Chapter 15

Chapter 15

While waiting for Zhou's parents to arrive in C City, Zhou Xiangbei, with nothing else to do, kept drifting between the two dormitories.

His nervousness was palpable.

The dorm mates, initially scared by his floating, had become numb to it, even asking Zhou Xiangbei to drift further away, giving the living some personal space.

The introverted boy who had been possessed by Zhou Xiangbei fainted upon realizing he was involved in a paranormal incident. Li Pingping, Wang Kai, and others frantically tried to revive him, pinching his pressure points, stuffing amulets, and spraying water on his face.

It was only after Shen Wang opened his third eye, allowing Zhou Xiangbei to apologize and explain personally, that he finally calmed down.

Li Pingping grumbled privately, "He's not calm. He's clearly scared out of his wits and too frightened to move."

Shen Wang smiled slightly, keeping his achievements and fame hidden.

Early on the third day, Shen Wang received a call from Zhou's parents, informing him that they had arrived in C City and would soon reach C City University.

Turning to Zhou Xiangbei, Shen Wang hadn't even spoken when he saw him nervously floating up to the ceiling, incessantly biting his fingers.

Shen Wang, unable to comprehend, said, "Why are you scared of meeting your own parents?"

"If it's him..." Shen Wang had just begun to think when the faces of the Tang couple and Tang Jiu's hypocritical smile flashed through his mind. He frowned in disgust.

"Forget it, parents are always better when they're someone else's."

Since Zhou Xiangbei was a bound spirit unable to leave C City University, Shen Wang set their meeting place in the school's garden. He walked out of the dormitory, calm and composed, holding a pink umbrella that belonged to someone in his dorm.

Zhou Xiangbei hid under the umbrella, eyes darting away. "Shen, aren't we being too conspicuous?"

The umbrella wasn't just pink; it was adorned with cute white bunny patterns and surrounded by white lace, exuding a girlish charm.

Tall and handsome, Shen Wang strolled confidently, one hand in his pocket, the other holding the umbrella. Everyone who passed by couldn't help but give him a second glance, turning heads at a two-hundred percent rate.

"Would you prefer to be in the sun?" Shen Wang asked without looking sideways, his demeanor so forthright that Zhou Xiangbei couldn't help but respect him.

Zhou Xiangbei, who dared not face the sun, chuckled dryly and fell silent, thinking to himself, "Can't they find a single decent umbrella in the dorms? Do guys really live so roughly?"

As they passed a banner, Shen Wang stopped to admire it for a few seconds, then took out his phone to snap a photo.

Zhou Xiangbei saw the headline, "XXth Business Management Student Wang Duped of 100,000 Yuan in Online Romance Scam! Beware of Internet Fraud!"

He fell silent.

"Poor Student Wang."

He couldn't help but laugh, though he knew he shouldn't.

Distracted, Zhou Xiangbei's mood lightened considerably. He followed Shen Wang to the agreed-upon grove and hadn't waited long when his mother called again.

"We've arrived. Where are you?"

Holding his phone in one hand and the umbrella in the other, Shen Wang looked around. "I'm on the bench in the middle of the grove, holding a pink umbrella..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he locked eyes with Zhou's mother.

Zhou's mother looked at him, then at the pink umbrella, and back at him, repeating this several times.

"Don't be afraid, I'm not a weirdo," Shen Wang said, hanging up the phone. "Actually, it's your son who likes this umbrella."

Zhou's parents' expressions were subtly complex, as if questioning their own judgment for believing such an unlikely story; yet, they also seemed to console themselves, thinking perhaps those who communicate with spirits are indeed extraordinary.

"He's telling the truth," one person affirmed Shen Wang's words.

Deeply moved, Shen Wang responded, "Thank you, brother. I speak the truth, yet they don't believe me. It's really..."

But as he saw who had spoken, the rest of his words stalled.

The weather had warmed up, and the sun shone brilliantly, casting a golden glow over Gu Dongting. His eyes shimmered, and his long eyelashes cast shadows on his face, accentuating his pale, jade-like skin.

