NTNH Chapter 8: Puppet Strings┃Making Money with Poise

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“Please, this way.” Wei Xiao led Yu Zhengdu and Shang Que into the company’s reception room.

After they sat down, Wei Xiao once again expressed his gratitude for their brave actions. Yu Zhengdu was very straightforward about it: “No need to be so polite. If we’re accepting a reward, then it’s not really an act of heroism.”

Shang Que, maintaining his usual aloof demeanor, leaned back elegantly in his chair. He simply nodded at Yu Zhengdu’s words and added, “Indeed.”

Wei Xiao paused for a moment, then looked at Yu Zhengdu and asked meaningfully, “May I ask how exactly you managed to open the elevator?”

Yu Zhengdu had originally planned to brush it off with some standard firefighting knowledge, take the reward, and leave. But upon hearing this question, a thought flashed through his mind—Wei Xiao might have noticed something.

Company secrets couldn’t be carelessly exposed, but if Wei Xiao truly suspected something, it wouldn’t be easy to fool him either.

Yu Zhengdu hesitated slightly. He glanced at Shang Que, who was resting his chin on one hand, looking indifferent. His tone was calm and direct: “If you have something to say, just say it. No need to beat around the bush.”

Yu Zhengdu immediately felt a sense of respect. Their company might be small, but the boss carried himself with a commanding presence!

The only question was whether a big-shot CEO from an established company like Twin Horns Technology would buy into this act.

Yu Zhengdu started worrying about the reward they hadn’t yet received.

Wei Xiao, having spent years in the business world, maintained his composure despite the exchange. He said with a gentle tone, “I noticed that it wasn’t just the elevator doors that this young man opened earlier. Later, when the elevator closed again, that was also your doing, wasn’t it?”

Yu Zhengdu was a bit surprised by Wei Xiao’s keen observation, but he kept his cool, aligning his posture with his boss and staying silent, exuding an air of mystery.

Fortunately, Wei Xiao didn’t push the matter. Instead, he shifted the conversation and said, “To be honest, I have a daughter named Momo. She’s five years old and has been frail since birth. She falls sick easily, and despite seeing countless renowned doctors, nothing has helped. Her grandmother eventually consulted a master, who suggested that Momo’s health issues might not be due to a congenital deficiency…”

“Momo sometimes talks to the air, just like this young man…”

As Wei Xiao spoke, he dialed a number: “Xiao Ni, bring Momo over.”

Just as he finished speaking, an assistant rushed in, looking panicked. “President Wei… M-Momo is missing—”

Wei Xiao shot to his feet with a loud whoosh. His previous calm and polite demeanor vanished, replaced by fury. “What did you say?”

The assistant was sweating so much that their makeup was practically melting. Their voice trembled, “Just now, Momo kept insisting on coming to find you. I couldn’t refuse her, so I took her near the elevator. But… but then I had to receive a document for just a moment, and when I turned back, she… she was gone…”

Wei Xiao’s face darkened significantly. He glared at the assistant. “Then why are you still standing here? Go find her!”

The assistant was on the verge of tears. “We’re already looking. We’ll find her soon, I promise.”

Wei Xiao’s voice turned ice-cold as he slammed his hand on the table. “How soon? Give me a time.”

The assistant had no way to provide an exact answer. Everyone in the company knew how much President Wei cherished his daughter. Otherwise, he wouldn’t bring her to the office so often. This only made the assistant more terrified. Their eyes welled up with tears, but they didn’t dare cry outright. They forced themselves to say, “V-very soon…”

Wei Xiao, utterly distraught, started pacing anxiously.

Yu Zhengdu quickly grasped the situation from their conversation and felt genuinely worried for Wei Xiao. Unfortunately, this wasn’t something he could help with.

At that moment, Shang Que, who had been watching the scene unfold with mild detachment, suddenly spoke. His tone was light as he asked, “If we help you find her, will there be a reward?”

