Chapter 052: Why is Being a Teacher So Challenging?

Chapter 052: Why is Being a Teacher So Challenging?

The wailing from the kitchen was hauntingly mournful. A frosty breeze blew through the living room from the balcony, and footsteps began to echo within.

As the sound of the landlord's footsteps faded into the hallway, Chi Shen slowly turned around. He seemed oblivious to the strange noises in the apartment, and proceeded to shut the balcony door.

"If it rains tonight, it'll be troublesome," Chi Shen remarked, strolling leisurely towards the entrance.

An icy chill drew near to him, yet Chi Shen showed no sign of noticing. Upon reaching the doorway, he turned back to switch off the foyer lights and gently closed the main door.

The landlord had left, and since he wasn’t an official tenant yet, lingering seemed inappropriate. If something were to happen, explaining himself might prove difficult. It was best to leave sooner.

For a moment, the crying and footsteps inside ceased.

This wasn't quite as expected...

After a short while, departing footsteps echoed outside the door. The crying ceased, and no more footsteps were heard, plunging the house into a silent night.

Chi Shen had made his way outside, awaiting the elevator. This floor was pitch dark, devoid of any signs of life. Only he stood waiting during what should have been a post-work rush hour.

"This place is so lively," he mused aloud, glancing at the elevator. "I expect life here to be quite entertaining."

His shadow shifted slightly, and a voice responded: "Everyone from the floors above and below have moved out. It's rather suitable for you."

The voice from the shadow paused before adding, "Mainly because the rent is cheap."

Nodding in agreement, Chi Shen said, "Affordable rent is perfect for me."

Mid-sentence, the elevator doors opened. Inside, a man was engrossed in his phone. Noticing Chi Shen speaking with no one visibly present, he instinctively checked for Bluetooth earpieces but found none.

A perplexed expression crossed the man's face. Perhaps he thought talking to oneself was common. His eyes, however, were drawn to the glaring crimson number indicating the 13th floor.

The sight of that number made the man's hand tremble, causing his phone to clatter to the ground, sliding near Chi Shen. Chi Shen picked it up and offered it back.

"Tha..." The man began to thank him but recoiled as their fingers brushed. Without finishing his sentence, he seemed eager to exit the elevator, yet, for some reason, opted to huddle in its corner instead.

Chi Shen tilted his head slightly to look at the man, whose fear intensified. Wanting to avoid further distressing him, Chi Shen redirected his gaze and kept his distance.

Chi Shen felt that if he were to ask if the man was alright, the response might be a plea for mercy.

Once the elevator reached the ground floor, the man hurried out as if escaping. Chi Shen exited the building and, finding a secluded spot, remarked, "I believe he misunderstood something about me."

Ji Xingchen interjected, "It might not be a misunderstanding."

Chi Shen: "?"

Ji Xingchen said, "It's time for dinner."

The moment he heard about food, Chi Shen gave up his curiosity and eagerly began eating.

After dinner, instead of going straight home, Chi Shen felt he should do something special for the old house. He went to the supermarket to buy colored card paper, snacks, drinks, and fruits. He also stopped at a store specializing in funeral supplies to pick up candles and white paper.

While paying, the store owner expressed condolences with a phrase meaning "Mourn your loss." Chi Shen just smiled in response, saying nothing.

"I've always had this question," said Chi Shen, his curiosity surfacing again. He put on headphones, on Ji Xingchen's suggestion, before continuing, "Is there any difference between the offerings made directly to you and the ones I fold from paper and burn for you?"

Ji Xingchen glanced at the passengers sitting a bit farther away from Chi Shen. His typically calm face momentarily displayed a hint of frustration, but he quickly responded, "I don't know. I've never had an offering."

"That's rather unfortunate," Chi Shen genuinely felt pity for Ji Xingchen.

Ji Xingchen took longer to reply this time. After a thoughtful pause, he said, "I... actually don't have any tragic memories. I can't recall any painful events. I know my mother passed away, but I don't remember how. That must have been a sad time, but I don't remember any of it."

"It's strange," Ji Xingchen added.

"Yes, most spirits cling to painful memories, but all you remember are happy ones. It's unusual," Chi Shen remarked. The woman sitting next to him had already shifted half a seat away. If the bus hadn't been full, she probably would've moved entirely.

The bus came to a halt, and Chi Shen noticed an elderly man boarding. He stood up to offer his seat, and the woman seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Ji Xingchen gave the woman a glance but didn’t comment on Chi Shen's previous statement. He simply said, "We'll talk about it when we get home."

People still watched the old house from a distance. Seeing Chi Shen return, they moved further back. They all knew Chi Shen had a malicious spirit with him and feared any potential repercussions.

Chi Shen seemed to be in a good mood, leisurely carrying his bags towards the old house. Midway, he thought the people outside must be freezing in the cold, so he decided to share some fruits with them.

At first, those guarding the house hesitated to accept. Seeing their reluctance, Chi Shen reassured, "Don't worry, it's not poisoned. If I wanted to harm you, I wouldn't use poison."