Under Gu Dongting's slightly puzzled gaze, Shen Wang blurted out, "A beauty as resplendent as jade, a sword as brilliant as a rainbow. The ancients indeed did not deceive me."

Although his stunning appearance was captivating, what truly amazed Shen Wang was the unexpressed sword aura emanating from him - upright, pure, and irresistibly sharp.

Gu Dongting's eyes immediately cooled, his initial curiosity towards Shen Wang replaced by indifference. Just as he was about to speak, Shen Wang continued.

"Aren't you hot wearing so much?"

The anger that had barely risen dissipated entirely, and Gu Dongting looked at Shen Wang seriously, realizing his genuine curiosity.

Gu Dongting was still dressed in his flowing, wide-sleeved ancient attire, which was beautiful and eye-catching, especially with his half-tied long hair adding a touch of ethereal grace.

Those who didn't know him would only be astonished by his appearance and aura.

Those who knew him admired his illustrious family background or his formidable strength.

This was the first time someone had directly asked him if his attire was too hot. Gu Dongting was momentarily at a loss for words.

The silence was broken by Zhou's parents: "Excuse us, our Xiao Bei..."

Shen Wang shifted his gaze from Gu Dongting and opened the Yin-Yang eyes for them: "He's now a spirit and can't be exposed to direct sunlight. You better take the umbrella."

Zhou's parents felt a chill in their eyes. When they opened them again, they saw Zhou Xiangbei floating under the pink umbrella, tears welling up in their eyes.

"Can't be in the sun, why not choose a café or somewhere to sit?" Zhou's mother asked tearfully.

Shen Wang hesitated, then turned his head nonchalantly: "I'll leave you to your reunion then."

Should he tell them it's because going to a café means spending money on orders? He hadn’t made a penny from Zhou Xiangbei yet and already had to spend on coffee; Shen Wang found it uneconomical.

Shen Wang gave his bench to the Zhou family and found another clean one for himself, courteously inviting Gu Dongting: "Would you like to sit?"

Seeing no response from Gu Dongting, Shen Wang diligently wiped the bench and invited him again: "Who knows how long they'll talk. Do you plan to stand the whole time?"

This time, Gu Dongting sat down.

The two sat at opposite ends of the bench, a considerable distance between them. Gu Dongting looked at Shen Wang with an inquiring gaze: "I'm Gu Dongting."

Shen Wang responded in kind: "I'm Shen Wang."

They exchanged glances, each showing a brief smile, then quickly reverted to neutral expressions after turning away.

Shen Wang clicked his tongue silently.

He had recognized Gu Dongting the moment he saw him.

In the original text, only one person would dress like that, wearing ancient attire utterly out of sync with modern society, looking like a cosplayer, dressed in ostentatious white, with a face as beautiful as spring blossoms, always expressionless as if someone owed him three million.

This was how the male lead, Tang Jiu, saw Gu Dongting.

After finding a way to exchange blood with Shen Wang, Tang Jiu finally inherited the Tang family legacy and became a standout among the young generation of C City's mystical community. Just when he thought he was invincible, the author dramatically shifted the setting.

The mystical community in the capital was unfathomably deep, brimming with experts. Tang Jiu, once dominant in C City, became a mere underling upon entering the capital, forced to start from scratch.

Gu Dongting was the prodigy Tang Jiu could only look up to when he first arrived in the capital.

Born into nobility, Gu Dongting was the eldest son of the renowned mystical family Gu. Exceptionally talented, he became the leader of the young generation in the mystical world. Despite his cold demeanor, he was kind-hearted and upright, always ready to help with any unsolvable tasks, earning him countless admirers.

Furthermore, Gu Dongting's striking appearance captivated both men and women; his father was the billionaire CEO of the Gu family.

Such a seemingly flawless individual ultimately faced ruin and became the most deranged antagonist, opposing Tang Jiu until the end, even perishing together with him in mutual destruction.

Thinking of Gu Dongting in the later parts of the original story, his paranoia and madness, resorting to any means against Tang Jiu, his once-admirers were utterly disappointed, turning from fans to haters. His fiancée became part of Tang Jiu's harem, even his sister...

