“That’s right, this is the Happiness Community where they reported a haunting.”
After hearing Yan Qi’s question, Zhao Liang quickly confirmed it for her.
“I totally can’t imagine this kind of place being haunted.”
After getting confirmation from Zhao Liang, Yan Qi turned her gaze back to the Happiness Community in front of her and couldn’t help but murmur to herself in an incredulous tone.
“Alright, Xiao Qi, let’s not just stand here. We’re not going to get to the bottom of this just by looking.”
“That’s true. Let’s go inside then, and ask a few of the residents.”
Agreeing with Zhao Liang’s words, Yan Qi stopped standing around blankly with him at the entrance of Happiness Community. Instead, they walked inside together.
“Um, excuse me, what business do you two have here?”
Before Yan Qi and Zhao Liang could even enter Happiness Community, the security guard sitting in the booth quickly noticed them. He poked his head out of the window and asked them this.
“We’re from the Fangfeng City Supernatural Affairs Bureau, and we’re here to investigate the haunting incident in your community.”
In response to the guard’s question, Zhao Liang quickly stated his identity and the purpose of their visit.
Hearing Zhao Liang say he was from the Supernatural Affairs Bureau and mention the frequent haunting incidents happening in their community lately, the guard’s eyes first showed a look of excitement. But then, as if thinking of something, he calmed down and asked Zhao Liang, “You say you’re from the Supernatural Affairs Bureau. So, can I take a look at your credentials?”
Knowing that the guard was just suspicious of his and Yan Qi’s identities, but not getting angry at his vigilance, Zhao Liang pulled out his credentials from his pocket, opened them, and showed them to the guard.
After clearly seeing the photo, name, and identification number on Zhao Liang’s credentials and confirming he really was from the Fangfeng City Supernatural Affairs Bureau, the guard finally let his guard down. He quickly said apologetically, “So Officer Zhao, you really are from the Supernatural Affairs Bureau. Please forgive my behavior just now. After all, I’m taking their money, so I have to do my job properly, right?”
“I can understand your situation, so I won’t make things difficult for you.”
“That’s great, Officer Zhao, that you won’t make things difficult for me.”
“Now, can my colleague and I go inside your community to conduct our investigation?”
“Of course. But, Officer Zhao, you mentioned a colleague, but I only see you alone?”
Not seeing anyone who looked like Zhao Liang’s colleague beside him, the guard couldn’t help but ask him, a bit confused.
“Isn’t my colleague right here beside me?”
Glancing at Yan Qi beside him, Zhao Liang thought her white hair and red eyes should be pretty eye-catching, so he couldn’t help but find the guard’s question a bit strange and asked back.
Hearing Zhao Liang’s counter-question and noticing how he had just looked at Yan Qi, the guard was stunned for a moment, but it didn’t take him long to catch on.
Then, with a surprised expression, he looked at Yan Qi and asked Zhao Liang, “Officer Zhao, you don’t mean your colleague is this little kid next to you, do you?”
“Little kid? Oh, I forgot about that.”
After hearing the guard say the words ‘little kid,’ Zhao Liang instantly understood why the guard had said he only saw him alone. It turned out he hadn’t even registered Yan Qi’s small stature.
Smiling inwardly at this thought, and realizing he still hadn’t answered the man’s question, Zhao Liang nodded to the guard and confirmed, “Yes, this person next to me is my colleague.”
Having received Zhao Liang’s confirmation, the guard’s previously somewhat surprised face now showed an expression of disbelief. After a moment, he secretly warned himself.
“I never would have thought a kid this young would also be from the Supernatural Affairs Bureau. Looks like I need to be more careful when I run into people who look like children from now on.”
After his silent warning, the guard turned his gaze to Yan Qi and said, “Welcome to our Happiness Community, little fri— oh, sorry, I mean, little officer.”
Hearing the guard welcome her, and having seen all his expressions change from earlier until now, Yan Qi was used to this kind of reaction. She didn’t feel like saying much and simply said, “Cut the small talk. Just tell us, can we enter your community or not?”
“Yes, of course you can. Please come in, officers. This haunting thing that’s been happening in the community lately has been really troubling us folks who live here. We’ve been waiting for you to come help us solve the problem.”
While answering Yan Qi’s question, the security guard also brought up the haunting issue.
Hearing what the guard said, Yan Qi quickly realized something. She then looked up at Zhao Liang beside her.
And at that same moment, Zhao Liang also lowered his head to look at her with perfect默契 (unspoken understanding).
When their eyes met, without needing words, they both understood that the other was thinking the same thing.
Then, the two of them passed through the community’s main entrance and walked inside.
“Hey, security guard bro, can I ask you a few things first about the haunting here?”
After entering Happiness Community, Zhao Liang asked the guard, who had come out of the booth to greet them.
Hearing this, and knowing that the people from the Supernatural Affairs Bureau wanted to get information from him, the guard considered himself an upright citizen. Plus, he wanted Zhao Liang and Yan Qi to resolve the haunting incident quickly so he wouldn’t have to patrol every night with his heart in his throat. Naturally, he didn’t refuse and said, “Of course. Ask me anything about the haunting, Officer Zhao. As long as I know the answer, I’ll tell you clearly.”
“This won’t interfere with your work, will it?”
Knowing the guard was still on duty, Zhao Liang asked with concern.
“Not at all. Because of the haunting, there haven’t been many strangers coming and going in our Happiness Community for days. Me being a guard here is pretty much the same as being invisible.”
“Well, in that case, sorry for the intrusion.”
“This isn’t a very good place for talking. Let’s go inside the community. There’s a pavilion there specifically for people to rest in.”
“Okay, let’s go then.”
After speaking, Yan Qi and Zhao Liang followed behind the guard as they all walked towards the location of the pavilion.