Chapter 137

Chapter 137

When Duan Wenqian and his stepfather, Wen Cunye, returned home, only Aunt Zhang was present, preparing dinner in the kitchen. His mother, Duan Danmei, had yet to finish work.

"How was your day at school, Qianqian?" Wen Cunye placed Duan Wenqian's backpack on the living room sofa. "Daddy asked Auntie Zhang to prepare some 'double skin milk' for you. It's in the fridge. You can have it while watching TV."

At the mention of the dessert, Duan Wenqian's eyes lit up. He was about to agree when he paused suddenly, jogged over to the sofa to grab his backpack and said, "I'll finish my homework first before watching TV."

Wen Cunye asked him, "Did the teacher assign a lot of homework?"

Duan Wenqian replied, "Not much, and it's quite simple. I'll be able to finish it shortly."

"Then you can rest a bit before you start writing." Wen Cunye, a man who exudes a scholarly elegance, spoke softly with a persuasiveness that naturally drew people to heed his words. "You've been at school all day, aren't you tired, Qianqian?"

Children often prioritize play. Duan Wenqian is not a child who can sit still. His wish to complete his homework before watching a movie doesn't stem from a love for studying or being responsible. He knew from past instances that if he watched TV without first finishing his homework, his mother would scold him when she got home.

However, Duan Wenqian felt a tad weary today, for reasons he couldn't identify.

As he hesitated, Wen Cunye had already turned on the TV, and coincidentally, his favorite cartoon was on. Duan Wenqian settled in front of the couch, thinking he'd watch just for a short while and then proceed with his homework.

However, he was so engrossed that he continued watching until Duan Danmei returned from work.

With sharp ears, he heard his mother's footsteps and immediately sprang up from the couch. Wen Cunye chimed in, "Alright, Qianqian, you've rested enough. Time to do your homework."

Duan Danmei heard this just as she entered the house.

Amidst the cartoon sounds from the TV, Wen Cunye's voice, intertwined with the weariness of a long day at work, easily ignited her irritation.

Duan Danmei, with a stern face, questioned Duan Wenqian, "Did you just watch TV and neglect your homework again after getting home today?"

Holding his backpack, Duan Wenqian pouted and whispered, "I'm about to do it now, and I'll finish it quickly."

Duan Danmei, not in the mood to hear explanations, raised her hand as if to strike, "All you know is play!"

"He's still young, not even in primary school yet. What's the harm in being a bit playful?" Wen Cunye quickly intervened, stepping in front of Duan Danmei and signaling Duan Wenqian, "Alright, Qianqian, go do your homework now."

"I was really just taking a short break, not playing all day," Duan Wenqian retorted without the intention to flee. Perhaps out of defiance, or maybe because his stubborn temperament resembled Duan Danmei's, he added, "I'm just a bit tired today."

"You're tired? You think you're more tired than me?" Duan Danmei's voice grew sharper and more critical, "You're lying, aren't you?"

Seeing her like this, Duan Wenqian suddenly burst into tears.

He felt wronged and hoped Duan Danmei would comfort him. However, he didn't realize that a child's whimpering often only irritates adults further. In the end, he was punished and sent back to his room to do his homework.

Duan Danmei warned him not to leave his room until he finished.

However, even after Duan Wenqian had completed his assignment and dinnertime came around, he still didn't leave his room—he was giving Duan Danmei the silent treatment.

In the past, when Duan Danmei scolded him, she'd come to soothe him once her anger subsided. Duan Wenqian believed this time would be no different.

And indeed, it turned out to be the case.

Duan Danmei came into the room to comfort Duan Wenqian, but after doing so, she picked up his homework to chide him again: "Look, you've done a good job. Why don't you finish your homework as soon as you get home instead of waiting for your mother to scold you first?"

Nestled in her embrace, cherishing the rare moments of closeness between mother and son, Duan Wenqian remained silent for the time being.

Duan Danmei then said, "Alright, are you hungry? Let's eat."

After dinner, it was already past seven o'clock.

