Silence.
The whole chamber fell into an awkward quietness in which even the floundering ghost on the side had halted to gape in bewilderment.
Three pairs of eyes stare at one another in this tension that's hard to fracture where even the sound of a dropping pin could be heard.
"... …"
The faint ticking of a clock hung on the wall appears especially loud with the magnified ambience of embarrassment and heat.
It seems as if this silence would maintain for hours without an end as no one is brave enough to disturb the stillness in the environment.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
"... …"
A few more minutes lapsed until the young man finally spoke with an audible squeak.
Keen eyes that were once as sharp as the edge of a knife widen akin to an animal caught under the sudden shine of light.
Sight raised with dilating and constricting pupils along with the tone of a quivering voice, he inquired. "This… this… is yours?"
Hand that held the red fabric motioned upwards in slight actions whereas stiff fingers tried hard not to rub at the cloth anymore than he already has...
The bewildered envoy widened her eyes even further at this display whilst tender lips twitched in preparation to reply.
The expected answer from Chu Nuan had not arrived however, when the female ghost gasped with a surprised yelp instead. "Those are my panties?!"
Two pairs of eyes shot their gazes towards the female ghost in immediate reaction to that abrupt howl.
But it was as though the entity could not sense those two sights as a trembling finger raised to point straight at Xie Luochen. Or more accurately, at the lacey piece of seductive lingerie hanging from the fingers of the young man.
It sways in light motions caused by the tremors of well structured digits.
"... …"
One transparent hand still raised to point at the cloth while another raked away the long strands of hair in front for a better view. The female ghost squinted hard for a few more seconds before releasing another more affirmative yell.
"Those are mine!?"
The transparent spirit stared wide eyed at the panties in Xie Luochen's hand before landing on Chu Nuan standing in the opposite direction.
In an instant, two pairs of sights moved to focus on the sweating envoy instead.
"... …"
Feeling a need to justify herself, Chu Nuan stuttered through a shaky explanation. "I, I heard that ghosts in the mortal world are terribly afraid of red underwear…"
The young lady's irises moved about in its sockets akin to a pinball colliding in an arcade machine. Flying everywhere from left to right while attempting to create a fitting justification for this current situation.
"If… if you wrap the cloth around the spirit's head, it stops them from moving for a certain amount of time! If… if I said that… wou- would you believe me?"
"... …"
Xie Luochen and the female ghost continued to stare, eyes widened with their mouths slightly apart.
"I- I just happened to find it lying around! … Is that more believable?" Chu Nuan suggested as the tone of her voice began to lower with uncertainty.
But as if recalling a certain detail that had happened. In the blink of an eye, the young lady straightened her posture into one with more arrogance. Chin lifted as arms crossed in a haughty manner while soft lips opened to add.
"Just tell me whether or not it worked when she stopped moving!?" Demeanor confident to the point of being overbearing.
The young woman was talking about moments ago when the female ghost was shocked motionless after being shrouded in her own underwear.
Emm…
How to describe it?
It could be considered a success since the spirit did indeed freeze from the sudden interference. But if you were to say this was an actual plausible form of attack then…
The air in the chamber became more stagnant within a matter of seconds as Xie Luochen clenched his shaking fists. Eyes shut tight as he took slow breaths in an attempt to calm the raging emotions of his thundering heart.
Veins that throb from strained muscles appear as if it could burst at any moment as they twitch underneath.
In gradual seconds however, the flush of unnatural redness on the young man's skin receded to a more natural hue. Intake of breaths became more rhythmic and light with only an occasional hitch from anger.
"... …"
Observing with a hesitant expression that tinges on the border of guilt and uncertainty. Chu Nuan leaned her body forward in a cautious murmur of the youth's name.
"Xie…"
As soon as the young man heard the voice of the young woman however, the sentence she was about to say did not even finish. When Xie Louchen's eyes flew open akin to two beaming streams of radiance from a lighthouse.
Shooting straight at Chu Nuan.
If a person's glare can become daggers- no, become lasers, this whole building would have been wiped off the face of this Earth.
"Ugh…"
Shrinking back from being intimidated by the young man's fierce expression. Chu Nuan couldn't accept the attitude given to her by the youth as she murmured in displeasement under her breath.
"It's not my fault you didn't listen to me. I even saw you rubbing your fingers all over the cloth a while ago. What's the point in acting innocent now? Hmph!"
"Chu Nuan!" Xie Luochen shouted at the top of his lungs.
Breaths that had calmed regained a shortness that burns along with the throbbing of veins and the impulsive thought of murder.
[I want to stab her. I really, really want to stab her!]
Trembling fingers clench and unclench in continuous motions as the youth's intense glare locked onto that slender figure.
"... …"
The female ghost on the other hand observes the unfolding of events on the side after the initial bout of embarrassment.
