Chapter Fifty-Six: The Soul's Illusion—Nie Yong

When Su Qing returned home once more, she found that Catherine had nearly devoured everything edible in the house, even rummaging through the garbage can. Su Qing’s complexion was noticeably worse than before. As soon as Catherine saw her, she pounced, but Su Qing didn’t react at all.

She simply stared fixedly at everything in the room, then called out hopefully, “Xiao Ai, are you there? Come out and see me…”

This time, Su Qing had come to the house without telling Nie Yong. Ever since she fell from the bed and miscarried, Nie Yong insisted the house was haunted and refused to set foot there again.

So, after being discharged from the hospital, they resumed their life renting apartments.

Because Nie Yong was the one who collided with Su Qing, causing her miscarriage, he never complained or blamed her, nor did he mention Xiao Ai; he remained silent on the matter. Yet Su Qing could sense his restlessness in recent days—he had become much rougher toward her.

Only in the past few days had his attitude softened. Su Qing knew he was suffering as well, so she endured much.

Su Qing searched persistently in the room for the Xiao Ai she had seen that day, unaware that Nie Yong was secretly following her, arriving at the house too.

Nie Yong felt he had been plagued by misfortune: first, the haunting frightened him and caused his partner’s miscarriage. Then, when he was in a foul mood at work, he quarreled with a colleague and was dismissed.

It started when he overheard colleagues gossiping in the restroom, calling him “a backup” and “a stand-in.” He confronted them, tempers flared, and a fight broke out. In his rage, he forgot the man was the manager’s nephew.

The company decided to deal with the matter seriously: the man’s monthly bonus was withheld, but Nie Yong was forced to resign.

Then the manager spread unfavorable rumors about him in the industry circle, causing Nie Yong’s subsequent job search to be fraught with obstacles.

Watching his wallet dwindle, Nie Yong grew anxious and became increasingly impatient with Su Qing, who was still recovering from her miscarriage.

His mood remained sour; seeing Su Qing at home reminded him of the child they lost before birth, making him even more irritable. He sought solace in drinks with friends.

During one such gathering, a friend’s words inspired him.

He began to consider selling the haunted house.

But since the house was registered under Su Qing’s name, Nie Yong started thinking of ways to persuade her.

He didn’t rush to broach the subject. Instead, he began to show Su Qing more care, as if they had returned to the early days of their relationship.

He had it all planned: the house was centrally located and valuable. As long as they kept quiet about the haunting, no one would know, and they could sell it for a good price.

Then he and Su Qing could buy a smaller house in the suburbs, and the remainder would fund his venture.

Having worked in the industry for several years, Nie Yong possessed considerable knowledge. He had often pondered possible projects for himself, so he was confident he would succeed this time.

He believed they could have another child in the future, but a man’s career was paramount. If he achieved success, who would dare call him a “backup”?

Nie Yong never told Su Qing about his resignation, waiting for the right moment to discuss it together with the house.

When Su Qing’s health improved and she returned to the house, Nie Yong sensed his opportunity.

Yet, the thought of the haunting unsettled him; he lingered uncertainly outside the door, torn about whether to enter.

When Nie Yong finally resolved to go in, Su Qing had already been conversing with Xiao Ai for some time.

She checked her online banking records and began to regard the usually coy and adorable cat at home with new seriousness.

As she gazed complicatedly at Xiao Ai and Catherine, Nie Yong suddenly burst through the door.

Upon seeing Nie Yong, Xiao Ai quickly faded away. Catherine obediently darted behind the sofa, ears pricked to listen.

When Su Qing asked why he had come, Nie Yong looked around nervously, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw nothing, and then poured out his heart to Su Qing, tears streaming.

He spoke of his guilt and pain over losing the child, his anger and frustration at being mocked, the pressure and confusion of losing his job.

Finally, he mentioned their financial difficulties and his plan to sell the house and start a business.

Nie Yong’s confession brought Su Qing to tears as well; she hugged him tightly, listening to his pain and sorrow.

But when she heard his intention to sell the house, Su Qing pushed him away.

“No! We absolutely cannot sell the house!”

Su Qing would never sell it, for selling the house would mean selling her daughter, Xiao Ai.

In her recent exchange with Xiao Ai, she learned that Xiao Ai could not leave this house.

For years, Xiao Ai’s death had haunted Su Qing. Night after night, in her dreams, she saw Xiao Ai calling her “Mama,” blood streaming down her face.

She thought she would carry the guilt of Xiao Ai’s death forever.

