Chapter 16: Are You No Longer Going to Persuade Me?

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Nan Yuanman’s expression was hard to read. Just as she was about to speak, her stomach grumbled loudly. She frowned slightly and covered her belly with her empty hands. So hungry...

Meng Qinian slapped his forehead. “Look at me, I completely forgot it’s dinnertime.”

“Little Master, do me the honor—let me treat you to a meal,” Meng Qinian said with a broad smile.

“Oh, and about that so-called life-saving money you mentioned—ten thousand is too much. Do you have a bank card? I’ll transfer it to you.”

Honestly, Meng Qinian was still a bit skeptical about being haunted, since he hadn’t witnessed it firsthand. He only half-believed Nan Yuanman because her earlier fortune-telling had been accurate.

Nan Yuanman noticed the older boy’s distrust and furrowed her brows. After confirming he didn’t have a card, she couldn’t help but warn him, “Big brother, don’t doubt me. That ghost has set its sights on you. If you don’t die, it won’t let you go.”

“Mm-hmm, I got it,” Meng Qinian replied perfunctorily, carefully putting away the fruit knife. He tilted his chin toward her. “Shall we? Go eat?”

Nan Yuanman: “...”

“Let’s go.”

Who refuses food?

Meng Qinian led Nan Yuanman on a winding shortcut out of the Taigu Villa District, taking her to a small but decent-looking restaurant.

Coincidentally, his route didn’t overlap with the Jiang family’s servants, so the two parties just missed each other.

—

Meng Qinian kept glancing down at Nan Yuanman’s determined little legs struggling to keep up. He hesitated, then asked, “Are you okay? Want me to carry you?”

“No need. This distance is nothing to me,” Nan Yuanman waved her small hand nonchalantly.

Her old-fashioned yet adorable demeanor made Meng Qinian laugh aloud. “You’re cuter than any little girl I know.”

If it were his niece, she’d be running into his arms after just a few steps.

Nan Yuanman shot him a glance and corrected him, “You’re wrong. Other little girls are cute too.”

If her grandfather were here, she’d fuss to be held by him. Since he wasn’t, she had to be strong herself.

Meng Qinian booked a small private room, asked Nan Yuanman what she could eat, then ordered a few dishes she liked before exchanging names.

“My name’s Meng Qinian. I live in Taigu Villas with the Meng family. Which family are you from? I don’t recall seeing you before.” Under the room’s light, Meng Qinian finally got a clear look at Nan Yuanman’s current appearance and clothes.

His brow furrowed slightly at her tattered clothes. “Why are you dressed so poorly? Is your family poor?”

“I’m from the Jiang family. I was just brought back from the countryside today. My name is Nan Yuanman,” Nan Yuanman answered clearly and seriously.

Jiang family... but her surname is Nan...

Even without Nan Yuanman’s clear explanation, Meng Qinian sensed there was likely a significant secret behind this.

Regardless, seeing the Jiang family allow a child to be dressed like this made him deeply displeased.

Moreover, Nan Yuanman was recently brought back from the countryside but didn’t stay at the Jiang home; she was wandering outside. This suggested the Jiang family was hardly an easy one to get along with.

And besides...

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He vaguely recalled hearing about a favored girl in the Jiang family.

Was this child brought back from the countryside specifically to accompany that girl?

But...

Meng Qinian couldn’t help but complain, “What kind of terrible name is Nan Yuanman?”

“Yuanman” sounded ominous.

Nan Yuanman sipped water in small gulps and explained, “Yuanman is a name my grandfather gave me, meant to bring good luck. He just forgot at first that his own surname is Nan.”

“You can just call me Yuanman.”

Meng Qinian’s mouth twitched—what an unreliable grandfather.

After a moment’s hesitation, he couldn’t resist asking, “Yuanman, do you really read fortunes? Can you tell me about my father...?”

“No,” Nan Yuanman’s lips twitched. “Predicting life spans backfires.”

“Oh, you short-lived ghosts don’t count. I’m not charging for fortune-telling, it’s life-saving money. I’m not interfering with your karmic cause and effect,” she teased cleverly.

Meng Qinian looked disappointed. “Oh, I see...”

Nan Yuanman rolled her eyes and said, “Your urgent task now is to get rid of the ghostly aura on you, then catch the runaway student ghost. Otherwise, you won’t even make it to thirty—you’ll drop dead tonight.”

