Chapter 54: Ghost Story Born on a Rainy Day 4

Chapter 54: The Rain Ghost Story 4

"2. On rainy days, the Ghost Story uses black umbrellas, while humans use red umbrellas. If you see umbrellas of any other color, you must destroy them."

The rule is invalid.

Perhaps the conditions are too stringent and too biased towards you.

Rules should be fair, at least on the surface.

You pause, then rephrase: "2. On rainy days, the Ghost Story uses black, white, yellow, or green umbrellas, while humans use blue, purple, brown, or orange umbrellas. If you see umbrellas of any other color, you must destroy them."

The rule holds.

As you state the new rule, you repeatedly recall the characteristics of the Rain Ghost Story, hoping to break it as soon as possible.

Undoubtedly, rain and umbrellas are the fundamental elements connecting it to humans—neither can be missing.

You cannot make the rain disappear, so you can only tackle the umbrella.

*Crack… crack…* Your red umbrella’s ribs emit a few crisp sounds. The Rain Ghost Story, affected by the rule, almost acts on the urge to destroy it but quickly stops.

The reflection on the water’s surface shudders more intensely.

It’s effective, but still far from enough.

You can’t resist the urge to destroy the red umbrella—the rule is influencing you too.

Just then, out of the corner of your eye, you see black mist spreading to the edges of the red umbrella, wrapping it layer by layer, inside and out. The red umbrella, from the outside, instantly transforms into a black umbrella.

The water’s reflection calms significantly, but an indescribable discomfort wells up in your chest, making you desperately want to escape this "black umbrella."

According to the rule, black umbrellas are for the Ghost Story.

The Rain Ghost Story adapts to this rule, turning the red umbrella black to counterattack—its intelligence is higher than expected.

An established rule cannot be individually revoked. Clenching your jaw against the discomfort, your free hand grips the umbrella handle and stealthily moves upward.

"3. Do not extend any part of your body outside the umbrella."

The rule holds.

As you recite the third rule, you immediately use "Forget" on the Rain Ghost Story—repeatedly.

Forget the rule.

Forget the prey.

Forget the current situation.

The third rule takes effect. Earlier, the Rain Ghost Story cleverly covered the red umbrella inside and out with black mist, turning it black. This means a part of its "body" is now exposed outside the umbrella and must withdraw the black mist.

Once the black mist withdraws, the black umbrella reverts to red, violating the second rule.

Combined with the "Forget" ability acting on the Rain Ghost Story, this combo leaves it first in a brief state of confusion from "forgetting," then continuously rejected by the rules.

The water’s reflection doesn’t just tremble—it begins to warp and convulse.

You’ve created an opportunity to attack the Rain Ghost Story’s inherent weakness.

Its current state is like a groggy sleeper, still disoriented, being shoved left and right, unable to steady itself.

Capitalizing on the moment, your free hand slides up the umbrella handle and indeed finds the red umbrella’s switch.

Now’s the chance.

You pull the switch and wrench the red umbrella closed!

*Click.*

The switch makes a soft sound as the red umbrella folds shut.

The Rain Ghost Story is captured within.

Born from the umbrella, the umbrella itself becomes its cage.

At this moment, the world seems to reconnect with you. All the distant sounds and blocked vision draw near again, returning to your side.

*Plip, plop, plip…*

Even the sound of rain grows louder, heavy raindrops striking your face.

You open your mouth and slowly exhale, your whole body relaxing.

Your legs give way, and you lurch forward, tumbling towards the stairs.

The continuous use of your abilities has utterly depleted you. Your body can’t bear it, and the moment you relax, it craves sleep.

But falling face-first onto the steps like this, will you lose another front tooth? And swallow a few mouthfuls of dirty water…

In the last moment of your consciousness, you see a pair of pale hands reaching out to catch you.

Faintly, you spot a crimson mole beneath an eye—vividly red.

You slip into a deep sleep.

……

A gentle rocking, like being in a cradle. Someone slowly pulls the cradle, and outside, rain falls, *pitter-patter*, a few tendrils of cold seeping in.

You blearily open your eyes, unsure how long you’ve slept. The first thing you see is long hair.

Several seconds pass before you fully wake and realize you’re lying on your mother’s back—that’s why you feel the swaying and cold.

She carries you, slogging through the water toward home.

The rain still falls, though lighter now, pattering softly against the umbrella.

Umbrella?

You look up and see a blue plaid umbrella overhead. Your mother holds it with one hand while supporting you on her back with the other.

The red umbrella!

You frantically look around and relief floods you as you see the folded red umbrella hanging from your raincoat.

"Sweetheart, you’re awake," your mother says softly.

"Mhm." You’re still exhausted, nuzzling back into her shoulder with a yawn. "I’m awake."

You mumble in a low voice, "Mom, where did this blue umbrella come from?"

When Mother took you out, she only carried a red umbrella, but now there’s an additional blue checkered one.

"It’s borrowed." Mother pauses. "He asked me not to return it."

You fall silent.

Mom’s back isn’t warm or very broad, but it’s steady.