Round pupils took in the sight of the young man whose whole body trembles with a shade of tomato. Before sliding to stare at the young woman who looks threatened but is in fact grinning with a secretive smile.
Seeing this flirtatious play that she cannot seem to understand happening between the two. The female ghost released a helpless sigh before suggesting in a fatigued voice.
"How about we talk outside? Xiao Bao is waiting for us."
Then, without another word, the spirit first exited through the wall in a rather swift glide. Leaving the area for the couple to deal with in fear of being held back.
"... …"
A few more seconds passed…
Managing to regain his calm with a deep intake of air, Xie Luochen threw the red panties towards Chu Nuan with a scornful huff.
Shooting one last deathly glare the young lady's way, the young man then departed from the chamber without an ounce of hesitation.
All the while not forgetting to mention.
"Your fingers are dusty."
Slamming the door on his way out.
"... …"
Catching the panties in one effortless motion graced with the curve of soft lips arch to a crafty smirk.
Chu Nuan will never tell the youth and Xie Luochen will never know the truth.
Her deliberate enter of the chamber while searching without aim until she heard the faint approachment of his steps.
Crouching in front of the drawers on the closet doors pretending to rummage until her sight was genuinely captured by that dash of red.
Allowing that sudden flash of ingenious compulsion for her fingers to hook onto the edge of that triangular cloth.
Acting flustered with highly suspicious movements while stuffing that article of fabric into her pants the moment Xie Luochen entered through the door.
Everything unfolded as seen after that.
Recalling the bright flush of skin on the frozen contours of that face. Chu Nuan could not help but to release a low peal of laughter. Akin to the ringing of bells on a clear night, the young woman murmured to herself in an almost inaudible tone.
"As to why I wrapped that ghost up with the panties…"
Chu Nuan casually reached inside that same pocket which once held the auspicious red cloth.
Pulling out a wrinkled yellow talisman drawn in red cinnabar designs that shone with a mysterious radiance.
Lithe fingers smoothed away the creases on the surface of the rumpled parchment as obsidian irises traced the lines of the design in silence. After a few seconds, the young lady stuffed the talisman back into her pants before wondering in a delighted tone.
"I wonder if he would believe me if I'd said it was an accident?"
Lips curved into an indescribable grin, the young woman exited the chamber before closing the door with a soft click.
_____
"Ahem. Allow me to give myself a formal introduction, my name is Xiao Minlan, Xiao Bao's mother."
Replacing a strand of loose hair behind her ear, a woman in her late thirties introduced with a somewhat stiff smile.
She sent Xiao Bao who sat beside her a gentle smile before proceeding, "You might not have heard of me. But I am a C-list actress that appeared in many popular horror movies like, [Summer Night] and [Whispers In The Bathroom Of The Female Dorms]."
"I usually play as the ghost or secondary characters that die after the first hour of the movie. It's not much but I'm quite proud of my job."
The smile on the woman's pale lips grew into a more tender of a curve that seemingly brightens even the bloodless contours of her face. From this slight motion, it could be surmised that the female ghost truly enjoys her way of life.
As if recalling something however, Xiao Minlan released an embarrassed cough before speaking in an awkward tone.
"That… umm.. Sorry about a while ago… I couldn't help myself."
She was talking about the incident in the bedroom. Although the female ghost's first intentions were but a playful idea of scaring the intruders that came into her house.
The events that followed were very much out of expectations which made her produce an odd sense of guilt.
If only she didn't act out on those impulsions… then again, who would have expected her panties to come into play!?
"Cough!"
Xie Luochen choked on a sudden sliver of saliva which caused him to cough with short intakes of breaths.
In an instant, the only sound that rang out in the interior of the living room was the noise of expelled air.
Moments later…
"Ahem. Do you remember what happened?" Demeanor straightened back into one without the slightest hint of battered helplessness. Xie Luochen asked with a serious narrow of sharp eyes, "someone reported you missing two months ago."
"That…" The female ghost furrowed her eyes in an attempt to recall the events which led to her demise.
"I don't remember the details, it's all very blurry in my mind." Pondering for a few seconds, Xiao Minlan continued with her recollection, "I think there was a reporter that came by…?"
"He was ranting to me about his passion for the characters I played in movies before somehow leading up to a profession of love to me."
"I was so surprised and scared by the way he was acting that I immediately asked him to leave the premises."
Xie Luochen: "Where was your husband at the time?"
Xiao Minlan paused for a second before replying in a melancholy tone, "...my husband left us many years ago…"
Xie Luochen: "I see… you may continue."
Leaning back on the couch while observing the movements of the spirit, the young man crossed his arms together across his chest.
"That same night, someone broke open the lock of my front door. The conditions of this apartment are, as you can see, not of the best quality."
"I woke up to see a dark figure trying to run off with my son."
