Chapter 48: Tang Ao's Arrangement

  Su Tong sat in the living room, nervously watching Tang Ao go to open the door. As Tang Ao walked to the entrance, she couldn't help but call out to him. Tang Ao stopped and turned around to look at her. Su Tong lowered her voice and asked: "Do you want to make some preparations first? For example... for example, I can help you take out the kitchen knife or the rolling pin?"

  "Our family doesn't have a rolling pin." Tang Ao smiled, "You don't need to worry, he won't be a threat to you or me, no matter if it's physical strength or anything else, he's not an opponent, rest assured."

  After finishing speaking, he walked to the door and seemed to hope that a short pain was better than a long one. He directly opened the large door, then made way for the entrance, waited for a while, saw Zhang Min standing outside without moving, frowned, and said to him: "Hurry up and come in, otherwise you can leave."

  Zhang Min finally plucked up the courage to step inside, and as he passed by Tang Ao, his posture was somewhat shriveled, as if he felt intimidated from within. After entering the door, he saw Su Tong sitting on the sofa and hastily took two steps forward. She didn't move, but this sudden movement startled her so much that she instinctively dodged to one side, her actions swift to the point where even she herself was surprised.

  Tang Ao didn't expect that Zhang Min would rush to Su Tong as soon as he entered the door, wanting to get close to him. Now, Tang Ao doesn't believe that Zhang Min still has any evil intentions towards Su Tong from the bottom of his heart. After all, he has already suffered a loss and is not someone who forgets to eat but remembers to fight. Tang Ao is worried that just now Su Tong was afraid and didn't dare open the door for Zhang Min, delaying some time, and then he himself comforted Su Tong, again delaying some time. To know, last time Zhang Min was caught off guard by that infant spirit at Su Tong's doorstep, confusing his mind. If that infant spirit uses the same trick again, all of Tang Ao's plans will be ruined.

  Of course, according to common sense, that infant spirit should not want to use a method that has already failed twice and is still trying to confuse someone who has already caused one failure. However, ghosts are after all ghosts, their actions and behavior cannot be referenced in the same way as ordinary living people, especially this kind of fetus that has been biting from an early age before it was even born into the world, making it even more unpredictable.

  He immediately reached out and grabbed Zhang Min's collar, pulling him back from going forward. Zhang Min stumbled backward, his eyes looking pitifully at Tang Ao as he explained in a pleading tone: "Brother, don't be like this, I didn't mean anything else, really! I just wanted to apologize to Su Tong and explain myself. I wasn't being malicious, I was also controlled by that thing you mentioned, wasn't I? And besides, you're here too, how could I dare to make any sudden moves?"

  Tang Ao looked at him coldly, completely devoid of the warmth he usually showed Su Tong. He sized Zhang Min up and down before saying, "You want to explain, but it depends on whether the other person is willing to listen! I told you over the phone that although you were bewitched by that thing, your actions were all voluntary, and that thing only amplified your desires, giving you courage. So don't try to make yourself look innocent, coming here to seek sympathy. Don't forget why I called you here today!"

  Zhang Min nodded repeatedly, his movements resembling a small chicken pecking at grain. It was clear that he was indeed very afraid of Tang Hao. Although Su Tong had never thought Zhang Min was a particularly courageous man, having known him for some time and seeing him so timid in front of certain people was still a rare sight. Only after sizing him up did Su Tong realize that the phrase "狼狈不堪" (utterly disheveled) might not even be enough to describe Zhang Min's current state. Su Tong genuinely couldn't imagine anyone else, aside from himself, having ever seen someone so wretched.

  Zhang Min's face had several purple marks, and Su Tong didn't have any doubts about why they were there. It was simply because Tang Hao had hit him. This matter had already been mentioned between Tang Hao and himself, when Zhang Min had gone mad, and Tang Hao had originally wanted to chase him away or knock him down. But he had shown an "unyielding" spirit that was unusual for a normal person, which made Tang Hao realize that something was off about Zhang Min.