Wei Xiao turned to him sharply.

Yu Zhengdu also looked at him, utterly stunned. He never expected his boss to pick up on making money so quickly. With a complicated expression, he muttered, “Boss, could we at least try to make money with a little more class…?”

But Wei Xiao was already practically lunging forward. “Name your price. As long as you can find Momo, I’ll pay whatever you ask.”

Yu Zhengdu hurriedly reassured him, “President Wei, there’s no need for that. Finding a missing child is every citizen’s duty. This really isn’t about money.”

Wei Xiao was firm: “I insist on paying.”

Yu Zhengdu: “…”

Shang Que switched the hand supporting his chin and looked at Yu Zhengdu, asking sincerely, “What exactly counts as making money with poise?”

Yu Zhengdu: = = Can my boss focus on the right thing for once?

Reminding himself that his boss wasn’t human and couldn’t be judged by human standards, he whispered, “Boss, a missing child is no small matter. If you know how to find her, just tell President Wei already.”

Shang Que chuckled. “Didn’t she disappear near the elevator? Why not ask those things over there?”

Yu Zhengdu immediately understood.

He led the anxious Wei Xiao back to the elevator area, where a group of ghosts was still obediently standing in a row, facing the wall, making sure not to disturb passersby.

Given the urgency of the situation, Yu Zhengdu didn’t have time to worry about Wei Xiao’s reaction. He simply asked, “Did any of you see a five-year-old girl?”

A ghost at the edge of the line reached out a hand and pointed toward the stairwell. “She went that way.”

Yu Zhengdu nodded and turned to Wei Xiao. “President Wei, this way.”

Wei Xiao was utterly dumbfounded, watching Yu Zhengdu talk to empty air and then confidently indicate a direction. He recalled how Yu Zhengdu had done the same thing earlier with the seemingly malfunctioning elevator—speaking into nothingness, after which the doors miraculously responded.

Having experienced much in life, Wei Xiao managed to suppress his shock and refrained from questioning further. Instead, he followed Yu Zhengdu and Shang Que toward the stairwell. As they walked, he muttered incredulously, “She’s really here? Momo once got lost playing hide and seek in the stairwell, and it scared her so much that she never dared to go near one again…”

He had only half-uttered his suspicions when he abruptly clammed up.

In the empty stairwell, faint echoes of a little girl’s laughter drifted: “Hee hee—”

“Lift your hand—lift your foot—”

“Walk forward—”

“Hee hee—”

“So much fun—”

“Hee hee—”

“Hee hee—”

The sound carried the little girl’s uniquely crisp, soft tone—which should have been adorable—but perhaps due to the drawn-out notes or the echo in the vacant space, it took on a strangely ethereal quality, tinged with an elusive, almost otherworldly uncertainty.

There was an indescribable, eerie undercurrent.

A sudden chill welled up in Yu Zhengdu’s heart, while Wei Xiao was overjoyed. Following the source of the sound, Wei Xiao bolted down the stairs, calling out, “Momo, where are you? Don’t move—Daddy’s coming!”

With no other option, Yu Zhengdu pulled Shang Que along, and they raced downward.

After descending about five or six floors, a fleeting silhouette suddenly flashed before their eyes, and they halted in their tracks.

At the stairwell’s corner—about half a floor below them—stood a short, chubby little girl.

She had her hair tied into two small braids, wore a red camisole dress with lace-trimmed socks, and in her hand she held a string puppet shaped like a doll.

The little girl kept her gaze lowered, intently tugging at the puppet’s strings, while her mouth incessantly repeated, “Lift your hand—lift your foot—”

“So much fun—hee hee—”

As she spoke, her arms and legs moved in rhythm.

She lifted her hand, lifted her foot.

And the puppet mimicked her—lifting its hand, lifting its foot.

In the dim light of the stairwell, the little girl’s figure was blurred as it fell on the wall behind her. Along with the small puppet, their shadows—one large, one small—appeared perfectly aligned.

