This time, a series of loud noises came from the coffin, each one louder than before—almost as if the dead man inside was desperately trying to get out.
A timid person would have already fled in terror by now.
Lin Taiping suddenly said, “Let me open this coffin. He came looking for me anyway.”
Guo Dalu replied, “You can't go. Let me do it.”
Even as he spoke, he had already leaped forward.
Truthfully, he was terrified—perhaps even more than anyone else. If this were his own matter, he might have already run away.
But Lin Taiping was his friend. And when it came to a friend's troubles, no matter how scared he was, he would force himself to face them head-on.
Yan Qi watched him, his gaze turning soft. Suddenly, he asked, “Aren't you afraid of being grabbed by a ghost?”
Guo Dalu said, “Who said I'm not afraid?”
Even as the word “afraid” left his lips, his hands had already lifted the coffin lid.
With a loud bang, something living shot out from inside the coffin.
The thing that jumped out also let out a cry—"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
It was a dog. A bck dog. A very much alive bck dog.
Guo Dalu stood there, stunned, sweat breaking out on his forehead. He wanted to ugh but couldn't. After a long moment, he finally let out a deep breath and forced a bitter smile. “This joke isn't funny at all. Only an idiot would pull something like this.”
Yan Qi said, “He’s definitely not an idiot. And he's definitely not joking.”
Guo Dalu frowned. “If it’s not a joke, then what is it?”
Yan Qi said, “Not only does this person know that Lin Taiping killed Nangong Chou, but he also knows that Lin Taiping lives here.”
Guo Dalu sighed. “He really knows quite a lot. But why is he doing this?”
Yan Qi also let out a sigh. “Maybe he has his own reasons, or maybe he's just bored with nothing better to do. Whatever his motive, since he's already started, he won't stop now.”
Guo Dalu asked, “You think he's going to do something else?”
Yan Qi nodded. “Which is why, as long as we stay patient, we'll definitely catch him sooner or ter.”
He patted Lin Taiping on the shoulder and smiled. “So for now, we should just go to sleep. Leaving a perfectly good bed unused—that would be truly idiotic.”
Just then, Wang Dong’s voice called out from inside the house, “Correct answer.”
The next morning, Guo Dalu was woken up by the sound of ringing bells.
As he opened his eyes, the jingling and cnging of the bells continued, seemingly coming from the main hall.
People always wake up a little crankier than usual, especially when they’re disturbed from their sleep.
This is what's called “morning grumpiness.”
Guo Dalu couldn't help but roar, “Who the hell is shaking that damned bell? Got itchy hands or something?”
As he shouted, he thought he heard Wang Dong yelling as well.
But the ringing still didn't stop.
Guo Dalu jumped up, barefoot, and dashed outside, shouting, "It must be that rascal Yan Qi! His hands always seem to get itchy at the worst times."
A voice ughed in response, "When my hands itch, I only want to hit people—I would never ring a bell."
Yan Qi had also come out, fully dressed, his clothes neat and tidy.
It was as if this man always slept fully clothed.
Guo Dalu rubbed his eyes, gave a bitter smile, and frowned. "It couldn't be Lin Taiping, unless he's really been possessed by a ghost."
The ringing continued.
This time, they could clearly hear that it was coming from the flower hall.
The two of them exchanged a gnce and rushed inside together.
Lin Taiping was indeed in the flower hall—but he wasn't the one ringing the bell.
He was just standing there in a daze. The one ringing the bell was a cat.
A bck cat.
A bell was hanging from the flower trellis by a string, and the other end of the string was tied to the bck cat's paw. The cat kept jumping, and the bell kept ringing.
On the table in the flower hall was a grand spread of food—chicken, duck, buns, steamed bread, and a rge jar of wine.
The bck cat was ringing the bell—it was calling them to breakfast.
Guo Dalu couldn't help but rub his eyes again and mutter, "Is there something wrong with my eyes?"
Yan Qi said, “Your eyes only seem to have problems when you're looking at women.”
Guo Dalu forced a bitter smile. “Maybe this is a female bck cat.”
Yan Qi replied, “It’s male.”
Guo Dalu asked, “How do you know?”
Yan Qi said, “Because it doesn't seem to like you.”
Guo Dalu blinked. “Even if it were female, it wouldn't like me. It would definitely prefer Big Brother Wang.”
This time, it was Yan Qi's turn to be confused. He couldn't help but ask, “Why?”
Guo Dalu said, “Female cats like zy cats.”
Suddenly, Wang Dong's voice came from behind them. “I think this one must be female.”
Guo Dalu and Yan Qi were both caught off guard. Almost at the same time, they asked, “Why?”
Wang Dong said, “Because it can cook.”
Of course, cats can't cook.
Guo Dalu tore off a chicken leg, stuffed it into his mouth, then took it out again. “The chicken is still hot.”
Yan Qi added, “The steamed buns are hot too.”
Guo Dalu said, "Looks like this food hasn't been here for long."
Yan Qi replied, "Correct."
Guo Dalu asked, "Who sent it? Could it be the same person who paid for us at Kuiyuan restaurant?"
Yan Qi said, "Correct again."
Guo Dalu frowned. "Why is he trying so hard to please us? Could he really be my godson?"
Yan Qi squinted his eyes and murmured, "Meow… meow…"
Guo Dalu said, "You're turning into a cat—I have no idea what you're saying."
Yan Qi suddenly burst out ughing. "I was talking to your godson."
He tore off a small piece of each dish and pced them on a pte. The bck cat immediately jumped over, and Yan Qi gently stroked the fur around its neck. "Since you brought all this food, why don't you try some first?"
Guo Dalu ughed as well. "What a filial child! It seems like this guy is actually the cat's godson."
Of course, he knew perfectly well that Yan Qi was doing this to test for poison.
Hellowyellow note: If you like the story, the novel collection, and my transtion, please feel free to treat me to a cup of coffee. Thanks!
