“Heaven, just torment me all you want! Let me tell you—old Chen won’t bow down! If you’ve got guts, send a few more ghosts to finish me off!”

Dr. Chen raged inwardly. After venting for a moment, he descended the stairs guided by his phone’s glow.

Moments earlier, thanks to his silver tongue, his wife hadn’t gotten angry—but she wasn’t pleased either. She didn’t seem fond of his new hairstyle. She ran a hand over his afro, snatched the electrotherapy device down, tossed it aside, and vanished back into Dr. Chen’s shoulder bag.

Touching the jar, Dr. Chen felt he’d narrowly escaped death.

“Ugh… I’m exhausted. Just want to sleep.” If they’d met in the real world, his wife wouldn’t have dragged him into dream meetings, nor would he have passed out like clockwork before.

But Dr. Chen was truly spent now. Wounds covered his body. One leg dragged lamely. Every breath felt like his chest was tearing apart.

And hunger gnawed at him. He’d vomited everything he’d eaten. Even the little cake in his bag had been devoured by ghosts.

Meanwhile, on the building’s first floor—

“Hahahaha! Got you now! You abandoned me and ran! Now you’ll pay with your life!”

Free of Dr. Chen’s restraint, hatred reignited in the Stoic Man’s heart while staying with Glasses Girl.

He recalled his death: seized by a ghost while she watched helplessly; Brother Li trying to save him, pulled away by Glasses Girl. *She* caused his death. *This woman!*

Becoming a Malevolent Ghost stemmed from hatred and grudges. Facing Glasses Girl again, rage clouded his mind. Only one thought remained: *Make her die!*

“Hmph. Never thought you’d become a ghost.” Glasses Girl’s panic vanished. She removed her glasses. Her gaze sharpened. Innocent softness melted away. Her voice turned icy. She seemed like a different person.

“I’ll kill you!” The Stoic Man, mind gone, lunged to strangle her neck.

“You’re the one dying, idiot.” She pulled a mirror shard from her pocket, sidestepped him, and stabbed it into his back.

A half-formed ghostly face materialized on the shard. It opened its mouth in the reflection and bit the Stoic Man’s mirrored form.

“AAAAAH— What?! Impossible… How could you have—?!” His body shrank visibly within seconds, crumbling into a shriveled corpse.

“How dare you provoke me? Know who I am? I’m with the Black Rose.” She stomped on the corpse. It shattered into dust, scattering on the wind.

“Black Rose? I’m with Zu’an.” Dr. Chen, just reaching the bottom, heard “Black Rose” and instinctively replied. He saw Glasses Girl picking something off the floor.

“You! You actually came down!” She raised her glow stick. Seeing Dr. Chen, her jaw nearly dropped.

The bell on her wrist stayed silent—proof he wasn’t a ghost.

“What? Surprised? Where’s the Stoic Man?” Dr. Chen walked over, glanced around. No trace of him.

“I… I don’t know… I was so scared… we got separated.” Glasses Girl softened her voice, widened her eyes—pitiful, fragile, designed to stir protection.

“Oh.”

“What about the two Malevolent Ghosts?”

“No idea. Maybe still fighting.” Dr. Chen could lie, but not act. His calm facade gave Glasses Girl a clue.

*This man isn’t ordinary. Not as foolish as he seems. Venturing alone into the electrotherapy room, director’s office, Ward No. 4—that’s no rookie’s courage. He must be organization-trained, like me. Zu’an? Never heard of it.*

Doubts swirled, but Glasses Girl was certain: she’d use her methods to ensnare him completely.

“I’m scared… Will you stay and protect me?” She softened her tone, eyes wide and pleading. Her innocent act, honed through words and bedroom skills, had captured countless men before. Even her tools came from trading favors with a high-up in the organization. *Compared to survival, what is chastity?*

Brother Li was dead. Next: turn this man into her lapdog. Make him die for her when needed.

“What happened to your neck?”

Dr. Chen moved to push her away—but froze. A red mark circled her fair neck.

“My ne—”

Glasses Girl reached for her neck. The world spun violently. Everything tumbled. She felt herself falling.

When stillness returned, everything seemed taller. She was on the ground, looking up.

In her sight: a girl in familiar clothes raised a hand toward her own headless neck.

Blood gushed from the stump like a fountain. The boy opposite screamed, collapsing to the floor.

“That’s not…”