“I’m dead, I’m dead,” Meng Qinian chuckled bitterly. “When I die, I’ll fight the ghost that killed me.”

No one cared whether he lived or died anyway.

Maybe it would be freer after death.

Nan Yuanman: “...” Forget it, no use reasoning.

She realized the mental state of these city folks was especially crazy.

She gave up trying to persuade him—like she said, it’s hard to reason with a doomed ghost. If Meng Qinian wanted to die, she couldn’t stop him.

Besides, she was just a child!

Matters of life and death were beyond her control.

Having convinced herself, Nan Yuanman cheerfully started eating.

Meng Qinian had expected her to keep trying to persuade him, but after a long wait, instead of hearing more, he saw her diligently struggling to pick up rice with her chopsticks.

Meng Qinian: “?”

He couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you going to persuade me anymore?”

Nan Yuanman mumbled indistinctly, “No, do whatever you want.”

She swallowed her food with a childish voice, “My grandpa said everyone has their fate. If someone wants to die, you can’t stop them. Don’t waste your efforts—let them die!”

“Anyway, people die and that’s the end...”

Meng Qinian’s mouth twitched at the crude phrase and quickly covered her mouth. “Alright, little mouth, shut up and eat.”

That old man really taught her some terrible things—how could he teach such filthy words!

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But after all that, he didn’t feel so eager to die anymore.

Nan Yuanman: “Oh.”

She kept eating seriously.

Meng Qinian, who had little appetite before, watched Nan Yuanman eat with such earnestness. Her cheeks puffed like a squirrel’s as she ate sweetly and devoutly. Unconsciously, he picked up his chopsticks and started serving himself.

While the two of them ate seriously, the Meng and Jiang families were embroiled in chaos.

At the hospital, waiting for Jiang Xinxin’s test results, Jiang Lixuan suddenly stood up, brow furrowed and voice raised. “What? Yuanman is missing?! Grandpa Li, have you sent people to look for her?”

The butler was equally anxious. “Yes! As soon as Yuanman was found missing, I sent the servants to search, but we’ve combed through the entire villa district with no sign of her.”

“I checked the security footage. It only shows Yuanman heading east, then disappearing!”

“Young master, did you prepare a tracking watch for Miss Yuanman? If so, it would be easier to find her.”

Jiang Lixuan paced anxiously, biting his lip. “No, I... I forgot.”

He had never paid much attention to Nan Yuanman, so why would he bother preparing a tracking watch?

Jiang Hengzhi returned from the restroom, noticing Jiang Lixuan’s distress. He asked solemnly, “What’s wrong?”

“Yuanman is missing!” Jiang Lixuan grabbed his hair. “Nanny Chen said she chased after a car and now we can’t find her.”

He suspected Nan Yuanman had taken the opportunity to run away.

Jiang Hengzhi’s expression darkened. “Call the police and let them help find her.”

Jiang Lixuan quickly agreed, “Okay.”

Meanwhile, the Meng family was searching too.

Meng Qinian’s father, Meng Lei, had called him more than ten times, frustration deepening with each unanswered call. He cursed and dialed again, “That little brat! Where the hell is he hiding? Not answering calls! When he comes back, I’ll give him a good scolding!”

A refined woman with lingering charm placed a teacup before Meng Lei. A flash of sharpness passed through her lowered eyes, but her voice remained gentle as she advised, “Maybe Qinian is in trouble, Old Meng. Don’t worry too much.”

“What kind of trouble could he be in? He’s just always causing chaos outside!” Meng Lei grumbled, worry creasing his brow. “When will he ever be as sensible as Cheng Yi?”

After another unanswered call, Meng Lei couldn’t sit still. He stood, grabbed his coat, and said, “Ayu, I’m going out to look for that stinker. You and Cheng Yi eat first; don’t wait for me.”

Ruan Yu nodded gently. “Okay.”

She saw Meng Lei out the door, then heard a bedroom door click open on the first floor.

A handsome youth in a white T-shirt stepped out. “Mom, Uncle Meng went out?”

“Yes.” Ruan Yu’s smile softened even more as she beckoned him. “Uncle Meng won’t be back soon. Come on, let’s eat.”

He would never come back in this lifetime.