The car door swung open, and the heat wave instantly hit.
Itās only mid-June, and the weather in East Capital already shows signs of scorching summer.
Fang Cheng pulled out the car key, swung the car door shut with a reverse hand, and pressed the lock button.
The car beeped twice.
He then stepped up the stairs and pushed open the polished glass door.
As he entered the air-conditioned showroom, he heard the gentle clicking of high heels on the glossy marble tiles.
A short-haired saleswoman in a black business suit walked up to him, a name tag hanging on her chest.
"Hello, sir, welcome."
The saleswoman wore a standard professional smile, with hands clasped at her stomach, bending slightly:
"Are you here to look at cars? If you need maintenance or repairs, please go to the rear service area."
Fang Cheng glanced at several brand-new display cars in the showroom; the air carried the distinctive leather scent of new car interiors.
"Iām looking at cars."
He withdrew his gaze, turned to the saleswoman: "But I want to find Ning Yue for some advice, sheās a friend of mine."
Upon hearing the name, the saleswoman hesitated, the smile faltering for half a second.
"Looking for Ning Yue..."
She blinked, her tone becoming somewhat hesitant:
"Iām sorry, sir, Ning Yue has some urgent family matters, and sheās taken extended leave these past couple of days. Can I assist you instead?"
"On leave?"
Fang Cheng frowned slightly, looked at her and asked: "What happened?"
The saleswoman initially didnāt intend to discuss her colleagueās gossip, but seeing the handsome and elegant man before her, she unconsciously opened up.
"Iām not exactly sure, just overheard others talking in private..."
She turned to glance around, seeing the manager and other colleagues werenāt nearby, so she moved a half step closer, lowered her voice:
"Seems like her sister-in-law contracted some strange illness, suddenly went mentally unstable, causing commotion at home and canāt be left unattended."
"Went mentally ill?"
A hint of doubt flickered in Fang Chengās eyes, his tone probing.
"I think... it doesnāt look like normal mental illness."
The saleswoman shook her head, her expression turning peculiar, and then whispered:
"Ning Yue previously vented to us, saying her sister-in-law doesnāt recognize anyone during episodes, even bit her mother."
"Sometimes in the middle of the night, sheād wake up sleepwalking, standing totally upright in the corner of the living room, banging her forehead against the wall with a thud."
"Once Ning Yue got up to use the bathroom, saw her sister-in-law standing with her back turned in the hallway."
"She went over and patted her shoulder, and the person turned around, eyes white with pupils rolled over, face twisted with a bizarre smile, no irises visible, truly terrifying!"
At this point, the saleswoman shivered, as if the air conditioning was chilling, hugged her arms and rubbed her gooseflesh-covered arms.
Fang Cheng listened, his gaze slightly flickering.
He couldnāt help recalling the encounter with those monsters in the Black Rain World before.
"Thatās not even all."
The saleswoman, vividly narrating, lowered her voice further:
"Ning Yue said that night her sister-in-law went completely mad, attacked her, and gained enormous strength. Even several adult men from the neighborhood couldnāt restrain her."
"She even grabbed scissors, stabbed the sofa to shreds, and anyone approaching got stabbed with scissors..."
Fang Cheng frowned slightly, asked:
"Didnāt Ning Yueās family send her for hospital examination and treatment?"
"How could they not?"
The saleswoman pursed her lips, her expression showing some helplessness:
"Ning Yue visited all the major hospitals in East Capital, booked expert appointments everywhere. After several visits, no illness was diagnosed, doctors couldnāt determine the source of the symptoms, and only prescribed sedatives to alleviate."
"Later some colleagues advised her, said it was likely some evil intrusion, urged her to the Gufeng Temple on West Mountain to offer incense and prayers, get an amulet back, saying the templeās blessings are always effective."
The saleswoman looked regretful:
"Ning Yue was desperate, indeed went to get one."
"It worked initially, Ning Yue said her sister-in-law calmed down after wearing the amulet. Everyone thought it was indeed effective, considering it over."
"But who wouldāve thought, less than two months later, the symptoms started again, whatās more, they worsened after relapse."
"She tore the amulet to pieces herself, even tried to self-harm holding a kitchen knife to cut her wrist."
Fang Cheng listened quietly, his gaze darkening.
The characteristics of the episode indeed carried an unusual scent.
The saleswoman paused briefly and continued:
"Yesterday morning, Ning Yue was working just fine in the store. Suddenly, she got a call from her mother-in-law saying her sister-in-lawās condition acted up again, seemingly severe."
"Ning Yue frightened, didnāt even grab her bag, immediately took leave and rushed home, hasnāt been to work today either. We are quite worried too, sent messages but got no replies, donāt know the current situation."
She sighed gently, lamenting:
"Ning Yue is indeed a woman of hardships, just married two years when her husband died in a car accident. Alone raising her young son while working, her in-laws are also in poor health."
"Now the whole family relies on her, yet her sister-in-law caused such chaos, anyone would be overwhelmed."
Fang Cheng, deep in thought after listening, then asked:
"Do you know her home address?"