prestigious Jiang family, he now resembled a loyal servant following the young lady.

As Yue Yin stepped into the room, everyone’s expressions shifted dramatically.

In the kitchen, the servants were peeking through the walls. Bai Xiulian backed away, Zhou Huai’an’s face twisted in distaste, as if to say, How dare you show up here?

But Zhou Jingshen merely chuckled, interrupting Bai Xiulian, “Mrs. Shen, you’re overthinking this. With a daughter as strong as mine, why would you need my help?”

Bai Xiulian’s mind went blank, the President’s words ringing like thunder in her ears.

As strong as the President? As strong as the President…

She was an ordinary person but had heard of the President’s reputation—a figure admired by the wealthy and powerful, known as the top-tier practitioner.

Now, the Chairman was saying that the malevolent force possessing her daughter was on par with him in strength.

Did she still have a chance? Could she survive the few days she had left?

Bai Xiulian stared at Yue Yin in disbelief. The girl seemed mildly surprised, as if she hadn’t expected to see Bai Xiulian here.

Yue Yin had been having so much fun in Surina with spirits and devotees that she nearly forgot about the unresolved issues with her original body in City A.

Quickly masking her surprise, Yue Yin tilted her head and smiled, “Mommy.”

She spoke in a sweet, endearing tone like the world’s most harmonious mother-daughter relationship, “Mommy, long time no see.”

Yue Yin’s dress, elegant and poised, matched her beautiful appearance and affectionate demeanor. For a brief moment, Bai Xiulian almost thought she was looking at her other daughter, Shen Baozhu.

But then, Yue Yin’s lips parted, her eyes curving into a smile as she softly asked, “Why aren’t you dead yet?”