Chapter 39

Chapter 39

With the storytelling session privately booked, Shen Yuan began narrating from the first installment as requested.

Fang Zaoshang and Wang Sanhu were able to listen from start to finish, allowing them to summarize and learn from the performance.

It was the first time any of them had heard *A Human-Ghost Romance*. Ji Mingfeng and Zhao Yueyun’s reactions were completely different from those of Xie Yulin and Song Zijue.

The former two looked astonished, struggling to stay quiet.

The latter two gave nothing away regarding their thoughts on the story.

Xie Yulin remained expressionless throughout, his composure unchanging.

Song Zijue wore a constant smile, though what he found so amusing was unclear.

However, Shen Yuan noticed that Brother Ping'an's Fifth Granduncle would occasionally glance at his feet.

Although the glances were extremely brief, since they faced each other and Shen Yuan was sitting slightly higher, he could clearly observe the actions and expressions of those below him.

When the story reached the part where Liu Mingqing and Chu Qi were parted by death, Shen Yuan couldn't help but pull his feet back slightly.

He knew the man opposite was looking at the footprint on his shoe that he hadn't had time to clean. Sure enough, after he retracted his feet, that subtle, barely-there gaze disappeared.

When the narration reached the part where Chu Qi left a farewell letter asking Liu Mingqing to make a bowl of sugar-steamed dairy cream every year on his birthday, Ji Xingwang took the opportunity to serve each person two bowls of the dessert.

Song Zijue had been planning to come to the teahouse to eat it today ever since yesterday. Although there had been an unexpected turn and Young Master Lin had also come, the result was the same.

He ate quickly and beckoned to Ji Xingwang, asking for two more bowls.

Not just him; Ji Mingfeng and Zhao Yueyun were also hooked after the first taste.

Eating something in reality that had just been described in a story gave them an indescribably magical feeling. Song Zijue felt that today's sugar-steamed dairy cream was even more delicious than what he had eaten yesterday.

Due to limited ingredients, each person was limited to four bowls.

After finishing their four portions, Ji Mingfeng and Zhao Yueyun still wanted more, but they would have to wait until tomorrow.

They knew the ingredients were hard to come by and didn't press the issue.

More importantly, with Xie Yulin sitting in front of them, they wouldn't dare make a scene even if they were dissatisfied.

Ji Ping'an saw his parents looking longingly at the empty bowls and felt a surge of happiness, knowing that Shen Yuan had secretly set aside two servings for him to eat that night.

After finishing his own, Song Zijue, knowing Xie Yulin didn't eat food from outside, had his eye on his portion.

Having learned his lesson last time, he didn't dare test the waters and instead asked directly, "If Young Master Lin isn't going to eat the cream, should this subordinate dispose of it for you?"

Xie Yulin glanced down at the white, tender, sweet dish with its hint of coolness, then quickly averted his gaze. "If you're not afraid of a bellyache, go ahead."

Song Zijue smiled. "Thank you for the reward, Young Master Lin. This subordinate grew up eating wild grass and has built up a cast-iron stomach since youth. How could a few bowls of sugar-steamed dairy cream cause a bellyache?"

Xie Yulin shot Song Zijue a cool glance. "Quiet."

Song Zijue took the bowl while placing his index finger to his lips in a gesture for silence, nodding slightly to show he understood.

Shen Yuan had covered the earlier parts of the story and prepared to continue.

According to the original plan, today's regular session was supposed to cover the part where Chu Qi discovers that after his death, he is still "alive."

However, no one can see him, and no one can hear him speak.

He has become a ghost.

Upon realizing he can move, he immediately goes to find Liu Mingqing, only to be scorched by the sun. He quickly hides in the shade, while the big black dog at the entrance of the escort agency opposite barks wildly at him.

Its owner, thinking it is hungry, offers it food and water, but it keeps barking at the empty air.

The confused owner smacks the dog on the head twice and snaps, "If you keep barking, I'll lock you in a cage!"

The black dog, cowed, droops its ears and stops barking, starting to eat instead.

Chu Qi confirms that the big black dog can see him.

After sunset, Chu Qi waves at the dog. "I'm going to find Mingqing now. I'll talk to you later."

After an afternoon together, the now-familiar ghost and dog part ways amicably.

When Chu Qi sees Liu Mingqing again, he finds her gazing blankly at a bamboo scroll in her hand, then looks at the untouched food on the table. Anxiously, he circles her, chattering incessantly.

"Why aren't you eating? Your internal organs will ache if you go hungry for too long."

"It's so dark; stop staring at that scroll. Your eyes will get tired."

