Perhaps because Song Qingluo had given Ji Leshui hope that this matter could be resolved, Ji Leshui's mental state improved greatly. He was more spirited, staring at Song Qingluo with burning eyes, as if wanting to bore a hole through him.

Faced with Ji Leshui's fervent gaze, Song Qingluo remained cold and detached. He said Ji Leshui could move in, but only Ji Leshui could live in this apartment. Therefore, while Ji Leshui was recovering mentally, he would move into the apartment next door.

Ji Leshui said, “So you mean the two of us will just swap? I come here, and you go next door?”

Song Qingluo: “Correct.”

Ji Leshui said, “But why will it be fine if I live here?” He asked cautiously, “If you don’t want to say, I won’t force you...”

Song Qingluo glanced at him and uttered four words: “Fight fire with fire.”

Ji Leshui: “...” 'Although I don't get it, it sounds very impressive.'

Lin Banxia, on the side, seemed to have caught the meaning. He looked around at the neatly arranged boxes in the living room and said cautiously, “Mr. Song... what if Leshui accidentally opens the boxes...?”

Song Qingluo said: “Either he goes home for dinner, or the whole village comes to his home for dinner.”

Ji Leshui: “...”

Lin Banxia: “...” 'You sure have a dark sense of humor.'

Having encountered something so beyond common sense, although Ji Leshui didn’t know if Song Qingluo’s method would work, he could only treat it as a last-ditch effort. He didn't want to see those terrifying images anymore, nor did he want to lock himself in a dark closet again.

That being said, it was still a bit creepy for him to live in this apartment alone. So, Ji Leshui cast a pleading look at Lin Banxia. Just as Lin Banxia was about to ask Song Qingluo if he could stay with him, he heard Song Qingluo say, “It won’t be effective if anyone else lives here.”

“Is that so.” Lin Banxia expressed his regret.

Ji Leshui wanted to struggle a bit more, but seeing that Song Qingluo didn't seem like an easy person to negotiate with, he could only agree aggrievedly.

Song Qingluo was a straightforward person. After confirming that Ji Leshui was moving in, he explained the rules of the apartment. The rules were actually very simple: don't touch anything that can be moved in the apartment, sleep obediently every day, and go to and from work obediently, and everything would be fine. But he still specifically warned Ji Leshui not to open the kitchen door or the closet in the living room.

Ji Leshui weakly asked what would happen if he accidentally opened them.

Song Qingluo replied expressionlessly with five words: Isn’t it good to be alive?

Ji Leshui instantly shut up.

Lin Banxia knew Ji Leshui was afraid of his own apartment, so he thoughtfully helped Ji Leshui pack and bring his luggage over. Ji Leshui sat in the living room, a bit at a loss, and quietly asked Song Qingluo if he had anything to pack. Song Qingluo said faintly that he wasn't afraid to go back home, so he could just come over and get whatever he needed, telling Ji Leshui not to worry.

Ji Leshui hadn't really slept much yesterday and was now getting a little sleepy, yawning on the sofa. Seeing this, Song Qingluo told him to go sleep in the guest room directly, saying he could experience it in advance. Ji Leshui thought it made sense. During the day, he still had a chance to back out. If something happened at night, he wouldn't even be able to run. He went to the guest room, simply laid out the bedding, and fell asleep as soon as he lay down.

After he fell asleep, Lin Banxia, in order to play the part of a good host, took the initiative to invite Song Qingluo to his own apartment. He even enthusiastically changed the bedsheets that had been slept on before, afraid that Song Qingluo would find them dirty.

Fortunately, although Song Qingluo seemed cold, he was actually quite easy to get along with.

Lin Banxia made a cup of coffee and handed it to him. Song Qingluo's half-lidded eyes lifted slightly. Seeing the item in Lin Banxia's hand, he shook his head and said, “I don't drink this.”

“Oh, then what would you like? I have milk at home, and also tea.” Lin Banxia hesitated for a moment, “And Coke.”

Song Qingluo said without hesitation: “Coke.”

Lin Banxia was stunned, thinking, 'Dude, Coca Cola doesn’t really match your mysterious aura.' But he still obediently went to pour a glass of Coke and handed it to Song Qingluo.

Song Qingluo took the glass and had a sip, but his brows furrowed slightly.

Lin Banxia quickly asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?”

Song Qingluo put the glass down and said with disdain, “It’s Coke Zero.”