You cling to her, wanting to stay there a little longer.

"Mom, why hasn’t this Ghost Story been broken by me yet?"

"Certain conditions need to be met," Mother explains.

"What else do I need to do?"

You’re already imagining what abilities you might gain after breaking the rainy-day Ghost Story. Unfortunately, it’s still "trapped" in the red umbrella and can’t contribute to your growth.

Mother doesn’t answer; she’s also pondering the question.

"Mom," you call again.

Mother responds.

"Did You Guang come by? I think I saw him before I fell asleep."

"He showed up while you were fighting the Ghost Story."

"I thought it was just my imagination…" You touch your upper lip, relieved. "He saved my second front tooth."

Where your first tooth fell out, a new one has already half-grown back. If you had fallen on the steps and hit your mouth, you might have lost not just the old tooth but the newly grown one too. Then you’d have to hunt for a Ghost Story that could regrow teeth.

That would be awful.

But Mother suddenly says, "He’s too greedy."

"Greedy?" You don’t understand what she means.

Is she talking about You Guang? What has he done?

"You Guang has devoured more than one Ghost Story. He’s unstable. Stay away from him—he could hurt you," Mother replies.

You don’t understand. What is You Guang trying to do?

"I won’t touch him, but can I write him letters?"

Mother stops walking through the water. Under the umbrella’s shadow, her head slowly turns 180 degrees, her face now facing you on her back, her eerie gaze locking onto yours.

Honestly, it scares you for a second. Realizing it’s Mother’s face, your pounding heart slowly calms.

"Baby, some Ghost Stories are skilled at tricking people," she warns you.

You meet her gaze without flinching. "You Guang is different. He’s helped me so much, even saved me. If he wanted to hurt me, he would’ve done it already. I trust him."

Mother is silent for a while before squinting her eyes slightly and saying quietly, "He’s devoured more than one Ghost Story. It’s affecting his traits and his mind. Until the outcome is settled, his traits and mind are a battlefield."

This shocks you, unable to believe You Guang’s inner self has transformed so drastically.

It reminds you of the day Mother acted strangely, when she lost control and treated you as prey, unleashing her power upon you. It must have been a similar situation.

So what on earth is You Guang doing?

"Mom, if I want to help him, is there a way?" You choose your words carefully, fingers playing with Mother’s hair draped over her back. "We’re best friends. I don’t want to give up on him so easily."

Mother doesn’t speak. She stares at you for a long time before slowly turning her head back and continuing to walk home through the water.

You don’t remember how long you’ve been unconscious, but now the sky is starting to get light. You and Mother are about ten minutes from home.

During that time, Mother remains silent.

You almost ask again several times but hesitate, not sure how to phrase it to persuade her.

Entering the building, Mother pauses in the hallway, glancing at the box on the stairs and the notebook inside.

You look as well.

The pen is clipped onto the notebook. You remember you’d just casually tossed it back into the box when you left.

That means You Guang has been here—he used the pen. He wrote you back.

You fight the urge to open the notebook and read his reply.

You’re still on Mother’s back, and she’s just talked to you about You Guang. Doing this now would be asking for trouble. If you were Mother, you’d punish a kid for that too.

At the door, Mother sets you down. You dig out the keys to unlock it when she suddenly speaks.

"Make sure he remembers everything."

"What?" You push the door open, turning back to look at her in confusion.

"After devouring a Ghost Story, the winner is decided. What makes them disappear is forgetting—forgetting one’s traits, experiences, even one’s name," she explains seriously.

You understand. Mother is answering your earlier question.

She agrees with your desire to help You Guang and is telling you how.

"Okay!" You beam. "I’ll remember. Thanks, Mom!"

"Don’t go near him," she reminds you, stepping inside.

"Okay! I won’t touch him," you promise, following her.

"Don’t follow him."

"Mom, I won’t," you say firmly.

"Don’t go to certain places he suggests."

"Got it!" You really do.

The door closes.

About thirty minutes later, you quietly open the door, a towel on your wet hair, peeking out into the hallway.

Turning back, you call into the apartment, "Mom, You Guang isn’t here. I’m getting the notebook!"

Then you slap your slippers down the stairs, bend down to grab the notebook and pen from the box, and prepare to go back inside to read his reply.

As soon as you stand up and look up, you see someone standing on the steps right in front of you, staring straight at you.

"Whoa!" You rarely yelp in surprise, trembling as the notebook and pen fall onto the stairs.

It takes you a second to realize it’s You Guang standing before you.

He glares at you coldly, but his mouth keeps twitching into a smirk.

"You scared me to death!" you snap at him, but soon you notice—

"You’ve grown taller! So much taller!!!"

Your eyes widen, your high-pitched voice unable to fully convey your shock.

You remember that the last time you met, there was only half a head’s difference in height between you and You Guang—the top of your head barely reached his ear.

But now, you only reach his chest!

You Guang has already left elementary school height behind, hitting middle school height, while you’re still a standard first-grader!

Ugh, so unfair!