Chapter 5: The Ghostly Beauty and a Father’s Worry

Just as the security guard’s heart pounded with trepidation, the flashlight beam illuminated Xia Zhiquiu’s stunningly beautiful face.

For a moment, the security guard froze on the spot.

He couldn’t help but wonder if a ghost looked like this, perhaps being drained dry and dying wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Xia Zhiquiu, however, had no desire to be mistaken for a thief; she swiftly sheathed her combat saber and turned to leave.

Being an ability user, her departure was astonishingly swift.

By the time the security guard reacted, her figure had long since vanished.

Following this incident, a new rumor began to circulate throughout the vicinity.

It was said that someone had witnessed with their own eyes that the ghost in the residential area was not some lustful spirit, but a female ghost of impossible beauty.

She possessed a face that could topple nations and a captivating, lithe figure, leaving those who saw her utterly enchanted!

Some bachelors even believed it, hiding in the dark corners of the complex late at night, hoping to catch a glimpse of this female ghost’s true appearance.

***

But these were matters for later.

After leaving, Xia Zhiquiu returned to her car, started the engine, and drove home.

After all, she still had a daughter to care for, and with Xia Wei now in the crucial final year of high school, as her father, he naturally couldn’t afford to relax.

As for supernatural entities, Xia Zhiquiu was even more determined to keep her daughter away from them; she simply wanted her to live a safe and peaceful life.

***

Eventually, night gave way to dawn.

In the early morning, when the first rays of sunlight pierced through the window, they bathed the entire room in a golden hue, making it exceptionally cozy.

At this moment, Xia Zhiquiu donned her bracelet, transforming once more into a refined man.

He finished preparing breakfast, then approached his daughter’s bedroom door and called out.

“Xia Wei, time to get up and eat breakfast.”

After a while, the bedroom door finally opened.

The young girl’s mood was rather complex at that moment; she looked at her father, who had always cared for her so attentively, and hesitated, as if wanting to speak but holding back.

Seeing this, Xia Zhiquiu chuckled softly.

“What’s wrong? Are you still mad at Dad?”

Xia Wei shook her head, a hint of guilt in her voice.

“Dad, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have thrown a tantrum.”

Hearing her daughter’s apology, Xia Zhiquiu felt a profound sense of relief and warmth.

Indeed, his thoughtful little darling truly hadn’t disappointed him.

He patted her head gently.

“Alright, let’s just let bygones be bygones. Come eat.”

The young girl nodded at his words, then, while eating the sumptuous breakfast before her, she looked at her father and couldn’t help but tease.

“Dad, I think you’re not just my dad, you could be my mom too.”

Xia Zhiquiu froze for a moment, a wave of unease washing over him.

“You, what nonsense are you spouting, child?”

The young girl pouted.

“How am I spouting nonsense? Look, not only do you cook delicious food, but you also keep the house impeccably tidy. You’re even more meticulous than a virtuous wife and loving mother.”

Hearing this, Xia Zhiquiu shot her a glance, then stuffed a bun into her mouth.

“Eat your breakfast. If you keep dawdling, you’ll be late.”

Xia Zhiquiu had originally intended to drive his daughter to school, but Xia Wei refused, considering her father had worked all night and still made her breakfast in the morning.

However, before the young girl left, Xia Zhiquiu hesitantly asked a rather foolish question.

“Xia Wei, who do you think is better, Mom or Dad?”

Xia Wei was immediately taken aback, responding with a touch of exasperation.

“Dad, you’re asking the wrong person, aren’t you? I only have a dad; where would a mother come from?”

As she spoke, she suddenly thought of something, her voice growing excited.

“Are you going to find me a mother? You don’t need to consider my feelings on this; I’ll definitely support it one hundred percent!”

Realizing his daughter had misunderstood, Xia Zhiquiu quickly said.

“Stop letting your imagination run wild. Never mind, just pretend I didn’t ask that. Be careful on your way. Also, from now on, you’re not allowed to date that Bai Hao, understand? That boy is no good.”

Hearing her father’s definitive statement, Xia Wei felt a surge of indignation.

She opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing, merely nodding vaguely.

But would she truly break up with Bai Hao? That was, of course, impossible.

Xia Wei believed her father had a prejudice against Bai Hao; she thought that if she could just dispel that prejudice, he would agree to their relationship.

However, her contradictory actions, of course, couldn’t escape Xia Zhiquiu’s notice.

Barely two days later, she learned from the teacher that her daughter was still very close to that boy, Bai Hao, even sticking together all day.

At this, Xia Zhiquiu could no longer sit still.

She couldn’t allow this situation to continue escalating.

But she also understood her daughter’s personality: she was as stubborn as an ox, and once she set her mind on something, it was incredibly difficult to make her compromise or change.

So, since approaching her daughter directly was proving ineffective for the time being, Xia Zhiquiu decided to try a different approach: through Bai Hao.

***

That weekend, Xia Zhiquiu had already arranged to meet the boy she disliked so much, agreeing to a quiet, secluded milk tea shop.

Xia Zhiquiu didn’t particularly enjoy milk tea; she preferred coffee, but considering the preferences of young people, she had chosen this location.

What annoyed her, however, was that the boy was late! He was a full thirty minutes late!

Xia Zhiquiu even suspected the boy was playing a trick on her.

Just as her patience was about to wear thin, the boy’s figure finally appeared.

However, seeing his nonchalant, swaggering demeanor, Xia Zhiquiu unconsciously furrowed her brow and spoke.

“You’re late.”

Bai Hao looked at the woman disguised as a man before him and was immediately speechless.

She was clearly so alluring, yet insisted on dressing as a man.

He truly couldn’t fathom it.

With his current level of cultivation, if he specifically scanned her, he quickly realized that her impeccable disguise relied on the bracelet on her wrist.

(TL Note: A term from cultivation novels, ‘dàoxíng,’ referring to one’s spiritual power or attained skill level, often implying a keen perceptive ability in this context.)

Seeing this, his eyes flickered slightly, then he chuckled.

“Apologies, Auntie Xia… Uncle, there was traffic today, so I’m late.”

The boy’s languid voice sounded incredibly perfunctory.

Xia Zhiquiu felt a surge of irritation, but remembering the important business at hand, she forced herself to calm down before speaking.

“You must know why I asked to meet you today, don’t you?”

Bai Hao nodded, watching her with keen interest.

Xia Zhiquiu felt an unsettling prickle from the boy’s blatant gaze.

She had a strange feeling that his eyes possessed a penetrating quality, as if he could see through all her secrets.

Taking a deep breath, she suppressed the strange feeling in her heart, adopting an authoritative posture as she spoke.

“Tell me, how much money will it take for you to leave my daughter?”

Hearing this, Bai Hao couldn’t help but inwardly chuckle, yet on the surface, he put on a dramatic act, clutching his chest in feigned indignation, acting very unconvincingly.

“Uncle Xia, my sincerity towards Xia Wei is something heaven and earth can bear witness to! Using money to separate us is an insult to my character!”

Xia Zhiquiu naturally knew the boy was acting, and she couldn’t help but scowl.

“Enough with the theatrics. Just state your conditions directly!”

Bai Hao let out a chuckle, then expressed disappointment.

“Uncle Xia, you invited me to a milk tea shop, and you’re not even going to treat me to a milk tea?”

Hearing the boy’s cheeky voice, Xia Zhiquiu’s hand beneath the table involuntarily clenched tighter.

She told herself to stay calm, then said coldly.

“Order whatever you want. I’ll pay.”