An Unexpected Encounter and a Startling Revelation

Bai Wanwan noticed someone watching her, and she was slightly startled. She, of course, had no idea that the beautiful woman staring intently at her from across the way was Chu Annian, who had been desperately searching for her. Yet, as Bai Wanwan’s gaze met Chu Annian’s, she discerned something amiss in the other woman’s countenance. This woman, it seemed, should have died years ago. She had faced a certain death tribulation, yet for some unknown reason, she had miraculously survived, and in doing so, transformed her entire life. Her aura alone revealed she was no ordinary person, as if she had undergone a rebirth through fire, with her past, weaker self having perished.

“Please wait for me a moment; I’ll be right back.”

Chu Annian didn’t have time for further contemplation. After exchanging a quick greeting with her accompanying personnel, she strode purposefully towards Bai Wanwan, her shapely legs encased in black stockings. The rhythmic tap of her black high heels echoed crisply on the marble floor, and Chu Annian, in her professional attire, exuded an undeniable aura of authority.

Even Deng Shuqi, upon noticing her, couldn’t help but feel a jolt of surprise. Her attention was primarily drawn to the badge on Chu Annian’s chest. It wasn’t a badge from the Special Incident Investigation Bureau, but rather a police identification card, used to conceal her true affiliation and facilitate her investigative work. Its high rank indicated a presence that commanded awe and respect wherever she went. As a businesswoman, how could Deng Shuqi fail to recognize the official hierarchy?

“To think this matter has even brought a high-ranking official from above here personally,” Deng Shuqi murmured, having already undergone numerous interrogations since early morning. After all, the events captured on the surveillance footage were utterly baffling. Police, hospital staff, and reporters alike had bombarded her with questions. Yet, they found that without the bizarre surveillance video as proof, Deng Shuqi’s account would surely have led them to believe she was mentally unstable. The logic within her story was utterly incoherent, its wildness so extreme that such an outrageous incident wouldn’t even appear in a dream. Nevertheless, such incidents had become increasingly frequent in recent years, to the point where society was growing accustomed to them.

“Do you know her?”

Bai Wanwan glanced at the slender beauty who had been intently watching her.

“She’s probably here to question me,” Deng Shuqi speculated. “She seemed to be involved in the Jin Baihan matter as well, though she primarily dealt with my grandfather. She only asked me a few simple questions, so we’ve only met once.”

Before Deng Shuqi could finish her sentence, Chu Annian had already reached Bai Wanwan. Chu Annian was tall, with a healthy and voluptuous figure. Standing before Bai Wanwan, she was a full head taller, and combined with her sharp aura and the intimidating badge, she certainly projected an overwhelming presence. Deng Shuqi had initially assumed the official was there to question her, but to her surprise, Chu Annian made a direct beeline for Bai Wanwan.

“Miss Bai, I presume? Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Chu Annian. I’ve heard some things about you, Miss Bai, and I’ve watched your livestreams.”

“This is my business card.”

As Chu Annian spoke, she extended a business card. It wasn’t one reflecting her deceptive identity, but rather her actual card from the Special Incident Investigation Bureau.

Just as Bai Wanwan reached out to examine the card’s contents, Chu Annian’s hand swiftly covered it.

“I have many questions I’d like to ask you. Would you be willing to speak with me privately? And perhaps bring along your companion here… how should I address her?”

Chu Annian looked at Liu Hanzhi, who stood dutifully beside Bai Wanwan. Liu Hanzhi was slightly taken aback, having not expected to be involved. She almost blurted out that Bai Wanwan was her ‘wife’ – after all, they shared an intimate bond, eating, living, and even sleeping together! Yet, the words caught in her throat, swallowed back before they could escape. ‘If I said that, Wanwan would surely hate me tonight, wouldn’t she?’ ‘She might even make me kneel on a paper washboard as punishment…’ ‘Far too terrifying. Best not to.’

“This is my assistant, Liu Hanzhi.”

“Hello, Miss Liu.”

Chu Annian spoke politely, then, without giving Bai Wanwan a chance to refuse, immediately gestured for them to move to a quieter location for their discussion. Observing her assertive demeanor, Bai Wanwan knew she had no opportunity to decline and could only agree.

****

The two women and one ghost proceeded to an unoccupied hospital room. With Chu Annian’s accompanying personnel standing guard outside the door, Chu Annian finally permitted Bai Wanwan to examine the business card she had presented earlier.

“National Bureau of Special Incident Investigation, Seventh Investigation Department, Third Action Team Leader, Chu Annian.”

Bai Wanwan softly read the details aloud, a hint of shock coloring her expression.

“An official agency specifically investigating supernatural incidents?”

Bai Wanwan hadn’t realized the world had become so distorted by the supernatural, to the extent that even the authorities were compelled to establish specialized agencies for regulation.

“Precisely. I previously watched your livestream, where I personally witnessed you and Miss Liu escaping a ‘Weird Realm’ known as ‘Stitched Lips Hospital’ with nothing but a paperclip.”

“A ‘Weird Realm’! You know about ‘Weird Realms’?”

Bai Wanwan was genuinely surprised. She hadn’t expected that official channels were already well aware of ‘Weird Realms’.

“Not only do I know, but I’ve also experienced one myself. I barely escaped, surviving by the skin of my teeth.”

“Regarding the ‘Weird Realm’ you previously encountered, are you aware of its risk assessment level?”

Chu Annian’s words left Bai Wanwan bewildered. The authorities not only rated ‘Weird Realms’ but also gave them names? ‘So that ‘Weird Realm’ was called ‘Stitched Lips Hospital’?’

“It was ‘Extremely Dangerous.’ ‘Extremely Dangerous’ is the highest risk assessment level the Special Incident Investigation Bureau assigns to a ‘Weird Realm,’ signifying that the danger within is beyond control, and there is no other recourse but to avoid all contact. Yet you managed to escape from it, using only a tiny paperclip. What’s even more astonishing is that you were even livestreaming it to ghosts, selling funeral supplies in the process. I’m very curious, Miss Bai, are you employing this unconventional method to attract attention and earn ‘underworld paper money’?”

Listening to Chu Annian’s questions, Bai Wanwan found herself at a loss for words. She hadn’t intended to start the livestream; it had inexplicably activated on its own. As for the funeral supplies, she wasn’t the one selling them; she had previously been troubled by the logistics of shipping them. Since Chu Annian was an official, Bai Wanwan saw no need for concealment. She recounted her accidental entry into the ‘Weird Realm’ and the mysterious activation of her livestream, though she intentionally omitted details about drawing talismans and making paper effigies.

“You ‘accidentally entered’?”

Chu Annian was visibly startled. She had assumed Bai Wanwan’s livestreaming inside a ‘Weird Realm’ for ghosts was an attempt to attract attention and traffic, much like extreme streamers on current platforms who perform dangerous stunts. After all, even ‘underworld traffic’ was still traffic, and those deceased spirits could be exploited for profit. Resources, information, merit, paper money, and even actual cash could almost all be obtained from them. What astonished Chu Annian even more was this: Bai Wanwan had merely stumbled in by accident, entirely unprepared, yet she had still managed to escape the ‘Weird Realm’ successfully?