Yan Jing stared at Shi Pengpeng’s message for a while before slowly digesting the information it contained.
Yan Jing: [ Let me reiterate, I really didn’t know about the blind date arranged by my family that day.]
Yan Jing: [I’ve only actively participated in a blind date once.]
Shi Pengpeng: “……?”
Was he really that concerned about it?
She had just casually mentioned it, but why did it feel like he was overreacting?
Moreover, this guy usually acts like he’s sworn off love, yet he actually had a time when he actively went on a blind date?
Shi Pengpeng felt an indescribable emotion in her heart.
Before she could sort out her feelings, another message came in.
Yan Jing: [ What are you guys planning to do? ]
Shi Pengpeng had to suppress her curiosity for now and answer his question first.
SPP: [ Looking for her sister’s boyfriend. ]
Yan Jing: [ Are you guys that close already?]
SPP: [ It’s not what you think. ]
Typing was too troublesome, so Shi Pengpeng decided to call him directly and explain the situation.
“No way,” Yan Jing instinctively objected, his tone slightly heavy with concern.
“Those thugs out there are reckless. It’s too dangerous for you to just follow along like that…”
“Dangerous?” Shi Pengpeng couldn’t help but interrupt, genuinely puzzled.
“You’re not talking about me, are you?”
She was so confident, and he actually couldn’t refute her.
“Fine, I’m talking about the thug, okay!” Yan Jing quickly shifted gears, pressing his forehead.
“But dealing with people is different from dealing with ghosts. You can’t handle people the same way you handle ghosts, right? Are you really planning to get physical?”
Of course, he wasn’t worried that the little witch couldn’t handle a thug.
But in any conflict, there are no winners.
As they say, if you lose, you end up in the hospital; if you win, you end up in jail.
Those thugs have nothing to lose, and they might already have a criminal record.
But Shi Pengpeng has a bright future ahead of her.
It’s not worth it to get involved in something like this.
Shi Pengpeng was touched by his concern but also confused: “I’m not stupid. Why would I get into a fight with some punk?”
Yan Jing: “But what if a conflict arises…”
“Of course, I’d call the police!” Shi Pengpeng said disdainfully.
“Don’t you have any sense of the law?”
After seeing her fight spirits and kick ghosts so often, he had momentarily forgotten that her phone could also dial 110.
After thinking for a moment, he still wasn’t reassured and said, “I’ll go with you.”
Was it just his imagination, or was he becoming more and more enthusiastic?
Shi Pengpeng hesitated: “I think I can handle it myself…”
“I know,” Yan Jing said with experience, changing his tone.
“If necessary, I can appropriately protect the thug.”
“Oh.”
If he put it that way, it was indeed hard to refuse.
Seeing his insistence, Shi Pengpeng agreed.
It wasn’t a big deal anyway, but she still reminded him: “If something really happens, try to stay out of the way and not interfere with my performance.”
The truth always hurts the most.
When Cao Fanzhen saw Yan Jing, she was a bit surprised: “Why is Mr. Yan here too?”
“Oh,” Shi Pengpeng casually replied, “He’s worried about us.”
“?” Cao Fanzhen couldn’t help but glance at Yan Jing a few times, hesitating to speak.
“I didn’t realize Mr. Yan was so concerned.”
Yan Jing remained calm: “It’s only right.”
She glanced at Yan Jing, then at Shi Pengpeng, her suspicions growing.
But seeing Shi Pengpeng’s open and unguarded expression, she couldn’t help but silently give Yan Jing a thumbs down.
Cao Fanzhen’s younger sister, Cao Yinru, had just entered her second year of high school.
Ever since she started dating a guy with blond hair, she had not only skipped school but also turned her sleep schedule upside down.
Cao Fanzhen checked the time-11 PM.
This was when Cao Yinru would usually get up to do her makeup.
To avoid drawing Cao Yinru’s attention, the three of them didn’t enter Cao Fanzhen’s house.
Instead, they stayed in the car, keeping watch near a seldom-used side path in the neighborhood.
According to Cao Fanzhen, the last time she caught Cao Yinru sneaking out, her sister had taken this very path.
Time ticked by, and Cao Fanzhen’s eyelids grew heavy.
Her head unconsciously slid against the car window on the passenger side.
