Chapter 346

Chapter 346

◎The Third Dream◎

It was pretty late, and they had just finished a magical duel. Xiao Ye, worried that Ji Nanxing might be tired, said, “My place is super close—less than twenty minutes away. Stay at my place tonight. I’ve been replacing your pajamas all along.”

Ji Nanxing: “Replacing?”

Xiao Ye: “Yeah, replacing. Back in freshman year, you were so much shorter. You’ve been growing taller every year, so of course the clothes need to be updated. I’ve been keeping some ready in case you ever stayed over. The ones you never wore weren’t wasted—I donated them all, didn’t throw them out.”

Ji Nanxing: “It only takes me half an hour to get home.”

Xiao Ye tried to persuade him further: “That road’s always packed, and right now the nightlife crowd is out. Traffic’s gonna be bad—could take an hour to get home. Come to my place. I’ve collected a full set of Fengshen figurines you haven’t seen yet.”

He wasn’t even trying to hide the temptation. Ji Nanxing found this aspect of Xiao Ye fascinating. He’d seen plenty of couples—even those in the sweetest, most loving relationships—who still wanted a bit of personal space. But Xiao Ye seemed to have no need for it.

When they were together, he stuck close. When apart, he’d text Ji Nanxing about every little thing he did. Sometimes, when Zhang Yuan called him a hopeless romantic, he wasn’t wrong at all.

Just as Ji Nanxing was about to agree, his phone buzzed. Answering it, he heard Tian Pei’s voice.

After setting up a meeting spot, Ji Nanxing turned to see Xiao Ye’s puppy-dog eyes and chuckled. “Let’s deal with Aunt Tian’s problem first, then I’ll go back with you.”

After all, Xiao Ye’s grandfather wasn’t home, his brother was swamped with year-end work, and his sister-in-law was even busier at the hospital. Odds are we won’t run into them—it should be fine.

Xiao Ye whooped and grabbed Ji Nanxing’s hand. “Let’s go! The sooner we deal with their problem, the sooner we can go home and sleep. You’ve been running around all day—you gotta be wiped. I’ll run you a bath when we get back. My sister-in-law uses these amazing relaxing bath bombs when she’s worn out from the hospital. They’re magic—I’ll let you try them tonight.”

Ji Nanxing and Xiao Ye hadn’t gone far, so after Tian Pei’s call, they arranged to meet at a nearby small park.

Tian Pei had brought her husband, Gao Zongyi.

The moment she saw Ji Nanxing, Tian Pei got right to it: “If we apologize for Gu Yu’s matter, will it help?”

Ji Nanxing: “Are you apologizing for yourselves, or for Grandfather Gao?”

Tian Pei glanced at her husband and said, “For ourselves.”

Even if they were willing to apologize on behalf of the old man, that ghost girl probably wouldn’t buy it.

With the talisman Ji Nanxing had given her, Tian Pei wasn’t too worried about the ghost targeting her. So after tonight’s events, she ignored the chaos among the Gao family and prepared to leave to check on her son.

But her husband, sobbing pathetically, grabbed her and said he was willing to apologize, begging her to ask Ji Nanxing for help.

Before she could respond, her father-in-law lost it, smashing things and yelling that if they went, he’d disown his son forever.

Tian Pei watched silently as Gao Zongyi, who had obeyed his father his whole life, made his choice.

Though he was sobbing pathetically, Gao Zongyi took her hand and turned to Old Madam Gao. “Mom, you’re still my mom. But I’m also Youlin’s dad and Peipei’s husband. I have my own family too.”

Grandfather Gao grabbed the nearest thing and hurled it at him. “Get out! If you walk out that door, don’t bother coming back!”

Gao Zongyi looked at his mother. “Mom, an apology could settle this. Come with us.”

Old Madam Gao, terrified of being dragged back into that horrifying dream—where they had died twice, feeling every moment of it—was dying to leave with her son.

But before she could move, Grandfather Gao shot her a warning glare.

Though she often seemed domineering at home, the truth was that Grandfather Gao held all the power. When he truly lost his temper, no one dared disobey. Her son had his wife, her grandson’s heart belonged to another man, and she—what did she have left if she left the Gao family and her husband?

Hesitating, Gao Zongyi understood his mother’s choice. With a heavy heart, he took his wife’s hand and walked away without looking back.

Looking at the couple before him, Ji Nanxing said, "An apology isn't just about saying 'sorry' to Gu Yu. A casual 'sorry' can't make up for the harm the Gao family has caused him. You need to publicly clarify the entire story and explain what the Gao family did to him. Then post a pinned apology on your personal social media platforms. Otherwise, that false 'cross-dressing scam' accusation will forever remain attached to him. Also, there must be compensation for the damage done to his studio. He built his career from the ground up, only for the Gao family to ruin it with one statement. A mere apology isn't enough."

Tian Pei nodded. "That’s reasonable."

Ji Nanxing handed Gao Zongyi a talisman. "Carry this with you today. Tomorrow, I’ll arrange a time for you to meet with Gu Yu and properly resolve everything."

