MLV Ch 44

Jin Feize went home, put on rubber gloves, and retrieved a giant vacuum-seal bag. He stuffed the corpse inside, sucked out the air, and sealed it. Jiang Ye put on an apron and cleaned up the debris and bloodstains on the floor, making it spotless in no time. Li Miaomiao was on the verge of a mental breakdown, but seeing how unfazed Jiang Ye and Jin Feize were, and how seamlessly they coordinated as if they had killed countless people and cleaned up countless scenes, she didn’t dare to fall apart. Their practiced movements and calm expressions made her feel like she was the abnormal one.

Jiang Ye drove a BMW over from the Tianlu Mansion. He and Jin Feize then moved the body into the trunk. Bai Nianci’s body was stiff with rigor mortis and couldn’t fit completely inside; his arms and legs stuck out awkwardly. Jin Feize clicked his tongue, then snapped the corpse’s shins and elbows with a crack, folding them into the trunk.

Li Miaomiao: “…”

Jiang Ye closed the trunk, preparing to drive to Liaoling Cemetery under the cover of night.

“Brother, you got your driver’s license?” Li Miaomiao asked.

“No,” Jiang Ye said, opening the car door. 

“Why?”

Li Miaomiao forced a dry smile. 

“…Nothing. Have a safe trip. May Uncle Bai rest in peace.”

After that night, Jiang Ye didn’t encounter any more strange events. His life seemed to have returned to tranquility overnight. No more ghosts knocked on his door, no more inexplicable corpses sat at his dining table. The only malevolent being left around him was Jin Feize.

Li Miaomiao refused to go back to the school dorms and was even more unwilling to return to the Tianlu Mansion. Jiang Ye didn’t feel safe leaving her alone, so he simply let her stay long-term in his rundown apartment. This meant Jiang Ye could only sleep on a mattress on the living room floor. As Li Miaomiao helped him arrange the bedding, she muttered, “Why don’t you go sleep at sister-in-law’s place? His bed is a double, more than enough for the two of you.”

Jiang Ye’s head ached. 

“Don’t call him sister-in-law.”

Li Miaomiao stuck out her tongue, then asked cautiously, “Brother, have you ever thought about giving up?”

Jiang Ye froze and turned to ask, “Giving up?”

Li Miaomiao scratched her head, a bit unsure of how to phrase it. Their home was being visited by strange things every other day. A normal person would have been scared stiff long ago, staying as far away as possible. Take her, for example; every time she saw those things, she was scared half to death. But her brother was stubborn and single-minded, insisting on investigating and even daring to confront the ghosts head-on. She always felt uneasy. Would continuing this investigation really lead to a good outcome? Perhaps if they just moved somewhere else and waited patiently, their mother would come back one day.

As she wracked her brain for the right words, Jiang Ye saw her hesitation and knew what she wanted to say. Although he had never thought of giving up, he also knew this matter probably wouldn’t let him. From the day the headless corpse appeared in their home, from the day Jiang Ruochu went to the mountains to ask for Jin Feize’s help, danger had been their constant shadow. For now, he had temporarily intimidated those things by using Jiang Ran’s name, but there was no guarantee they wouldn’t make a comeback one day.

After all, Jiang Ran’s end was a complete and utter disappearance.

Perhaps, that would be Jiang Ye’s final end as well.

“I won’t give up,” Jiang Ye said. 

“Miaomiao, if you’re scared, I can rent another apartment for you.”

Li Miaomiao shook her head like a rattle drum. 

“No way. I’d be even more scared if I weren’t with you. Brother, don’t worry, my courage will grow.” She clenched her fist. 

“Starting today, I’m going to binge-watch horror movies. Trust me, brother, I definitely won’t be afraid of ghosts anymore!”

She painstakingly finished a famous Hong Kong horror film. When Jiang Ye was about to turn off the lights, she clung to the doorframe, looking at him pitifully.

“Brother, can I sleep with my door open?”

“…As you wish.”

The entrance selection exam for the Special Creature Research Academy was set for July 15th. Jin Feize also received an invitation email. It didn’t take a genius to know that this guy couldn’t go to any normal school and would definitely enter the Academy. Jiang Ye sighed. It seemed he still couldn’t shake off this madman for the time being; he would have to think of another way.

They flew to the capital several days in advance, planning to undergo some pre-exam special training at a facility arranged by Jin Feize. Just as they exited the airport, they saw a black business van parked in the lot, with a middle-aged man in a suit standing by the door. Jiang Ye recognized him as Jin Feize’s butler, Uncle Gao.

“Student Jiang Ye,” Uncle Gao extended a hand toward him. 

