Chapter 398: Testing Auntie Wang

“Wandering around outside instead of going home?” Su Yan murmured to herself.

“Correct,” the ghost shadow confirmed once more.

Su Yan said nothing more, instead walking straight toward Auntie Wang’s house.

When the person and the ghost arrived before a residence, Su Yan took special care to observe her surroundings.

“My Lady, this is the place.”

Having received confirmation from the ghost shadow, Su Yan picked up the pastries and fruits she had bought on the road and knocked on Auntie Wang’s door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Knock, knock, knock.

After four or five consecutive knocks, still, no one came out.

“My Lady, that woman is definitely inside and is intentionally refusing to come out. Do you want this ghost shadow to teach her a lesson?” Floating in the air, the ghost shadow could see everything inside the house.

Before Su Yan could give an order, Auntie Wang actually walked out from the house.

The floating ghost shadow paused for a moment, wondering if Auntie Wang had heard what was just said.

“Who is it?” Auntie Wang arrived at the door quickly, interrupting the ghost shadow's thoughts.

Unwilling to give up, the ghost shadow floated directly above her head, intending to continue testing her.

However, Auntie Wang dodged with a quick movement, perfectly avoiding it as she made the gesture to open the door.

Ghost shadow: “...”

Before it could make its next move, the main door opened.

Su Yan walked in.

“Auntie Wang, it’s me.”

“Miss Su, how did you know I lived here? I made myself quite clear before; you didn't come here for *that* matter again, did you?” Auntie Wang’s face fell, losing all the enthusiasm she had shown when she first saw Su Yan.

“Auntie Wang, I was just passing by and came to check on you.”

Su Yan gave a casual, perfunctory reply, and without waiting to see if Auntie Wang would invite her, she walked straight inside.

“My Lady, I think this person is extremely suspicious. Can she see me?!” The ghost shadow drifted behind Su Yan, shouting at the top of its lungs.

It had no realization that if Auntie Wang truly could see it, she would be able to hear everything it was saying.

Su Yan didn't even give it a glance, walking straight into the house.

The room was much larger than she had imagined, and the furniture and decorations inside were quite exquisite.

In a city like the capital, in a location like this, owning such a house and having such conditions proved that Auntie Wang was definitely more than just a simple cleaner.

“Miss Su, entering a stranger's home so abruptly like this is very impolite.” Auntie Wang seemed somewhat angry, and her attitude grew a few degrees more serious.

Su Yan didn't mind; putting herself in the other woman's shoes, she would be angry too.

“Auntie Wang, my matter is truly important, so I had no choice but to take the liberty of disturbing you.”

One cannot strike a smiling face; since she had a request to make, she naturally knew what kind of attitude to adopt.

Auntie Wang plopped down into a solid wood chair, looking completely unwilling to speak.

“My Lady, there is no one else inside.” The ghost shadow circled around once and reached this conclusion.

Su Yan merely looked at Auntie Wang. “Auntie Wang, do you live here all by yourself? Is this residence also yours?”

“Is Miss Su investigating me now?” Auntie Wang had no intention of cooperating at all.

Su Yan smiled faintly. “I am merely curious. Setting up a residence here must be quite expensive, right? Why don't you live with your spouse?”

“My spouse died long ago, and this house was left to me by him. Is that enough?” Auntie Wang looked as if she were seconds away from grabbing a broom to chase her out.

“My Lady, this old lady is too overbearing! How dare she speak to My Lady like that!” The ghost shadow bared its teeth, its displeasure toward Auntie Wang reaching its peak.

Su Yan couldn't possibly pay it any mind and continued her small talk with Auntie Wang.

“Auntie Wang, are you a true local of the capital?”

“So what if I am, and so what if I'm not? I say, isn't this daughter of yours a bit too annoying? I've already said I don't know anything, yet you keep asking. I'm only doing this for Editor Gu's sake, otherwise...”

“Brother Gu was forced to leave the capital. I know he must have encountered very troublesome matters this time. You watched Brother Gu grow up, so you must care about him, right?”

Su Yan inconspicuously shifted the topic to Gu Yang.

Although Auntie Wang wasn't close to her, it was impossible for her not to be familiar with Gu Yang.

Sure enough, after she mentioned Gu Yang, a tiny change appeared on Auntie Wang's face; though it was quickly suppressed, Su Yan caught it.

“During that previous incident, Brother Gu was almost harmed by Liu Yiyi. I even wondered if it was because of me that Brother Gu was dragged into such trouble.” Su Yan's mood dampened significantly as she spoke.

Her goal was to get Auntie Wang to open her heart, so the words she spoke now were sincere.

“I don't quite understand the 'trouble' Miss Su is talking about, but Editor Gu is a good man, so of course I hope good people receive good rewards,” Auntie Wang said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Auntie Wang, I am a good child too.” Although Su Yan was used to being cold, she was, after all, not yet twenty years old. When it came to acting spoiled with elders, as long as her tone was a little softer, she could manage it.

Auntie Wang was finally amused by her words. “Miss Su, I didn't say you weren't a good child. It's just that you've really misunderstood. That night, I merely pointed a finger casually; how could you keep obsessing over it like this?”

“Auntie Wang, your casual finger did more than just save Brother Gu's life; it saved the people of the entire city. How could I not overthink it?” Su Yan followed her logic, circling back to the starting point.

Auntie Wang looked helpless. “Anyway, I've said all I can say. I truly don't know anything else. Do whatever you want.”

Looking at her playing the rogue, Su Yan truly had no way around it.

Unless she used a Truth Talisman directly.

However, in the next second, she dismissed the thought. After all, she still leaned toward viewing Auntie Wang as a friend; if she caused accidental harm, the loss would outweigh the gain.

“Auntie Wang, I have just one question.”

Auntie Wang looked at her calmly.

Su Yan continued, “I just want to know, what secret is actually at No. 76 Yongxiang Road?”

“Isn't that just our publishing house? A publishing house is just a place for working and publishing books; what secret could there be? Or do you want to know someone's gossip? On that, Auntie Wang might actually be able to chat with you a bit.” Auntie Wang's answer was watertight.

Su Yan frowned slightly.

“My Lady, I see this old lady is intentionally playing dumb with you. How about letting this lowly one haunt her for a few days? Once she realizes My Lady's power, she certainly won't dare to withhold information,” the ghost shadow said, quite confident in this.

“Since Auntie Wang is unwilling to speak, then I shall take my leave for now.” Su Yan actually stopped pestering her and chose to stand up to say goodbye.

Although the ghost shadow was unwilling, it did not dare to act without Su Yan's command.

Auntie Wang's face lit up with smiles again as she personally saw Su Yan to the door, reverting once more to that enthusiastic and gossipy Auntie Wang.

(End of Chapter)