Chapter 010: It's tea time at three-ish.
Chi Shen's finger moved slightly, only to be laid back down again.
This is no longer the perilous game where death is ever-present. Not every ghost that appears holds the secret to solving a puzzle.
There isn't any deadly puzzle to solve at all.
His eyes, which had been darkening, returned to their gentle warmth. Chi Shen abandoned trying to empathetically discern the other's thoughts and chose a different way to communicate.
With the kindest and most radiant smile, he looked at Ji Xing Chen and said, "Is there anything I can assist you with?"
To ensure he didn't appear suspicious, Chi Shen quickly added, "As friends, we should help each other. I'd like to assist with your issue before discussing mine."
As long as the request isn't unreasonable, Chi Shen is always willing to help.
Ji Xing Chen shook his head, "Allowing me to come out during the day has already been of great assistance."
"It's nothing major," Chi Shen responded. What he gave to Ji Xing Chen wasn't anything special—just blinking eyeballs, blood-stained fingernails, and other trinkets he'd usually discard without a second thought.
"Do you have any unresolved desires or adversaries, perhaps?" inquired Chi Shen.
Ji Xing Chen shook his head again, "No."
After pausing briefly, as if hesitating, he finally asked, "If it's not too much trouble, may I use your phone?"
"Of course." Chi Shen replied with a relieved smile, unlocking his phone and placing it on the table.
Ji Xing Chen floated over, reaching out to touch the phone, and after a few taps, the woman in red drew closer. Ji Xing Chen made room for her to view the screen.
A few minutes later, Ji Xing Chen pulled back, turning to Chi Shen with gratitude. "That's it. Thank you."
The woman in red peered at the phone and exclaimed, "A name."
Ji Xing Chen took a step back, creating more distance between himself and the woman in red.
Retrieving his phone, Chi Shen glanced at the woman in red but out of respect for his friend, he didn't check what Ji Xing Chen had done. Instead, he inquired, "Do you have any suggestions for my job-seeking endeavors?"
After asking about Chi Shen's educational and professional background, Ji Xing Chen remarked, "With your credentials, you should be able to secure a good job without my help."
Chi Shen felt the statement was rather obvious but refrained from voicing his thoughts. He couldn't possibly admit to spending decades, even centuries, in the spirit realm, having forgotten most of his specialized knowledge. All he mumbled in response was, "I was hoping for a less taxing profession."
Even after countless decades and countless brushes with death, he could never forget the misery of waiting for a taxi in the biting cold after a late-night shift.
Reflecting on that moment, he felt an unexpected kinship with Ji Xing Chen, imagining that he, too, must understand the deep desire for a job with fewer responsibilities, good pay, and proximity to home.
"I'm not familiar with the current state of Harbor City," Ji Xing Chen pondered, "In the years since my death, it has surely evolved rapidly. If I could venture out, I might be able to provide better advice."
Grasping the implied request, Chi Shen pocketed his phone, stood up with a smile, and said, "Coincidentally, I too wish to explore outside."
Ji Xing Chen looked at him, "I can't leave this place."
Stretching leisurely, Chi Shen opened the main door, allowing the gentle sunlight to stream in. Standing in the light, he looked back at the increasingly transparent Ji Xing Chen, "You can hide within my shadow. I grant you permission to enter."
The woman in red was the first to react, reaching out to touch Chi Shen's shadow. In less than a second, she withdrew her hand, instinctively wanting to hide under the bed.
Ji Xing Chen diverted his gaze from the woman in red, and encouraged by Chi Shen's reassuring smile, approached the shadow.
It appeared like a dark, menacing swamp, capable of pulling anyone into an unseen abyss.
Ji Xing Chen ventured in, vanishing within the shadow.
Gripping the foot of the bed, the woman in red murmured from the shadows, "He's gone, he's gone. He's dead."
"Keep an eye on the place," Chi Shen instructed the woman in red before closing the door.
It was indeed time for him to venture out.
Standing under the blazing sun, Chi Shen felt the long-lost warmth enveloping his body. Wisps of icy, dark mist emanated from him, emitting faint mournful screams before quickly dissipating. With a cheerful stride, he set out.
The Bai family's ancestral home was located in a secluded part of Harbor City's outskirts. Surrounded by emptiness, this daunting mansion stood alone, usually avoided by locals.
Beside the mansion's main gate was a small building, similar to a guardhouse. It was where the gatekeeper resided.
It was vacant at the moment.
"Are you familiar with the gatekeeper?" Chi Shen inquired as he passed the entrance.
"Yes. If someone from the Bai family moves into the mansion, he departs," Ji Xing Chen's deep voice echoed from Chi Shen's shadow.
Chi Shen was taken aback. He had expected Ji Xing Chen to either provide information about the gatekeeper's identity or admit ignorance. Considering Ji Xing Chen's apparent weakness, it was surprising how much he seemed to know.
"Bai Ran has been here," Ji Xing Chen remarked, anticipating that Chi Shen might not recognize the name, he added, "He's the young master of the Bai family. He stayed for three days, and during that time, the gatekeeper was absent."
