Chapter 2 The Haunted Office

This magazine specializes in a publication for men, focusing mainly on exclusive interviews and reports about various successful gentlemen. Most interviews are handled by the reporters, but occasionally, the editor-in-chief herself will step in for high-profile subjects.

“Have you heard? The company upstairs is haunted!” Fina leaned in to whisper to Xia Wuyou. “It must be Wang Meiqi’s ghost coming back for revenge! Don’t you think so?”

Seeing Fina’s anxious, wrinkled little face, Xia Wuyou couldn’t bear to tell her that, in fact, she had already encountered it! “Alright, just focus on your work. There aren’t so many ghosts around!” Xia Wuyou comforted her. If she told Fina now that Wang Meiqi had been standing behind her in the elevator this morning, she’d probably be lying in an ambulance by now.

Heh, it’s true, her inner strength has carried her through so much over the years. Xia Wuyou felt a twinge of sympathy for herself.

After Su Tianmu had interviewed people around the deceased, he found nothing suspicious. The poisoned chocolate was particularly odd—no sender information had been left, only the recipient. It was delivered by a courier company, with a single phone call giving the pickup location and recipient, and the courier fee together with the chocolate.

Of course, upon investigation, the phone number turned out to be fake. The courier staff thought it was strange as well, since few people use cash anymore.

“Xiao Wang, check the courier company again. See if there’s anything we missed.”

“By the way, has the poison in the chocolate been identified?”

“The results just came in—it’s sodium cyanide,” Xiao Wang replied, holding the laboratory report.

“Sodium cyanide? That’s lethal!” Su Tianmu was shocked.

“Yes, Captain Su, just a tiny bit is enough to kill. Someone must have harbored a deep grudge,” Xiao Wang sighed.

“If it really is sodium cyanide, it should be strictly regulated—it shouldn’t be so easy to obtain. Sales and purchases should go through official channels.”

Su Tianmu frowned, sensing the case was anything but simple.

“We need to start with Wang Meiqi’s social circles and see who might have had access to sodium cyanide.”

“Alright, I’ll organize interviews immediately.”

As Su Tianmu’s partner, Xia Wuyou wasn’t idle either. She mobilized all her gossip relay friends and began a thorough search for rumors about Wang Meiqi.

“I’ve heard that Wang Meiqi is really good at stealing other people’s credit!” One “relay station” leader reported to Xia Wuyou in a furtive manner, like a secret agent from a revolutionary era, afraid that speaking too loudly would give herself away.

“Most of the time, she lets others do the groundwork. When she spots a valuable interview, she finds excuses to take over herself, and it ends up as her exclusive. She’s always snatching the limelight.”

A disdainful hiss followed.

“So what kind of people do they interview?” Xia Wuyou disliked such opportunists. Her own plump supervisor was sharp-tongued, but never stole her subordinates’ achievements. In that sense, he was quite endearing.

“Mostly successful individuals. But occasionally, there are those who started from scratch and are still building their careers. Inspirational figures—they need some positive energy.”

After hearing from this “relay station” leader, Xia Wuyou moved on to the next contact.

“Ahem… ahem…” This one was even more dramatic, clearing her throat with purpose before speaking.

“Alright, go ahead,” Xia Wuyou, swept up in the mood, lowered her voice.

“I’ve heard that Miss Wang’s private life is a mess!”

So, a new angle of information.

“She’s not only entangled with several men in the company, but she’s also reportedly close with a few interview subjects! Maybe the chocolate was sent by one of those men! Who would tolerate being toyed with forever?”

This “station” leader embellished the story, adding much more vinegar than oil.

She spoke with fervor, and Xia Wuyou listened, completely absorbed, never noticing the “plump lady” standing right behind them.

“Are you two crazy? Everyone’s swamped, and you’re here whispering behind my back?” The supervisor’s sharp voice pierced their ears.

Still caught up in their clandestine mood, both women jumped in fright.

“Oh my!” And they scattered.

Ah, underground work is not easy!

After regaining her composure, Xia Wuyou sat back at her desk, intending to organize the latest bits of information before reporting to Su Tianmu.

As dusk fell in early autumn, the air had already turned chilly.

Finishing her day’s work, Xia Wuyou stood to leave for home. She reached for the coat draped over her chair, but her hand missed and it fell to the floor.

When she bent down to pick it up, suddenly—a chill swept past her, lifting her hair. Slowly, she raised her head, and as expected, Wang Meiqi was standing before her.

The “woman” before her had lost all her former radiance. Her figure remained graceful, but she was like a photo drained of color—a black-and-white shadow, devoid of life.

Even after leaving the office, Wang Meiqi’s image lingered in Xia Wuyou’s mind. She could not understand how such a beautiful life could vanish so suddenly! There were too many uncertainties in the world; accidents and tomorrow’s promise always compete for the lead.

Yet, this “woman” truly died unjustly. Even now, she herself didn’t know who poisoned her.

Xia Wuyou wondered how Su Tianmu’s investigation was going. She hoped for some new discovery.

She pulled her coat tighter, tucking her chin in and wrapping herself as much as possible, determined not to let a single gust of cold wind invade her body...

“What? Workplace bullying? Could you be more specific—what exactly happened?” Su Tianmu’s nerves were instantly on edge when he heard Xiao Wang mention “workplace bullying” in his report.

“Captain Su, here’s what happened…”