With someone backing them up and no longer needing to constantly fear being haunted by a vengeful spirit, Gao Zongyi felt like he’d dodged a bullet—relaxed and relieved.

Gu Yu hadn’t even stayed in the countryside for a few days before a call from Ji Nanxing brought him back.

Seeing the basket of citrus fruits he was carrying, Ji Nanxing chuckled. "Weren’t you supposed to be relaxing with friends? How'd you end up a fruit farmer?"

Gu Yu, panting from carrying the load all the way, drank half a glass of water before replying, "My friend’s orchard. I tried them—they’re really sweet, so I brought some for you to taste."

Ji Nanxing smiled. "Thanks. I’ve already explained everything over the phone. Gao Youlin’s parents are coming soon. I've spelled out the terms of the apology with them. If you're uneasy about pushing too hard because they’re Gao Youlin’s parents, you can renegotiate directly with them."

Gu Yu shook his head. "No need. Let’s stick to what you’ve arranged. This is what Qianqian fought for. If it weren’t for her, I probably would never have gotten an apology from their family. No matter what, I won’t undermine her efforts."

So he wouldn’t soften his stance just because they were Gao Youlin’s family. Doing so would betray Qianqian, who had fought so hard for him.

Xiao Ye nodded approvingly. "That’s the right attitude. His parents’ apology is theirs alone—his grandfather is still stubborn. But don’t worry, your sister will teach him how to be a decent person."

Gu Yu smiled faintly. He thought his life had been both fortunate and unfortunate—filled with hardships, yet blessed with loved ones who cared deeply for him. Even after death, she still watched over him, standing up for him when he was wronged.

Gao Zongyi and Tian Pei both had personal social media accounts. Though they rarely posted about company matters, their status as the only son and daughter-in-law of the owner of Five-Star Chain Hotels drew considerable attention. Many were curious about the lives of the wealthy elite.

When both accounts simultaneously pinned an apology post, it quickly trended online. Through a chain reaction, Gu Yu became suddenly famous.

Curious netizens clicked on the pinned apology, only to discover how the Gao family had mistreated someone simply because their only grandson wanted to marry a man. People were furious, especially those already resentful of the privileges enjoyed by the rich.

The official Weibo account of the Gao family’s hotels was flooded with criticism, but soon netizens began mocking it relentlessly.

—Same-sex marriage is legal, yet the Gao family still discriminates? Desperate to continue the family line—do they have a throne to inherit?

—Actually, they do have something to inherit.

—Accusing him of cross-dressing to scam a marriage? Are your eyes so bad you can’t tell male from female? Maybe get them checked.

—I checked the photos and videos shared by netizens. Can’t tell either. Guess I need an eye exam too.

—The Gao patriarch is obsessed with heirs!

—But they really do have billions to pass down.

People dug into Gu Yu’s past, discovering the cross-dressing videos and photos he had once made to fund his sister’s treatment. What was once a niche interest suddenly went viral, with many marveling at his gorgeous looks in both masculine and feminine styles—calling him a rare find.

As for the Gao family’s accusations of Gu Yu deceiving Gao Youlin for wealth, netizens dismissed them outright. If his parents had apologized, the claims must be false. Some even speculated about what Gu Yu and his boyfriend had done to make such a traditional family accept them.

Many declared they “believed in love again,” praising it as a beautiful romance.

Offers poured in—from brands and entertainment agencies asking if Gu Yu wanted to debut or sign contracts.

If his sister were still alive, Gu Yu might have accepted even bad press if it meant earning money for her treatment. But now, with no such need, he had no desire to complicate his life. He chose to disconnect—ignoring it all.

Gao Youlin, convalescing at Tian Pei’s place, was no longer restricted from using communication devices. But he still couldn’t reach Gu Yu, who had wanted time alone to think about the future without contact.

Seeing the wave of online love for Gu Yu, Gao Youlin felt both joy and sorrow—happy that Gu Yu was no longer dragged because of him, devastated that he hadn’t been able to have his back when it mattered most.

He used to think that nothing in the world was difficult as long as he wanted it, but when real hardships came, he realized just how useless he was.

Watching netizens gush about their "picture-perfect love," Gao Youlin felt nothing but bitterness. Whether he could ever reclaim that love was something even he didn’t know.

The moment this incident hit the trending list, the online community erupted. Many spent the day devouring the gossip, thinking it had run its course—until the next day, when Old Madam Gao also posted an apology video. Without a personal account, she used her son’s platform to share it.

In the video, the usually impeccably dressed and poised elderly woman, though still carefully groomed, couldn’t hide her exhaustion. Her once-piercing gaze now seemed almost timid.

For others, only a night had passed, but for those pulled into the dream, years had passed by. The third dream started normally enough—marriage, childbirth, and then, at her mother-in-law’s insistence, a second child after the first daughter, finally granting the long-awaited son.

This time, the childbirth itself wasn’t the ordeal. The torment came from the son, pampered into a monster by his grandmother, growing into a petty despot—entitled, vicious, and outright violent toward his parents.

He was trouble from the start, bullying classmates and forcing his mother to apologize repeatedly. By middle school, he’d been threatened with expulsion more than once. In the dream, the woman she became knelt and begged just to keep him in school.