“Wake up.” Shi Pengpeng tapped her head, her finger lightly brushing Cao Fanzhen’s forehead.
Cao Fanzhen jolted awake: “Ah, how did I fall asleep again?”
She rubbed her eyes, feeling exasperated. “And here I thought drinking two iced Americanos would keep me alert.”
After learning about the guy with the blond hair, Cao Fanzhen had tried to stop Cao Yinru from going out.
But for some reason, she had been unusually tired these past few days.
Every time she tried to keep watch, she would doze off, only to wake up and find Cao Yinru already gone.
Shi Pengpeng and Yan Jing exchanged a glance, their expressions complicated.
Yan Jing looked particularly indifferent, secretly regretting his decision to come.
Just as Shi Pengpeng was pondering how to broach the subject, Cao Fanzhen suddenly exclaimed, “Ah, my sister’s coming out!”
Shi Pengpeng looked up, surprised.
Given what she had heard about Cao Yinru’s rebellious behavior and staying out all night, she had expected a defiant teenager.
Instead, she saw a seemingly sweet and innocent girl.
Cao Yinru had a round face and was dressed in a cute Lolita-style dress.
Her backpack was adorned with various anime and otome game- themed badges.
Shi Pengpeng asked, “Your sister’s into anime culture?”
“Yeah,” Cao Fanzhen sighed.
“She used to be so well-behaved. Her hobbies were just watching anime, playing games, or going to conventions with friends. We never had to worry about her. But now… sigh, it’s all because of that guy with blond hair!”
As soon as she finished speaking, the roar of a motorcycle engine echoed from ahead, followed by a bright headlight beam.
A modified motorcycle with a mecha-style front came speeding toward them.
With a stylish drift, it came to a precise stop right in front of Cao Yinru.
The rider was a lanky teenager around 17 or 18 years old, wearing a floral shirt and ripped jeans.
His pale, almost sickly complexion, likely from staying up late, gave him the appearance of a typical “spirited youth.”
The boy gestured for Cao Yinru to hop on, and she climbed onto the back seat with practiced ease.
“I’m going to stop them,” Cao Fanzhen said, her face darkening as she reached for the car door.
But Shi Pengpeng immediately stopped her.
“Wait,” Shi Pengpeng said, her eyes fixed on the motorcycle rider.
“Let’s not alert them yet. We’ll follow and see where they’re headed with that machine.”
“What’s this car club gathering all about?”
Cao Fanzhen thought for a moment and agreed.
Cao Yinru had been getting too close to that so-called circle, and it was indeed worth investigating thoroughly, preferably to nip the problem in the bud.
She stepped on the accelerator and quietly followed.
The ghost fire motorcycle raced ahead as if it had a death wish, speeding through the streets with its engine roaring like thunder.
From a distance, they could see sparks flying from the exhaust pipe.
Cao Fanzhen had to push her speed to 80 mph just to keep up, her forehead throbbing as she cursed, “These ghost fire riders are really reckless.”
“Absolutely,” Shi Pengpeng chuckled.
“We’ve really encountered some real ghost fire this time.”
Yan Jing glanced at her and said slowly, “Ha, ha, very funny.”
Shi Pengpeng gave a thumbs up.
“Bro, you get my humor.”
“Is this a joke?” Cao Fanzhen asked, puzzled.
“I don’t get it.”
Just as Shi Pengpeng was about to explain, Yan Jing reminded them, “Watch the road.”
Ahead, there loomed a massive overpass.
This overpass, once a major traffic hub in Xiluo, had seen a significant decline in traffic as the city developed and new routes were opened.
At night, it was almost deserted.
The road they were on was in disrepair, full of potholes, and there was even a large pit at the intersection ahead, cordoned off with barriers.
Shi Pengpeng took one look and shook her head. “Reverse bow sha, a place of rebellion and conflict.”
Cao Fanzhen was confused. “What does that mean?”
Shi Pengpeng explained that the overpass was well-located and designed, but the area beneath it was originally marshland, which retained moisture and was prone to negative energy.
However, when it was bustling with traffic and people, it wasn’t a problem.
Now, with fewer people around, the energy had dissipated, leaving a sense of decline.
The large pit at the intersection had cut off the main road, forcing vehicles to detour around it, inadvertently creating a reverse curve.
