This phone number consisted of eight zeros. When I called back, the automated voice system informed me that it was an invalid number. I threw my phone on the coffee table, and Andor asked me what was wrong. I pointed at the phone, and she said she had seen the number just now and that's why she didn't dare to answer the call.
I was extremely puzzled as I had never encountered this kind of phone call before. Andor suddenly patted the sofa, saying she knew about this kind of call—it was made through the internet, so that's why the number showed up like that.
I didn't know much about these internet calls, but if it was indeed one, it was very likely that Du Xiaolan was deliberately making harassing calls.
Thinking that, I quickly called her, but the phone rang for a long time without anyone answering. Just as I was about to hang up, Du Xiaolan's groggy voice came through the phone, "Mingyang, are you out of your mind? It's late, and you called at this hour. Do you not want me to have a peaceful sleep?"
I knew Du Xiaolan well, and her voice was full of resentment at the moment, clearly indicating that it wasn't her who called. As for my grandfather, I could simply ignore him. He was an honest rural man who didn't understand this kind of advanced stuff at all.
After pondering over it, I couldn't figure out who it was. Helplessly, I decided not to dwell on the matter.
Andor was pacing around in the living room. I didn't know if her brain had short-circuited, or something else had happened, but she suddenly rushed into the wall.
With a muffled 'thud', she held her head and looked at me with a mournful expression, asking why she couldn't walk through walls.
I shook my head and smiled bitterly, saying, "You've only been dead for a few days, and there are many things you're not familiar with. If you want to go through the wall, just wait a little longer."
She nodded thoughtfully, touching her forehead, and then stood in the corner to continue researching her ability.
I let Andor sleep on the sofa in the living room for the night, and I returned to my room. I lay on the bed, and without thinking about the matter anymore, I turned off the bedside lamp and closed my eyes.
The next day, Andor didn't want to stay at home and asked to go out with me. Seeing that the weather was overcast with no sun, I agreed to her request.
When we arrived downstairs at Du Xiaolan's place, after she got into the car, she suddenly shivered and poked the back of my head with her hand, saying, "Mingyang, what's the point of turning on the air conditioning so early?"
I turned my head to look at Andor sitting next to her and sighed, "I don't know what's wrong today. It feels very stuffy. Bear with it, we'll be there soon."
Pouting, Du Xiaolan said, "If I catch a cold because of being frozen, you'll have to pay for the medical expenses."
Helplessly, I said, "Understood, if you get sick from getting too cold, I'll cover the medical expenses. Will that work?"
At the shop, Du Xiaolan sat in front of the mirror as usual, doing her makeup. I sat quietly at the bar, watching the news, while Andor seemed to have some dispute with Du Xiaolan. She just sat next to her.
I couldn't be bothered with this matter, and after watching the news for a while, Du Xiaolan got up and walked to the air conditioner, touching it with her hand. Perplexed, she said, "What's going on today? It feels chilly everywhere, and a cold breeze is blowing into my neck."
I looked up at Andor, who was making faces at me, and said to Du Xiaolan, "Maybe you have a fever. Go and get it checked if you're not feeling well."
"You just got a fever, but I'm feeling fine," Du Xiaolan glanced at me and then sat down in another spot.
Anduoer stood up wanting to come closer, but I stopped her with a glance. She cheerfully walked to my side and whispered, "Brother, does this woman often bully you?"
I nodded and didn't say a word. If I were to speak now, Du Xiaolan would definitely think I've gone crazy.
Anduoer sighed and said, "You're really pitiful, you have no idea how long you've been oppressed by this shrew. But don't worry, I'll give her a lesson for you."
I agreed with the first part of her statement, but the second part made me furrow my brow. I hesitated to speak, so I picked up my phone and typed a message: "Just be honest."
Anduoer sighed and found a quiet corner to sit in.
After finishing the news for the day, I got up and went to the door, then turned to ask Du Xiaolan what she wanted for breakfast. She said she didn't mind and continued applying eyebrow pencil.
I walked around outside, bought two portions of xiaolongbao and soy milk, then returned to the shop.
As soon as I entered, the atmosphere inside the shop was extremely tense. Anduoer was crouched in the corner, trembling, while Du Xiaolan was still humming a tune and applying foundation to her face.
Anduoer's unexpected behavior puzzled me. I placed the breakfast on the table for Du Xiaolan, and gestured to Anduoer to follow me to the storage room at the back of the shop.
After I closed the door, before I could say anything, Anduoer nervously said, "Brother, I made that shrew get hit!"
"What?" I almost exclaimed. Anduoer is a spirit, Du Xiaolan couldn't see her at all, let alone her getting hit.
After I expressed my thoughts, Anduoer covered her face and sadly told me what had just happened.
During the time I was out buying breakfast, Anduoer wanted to stand up for me and teach Du Xiaolan a lesson. But when she attempted to slap her for the first time, Du Xiaolan suddenly shifted and dodged the attack.
The second time, when Anduoer tried to push Du Xiaolan off the chair, she just got up and walked away.
What happened next was beyond my imagination. As Anduoer prepared for a third attack, Du Xiaolan suddenly picked up a book and smashed it hard on Anduoer's head.
Anduoer fell to the ground in an instant, and Du Xiaolan deliberately or unintentionally stepped on her and walked over. But as soon as she got up, Du Xiaolan slapped her in the face again.
After she finished, Anduoer cried while covering her face. I was extremely nervous as well, said some comforting words and left.
Du Xiaolan was sitting on a chair, eating her breakfast. When she saw me come out, she called out, "Mingyang, can you make sure to close the door tightly when you go out in the future? There were so many flies in the shop just now, I'm almost exhausted from swatting them all."
I suddenly realized, "You were using the book to swat flies just now?"
"Yes," Du Xiaolan said, then asked in confusion, "By the way, how did you know I was using the book?"
I quickly came up with an excuse, "I noticed the book was in a different position, and you wouldn't have had any reason to look at it."
She looked at me suspiciously and asked, "Really?"
"Absolutely," I smiled and sat down. Just as I picked up the soy milk and took a sip, the phone on the counter suddenly rang.
I hurriedly got up, picked up the phone, but as soon as I saw the phone number, I was stunned.
The number eight-zero telephone called again!