“Our Old Master invites you for a casual meal.”

Jiang Ye was taken aback and subconsciously glanced at Jin Feize.

“The family has already invited the chairman of the Jinghua Roast Duck Restaurant to personally cook, just waiting for everyone to come home,” Uncle Gao said with a smile. 

“Student Jiang Ye, the Old Master is very eager to meet you. Ah Zhe hasn’t been home in a year, and the old man talks about him every day. Ah Zhe’s father is also waiting at home. For your first meal in the capital, why not come home to eat?”

Jin Feize asked Jiang Ye with a grin, “Want to see my house? It’s boring tonight anyway. Let’s go to my place. I guarantee there’s a good show waiting for you.”

Jiang Ye: “…”

He had a bad feeling about this.

It was hard to refuse such a warm invitation, especially since they mentioned the old man missed his grandson. Jin Feize himself was indifferent to his family, and if Jiang Ye didn’t go, he might not go home either. Jiang Ye could only nod and get into the van. The car started silently, got on the highway, and headed straight for the West Second Ring Road. They arrived late, and by the time the car entered Gulou Street, night had already fallen over the capital. The traffic flowed like a river, and they were like a fish swimming into an old hutong in the darkness. This hutong was different from others; it was quiet and the streets were spotless, with not even a pedestrian in sight. A few homes even had black Hongqi cars parked in front.

Li Miaomiao pressed her face against the window and whispered to Jiang Ye, “I feel like sister-in-law’s family is a big deal.”

“Don’t call him sister-in-law,” Jiang Ye emphasized again.

“Oh, okay,” Li Miaomiao turned to Jin Feize and asked, “Sister-in-law, what does your family do?”

Jiang Ye: “…”

The car slowed and stopped in front of a siheyuan, a traditional courtyard house. When Jiang Ye got out, he saw two imposing stone lions squatting in front of the courtyard, looking quite old. There were wing gates on either side of the main entrance, and the central gate itself was painted red with decorative nails, looking very grand.

To live in a place like this, the Jin family’s status was anything but ordinary.

As soon as they got out, the two red doors were opened. Uncle Gao led them in, around a spirit screen, through a covered corridor, and directly into the main hall. A banquet had already been set up in the hall, with many cold dishes already served. A white-haired old man in a kung fu shirt, waving a cattail fan, sat at the center. To his left sat a stern-faced middle-aged man and a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy. Behind them stood a woman in a cheongsam with exquisite makeup.

When the woman saw the three of them enter, she came out to greet them with a smile. 

“Ah Zhe is back. These two must be Xiao Ye and Miaomiao, right? You’re so handsome. Quick, quick, come in and sit.”

Jiang Ye looked at Jin Feize, but the guy had no intention of making introductions and sat down directly on a red jujube wood stool.

Jiang Ye quickly assessed their identities. The old man must be the Jin family’s Old Master, and the middle-aged man was likely Jin Ruohai. The woman’s silk cheongsam was perfectly tailored, accentuating her graceful waistline and curves. It was clearly a custom-made, hand-sewn garment. A household helper couldn’t afford such expensive clothes, so this woman was probably Jin Feize’s mother.

Jiang Ye greeted them, “Hello, Grandpa Jin. Hello, Uncle, Auntie.”

Li Miaomiao quickly followed suit, “Hello, Grandpa. Hello, Uncle, Auntie.”

The old man stroked his beard and laughed heartily. 

“This little one is smart, knows who we are without being told. You two kids, don’t be strangers. Make yourselves at home here. Your mother and Uncle Jin are old acquaintances; they studied together at Capital University back in the day.”

“That’s right,” the woman nodded with a smile. 

“I’ve long heard of Professor Jiang’s great reputation. My A’Hao loves history; his bookshelf is filled with Professor Jiang’s books.” She patted the shoulder of the boy at the table. 

“This is Ah Zhe’s younger brother, Jin Feihao. He’s in his second year of high school, one year younger than you, Xiao Ye.”

The boy was very overweight, his belly straining against his clothes, with a roll of fat coiled around his waist like a python. He didn’t seem to talk much, just smiled shyly and kept his head down without a word. He didn’t look much like Jin Feize, and he was also much shorter. Jiang Ye had never heard Jin Feize mention he had a younger brother, and this woman didn’t seem very close to Jin Feize either. The people at the table seemed like a family, but there was a palpable discord. Jiang Ye felt awkward.

Jin Feize acted as he pleased. Jin Ruohai looked at him, his face as hard as iron, clearly displeased. The woman bustled around the table, handing towels to Jin Feize and the younger guests, and even helped Li Miaomiao find a hair tie to put up her hair for the meal.