This curve, shaped like a bow, pointed directly at the negative energy beneath the overpass, which in feng shui is called reverse bow sha.
Places affected by reverse bow sha often have unstable energy and are prone to conflicts and fights.
“Mm,” Yan Jing agreed.
“From a scientific perspective, if a vehicle skids or loses control on such a curved road, it’s more likely to crash into the area opposite the curve, causing accidents.”
Shi Pengpeng smiled. “My brother is right.”
Where there is misfortune, there is sha.
Such a place is undoubtedly unsuitable for nighttime gatherings.
As they spoke, the ghost fire motorcycle ahead made a sharp turn, and Cao Fanzhen quickly followed, passing under the massive stone pillars of the overpass.
Suddenly, the noise grew louder.
The three of them looked up and saw a deserted open area beneath the overpass, now brightly lit and filled with a group of about twenty motorcycles.
The motorcycles varied in style, from cool Harley-Davidsons to ghost fire bikes similar to Cao Yinru’s boyfriend’s, and some that looked like they had been modified, appearing strange and unlike anything produced by legitimate manufacturers.
The members of the group were all flamboyant young men and women, with dyed hair in various colors and wearing leather jackets adorned with metal decorations.
Leather pants, tattooed arms, and smoke billowing from their mouths each of them had a pale complexion, revving their engines while laughing and joking boisterously.
Cao Yinru held her blond boyfriend’s hand, timidly standing behind a tall man riding a Harley.
The tall man seemed to be the center of the gathering, dressed in professional biker gear, wearing leather gloves, and holding a cigarette between his fingers.
He was animatedly boasting about his past racing experiences to the others.
As he gestured, the smoke from his cigarette wafted around, but no one seemed to mind.
In fact, some even took a few appreciative puffs.
Only Cao Yinru frowned, though she didn’t dare protest.
She quietly ducked her head behind her boyfriend, trying to avoid the smoke.
Cao Fanzhen’s vision darkened as she slammed on the brakes, got out of the car, and shouted,
“Ruru, is this the kind of place you’ve been coming to every night?!”
Cao Yinru was startled, shrinking guiltily. “H-how did you find me?”
“Is this your sister?” The blond boyfriend beside her looked surprised and muttered, “Weird, shouldn’t she be asleep?”
The other bikers were equally shocked to see Cao Fanzhen and Shi Pengpeng, who had followed her.
They exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and excitement.
The tall leader stopped his speech, walked over, and eyed them suspiciously. “You… can you see us?”
Cao Fanzhen, already furious, didn’t bother to think deeply about his words.
She sneered, “You’re so loud and flashy, it’s hard not to notice you.”
The group burst into laughter.
One of them chimed in, “Big sis, that’s not what Brother Shan meant.”
“I don’t care what he meant,” Cao Fanzhen snapped, not wanting to engage with them further.
She turned to Cao Yinru.
“Ruru, come home with me.”
Cao Yinru bit her lip and took a step back.
“No, I want to stay with Xiaolu.”
“No way,” Cao Fanzhen retorted, her patience wearing thin.
“Do you know how dangerous these activities are? One wrong move, and you could lose your life.”
As soon as she finished, the group erupted into laughter again.
“Don’t worry about that, beautiful,” Brother Shan said nonchalantly.
“We’re not like the bikers you’re used to. We’re on a whole different level-nothing bad will happen.”
He gave Cao Fanzhen a once-over and added with a grin, “If you don’t believe me, hop on my bike, and I’ll take you for a spin.”
The others immediately egged her on.
“Yeah, yeah, take a ride with Brother Shan, and you’ll understand!”
“It’s time to show off some real skills!”
“You’re in for a treat, sis. Do you know how many girls have fought to sit on Brother Shan’s bike?”
Someone even leered at Shi Pengpeng and suggested, “Hey, there’s another beauty here. Why not join too? Brother Shan can handle two easily.”
“Wow, there’s a handsome guy too,” a leather-clad woman with a lip piercing said, eyeing Yan Jing.
“Hey, handsome, want to ride with me?”
Yan Jing closed his eyes and uttered a single word: “No.”
“Ooh, spicy,” the woman licked her lips. “I like it.”
Cao Fanzhen’s face turned ashen, and for a moment, she was at a loss.