Lin Banxia: “...” 'Oh, so you think it’s not sweet enough.' He said helplessly, “Um... I don’t like things that are too sweet. I only have Zero at home.”

“Then forget it.” Song Qingluo looked at the glass with disgust, as if it contained not Coke, but the juice of some monster.

Lin Banxia worked one day on, one day off. He had worked yesterday, so he was off today. But after the whole ordeal last night, he hadn't slept well and was tired now. After saying a word to Song Qingluo, Lin Banxia went to his bedroom for a nap. By the time he woke up, the sun was already setting in the west.

Lin Banxia slowly walked out and saw Song Qingluo sitting on the living room sofa watching TV. From Lin Banxia's angle, he could see Song Qingluo's profile perfectly.

It had to be said, Song Qingluo's looks were truly impeccable. His features were very defined, with a straight nose and sharp-lined lips. Because his skin was so fair, his lips looked exceptionally red. And then there were his long, curled eyelashes, which were lazily half-lowered at the moment, making it seem as if their owner was taking a short nap.

Lin Banxia deliberately lightened his steps, but he still woke up the resting Song Qingluo. He turned his head to look at Lin Banxia and slowly shifted to the end of the sofa. Seeing this, Lin Banxia walked over and sat on the other side of the sofa. He casually chatted with Song Qingluo about this and that, and Song Qingluo would occasionally reply with a sentence or two. The atmosphere between them was fairly harmonious, until Lin Banxia asked about what was inside those boxes.

“You don’t have anything dangerous in those boxes, do you? I’m afraid Leshui might get curious...” Lin Banxia said.

“It’s fine, he can’t open them,” Song Qingluo said. “The ones that can be opened are meant to be opened.” He rested his chin on his hand, looking languid, and said softly, “I’m not so reckless as to get someone killed casually.”

“By the way, what about that mannequin we saw before?” Lin Banxia suddenly remembered. Thinking back on it, that mannequin was quite scary. Ji Leshui had already been scared out of his wits; a few more scares, and he was genuinely afraid Ji Leshui would end up in a mental hospital.

Song Qingluo hesitated noticeably, then said in a low voice, “It should be fine.”

Lin Banxia looked at him suspiciously.

Song Qingluo felt a bit guilty under Lin Banxia's gaze. His voice grew even quieter, almost inaudible, but Lin Banxia still caught the fleeting words. Song Qingluo whispered very, very quietly, “He won’t die.”

Lin Banxia: “...” 'Just ‘he won’t die’??!!'

Under Lin Banxia's condemning gaze, Song Qingluo's conscience finally kicked in. He said, “Forget it, let’s go over and check.”

He stood up and walked towards the apartment next door.

Lin Banxia quickly followed behind him, asking where he had hidden the Plastic Female Mannequin. At first, Song Qingluo was reluctant to say, but after Lin Banxia asked several times, he finally said, “Under the bed.”

Lin Banxia: “...Under the bed you sleep in?”

Song Qingluo looked innocent. “What are you talking about? I’m not a pervert. Why would I put it under my own bed? It’s in the guest room, of course.”

'Oh, so it’s the guest room, that’s great—not!!! Isn’t that unlucky Ji Leshui sleeping in the guest room?! I hope he doesn't wake up to see the mannequin’s head rolling to the side of the bed and get scared to death on the spot!!'

The more Lin Banxia thought about it, the more horrified he became, and he quickened his pace.

“Knock, knock, knock.” After knocking a few times with no response from Ji Leshui, Lin Banxia hurriedly told Song Qingluo to take out the key.

As he unlocked the door, Song Qingluo said to Lin Banxia, “He can’t be that unlucky, can he?”

Lin Banxia said in despair, “If he weren't unlucky, he wouldn’t be living here.”

Song Qingluo: “...True.”

As soon as the door opened, Lin Banxia pushed it and rushed into the apartment. He had intended to go straight to the bedroom, but just as he reached the living room, he saw someone sitting on the sofa with their back to them. The person was wearing the wedding gown Lin Banxia had seen before, with long hair spread out on the sofa. It had to be the Plastic Female Mannequin Lin Banxia had seen that day.

'That unlucky Ji Leshui really did see the plastic mannequin!' Lin Banxia’s heart tightened, and he immediately rushed into the bedroom, calling Ji Leshui’s name.