His downfall was complete, his initial grace and dignity seeming like a mere facade. No one remembered him as the once proud and acclaimed leader of the mystical community.

Shen Wang had forgotten most of the original plot, remembering only the gist. Observing Gu Dongting's perfect profile, he suddenly recalled some minor details.

Despite his feminine beauty, Gu Dongting detested compliments about his appearance, especially being called a beauty... Anyone daring to flirt with him would meet a terrible fate.

The original conflict between him and the then-minor character Tang Jiu began because Tang Jiu flippantly complimented his looks, saying he was prettier than women.

Shen Wang chuckled, realizing he had just committed two of the big boss's taboos upon their first meeting.

While Shen Wang observed Gu Dongting, Gu Dongting was also observing him.

When silent and not revealing his true nature, Shen Wang's face was quite intimidating - sharp and handsome features, a high nose bridge, cold thin lips, and captivating peach blossom eyes.

His serious and focused expression, as if pondering something of great importance, was unforgettable.

Such an unforgettable figure... Gu Dongting's eyelashes trembled slightly, veiling the scrutiny and doubt in his eyes.

When had such a character emerged in the mystical world? Most importantly, despite his seemingly harmless and lazy demeanor, Gu Dongting could sense the strength hidden beneath his casual exterior.

Like a lazy lion, harmless yet always warranting caution.

"Mr. Shen, you possess considerable skills. May I ask who your teacher is?" Gu Dongting initiated the conversation.

Shen Wang smiled, "I'm hardly remarkable. Mr. Gu is the true expert here, and I am no match for him."

Gu Dongting also smiled, his gaze light. "Mr. Shen is being too modest. The ability to see spirits and awaken others' Yin-Yang eyes shows your mastery over spiritual energy."

Shen Wang laughed it off: "My master is a hermit. He instructed me not to mention his name after I left, lest I disgrace him. Only after I make a name for myself in the mystical world will I dare to reveal his name."

Their conversation, seemingly casual, was actually a tight exchange of probing and guarded responses.

A slight frown creased Gu Dongting's brow, his eyes holding a new measure of wariness towards Shen Wang.

Their intermittent chat, though tiring with its constant evasion, softened when Shen Wang looked at Gu Dongting’s delicate and beautiful face, forgiving his testing.

Even his tone became gentler.

After all, beauties have their privileges... even if they don’t see themselves as such.

After some time, Zhou's parents approached, their eyes red and swollen. Zhou's mother carefully handled the pink umbrella.

"Finished talking?" Shen Wang addressed Zhou's parents, but his gaze was fixed on Zhou Xiangbei.

"Thank you, Mr. Shen," Zhou's father said gratefully, his manner reserved. He had been worried about being deceived before coming here, driven only by his desperate longing for his son.

Seeing Zhou Xiangbei, Zhou's father realized he had misjudged Shen Wang, who was not a swindler but a profoundly discreet expert.

Zhou's father was concerned that his initial distrust might have offended Shen Wang, knowing that a mere gesture from such a master could cause immense trouble for an ordinary person.

Zhou's mother, less contemplative, spoke tearfully: "I never realized how our strict demands pressured Xiao Bei. It's my fault. If I hadn't pushed him so hard to compete with others, he wouldn't have come to C City to study, and this wouldn’t have happened..."

The more she spoke, the more she cried.

After Zhou Xiangbei's death, Zhou's mother was in extreme pain, regretting sending her son to C City. She believed if he had stayed in the capital, under their watch, this tragedy wouldn’t have occurred.

Night after night, she dreamt of changing Zhou Xiangbei's university preference, keeping him in the capital.

She would always wake up with her pillow soaked in tears.

Now, after a rare and equal conversation with Zhou Xiangbei, Zhou's mother realized how terribly wrong she had been.

The reason Zhou Xiangbei died wasn't because he went to C City for his studies, but because they, as parents, suffocated him with their expectations, pushing him to his limits to meet their demands, leading to his untimely death.