She hadn’t expected so many people to be here before she arrived.
In this situation, it wouldn’t be wise to let Shi Pengpeng step forward anymore.
Although Shi Pengpeng was formidable, she was still just one person.
If a conflict broke out, she likely wouldn’t have the upper hand.
Fortunately, Yan Jing had arrived unexpectedly.
Having a tall man present could at least boost their morale a bit.
Thinking this, Cao Fanzhen glanced at the two beside her out of the corner of her eye.
Then, she saw Yan Jing silently take a step back, positioning himself behind Shi Pengpeng.
He even reached out and poked her shoulder, gently pushing her forward.
Wait, dude, seriously???
You’re such a big guy, and all you’re good for is being a decorative prop?
Shi Pengpeng, however, didn’t seem the least bit annoyed and actually took a step forward.
Seeing this, Cao Fanzhen quickly grabbed her arm.
“It’s fine,” Shi Pengpeng patted the back of her hand calmly and continued walking toward the group led by Shan Ge.
Shan Ge raised an eyebrow, his tone flippant, “What’s up, beauty? Decided to get in my car after all?”
Shi Pengpeng ignored him, instead scanning the crowd before speaking in a measured tone, “I believe street racing and illegal gatherings are prohibited in the city, right? I’ve already called the police. If you know what’s good for you, you’d better run now. Don’t blame me if you get caught later.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the group erupted into even more exaggerated laughter.
“Hahahaha, oh my god, did I hear that right? She said she called the police?”
“No way, no way, she can’t actually think the police can do anything about us, can she?”
Someone else sneered, “Shan Ge, this girl really doesn’t know what she’s dealing with. Let’s not be polite with her. Show her what we’re made of.”
Cao Yinru’s boyfriend, the one with dyed yellow hair, sensing the tension, quickly stepped in to mediate, “Hey, Shan Ge, let’s just drop it. For the sake of me and Yinru, don’t scare them.”
But Shan Ge was already too intrigued to back down.
He ignored the yellow-haired guy and gave Shi Pengpeng a sinister smile, “Beauty, I don’t think you realize who you’re talking to, do you?”
As he spoke, his scalp slowly split open, and a large patch of abrasions appeared on his pale face, as if he had been dragged roughly across the ground.
A piece of skin hung loosely from his cheek, fluttering gently in the night breeze.
Dark red blood oozed from his hair, flowing down the grooves of his face.
Soon, his face and body were covered in blood.
He raised his hand, and the “cigarette” between his fingers revealed its true form a stick of incense used for worship.
“Ah-” Cao Yinru’s eyes widened, and she screamed, “Ghost! Ghost!”
“Don’t be scared, don’t be scared, I’m here,” the yellow-haired guy quickly covered her eyes.
“Damn-” Cao Fanzhen also gasped, but fortunately, she had already encountered scarier ghosts in the escape room, so she didn’t lose her composure completely.
Shan Ge’s appearance was undoubtedly terrifying, but the effect it had was slightly different from what he had imagined.
Shan Ge looked at Shi Pengpeng, who remained completely calm, and after a moment of silence, asked, “Aren’t you afraid?”
“It’s a bit disgusting,” Shi Pengpeng said with a look of disdain, “But it’s not that bad.”
Shan Ge: “???”
Brother Shan had to remind her, “Take a good look, I’m a ghost.”
“I figured that out a long time ago,” Shi Pengpeng said disdainfully.
“Judging by your appearance, you died in a car crash, right? And you still dare to say speeding isn’t dangerous?”
Brother Shan: ???
Brother Shan was incredulous, “You knew I was a ghost all along?”
“Not just you,” Shi Pengpeng glanced behind him. “Everyone here probably died pretty tragically, right?”
The laughter abruptly stopped.
The group of men and women exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with shock.
“How… how did you know?”
“Are you faking it? If you knew, why aren’t you scared?”
Suddenly, one of them realized something was off, “Wait, if you knew we were ghosts, then why did you call the police?”
Shi Pengpeng raised her hand, her fingertips holding a piece of recently burnt talisman ash: “Because of this.”
The ghosts were stunned, not understanding what was going on.
One of the more knowledgeable ones suddenly realized and shouted, “Oh no, she reported us to the underworld officers!”
The ghosts: ???!!
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