"There's a wind tonight; it's cold. Close the window, or you'll catch a chill."

When he crouches down and looks up at Liu Mingqing's face, the words catch in his throat. After a long while, he finally says, "Mingqing, don't cry."

He reaches out to wipe her tears, but his hand passes right through her cheek.

Unable to touch, unable to feel.

Dejected, Chu Qi sits down beside her. After a while, he feels like he can't "breathe" and experiences a burning pain.

After moving away from her, the symptoms gradually lessen until they vanish. He can't even get close to people anymore, but being able to see her again is enough.

From that day on, Chu Qi lingers around Liu Mingqing every day. On overcast days, he can even follow her outside.

He also visits Grandpa Liu, concerned about his back injury, thinking that if he could only touch things, it would be easy to gather medicinal herbs in his current state.

From winter to spring, Chu Qi grows accustomed to a life where others can't see him and he can't touch anything.

Floating around every day doesn't feel boring to him.

On this sunless, gloomy day, Liu Mingqing is approached by a simple, honest-looking man who says his wife is struggling with a difficult labor and he fears for her life, so he has come to fetch her.

Chu Qi follows as usual.

He feels the man is acting strangely, as if he is constantly on guard.

Sure enough, in a desolate, uninhabited area, the man suddenly attacks. Chu Qi reacts swiftly, lunging at the man, only remembering after the impact that he shouldn't be able to touch anyone.

Unexpectedly, this time he doesn't pass through, but actually knocks the man down!

Liu Mingqing hadn't even had time to throw her knockout powder, and she stared in shock at the man who had suddenly collapsed.

Returning to the thatched cottage, Liu Mingqing tells her grandfather about the strange incident, guessing that the man was sent by the Chu family.

But the grandfather and granddaughter still had no idea why the Chu family suddenly wanted to act again, or why that man had suddenly fallen to the ground.

Because of the Chu family's affairs, Liu Mingqing hadn't gone out for the past few days.

But she always felt something strange around her—there was no wind, yet locks of her hair would move inexplicably. Shoes she casually took off would later be found neatly arranged. When drying herbs, the basket that should have been very heavy felt like it had no weight at all.

One early morning, Liu Mingqing stared at the shoes she had deliberately messed up, which had once again become neatly arranged for some reason. She sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought for a long time.

Then, she leaned directly forward, as if she were about to fall off the bed, but her whole body froze.

Liu Mingqing's eyes gradually reddened.

"Is it you? Chu Qi."

The latest story ended here. Zhao Yueyun listened from beginning to end, and tears welled in her eyes.

Many things, many scenes flashed through her mind.

Would her children, who never got to be born, also become ghosts?

In the story of Chu Qi's parents, she vaguely saw her own reflection.

So that was how detestable, how heartless and unjust it was.

Zhao Yueyun felt somewhat bewildered. It seemed she had done many, many wrong things. But if she hadn't done those things, how could she have survived in the cutthroat Ji family's inner quarters?

Ji Mingfeng remained silent beside her. Zhao Yueyun knew he was also thinking about something.

The husband and wife sat in their chairs, finally looking together at Ji Pingan.

Regarding some matters, as parents, they had indeed been wrong.

But as members of the entire clan, especially as the lord and lady tasked with the clan's development, some things had to be done.

And some people had to be sacrificed.

Ji Pingan expressionlessly ripped off their fig leaf. "Do Father and Mother feel that many things were done out of necessity? But back then, when you chose not to save Xiao Dong, was it truly a forced choice?"

No, it wasn't.

They just thought it wasn't worth it, that's all.

Ji Mingfeng snorted coldly and averted his gaze, while Zhao Yueyun lowered her eyes.

One story can't completely change someone in a short time, but some things can silently imprint themselves on a person's heart.

After listening, Xie Yulin sat quietly for a moment before rising to leave.

Ji Mingfeng and the others immediately stood up to see him off. Song Zijun did not follow but instead walked over to Shen Yuan's table.

A servant from the Xie family promptly presented a well-made money pouch. Though not made of silk, it was fashioned from high-quality coarse cloth. The stitches were fine and dense, embroidered with the character "Xie."

"This is the reward from Young Master Lin." Song Zijun personally handed the money pouch to Shen Yuan, smiling as he said, "The story was quite good. Many details about ghosts are only known to those who have been to the North Country and stayed there for a while. It seems Young Shen truly hasn't been deceiving people; you really did meet an immortal in your dreams."

Shen Yuan, who had been thoroughly investigated, took the money pouch. Seeing it bulging, he knew it was heavy, but he hadn't expected it to be *this* heavy.