Even if Zhou Xiangbei had stayed at a university in the capital, the outcome wouldn’t have changed.

A year after their son’s death, Zhou's parents finally began to reflect on their parenting methods, regretting imposing their own will on him.

When they were expecting their child, all they wanted was for him to be happy and lead a normal life.

Yet, they ended up piling layer upon layer of pressure on their young child – academic performance, hobbies, competition prizes… always comparing him to others, wishing he were a superhero.

Zhou Xiangbei's eyes reddened too, but as a spirit, he couldn’t shed tears. His gaze was filled with emotion and a strange sense of contentment.

"Dad, Mom, if you have another child in the future, I hope you treat them better, give them a happy childhood, unlike mine, where my twenty years of memories consist of nothing but studying," Zhou Xiangbei said with a smile, free of resentment, only relief. "They will surely be better children for you than I was."

He had said before that he didn't hate his parents, but that didn't mean he harbored no resentment.

He knew his parents loved him and that their high expectations were why they were so strict. He understood all this... but he couldn't help resenting them for stealing his childhood, for constantly comparing him with others, for caring only about his grades and never about his feelings or mental health.

"No," Zhou's father clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand, "Zhou Xiangbei, you are our best child, and our most outstanding one."

"You were more studious than those rich and idle kids, studying while they partied; you were smarter than the neighbor’s child, who ended up studying abroad because he couldn’t get into a good university, while you were admitted to a top one."

"You were more obedient and sensible than your cousins. While they were rebellious and arguing with their parents, you never argued with us."

"C City University is also excellent, one of the top ten universities in the country, not inferior to the Capital University."

Zhou Xiangbei looked steadily at his parents. For over twenty years, he was always compared to others, never measuring up to other people's children. This was the first time he had received praise from his parents.

In that moment, it was as if invisible shackles were unlocked. Zhou Xiangbei smiled happily, like the child he once was, yearning for his parents' approval.

"Dad, Mom, thank you."

Watching Zhou Xiangbei's form gradually fading, Zhou's parents were startled and anxiously turned to Shen Wang: "Master, what's happening to him! What's happening to Xiao Bei!"

"His obsession has dissipated; he is ready for reincarnation," Shen Wang explained.

Everyone, including Zhou Xiangbei himself, thought his obsession was not failing his courses. But in reality, it was to gain his parents' approval. Not failing... was just to avoid disappointing them.

"No, no... Is there no way to keep him? Master, I don't care if he's a ghost, please..." Zhou's mother, usually dignified and graceful, now cried messily, in utter despair.

Zhou's father also looked at Shen Wang with bloodshot eyes: "Master, I'm willing to pay, no matter how much it costs..."

Before Shen Wang could respond, Gu Dongting spoke: "Reincarnation is the law of nature. Forcibly keeping him will only turn him into a mindless wandering spirit. Eventually, it will affect his next life when he wants to reincarnate."

Zhou's parents were stunned. Finally, as they watched Zhou Xiangbei slowly disappear, they leaned on each other, aging several years in just a few minutes.

"Dad, Mom, let me go and live your lives well," Zhou Xiangbei said, his form so faint it was nearly invisible, his voice ethereal. He paused, ultimately not saying 'I will be your child in the next life.'

Zhou Xiangbei completely vanished. Under the pink umbrella, there was nothing left.

Zhou's mother's grip loosened, and the umbrella rolled to the ground, spinning several times. In the somber atmosphere, only her pained sobs and Zhou's father's stifled choking could be heard.

Shen Wang picked up the umbrella from the ground and held it over his head, casting a shadow over himself and Gu Dongting beside him: "Life is unpredictable, a tale of sorrow and pity."

Gu Dongting silently stepped to the side, moving out of the range of the pink lace-edged umbrella. He looked at Zhou's parents, who were embracing and crying, with a look of sympathy.

Gu Dongting wasn't particularly skilled at reading faces, but he could tell that Zhou's parents had the countenance of having only one child.

They would not have a second child. For the rest of their lives, Zhou Xiangbei would be their only child.