They responded, "…Okay."

After hearing his irrefutable logic, they accepted the fruits. Before they could think of something to say, Chi Shen cheerfully entered the old mansion.

The men exchanged glances, "Is he really living in that haunted house that everyone fears?"

One of them, holding a fruit, wondered, "Should we report this?"

Another, already eating, shrugged, "Why bother?"

After a moment of thought, the first man made up his mind, "Let's report it. Nothing has happened these past days; we don’t want them to think we’re just taking money without doing our job."

Chi Shen returned to the old mansion and began his experiment comparing food offerings with paper offerings.

He arranged the items he bought on the table, and the red-clothed female ghost instantly appeared, her eyes glistening at the sight of the food. Even the ghost in the cabinet opened its door, its face instantly glowing with life, eyes fixated on the delicacies.

Following the conventional offering ritual, Chi Shen lit incense and bowed before them, saying, “These offerings are for the spirits of the Bai family mansion. Please accept them.”

Both the red-clothed female ghost and the face-ghost revealed expressions of delight. Sounds echoed throughout the old mansion—whispers, footsteps, even the clinking of chains. A faint voice murmured from outside the door: “Thank you.”

It was the voice of the headless ghost.

Apart from the headless ghost, no other spirit dared to express gratitude face to face. The rustling sounds persisted for a while before everything quieted down.

Chi Shen picked up an apple and sniffed it. The apple's fragrance had disappeared.

So, this was the way to make offerings to all the spirits. Of course, only if they accepted them.

Smiling, Chi Shen turned to Ji Xing Chen and asked, “How did the offerings taste?”

Ji Xing Chen looked at him, eyes as dark as ink behind his glasses. “Delicious.”

Meanwhile, as the old mansion hosted its ghostly banquet, Bai Xi Ming, having received reports, grew restless. A thought suddenly struck him: With Chi Shen enjoying his stay in the mansion, would he truly stay for an entire month?

He revisited the family’s ancestral teachings which clearly stated: “If someone can reside in the ancestral home for more than a month, they possess the ability to resolve the Bai family's crises and should be immediately appointed as the clan leader.”

Bai Xi Ming fixated on the word “immediately” for a long while before chuckling and tossing the teachings aside, declaring, “I too can resolve our family's crisis. I don't need him to replace me!”

Xu Xiu Yin, standing beside him, advised, “Let’s wait and see. Perhaps letting the young man become the clan leader is the answer. If anything happens to him... you will still retain your position. Don't worry.”

Bai Xi Ming finally relaxed a bit. Sipping his tea, he remarked, “Not wanting to return to the Bai family yet insisting on staying in the mansion—it seems he truly wants to replace me.”

The Bai family had not been keeping tabs on Chi Shen. With the Special Security Bureau now in charge of the city, the Bai's movements were restricted. Bai Xi Ming initially contemplated surveillance, but later decided against it, remaining unaware of Chi Shen’s house hunting.

Unaware of the Bai family's perspective, Chi Shen continued with his routine. After settling matters on his end, his landlord hesitated, discussing utilities and suggesting a favorable day to move in. Wanting to reassure the landlord, Chi Shen agreed.

Besides, finding a centrally located property at a monthly rent of 500 was quite a steal.

As Chi Shen had just settled on a moving date with his landlord, he was returning to the old mansion with some belongings when he encountered the gatekeeper, holding a bag of fruit. Over the past few days, he had become familiar with the gatekeepers, as he'd frequently bring fresh delicacies for his friends in the mansion. In gratitude, Chi Shen would share some with them, and over time, they'd exchanged a few friendly words.

Handing over the fruit, the man said with an embarrassed smile, "Don't worry, it's not poisoned. After all, you could one day become our clan leader. We wouldn't dare poison you."

Accepting the fruit and offering a couple of snack packs in return, Chi Shen calmly replied, "I've never considered becoming the Bai family's leader."

The man looked puzzled, "Then why are you living in this forsaken place? Isn't it because of that ancestral teaching that one can become the clan leader after living here for a month?"

Chi Shen chuckled, looking intently at the man.

Feeling an eerie aura emanating from Chi Shen, the man involuntarily stepped back.

Chi Shen laughed, "Is that so?"

"Yes, yes," the man looked even more embarrassed. "Actually, the current clan leader sent me to warn you to move out soon and return to the Bai family. They said you shouldn't covet the leader's position. However, I personally feel you're qualified."

Chi Shen glanced at the bag of fruit in his hand, a slight curve forming on his beautiful eyebrows. "Thank you for the heads-up. I'll move out immediately."

"Oh... Huh?" The man, still puzzled, wanted to say something more, but Chi Shen waved goodbye and walked away.

In Bai Hengqing's residence, Bai Hengqing stood in front of a lunar calendar, cheerfully tearing off today's page, thinking that in no time, he could bring Chi Shen back to serve as the clan leader.