But one day, Xiao Ai appeared before her, saying she had never blamed her mother—she just wanted mom to hold her once more.

Su Qing made her decision then: not only would she not sell the house, she would move in and live with her daughter.

Having made this decision, Su Qing looked at Nie Yong, remembering the child she’d just lost, and felt she owed him.

So she told Nie Yong she had some savings set aside.

She had originally intended it for raising their future baby. Since Nie Yong was so confident in his venture, she would support him with everything she had.

Nie Yong, seeing Su Qing’s resolve, realized selling the house was unlikely. But with funds for the venture, he felt a glimmer of hope for the future.

No matter how he tried, Su Qing insisted on living in the house, so Nie Yong declared, with deep feeling, that though he was afraid, he would live there with her and face everything together.

Later, Su Qing spoke of Xiao Ai. Nie Yong mentioned that once he started his business, he would be busy, sometimes unable to come home, but with Xiao Ai’s company, Su Qing wouldn’t be so lonely.

Unfortunately, no matter how Su Qing called for Xiao Ai, asking her to show herself and acknowledge her father, Xiao Ai never responded.

The house had been empty for days, a mess, so together they tidied up and went out to buy household items.

On the way back, Su Qing mentioned the magical cat at home that could help Xiao Ai manifest.

Listening to the story of Catherine, Nie Yong’s expression shifted. Suddenly, he gritted his teeth and said, “So that’s why I’ve been so unlucky lately—there’s a demon causing trouble in our home.”

“How can you say such a thing? She’s trying to help Xiao Ai. Without her, I’d never have seen Xiao Ai in my life.”

“Xiao Ai is Xiao Ai, the cat demon is something else. Think about it: she can even transfer money online—that’s supernatural. Maybe she’s draining our vitality every night. Otherwise, how could you miscarry from such a minor fall?”

“If she didn’t help Xiao Ai appear, I wouldn’t have been frightened and collided with you. She’s the culprit behind our child’s death. Now she can steal our money—who’s to say she won’t steal our lives someday?”

“She’s the greatest threat to Xiao Ai in this house. Do you know what it means to aid the tiger? Tigers are cats too. Maybe Xiao Ai has already been controlled by her, just like Granny controlled Nie Xiaoqian. No, I must go to Nanshan Temple and ask a master to exorcise the demon!”

“No!” Hearing this, Su Qing became frantic. “Those masters might harm Xiao Ai.”

Seeing Su Qing object, Nie Yong dropped the matter. His expression flickered, then he suddenly pulled Su Qing back toward the store.

When Su Qing and Nie Yong returned home, Catherine hurried to the door, having already caught the scent of fish.

Sure enough, Nie Yong took out steaming grilled fish and placed it in Catherine’s dish, smiling, “Hungry, Catherine? Come eat!”

Catherine decided to forgive Nie Yong for injecting her, and eagerly began to eat.

As she was engrossed in her meal, Nie Yong pulled out a baseball bat hidden behind him and brought it down with force!

“Meow!” Catherine screeched. Hearing the rush of wind, she recalled the flying axe and instinctively dodged, but was still struck on her hind leg.

With tears in her eyes, Catherine was full of confusion. Limping, she crawled toward Su Qing, seeking comfort.

Seeing Catherine hurt, Xiao Ai manifested, questioning Nie Yong. Despite being prepared, Nie Yong was so frightened by Xiao Ai that he collapsed to the floor.

Su Qing embraced the writhing Catherine, gently stroking her head. She said softly, “Catherine, don’t blame mama. I’m doing this for Xiao Ai!”

With that, she rushed to the window, opened it with one hand, closed her eyes, and threw Catherine out. Behind her, Xiao Ai’s dissatisfied scream echoed.

This was the sixteenth floor…

Xiao Ai’s manifestation seemed to be limited in time. After her outburst, she vanished from the room. Only then did Nie Yong recover his strength.

He came to the window, peered down, then drew back and shrugged, saying, “It’s settled!”

“Will Catherine die from the fall? Maybe she has powers,” Su Qing asked, anxiety in her voice.

Nie Yong hurriedly comforted her, “Don’t worry, she always seemed ordinary—just smarter than most. At this height, she’s sure to die!”

Su Qing finally relaxed. She murmured into the air of the room, “Xiao Ai, don’t blame mama. Now our family can live together in peace forever…”

Nie Yong embraced Su Qing at the right moment, comforting her, “Together forever…”

He gazed out at the night sky, his eyes flickering.