Chapter 37

Bai Wei’s head suddenly started to ache!

Cold sweat trickled down as Bai Wei struggled to find an excuse: “He…”

“I graduated from the best university in France.”

A rich, deep voice resonated in the car, carrying a huskiness that was more magnetic than usual. Bai Wei immediately sensed something was off. He stared sharply into the rearview mirror.

The two people in the backseat wore expressions of sudden realization.

“Oh… you graduated from that university,” Ren Junyao nodded.

Hypnosis!

Lu Sen can hypnotize!

To think he had been nervously trying to come up with an excuse for Lu Sen just a moment ago. While feeling deceived, Bai Wei also looked at the driving Lu Sen with a complex expression.

To be with such a terrifying monster who can distort reality at any moment…

Before Bai Wei could shiver, Long Dong said softly, “Paris Sciences et Lettres is a very good school. I visited there in the fall. You are really lucky to have studied there…”

Ren Junyao: “What are you talking about? Lu Sen graduated from École Polytechnique!”

Long Dong: “You must have misheard. It’s Paris Sciences et Lettres.”

Bai Wei: …

He looked expressionlessly at the driving Lu Sen again. From this moment, that sinister face became even more hateful and detestable.

The most perfect couple in Xueshan Town argued from the car to the driveway, each insisting that École Polytechnique/Paris Sciences et Lettres was the best university in France where Lu Sen studied. Mrs. Accountant, with her loud voice, poked her head over: “What’s going on? So, you two can argue so fiercely too?”

After speaking, she cheerfully said to Lu Sen and Bai Wei, “Discharged from the hospital? Welcome home!”

Lu Sen smiled, and Bai Wei cautiously said, “Thank you.”

He looked up and was stunned by the sight before him.

“Surprised? Lu Sen took time to do all this this month. He said you love roses the most,” Mrs. Accountant said.

Even the arguing Ren Junyao and Long Dong stopped. Bright red roses were in full bloom, decorating the house from the front yard to the backyard. The whole house was surrounded by a passionate red, making it look like a castle from a Gothic tale.

Just like the wisteria flowers that always bloomed on the white walls outside Bai Wei’s room, once belonging to Bai Ju.

“It’s like… an oil painting,” Long Dong softly admired.

… It really did look like an oil painting! But it was more like that haunted one Bai Wei had bought!

Ren Junyao was stunned. He kept trying to put his card holder into his coat pocket but forgot his coat didn’t have pockets: “Bai Wei, is this your house?”

“Yeah…” Bai Wei replied.

“Of course, all these furnishings and the new renovation were done by Lu Sen in the past two months!” Mrs. Accountant said proudly, “I gave him a lot of suggestions too!”

The judge, pushing his reading glasses up, walked over: “Lu Sen, when will you move your two new cars? I’m planning a big clean-up of my garage. Your garage has four spots; it should fit, right?”

Lu Sen led the bewildered crowd into the living room. Bai Wei looked at his home, which he hadn’t seen in days, with an indescribable feeling.

“You bought new cars?” he turned to ask Lu Sen.

Lu Sen: “Yes, we now have a convertible, an off-road vehicle, a sedan, and a van!”

Bai Wei: …

“Your family…” Ren Junyao’s mouth twitched for a while before he finally found a question.

“Lu Sen, since you studied finance and arts, why did you become a mechanic?” he asked.

Mrs. Accountant and Long Dong both looked over. Bai Wei seized the moment to answer first: “He’s always been interested in modifying race cars.”

“Great! That’s wonderful!” the judge praised, “Exploring the boundaries of one’s interests!”

Bai Wei, under Lu Sen’s gaze, saw the guests out of the house. As they were leaving, Long Dong’s phone rang.

“Is my younger brother… okay? We’ll head home immediately.”

As they were about to leave, Ren Junyao, looking disappointed, regained his composure. “It was a pleasure to visit your home. We’re having a gathering at our place in a few days. If you’re free, you’re welcome to join.”

Suddenly, he turned to Lu Sen and gave a knowing smile. “Lu Sen, I heard you used to be quite the playboy. That’s impressive, but now that you’re married, you should stay faithful to your family.”

With that, he smiled at Ling Dong and gently led his wife away.

Lu Sen immediately said to Bai Wei, “I didn’t…”

“It’s okay,” Bai Wei said wearily. “I know.”

Lu Sen wasn’t actually “Lu Sen,” so how could he have been a notorious playboy in Paris? As for Lu Sen’s past deeds…

What did it matter to him?

Bai Wei was lost in another thought. He glanced at his watch—it was three in the afternoon, still a workday, which seemed an unusual time for a bank employee to be off. He asked the accountant’s wife, “How many siblings does Ling Dong have?”

“Oh, there were four originally, but now only two are frequently seen around town.”

“What do you mean by ‘frequently seen’?”