“Lift your hand—lift your foot—”

“So much fun—”

Wei Xiao, having finally found his daughter, immediately shouted, “Momo—!”

Just as he was about to run forward, Shang Que stopped him with an outstretched hand.

Confused, Wei Xiao glanced at Shang Que and anxiously protested, “Mr. Shang, she’s my daughter!”

Without a word, Shang Que continued to stare impassively in the direction of the little girl.

At that moment, the little girl finally lifted her head. The corners of her mouth curved into a slight smile, and in a crisp yet hollow tone she said, “Daddy—”

She raised her hand slightly: “Look, lift your hand—”

And the puppet’s hand rose.

Then she lifted her foot: “Look, lift your foot—”

And the puppet’s foot followed.

Wei Xiao cried out urgently, “Momo, Daddy sees you!”

At the same time, a sudden “buzz” shot through Yu Zhengdu’s mind—as the indescribable chill became tangible.

He distinctly saw that as the little girl’s lips curved into a smile, the doll-like puppet—whose face should have remained expressionless—now wore a grim, eerie smile of its own.

Instinctively, he reached out and halted Wei Xiao, saying, “President Wei, don’t go over now. This isn’t your daughter playing with a puppet…”

Wei Xiao’s face changed in an instant; sensing something was awry, he asked, “What do you mean?”

Calmly, Shang Que replied, “Hmm, it’s the puppet playing with your daughter.”

Wei Xiao was momentarily stunned. He then saw Momo shake her head from side to side, her little braids swaying, as she said, “Daddy, come over—come play with me!”

She lifted her hand and her foot, and the puppet mimicked her movements.

“See? Isn’t it so much fun?”

Yet Wei Xiao could only stare blankly at the wall behind her; judging by the shadow, it was unmistakable—the puppet had been the one to lift its hand first, its strings directing his daughter.

Lift your hand, lift your foot.

Wei Xiao’s face turned as pale as paper. Here was a dignified, powerful boss rendered speechless, staring dumbly at Shang Que and Yu Zhengdu.

Yu Zhengdu, witnessing such a sight for the first time, broke out in goosebumps and, cowering behind the boss, muttered, “Damn, what kind of ghost is this? It’s so creepy.”

Shang Que replied evenly, “It’s a bound servant ghost—a ‘yì guǐ’ that’s been refined.”

Not fully understanding ghost classifications, Yu Zhengdu asked hesitantly, “Is it dangerous?”

After a moment’s thought, Shang Que answered, “Among ghosts, it’s considered one of the more dangerous ones.”

He explained further, “A ‘servant ghost’ refers to a spirit that has been subdued or contained by someone skilled in Taoist arts—bound to serve under their command. Such arts, generally known as ‘servant ghost techniques,’ enable one to subjugate a ghost. But ghosts that can be bound this way are typically far more vicious than ordinary ones. After being ‘refined,’ their power increases dramatically. Without genuine skill, it would be nearly impossible to control them.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhengdu grew extremely nervous; his breathing quickened as he clung tighter behind the boss, managing only to pat his shoulder and whisper, “Good luck, it’s all up to you!”

Wei Xiao finally managed to speak again, pleading, “Mr. Shang, as long as you can save my daughter, I’ll pay you any amount.”

In a righteous tone, Yu Zhengdu interjected, “President Wei, rest assured—we won’t profit off a child’s misfortune.”

Wei Xiao solemnly replied, “I don’t mind you profiting from it…”

Amid their haggling—one insisting on not taking money, the other adamant about paying—Shang Que had already moved forward. With upright posture and measured steps, he calmly approached Momo.

Yu Zhengdu anxiously urged, “Boss, now’s not the time to worry about appearances—catching a ghost is what really matters!”

No sooner had he spoken than Shang Que grabbed the puppet from Momo’s hand, flung it to the ground, and stepped on it. A piercing, agonized scream from the puppet echoed eerily in the empty stairwell.