  What really shocked Su Tong wasn't the several bruises on his face, but the scratches all over his neck and throat, which were still visible even though he had pulled up his collar. The scratches were layered on top of each other, some red and swollen, others already scabbed over with thin strips of blood clots. New and old scratches crisscrossed each other, and just now when Zhang Min was standing in the corridor, Su Tong hadn't been able to see them clearly through the door mirror, so he hadn't been shocked yet.

  Now that Zhang Min was standing in Tang Hao's living room, under the light of the lamps, the "splendor" on his face was fully revealed.

  Being stared at by Su Tong with a guarded expression, Zhang Min also felt a bit embarrassed. He stretched out his hand to touch his face and accidentally touched the still swollen scratch, which hurt so much that his face contorted. He tried to adjust his state, but his collar was still being pulled by Tang Xiao. He attempted to explain to Su Tong: "Su Tong, I was wrong. Your boyfriend has already taught me a lesson. This whole day, my body has been unbearably itchy. If he hadn't called me this afternoon and told me how to relieve it, I reckon I would have scratched myself raw by now! So I really learned my lesson. Please don't hold it against me, you're right, your boyfriend said so... My idea was mine, but that ghost amplified it. However, my intention wasn't to do anything bad. Really, I just like you. You don't like me, and I couldn't control myself, I just liked you. Originally, you didn't like me anyway, if I had continued to pursue you with a lowered face, you would have only looked down on me even more. So... so I pretended to be aloof, putting on airs, but in my heart..."

  "Alright, don't say anything else, I don't want to hear it!" Su Tong felt extremely annoyed listening to him. She thought Zhang Min was a hopeless person who had done harm in the past and would have succeeded if Tang Ao hadn't arrived just in time. She couldn't understand why this man could still stand there, even with Tang Ao grabbing his collar, and try to justify himself, even calling his despicable behavior "liking" her.

  Tang Ao also felt very disgusted with Zhang Min's endless chatter, he released Zhang Min's collar, pinched a complex finger seal, pointed at Zhang Min and said: "Before doing serious things, I'll give you one last chance to say something meaningful. If what you say is still this kind of meaningless nonsense, then I'll simply shut your mouth temporarily and let you be mute for once. You may not believe I can do it, but I will try my best to prove it to you."

  "No, no, no, I believe! I believe!" Zhang Min took two steps back in terror, waving his hands at Tang Hao repeatedly. "Can't I just not say it? I...I still have something to discuss with you, that thing...you asked me to help you with tonight, is it dangerous? Can you guarantee my safety?"

  "I can, but I don't think it's necessary." Tang Ao replied indifferently. "There is only one person in this house that I need to protect completely, and that person will definitely not be you. I can only guarantee that you won't lose your life, as for the rest, consider it the price you pay for your previous actions."

  "But, but this is too much, isn't it?" Zhang Min's words were laced with anxiety, but as soon as he saw Tang Ao's raised eyebrows, he immediately softened his tone and choice of words. "What I mean to say is, ah, don't be in a rush, listen to me! My intention is to sincerely apologize, let me compensate financially or whatever, if Su Tong feels that beating me up will make her feel better, I'm willing to take the hit, but if my life and health are threatened, that's not fair to me either, right? I...I didn't really do anything wrong, did I? Look at Su Tong, she's fine..."

  Su Tong felt a surge of anger, she almost had the urge to rush over and slap Zhang Min twice, his unrepentant look made her furious.

  Tang Ao listened to Zhang Min's words, and unlike Su Tong, he didn't burst into flames with anger. He sneered and asked Zhang Min, "So, you're actually quite innocent, huh?"

  "Not innocent, not innocent," Zhang Min corrected himself repeatedly, "I mean, I didn't make a big mistake either..."

  "If I hadn't arrived on time that day, do you dare to imagine what the outcome would be now?" Tang Ao's eyes narrowed, and a fierce glint flashed in his dark pupils, "If I hadn't arrived on time, what kind of person would Su Tong be now? Do you dare to think about it? What kind of future would Su Tong have been ruined into, do you dare to think about it?"

