Chapter 36

Zhen Fan had only intended to complete a task, but Brenda planned to stick to him. After school, she blocked him at his home, found a good reason, and made it impossible for Zhen Fan to refuse.

"This idea was yours, you have to help me!" When Brenda said this, her watery big eyes reminded Zhen Fan of a pug he had once raised.

"This... it doesn't make sense!" Zhen Fan argued.

But Brenda wouldn't let up.

"That's exactly the point. If the proposer doesn't show up and doesn't help me, I definitely won't be able to compete with Jennifer. Please, I beg you!" Brenda pleaded softly, "Do you want to see me fail? I'm your neighbor, Uncle Zhen!"

"I still have my own things to do..." Zhen Fan said with difficulty.

"Then... can I make a request?" Brenda seemed to be settling for second best. Zhen Fan nodded readily. At this moment, Brenda took out her phone, then affectionately linked her arm with Zhen Fan's, and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Click," she took a very intimate selfie.

"Are you satisfied now? Sorry, Brenda, you're a smart girl, you'll definitely succeed!" Zhen Fan pointed at Brenda and gave her a thumbs up.

"That's not guaranteed, but if I tell my dad that I'm in love with his good friend, who knows what will happen?" Brenda waved her phone, "This photo is really... very intimate. I think I really like you, is this what love is?"

"Oh, damn!"

This stunned Zhen Fan. If he didn't agree, Brenda would definitely have some other tricks up her sleeve. Zhen Fan's expression was very rich, which was exactly what Brenda wanted to see.

"Besides, my dad likes hunting, and he has a hunting rifle at home, I saw it in a box in the attic!" Brenda continued to fan the flames, "Dear, if you're unfortunately mistaken for game, I'll be heartbroken!"

"Alright, alright, stop!" Zhen Fan raised his hands in surrender. This girl was a demon. Anyway, before he got his license, he still had some time, "I agree! You... little imp!"

"Yay!" Brenda laughed triumphantly, then clenched her small fist and waved it in front of Zhen Fan, "Tomorrow afternoon at three, the usual time, the usual place."

"Go on! You should go home!" Zhen Fan gave her the order to leave. When Brenda bounced out the door, he called out, "Wait!"

Brenda stopped, turned around, and smiled at Zhen Fan, "Do you want me to stay? It's not impossible..."

"Delete the photo!"

Zhen Fan said this without a good mood.

"Sure, at least after you help me finish the competition! This is my trump card!" Brenda made a shooting gesture at Zhen Fan and left with a string of laughter.

This matter was settled. Zhen Fan always felt that he had brought this upon himself, and he couldn't blame Brenda. If he had been a bit firmer at the beginning, it wouldn't have come to this.

During dinner, Claire came over. She now came and went as she pleased, and no one could restrict her. This time, she came with Julia.

"I heard that you've been taking care of Claire these past few days!"

Zhen Fan let Julia sit down. Claire climbed onto the sofa to watch TV and played with the marbles Zhen Fan had given her on the floor.

"Yes, Thomas is on a business trip and won't be back for a few days. Annie wanted a companion, so..." Julia shrugged.

"It's been a few days since I've seen you..." Zhen Fan didn't know what to say to Julia, the atmosphere was a bit awkward, "And Zoe, she's a nice girl!"

"Many people like her!" Julia glanced at Zhen Fan, "She even mentioned you and plans to invite you to the next club activity!"

"Thank you for her kindness, it would be my honor!" Zhen Fan nodded and suddenly stood up, "Coffee or tea? I also have drinks and purified water!"

"Drinks!" Julia looked around Zhen Fan's place.

"Thanks for the last time!" Julia took the drink Zhen Fan handed her, opened it with a "snap," took a small sip, and smiled at Zhen Fan.

"Don't thank me, you found your way on your own!" Zhen Fan didn't plan to reveal what really happened that day, it was too shocking.

"I heard you can cure the spots on Kelly's face?"

"I should be able to, but I need to get my license first!"

"Looking forward to it!"

Julia said, looking at Zhen Fan, "What do you usually do? I mean, before you get your license, how do you spend your time?"

"Consulting and being a sparring partner!"

Zhen Fan felt a bit helpless when he talked about this.

"What do you mean?" Julia shook her hair, letting the slightly curly, waterfall-like long hair fall on her chest, contrasting with her white collarbone, very sexy.