He wasn't quick enough and almost failed to catch it properly.

Toward his audience, Shen Yuan, as a storyteller, maintained an excellent attitude. He gave a standard smile. "Thank you for the reward."

Song Zijun stared at his smile for a moment. "Does this mean you don't dislike me anymore?"

Shen Yuan shook his head. "I do dislike you. But right now, you are a listener, and I am a storyteller. A storyteller does not dislike his audience."

He hadn't expected Shen Yuan to be so honest, not even attempting to lie. This left the clever and cunning Advisor Song, who could handle many deceitful schemes, stumped. After a good while, he gave an awkward smile. "You are indeed honest."

Song Zijun leaned forward and whispered to Shen Yuan, "I don't know why Young Shen suddenly dislikes me so much. But regardless, I am merely a lowly strategist for a powerful family. Many things are also done out of necessity. If I have inadvertently offended Young Shen, I hope you will not hold it against me. I truly am just following orders."

Shen Yuan could understand—a working stiff, right? The boss's go-to fall guy. He got it.

But scheming against him—how could that be smoothed over with just a few words?

"Advisor Song, I've got dirt on you," Shen Yuan said seriously. "If you ever sneakily stir up trouble or interfere with my life again, I'll go complain to Fifth Uncle Gong."

Song Zijun was stunned, not yet processing it. He really couldn't connect "complaining" with Xie Yulin. "Complain about what?"

Shen Yuan replied, "Complain that you, as a strategist, are not sincere and speak ill of him behind his back."

Song Zijun: ...

After regaining his composure, Song Zijun couldn't help but chuckle. "Then Young Shen truly has got some serious dirt on me."

Shen Yuan ignored his mocking tone, just wanting the other to leave quickly. He was scared to talk to him, worried that any sentence might lead him into a trap.

Fortunately, Song Zijun dared not keep Xie Yulin waiting. He didn't continue the chit-chat and hurried out.

On the way back, because they had matters to discuss, Song Zijun got into Xie Yulin's carriage.

He sat by the door. When he looked at Xie Yulin, he suddenly remembered Shen Yuan's words about complaining to him. Strangely, he felt that the aloof, untouchable Young Master Lin had become more down-to-earth.

How strange.

Come to think of it, Shen Yuan was the first to have such an idea. Only he believed that Young Master Lin was not only easy to meet but could also act as a judge for others.

"What are you smirking about?" Xie Yulin asked coldly, interrupting his thoughts.

Song Zijun cleared his throat to adjust his mood. "My apologies, I was distracted."

Xie Yulin didn't inquire further but moved on to serious matters. "Ji Mingfeng likely won't take action against Shen Yuan. Just now, when seeing me off, he showed no intention of seeking credit or reward."

"Presumably, Shen Yuan and Ji Pingan devised a strategy and reached a consensus with Ji Mingfeng as well," Song Zijun said. "Whatever made Ji Mingfeng, this greedy man, willing to give up currying favor with the Xie clan and compromise must be quite enticing."

Xie Yulin wasn't concerned about what enticing thing changed Ji Mingfeng's mind. He only wanted to solve the problem.

"Since we cannot sit back and reap the spoils, do you have another plan?"

Song Zijun knew this was his last chance. If he failed again, he would face punishment.

He nodded. "Yes."

"All people have desires. This subordinate will approach Shen Yuan and lure him with huge rewards. No matter what the Ji family offers, I will offer a thousand, a hundred times more. I don't believe he won't defect."

People always strive for higher ground. No one can refuse such a powerful backer as the Xie family.

Perhaps he should have directly tempted with benefits from the start, instead of thinking about getting something for nothing.

The carriage interior fell silent, while the bells hanging outside jingled softly with the swaying motion.

Xie Yulin leaned back against the soft cushions, resting his head on his hand with his eyes closed, his posture relaxed and elegant. "In three days, I want to see him at the ancestral residence."

"As you command."

Inside the teahouse.

Shen Yuan, Ji Pingan, and Ji Xingwang stared dumbfounded at the gold cakes on the table.

A whole twenty of them!

Converted to silver, that would be over two thousand taels!

Having seen this kind of thing before, Ji Pingan guessed this was a way to win people over. He asked Shen Yuan, "Xiao Yuan, what do you think of these rewards?"

Shen Yuan, who had just become an overnight success, could only manage a dazed "ah." His mind was still a bit foggy. "Hmm... I guess Great-uncle is the number one patron of our *Love Between Human and Ghost*?"

Ji Pingan fell silent for a moment, then ruffled his younger brother's hair. "That's right."