Ghost Exorciser: Is Loved By All
Chapter 613: Gong

Chapter 613: Chapter 613: Gong

The waiter stiffened, clearly caught off guard. He stammered, "I-I was just trying to help. She looked unwell—"

"That’s not your call to make," the waitress snapped, her voice sharp but measured. "Your job is to serve, not harass. Now leave before I report you to the manager for misconduct."

The waiter’s face flushed, and he hesitated, his hand tightening around the water bottle.

"Go," the waitress said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Muttering something under his breath, the waiter finally retreated, casting one last glance at Yu Holea before disappearing down the hallway.

The waitress turned to Yu Holea, her expression softening into one of reassurance.

"Are you okay, ma’am?" she asked gently, her voice carrying a warmth that immediately put Yu Holea at ease.

Yu Holea nodded her initial tension easing. "Yes, thank you. He was... a little too persistent."

The waitress smiled faintly. "I noticed. Some people forget the line between being helpful and being pushy. I’m glad I could step in before it escalated."

Yu Holea studied the woman for a moment, noting her calm demeanor and the way she seemed to take in her surroundings with quiet vigilance.

"Thank you... I don’t even know your name," Yu Holea said, her lips curving into a small, genuine smile.

"Just call me Gong," the waitress replied with a nod.

"Gong," Yu Holea repeated. "You have a good eye for trouble. I owe you for stepping in."

Gong chuckled lightly, brushing off the gratitude. "No need. It’s part of the job—well, maybe not officially, but it’s something I believe in."

Yu Holea found herself liking Gong’s straightforwardness and sincerity. "Still, I appreciate it."

Gong glanced around the lobby, her gaze briefly lingering on the hallway the waiter had disappeared into. "If you need anything else, ma’am, don’t hesitate to call for me. I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed again."

With that, Gong gave a respectful nod and began to walk away, her movements fluid and purposeful.

Yu Holea watched her go with a bit of appreciation.

Once the wrap-up party was over, Yu Holea returned to her hotel, packed all of her clothes, and was ready to leave when she received a message from Director Ou,

"Holea I want to talk about the other project I told you about. Come to my room."

Yu Holea sighed as she tapped out a response to Director Ou’s message, promising to meet him in thirty minutes.

She stared at her phone for a moment after sending the message, the faint hum of the ceiling fan above her providing an unwelcome accompaniment.

Its persistent screeching had grated on her nerves for the past three days, disrupting her already limited sleep.

Though she had meant to report it, the chaos of the final shooting schedule had pushed it to the back of her mind.

"Only one more night," she muttered to herself, glancing up at the wobbling blades.

Determined to clear her head, Yu Holea decided to take a quick shower.

The hot water did wonders to ease the tension in her muscles, and by the time she stepped out, she felt refreshed.

Wrapping herself in a soft bathrobe, she glanced at the clock on the nightstand—it was already 11:00 PM.

A yawn escaped her lips, and she debated whether to simply stay in for the night.

But a sense of responsibility won out.

She had promised Director Ou she would meet him, and she wasn’t one to break her word.

After drying her hair, she changed into a simple yet elegant outfit—a fitted blouse and tailored slacks—appropriate for a professional discussion even at this late hour.

Leaving her room, she navigated the quiet hallways of the hotel.

As she rounded a corner, she accidentally collided with a cleaning cart, sending a cascade of supplies—towels, spray bottles, and other items—tumbling to the floor.

"Oh no, I’m so sorry!" Yu Holea exclaimed, immediately crouching down to help pick up the scattered items.

The cleaning staff member, a middle-aged woman with weary eyes, groaned softly.

"It’s really not my day," she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Now I’ll have to clean all this up. Extra work on top of everything else..."

Yu Holea paused, surprised by the woman’s candid complaint.

She could sense the exhaustion in her tone and understood her irritation.

Without a word, she continued picking up the items, stacking them neatly back on the cart.

Just as she was placing the last towel on the pile, a familiar voice called out.

"Miss Yu!" Gong approached, her strides confident yet unhurried.