By this time, if Duan Wenqian wanted to watch TV again, Duan Danmei wouldn't scold him. However, his attention wasn't on the television anymore. Just before bedtime, he mustered up the courage to ask Duan Danmei, "Mom, can I sleep with you tonight? I had a nightmare last night..."

"No, you're growing up. You're a young man; you need to sleep on your own."

Without a second thought, Duan Danmei refused.

She still had unfinished work and had to work from home late into the night. How could she spare the time to sleep with Duan Wenqian? She didn't even have time for intimacy with Wen Cunye.

"If you're scared, ask Aunt Zhang to accompany you."

"No, Mom, I'm not scared." Duan Wenqian waved his hand, "The nightmare I had was about you."

Duan Danmei paused, "About me?"

"Yes," Duan Wenqian nodded, staring deeply into Duan Danmei's eyes, "I dreamt that you encountered a ghost."

The moment the word "ghost" was spoken...

All the lights in the room abruptly went out, as if echoing Duan Wenqian's words.

An isolated power outage wouldn't normally frighten Duan Danmei; she had experienced them before. However, combined with what Duan Wenqian had just said, even someone with her mental fortitude would be unnerved.

"Ahhh!"

However, the one who screamed was Duan Wenqian. The same boy who had just claimed not to be afraid suddenly lunged at her. Duan Danmei found it slightly amusing and hugged the boy who had thrown himself into her arms. But the moment she wrapped her arms around him, Duan Danmei froze.

Children usually have a higher body temperature. When she had held Duan Wenqian before dinner, he felt warm like a furnace.

But now, the body in her arms felt chillingly cold, eerily so, like meat fresh out of the freezer devoid of any warmth. Holding him felt like cradling a lifeless body.

And also... that shout earlier, was it from Duan Wenqian?

Thinking closely, the scream she heard was sharp and piercing, unlike that of a young boy. It rather resembled... her own scream when she was scared.

This thought flashed across Duan Danmei's mind, and an icy chill ran down her spine, paralyzing her so much that she didn't even have the courage to reach for her phone for light.

Fortunately, the lights came back on.

Wen Cunye was by the main power switch, having just turned it back on. "Why did it trip?" he wondered.

"Did I cause it?" Auntie Zhang peeked out from the kitchen. "I just started the dishwasher."

"I'm not sure," Wen Cunye replied as he walked into the kitchen, "Does the dishwasher really draw that much power?"

Duan Danmei swallowed hard. Even though she was surrounded by light, her heart raced uncontrollably. She realized she was clutching a throw pillow from the sofa.

This pillow was soft; it wasn't warm, but neither was it cold as ice.

What's more, she never reached for the pillow. Could it have moved into her arms on its own?

Goosebumps covered Duan Danmei's arms. Looking at Duan Wenqian, whose hands were innocently resting on his lap, she doubted he could have thrown the pillow.

Still shaken, Duan Danmei took a few breaths before saying to Duan Wenqian, "The power went out earlier, Qianqian."

"Don't be scared, Mom. I'm a big boy, I'll protect you." Duan Wenqian wriggled closer to Duan Danmei, holding her hand, "Are you scared? If you are, I'll sleep with you tonight so you won't be afraid."

"What do I have to be scared of? I'm fine," she said, comforted by the warm little hands enveloping hers. Duan Danmei's frantic heartbeat began to stabilize. She wondered if that scream might've come from Auntie Zhang.

Duan Wenqian persisted, "But I really dreamt you were hit..."

"Enough!" Duan Danmei shouted, cutting him off before he could finish, glaring at him, "Saying such things at this hour, are you trying to scare me on purpose?!"

Duan Wenqian was taken aback by her sudden anger. He paused for a few seconds and started to explain, "Mom, I didn't mean to..."

"It's time for bed," Duan Danmei said firmly, leading Duan Wenqian into the bedroom. "If you're scared, go find Auntie Zhang."

Duan Wenqian peeked through the door, asking, "And what about you, Mom?"

Duan Danmei replied, "I have Uncle Wen with me."

