Chapter 16

"Help—me—"

Sarah wanted to scream, but the thick mist had already tightly enveloped her, making it hard for her to breathe. It felt as if something was tightly choking her throat, and a sticky substance was gradually seeping into her mouth.

Her face turned bright red, and the lake water seemed to have a magnetic pull, drawing her in irresistibly. Only by diving in could the suffocating mist dissipate from her body.

"No—"

Sarah was fully aware that if she continued, she would end up like those who had drowned in the lake.

But she couldn't control herself.

"Zhen—"

Just as Sarah was about to step into the lake, she let out a gurgling cry from her throat.

A dull "hum!" sounded, as if a bucket of water had been poured over her head.

"Sarah—"

A blurry figure moved in front of her, and she felt someone supporting her, calling her name repeatedly, a familiar and affectionate voice.

"Sarah—"

Sarah suddenly shook her head, and the buzzing in her ears vanished as if it had been shaken away. The thick lake water seemed to evaporate from her body.

"Sarah—"

The voice exploded in her ear; it was Zhen Fan calling her name.

"Damn, I heard it!"

Sarah struggled to steady herself but still clung to Zhen Fan. Her body was drenched, her curves accentuated by the wetness.

"What just happened?"

Sarah's breathing had calmed, and she slowly walked with Zhen Fan to the parked car.

"What did you see?"

Zhen Fan looked at Sarah, who was drenched like a drowned rat, and a smile played on his lips. Under the moonlight, he looked almost gleeful.

"Yes, I saw it, and it was unbelievable!" Sarah was still shaken, then she looked at Zhen Fan in disbelief. "You knew about this, didn't you? What the hell is this? I almost got killed!"

"Do you believe in the existence of souls after death?"

Zhen Fan's harmless smile made Sarah's teeth grind.

"Based on what I just saw?"

"Isn't that enough?"

"Fine, I... I can temporarily believe this is... " Sarah raised her hand. "Are you really a medium?"

"Medium? Yes, that's what you Americans might call it, but in China, we have a different term—Taoist. I am a Taoist!"

Zhen Fan spoke with a serious tone, then opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat.

"If you want to camp by the lake and get soaked, I have no objections!" He glanced up and down at Sarah's drenched body.

"Go back just like this?"

Sarah was reluctant.

"Of course, do you want to go skinny-dipping in the lake?"

Sarah grudgingly got into the car, started the engine, and sped off. She didn't say another word for the rest of the drive.

"Still upset?"

Zhen Fan observed the drenched woman who was now silent and sullen.

Sarah gave him a cold look.

Zhen Fan smiled, unconcerned, as if talking to himself. "If only we could get a search warrant, I believe there would be something interesting in that coffee shop owner's house!"

"What?"

Sarah finally reacted.

"Want me to repeat that?"

"I heard you clearly!"

Sarah suddenly smiled and accelerated, a light-hearted grin on her face. Soon, they arrived at Zhen Fan's house.

"If you want to take a shower at my place, I have no problem, but I have to tell you, I don't have any women's clothes. That means you'll have to..."

"Forget it!"

Sarah firmly rejected his invitation.

"What were you thinking just now?" Zhen Fan looked at the woman, whose face was flushed with anger, like a deranged Bugs Bunny.

"You're a pervert, just wanting me to be naked! How shameless can you be? God, I know what kind of look you had when you peeked at me!" Sarah was clearly losing it.

Zhen Fan was stunned by her outburst.

"What I meant was, you'd have to wear my clothes. If that offends you, I apologize. I'm sorry, Sarah!"

Zhen Fan spoke with a serious tone.

"Ha!"

Sarah couldn't hold back, and she spat on the windshield, droplets flying everywhere.

The living room light was on, and Zhen Fan was busy making milk tea. Sarah, wearing Zhen Fan's shirt, sat cross-legged on the sofa, her long, white legs barely visible under the hem of the shirt.

"Zhen, how did you do it?"

Sarah was still troubled by what had happened.

"It's actually quite simple, but I doubt you'd understand if I explained it." Zhen Fan, busy with his task, answered without turning around, cutting off her next words.

"So... you want me to search his residence because his wife's death is related to him? His wife died of a brain hemorrhage, which has nothing to do with him!"

"How often does a woman in her thirties die of a brain hemorrhage?"

Zhen Fan countered, then poured two steaming cups of milk tea and placed one in front of Sarah.

"The reason isn't sufficient!"

Sarah had a point; the reason wasn't strong enough.

"That's why I want you to search his residence, especially the deceased woman's belongings. There might be new discoveries."

"Getting a search warrant based on this would be difficult!"

Sarah was frustrated. Clearly, there was something wrong, but without direct evidence, everything was based on speculation, which was not favorable for obtaining a search warrant.

"Don't think too much about it. Have a cup of hot milk tea and get a good night's sleep. We'll figure something out tomorrow!" Zhen Fan yawned and walked toward his room. "You know where the guest room is, right? It's right across from mine. If you need anything..."

"I don't need anything!"

Sarah glared at Zhen Fan as he entered his bedroom, huffed in annoyance, and took a few sips of the milk tea, feeling a warmth in her heart.

The next morning, Sarah found her clothes neatly ironed and hanging on a chair in the living room. The house was empty, and Zhen Fan's bedroom door was open, but the room was empty.

"Zhen—"

Sarah called out a few times, but no one responded. She walked to the center of the living room and looked into the kitchen. Only a table in the dining room was set with milk, bread, and a vegetable salad, along with a knife and fork.

A typical American breakfast.

Zhen Fan had already left, wearing shorts and a tank top, jogging by the river.

Early in the morning, at Christine's villa.

"Beep beep beep beep—"

The busy signal on the phone was driving O'Carroll crazy. Damn medium, damn fraudster, thirty thousand dollars gone, and you can't even report it, or it would become a scandal.

"Forget it! Stop calling!"

Christine's eyes were downcast. She had no energy to pursue whether Deniro was a fraud. Her mental state was poor, her face gaunt, and her eyes lifeless.

"I'm sorry!" O'Carroll spread his hands, helpless, and genuinely worried about Christine's state. Thirty thousand dollars wasn't an insurmountable loss, but the incident had put pressure on O'Carroll, making her question her belief in mediums and their grandiose claims.

"Let's wait until tomorrow. If there's no news, we'll report it!"

"But... that will attract the attention of the press..." O'Carroll's hesitation was justified.

"Report it!"

Christine frowned, then turned and walked upstairs. She changed into a tracksuit, looking a bit more energetic.

"Going out again? Are you sure you're okay?" O'Carroll looked at her worriedly, hesitant to speak much due to the fraudster.

"I'll be fine. I'll just jog for a bit; it will make me feel better!" Christine insisted and slowly ran out.

The air by the river was refreshing. Christine took a deep breath, as if trying to shake off all her fear and fatigue.

"Hi, Christine!"

A greeting came from the opposite direction. Christine looked over and saw a smiling face.

"Hi, hello, Zhen!"

Christine forced a smile on her face.

"Oh, Christine, you don't look well!" Zhen Fan stopped in front of her, not running past as usual.

Christine also stopped, and her face darkened at Zhen Fan's words.

"Let me see..." Zhen Fan examined her face seriously, then nodded. "You've been having nightmares, and they've been ongoing for days!"

"Ah—" Christine was startled, then stared at Zhen Fan. "How... how did you know? Oh, you must be a medium!"

"Ha!" Zhen Fan almost burst out laughing. Did he need to be a medium? Anyone could see the dark circles under her eyes and her listless state, which clearly indicated ongoing insomnia and nightmares. This girl was too naive!