Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Ah Tou had finally calmed down and felt much more comfortable in her home after making arrangements for Liang Yanyan. She decided to sleep on the first-floor sofa and let Liang Yanyan sleep on her bed upstairs.

Ah Tou wasnt being polite, she was just too scared to sleep on her bed.

She didnt know why the room suddenly went back to normal after Liang Yanyan came. Tintin was still on the second floor and she could instantly sense that the ghost was gone, but she was still afraid of going upstairs.

As befitting of her name, Liang Yanyan hadn't stopped smoking ever since she came in (1). Ah Tou joined her and the two smoked a countless number of cigarettes.

"You can remember so many details after looking at it for just one second?" Liang Yanyan asked as she pointed at Ah Tou's sketch.

"Its actually not that difficult. A majority of artists can do it. We practice more at memorizing spatial structures and lines than other people.

"How long can you remember it for?"The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

"If I dont work on other projects, I can always remember it. But I forget it if I completely throw myself into another piece of work.

Liang Yanyan didnt seem to fully believe her. She appeared to be a very assertive person who wouldnt easily believe in anything. In fact, it wasnt easy for Ah Tou to get along with someone like her.

Ah Tou saw Liang Yanyan fall silent and quietly asked, "Master, what is it that's following me? Is it still here? Can we get rid of it by tonight?"

"I'm not a psychic and that thing isn't necessarily a ghost. But don't worry, I'll stay here with you for a while.

"Then what could it be? Ah Tou looked at her own drawing and felt as if the strange, two-meter-tall man seemed to be staring back at her.

Liang Yanyan looked at the tattoo on Ah Tous arm and said, "In 1924, a person hanged himself in Room 327 in the attic of a hotel in the small town of Polcano, Germany. Twenty-three people have hanged themselves since the hotel opened in 1805. The reason is unknown, but it seems that whoever stayed in that room was affected by a force that made them hang themselves.

"Your cat is dead."

Ah Tou was stunned for a moment and then looked at Tintin again. The cat was motionless as it looked down at them. Ah Tou knew that cats had the ability to look at things without moving, so she felt that Liang Yanyan was joking. She clapped her hands in hopes of attracting Tintins attention, but the cat still didnt move. Ah Tou broke out in cold sweat.

She looked at her cat's face on the second floor and slowly began to realize that something was wrong.

She wanted to get closer to check it out, but Liang Yanyan stopped her. It came quicker than I thought. Listen, you have to keep your emotions stable; otherwise, youre sure to lose. Remember, your willpower is important, Liang Yanyan said.

What does that even mean?!

"You'll find out tonight." Liang Yanyan pulled out a garbage bag from the side and headed upstairs while saying to Ah Tou, Turn your head. You dont want to see this.

"Tintins dead? Is Tintin really dead? I need to see her." Ah Tou really wanted to check on her cat, but Liang Yanyan looked at her from the stairs and said, "If you want to see, my head will end up sticking out of the railing later and Ill be the one looking down at you just like your cat." Ah Tou had to give up, but she still refused to believe that Tintin was dead. She wanted to hear the sound of Tintin running away when Liang Yanyan approached.

But there was no sound at all.

Liang Yanyan soon came down carrying a heavy garbage bag. Ah Tou took a look at the second floor, but she could no longer see her cats head. She stared at the garbage bag, her mind completely blank. Break your easel down. I need to light a fire outside, Liang Yanyan said.

****

TN Notes:

(1) Liang Yanyan: The character Yan in Chinese is , which means smoke, cigarette, or fireworks. Liang is her surname.

Ah Tou: The character Tou in Chinese is , which means thorough, clear, or transparent. Ah () is a prefix used before monosyllabic names, just like Ah Ning, Ah Kun.