Seeing her resolute demeanor, Duan Wenqian knew there was no room for negotiation. Dejected, he laid down on the bed.

Duan Danmei went to the kitchen to retrieve Wen Cunye, saying, "Stay with me."

Wen Cunye raised an eyebrow, "I thought you had to work late?"

With a hint of pallor in her face and a soft voice, Duan Danmei replied, "Yes, but stay beside me, will you?"

It was rare for Wen Cunye to see Duan Danmei in such a vulnerable state. He embraced her, whispering seductively, "Meimei, should we have another child?"

"We should have two," he added, emphasizing, "I've always wanted a daughter."

"When will I have the time to give birth? Aren't we supposed to earn money?" Duan Danmei sighed, massaging her temples, "Your stock trading is unpredictable. Wenqian will be starting school soon, and we have many expenses. One child already stresses me out. How can we afford another? If I had a daughter, I'd surely spoil her."

Wen Cunye paused for a moment. A fleeting hint of agitation appeared in his eyes, but it disappeared quickly. He whispered into Duan Danmei's ear with a magnetic voice, "Alright, alright, we'll do as you say. I just think we have enough money and you shouldn't work so hard every day. It pains me to see you like this."

Who doesn't love sweet words from their beloved? After working hard every day, all Duan Danmei wanted was some relaxation at home. She had divorced her ex-husband, Duan Wenqian's father, because he was lazy and argumentative.

Duan Danmei didn't mind supporting a man, but she wouldn't cater to one as if he were royalty. She never even pampered her own son that much, let alone her ex-husband.

"It's not about the hard work. It's about our family's happiness."

So, after being sweet-talked by Wen Cunye, Duan Danmei pushed her earlier fears aside. She was a brave person after all. How else could she hold a family together?

Before sleeping, she thought about how she had scolded her son and hadn't played with Wenqian in a while. Maybe she should buy him a new toy tomorrow. She remembered he had always wanted a Gundam figure. With his peculiar tastes, how could she not earn more to support him?

The next morning, when Nanny Zhang woke Wenqian up for breakfast, only he and Wen Cunye remained in the house.

Not seeing his mother and having a temper like Duan Danmei, Wenqian sulked all the way until Wen Cunye dropped him off at school.

In stark contrast, Wen Cunye seemed in a good mood. Glancing at Wenqian's evident dark circles, he asked with fatherly concern, "Didn't sleep well last night, Wenqian? Why the long face so early in the morning?"

Wenqian, in a huff, slammed the car door and stormed off to school without a word.

Wen Cunye's attempt at warmth was met with coldness, making his smile slightly strained. Yet Wenqian wished he would get upset and complain to Danmei, hoping she might come home sooner.

After all, if Wenqian could give his biological father the cold shoulder, how much more so for Wen Cunye, his stepfather?

Wen Cunye was well-aware of the young lad's temper and swallowed his irritation. After a moment, a sly smile crept onto his lips, as if recalling something amusing.

Seething, Duan Wenqian took his seat, oblivious to what had transpired. However, his deskmate and a few students nearby knew better than to approach him in his current mood. Otherwise, they risked getting hit. It's a well-known fact that Duan Wenqian's mother would side with him even when called into school. Although he claims that his mother disciplines him at home, who would believe that? If he were truly reprimanded, why would he keep misbehaving?

As Duan Wenqian's anger began to wane and his childlike desire to join his peers resurfaced, he found them all avoiding him.

Scanning the classroom, Duan Wenqian's gaze settled on Shen Qiuji, the only person who wasn't averting his eyes.

An idea clicked in Duan Wenqian's mind: Shen Qiuji must want to play with him. Resigned, he decided to humor Shen for a while.

"Shen Qiu..."

Before Duan Wenqian could finish his sentence, Shen Qiuji interjected, "What's with those dark circles under your eyes?"

"Had a nightmare, couldn't sleep well," Duan Wenqian cheerfully responded, touching his face. Thinking that even Shen Qiuji showed concern, he felt reassured that his mother, Duan Danmei, would do the same once she returned.

