Chapter 335: Cheap Things Aren't Good
"I'm here, what's up?" Jiang Yuan noticed something was off.
Having known Yang Hongye for several years, she was a bold and decisive leader who could handle any situation. She had never been so flustered before.
Hurriedly coming out of the bedroom, he saw her pale and panicked face.
Hearing his response and seeing another living person, Yang Hongye finally breathed a sigh of relief, the illusion of something behind her seemed to lessen.
She forced a smile and explained: "Just after taking a shower, I don't know what happened, I felt a cold chill on my back, it was eerie.
No wonder the elders always say big figures deserve big houses, because the strong aura can hold down the place. Seems like I don't have enough aura, living in a big house feels empty and can't gather human energy, then I start to imagine things."
Jiang Yuan thought it wasn't the big house causing fear, but rather something unclean clinging to her.
Thin black strands wrapped around her, not many but enough to affect emotions when night falls and Yang Energy decreases.
"Did you watch a horror movie today?" He calmly invited her to sit on the sofa in the large living room, poured a hot cup of tea and handed it over, as she took the cup, the Heaven-Burning Flame happily flowed through his fingertips.
"Sizzle!"
A soft sound, the strands of black air were burned clean.
Yang Hongye felt as if a Flame had warmed her as she touched Jiang Yuan's warm fingertips, the chilling fear disappeared, and her mood relaxed.
"It's not about horror movies, you know me, staying up late watching Sadako doesn't stop me from having snacks, I wouldn't be scared by horror movies." She sipped the tea, the weather was getting hotter and even the night wind felt warm.
The sudden fear disappeared completely, and Yang Hongye sighed: "I must have been infected by Qiao Xiyu. She spent half the afternoon telling me all kinds of nightmare fragments, it was eerie."
Qiao Xiyu was Yang Hongye's high school classmate. She fought hard against her family who favored sons over daughters to continue her studies. But she was still just a kid, without family support, she couldn't get enough living expenses.
Sometimes when she had no money, she would collect bottles during evening self-study to sell, and buy two steamed buns to eat throughout the day.
Her desk-mate, Qiao Xiyu, lived in the county and had better economic conditions. Knowing, she often used her pocket money to help Yang Hongye out. The two girls were very close and maintained frequent contact even after attending universities in different cities and graduating to stay in different cities.
Recently, Qiao Xiyu even complained about some anxiety over the phone, and today she took leave to rest and came to confide in her bold and brave friend.
The two girls spoke for half the afternoon, Yang Hongye herself was staying temporarily, so she arranged for Qiao Xiyu to stay at a nearby hotel.
However, during her wash at home, she kept thinking about her friend's vivid descriptions, and couldn't shake the eerie feeling, as if something scary had latched onto her, it scared her into finding Jiang Yuan for courage.
"Constant nightmares disrupt sleep which is unbearable for anyone." Jiang Yuan listened briefly to her recount of her friend's nightmares of being chased by ghosts, thinking there must be a reason for it. But the friend didn't seem to get to the root of it, so Yang Hongye didn't know the specifics.
He thought, after just an afternoon, Yang Hongye carried some black aura, the Yin Fiend aura on Qiao Xiyu must be more intense.
"How about this, she has traveled a long way to see you, in bad spirits, now staying alone in a hotel in a strange city, perhaps feeling less secure. It's a good time for barbecue, why don't we invite her out for a midnight snack? More people, lively conversation could lighten her mood."
Helping a friend's friend escape nightmares, the Heaven-Burning Flame gains experience, a win-win!
"Sounds good, I'll call Xiyu immediately." Yang Hongye found it reasonable, she was scared just listening, her friend might suffer more at night.
She needed to carefully ask if they could find the source of the nightmares to fully resolve the issue.
Early summer delicacy street wafted with mixed meat aroma, stirring up appetite.
Facing the hot and fragrant skewers, Qiao Xiyu lacked any appetite, she unconsciously wrapped her jacket tightly and snuggled closer to her friend, "What should I do? Went to the hospital, and the doctor said my psychological stress is too great, suggested taking a break.
Given the current job environment, who dares to take a break!
Besides, Zhang Rui and I are alike, both from small town competing academically, finally managed to settle in the city. For future marriage and buying a house, both families can't help much. Housing prices are so high, consumption is high, if we don't want to retreat to the county, we can only grit our teeth and push through, I don't dare quit…"
"Doesn't have to be resignation." Jiang Yuan was shocked upon meeting, Qiao Xiyu's black aura was indeed stronger, but she managed to keep emotions stable despite nightmares, already very brave.
So, he passed her skewered meat while setting it aflame.
Watching the Heaven-Burning Flame's orange fire devour the black aura bit by bit, he smiled faintly and said: "Perhaps too much contact with negative emotions at work increases psychological pressure. Taking leave to visit Yang Jie can relieve much anxiety."
Qiao Xiyu ate a few bites, the spicy and hot meat juices exploded in her mouth, she suddenly felt warmth on her previously cold body, very comfortable, so she chewed another skewer.
After drinking a beer, she felt perhaps the food and lively environment worked, her body warmed and mood improved, sparking the desire to share.
"I think it has nothing to do with work pressure." Qiao Xiyu glanced at her friend's newly acquainted roommate, hesitated for a few seconds, then said: "It must be the issue with the house!
Leaf, wasn't I complaining to you last month about the landlord wanting to sell the rented place and urgently kicked us out without notice?
We lived there after graduation, had lots of stuff. The landlord hurried us, Zhang Rui went to various agencies for days to look around, then chose the current place - between our two companies, convenient for twenty-minute commute.
Two elevators, three households, two-bedroom with good community environment, most importantly, it's cheap! Same community, same type of apartment, rents at three thousand a month, ours just one thousand eight!"
Yang Hongye was immediately alert, "Cheap things aren't good, did something happen in the house?"
"Yes." Qiao Xiyu nodded and sighed: "The landlord told us directly, last year a tenant who lived for two years suddenly fell ill and died inside. He seemed without work and didn't often go out, wasn't discovered until stinking.
The landlord is particular about these things, after handling it hired someone for rituals, did simple renovations, and waited half a year to rent it. We thought, save some money, not afraid of death, everyone has deceased, poverty is scarier than ghosts!
Besides, died of illness not murder, rituals done, house renovated, rent so cheap, what's there to say? We immediately signed the rental contract and moved our stuff over."