Chapter 43 - 042: What’s inside the cardboard box?

Words : 1302 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 43 - 042: What's inside the cardboard box? Yu Zhi nestled into the beanbag chair, her eyes closed as she sorted through the chaotic memories in her mind. After a while, she suddenly sat up straight, grabbed her camera, and started taking pictures of the objects on the table one by one. Yu Zhi first went through a comprehensive search on her computer, and as expected, there were no records of any shop having sold the golden lock. She clicked on the familiar crossed-swords icon on her desktop and sent the photos over to Rattlesnake. The other party was always active at night, and within seconds, a message came through: [The photos aren't clear. You should really change your phone.] Yu Zhi: "..." She glanced at the phone on her right, where several noticeable scratches and a spiderweb-like crack on the front camera caught her eye. Yeah... maybe it really was time for a new one. Yu Zhi took a few more photos in higher detail and sent them again, making sure not to miss a single detail. Her fingers danced nimbly across the keyboard, her pale, slender fingertips moving as if performing a delicate choreography: [I need it urgently. Hurry up.] Rattlesnake responded with an emoji and refrained from asking any further questions. Yu Zhi unwrapped a piece of candy and popped it into her mouth, leaning back comfortably in her chair and gazing up at the ceiling. The warm yellow light cast a faint halo in her pupils, blending seamlessly with the color of her irises—beautiful beyond words. "Gurgle—" An untimely, faint noise rippled through the quiet room. Yu Zhi touched her stomach with slight annoyance, sighed lightly, and shuffled to the kitchen in her star-patterned slippers, the soft sound of her steps echoing lightly on the floor. As cold air rushed out, she stared at the empty refrigerator with disappointment. Not even a slice of cake? With another resigned sigh, Yu Zhi picked up her phone and began scrolling. While lying on the carpet, she alternated between tackling her headache-inducing homework and waiting for her dinner delivery. Ever since the day Shi Wei had crammed math, physics, and chemistry into her brain for hours, she'd somehow been left with the illusion that these subjects weren't all that hard. Every question required only a quick glance before she jotted down the answer without hesitation. Of course, she didn't bother checking her work. As long as the pages were filled, that was good enough. By the time she completed her third practice test, her takeout had finally arrived. "Still awake?" The question came the moment Yu Zhi took the food from the delivery guy. She looked up and saw her neighbor standing a short distance away, watching her with apparent concern. The faintest trace of a metallic tang lingered in the air. Even though it was subtle, Yu Zhi noticed it immediately. Replying with a soft acknowledgment, she nonchalantly fixed her gaze on the box in the neighbor's arms. "Did you just go shopping?" The man shook his head, rubbing his hands over the box he held and smiling. "Just a little gift my friend brought from the countryside today." "A little gift?" Yu Zhi's gaze swept over him without revealing much, and upon noticing not a speck of blood on him, her curiosity only grew. Taking an unhurried step forward, she approached the man cautiously. Once she confirmed the source of the faint blood smell came from him, she looked at him with a newfound interest. "Can I take a look?" The middle-aged man appeared hesitant at her request. "Better not. It might scare you." The more he resisted, the more determined Yu Zhi became to find out. "It's fine," she replied, curling her lips into a smile of girlish innocence. The man hesitated, his gaze flitting to the box in his arms. His long hair fell over his temples, casting shadows on his face as he lowered his head. "Then prepare yourself mentally," he warned, shooting her a complex look as he glanced up. When the box was opened, a wave of thick, metallic blood smell washed straight into their noses. Inside lay the scarlet comb of a rooster resting on a bundle of straw. Beneath it, Yu Zhi met the glazed-over, unyielding gaze of two dead eyes. Two chickens had had their throats gruesomely slit, with blood still eager to pour and pooling into their soiled feathers, forming a sticky, grotesque mass. Yu Zhi lowered her gaze, her dense lashes shielding the crimson glint in her eyes. Her hand—which rested limply at her side—unconsciously clenched into a fist. "So it's this," she murmured, her voice raspy as she struggled to suppress the restless emotions surging within. "I have something to do. I'll go first." She quickly turned away, leaving the man with nothing but her retreating back and the slam of her door. Once inside, Yu Zhi placed her food on the ground and made a beeline for the sandbag by the window. She hadn't even bothered to put on her gloves before throwing punch after punch at it. Her blows grew heavier and heavier, and a thin sheen of sweat began forming on her forehead. She didn't know how much time had passed, but as the pounding sounds gradually subsided, the crimson in her light brown eyes receded, returning to their usual clarity. Yu Zhi slumped back down on the carpet, leaning against the couch. Her hands rested on her knees as she caught her breath. Only after a few moments did she reach for the takeout, which had long gone cold. Right then, her phone buzzed. The screen lit up, showing the familiar video call invitation on WeChat. She tore open the wrapper on her chopsticks with her teeth and glanced at the caller. "What's up?" Shi Wei's voice was slightly awkward as he cleared his throat, "Have you finished your homework for today?" He had been pacing around his room, trying to find an excuse to call her. In the end, this was the best he could come up with. Not for anything else. He simply wanted to see her, even if it was through a cold, glassy screen. "Not yet." Yu Zhi set her phone on the table, opened her takeout box, and started eating intently without even looking up. Shi Wei's gaze landed on the food in front of her, his brows knitting slightly. "Why are you only eating now?" "Got busy and forgot," she replied with puffed cheeks, looking every bit like an adorable hamster, irresistibly cute. Shi Wei reached out to touch the screen, lightly tapping the spot over her cheek with his finger, his lips curving into a faint smile. His dark pupils carried a trace of warmth. "Finish eating first, then we'll talk," he said. Afraid she might choke, he refrained from saying more and leaned comfortably against the headboard, holding his phone and quietly watching her. His eyes traced the contours of her face, a gentleness in his expression he'd never shown before. Yu Zhi's hunger subsided as quickly as it had come. She ate only half before putting her chopsticks down. She tidied the table, took a sip of water, and finally turned her attention back to Shi Wei. Noticing the loosely tied robe that left a good portion of his chest exposed, she raised a brow. "Aren't you cold?" "Hmm?" Shi Wei froze briefly, then quickly realized what she was referring to. He shifted to face the light, his movements deliberate. From this angle, she had an even better view of him. With a perfectly serious look, he replied, "No, there's heating in the room."

Chapter 43 - 042: What’s inside the cardboard box?

Comments (0)