  "No matter what happens... I really like her, and I'll take responsibility for it too... Ahh!"

  Zhang Min hadn't even finished speaking when his cheek was heavily punched, causing him to cry out in pain. He stumbled and staggered into the wall beside him. Tang Hao shook his fist, which had become slightly sore from hitting Zhang Min. Su Tong rushed over and pulled Tang Hao away, glaring at the disheveled Zhang Min and saying: "Tang Hao, don't soil your hands on this kind of person! Zhang Min, I didn't say anything that wasn't true about you being a person without principles. I'm not afraid of you, nor will I randomly listen to what you have to say and inexplicably forgive you. Previously at the newspaper office, I didn't expose the lie you told Old Dong because I considered it beneath me to get involved with someone like you. If you continue to be presumptuous, without even a hint of apology, and still dare to speak loudly here, don't blame me for being impolite!"

  "I'm not a lawyer, nor am I a legal worker, but at the very least, I have some basic knowledge of law," Tang Ao said to Zhang Min. "If I hadn't arrived and stopped you that night, you would have succeeded. Do you know what this behavior is called? This is attempted crime! At the time, it was equivalent to being caught in the act by me. If you think you really didn't do anything wrong and feel very innocent, then let's resolve this issue through official channels. Your newspaper people all know that you've had other intentions towards Su Tong before, and now you're doing something like this again. From a legal standpoint or a moral one, where do you think you can justify yourself? Are you going to go explain to the police that you're innocent, that you were controlled by a ghost?"

  Zhang Min was also stunned by these words. Tang Ao's words did not mean to intimidate him, but were all facts. This matter, whether from a public or private perspective, whether materialistic or idealistic, he had no reason to win. Moreover, once it gets out, even if the sky is broken, no one will believe in ghosts confusing his mind. Whether he goes to prison or a mental hospital, his life will be completely ruined.

  He thought about it and his tone and attitude changed immediately, although he was still a little unwilling and afraid, but had no choice, so he said to Tang Ao: "I... I know, you do what you want."

  Tang Ao nodded and pointed to the study: "You go inside that room and wait for me."

  Zhang Min nodded and responded, then went to Tang Ao's study alone. Su Tong looked at Tang Ao with a puzzled expression, using his eyes to ask what he was going to do next with Zhang Min.

  Tang Ao smiled gently at Su Tong: "You wait here for a while, I'll deal with his affairs first, and then we need to make some preparations too."

  Su Tong hastily nodded, while also holding back a bit of anger and saying: "If he speaks nonsense again, you might as well seal his voice for good, lest a dog's mouth spit out ivory!"

  Tang Ao suppressed a smile, leaned in close to Su Tong's ear and whispered: "What I said earlier was just to scare him, my abilities can only be used against spirits, silencing a living person, I really can't do that."

  Su Tong couldn't help but laugh and cry, she didn't know what kind of medicine Tang Hao was selling in his gourd, but it wasn't good to ask him questions in front of Zhang Min, lest he hear something he shouldn't know and cause trouble. She could only sit nervously on the sofa, staring at Tang Hao as he also walked into the study and closed the door tightly behind him.

  What's going on here? Not only did they drag Zhang Min into this, but why did they take him to the study alone and close the door? Just now, seeing how Zhang Min was in front of Tang Hao, it seems that there's no need to worry about them getting into a dispute where Tang Hao would be at a disadvantage. Even Su Tong couldn't help but feel curious, secretly guessing what Tang Hao had called Zhang Min over for.

  The wall clock ticked away, its second hand jumping as Su Tong sat quietly waiting, feeling like time had slowed down and was passing particularly slowly. The study was also eerily quiet, with not a sound to be heard, making it feel like an eternity had passed before the door finally opened again. Tang Ao walked out first, seemingly aware of Su Tong's concern for him, then turned to Zhang Min who followed closely behind and said: "You go sit over there, don't move around, or else the effect will be affected and won't work, don't blame me!"