Initially, Shen Qiuji had wanted to probe further about the nightmare, but seeing Duan Wenqian's gleeful demeanor, he held his tongue. After all, a child their age wouldn't appear this spry if they had genuinely encountered something supernatural.

Thus, Shen Qiuji refocused on his drawing.

Peering over, Duan Wenqian curiously inquired, "What are you drawing?"

"Protein powder," Shen Qiuji replied.

"What's that?" Duan Wenqian didn't understand nor particularly cared. Sitting beside Shen Qiuji, he whispered, "Is your mother nice to you?"

Without lifting his head, Shen Qiuji responded, "No."

Recalling Duan Danmei's scolding the previous night and her absence that morning, Duan Wenqian petulantly declared, "My mom isn't nice to me either! She mustn't love me anymore! She only loves Uncle Wen now!"

Shen Qiuji countered, "Didn't your mother just pick you up from school yesterday? She even dropped you off this morning."

He had indeed seen a woman in a red skirt trailing behind Duan Wenqian that morning, accompanying him to the school building.

"Huh?" Duan Wenqian scratched his head, "My mother didn't pick me up yesterday."

Shen Qiuji abruptly halted his drawing, looking intently into Duan Wenqian's eyes, "Your mother didn't come for you yesterday?"

"No, Uncle Wen picked me up," Duan Wenqian answered truthfully, growing more indignant. "My mother never picks me up or drops me off. It's always Uncle Wen or Auntie Zhang. She doesn't care about me!"

Shen Qiuji gripped his pen, remaining silent.

Duan Wenqian had just heard Shen Qiuji mention that his mother wasn't kind to him either. He thought his words might resonate with Shen Qiuji. Yet, Shen remained silent, his head bowed, scribbling incomprehensible drawings on paper, over and over, even as the class bell rang.

Returning to his seat, chin propped in hand, Duan Wenqian thought of his mother. Yet, just before school ended, Shen Qiuji approached him, handing over a yellow triangular object with red lines on it.

"What's this?" As Duan Wenqian asked, he tried to unravel the object, curious about the red lines.

Shen Qiuji initially wanted to say it was a "talisman", but reconsidered. Thinking Duan wouldn't believe him, he made up, "It's something that will make your mother treat you better. If you tear it, it won't work."

Duan Wenqian paused, a mix of elation and skepticism, "Does it really work?"

If it did, why wouldn't Shen use it himself so his mother would treat him better?

Shen Qiuji continued with his fabrications, "It does. I don't live with my parents. I stay with my seventh uncle. After using this, he treats me incredibly well."

"Okay," Duan Wenqian accepted it, storing it close in his pocket, "Let me try it first. If it works, I'll buy more from you with money."

Shen Qiuji agreed, "Deal."

After school, Shen Qiuji observed for a while. He no longer saw the woman in a red skirt lingering near Duan Wenqian. He watched as Duan's stepfather picked him up. Only then did he walk to a red Ferrari parked nearby. Sliding in, he said to the driver, Liubuhua, "Big brother, you don’t need to pick me up every day. I can take the bus home. Gas is expensive."

The bus fare was just a few bucks. Picking him up in this gas-guzzling sports car was definitely more costly.

Liubuhua responded with ostentation, "Do you think I care about that little money?"

Shen Qiuji: "..."

Oh, apologies, only he was that impoverished.

After becoming the adopted son of Xie Yinxue, she had given him full access to her bank account, free to spend. Plus, the regular "tributes" from the Shen family during holidays meant Liubuhua had more money than he could spend.

However, his words unintentionally flaunted his wealth, pricking at Shen Qiuji's pride. Noticing Shen's gloomy face in the rearview mirror, Liubuhua quickly tried to salvage the situation, "I picked you up to conveniently take you to buy a new air conditioner."

Shen Qiuji begrudgingly believed him.

His mind preoccupied that day, his main concern elsewhere. Upon returning to Mingyue Cliff, he headed straight to Xie Yinxue's bedroom, telling the master, "The classmate in the photo with me seems to be haunted."