"So, Bai Ran has stayed here," Chi Shen murmured, "Does residing here long-term have consequences?"
Like an answering machine, Ji Xing Chen promptly responded, even to the murmur: "I don't know."
It took Chi Shen twenty minutes to reach the nearby bus stop, where he boarded a bus to the city center.
The lazy, radiant sunshine of an autumn afternoon shone down as Chi Shen stood at the heart of the pedestrian street, gazing up at the towering skyscrapers.
The bustling crowd brushed past him, and a gust carried the scent of cakes from a nearby bakery, intertwined with the subtle yet rich aroma of osmanthus trees lining the road.
The long-lost, familiar essence of human life.
Drawn by the enticing aroma, Chi Shen walked into the bakery and treated himself to a small piece of cake.
The bite was a sweet surge of cream, not tainted by blood or dotted with an eyeball.
He lingered in the bakery for a while. Business was brisk; even on a weekday afternoon, there was a steady flow of customers.
Chi Shen's gaze suddenly settled on two women entering the bakery. Their faces were ashen, and they seemed drained and weak.
"I heard another person from the company upstairs resigned."
The two women whispered among themselves. But with Chi Shen's heightened senses, he heard them clearly.
"Last night, when I was working late, I heard some eerie noises from the floor above. It was terrifying, and I've considered quitting."
"Isn't their project about to fail? The one based on that serial murder case..."
"Enough of that. It's genuinely unsettling."
After a brief chat, the two women bought a variety of mini-cakes, supposedly for their company's afternoon tea, and then left.
Chi Shen watched their departing figures through the window before leisurely rising. He then headed to the corner tea shop to purchase a milk tea. To the cashier's astonishment and envy, he requested double the sugar.
Sipping his milk tea, Chi Shen ambled in the direction the women had gone. When he reached a less crowded spot, he looked back and asked, "Want some? I can warm it for you."
After a brief pause, a voice emanated from his shadow, "No need, thank you."
Chi Shen grinned, swirling the pearls in his milk tea. Stopping at a crossroad, he lifted his gaze to an office building by the street.
From one of the building's floors, despite the brilliant sunlight, an undeniable spectral aura radiated.
Raising his milk tea, Chi Shen remarked, "Seems they're in need of a new employee."
The automated responder in his shadow concurred, "Indeed."
*
Author's Note:
Daily updates have begun!
Ji Xing Chen isn't truly weak; there's a reason for his demeanor!
Chapter 010: It's tea time at three-ish.
Chi Shen's finger moved slightly, only to be laid back down again.
This is no longer the perilous game where death is ever-present. Not every ghost that appears holds the secret to solving a puzzle.
There isn't any deadly puzzle to solve at all.
His eyes, which had been darkening, returned to their gentle warmth. Chi Shen abandoned trying to empathetically discern the other's thoughts and chose a different way to communicate.
With the kindest and most radiant smile, he looked at Ji Xing Chen and said, "Is there anything I can assist you with?"
To ensure he didn't appear suspicious, Chi Shen quickly added, "As friends, we should help each other. I'd like to assist with your issue before discussing mine."
As long as the request isn't unreasonable, Chi Shen is always willing to help.
Ji Xing Chen shook his head, "Allowing me to come out during the day has already been of great assistance."
"It's nothing major," Chi Shen responded. What he gave to Ji Xing Chen wasn't anything special—just blinking eyeballs, blood-stained fingernails, and other trinkets he'd usually discard without a second thought.
"Do you have any unresolved desires or adversaries, perhaps?" inquired Chi Shen.
Ji Xing Chen shook his head again, "No."
After pausing briefly, as if hesitating, he finally asked, "If it's not too much trouble, may I use your phone?"
"Of course." Chi Shen replied with a relieved smile, unlocking his phone and placing it on the table.
Ji Xing Chen floated over, reaching out to touch the phone, and after a few taps, the woman in red drew closer. Ji Xing Chen made room for her to view the screen.
A few minutes later, Ji Xing Chen pulled back, turning to Chi Shen with gratitude. "That's it. Thank you."
The woman in red peered at the phone and exclaimed, "A name."
Ji Xing Chen took a step back, creating more distance between himself and the woman in red.
Retrieving his phone, Chi Shen glanced at the woman in red but out of respect for his friend, he didn't check what Ji Xing Chen had done. Instead, he inquired, "Do you have any suggestions for my job-seeking endeavors?"
After asking about Chi Shen's educational and professional background, Ji Xing Chen remarked, "With your credentials, you should be able to secure a good job without my help."
Chi Shen felt the statement was rather obvious but refrained from voicing his thoughts. He couldn't possibly admit to spending decades, even centuries, in the spirit realm, having forgotten most of his specialized knowledge. All he mumbled in response was, "I was hoping for a less taxing profession."
Even after countless decades and countless brushes with death, he could never forget the misery of waiting for a taxi in the biting cold after a late-night shift.