Shang Que turned back and stated simply, “That’s enough.”

Both Yu Zhengdu and Wei Xiao fell silent.

After a moment, Yu Zhengdu, his expression blank, asked, “Boss, wasn’t this ghost supposed to be fierce?”

With a half-smile, Shang Que replied, “In the classifications of the human world, yes, it’s considered fierce.”

“As for the underworld’s standards—especially before the Ghost King—it’s obviously not so.”

Yu Zhengdu: “...Oh.”

It was only because the boss was so handsome that people often forgot his true role.

Although Wei Xiao was still a bit fearful of the puppet, he had no time for fear now. He rushed over, scooping up his daughter and soothing her in soft, gentle tones.

Yu Zhengdu, meanwhile, crouched down to examine the puppet and scolded, “Not even sparing the kids—what a despicable thing!”

Shang Que asked him, “Do you want to play with the puppet?”

Yu Zhengdu shot him a glance, eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief, “Is it dangerous?”

“Not dangerous,” replied Shang Que, casually moving his foot aside.

Without hesitation, Yu Zhengdu snatched the puppet and flung it wildly against the wall—almost like tossing noodles—exclaiming, “Lift your hand, lift your foot, damn you!”

Still not satisfied with a few curses, he then grabbed the puppet’s head and yanked it furiously, “Isn’t it fun or what?!”

Before long, the puppet couldn’t hold it together and whimpered, “I—I don’t dare anymore, I don’t dare anymore, please don’t twist my head.”

That voice, rough as sandpaper and hoarse, echoed eerily in the empty stairwell.

Yet Yu Zhengdu remained surprisingly composed as he gripped the puppet by its neck and rebuked, “You brazen, evil spirit! How dare you come out in broad daylight to harm people!”

In a voice full of plaintive sorrow, the puppet pleaded, “I—I didn’t mean to! I was just having a bit of fun, I swear I didn’t hurt anyone!”

Furious, Yu Zhengdu pointed at the daughter cradled in Wei Xiao’s arms, “How dare you lie! We have eyewitness testimony right here!”

The puppet trembled in Yu Zhengdu’s grasp, shaking like chaff in a sieve, “It’s all unjust! I was once a bound servant ghost controlled by someone. I barely managed to escape, and fearing recapture, I had to hide in these corners. Then that little girl rushed in unexpectedly—her seven souls were unbalanced. Having been controlled so many times, I couldn’t help but want to experience what it’s like to command someone. So I possessed her puppet for a little play. I was just lonely and empty—I truly meant no harm…”

As it spoke, the puppet flailed wildly; if Yu Zhengdu hadn’t been twisting it, it might have even performed a kneeling act on the spot.

Seeing the ghost speak so sincerely, Yu Zhengdu exchanged a dubious look with Shang Que.

Shang Que, as impassive as ever, only slowly remarked when he noticed Yu Zhengdu’s glance, “The child’s fine. She must have collided with that group of ghosts by the elevator—her spirit got a bit shaken, which is why she drifted here.”

The puppet, still steeped in its own grievances and nearly about to cry out for divine justice, insisted, “That’s right—I’m truly a good ghost, I’m innocent!”

Mimicking the professional tone of Kang Jin and the others, Yu Zhengdu declared, “No ghost should roam around freely, especially when you’ve made a mistake. Even if it doesn’t quite amount to a crime, a few days of administrative detention are in order.”

After his pronouncement, Yu Zhengdu glanced at Wei Xiao and said, “President Wei, you might as well let go of that puppet—give it to us.”

Having witnessed the entire ordeal, Wei Xiao’s face was expressionless as he clutched his chest and said, “Please, take it—take it, there’s no need for any formalities.”

(They were even using honorific language!)

____

Author’s note: 

President Wei—please be sure to charge a fee!!!!

Shang Que: “Mm.” (in the most elegant manner)

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