The other kids all knew to say thank you, but Jin Feize alone acted like a high and mighty young master, treating the woman as if she were a servant. Jin Ruohai saw this, his displeasure growing more obvious. After a while, he spoke in a heavy voice, “Ah Zhe, today is a family reunion. You see your mother, why don’t you greet her?”

Jin Feize laughed. 

“Mother? Didn’t my mother die in the Restricted Zone? Oh, right,” he took out his phone, pulled up a black-and-white portrait of a deceased person, and placed it in the center of the table. 

“Now this is a family reunion. Don’t you agree, Father?”

The photo was of a woman with an elegant temperament and graceful, beautiful features, like a snow plum blooming coldly on a winter mountain. Jiang Ye’s eyes froze for a second before he quickly lowered his gaze to hide the shock in his eyes.

Jin Feize’s mother looked exactly like Dr. Shi.

“I forgot to introduce you, Xiao Ye and Miaomiao,” Jin Feize said with a smile. 

“This auntie here is my father’s former mistress and current second wife, Xu Yuan. And that’s the precious son they had together.”

Jin Ruohai’s face turned red with anger, and he roared, “Jin Feize!”

“Did I say something wrong?” Jin Feize asked innocently. 

“If I did, Father, please correct me.”

“Ruohai, say a few less words,” Xu Yuan quickly patted Jin Ruohai’s back. 

“It’s rare for the family to eat together. Don’t fight with Ah Zhe.”

Jiang Ye never expected the Jin family’s relationships to be this complicated, much more so than his own. A silence fell over the table. Li Miaomiao didn’t dare to speak, staring down at her bowl, pretending she didn’t exist. Jiang Ye was in a similar state; it felt like there were nails on his stool, making him sit on pins and needles.

So this was the “good show” Jin Feize had mentioned.

Did this bastard do it on purpose?

The Old Master broke the awkward atmosphere, asking Jiang Ye, “Shen Duo said you’ve registered for the Academy’s selection exam?”

Jiang Ye nodded.

The Old Master stroked his beard and chuckled. 

“Shen Duo said you are calm in handling matters and have sharp analytical skills. Even though you’re a newcomer, you don’t need to be nervous. The selection exam doesn’t test anything else, just your on-the-spot reaction ability and mental state. Don’t worry too much.”

While they were talking, Jin Feize picked up his chopsticks and ate a piece of smashed cucumber salad.

Jin Ruohai’s face darkened again. 

“No manners. The guests haven’t even started eating. What’s your hurry?”

The Old Master shot him a glare and scooped two spoonfuls of scallion tofu into Jiang Ye’s and Li Miaomiao’s bowls. 

“It’s fine, eat if you want to eat. Go on, pick up your chopsticks. You must be starving after such a long journey. Why aren’t the main dishes here yet? Look how hungry the kids are.”

Jin Ruohai sighed. 

“Dad, don’t spoil this child. The more you spoil him, the harder he is to manage.”

The Old Master’s beard bristled, and his eyes widened. 

“I like spoiling him!”

Jiang Ye had wanted to find an opportunity to ask about Dr. Shi, but the atmosphere in this family was so strange he couldn’t bring himself to speak. Uncle Gao went to hurry the kitchen. Jin Feize, bored, took out some hawthorn cakes from his bag. Jin Ruohai frowned at the sight. To him, this child was a thorn from head to toe—painful to look at, prickly to touch. Jin Feize’s nature was wicked and had to be strictly disciplined to prevent him from doing something irreparable. Jin Ruohai was about to say something, but the Old Master kicked him under the table. He swallowed his anger and remained silent. Jin Feize ate one packet, then another, the sound of tearing plastic rustling continuously.

In the end, Jin Ruohai couldn’t hold back his criticism. 

“You’re so old, why are you still eating children’s snacks?”

Jin Feize’s hand, tearing open a plastic bag, paused. He looked up with a smile and said, “You’re so old, why aren’t you dead yet?”

As his words fell, a dead silence descended upon the table.

Li Miaomiao buried her head in her bowl, eating, almost sticking her entire head in. She wished she were deaf.

Jin Ruohai gripped his chopsticks, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. He spoke, choked with fury, “What did you just say? Say it again!”

“You’re only in your forties, how are you already hard of hearing?” Jin Feize showed a look of pity, as if he felt sorry for his aging father. 

“It seems you really are getting old.”

Author’s Note:

A little reminder for everyone.

Dr. Shi was the doctor who helped Jiang Ran cultivate an embryo using an artificial womb.