The night passed peacefully.
After the Hanged Ghost boldly attacked when the landlady was signing the contract last night, Wu Liang thought this guy would surely try to do something to him at night.
But unexpectedly, it did not move an inch the entire night.
Most likely, it has sensed the presence of the other six Fierce Ghosts in the house, given that it has already discovered the Oil Paper Umbrella.
"Sigh, it would be great if it really caught the landlady," Wu Liang lamented.
If he hadn't saved the landlady last night and let her be caught by the Hanged Ghost, Wu Liang might have seized the opportunity to capture the true form of the Hanged Ghost.
But the safety of the landlady...
"Forget it, using a human life as bait is a bit too much. Besides, with this guy stuck in the house, it won't be able to escape, and will eventually be caught."
He didn't continue to pay attention to the situation at home since there are six minions watching constantly.
Early morning, Wu Liang still did his daily ten-kilometer run, then bought some groceries on the way back to put in the fridge, and promptly headed to the TV station for attendance.
Work is the most important thing!
Working folks! Work spirit!
Just as he entered, someone shouted from behind, "You came so early?"
Turning around, he saw Jiang Min, still dressed in a neat work suit, striding over in her high heels with an air of a white-collar professional.
"Good morning, Sister Jiang, I live close by," he said, explaining to Jiang Min that he had rented a house nearby.
She was somewhat surprised that this young man, freshly graduated, already rented a house to go to work? Wasn't Wu Liang from outside Chengyang City? Why didn't he live at home?
But Jiang Min didn't ask too much; they just exchanged updates on their current situations.
"By the way, Sister Jiang, which department are you in?"
Wu Liang had been curious for some time, given that she could recruit him without even needing an interview; she must be in some leadership role.
Jiang Min merely smiled and said, "I'm the deputy editor-in-chief of Chengyang TV Station. Didn't the other journalistic colleagues tell you that?"
"Uh..."
Wu Liang thought about his few days at the TV station: encountering the Teapot Ghost, then getting involved with the chief editor's elderly family member, subsequently investigating the Shouyi Ghost at the crematorium, and yesterday leading a group of Official Awakened waiting for him downstairs for a whole day.
He really hadn't had much opportunity to find out about Jiang Min's position.
"Alright, you should head to the office. Your department has a lot of interviews lined up today," she said, before stepping into the elevator.
The editorial office was on the second floor, so Wu Liang didn't take the elevator.
Once at his workstation, he opened the computer to look at today's schedule and immediately felt overwhelmed.
As Jiang Min mentioned, the entire day's itinerary was packed; besides continuing to follow up on the homicide case caused by the Shouyi Ghost, there were several reports on supernatural incidents that required interviews with Official Awakened.
He worked until nearly seven o'clock before leaving the office.
And yet, Wu Liang was relatively efficient; several colleagues in the department were still sitting in front of their computers editing materials, having ordered takeout.
Heading downstairs, he caught sight of Jiang Min again.
She was sitting in the driver's seat, seemingly in a daze, motionless, as Wu Liang walked to her and tapped on the window to greet her.
Knock knock——
"Ah! You scared me. It's you."
Jiang Min looked startled, but after recognizing Wu Liang, she relaxed.
"Sister Jiang, what's got you so distracted here? Even the deputy editor leaves work this late?" Wu Liang was puzzled.
He had walked straight from the office building to the parking spot, and Jiang Min's parking spot offered a clear view of him. Even so, she was startled.
She must have really been drifting off.
After what Wu Liang said, Jiang Min offered a strained smile and said, "I was just planning to go have dinner with a date and they suddenly called off. Now I'm wondering where to eat."
"Come over to my place, I was just about to cook," Wu Liang said offhandedly.
She did assist him with joining the TV station; treating her to dinner seems appropriate.
Upon hearing the kind offer, Jiang Min burst out laughing and teased, "I don't mind, but are you always this straightforward in inviting people over? Aren't you worried other women might misunderstand?"
Wu Liang, the obtuse straight man, said, "Huh? Misunderstand what?"
Jiang Min: "...Nothing, let's go. Riding with me is quicker than walking."
Having helped after bumping into Wu Liang during a supernatural incident and stopping a small thug on the subway, Jiang Min couldn't believe how dense this guy could sometimes be.
It only takes a two-minute drive from the TV station to Xingfu District.
They chatted pleasantly on the way up to Wu Liang's apartment.
Until they walked in ——
"Ah! This place…"
Jiang Min suddenly felt weak in the knees, almost stumbling, hurriedly holding onto the wall to steady herself, her mouth trembling nonstop. Her expression looked as if she'd walked into an execution ground.
Seeing her face suddenly turn pale, even her lips losing color, Wu Liang found the reaction somewhat familiar.
Where had he seen this before...?
That's right!
Before the Teapot Ghost incident!
When he bumped into Jiang Min, her face was tense trying to quickly escape the office building.
Later, his suspicion that she could foresee fierce ghost-related incidents started from here. Now her expression changed again?
Thinking of this, Wu Liang's eyes sharpened, fixating on Jiang Min's face.
What had she sensed?
The Hanged Ghost in the house? Or his six Fierce Ghost minions? Or... had she noticed them all?
This was intriguing; his Fierce Ghost minions under the Ghost Compendium didn't give off any perceivable atmosphere without utilizing their abilities.
Even when the Puppet Ghost transformed into him and walked around among other Awakened, no one sensed anything amiss.
But Jiang Min! She was able to sense them without even seeing their true forms?
"Wu... Wu Liang, how about we eat out? Your place… I'm afraid the dining will get too messy," Jiang Min said, her teeth chattering.
Wu Liang didn't directly respond, he continued to watch her panicked pale expression, scrutinizing her every move to determine her intentions.
Even now, she didn't outright say what she's discovered, just made excuses to leave.
This shows she holds no malice against him.
But why the secrecy?
If she were truly Awakened, wouldn't saying "I sense Fierce Ghosts inside, it's too dangerous, let's run away!" suffice?
Even at the TV station building, she didn't warn anyone about the impending supernatural event, simply slipped away quietly.
So strange.
The authorities have no restrictions on unofficial Awakened, they don't harm them, and even offers help to Awakened seeking stable work.
The status and welfare benefits are excellent!
Why would anyone want to become an Awakened otherwise?
What is Jiang Min worried about?
After a brief contemplation, Wu Liang decided to confront her: "Sister Jiang, you're Awakened, right?"