But when he entered the bedroom, he didn't see Ji Leshui, only a messy bed. Lin Banxia was shocked and shouted, “This is bad!! Ji Leshui is gone!!!”

Song Qingluo was standing outside and met Lin Banxia's gaze. His expression was complex, and before Lin Banxia could quite understand it, he heard him say softly, “He’s not gone.”

Lin Banxia: “Huh? Then where is he??”

Song Qingluo said: “Isn’t he right in front of you.”

Lin Banxia looked around but didn't see anyone, except for the plastic mannequin on the sofa wearing a woman's wedding gown with its back to them—wait, plastic mannequin? Lin Banxia suddenly understood. He strode over to the mannequin and looked down! Sure enough, the Plastic Female Mannequin's face had become Ji Leshui’s face.

At this moment, Ji Leshui was just like a plastic mannequin, staring straight ahead without expression. His body was ramrod straight, as if it had lost the characteristic softness of human limbs and had turned into hard plastic.

Lin Banxia was shocked by this sight. He called Ji Leshui’s name several times, but Ji Leshui didn't react at all. He reached out, grabbed Ji Leshui by the collar, and shook him hard, trying to wake him from this rigid state. But Ji Leshui remained completely still, his eyes wide and blank, not even blinking. Lin Banxia reached out and pinched his face hard. Ji Leshui’s face had no warmth at all, frighteningly cold, but at least it was still human skin, not plastic.

“Mr. Song, what’s wrong with him?” Seeing that he couldn’t wake Ji Leshui, Lin Banxia quickly looked up at Song Qingluo for help.

“Don’t panic,” Song Qingluo said calmly. “First, find where that plastic mannequin is. She can’t leave this apartment.”

So the two began to search the apartment.

Lin Banxia was anxious. He first searched the bedroom, rummaging through the closet, but found no sign of the plastic mannequin. As he was on the ground with his butt in the air, trying to see if anything was hidden under the bed, he felt a chill on his neck, as if something cold had fallen onto his shoulder and neck.

Lin Banxia reached up to wipe it away and felt several strands of black hair. He suddenly realized something, slowly raised his head, and saw the Plastic Female Mannequin clinging to the ceiling in a bizarre posture. Her body was facing away from Lin Banxia, but her head was twisted a full one hundred and eighty degrees in a way no human could manage, her pitch-black eyes staring coldly at him.

Lin Banxia stood up and calmly left the bedroom.

Seeing his action, the Plastic Female Mannequin seemed to think he was scared. Her heavily made-up red lips curled into an eerie arc. However, this arc didn't last ten seconds before she saw Lin Banxia return. This time, he was holding a thick clothes-drying pole.

Song Qingluo followed behind Lin Banxia and asked him what he was going to do with the clothes-drying pole.

Lin Banxia held up the clothes-drying pole, pointed above his head, and said, “That Plastic Female Mannequin is up there. I’m going to poke her down.”

Song Qingluo: “...” He slowly raised his head and also saw his plastic mannequin stuck to the ceiling like a spider. If an ordinary person saw this, they would probably be scared witless on the spot. But Lin Banxia had quickly ignored the irrational parts of the situation and figured out a solution. 'I’ve really found a gem.'

So Song Qingluo didn’t say anything more and made a ‘go ahead’ gesture to Lin Banxia.

Lin Banxia rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He poked wildly with the clothes-drying pole. The mannequin was, after all, just plastic and didn't have a spider's stickiness, so she was quickly poked down by Lin Banxia. Her body landed on the floor with a heavy thud. Lin Banxia intended to carry her to the living room, but when he reached out, he couldn't lift her at all. He was surprised to find that this plastic mannequin, which should have been very light, was heavier than a stone. He used all his strength, but she didn’t budge an inch.

“Let me.” Song Qingluo said softly.

'Can you do it?' Lin Banxia wanted to ask. Although Song Qingluo was taller than him, he wasn't burly; in fact, he looked a bit slender at first glance. He rolled up his shirt sleeves, revealing forearms as white as porcelain, long and straight. He bent down and, without any effort, lifted the mannequin. It was just that he was clearly a bit disgusted by what was in his arms. Instead of a princess carry, he grabbed the mannequin by the shoulders and dragged her to the living room sofa like a sandbag.

Lin Banxia obediently followed behind and asked what to do next.

“Go to the closet in my guest room and find her a dress,” Song Qingluo said faintly.