“They originally had four children. Ling Dong is the eldest, followed by Spring, Summer, and Autumn.” The accountant’s wife perked up with gossip, “Her brother Ling Chun now works at the bank. Another brother, Ling Xia, fell ill after an accident ten years ago and rarely leaves home, and their sister Ling Qiu tragically died in a car accident.”

“Their family’s luck was truly unfortunate. Ten years ago, people used to say they had such a thriving family!” The gardener-judge chimed in.

“Alright, alright, that’s all old news now. At least Ling Dong has a happy family, and Ling Chun is successful… Hey, Bai Wei, wait a moment.” The accountant’s wife suddenly said.

She ran back into her house and returned with a knitted wrist guard. “I heard you hurt your wrist, so I made this for you. Here.”

The wrist guard felt heavy in Bai Wei’s hand. The accountant’s wife smiled and went back to watering flowers with the judge.

Watching the elderly couple’s backs, Bai Wei gripped the wrist guard and doubted they were the ones who had spoken to the out-of-town reporters. The old lady loved gossip, and the details in the reporters’ articles had many specifics only locals would know, but when it came to the Ling family’s tragedy, she was quite discreet.

Would they really reveal so many rumors to out-of-town reporters?

Bai Wei then turned his gaze to another neighbor—the supermarket owner, peeking curiously. When Bai Wei looked over, he said, “Bai Wei, I’m so glad you’re back safe! And your new gardening looks fantastic!”

The owner gave a thumbs up. “A beautiful garden like that will increase property values! Plus, you saved that child; everyone wants to live near someone with a good reputation!”

Bai Wei: …

This person was like an NPC only concerned with property values. Bai Wei even thought if the owner saw him disposing of a body, he might keep quiet to protect property values, maybe even help bury it.

At that moment, Lu Sen walked out of the house. Bai Wei saw the supermarket owner flinch for some reason. The owner said, “I’ll head back to the store. You two carry on!”

He turned and ran off quickly.

“What’s wrong with him?” Lu Sen looked puzzled at the owner’s retreating figure.

Bai Wei was also puzzled. Could the owner have seen Lu Sen do something strange recently?

Considering Lu Sen was a monster, it couldn’t be that he was disposing of bodies.

So, it wasn’t the accountant’s wife or the supermarket owner… Who in town had talked to the reporters, spreading rumors and showing malice towards their move here?

Everyone had left. In this beautiful yet eerie house, only he and Lu Sen were left. Bai Wei shivered in their growing community reputation. Facing the kind Lu Sen, he forced a smile. “It’s nothing.”

Once the door closed, the bright world was left behind. The ghostly paintings on the walls and the ominous items in the stairwell had been removed. Lu Sen led him upstairs. “Darling, you don’t know what preparations I’ve made for your return…”

I don’t want to know… Bai Wei thought, contemplating the possibility of kicking Lu Sen down the stairs to his death.

Since Lu Sen was a monster and could hypnotize, Bai Wei couldn’t let him discover his intentions to kill him. For outsiders, hypnosis might only work for a question or two. For Bai Wei, Lu Sen’s “wife,” he would either be killed or become a lifelong puppet.

Cold sweat formed again. Fortunately, Lu Sen hadn’t discovered Bai Wei’s intent to kill him.

Lu Sen opened Bai Wei’s study. “I’ve added some new decorations here.”

He stepped aside, revealing the bright window. “Darling, don’t you want to stand at the window and take a look?”

Was he planning to silence him?

Bai Wei cautiously stood by the window, on guard. There was no push.

—-

In front of him, he saw a vibrant rose garden.

Red and white interwoven, dotted with pink and yellow. Outside the garden, a stream flowed gently. Sunlight danced on the water like scattered gold. Bai Wei was momentarily stunned by the serene beauty, unable to breathe.

It took him a while to turn back to Lu Sen, who was using the computer.

“Darling,” Lu Sen looked up. “Which is the best school in France?”

Bai Wei took a deep breath and forced a perfect smile. “Honey, my wrist just healed. The doctor said no strenuous activity. You’ll sleep in another room.”

“…”

Bai Wei felt he needed to spend more time thinking about his next plan. But starting from the next day, people visiting them were endless.

“I heard you studied finance?”

“Do you have any financial products to recommend?”

“Lu Sen, you studied abroad in France, so you must be very good at English!”

“Do you have any classmates in France who could help with purchasing…”

Using the excuse that Lu Sen was sick and needed care, Bai Wei helped drive away wave after wave of visitors. When he became so frustrated that he invited Lu Sen to the study and pushed him out of the window, he finally received a request he couldn’t refuse.

“My best friend’s wedding is next week, and I have to fly to the southern city to be her bridesmaid,” Qiao Min said as she knocked on their door. “I teach mathematics. Could I ask Lu Sen to substitute for my classes? By the way, Lu Sen, which university did you graduate from?”