After flunking out of middle school, he dropped out and fell in with a bad crowd. His flaws only worsened—arrogant, violent, shaking down his own parents for money, stealing when they had none, even beating his parents to force them to find ways to pay.

Violence was addictive, especially when the victims—aging and defenseless—couldn’t fight back. The bully basked in that control.

In the third dream, long before old age, they were already stuck in a loop of beatings and demands. But what could they do? Who’d care for them otherwise? He was their only son.

As for the eldest daughter, pushed aside by their son-first obsession, she left as soon as she could support herself. She sent money home for a while, but after learning it all went to her brother, she cut ties completely.

At first, Old Madam Gao knew it was a dream, but she couldn’t control the woman’s actions. Slowly, she truly became that mother—endlessly sacrificing for her son, enduring his abuse, unable to let go.

In the end, Old Madam Gao was beaten to death by the son she’d spent her life supporting. As she lay dying on the floor, he ransacked the house for money, indifferent to her suffering.

When she woke, she was mentally frayed. The first dream had stretched time, allowing moments of clarity upon waking. But the last two played out in one go, leaving her unsure of who she even was—the woman who sacrificed seven daughters for one son, or the mother who raised a child who killed her.

She knew she’d go mad if this continued. An old woman with one foot in the grave—why suffer for the sake of descendants?

So the next day, she went to her son and daughter-in-law, ready to grovel if it meant peace—even accepting a son-in-law who’s a man. Grandchildren, the Gao family’s future—what good was any of it to someone already halfway in the grave?

With Old Madam Gao yielding, only Grandfather Gao remained stubborn. He refused to bend, but the dreams left him traumatized—even the sight of children on TV filled him with dread.

But his pride festered. Remembering the Bureau from that night, he tracked down its address, determined to demand answers. If such an authority existed, how could they let a ghost torment the living?

He hadn’t even laid a hand on Gu Yu—no violence, no killing. Yet that lingering ghost had wrecked his family, even driving away the expensive masters he’d hired. Since when do ghosts get free rein? If so, why live at all?

If the Bureau blew him off, he’d appeal higher. Surely the world still had laws!

But before he could leave, his wife surrendered. His obedient son defied him. His docile daughter-in-law defied him. His grandson abandoned the family for a man.

Now even his ever-loyal wife had betrayed him.

At nearly seventy, Grandfather Gao hadn’t been broken by the dreams—but reality sent his blood pressure skyrocketing. A stroke put him in the ER.

After his hospitalization, Guan Qianqian sought out Ji Nanxing guiltily. “I didn’t want him dead.”

Ji Nanxing: “Will you keep going?”

She shook her head quickly. “My brother’s name’s cleared. The rumors the Gaos spread are gone. They’ve compensated for the ruined studio. It’s enough. That old man can do as he pleases—I won’t torment him anymore.”

Ji Nanxing: “Then this ends here. It’s time for you to prepare for your deliverance.”

Guan Qianqian hesitated. “Young Celestial Master… did I go too far with the Gaos?”

Ji Nanxing smiled. “Getting cold feet?”

Guan Qianqian sighed, "It's not that I'm afraid. After all, from the beginning, I was prepared to fight them to the death if they didn't apologize."

But now, Gao Youlin's parents and grandmother have apologized, and her brother has been freed from the pile of online abuse. She felt that perhaps she should have stopped yesterday.

Ji Nanxing: "Guan Qianqian."

Guan Qianqian looked up and nodded at him.

Ji Nanxing: "There aren't many people like Gu in this world who can stand up for justice when faced with injustice. But there are many families like the Gao family, who use their power to oppress others and bring suffering to what was once a peaceful life. What you saw was just your brother's case, but the Gao family has done more than just to your brother. So, you don't need to feel burdened or guilty about this outcome. Perhaps everything was destined to happen this way."

Guan Qianqian smiled, "I see. That's true. It doesn't seem like it's their first time bullying someone. Let it be their retribution. I'll go see my brother. I don't know when I'll leave, so every visit counts."

Guan Qianqian floated away, and Xiao Ye turned off the camera, shaking his head, "Still too kind-hearted."

When her brother was cornered and almost fell into debt, she never thought of killing their entire family. Now that they've apologized and compensated, she feels guilty for going too far. Pity good people don't live long.

After sighing, Xiao Ye couldn't help but feel curious, "Naona, can you tell what the Gao family did in the past that led to their single descendants?"

Ji Nanxing: "They did some things like turning to banditry and wiping out everyone in their path."

He deduced from their birth charts that the Gao family had a fate intertwined with the aura of bandits. In those times, turning to banditry wasn't about robbing the rich to help the poor, as depicted in films. With limited weapons and tools, they could only rob ordinary people and dared not challenge the wealthy.

In an era where everyone lacked food, robbing the poor was no different from taking their lives.

With a bit of manpower, they could rob and accumulate some wealth. The Gao family's fortune was strong back then, and it was normal for them to build their current estate. However, having committed acts that cut off their lineage, it was impossible for their family to flourish.

By Gao Youlin's generation, their family's fortune had reached its end.