Zhen Fan steadied himself, "I worked as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a while, but I quit. However, I just took on a job, as Brenda's dance partner. I'm a versatile talent, in high demand!" Zhen Fan's self-deprecating tone and awkward face made Julia laugh.

"Is that the girl who just said goodbye to you?" Clearly, Julia had seen her, "Very pretty, is she from the left neighbor's house?"

"Yes, a beautiful, strange, and mischievous sprite!" This was Zhen Fan's helpless conclusion.

Julia pursed her lips, looking at Zhen Fan's helplessness, and smiled, "So... you plan to help her? I have high hopes for you, an outstanding doctor, now also an outstanding dancer!"

"Stop laughing at me, if possible, I'd rather go back to consulting!" Zhen Fan smiled bitterly, "I've never learned dancing, how about you teach me a few moves now?"

"If you take me to a bar, I'll teach you a few moves on the spot!"

Julia burst out laughing.

The two chatted casually, and the awkward atmosphere gradually dissipated, making the conversation more relaxed.

It wasn't until Claire fell asleep on the sofa, her little bottom sticking up like a puppy, that they realized it was already 10 PM.

"I have to go!" Julia picked up the sleeping Claire, whose little head drooped on Julia's shoulder, her face red, the soft feeling of her body made people want to pinch her cheeks.

Zhen Fan opened the door for Julia.

"Goodbye, Zhen, I had a great time today!" Julia smiled.

"Me too!" Zhen Fan nodded and gave Julia a cheek kiss goodbye.

Watching Julia carry Claire into the house, Zhen Fan turned off the light on the steps and gently closed the door, returning to his room.

The night was deep, the streetlights and tree shadows cast a mottled pattern on the ground, and the cold moonlight shone faintly. Occasionally, a car drove past on the street in front of Zhen Fan, the headlights flickering in front of the house.

Zhen Fan sat quietly in the backyard of the house, which was relatively quiet. The lights in his house were already off.

A gust of wind blew, bringing a chill.

"Come out, I know you're there!"

The quietly sitting Zhen Fan suddenly said softly, his eyes closed as if he were dozing, but his voice was clear, like a sudden knock on the door at night.

A vague shadow slowly appeared in front of Zhen Fan.

It was very blurry but gradually became clearer.

"Wendy Ellis?"

Zhen Fan suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the shadow in front of him, which was becoming clearer.

A woman, a woman with an angry expression, her face pale and terrifying.

"Don't look at me with such anger, I'm trying to help you!" Zhen Fan looked at the woman and shook his head, "If you think someone else has taken over your room and you want to drive them away, you're wrong!"

The woman's expression was less fierce, but still carried a sense of unwillingness.

"I know why you exist. The consciousness of a person after death exists, as some scientists argue, in a four-dimensional space. Once the frequency of consciousness matches the three-dimensional space, you appear, which is what we call a soul. Remember, you are not a person now, but the consciousness of a person."

The woman's expression finally relaxed.

"I know you can't speak, as you are just a segment of consciousness. Don't try to impose your consciousness on others, it will destroy you. Because you influenced Angela, you now feel very weak, and it's difficult to form your original shape, isn't it?"

Zhen Fan's voice was calm, as if he were chatting with an old friend.

The woman's eyes showed a pleading look.

"I can't help you, you have to help yourself. If you have something to say, I can let you speak a few words, but otherwise, you can only wait to slowly disappear from this three-dimensional world."

Zhen Fan suddenly formed a hand sign and slowly extended his hand towards the woman.

The woman was startled and tried to dodge, but she couldn't move, as if bound by an invisible chain. With a look of fear, she watched Zhen Fan's handprint on her forehead.

"Save me!"

A very weak voice, like a bubble rising from the water, but clear.

"I'll still call you Wendy, why do you say that?"

"Save me, I don't know, I didn't mean to stay here, sometimes I can't control myself!" Wendy Ellis's eyes were full of sorrow, looking at Zhen Fan. This beautiful woman, even though dead and pale, still had a special charm, especially with her sorrowful eyes.

"Is something controlling you?"

Zhen Fan's eyebrows raised.

"Yes, I can't describe it, but I always feel something affecting my existence, like electromagnetic waves... yes, like electromagnetic waves, making me unable to control myself!"

Zhen Fan pondered for a moment, "I understand, you influenced Angela, weakening yourself, and allowing something else to take advantage and influence you!"

"What is influencing you?" Zhen Fan looked at her, slowly taking a piece of paper from his pocket. Under the moonlight, a special cross on the paper was faint and cold.

Wendy suddenly trembled violently.