She smiled politely when she spotted Yu Holea but stopped short when she caught the cleaning staff’s words.

Her expression hardened.

"Is that how you talk to a guest?" Gong’s voice was low but firm, laced with quiet authority. "Miss Yu is helping you, and this is how you respond? Apologize to her."

The cleaning staff looked startled and then contrite.

"I-I’m sorry," she stammered, bowing her head slightly in Yu Holea’s direction.

Yu Holea quickly waved it off with a gentle smile.

"It’s alright. I know it’s been a long day for everyone."

Gong, however, wasn’t so quick to dismiss it.

Her sharp gaze lingered on the cleaning staff for a moment before softening as she turned to Yu Holea.

"You don’t need to worry about this, Miss Yu. I’ll take care of it. Please, go ahead to wherever you were heading."

Yu Holea shook her head, her smile unwavering.

"It’s fine, really. I’ll help finish cleaning this up and then go."

Gong hesitated, but when Yu Holea bent down again to gather a few loose items, she sighed and joined in.

The two women worked efficiently, clearing the mess in no time.

"Thank you, Miss Yu," Gong said softly once they were done.

Yu Holea nodded, dusting off her hands. "No problem. Goodnight, Gong."

"Goodnight," Gong replied, her polite smile returning as she watched Yu Holea head down the hallway.

When Yu Holea arrived at Director Ou’s room, she knocked softly on the door, stepping back slightly as she waited.

A few moments passed, and there was no response.

She knocked again, a bit louder this time. Still nothing.

Frowning, she checked her phone to confirm the message. "Room 712," she murmured to herself, glancing at the brass number on the door—it matched.

Her hand brushed the doorknob, and to her surprise, it turned easily.

The door wasn’t locked. Pushing it open just a crack, Yu Holea hesitated.

A soft, floral scent wafted through the gap, unmistakably jasmine.

The aroma was sweet and almost intoxicating, filling the air with a heady warmth that seemed to wrap around her like a comforting blanket.

As the scent enveloped her, a wave of drowsiness washed over her.

Her eyelids felt heavy, and she blinked several times, trying to shake off the sudden lethargy.

"That’s strange," she muttered, her voice faint.

She pushed the door open a bit more, leaning against the frame for support. The room was dimly lit, with only a single lamp casting a soft golden glow.

The source of the jasmine scent was unclear, but it seemed to saturate every corner of the room.

Her instincts warned her to be cautious, but the overwhelming fatigue dulled her usually sharp senses.

Stepping inside, Yu Holea called out weakly, "Director Ou?"

There was no answer.

Her vision blurred slightly, and her knees wobbled.

She reached out to steady herself against the wall, her pulse quickening as unease crept into her foggy mind.

The sound of the door clicking shut behind her startled her, and she turned around sluggishly, her heart pounding despite her growing exhaustion.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Director Ou...?" she tried again, her voice barely above a whisper now.

Her body felt unnaturally heavy, her limbs refusing to cooperate.

She stumbled toward the couch, collapsing onto it as her mind fought to stay alert.

The jasmine scent seemed to thicken in the air, and her breathing slowed.

She tried to stand, to leave the room, but her strength was slipping away like sand through her fingers.

As her consciousness began to fade, a single thought surfaced in her mind: This wasn’t an accident.

And then, everything went dark.

.................................

In a grand mansion.

A figure dressed in an elegant silk robe was sitting on the sofa swirling the wine in her hand.

The light coming from the window illuminated the living room of the grand mansion, creating just enough light to make the figure’s face appear much more clearly.

The peaceful atmosphere was broken by the sound of the phone ringing.

The figure glanced at the phone and picked it up leisurely.

"Madam the work is done."

A smile appeared on the figure’s face and she said softly,

"Good. Now proceed to the next step and make sure that she doesn’t regain her consciousness for the time being. I want to give her a big surprise when she opens her eyes."

"Yes ma’am."

The figure swirled the wine and added,

"One thing. Make sure to take some pictures too."