Reflecting on that moment, he felt an unexpected kinship with Ji Xing Chen, imagining that he, too, must understand the deep desire for a job with fewer responsibilities, good pay, and proximity to home.
"I'm not familiar with the current state of Harbor City," Ji Xing Chen pondered, "In the years since my death, it has surely evolved rapidly. If I could venture out, I might be able to provide better advice."
Grasping the implied request, Chi Shen pocketed his phone, stood up with a smile, and said, "Coincidentally, I too wish to explore outside."
Ji Xing Chen looked at him, "I can't leave this place."
Stretching leisurely, Chi Shen opened the main door, allowing the gentle sunlight to stream in. Standing in the light, he looked back at the increasingly transparent Ji Xing Chen, "You can hide within my shadow. I grant you permission to enter."
The woman in red was the first to react, reaching out to touch Chi Shen's shadow. In less than a second, she withdrew her hand, instinctively wanting to hide under the bed.
Ji Xing Chen diverted his gaze from the woman in red, and encouraged by Chi Shen's reassuring smile, approached the shadow.
It appeared like a dark, menacing swamp, capable of pulling anyone into an unseen abyss.
Ji Xing Chen ventured in, vanishing within the shadow.
Gripping the foot of the bed, the woman in red murmured from the shadows, "He's gone, he's gone. He's dead."
"Keep an eye on the place," Chi Shen instructed the woman in red before closing the door.
It was indeed time for him to venture out.
Standing under the blazing sun, Chi Shen felt the long-lost warmth enveloping his body. Wisps of icy, dark mist emanated from him, emitting faint mournful screams before quickly dissipating. With a cheerful stride, he set out.
The Bai family's ancestral home was located in a secluded part of Harbor City's outskirts. Surrounded by emptiness, this daunting mansion stood alone, usually avoided by locals.
Beside the mansion's main gate was a small building, similar to a guardhouse. It was where the gatekeeper resided.
It was vacant at the moment.
"Are you familiar with the gatekeeper?" Chi Shen inquired as he passed the entrance.
"Yes. If someone from the Bai family moves into the mansion, he departs," Ji Xing Chen's deep voice echoed from Chi Shen's shadow.
Chi Shen was taken aback. He had expected Ji Xing Chen to either provide information about the gatekeeper's identity or admit ignorance. Considering Ji Xing Chen's apparent weakness, it was surprising how much he seemed to know.
"Bai Ran has been here," Ji Xing Chen remarked, anticipating that Chi Shen might not recognize the name, he added, "He's the young master of the Bai family. He stayed for three days, and during that time, the gatekeeper was absent."
"So, Bai Ran has stayed here," Chi Shen murmured, "Does residing here long-term have consequences?"
Like an answering machine, Ji Xing Chen promptly responded, even to the murmur: "I don't know."
It took Chi Shen twenty minutes to reach the nearby bus stop, where he boarded a bus to the city center.
The lazy, radiant sunshine of an autumn afternoon shone down as Chi Shen stood at the heart of the pedestrian street, gazing up at the towering skyscrapers.
The bustling crowd brushed past him, and a gust carried the scent of cakes from a nearby bakery, intertwined with the subtle yet rich aroma of osmanthus trees lining the road.
The long-lost, familiar essence of human life.
Drawn by the enticing aroma, Chi Shen walked into the bakery and treated himself to a small piece of cake.
The bite was a sweet surge of cream, not tainted by blood or dotted with an eyeball.
He lingered in the bakery for a while. Business was brisk; even on a weekday afternoon, there was a steady flow of customers.
Chi Shen's gaze suddenly settled on two women entering the bakery. Their faces were ashen, and they seemed drained and weak.
"I heard another person from the company upstairs resigned."
The two women whispered among themselves. But with Chi Shen's heightened senses, he heard them clearly.
"Last night, when I was working late, I heard some eerie noises from the floor above. It was terrifying, and I've considered quitting."
"Isn't their project about to fail? The one based on that serial murder case..."
"Enough of that. It's genuinely unsettling."
After a brief chat, the two women bought a variety of mini-cakes, supposedly for their company's afternoon tea, and then left.
Chi Shen watched their departing figures through the window before leisurely rising. He then headed to the corner tea shop to purchase a milk tea. To the cashier's astonishment and envy, he requested double the sugar.
Sipping his milk tea, Chi Shen ambled in the direction the women had gone. When he reached a less crowded spot, he looked back and asked, "Want some? I can warm it for you."
After a brief pause, a voice emanated from his shadow, "No need, thank you."
Chi Shen grinned, swirling the pearls in his milk tea. Stopping at a crossroad, he lifted his gaze to an office building by the street.
From one of the building's floors, despite the brilliant sunlight, an undeniable spectral aura radiated.
Raising his milk tea, Chi Shen remarked, "Seems they're in need of a new employee."
The automated responder in his shadow concurred, "Indeed."
*
Author's Note:
Daily updates have begun!
Ji Xing Chen isn't truly weak; there's a reason for his demeanor!