Xiao Minlan's pale facial features turn even more transparent and elusive as the contours of her face loom with a tinge of murderous rage. A gloomy aura of freezing coldness begins to lower the temperature of the room in gradual effect.
"I tried my best to struggle with that man, to save my son from his clutches to no avail. Before I could grasp what had happened, I woke up to a ransacked room without Xiao Bao."
Xiao Minlan gaze towards the direction of the entranceway with a faraway look swimming with a whirl of indescribable emotions.
Her skin has transformed into a complete translucent state where the identical gentleness shown on photos in the room faded. Replaced with the appearance of a female demon tethering between the state of sanity and frenzied madness.
"I couldn't get out of this room no matter what."
The nails on the female ghost grew long with a terrifying glint of danger. It created a discomforting noise as those tips scratched across the surface of the sofa beneath her transparent thighs.
Ripping five long marks which furled the leather seating while inducing the stuffing to tumble out from within.
Black veins crawled in slow motion across the woman's body as the white of the eyeballs began to overtake the irises.
Highlighting the horrid condition of the head which shows a portion of its concave walls flowing with streams of redness.
"If only I was stronger!"
Seeing the abrupt change of the female ghost, Xie Luochen's calm expression was replaced in an instant with a serious glint. A talisman appeared between two digits with the flick of the wrist as the youth pinched tight on the charm about to strike.
Just as it seems as if an imminent battle is about to take place.
In the fraction of a second two parties were about to clash, the sudden crack of something crisp resounds in the chamber.
"Kacha. Kacha."
At this sad and somber hour entwined with the scent of suffocating instability. The sound of crunching sunflower seeds echoes loud across the room.
Halting the actions of the other two parties in an instant.
Xie Luochen: "... …"
Xiao Minlan: "... …"
The corner of Xiao Minlan's lip twitched as her sight landed on the young woman leaning leisurely without a care. Upper body resting on the side of the couch's armrest while legs crossed with an occasional playful swing.
Crunching on sunflower seeds while listening to the gossip, Chu Nuan pauses for a moment when she perceives the surrounding silence.
Obsidian irises raised with an innocent blink as soft lips open to ask with the tilt of the head.
"Sorry, was I too loud?"
Bright pupils flitted a casual glance towards the silent ghost which caused Xiao Minlan to tremble with undetectable motions. The ferocious appearance of the female ghost disperse in an instant to regain the gentleness of a caring mother.
Xiao Minlan: "O-of course not! Feel free to continue eating!"
Xie Luochen: "... …"
Feeling another headache pounding in his head, Xie Luochen pinched the bridge of his nose with a fatigued sigh. Placing the item in hand away while ignoring the envoy's inquiries to share.
The young man pretended nothing had happened as thin lips proceeded with the conversation.
"Allow me to fill in the rest of the storyline for you about what had happened."
"The invader and the reporter that came into your house are the same person. His name is Wen Mingxuan, a great fan of your works."
"It was unknown what intentions he had at first when he broke into the house but the noise must have awoken Xiao Bao. Causing your son to investigate out of curiosity which in turn, placed himself into a state of danger."
Xie Luochen glanced at the quiet little ghost who is seen curled up on the sofa beside his mother.
"Who would have guessed that the struggling noises in the living room would wake you up."
"You joined in the struggle and during the collision, the man accidentally struck you with the flashlight he had in hand."
"Xiao Bao was taken away."
"However, your son must have wrestled free midway. He somehow managed to run into the abandoned construction site a few blocks away before taking his last breaths."
"You live in a pretty normal apartment with little to almost no social contact with your neighbors due to the hours of your work. If it wasn't due to the smell that emitted behind the closed doors of your apartment."
"You could have already turned into a pile of water without a single person knowing."
The truth spoken by the youth was cold and without emotions, akin to a recording read by the voice of a machine.
"A few weeks ago, Wen Mingxuan got himself into a car accident. His vehicle collided severely with another car which caused the back of the trunk to fly open."
"Revealing Xiao Bao's lifeless body."
Well structured fingers hover above the lips as Xie Luochen observed the female ghost's expression in wordless scrutiny.
"It was fortunate that the accident merely caused a few scratches on the body. Allowing investigators to interrogate the man right away."
"During the questioning, Wen Mingxuan ended up confessing to both the murder of you and your son without much difficulty."
"... …"
The young man paused for a few beats as arms uncrossed and upper body leaned forward with a slight narrow of eyes.
"There was something unusually strange about the way he acted during and after the interrogation. I'm not sure if you are aware?"
Dark irises lock onto the silent spirit without moving away as the youth spoke each word in slow articulation.
"Wen Mingxuan's eyes had a peculiar emptiness in them as well as a dark aura encircling the area between his brows. Deep sunken sockets accompanying the pallid complexion of a waxy yellow."
"Don't you find it strange? It's almost as if…"
Xie Luochen spoke after a deliberate pause.
"Almost as if he was possessed by a ghost."