Shen Qiuji had only recently taken a photo with a classmate, and when Xie Yinxue saw it, she immediately noticed something amiss. So when Shen Qiuji spoke up, she could already guess who he was referring to. However, what intrigued her more was Shen Qiuji's certainty.

She asked Shen Qiuji, "Did the classmate tell you or did you witness something?"

"I saw her, dressed in a red skirt..."

Shen Qiuji detailed to Xie Yinxue the appearance of the woman he'd seen, finally asking, "Master, does she match the ghost woman you saw in the photograph?"

"She does," Xie Yinxue nodded, "but there's one difference—she wasn't wearing a red skirt."

Shen Qiuji was momentarily confused by Xie Yinxue's contradictory statement when the younger man said, "Bring over that photo of you two."

As instructed, Shen Qiuji hurried to his room and retrieved the photograph.

The instant he looked at the photograph, he understood what Xie Yinxue meant by "she wasn't wearing a red skirt." The woman standing next to the tomb in the picture wore a snow-white dress. However, the bottom half of the white dress was completely soaked in deep red blood, making it look, from a distance, as if she wore a red skirt.

But having resolved this, a new question arose in Shen Qiuji's heart—when he had seen the photograph earlier, he hadn't noticed a third person. Why could he see her now?

Sharing his doubts with Xie Yinxue, Xie responded, lowering his gaze, "Your natural talents are not particularly strong, but your fate is unique. You are impervious to evil spirits and cannot see ghosts. Even your master doesn't yet know why you can now."

That was the real reason Xie Yinxue and Liu Buhua had tried many methods but couldn't make Shen Qiuji see ghosts: those ghosts didn't dare approach him!

In other words, even if Shen Qiuji had the ability to see the spirit world, what difference would it make if the ghosts didn’t approach him?

Xie Yinxue was different from Shen Qiuji. Although with a mere flick of his finger he could annihilate lesser ghosts, he was physically weak and should have passed away long ago. Only because Chen Yuqing traded his life for Xie's did he still live. To those ghosts, Xie, when not fighting, appeared weak, almost like he was at death's door. Why would they fear him? They would be content just to wait for his last breath to claim his body.

"Where was this photo taken?" Xie Yinxue, without delving deeper into the mystery of Shen Qiuji's newfound vision, asked focusing on the main issue, "I need to see it."

Shen Qiuji agreed that it was the most pressing matter.

As Xie Yinxue pointed out, Shen Qiuji’s abilities were limited. After an entire lesson, he had barely managed to create one protective talisman. Duan Wenqian, having that talisman, would surely be safe for the night. But a single charm can't protect him forever. To address the root cause, they needed to find the grave of the ghost in the photograph.

The attachment of the ghost began with that very photograph.

Time was of the essence, so Xie Yinxue immediately called for Liu Buhua. They drove, following Shen Qiuji's directions, to the seafood restaurant where he and Duan Wenqian had dined.

With winter approaching, night had already fallen by the time they arrived.

The back garden of the seafood restaurant, located up the hill, was pitch black without a single light. The howling night winds on the hill sounded like the wails of lost souls, adding to the eeriness. Yet, the three of them strolled up as if on a casual walk, their faces showing no fear.

Liu Buhua played with his phone, taking random shots in the dark, muttering, "I've heard that sometimes you can capture ghosts in photos taken in the dark. Why haven't I captured any?"

Recalling his own experiences with Duan Wenqian, Shen Qiuji mischievously suggested, "Why don't you take a selfie? Maybe after taking the picture, you'll discover a ghost standing right behind you."

Author's Note:

I'm back again, after a long hiatus... I sincerely apologize to my dear readers. I don't understand myself sometimes. It's not a writer's block; I've completed the outline, climax, and even the additional chapters, but I've been feeling incredibly anxious recently due to health issues. So many thoughts cluttered my mind that I couldn't focus. I've been on medication for over half a month, and I'm feeling more grounded now.

In this new year, I'll start afresh and consistently update! This is chapter 126, and I promise I will catch up on all the missed updates.